Ch. 22

His eyes had a glassy indigo hue. His fur was blood red with bright white stripes that merged to cover his underside from his waist to his mouth; a vicious maw filled with perfectly placed fangs that gleamed as it hung open, motionless. His coat wrapped his muscular frame, showing only one flaw, a bullet hole above his left breast, pooled with blood.

"Sir, the female went east further into the forest. I think he was covering her escape."

A man with coal black hair held his helmet in his gloved hands, as he crouched before his kill. The evening light splashed across his graveled face.

"Sir? Corporal Ross?"

"We're not looking in the right place."

The man standing above Ross blinked from behind his visor. "We've killed eight of these things so far."

Ross turned his head and stared straight through him "We haven't found a trace of our primary target! I want the big one."

Ross turned and stared at the dead tiger creature before him. Some of the men behind him shuffled around nervously.

"I'm checking with Deathstroke" he said curtly.

Ross pulled out a communicator. "Alpha squad calling Terminator. Do you read?"

After a moment, a voice came through. "Yes Corporal. How goes the hunt?"

Ross swatted away the largest mosquito he had ever seen. "Negative on the big one. What's your status?"

Deathstroke's voice was casual. "I've taken position on the north side. Extremely quiet up here I'm afraid. Deadshot may catch up with me after all. I'd continue down toward the waterfall if I were you."

"Fine, keep us posted. Ross out." He clicked off his receiver. He muttered a curse under his breath.

"Something bugging you?" One of his men said through a thick Russian accent.

"He's found him and wants them all to himself. He's trying to lead us further away from them."

"How…"

"He was way too generous with advice. And the tone…trust me on this. We're going north."


Tag, such a simple game. One person chasing another. But really, what else had her encounters with Batman been? From her perspective anyway. Of course Catwoman had never gotten the chance to chase Batman around Gotham. If she had, it might have felt a bit like this. She leapt from one branch to another, then flipped in the air as she descended to the moist floor below. She rushed through the brush on all fours, pursuing Tygrus through the evening light. By now she was used to seeing him move so quickly, but still was amazed that such a large creature could move with such speed and agility.

He eluded her for several minutes, laughing occasionally as she grasped at him, catching nothing but air again and again. Tygrus was faster and could jump higher than her. Every time she seemed to come close, he escaped her by a hair. He seemed to be toying with her. She had finally found a test for her limits in this body.

Selina noticed that he had to take long turns around some of the thicker brush however, and it gave her an idea. She flushed him toward a point that required Tygrus to maneuver down one path between some thickly placed trees. She then leapt through a narrow hole in the tree line, somersaulting as she flew directly over Tygrus. The look of surprise on his face as she flew over him and lightly tapped him on the head gave her immense satisfaction. She landed in a crouching position, turned to shoot a fang filled grin at him, then darted through the bushes, having now become the hunted.

Fast as he was, superior leaper as he was, his size meant he couldn't cut through narrow points or move quite as nimbly around the forest as she. Selina took advantage of this, hitting every narrow tree passage, making impossibly sharp turns at every opportunity. She could practically smell the frustration coming from him. She shot up into the trees climbing higher, springing from limb to limb, finally perching herself atop a branch too thin to hold Tygrus. Grasping the tree trunk, perched on a thicker branch below her, he sat waiting for her next move.

Instead, she relaxed on the branch, dangling her tail just out of reach. Tygrus reached to grab it, only to have her playfully pull it from his grasp. She laughed, Tygrus smiled up at her.

"Well Selina, what now?"

"I just needed a rest, that's all." She said.

"Very well, we should not tire ourselves too much. You know Catwoman, I do not recall anyone or anything escaping me for so long."

"I've been chased by the best."

Tygrus crouched down on his branch. They sat silently for a minute or so, while Selina groomed herself with her tongue.

"I never finished my story earlier…" He said.

Selina looked down and gave a sympathetic look, "You don't need to."

"I want to," he insisted. "Panthera and I deeply desired cubs. As did Father. After almost a year of trying, we realized something was wrong. Panthera could not become pregnant."

