I'm back for a little while. I told myself I couldn't post anymore chapters until I'd written two more, and I did. So you have a nice long chapter. Bear with me while it gets slightly weird... okay, it's been weird. But I hope you like it.
I would like to note that I am aware of the fact that the Merced's Applegate Zoo does not in fact have a lion enclosure.
I am also more than aware of lion behavior, i did a lot of research, but Jim isn't gong to be killing any cubs anytime soon! Also, that Claire's dreams have 0 amount of foreshadowing. what so ever. like really. none.
Chapter 9: Trouble
June 19th, 2:48 am, Arcadia CA
Claire bolted upright, screaming bloody murder. Moments later her mother and father rushed into her room. Enrique started crying from his room next door.
"Claire! What is it? Are you alright?" Her mom asked, rushing forward.
"My princess, what happened?" her father asked.
Claire had tears running down her cheeks, and the roots of her hair were lined with sweat. She hugged herself tightly, whimpering. She said nothing, only cried. Burying her face into her legs, clutching them to her chest.
Her mom and dad hugged her tightly, not even sure what was going on.
In the back of Claire's mind replayed the nightmare.
She had her shadow staff at the ready, facing Morgana. She charged her with a battlecry worthy of Draal's praise, then she vanished. Claire looked around, not able to see the sorceress. Then her head started pounding, and the voice that had plagued her for so long was there again, in her mind.
"Hello my child." the voice said kindly and softly.
"Uhg, get out of my head witch!" Claire yelled at the empty space.
"I can not."
"Why?" Claire bit.
"Because, you have a job to do." Morgana chimed.
All of the sudden the dreamscape spun and she landed on her side, looking up she saw a familiar, friendly face. "Jim." She breathed.
Getting up she ran toward him, then she froze. Unable to move. She called again, "Jim!"
His head turned toward her, a smile on his face. He walked closer.
"Do you know what the job is?" Morgana said sweetly. "You must kill the Trollhunter."
Before Claire could do anything else, she raised the shadow staff. She could feel its power, and using its potential to kill, charged it with will that wasn't her own.
Jim looked hurt and like a scared animal, then, his eyes flashed with murderous red light. He crawled on all fours, his tail swaying from side to side as he ran across the empty void toward Claire.
He made one final leap toward her and locked his maw around her throat. With her body dangling limply in his mouth.
June 20th, 5:54 am, Merced County CA
Jace
Jim woke in the corner of the motel room on the floor. Curled up in an animal like manor, his tail laid out in front of him. Covering much of the floor.
He crawled out and stretched before getting to his feet.
Brad was packing up his things, and they were heading back to Merced City today. They'd been traveling around the county for about a week now. And they were heading back to Merced for a visit to Brad's twin brother, Jace.
He'd found out a lot of things about Brad and his family over the past few days. He grew up on a farm, and his brother lived in Africa for two years. Rescued a cub from trappers and brought it back to America, raised it and brought it to the Merced Zoo.
Jim let out a moan, telling Brad he was up. The tall well built man glanced over to him, "Jim, you're up. Good, could you take this out to the truck?" He gestured to his suitcase.
They had made a quick habit to leave before the sun was up. And there was a cabin with a curtain in the back of Brad's meat truck where Jim stayed during the day, he mostly slept. He didn't sleep much during the night, just when it got closer to the morning. And he only left Brad's truck during the day if they were inside, or it was overcast… ect.
Jim took the luggage to the truck and returned to the room, gathering his phone and charger. He placed the charger in one of his many pockets. He'd ditched the backpack. Keeping only one charger, his battery pack, phone, wallet, and amulet.
"You ready to head out Brad?"
"Yep," He said flipping the light switches. "You go ahead and get a start on sleep in the truck. I'm going to go check out then we'll be on our way to the zoo." He smiled.
Jim nodded and went to the truck, the last bit of meat in the back. Headed for the Merced Applegate Zoo, to feed the lions and other carnivours. He curled up again on the bed like bench in the back of the cab. The curtain slightly open for him to see Brad.
A few minutes later, Brad got in the driver's seat. He turned around and checked for Jim.
Jim smiled up at him, his head resting on his arms, "Glad someone worries about me."
"Oh Jim, there are a lot of people worried about you." Brad gave a shaky laugh. "But you should get your sleep, don't pretend that you weren't out all night. You need to sleep during the day, you weirdo nocure."
"Can't get anything past you," Jim laughed before yawning and letting his tongue out as it curled at the tip. "Alright, wake me when we get to Merced? I wanna see the lions."
"You got it Jim."
Jim fell asleep thinking about the second news video Strickler sent him.
…
"Last night, another person aided by the mysterious young man traveling the state of California. We go to Jannet in Fresno."
"Miss, would you please tell us what happened."
The girl, Jim knew to be Kelly, nodded and spoke. "I was on my way home, when a man pulled me into the alley. I screamed but even people who saw me kept walking. Then the young man showed up. The man knocked me to the ground and tried to attack him, but it was like he disappeared then appeared in front of me… protecting me.
"He fought the guy and knocked him out. He asked if I was ok and helped me to the police station. He was rather strange."
"So you saw him?" The reporter pressed.
"Not at first, he wore a cloak. But I did see his face."
"Tell us, everyone is curious. What does he look like?"
Kelly shook her head, "He asked me not to tell. I'm going to respect that."
