Shifting Too Read online

  Copyright © 2005 Torquere Press, edited by Rob Knight

  Credits: The Wraith King’s Bargain © Sara Bell 2005, Sleeping Bears Lie © Alex Draven 2005, Not Pride and Ves’tacha © Sean Michael 2005, Hunted © Lorne Rodman 2005, Tigers’ Tails © Julia Talbot with Sean Michael 2005, Here Kitty Kitty © BA Tortuga 2005

  Cover Illustration copyright © 2005 Pluto

  All rights reserved. No part of this eBook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address Torquere Press, PO Box 4351, Grand Junction, CO 81502.

  ISBN: 1-933389-13-3

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Torquere Press electronic edition / August 2005

  Torquere Press eBooks are published by Torquere

  Table of Contents

  Foreword by Rob Knight

  Tigers’ Tails by Julia Talbot and Sean Michael

  Here Kitty, Kitty: Whiskers to Tail by BA Tortuga

  Not Pride by Sean Michael

  Here Kitty, Kitty: Catnip by BA Tortuga

  The Wraith King’s Bargain by Sara Bell

  Here Kitty, Kitty: Playtime by BA Tortuga

  Hunted by Lorne Rodman

  Here Kitty, Kitty: The Storm by BA Tortuga

  Sleeping Bears Lie by Alex Draven

  Here Kitty, Kitty: Perpetual Motion by BA Tortuga

  Ves’tacha by Sean Michael

  Foreword

  Here we are again, exploring that most feral and intriguing beast -- the shapeshifter.

  All the magic, animal magnetism and eroticism of the first Shifting Anthology are back in Shifting Too, as we explore the darker side of shapeshifting, along with the humor inherent in the possibilities.

  We ask a lot of intriguing questions in this anthology. What if the shifter doesn’t want to shift, or he’s hidden his true nature from his lover? What if he’s broken in some way, or hunted? What happens when a shifter has lost control and suddenly finds himself sprouting whiskers or a tail at the most inopportune times?

  It was a great pleasure to once again put together a second anthology exploring this feral, magical side of our psyche. The stories here should make you hot, but they should also intrigue you, delight you, perhaps even scare you a little. At the very least, you may never look at your housecat the same way again!

  So turn the proverbial page and come take a walk on the wild side. You won’t be disappointed.

  Rob Knight,

  August 2005

  Tigers’ Tails

  Julia Talbot and Sean Michael

  Malik was tired. Tired in his bones. How long he had walked he did not know, but he knew the distance was more than he had ever walked before.

  The time passed as a blur to him, for he rarely felt the effects of it unless he lived among men, but he knew this time was different, and the terrain was markedly different from where he had lived the whole of his life.

  There were no more like him where he came from, and precious few tigers as well, the men hunting and hunting until it was not safe to be among them. Not safe to be a man either, for sooner or later the rest of the men would become wrinkled and old while he did not, and they would drive him away.

  So finally Malik left. He went in search of others like him, or failing that, more tigers. Searching for somewhere he could rest, and have a place to swim and to sleep and not worry about the men.

  He thought perhaps he had found his place. He hoped so, for he was truly tired, and his paw hurt from a cut he'd gotten while hunting a prickly little animal, and this place had a green and blue lagoon, and rocks, and trees to shade him.

  This was a good place. As soon as he woke from his nap, Malik would mark it as his own. He was tired of looking and hoping and waiting. He would stay here, and rest.

  ***

  Someone was sleeping on the Rock that had belonged to Malani, the One who Nursed Him, the One who Bore him.

  Someone very big.

  Someone very big and very loud and snory.

  Still. That was not Someone Very Big's Rock. That was Malani's Rock.

  Even though she had gone away down the water. Even though her roars no longer sounded here.

  So Rishi gathered up all his courage -- and he was a Very Brave and Big Rishi -- and he Roared, telling the Someone Very Big to move.

  Then he ran and hid in the grasses, just in case.

  The Someone stood very fast, taking up the whole rock, and roared back at him, and the roar was Very Big too.

  Oh. Oh. Oh.

  He shook a little in the grass and then bared his teeth and Roared again. His Home. His.

  This is Rishi's Home!

  Rishi's!

  The Very Big One roared again, too, and jumped down to stalk the grass around the Rock.

  Rishi stayed far away from those claws and teeth, but he would not give up his Rock. His. Rock.

  His water.

  His grass.

  His birds.

  His sky.

  His trees.

  Not Someone's. His.

  A Very Big Someone. Very Big. But quiet. The grass stopped moving and Rishi could not even hear the Big one breathing.

  Uh-oh.

  Rishi crouched down as small as he could, closing his eyes so the Someone could not see him.

  Which was when the Someone sprang, knocking him down and landing squarely on top of him.

