Prologue
So, the chain of events leading up to my current situation is a crazy ride so strap yourselves in.
I was once a male tiger, believe it or not, named Tygon. A mercenary. I hunted down a special goo girl for a job and fell victim to her charms, nearly getting devoured in the process. That was until an ancient war machine from the monster wars was activated, part of my own spirit fusing with the machine and busted me out, now changed both gender wise and with a more malleable structure.
Then came the run-in with a dying pup following raiders of a village. Poor thing was going to die, so I just had to do something about it. So via unconventional means I saved her, infusing her with a little of my own self granting her a bit of tiger mixed into her breed along with the fox and wolf already mixed up. Upon giving birth to her I decided to call her Tessa, or Tess for short, it seemed to fit her.
And then came the run-in with the law. let us just say we have never seen eye to eye and got wind that I possessed dangerous abilities.
During fleeing with a newly born pup in my arms we came across a teleporter among some ruins we hid among. It was this, or die by sword and the inquisition. Sadly it had not been used and was needing some repairs. Sadly we found out the own way as we not only escaped the law, but our planet Ferros itself, ejected from our birth world and flung into a far more mundane, reserved world called Earth. or at least, a version of Earth.
We were found unconscious by the police and taken to hospital where they found some anomalies in us, but couldn't pin them down and gave us a clean bill of health. Oh and my daughter? Somehow she had been forced to grow, a cubs mind inside a 18 year old.
And for the past ten years, we have just been trying to find a way back home, before our home world of Ferros claims back what it lost with our lives.
*
Evening was just starting to set over a quiet village known simply as Nest Village, casting long shadows as the sun sunk below the horizon.
The village was known for its presence near the cluster of mountains revered as Spirit Mountain, said to draw miracles and the supernatural. A pleasant, old style village, semi-oval in shape, a few shops circling the square with the Village Hall at the back. Another reason for its name Nest? It was the last frontier before hundreds of miles of wilderness with one road leading in, one out.
In the village hall talk, laughter and banter exchanged as fast as the drink flowed. The empty space of the hall filled with customers from and near the village, seated around makeshift tables and counters whilst bands played to the far end of the hall for a charity ball, hosted by the resident mistress, a beautiful and elegant wolf who went by the name Sheliah Greypelt, the bulk of the patrons filtering in from the nearby town.
The band on stage had two very unusual, colourful bandmates, the drummer consisting of a tigress with thick, shoulder length dark red hair, age just starting to catch up with a white streak running through a few strands and a vibrantly orange and black striped coat, a stark contrast to the locals who consisted of more mundane furs and breeds, mostly woodland types.
On the vocals with a sweet voice, a female who was mostly fox but had slightly wolven features, like her larger foot pads and shorter, pointed ears. She had a vibrant red coat overlaid with black tiger stripes, her hair brown tinged with purple only made her stand out more.
The tigress however, did not seem to have her mind in the game, her muzzle set in a grimace whilst she treated the drums like they were her worst enemy, missing beats, going too hard or sometimes just going off and adding too many notes.
Just behind the singing folfgeress, a soot furred jackal stood, playing the guitar and backing up her singing. They played the final notes of the song, the buzz of the electric instruments taking the place of the fading music, the hall quickly filled with applause and sharp whistles from the younger furs.
He glanced back at the drummer before approaching his microphone. “We’re going to take a quick break, Nest Village. We’ll be right back!” He said before unplugging his Flying-V guitar and waved the band off stage.
They were led backstage by the jackal when he turned around to face the females. “Is everything alright, Tyg? You’re all over the place tonight.” He stated bluntly, his long furred tail swished back and forth, his agitation obvious.
“Garret, we all have bad nights. It’s not like she’s doing it on purpose.” a brown furred spotted hyena said with a low growling in his voice, clutching the bridge of his black bass. He wasn’t wearing a top, showing off his unusual red and purple spots. The messy mohawk drooped over his right ear, fluffing out part way down his back. Adjusting his black choker for a second before he continued. “Just give her some slack.”
“Sorry, it’s just…it’s throwing me way off and–” he started before trailing off, his paw clutching a new one year AA chip around his neck, thumb rubbing the face of it. “It’s hard work…”
The folfgeress’ ears flattened out sideways, holding the older feline’s paw tightly, looking up with a loving care in her eyes, but not able to find words.
Tygriss clenched her hand tightly, her claws accidentally digging into the folf’s paw before quickly kissing her hand in apology.
“Sorry daughter,” she whispered softly to her before straightening up and rounded on Garret.
“I guess shit is on my mind, if that is a problem I’ll just wait backstage,” the tigress said, known to them as Tygriss.
Though she had been with the band for a few years, she had always been evasive as to details regarding her past.
If she told them they would call her crazy, just as the police called her when they found her wandering lost with her cub Tessa.
“If you have to know I was hoping to find…something in this village,” Tygriss said, barely keeping the aggressive growl from her tone. “It seems it wasn’t here!,” she said with a stomp, looking ready to storm out the backdoors.
What she needed right now was a scream, to roar her voice raw, to cry. But not in front of them, never in front of people and especially her own daughter.
Tessa had been the one that kept her grounded, like an anchor that kept her sane on this planet. And that felt fractious of late as time wore on.
Tessa held her paw and gave it a squeeze, silently telling her that she was there for her mother, a small smile forming on her muzzle. “We’ll find it, Momma, I know we will.” Tessa whispered, almost sounding like a cub in the moment, surprising if you’ve ever only heard her sing. “If not here, then the next stop.”
Tygriss grabbed at Tessa’s hand like a lifeline, trying to draw strength and patience she just had no longer. Ten years. Ten years they had been trapped on this rock and had learnt the hard way not to say anything. In the ten years since they were ripped from their homeworld Ferros, Tygriss had become distrustful and reserved, struggling to keep who she was and keep them both safe.
“You’ve got to let us in.” Jayce, the hyena said and gently put a hand on the tigress’s shoulder, his rounded ears falling back as he gave a nervous toothy smile. “You know we’re not going to judge. Maybe we could help you find what you need?” he said, though there was a hitch in his voice, sounding almost feminine for a brief second. He adjusted his choker again and smiled a hyena’s notorious smile.
“My reasons,” Tygriss said, just barely containing a snarl, “are my own. I will be…fine,” she said, taking deep breaths, her form shaking.
Jayce quickly pulled his hand away at the snarl, as Garret nodded. “Okay. Take what time you need, Tygriss. Breath and then we’ll finish this concert.” Garret said, though the irritation was still in his voice. “Can’t let them down, now can we? So calm down, cool your head, whatever you need, alright?”
