I don't own Jak and Daxter, Errol, or the KG. Lyra and Loor are mine. Do not steal.

-Insane Fangirls Productions Presents-

The Animal
Part 3

Loor awoke to screaming. It made her gasp and sit up, throwing her own voice into the mix as surprise made her most primal reaction her first, drawing her blanket up to her chest as she rose from a soft pillow, twisting the silk in her fingers as her eyes glanced about wildly.

Almost at once the texture was wrong to her; for some reason she expected to awake within the underground with her rough pillow and scratchy blanket. Instead, she was in her own mind, wearing her robe of green and purple, clutching a slick blanket of emerald luster as an amethyst pillow welcomed her head back down to the floor of the room she shared with Lyra. Her own yelp ended quickly, but the scream that had woken her continued.

And Lyra was screaming.

It was a noise of true terror; that of a helpless animal facing it's final end without doubt of death nor hope of escape. Lyra's usually melodic voice tore through the room without none of her seductive charm intact, instead twisting the mindscape with her emotions and making the place turn dark with dread. Finding her against a wall, Loor saw her a broken creature; her robes disheveled and her body bruised. Her hair was dull and matted, ears flat back as she pressed her pale face to the wall, claws digging in as if she intended to run from something.

And still she screamed. Her jaw was open to exert true sound instead of the thoughts they threw at each other; this was her primal way of communication that she knew on the outside.

Did she think she was still out there? She usually didn't bother with anything besides purring or growling on the inside.

Loor couldn't stand it. She was able to feel the animal's emotions with great fidelity, and it was beginning to infect her. There was fear on the surface, but there was something else pulsing at it's core that needed to be addressed. The terror covered a much greater emotion, distracting from it for these precious moments.

Without questioning why she awoke in her mind instead to the living world, as it usually was once Lyra had taken over, Loor dove from where she'd sat up and took hold of the animal, pulling her away from the wall and securing her arms around her middle. At first it was in hopes of containing her, but it morphed into a hug. With her ability to feel Lyra's emotions most intimately came Loor's strong empathy. Without even knowing what happened, and regardless to her hatred for the creature sometimes, she was able to pity her.

Whatever happened, it couldn't have been good. It was still getting into her senses; she was becoming frightened with nothing to truly fear. As they began to attune to each other and sync the room grew even darker, the corners seeming to hold things more monstrous than the animal that Loor now held in her arms. Unknown fiends watched them, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. Loor was sure of it, and felt the need to watch those corners to make sure nothing could sneak up on her. The primal urge to scream, to make noise and intimidate an unknown enemy before it realized how small she was-

Lyra! Loor snapped her head back to her beast, who was still kicking in her arms and screaming for all she was worth. Calm down! I need you to calm down before you wrap me up in this! Your reaction is too strong!

The animal gasped suddenly, letting off a weaker noise as surprise coursed through her. She panted out of her nose, shaking her head as Loor realized they'd both fallen to the floor. She held Lyra in her lap, sitting up on a magenta quilt.

It took some time, but Lyra finally looked around herself, realizing she was safe in a place she knew. As she relaxed the room grew brighter, once again feeling like the home they shared. Loor joined her, noticing something else.

There was an odd quality to the room. Something had changed. She had trouble putting her finger on it at first...

There's more purple in here than usual.

They're still pumping eco into us... my psyche is at full power; it must take more presence in here as well.

Lyra was yet to fight Loor's grip, which was odd to say the least. If they touched each other it was always initiated by Lyra and was either a hand of lust or rage. Loor had expected the beast to dislike anything she hadn't started, but she seemed comfortable enough in her host's arms, actually relaxing back into her chest as a great cool wave of relief spread through her.

And then burning rage. It bloomed suddenly, violently, as Lyra leapt up to her feet, talons in full view as she snarled at the walls. That bastard! The worm... Coward! Giving me freedom and then... no, he gave me no freedom. He gave me life and then put me in a cage... Cut him! I'll cut him! I need to wake up and rip him apart! I-

The animal faltered. As hot as her rage burned, there was another feeling; exhaustion. It was chill against her loathing, but in truth led to a comfortable and warm numbness that welcomed one into proper sleep-

NO! She turned to Loor, who had been yawning as she felt it too. Her body was beyond this mind, crying out for them both to go into stasis so her brain could properly rest. I... I was... scared... I... always sleep for days... I need to kill him... I need to cut him now! Before he cuts me! He looks at me that way, I know he will! He will when we're sleeping... he's a coward!

What are you talking about...? Loor forced herself up, feeling the heavy weight of fatigue. She still didn't know what had gone down while she was out of it, but she was getting more worried the longer this conversation with Lyra went on... the animal was clearly disturbed by something... But Loor was disoriented. She could remember enough to know that Lyra had taken control, but she'd forgotten exactly how. Her head hurt... had someone hit her recently?

Standing up, she put her hands out to touch Lyra's head. Unpracticed, she needed direct contact to go through Lyra's memories. The animal didn't deny her, coming back to her host and lowing her brow in submission, pushing the important memories to the forefront of her mental activity so Loor wouldn't have to dig very far; she wasn't particularly good at it.

