Story and art a commission for Siegmar. Thanks for commissioning!

Check out the rest of the Wildword series here: https://www.furaffinity.net/gallery.....dWorld-Stories


Lab Cats- Tiger tf

As the black sedan approached the idyllic town of Pleasure Point, Wyoming, Ash shifted nervously in her seat. They passed under the cedar archway welcoming them to this mountain village of 5,000 and Ash couldn’t help but feel like a bear caught in a trap.

From a normal perspective, the town seemed like a little slice of paradise nestled amongst the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountains. The welcome sign was five miles from Yellowstone but over five hundred to the nearest metropolitan area. The town’s quiet main street seemed straight out of a storybook, consisting of a small general store, an irish pub, and a few assorted shops one might have seen in an old Western. An old man with a shaggy snow white beard was perched on a wooden barrel outside of the pub, downing a cheap beer. Other than him the town was nearly barren as the car drove on past a quaint stone brick church and turned onto a side street bordering a dilapidated mobile home park.

As they began to leave the valley basin and enter the foothills at the base of the surrounding mountains, the town faded away into quaint log cabins scattered amongst swathes of pine trees. As the incline steepened, so did the size in the houses, or so it seemed. It wasn’t long before she was seeing Rolls-Royces parked in front of newly-built log mansions. Pleasure Point, despite its run-down appearance, was a go-to summer destination for America’s elite, a mountain getaway far from the nuisances of traffic, workplace stress, and the urban jungle. Ash could see why, with some of the most beautiful scenery on planet Earth right outside her car window. She could see the man-made Howling Moon lake spread out in the valley below, several miles from the town itself. The sun reflected beautifully off the sparkling blue water and pristine white dots slowly moving to and fro across it. The sharp cliffs of the rocky mountains rose steeply above the basin, encircling the tiny valley that consisted of both the lake and the town.

As Ash watched the scenery unfold, her mind wandered to the man who had called her here, flown her out of the park she calls home to meet with him in person. That was never a good sign. Mr. Warren Gould always considered his time extremely valuable, and he had countless hordes of goons to do his dirty work. If she wasn’t meeting with one of his slimy gray-suit henchmen, it had to be something major. And after the recent events that had transpired, she had a vague idea of the conversation starter.

The luxurious mountain estate perched atop the mountain was as jaw-dropping as ever, but Ash had been to so many of Mr. Gould’s numerous properties across the globe that the amazement was lost on her. Like many of his estates, the main building looked more like a lodge than a private residence. This one was a complete rustic mountain resort, and she could see an infinity pool and tennis courts as they approached the manor. Massive windows and sweeping verandas provided access to the natural beauty that came right out of a fairy tale. Except here dreams really did come true. They could also be shattered depending on the ever-changing whims of her patron. She wondered how much Mr. Gould had paid for this view.

The driver had dropped her off at the end of a long winding driveway, about 15 feet from the intricately carved blocks of cedar that led into the mansion. Perched on both sides were two staunch-looking security guards in black suits and sunglasses. She could sense countless other guards hidden around the property, betrayed only by the brief glint of sunlight off of metallic gun barrels. She displayed her ID to one of the guards on the stoop, who grunted and waved her past. Ash hesitantly stepped inside the house.

To say the spacious foyer was extravagant was an understatement. Ash recognized the freshly cut logs adorning the walls as a very rare type of pine, one that only grew in a small forest in British Columbia. The foyer was littered with exotic flora and fauna, some which she knew was specially imported from India. She tried to ignore the numerous mounted animals on the wall ranging from white-tailed deer to polar bears to everything in between. The soulless black eyes staring down at her made her uncomfortable. In the center was an entire faux forest scene complete with a stuffed grizzly bear posed menacingly on a rock, teeth twisted into a terrible snarl. The only difference between it and a real bear was its eyes, beady black dots making a crude replacement for the life once held within. Ash wondered what emotions the bear had felt as it died. She softly stroked it’s thick, raggedy fur, promising to it that she’d increase her conservation efforts tenfold to make up for the loss of its life. And she softly swore that one day Warren would pay for his callous abuse of the planet.

She expected one of his many house servants to escort her to a prison-like guest room, where she’d inevitably find her baggage plopped on her bed and a scribbled note from Warren apologizing for the inconvenience of meeting her in person. To her surprise, however, it was his familiar gold suit and cowboy hat walking into the room, his face all smiles as he took a sip of steaming hot coffee. Yet his eyes were dark and beady, like a vulture constantly on the lookout for fresh carrion.

“Ms. Sandberg!” he bubbled, reaching out to shake her with a flabby, wrinkled hand. Ash felt disgusted as she shook it. She noticed no less than four bejeweled watches underneath his suit cuff. “I’m so glad you could join me in my humble mountain paradise.”

Ash choked down her reservations, plastering on the fake smile she reserved for businessmen and intoxicated homeless men catcalling her on the subway.

“Of course, Warren. It’s always a pleasure.” she said coyly. “It’s quite surprising to see you fetch me in person.” The man chuckled.

“I couldn’t stand to be without you for another moment.” He tenderly ran a hand up her arm, stopping at her chest. She recoiled, drawing back against the hardwood floors.

“Don’t touch me,” she spat.

“See?” Warren laughed. “I missed your spunk.” She pushed him aside with a huff, rubbing her arm.

“Why did you call me here?” Warren looked hurt as he held his arms out.

“ What, can’t a man just invite his friends over?” His Texas accent was obvious as he spoke. He then waved his hand, inviting her into a cavernous great room. The wood-paneled walls stretched to the sky, leading to a cascade of exposed wooden beams on the ceiling. One of the walls was made entirely of glass, allowing for majestic views of the valley below. A small cluster of plush velvet couches sat atop a bearskin rug stretched across the middle. Three people were sitting on the couches chatting amongst themselves, an elderly couple and a middle-aged man in a posh tan suit. They all stood up as Ash and Mr. Gould walked in, their faces all smiles as they greeted each other like old friends. Warren waved a hand towards Ash.

“Ash, this is Mr. and Ms. Gaylord,” he said, motioning towards the elderly couple. The man had curly white hair, a thick bushy mustache, and was wearing a tailored suit jacket emboldened with a family crest. Two golden Eagles fighting eternally over a scarlet background, talons locked in combat. There was a phrase scrawled around the borders, but Ash hadn’t taken Latin since high school. The woman was dressed in a simple blue dress, a sparkling pearl necklace draped around her neck. She shook her hand with dainty white gloves.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Ash replied curtly. The smiles vanished briefly from their faces but quickly returned as if nothing had happened. Deep down Ash didn’t care if she insulted them, but she knew not to push it in front of Warren. She did her best to put on a straight face.