Tygriss nodded and took in some more heaving breaths. When they got here, all she heard from the locals was how Spirit Mountain was a tourist trap and nothing more, something instigated by a family consigned to history.
The disappointment had been too much for her to bear.
“I’m good, I’m okay, I will be. Lets just get on with the show,” Tygriss said, her voice shaking slightly and wrapped her daughter in a tight tiger hug, hoisting her onto a striped shoulder of the tanktop she wore, preferring to keep her clothing loose and easy breezy as she walked the two onto the stage to applause.
Tessa hugged her mother back tightly, her tail waving back and forth as she nuzzled into Tygriss’s neck. “I’m with you, Momma, always.” Tessa said, gently nosing into the feline’s neck as she embraced her mother.
“And I you daughter,” Tygriss gently whispered, Jayce and Garret already making their way onto stage again.
“We got this, Momma.” Tessa smiled and squeezed Tygriss’s paws before they turned back to the stage.
Garret started off a song that left plenty of time for Tessa and Tygriss to get back into position. Tessa started off the vocals on key, her ears rotating back, waiting for Tygriss to start the drums behind her.
Jayce grinned a toothy grin at the mature tigress and then turned his attention back to the crowd as the whole band started in. Garret took occasional glances backwards to make sure Tygriss's head was truly in the game, his eyes seeming calculating.
To start with, Tygriss got her focus on as they played one song after another, though as they went on, she could feel a piercing gaze boring straight into her. But as she glanced around, all she saw was shadows and light mixed in with the roar of the crowd, no one giving her special attention.
She missed the odd beat but managed to recover, looking at her daughter, seeing her sing her heart out. She made her so proud and constantly wished she could feel she deserved her.
But as the concert wore on, her mind wandered. Memories of a different world, one both more violent and free at the same time. Of magic, of adventure, of possibilities. Not this mundane world ruled by politics and technology.
She felt a heat blossom inside her, quickly squashing it. But then she heard someone cry out and snapping her eyes open, saw the drumsticks in her hands were on fire.
“Shit!” She cried, quickly tossing them, only to tangle up in the stage curtains, setting them on fire too.
“Tygriss!!” Garret hollered, Tessa squealed in fright as the curtains were set aflame. Jayce, being the closest, quickly stomped at the drumstick and curtain, doing what he could tame the flame.
A giant of a black panther ran out with a fire extinguisher in hand, spraying down the inferno while a few panicked furs ran away from the stage, some fully evacuating the hall. After the fire was put out thanks to the stage hand, Garret turned on Tygriss, seeing mother and daughter held in a fearful embrace.
“What the hell was that? I thought you were good. Then you bring out the pyrotechnics!?” The band leader barked, knowing only vaguely about Tygriss’s pyrokinetic ability. “Missing beats and all, I could manage. But I can’t have you setting the stage on fire when you can’t focus!” He stepped towards her while he ranted at her in front of the crowd, stopping when he got within arms reach. “You’re out!”
A dangerous, low growl sounded from Tygriss, disentangling from her daughter. It wasn’t the sound of a regular tiger. It sounded wild, wounded, distressed.
Before he even had a chance to react she slammed her fist into his face, sending Garret crashing to the floor with a broken nose.
“FINE!” She roared, her roar echoing around the hall.
There was a hushed silence as Garret yelped sharply, crashing into the heavy amps at the front of the stage. He held his broken nose, blood streaming down his arm. Jayce dived down with his previously discarded shirt and held it to the jackal’s face.
Tessa cried out, her fur matted from tears that rolled down her cheek. The silence quickly grew into murmurs, filling the hall once more with noise. People talked among each other, others pulling out phones.
She glanced at the remaining crowd, saw people on the phones. They were phoning the police, they were filming her on their phones!
Quickly grabbing her daughter, she fled the ruined stage, ignoring her cries.
Sheliah was doing her best to run damage control trying to calm the panicked people down with her vigilant wolf guard looking ready to give chase.
Clamping a hand around his muscled arm she shook her head.
Reaching for her phone, she intercepted the calls to the police, asking them to stand down and it was under control before her wife appeared as if melting from the shadows.
“Dusk, tail them. You know as well as I do they are special and as much a danger to themselves as they are to the public,” Sheliah spoke in a hurried whisper to a black vixen wearing a blue police outfit, the Nest Village logo emblazoned onto her uniform.
Busting out of the back door, Tygriss ran to Tygon “Just get on daughter!” She growled at her, shoving her onto the back of Tygon before hopping on and roared off, the bike quickly blasting past 100MPH with her adrenaline fueling the manic charge.
We had to get out, we had to leave this village soon as possible!
Tessa’s arms wrapped around Tygriss’s middle, tightly, almost overly so, her ears flat against the rushing wind. Her mother had never driven this fast. Her head pressed into the tigress’s back, hearing the rapid beat of her heart.
They didn’t get to speak until they were a good distance from town, and she felt Tygon slow, “M-Momma! A-Are you okay? I-I think we need to stop and rest.”
Tygriss knew her daughter was right, she had poured too much energy into the living bike.
As if on cue, her bike Tygon seemed to growl from its engine at her, as if chastising her behaviour before cutting out.
“Oh come on! Ugh, fine then!” Tygriss fumed as they coasted to a motel on the outskirts of town, seeming to have a small pub off to the side.
“Yes…no. Nothing is right daughter. This stupid village I had pegged all my hopes on returning us home, off this polluted rock and I hear it is all a…tourist trap?!” She growled before kicking Tygon out of anger, only succeeding in hurting her foot and hopped around, rubbing the toe with a string of curses.
“Motherfuckingdogsbollockssheeparse!” She cursed loudly, drawing the attention of a couple heading out the pub, giving them a wide berth.
“W-We need to rest…try again in the morning. A-At least we got here before Tygon ran out.” She said softly, forcing a smile.
With a shuddering sigh she nodded, she knew her daughter had a point.
“You go and see if they will let us book a room on credit, I’m just about broke as is,” Tygriss said with a grateful rub of her daughter’s head, wandering off to the bar.
“O-okay momma.” She said and walked off to the front counter and asked about the room, her tail twitching slightly as she pulled out the few bills of money they had to their name. The inquisitive badger raises a brow before shaking his head, shooing her away.
Whining softly she watched her mother chugging down a pint of beer at the bar before clumping the money up and putting it back in her pockets before she walked towards the bar, sliding into a seat next to Tygriss.
“Th-They said no…” She paused. “Burned by too many others.” She whispered and curled her tail into her lap, gently preening it with her digits. “He used more colourful words…”
Tygriss just nodded glumly, two beer steins already empty as she set about chugging the third pint, some of the patrons were looking on in awe as she downed it seemingly in one go.
