Babur

My eyes open as the dawn comes to light the sky in a radiance of reds and golds. I watch the clouds lazily moves across the horizon and wonder if it will rain today. Rain will make my fur mat and I find it uncomfortable. I yawn and stretch my arms in a wide cat stretch. My hands will only be human for a few more minutes and then I will change into my other form. That of the beast the villagers fear.

I am cursed. I live as a human by night and a tiger by day. At night I sleep in whatever safe hole I can find, a cave or up in a tree sometimes. During the day I run. I must run from the hunters who would kill me and take my skin as a trophy. They believe I am dangerous and that they are doing a service to the villagers. I only ate a few sheep the one time when I was really hungry, but I guess that is all it takes.

I could kill them. I could pick them off one by one, but that is not who I am. I am just a cursed boy stuck in this endless cycle of change and chase.

Khan

"I will take care of the beast your majesty. Never fear." I waved my hand, dismissing the difficulty of the task. I was not just a hunter, but a seasoned warrior with plenty of experience in tracking and hunting the cleverest of foes.

"Good. This has gone on too long now. My cousin is constantly complaining of the beast that roams his forest. You do this for me and I will give you a good piece of land by the river with plenty of servants." The king nodded and waved me away. I smiled as I left, giddy at the prospect of finally having my own place. No longer would I have to travel from household to household for work, nor live in the barracks with other soldiers and guards.

I would pack my things and leave tonight. The sooner I could scout out the location and get my bearings the better. I figured I would have the beast in my sights within a month of arriving at the most. I took enough for a long stay just in case though. In my experience there was always something that could go wrong when you were out in the wilderness. It was best to be prepared.

I was looking forward to this hunt, or rather the end of it. Soon I would have a home to call my own.

Babur

There was a new player in the game. I watched him for a few days to see what he was about. He ignored the other hunters and travelled the forest methodically, checking all the spots I had been carefully. He was a hunter, yes, but far more experienced and cunning than I had seen before. This was a hunter of men. The way he mapped my favorite spots, set traps in strange places, and seemed to give me credit for intelligence was dangerous.

My evenings were now filled with dismantling the traps I knew I couldn't avoid as a cat. My days were full of circling back to places in loops without rhythm so he didn't know where I would be. My schedule was off. I wasn't eating or sleeping like I used to be able to. He was too cunning for me to let my guard down. It made my days more exciting and I admit I was happy to stretch out the chase.

There was one point when we caught sight of each other. He was looking up from the bottom of the waterfall to see if there was a way to climb up easily. I decided there was not much danger, since there was no way to climb the sharp, steep stones without potentially falling onto deadly rocks. I poked my head out of the greenery and leaned over to watch him. We looked at each other, sizing each other up.

He was still, taking in my massive size and ferocious visage. I licked my lips and yawned, flopping down onto the soft moss and flicking my tail as I took in his light armour and large scimitar strapped to his back. He murmured to himself, but I couldn't hear it over the rush of water. He was a tall man, well built from his profession, and his black hair gleamed healthy in the sun. His blue eyes were strikingly beautiful.

When he started trying to go up the slope I got up in alarm. Was he going to kill himself in his attempt to chase me? He was a fool! I growled to myself, watching as his boots slid a bit on the hill. If the temptation to climb was too great with me there then I was going to leave. I flattened my ears and roared at him in my frustration. I wanted to yell at him for being a fool. I wanted to talk to him, find out why he tracked me so diligently.

I could do nothing but turn my back and leave.

Khan

This was no ordinary beast. I knew this the moment I laid eyes on it at the waterfall. His eyes gleamed with an intelligence that I had never seen. He went from routine to random in a matter of a few days. I found my traps in pieces, carefully scouted out and destroyed. The more I heard and saw of the tiger, the less likely I was thinking it would be for me to catch him quickly.

The tales from the village were vague and the only killing they actually spoke of was some sheep culled from their herds. It frightened the villagers, but did not hunt them. The beast itself was wily. Each time I thought I had him, then at sundown it was as if he vanished into thin air. The dusk brought the witching hour when things were not as they seemed, and the trails would end on nothingness. Paws in the dirt and then... nothing.

It was confusing. I knew I had to keep trying, but I was starting to falter in my hopes of ever having a home of my own. It was why I almost followed him up that slope the day by the waterfall. I suddenly thought it would be better to try and die than to give up and live. Today I was closer than ever to my goal. He was going back to the spot by the cave today. I felt it in my bones. I hurried through the underbrush to get there.