“ You’re British, right? I remember you from television commercials from my trip to Liverpool a few weeks ago.” This was true. Ash was visiting a colleague and biologist who she respected greatly, and had seen the man’s face on tv. He looked much scrawnier in person. They both beamed with pride.

“So you’ve bloody heard of us, eh?” He paused. “Friendly Fitness Centers, we’ll knock off the weight, we’re open twenty-four hours a day.” He did a little side step as he cheerily recanted the jingle commonly seen across European television. He slipped on the rug on the final verse, luckily his wife caught him before he catapulted to the ground. His face burned bright red underneath his moustache.

“ Well, this old dog sometimes has a hard time with the new tricks,” he chuckled, dusting himself off. “ I’ve never been the bloody same since I threw out my back.” He really did look like an old hound dog, with sagging jowls and droopy eyes. The imagery in her mind made her chuckle. Mr. Gaylord smiled.

“See, at least somebody has a sense of humor.” Ash then turned to the other man, who was standing behind him. He was a well-built man with wavy gray hair who appeared to be around his early fifties, eyes cloaked behind dark brand-name sunglasses. He was smoking a heady Cuban cigar.

“And this here is Tex, a civil attorney based in Houston.” Warren said as they shook hands. “ He’s one of the best in the country. I call him “The Lion of Law.” Warren chuckled, but the man remained stone faced, face locked in a grim expression. This made Ash feel a bit uneasy.

“ D**n right I am.” Tex’s accent was somehow thicker than Warren’s, a feat Ash had not thought possible. It felt like molasses would ooze out of his mouth any time he spoke. And his hands felt like a vice squeezing around her own. It sent chills up her spine, it felt like he could crush her fingers in an instant. Definitely former military or secret service.

“ And this here is Ms. Sandberg, one of my leading scientists in this endeavor.” Mr. Gould explained, waving at Ash. All the attention turned towards her and she could feel her face turning red. “ She is the lead developer for the formula you’ll see in action today.”

“Wait, what?” Ash spun around to face Mr. Gould, who was focusing his attention on the caviar tray that had just been brought in. He smiled, but didn’t turn to face her.

“Oh, you didn’t know? We’re having a little demonstration today for some potential clients of ours.” He motioned towards the Gaylords, who were chatting amongst themselves. “They wanted to see our little show in person. And I want you to see it as well.” Ash felt a bit uneasy at those words. What could he have possibly planned?

She would find out after thirty awkward minutes of tea and miserable attempts at small talk. She kept shifting around uncomfortably in her seat. She was used to constantly moving around, being in the wild. How could people sit here like this endlessly bantering over stock trades and sporting events? Sweat poured down her face every time she was asked a question. Eventually a waiter smoothly clad in a black tuxedo fetched the five of them, leading them throughout the winding hallways and galleries of the manor. Warren narrated as they went along, acting like a tour guide to his personal museum. And of course the Gaylords ate it all up.

“ And this here is a genuine Rigassi,” he said as they stopped in front of a rather strange looking painting filled with bright oranges, greens, and a scratchy black square.

“Ooh, the Italian,” Mrs. Gaylord cooed, dutifully inspecting the work of art. “This was from his cubist phase, correct?”
“That is correct,” Warren beamed. “From 1972-2006. This piece in particular was painted in 1981.” Ash leaned in to inspect the artwork. “Madonna and Child,” it read on the placard. Ash couldn’t make out a human figure, let alone Madonna. She kept her concerns to herself however. She didn’t want to make her patron mad.

“ He’s a recent artist but after his death in 2010 the value of his works have skyrocketed. I picked up this piece recently at a Hong Kong auction for twenty one million US dollars.” Ash tried to hide her shock. This work of “art” was worth how much? That was more than what he’d given her for her research. Apparently she was worth less than a black square on canvas. She had to physically strain from reaching out and punching Warren on the spot. She breathed in and out, meditating like she’d learned from a guru in Nepal. It’s what she did when she had to put up with his nonsense.

And the nonsense continued for what felt like forever. A new art piece or prized trophy always seemed right around the corner, and of course he had to talk about it in great detail. Piccassos, Monets, even a Da Vinci were mounted on his walls, and the Gaylords swooned over each and every one of them. She had to force herself not to vomit.

Finally they reached the end of a long white hallway which led to a futuristic-looking elevator that blended in with the wall around it. Two stoic bodyguards stood at attention, each holding Hemler and Koch firearms that could blast away a moose. She could’ve sworn those were grenade bulges under their suits. They didn’t even acknowledge the group as they approached. Without missing a beat, Mr. Gould placed his eye against the wall, and a blue light immediately shrouded it in a strange glow. Suddenly the blue light turned green and the doors noiselessly slid open, revealing a metallic silver interior that came right out of a dystopian novel. Frozen blue accent lighting circled around the ceiling and floor.

Mr. Gould pressed one of three buttons, marked “L”, and they sped swiftly downwards. Ash had to admire the smoothness of their descent. It was hard to tell they were even falling. The Gaylords appeared impressed as well, murmuring quietly to themselves. The attorney, on the other hand, was the same as ever, his emotionless expression glued to his face. Almost immediately after beginning their descent, the elevator slowed to a stop, the doors once again sliding open.

Two more heavily armed guards stood firmly by the entrance to this elevator as well. They reminded Ash of toy soldiers, with a plastic expression and uniform appearance. The hallway in front of them was a sterile white, and was brightly lit by fluorescent strips lacing the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to the service tunnels back at WildWorld, with water seeping through leaky pipes to the tune of industrial equipment breaking down. Here there was barely any sounds except for the faint tapping of their footsteps. Occasionally a stern-faced scientist dressed in a hazmat suit or neatly pressed lab coat would pass them by, briefly glancing up before burrowing back down to whatever clipboard they were holding. Several unmarked doors went by, until Warren finally mentioned for them to stop. He made another retinal scan, and the door slid open with a hiss.

“In here, please,” He motioned the group past a door labeled “Viewing Room-Authorized personnel only.” As they entered a heavyset woman in her late twenties greeted them enthusiastically.