“That's…okay daughter,” she said, her words a little slurred. “I’ll…we’ll be fine. We’ll figure shomething out,” she pulled Tess tightly to her body as tears began to well up in her eyes.
She looked from her daughter, then to the beer steins. No, this wasn’t what she wanted to show her daughter.
Sliding the money across, what she had left, she held tightly onto her daughter’s hand, wobbling slightly after downing three pints in one go.
Tessa’s ears were flat against her ears, her eyes welling tears as well. Part of it was the situation they were in, the other part she seemed very keen with an empathic trait, picking up her mother’s emotions powerfully.
“We’ll go camping…or something…” She tried to encourage her mother as they went towards the dirt parking lot. “You can start a fire an–”
Exiting the pub, they were heading towards where Tygon laid parked, Tygriss having left it fallen on its side in annoyance, when a kunai struck the ground in a spray of dirt, just missing their holding hands by an inch, cutting Tess off mid-sentence.
Yelping as she caught the briefest of flashes from the kunai, her tail poofing up and she held her mother’s paw tighter. “W-Where did that come from?” She looked all about, only able to see shadows in the growing twilight.
Her ears turned madly as every hair stood on end. There was no one in sight, but she could tell they weren’t alone.
And then from atop the roof of the three story motel moonlight glinted from a blade, and all but invisible save the red hair and tail tip was a vixen, arms crossed under an impossibly large bust and a kunai in hand, waving it at us in mock invitation before jumping down the back.
“Finally, something to let my stress out on!” Tygriss growled before rounding on her daughter. “You stay here, go inside and wait in the entrance to keep safe. This will only take a moment!”
Tessa yipped as Tygriss ushered her back to the door with a quick push in the direction. But she did as told, ears low as her mother ran off to fight the ninja. But it didn’t take her long to decide to chase after Tygriss. She wasn’t a fighter, but she was worried for her mother in this state.
Setting off after the vixen, Tygriss charged round the back towards a shadowy copse of trees. If she had been thinking clearly this was obviously to her disadvantage.
She soon found herself harassed as another kunai whizzed towards her, only somehow an immediate kunai was hurtling off to her side as another shadow seemed to keep ducking and blending with the shadows.
From another side glance of a kunai, Tygriss caught the briefest flashes of silver. It probably didn’t take her long to realise then that she wasn’t dealing with one entity but two. An almost invisible ninja stuck close to the ground, flashing about the forest floor.
There was a glint before another kunai soared at her, thunking into the trunk of a tree just a few feet behind Tygriss. There was a rustle of leaves as the second dark form moved about.
Every few moments there’d be two flashes as the soaring blades whizzed through the air at her, then suddenly, Tessa’s voice called out through the woods. “M-Momma! W-Where are you.” She called out.
Skidding to a halt she ducked another blade, shouting for Tess to run back.
“Tess you fool! Get back to the motel!” She cried but too late as a shadowy figure grabbed her from behind.
Coiling an arm around her front and tail binding the folfgeress. Tessa struggled with the dark furred feline, silver headfur glinting out from under a hood she wore. “L-Let go!” She felt as if something stung her and most of the fighting went out of her, making her easier to subdue, but still awake.
“Well now I have your attention and your daughter is now in the clutches of one of my subordinates. Maybe you should stop holding back? After all, there are no witnesses around here so we can do whatever we please here,” the busty vixen taunted her as the shadow of a cat could just be seen in the dark, arms around Tessa.
“You fucking bitch, I don’t know what you want with us but I’ll make you sorry!” Tygriss growled as her form shifted sluggishly into that of a snarling, feral tiger.
But it didn’t take a trained eye to see as a feral, she looked weak and diminished.
Despite that, she launched herself at the vixen, only for her to easily evade her and dropped a kick down on her head, crashing the feral form of Tygriss into the dirt as her shape reverted back to her original form, barely conscious.
With a nod at the one holding Tessa, the vixen bent down to scoop Tygriss off the floor.
“M-Momma!” She cried out. “What did you do to her!” Tessa whimpered as she was pulled into the clearing, closer to the taller vixen. Her gaze turned meek and drawn back, tears of fear welling in her eyes as she shook in the feline’s grasp
“We had to calm her down one way or another, she did not seem the talking type.” The pantheress spoke and lowered her hood, revealing her bright white headfur, the only bit of colour on her dark furred form. “What’s the plan, Dusk?” She asked and held Tessa easily. “Take them somewhere quiet for now?”
“Now, I’ll use some of my chakra to heal her, rejuvenate her body. Much longer and this tigress would be just a husk,” she said to the small pantheress.
“W-What?” Tessa could manage, her body almost vibrating in fear, eyes wide as she gazed up to her mother.
Bending down with a more caring, almost motherly look in her deep blue eyes she brought her face level with the scared female.
“Don’t worry, you’re both safe. I had to check what we sensed was true. You two are from another world aren’t you?” She said softly to her.
“Kerra, give the poor girl something to eat and drink before we return them to the motel, and leave her something to give the mother.”
Kerra let go of Tessa, surprisingly she felt the strength returning to her limbs as she could stand on her own. The pantheress dug through a satchel and handed Tessa a skin of water and some hard, almost biscuit like bread. “This will be enough for you both. A meal almost for both.” She spoke in her broken, basic English.
Pushing a scrap of paper into Tessa’s hand, the vixen leaned and said softly into her ear, “If you want help and answers, phone this,” she straightened with a small smile. “And sorry for the rough treatment kiddo, we needed to rile your mother up to test our theory.”
“Wh-why?” She paused, she didn’t want to say too much, she didn’t know the pair. But her gut was letting her know that the one called Dusk could be trusted. “We-” She paused again, looking at the paper, she bit her lip then looked back up at the vixen. “We are…but–” She was caught off again when Kerra stepped up beside her and used her tail to shush Tessa.
“Wait until we are back at the motel.” Kerra said and smiled, “Then we can speak private.” Kerra motioned for Tessa to eat and drink as they slowly made their way back to the motel.
They met with the badger once more, “Sorry. I’ve already said no.” He said, spying Tessa chewing on the biscuit in between the two dark coloured females.
Dusk slammed her card on the counter top, it bore the insignia of Sheliah with her signature logo of grey and purple.
Swallowing, he glanced up, “You must be our lovely Sheliah’s wife yes? Well ahem, pardon the rudeness,” he said, scanning the card. “Are you um, fancying a playful change with these women by chance or…”
“If I were you, I would stop talking. Right. Now!” Dusk said, her tone turning menacing, not caring for where this badger's crass mind was wandering off to.
“Y-yes ma’am,” he said, his tone dropping to a croak as they left him stewing at the desk.
