{"sf1_id":2060077,"sf2_id":"ZmM4xZQe","title":"WRATH AND PATIENCE","author":"LiveIron","words":1039,"posted_at":"2023-10-13T16:57:17.000Z","tags":["Anger","Angst","Anthrostate","Blood and Injury","Dark past","Gun","Horror","Human","Interspecies","Interspecies Awkwardness","Large Breasts","Magic","Old Friends","Pain","Paranormal","Possession","Resurrection","Size Difference","Spies \u0026amp; Secret Agents","Tiger","Tigress","Transformation","fights","firearm","healing","monsters"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2060077-wrath-and-patience","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ZmM4xZQe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/d3/67/d367e097-7b04-4449-a23a-da161d782284","description":"'Dumbass'  \n  \n(Art by\n\n[@theCoatl034](/u/theCoatl034)\n)","content":"![](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1162432825363009649/1162432895785369690/Wrath.png?ex=653beaff\u0026is=652975ff\u0026hm=782140ac8801298e35ea58f88f60ec48260f012d5dfca59dab7fe039339b93a8\u0026=\u0026width=915\u0026height=488)\n\n\\\u003eRebecca is roaring long before you get to her.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou pound faster through the halls, sparing only a few disabling shots on the occasional thrall.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Patrick!\" she yells, her voice shaking the timbers. \"Come out!\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe stairway up is full of holes. The growing crowd of claws and teeth behind you helps you jump.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"You wanted a monster? You have one now!\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou drop a charge at the top of the stairs, blowing the brittle wood to bits.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou know there's more stairwells, but at least the monsters will have one less.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca is knee-deep in the creatures when you find her in an old study.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eA fire burns in the hearth, casting a flickering glow.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou tense.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eFire.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eBlood.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eMachineguns and shotgun-blasts.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe report of the Kolibri brings you back to the present, out of that alleyway.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou fire at the anthro thralls, Talia's hand guiding you.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca doesn't seem to notice.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eShe whirls in the center of the room, swinging the enormous blade as if it were aluminum.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eWhat it doesn't slice, it cracks.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eAn occasional monster slips beneath her guard; the tigress barely notices when her hips send them flying.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eOthers are trampled.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou lose track of how long you're shooting for, how many arcs of blood you see fly.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThen all at once, the flow of twisted fur stops.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca growls, gripping her sword tight.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Patrick!\" she screams once more.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYour neck tingles, and you flip down the PsyScope.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"You did it! I _am_ a monster!\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYour eyes dart around the room, trying to make anything out through the background noise.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Now come out so I can show you how right you were!\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThen you see it.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou throw the disruption charge just as the wall bursts into a hail of splinters.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYour vision flashes as the PsyScope takes a hit, your hands and face lighting up in pinpricks. You curse and flip it out of the way.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe figure standing in the breached wall is hunched over, one hand clutching his head.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe other holds a staff of twisted metal, the jagged, broken tip glowing red.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHis tattered cloak flutters as he looks at you. You can taste the hatred.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Traitor,\" he spits.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHe whirls the staff into a ready position and faces Rebecca. The mansion shudders with a jerk of his head.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe scraping of claws and pounding of paws filters through the walls as another wave of thralls approach.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYour gun darts from head to head, but they just keep coming.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe center of the room is clear as Patrick walks easily, almost blissfully, towards Rebecca.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe tigress' huffing growls fill the room before she roars, running to meet him.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eTheir weapons meet with sounds louder than your gunshots.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eTheir sparks add to the flickering lightshow of the flames and muzzleflash.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eEvery strobe is filled with teeth. Claws. Blood.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eBut Talia's hands guide yours.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHer arms keep you centered.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou don't fear the monsters; you fear slipping back again.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou stand your ground and take the incoming horde while the former couple clash.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThere's no words between them. Only cries of rage.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eAnguish.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eWrath.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou lose track of them as you whirl, slowly beating back the shambling bodies.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou only look when a steady sound rings out in the chaos.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca is down on one knee, sheltering behind her sword while Patrick hammers it with staff-blows.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"It wouldn't end any other way! It wouldn't end any other way! You've got knives for hands! You would've --\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe divine bullet doesn't shatter his skull, but it certainly stuns him.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou fire more as he turns to face you, slower than before.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eStill fast enough you didn't see the swing coming.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHis metal staff reflects your slug with a thunderclap. Your armor stops it, but you still get knocked off your feet.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe wall behind you cracks when you bang into it.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Why would you help them?\" Patrick asks.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou're vaguely aware of his footsteps drawing closer.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca snarls and screams as the thralls swarm her.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"You've seen what they do -- you must have. They auction us off like lottery prizes.\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRibs might be cracked. Or you're just out of air.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Why? _Why_ would you help them? Work with them?\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"I'm not -- State --\" you spit.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe monster chuckles.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHe lifts your head with the cool end of his staff. His face is thin and twisted, his skull pushing at his skin.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Then tell me; why help her?\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou feel the ground shudder; a red light pierces through the holes of Patrick's tattered cloak\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou see a glow through the holes in his body.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou shift the Kolibri in your hand.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Because -- she's not -- either.\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eTalia fires. Patrick still swings, but your shot threw him off.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe staff misses your head by inches.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eAnother roar shakes the room you both recover.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eIt's Rebecca's -- but not quite.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe thing that cuts Patrick's arm off isn't quite her, either.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe tigress is wreathed in red flame, her stripes burning a bright white.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHer orange form is bare, but you don't think she's nude.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eShe's wearing a new mantle now.\n\n \n\n\\\u003ePatrick cackles even when the tigress slashes again, flinging him into the stones above the hearth.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"I told you! You see now, housecat?\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca snarls; a barb tips her flicking tail as she walks.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"No matter how good you act, no matter how hard you try, you're beast!\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eRebecca cuts the staff in twain when he tries to stand.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"You're built to kill, and to kill, and to fuck. And deep down you enjoy it.\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eHe looks up at her. His smile is malicious. Deranged.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eDeadly.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"Go on. Do --\"\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe tigress stomps on his legs and kicks him into the fire.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe whole building shakes.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eSmoke bursts from the hearth as Patrick screams, and Rebecca staggers back. The few thralls left do as well.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou're glad you're wearing earpro.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe tigress' flames die, the red glow giving way to tattered red sweater.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eYou amble towards her and ready yourself to hold her again.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThen the flames creep out from around the stone of the hearth.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe smoke rushes faster and billows about the room.\n\n \n\n\\\u003eThe screaming turns to laughter.\n\n \n\n\\\u003e\"...fuck.\"","series":{"name":"Negligent Discharge: Repent","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2059042-envy-and-generosity.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2061117-sloth.json"}}