Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. Pokègirls and Pokèwomen come from the Pokewomon Forum at http://disc.server.com/Indices/169881.html.
"Wild Horses and Pokègirls" is the creation of Metroanime.
C&C, MSTs are welcome E-mail:
Domestication
Disclaimer:
Pokemon is a copyright of Nintendo. Pokègirls and Pokèwomen come from the Pokewomon Forum at http://disc.server.com/Indices/169881.html.
"Wild Horses and Pokègirls" is the creation of Metroanime.
C&C, MSTs are welcome E-mail:
World's Worst Pokègirl Story
It was not a dark and stormy night. It was broad daylight with a blue and cloudless sky.
"Master, this is embarrassing," Valerie told Scott as she turned the stone over and over in her hands, "This isn't going to fool anyone."
Scott snatched the rock out of her hands. "It will, do you want to go back to that greasy spoon? You hated getting pawed while you were waitressing."
Just I said that to make you jealous, she thought.
"You wanna eat?" Scott asked he tugged the pantyhose over his head.
I wanna get Tamed! she thought as she pulled the pantyhose over her face, That's all I ever wanted, Master.
"Let's go!" Scott shouted and kicked the door of the bank open, dragging Valerie behind him.
"THIS IS AN ANGEL STONE!" He brandished the rock. "AND THIS IS AN EVA!" He held the rock over her head. "AND THIS IS A STICK UP? ANY QUESTIONS?"
Master, this is embarrassing, Valerie lamented.
DOMESTICATION by Kelvin's Choice
She walked through the grass on all fours, she enjoyed how it tickled her belly as she crept forward. The last few days had not been good. She'd gotten kills three times out of five. But those stole my kills, she thought hatefully of the scavengers, I spent the entire rest of the day digging up and feeding on vermin. She selected a fat, old slitherer. Good eating, favorite eating, she thought as she waited, It wanders closer, she thought, Soon, soon. She waited, the sun beating on her dark fur, the wind bringing the luscious scent of slithering prey to her and taking her scent away from it.
NOW! she thought as she exploded after her target, Speed, speed, speed! She let her muscles and eyes follow the prey while her mind was empty. Claws raked its flank, the prey stumbled and she was on it, crushing its windpipe between her jaws. She felt its struggles as it suffocated, but she also felt her own fatigue from the chase. The prey tried to coil around and strangle her as its last actions became feeble and it died. She raised her head, panting almost as hard as the prey had.
NO! she thought tiredly, Here they come. The scavengers approached. Six this time, she thought, I can't fight six of them.
They took a threatening posture. She looked at and smelled her fresh kill, but she couldn't keep it.
A new sound, she started at it. The scavengers also cringed at the ululating, roaring screech. She glanced back at the oddest creature she'd ever seen. Tall two-legged runner, like the great birds, and how she sometimes ran. But one arm was immensely long and thin, the other was different from hers, but not hugely so.
The creature's large arm came down across the muzzle of one of the scavengers. It screamed and ran away yelping. The others lasted one more roar from the monster before they too took to their heels, retreating in a fast four-legged gait, rather than the two-legged they often used.
The monster advanced on her, and she gave ground, she was still panting from the exertion of the kill and was no match for such a beast. Then it bent down to the prey, she felt a mixture of relief and despair. I'll live, but I lose my meal . . . again! she thought as creature's more normal hand sprouted an immense claw . . . and the unusual length of its arm separated and remained standing upright in the ground.
Impossible! she thought as the creature sawed a chunk of the prey, then its claw reappeared around its middle, This thing comes in pieces? she wondered, How many creatures is it? She watched it hoist the entire kill on its shoulder, reattached the length of its arm and walked off. Do I fight, or eat vermin again? she asked herself, then she realized it was headed directly towards the tree she loved to drag prey into, so she could eat them in privacy. What is it doing . . . why is it doing . . . ? she thought as she padded tiredly along behind. The scavengers kept their distance, with her strength returning, she'd be a match for them, and they were terrible tree climbers. She watched patiently as the creature hung the prey over the lowest hanging branch. It made a noise and a beckoning motion at her, and left with the haunch it had cut off. She considered, then rejected the idea of attacking it to recover the haunch, the best part.