“Can’t stand that type,” Dusk muttered, carrying Tygriss like she weighed nothing and up the stairs.
“The goons or…” Kerra started with a slight giggle, then glanced up at Dusk. “Over stepping their bounds, I know.” The pantheress whispered as she guided Tessa to the room.
Once they were in the designated room she set Tygriss down on one of the double beds.
She executed a few handsigns before a shift was felt in the air. “There, I have cast a muffler ward. We may speak freely now without being overheard.”
“Who are you two?” Tessa asked and sat on the bed as Tygriss was laid down on the duvet. Her paws gently stroked her mother’s headfur as she looked up at the tall vixen. “Yo-You know…” She paused in the middle of asking before rephrasing. “You and Sheliah…?”
Kerra watched the pair of striped furs, seeing their bond through interaction and smiled as she pulled out another collection of refreshments for Tessa and Tygriss.
“Y-You said that- how did you know we were from another world?” The folfgeress whispered, obviously not used to talking about it at all outside of the hushed conversations with her mother.
Tygriss groaned as she stirred, with Dusk bidding she rest and listen.
“That is a lot of questions to answer, I will tell you what you need to know but you will learn the full story if you agree to meet at our mansion,” Dusk said before Tygriss snatched at a biscuit and chugged the canteen of water.
“To start with your first question, My name is Dusk. Wife of Sheliah, mistress of Nest and descendant of a secret lineage of shamans. She herself could detect the faint whisps of energy emanating from the pair of you. And I suspect you possess similar abilities to your mother, hm?” She directed this at Tess, who meekly nodded to her question.
“And as for myself, I am a ninja. So I naturally have a knack for the mystical arts of Ninjitsu.”
“And I am Kerra. I am a, Uhm, sub…sub-ordi-n-ate to Dusk.” Kerra slowed down the word as she tried to speak, still having a bit of trouble with the multisyllabic words.
“That still doesn’t answer everything,” Tygriss gasped once she had downed the third biscuit and washed it down with water. “What do you want with us, and why did you have to test us?”
“When you came from your world, you opened doors.” She said and paused as Tessa reached for another piece of food. “As long as you…stay, more en-ti-ties can come through, too. Some good…some bad.” She paused, her toes curling and uncurling in thought.
“Do–hmm Sheliah said you just set a drum on fire…does that go a lot?” Her ears flicked to the side as she looked at Dusk.
Tygriss just hung her head, her posture slumped over as she grit her teeth.
“Increasingly so,” she muttered before adding, “my daughter shares abilities similar to myself though her age probably is a factor why she hasn’t been hit as heavily by the separation.”
Tygriss raised her face to look at her daughter, “Tess…I should have told you sooner. I forget you are not as young as you seem and should have trusted you with the deets. I’m…or I was, dying. It was as if our old world was claiming back what was ripped from it and I was hoping so desperately we could find a way back here.”
“D-Dying!?” Tessa gave a bark and clung onto her momma tightly, suddenly feeling scared and worried over the older female. “Wh-Why would it take you away from me? I-I need you…” Her voice started to crack as tears of fear welled in her eyes.
“I didn’t want to worry you daughter. But…that was in error. Had I kicked it before these two came along you would be left adrift in this world. Can you forgive me for being so foolish daughter?”
“I-I understand…” she mumbled and squeezed tighter still, her ears back. “I-I don’t want to think of being without you, Momma.” Tessa whimpered as she nodded, responding to the question as she laid her head coming to rest on Tygriss’ collarbone, sniffling softly. “I just couldn’t imagine.”
Dusk folded her arms under her breasts and nodded.
“So you do have some understanding of your situation then? Good.” Dusk stood up, resting a hand on both their shoulders. “Sheliah just wants to help, she’s like that. Without her, myself and this one here would also be in dire straits,” she said, inclining her head towards the petite panther.
Kerra nodded and smiled softly. “They are great people, Sheliah and Dusk. They helped me when I was new to this world, too,” she paused, “They have done so much for me after I was sent here by–” She cut herself short. “Is a long tale.” Kerra waved her hand and set the treats on the table she had been sitting at before walking to the door. “It is time, Dusk.”
“Yes. We do need to meet back up with my wife. Despite knowing I am quite competent she still worries,” Dusk said with a chuckle. “And maybe I can help you better deal with your urges Tess, one herm to another,” she winked at us before opening the door, breaking the ward.
Tessa blushed and stammered rapidly, her face blushing darkly, almost likely to catch fire from the heat in her cheeks, burying her head into her mother’s shoulder.
She raised a foot to walk out and turned to Tygriss and Tess. “Think about it okay?” Before gently closing the door on their way out with a soft thud.
Tessa’s ears flattened out as she squeezed her mother’s paws tightly, her tail slowly moving on back and forth on the bed, fluffing up as it picked up static from the shuffling. When Tygriss’s foot paw touched the ground there was a shock between their hands, making both of them jump.
“S-Sorry!” She said quickly and pulled her tail into her lap to keep it mostly still.
“No Tess. I should be the one saying sorry. I shouldn’t have kept things from you,” Tygriss said, grabbing her hands again to hold in her own larger paws.
“I-I meant about the shock.” Tessa shyly whispered. “And, it's okay. I know yo-you were just protecting me.” She finished, petting her tail.
“I know what you meant Tess, but I still felt bad about treating you like some pup so, let me have this okay?” Tygriss said with a wan smile, her thick, striped tail coiling around Tessa’s waist protectively.
Once they were settled again, pressed into each other’s side, “So…What do we do momma?” Feeling a bit silly asking a question to a pretty obvious answer.
“Well, we either carry on struggling by ourselves until our home world reclaims what it lost of us, or we trust them. Honestly at this point I don’t think we have much of an option and if anything, sounds like we’ll be living in luxury. She didn’t say how to contact her though,” Tygriss rubbed her chin in thought.
Tessa took the scrap of paper out of her pocket and looked at it. A phone number was scrawled across it. “D-Dusk gave me this.” She paused and showed her. “When we were in the woods. Said that we should phone this if…well I guess if we decided to take her up on her help.”
Tygriss stared for a moment at the paper before gently taking the scrap of paper.
“Daughter…we both know I am not the best judge of character, and you have always had what I feel is a sixth sense with people. That Dusk…do you really feel she is for real, that we can trust them not to just turn us over as some sort of…freaks to the government?” Tygriss said softly.
Tygriss’s demeanor had hardened over the years, far from when she first found the pair forcibly removed from all they knew.
This world, more limiting and less accepting of what they were, had changed her, making Tygriss more jaded and untrusting.
Tessa’s ears flicked and looked at the door Dusk had just passed through. She gently hummed. “I…think…we should trust them…” She whispered hesitantly and leaned into her mother, ears twitching.