  Rishi snarled and hissed and made himself Very Big, trying to startle the Someone away.

  The Someone did not go away. Instead the Someone Growled very loud and pushed him until his belly and neck were up, sitting on top of him and making his breath go out hard.

  Oh. Oh, that was No Fair!

  Still. The Someone was Big and Strong and HEAVY and Not Scared at all. So Rishi did what he could.

  He relaxed into the grasses and waited for the Someone to Bite or Move.

  Someone bit, Very Gently, just like Malani would have when he was a cub, to teach him when he had done something wrong, and make him be Good again.

  Rishi took a deep, deep Deep breath. Oh. Good. Yes. Not Hard biting was Good and he was Sorry -- except he wasn't really sure why...

  The Very Large Someone stayed there, biting him, for a long time. A long twitchy time, making sure he did not move, that he was very Good.

  Rishi finally mewled, asking to be up, asking nicely and oh, it was so Not Fair that he was going to lose his Rock because the other Someone was Big. One day he would be Big and he would have any Rock he wanted.

  The One who was Big now backed away, letting him up, letting him see. The Large Someone was a tiger, like him, only huge, and pale, with bright eyes like the sky.

  He backed away, tail swishing, licking his paws, rumbling and watching. Those eyes were new. Pretty like the butteryflies that got caught between his teeth.

  Still, the Someone was Much bigger than the butteryflies.

  The Someone rumbled, coming close, making him worry, but the Big one only rubbed cheeks with him, scenting him.

  He was Very Brave and did not run.

  Or bite.

  That was very hard, but he was a So Brave and Strong Rishi. He had even almost Hunted a Long-Eared Bouncer.

  Almost.

  The Other rubbed along his neck and back, spreading the Big One's scent on him, claiming him as family.

  His purr wanted to come out, wanted to so much because he had been lonely and... not scared, because he was Brave, but worried and nervous and wanting another to come and play and purr and groom and nuzzle and pounce and roar.

  The very tips of their noses touched, finally, and the Big One rumbled again, licking him lightly. Those sky eyes stared at him, testing him, re
ading him.

  He nuzzled, just a little, his purr too big to be quiet now because the Big One smelled Good and Not Mean and those eyes were... Very Much.

  Oh, that got him a nuzzle in return, full on purrs coming out of the Big One, telling him he was Good and Brave and that the Big One was happy.

  Those purrs made his belly hot and rumbly and made his claws rolls into the soft dirt.

  Sky eyes blinked, looking deep into his, and a low rumble took the shape of the Big One's name. Malik. The Very Big Someone's name was Malik. How he knew Rishi did not know, but it was True.

  Malik. Malik. M-m-m-m-m-m-malik.

  It was a good name.

  A Strong name.

  If Rishi knew the Very Big Someone was a Malik, then Malik must know he was Rishi.

  Rishi.

  Which was another very good name.

  Malik must have thought Rishi was a fine name, because his whiskers got groomed and his cheeks rubbed, and Malik nudged him toward the Rock, letting him crawl up before climbing up and nudging him down, tail curling with his.

  Oh. Oh. His Rock. Their Rock. He Purred as hard as he could, belly rubbing down into the warmth, eyes blinking slow-slow.

  Meeting new Someones?

  Very Tiring.

  Good, but Tiring.

  ***

  The young one was just what he was looking for.

  Malik could not believe his incredible good fortune. Rishi, for the young one's name was Rishi, was not just a tiger. He was like Malik, though he might not know it. One like him, who accepted him so easily. He could not ask for more. Yet there was more. A pool, and rocks to call his, and abundant food. And no men.

  Malik purred, grooming the young one happily. Poor Rishi was most likely confused and tired and in need of simple care. So young! Malik purred louder, licking and nuzzling.

  Rishi chuffed, stretching and purring back at him. The young one's eyes were the color of bright sunshine, stripes black and beautiful, teeth strong and white.

  Someone had done him a great favor in keeping this one safe, in raising Rishi to be strong and proud. Yet Rishi was not so proud that he did not accept Malik as an elder, which was good. Malik needed to be the leader, the teacher in this.

  He licked some more, grooming Rishi's throat and belly.

  Rishi wriggled, shifting away, skin rippling. Oh, Rishi was tender there, ticklish on that soft white belly.

  Chuffing, Malik set about their first lesson, which was that it was all right to play. He pounced, rolling them right off the rock, and attacked that lush belly fur, batting at it with claws sheathed.

  Rishi roared and bounced away, shaking to make that ruff fat and big, long tail held high.

  Oh. The young one was good at play. It was good to see, made him very happy. Malik bounded after, swerving suddenly and adding a burst of speed to put himself right into Rishi's path. Rishi jumped high, a startled sound filling the air. Those gold eyes went bright, belly bared for a moment, giving him the perfect opportunity to pounce.

