Change

by J. A. Smith

  “Ok then who do I ask?” I said.

  “Tyler is the youngest but his personality is too cocky, Allen, the second oldest, and he would make a good pack master though he has a strong domineering personality.”

  “Ok then, I will ask Uncle Allen” I said with my hand on the door knob.

  “Lana when you ask him, make sure that there is no one else around, if the others know you don’t want pride master others may challenge you for the title and this could get ugly” he told me in a concerned voice.

  “Ok” I said leaving my dad’s room. I went to look for Uncle Allen. He was sitting at the kitchen table with Derek as I approached.

  “Uncle Allen, can I talk to you in private?” I asked. He had a huge grin on his face; a quick look at Derek’s face told me that Derek had told him what I planned on discussing with my dad.

  I looked at Derek in disbelief. Apparently they had connected the dots and knew what I was coming to ask. Uncle Allen stood up proudly and walked me to the living room.

  “Yes Lana?” he said smiling.

  “Um, I don’t want to be pride master, and I want you to challenge me tonight for the title” I said. He looked pleased with a kind of wicked smile growing on his face.

  “Very well then, I will. Are you going to fight back?” he asked with a slight hesitation in his voice.

  “No, I will not. I don’t want this title and I want nothing more to do with this tiger thing or this crazy society you guys all seem to live in” I said. He looked down at me bewildered.

  “Lana I don’t think you quite understand. I have to almost kill you to get the title” he said. I gulped.

  “I know” I said “I will try very hard not to fight back” I said standing with my spine stiff and straight.

  “Very well” he said smiling like he was victorious.

  I left the kitchen hoping this matter was behind me. All I had to do was live through it. I went outside thinking that at least I would be leaving tomorrow.

  I starting walking down the drive way in effort to gather some resolve and think tonight over. Quinn was walking up the drive towards me once I came out of my happy bubble of home. I tried to hide my smile as he approached me.

  “Some night huh?” he asked turning in my direction to walk with me.

  “Yeah… some night” I said under my breath.

  “So what is your first act as pride master?” he asked smiling at the ground.

  I didn’t know if I should trust him entirely so I simply told him I didn’t think I would be pride master for long and tried to leave it at that. He stopped walking which made me stop to look at him I quickly got lost in his eyes.

  “You don’t want to be Pride Master?” he asked surprised.

  “No, I do not.” I replied

  “Who is going to challenge you then?” he said smiling. I got the impression he wanted the title. Crap had I just messed everything up again?

  “Quinn, you’re not part of this family. So you can’t challenge me right?” I asked concerned.

  “Lana pride master isn’t just for your family, but for all the entire tiger population.”

  I felt like I had been hit in the chest with a two by four. My breath came out in a whoosh and I was unable to breath.

  “There are others?” I crooked.

  “Oh yes. In America there are about, maybe seventy, and your dad has been leader to all. Until last night that is” he said smiling.

  “So anyone can challenge me now”? I asked, surprised at the turn of events.

  He nodded calmly. I felt the blood leave my face. I suddenly wanted to throw up.

  “I, um, have to go and talk to my dad” I said excusing myself, sprinting to the house and ran upstairs to my dad’s room; I didn’t knock, just barged in. I was a little out of breath from the small panic attack I was currently having.

  “Dad” my voice was a little shaky.

  “What’s wrong now?” he asked sensing the concern.

  “Why didn’t you tell me there are more were tigers in the world than just our freaky little clan?” I asked puzzled.

  “Because I never would have guessed you would have ever challenged me, much less win. I figured that was a conversation we could have at a later time.”

  “Dad I’m scared about tonight. I don’t think Uncle Allen will be the only one to challenge me” I said.

  “What?” he stated rather loudly. “What did you do?” he said almost shaking me.

  “I told Derek, and he told Uncle Allen and Quinn, I think.”

  “Lana I told you not to say anything! “, he yelled.

  “I told him before I even came up here to talk to you. Now what am I going to do?” I screamed.

  Dad gazed out the window pondering my dilemma. Finally he said,

  “Quinn would make a good pride master.”

  “I’m not going to fight Quinn Dad,” I stated sternly.

  “You may have to. Anyone can challenge you and you won’t be able to stop the challenge or have a say so. You might have to fight more than just Quinn, if Allen and Derek become aware that you don’t want the title”. I was scared.

  “What do you want me to do Dad? What should I do?” I said shaking.

  “You need to sleep for tonight Lana. I will talk to Allen, Derek, and Quinn and anyone else that wants to challenge you. No one had approached me yet, and because I am your father and the former pride master, they will ask me. Go and rest. Try and sleep and I will tell you what I find out when you wake up.”

  I didn’t say anything because I was indeed in some form of shock and emotional overload.

  I went to my room, closed the door, lay on my bed trying to wrap my head around even more complications. “What have I done?” I thought as I drifted off to sleep.

  The smell of dinner woke me a few hours later. I couldn’t believe I actually feel asleep but as I yawned and stretched the smell called me down stairs.

  Turning the corner into the kitchen, I saw that Tanya was back. I ran up to her and hugged her while she was stirring a large pot of some wonderful smelling soup.