“They knew that we came from another world….and they seemed genuine about our plight.” She partially mumbled just kinda ordering her own thoughts. “Uhm…” She paused and nuzzled softly into Tygriss’s neck before standing up. “And…I heard some of the towns folk talk about Sheliah, she sounds like a really caring person despite owning basically all of Nest Village.” Tessa smiled and reached down to help her momma up off the bed.
“Let’s go shower…I think we need to relax before we make any real decisions.” Tessy hugged around Tygriss’s middle, giving off a contented chuff at the closeness.
“A shower…sounds good right about now. At least for the first time I don’t feel like I’m unstable to the point of accidentally burning the building down,” Tygriss said with a wan smile.
Stripping her grimy clothing off, she held the shower door open for her daughter before the pair of them helped each other to unwind for the night.
Steam issued for a good while from the shower with Tygriss and Tessy helping to ease the tension out of each other’s bodies.
<><><><><>
The following morning as Tess was still cosy in bed, Tygriss picked up the room's phone and after a moment of hesitation, dialed the number on the slip of paper.
It wasn’t Sheliah she reached but the young panther who was with Dusk the other night.
“Oh hey, Kerra is it? Could you pass on we have made up our minds and we accept Sheliah’s invitation. If she even exists, that is?” she said, somewhat sceptical still but willing to take a chance.
Kerra gave a gentle chuckle at the larger feline’s comment. “Oh, she cer-tain-ly does.” The young ninja said over the phone. “She has sent someone to pick you and Tess up.” she paused and Tygriss could hear her mumbling to someone on her end.
“He will be there soon.” She said and there was a click on the phone as she hung up.
Tygriss barely had time to put the phone down when it rang again, the badger doorsman was on the line. “Miss. You’ve got a visitor waiting down in the lobby. He’s come with orders from Sheliah, he says.”
Tess’s ears perked at the vague statement, having heard it thanks to her sharp ears. Her vivid green eyes went wide, but there also gleamed something that wasn’t fear. Hope? Curiosity? “Th-That was fast…” She whispered to her mother.
“Seems they were waiting on us, probably some rich busybody with too much time on her paws,” she said before pulling the covers off Tess’s form.
“Well you’d better dress, don’t think they would take kindly to you going in your underoos.”
“Aww.” Tess said mostly in jest and got up and pulled on her shirt and pants, setting the stretch waist comfortable on her wide hips.
What meagre belongings they had was in the saddle compartment of Tygon, so they didn’t have much to deal with as they walked past a bemused badger,
“What’s up, looks like you’ve seen a ghost. Oh sorry, is Sheliah here already, should I prepare to curtsy before her?”
A sudden low, menacing voice spoke up behind them.
“You are hardly worth saving, my mistress is too good for you two.”
Whirling around she looks up, and up, and up to see a towering, seven foot wolf with muscles looking like they were about to rip through the suit.
“Um…oh hi, I was just kidding…good doggy?” Tygriss said in a quavering voice, suddenly feeling intimidated by his aura.
Tessa couldn’t help but yelp in surprise, the giant of a canine was almost two feet taller than she was. Her mouth instantly went dry as she understood why the badger’s demeanor had shifted in the wolf’s presence. Quickly dipping behind her mother, ears flat and her eyes wide, but avoiding the lupine’s gaze.
Tygriss gripped Tess’s paw firmly, she felt almost sick with the amount of pressure she felt from the huge wolf and he wasn’t bothering to disguise his immense power at all as he easily pushed them out of the doors and towards a metallic green classic sports car.
Tess clung to her mother’s paw as they were guided into the sports car where a lovely vixen leaned against the passenger side door, her own tail curled contently around her shoulders like a scarf. She looked like a movie star, a lovely red dress that sparkled in the morning light and hugged every curve of her shapely form. “There you are, darling.” She said with a grin. “I thought you’d gotten lost.”
Tessa could tell that the vixen was joking, the vibe off her tone of voice also told her she had some playful power over the wolf.
“Vixen, sweets,” She addressed the two, introducing herself as she stood by the car, smiling kindly. She definitely had the more approachable personality. “And I’m sure that he didn’t bother introducing himself.” She grinned at the canine. “This dashing, strong, silent-type is my mate, Wolf.”
Tygriss worked her muzzle, trying to find her voice as she felt the immense pressure emanating from the pair but all she could manage was the word, “By the spirits,” she said in a low whisper.
“Exactly,” Wolf said as the unusual group climbed into the car with Wolf surprisingly a gentleman with Vixen, opening the door and kissing her paw, a brief brush of his muzzle against her palm, before he himself climbed in, somehow fitting his bulk into the driver's seat before setting off.
“Thank you, love.” She said softly and chirped at the kiss as she settled into the passenger seat. She looked back at their new passengers with a smile as they set off.
Watching the sports car vanish down the main road, the badger wiped at his furred brow.
“I have to get out of this place, too many weirdos around,” he muttered before waddling back into the motel.
<><><><><>
As they travelled to the opposite end of Nest village Tygriss finally found her voice.
“You two…are animal spirits. Like, actual guardians aren't you?” Her voice was now full of almost childish wonderment.
“We are, young one.” She smiled back at Tygriss. “Guardians of Spirit Mountain that serve as a spiritual gateway and helpers to Mistress Sheliah.” Vixen said plainly, flicking a long lock of auburn hair out of her face and turned to look at the two.
Tygriss opened her muzzle for a retort, young one? She was in her late 30’s now. But then she had to reflect, they probably were as cubs to something so ancient.
Tess’s ears were still flat and leaned against her mother’s side. The two vixens gaze locked for a few moments. She felt a more calming, motherly nature emanating from Vixen. The same that Tygriss shared with her.
“And you two have some abilities that could class you among guardians?” She asked softly. “From the stories that we hear , you two have some unique traits that make Sheliah all sorts of curious.”
“I wouldn’t say we are guardians. Just lost…trying to survive,” Tygriss said, her eyes downcast before quieter still, “just trying to get home.”
Vixen smiled back at the pair. “Aren’t we all.” She whispered kindly. “Trying to survive, find…or in our case make a home.” Vixen looked back at the mountain and then over to Wolf with a loving smile.
“Wh-What is Sheliah like?” Tessa whispered in return, finally finding her voice, but it still held a heavy nervousness, her tail gently patting the seat of the vintage car.
“Why not find out for yourself?” Wolf said with a toothy smile as they pulled up outside of a small mansion that boasted an ornate, tall gate and intricate fence, a strong, herbal scent emanating from the rear of the large building. The doors seemed to be oddly made of a sustainable common beachwood rather than the rarer woods with two stone columns lining the entrance.
