FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A day spent at the carnival had felt like a good way for Riley to get material for her article. A history of missing persons wherever Circus Vondeltrap visited indicated to the amateur sleuth- with a popular true crime blog- that something nefarious might be going on. But after talking to every worker, vendor, and clown she could find Riley was no closer to uncovering anything concrete to verify her suspicions. No one, employee and guest alike, knew of the disappearances and preferred to enjoy themselves. So with the sun setting, crowds thinning, and the circus planning to leave town the next day, Riley decided she might as well try to enjoy herself.

Riley was a woman of twenty-three years with black hair, a curvy figure, and stood a little over five and half feet. An attractive woman, she usually kept to herself and her own hobbies. Mostly playing games, doing puzzles, and running her blog when not doing freelance programming. For a person her age she was fairly comfortable in the simple life she’d made for herself, leaving her with little ambition beyond whatever case she pursued for her blog. Riley’s only true goal was to move out of her current apartment to someplace bigger and that allowed her to have pets. Namely as many cats as she could. She’d had them growing up but had to leave them with her parents and siblings when she moved. Riley was perfectly unassuming in her sneakers, jeans, t-shirt, and hoodie like she wanted to appear.

Perhaps that’s why the first thing Riley did with her free time at the circus was buy a ticket to the big top show that featured ‘Beast Tamer Helene and Feline Friends’. Riley was just in time to catch the seven o’clock show and walked in to find almost every seat filled. She found her own seat in the least occupied section just as all the lights darkened. Leaving a single spotlight in the middle of the ring shining down on the show’s ringmaster.

“Ladies, gentlemen, glorious others, and all! Welcome, welcome to the magnificent and marvelous Circus Vondeltrap!” boisterously announced the silver haired ringmaster. “I’m Ringmaster Finnian, your host and guide through the wonders to come! We specialize in only the most serene and surreal entertainments that leave you with an unforgettable big experience! I trust you are all ready for a show that will thrill, dazzle, and delight you? Let me hear you!” There was applause and cheers enough to satisfy Finnian. “Wonderful! Your enjoyment is our foremost concern and our only request to everyone is to please refrain from flash photography. It can distract our performers, both human and animal alike. We at Circus Vondeltrap strive to provide the stupendous show we possibly can so please don’t spoil yours, your neighbor’s, and their fun by using flash photography. With that out of the way, let’s get on with the show!”

For the next forty minutes Riley watched a series of acts that were more impressive than the last. Acrobats, gymnasts, clowns, and a horse riding sharpshooter. Riley enjoyed herself and nibbled her popcorn as she waited for the felines. Then at last the ringmaster introduced Beast Tamer Helene who made quite the entrance. The tall, blonde, and drop dead gorgeous Beast Tamer herself was bright in a violet and gold fringed jacket and pants. But it was her impressive entourage that most interested Riley. Walking behind her were two lions, two black jaguars, and two tigers. There was a third tiger that trailed right alongside Helene as well. Each one looked well-fed with absolutely beautiful coats that Riley appreciated even at a distance. They all had gem studded collars on and moved in a perfect choreography to circle and lay down around Helene and her accompanying tiger.

“Thank you, thank you for that wonderful round of applause folks! I’m Helene and I would love to introduce you to some of the lovely animals that- what is it Zara? Can’t you see I’m trying to do introductions?” Helene asked the tiger at her side as it bit and tugged at her jacket.

Zara roared then nuzzled Helene’s hip.

“You want to do everyone’s introductions?”

Zara roared louder.

“Oh you do, huh? Precocious today, aren’t we? Well if you think you can then by all means, you do the introductions, Zara. So long as you don’t mind me translating for all the folks that don’t speak roar?” joked Helene. Getting some laughs from the audience.

Zara roared again before dashing over in-between the other tigers. Once there she nuzzled one and then the other, roaring with pride.

“No favoritism at all in picking to show off her parents first, folks! On Zara’s left is her mother Tessa and on her left is father Bruce, our beautiful Siberian tiger family!” announced Helene while Zara dashed over in-between the lions next. “And now she’s introducing, on her right, the magnificent Maestro! On Zara’s left we have the superb Vera! They make up our mated pair of powerful, domineering, and absolutely lovely lions! Roaring their greetings to you all! Now as Vera makes her way to our last but most definitely not least of the pride, our divinely gorgeous black jaguars! Zara is nuzzling Sasha right now and as she moves on a bit of mutual tongue bathing with her good buddy Kurt! Let’s give them all a big round of applause! And then an extra round for Zara doing such a great job introducing our troupe!”

Cheers and applause followed and would continue for the entire twenty minute program. Riley was quickly won over herself at not only the sight of the wonderful felines but their sublime routine. She was honestly dumbfounded how the cats could do the things they do with such control. Stunts and dances were one thing but Helene had audience members shouting out tricks which the cats would act out in either dramatic or hilarious fashion. All with little direction from Helene who often acted as amused by the big cats as the crowd. One act involved the cats finding certain people in the audience based on very basic instructions. Riley was clapping with all the rest when they reached the end of the show. She stood along with many others in a well earned standing ovation.

After Helene and the cats, the acts that followed were good but nothing stuck out in Riley’s mind like what she’d seen with the big cats. Even when Helene returned with some bears and elephants later who were also wonderfully trained and personable as the cats it wasn’t the same high for Riley. She’d been hoping for a feline encore but was disappointed. The ringmaster brought things to a close and wished everyone a great evening and to visit the circus when they were in town next. Everyone left happy. Riley left wanting more.

When she was back outside the majority of the crowds filtered down the midway towards the exit. Barkers shouted reminders to everyone the circus would be closing in fifteen minutes, which sparked most folks grabbing a meal for the road or a souvenir. Riley went with the group and took the time to scope out a way to reach where it appeared the animals were being kept. Her unshakable curiosity wanted to see those amazing felines when they weren't performing and if it meant a little trespassing she didn't mind. She'd done it for her blog before and gotten into tougher places than a circus. There was little security, no cameras, few lights, and many workers were distracted packing up to leave early the next day. All Riley had to do was linger in the parking lot in her car for things to close and most of the visitors to leave. When they had Riley seized her chance; slipping under some caution tape, kept to the shadows between lights, avoided any workers, and made for the quiet area she suspected the big cats were kept.

It took longer than Riley had figured to navigate around everything and locate what she was looking for. It was dark by then with a smattering of clouds painted on the starry sky above. Riley might have gotten lost once or twice but found her way to behind two large trailers whose uncovered left side’s revealed the pristine metal bars of a cage. The sound of numerous generators helped disguise Riley’s approach. Though the many wires and cables running everywhere almost tripped her up several times. As she could see most into the right trailer she traveled between them, slowly revealing through the bars a familiar pair of lions.

“Maestro and Vera,” Riley remarked to herself from memory.

Inside the lion and lioness were sprawled out on their own respective couches. These couches were ripped, torn, and broken just to the lions liking judging by how comfortable they slumped over it all. Their attention was on a flat screen television. On which a video game was being played. That’s when Riley saw the lion was manipulating a strange controller with its front paws. The lioness watched along, casually chewing a large hip bone.

‘Leave them alone, Riley. They look happy and it’s never wise to go into a lion’s den uninvited,’ the woman thought to herself as she crept. Riley crouched down and ducked under the left trailer, curious what may be inside this one. The trailers themselves were well maintained and of modern, custom design. When she reached the other side Riley was cautious poking her head up. Don’t go startling anyone and causing a commotion’” she reminded herself.

When she came up Riley saw the sparsely decorated cage was empty. There were piles of hay, some large bowls, and some heavily chewed items but no sign of any animal. So with her curiosity unsatisfied Riley walked towards the front of the trailers which required her to go through a tarp curtain and over a standalone generator. Riley emerged with stairs from the empty trailer on her right and a tunnel towards the big top tent with chained off access. In front of her was a circle of six trailers, all with reinforced stairs leading from the back down to the padded down grass. Going counter-clockwise from where she was, there was the empty trailer, the one with the lions, then a trailer clearly intended for storage and equipment, the next two both were more animal trailers, while the last was a shorter, more personalized trailer with covered windows that Riley figured for a human occupant.