  “You’re in a lot of trouble Missy” she said looking at me.

  “I know” I said almost crying.

  “Your father is having a meeting with all of the family outside. They all seem to want to challenge you tonight, but your dad is trying to keep them realistic and weed out his choices” she told me.

  “Just out of curiosity how did you beat your father?” she asked me placing her hand on her hips.

  “I don’t know. I just did. Something inside me snapped in self-defense and then red anger flooded through me.” I said even more scared at my own realization and the fact that I knew my entire family was against me at this point.

  “Where’s Bill?” I asked looking around.

  “He’s outside with your Dad going through everyone’s thoughts to find out who would be the best pride leader” she told me. I didn’t want to go outside and be judged or subjected to them, so I sat at the table and talked to Tanya for a while. When my dad came in, he looked somewhat relieved yet still uneasy. He walked me over to the kitchen and motioned for me to sit while he took the chair across from me and held my hands. I started to shake at the happiness he was broadcasting with the hesitation. Bill came in behind him.

  “Hello Lana” Bill said. I smiled at him but looked at my dad.

  “Ok. So there are three that would be good for this title in all honesty, Julie. The only problem is you are going to have to fight back. These men will not take the title if it isn’t a fair fight he” told me. Ok, so fighting got me into this mess, so I would have to fight to get out of it; I thought and swallowed really hard as my reality stuck in my throat.

  As calmly as I could I asked for my fate, “Who am I fighting?”
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  “Hold on. First, we hunt. After the prey is killed, Jason will challenge you. He is strong Lana and could even possibly win. Just let your instincts kick in and you’ll be ok. It will be a good warm up and test for you” he said looking at my eyes that somewhere in my head were on fire trying hard to not to well up. I nodded and I spilled some composure over my cheeks. I really could not stand Jason but didn’t, by any means, want to hurt him.

  “If Jason loses, Allen will challenge you and he is fast,” Dad told me

  “Your last opponent will be Quinn. He is like you; fast and strong. You must be brave”. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Bill put his hand on my shoulder.

  “Lana, you have an advantage. You can read their thoughts”

  I looked up at Bill. “Don’t be afraid of what you are, my dear. Your father says you are strong and very fast, which has brought up some warning flags; but I am sure you will do fine. Just try not to kill anyone. Ok” he said winking at me. Oh yeah that sounds easy.

  Sure, don’t kill your family I thought. Bill laughed as he read my thought.

  “Lana, the sun will be going down in a half hour, how do you feel?” Bill asked me. I felt sick about tonight; Sick with worry.

  “You are going to have to change in front of your challengers.” Dad dropped another bomb.

  “I don’t think so” I said firmly.

  “You are the current Pride leader, so you must”, Bill told me. I swear my father had steam coming from his ears.

  “Lana he is right, as much as I don’t like it, you have to do this. The contenders must see for themselves that it is indeed you they are challenging.” Dad told me. I started to cry because I was going to be gawked at like a piece of meat, I just knew it. Changing in front of them, getting naked in front of them, was going to be the worst part of embarrassment, not that laying on the ground bleeding was any better.

  “Won’t they know it is me since I am the only white tiger in the area?”

  “Lana I’m sorry this is the rule and they won’t come after you until after you have hunted and made the kill.” Bill whispered in my ear. Since I had no choice, I got up and walked to the group. Most of them already were naked, so I lowered my eyes to the ground. Dad came behind me and whirled me around, allowing me to hide my face in his chest for a moment of comfort. I felt the sun go down behind me and then the breeze picked up and delivered the smell of my family changing, a smell that still reminded me of a wet dog. I looked up at my dad with tears streaming down my face, silently pleading for this to be some tragic mistake.

  “Go ahead honey” he said turning me around to face my fate. This was going to be the most embarrassing moment of my life. I turned around and Quinn had not changed yet. He was naked and just standing there in all his beautiful glory. I started to blush uncontrollably when I caught a glance of his rather large manhood, which just added to his physical perfection and sent him into an entirely different category, deliciously irresistible.

  “Lana, stop that!” Dad said in my ear.

  “You are starting to smell a little too obvious” he said trying not to shake in reaction to my odor. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes in order to clear my mind to the task at hand

  “Very good” Bill said from behind my dad.

  With my eyes still closed, I started to undress. After I took off my pants and shirt I peeked through a slit in my eyelids. My dad was shaking with anger because he saw my taboo panties and bra set.

  “Sorry Dad.” I said looking down at him. He had already changed into tiger form.

  “They were too cute to pass up” I said feeling embarrassed. Then I looked up and Quinn was eye balling my undergarments with great admiration.

  ‘I think you look great” he said as he knelt down, with a big smile on his face. I started to blush again as I unhooked my bra and slid out of my panties. All of the tigers began to pant and whine at the sight of my naked body. Even Bill’s eyes widened although he didn’t say anything. He was shielding me with every ounce of his being.

  I knelt down and changed as quickly as I could to avoid the stares. I shook my fur once I was in tiger form then began to ran into the woods ready to hunt and fix this disaster.