As the car pulled up within the mansion grounds, Tygriss and Tess climbed out, with the striped feline growing apprehensive. This woman clearly wielded power to have spiritual guardians and felt intimidated, wondering what kind of a monster she would be.
And stood there with the door open in invite, decked out in a lovely azure dress was a smokey grey wolf, her dark hair in a number of tribal looking braids, and as they got closer, stunning violet eyes that seemed to hold a mystical allure to them.
“Welcome to my humble abode Tygriss and dear Tessa, I apologise for not being able to meet you in person but sadly my lifestyle is a demanding one,” Sheliah said with a gentle smile, her calm demeanour helped to put them at ease.
“That’s putting it lightly, dear.” Vixen said as she walked towards the wolfess, and stepped behind her, The red dress dissolved as her body began to shift, shrinking down into a lovely quadruped red fox that seemed to appear from thin air behind Sheliah. A little bigger than a normal fox, she stretched and gave a content squeak. “Ah, it always feels so much better being in this form.” She curled her tail around Sheliah’s legs gently.
Tygriss felt a slight pang of envy, of course they could shift, their forms were attuned to this world. Each time she had shifted it had felt liberation, but also required increasing effort to achieve and maintain.
The folfgeress’s eyes were wide with curiosity. From first seeing the gorgeous wolfess before them and quickly followed by the transformation of Vixen as she stepped across the threshold. Standing before the entrance the young pup could smell burning sage and powerfully sweet herbs. It made her feel a bit queasy; but for reasons she couldn’t explain, it felt comforting.
Tessa’s ear perked up and she just managed to mumble a shy question. “D-Demanding, H-How do you-?”
Sheliah put a finger to the folger’s muzzle, “Shh not in public sweetie, don’t want people finding out,” she said, bending slightly so she was at eye level. “I am sure you both know why that is important, given your own origins, hm?” She said with a gentle tilt of her head; she seemed more of a mother than a village leader.
Tessa could only nod and give a little squeak into the finger on her muzzle. Her tail waved slowly back and forth, as Sheliah spoke kindly to her. The wolfess’s energy was calming and caring beyond measure, just like her mother’s.
Standing up, she walked back through her doorway, “This way you two, if you still want help that is?”
Tygriss stood there, rooted to the spot before finding her daughter’s hand inside her own. Tessa beamed up at her mother, a smile across her foxish muzzle.
Jumping slightly as Wolf walked past her, now a massive feral wolf that looked closer to a direhound in scope, she was surprised none of them were urging them, trying to coax them to cross the threshold.
They were not being forced, they could walk away if they wanted.
She looked back at the car, her bike waiting fastened to the rear of the car. They could just hop on, drive away, run.
To what end though if they were not going to last much longer?
Tessa held tight to her momma’s paw and pressed into her side. Her ears flat as she retreated back even further into her cubbish nature. Feeling overwhelmed, she looked up to the tigress for an answer.
Squeezing her daughter’s hand, Tygriss knelt down, scooping her off the floor and onto her shoulders once more, both comforting her and a comfort to her own weariness.
“Come on daughter, we can least hear them out,” Tygriss said softly as she walked them over into the broad entrance.
Giving a sharp gasp as she was lifted up, she clung to her momma’s neck in a hug, not too tight as to choke her. They walked into the house, Vixen walked by as casually as ever, her tail waving slowly around like the aurora borealis.
Looking all around, the mansion was amazing from the outside; from inside it was a different world. It was cozy and quiet, not like Tessa would have thought it would be. “W-Wow…” she said in a whisper.
Kerra stepped out of the kitchen with a tray in hand. A pot of steaming hot tea and a plate of biscuits in paw. She was wearing a long sleeved shirt that exposed her collar bone with a pair of shorts in place of the dark gi from before. Her fur was black as oil, except for a subtle tortoise shell pattern that covered her shoulders and down her back under the shirt.
Her demeanor was entirely different from then as well, kind and more reserved. “Good to see you, Tygriss. Tess.” She said as she made to follow Sheliah, her tail curling for them to follow her further in, moving towards the living room ahead of Sheliah.
“Yeah, likewise,” Tygriss mumbled back, her mind elsewhere as she looked around.
From the broad staircase in the entrance hall, glancing through the door to the right she saw a large living room, comfortably able to host a small party.
Ornate paintings hung on the walls not of ancestry, but of nature, animals, some spoke of a spiritual connection.
A large, quiet ornate clock stood guard by the staircase, the scent of multiple herbs assaulted her senses along with the tea, the smell of food from the kitchen and…the crying of a pup?
“Sorry, I had to see to my daughter, Dawn,” Sheliah said as she walked down the stairs with an orange and grey fox in her arms, cradling the pup, just seemingly a year old, to her breast as she fed it right in front of them.
Tess gazed a little bit longer than she should have, licking her lips unintentionally like she was savouring a treat. Blushing darkly as she realized what she was doing, her eyes darted to stare out the window to gaze across a lovely herb garden, large grassy area and the side of a mountain that ran up from the back of the garden.
Quickly glancing down to avoid looking at her, Tygriss stared at the well kept oakwood floor.
“Well um, congratulations to you,” Tygriss said, her white earspots glowing red. “So um, why do you need us here?”
Sheliah chuckled a melodic note, “Yes that is the way most react. But our body parts are all natural, it is a shame we have all grown ashamed of our bodies is it not so Tygriss?”
Tygriss snapped her head up, muzzle open to say something but Sheliah was right, she grew used to hiding things and let this world change her outlook on so many concepts.
“You said…or rather Dusk, er, your wife, said you could help us?” Tygriss said softly, trying to keep looking into Sheliah’s mesmerising eyes and not at the pup feeding.
“This way girls,” Sheliah said, leading the pair into the large living room.
Kerra was already setting out the cups for the tea, her long oil streak of a tail waved slowly back and forth, a single one for Sheliah by the high backed recliner and a pair on the sofa for Tess and Tygriss. “Do you think…Dusk will be back soon? Should I make a cup for her?” the pantheress asked in her usual, slow manner.
“I wouldn’t count on it, young one. She had a lot to take care of. I overheard her after you two got back.” Vixen said and hopped onto the sofa and sat down comfortably at the far end next to Sheliah’s chair, her tail curled around her paws.
“L-Like ninja work?” Tessa said from her mother’s arms, still holding tightly to the tigress’s neck, being held not too much unlike a toddler.
“No, nothing like that. My wife is a retired ninja, though she keeps her skills honed. She actually works as the chief police officer for Nest Village, though it is very rare there is much trouble. Least of the mortal type,” Sheliah chuckled as Kerra poured them all tea, the wolfess gracing her with a fond smile and a thanks as Kerra stirred in sugar for Sheliah as the wolf adjusted the feeding infant at her bust.