Riley wanted to see what was in the far animal trailers having come this far already. With her senses trained for any sign she’d be caught, Riley moved around the longer way to the right. She didn’t want to risk alerting anyone that might be in the smaller trailer and she was quick enough about it that she was lurking past the supply trailer towards the definitely occupied next trailer. Because of this Riley was very careful to approach and keep out of sight.

Inside this trailer were the easily recognizable black jaguars Sasha and Kurt. The both were laying on newly, less tattered couches with lots of oversized pillows, blankets, another flat screen TV, and walls almost covered completely in impressionist paintings. From where Riley she could only see the back of Kurt as he watched television but she could make out Sasha in full. The lady jaguar was sprawled on the couch, legs out, and a stuffed black jaguar in her mouth as she watched television. It was from this angle that Riley noticed the lady jaguar was pregnant. Something she missed during the performance with credit to the black jaguar to carry it well.

Her success so far had Riley itching to see the last of the trailers to see what she figured were the tigers. Those had always been her favorite. Keeping low and quiet Riley kept out of the jaguar’s sight and onto the next. She was quite happy to see the tiger stripes she had been expecting. Unlike the other cats the two tigers, Bruce and Tessa, were asleep in their dimly lit trailer. They had no couches but many large pillows, chewed toys, hay, and a few more television screens. The cats looked dead asleep so Riley dared to get closer to the cage than the others. And it brought her right up to the bars.

‘They’re so beautiful. And a lot bigger in person,’ Riley thought to herself as she admired the slumbering felines. Took her a couple minutes staring to remember to take some pictures to remember her rewarding trespassing by. The low light was a problem and flash seemed too risky. Forcing Riley to back up and try to find some angles were lights from other trailers and light might be enough. Wasn’t easy finding the right angle but she kept at it diligently. ‘Maybe all those missing persons were just fed to the tiger and the lions and the jaguars,’ she humorously reasoned.

“Ooo, that was a good one,” Riley said aloud after a particularly good photo with both tigers. But she thought she could do a little better so Riley took a couple steps back focused solely on the shot’s framing. Not noticing the furry body behind her until she backed into it. “What the-?”

Riley almost jumped out of her skin at the sight of Zara the tiger seated and staring at her. She did scramble backwards to get away but was tripped onto her ass by a bundle of cables on the ground. Her throat had tightened and mouth gone when Riley tried to cry out. Making it more of a hoarse whimper. Then when Zara stood and stalked over to Riley the girl let out more ineffectual cries that only served to wake Tessa. Who raised her head and watched the unfolding scene.

“N-N-N-Nice tiger. Pl-Please don’t eat me!” pleaded Riley when she could think straight enough to speak. Zara plodded forward anyway; sniffing up the woman’s jeans as she worked up the legs. “I didn’t m-mean any harm! I was just looking! Crap, I don't wanna dieeee!”

The trespasser’s reaction was understandable but unnecessary. Zara had a playful look to her with no teeth or claws bared. She was happy sniffing Riley right up until they were face to face. The tigress loomed large over the woman who knew all too well that the big cat could kill her in a flash if it wished. Yet Zara finished her inspection of the intruder by nuzzling the woman’s cheek and proceeding to flop merrily to Riley’s right; with her paws playfully pushed into the girl’s side and big eyes settled on Riley’s own.

“Okay, you don’t look like you want to hurt me,” Riley sighed with deep relief. Seeing Zara come over like a very oversized cat helped ease Riley’s fears of being eaten or mauled. She was wary of playing back with the tiger since the animal might not know her own strength. What she couldn't resist was reaching over and scratching the tigress’s chin when the animal rolled over and offered. “So I guess the friendliness wasn’t just an act, huh? You really are affectionate,” she observed.

Zara’s jovial attitude only grew more rambunctious as Riley pet and rubbed her. A couple minutes into this Riley noticed that Tessa and Bruce were seated at the bars eyeing the pair. Riley wasn’t sure what to make of the way they were staring. Whether or not they were thinking about eating her or if it was just a couple parents keeping watch. So long as they were behind the bars Riley felt safe with just Zara. Gradually Zara’s playfulness brought her close enough for Riley to dare rubbing the tigress’s belly. Which with Zara’s legs draped over the trespasser showed the tiger had taken a clear liking to her.

It may have gone on for hours but a sharp, commanding whistle halted the frolic abruptly. Zara bolted up to stiff attention in a seated position. Something mirrored by Bruce and Tessa in their trailer. What had them on alert Riley saw when she herself sat up and looked down past her feet. A silhouetted figure crowned with smoke from an upturned cigarette between manicured fingers. Stepping forward out of the dark the recognizable face of the Beast Tamer herself, Helene. She had her hair up, black rimmed glasses, a loose white tee on top, short shorts, and bare feet. Riley was relieved she wasn’t armed.

“Some guardian you are, Zara. I sent you out to check the noise near the lions and come out twenty minutes later to find you snuggling with a stranger?” Helene sardonically reprimanded the tigress as she strode up. She came over and reassured Zara with a rub of the head and ears while her ice blue eyes took the trespasser’s measure. “If you’ve come to steal anything but Zara’s heart I’m afraid you’re out of luck,” she told Riley while offering a hand to help the girl up.

Accepting the assistance Riley got back to her feet. “Thank you. And I’m really, really sorry for being here. I’m not a thief or anything I promise,” she tried to explain.

“Can I trust a promise from a woman lurking around in the dark taking pictures of my cats?” Helene questioned, picking up Riley’s phone that she’d dropped when Zara surprised her. “Why are you here, dear? I’d like the simple truth. A snap of my fingers and you’re tiger chow.”

The threat brought to mind the missing persons that had brought Riley there in the first place. “I was just, just… curious about seeing your animals, that’s all. I saw your show earlier and it was so extraordinary that I had to see the stars of the show for myself. I didn’t mean any harm or to take anything but a few pictures. Please, I can go without a fuss. You don’t have to call the police or do anything… drastic.”

Helene scrolled through Riley’s phone photo gallery as she listened to the girl. Grinning as she saw the pictures confirming the woman’s story. “You definitely like pictures. Pictures of my tigers most of all judging by how many there are. Guess you were telling the truth,” allowed Helene as she handed the phone back to Riley. “You are still where you shouldn’t be, dear. I’d be within reason to call for some guys to haul and toss you off circus grounds with a lifetime ban. Or have my tiger family make a meal out of you,” she remarked, letting Riley shiver at the thought. “But I’ll settle for your company. Come, dear, have a drink with me in my trailer. We’ll talk.”

Riley wasn’t expecting such an offer. “Talk about… what?”

“We’ll see where the moment takes us. For now, I do really insist, dear. It’s better than the alternatives, I think you’d agree.”

“I would. If it’s just for a drink and a chat, that’s reasonable enough,” Riley agreed warily.

“I should say so. I’m Helene, by the way. You’ve already met Zara here. Whom do she and I have the pleasure of meeting?” she asked, the tigress beside her perking up at her name.

“I’m Riley. It’s really nice to meet you in person, Helene. Wish we had met under more formal circumstances,” she admitted out of modesty.

“I actually rather enjoy the informal. We’ll talk more inside. Come along you two,” Helene said to Riley and Zara as she walked away.

Tigress and trespasser both hurried to follow. Unintentionally walking in sync as they did.

Riley had to pass through a thick curtain of leather straps and took off her sneakers to continue into the warm and cozy interior. All furniture was hand built from wood and the chairs and couches were wide with plush cushioning. On the pine paneled walls were photographs of the troupe over the years as well as a couple more of those impressionist paintings she'd seen in the jaguar's trailer. Further adding to the ambiance were dark violet curtains, the scent and smoke of chocolate and citrus incense in the air, plush red carpet, many pillows, and Celtic music softly playing. Zara pushed ahead to claim the longest couch for herself.

“Take Zara’s example and make yourself comfortable, dear. Would you like something to drink? I have a stocked fridge and bar,” Helene kindly offered as she stopped in the small kitchenette area.

“I could go for a drink. I wouldn’t mind something sweet that could take some of the edge off. I’m a little shaky from everything that happened,” a jittery Riley replied.

