Breaking away from Bast

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight; it is the property of Stephenie Meyer. The original characters and plot are mine. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Italics for thoughts (Edward can hear it if he's present)

Stages of forms

Tiger: first form (actual tiger)

Tigris: second form (were-tiger, like werewolves, larger than actual animal)

Taiga: third form (cat ears, tail, more tiger musculature, fur, full canines, paws)

Tigam: fourth form (half and half, humanoid form, light fur, tail, nearly full canines, paws)

Tegamen: fifth form (mostly humanoid, no fur, stripes marking the skin and claws and longer canines)

Higar: sixth form (human but with cat senses and scent, regeneration and able streak mind)

Human: seventh form (completely human)

Chapter 21

Mutts

Kari pov

I sat at the very edge of my hearing and sight range as I walked Bella meet with the spirited mutts. Gabriel stared at them obviously disliking this action, Tigers and spirit men did not mix. They were childish and ineffective. We had been living in their woods for days and they had not even noticed our paths.

"Let me..." Bella spoke trying to reason with the children that called themselves protectors. It was useless and irritating to listen to this stupidity but if for a moment it caused her to drop her guard I would take it.

"Why does it matter if they help her?" I asked trying to rid myself of this boredom.

"She is thinking of numbers and witness to make Renátka stop or hesitate. I believe she wishes to challenge her personally to prevent the war that may be coming." Gabriel answered and I laughed. Bella would never be able to best her mother; it would be a death sentence. For a moment I wished that I could let her humiliate herself in front of all of those that came here just to watch, as she failed. She would never be what they thought she was and I would laugh at their stupidity.

"No war will come when she dies by my hand." I replied and he nodded curtly.

"I heard talk or rebellion before we left and it was clear there was a rift forming in the clan at Kodiak." Gabriel stated and I shrugged no one would go against Renátka. It gave possibilities to being able to lead myself but other than that I had thought little of it. Why would you rally around a weak girl that was no longer clan?

"They were upset their precious little queen died that's all." I retorted and sneered. How I hated that little girl.

"Perhaps." Gabriel replied and I glared at him. He was as certain as I was that Bella was killable and yet he thought her worthy to be queen? "Wars have started over less and Renátka has become out of favour."

"She would take us down with her Gabriel." I told him wondering where his thoughts had led him.

"Not if we sided with the young ones." Gabriel shrugged and I was baffled. I had not thought that he was capable of such treason. It was well based but I would not serve under Bella I would rather die.

"I would rather go to war." I replied and he smiled at me. He had been playing with me, he thought that I might betray my queen!

"As would I but we are not others within the clan. It is something to think about. Even when Bella is dead there might still be a war." He answered and I nodded.

"War for our War Queen." I smiled at him and he chuckled. We were both Tigers of war it was what we lived for, the kill. I longed for the days when I was covered in the blood of my enemies, or allies. It didn't matter greatly to me as long as I was still protected by the queen. Not that duels weren't fun, but I had no taste for battles that did not end in death. Renátka knew this well and had assigned me to take care of her dirty work for centuries. I wonder what they would say if they knew how many of us had died by our beloved queens will.

I let my bitterness boil until I heard the little queen shout and the silence that followed. Listening to her I saw her ploy and rolled my eyes she should have tried this approach from the very beginning. Finally she had the attention of the pack and the squabbling died out. After a few moments they were on their way back to the well protected house. I would never have my opportunity to kill her at this rate.

Then I noticed that she was staying back, moving much slower than the others with one of the vampires. Edward, I smiled my delight at finally having my moment to strike. Gabriel nodded that he too had noticed our opportunity. We moved slowly closer and closer to them making sure that they were unaware of us.

"If I do not survive this encounter promise me you will not go all sacrificial on me." She told him and I wanted to roll my eyes at the over-the-top-ness of her request. It wasn't like any of them were going to survive I had been told that we could kill them all and I was going to. "I can't bear the idea of a world without you, nor could your family."

"They are your family also, and I can promise this only if you promise me the same." He replied and I gagged at the love fest in front of me. Silently we were nearing a spacing that could easily be broached in a swift attack. Gabriel would go for Edward and I would kill Bella.

"It is unlikely that I will survive this but if I do then I promise to tempt fate. Let us plan for a way to win, not prepare for either of our deaths." She told him as they stopped giving us the advantage to get as close as possible.

"What is your plan?" Edward asked and Bella beamed up at him. I suppose he was the one that she had fallen for. He was the one who saved her from death, I realised cursing myself for not paying attention to this bond before now.

"We must take the potential battle away from the humans at all costs. I figure an open field or such should work best. If the wolves join us then they may stop enough for me to challenge my mother to a duel. If she refuses then it will be a ruthless battle that we will lose alone. But if she accepts then I might be able to best her." Bella told him and I rolled my eyes if it came to war it would be long after she was dead. Gabriel and I finally got into the best positions possible and I nodded my consent for him to take his mark and destroy Edward.

"Sounds..." Edward started before a loud crack cut him off, the sound of Gabriel's strike against his back. The vampire fell to his knees and Bella looked as though she too was injured I couldn't keep back my laughter as I looked into her eyes. She was already defeated and I had yet to strike a blow to her.

"Kari." She stated as her gaze found mine. I bowed to her with my smile firmly in place.

"Were you expecting me?" I asked as I moved towards her cautious in case she was playing up her pain. Gabriel tore one of Edward's arms off and her face paled more, this was going to be all too easy. I might not even have to touch her twice to force her to final death. Too easy I wanted a fight, something more than this pathetic thing crying in front of me. Oh yes she had begun to cry and move towards her beloved Edward.

I smacked her away from Gabriel and the vampire. She barely even noticed my hit but she fell backwards and impacted on a tree shaking it but not toppling it. Standing over her as she tried to right herself I smiled at her and yet her eyes were locked on the body of her fallen love. Another rip and he was without both arms this time he screamed in pain and she began to sob. Pathetic.

I paced away from her watching and deciding that she would suffer most watching him ripped to pieces before she died. Looking over at Gabriel I noted that Edward was not putting up much of a struggle. A pity this would be over far too quickly for my liking but at least I would be able to kill her. Looking back at the sobbing broken little girl I sighed as I made my final attack.