As Wolf settled at her side, Tygriss shifted, feeling a little ill at ease before picking a comfy looking armchair and sat down, sliding her daughter from her shoulders and into her lap. “This place you have is…beautiful. If not a little overwhelming,” Tygriss said, gently squeezing her daughter’s hand as much for her own benefit as Tess’s own. “But I wondered when you might get to the point?”
Settling on her mother’s lap, Tessa’s ears fell flat as Wolf joined, his imposing presence emanated from the giant canine. She held her tongue as the adults spoke back and forth, her eyes downcast nervously.
Wolf looked up with a growl but a wave from Sheliah placated him.
“You have every right to be cautious you two, I have saved some old clips from news articles when you were first found,” Sheliah said softly, carefully pulling out a piece of yellowing paper from a folder as she did her best not to disturb her pup.
‘Crazy mother found with daughter, claiming to be from another world,’ the article read.
“When I saw this I had to investigate, call it a sixth sense but soon after you both went missing. When I learned you were swinging by again I just had to test a theory out. You see we both lead double lives.”
Sheliah paused to take a sip of her tea. “For you see as well as the mistress and governor of Nest Village I am also a shaman; rolls off the tongue nicely really, Sheliah the Shaman. I can help you two to channel what our world has to offer so your own bodies do not suffer whilst we search for a way home for you both.”
“Sheliah will help.” Kerra said with a smile as she sat comfortably on a stool beside Sheliah. “She is–good at what she does.” She paused mid-sentence, thinking of the easiest way to say it without giving too much away.
Finally Tess found her own voice. “W-We have been forced to move…run away from a few places before we heard about Spirit Mountains and Nest Village, Miss Sheliah.” Tessa whispered, cuddling into her mother’s side. “Can you really send us home?” Tessa asked in a hopeful tone.
“It’s not quite as easy as that pup.” Vixen said. “The boundaries between the worlds are ever shifting. And we want to send you to the right world, don’t we?” She giggled and glanced at Sheliah. “Vails become thinner in time, sometimes crossing over. We don’t want to jump the gun on anything. Besides, you’ve a lot of extra things to learn. Your shifting and pyrokinesis, Tygriss. And whatever Tessa is capable of.” Vixen smiled at the young folfger.
The sounds of gentle suckling subsided as the pup detached itself and yawed with Sheliah gently lowering her top, cradling her pup fondly to her shoulder.
“As Vixen says the lines are fickle, I will be keeping a close eye on the situation for the window may only be brief when it reveals itself. When you two crossed over I can only assume it was from a form of magic not unto this world and was a forced removal, which is why your bodies struggle to adapt. I can help you both harness the world's energies and Dusk can give you better control over what she calls Chakra, you probably have another word for it though.”
“Our ties to the spirit plane will help to detect shifts and anomalies, we have nasties that we have to expel from time to time so if we find something that matches your spiritual resonance we will inform Sheliah,” Wolf growled out, his tail giving a gentle wag.
Tygriss couldn’t help a small smile, “This sounds almost too good to be true. You really are our best hope huh? I can’t even say you are lying about who you are from what we have seen,” Tygriss said with a small smile. “Well, so be it then. I can’t promise I will get along that well but…maybe a safe space and not having to hide who we are will help the damage,” she said, her smile turning genuine as she bounced her daughter on her lap. Despite being fully grown it was easy to forget with how cubbish her daughter behaved, and how much she adored her. “Looks like this is our new home for now daughter.”
Bouncing on her mother’s knee, Tessa nodded, a smile growing on her muzzle. She felt the air, turning so warm and comforting. Even now Wolf’s presence didn’t get her hackles to rise. His size didn’t feel as intimidating. “W-We’ll try our best to behave, Miss Sheliah!” The folfger said with a more determined voice.
Vixen smiled at the cubbish behaviour of Tess, her tail flitted back and forth, slowly at first then quicker, showing a little agitation. “You two are so natural together.” She paused, looking at the folfgeress, a touch of jealousy in the gaze.
“You will bear cubs, Vixen. Give it time.” Kerra said and gently put a paw on the feral fox’s shoulders and gently scratched the spot between her shoulders as she smiled as Vixen let off a little murr.
“It will happen, it is a rarity among us spirits but we just need to keep trying,” Wolf said as he playfully hip-checked his mate. “Not that you need a reason for us to try,” he said to Fox with a very wolven grin.
Vixen growled pleasantly and nuzzled into her mate’s side, “I can wholeheartedly agree to that, my love.” She said and nuzzled into his neck.
Kerra blushed and flicked her own tail and stepped beside the two striped furs. “Shall I…show you two to your room?” Kerra asked Tygriss and Tessa.
“Yeah, I think after everything somewhere we can just think about things that might be best,” Tygriss said with a grateful bow to them all. “Thank you…I don’t know how we can ever repay you for the kindness.”
“No repayment needed Tygriss, it isn’t in my nature to let someone suffer if I can do anything about it. And I must admit I do have an interest in maybe even getting a glimpse at another world. Once you are settled you will have to tell me all about it, I will consider that payment,” Sheliah said before they were led to their bedrooms. Sheliah had to stifle a chuckle as Tygriss and Tess looked around with wide eyes, Kerra leading them up a winding staircase.
Tess drops off her mother’s lap and holds onto Tygriss’ paw, following the young panther up to the second floor. They hear the mumbling of the other three continue, planning out fully what they are going to do to help.
All the while they walked down the hall to one of the corner rooms, The folfger looked at all the decoration, tribal and speaking strongly of the spiritual. Paintings and flowerpots, the herbal scent emanating strong from the plants.
Kerra opened the door and ushered them into the room. “You have your own baths in here.” She said and opened a door that showed a bathroom with a stand alone shower, a tub to bathe and of course sink and a toilet. “I will bring you...clean towels. Let you get com-fort-able.” Kerra continued slowly in her speech. “Is there things you need…to get settled?” Kerra asked.
Tessa meekly shook her head before starting to look around the lavish room, a chest of drawers pressed against one wall, a large queen sized bed sat in the middle of the room, headboard to one of the walls. “I-I think I’m okay. Thank you.” Tessa actually responded, her tail hugging her mother’s leg.
“No, we should be okay. Thanks um, Kerra?” Tygriss said, unsure if she had her name right. “Maybe you could teach my daughter some of those sick ninja skills someday, help her fend for herself?” She said with a broad smile on her muzzle. In the face of this small black panther her maternal side bloomed forth. “We’ll see you downstairs right?” Tygriss said, kneeling down so she was eye level with her, head to one side in a warm gesture.