“One Long Island iced tea for you and a Bloody Mary for me,” Helene chuckled and got to work.

“Thank you.” Riley moved cautiously deeper into the trailer to find a place to sit. Zara was taking up much of the couch which left a loveseat and single recliner, likely Helene’s chair. So she went for the loveseat opposite Zara only to have the tiger stretch out her paws to catch her. “What is it?” she asked the wide eyed and playful Zara.

“She wants more attention,” Helene translated without looking up from her work. “Zara, if you want Riley to cuddle you more you’ll have to make room for her. Be a gracious hostess,” Helene told the tiger.

Zara chuffed and growled but acquiesced; retracting herself enough to leave some space for Riley to fit on the three wide couch. It was still a snug fit but Riley didn’t want to turn down Zara’s graciousness. She sat down, squeezing herself into the space thanks to the softness of the squishy cushions. Once she was settled Zara sprawled her legs and paws over Riley’s lap followed by her head. Zara peered up at the woman adoringly- her amber-gold eyes doe-like rather than steely predator. Riley took the hint and used both hands to pet, stroke, rub, and scratch the tigress’s head.

“She’s so well behaved. They all are. It’s like they understand you perfectly. I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” Riley remarked as she tended to Zara.

“We strive to be a truly one of a kind act so I take that as a big compliment. I have a carefully selected and trained troupe who are as dedicated to this as I am. It’s taken time but they all found their way to me, and I know how to make them flourish. They learn to trust me implicitly. From there we can do wonders,” Helene waxed merrily.

“Wonders is right. I wish this wasn’t the circus’ last night in town or I’d catch your act a few more times. Love the whole act. Including the dance numbers,” she added.

“And what did you think of Zara’s performance in particular? Feel free to gush,” joked Helene.

“Well it’s no exaggeration to say Zara was the star of the show right from the start. She did the introductions and was a ball of energy right to the end. Zara loves the spotlight and it loves her right back. She makes it all look very easy and natural while looking absolutely stunning the whole way,” Riley complimented the best she could. Earning more affectionate nuzzles from Zara.

“Well now that’s going to go right to her head,” Helene said as she handed Riley her drink. She took a seat across from her guest and took a taste of her drink. “Tell me about yourself, Riley. I want to know what sort of woman goes looking for tigers.”

“Me? Oh, uhhhh, there’s nothing too special about me,” a modest Riley began.

“They always say that. You be you, Riley, and let me decide if you’re special or not,” a cavalier Helene mused, sipping her drink.

The Beast Tamer’s composure had Riley a little flustered. “They always say that? Who’s they?”

“Others who’ve sat where you’ve sat and had a drink with me. By the end of every conversation I come to find they are indeed a special, rare breed. So don’t go selling yourself short. Go on, tell me about Riley,” encouraged Helene.

Riley took a big sip of courage and tried not to overthink. “There’s not too much to say about me. I live alone in a small studio apartment. I do freelance programmer and code work, and I have a true crime blog that I run that helps pay the bills. And student loans. When I’m not working in some capacity I’m playing games with friends online or doing puzzles on my phone. I’m kinda introverted so I’m not going on any wild adventures or living the high life. Just trying to get by day to day,” she explained in a voice that steadied the longer she spoke.

“Sounds like you spend a lot of time at home in front of screens. Must be some kind of life.I have to ask, what brought you out of your den and to the circus?” Helene asked with a clear curiosity of her own.

“Work. No, I suppose it was more pleasure,” Riley corrected with a blush. Which she tried to hide by taking a long sip of her tea.

Helene raised an interested eyebrow. “Work and pleasure, huh? That’s the perfect mix if you ask me,” she tittered. “I don’t believe the circus needs a programmer so was it this crime website of yours that brought you? I do hope there isn’t a murderer afoot.”

“Nothing like that. At least, I don’t think so. Just a maybe story I was looking into for a future investigation. Disappearances rather than murders. But I didn’t really find anything other than what could easily amount to coincidence. Decided not to waste the trip and see a show, caught yours, and was definitely there for the pleasure of it. That’s what brought me back here taking pictures and not my search for the missing folks. Promise,” Riley assured, not wanting to be a threat.

“Missing persons you say? I hope you don’t mean that tour group my cats ate the other week. By the time I realized what had happened they’d gobbled up everyone but the husky fella. And there wasn’t much of him left either. I think it was Zara herself that had the last few bites. The police said they’d take care of brushing it all under the carpet,” an overly dramatic Helene confessed, barely able to hold in a laugh.

“That does go a long way in explaining why they’re so well fed. Mystery solved,” Riley played along as she felt the buzz of her drink.

“Haha, you’re a good sport, Riley. I’m beginning to see what Zara sees in you,” Helene smirked. Zara meanwhile snuggled closer to Riley. Somewhat forgetting how large she was as she pressed into the woman.

“She’s really taking a liking to me, hasn’t she? I’ve never been near a tiger like this before and she’s on me like my cats growing up were. They were a lot smaller though,” Riley said as she enjoyed Zara’s close fondness for her.

“Zara has been very frisky as of late. Likely just her body coming into season for the first time. She is of that age. Hormones gone wild. I hope she’s not too much of a burden on you.”

“Not at all. I love it, actually. I’ve always had a big fondness for cats of all sizes. Tigers like Zara here I was drawn more to because I love the stripes and their faces and their furry bodies and the way they move,” Riley listed off in a single breath. “I might have to ask for a few pictures of me and her before I go to remember the moment by. I doubt I’ll snuggle another tiger like this again. Wish I could get used to that,” Riley disclosed while tilting leaning her head closer to the tigress. A gesture the tigress took as an invitation to touch her wet nose to the woman’s. Riley blushed.

Helene watched her guest and youngest feline bonding for a few minutes with her mind deducing whether Riley was the right kind of special. That coaxed Helene to probe Riley with an innocent enough question.“What if you could get used to it, Riley?”

Riley leaned back from Zara slightly. “Get used to what? Having Zara around to snuggle whenever I want?” she asked, thinking they were joking again.

“That and even more. Something better than a picture. If I can ask the question another way,” Helene paused and leaned forward, then asked without humor, “What if you woke up one day and you were in Zara’s trailer? Not just that, you were a tiger as well? What would you do, Riley?”

“So, like… what if I woke up a tiger?” Riley checked to make sure she understood.

The hostess nodded. “You’ve admitted an affection for my striped beauties and at least in Zara’s case that’s reciprocated. I wonder if your fondness of tigers would continue if you found yourself as one,” Helene expanded, clearly wanting an honest answer. “Humor me with this one but give it some thought if you have to.”

“To start, if I just woke up a tiger after falling asleep human I’d be pretty scared and freaked out. Zara would go a long way to calming me down if she’s there. That I’m sure of,” Riley pointed out so the tiger would hear. “If I was stuck like that then I’d make the most of it I would think. The life of a circus tiger could be fun. All yours are loving life so if I woke up in this circus I guess I’d consider myself lucky. If I had to be a tiger and was in the wild or a crummy zoo then it wouldn’t be nearly as appealing as being a feline friend of yours.”

“You’re sweet to say it, dear. Sounds like you would take such a development in stride. Being adaptable to situations is a good trait to have. Think you would seek a cure or just enjoy your carefree new life?”

“In this hypothetical I think, maybe? Really depends if it's achievable I guess. I don’t wanna spend all my time futilely trying to escape or fix myself when life as a tiger doesn’t sound too bad if it’s here. I’d definitely have to wonder who or what changed me if I woke up transformed into a tiger next to Zara,” she added as lively banter.

“Oh, it would have been me,” Helene stated unequivocally.

“Is that so?” Riley played along, unsure if Helene was joking. “Why turn me into a tiger?”

Helene shrugged. “Because you’d want to be one. That and Zara needs a proper playmate now that she’s old enough. You’re adaptable, love tigers, have loads of free time, have few personal commitments, connections, or goals in life. I’d say you’re the kind of special person that would make a wonderful tiger companion for Zara. So you’ll definitely know who did it and why. Does that… change your answer in any way?” she asked carefully.

