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Read Unwritten Story first if you haven't! this is the second in the series!

I repeat, READ "Paws of Fire: Unwritten Story" BEFORE YOU START READING THIS!

Paws of Fire: Tiger in Town

By: Mike Williams

Chapter 1: Ends of our Worlds

Daniel was first to awaken from the nap the two lovers took together in that dark closet. Daniel carefully propped himself up onto his feet as he unlatched the door, smiling as he felt ready to face the day ahead...and hopefully find some food for his growling tummy. He opened the closet door, the sunlight shining through the window onto the queen sized bed. It was a beautiful day outside...he wanted to bask in the warmth of the sunlight, so he grabbedh is book and hopped onto the bed. Daniel wanted to read about the last three days that went on without him. The book was supposed to go on with it's story as long as Uraku was outside. He wanted to check on his friends.

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Reading the book now

There he was, lying still after his dying breath. Daniel was gone, perishing in the arms of the one who loved him so...and his guardian. Uraku roared up into the heaven's, his cry of anguish reaching the gods themselves as he lamented.

"Daniel! I've failed you...I let you down as a guardian and as a lover. I've never felt more passion for anyone other than you...and now you'll never know how I truly feel. For with your death...the end is comming. The cursed dragon will arise again and take over this land...Shah, you bastard! Your prophecy was a lie!" Uraku sobbed uncontrollably, lifting Daniel's body up into the air, holding it up as if showing it to someone. "Is this our savior!? What more can this shell that once harbored life bring to us other me...and it brings me sorrow beyond anything I've ever felt..." Uraku held the body against his chest, still crying out. "Daniel...I know now that you can hear me...you still live in your world...but the truth..the cold truth..."

"Daniel...I cannot stay in your world. A great evil is approaching, and I must stay here to defend our world for as long as we can. I shall come to your world as you asked...but only for one night. Then we must say our final fairwells and move on. Daniel...why did this have to happen...why!?" Uraku crouched down, burying his muzzle into Daniel's neck. Jalhamut looked from above at the sight of mourning, his own tears swelling up as he gazed upon the lifeless shell that used to be Daniel. Aveyi and Nick approached Uraku, trying their best to comfort him in his sorrow. Jalhamut couldn't bear to be seen by them. He couldn't speak anymore.

Jalhamut fled with all the speed he could muster. He wasn't fit to be king. He held the tournament the slaughtered his people and ended Daniel's life. He foolishly trusted Benson. He had no choice but to force himself into exile, rushing into the uncharted distance to live where nobody has tread before.

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The three furs made their way home to Bai'ji, Uraku carrying the body of his love. The townsfolk looked in shock at the mourning expression on Uraku's face. Nick and Aveyi stood among the townsfolk to explain the story as Uraku parted from their company. He climbed the spiral stairs that lead up to Shah's tower. Uraku stripped Daniel of his armor and clothing as he did the same for himself, making sure Shah would accept their entrance with warm welcome. As Uraku entered, he laid the body on the ground in front of him, waiting for the phoenix to appear.

The wise old phoenix descended from his resting place, magnificent glowing wings spreading out as he landed. Uraku bowed down and spoke to the prophet. "Wise one...the human in your prophecy has perished...all is lost. The great red dragon Drayak will rise again." Uraku wept again, the phoenix reaching out and scratching the tiger's ear gently. The phoenix lifted the body up into his arms, sending it upwards into the heights of his tower until it disappeared in the distance. The phoenix smiled down at Uraku. "Uraku...our world is not doomed...and the prophecy is not a lie. None of them have ever been...I simply lost faith in my insight prematurely...but I have reason to believe that what I see is true to the very word."

Uraku sat down, crossing his legs and looking up at the Phoenix with a dumbfounded look. He wanted to believe the phoenix...and prayed that the wise bird had something good to say to appease his desires.

"Uraku...my prophecy between the ice sorceress and her human mate has nearly come true. They are together again...and they always will be. But they will not live happily together until the great evil that will arise has been defeated again. This is what Daniel will achieve. Daniel will return one day, and he will fight alongside you against the great evil, and the red dragon Drayak will fall to his mighty hand. But first...you must save his world from its own evil."

"Uraku...a long dreaded day is fast approaching the people of Earth, the world which Daniel resides in. The humans have long awaited this day, but still know not what it will bring. The end of their civilization is imminent...unless you interfere with the darkness that is fast approaching. Uraku...our world cannot be saved unless Daniel returns to us. And Daniel will not return to us unless you save his world. For now, as we speak, Daniel is hearing every word I say."

Uraku looked up at Shah in astonishment, feeling hope refill his shattered heart. "Go now, Uraku! Daniel awaits your return! I shall send you earlier than he expects so you can prepare for the horrible event to soon take place!" Shah casted down a bolt of orange lightning that struck Uraku square on the chest, the tiger vanishing from their world. Shah was alone now as he spoke to the one he knew was listening. "Daniel...twenty hours has passed since your demise. Keep good track of the time, and make every second count. Uraku will save your world, but only you can determine the great evil approaching. Farewell!"

end book

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Daniel couldn't believe what he was reading. Shah knew the human culture so well. Daniel knew about the day that a great evil was approaching...the day that humans have been fearing for years, not sure of its plausibility. Today was October 20th...2012.