Loor jolted as she was reminded exactly where her body was laying right now; passed out in a cell within the fortress. She grew more disturbed as Lyra's passionate struggles flashed through in fast-motion, all the rage and agony getting pressed together in a few precious sections, full memories getting burnt into her own conscious mind. Hate flared up so intense it actually left a flavor on her tongue similar to blood, and the root of all of this was made very clear.

All of this loathing, this rage, was directed at Errol. His smug smile and posture with his arms crossed over his chest, challenging them from the other side of the fence that had so effectively blocked Lyra from doing any damage to him.

Loor gasped, yet to break from her darker self as she understood every word that Lyra had bothered to remember, despite not knowing what the sounds meant. They're going to move us... The experiment...? Oh shit..!

A small amount of fear rose up in her, independent of Lyra's previous terror.

He's been trying to communicate with you this whole time... sometimes he's been threatening you... oh God... assuming the threats aren't empty, if you don't start showing some understanding soon he's going to kill us.

I don't speak like you... I can't understand. She snorted, shaking her head and backing away from Loor's touch.

You understand some. You know your name. I saw that. You know eco. You... have an idea of what sleep is.

The animal growled a warning. I was only afraid that he would kill me if I let my guard down... Mortal fear. That was all.

Loor nodded slightly, not chasing down the real reason Lyra was afraid. The feeling had been unfamiliar to her, and she'd been scared that she might have been dying because she was never made to sleep outside of the mindscape. Sleeping with a body is a little different... it tends to wake up if someone disturbs you. But that's besides the point...

She then sighed, shaking her head and turning away from Lyra, beginning to pace the length of the room. The animal watched her closely, and she could sense the beast's attention. Lyra expected her to have some kind of plan; some course of action, like she always did. Granted, she did have an idea, but it only coincided with her own goals; escaping. She wanted to get out without harming Errol and killing a minimum of Krimzon Guards.

No. Lyra could sense these thoughts before Loor even formed words. I will cut him. He has trapped me, taunted me, laughed in my face and watched me destroy myself with pleasure on his smell. He must suffer. I must take something from him, and the only thing I find equal is his life. I don't care about the rest... you can have this body back after that, but I will make him suffer.

We can't kill him! Loor felt a dangerous mix of emotions plowing through her as she shouted back at her other self, though mentally. Her iron will mixed in with a hot flare of anger that Lyra was so willing to ignore the rules that bound them for revenge laid over an undeniable frustration that, after seeing Lyra's memories, she wanted him dead too. Attack him, maybe, but I don't trust you not to go all the way! We MUST leave him alive at all costs; he's necessary for how this war ends; this world needs him alive!

Lyra did little more than growl at her host at first, staring with black eyes as she gauged the air in the room. You want control back. You'd rather face him yourself.

That would be nice.

You have no power. No leverage. He would kill us, that would be that.

Much longer and that will be the least of my worries... She let off a sigh of greater frustration. You were out there for a long time... it's been a day by now, at least. The underground knows I'm missing. I didn't bring my comm. unit, so they don't know where I am, but I'm sure Errol will drop a hint to Jak soon enough to taunt him. He's like that. And knowing Jak, since we're... friends... and with how he hates Errol... he doesn't need much of an excuse to take a suicidal detour in here and try to bust me out. He might get himself killed, or kill Errol... or maybe kill Errol and then get gunned down by the KG...

So what's worse? Lyra questioned. Letting me handle that coward and possibly killing him, or letting him charge in and guarantee someone important will die?

Loor groaned in frustration, but she knew Lyra was right. Even if they just laid down and died, Errol would still probably try and taunt Jak right into the wasps' nest with the fact that she was missing.

It was crazy, but she'd have to trust the animal to get them out of here.

Promise you'll do your best not to kill him. She said before letting go completely. She knew Lyra's promises were like fire on a windy day, but she still needed to hear it for some comfort. Wound him a little, but don't kill him.

I will cut him. Lyra snarled, her tail bristling for a moment before smoothing out again, nodding slightly. But I will let him live. He will suffer, but he will not die.

When Lyra awoke, it was with the sensation of something soft under her head. Not as soft as her pile of bedding within Loor's mindscape, but softer than the metal floor she'd passed out on. She lay on her side, and it didn't take her long to realize the move that Loor had predicted had happened; she was in a different cell. She lay on a low bed, and there was some sort of seat not far away. As she moved to slide off of the bed and onto the floor she sighted a new fence, exactly the same as the last one, standing between her and the door.

At once she remembered her rage at captivity. It almost stopped all other examination of the current situation, but her mind was quickly distracted from something she already knew and hated by something else that was new.

Whenever she took Loor's body, Lyra found herself with a particular dislike for Loor's clothes. Her tail started lower than Loor wore her pants, and it always forced her to either carry her tail high or shift the girl's belt down, and it rubbed her fur the wrong way. Not that she ever thought to complain to her host when there were always more interesting things to fight about, what with the delicious man she refused to initiate any contact with and a world full of squishy beings that she was so skittish about ripping. Getting back to the point, Lyra didn't feel that discomfort. Her tail was free to move without any obstruction.