“I… I guess it doesn’t. I’d know my captor and their, erm, unique reasons for why I belong there. Not sure I would look at you the same way though, Helene,” Riley warned with a smile.

“I agree. You’d look at me as your mistress rather than a simple drinking companion,” Helene remarked.

Her host’s frankness was keeping Riley on the back foot. Riley just sat there, snuggling Zara, unsure how to reply. In the end she tried changing the subject. “How come Zara doesn’t get a nice jeweled collar like the other cats? Just noticed hers is pretty plain.”

“She never had a need for one. Zara sparkles without it,” Helene remarked.

“Definitely,” agreed Riley.

Helene sipped her drink and watched her guest and Zara fawning after each other. She couldn’t resist probing for more. Just to be sure. “Putting aside simply waking up a tiger, you think you’d choose that sort of life? To be a pampered, taken care of tiger alongside all my big cats, Zara in particular? You keep your mind but it’s the body that changes. With few responsibilities, free room and board, companionship, and a stress free life it seems to me that, in your case, you would gain more than you lose. Think of those few things that keep you going, Riley, and weigh them against a tiger’s stripes. Truly do that. Does it balance it out or is it not so easy?” she challenged in a benign manner. One that poorly hid her genuine curiosity.

Taking the question seriously, Riley gave it some thought. Her attention on Zara for most of that time. “There’s a part of me that would say yes to that, I think. But I could see myself regretting it. Plus there are good things to my life that I’d lose. It’s a tempting offer in some respects,” she answered with a mix of reason and desire. Then amended, undermining herself, “I dunno, maybe. I’m too indecisive a person to decide that sort of thing.”

“It’s rather telling when you can’t be sure about such a thing. I feel most people would only jokingly consider the feline option, and rightly so. Not everyone is cut out for that sort of life. The ones that are can see the wonder in paw and whisker,” Helene humbly explained. “They say something similar to you, hedging their bets or pretending because they don’t want to admit to themselves or anyone else what they want.”

“Can be hard to make such a big decision,” Riley said for herself and what felt like others.

“It certainly can be, dear. A person like that can wander around their whole life, undecided, looking for the answer. But what they really need,” Helene leaned forward in her seat and dropped the facade of pretense, “is someone to decide for them. It can’t be just anyone, of course, but the right person can help them overcome their own self-doubt. Push them to where they need to go. With love and care, of course.”

Riley blushed a little but kept her eyes down on Zara. “Sounds like you’re talking about someone needing another person to give them permission to do what they secretly want. What’s to stop that other person from just choosing what they want instead? Just hope they do it with ‘love and care’?”

Helene softly shrugged at the question and relaxed back on the couch. “There is always a degree of risk that’s involved. Don’t ask permission lightly, dear, but don’t be afraid to do it or you’ll never be truly happy. A tiger’s life with Zara here could be just the thing you need,” Helene suggested with a smile. “But that’s just my thought. A circus performer's late night ramblings,” she passed off.

To that Riley just smiled and kept her concentration on keeping Zara sated with attention. Something the feline adored and didn’t want to stop.

Helene finished her drink and checked the time. Again she weighed things in her mind and came to a quick but sure decision. “It’s getting late and I’m sure you want to get back to that lovely studio apartment… but if you’ll let me tempt you and keep you a while longer, there’s something I’d love to offer you,” Helene proposed in a voice that dripped with intrigue.

Riley also saw the late hour yet was ever curious. “It is late but I guess I could stay a little longer I suppose. What’s the offer?” she asked innocently enough.

“How would you like your own private dance lesson? With yours truly and the rest of my feline troupe. It’s not the sort of thing the public ever gets to see. It’s a special treat for very special people. Like yourself, Riley,” remarked Helene. Causing Zara’s drooping ears to perk right up.

“I’ve never been much of a dancer. But I’ve never had a tiger as a partner either. I could stay longer to watch if it doesn’t take too long,” Riley smiled.

“I won’t keep you all night, I promise. You’ll get to have a good night’s rest and wake up refreshed in the morning having had another once in a lifetime experience. I guarantee it and I think Zara will back me up on that.”

The tigress was alert and eager again, roaring and wagging her tail.

“See? Now Zara, go help Riley outside and rouse the others. Have them gather inside- oh right, they’ve probably taken down the lights and seats down in the big top by this hour. Hmm, I guess we’ll settle for a more low key affair. Haven’t had one of those since… Anyway, follow Zara out and help her tell the others we’re having a dance recital. They’ll know what it means,” explained Helene as she stood and stretched.

“Yeah, sure. Will I have to let them out?”

“No, they’ll handle that. You just pass the message along. I’m going to go put something on,” Helene smiled and winked before strutting off to the back of the trailer to change.

“We can handle that, Zara. Can’t we?” Riley enthusiastically asked the alert tigress seated beside her.

Zara gave a playful roar then nuzzled Riley’s face a few times before leaping off the couch towards the front door. Riley stood and was a little woozy from her drink, which she finished off as she walked after the tiger.

“Let me get shoes on then you can lead on, princess,” Riley told Zara as she hurried after her, grabbing her sneakers to keep up.

Back outside and with her shoes on Riley was always playing catch up with the eager as ever Zara in the lead. Their first stop were the lions who’d fallen asleep in their absence. Zara took the liberty of roaring them awake. Then Riley gave them the news about a dance recital, perking them up just like it had Zara. They then dashed across to the jaguars, Kurt and Sasha, who were awake and sprawled together. Kurt was cleaning his mate’s head while Sasha relaxed with her stuffed animal toy in her mouth. At the mention of a dance recital the two black jaguars stopped their grooming and acted very joyous about the news. Sasha dashed around the couches while Kurt was doting.

“Let’s go see Bruce and Tessa, Zara,” Riley invited Zara as they made for the last trailer.

Saying the tiger’s names reminded her of the disappearances that had brought her to the circus originally. Tessa and Bruce were the first names of several of the missing persons she’d be investigating. And now that she was thinking of it, Kurt and Sasha were too. A funny coincidence that Riley was too distracted by Zara walking so very close to her instead of her usual bounding ahead. The two were back to the spot where they had formally met the first time. But when Riley checked the tiger’s trailer there was no sign of them.

“Uh oh, Zara. Where are your parents?” Riley asked. When Zara uncharacteristically didn’t respond Riley looked back and saw she was gone too now. “Zara? Where did you go? Why are all the tigers disappearing?” She tried joking to hide the butterflies in her stomach.

A confused Riley backed away from the trailer and was spinning around trying to see where any of the tigers had gone. She wasn’t sure how Helene would react but with no sign of any tiger Riley was ready to give up and head back to the center. Riley took one step in that direction and a tiger sprung from the shadows above to land right in front of the women. Who yelped and jumped back only to have another tiger appear from atop a trailer to cut Riley off. She quickly recognized Bruce and Tessa but that didn’t stop her being scared as the two tigers circled her closely- their eyes acutely studying the shivering woman.

“N-Nice tigers. How’d you two get out so quickly? Me and your daughter were just c-coming to see you two, heh. I’ve seem to have misplaced Zara however. She must have wandered off,” Riley stammered to explain. Bruce then Tessa roared in return and had Riley’s spine tingling. “We were getting along really well. She was all over me! I turned my back for a second and she was gon- OOF!”

Zara had no trouble sneaking up from under the trailer she’d been hiding and getting close to Riley unseen. Then took her first opportunity to barrel through her circling parents and pounced at the woman. Maw and claws were held in check as the attack turned into a furry embrace by the time Riley was toppled to the ground. Mostly on top of the tigress. Riley was figuring out what happened and that she wasn’t dead with Zara’s loving nuzzles and licks.

‘Oh good. I’m not dead,’ a relieved Riley thought to herself. She rubbed and scratched Zara in return. Stopping when Riley noticed Bruce and Tessa looming beside them. ‘They look at me like I’m trying to marry their daughter and they’re judging me. What’s with cats of all sizes and judgment?’ she contemplated.

Whatever the two parents were considering they growled, huffed, and snorted until a consensus was reached. Bruce and Tessa rubbed their heads together lovingly as they pivoted to head towards the gathering point. Riley wasn’t sure what happened but Zara was invigorated by it and squeezed the woman even closer. Just as suddenly as the tigress had set upon her Zara got back up to her feet and hustled after her parents for a ways. Stopping to look back at Riley, waiting for her to follow.

