Beware the panther lurking in the shadows.
Chapter 26
Kuma P.O.V.
A lot of my guildmates think that I only sleep when I'm in the rafters but truth be told, I pick up a lot more than I wish I did.
Even as I doze I pick up every conversation that occurs, every giggle, every sneeze, every goodbye for the night as people leave.
Soon it comes down to just a handful of people sitting at the bar as Mira cleans up for the night. Those people typically being Elfman, Lisanna, Master, and Cana.
I can always tell when Cana's about to leave because she receives a special barrel from Mira that's homemade sake. It's too potent for anyone but Cana, a man named Gildarts—who I haven't met but is apparently Cana's sire—and a man named Bacchus, who Cana has dated on and off since I've been here. But anyway, she takes the barrel home with her and it holds her over until she walks in, perfectly sober at nine in the morning.
After Master finishes talking to Mira about what she needs for the bar for the next day he leaves, bidding a good night to everyone, then stops underneath me.
I lean over to look down at him and see him wobble just a step from the alcohol running in his veins. "Good night, brat, keep our hall safe and I will see you in the morning."
As usual, I let out a huffing cough in reassurance and he leaves for the night.
My favorite with their leaving routine would have to be Elfman. When Mira's in the back cleaning up the kitchen and making my dinner for the night, Elfman takes a piece of beef jerky from behind the bar and tosses it to me as he leaves.
"Good night, Kuma. Don't forget to be manly."
I roll my eyes at his words but otherwise don't respond as I chew on the jerky, waiting for Mira to set my plate out.
Lisanna doesn't say anything, but she pats the beam under me as she leaves. I don't hate her, but I also don't like her since that day. Yeah, I know it's not right to not forgive, but the bitch cheated.
"Kuma, food's ready."
Throwing the last inch of the jerky in the air I catch it as I jump off the rafter and eat it before I shift at the counter.
Sitting down to eat, I see Mira carrying a worried expression as she leans on the counter.
"What's got you so worried, Mira?"
She sighs. "The thieves recently broke into the Mermaid Heel Guildhall and there have been rumors they're on their way here, so can you please keep an extra eye open tonight?"
I smile and she seems to relax. "Don't worry, Mira, even if they get in they won't live long enough to do anything."
She nods and takes the empty plate into the back then shuts the lights off. "Alright, but if anything does happen you know how to contact me, Master, or Erza for back up."
I follow her as she walks to the door, giving her a reassuring smile. "Like I said, don't worry, I have everything under control, I'll see you in a few hours."
When I hear the locks click I rub my hands together and, shifting, climb up to my scratching post to wait the night out.
The clock strikes 4:00 A.M. and just as it dings on the second mark I hear the tinkling of broken glass.
Taking a deep breath I pick up at least twenty different scents as they climb in through, most likely, a broken window.
Silently, I slip off the rafter and shift mid-flight into a bat. I let out an ultra-high screech and fly toward where the waves are bouncing off, confirming moving bodies.
I land at the opening of the hall and shift back into my panther form, but when a male lets out a high-pitched shriek I hide back around the corner and my ears swivel to the intruders when one whispers.
"Be quiet, you numbskull. We don't know if anyone is actually here."
Then a second voice replies. "Sorry, boss. I thought I saw a big cat."
A light shines out of the hallway and I duck back to avoid being seen as the first voice hisses angrily, "For the last time, the rumors about Fairy Tail having a big cat are false."
I frown with the news and a plan starts to form. Shifting again, my fur turns into scales, my legs disappear, and my body stretches out. I feel my fangs elongate and fold back against the inside of my upper jaw as they drip with venom.
I lift my head and feel my hood stretch out as I confirm that my king cobra shift did, indeed, work.
Slithering around the corner, I keep to the bottom of the wall so they don't see me and make my way among their feet until I'm at the back of the pack where I see that they broke the glass in the door and unlocked it.
I turn around and go for the first pair of ankles I see that isn't protected by clothing.
Reaching up I latch onto the ankle and inject enough venom to cause the male a semi-slow death before letting go and getting out of the hallway.
I look back around the corner to the male I bit to see him so intent on looking around that he didn't even notice the bite.
"Split up and see what you can find. The dark guilds said they'll pay a hefty price for everything we can get, especially on this guild and the slayers.
My scales flex and rise at the mention of my family and I shift into my tiger form as I wait for them to spread out across the hall.
