- Half human, and half black jaguar. What a combination indeed. A combination that, sadly, occasionally attracts the wrong sort of attention. Some people seem to think that such a 'creature' would make a good attack slave, while others foolishly think it would make for a good slave in general. But mainly the price on its head… that's what it all comes down to. Cold, heartless money. This is where our story begins, where we find young Erika running for her life in an unknown territory, dodging trees and avoiding fallen logs in a desperate attempt to escape such people. She was not the type to give in, nor was she the type who took orders. This jaguar… no… this woman, was free, and she was going to remain that way. Or so she thought…
"Damn it! That cat woman is fast. Which way did she go!?"
"Hell, I don't know! But keep your guard up and your voice down, mate. We don't want her to surprise us…"
Two gruff looking men scoured the area below me as I panted heavily from being chased so far. 'Why did my tail have to appear right then!? I could have easily passed for a normal girl if it hadn't been for that!' I mentally cursed myself for my stupid instincts as I waited in the top branch of a tall tree, just hoping that they would give up this tiresome hunt and leave. My body ached, and I felt my paws stinging against the rough bark of the branch, wanting nothing more than to lay down in a patch of cool grass and rest…
- CRACK -
"Oy! There she is!"
'Ugh… well I guess that's going to have to wait…' Reluctantly I resumed my escape, lunging from branch to branch across the canopy, hissing as I felt sharp branches and thorns taring at my skin, but never did I expect to feel the sudden burning pain in my side. An arrow. 'They… tried to shoot me…' My eyes welled with tears as I continued on, my head feeling lighter with ever jump I took as more and more blood drained from the wound. Night time was drawing near which would lessen their sense of sight, but what did that matter? If they couldn't see me, all they'd have to do is follow the trail of blood at this point. It was hopeless… my energy was all but gone. I finally collapsed onto the ground, slowly shifting back into my half form which only left me with my tail and ears. I no longer had the energy to fight. Tears streamed from my eyes as my ears lay back. 'Why can't they just leave me alone?' As I slowly lifted my head, half expecting to see the hunters, something else caught my eye. Light. There was light in the distance! I must be close to a town. 'Maybe I can find an alley to hide in for the night…' I looked back as I saw the trail of blood leading directly to my current location. I would have to do something about that first. I bit down hard on my lip as I yanked out the arrow, using every bit of willpower I had left not to scream in pain. Of course, removing the arrow only increased the blood flow, so I would need something to stop it. I glanced around to see nothing but grass and trees, none of which would be useful. It was then that I looked down. My black dress was already tattered, so I tore off a portion of the bottom and tied it tightly around my waist.
"That will have to do… ngh… at least there will be no blood to follow."
I took one last glance into the darkness before limping towards the town.
~~~~Time-Skip~~~~
It hadn't been long, but given the pain I was in it felt like an eternity. I carefully snuck along the shadows until I came to a long single alley way with a dumpster at the end. Not the most ideal place to spend the night, but what choice did I have? I began to walk towards it when I felt the pain increase, causing a wave of dizziness to crash over me. With a mewl of distress I fell to the side, unable to move another step. This was it, wasn't it? I was either going to bleed to death, or the hunters would find and sell me off to some creep. I looked up at the shop beside me. The letters were so large that even in my current state I could read it. Undertaker. I gave a soft and tearful laugh. 'How ironic…' Silently I cried as the world spun around me, and I curled my tail up close to my face.
"Please… help me…"
But before everything around me went black, I could have sworn that I heard something… a cackle.
~~~~~Undertaker~~~~~
"My my! What have we here, then?"
I gazed down at the young woman who was currently laying in a pool of her own blood.
"A customer then? How convenient! And right on me own doorstep too!"
I kneeled down with a giggle for a closer look.
"Awwww. Such a pretty little thing. Shame that… looks like she's still alive too! …what's this?"
The clouds parted only slightly above me causing a beam of moonlight to shine upon her petite form, and what it revealed left me rather stumped.
"A pretty little thing indeed… but she's not entirely human by the looks of it."
I had to admit I was rather shocked. In all me years I've heard of Demon Hounds, Basilisks, and even demons themselves. I knew one, in fact. But never have I come across something or someone like this. Her skin was so pale and pure despite all the scratches, and through her tattered dress it looked like she had used a piece of cloth as a tourniquet to stop the blood flow of a wound.
"What the blazes happened to this poor girl?"
I looked both ways down the streets before picking her up into my arms, for some reason I felt obligated to help her which was rather odd for me. Then again, I was curious. I hummed merrily to myself as I carried her into my shop.
"My humble self is the funeral home's undertaker,
and I humbly await the day to provide service to you.
Let me make your body nice and clean,
and allow me to examine you carefully~"
I gave a little giggle as I lay her down upon one of my coffins.
"Now then… let's get you allllll fixed up, shall we~?"
Please review if you enjoyed and would like another chapter~! Thank you all! ^^