Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Hungry Like a Tiger

Raw meat. YUCK!

What is this even? What is this pile of raw, red meat in front of me? That can’t be good. I do like a Wagyu beef tartare when I can get it, but just raw meat?

I utter a “mrrp” in indignation.

My beast tamer girl shakes her head, baffled. “This is what tigers eat. Aren’t you hungry?”

Flame broil it, then I’ll be hungry.

Although my stomach has been growling too much to appreciate my surroundings, I do smell a fire nearby. I pant and growl, jerking my head in the direction of a roaring fire inside of what seems to be the girl’s home. No grownups around. Does she live by herself? Why? Why would a child just live by herself? Maybe she’s an orphan?

I can hardly ask, though, can I?

And I can’t ask for my food to be cooked. Tigers don’t do that. Raw meat it is. My body is probably designed for it.

I open my mouth and take a bite. My human side wants to spit it out, but my tiger cub self absolutely can’t get enough! The flavor. The meatiness. Keala even seasoned it with something I’ve never tasted.

“That’s it,” Kaline says, excited.

I let out a little “mrrrp” with my mouth full. Beggars can’t be choosers. Besides, my parents taught me not to be rude when someone gives you something and you’re a guest. Unless you have a food allergy, which I don’t.

While I eat, I try to remember what I know about the game. I played it casually, for fun. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the details. Playing it gave me a brain break.

In Tanglewood, beast taming is the name of the game. In the game lore, a thousand years ago, the place was originally overrun with beasts, making like hard for the humans and other races such as elves, phoenixes, dragons, fairies, dwarves, trolls, goblins, and gnomes. So, everyone got together and made a beast-taming pact.

Beast tamers are like sports stars or celebrities here. Something to aspire to. That would explain why a preteen girl decided to claim the first tiger she saw.

I’m missing a whole chunk of backstory, though. Must be the heart attack, dying, disorientation, and waking up as a tiger. I’ll remember soon, I hope.

Kaline just sits beside me while I eat. “I added something,” she says.

Hmmm?

What could she add?

I sniff the piles of raw meat and see a digital display once I do.

[Luck Potion Added. Increases Luck.]

Well, I can use all the luck I can get!

With a little growl of contentment, I devour my dinner until I feel like my stomach is going to balloon. Why did I eat so much?

I rub up against her and let out a little purr of gratitude.

“You liked it.”

My heart just melts at her words. How can I feel so complete and fulfilled, making her happy? I didn’t even seek my fiancé’s approval this much. Maybe that was part of the problem. It’s appalling to realize that I may be a better animal than I ever was a human.

“I’m so happy. Now that you’re fed, we can really do some incredible things!”

Her enthusiasm bubbles up, and makes me feel light. This bond is unbelievable. I experience everything along with her.

“Mrrrp?”

That’s all I can offer in the way of conversation or questions. I also feel certain urges, and I rush off for a little privacy in the bathroom, which consists of a yard outside her yurt. When I’m ready, I head back to her yurt, but something catches my attention big time.

I didn’t notice it before, but the shadow of a majestic villa covers the hut. It sprawls out on the edge of an equatorial vine jungle like some wealthy person’s rainforest retreat in Brazil back home. I guess I have to stop thinking of Earth as home. And what is this villa?

Who are these three people striding out of the villa, looking like the British royals? They’re all giants. When they spy me, they stop dead and scrutinize me.

“Unclaimed beast,” a deep-voiced man says. “Very young. A goodly prospect, is he not? You can take him on, Vedette.”

I give a mighty growl, the mightiest I can muster. Don’t these people know I belong to Kaline?

Backing away, I rotate my body and flee across the grass toward the yurt.

“Now you scared Blaze!”

Kaline is visibly outraged, her feet in what look like Uggs moving rapidly to carry her to my side. She kneels beside me and places her hand on my head.

[Tranquility Charm In Effect.]

Instantly, my whole body relaxes, and I put my head on my paws, lying down in the grass.

Vedette, one of the females, tries to coax me. “Come on, Blaze.”

Come on? Nothing doing, lady! I belong to whomever I say I belong to. And I belong to Kaline. Finders keepers. Sucks to be you.

A full-throated growl bursts from my throat, and I snap my jaws at Vedette, who reminds me entirely too much of my ex-fiancee.

“He’s mine, Big Sister,” Kaline says in a defiant voice.

“You’re only a child,” Vedette counters.

Hello? Parental-type man? Someone needs to stick up for Kaline here. My parents would have told Vedette that if she wants a beast, go find her own. Go work for what you want. I hope Mr. Rich Guy does the same.

He surprises me by proclaiming, “Ten is typically too young to be a beast tamer, but not unheard of. I can see that there does appear to be a bond between Kaline and Blaze. However, the bond needs to be tested.”

Kaline stomps her foot, exhibiting ten-year-old behavior for the first time. “No fair!”

“Entirely fair,” Vedette says with a superior big sister air. “Rules are rules. Do we go to the Testing Arena, Father?”

Testing Arena. That’s one of the minigames in the video game. AKA the animal battlegrounds.

I let out another full-throated growl, but this one comes out like a battle cry. Let’s bring it on!

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