  Everyone tried to keep up with me but I was simply too fast. I knew from Quinn, Jason, and Allen’s thoughts, they were taking notes in case they were the new leader.

  I sniffed the air and caught the scent of pork. It reminded me of uncooked bacon. It was a rather large bore behind a big bush almost ten feet in front of me. He was dead before anyone could see me do it. I quickly ate what I could of the snack knowing I was going to need my strength. I wanted to get this over with, especially since dad told me I had to fight back in order to be in any condition to outlast there more experienced male tigers.

  Once I was finished and ready for the fight there weren’t any palminarys Jason launched himself at me. Bill had come to be the witness. Jason tried to corner me against a tree. I jumped over him with lightning speed and landed behind him gracefully. I returned his aggression with a quick slap in the face so hard that his head wobbled on his shoulders and he fell unconscious.

  I went over to make sure he was still breathing and was relieved to see his chest rise and fall with breath. Uncle Allen appeared from nowhere, and roared his challenge. I roared back my response.

  I was getting into this. Uncle Allen hit me twice and bit my hind leg. While he focused his attention on the hold of my leg, I clawed his face, blood splattered everywhere.

  “Lana, be careful” Bill warned me. I hit Uncle Allen once more breaking his hold on my leg by shattering his jaw. He hung his head in defeat and bowed out.

  I turned to see Quinn; he was slightly bigger than I remembered. With bull rushing speed he charged, I ran towards a tree, using the trunk as a spring board then twisting in midair in an effort to land the first hit but he moved before I could get in a good swipe. Dad was right, he was fast. We both kept batting air every time we tried to get a good shot. I ended up closing my eyes so I could hear his thoughts. I needed an upper hand.

  His thoughts revealed that his plan was to charge me and push me to the ground in an effort to pin me down. I moved at the last minute just in time to watch him run full speed right into a tree. I would have laughed if I were in human form. He shook his head probably to make all those bells stop ringing.

  Bill was suddenly concerned I might not let Quinn win, that perhaps I had forgotten I didn’t want to be Pride master. I really didn’t want to win I had to remind myself. I heard Bill’s warning and readjusted my plan of action.

  I knew Quinn was going to leap off a tree and hit me in the face, so I closed my eyes and prepared for the blow. I was knocked at least a half a mile into the forest. I probably would have gone farther if I hadn’t been stopped by a very large tree like my father. The impact was so strong that the tree erupted in a shower of splinters and fell to the ground. My entire body ached. I knew there was no use in trying to stand up so I just laid there in misery, gasping for breath. The impact was so forceful I thought my hip was broken, possibly my back as well.

  Bill came running up to me.

  “Are you ok?”

  “No I think my hip and back are broken” I replied using my telepathy. Bill checked my injuries, body over.

  “Your right, your back and hip appear broken. Just stay here for a minute and allow your body to start healing itself” he told me. Quinn came over to check my wounds and since I didn’t get up, he roared his win. I was healing rather quickly and could have charged him returning the attack, but in remembering I wanted to be defeated; I choose to lay there and let him bask in the glory of his win.

  After allowing him to revel in his victory for an appropriate length of time, I stood up and shook off the dirt. I was still sore but I was no longer mending bones. I started in the direction of the ho
use as Quinn roared. Feeling the pressure behind his roar I bowed my head in respect.

  “Thank you Babe” he thought.

  I feeling weak and exhausted, I resumed my return to the house. Bill followed beside me.

  “You did very well. Quinn was the best out of the three” Bill told me.

  I didn’t respond to his comment, I just kept walking.

  “Here” he said throwing a blanket over me once we had arrived at the clearing then left me alone, I feel asleep almost instantly.

  I awoke to rain on my face and lying in mud which seemed like an omen for what the rest of the day would be like.

  “Great” I said as I stood up. The blanket was drenched along with my clothes. I was going to have to run naked into the house. Since there never seemed to be anyone awake this early, I figured I could chance it. I moved quietly into the house then sprinted up the stairs, just as Quinn started his descent down. I froze in horror and embarassment, naked of course, and dripping wet on Uncle Allen’s stairs.

  “Oh. Hey Babe” Quinn said trying to keep eye contact. I turned red and covered what I could with my hands in a futile attempt to be modest. He laughed a deep belly laugh.

  “Go on” he said stepping aside so I could pass. I was disgusted with the fact so many people now knew what I looked like without clothes. At least I wouldn’t have to change into a tiger again for a month, I thought as I got into the shower; that was my understanding at least.

  Dad had said we were going home today so after the shower I dressed in some sweat pants and a t-shirt; made my bed and packed my bags.

  Quinn looked puzzled. “Where are you going?” he asked as I descended the staircase.

  “Home” I said calmly.

  “What? Why? I thought you were staying here for a little while longer” he said still puzzled.

  “No, my dad told me we were leaving today. Quite frankly, I’m happy about it. I want to go home and be normal again” I was a little nervous around Quinn, he began frowning as he looked at me.

  “I wanted to get to know you better before you left”.

  “Well I think I have had enough of this supernatural stuff. Next Thing you know, I’m going to be abducted by aliens”. He chuckled causing my body to tremble until it felt like my knees were going to give out.