No, the rest of the prey is better, she thought as she sprang into the tree to drag the still warm prey to a high enough branch to avoid predators and scavengers, I'll even eat the bones, she thought, You didn't let me scavenge my own kills, even fouling them when you'd finished eating. She enjoyed the full meal and she rested on a full belly for the first time in a long time. She laughed at the scavengers ringing the tree, hoping she'd drop something. She left the hide in the tree, where they'd get none of it.
As night fell, she crawled into her burrow. Even in the dim light she saw the shiny bits and the bones of some of her greatest foes. The hooded slitherer, the skinny one that grew legs, and a few others. Those seemed infinitely more satisfying kills than those that just gained her food. The shiny pieces also soothed her. Perhaps the scavengers wouldn't be harassing me so much if I hadn't stolen that from their leader, she thought of the loop of yellowish metal and the colored sparklers that adorned it. No, I still wanted it, and I took it. Let them think about the idea that I could steal from them, when it's a challenge of one-on-one. She smiled as she slept.
=====================
The morning felt better, having slept with a full belly. She felt a little bloated and sluggish for having eaten the whole slitherer herself. Better me than them, she thought, glanced at `her` eating tree, Hide's gone! They must have gotten desperate. She walked towards the river, submerging herself briefly in the icy water, catching a small fish before she surfaced. She shook herself off and sunned herself as she surveyed what she could have for lunch. She saw one of the huge, gray beasts. The scales made her think of her favored prey, and it made her mouth water. I'd never be able to eat all that in a week, even if I could bring it down. I've seen how those beasts treat those they fight, she thought as she withdrew into the shadows. She spotted the odd creature in a tree, staring at the gray beast while hiding from it.
I wonder if it is thinking the same thought, she considered, Wait! He's got the hide . . . She chuckled softly. That must infuriate the scavengers, she thought while she chuckled, Well, it's not as bad as the others.
She abandoned her cloud-chasing and concentrated on the business of food. She made several half-hearted chases, but with the gray beast out there, they became attempts to escape when she attracted its attention, and the prey was too skittish.
By noon, she went back to the watering hole. She saw the odd creature staring at her, making an odd cough similar to her own laugh, she snarled at it, which made it cough louder.
It motioned for her to follow after both had drunk their fill. On the edge of the woods it paused. She stayed out of easy reach on the entire walk, but sat down as it trotted out of the woods. Its long arm tapped the ground in an odd pattern. While one leg tapped out another pattern and the other dragged on the ground. She moved to keep an eye on it, then it occurred to her, It sounds like a wounded four legs, unsteady on its feet and dragging one limb. One of her favorite prey practically exploded out its hole to get the easy meat, and her own instincts took over. Her own spring caught it completely unawares. Her teeth sank deep into its neck, just below the head. It twisted suddenly, bearing its fang to face this new threat, and she heard and felt its neck pop. It slumped suddenly, twitching and writhing in death.
She almost yowled for joy. That's the easiest hunt I've ever been in! she thought as she looked over and saw the strange creature performing the same odd dance again. We've got good eating, she thought, Without too much of a fight. Then she saw the scavengers closing in, only two, but the largest two. Oh, ho, drawn by the sounds of an easy meal, she thought, Well, I wanted to see how you'd do when you didn't have the advantage of my exhaustion and numbers. She considered panting and showing every sign of having been through an exhausting fight. Instead, a huge and sinuous monster exploded out of the ground, caught one of the scavengers and dragged her back underground and out of sight. She could hear its screams of pain and terror echoing from out of the hole. The other scavenger took to her heels. Finally getting smart, and running away, she thought, But not smart or fast enough. It was running generally towards her. Hit it hard then draw away, but give it something to think about. Closer, closer, now! She sprang, clawing the scavenger's face, tearing its ear with her teeth, while she ripped its flanks with her rear claws.
It screamed in terror at the wounding, twisting away, trying to bring its powerful jaws to bear, but she was already gone. The scavenger froze and crouched at the ululating scream of the odd creature as it charged. She sprang on her foe, going directly for the throat.
Rip, don't smother, she reminded herself as her sharp teeth closed on her foe's windpipe as she tore its throat open. She tasted blood. Not as foul as I would have expected from a scavenger, she considered as she licked her chops and raced a short distance away from her foe. It bubbled its rage and agony at her, barely able to voice them through its ravaged throat. She considered leaping at it again, biting and scratching to inflict dozens of minor wounds. No, it's done, she told herself firmly, it was bleeding to death. Now it stood, glazed expression sweeping the area as if it realized it all. Its screams had attracted every scavenger and weak predator in the area. She considered closing and biting out its throat, but rejected the plan. Your own `kin` will eat you, she thought, And I'm going to sit and watch.