"Is there anything you would like him to know, as he may be watching the news?"
"I'd like him to know that he saved me, and tell him thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"There you have it." The camera pans to a dark skinned reporter. "Yet again the strange young man saves the day and stays anonymous."
…
Jim loved helping people, and it's becoming a bit of a game. The best part, watching the media's reaction to someone helping without asking for anything in return. It confuses them and it's funny watching them scramble to try and follow the story. He hadn't done anything big recently, so you could say he'd been radio silent.
Jim woke when Brad was tapping his shoulder.
"Jim. we're here, It's about noon though. So you might want to stay here a bit longer."
Jim barely registered it, he nodded and sleepily set an alarm for just before sundown. And fell back to sleep.
Brad laughed at the young half troll before making the curtains were pulled tight, and exiting the truck.
…
Jim woke to his alarm and a grumbling in his stomach, -right, I haven't eaten in like three days.- Jim had realized that as a troll, he didn't actually need to eat everyday. And his meal times were slowly becoming more spaced out.
The light smell of raw meat found his senses, and he carefully ventured out of the truck, the sun was down enough and the buildings high enough, so he was safe.
He smelled for Brad, and followed his nose to a small room that smelled way too good to resist. He found the man cutting up large chunks of meat from the back of the refrigerated truck.
"Hey Brad, think you could spare some of that for a hungry troll?" He smiled, but scared the man half to death.
He jumped and turned around, and yelled at the sight of Jim. Pulling the meat cleaver on him.
Moments later… Brad ran in? -Twin brother, identical twin. Share 99% of DNA, he smelled the same.-
Brad panicked, he placed himself between the two, removing the knife from his brother's hand. "Jace calm down…" He breathed, "Jim, what are you doing?"
"In my defense," Jim started, "He smells just like you. And I'm hungry. How could you not expect me to be drawn to a room full of meat and…" Jim took a deep breath, "Mmm… Are there insects in here?" he asked Jace with a smile.
The man fearfully nodded, "Brad, what's going on?"
Brad pinched the bridge of his nose, "Jace, this is Jim. Jim this is Jace, my identical twin brother… wait, we have the same scent?"
"Well, now that I'm closer, I can smell the animals on him." Jim smiled. "But your actual scent is the same."
Jace's brows furrowed, "I'm confused."
"Don't be, it's make things complicated." Brad sighed.
"So uh, Brad, I'm kinda hungry." Jim says, glancing at the meat on the large cutting board.
Brad rolled his eyes before turning to the cutting board and cutting a large portion of the beef and handing it to Jim then washing his hands in the nearby sink.
Jim licked his teeth and sat cross legged, his tail curled up next to him. Jace watched with concern and horror as he ate the meat.
Stuttering he turned to Brad, "Bro, what… this… him… the meat! It's raw!" was all he was able to get out.
"Yeah, and he's a better customer then you." Brad patted his brother on his back.
Jim's tusks tore against the red meat, he quickly devoured the piece given. Satisfied, he cleaned his fingers, then his face, all using his long tongue. He grinned up at Jace, crawling forward on his hands and feet and scenting the man. His tail making wide swoops in the small room.
"I've heard a lot about you, I think it's cool you rescued a cub. I was really excited to see the lions." Jim said.
"Jim, I think you're freaking him out." Brad drawled.
"Well of course I am, everyone freaks out when they see me. I'm a seven and a half foot troll! I also just ate four pounds of raw beef in like, less than a minute. Which had to be disturbing in itself." Jim glanced back at Jace, "Sorry. I'm weirding you out." He move to his feet and held out his hand. "I'm Jim."
Jace warily took his hand, "Jace. Don't suppose you could explain some of that?"
Jim laughed, "One of my halfs tends to take precedence over the other. I'm half troll, and I prefer that half to being human. So I just act according to my instincts… within reason."
Jace looks back at Brad, "Troll?"
Brad threw his arms up in mock defense, "We swore not to say anything that happened. And Jim's actually the only one who really knows what happened."
"Yeah, but I tend to get a bit dark when I talk about that." He forced a smile, "Think you could show me the lions?" Jim's tail swug a bit more rapidly.
Jace looked at him with curiosity for a moment, "Is that prehensile?"
"What, my tail?"
"Yeah." Jace said walking closer now.
"If you mean I can grab things with it, or hang from it, then yes." Jim grinned.
"Wait, you can hang from this?" Jace exclaimed, his hands floating around it as it passed.
Jim nodded, "Yeah, and if you wanna touch it, just ask. I feel like a new speci being observed."
"Oh, sorry. May I?"
Brad laughed at the exchange, then left to get the rest of the Zoo's meat order from the truck.
"Yes, just be gentle. Please don't grab it." Jim said, moving his tail into the zookeepers hands.
Jace ran his fingers along Jim's tail, rubbing the scruff. Jim couldn't help but purr at the touch. Jace stared at him confused.
"What? If you pet a cat it's going to purr. You're basically petting my tail." He tilted his head.
Jace let's go and laughed a bit.
"What?" Jim tilted his head the other way.
"Just I've never met anything… anyone as conscious as you, that's as…"
"Monstrous?" Jim growled.
"Animal." Jace replaced. "It's amazing."
Jim's growl softened back to a purr, and he smiled. "Thanks. Now, I don't suppose I could see the lions?" He asked.
Jace grabbed a bucket full of meat and motioned for Jim to follow, he led him through some dark halls.
