A/N: Yet another installment. I am encouraged by the reviews I have been getting. Thanks a lot guys! I am certain that this is one of the better stories I have written.
Hawkeye sat out in the rain on her porch steps. She was soaked through her clothes. The mud covered her boots and up to her knees.
She sneezed. Riza got up and turned to go inside her house. Something in her finally snapped its bonds. It was pacing madly inside of her. It was only a matter of time…
Riza went straight down to the basement. The rain had gotten in and soaked some of the things downstairs. The wind blew inside blowing the smell of outside in driving her even further. She hadn't done this in a long time.
Riza cried out in pain. Her hands cracked and the claws grew out. She cried out again as her canines grew out. Her muscles grew bigger up her arms and across her back. Riza doubled over as her abdomen muscles tightened painfully.
Tears streamed down her face. The golden fur began growing down her arms and across her body. Her back muscles kept expanding pushing the limits of the stretchy shirt she wore. Her hair fell out of her ponytail. She cried out again.
"Riza?" Roy said. He had come to her house to return her pistol.
He heard the noise again.
Hayate was whimpering through the door to Roy.
Something is wrong.
"Riza! Open the door!" He called pounding on the door.
Riza's groans of agony became inhuman growls of pain. Her teeth pulled her face out into a tiger's muzzle. Her gums and nose bleed with the harshness of the transformation.
Her clawed feet tore through her boots. Riza's back expanded again and a tail grew through the seat of her pants.
Riza clenched her clawed hands together and the tears came as the transformation to an end. She howled.
Roy broke down the door. Hayate jumped and barked at him. Roy ignored the puppy and pulled his gloves on.
Riza was so exhausted. She hadn't let it go for a long time. Months at the best or maybe it was a year ago when she last transformed.
Her arms shakily held her up.
Hayate led Roy to the basement where Riza had locked herself inside.
He knocked on the door first. He dare not intrude on something personal that could be making her feel better right now.
"Riza?" Roy asked softly opening the door.
Oh, no. It's Roy. I need to get out of here. But her exhausted body wouldn't cooperate. I can't let him see me like this! She made another attempt to move as she gathered her weak legs under her. She tottered over to the wall as she watched the door open.
"Riza?" He called again as he saw a figure move.
"Go away, Roy." She replied.
"I just came to return your gun and check-up on you. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it is." Riza replied her usually patient temper getting shorter.
"It doesn't sound like it is all okay. I heard noises coming from your house. It sounded like someone was getting killed down here." He took a step down the wooden stairs.
Riza shifted further back. "There is no one down here but me, Roy. Now please, leave. I am very exhausted."
"What are you hiding from me, Riza?" He said. His tone was becoming stern and almost threatening.
"Please, Roy… " Riza pleaded.
"No! What the hell is the matter with you? What are you hiding from me?" Roy asked loudly then snapped his fingers in his alchemic gloves.
There was a blinding flash of firelight. Roy was used to the light and squinted, but Riza's eyes had to adjust and she covered her eyes with an arm across her face.
Roy got a look at the tigress that was in Riza's basement. She was taller than Hawkeye, but kept the same stature. She snarled at Roy. When her eyes had finally adjusted, he saw a glint of the red-amber stare that he knew was Hawkeye's.
The light diminished finally. Roy heard sobbing. The tigress had tears streaming out of her eyes. She turned and climbed out of the basement window.
"Riza! Wait!" Roy called after her.
Hawkeye didn't turn back. She kept running on all fours into the blinding rainstorm. Her tears mixed with the raining pounding her in the face. She ran blindly and had no clue of where she was going.