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Riley sighed as she got up and brushed herself off. She saw holes from claws all over her pants and hoodie. “Oh great, these were my favorite jeans. Thanks, Zara. Not like I’ll ever want to wear my best jeans again.”

The tigress wagged her tail either not caring or not understanding Riley’s complaints. It was hard for the woman to be sure which was the case the wickedly smart felines Helene kept. A trait on full display when Riley and Zara reentered the central area and saw the lions, jaguars, and tigers carrying wood to a growing pile in the center. Zara immediately joined in the effort.

“That sure is something you don’t see every day,” Riley remarked while taking her phone out for a picture.

“If you think that’s something you should see them play their video games together. That I didn’t even train them for,” laughed Helene, startling Riley into dropping her phone yet again.”You’re a jumpy one, Riley,” she chuckled.

Riley looked to her right as she picked up her phone and saw the beast tamer sitting on the front steps of her trailer casually smoking a hand rolled cigarette. When Helene had said she meant to put something on Riley didn’t expect her to be wearing a full fitted outfit of thick, glossy black leather. Ink dark, broken in, the custom made attire was richly accented by repurposed umber dyed leather straps. Helene’s boots and pants had a skin tight fit with knee high heels boots. More umber straps hung in loops from her belt over either hip in addition to a silver belt buckle shaped like a cat’s head. Helene’s slim stomach was bare up to her chest where harder leather formed a crop top that left her arms and hands exposed. More of the thick leather was curled over either shoulder from a shared back piece, giving her a broad outline. There was a black cloak that hung from that same backpiece but most striking to Riley was the large, almost oversized three cornered witch’s hat sitting high on her brow. The front pointed brim curled up and away from her pale makeup and dark eyeliner.

“That’s quite the outfit you got there. Jeez, you didn’t do all of that just for my private dance lesson I hope,” Riley said with equal parts respect and trepidation.

“It’s my traditional dress for these special, private shindigs. The others know once they see their mistress decked out what sort of night to expect,” answered Helene. Followed by a long draw on her cig.

“Didn’t realize private dance lessons were such a special occasion,” Riley shyly laughed.

Helene stood and smoked her cigarette down to a stub. “A very special occasion. Held only for very special people who find their way to me. To us. Shall we begin?”

Helene flicked the smoldering butt of her cigarette in a perfect arc to land in the pyramid of wood the cats had built. It struck the wood, igniting all the kindling in a roaring blaze. All seven cats were sitting in a circle around the fire watching the flames rise. Except for Zara who frequently snuck adoring glances of Riley when not basking in the fire’s glow. Riley too found the fire captivating to the point of entrancing. The bright way it burned bathed the circle of trailers and those watching in an uncommonly white light that Riley melted into.

Dazzled by the fire, Riley was oblivious to Helene’s movements putting her behind the young woman. From behind her back Helene produced a thick leather collar made of more umber dyed leather. Fitted with care on the outside of the collar were a mixture of orange topaz and polished fire opals. In a snap Helene could have collared Riley before she had a chance to react, yet the beast tamer chose to go a different way.

“In your business investigating these ‘true crimes’ of yours, Riley, have you ever successfully solved an actual case?” Helene asked in passing as she walked out from behind Riley. She had her hands back under her cloak to keep the collar out of sight.

“Huh? Oh! Ummm, well to be honest, none. I get a lot of engagement from readers and I’ve had some good theories for some but ultimately I haven’t solved a cold case or anything like that,” Riley answered modestly.

“That’s a shame, dear, but your luck can always change. What if we helped solve a mystery for you? Me and my troupe of whiskered sleuths?” Helene offered unexpectedly.

“Solve a mystery? Together? What mystery are we going to solve?” Riley asked hesitantly, not knowing what Helene was getting at.

“The same mystery that brought you to the circus, dear. Disappearances tied to my traveling circus, remember? It was what brought you out of your usual rut in life,” Helene reminded with the most sublime smile.

“I do, yeah. Wait, do you know something about it? I was actually onto something? You’re not pulling my leg?” a wary but smiling Riley asked.

“I likely know all about it, dear. Like their names, dates and locations when they disappeared, and most importantly, I know what happened to them all. Not only am I not misleading you, Riley, I’ll tell you everything. Happily,” she boasted as she stood between the fire and Riley. “Two things I would like to mention first.”

The offer was sudden but hard for Riley to turn down. “I’m all ears.”

“First, I wouldn’t use that word ‘crime’ in relation to these disappearances since no crime was ever committed. Not just my opinion but from Tessa and Bruce to Kurt, those six names would agree too.” As Helene spoke the cats moved from standing around the fire to flanking their mistress with the fire at their backs. “Second, you’re a little under dressed for such big revelations. May I suggest an accessory?”

“Accessory? You’re losing me a little, Helene. What’s that have to do with the disappearances?” Riley was getting confused while the fire had her sweating.

Helene walked right up to Riley and out came the collar. “Everything,” Helene answered. Up came the collar and though Riley flinched she didn’t stop the beast tamer clipping it onto her neck. “There. Now you’re ready.”

Riley winced at the tightness of the collar’s fit at her throat. ‘Why did I let her do that? Is she hazing me? Why are the cats staring at me like that?’ Riley questioned in her head while standing there stunned.

“What is this? A collar?” asked Riley as her senses returned. She felt it with one hand, feeling the gems on it but no clips or way to release it from her throat. Pangs of doubt creep in on Riley as Helene, backlit by the fire, commands strength while flanked by her devoted felines.

“Sure is, dear. A perfect fit. It’s required for the private lesson, dear. Makes you the perfect dance partner for Zara. Ever since Kurt came along and snatched up Sasha, Zara has been moping for a partner of her own. Bruce and Tessa are also protective of their offspring like good parents should be. They wanted the right match for her, the perfect fit, and wouldn’t settle. I don’t blame them,” Helene told Riley while she rubbed the young tigress rubbing at her side. “I would remind this lovely creature daily that all good things come in time. And some good things will come for her too. And now here you are. The perfect fit.”

“Feels too tight to me. Do I have to wear this? I feel silly,” Riley asked as she tugged at the collar for comfort. This as a tingling heat drifted over her, causing a flushing of Riley’s skin and a light sweat.

“You’ll grow into it,” promised Helene. She could see what was coming over Riley and preemptively motioned for Zara to go to the woman’s aid.

The tigress set to the task with her usual eagerness by bounding over and rubbing against Riley. A timely arrival as the spreading unusual heat caused Riley to lose her balance just for Zara to be right there to steady her.

“Thank you, Zara. Got woozy there for a second. I think you put this collar on too tight, Helene. Mind loosening it?” Riley wheezed from the sudden onset of some strange illness.

“It’s not the fit troubling you, dear. It’s just the start of the hour-long process. By the end the collar will fit as wonderfully as it does on six other lovely people I know,” Helene chuckled lightly. The many feline eyes around her flashed. “What were the names of those folks who went missing, Riley? You never mentioned any and who knows, I might be able to point you in the right direction with a little more information.”

In a growing fluster Riley dropped to one knee and then both as the heat drained her strength. Things were getting tense, doubts rising, confusion setting in, and the buzz of the alcohol had Riley actually considering trying to answer the question despite the rest. “Their names? I… I can’t quite remember. I think I need real help here, Helene,” Riley admitted.

“Oh darn, you can’t remember? That’s a pity. That leaves me to have to guess the names and what are the chances in that?” laughed Helene. “Good thing I’m a betting woman then! Were the two most recent names you recall Kurt and Sasha?” she asked pointedly, the black jaguars roaring in unison. When Riley’s eyes perked up Helene continued, “Before that a Mathew and a Vanessa perhaps? And the ones before that, the first ones, they wouldn’t be a Bruce and a Tessa, right? Am I as hot as you are with these guesses or colder than ice?”