The Maiyans must have had prophets that could foresee this end comming as well. Daniel closed the book and curled up onto the bed. This was all happening too fast...he had been a skeptic of the 2012 theories for so long. Which one of them was right?

Daniel turned around on the bed, jumping up as he saw Uraku there, standing on the ground and looking over his shoulder. "So...now you know, huh?" Uraku wrapped his arms around Daniel as the human cried his heart out. His world was comming to and end...and he had to find out how. He also had to then leave this world to save Uraku's...but that would mean forfeiting his life here. And only two months until he had to make such a huge decision...how was this fair?

Daniel was so frightened about the future now. He didn't want the whole world resting on his shoulders...only as an informant. What if something happened to Uraku? What if he was thrown in a cage once somebody else saw a tiger loose in the U.S.? How can he protect his mate from the evil that surrounded him?

Uraku nudged into Daniel's neck, concerned. "Are you all right, Daniel?" The tiger rubbed Daniel's shoulders to help loosen some of the tension. Daniel nodded his head, lying to keep from bothering his lover. "Yeah...I guess we better get going..." Uraku could tell Daniel was hiding his feelings, and knew exactly what they were. "Daniel, do not be afraid. You are not alone in this. Whatever you do, wherever you go...I'll be right there with you." Uraku stood up and walked up behind Daniel, holding him in a sweet embrace and rocking side to side slightly. "Daniel...I love you."

Daniel broke into tears, turning around and digging his face into Uraku's chest, letting his heart empty itself of concern. He had the toughest guy in existence at his side...how could anything go wrong. Daniel started to smile, looking up at Uraku with tears flooding his eyes. "Uraku..." The two shared a sweet passionate kiss for a few minutes before they were interrupted by the sound of voices comming from the living room. Daniel's heart began to race, back at the door to the bedroom. He saw shadows of three people moving around, talking. "He should be in here somewhere. Cover every door!" Daniel rushed to get his clothes, tugging them on quickly. He quietly spoke to Uraku, "Uraku, we need to get out of here...follow me." Uraku grabbed Daniel's hand, the tiger shaking his head. "They're covering every exit...so we need to take the closest one." The tiger morphed into his white tiger form, lowering himself to have Daniel mount him. Daniel got on as a cop came around the corner to the door to the room. "Freeze...what the fuck!?" The cop was startled to see someone on top of a white tiger. Daniel crouched down and held on tightly to uraku's body as he crashed through the window. Shots were fired, but nothing hit them.

Daniel wasn't harmed by the glass shards that fell on him luckily. The tiger took off down the street, Daniel too stricken with fear to suggest running into the forest. The cops were hot on their tail in a matter of seconds, cars pushing to about 120 miles per hour, the speed that the mighty tiger was running. Uraku heard gunshots, stinging sensations growing in his legs as bullets kept showering into his limbs. He jerked to the left, almost throwing Daniel off of him as he turned. Daniel held on tightly, making sure the book was always in his overcoat's pocket. The cops had trouble keeping up with the sudden turn, but managed to catch up with the tiger again. "Grr...pests." The tiger jerked completely around now, Daniel almost throwing up from the impact of sudden acceleration in the opposite direction. The tiger jumped on top of one of the squad cars and sprinted over it, jumping up high as gunshots fired all around them. He zig-zagged for a bit across the street as the cops kept shooting, then sprinted in a straight line once they ceased fire.

Uraku laughed a bit, feeling good for outsmarting the bastards, but he stopped dead in his tracks as more squad cars pulled up and blocked his path. A helicoptor approached from above them. A news van, a swat team, FBI...they were surrounded now. The tiger crouched down, growling around at the men who took aim at him. "Daniel...forgive me." Daniel opened his eyes, looking around at the cops surrounding them. He felt an intense heat comming from Uraku, the eyes and paws lighting up to display his fury. Daniel heard someoen say, "Fire!" But before any gunshots were heard, the loud, terrible roar of Uraku tremored the area around him. The squad cars were sent flying through the air along with the men, the cars crushing them as they hit the ground. The helicoptor's blades blasted off from the aircraft, the base falling down onto the ground just a few meters away from Uraku. The tiger ran away from the chopper, dashing for a safe place far away from these people. The helicoptor exploded upon impact, killing all men inside. No more cops pursued them as Uraku entered the forest, finding a vacant cave that he jogged into. He laid Daniel down, letting the human throw up after the ordeal. Daniel then started crying, looking at his hands. "Uraku...what have we done...?"

Uraku nuzzled against Daniel, the boy wrapping his arms around Uraku's neck and using his fur as a shoulder to cry on. "They'll kill us both now...we're both murderers! We both deserve to die!" Uraku hushed the lamenting human. "Daniel...there was no other way. This world is in danger, and I can't help if I'm dead or a captive...it had to be done." Daniel wasn't comforted...they still killed men that were just doing their job.

How would he explain this to his parents? How would he find out what would end the world if he was in prison?

