Perilous Beauty

[R-iZZy]

"There ya go," Stealth said. It was about time that Tiger snapped out of her emotional state, or so he thought. He lifted his head up and looked over at Kavik, as Tiger continued to lean her weight against him. He stared at the rabid animal, snarling, snapping, and wriggling.

"Calm down there big fella. (demands) You need to calm down!" Stealth warned the angry Kavik.

Stealth looked over at Tiger and spoke to her, "Eh... this situation can get a bit startling at first, but you can tough it up. You're the, the, the rough one of the family. And if you can knock slugs like this guy out, then be proud of yourself. Because no other girl, (looks at Jade) well, besides you... (looks back at Tiger) can defend themsleves like you. No matter what you see on the TV, you're the real deal. Be proud."

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger moved closer to Kavik, "What shall I do with you?" she teased.

Kavik stoped his snarling "Let me go." he said calmly "Ha! why...so you can try killing me again?" Tiger replied. "No I have an offer for you...one that might spark your attention..." Kavik hissed to her "Why should I ever trust you?" Tiger growled.

Kavik motioned for her to come closer and Tiger hesitated "Oh come now...I can't do much..." She moved in closer "I can make all thoes little dreams come true, my dear...you want to be human? Have a family? Raise a child? (pause) I can make it all happen." He whispered "If you forfit your powers to me..." Kavik smiled slyly to her, he had captivated her interest, he had her full interest "Go on..." Tiger said aloud.

[R-iZZy]

Oh come on Tiger, are you this naive? Stealth said in his head. He had noticed Tiger's interest and decided that this was something that Tiger had to decide on her own. If she was pulled into this offer of his, she would be a damned fool in his eyes.

Stealth inches his way over to Jade and whispers to her, "Do ya think she's dumb enough to actually accept this guy's offers? I think this kitty has done more than enough. He needs to be groomed, and I mean NOW. You're the magical one, do something to get Tiger out of this damn spell!"

He stared at Jade with an arched right eyebrow. Hopefully, she would comply. But who knew? Women were so complex at the moment...

[Storm Wolf]

Jade crossed her arms "It's no spell Stealth...Tiger has to decide this on her own...you want to help her, make her a better offer, I know to little to save her in this instance."

"Do you hear his words....he knows nothing about you're dreams, nor does he care (pause) come we can both gain from this." Kaviks words made sense to Tigers eager ears, he promised her something she had longed for, and for so long.

[R-iZZy]

"I've got a better offer for ya, Tiger." Stealth remained standing by Jade. "Keep your powers, and you can remain in a world that appreciates all that it has. Keep your powers and be able to live life as freely as you want. Keep your powers and be able to see another day, and actually look forward to it. Keeping your powers will help you be able to keep all that you have. But if you so choose to hand your powers..."

Stealth looked at Jade and nodded his head, then looked back over at Tiger. "If you give them away... you will live in a world of total chaos, of darkness. You will live in a society that runs as servants to this contemptible king. If you give up your powers, you will forever live in a world where you will be harmed physically and damaged emotionally." Stealth shook his head in disappointment, then spoke again. "The choice is yours, Tiger. But let it be known that if this world DOES live in a world of agony and pain, that guilt wil build inside of you. In your soul, you will convince yourself that you were the cause of a dead child on the street or a dying person that could've been saved pass away to the afterlife. Don't make the wrong decision, Tiger. Make sure you're proud of the decision you make. Are your indulgences worth ruining this world? Look at my world. It's bad enough as it already is... do I need for it be any worse?"

Stealth had hope that his words had somehow got to her. The only way to see was to read her reactions to his words. Were the powerful or were they inadequate?

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger turned away from all of them "Two paths...why must I always put aside my dreams for others...for those who no not of my existance..." She trailed off.

Kavik could see that he was loosing her, but Jade interrupted his attempt to gain her back "My Dear, It can't always rain, but the sun can't always shine either...being what you are, your dark days will outnumber your light days...." She approached Tiger and stared into her face.

Pros and cons Tiger thought pros and cons . She hadn't realized she was speaking her thoughts.

