Nyarai's POV

One ring to rule them all or rather one word to rule them all. Nyarai was reminded of Lord of the rings and forever would be reminded of lord of the rings when she heard that word. It would rule her life in a similar way.
However that she could not know yet.

"Werecats"

A word she had never heard before rung out in her head. By the forth repetition she began to deconstruct it. Werecats, would have to be like werewolves. Like Garnet who could shift into a giant wolf. But what did a werecat shift into? Oversized house cats? The word cat was so broad there were so many different types of cats. Would they shift into big cats? If so which ones? Surely it made more sense for them to shift into a big cat. The nature of a werewolf is so destructive and aggressive surely a werecat would be similar? Man and beast as one, how could that not be destructive?

Her mind attacked the word from different angles, like the beast she imagined she would become. Or was the word attacking her mind, warping her perception of reality in every different way it could imagine.

Everything around her didn't matter, just the word werecat.

It was to be her new life.

For the first time it was not her to speak up first, it was Alkira the quietest of them all instead "We are all werecats."

The alpha nodded gravely "Yes all four of you."

Naoko was next to speak "It that a bad thing? It sounds like a bad thing."

He looked at each of them, Nyarai felt that his eyes lingered on her. Something unknown to her burned in them with intensity.

"No quite the opposite actually, werecats are rare and powerful myths. There is only ever one of each kind of cat and you four are four of the six that exist," though his voice was monotone Nyarai put her own emphasis on his words

Cale spoke next "The god Pan made us into werecats."

The alpha nodded slightly, "Yes they are tied heavily to the gods, or so I've heard."

Nyarai looked at the Alpha with intensity, he was twice as big and her and stone-faced but she needed more answers. Through her own confusion and the whirlpool of her own thoughts she could think one thing clearly. "Why are you the only one who as been able to identify us?"

He met her gaze with cold and dead with experience eyes, they had see it all, seen too much "As I said, there are six of you. I'm no expert on werecats but I think I might be the only one who knows of them around here."

Nyarai turned her head to look at the others. They were all fascinated it seemed. Looks of wonder on their faces, probably imagining what their life will become. Naoko's face had more than just a look of wonder but a huge smile stretched across it. 

"So does that mean we can shift into cats?"

The four stood outside all facing the Alpha and Garnet. The scent of roses and exotic flowers filled Nyarai's nose, it was on the fine line of almost overwhelming. It felt like being in some kind of fantasy movie. The new people facing the experienced in a beautiful setting, ready to learn. 

"We will shortly find out which cats you are, from what I know there are the tiger, lion, lioness, puma, leopard and cheetah," the alpha looked to Garnet "would you like to do the honours?"

Garnet smiled "Of course," she turned to face them "shifting is one of the most natural thing a wereanimal can do. It feels great like taking your shoes off after a long day. It's easy to do, you picture it in your mind, your body changing and your body does the rest."

"It's really that easy?" Nyarai asked raising an eyebrow.

Garnet looked back at the Alpha and they both nodded.

"Come on guys," Naoko spoke up "I wanna know what I am."

So they all stood a few metres apart, being told that their cat forms were likely to be around the size of a horse. 

Nyarai closed her eyes to focus, she didn't really know what to picture as she didn't know which cat she would be. But she came up with something. As she imagined her body changing and her muscles and bones shifting they did. Her body grew fur, nails turned to claws, her teeth became so so huge and sharp they barely fit into her skull until that changed size as well. 

Despite the sound of bone snapping into place sounding painful it wasn't at all. It was as Garnet said, the most natural feeling of all. It felt like all her life she was missing out on doing this with her body, like only just now she had learnt how to run and it was the first time she was feeling her legs pounding against the ground and the wind in her hair. 

As the shift was almost complete her senses sharpened even more, her eyesight became more motion sensitive and she could here conversations happening in cafes kilometres away. She felt powerful like she could destroy anything.

And finally the shift was complete. 

She looked down and saw golden paws. She moved them and they responded. Under them were pink pads much like a house cat's but these were like size of her face. 

Next to her she saw, a lion who had a majestic mane, a snow leopard with a fluffy tail and a peachy coloured puma; all as big as horses. 

The Alpha smiled at them he looked to Alkira first "Alkira you are a puma, powerful legs give you a mighty jump, you'll find yourself being able to leap onto a two story building with no difficulty."

He looked to Naoko next "the leopard, the most agile of all the cats, climbing will be your strength."

Next was Cale "the lion, the only male werecat it is fitting. You will find that you are no bigger than the females however being a lion gives you strength."

Finally the Alpha's eyes lay upon Nyarai "the lioness, fearless and strong. Nyarai you will be their leader."

Nyarai didn't understand however she could not speak. She looked over at the others, they were all watching her, with big cat eyes.

The Alpha spoke up again "you are a pride together."

Nyarai turned to the others, they all stood there looking at each other. Four cats as large as horses. They felt what he had said, there was something that bonded them together. They could almost feel each other's presences pressing into their minds. They belonged together. But what did one do when they had first become a rare mythical creature. Nyarai thought the most natural thing to do was do familiarise herself with this new body. 

She paced around the others they watched her curiously at first but then joined her for her stroll through the flowers. Their colours seemed more vibrant, more beautiful. It was like she had missed out on all the beauty in the world before. If Nyarai could have laughed with joy she would. And she learnt why the werewolves kept the flowers  around. She felt almost like she was trying on new shoes.

Her new body was powerful, with each step she could feel huge muscles with potential to do so much more than stroll through a garden. 

As she came to the edge of the garden she turned and looked at her fellow new werecats. They all returned her gaze. From her throat erupted something mighty, a roar. It eoched out over the gardens and to the forests. 

The other three looked at her for a moment, then they returned the roar, theirs' being loud mighty and noble but all different and unique. 

***

They learnt that shifting back was actually quite simple as it was pretty much the same but the reverse. 

After they ate, with all the werewolves around them. They also now knowing there were werecats around. It changed things. There was a nervous kind of respect given to them. Nyarai hardly noticed as she realised then how starving she was. The other werecats found it to be the same. 

After dinner drowsiness was upon them. A night without sleep had it's toll and though she wanted to get back to Zodwa she found herself nodding when the Alpha offered them rooms to stay the night in.

Nyarai's head hit a foreign pillow, in a foreign room. It was still soft though. She wanted to keep her eyes open or to even think about what the future would hold with these new powers but she kept drifting off.... 

She awoke to being shook. Her eyes jolted open and Naoko was standing over her "Nyarai come look."

Naoko looked paler than usual, if that were at all possible wearing white make up. Maybe it was her eyes full of alarm and concern.

Nyarai quickly got up and followed Naoko.

Naoko ran down the hall. Bare feet pounding against the wooden floor boards, hair flowing behind her but most importantly Naoko was fast, using her leopard speed. Nyarai chased after her. If it weren't for Naoko's look when she was woken up she would have laughed at the joy of running with so much power. 

Naoko pretty much soared through the air as she leapt into another room. Nyarai joined her. Alkira and Cale were glued to the TV along with Garnet and a few of the other werewolves. 

The news was on:

Bodies found.

On the screen Nyarai's bloated blue lipped face stared back at her.

Meow Myths,

How is everyone going getting ready for Christmas? I'm doing ok. What did you guys think of this chapter? It's always a difficult one to write.

And what about the ending? What happened there. Leave your comments below!

First published 13/12/2018

Meow for Now