I stopped dead just outside the clearing. There was a boy standing in the dimming light of the set sun, watching the sky as it faded. I cleared my throat and stepped forward. He did not startle. Instead he glanced over his shoulder at me with a knowing glance and grin. I moved to stand next to him, unnerved by his boldness I supposed. His ragged clothing barely covered him and his feet were bare.

"You should be more careful in these parts, boy. Do you not know there is a beast in these parts? Did you happen to see a tiger come through here by any chance?" I spoke to him with concern. I watched his grin widen to a full smile.

"No. I did not see the tiger. I know it wanders these parts" The boy said in a nonchalant tone. He brushed his hair over his shoulder and began wandering back and forth in the clearing. The soldier watched him with interest. It was strange how the boy had no fear. He was either very brave or very stupid for simply strolling through the wilderness with a beast on the loose. Or perhaps he knew something I didn't.

"What are you doing?" I asked him. He looked over at me before going back to his business.

"I am picking a tree." He replied. Then he nodded and began to climb. He was quick as he scaled the tree and then settled into its branches. He sat at the junction of three branches to the trunk. After a wide yawn that I barely caught sight of from the ground, he curled up and went to sleep. I didn't know what to think. I could barely see him anymore from the ground and I figured he was probably safer than I was.

I gave up and bedded down for the night.

Babur

He was quite handsome when he slept. I admit I may have peered at him while he was sleeping when dawn came. His thick black lashes laid against his dark tan skin like butterfly wings. He smelled like smoke and spices. His body looked firm and strong. I wandered away as I felt my change coming upon me. I glanced back as my hands became paws and sighed as the chase began again.

Perhaps we should have a bit of fun today. I waited for him to awaken before I took off in the trees at a run. When I reached the river, I swam to the other side and then sunned myself on a rock. He came soon after, panting out of breath from running and taken aback at me just laying there. I got up and stretched; I had waited for him after all. He made to cross the river and I bounded forward playfully.

I crouched like I was going to pounce and he paused, unsure. Then I snorted and bounded away. I was teasing him; we both knew it. I ran off into the bushes and made my way to the flower patch. I rolled around in the soft grass, waiting for him to catch up again. When he came I was rolling on my back, pawing the air like a kitten. He seemed shocked. I rolled to my feet, covered in flower petals and grass tufts.

He drew his scimitar and I yawned at him to show my giant teeth. I licked my lips and then bounded away again. I was having so much fun! I knew it couldn't last but today was all about play. I startled a pig in the underbrush and gave chase. It took a little work but I managed to take him down and then dragged him into a cave I knew was nearby to wolf down as much meat as I could. It had been a week since I had anything more substantial than a rabbit.

I kept quiet when I heard my hunter close by. I peered out from under the veil of hanging moss to watch as he assessed my crime scene. You could tell from all the blood that I had taken something down out there. I saw him stalk forward towards the trail from dragging the body into my hiding spot. If he came down here... I was hungry and briefly thought about whether or not I would attack.

He was smart this time and stayed back, realising I think that I would actually be forced into fighting him if he didn't let me be. He was one man against a cornered tiger, or so he thought. I chomped away at my kill and then snuck away, deeper into the cave. At the back there was a narrow passage that curved to the right. If I squeezed I could get through it. I discovered it while I was human and then managed to get out after my change.

I wandered down the passage and out the other side of the hill. Then I looped back around. My hunter had realised something was up when I was no longer close to the front and was just poking his head into the cave to see what I was doing. I came up very quietly from behind. Stalking in as close as I could and then letting out a growl. He turned ever so slowly to see me standing merely feet away from him in behind.

He cursed and I playfully bounded away again. I couldn't wait to see him tonight.

Khan

It was teasing me. The damn beast was teasing me! All day I had been right on his tail and all day he had bounded about like a damn kitten. It had near terrified me when he snuck out of the cave and came up behind me covered in blood. He didn't attack though, the only thing I had seen him eat so far had been animals anyways. He had left some of the pig he had killed, even leaving an untouched leg which I couldn't help but assume was for me.

It was strange. The way he seemed to play about and want a sort of comradery with me felt surreal. Was he really so intelligent, or was I reading too much into this? I stoked my fire up hot and then spitted the pig leg over it to roast. I looked up when I saw movement from the corner of my eye. It was the boy again. I shook my head in consternation.