First the lions then the tigers roared when Helene spoke the names. Riley could sense a connection and knowing nothing of magic figured a grisly motive. “Those names… Don’t tell me you, you fed them all to your beasts. That’s it, isn’t it? Oh please, I don’t want to- urk!- die!” she yelped, having fallen to her hands after a spasm shot down her spine.

Helene cracked up with laughter. “You think I named my cats after the human I fed to them? How dark, Riley. No, I didn’t kill them and I’m not killing you.”

“Then what… is… happening?” Riley asked while fearfully gazing down at her hands. They’d been cramping, sweating, breaking out in hives, and increasingly looked puffy. But unless Riley’s eyes were fooling her every finger was a fraction longer and growing. They were also visibly bulging out between the joints. She couldn’t fathom what this was other than her demise.

“You’re getting the push you need, dear. To be less esoteric, like those missing names you came here seeking, you're not dying but joining the troupe. It’s better if you relax and let the magic in that collar run its course. Fighting it just makes it hurt more,” Helene advised earnestly as she squatted down. “That’s the answer to your mystery, Riley. I do really apologize that you won’t be able to write about it for your blog. That’s not a joke about what’s becoming of your hands but about their safety and soon enough yours too. Allows you to properly enjoy the life you’re going to have once this passes. You’ll understand better in time, Riley. I promise.”

The sincerity of Helene’s words did little to alleviate Riley’s justifiable freak out at her disquieting changes. Because as the beast tamer spoke the woman’s hands cracked, popped, and shifted out of their human proportions. Sweat slick skin stretched over fattening, bulbous fingers with all four pulling with a force that felt like it stretched the rest of the hand with it. Her thumbs also fattened and grew but were spared the egregious extension. Then as Helene finished Riley was treated to the thoroughly uncomfortable splitting open of her nails as deadly sharp and lightly blooded claws erupted upwards.The pain was nowhere near as bad as it looked but it didn’t diminish the shock to the unsuspecting woman’s mind.

As the moment grew heated Zara was there to press her body against Riley for comfort. Riley tried to ignore her for the sake of her concentration. Her worry this was her painful end underwent a profound shift thanks to the closeness of Zara’s big, furry front paws. The more her hands changed the more they resembled a shaved version of the tiger’s paws. A notion furthered when Riley managed to raise and turn her left hand to see darkened pads developing on her palm and fattened finger tips. Checking the other hand she saw the same to confirm the direction things were taking. She wasn’t dying, but to Riley she was losing her life.

Riley felt her wrists up through her shoulders quivering, sweating, and aching like her hands had before their shift. Tingling ping-ponging from the top to the bottom of her spine was also doing something troubling to her tailbone. She pushed aside what that meant to gather her strength to stand back up on two feet. It took some doing with Zara helping to balance but Riley did it. Standing put in perspective just how much larger Riley’s hands were in comparison to the rest of the shivering woman.

“I don’t… I didn’t ask for this! Please, take this collar off and change me back! I won’t tell anyone about the… missing… names. I-I-I promise!” Riley pleaded while taking small steps backwards from Helene and the cats.

“This isn’t going to stop until there's nothing left of you to change, Riley. That’s your collar now. Just like this is your new home and we’re your new family. I know it’s a lot to take in. Most of the others needed a push too and had their initial doubts. You should have seen Kurt whine and beg when it happened to him. Didn’t take him long for him and his tune to change. Isn’t that right, Kurt?”

The black jaguar roared into a cheeky growl then nuzzled Sasha beside him.

“See? They’re all happy and you will be too, Riley. Come on back to the fire, lay down among friends, and let it happen. You’ll enjoy the experience so much more,” entreated Helene with her hand held out.

“K-Keep away from me! I don’t want any part of this madness!” Riley whinged as she shouted. Then at the edge of a breakdown she turned and ran as fast as she could into the dark. Her actual pace lumbering with her arms in the process of elongating and bulking.

Helene didn’t budge but she did sigh. “A runner. She reminds me more and more of when you changed, Tessa. She’s going to fit right in,” reckoned Helene with warm recollection. “Go retrieve your wayward family member before she hurts herself, tigers.”

At Helene’s direction the three tigers sprung off in pursuit of Riley. Meanwhile Sasha flopped into Kurt for cleaning, the lions basked their bellies in the fire light, and Helene sat back down on the back steps to her trailer to light up another cigarette.

Riley's hasty escape between the tiger and jaguar trailer put her in an open grassy section bounded by the big top tent and the unlit midway. It did not seem such a great distance to cover for the young woman until she tried. Hidden in the grass were more cables, wires, and barely any light. Nothing slowed her down more than her arms becoming a tiger’s forelegs. Their weight pulled her forward, their size made it hard to watch her step, the hairs sprouting made them itch, and the pain was worse.

“Gotta find someone. Anyone. Have to get this collar off. Have to… have to stop turning into a freakin’ animal!” a hysterical Riley gasped desperately as she staggered along. Changes reaching her shoulders, upper back, and chest spurred her eyes up and ahead for signs of life that could save her. Riley believed she could bear what was happening long enough. She looked for signs of life ahead rather than down at those paws she was sporting. A fall was bound to happen. “Stupid Riley. Can’t leave a mystery alone. Have to go sticking your stupid nose where it doesn’t belong. How are you gonna get out of- oof!”

When it came it wasn’t a cable, rock, or her own throbbing feet that tripped her and sent her crashing gracelessly down onto her stomach. It had been Tessa tripping her up by bolting in front of the woman. This forced her hoodie and shirt onto Riley’s already bulging shoulders and arms. Rips in her sleeves were opened as her previously comfortable clothing turned restrictive. The fall also knocked the wind out of the woman but not her fight. Riley attempted to get up again, tenuously planting her front paws and pulling her legs up. Her every movement was a chore with muscle cramping all over her upper body. She’d slip repeatedly from her smooth, sweaty paw pads that hadn’t had time to grow coarse. It made her easy to encircle.

“Stupid hands! Work! Please! I- Ah! Shit! That’s… a tail. That better not be a tail wiggling my pants. I don’t want this!” Riley frantically blustered at what was becoming of her.

She was right that a tail had formed at that base of her spine. Two inches of bone, flesh, and blood had amassed so far. Riley’s sense of it was distant and numb for now but she could feel it squirm into her panties as she tried to stand. Try as she might, Riley could get no further than her hands and knees without falling right back down. Every failure frustrated a woman barely held together.

“Help! Anyone! I’m being… being… attack…ed… Oh, h-hello,” Riley tried to call out when big boy Bruce stalked up face-to-face with her. The tiger snarled, bearing it teeths. Then its jaw opened and for an instant Riley expected a hunk bit out of her. Bruce was simply yawning and sweetly nuzzled Riley. Who was at a loss.

Next Tessa and Zara sauntered up either side of the fallen Riley to join Bruce. They nuzzled and licked at Riley who couldn’t push them off. Riley had a hard time looking at them and not seeing her future. “Is this really happening? Am I turning into… you?” a shivering Riley asked the three.

Bruce and Tessa understood and nodded deeply without breaking eye contact. Zara mimicked her parents then tried to lick Riley’s tender, lightly furred paws. The woman pulled her paw away and felt bad when Zara sulked.

“I’m sorry, Zara. I didn’t mean to- wait, why am I apologizing to you? I’m the one that’s, that’s… losing it,” admitted Riley to the sound of her hoodie’s shoulder sleeves popping open.

Such noises were getting uncomfortably frequent to Riley. Every crack of bones from arms and shoulders shifting was followed by some new part of her shirt, bra, or hoodie tearing apart. It at least let the tigers see what the dark hid from the woman: black tiger stripes on her skin. Visible through the growing holes in the fabric.

“I can’t do this. I can’t,” Riley denied with tears welling up. A sudden bloom of heat up from the collar flooded Riley’s face and left every part buzzing or aching. One particular ache to the gums loosened her canine teeth. Merely opening her mouth though and they fell clear of her mouth into the grass. “My teeth! ah! AH! M-Muh ears!”

More teeth dislodged themselves from her swelling gums while both ears were subject to crawling flesh pulling her widening ears backwards. Riley couldn’t spit her teeth out fast enough. Twitching around her nose and upper lips slowed her down. Keeping her distracted from Zara who had wandered to the woman’s flexing rear end. The tigress was loving the strange mix of tiger and human smells Riley was putting off. While Riley was spitting out her teeth Zara spotted the growing tail the woman was hiding under her clothes.