“Of course.” Kerra nodded, answering both questions with the one answer. “If any–think…do not be afraid to ask.” She smiled back, her cheeks warming as blush grew under her dark fur as Tygriss knelt down. The panther turned and let them have privacy as they got acquainted with the room.
Once Kerra was gone, she looked around, taking it all in.
Even though she was sure this was one of the smaller rooms, it was still bigger than anything they ever had. Replete with two wardrobes, a queen sized bed, some portraits depicting a type of dreamscape, something shamany she didn’t really understand among other things.
“Wow, I can’t believe it daughter,” Tygriss said softly, stepping up to the large window that looked onto the front of the drive. She looked down and yep, they really were last before the exit of the village and stand-alone. “Bet you could have all sorts of wild parties here with no mind to anyone else huh?”
“Yeah,” Tessa smiled and looked across, only able to see a few roofs of the buildings from where they stood, able to look over the town from the mountainside mansion. Her tail waved excitedly as she took in the environment before she was pulled into a loving hug by the tigress.
Tygriss started bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Daughter, I think we are well and truly landed!” She whooped, holding her daughters hands, spinning her around gently in joy. For once she didn’t feel like biting someone’s head off, the ache though there was distant and she didn’t have to hide who they really were any more.
She gently fell onto the bed with her daughter, cuddling her to her chest as she cried silent, happy tears. Tessa gently nudged her head under her mother’s chin, her own eyes filled with joyful tears, feeling her mother’s energy. For the first time in ten years, they were able to relax and be fully themselves without worry.
The weight of the world was lifted and they were pulled pleasantly into a comfortable sleep together. Finally safe, it was like a dream come true.
EPIOLOGUE A WEEK LATER…
Tygriss rolled up to the three story motel she knew her ex-bandmates were staying in, she got wind they would be heading out with Garret’s nose healed up enough for them to hit the road now, sporting quite a bill.
With some nerves she walked up to them as they loaded up their van, they had been busking to try and get some money rolling in whilst they sorted their injured friend out. “Hey guys,” Tygriss said, dismounting her bike and walking up to them, hands out in an offer of peace. “Don’t worry, I didn’t come here to pick a fight. I came here…to make up for my mistakes.”
Garret was the first one to see her, his eyes still flaming with rage. Picking up some gear, he touched the bandage on his nose gently before he began walking off, carrying an amp to their repurposed van.
“H-Hey Tygriss…” Jayce said softly, “Hey Tessa.” He glanced at the jackal lead. The air was heavy with awkwardness, the hyena’s ears falling back as he ran his fingers through the mane of hair that ran down the back of his neck. “H-He’s still…uhmm…”
“You don’t need to answer for me, Jayce.” The jackal stood next to his bassist, arms folded across his chest. His muzzle was bandaged, a short bloodied line showed where they had to surgically fix his nose. “You’ve got a pretty mean right hook, Tyg. What did you want?” Garret said with the same breath.
“In my defence Garret, you can be a bit of a jerk at times,” Tyrgiss growled before taking a calming breath. “No…that doesn’t excuse what I did. I came here to make amends. I won’t be joining you again in this life but well, maybe I will keep practicing if you ever want to collab if you swing by Nest again?” She chuckled, “though I think Garret would rather one on one with me in a cage fight,” she said with a shit-eating grin.
“You got that right. But I’ve got to pay for your first bit of handy work.” he gestured to his nose and gave a roll of his eyes. “I will think about it. We don’t plan on coming this way for a bit.” All at once his body relaxed and the language softened, a grin spreading across his muzzle. “So you’ve got time.”
Reaching into her green leather jacket pocket Tygriss pulled out an envelope that seemed to be bulging. “Here…this should help cover costs,” she said somewhat bashfully. “Open it whilst I’m here if you still don’t trust me.”
His ears flicked to the side as the envelope was pushed into his hand “It’s not going to like…set my fur on fire is it?” He said dryly, but it was obvious he was jesting. Opening the hefty parcel, his eyes widened, seeing hundreds bungled up neatly together “W-were you like a secret rich guy all this time?!” he said in surprise and closed the envelope again, not before Jayce looked in and started giving the nervous chitter of a hyena. “Tygriss, I can’t just accept that much.” He offered it back to Tygriss.
“I-I get it and all…” He said and flicked his tail side to side, his heart thumping in his chest. “But, I can’t, not five grand.”
“But you said you had your surgery to pay off.” Tessa chimed in from beside her mother, making the jackal stammer.
“Look, we know how things work. The correction alone would have set you back a few grand plus medical and meds. Take it, if not from me on behalf of Sheliah, my benefactor,” Tygriss said to a few puzzled gazes. “She uh, took us in. Guess us cats really do land on our feet,” she chuckled.
Sighing in defeat, he gave a little huff of a half chuckle. “Alright, you’ve got me there. I’m glad you found what you were looking for, then.”
“And before you start spreading rumors, no she has not taken on two more wives, though I am sure some gossip will go around of that type. She is more like our mother though guess that doesn’t make much sense since I am older…whatever. She said she will help us so we are damn well going to pull our weight to help around for her.”
Grabbing Tessa’s paw I hoisted her back onto Tygon, swinging one leg over the chrome frame.
“Hey Garret, if we meet again I owe you a beer,” he cleared his throat, interrupting her as he lifted the Alcohol Anonymous coin hanging from his neck, “I know I know none alcoholic, okay? Maybe some scuffling in an alley brawl,” she grinned at the group.
“I’ll take you up on that offer. We’ll let you know when we’re back in town. I won’t say a word, promise.”
“And hey Jayce, I’ve heard you sing when you think no one is looking. You should take over as lead singer, don’t be afraid to be who you are, okay?” She tipped the yeen a wink.
Jayce gave a start at Tyg’s comment, his hand coming up to the choker on his neck. “Uhm, yeah. I’ll try to see if I can’t multitask.” Jayce’s voice sounded almost deeper by an octave or so. “I’ll have to since Richard’s mute. He’s going to take over drums for you.” He said, thumbing at the large panther that had saved the stage from roiling into an inferno.
“You guys be safe, alright.” Garret said to the two ladies, his mood turned entirely on its head, it seemed the air was but cleared between the group. “We’ll see you next time!”
“Bye Garret, Bye Jayce!!” Tessa said as Tygon growled loudly to life.
<><><><><>
As Tygriss roared off the group found a small package at the bottom of the envelope. Inside a charred drumstick resided with a note that read.
‘A memento to remember me by. Know we didn’t always get along the best but I do hope to make things up, even if I can’t fully explain things. Stay crispy guys!’