The scavenger tried to scream at the closing pack, but it was a pathetic noise as it found itself the undivided center of attention. She could smell its blood and hear its pathetic noises as she pulled her prey away where she could eat it in seclusion. Meat's probably rank anyway, she thought, Even if it has been sweetened on the meat of my kills. She growled at anything that drew close to her kill, except the strange beast, who took a small portion and seemed content with that as they watched the scavenger was slowly picked apart by the pack. As she trotted back to her burrow, her stomach full for the second time in two days, she wondered why sitting and waiting, within easy reach of the strange beast, while the pair of them watched the scavenger getting what it deserved, had seemed so `right` to her. She shook her head at such odd thoughts. Maybe that prey was sick and its affecting me too, she laughed to herself.
=====================
She spent the entire night throwing up, barely making it out of her burrow before she disgorged her entire meal. The blood was poisoned! she realized, Never again! she vowed as her stomach heaved mightily to empty itself. Long after it was completely empty, it showed no signs of giving up. Showing her what tenacity really meant.
=====================
Morning found her in her tree, eating her `kill`, several small vermin. Eat slowly, she reminded herself, as her stomach made itself known if she ate too fast. She smelled something, something she couldn't place. But I've smelled it before, she remembered.
The others, prey and scavengers, were all as disturbed as she was by the scent. I've eaten well these last few days, she thought, If this sour wind passes soon, I don't care.
She didn't see the strange beast, and the gray beast had beaten up the most powerful scavenger, and was departing towards sun-comes-up.
So, maybe they know where the trouble is coming from, she thought as she briefly considered approaching the creature and trying to find out, And get my head handed to me, no thanks. I'll be able to run away, no matter what happens. She laughed at that, and lazed in her tree, letting her meal digest and letting her stomach learn its place as servant, rather than master.
On her return to her burrow, her nose reminded her what she's been getting hints of all day.
She crouched in the tall grass some distance from her den. Great Predators! she realized as one of the gray-furred, black-haired monsters emerged from her burrow, sending a pile of dirt, stones and many of her treasured sparkles flying in all directions. NO! she thought in a fury, MINE! She hung her head, she, her mother and the rest of her litter had seen this before. One of these monsters had taken down a gray beast all by itself, then drove them out of their den as the snows had started.
It smells like that's what's happening again, she thought as she drew as near as she dared to her den, and her scattered treasures. She found the yellow metal piece, now shorn of all but a few sparklers, Not just one, but a bunch of them in there. Now it's time to get out of here! She fled the area as swiftly as she could. At least it's summer, the night might not be so bad, she thought as she headed back to her eating tree, Or maybe I should clear out of the whole area. She considered that as she climbed, A pack of them would make it worse than a thousand scavengers. She found a comfortable place in the tree, and wondered if it was high enough to keep any of the great predators from being able to climb up and get her. Below her were only the sounds of weaker nocturnal beasts, they avoided her and her tree. They had their own lives to lead. Maybe I'll have to become one of them, the great predators are daylight hunters. I have no desire for trouble. I've encountered enough just in my own den, she though as she nodded off.
=====================
The morning was a disaster. A half dozen, she thought as she surveyed the newcomers, and the scavengers trying to be cowards and assert their authority at the same time, You idiots! She watched the scavengers mass their whole force, some 20, to surround the great predator pack, which formed a curve so there were no weak places or unguarded backs to leap upon.
One of the bigger scavengers got close to one of the smaller great predators. The great predator clobbered it with a single paw-swipe, the scavenger limped off whimpering.
Looks like that didn't work, more muscles, better built, she considered the snarling scavengers and the silent, patient great predators, I wonder how fast they are. She considered speed more important than pure brute force. Try to brute force my favorite prey, and all you'll do is feed the scavengers. Well, this place was nice, but I -
The weird sound interrupted her thoughts, it sent an icy claw raking down her spine and all her fur stood on end. Like the little flitters, I sometimes see, the ones that hunt the buzzers, she thought then she saw it, But that one is huge! She froze in her tree as it landed. Great arms unfolding into a single, huge claw, wings like the flying buzzers, and topped by a head unlike anything she'd ever seen. Not that my eyes are the best, she admitted.