  Pounce he did, growling low, rolling them over and over, coming to rest with Rishi on the bottom, belly bare to his flurry of licks and nibbles.

  Happy sounds filled the air, Rishi wriggling and playing and pushing beneath him. Those paws batted him, then wrapped around his neck as Rishi went for his throat.

  He evaded neatly and put his full weight down on the young one, rubbing his cheeks from chest to jaw, scenting Rishi again, reminding him who was in charge.

  Rishi snorted and rumbled, daring to nip his ear.

  Chuffing again, he bit lightly on Rishi's neck before letting the young one up and shaking the leaves and grass out of his fur. They would play more later, but his paw still hurt, and was starting to throb. He licked at it, deciding that it was all right that it hurt. It had made him stop and find Rishi.

  Rishi rumbled and scooted over, eyebrows lowered. The young one nudged his head over, tongue lapping at his paw, nose soft and cool against his pads.

  Oh. Had he been a man he might have had tears. Such concern from one who knew him so little. Lucky indeed, his find. Malik turned his paw, showing Rishi the sore and swollen pad, the cut deep and long.

  Rishi growled and nuzzled, fussing and licking and easing the deep itch, cleaning the wound.

  Groaning, Malik sank to the ground, letting Rishi care for him, knowing the care would help him heal faster. His eyes half closed, his tongue coming out. It felt so good.

  He was thoroughly groomed, Rishi's soft, random little purrs a balm deep within them. The kit had been scared and lonely, was so glad to have someone to lick, to pounce.

  Not that he could blame Rishi at all. He had been lonely himself, if not scared, and so tired. So tired. Now he had one like himself, family at least. The rest would remain to be seen. Once groomed, Malik rolled to his feet, a short bark telling Rishi to follow. It was time to test the water of their pool. Then nap. The lessons could continue after that.

  ***

  Rishi woke up long before Malik did and, after grooming himself and marking his territory, he decided to go Hunt.

  He was still learning about hunting -- Malani was a Very Brave Hunter, but she was fast and long and she could make the Long-Eared Hoppers stop with her eyes. It was Special Magic.

  He was only Rishi.

  He was not Special Magic Rishi.

  But!

  He was Brave!

  And had fine teeth and claws!

  And one day? He would catch one that was still alive, too.

  So there!

  Ha!

  He worked very hard. He searched in a tree and he walked through all the tall grass and he chased and chased and chased a bird until he couldn't hear anything but his heart drum.

  Then he stopped.

  And napped.

  Hard.

  He woke when the sun sank behind the trees and the air was cool against him. The birds were calling to each other as they did at dusk, telling each other where they were.

  And somewhere in the far away he could hear desperate roars, roars that sounded like his new Someone, Malik, calling his name.

  Rishi frowned and lifted his head. Oh! Oh! He was coming.

  Coming!

  Ma-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-alik!

  Coming!

  He ran as hard as he could, the grasses flying by.

  The closer he got, the louder the roars got. Malik had a Very Strong Roar.

  He was going so fast his feet tangled up as he tried to stop, stumbling and thudding into the grasses near Malik's feet.

  Malik was on him right away, sniffing him all over, licking him, deep rumbles sounding.

  He twisted and chuffed, singing simple songs about his day, about his attempts to hunt, about the birds and the tree and the lack of Good Food.

  In return, Malik told him about waking to find him gone, and worrying that he had Gone, and how happy Malik was to see him and that they would have good food to eat that very night.

  He tilted his head. Go? Go Gone? No...

  He headbutted Malik, licked him. This was Home.

  This whole place -- Rock and Water and Tree and Grass.

  Home.

  Home for Rishis and Maliks.

  Purrs washed over his fur, Malik praising him, rubbing cheeks. Good Rishi, those purrs said. So Good.

  He rolled and stretched, paws batting the air. Oh, those purrs! So Good. So Good deep in his belly and in his nose and the base of his tail!

  Malik covered him, pressing down against him, rubbing and purring, showing him affection. He rubbed and purred in return, muzzle sliding over Malik's fine soft fur, breathing the scent of family in deep, letting it fill his inside spaces.

  Shaking his ruff with those big teeth, Malik stood, rumbling and chuffing for him to follow to the pool. They had already soaked once. Maybe Malik liked the water a lot. He bounced along behind, batting a shiny stone as they went. The water was good, if it remembered to stay Out of his eyes.

  Malik stopped just short of the wa
terline and growled, nudging him to one side of the trail, pushing him into the brush, settling next to him, still and silent. Oh! He could be Still and Silent. He was very good at practicing that. Rishi pretended Very Hard that he was a Rock.