His thoughts were interrupted as the sound of light footsteps approached the cave they hid in. Daniel could see his life flash before his eyes. His first words...his first friend...his first kiss...all the boys he laid with. He never felt true love until now. All of his crushes before were all based on what his testosterone wanted, not what his heart wanted. Uraku was here, holding him close as their end approached. He provided the shoulder to cry on. He gave up his interests in others to concentrate only on Daniel's heart. Uraku was all in...Daniel realized it now.

Now here they are, about to face death in the face and fail their mission set forth by Shah...but at least they would die together. Daniel choked back his tears, looking up into Uraku's eyes. Their gazes met, and Daniel stuttered, "Uraku...I..."

The footsteps stopped, the silhouette of an old man entering the cave. Daniel shut his eyes, whimpering again as he held his love...it was true now...his love. Here it comes...their gunshots to hell.

"Daniel...Uraku...this is the last time we will see each other. A great plague has already started to attack our world, and I must defend it until the last wall falls."

Daniel recognized the old man now, standing up swiftly and rushing over to him. "Shah!" Uraku laid down, growling in a disappointed manner. He knew what Daniel was about to say, and wanted to hear it. Shah held up his hand, stopping Daniel from pouncing on him and hugging. "Daniel...be calm. Your ears will be your greatest weapon this day. Uraku, you must hear me too. The fate of both of our worlds will depend on it."

"For many ages, the red dragon Drayak had spread his dominion across our world. Bai'ji had always been the refuge of the masses, protected by my flames from the evil. However, I could not leave the city, as my mighty powers came at a great cost...I was forever bound to live in Bai'ji."

"I desperately searched for any sort of hope in defeating the great evil. Our greatest knights attacked the beast in mass, but evil still triumphed over good. Bai'ji could only harbor so many refugees before starvation set in. I was losing hope fast, searching in my heart for an answer. I plead with the gods for an answer night after night. I couldn't stand to see so many suffer...and they granted us mercy. The gods revealed the truth to me. I saw vaguely the events that would happen up to this day, up to the day that Uraku saves mankind from themselves, and finally the day that Daniel makes an impossible choice. What that decision is...or what it's even about...I know not."

"As for the defeat of the red dragon Uraku...I saw the race of the one who would defeat the dragon. The twisted world I saw sickened me. I saw wars, plagues, treachery beyond reason...mankind did things that made Drayak look like a cub throwing a tantrum. That was when I realized the cold truth...our evil could only be defeated...by a greater evil."

"I had called for help to this world, finding a boy who used a glass device to scorch the ants near his dwelling, taking great pleasure in causing suffering to lesser beings. I took him to be an adult out of hasty action, and dropped the book of ice in his gaze. The boy took my invitation unknowingly and met with the one I designated to meet the human and keep him from casting his evil on us...Aveyi."

"The white wolfess seduced the boy's interests, keeping him tame with her scented bush, and eventually found a way into his heart. The boy followed her, and begged to help her in defeating the great evil that corrupted our world. Aveyi was meant to only use the human...but she fell in love with him after so much time together."

"The world cheered with joy on that day when Drayak was put to death by the destructive power that man had harbored. But I did not cheer...the boy that I had picked...Nick...was not evil at all. I do not know what possessed him to harm those ants when I first met him...but it wasn't evil. My heart was not settled...and I asked for guidance."

"I learned that the evil one I looked for had two sides to him...and that's when I found Daniel. He was only twelve sixteen when I met him, and his cheeriness and good will towards others could instantly change to a thirst for blood and revenge. I watched him for three years, waiting to be sure I have chosen the right one...and the attitude switching continued and continued. I felt comfortable with Daniel as the one to slay Drayak, and dropped the book of fire in his path. Uraku, you eagerly looked for the one I asked you to protect. I needed not ask you to seduce him, as the boy showed a righteous heart if not pushed into a dark corner."

"Daniel...the evil in your heart is strong. It let you kill without holding back, and it blinded you from empathy's restraint. That evil will be what saves our world from the red dragon's corruption someday."

"But in my vision, I saw the end of this world as well. It only seemed justice that if we use the evil harbored in mankind to save our world...we let mankind use our righteousness to save this world. Uraku...Daniel...you must head to the log house near the Starfield Observatory in Maine for the answers you seek. I cannot stay any longer. Farewell!"

In a flash, the old man was gone, and the two were left in silence aside from the crickets chirping as the evening started rolling in.

Daniel felt to his knees, his heart feeling blank. He wanted to die now more than ever. He was...evil. He couldn't deny what Shah had told him. He remembers well how he so cruelly tortured the bat, only to kill him in the end. He remembers the man in the alley who didn't deserve to die for simply petty theft. Daniel could not think of anything else Shah said now...nothing mattered. He didn't deserve Uraku's love. He didn't deserve anything...or anyone. He had no more tears to shed. He laid there in fetal position, shivering from the cold. Uraku walked over to curl around his smaller body. The two remained silent for the rest of the night...Shahs words had deep impact on Daniel's heart, and Uraku knew it wasn't wise to bother Daniel with questions yet. They would stay in the cave tonight, and worry about the future tomorrow.