He swallowed greatly before continuing. "We decided…to let Father try to fix her problem. Something went wrong while he treated her however. She died…two years before I met you."

"I'm sorry." Catwoman said.

"Do not be. Meeting you awakened something within me, something I believed I had killed when I lost her." He sat silently for several seconds, gazing past Selina, into the sky above. High in the trees, near the top of the jungle canopy, they could see several stars emerging through a dark orange sky. Night was creeping up on them.

He finally continued, "When you and Batman left, before I handed you the antidote, I offered you the chance to stay with me. I have never hated you for not doing so, but I have often wondered what I might have said differently. I never thought I would get another chance." He paused, searching Selina's face, her glowing emerald eyes dilated in the dim light. "I know you wish to be human. Perhaps…it is the only right thing…but please…just this once let me speak, and I will never mention it again." She closed her eyes. Tygrus, she thought, what am I putting you through? But she could only nod. He continued.

"When Father spoke of a 'Catwoman' who was a human like him, I did not understand what he meant. But when I saw you…I saw…I smelled more than a mere human woman. I understand we can sense things, hear things, smell things, that humans cannot. You may understand the differences better than I do, but I always knew when Panthera was angry, sad, or happy, in ways father could not."

Tygrus was right. It was strange, but she sensed things now that were almost impossible to describe in human terms. Not only could she discern both today's fish and the rat from several days ago on Tygrus' breath, and count the number of eyelashes on his right eye, or hear every heartbeat, but every person gave off tells that betrayed emotion. A quickened heartbeat, an intensity of pheromones, a bristling of hair. So many pieces of information her mind never processed before now came unfiltered. So often humans went through life hiding their emotions, their silent feelings. But not here, not amongst the cats.

Tygrus continued. "You were restrained, seemingly helpless. But you were strong, defiant, exuding a scent, an actual smell, of independence that was more like my own, or my brothers and sisters, than Father's. These others, even after becoming like us, they still 'smell human' in many ways. It is slowing diminishing, they are becoming more cat as time passes than I think they realize, but you seemed like a cat to me before you…became one."

Catwoman cracked a gentle smile. Tygrus' voice sped up. "But more than that, you showed no fear. No fear, no true fear, of Father, nor of me. Everyone fears me. I am not boasting, just observing. Even with Father, who I sensed so much affection in, from the time I grew larger than him, I always felt just a small bit of fear in him. In his henchmen I always felt much fear. In the guards here, even in the other cats, I feel it. Fear, intimidation."

"Even from Cheetah?" Selina said with a slight chuckle.

"She hides it well, but yes. Before you, only one other person had shown so little intimidation. My Panthera." He smiled, "I felt many other things from you, of course. Hate, disgust, but never fear. Even now, though you are troubled, I feel no fear from you Selina. Of course, you are not her. You act brashly, more so than her…or anyone I knew. When you stepped between me and Batman…"

Selina laughed, cutting him off. "You think I was brash then? You haven't seen anything."

Tygrus smiled lightly, then continued speaking, this time in quiet earnestness. "That is why I desired you. Even now with others like me, you are unique. I love you Selina."

The orange in the sky was rapidly disappearing, giving way to dark blue. More stars emerged, along with a hair thin crescent moon.

"Tygrus," Selina responded, "Thank you. I mean it. You've been wonderful to me…and these people, all of us, owe our lives to you. But you have to know I can't live here. I have to go back to my old life. Being…a cat hasn't been all bad, and I have you to thank for that. But it can't last. It's not real. It's not who I am. I can't be what Dorian wanted me to be, I have to be Selina, human Selina. Tygrus, I'm sorry. You're strong, a truly amazing person. You don't need me to be happy." She dropped to the branch below, perching directly next to him. She turned to face him, but couldn't meet his eyes. "It's getting late, we should head back." And with that, she leapt, bounded off one tree trunk, then another, and deftly touched down on the jungle floor.