She looked to herself to find Loor's clothes had been taken. She was dressed in something else, and while she didn't bother to examine particulars beyond the sickening color of yellow she did notice that some sort of special hole had been made for her tail.

She could also see the black tube that connected back with the wall behind the bed she'd just slid off of; she was still hooked into the eco system. She could feel the collar around her neck, and even though she was aware that it gave her life she was tempted to rip it off. She hated the feeling of having such constriction around her neck. Laying teeth on another's neck was a sign of dominance, and she felt as if every person in this building had done that to her simply by leaving the collar on her skin.

Her ears cocked in a new direction as she heard the door to her cell opening and closing with a metallic thud. Her nose told her who had joined her before her eyes tracked to the wall that was beyond her reach.

And with that smell, her rage came unchecked.

Her tormentor stood at the door, smiling at her as she looked up and snarled at him. How dare he smile at her? His grin foretold more suffering; a smile that made her aware of his pleasure at her captivity.

"Awake so soon." He spoke through his twisted grin. "I had expected you to rest a little more, Lyra."

She stood up again, tall and straight, not realizing someone had fixed her shoulder while she'd been out of it, growling a challenge at him when her name was mentioned. Her tail came up, her fur standing on end once more as she approached the wall that separated them, fingers held apart and slightly curled to display both her talons and her intent to use them. They were long black skewers that she wanted to dig into his flesh; she wanted to find the spaces between his ribs and pull her claws through each one, just skimming the important organs underneath.

She wanted to teach him a new meaning of pain.

"So hostile already?" He took on a tone that was almost cooing, matching the step she'd taken to the fence. "Oh, why do I even bother talking to you anymore? You probably didn't understand a word outside your name... did you? You look like a person... you look intelligent... but that's not you, is it? That big brain belongs to your host, not you. You're little more than a twisted abomination... dangerous and disgusting."

Her growling had grown in volume as he'd spoken, but it was only when he'd finished that she slid a foot forward, now bare to show the talons that she also bore on her toes, to draw her body within an inch of the fence. The next noise she produced came with great effort, strangled in her throat and butchered by her tongue and fangs.

But, in the end, it still came out.

"Hy... unn-dur... st-t-t-and..."

She spoke to him.

Something impossible happened that finally made her smile.

He blinked. His own smile didn't drop, but he blinked at her sudden attempt at speech.

"So she does speak." He met her physical challenge, coming closer. If the fence had not existed they would have been nose-to-nose. Either way, he was able to look directly into her pitch-black eyes with a grin. "Why listen to me now, and not yesterday? I gave you plenty of reason to talk to me."

Her fur, all of it, was still on end as her body clenched against unfamiliar noises. She wasn't used to being so particular with her growls and tone, but it was necessary to show her understanding. "Loorrrr..." She ended up purring over the 'R', "...t-t-tea-chesss..."

"So this isn't you." He concluded, his voice turning just a little too sweet. "The human in you is teaching the animal to walk like a man... will you start becoming like her? It would make things much easier for me; she's so easy to frighten. People always are. They're soft, weak. Animals don't understand fear... you have to hope they can be trained, or you have to shoot them."

She blinked, as if she didn't quite get what he was saying about her.

"Do you understand training, Lyra?" He looked like he wanted to laugh at her. It made her hate for him begin to bubble again. She could feel the static on her skin; loose eco sparks dancing on the fur that ran up her spine. "That's where I teach you to be my obedient little pet. And if not..." His hands dropped away from his chest, instead laying on a piece of metal strapped to his hips. She'd seen that shape enough times to know what it was.

He was threatening to shoot her if she didn't do as she was told. He smiled at her still, his teeth showing. His lips actually drew back for a toothy smile, and that is what she looked at. She didn't care about the gun, but instead she looked at his teeth.

They were so flat. So dull. He had canines, but they were so small. Pitiful, really.

She would be ashamed if she let such dull teeth press to her neck.

She drove herself the final inch forward, putting her talons through the fence and locking her knuckles to it. She knew it would burn her, and as it did she refused her own scream. Instead she put more of her body into it, letting the pain and burning dance over her as she put her face that much closer to his, enduring the agony. That was nothing; she was captive and leashed. Nothing could hurt her more than that.

"Hy... willl... c-c-c-ut-t-t... hyu..."

She began to tare the fence. Brute strength allowed her to rip it apart like tissue paper, the links coming apart and the shocks becoming less and less before stopping altogether. She roared at him as she began to breach the hole she'd made, her feet stamping the jagged pieces of now useless metal to the floor as he watched her. He'd taken a single step back, but he hadn't run from her.

Instead he'd drawn his weapon. He'd pulled out his gun, ready to shoot her.

She gave the metal one final push, making her portal and leaping out into the part of the room that had been exclusively his. One hand went for his gun, batting it down as she continued to bellow. Her bestial war-cry only grew in volume as she drew her lips back to put her fangs on full display.

She felt the collar getting pulled at; she'd come to the end of her leash. It was straining against how far she'd ventured into the room.

She ripped free of it, dipping her head to press her fangs to his neck.

~Fin