With it being so dark in the hall they have to use flashlights, but my feline eyes allow me to see as if it's daylight out, giving me the advantage as I follow a group of five men up the stairs.
When they turn down the hall leading to my room, I pounce on the one in the rear, causing the others to fall. Quickly dispatching the one my claws are hooked into, I dodge knives from the group ahead of him and leap to the one on my left.
A sharp bite to the neck breaks their spine, meaning they will not rise again. Cold metal flashes against the thick fur around my neck and I look up to see the remaining three inching backward, the one on the lead holding a knife dripping blood.
I lift my lips in a silent snarl and jump, dispatching all three before they can make a sound.
Silently, I walk back out of the hall to see another group trying to break into Master's office while another disappears down the hall to the infirmary, and I decide that there's too many for me take out one group at a time.
I change my plans and playing it the easy way I shift into a cute puppy and walk into the middle of the hall. I sit down and let out a sharp 'yip' that draws everyone's attention.
They circle around me and I hear one ask, "How did a puppy get in here?"
"Must have followed us in when we came in through the back." A gruff voice behind me answers and another picks me up.
"Oh and look, it's injured."
Smirking to myself I shift into my panther form, my increased weight bringing the guy holding me down and I rip his throat out before turning to the others.
They all just stand there, frozen as they try to figure out what they just saw, and I take my chance to take down another five before they start swinging at me.
Even as I take them down they still manage to get their revenge. By the time it comes down to three people and me, I have gashes all along my sides, my head is reeling, I can't put any weight on my back paw at all, and I'm pretty sure I have at least a broken rib from how difficult it is for me to take a deep breath.
I feel my paws start to heat up and I do the one thing my instincts are hollering at me to do, I release my fire power in full force.
The blast sends the three remaining thieves flying away, the windows blow out and I know at least one of the front doors is turned to ashes as my vision starts to dim.
I move to walk out the front door and my paws give out, causing me to fall and my head to hit the paving stones as I see bare feet running towards me and the world goes dark.
DRAMA! I've been warning y'all since we got out of the soul gem arc that there was gonna be drama. Just what that includes, well y'all will have to wait and see.
Next thing on the list: I hate to do it to y'all but the double updating is a little too stressful for me right now, between what's happening IRL with me worrying about if my Fafsa is gonna pull through for me to do class next semester plus trying to constantly keep ahead with backlog for crews and LBB. I don't need to be worrying about if I'm gonna have backlog enough to cover this one as well. However that fourshot I've been telling y'all about will be starting today. It'll be weekly upload as well just not on the same day. I wanna spread it out across the next few weeks. After that there are plans for another co-op with a writer that goes the penname Andy24amk.
Sam! you'll know her off the facebook page, her admin name is Mirajane. Also, if you didn't connect the dots already I'm an admin on the page as well *grins* come to find out she was struggling to keep up with all the updates because none of the other admins were on. Now let's get onto your review. Oh, she has ties alright, you just won't see what those truly are for a couple arcs. You guessed right, she'll be back just not in this arc. Lol, nice to know you watch snoop dogg, ever listen to his music? Young, wild, and free and Gin and Juice are two of my favorites. Oi! don't count Wendy out of the party just yet. *smirks* after all wind feeds the flames.
XBnemesisX, Aye sir, innocents will be caught. The slayers and shifters are gonna form groups and watch out anyone caught in the crossfire. *snickers* oh, there are plans a plenty forming.
Shana, yeah, he tried to run alright and ended up tied to the rafters.
Strike, *rolls eyes* Rosa, Lara and Yuki are right, you men are all the same. *slides over a twenty* Put me down with Augustos. Oh and beware the raptors 'cause you're up next after we're done with the ice. Charity and Rita will clue you in. Also, what's a complot? Fallout 4? Hell yeah! I actually want to play it but I can't afford a system to play it on.
Pixie Pixel! The woman will be revealed in a few arcs, her motives will come to light. You just gotta give it time. Aye, I had fun having coming up with the whole circus tricks part. Plus the revenge on Natsu was just icing on the cake. "lucy could you scoot over i need to kill your boyfriend now" LOL I can actually see you doing that. Did you see what happened this chapter happening at all?
Alright y'all, I will see you next week with this next chapter and I hope y'all will check out the four shot that's coming out today. Just to refresh your memory it's called Race Around the Realm.
Grizzly out for the night.