She'd begun to walk back when she felt Tygrus land behind her. He gripped her shoulder. "Wait Catwoman, I'm not finished." She turned and looked up at him, across his frame and into his eyes, which locked her firmly into place with their gaze. "I am not asking you be my mate…not yet. I am not asking you to stay on the island with me."

"Then what are you asking?"

"I merely ask for a chance. I have only known you a few days of my life but I wish to spend more with you. You may be right, I may not need you, but I want you. You once said you could not be won by my attempts to kill the Batman. Let me try to win you as you wish to be won. As a man seeking a woman."

Selina looked away, her face sad, her ears drooping. "Tygrus…"

He suddenly took her hands in his. She looked up, unable to escape his gaze. His amber eyes seemed almost to be burning through her. It wasn't anger, but determination. He was going to have his say, and she knew he would not accept half-hearted answers. "One final thing…I know you worry of never being human again, of never returning to your world." He leaned closer, his nose an inch from hers. "But I know you also have feelings for me."

Up close like this, his towering frame, his firm but veleveted grip on her hands, the powerful musk he emanated…she was beginning to have trouble focusing. Don't lose it now, she thought.

"Tygrus, it's…not me. It's this body; I can't live on animal impulses. We humans believe love is more than that."

"Yes, your feelings must be strange to you. But do you think I do not know true love? What I sense in you is more than the sensual attraction I felt from Cheetah and others. If you must return because that is what you truly wish, then do so. But not because you feel you must. You are Catwoman, you choose your own path, and not what Father, or anyone else says you must be."

Selina could only stare, unable to look away. She couldn't help it. His face appeared to her more masculine than anything she could remember. Don't lose it now Selina…you're human. Human. Human Human Human. She tried to think of a human face, but her mind was locked in. His scent clouded away all other thoughts.

"Tygrus…we should go…" She slipped her hands from his and placed them on his chest, intending to push him away. Instead they stayed there, gently displacing the hair on his grey pelt.

"They aren't waiting for us. We can take our time."

"I mean…we should leave…in case something happens." She felt her hands move through his fur, running along his torso.

"Like what?" Tygrus gently placed an arm around her slender waist; another cupped her head.

"This…" Her muzzle moved forward, ever so slightly. Suddenly she felt a tightening around her waist and head, and her mouth was firmly pressed against his. She wrapped her hands around his neck, rising to the balls of her feet as he pulled her into his grasp. Opening her eyes, she saw him draw back from her mouth briefly. He smiled widely. As he brought his face closer to his, she couldn't help but think it looked like he was about to devour her.

Her supple body began to twist within his grip. Lucid images flowed through her head. Of thick jungles and hunted prey dying in the clasp of her jaws. Of small furry bodies running over her. Offspring…a family…she couldn't imagine a more perfect existence.

Wait, this…this wasn't her. She didn't wish to be a feral beast, or have kids…or cubs for that manner. Her humanity was disappearing within these foreign instincts. She had to stop. She had to gather every ounce of will power she had and stop this. Fight it, Selina, fight it! Anger built within her. She focused on the emotion, letting it well up from beneath the lust she felt for Tygrus. An animal roar, a push with both hands and a kick with both feet to Tygrus' gut came, and she bounded back out of his arms from him. He staggered back, the wind driven out of him.

"No! You won't make me a monster!"

Tygrus' eyes held surprise for a brief second, then hurt for an even briefer second before turning dark with rage. "Is that what I am at long last? A monster?!" He reached for her.

"Stay back!" Almost on its own, her hand, claws born, sliced an arc, catching him on the side of the face with one finger, leaving a blood red streak across his cheek.

The sight of blood on his face broke her rage; the sharp pain from her hand broke his. He staggered back, grasping the side of his face, while looking at the hand he'd reached out to grasp her with. She stared at her hand, blood dripping from the tip of her claw.

Run, she thought, you can't face him. He's seen you for real now. You want to face those eyes? Her body tensed, a foot stepped back to leave…and she stopped.

No. No running this time.

"Tygrus, I'm sorry, I…"

"No...Selina you were right to stop me." He looked at his hand. "I thought I'd mastered my rage. But I almost…you are right. You don't belong here. Not in this savage world."