"Brad said you have a close relationship to one of the lionesses."
Jace sighed, "Well I used to, but since she had her litter and all but one died, she won't let anyone near her or him. And the cub is sick, he needs antibiotics." he opened a door leading out to the lion's enclosure. Set about ten feet into the ground and a high fence.
The sky was almost completely dark and the only lights were the dim street lamps of the Zoo.
Jim took a deep breath of fresh air and grinned when he saw the lionesses, cub and an alpha. A smaller male off to the side.
"That one right there," He pointed to a lioness caring for a sickly looking cub. "That's Jenna. Won't let anyone near her since her cub was born. I'm afraid he won't make it if we can't get him away from her."
"What's the cub's name?"
Jace grinned, "Trouble."
They walked closer and Jace poured the food into the troff. Jim and him walked away standing against some rocks a bit away from the agitated lioness.
Jace watched Jim as his eyes followed the animals every movement, curious and calculating. His tail moved around like a kite ribbon. Making wide sweeps from side to side.
"You're staring," Jim said, not moving his eyes off of the lions. He moved to a crouch, and his tail relaxed at his feet in a small coil.
"Just, fascinated, sorry."
"Better fascinated than abusive." Jim scoffed.
"I'm sorry what?"
"It's nothing." Jim looked at his feet, "Sorry."
"Sorry I asked." Jace said, sitting on a rock next to Jim.
"That one's the alpha, right?" Jim pointed to the larger male.
"Yeah, he's the leader of this small pride. His name's King."
"The smaller one doesn't like him." Jim said.
"Really?" Jace asked, this was news to him.
Jim nodded, "it's his scent. He wants the other lioness for his mate. But King isn't letting him."
"Well, that's how most prides work. And he can't do anything about it, he's too small to take his place."
Jim let a small smile pass his lips, "Size doesn't always matter." he muttered.
Jace figured he'd try and get close to Jenna, he did raise her after all. He got up and slowly started walking toward the lioness, Jenna, who was bathing her cub.
"I know you're her handler, but I don't think that's a good idea." Jim said, crawling forward a few steps, his tail uncoiling.
"I'm just trying to get close."
Jim was seeing something different, "No," He lowered his voice, "Back up, slowly."
"Why…" He was about to question when King jumped down in front of Jenna and Trouble, growling at him. Only then did Jace begin to back up, he held his hands in front of him.
"I think you got too close." Jim breathed.
"Yep." he said. Almost watching his life flash before his eyes.
Every time he took a small step back, the alpha lion took two forward. Then he was against the wall.
"Trouble's getting more sick, and he didn't like you that close." Jim said, completely calm.
He figured he would try and save Jim the pain of watching him get torn to shreds and tell him to leave. "Jim, I want you to…" the lion charged. And it was too late.
King dashed forward with a guttural roar, but was stopped in his tracks by… Jim?
The half troll watched as the lion charged and was about to kill his handler for getting too close to his cub, and he had to do something.
Jim jumped in front and rammed his head into King's, the lion shook himself out and stood in a defencive stance, daring Jim to challenge him. Jim took up a similar stance on his hands and feet. Standing between Jace and King.
The other lion's heads poked up to watch the commotion.
King roared at Jim, asserting his dominance. Jim got the message, loud and clear.
He was being challenged.
Jim returned in kind, accepting with a blood curdling roar that would ring in ones ears for hours after hearing it.
"Jim, what are you doing?!" Jace whispered.
Through a growl he grunted, "Kinda busy." he snarled.
King lunged forward, going for Jim's throat. Jim dogged but kept himself between the human and the lion. He ran on all fours tackling the alpha male to the ground, his mouth locked onto one of King's legs. He didn't want to hurt him, just get him to back down.
The older lion rolled on top of Jim, making him lose his grip. King tried again to go for the killing attack, and again Jim dogged. He figured if he was going to win, he'd have to play by his own rules.
Jim took a few steps back before making strides toward King, and ramming his horns into the side of the beast, sending him rolling through the enclosure. Jace gasped, but Jim wasn't done yet. He crawled over to King head high, and waited for the lion's response.
King got to his feet, and bowed his head. Staring depressingly at the ground.
Jim crawled forward, and nuzzled the older lion. A series of moans and whines from both. Then King made his way back to Jenna and Trouble.
Jim followed him, and pressed an unasked question to the lioness. She whined and growled before relenting. Jim used his mouth and picked up the lion cub by the skin of his neck and crawled over to Jace. He stood and dropped the cub into his own arms. Nuzzling the small, fuzzy and frail cub.
Jace looked around the enclosure trying to figure out what to say. "What just happened?"
Jim walked passed Jace with the cub in his arms toward the door, "I'm the new alpha." he grinned. A glance back at Jenna, and he realized she would be far too agitated for her own good without her cub. A growl and a head gesture later she got up and walked next to Jim.
Jace's jaw couldn't have been closer to the floor.
"You going to stand there or are we going to go get Trouble those antibiotics?" Jim said, walking out the door with a lioness following like a loyal dog.
Jace hurried out and shut the door. Leading Jim to the veterinary clinic.
"You can put Trouble in here." Jace gestured to a cage on the table.
Jim glared, "No."
"What? You can't tell me no!"
"I just defeated an alpha lion. And I've defeated worse. I can do whatever the hell I want. Or you can challenge me." He growled.