“ Hi there, everyone! I’m Nikki, and I’m your host for today’s show!” Her voice was bubbly and energetic, and her sparkling white lab coat bounced as she spoke. As Warren introduced Nikki to the others, Ash glanced around the room. The room was styled like the great hall in an 18th century French palace, except for the two walls that ran lengthwise along the room. Along one of the walls was a floor-to-ceiling window, opening up into a large white chamber. The wall opposite it was lined with large built in plasma TVs, all except for one displaying a grim-looking person on it. Ash realized they must be cameras, like a giant wall-length zoom call. As she looked closer at them, she was pulled back by an enthusiastic squeal.

“OMG you’re Ms. Sandberg?!” Ash turned to see an excited Nikki staring at her. She’d been the one who’d spoken. “ Oh my gosh you’re amazing you’re such a good scientist I can’t believe you’re really here-” her sentences were starting to run together and Ash cut her off.

“You can call me Ash,” she said, trying to sound friendly. It was not her strong suit. She usually wasn’t in this situation. Nikki’s eyes lit up behind her glasses.

“OkAshWhateveryousayOMGI’msoexcitedyou’rehereI’vestudiedyourworksomuch-”

“Enough!” Warren shouted and for once Ash was grateful that he’d spoken. She recoiled like a wounded puppy and Ash shot her an apologetic glance as they walked past her. She walked across the velvet carpet and sat in the chair that Warren had set out for her. She examined the wood of the table. It was from a tree that was now extinct. She grumbled to herself as the others took seats across from her. Warren remained standing, Nikki standing enthusiastically by her side. He turned to face not only those seated but those on the screens as well. A curt Japanese accent spoke out from one of the screens.

“Will the experiment begin soon, Mr. Gould?” Mr. Gould straightened his tie, a bold look on his face. His demeanor, however, was far less confident. His fingers hovered around his beltline, twiddling nervously.

“Of course, Mr. Fujima. We are just waiting on Mr. Speer, and we will begin the show immediately once he arrives.” Ash glanced towards the speaker, an elderly Japanese man in a dark Giorgio Armani suit. She then shot a curious glimpse at the other screens. Lightning coursed through her veins as she saw the figures slayed out across the wall. There were twelve of them. She recognized several of them, and they weren’t her local hot dog vendor. She recognized a squirrely faced man from the forbes 500 list, a well known American hedge fund manager. The one woman in the room was a renowned Hollywood actress and model. There was a middle aged Russian man she didn’t recognize, but by the size of the yacht in the background he had to be at least a multi-millionaire. He sipped a dry martini from a crystal glass as she watched. One of them was the American Vice-President.

She had to restrain herself from gasping out loud as she surveyed the room. They seemed to wait for what felt like an eternity before finally the final screen popped on, revealing a man that looked like Santa Claus if he had gone into banking instead of gift-giving. Warren didn’t bother greeting him, such words were a waste of valuable time.

“Ah, now that we’re all here, we can begin the performance. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.” He motioned to Nikki, who was standing over by a small console holding a walkie talkie. She spoke a single command and a door slid open on the other side, and a frightened heavyset young man stumbled into the room. He was wearing nothing but a white shirt and pants, and was glancing around the chamber nervously. Evidently he didn’t see them behind what must be a one-way mirror.
Chance had no idea how he got here. He had answered a Craigslist ad advertising a personal trainer who promised to “unleash the beast” in him. He’d been struggling to lose weight ever since he lost his job at the hardware store where he worked. With no income, he’d eaten nothing but cheap fast food and ramen from the local dollar mart. And with nothing to do but sit on the dumpy puke green couch and watch Stranger Things with his roommate Louise, it was a matter of time before he was more elephant than man. The ad promised to change all that in a heartbeat.

But when arrived at the address, he had been bound, gagged, and dragged into this blindingly white chamber, and he was still trying to make sense of it all.

“Uh… Hello? I-Is anyone there?” He called out into the room, unaware if anyone was listening.

Behind one of the walls in the plush luxury of the viewing room, people were indeed watching him. Warren nodded over to Nikki, who looked like a rabbit on caffeine as she began jamming buttons and pushing levers at the console she was stationed at. Ash was the closest to her, so she was the only one who could hear the silent hiss as Nikki pressed one final button, causing red lights to flash throughout the room. A robotic voice rang throughout the room, although Ash couldn’t detect where the sound was coming from. , “ Process 193 Initialized. Releasing compound Beta Phi One, Intended Species: Siberian Tiger.”

The human in the chamber evidently hadn’t heard the voice, he was currently feeling up the walls as if looking for some sort of exit. This was clearly a futile endeavor, as the chamber walls were smooth as glass and over ten inches thick. The doors only opened from the outside, and required a complex level of code along with two Chief scientists entering an access key. There would be no escape, and watching his futile efforts put a lump in Ash’s throat. Just because she enjoyed giving new life to people who deserved it didn’t mean she enjoyed watching the actual process occur. The Gaylords, however, were soaking it all up like a theatrical performance.

“Oh my, look at the poor man go!” Ms. Gaylord said, resting a white glove on her chin. “ I dare say he looks rather discontent about his circumstance. You have such great actors!”

“Mmhmm,” Mr. Gaylord agreed, taking a sip of tea freshly poured by a waiter currently standing by in the corner of the room. “ Really takes it up a level, you know. I always appreciate some good drama in my performances.” Ash felt sick to her stomach. It was obvious the man wasn’t acting. But she wasn’t going to stop the experiment in front of Warren. She just hoped that the man had done something to deserve this, maybe a business rival or some scummy corrupt official. But it was hard to push aside the twinge of guilt in her conscience.

“ Yes, and check out this feature we recently installed.” Warren said, broadcasting to the whole audience. He once again motioned again to Nikki who pressed another button. Suddenly, the room grew dark and a bright red, violent looking cloud could be seen in the chamber. It billowed and filled the entire room, overtaking the young man in less than a minute. However, he didn’t divert from his actions even as the gas overtook him.