“How could you all… take thish? Accept thish? I’m not cut out f-f-f… this,” Riley whimpered to tigers before her. She hated the sound of her speech failing through her reshaping ears. A nipping and tugging at the seat of her jeans diverted a subtle balding Riley’s attention behind her. “Zhara! No! What are you-”

Zara got a mouthful of jeans in her mouth and with a single tug ripped a hole right down to the skin. Out popped almost a foot of furless tail that immediately flopped limp for lack of strength. It pleased Zara so much to see the tail that she batted at it trying to bring it to life.

Bruce roared at Zara which brought the tigress quickly back to her parents. Together the tigers communicated something while Riley dealt with more issues. Like the hair on her head shedding in chunks and the new teeth budding in her mouth. Areas of her body, like her jaw, breasts, and crotch, throbbed with a troubling intensity. In particular there was heat radiating from between Riley’s legs was another trouble to add to her pile.

The transformation had Riley sprawled and writhing in the grass on her stomach. She mentally fell and crumbled to pieces. There to pull her back up was the family of tigers. Tessa bit down and lifted the woman up by her hoodie without much trouble. Giving Zara room to slink underneath Riley in order to lift her up. That cleared space for Bruce to get under and effectively put the woman on his back. Then proceeded to haul her back to her dance lesson with Riley on his back and the two females making sure she didn’t fall off.

Riley’s return to the fire light was a slightly more dignified entrance than her hurried exit.

“After a brief intermission it looks like the private lesson is back on,” remarked Helene from her seat.

The tigers brought her near the fire before letting Riley slide off Bruce and onto her back. Riley’s shoulders and arms had nearly fully realigned to the forelegs and couldn’t be easily put down at her sides anymore. Reducing her to pawing weakly at the sky. Here in the fire light for the first time Riley saw the black stripes on her arms. They grew more pronounced with the spread of white-tan fur from her paws and wrists. The fire let her see just how much of herself had changed. How much she’d lost. How much she was losing. How much there was to lose. She didn’t know how to possibly cope.

Without any direction from Helene the entire troupe of cats prowled up to surround Riley where she lay. Her view from below of the seven big cats would have terrified her normally. But there was no need for fear of the adoring eyes and wiggling ears. No pair more loving than the ones belonging to Zara, who was right over her head.

“They’ve really taken to you, Riley. I knew you’d fit right in!” bragged Helene as she finished her cigarette. “What doesn’t fit are those clothes. Right, troupe?”

Out came the sharp teeth and every one nipped or bit a piece of Riley’s clothes. In less than a minute every shred of her shirt, hoodie, bra, pants, panties, shoes, and right down to her socks. Their teeth never come close to breaking Riley’s skin in their work. While they did that Zara stayed by the woman’s head. Preferring to lick Riley’s head bald while cradling it carefully in her paws.

Their job done, all the felines but Zara gave Riley room to breathe and complete her change. The tigress worshiped the woman’s partially morphed head with her tongue and whiskers. It allowed Riley to peer down at her naked changing body. Her breasts were shrunken and flabby now with faint markings of more nipples further down to her waist. Further down where heat steamed from between her legs she saw something she should have expected when being flaunted as a tigress’s mate.

“You’ve come along so far in a short time, Riley. May I ask you how you’re doing? Judging by your head you should be able to talk for a little longer,” surmised Helene as she strolled up to Riley where she lay, having finished her smoke break.

“Sho much… feeling,” Riley said with difficulty. Pushing herself to ask of the red tip between her legs, “What ish… that?”

“That? Well, dear, that’s a tiger’s penis. Testicles too. Hard to be Zara’s dance partner and lover without it,” noted a smirking Helene.

During those times when Riley’s crotch had burned her genitals had been anything but idle. Much of the heat she felt had been either her over-engorged clit swelling into overdrive to become the red, bristled, and peaked at the head cock she spied. Further down her cunt had begun to seal amid sprouting white fur. A small pair of testicles were expelled before Riley’s slit closed completely. Her new balls swelled as her barbed penis did by the time she had her clothes removed.

“I have… a cock too?” huffed Riley as realized the real source of her heat.

“A cock too. That and your tail make a cute new pair of new appendages down there. Both great aspects of your gorgeous new body,” Helene complimented.

“New… body,” Riley repeated through heaving breaths. Her initial panic and fears had allayed somewhat and knowing the nature of those changes between her legs explained much. Like those bursts of arousal and thrusting desire that punctuated the aching and cramping that pressed down into her hips.

“There’s always an adjustment period,” Helene began wistfully. “A tipping point between thinking about what you’ve lost and realizing what you’ve gained. There’s no telling the exact moment but things get so much easier when it happens. By the way you’re looking at yourself, Riley, I think you’re close.”

A forward shifting of her jaws into her muzzle hid the uncertainty in Riley’s expression. Fear was still raging fueling her heart's hurried beating but that desire to run or beg for mercy had faded. So many unknowns ahead that Riley couldn’t fathom the answer too. The new cocktail of hormones and appendages was some of it. What helped a lot was seeing her forepaws nearly done transforming into fur mitts to rival Bruce's. She could move, flex, and bear her nails with ease that came naturally to her. When Riley turned them over she saw the pads had darkened more and lost their softness. Riley let it sink in that these paws were hers, and that might not be such a bad thing. The close attention from Zara is another fuzzy component relieving some of the woman’s dread.

While Riley coped her growing muzzle stretched her face out of its human proportions. It didn’t hurt as much as it looked aside from the many sharp teeth budding inside her mouth. The canines were especially pronounced top and bottom. Forcing Riley's mouth wide open. As a consequence her lengthening but unruly tongue flopped around from side to side. Limiting what Riley could do for last words. Helping in her own way was Zara who moved to lick the sprouting whiskers

“Nyah- Zara… likesh mes,” Riley said as her drooling speech faltered.

“I think she’s falling in love with you, dear,” Helene demurred. The beast tamer had backed off and let her troupe take over duties. She was already tugging at her outfit, ready to get it off. “I know I don’t need to say that Zara is very special to our group. Unlike the rest, she was born here. She’s smarter than any tiger could be but she’ll never have the human intellect that you and the others have. Zara needs a patient, thoughtful, and caring partner that can help her navigate the world. Our jaguars are also expecting so it’s the perfect time for Zara to find a partner. How lucky we have you, Riley.”

As Helene spoke Tessa and Zara helped Riley roll from her back to a very shaky all fours. Her pelvis and hips had changed drastically, making four legs the only comfortable option. The changes had worked into her thighs and calves; making the muscles bulge and metamorphose to fit a tiger’s figure. That left her feet the only real recognizable human feature not changed or in the process of it. Riley wished they would change so standing would be easier. A thought she would have never entertained when things started forty minutes ago.

“Mesh… I… ack! I… trysh… arrrr…” Riley’s words failed her as throat and mouth tuned to tiger noises alone. The first of which were chuffs and weak growls before she gave over to coughing and gagging.

Zara, Tessa, and Bruce drew in close to Riley and steadied her. The other cats drew in as well, so that their eighth member would never feel alone.

“You’re coming into the home stretch, Riley. It’s from here on out I leave you in the care of the troupe. They will see you through and initiate you into the fold. We’re hitting the road early tomorrow so try not to stay up too late, everyone,” Helene told the entire group from her trailer stairs. “Once again, Riley, I’m so glad we had our unexpected encounter. My bosses would never want me to admit it but trespassing does have its rewards.”

With a parting wave Helene disappeared into her trailer, shutting the door behind her. The lights in her trailer went off not long after. It was just Riley and the cats now.

Stripes and fur spread over Riley’s expanded chest, stomach, back, and reached down her legs while showing on her face. In these areas her skeleton was nearing parity with the likes of Bruce. Riley’s skull broadened along her brow and rearranged her rounded, fuzzy tiger ears to their proper place. One and then the other eye mutated from humble human to a gorgeous feline emerald with Riley unable to blink either bulging eye as it occurred. Once she could blink and see, though colors were dulled or changed, things were also clearer. There was a light orange fuzz dotting around the pink of her nose and she was flush with whiskers. Riley was beginning to understand what Helene had been talking about. She was tipping more and more into nervous excitement for this new life, leaving behind many fears.