Jace raised his hands in fear, "Fine, I'm going to get the medicine." Jace walked out.
Jim chuckled to himself, he shouldn't find joy in scaring the crap out of humans, but is was just so fun!
Jenna gave a concerned moan next to him. He smiled down at her before sitting down with Trouble in his arms. Jenna lay down on the cold sterile floor next to him.
It wasn't that he could speak lion or anything, just that there was a mutual understanding of what the other wanted. Conveyed through actions and sounds.
Right now, Jenna wanted to mother Jim. He sighed and set the cub down in his lap, then lay his back against Jenna. She wrapped her body around him and set her head on his leg, nuzzling it slightly. Jim leaned forward, and nuzzled her back.
Brad followed Jace in, who was glaring at Jim.
"Jim, I know you think it's funny to scare the crap out of uninformed humans, but could you please tell Jace you were joking." Brad smiled, trying to to laugh.
"Sorry, but your brother is just too gullible." Jim laughed.
"Am not!"
"Jace, you really think I would fight you? It wouldn't be a fight, it would be a slaughter. I'm a war champion. Fighting off King was easy, I just didn't want to hurt him. And I'm not in the business for harming innocents anyways." He smiled, "So sorry if I scared you."
"That's not funny, man." Jace said.
"It kinda is." Brad laughed.
Jenna's head lifted at the sound, and she growled in the direction of the unknown being. Brad held his hands out and looked frightened. Jim growled at her, to get her attention. Then whined something and she kinda glared back at him- if lion's can even glare.- before standing and placing herself between Jim and the twins. Laying down again, she rested her head on Jim's leg next to her cub. She licked Trouble's head every now and again.
"Calm down, both of you." Jim said, "You're putting her on edge."
Jace's face spelled question.
"Jim can smell the chemicals and hormones in people. He can read emotions better than an empath. And he can hear heart rate and breathing. He can read anyone, and anything like a book." Brad whispered to his brother.
"What is he?" Jace whispered back, filling a needle with medicine for the cub.
Brad snorted, "The reason we're still alive."
Jace gave his brother a confused look, but he didn't expound upon his statement. "Jim, I need you to bring the cub over here. Away from Jenna so she doesn't freak out and attack when I give Trouble the shot."
"Just come over here and do it. She won't attack. It just stresses her out when she can't see what's happening to her sick cub." Jim shrugged. "Trust me. I saved you from King earlier, didn't I? I won't let her do anything bad." Jim gave a reassuring smile.
"Fine, I'll trust you." Jace said cautiously.
Jim moved Trouble into his arms, receiving a questioning whine from Jenna. Jim growled back and she returned her head to his leg, moving a paw onto his lap.
Jim held the cub as he was instructed, and the shots were given without complication.
"Is that all he needs from being here?" Jim asked.
Jace nodded, "Yeah. He should be fully recovered in about two days."
"Is it alright if I take them back to the enclosure?"
"If you would." Jace started to put the needles and medication away.
Jim's ears flicked against his scruff. Brad took notice, "What is it Jim?"
"I was wondering, would it be alright if I stayed the night in the indoor enclosure with them?"
"What happened to 'I can do whatever the hell I want'?" Jace rolled his eyes.
"I can, but it's still polite to ask." Jim smiled.
"Be out of sight by eight, that's when the zoo opens." Jace said.
Brad smiled and yawned, "I'm going to the truck, I'll see you in the morning. K Jim?"
"Yup, goodnight Brad."
Brad left, and Jim picked Trouble up out of his arms with his teeth, gently. And crawled back to the lion enclosure. Jenna following.
He stood, and handed the cub off to Jenna, then opened the door. She went in, he followed and shut the door behind him. Returning to his hands and feet.
There was a small, man made cave under the rocks king was perched on before. King and the other female were inside, and the smaller male was on the rocks outside moping.
Jenna set Trouble down and growled at the other lioness to get out, and she did, promptly. The cave was heated, and King lay regally inside, Jenna laid down next to him, setting the cub at her feet, then whined at Jim to come closer.
King didn't seem to mind, he challenged, and he lost. Jim was his alpha now. Jim crawled forward, the small cub already looking somewhat healthier. He smiled at it and laid down a good distance away from the others. Closing his eyes.
He felt something sharp at his neck, and suddenly he was being dragged by his scruff and skin closer to Jenna, King, and Trouble. Jenna pulled him next to her before lying down again.
Jim was a bit irked she did so, but it couldn't be helped. He went to close his eyes when she started giving Jim a bath. Before Jim could pull away he found himself purring. She ran her tongue across his scruff on the back of his neck, above the cloak. And his head, and around his horns. The sensation was that of what his instincts told him a mother would do, he knew his mother would never do that, but apparently Jenna saw a need to fill the hole.
Jim relented and scooted closer, pulling the cloak off and tossing it aside so she could reach the scruff around his shoulders. He looked at Trouble, and however warm the cave was, the cub was shivering.
He pulled him by the skin of his neck and carefully dropped him in the crook of his body. Jenna seemed to have deemed him clean and finally moved to curl her form around Jim's tight position. She nuzzled his face, and he happily reciprocated with a small purr. He wrapped his tail around Trouble's small form and tail, he was already seeming like a little brother.
King came closer too, curling around all three of them, and resting his head on Jenna's back. Jim looked down at Trouble, no longer shivering, and fast asleep with a steady heartbeat and breathing. He smiled. This was now his pride, he's won claim over it. And even if he did leave, he'd come back.