“This is a new ultraviolet camera we installed, it allows us to see certain gasses that’s invisible to the naked eye.” Warren explained. The Gaylords let out a smattering of applause, clearly wowed by the spectacle. “As you can see, compound Beta Phi One has filled the chamber and has begun to enter the subject’s lungs. It will alter the subject’s DNA on a cellular level, rewriting the physical structure into an entirely different entity. For today’s purposes, we have chosen a Siberian tiger as the end result. However...” he paused for effect. “ DNA programming is not limited for human-animal transformation. The possibilities are as limited as your imagination.” He leaned confidently against the table. “ This technology is the future of the human race. To not invest in this historic scientific breakthrough would be the mistake of a lifetime. Several lifetimes, actually.” Warren sounded like a fifth grader presenting a project at the science fair, with the faces on the screens the judges.

“Has this new substance been tested?” The man who spoke was French and dressed in a blue suit tailored by his own company. The BRAND line of clothing was as famous as it was exclusive, and Marc Jean Brand was almost as famous as his clothing. Ash had seen his neatly trimmed black beard and aviator sunglasses on countless fashion magazines. His English was nearly perfect thanks to countless appearances and exhibitions across America.

“ I would not be presenting this if I were not certain of its success.” Warren replied bluntly. “My chief scientist and I have countlessly tested the formula at our animal park in Texas.” He pointed at Ash, and suddenly it felt like every eye on the room was on her. She wanted to turn into an ant and crawl underneath the carpet. Given the laser-guided insect eradication system installed across all of Warren’s properties, however, that would’ve probably been a bad idea.

“Ah yes, that litter-filled tourist trap you built to distract the public from your logging endeavors in the Amazon.” Ash was mortified, but Warren didn’t even try to deny it. He just laughed like it was some bizzare inside joke. “ The press eats it up, and suddenly you’re some eco-hero instead of a man who once wiped out an entire bird species just to own the last pair in existence. How easily the people forget.” A fire began building up in Ash’s stomach, and she began to feel sick. Warren, however, laughed it off, adjusting his cowboy hat.

“It’s amazing what a good pr agency can do. And Tex here keeps me on the right side of the law.” He waved towards Tex sitting across the table from Ash. He glanced at the camera and nonchalantly waved a hand. “And I reckon I’m not the only one here who needs a good pr agency from time to time.” Ash felt like she’s just been stabbed. Even the Gaylords were chuckling like this was all some big joke. It reminded her of a shark tank, and the sharks were mad with bloodlust.

Chance collapsed onto the floor, having exhausted himself probing every inch of these walls. He didn’t have much in the way of stamina. He was already wheezing. He wasn’t sure if it was him or something else, but he was finding it harder and harder to breathe, his chest rising and falling like a beached whale. He’d given up on trying to contact the outside and was now trying to conserve energy, he didn’t know if he’d need it later. Best thing for now was to wait for someone to arrive. Maybe this was even part of the fitness regimen, and his trainer would show up at any moment with a cool glass of water and congratulations for surviving the first part of the routine.

But now it was getting hot. Suffocatingly hot. Waves of heat began coursing through him, and soon his shirt was a soggy mess, saturated with sweat. Pins and needles soon added to the discomfort, occurring first in his limbs then spreading out over his entire body. Soon he began rolling around trying to scratch at his flabby arms as the needles turned to daggers and he began to itch uncontrollably. His hair and beard felt like a mop as he flailed about trying to reach the worst bits. He grunted and groaned, unaware of the changes beginning to surface on his body.
Tiny, stubble-like hairs began sprouting up all across his body and began to poke out from underneath his clothes. The skin itself beneath it began to take on a striped pattern to it, mapping out what was to come. First on the farthest reaches of his limbs, then spreading inwards towards his trunk and neck. Chance was unaware of this happening, he was solely focused on administering sweet relief to his burning extremities. But soon his efforts to soothe the constant itch were overwhelmed by an even more pressing issue: the heat wracking his body had reached feverish levels.

He removed his shirt in a desperate bid to cool himself off, revealing the full extent to which the changes had seized him. His heart sailed up into his throat, and he rubbed his eyes intensely. But when he reopened them, the fur was still there. And it was spreading. It was a rich white color, rapidly covering up his belly button. On his sides, the fur color changed to a deep orange, laced with vertical black stripes. The pattern would be unique to him and him alone. Even the parts of skin that remained exposed was changing, growing a striped pattern amongst the skin itself.

“W-what the hell?” His words were slurred, it felt like his mouth was disconnected from his brain. Something was pounding against his skull like a hammer. He tried to stand up, rubbing his forehead with his hand in an effort to clear his mind. As he kneaded his forehead his fingers started to swell, growing large and puffy. Chance was focused on the throbbing in his head, unaware as bones crackled on his hand, new muscles pulsating underneath stretching skin. His thumb stiffened before receding into his body, leaving only a dewclaw in its place.

The changes continued unabated until Chance looked up and saw blood dripping from his fingertips. He held out his hand in front of him and gasped as he saw the twisted shape in front of him. His bloody human nails slid off his fingers as razor-sharp claws poked their way through the skin. He cried out in pain as the bones and cartilage shifted under his skin to give him a deadly set of retractable claws. His palms swelled, growing a leathery callous to protect his new paws from sharp objects lying on the ground.

“M-my fingers,” he wept, flexing the strange appendage that had replaced his hand. Each time his digits curled inwards his claws unsheathed, making him yelp in terror. He could slit a man’s throat with those! They reminded him of animal paws, and the realization made his whole body shudder in terror. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force himself to wake up from this nightmare. Humans can’t suddenly grow cat paws… right?

Inside the room it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ash watched the commotion unfolding in the chamber from the comfort of her own chair. She felt a growing pit in her stomach although she wasn’t entirely sure why. She herself had supervised many experiments like this as she tested her formula. The fear in the victim’s eyes, the deathly shock as they grasp the impossible reality they’ve been placed in, this was nothing new to her. And yet this time it felt like her heart was being wrenched out of her stomach.

Maybe it was because this was the first experiment she had absolutely no control over. The other times she knew the subject, the dosage of the compound being administered, and the scientists performing the experiment. She had hand-picked her test subjects in the early rounds of testing, often from amongst prisoners on death row or drug addicts from the local homeless shelter. She worked hard to ensure that the victim would enjoy their new lives. But Warren lacked those ethical standards. Her work may have been illegal, but this was the first time it felt like committing a crime. Yet she remained frozen in her seat, as if she was superglued.

The Gaylords in the middle of the table were watching it as if it were all some giant spectacle, jaws slack and attitudes merry. Mr. Gaylord was sipping champagne from a glass. Warren was silent, his face unmoving. He straightened out his tie, eyes still glued to the window. The faces in the screens had barely moved, watching the events unfold with an unfaltering lapse of emotion. One of them, however, finally broke the silence.

