Tiger

I walked back from the store, boy was that a load of shopping. Thank god I stole Alreizes card. I hadn’t brought much, only the essentials. A new drawing tablet, some clothing, and an apple for Hades. She always complains she likes fruit. For somebody who eats meat, she sure has a preference.

Whatever, as I walked down the dark street, something caught my eye. Something green that glowed coming from a bush. What the fuck could be out here this late? Maybe a fox?

I stepped closer, maybe it was a fox or a cat? Suddenly, something that sounded like growling came from the bush. To my surprise, it sounded quite soothing. I stepped closer, I felt like I had to.

What was I thinking? That was a fucking wild animal. It’s not like it’s talking to me. As I started to walk past it, it happened again. That growing, stronger this time and seemed to at this point damn near force me to listen. I couldn’t resist, and I went to the bush, ready to follow whatever order I was given.

——

"Yeah, have you seen Alla? She’s been out for almost two hours now." I asked Leah. I had figured out how to call my friends, Vik taught me.

"No, I’m sorry. Is she doing that werewolf thingy again or.?" I sighed, looking outside. It was only a half moon tonight, so no way she could have just gone off without her wanting to.

"No, it’s not a full moon. Look, thanks anyway but I’m going to just try calling her again." And with that, I hung up. I groaned as I went to the front of the house to look out the mirror. The TV was blaring some TLC channel I had put on to ease my nerves, but that wasn’t working.

Oh! It’s Alla! I was sure as hell going to have a word with her when she got back, it was almost midnight! Hopefully, she got my apples as I asked. I headed to unlock the door for her but noticed she was for some reason transformed, and no bags in her hand. Another reason to yell at her.

I unlocked the door, and she silently walked in. I expected this somewhat.

"Where the hell were you? And WHERE are my apples like I asked?" I said, puffing my chest out to try and be a bit taller. I got on two legs to better reach her, but she didn’t seem to listen and just stared at me. She started to growl for some reason, what the fuck?

"Oh real mature, is that all you gotta say for yourself?" She growled some more and started to drool. Well damn if she thought I looked good she could have said so, but what’s with the growling?

Suddenly, she latched onto my arm, sinking her jaws in my shoulder. I yelled in pain as I tried to get her off, but she was locked on, TIGHT. I clawed at her face, and she let go, whimpering as she took a few steps back.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yelled, holding my bleeding shoulder. She jumped at me, but I got out of the way as she fell onto the floor.

"HEY! DON'T HURT AYAPPA FRIEND!" I turned around, don’t tell me…

Yep, another stranger. She barely had any clothes on, looked flea-ridden, and looked like a tiger almost? Had that clown finally cracked and just sent whoever off the streets?

Ayappa turned to the blaring TV and roared, making me flinch a bit. Not even in a second she lunged for it and started to tear at it. What the hell-

I felt something sharp dig into my back and turned around and punched whatever was behind me. Alla had clawed into my back I assumed as she fell on the ground when I made contact with her. I heard a growl from behind me and turned around only to be face to face with this tiger, the stench of dead nature and mud was strong.

"What did Ayappa say." I snapped, I couldn’t take this anymore. I swear, every DAY somebody just comes into our fucking home, and then, they just disappear!

"I don’t give a SHIT what Ayappa thinks. I think Ayappa should go home NOW." I tried to shove her off, but she was quite strong. She started to breathe heavily, before she grabbed me by my scruff, digging into my skin.

Uh oh...

"Uh, on second thought you can stay.?" I weakly said. Wrong words I guess, since the next thing I knew I woke up on the floor, and my body felt like actual shit.

Ayappa walked to me and grabbed me again. I could barely do anything and just let it happen, boy was she strong?

"Ayappas friend will handle the dog. Ayappa will DESTROY others." She dropped me on the ground, and I noticed a dent in the wall next to me. Oh wow.

Alla walked over to me, growling heavily. Wait a second, her FRIEND? Alla would never do this.

"I don’t know what is wrong with you, but this isn’t you, at least I think." She growled some more, and grabbed my chest, holding her claws near my face.

"You have a choice. Do you want to KILL your friend?" She didn’t stop and was peeling my mask off. I knew I didn’t have a chance if she took it off, so I made a final ditch effort.

"PLEASE! Look, you do this and Vik will be sad, so you understand now you big dummy?" She stopped. She stared at me, her eyes racing.

"H-Hades?" I groaned, no shit it’s me. It’s almost like those vampire romance movies Alla watches.

"Yeah. Look, I’m not sure what’s going on but you were about to maul me, some tiger I think is causing this." She looked confused, rubbing her face a little before she noticed the blood on her claws.

"Did I do this?" She asked, looking at me.

"Only a little. Now, we need to get rid of that cat, before whatever she did to you happens again." She looked confused, before dropping me.

"How do we do that.?" I thought for a while, this WAS an actual tiger. She looked taller than Vik even.

"Act like you’re still under her control and sneak up on her. If she does it again, I’ll stop her, promise." She nodded, and we started to look for her. It wasn’t long before we did, she was inside Alla's room to my surprise, I assume looking for somebody.

"Okay, just act like you killed me and we will jump her," I said, rubbing some of the blood from my shoulder and back over my fur, some on my skull to sell it.

Alla picked me up, carrying me by my scruff into the room. Ayappa looked over, dropping a book on the ground before looking at me.

"Did the friend complete the goal? Let Ayappa see." Alla stepped closer, and I got ready to attack. This was going to be fun if that thing didn’t just disappear.

"Sure, here you GO!" Alla punched Ayappa, hard from how I jerked about. I got dropped on the floor, before I went for the tiger's leg, sinking my teeth into it. Yuck, it tasted awful.

I heard her shout before I got kicked off. I fell on a shelf that hurt like HELL. I got up, and lept for her back. Alla was already in what looked like a cat fight making it easier for me to get on her, and shove my claws in her neck. She fell to the ground, growling in a mix of roars and curses.

I slammed my claw in one of her eyes and watched her squirm on the floor, I raised my paw again, ready to strike as Alla held her down, but in a second she was gone. Again.

"THEY CANT KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS!" I yelled, swiping books off a shelf. I couldn’t take this anymore I wanted them to DIE but every single TIME they come and come they just disappear before I can! I stomped the floor before I started to claw at it, I needed to kill something.

"Uh, are you okay.?" Alla asked, putting her hand on my shoulder, sending a wave of pain down my spine. I groaned as I got up, collecting myself and taking a deep breath.

"Yes. Yes, just.." I looked up at her, her jaw was stained with blood.

"Just leave me alone." I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.