He'd always come back to this. If it meant a close relationship with loving individuals who had instinct to care for him even if he looked and acted different. Yes, he's always come back to this.
June 21st, 10:29 am, Applegate CA
Jamie
Jim woke the next morning with the sun shining outside the small cave. And voices of the disappointed crowd that only two of the five lions were out. Jim moaned, and forced his eyes open.
He was in the same position he was when he went to sleep. He smiled at this and purred lightly. Keeping his eyes closed.
The sound of footsteps caused him to wake immediately moving away from the other lions, and take defense against the threat. But he realized it was only Jace, looking like he was about to wet himself.
"Sorry," He said, releasing his growl. "Thought you were a threat." Jim smiled and crawled back to the sleeping pile he was in, settling himself down next to Jenna. "You know, after last night, it's not smart to get to close to King, he's still on edge." He stated with his eyes shut as he rested his head on Jenna's back. King's head on the packed down dirt floor next to his.
"If King is letting another male around Jenna, then I'd say that's ridiculous." Jace scoffed.
Jenna stirred, and moved her head to rest on Jim's back, Trouble next to her.
"Pa-lease." Jim sighed, "She sees me as a cub. And King's just accepted the fact that he challenged me, and lost. Now I'm alpha."
"Well, whatever. Brad had to go early, some important meeting or something came up." he sighed. "Look Jim, you saved my life. So," He took a deep breath. "Whenever you want to come and chill with the lions. You have free reign."
Jim smiled, "Thanks Jace."
"Also, I left some meat by the door in a smaller, cleaner, bucket. You can have you're nasty meal, with your nasty eating habits." he smiled then left.
Jim's tail made long wide sweeps in the dirt, he brought it in front of him and watched it for several minutes before yawning and stretching. King and Jenna doing the same. He pulled the cloak back on and found the meat Jace was talking about. A nice T-bone. Jim smiled to himself as he ate the small portion of meat and crunched down on the bone.
He listened to the crowd, as they gasped happily at the majestic beasts.
Staying on the edges, he ducked under some brush and climbed a tree. He sat in the shadows, and hung from his tail for the first time in a few weeks. From this angle he could see the people crowding around the enclosure…
And the little boy fall off his older sister's shoulders after getting shoved too hard. The boy fell, he hit some branches and those slowed his fall but didn't stop him from hurting. He gave a loud cry of pain and his older sister screamed, "JAMIE!"
Jim sighed and climbed down, he'd take the kid back up to the top. No problem. Not a big deal.
But then of course, the smaller, jealous male had to make it a big deal.
His eyes laser focused on the little kid, the boy was in line of sight of everyone. And everyone saw the determined look on the lions face. His sister was bawling hysterically.
The lion charged, and Jim tackled it from the side. His hood pulled tight around his face, and his tail in full view. He quickly pulled it under the secrecy of his cloak. The crowd gasped at the sight of another person in the enclosure. He then gave a few growling commands to the other lion to back down.
But no, he wanted to challenge him too. He obviously didn't respect the hierarchy.
The other lion charged, he was much faster. And although he did go for the throat and miss, he managed to tear up Jim's arm.
With all these people watching he had to be careful what he did. The lion charged Jim again and roared. Jim simply headbutted him, and shoved him back.
The crowded couldn't get enough of what was going on. Cameras were out, phones were flashing, and the media would be eating this up!
Jim had to work fast and be careful of the sun, he got on his fours and did his best to attack in what looked to be a human manor from up top, but wasn't at all human. He charged the other lion, and locked his jaw around the back of the other's neck, using his arms to make it look like he was just holding on, his arm burned from the teeth marks left on his stone.
He tasted blood, of course. That's what happens when you bite into someone's neck. But he did it in a way it wouldn't cause any real damage. He let go and crawled around, snarling and daring the other to get up. He didn't. He licked the blood from his tusks, and could now say he'd drank lion's blood. It wasn't something he was necessarily proud of, but just the principal that he had done so.
He turned back to take the boy to the top when his ears twitched violently, he spun to see the lion charging again. But what the lion didn't see, was King and Jenna. King tackled him from the side, knocking him down. And Jenna stood protectively in front of her Alpha and adopted cub.
The crowd of people were gasping at the turn of events.
The defeated lion stalked away, lying down in a corner to sulk. King and Jenna pranced up to Jim. The crowd started to shout their concerns, but quickly stopped when their shock over took them as Jenna and King both nuzzled Jim, and Jenna gave him a long lick.
Jim sounded his gratitude and glanced at the boy, cowering from the danger that was present around him.
He pulled the Cloak tighter around him and his hood farther down. He walked over to the boy, "Hey kid, you alright?"
The crowd was watching his every move. He hid within his cloak, from the sun and from the people. The boy was about nine-years-old, brown shaggy hair with amber eyes, he was a bit scraped up from the fall and shaken, but otherwise looked just fine. He looked around, over to the sulking male, over to Jenna and King, then back at the hooded figure who was staring at him.
Realizing he'd been asked a question, he slowly nodded. "Did you just fight that lion?"
"Yes."
"And you're not like, DEAD!?"
"No."
"How?!"
Jim took a careful glance up to the crowd, watching ten feet up, and two feet back. He spotted the boy's frantic sister, her eyes pleading for her brother to be out of the enclosure. Jim walked closer to the kid, he crouched down, "Hey, your sister is pretty worried. Let's get you back up there."