“ Now Mr. Gould, you can’t expect me to believe this… this fantasy of yours.” The voice was American, coming from a young man with a look alternating between confusion and boredom. He was wearing a “battlestar galactica” t-shirt. Behind him was a lavish hotel room overlooking the London skyline. “ This is really a very nice parlor trick you’ve come up with, but anyone with a brain knows this isn’t possible. This isn’t Marvel Comics. You can’t just-” Warren cut him off, his voice charming but cold.

“ Mr. Gabin I assure you, what you are seeing is not some elaborate movie production.” Ash recognized the name from some computer magazine, but she couldn’t place him with any specific memory. “This is real-time-”

“ I don’t give a crap about your snake-eye sales pitch.” Mr. Gabin sounded exasperated, and it carried throughout the entire room. The Gaylords were now looking at Mr. Gould suspiciously. Mr. Gabin continued, now in a threatening tone.

“ I know who you are, Gould, and you are a fraud. You murdered your brothers to steal Daddy’s inheritance, and used that capital to lie your way into the oil industry. You bought the company you worked for after laundering millions of dollars from them and conning investors for millions more.” He paused, the other faces murmuring amongst themselves. Most seemed to be in agreement. Warren was burning up with anger, but he was silent.

“ You are a scam artist, Mr. Gould, and this is simply your next hare-brained scheme to fill your draining coffers. You can’t convince me-”

“Enough!” Warren shouted, fuming like a bull. He looked like he was about to ram his horns into the wall. “ Mr. Cliff can verify the success of my formula, even if your own eyes can’t.” He huffed and puffed, Ash had never seen him so livid before. “But if you need more proof, then very well, I will show you.”

He stalked to the console where Nikki stood, silently watching the rising tension in the room. She looked like a deer stuck in headlights as Warren stormed up to her. Ash felt bad for the girl, she clearly wasn’t trained in the fine art of dealing with an angry Warren. She was completely unprepared for what happened next though.

While Nikki stood there frozen, Warren silently typed in a code and suddenly the far wall opened up, exposing the white chamber and the room. Without saying a word, he grabbed a stunned Nikki by the coat, dragged her to the door, and with herculean strength pushed her through before anyone could react. A high pitched scream, a push of a button, and the walls suddenly closed back in on themselves as if nothing had happened, minus the pudgy scientist. Without missing a beat, a mechanical sucking sound was heard as high powered ventilation systems kicked in, sucking in the small red cloud that ventured past the walls. Warren stood there silently, panting from the exertion. Suddenly a high-pitched wail filled the room.

“Warren what have you done?” Ms. Gaylord shrieked, leaning back against her husband who was fanning her. As they all turned towards the window sure enough they saw Nikki stumbling around on the other side, still trying to get her bearings. Warren spoke, the corners of his lips turned up in a devilish smile.

“ I did what had to be done. Mr. Gabin, is that proof enough for you?” As they all watched Nikki pounded against the wall where the window was, in full view of everyone. She was screaming something, but they were unable to hear anything inside the viewing room. A hushed silence hung over the room, everyone staring at the young girl and the mutating man gasping for breath behind her. It lasted for several seconds, nobody daring to utter a single word. Warren smirked.

“Well now then, let’s continue.”

Chance was on his hands and knees, gagging and trying not to throw up when the wall slid open as if by magic. He looked up and saw a young woman in a white lab coat thrust into the room. He blinked several times as he wondered if this new apparition was a mirage brought about by the constant pain and headaches. When he finally opened his eyes, the door had disappeared but the woman was still there. Suddenly she started pounding on a random section of wall, screaming her head off at an invisible source. The noise cut through his sensitive ears like a knife, which caused him to whimper and cover his ear with his one human hand.

The movement, however, caused the changes to wash over it, fingernails falling to the floor in a bloody mess. The same changes that plagued his other hand swept over this one as well, thumb receding into his body as his knuckles were sucked in as well. New muscles writhed underneath the skin like a nest of vipers as his bones thickened and shifted into the bone structure of a feline forepaw. Dagger-like claws pushed out of his fingertips as leathery pads emerge from his palms. He accidentally scratches his ear with his newfound claws and winces in pain.

The changes washed over his ears as well, which only served to irritate him further as they became more attuned to the woman’s screeching. A wave of orange fur washed over them as they grew rounder, his ear lobes disappearing entirely as they moved to the top of his head. The alien sensation of his ears twitching and pulsing filled Chance with a sense of panic. Whimpering, he pawed and scratched at his new furry ears.
“What the hell?! Let me back inside!” Nikki screamed at the top of her lungs, panic rising in her chest every time she pounded the wall with her fist. She knew where the window was. She wasn’t like the man curled up behind her, she knew exactly what was going on. And it only made her pound harder.

In the back of her mind Nikki knew it was pointless, that it was for a lost cause she found herself pounding her fists into a bloody pulp, but she still had hope. Maybe one of those on the inside would find a shred of sympathy and beg for Warren to open the wall. Warren could not refuse the wish of a potential client. She hoped beyond hope that the doors would open wide and Warren would be standing there, perhaps along with Mr. or Ms. Gaylord, faces enshrouded with tender worry. They’d welcome her back with open arms, and she would assume her rightful place on the other side of the wall. She hoped that the people in the viewing room would find a shred of humanity in their souls.

She threw her fist against the wall, this time causing all her freshly painted nails to fall out in a bloody stream. Nikki could see the orange hairs beginning to sprout on her closed fist, small and innocent but soon to develop into a full coat of fur. Holding up her shifting hand, she felt lightheaded as she staggered backwards. Her knees were weak and wobbly as she knew it was too late. The compound had entered her system and she personally had seen to its effectiveness. The irony, however, flew over her head in place of abject defeat.

Her legs buckled, then failed, as she sat limply upon the floor of the chamber. She removed her glasses as pins and needles began to ring throughout her body. She shuddered as she felt a wave of heat slice through her.

“Who the heck arrrr you?” Nikki whipped around to see a half man, half beastial humanoid shambling towards her like a creature from a zombie movie. His voice was stunted, his words slurred as he struggled to maintain his balance on shifting digitrade feet. Already she could see tears forming in his socks as his ankles rose above his shoes. She could only watch as he grunted in pain, scratching at his right leg.