"You are going to get yourself killed one of these days. You can't just wander about out here without some sort of protection. Come sit by my fire and keep me company tonight. I will protect you." I called out to him without looking over. He crept up close and watched me as he sat on the ground cross legged. As the light dimmed to nothing and the fire cast shadows on us, we just took each other in.

"Why are you chasing the tiger, Hunter?"The boy finally spoke up first. I smiled as I turned the spit and gauged it to be almost done.

"The king has asked me to and promised me a reward if I succeed." I told the boy. He seemed to be considering my answer and then nodded. "A home. He has promised me a home." I felt the need to add. He sighed to himself and I glanced over at him.

"That makes sense. I do not have a home either. I would do anything for a home of my own." He seemed wistful. I took the meat off the fire and offered him some, but he declined. I caught the glint of gold underneath his thin tunic from the light of the fire.

"You have a necklace? Why do you not sell it so you can get new clothes? Those are about to fall off you they are so old." I teased him, though really I was curious about this boy who wore expensive jewelry with his rags.

"I cannot. It is too important to sell." He took it into his hand and pulled it out of his tunic so I might see it. It was a thick chain that hung low on his neck and a pendant hung off it. It was a round with a sun stamped into it and one word carved. I couldn't read it from where I sat.

"I understand. Have you nothing else you could barter? They do not look like they will last much longer." I replied congenially. He shrugged, staring into the fire.

"It doesn't matter." He was frowning now and I worried it was my comments on his appearance that caused it. I rooted around in my pack a little and found a rather plain blue tunic that was a little small and worn. It was better than he had though. I tossed it to him and he looked at me in surprise. I smiled back.

"It's not much, I know. At least you will have something without holes." I went back to my food. I tried not to look as he hesitantly pulled his old tunic off and slipped into the newer one. What I did see was tanned and scrawny. I don't know why he refused my food if he was starving. He fingered the material gently and looked over gratefully.

"Thank you, Hunter. I will remember your kindness." He laid down on the ground with his old shirt balled up under his head and closed his eyes. I watched him drifting off to sleep with some wonder. Who was he really? He was a mystery in addition to the strangeness surrounding the tiger I hunted. I was beginning to think this wilderness was cursed. Perhaps the cursed found their way here?

I laid my bedding out on the ground and carefully put my sword next to me. I glanced over at the sleeping figure and then made my way over with my extra blanket, draping his small body to ward off the chill of the night and protect him from any floating embers while he slept. He did not stir. I went back to my bed and laid down. I stared at the stars for awhile, wondering if I would ever have a roof over my head.

My eyes shut and I dreamt of tigers.

Babur

I woke up warm and smelling the spice coming from the tunic he gave me. I yawned and cat stretched, knocking the blanket from my shoulders. I looked about, taking in the dead fire and sleeping figure of my Hunter nearby. I got up and folded the blanket carefully. Then I snuck over and placed it gently next to him. He did not stir. I smiled and tip toed away from the clearing before my change came upon me.

When it did, I went to the lookout at the top of a hill and gazed out on the wilderness spread out beneath me. How could I possibly win without causing this hunter to lose? There was no way. Either I lived or he obtained a home to live in for the rest of his life. I wanted to live, but I also did not want him to be forced to live as I had. A homeless wanderer. I laid my head on my paws and sighed in frustration.

Suddenly I heard a cry. My head snapped up and I listened intently. There it was again! It sounded suspiciously like my Hunter. I took off down the hill at a run. There was a struggle going on. One hyena had a hold of the Hunter's leg and another was snapping at his face while he brandished his scimitar. Two more circled, snapping at his other leg and his clothing. It was dangerous for a human to wander this wilderness alone.

I crashed into the clearing and knocked the hyena away from his head. I bit down hard with my massive jaws and heard a crack as I broke bones. Another jumped onto my back and bit into my shoulder. I let go of the beast in my mouth and twisted around to roar at the third that snapped at my leg. The hunter had managed to kill the beast that had his leg caught and staggered to his feet. I rolled the one off my back and we clawed at each other.

When I finally managed to land a deadly blow across its torso and the guts spilled out, I heard another cry from the last beast. I looked over to see the Hunter without his sword, on the ground and wrestling the hyena away from his face as it snapped. I lunged forward and knocked it away, getting a hold of its neck and chomping down. It struggled and I viciously shook my head. The whining quieted and came to a stop.