"Ok."
Jim had mentally mapped out the zoo the night before, there was a door up top next to the enclosure. He could just pick the kid up and climb out, but he'd shown enough of his strength to the populous today.
"Hey kid…"
"My name's not 'kid', it's Jamie." The boy huffed.
Jim snickered at the boy, "Alright, Jamie. Can you close your eyes while I take you back to your sister, or do I have to blindfold you?"
"Why would you have to blindfold me… Whagh!" He jumped as Jenna walked up behind him and stuck her nose in his face to smell him. "Wha… what's she doing!?" The little boy said, panicking. As was his sister up top.
Jim sighed and then growled at Jenna to back off, that gained her attention, unfortunately it got the whole crowd's attention. Jenna walked over to Jim, brushing against his legs like a cat, and he rubbed her head affectionately.
"Aren't you afraid she's going to hurt you?" Jamie asked.
Jim shook his head, "Naw, she thinks I'm her cub." he smiled, and sent her away. "Now, follow me, your sister is freaking out." Jim walked toward the door and the boy followed. The younger lion moved to go after the kid, but Jim snarled at him. Making him stay were he was.
Jim held the door for the boy and followed him through, he had the boy walk in front, directing him to the stairwell that led up. "Why did he listen to you?" the boy asked quietly.
Jim laughed, "Because he knows he can't beat me in a fight, you saw that."
"Ok, but how did you beat him?"
"That's enough questions for you." Jim said, opening the door to a little space under an awning. The crowd was slowly leaving, and the girl was looking around for her missing brother, with tear stained cheeks.
Jim crouched down and found a pebble, he tossed it in her direction, hitting her arm. She spun to see who had thrown it, and found the rescuer with her brother in an employee's only section. She ran, then jumped the rope cutting off the area and fell to her knees wrapping her brother in a hug.
"Jamie, I'm so glad your ok. Are you hurt? Are you ok?" the girl panicked.
"I'm fine Maddie." The boy pushed her off.
Jim had climbed onto a tree to see if the news crews were showing up yet, they were. And frantic to get into the zoo. He had to laugh, they were just eating up the stories he created.
"HEY!" the girl called for the fifth time, finally getting his attention. Jim looked back to her.
"Yeah?" he said, sliding down the trunk of the tree.
"How did you do that? You fought off another lion? And the bigger one and the lioness, what's with that? Why are you wearing a cloak? Don't think I didn't see a tail. And…"
"Woah, woah, woah, slow down there." Jim couldn't help but laugh, hiding in the fake foliage. -What kind of zoo has fake plants?- "That's a lot of questions."
"Sorry, but seriously. How are you not dead?"
Jim glanced over her shoulder, and the news crew were about to pounce on her like… well, like a lion.
Jim ran to the door, "look, I can't be seen. Especially by them." Jim pointed to the upcoming swarm of reporters. "If you promise not to say anything about it, and tell them nothing about me or my tail. I'll promise to meet you here tonight and answer your questions, after dark." Jim's hand gripped the doorknob tightly.
The girl paused for a moment before nodding, "I promise," she smiled.
"Thank you." Jim breathed and disappeared with the door closed behind him.
The girl took her brother out of the employee only area and met the horde of reporters.
Jim ran down the stairs and quickly found Jace, it wasn't hard. He smelled just like Brad, and he already had his scent to memory after spending a week with him.
"Jace, you might want to go deal with the media storm outside the lion's enclosure."
"What did you do?" The man glared.
Jim threw his hands up in mock defense, "hey, I just saved a kid from getting eaten by the other male… what's his name?"
"Mace," he said calmly. "And what?"
"Kid fell off his sisters shoulders into the enclosure. I had to fight Mace though, he challenged me. He's got some real issues with authority." Jim laughed.
"Yes he does, is the kid alright?" Jace said, trying to calm the brief wave a panic.
"Yeah, he's back with his sister. But she and him are dealing with the crazed news reporters."
The door burst open, and one of the zoo workers ran in. luckily, Jim had his hood up, and his back turned. "Jace, a kid fell into the lion's enclosure! Then someone went in after him, and Mace attacked him!"
The man hadn't noticed Jim yet. Somehow. "And he won! Now the kid and his sister are out trying to get away from the media!" The man finished, out of breath. Finally noticing Jim. "Oh my gosh it's you!"
"Yup, and that's my cue, to leave." Jim nodded to Jace and left the dumbfounded zoo worker to freak out. "Oh and Jace, when you talk to the reporters. You know nothing about me."
"I don't know your name. I don't know your face." He waved it off, "Oh and Jim."
Jim turned and paused.
Jace tossed him a shiny silver key. He caught it and looked at the tag it was attached to. On it scrawled, 'Alpha Lion' "That's to the enclosure, so you can get in whenever you want."
"Thanks Jace, I'll be gone by midnight. But I will be back, can't leave my pride forever." Jim smiled, tossed the key in the air and side swiped it before pocketing it.
He left, the poor zoo worker confused to hell and back.
He wandered back to the lion's enclosure, and found the door to the cave. He sauntered in, he liked that lion's just slept all the time. Jenna was sitting with Trouble, giving him yet another bath.