“I said, whoo arrr youuu?” He sneezed, which made his nose stick out a little further than usual. The tip took on a slightly pinkish tint. He shook his head madly, before staring at her expectantly.

“ I-my name’s Nikki.” she said softly, unable to think of anything else to say. What could she say? She didn’t know this man but suddenly they were sharing the same fate.

“My name’s Chance.” to her surprise, he smiled, holding out a fuzzy feline paw. Shaking it was awkward given Chance’s lack of thumbs and disjointed wrists, but Nikki was able to place his paw in her hand and move it up and down slowly. She couldn’t help but marvel as she squeezed the leathery pads, causing the claws to unsheathe on cue. Just like a Tiger.

“Hey!” Chance cried out, whipping his paw from her hand. He turned away, as if to shield it. His face was red. “Don’t… do that.”

“S-sorry” Nikki replied quickly. “I-I was just fascinated by the way your paw works. It’s just like a tiger’s.”

“ I don’t have tiger paws!” Chance shouted immediately, his face flush with anger. He hid his arms to where Nikki couldn’t see them. He was breathing heavily, sweat running down his face.

“Yes you do. You’re hiding them behind your fur.” Nikki replied snarkily. “Stripes look good on you, I must say.”

“Sh-shut up!” Chance shouted, but this time a beastial growl rose up out of his chest and escaped his throat. He quickly put up a paw to his mouth, his eyes wide with horror. “That wasn’t me,” he quickly stated.

Nikki laughed, but that soon turned into a distorted chuff of her own as her nose and mouth began to reshape. It was quickly replaced by a panicked cry of pain as suddenly a volcano erupted in her head. Her skull began to melt as burning sensations wracked her brain. To say that she was experiencing a migraine was an understatement. Her head was literally breaking apart and reshaping itself, bones and muscle crunching and expanding. She felt like a million hands were pulling and pushing her face in various directions. And so it was, her nose and mouth began to push forwards as her cries of pain warped into guttural yowls. Her lip split down the middle as her nose turned pink and turned upwards, nostrils flaring out at the end. It gained a pink, leathery texture which transformed it into a tiger’s nose. Her mouth likewise underwent massive changes, her lips turned black and grew thinner as it continued to push forwards into a feline muzzle. Orange and black fur began to sprout all over her face and new muzzle, as white fur covered her lower chin. Her mind began to be bombarded by a million new sensations, scents and sounds unavailable to a human’s nose and ears. She felt a ringing in her eardrums as her ears pushed up along her skull, becoming rounded and covered in fur.

By the time the migraine subsided and Nikki returned to reality, she was sporting a nearly complete tiger head with a long furry muzzle. She rubbed her scalp with her hands, feeling the lush fur there. It felt odd yet natural at the same time. As she rubbed through her fritzy black hair, she was unaware that the motions were causing it to fall out in bundles, soon leaving nothing but a peach fuzz of striped fur atop her noggin. Her skull flattened as well, giving her head the signature shape of a tigress.

“W-What happened?” She asked woozily, massaging her head with her hands.

“I think you’ve unleashed your inner tiger.” She looked up to find Chance standing smugly above her. He smelled… strangely nice. Was his scent always this strong? He also looked much clearer, no longer a wobbly nonlinear shape. It was as if she was wearing her glasses. What she didn’t know was that her eyes had just changed into the powerful golden eyes of a tiger, capable of far better vision than humans.

“What?” she answered, a confused expression on her face. Her voice sounded different, deeper and yet still feminine. She coughed, trying to get the frog out of her throat.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” Chance asked cheekily, causing Nikki to let out a low growl. She wanted to bite him. The urge was making her gums hurt. As she rubbed her cheek gently she suddenly coughed violently, leaving a pile of blood and teeth on the pristine white floors.

“Whaf fe heff?” She tried to scoop up her bloodied human teeth in her hands, holding each one up. They felt small, inadequate. Were her teeth always this tiny? How did humans survive? A surge of pain in her mouth blocked out any answer to that question as she suddenly felt like a thousand stakes were being driven through her gums. It was actually the opposite, a piercing set of fangs were pushing their way up through her gums and filling her muzzle. When she opened her mouth, it revealed a set of dental hardware that any tiger would be proud of. She felt like she could sever the neck of a deer in one bite.

Grinning, she stalked towards Chance, who was now nervously backing away from her. He’d seen what was in her mouth, and he didn’t want to mess with that. He stumbled, his obesity mixing poorly with digitrade legs. As he flew down backwards, panic filled his mind. Landing on all fours, He bolted across the room in a desperate bid to escape Nikki’s jaws. At first, he was awkward and slow, his belly nearly touching the ground as he tried to crawl away. Nikki would’ve easily caught him, except she was suffering from her own balance problems. With the weight of a tiger’s head, and no tail or increased neck muscle to balance it out, she found herself with her head glued to the floor growling in frustration.

But as Chance ran, his gait slowly began to adapt to his new stance. First his feet ditched his worthless shoes, leaving the material in shreds as his feet expanded to their full length. Pads began to grow just like his hands as his toes grew thicker and skin and bone melted together. Further up his shins shortened while his thighs swelled with muscle, growing both longer and stronger as they began to flow more into his hips. The bones in his legs grew thicker in order to support the increased muscle mass. In his arms similar changes occurred, with his elbows shifting into a new set of joints suited for quadrupedal walking. They locked into place with a crunch. His pelvis and shoulders shifted, rearranging themselves into a quadrupedal alignment. And as his hips locked into place he found himself running much faster around the room, much to his delight.

His changes weren’t done, however. He felt an ache in his backside as his new pelvis swelled, sending shivers up his whole spine. In turn his spine fractured and formed new vertebrae, giving his torso the flexibility of a big cat. Chance winced as a series of vibrations built up on his backside, stretching his pants to the very limit.

Finally with a massive push the sensations broke through just above his rump, forming a small lump. As he ran around the room, every time he made a turn the lump grew larger in response, twitching in anticipation of balancing out his turns. Finally his pants shredded under the pressure from both tail and his new hind legs, allowing it to flow freely. This was a great release for Chance, who sighed pleasurably as his new tail was awash in a fresh coat of warm, thick fur. He could now run and make breakneck turns at astonishing speed. No way Nikki could catch him now.