All four were dead. I blinked and staggered a little. The adrenaline was wearing off and I felt pain. My shoulder burned from the bite I had and my stomach was somewhat slashed as well. If my Hunter wanted, all he had to do was pick up his scimitar and finish me off. I staggered and laid myself under a tree. I was still huffing from the fight. I looked up to see my Hunter staring at me, sword back in hand.

"You... you saved me? You crazy tiger...." He limped forward and sat down next to me when I didn't move or growl, or anything. I flinched when he reached out with his hand. He placed his hand on my head and stroked my fur. I closed my eyes and panted. He did it again, cautiously and slowly. I yawned and laid my head gently next to his feet, enjoying it. Then I felt his hand brush down to my back.

It caught momentarily on the thick gold chain hidden under my fur. I heard his gasp as he pulled at the necklace, turning it so he could see the gold pendant stamped with a sun. Now he could read the word carved on it. It simply said 'Babur' on it. It was strange that a name meaning tiger would be on the pendant, I knew that. But it was all I had from a past I could not remember. Perhaps it was my name.

I huffed as he stared at me now. I watched him limp over and drag the hyenas into a ditch. Then he motioned me to follow him. I got up warily and followed him to the cave I had eaten the pig in. He had cleaned up inside. He took out a container with water and cleaned his wound. Then he bound it with strips of cloth. He came over to look at my wounds, and I flinched as he poked at my shoulder.

He tried to get me to roll over, but I just lifted a paw and looked away. He cleaned my wounds of dirt while I growled at him. I saw him looking at his spare blanket, but I shook my head at him. He seemed surprised but put it back in his pack. We sat staring at each other in the dim light of the cave. He knew who I was, he was just still processing it.

"Can you understand me?" He breathed out on a sigh. I nodded my head. He gulped and looked away for a moment.

"Are you... are you the boy?" He asked after a long moment. I waited until he looked back and nodded again. He closed his eyes. I blinked and waited for his next question.

"Are you a shapeshifter?" He questioned. Uh, obviously I was if I was a tiger right now. That was the wrong question. Come on, Hunter.

"Okay, stupid question. Can you shift back now?" He queried. That's better. I shook my head no. I looked out of the cave and up to the sky as if searching for something. He made a noise and I looked back.

"Oh! The sun? You are a tiger when the sun is up?" He seemed excited. I nodded, quite proud of him for figuring that out from my simple gesture. Now he seemed a little deflated. I cocked my head to one side. "I was just thinking that it is a long time until nightfall, and there are only so many yes or no questions I can ask you regarding this. I guess we will have to get to know each other instead."

If I had been human at the time, I would have smiled.

Khan

I had spent all day talking to Babur. That is, I had spent all day asking a tiger yes or no questions. It was very strange, but I felt a sort of comradery with this boy who was a tiger. He was alone like me. When the sun went down I saw the transformation myself. A tiger became a boy once more, caught in this game of chase for too many years to count.

"How do you feel? Do your shoulder and stomach hurt?" I asked him kindly. I moved forward with some torchlight to check his wounds. They seemed shallower than before, maybe they were proportionate to his body, but that was good because the huge gashes I had seen on the tiger would have killed him for certain. He shivered at my touch and we exchanged a glance between us. He blushed and looked away.

"Sorry. It has been awhile since I had any kind of human contact." He muttered. I chuckled and plopped down close. I pulled him into the space between my legs with his back against my chest. I just held him, patting his hair now and then as we talked. He began to relax and get comfortable in my arms as the dusk turned to night. "Maybe I should just let you kill me."

"What? No, I want to help you. Maybe we can find a way to break the curse?" I held him tight and listened to his breathing. He laughed softly.

"Poor excuse for a Hunter you turned out to be. If I do not die, then you do not get a home. You can do it while I am sleeping, alright?" He tried turning in my arms to look at me, but I shook my head forcefully.

"No. I cannot kill you now. You are just an innocent boy in all this, whatever it is. I will find a way. Let me think about it." I thought about all the stories I had heard growing up, about princes and princesses or strange quests and transformations. So many tales were between a fair princess who is rescued by the brave knight, maybe i could be that knight.

"I have tried everything I could think of. I tried hiding from the sun in caves before. I tried praying to every god I could think of. I even tried killing myself once. It didn't work though, I simply awoke the next day as a tiger and continued. For all I know I could be thousands of years old." He seemed so sad and listless now. In his own way he was so beautiful. His tiger was majestic and bold, his boy side sad and fragile.