Just as Riley’s face came into focus her feet were assailed by the collar’s magic like the rest of her had. Every toe but the largest fattened, grew, and sprouted nails like her feet had. Those big toes instead shrunk up her lengthening foot where they’d become a smaller version of the dew claws her thumbs now were. Riley wobbled a little but Zara and Tessa ensured she stayed upright. Bearing those last cracks and snaps of bones in her legs had been easier than when similar occurred to her hands. Another of Helene’s promises comes true with Riley’s increased acceptance easing the pain.

The continuous transformation of Riley’s skeleton had taken fifty minutes to complete its journey to a stocky male tiger. Those last few adjustments allowed Riley her first taste of normalcy in her new body. Her muscles and ligaments were finished around the same time to further permit Riley to carry her own weight. This included her three feet of tail and a face any mother tigress would love. Her gut was still fattening up as was her neck to round out her figure and her fur had a lot more to cover- but hairs could be found everywhere. Already visible were all Riley’s stripes that were as unique to her as they were any other tiger. Looking back and seeing her personal stripes gave Riley a shiver of purpose.

The closer the transformation drew to a close, the cats of the troupe gave Riley and Zara, who wouldn’t leave her side, some space. They remained closer by and formed a rough circle with their seated or sprawled bodies. Zara took it upon herself to give Riley her first proper bath while the fur was still coming in. It soothed away a lot of the tertiary discomfort that lingered in Riley’s body after her bones were in place. When it was Riley’s puffy, furry cheeks that she reached it was enough for the newest tiger to almost forget about the pins and needles accompanying fur growth.

Those remaining few moments of the transformation brought on an intense new rush of feline senses. Her nose was tuned with her flowering instincts and caused her body to react without Riley knowing entirely why certain scents were. She could detect the different fragrances coming off each feline around her. Each had their own unique scent that Riley could pick out from the many other smells wafting on the breeze from the circus. Some scents calmed, others made Riley hungry or curious. A certain scent had an arousing effect; getting her mind and her new genitals very excited. As the smell wafted around her she couldn’t quite figure out where it was coming from. She couldn’t stop herself taking deeper and deeper whiffs of the air since something in her clearly loved it.

With the coating of fine furs down between Riley’s toes her transformation drew to an end. The aches, the abnormal heat, the pain, the crawling skin, the shifting meat, and the press of magic abated. Zara passed in front of Riley, nuzzled her, and kept her body close as she bathed her newly minted toes. That hot, wet, titillating scent that had been working her up trailed behind the tigress and drew Riley’s maturing male gaze. She spotted the swollen, wet feline cunt nestled in the damp white fur of Zara’s rear that was the origin of Riley’s new need.

Riley’s human wits melded with the tiger’s to create a blend of the two. She hadn’t lost the person she was while gaining a tiger's sense of being and thinking. Which manifested in her sniffing and choosing to affectionately lick Zara’s butt. Showing her gratitude as well as interest in the one that had been close to her since the start. Clearly loving the attention, Zara enthusiastically pounced on Riley to deliver more licks, nuzzles, and many playful or teasing bites.

‘This isn’t so bad at all,’ Riley thought as she and Zara cuddled close together.

The three pairs of watching felines rose when Riley’s transformation into a full blooded tiger completed. Bruce and Tessa approached to be the first, after Zara, to greet Riley into the troupe. Meanwhile the lions fetched a hose and bucket to put out the fire while Kurt and Sasha gathered Riley’s old clothes together. The atmosphere of the private dance lesson returned to how it was when Riley was initially trespassing. Yet to Riley it did not feel so similar.

Her whole world had changed. Riley knew she was abandoning her entire life, her work, her apartment, her car, and everything, in becoming a tiger. It should have scared her to death, but it didn’t. Uncertainty about her future and her ability to adapt were the hurdles Riley wrestled with. This new family she’d found by accident made her feel at home in a circus of all places.

At the close of proceedings the lions and jaguars returned to their trailers. Bruce and Tessa accompanied Riley to Zara’s trailer with the young tigress absolutely ecstatic to show off her room. Underneath the trailers Riley learned that each had a specialized trap door that was the secret to the cats getting in and out without being seen. Zara went first and Riley followed the best she could. Once inside Zara pounced on Riley for more passionate licking and love. Her proud parents stayed outside and were content to watch through the bars. They couldn't have been happier with the match Zara had found for a mate.

It was late when Bruce and Tessa departed back to their own trailer for the night. They saw the effortless chemistry between Zara and the newcomer and knew where it would lead so left with big smiles. Riley and Zara snuggled amongst the hay like a pair of teenage lovers; nipping, nuzzling, licking, and pawing with their intertwined bodies. Such high emotions had Riley’s cock unabashedly unsheathed and Zara had taken note. The tigress licked Riley’s cock and had the favor returned on her own throbbing sex. Spurring the tigress up to her feet where she readily presented herself for Riley.

Without a second thought Riley was up on her feet. The invitation was one Riley’s instinctual desires couldn’t and wouldn’t resist. Some licks to Zara’s steaming hot backside were the perfect kick for Riley to mount her mate. Riley had some beginner’s trouble using a cock but showed herself adaptable when she found her mark. Every thrust Zara roared or huffed before simply panting from the excess heat. The hot headed need to breed and consummate this new life drove Riley to the best sex of her life. Emptying every drip of seed she could until she couldn’t think straight. Even if the whole act didn’t last that long its impact left either spent and deeply in love.

That night Riley fell asleep as the big spoon to tigress on a bed of hay in a circus trailer. She had been licking the back of Zara’s head when she dozed off peacefully mid-bath. Her idle thoughts at the time wondered if anyone would come searching for a Riley. That would make a fun mystery for someone she could only hope was also a big cat person.

Riley awoke the next morning to the sounds of shouts and activity. Outside the trailer the big top was in the process of being broken down in the first rays of sunlight. She could only see as a sliding shutter door covered the top half of the trailer’s open side. Her sleeping companion had left but was nearby enjoying freshly refilled water bowls. Riley joined her after twenty minutes of big, yawning stretches. Zara stopped drinking to lick and nuzzle Riley before going back to drink. Not even thinking about it Riley lapped the water up without trouble. Until noticing this caused her to overthink it and briefly choke herself. Earning a playful bap on the nose from Zara for acting silly. So Riley pounced on her and treated her to the bath and bite treatment.

“Good morning! I see you two are getting along very well. I had a hunch you would,” Helene greeted, coffee in hand, outside the bars. Dressed in red flannel, overalls, and boots, she had been up for a couple hours at least getting things ready for the road.

Withdrawing mid-bite, Riley attempted a grateful roar. Zara merrily mirrored the roar and both had little control over their wagging tails.

“I’ve already told the ringmaster and company head we’ve acquired a new tiger for our show. You and Zara make the most adorable young tiger couple and that’s gonna put butts in seats. We’ll give you a few weeks to learn the routine at your own pace, Riley. We’ve got an impeccable, fun training regime to get you through it. You’ll fit in perfectly, dear. The others were singing your praises. Mom and pops too,” Helene added. To the delight of Zara. “We’ll be getting underway in the next hour or so. Then we’re on the road until dusk. So get ready for a long day. Would you two prefer I leave this door open for some air or closed for some… privacy?” she asked the two with a knowing smirk.

Riley experienced some human modesty in hesitating to answer. Zara knew perfectly well what she wanted though and swiped her paw accordingly.

“Closed it is. You two have fun,” Helene told them as she drew the shutters. “You turned out absolutely stunning, by the way, Riley. Zara hit the jackpot with you,” she giggled right before giving them their privacy.

Zara didn’t wait for the shutters to lock to turn their bout of morning playfulness into a morning mating session. Riley made it no mystery that she was won over by Zara and this enchanting tiger’s life she’d found herself in. Leaving any regrets, her car, and another missing persons report behind as she left with the circus. Happy with her new home and mate.