[R-iZZy]

Stealth looked at Jade with a jealous look, "You know, you should've said that a bit earlier." he whispered to her.

"Tiger, I don't know what further to say. I've spoken my opinion and honestly, everyone will be in trouble if you risk the world's being just for your indulgences. Don't fall into temptation, that's all I have to say."

[Storm Wolf]

A plan had been forming in the back of Tiger's mind This could be my chance to take this panther...an inside job...I can do this, but i must find a way to tell the others without alerting the panther....

The plan was the only thing tempting her, she had never been that trusting to take an offer that quick from a stranger. "Alright, kitty...I'll tell you what, how about if we join forces first?" She turned to face Kavik.

"That would be grand...I would need someone with your strength and courage to help me gain this land...this world back!" Kavik smiled at Stealth and Jade, rubbing it in that he had won Tiger's favor. "I wan't you to let me go, then I have a task for you....so you can prove your loyalty" Kavik added.

Tiger sighed well...i can't blame him for wanting to be sure I'm loyal...wonder what my task will be... she thought.

Jade's eye's widened "Don't you dare let him go...." she growled to Tiger "Stealth...stop her......do something!" she shouted.

[R-iZZy]

Stealth charged at Tiger and tackled her to the ground, it was the only idea that popped up in his mind. What else could he have done? He looked over at Jade with a crooked smile and looked over at Tiger, "Sorry Missy, I just can't let you do this. The world depends on us, and you're throwing away all our lives for yourself!"

Stealth thought everything was under control, "You want to be loyal? How about to the people that truly care about you? This guy, whatever his name is, doesn't care about you. He doesn't care if he were affiliated with the devil. All he wants is this land so that he can enslave our souls, including YOURS. Sure, you can align yourself with him. Be pals, chums, but where will it get you? Straight to hell because this guy will turn on you quicker than you can blink."

Stealth held out his pistol, as he attempted to pin Tiger to the floor. With one arm free, he pointed the pistol at Kavik's tied-up figure, "As for you, I'd suggest a simple 'shut the hell up!' Tiger doesn't need you. She's got people like us to help her through these times So back off!"

[Storm Wolf]

Kaviks Tail lashed back and forth in apparent anger "Instead of making her choices for her....why don't you let her decide what she wants?"he growled, then he turned his attention to Tiger "You do what you want....not what they want!"

Tiger struggled a bit trying to make it seem as realistic as possible "yes...let me make my own decision!" She looked Stealth in the face "Trust me...This decision is for the good of everyone!" She said it in such a way that she hoped Stealth would catch her drift, but not so that Kavik would.

Kavik sneered "You see, she has loyalty to me now...Listen now Tiger enough of this non-sense...kill him, he'll only become a problem further down the road...."

Tiger's pupils shrank "K...kill him....S...Stealth.....err...."She hesitated as Kavik nodded eagerly, how was she to get out of this one?

[R-iZZy]

"Kill me? Are you crazy?!!!" Stealth asked in shock. "Now Tiger, how could this be good for anyone! "

Stealth pulled out the handle to his glowing kitana blade, but thought of what Tiger said. "This decision is for the good of everyone." How could that be? Or was there a bit of trickery up her sleeve. He thought of this then, then understood it all perfectly. He quickly gives Tiger a wink and pretends to go along with it.

"Yeah Tiger... in order for you to show your loyalty," Stealth began. "You have to 'kill me'. Do you got that? C'mon and kill me. Show your loyalty to this big fat kitty cat!"

Stealth withdraw the blade, but he knew how to control it. He would make sure not to make any contact with Tiger whatsoever with the blade. Otherwise, it would be curtains for the friend.

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger transformed into her usual panther form "Not here....Let's take it to the streets!" She growled. She launched herself headfirst over the side Oh....I hope this plan works... She thought.

Jade had no clue what was going on "Stealth are you going to go through with this?"

[R-iZZy]

Stealth tilted toward Jade and snuck a few words to her, "Don't worry, me and Tiger are crazy like this. I don't think we're really gonna battle, but just keep Kavik thinking that so that he could believe she is loyal. Yes, this plan is pretty much crazy, but go along with it... kay?"