She watched the huge buzzer-eater slash at the pack of great predators. They roared and tried to encircle it. The scavengers had fled before it had landed. It jumped, extending its wings as it did. Its arm unfolded and caught the smallest great predator as the arms folded back, wounded the smaller victim terribly. It leaped away and vanished. But I can smell it! she thought in alarm, trying to duplicate the creature's disappearance. The great predators examined the wounded one.
It's below me, she realized and considered leaping down on it to tear its wings, No, I'm no idiot.
One of the great predators leapt forward and clawed the creature's side before being hurled away by a blow from its unfolding claw-arms. The huge buzzer-eater shrieked like any prey, and sprang away. The great predators milled around as they checked on their two wounded. They carried the wounded away, snarling at the scavengers, who were approaching.
Back to my den, she thought despondently, then considered, Strange. After mother drove me and the rest of my litter out, I never considered helping others. She considered what she had seen. Only scavengers and prey work together, she thought, Except the strange beast helped me. She wondered what had become of it. Well, go and find it, you have a nose! You are a hunter! You remember how it smelled. It smelled like nothing I ever smelled before.
She sniffed the air and caught a whiff of its scent. She climbed out of her tree and headed after it. There's nothing to keep me here. If the great predators and the giant buzzer-eater are going to fight here, I don't want to be around.
She spent several hours tracking the strange beast. I wonder why I'm so curious, she asked herself as she jogged along, taking care not to exhaust herself, I never chased prey like this. Not even my favorites. She sniffed and followed her nose. It makes no sense. It's not like it can be of much use in hunting, or in fighting either the great predators or that giant buzzer-eater. She didn't understand, but she knew, finding the strange creature would give her more options.
Finally, she spotted it. I always thought it wasn't an effective hunter, she thought as she watched the beast waiting on a ridge. What's that smell? she silently asked, as the wind brought her the sharp scent, Like . . . tar, I guess.
The strange beast picked up several rocks and hurled them down into a depression she hadn't seen as she approached. There was a splintering sound, and the smell became stronger, tremendously so.
That's awful! she thought as her nose was assaulted by the odor, nearly forcing her to back away.
Then she saw something that frightened her even more. The red flower, she wanted to whimper and crawl away like a newborn kit, I remember it, it devoured everything that couldn't run away.
The strange creature had a tiny piece of the red flower in its hand, and it hurled it after the stones it had thrown. She heard the sound of the flower growing, a sound that terrified her. The sound of the red flower unleashed, the crackly, snarly sound of its roar. She drew back as an eye and nose-stinging cloud rose from where the red flower ate. She heard pitiful screams and glanced at the strange creature. No reaction, the red flower is slaughtering kits, and . . . no reaction, she crept forward, trying to catch a glimpse of what the red flower was feeding on, And to get an idea of which way to run when it climbs out of there. She looked down into the hollow. They look like the giant buzzer-eater, except they're only as long as my arm, she thought was she watched the red flower consume them. Their screams quieted then silence, only her nose and ears picked up something. She rolled out of the way as the big one from earlier slashed at her as it flew by. She saw the scores on the side of its body, which confirmed it was the one from earlier. The strange beast dodged the monster landing near it. The buzzer-eater slashed out with both the strange folding claw-arms.
She considered simply fleeing. What do I owe? she considered, and instead yowled as loud and as bloodcurdlingly as she could. The big buzzer-eater turned towards her.
Now I run, she thought as she took off, The creature could be after me, she thought as she evaded like prey, rather than as a predator. She spotted a small opening and slipped in, I guess being thin isn't all bad. She found the hole widened out slightly and she could turn around. It isn't there, she thought as she crept towards the entrance, Now I know how the vermin feel. 'Am I safe?' or 'Is it waiting out there to gobble me up?' She dashed out of the small cavern and back up the ridge. Once there, and out of breath, she looked down. Among the last bits of the red flower, she saw the strange creature fending off the buzzer-eater with its hugely long, detachable arm. The buzzer-eater was countering with its folding, claw arms. One of the claw arms sheared off part of the long arm, the strange creature certainly didn't react as if its arm had been cut. It still attacked feverishly, trying to drive the monster back, then when it failed, it retreated slowly to the walls.