Except Nikki was going through some changes of her own. In response to her discontent about her immobility, her neck had begun to develop waves of new muscle that bent and stretched around the growing mass. The feeling sent sensations down her spine, where she could feel the beginnings of a tail pushing against her clean white pants. She tried to hold on, but it was a losing battle as the mounting pressure built above her rump. Her subconscious wanted to give in, to release the elephant on her backside and feel the wind against her fur, but her shame held her back. Unlike Chance, she knew they were being watched. It would be the ultimate embarrassment to parade around naked in front of her colleagues and mentor.

Ultimately, however, it wasn’t her choice. One moment she had pants, and the next she was looking at the fully-formed hindquarters of a tigress. Her tail waved freely in the air with a life of its own, and it felt orgasmic to finally be relieved of the pressure. She ran a hand through the striped fur on her back legs, astonished at both the thickness and the softness of it. For some reason it made her really proud to sport such a fine coat.

Chance came padding up to her, brushing off the last scraps of his clothing with his tail. He stretched, arching his back like a cat as the muscles in his legs clicked into place. He was out of shape as a human, but it was obvious that all that running around had clearly done something for his gut. What was once a bowl full of jelly was now a twelve-pack of writhing, electric muscle that pulsed underneath his fur.

Nikki gasped as a wave of heat enveloped her body. The way he stretched, the rippling muscles eating away at the little fat that remained, even his scent, had made him a whole lot more attractive. Maybe it was just because he was ugly before, but now Nikki got butterflies in her stomach whenever she looked at him. Her body took control.

“Hey there Tiger,” she purred, rubbing her face against his warm body. In the back of her mind she was shocked at how coy she was being, and the waves of pleasure that rocked her body as a result. It pushed away the awkwardness, the resistance. He felt so strong. So handsome. So… virile.

“Uh… hey?” Chance responded, a bit uncomfortable with the nearly changed tigress getting all close and personal with him. Much like himself, her body had lost a lot of its fat, but had replaced the lost weight with strong, fibrous muscle. He struggled with the new emotions he was feeling. Why did she look so...sexy? Her coat was beautiful, and he couldn’t help but notice the way her hips swayed when she walked, her tail seemingly inviting him in…

With a look of disgust he pushed that thought from his mind, shaking his head violently. As he did so his hair loosened its grip on his scalp and drifted to the floor, replaced by striped fur. He opened his eyes and glanced backwards, to where his tail swished lazily behind his back legs. His body was already covered except for his face with a thick warm pelt, wrapping around his body like a comfortable blanket. He couldn’t help but admire the colors as well, a striking, vibrant orange delicately balanced by black stripes. He knew it was meant to help this species blend in with the jungles and grasslands they hunted in. Already the hunting instincts were making themselves known inside his brain. He could probably recite the exact steps needed to take down an antelope, and that thought scared him.

But one thought in particular invaded his mind as he reflected on the beast he was becoming.

I am strong.

I am powerful.

I am the lord of the jungle.

He thought back to the Craigslist ad that led him here, promising to “release the beast inside”. He had wanted to get strong. He wanted to be strong so he could get girls. The ad had promised both, and in its own twisted way, it had delivered.

He was strong.

And if the purring tigress beside him was any indication, he had a mate for life. What more could he want? In his mind he accepted this new form, allowing the final changes to commence.

His head hurt, but it was more like a dull ache than the sheer torture he had endured before. With acceptance, there seemed to be a lot less pain involved. He closed his eyes as he felt the fur wash over his face. His neck grew pounds of muscle as his head shifted to a horizontal orientation. He felt his skull crack as his nose and mouth began to push out into a muzzle. It felt like fingers gently tugging at his face, urging it forwards as his head grew larger overall. He coughed, spitting his bloody human teeth out onto the floor. His mouth throbbed as massive canines emerged within his mouth, a set of knives meant to sever jugulars and tear flesh from bone. It only added to the sense of power that engulfed him.

His extending muzzle twitched as highly sensitive whiskers sprouted on his upper lip, which split down the middle. His nose shifted into a triangle, growing pink and leathery. Suddenly a whole new world was opened up, and he could finally discover how beautiful his mate smelled. He sighed as he breathed in her musk. He felt his scrotum change as her phomerones filled his nostrils, sending waves of pleasure rippling throughout his entire body.

Finally their transformation was complete, and he nuzzled his mate as they both purred together. As they lay together on the floor, Chance glanced around the room they were trapped in.

“ Whoever’s out there”, he thought , “Thank you for giving me new life.”



“And that’s a wrap!” Mr. Gould clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “One happy tiger couple ready to be shipped to my park.” He turned once again towards the people on the screens. “ As you can see, our formula is fully operational and ready to be configured to your individual desires. The boundaries are as high as the sky itself! Now, do we have any takers?”

There was a brief pause before someone spoke up. It was the actress.

“ Ooh! I’d love a pet cheetah!” She squealed, like a teenage girl on a shopping spree at Nordstrom. “And there’s a really annoying paparazzi I’d like to get rid of. Can I get one order?” Warren beamed.

“Of course! And since you’re our first buyer, I’ll throw in a thirty percent discount!” Ash could hear giddy laughter on the other end. “Any other offers or questions?”

“This doesn’t apply only to animals, right?” It was Mr. Gaylord who’d spoken. He was stroking his mustache intriguingly.

“Of course not!” Warren looked almost unsettlingly cheerful. He would’ve fit right in at a used car dealership. “You can alter the human genome to whatever you want. Even cure cancer with it. Or look exactly like Tom Cruise. Whatever your heart desires.”

Mr. Gaylord grinned. “ I like that. My customers would benefit greatly from this. Of course, they’d have to pay a premium for it…” He pulled out a phone, and pressed a single button.

“ Very well, Mr. Gould. I will transfer the funds to the swiss bank account you gave as promised. I am quite impressed with this new formula.” The two men smiled and shook hands. But they still weren’t done.

“I have a question.” Another voice from the screens, this time the Frenchman in the blue suit. “ I have a suspicion that the public will have a hard time adjusting to gene splicing. There will likely be resistance to such a new technology.”

“ Leave it to me.” Warren chuckled. “ I’ll have my PR firms put on a nice little campaign for you. It’ll take a good while, but it can be done.” The Frenchman nodded.

“I’ll keep in touch then. Good day Mr. Gould.” The screen went dark.