Stealth snarled at Tiger with evil eyes and pointed out the room. "Let's do this on the balcony, baby. I'm ready... and I'm poised to kill. Let's go kitty cat. Whatta ya got?"

[Storm Wolf]

Jade didn't trust the plan that seemed to be forming but she accepted it and nodded "Alright Kavik....while there taking it out on each other, lets have a few words of our own..." She grabbed Kavik by the ruff and dragged him away from the view of the balcony.

Tiger stood on the Balcony. "Lets do this!" an odd sneer replaced her usual smile, and she extended her lethal claws, for show, as she waited for Stealth's first move.

[R-iZZy]

Stealth stood in his fighting stance and clutches the handle of the glowing blade with both hands. He pointed the glowing blade at Tiger and growled at her. "You want to prove loyalty to that big overgrown lion? Okay, we'll see where loyalty lies."

Stealth swung the blade, but intentionaly missed, as the blade landed on the solid ground, right beside Tiger's foot. He looked up at her with a sly grin and lifted the blade back up. He thrusted the blade toward Tiger, but stopped it before it could make contact within inches of Tiger's diaphragm.

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger reared back snarling, keeping it realistic, then darted through Stealth's legs trying to knock him off balance. "Well see where you lie when I'm finished dismembering your body!" She smirked, This is kinda fun, she thought

Tiger bit her lip a little harder than she had expected and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth Thats what we need, a little blood will make it realistic she thought to herself

Jade pressed her hand against the big cats airway "So...why are you so intent on taking your mothers body?" She asked

Kavik gasped for air "Why do you think princesssss?"

[R-iZZy]

Stealth saw the blood on Tiger's lip, but he couldn't let Kavik see any sign of concern for his "foe". Stealth approached Tiger and swung at her with one arm, and pounded his chest with the other to make it look and sound like he punched Tiger. He watched her react as she stumbled back. Good acting, Stealth thought. He backflipped away from her, but those eyes returned!

Remember the surprise? the eyes told him. Well, here they are!

All of a sudden, a flury of bullets whizzed by and shattered the glass of Tiger's apartment. He charged to Tiger and tackled her to the ground.

"Stay down!" Stealth demanded Tiger as the bombardment continued.

Who's doin' this? Stealth asked inside his head.

[Storm Wolf]

Tigers pupils widened "Stealth what's going on here!" her voice was small and she wasn't sure if Stealth had heard her or not.

Jade flung herself to the ground, confused by the sudden spray of bullets.

Kavik saw this as an opportunity to free himself, and he chewed the first set of Christmas lights of his front legs, and began working on the back ones

[R-iZZy]

"Just stay down! Stay down!" Stealth demanded, as the bullets continued to spray the scene. Sirens went off and the screams of the innocent initiated. The bullets shattered all that it could come in contact with. But who would be gunning for Stealth? He knew no one else. There was nothing he could do to put the piece to this puzzle.

How do you like the surprise? those eyes asked Stealth in his head. Stealth didn't have a split-personality. He was no schitzophrenic. There had to be something interrupting his flow of thought, emitting messages in his head. But who could be so talented as to do that? There was no one he came close to. No other person he knew. The only person he knew was dead, and the MAU was destroyed as well.

"Tiger, just don't ask questions. This is not good, that's all I have to say," Stealth said. He pulled out his sniper rifle and tried to locate where the bullets were coming from through the scope, but the darkness consumed too much. It was nearly impossible to detect the assailant. "So much for proving loyalty, huh?"

[Storm Wolf]

Tiger nodded "Yeah..." She flattened her ears and crouched closer to the ground, the cool of the cement blacony gave her the chills. "Err...should we inch our way inside?" She aked Stealth. She stared off into the dark trying to see with cat eyes what might be there, but the night was even to inky for her.

Kavik flattened himself to the floor and crawled over to where Jade was crouched "Is this your magic wench!" he growled "No...honest..." Jade was frightened by his sudden closness to her, she had only but a few feet of an escape route, and he would surely catch her if she tried to take it.