The buzzer-eater is playing with it, she recognized her own games with vermin in its actions. The buzzer-eater lunged . . . and shrieked, going into a riot of random screams and slashes, while being unable to remove itself from the wall. The noise and movement quickly grew more feeble. She could smell the blood. Like prey, she thought as she picked her way down into the depression, avoiding the last bits of the red flower, watching for any motion from the now still and quiet giant buzzer-eater. She approached it carefully, ready to flee if it should prove to still be alive. She saw the red blood coming out of the Buzzer-eater's back, along with the end of the strange beast's long arm, pointed like a tooth. You sharpened it, she thought of the dead giant buzzer-eater, You made it a better weapon and you threw yourself on it. She almost laughed, remembering a striking prey that did the same thing, missed her and struck a briar patch. She heard the sound like wounded prey coming from near the buzzer-eater, but not in a tone she'd heard from it, but from the strange creature.
She clamped her jaws around the arm of the buzzer-eater and dragged, using all fours to pull. Being small isn't such an advantage, she thought as she grunted and strained. Finally she managed to pull the huge corpse away, she fell down, panting with exhaustion. The strange beast looked at her from the hollow it had been squashed into. She peered blearily back at it. Both waited as they recovered from their experience.
She stood, then approached, sniffing all the way. The blood that covered the strange beast smelled like the buzzer-eater's. Not that I'd really know the difference, she thought, But - somehow - I'm sure I would . . . weird. When she approached, it began unfolding itself from where the buzzer-eater had crushed it. It moved slowly.
Like wounded prey, she thought as she sniffed, But . . . I don't want to eat it. Her perplexity increased as it reached down and scratched gently behind her ears. She leaned up against it, enjoying the contact, a contact she'd missed terribly while she'd been alone. She made a pleased throaty rumble while she rubbed up against the strange creature, I hope it understands, she thought, I won't hurt it, if it doesn't hurt me. She stood on her hind legs letting the creature lean on her, hold her fur as she led it out of the depression.
I hope it has a cave or burrow, she thought, Because I don't want to walk around covered in blood all night, And I can't exactly go back to my den.
She found a pool of water along the path the strange beast wanted to go. They both paused there to wash off the blood and filth of the battle and their journey. She was pleased. At least we don't smell like prey now, she thought as she watched it intently while she rinsed herself off, Because it still moves like prey. She found herself fascinated, watching it move. I wish I knew why! she thought in frustration, It just smells interesting. It just moves in fascinating ways. Better stealing than any sparkle I ever saw, better than killing my favorite prey.
Slowly, near daylight, they reached a narrow opening in the rocks. The strange beast could easily slip through the cleft in the rock. No problem, she thought as she wormed her way through following it. Inside, it was warm. She heard the sounds of a small trickle of water, she could smell that too. She heard a sound, and light filled the cavern. She jumped back in panic.
In a pit in the floor, the strange beast had a small but growing bit of the red flower. She watched it in horror, but it didn't leave the pit. She paced back and forth, watching it intently, ready to spring or flee as needed. While across the pit, the strange beast sat down with a groan.
She padded around and sat down beside the strange beast, she still stared worriedly at the red flower, but the strange beast stroking her fur convinced her she was safe.
Mesmerized by the sight of the red flower's dance, and the rhythmic strokes she felt, her eyes began closing. I will not eat you if I awaken first, she promised, Please do not kill me as I sleep. Deal?
=====================
She felt the warmth and pressure on her body, she woke unwillingly, her night had been filled with dreams of her sisters and her mother, all pressed together. Sharing warmth, sharing comfort, sharing love. For a while, she refused to let reality intrude on the memories of those dreams, snuggling close and remembering. Then she felt a hand stroking her fur, fingers touching her skin. She made appreciative noises, but realized she wasn't in her mother's den, and although it was still dark, there was warmth that couldn't be explained.
I'm wrapped around it, she realized as she recognized the scent of what she was wrapped around, Like one of my favorite prey, wrap around and crush it, good eating. But it isn't eating I'm after. She snuggled close and enjoyed the feeling, then she couldn't resist, couldn't be `nice` anymore.
She smiled and remembered how her littermates had always awakened her. She purred loudly and began lapping at the back of its head. I used to hate that, she thought delightedly, as her sleepy target tried unsuccessfully to defend itself.
