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This story was written for Catprog as part of my Patreon request days for February 2018. It contains TF/TG and suggestive content involving consenting adults. :3

[center][b][u]What's Best for the Cats[/u][/b][/center]

I've always wanted what's best for the cats. Some folks think that zoos are still cruel and heartless prisons for animals, and it's true that some places out there don't treat their animals with nearly the respect and care they deserve. But, for what it's worth, I think my place of work is one of the good ones. One of the best, even. And, me? Not to toot my own horn, but I think I'm one of the best keepers this zoo has. Hell, I wouldn't be in charge of the tigers if I wasn't.

Or, rather... fuck, now I'm gonna make myself sad. The tiger.

We had two, a beautiful pair of Sumatran tigers born into captivity and brought to the zoo as part of our endangered species breeding program. They lived a long, happy life together for the best part of two decades, and they have offspring in almost a dozen other zoological parks around Europe. But earlier this year, Batari, the tigress, passed away. Old age, nothing more. She was as healthy a cat as you could ask for, and she was like that right up until the end. It took us all by surprise, Cahaya, her mate, most of all. He hasn't been the same since. Poor guy. I swear he wakes up every day expecting to find her beside him, and you can see his heart break when she isn't there. I can't tell you how many days I've wanted nothing more than to rush into the cage and just hug him. Of course, I never would. I know it'd be the end of my life, never mind my career. But, the desire to do so is still there.

Even today.

Especially today, in fact.

I don't know what it is. What's driving me. I should be heading home for the day. I [i]was[/i] heading home. But, as soon as I started thinking about the tigers, about Cahaya, I changed direction. I stopped walking towards the park's staff parking area, and started walking right back to where I spent most of my day, the tiger-house itself. All I can keep thinking is how much I loved those cats, and how much I still love Cahaya. All I can think about is how I want what's best for him, and how what's best for him is for him not to be alone any more. Not to be lonely, and sad, and just pacing around his enclosure all day looking for a mate, a companion who is no longer there.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if he didn't have to be alone? If he could know that there was still someone here in the park who wanted to be with him? Someone with whom he could continue to share his life-long bond with right to the day of his own passing, and even beyond? If only Batari had been a little younger. If only she'd been able to have one more litter of cubs before she passed. Cahaya was such a good father to the cubs they'd had before they were old enough to be rehomed, to need their own [i]territories[/i] to wander and their own mates with whom to live out the rest of their lives. If only someone could provide him with a last chance at that. If only somehow, I could make that happen...

I open the door to the back of the tiger enclosure, to the area from which I and the other keepers can access the tiger house, where we can secure Cahaya when we need to clean out or otherwise check on the interior of his large enclosure. I walk over to the interior gate, locked of course, and glance back at the exterior gate, locked securely behind me. I won't put anyone else at risk. I slide my key into the interior gate's lock, looking down at my hand and the fur beginning to spread across it. A momentary wave of panic sweeps over me, but I stifle it. I force it back down, and think of how happy Cahaya will be. How glad he'll be to see me. To see the tigress he loves again, and to know that soon he will be able to welcome a new litter of cubs to keep us company for the rest of our days.

I open the gate. I slip inside. I'm in his enclosure now. His territory. If he kills me, if he pounces upon me and grabs me with his razor teeth and claws, it's my own fault. My own choice. I drop to all fours upon the soft earth, already pulling off my clothes as I feel fur growing thick and fast across my skin. My face prickles and aches as I feel a muzzle protruding forth from it, whiskers sprouting, eyes enlarging and growing ever sharper in focus. I can hear my own breathing, so loud and ragged as my hearing increases in sensitivity too. My sense of taste and smell follows, my tongue prickling with hundreds of rough, tiny barbs and my nose burning with a thousand scents, though one alone dominates them.

I roll onto my back, gasping as I drag down my trousers mere seconds before a tail erupts from the base of my spine. I snarl at the brief pain, and I hear a low, distant rumble of another snarl answering it. Footsteps. Pawpads approaching quietly, but not quiet enough to escape the detection of my finely honed senses. Again, panic. Again it swells, then lessens as I remind myself why I'm doing this. For Cahaya. For us. For a new litter of cubs. I'm doing this because it's what's best for the cats, and even if I fail, it was still worth trying.

Of course, the plan I originally had in mind has changed somewhat in the last little while. At first, it was just the mad idea of opening the cage and hugging Cahaya. Holding him. Telling him how sorry I was for his loss, and how it was going to be okay because he wasn't alone any more. I was here, and even though I was just a human guy, far from a tigress, I would do everything in my power to make him understand that he was loved, and he was so very far from alone.

There he is.

He sees me. He smells me.

Oh god. Was this all a mistake? Oh god. Oh my god what am I doing here?! Why the hell do I look like this, why do I feel like this? I... I'm...

No. Don't panic. Don't freak out. Just, think of him. Think of Cahaya, and of your life together, and of your cubs. The cubs you've had already, and the cubs you will have.

All I want is what is best for him. My Cahaya. And what's best for him will be having me back. His Batari.

I always told him I would do anything to make sure we were never apart. Anything.

And if that means defying reality, if that means merging myself with our kind, loving keeper, whom I know feels the same about the tigers in his care as I always did about my Cahaya, so be it.

He's coming closer now. Closer, and closer.

Come on, Cahaya. You know that scent. You know me. I know I was gone, but... I'm not any more. Believe it, my love.

Believe in me, just as I always believed in you.

He growls.

He tenses up.

Oh, Cahaya... please, please, don't let anger and fear blind you to the truth you know.

He leaps at me. He pins me to the ground. He snarls and...

Oh, Cahaya.

He licks my face. He nuzzles playfully at me, play-fighting like we're young again. So happy to see me. So happy to have me back.

He never gave up hope. He believed me when he said I would never leave him.

He's been waiting for today. So patiently, so devotedly.

And now that I'm back... oh, that look. I haven't seen that look in his eyes for years. That yearning. That hunger.

I roll onto my belly. He lies over me.

I feel his teeth upon my neck. His body pressing down so tight over mine.

I feel him.

I [i]feel[/i] him.

Oh, Cahaya.

Whether I'm your keeper, your mate, or a little of both... I know the truth now. I know what you wanted. What you needed. I know what's best for you.

You were always happiest playing the roles of mate [i]and[/i] father, and so you shall.

Be my mate. Be father to my cubs.

Be happy. Be happy just like I am, knowing that I'm with you once again, my love.

By Jeeves

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