It was mentioned that my updates are too far apart and I should make an effort to be more regular. Perhaps once a week or once every two weeks.
Chapter Four- Claiming a Mate
The morning of his attack arrived and Mozenrath looked forward to when he take his leopard form again and claim his mate. He strolled over a water bowl and towel on his vanity and as he raised his left hand to scoop up some water, he saw that his fingernails were longer than before and they seemed to resemble sharp claws! He stared at them in surprise. Nails do not grow that fast and they certainly don't form sharp points on their own. This was clearly the result of being a were-leopard. He looked into the mirror on the vanity and was shocked to discover that his pupils had already become cat-like. I never noticed that before, but then again I was so focused on my abilities that I never gave my reflection much more than a passing glance. Either my nails and eyes have always been this way since the spell or it only occurs when the full moon is coming. Hmm, it must be the latter. Either way, it doesn't matter, I have an attack tonight that I need to plan out.
How best to claim my mate? He sat on his throne as he contemplated this question. There were only two options: Bite or scratch? If I bite, there's a chance that I may bite too hard or my hunting instincts might suddenly surface and I end up killing her. No, I can't risk biting her and besides, biting is so vulgar and other creatures of myth and legend turn humans through biting. So, I will claim my mate by scratching. Now, with that settled, I believe I will station myself outside the kingdom gates, send my clothes and gauntlet back home, and wait for the sun to set. Once I've changed, I will silently enter the city and head for the palace. I won't enter from the front, I'll go to the back where I know the balcony to Jasmine's room is located. I only hope that I don't have to contend with that tiger of hers. His lips curled into a smirk. Although it would be interesting to see if the tiger would confront me in a fight or sense that I am superior to him and he sulks off from a fight he can't win. Ultimately, I will gain entry to the princess's room and I will make my move.
Step one of Mozenrath's plan went off without a hitch. He was up against one of Agrabah's city gates and had just sent his clothes back to the Citadel. His catlike eyes watched the sun sink below the horizon and he flexed his clawed hands in anticipation of the change. His senses had been growing stronger throughout the day, but nowhere near as strong as they would be once night had fallen. The sun's final rays faded away and the sky was black with the night while a full moon started to rise in the east.
The sorcerer immediately got down on all fours as the tingle of power and strength swept over him. He embraced the sensation of his hands and feet conforming into paws, his fur coat spreading all over him, his tail sprouting, and his head and face shaping into a leopard. He growled softly and then a little louder as the change completed itself. He shook himself out before creeping silently into the city, sticking to the shadows to avoid detection.
The palace was lit up, yet Mozenrath remained in the shadows as he approached the building. An outer wall separated the city from the inner walls that protected the palace. Mozenrath crouched and leaped right up to the top of the outer wall before leaping across to the top of the inner wall and down into the garden, landing behind a bush. He looked up to see the balcony and paused to plan out his next move. He needed the full moon to rise a bit more so that its light spilled into Jasmine's room. He could afford to wait since gaining entry into her room presented an obstacle. The walls were smooth and he wasn't sure he would be able to climb up the walls with his claws. But there had to be a way into the room, there had to be…
And then he saw it: The water fountain. He crept over to it and gazed up at its top point. Yes, water was still coming out of the top and as a cat, he didn't like to get wet. However, he was also human and his mating instincts had just awoken and demanded to be sated. He crouched down, jumped onto the top rim of the fountain and from there, he soared toward the balcony, landing on the railing before descending to the floor. He inwardly smiled; he was in! He took two steps, before another four-legged figure appeared: It was Jasmine's tiger. So, my curiosity about his actions will be answered.
The two cats stared at one another. Mozenrath saw wariness in the tiger's eyes and he stood still, exuding confidence that he hoped the tiger would pick up. He sensed light behind him and knew that the moon had risen high enough to reach the balcony. They continued to stare at one another before the tiger emitted a low rumble and sulked off to the far side of the balcony. Mozenrath's confidence grew: The tiger was no threat. He sensed the leopard was superior to him and would allow him to do as he saw fit. He silently padded inside the bedroom to find it empty, but he wasn't concerned. He hid himself behind the curtains that were behind the vanity and waited for his mate to return.
His wait wasn't long as he heard the doors open and then close about ten minutes later. He strained his ears and inhaled deeply to determine Jasmine's location; he needn't have bothered for she was seated at her vanity. He chanced a peek to see her brushing her hair and pulling it back to tie it again. The sight of her brought his mating instincts to full bloom and he knew he had to act soon. As she turned in the direction of the balcony, Mozenrath seized his chance. He stepped through the gap in the curtains which made a sound as they rubbed against his fur and one another. Jasmine turned at the sound and gasped at the leopard slowly approaching her in a position that like a hunter stalking its prey.
Mozenrath growled as he stalked toward the princess who seemed to be frozen with fear. The fear excited him and the mating instincts he felt were overwhelming. He knew he could bite or scratch this woman and make her a werecat as well as his mate. Since he was evil, his bite or scratch would make her evil as well. The two of them would make a lovely couple and produce a litter of evil werecats as well.
Mozenrath coiled back and then sprang forward, knocking Jasmine onto her back. He unsheathed his left claws and quickly swiped them down Jasmine's right forearm, leaving three scratches in her skin. She cried out in pain and the sound sent Mozenrath into a fit of ecstasy. However, he knew he would have to wait until tomorrow night for Jasmine to transform before he could try to consummate and produce cubs.
The doors to Jasmine's room burst open and the guards rushed in, but froze at the sight of the large cat. Mozenrath gave a triumphant roar before running and leaping over the balcony into the back garden and then over the wall before leaving Agrabah.
"Princess, you're hurt!" Razoul exclaimed when he saw her injury.
Jasmine glanced down at the arm she was cradling. The scratches were deep and yet they weren't bleeding. How strange, she thought. Out loud she said, "I'm fine, Razoul. They actually don't hurt anymore."
Mozenrath raced through the street that ran straight from the palace to the gates of the city, adrenaline pumping through his body as well as the knowledge of what he had just accomplished: He had claimed a mate. Jasmine would become a leopard just like him the next night and together they would have a family of were-leopards. As he padded across the desert toward his home, he felt his claiming instincts fade as well as his desire to have sex with Jasmine as soon as she transformed.
I suppose the desire to conceive was connected to the claiming process. Now that I've scratched the princess, the desire has faded. That's just as well. I need to plan on how to greet Jasmine tomorrow. It's likely my scent will attract her once she's changed and she'll follow it straight to me. I won't talk to her right away, I'll let my actions speak for me, particularly if my actions make it clear that I want her as my mate. I'll stay close to Agrabah, but farther enough away so that no one will see me and think I'm attacking. He nodded to himself as he ran the plan through his mind. He raced home and fell into bed, dreams of his beautiful mate lulling him to sleep.