It growled at her, and she extended the area of her licking. Give it a proper cleaning, she thought, intrigued by the oddly pleasant flavor on its skin, Not like food, but very nice.
It started wrestling with her, trying to defend itself, I'm stronger, she thought as they rolled around on the floor. She enjoyed playing as she had with her littermates. So long ago, she thought delightedly as she pinned her `prey` and began giving it a complete bath, ignoring its squeals of protest. She enjoyed the one-sided contest, and that it was clear she could hurt it, but wouldn't.
It also didn't fight back as prey would, its fingers probed her body.
"YOWL!" She jumped away at the odd feeling, like the way the red flower made her nose feel before she sneezed. But how could a touch - ? she thought, then tried to roll aside as the creature charged, She yowled again as the touch elicited the crawly, sneezy feeling as its fingers slipped beneath her fur. She tried to maneuver, but she didn't want to flee. The `battle` was now more equal, neither `combatant` seemed eager to hurt the other, and both knew they could. But beyond that fact, any trickery or treachery, any deceit or unfair advantage was pressed to the limit, nothing was kept from the battle. She'd lick or try to knock it down, it would probe her flanks or would bite her back with its pitiful teeth. She couldn't imagine being bitten would feel so good.
Mother, she remembered being carried by the scruff of the neck, then cuddled and cooed to like it creature was doing, Right where it is still holding. The warm memories distracted her from defense. The strange beast held on as she raced around, exhausting herself. Even when she lay helpless, panting for breath, it didn't press its advantage too badly. Just keeping her in panting hysterics with its touch, as she gasped for breath. Then those fingers that set off lightning in her body, switched to rubbing her tired muscles, she felt them growing slack under this new `attack.`
Finally they gave up for a while. She relaxed, accepting the odd subdual. She could smell its sweat and she could hardly breathe anymore. They lay together, cuddling. It growled at her in a peculiar way, while stroking her fur. She responded by snuggling closer.
I had it under my claws and teeth, she thought, Let it prove it wont hurt me. Why? Why so important to . . . both of us? She found herself getting sleepier as its fingers caused her muscles to slacken. Before she fell completely asleep, she rolled over, putting it beneath her. She stared into its eyes, a moment of fear when she laid her head on its shoulder, its throat in easy reach of her teeth, but hers was just as vulnerable. The hands returned to running through her soft fur as she drifted off.
=====================
The smell of the red flower caught her attention. It froze as she woke in fight or flight mode. She padded over to the pit where it kept the red flower trapped. She looked in, the red flower was gnawing on some old wood, and seemed content to remain where it was. She relaxed and looked around. There was sunlight streaming in through holes high up.
Another sharp smell caught her attention. There was another opening in the back of the cave she hadn't seen with her weak eyes. As she approached, the strange beast raced ahead, growling a warning that made her cringe back. She flattened her ears and moved away. The beast entered the cave, and the smell suddenly intensified. It walked out with an odd bowl, the smell got so strong as it approached, she shied away. As the smell weakened, she followed it.
It paused a body length away from the red flower's pit and it flipped a clear liquid to the red flower. The red flower grew huge and ROARED for a moment, then returned to normal. She found she had retreated to the furthest reaches of the cave and was cowering. She watched the creature return the gourd to the cave. Trembling, she forced herself to walk after it.
An idea, she thought, as she followed it into the rear cave. This cave was full of odd rocks, many with odd, sharp smells. She looked around, not understanding any of it. No rocks really smell like this, she thought as she peered at the beast hanging the gourd on the wall. She stood on her hind legs, reached out to the gourd as it had. She took the gourd, `poured` it on the ground, then lay in the pour spot and writhed, squeaking like the small giant buzzer-eaters had. Understand, she hoped, Please understand.
It nodded, made a gesture and noise similar to the leap the red flower had made. Then it bared its teeth, something both she and it had carefully avoided doing before.
Okay, you aren't to be trifled with, she thought, I understand that now. Nor am I. She made noises and marched around like one of the great predators, then sipped from the gourd and stared at it. It stood considering for a while. Then it shook its head.
She wanted to snarl. It's a good idea, she wanted it to know. It opened another rock, this one looked like it was made of wood. The smell was . . . different, and not nearly so unpleasant. The gourd it used in this one shone like ice, or water, but it was solid, a gray material that didn't sparkle.
