Paws of Fire: Tiger in Town - Chapter 4
#11 of Paws of Fire: Tiger in Town
Chapter 4: Broken Bond
The white tiger, Uraku, had arrived from the left of Daniel's cell. His fur was covered in blood, and his paws and eyes were on fire. He nearly passed Daniel before he jerked to a stop, looking to his right and growling loudly at Daniel. Daniel shrunk back. He was speechless. The blood hinted at more killing from the tiger, and the tiger seemed livid with Daniel as well. "Ur...Uraku?" Daniel stammered before the great white tiger swung his blazing paw at the bars, tearing them asunder and sending them flying against the cell wall. Uraku roared loudly as he spoke to Daniel through the mind. "Get on, NOW!"
Daniel did not hesitate, making sure the book was secure in his overcoat as he mounted the white tiger. He kept his body pressed tightly against Uraku as the tiger dashed off in one direction, regardless of walls that were in the way. Daniel did not look up as he heard the sound of walls collapsing, guards being crushed, trees being torn from the roots. The tiger cared not what was in his way. He mowed them over like bowling pins. Gunfire rang into his ears after they passed the tree Uraku just sent barrelling down the street once they were outside. Daniel started to stifle a sob, fear overwhelming him as he heard bullets whizzing past his ear. Bullets were entering the tiger's pelt, but he kept on running.
The wind blowing through Daniel's hair picked up as Uraku put every bit of his strength into running. The gunfire, shouting, and sirens quickly faded into the distance. The speed he was running at was easily breaking the sound barrier. He looked up, stunned as he saw how fast the buildings passed by, followed by a woodland near the interstate.
Uraku slowed down a bit as he dashed through the woodland, jumping acrobatically acrost streams, against trees, and avoiding all clearings with swift jerks of his body. He was looking for cover, and he eventually found a dense part of the woods to calm to a halt at. His paws and his eyes were still on fire as he shook Daniel off of his back.
Daniel shivered in horror as he looked up at his lover. He was going to thank him for the rescue, and explain that it was his fault and ask for forgiveness...but the tiger was not happy with him at all already. "Traitor....TRAITOR!"
Uraku swiped his flaming paw at Daniel's side, sending him into a tree hard. The swipe was not his full strength, but the pain was enough to assure Daniel that he was being punished. "Did you completely ignore what Shah said? I sure hope you did. I pray that you're just a complete idiot that thought about flowers the whole time he talked. TELL ME THAT'S WHAT YOU DID!"
Uraku pushed his muzzle right up into Daniel's face. Daniel was speechless, tears forming as he stared in horror. What was happening? They loved each other, and here Uraku was scolding him like a clueless kit.
"No...you listened alright. And yet you still snuck out and turned yourself in. I saw you...Daniel...I saw you run from me. I thought we had something going on...but I see the truth for what it is now."
Uraku backed away, transforming into the humanoid tiger form. He was still naked, but nothing about that appeased Daniel right now. The tiger was being a complete jerk to him. Uraku turned around, looking away from Daniel as he stifled a sob. "We're going to the Starlight observatory, Daniel...and we're going to save your world. Then you'll be comming with me to my world. I'm not letting you run. I'm keeping my eye on you..."
Daniel's heart was breaking. "Uraku, no! I want to go with you! I made a mistake, but I understand myself now! I'm willing to..." Uraku shouted back, "Enough of your lies, Daniel! I can't trust you anymore! Rest up, and we're heading to the observatory. Now, which way do we go?" Uraku's voice was forceful now. He was nothing more than a business partner to Daniel now, making the trade of saving one anothers' worlds.
Daniel whimpered, muttering, "Northeast..." before he curled up into a little ball. He hoped Uraku would come over to him then. His mind told him he was walking over to him and about to lay next to him, apologizing for acting so harsh. He would forgive him...he was just frightened.
But Uraku was not comming. He sat down, laying on his back and closing his eyes as he relaxed. His ears were perked, listening for every movement in the forest, including Daniel's.
Daniel was falling apart. He made one mistake and he lost his lover's trust. Nothing he said would appeal the tiger to forgive him. They now had only one thing in common...a quest. After Daniel finished his part of the deal, he would have to live his life out on his own in the book. Maybe Jalhamut will take him in. Of course he would!
"Unreasonable filth...he doesn't deserve us, Daniel." Daniel recognized the evil side in him speaking. Daniel was grieving too much to respond to his evil side, but listened closely to him. He could trust himself...he would always know what he was going to do.
"Let him have his little tantrum. He's just using us now, so let's use him first. We'll be with Jalhamut in the book anyway. That cheetah's loins will make him crawl back to us and ditch that gray wolf."
Daniel couldn't accept what his evil side was saying. He spoke up in his mind, "Jalhamut has had a change in heart! He wouldn't leave someone just for me...and I still love Uraku..." The evil in Daniel replied, "I do too, Daniel, but it's hopeless to keep loving him. I'm grieving just as much as you, but I have to think of the future. Jalhamut will want us back after he realizes we're not Uraku's mate anymore. Do you not remember how every fur in the book seemed to want to get in our pants? They love how we look, and Jalhamut will drool over the thought of getting a piece of our ass! Everything will work out in the end, Daniel. Uraku will find another, and you'll have Jalhamut."
Daniel was finding himself a bit compelled by his evil side. He didn't like it, but what he said made sense. "Okay...we'll keep going for now...I hope you're...I'm right." Daniel's evil side stopped talking. He closed his eyes, curled up in the leaves to take a nap before they made a move on again.
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Daniel's nap didn't last long. Uraku shortly got up and picked Daniel up by the neck, getting him to his feet. Daniel grunted and shoved the paw away. "Get your hands off..." Daniel glared up at Uraku, the tiger narrowing his eyes and pointing in the direction behind him. "Let's go. Stay close to me and try to keep up." Uraku was running in his humanoid form rather than using his white tiger form. This was fine for Daniel, as he wanted nothing to do with contact with the brute.
Daniel's training with Nick really paid off again. He easily kept up with the running male, able to bounce off of trees and jump long ravines just like the tiger. They kept to the trees as much as they could. Every time they had to cross a highway, they made sure nobody was in sight before ever crossing. They could not risk being seen by a single soul after what Uraku had done.
After traveling like this for a while, Daniel started to become fatigued. The tiger growled with annoyance as they slowed down. "Would you like me to toss you ahead so by the time I reach you you can run again?" The tiger sounded condescending, but Daniel knew he was serious about the offer. "Shut up..."
They cam up to a train track. Daniel paused and signaled for Uraku to do the same. "Let's wait and see if a train comes. It's heading the same way we want to go, or the opposite. We'll get there much faster...here comes one now!" A large freight train honked its horn as he blazed passed them. Uraku looked in awe at the speed of the large cars that went along the thin iron rails. He grabbed Daniel by the hand and reached out for one of the open freight cars. They were jerked into the air, Daniel's arm pained from the sudden jerk. Uraku tossed Daniel around and into the car, rolling him to safety against the closed wall. Uraku then pulled himself in. "Tell me when we need to get off." Uraku sounded dull. Not so much as a 'nice job' from the tiger.
Daniel fumed, hugging his legs against his chest as he stared out into the distance. They could stay on this train as long as he didn't feel the motion of turning.
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Uraku closed his eyes as the train lulled him to sleep. Daniel took the chance to read the book in private. The sun was setting, and another day had passed on Earth. Time to catch up on what's happening in the book.
He opened the book and began to read from the end of where he left off.