"All the world's savage Tygrus." And so am I, she whispered under her breath.

"Regardless, I took advantage of you. You were right. I have seen how difficult it can be for humans who have become cats to handle their instincts. I could feel you losing yourself as I held you. I don't know how far I would have…"

His voice trailed off, he gazed into the ground. He didn't notice when she came forward, he flinched in surprise when her hand touched his arm.

"Don't beat yourself up Tygrus. It doesn't make you a monster. Just a guy who hasn't felt the affection of a woman for years." She surprised herself, flashing a wry smile. "You know I don't think of you as a monster, don't you?"

Tygrus' smiled back, his body relaxing. "Yes…I am more concerned that you view yourself as a monster."

She didn't answer, but removed her hand, and motioned him to walk with her, back toward the camp. He followed.

"You were right about one thing though," she said as they walked.

"What?"

"It was more than out of control mutant juices. I meant it when I called you a remarkable person. That determination, sense of purpose you showed when you took it upon yourself to protect us from those thugs, I've only seen it in one other person before."

"Who?"

"Who do you think? You've met him."

He grinned, his teeth just barely showing. "You know, I knew you were lying when you said there was nothing between you and him."

She laughed, "Yeah, I guess I don't hide that too well do I?"

"It seems mutal."

Her ears drooped slightly. "The thing is…neither of us is willing to give up what separates us. There are times when I think I might give up my hobby for picking the pockets of rich folks, other times, I think he might be willing to give up his crusade. But in the end…we are what we are."

"You shouldn't have to change yourself for another." He said.

"The thing is Tygrus, we all change," She glanced at her blond furred arm, "Some of us more drastically than others. But in little ways. You're not the same person I met the first time. You change to make yourself better. And if a person is really special…maybe a bit of change is worth it."

"You sound like you might be willing to change for him."

"For him..." She suddenly halted, causing Tygrus to stop as well. She stared at him, as if sizing him up. Finally she spoke.

"You know that chance you spoke of earlier? You've got it."

His eyes went wide with surprise.

"I think humans would consider this, 'going out with each other.' We've got a lot of other things to worry about at the moment, and you can't exactly take me to movies, but that's okay. I know how to juggle staying alive and having a relationship fairly well. And I never cared for traditional customs anyway."

"Wait…I'm not sure I understand."

"Believe me, you don't want to. Just understand this part: I've decided we have something between us, and we shouldn't be afraid to explore it just because I didn't always have this fur."

Tygrus seemed stunned, "After what just happened? You saw how dangerous I could be."

She placed a hand, claws born, on his chest. "Yes, but not as dangerous as me." She said softly. "You'll see it if you're curious enough. Besides, you would have stopped before it went too far."

"You are certain?"

"I said you weren't a monster Tygrus. I meant it."

Tygrus took her hand in his. "So…what do humans do when they 'go out' as you said?"

Hand still in his, they began to start walking toward the pride's camp again. "Oh, I suppose it's mostly doing various things together. Going to special events, everyday things too. It allows us to get to know the other person in a variety of settings and find out what the other person is like. We find out if we work well together."

Tygrus thought for a moment. "It could be difficult to do at the moment. With all the danger around…" He stopped for a moment. His ears were moving in several directions quickly. He sniffed the air.

"Is something wrong?" She whispered. She listened closely, pointing her own nose to the air. Slowly, they both turned their gazes in the same direction, Their eyes cutting through the inky blackness of the forest night.

"I don't see anything…but still…" She spoke in a hushed voice.

"We should go. Quickly." Tygrus interjected.

With that they both fell to all fours and darted away, evaporating into the night.

A quarter of a mile away, hidden within a thick brush, Deathstroke let his sniper rifle's scope drop from his eye. "Almost had him," he thought to himself. It had taken an hour of careful movement to line up such a long shot in this thick forest. And they had somehow still sensed him. He knew now he'd never get close enough to get a clear shot. Not without a significant distraction. He'd need to break the beast's mind first. Fortunately, he'd already set that plan in motion. The first step would be waiting for him when he got home.