I've got to have that, she thought, Even if it isn't a sparkle. The gourd came closer, her nose picked up the wonderful smell. She saw the water-looking material in the gourd. She lapped cautiously. It tasted - warm? she thought, lapping carefully as the warmth spread through her, Oh, thasss niccce. She found herself a little wobbly on her feet. The strange creature wobbling like a reflection on water was so funny. She laughed at it. Then felt the creature picking her up, she thought that was funny too. She purred to it as she flew through the air, making a noise like a buzzer. She didn't let it go as it laid her near the red flower's pit.
Not even 'fraid of red fl'wer, she thought muzzily as she laps and the strange beast's face, Wanna be warm all over. She tried to drag the strange creature into her embrace, but she couldn't get her arms and hands to work properly.
=====================
She woke, she realized it had been a good plan. The great predators would never know what hit them, she thought happily. Then she realized she was alone, and she felt a deep stab of fear. I don't understand why, she thought as she looked around the empty cave, The red flower stays in its pit. And I can always drown it, if I need to. I can't be reacting to the fact I'm alone. I missed my sisters and mother, but I didn't feel this way about not seeing them. There's no reason to be worried, but I am.
She paced the cave, nervously. Unwilling to venture out, for fear it would return and not find her waiting. This makes no sense, she thought, but was overjoyed when the strange creature returned home. She was even happier when it held her close to it. Hugging her, stroking her fur, making pleased noises. She snuggled against it as it sat down, practically curling up in its lap. She rubbed her face on its neck, drinking in its oddly compelling scent. She needed it somehow. Don't understand. In some ways . . . I don't want to understand, she thought as she lay against it, giving and receiving caresses, gentle touches. Too soon it was over. It set her aside and set a stone between them. It unstoppered it and the scent assaulted her nose. She backed away.
Mad weed! she thought, she'd eaten some once, and spent most to the rest of the day watching the rocks melt and sing.
The strange beast made a sound like the great predators' roar, and held up a patch of mad weed. It bared its teeth at the thought.
I should be worried, but I'm not, she thought as she duplicated its slight teeth baring and she gave a throaty, purring chuckle, Yes, that idea is better.
=====================
She watched the great predator approach the large gourd of mad weed-spiked liquid. She glanced at the strange creature. Are you sure? she let her glance say for her. It replied with a firm nod. 'Yes I am,' the gesture told her. She adjusted her grip on the long arm her partner had made for her. It still amazed her that it was so simple, she wondered what other mysteries she had to learn from her new partner.
The great predator shied away after her first sip of the warm-feeling-making liquid.
Same reaction I had, she thought, But it tastes so good doesn't it? she asked the creature who had stolen her previous home and was circling the gourd while licking her lips. Their prey closed in and carefully sipped again, then drank heavily.
She gave her partner a tooth-hidden smile, which was returned. Then she stuck out her tongue at the great predator who was licking the gourd clean. She saw her partner doing the same. The great predator began looking around for more, but stopped to stare at whatever only she was seeing.
You are not going to be happy, you are certainly not going to like your life tomorrow, she thought as the great predator fell over with a kit-like mew.
She and the strange beast approached the great predator who stared from one of them, to the other. The great predator reached out playfully, sounding more like a kit wanting play, rather than a carnivore who outweighed the pair of them.
Suddenly it lurched out and grabbed her, dragging her into its clutches. The great predator made a pleased sound as she rubbed her cheek against her soft fur. She looked at her partner for rescue. Quit laughing and help ME ! she wanted to shout while she was being so forcefully petted and licked. She couldn't escape, but it didn't hurt.
=====================
Merrill smiled at her and Sheroar's kits around the campfire. In the background, Sheroar and William were assisting with the birth of Rachel the Enchantress's first litter.
"That's how your father met your mothers," she explained in her painfully learned language.
"And you got Tamed that night?" they asked in amazement, far better at speaking than their mothers.
"Your mother Tamed me," Merrill admitted, blushing through her silky, white fur, idly playing with the gold and silver bangles on her necklace, "That gave your father the idea."
"So, mommy-Merrill," She-roar's oldest daughter said.
"Yes, Terra?" Merrill asked the gray furred, black-haired kit who already towered over her.
"Who domesticated who?"