ch21

           Irai lept up from her spot, bounding for Ren as she tackled him in an embrace. The force of her happiness caused Ren to fall backwards as Irai landed on top of him with a giggle.   Licking his face a few times before she licked and nuzzled his neck, Irai purred happily as she wrapped herself around him. He gently rubbed her back as she showed her affection to him, smiling.

           "Very happy to see me are we?"

           She nodded, smiling before she gave him a few more licks and nuzzles to his neck. Eventually she let him sit up, curling up on his lap.   Irai felt his hands scratch and rub her, creating numerous purrs from her throat as a result. She stared out into the yard and into the sky, enjoying the attention she was receiving. Small whimpers of protest came as the hands slowed downed and eventually stopped.

            "Think you're ready for today?"   Ren looked down at her.

            Irai sat up, nodding again. "I think I'll be as ready as I can be."

           "Stand up, face into the yard, and close your eyes. Make sure you're prepared for some.... surprises. And don't open your eyes til I say so."

          Her eyebrows raised at the mention of surprises, but she kept her faith in Ren as she did as he requested. Silence seemed to settle around her as the time passed by as she waited patiently. Irai nearly opened her eyes, however, as a pair of slender, cold hands proceeded to lift her into the air from above. The sounds of flapping could be heard above her as Irai found herself tempted to open her eyes, only to keep her patience as well as her trust.

         The time she was airborne seemed short, however as she was set down again.   The sounds of the wings seemed to fade away to her ears as many new sounds seemed to come around her. Grunts and curses could be heard around her as a small panic began to fill her.

          "Open your damn eyes you monster!"

         Irai's eyes flew wide open as her heart stopped. She found herself in the middle of the Arena, surrounded by numerous armed warriors as the strong smell of blood filled her nostrils. Her first reaction was to step back forcing herself against the Arena's wall as the attackers formed a semicircle, closing her off completely. Her instincts slowly began to twitch as her mouth began to water, unconsciously licking her lips as the thoughts of blood popped into her mind.

         The next few moments of time seemed to pass on slowly as the first attacker came at her with a spear in hand. Grabbing the shaft while stepping aside from the point, she pulled the combatant closer before her claws tore the flesh off his face. She shoved the shaft back into the victim as he tumbled to the ground, clutching his mangled face.

          Three more came at her as her body and claws moved quickly to finish the three in a bloody display of slashing and tearing. Soon the smell of blood overwhelmed her mind as her bloodlust took its toll on her. Irai felt her body shift slowly into the monster that she was familiar with. As the transformation completed, she proceeded to push into the crowd of warriors as she kicked, slashed and tore into the masses. All of her foes fell to her savageness as she looked around for more foes from the carnage.

          Irai blinked.

         As she opened her eyes, she no longer found herself in the Arena, covered in the blood of her enemies. Instead, she found herself back in the backyard of the mansion. She looked around in confusion as she slowly manuvered to the center of the grass on her four legs. Looking around her, her beastlike eyes settled on Ren and the succubus, her mouth slowly watering again.

         The succubus nodded to Ren. "She transforms when she has extreme emotions as well as the smell of blood. It's the bloodlust itself that serves as the cause of her cheetaurian transformation."

         Ren slowled strode to Irai as she found herself resisting the urge to taste his blood. He looked up at her and smiled as he proceeded closer. Without a second thought, she raised her hand , ready to swipe with her claws, but she kept her mind focused on not harming him.   Eventually, she forced her arms to slump next to her upper torso.

         He slowly petted her body from in between her shoulder blades down to her tail, causing her to purr gently. Her beast-like instincts kept her from relaxing though as Ren's hands continued to work gently on her. Slowly, he proceeded to stop the petting as he placed his hands on her lower torso before he leaped up and onto her back.

        Immediately the urge to kick him off came into mind as she found herself leaping slightly in reaction.   He kept his balance while Irai slowly calmed down. She felt his hands stroke her fur once again as Ren worked at keeping her calm while he remained on her back.   A few uneasy purrs came out of her throat while she focused her mind on him.

        "Think you could trot around, Irai?"

        Irai slowly began to take a step, finding herself not used to controlling her large body. The steps came faster as she felt more confident in her pace. Eventually she was in a full trot as she found herself learning to walk all over again. She didn't dare to go any faster, however as she soon came to a stop in front of the succubus, purring as she received her reward of a few rubs and scratches from Ren.

        He proceeded to hop off her, still rubbing her as he made his next request. "Think you could change back?"

        Irai pondered for a few moments before she shook her head, not knowing what to do. Ren glanced at succubus, who merely smiled in return.

        "Master, if she were to focus on her normal, more peaceful thoughts, she would return back to normal."

        Irai closed her eyes, focusing in her mind on Ren. She began to think about how happy she was to see him, how much she's enjoyed his company, and the time the two shared in Ren's world. A smile crossed her lips as her mind thought of the new peace that was in the mansion as well as the people she has met in the mansion since Ren became its owner.

        As she opened her eyes, she found herself closer to the ground. Immediately adjusting her balance, Irai looked at herself, glancing at her two feet before she smiled, hugging Ren. He returned the hug, adding a few rubs and scratches before he smiled at her.

         "Good job.   Right now I need to go settle some business regarding the mansion..... so you behave, alright?"

        She nodded.   Ren proceeded to walk off into the mansion as she watched him a leave, a soft smile on her face. It wasn't long, however, until Irai noticed that the succubus was giving her a strange look. The two tails on the demon swung lazily behind her as the cat morph found herself following the tails with her eyes. A sudden wave of curiousity overcame her as a few thoughts popped in her mind.

         "So.... why do you call Ren your master?"

         "Because he is my master.   I am his slave."

         Irai was puzzled by the response, but merely shrugged it off. "Where do you stay in the mansion, hmm?"

         "In the slave's dungeon with the devices inside."

         "I've never seen it. Can you show me?"

         The succubus began to walk to the mansion. "Hmmm...... Master didn't want me to show anyone without consent first.... but I guess it's okay if I just let you take a peek. Besides.... I think I might be able to help you out some more with your transformation."

         Irai followed after the succubus, her curiousity swelling with more questions. Eventually her thoughts focused on her transformation as a smile came upon her lips. The success of controling herself in her new form brightened the ray of hope in her heart. After weaving through some halls, the succubus stopped at a staircase leading down, giving Irai a smile that caused the cat-morph to shiver.

         "Shall we proceed?"