One by one the people in the viewing room voiced their opinions on the subject. Ash watched with a keen interest. After all, some of these people could be useful allies in taking down her boss. Some said yes, some said no. Finally there were two, a middle-aged American businessman and Mr. Speer.
“You say those tigers are going to your park?” Mr. Speer spoke with a thick German accent. He was a small man, and he also spoke very quietly. It was hard for Ash to overhear.

“Yes, they will live happy lives there.” Warren said. Mr. Speer laughed.

“Well, my wife and I have recently been in a dispute that we cannot resolve. She is threatening divorce. I think she would make a good resident at your American park.” Warren appeared to mull it over.

“ Kidnapping the wife of a billionaire is a tall order. Lots of risk involved.” He paused. “It will cost extra.”

“Do not worry, I will get her to you. Then you will deal with her.” Mr. Speer laughed at the thought.

“I was thinking the same thing.” It was the American businessman. He looked a bit flustered as he spoke. “ My wife is acting crazy, you get me? We had a huge fight over some jewelry from Tiffany’s she wanted. She wanted an 18k diamond necklace, but she already has like fifteen of them and they’re practically the same. She got all worked up about it and keyed my M3. It’s utterly ridiculous!” The two other men in the room nodded in agreement, and Ash just sat there awkwardly. Were they even aware she was in the room?

She practically slept through the business proceedings, only being brought back to reality when Warren got right up in her face. He grinned politely, but there was a predatory glint in his eye. Everyone else had already left.

“Meet me in my office.” He said, before walking out of the room.

It took Ash over an hour to reach his office. She got lost at least three times as she wandered the mansion house looking for it. On the way she saw at least three swimming pools, a gymnasium, an indoor sauna, at least twelve bedrooms, and what looked like a candy dispensary. Finally, however, she arrived at the thick cedar doors that marked the entrance to Warren’s study.

The room shared the same storybook views as the rest of the main house, but the view just made Ash sick now. Warren looked up from some paperwork, chewing a cigar and looking rather irritated. However, he didn’t even bother to ask for an explanation, he just got right down to business.

“I suppose you want to know why you saw all that down in the labs.” He drawled, taking a heady puff of his cigar. Ash simply nodded. She was curious. Warren’s normal method of punishment was gouging out your eyeballs with a branding iron. Given recent events, she expected not to leave here alive. Warren put down his paperwork, looking her right in the eye. His posture was calm, but his eyes were demonic.

“ To put it simply, I wanted you to see the full extent of my organization. The park, as well as the formula, have ascended to heights far beyond your control. So when your brat and a group of his friends-” He picked up a pen and jabbed it down onto his desk with surprising force. His arm twitched with a bridled anger.

“- … try and interfere with my organization, you now know how futile and silly their little attempt was.” He looked directly at her, his beady black eyes burning deep into her soul. “ You can’t slow me down, let alone stop me. And those you love most will pay the price.” Ash shuddered in her seat. She remembered the last time she saw Ethan. His clothes, his expressions, even his mannerisms. Last she knew he was back at WildWorld. But if Gould had gotten to him-

“ No no, not your whelp.” Warren laughed, slow and long. Ash tilted her head, heart pounding in her chest. He lifted up a picture of a thatch roof building alongside numerous caged enclosures.

“This is the Rising Moon Sanctuary in Guangzhou province, China. It’s one of the World leaders in clouded leopard rehabilitation. Over two hundred individuals reside there. It’s widely regarded as the last stand for species preservation.” Ash shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Where was this going?

“ Unfortunately, due to the actions of certain individuals at a popular animal-related theme park in Texas, the primary sponsor of this park, who happens to be a friend of mine, withdrew their funding and the park was forced to close. And all the animals were unfortunately euthanized.” He made a pouty face, and Ash lost it.

“ How could you?!” She screamed, lunging across the study, ready to snap Warren’s thick neck. Out of seemingly nowhere two burly bodyguards came and restrained her, holding her back as she fought and clawed to escape their grasp. Warren, meanwhile, was in a fit of laughter.

“ See?” he taunted. “ I always knew you loved your animals more than humans. Even the ones you love most.” He wore a smug look of victory on his face which only enraged Ash further. She punched, kicked, and even tried to bite her way to freedom, but the bodyguards weren’t budging.

“They were innocent creatures!” She screeched. “How could you slaughter such beautiful things? You f***** monster!”

“ Poppycock.” Warren replied, cool as ice. “ They play the game of nature. In that game there is only one rule. Only the fittest survive. And they were simply not fit to survive.” Ash frothed about in a blind rage for several minutes before finally giving in to her captors. Exhausted, they plopped her right back down in her chair. To her surprise Warren left his desk and walked all the way up to her. However, she was too exhausted at this point to do anything but simmer in her rage.

“ Don’t worry, my dear.” he said condescendingly, wiping a tear from her eye. “I’ve got a solution for you.” He pulled out a remote with only one red button in it. To her shock and horror one of the bodyguards handcuff her right arm to the armrests of the chair, leaving her left one free. He set up a table across from her and set up a laptop so that Ash could fully see what was going on on the screen. Two young adults, teenagers most likely, were pacing about a small cell. There was a boy and a girl, dressed in white jumpsuits. With a start Ash recognized them as students from Ethan’s class.

“These are the two students who infiltrated my zoo at Ethan’s behest.” Warren explained smoothly. He sounded like a cobra about to strike. “ Say hello to Cecil and Brittany.” He mockingly waved at the laptop. “ As luck would have it, we happen to have a male and female here, a perfect breeding pair to help replenish the populations you wiped out.” Ash swallowed. She was beginning to see where he was going with this. Warren put the remote right next to her left hand.

“ If you press the button, our compound will be released into the cell and we’ll have a lovely new pair of clouded leopards to help repair the damaged population. Or, you can give the order to have them released back to their loving families. To do so would be a great harm to the species’s survival. “ He leaned in close, running a hand down her cheek.

“ It’s time for you to choose what you love more, Ash. Humans or animals.” He paused for effect, leaning in close. Ash could smell the caviar on his breath. “ Oh, and if you hit the button, it will erase their minds completely. No thoughts, no memories, just blind instinct. Their human identities will be completely destroyed. No more Cecil and Brittany. You feel me?”

With a demonic grin, he drew back, standing a few paces away. Ash felt like she was being stabbed in the heart.

“ You may choose when ready.”