"Hey, don't give up." I murmured. He looked up at me with those brown eyes and I don't know what came over me. I kissed him. His lips were soft and warm under mine. He let out a surprised gasp and I took the opportunity to slide inside with my tongue. I stroked his mouth and tasted the unusual tang of a stranger's breath. He turned further and clutched my tunic with his small hands. I felt his legs wrap around me as he pressed against my torso.

We pulled back only for a second before going back for more. He moaned into my mouth and the soft sound made my pr*ck stand at attention. Or perhaps it was the way his small body writhed against mine, seeking warmth and pleasure. My hands stroked his body, cupped his arse and thighs, kneaded the wiry muscles hidden under his thin clothes. I felt his hands pulling at my clothes and I helped him take them off.

He explored my body with wide eyes in the dim firelight. He kissed my firm, tanned skin with those plump lips and I hissed my pleasure. His hands were warm and gentle as they traced my muscles. I wanted to see him as well. I pulled his tunic up over his head and yanked the trousers he wore off his lean legs. He was petite and perfect in the firelight.

His skin was tanned dark and paled in places that most eyes could not see. The pink of his mouth, the inside of his slit, the soft flesh of his pucker as I stretched it for my use. His sighs and pants were soft and musical to my ears in the silence of darkness. The chain seemed too heavy about his neck, strangling him as he tried to squirm under my touch. I reached up and slipped the necklace from his throat, placing it by his head.

Then I wet my d*ck to put inside the sweet boy beneath me. His breath hitched as I penetrated the barrier of his outside ring. I pushed past it, deeper to the muscles further in, and then seated myself fully inside with gentle thrusting. His legs wrapped up and around my body, clinging to me. I leaned down to kiss his pink lips again, feeling his soft yet firm frame underneath me like a sensual pillow.

I kissed his lips to stinging swollenness. I worshiped his body with mine. I kissed every crevice and nipped every soft, tender spot I could find. I left love marks all over his skin. I made him shout from the attention I paid his nipples. I got to know every sigh and growl that could spill from his lips. When I had emptied us both to exhaustion and we were sticky and dripping from each other's juices, I finally cleaned us up and laid us on my bed to rest.

It was not enough time. I wanted more.

Babur

I awoke in the arms of my Hunter. My darling Khan, who would help me in my quest to rid myself of this curse. I stared up at his sleeping face and regretted, truly despised actually, the coming of the dawn. I felt the wetness of tears falling down my face and tried to hold back my sobs. My body was sore, from the wounds and the sweet lovemaking of the previous night.

Each cry seemed to make our parting more real, more imminent. I clung to his warm body in desperation and he hugged me back. He whispered sweet words into my ear, about how he loved me and would protect me always from the other hunters. I didn't want to change. I wanted to be his boy, always and forever until death. I told him I didn't want to leave him and he just said, "I know."

As the sun crested the horizon and the rays touched the ground with the dawn, I closed my eyes. I saw a bright light from behind my lids and they flew open to see what was happening. There on the ground, a few feet away, was the collar I had worn all these years glowing brightly. I had forgotten he had taken it off me last night and watched in wonder as it floated up into the air, shining in the cave's dim light.

Suddenly, it burst into a million stars and disappeared. We both looked on in shock. I looked back at the man in my arms and he ran a hand through my hair. My hair! I started to laugh and grabbed onto him tightly. He was real, a solid being in my arms made of flesh and bones. I was hugging him in the daylight spilling in from the cave mouth. I reached up and kissed him fiercely on the mouth, with all the passion of my feelings.

He had saved me. He had freed me. I was his forever, if he wanted me.

Khan

"Your majesty, the tiger is no more. I have rid your cousin's wilderness of the beast." I limped forward and bowed, the injuries making the claim so much more believable to the audience. The king clapped his hand and a man came forth with a scroll.

"My cousin has already written that there are no more reports of sightings of the beast. My thanks warrior, for your bravery and accomplishment. As promised, here is the title to your home." The audience all applauded him and he accepted their admiration with a touch of humility and grace. Then he took his winnings and slipped out of the palace to his waiting horses.

"Did you get it, Khan?" A soft voice asked as he was passed the reins to his mount. He moved in close and leaned over to kiss the boy on the other horse.

"I did, my love. Let us go home."