He removed his cloak and crawled over to her and the cub, letting his tail flow freely. Trouble was looking much healthier. He was sitting up and he looked much calmer. He watched Jenna clean him, and he tried to crawl away in protest.
He got on his feet, slightly wobbly, but managed to totter over to Jim. he picked him up by the scruff with his mouth and laid down next to Jenna, and set Trouble against his him. The cub nuzzled Jim's chest then lay down. He brought his tail around and curled it in a circle around the cub.
Jenna started to give Jim a bath, cleaning behind his ears and licking his scruff. She moved down his neck and tried to get to the scruff on his back. Jim was content in letting her bathe him, then she started pulling on his shirt.
Jim moaned in protest, she replied by dropping his shirt and whining. She thought it was getting in the way and wanted it off. He rolled his eyes and removed his shirt, tossing it in the pile with his cloak before laying back down.
Jenna gave a sound of triumph, and set back to bathing Jim. the warm heat of the cave pricked at his skin, he began to purr as Jenna cleaned his scruff around his shoulders then the scruff along his spine. It tickled a little as her rough tongue cleaned his wiry scruff, she cleaned up his arm where Mace had bit. And he laughed as she tried to pull at Jim's pants with her teeth.
"Those are staying on." he laughed.
Jenna made a sound similar to a sigh. Then started trying to clean his tail. Jim whined about it and moved his tail out of the way, and she grunted. Jim growled back like a moody teenager, and Jenna moved her front paws, laying them across Jim's body.
Jim tried to crawl away but the resulting bark made him stay. He settled down as she had already decided there was no way he was getting out of it.
She pinned him to the ground and cleaned his tail, gave him a threatening growl when she had to get off to reach the further lengths of it. Jim curled back up and tried to ignore the still strange sensation of someone elses touch to his tail
Trouble got up and started wondering about the strange being inhabiting his home. Jim smelled the cub, quickly realizing he liked to think of him as a little brother. While Jenna cleaned his tail, Trouble was climbing his face and gnawing on his horns. Licking them and being a curious little fuzz ball.
Jenna grunted at Jim, he looked back to her, Trouble on his head, and saw that she'd finished. Figuring she could trust the Alpha with the cub, who was feeling much better, she left the cave.
"Well, Trouble, it's just you and me. What do you want to do?"
The cub tumbled off Jim's shoulders and looked at him with a tilted head. Then got up and started to wander around.
Jim watched, making sure he didn't get too close to the mouth of the small cave. He settled his head against on his arm, his tail drifting and twitching as it pleased. The cub disappeared behind him for a second, then he jerked at the sudden pressure on his tail. Only to realize Trouble had pounced on it, he found the twitching interesting.
Jim smiled and rolled over onto his stomach, he used his tail like a toy, dangling it in front of the cub and pulling it away at the last moment. Dragging it across the dusty cave floor for him to chase. Soon Jim's eyes grew heavy and the cub caught the tail with his lack of focus. The cub playfully gnawed at the tip, licking the fur like Jenna had done. Jim laughed and pulled his tail from Trouble's grasp, then wrapped it around the cub's torso and pulled him closer. It was about noon, and Jim was bored out of his mind. And tired, not because he hadn't slept, but because it was daytime.
The cub whined in protest, and Jim just moaned at him. The cub was now covered in dirt and dust from playing around, and a strange urge to groom him came. Jim didn't know why, but he did.
He scruffed the cub and crawled closer to the cave wall, setting Trouble down next to him. Before the cub could get away he set to cleaning him as he'd seen Jenna do multiple times. Trouble tried to escape the grasp of his 'brother' but couldn't as Jim had hands to hold him hostage.
By the time he finished, the lion cub had settled down and was content with him. Jim curled his body around the cub, his tail relaxed near his feet and fell asleep purring.
June 21st, 11:00 pm, Applegate CA
Maddie
Jim woke with two lion's around him, Jenna's head resting on his leg. King was at his back, his mane tickling Jim's ears. Trouble nestled up next to him, content with the addition to his family. Somehow, Jim's tail ended up in a pile next to him, and not under one of the adult lions.
A sad smile came to his lips, he had to leave tonight. And while he wanted to stay here with this little family he'd created in taking over the pride, it wasn't ideal.
Then he heard someone calling in a hushed tone outside the enclosure, -right, I told her to come back.- Jim mentally slapped himself. He slid out from under Jenna's head, pulling his shirt on and fastening the cloak around his shoulders.
He walked out and watched the girl call out, over and over again. She looked around in every direction but the enclosure
The girl's tone was unsure, "Hello?" she paced back and forth before slumping in a pile next to the fence then muttered to herself. "This is ridiculous."
"You're not wrong." Jim said, loud enough to be heard clearly.
The girl's head whipped around, she scrambled on the ground and came closer to the fence to see who had spoken. She finally spotted Jim in the faint light of the street lamps that lined the sidewalk.
"Oh my gosh! What are you doing? Get out of there!" she yelled.
"Now why would I do that?" Jim smiled, and even though she couldn't see his face, she could hear his smile.
The girl frantically pointed to the other lion that he'd fended off earlier, "Because he might try to maul you again!"
"Naw, Mace and I just had a misunderstanding. He's really nice, just moody."
"You can't just expect animals to behave all the time, their unpredictable and dangerous. That's why their in cages!"
"These lions won't hurt me, I'm their alpha."
"You're the alpha?"
He ignored her question and continued, "And what's to say I'm not unpredictable and dangerous?" Jim slid the cloak so it hung off his shoulder instead of hs back. He moved to crawl, and let his tail make it's large swaying motions, pacing a bit. "Should I be in a cage?"
The girl lost all sight of winning that argument.
"Alright, I told you I'd answer your questions, ask, and I'll answer."
"Why do you have a tail?"
"Why do you have arms?" Jim mocked.
The girl seemed glaring was the best response.
Jim laughed at her, "Next question."
"Why were you in the enclosure in the first place?"
"Uh, I told you. This is my pride, I'm the alpha."
"How can you be the alpha?"
"I beat King. Next."
The girl sighed, "Why did the other lioness and lion protect you from that one, uh, Mace was it?"
Jim nodded, "Jenna kinda just adopted me. King was just protecting the alpha, plus I think I'm growing on him."
"Why would a lion adopt a human?"
Jim spurted, then burst out laughing. He rolled around on the ground before stopping on his back and looked up at her. "That's cute." He laughed.
She glared daggers, "What's so funny?" she placed her hands on her hips.
Jim rolled over onto his stomach, and got to his feet. He pointed up at her. "Girl you are a human. Jenna wouldn't adopt you." He grinned. "Me on the other hand," Jim gestured to himself, "I'm not."
"Pht… not human? That's ridiculous."
Jim noticed out of the corner of his eyes that Jenna was coming out with Trouble he moved to a crawling position, "Next question." He said.
She contemplated it for a bit, "Are you the guy that keeps showing up on the news?"
Jim paused midstep, his tail froze mid air, and his head perked up. He looked up at her, "Yeah. I am." He couldn't help the smile.
"Thank you for saving my brother." the girl said somberly.
Jenna and Trouble came up to him, he greeted her with a nuzzle and a purr. Jim grabbed Trouble with his mouth and set him on his back before lying down. The cub climbed up his back and worked on getting his hood off.
"Of course. It's what I do. Besides, I've only know this little guy for a day, but if anything happened to him I'd kill everyone in the room then myself." he said as Jenna curled up next to him, resting her head on his legs. "Next question." he said, gripping the leathery brim of his hood so that Trouble couldn't pull it down.
"What's your name?"
"Next question." Jim gave a low growl.
She sighed, "My name is Maddie, what's yours?" she leaned against the railing.
"What did I say?"
"Hey, I'm asking the questions." She laughed.
"Whatever, I can't give you my name."
"Fine, my next question… hmmm, why don't you want anyone to know it's you helping them?"
"I help people because it's right. I don't do it for attention. But seeing the news stories and how I've helped them… that's the best thing." Jim smiled.
"I think that's awesome." Maddie said, "Uh, what's the cub doing?"
"He's trying to get my hood off."
"Why?"
"Because he's a little rascal," Jim laughed, he rolled over and scooped up the cub, nuzzling his face.
"What's his name?"
"This is Trouble." Jim smiled at the small cub, his little blue eyes sparkling. He set him down and rolled back to his stomach and started playing with his tail again, Trouble jumping at the chance to play with his brother.
"He's so cute." Maddie said.
"So, do you have anymore questions?" Jim asked, dangling his tail in front of both his and Trouble's faces. Trouble jumped and instead of catching the tail, ended up on Jim's face. The cub hugged his face and licked him.
Maddie laughed at the silly display, leaning on the guardrail near the enclosure. "Why do you have a tail?"
Jim's hooded face looked up to her, "you already asked that," He said as he lured Trouble away with his tail.
"Yeah, but it's a valid question." She supplied.
"While it is a valid question, there's a reason I stay anonymous. I can't go telling you everything about me." He said, pulling his tail away as the cub pounced for it.
"That's fair. How bout this question, why is it blue? And I don't think I've ever seen a tail that long, even in fiction." She pressed, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"It's blue because I'm blue, I'm not sure why it's so long though. But I like it." he smiled brightly, but the effect was lost as the hood covered his face. "Any other questions? I've got to get going soon."
King came out of the small cave, walked over to Jenna and lay down next to her. Acknowledging Jim with a grunt. Jim sighed and gave a sarcastic whine and nuzzled the older's mane.
"Uh, he doesn't seem to like you very much." Maddi commented, becoming wary.
"Naw, he's just grumpy." Jim smiled, "King doesn't actually like humans. He's bothered by you, and the fact that I'm out here talking to you."
"Wow, thanks." She crossed her arms and cocked her hip.
"Yup, but I share his sentiment. Most humans suck." Jim paused, momentarily thinking about his mother, Toby, Claire, how they treated him, he shook off the thought and crawled forward before stretching a bit. "Alright, I'm gonna walk you home. Can't have you getting held up or anything."
"I'm not sure how I feel about you following me home." She deadpanned.
"Just want to make sure you're safe." Jim said, He scruffed Trouble and carried him next to Jenna. He nuzzled his lioness mother, and purred to say goodbye. Licked Troubles face clean, and fixed his cloak before scaling the rocky wall over the side of the enclosure. Holding the cloak around himself as he stalked forward. "Lead the way," Jim said.
Jim walked the girl home, no complications, then made his way north once again. He could hear the sad cries of Trouble and Jenna as he passed the zoo again, it sent daggers through his heart. Made him want to stay more, but he had to go. He snarled and sadly pressed his ears against his head to block out their sad cries, now joined by King.
So, what did you think?