Living Like A Lion-The Year

Chapter 13-Tension

13.Tension

I woke the next morning, still trying to solve this puzzle. John and I hopped into the car and headed to work. He seemed fine, even relaxed may I say. We hurried inside and I began work on the cages, while I watched John carefully. I noticed he avoided the dogs as much as he could; but if he had to go near them, he always grew tense and began his grumbling.

At lunch, I asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yes. Why you ask?” John replied perturbed.

“You were acting odd around Scout,” I answered as I stared at him.

“I have?” he asked very confused.

I explained, “Like Anna the other night.”

“Oh, I'm sorry James. It won't happen again,” he promised, but I could tell he was still perplexed.

Later at the house, I noticed John and Anna were extremely tense, especially if I had Scout near us; so I placed Scout in the crate and they seemed to relax a little. “Anna,” I sweetly said and she glanced at me.

“Yes dear?” she hissed before looking away.

“Are you okay? You seem tense,” I commented concerned. I reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.

“I'm fine,” she snapped as she shot me a look to leave her alone.

“John, are you alright?” I questioned worried and he nodded quickly. “Then calm down, you both are way too tense!” I screamed becoming frustrated.

“We're not tense!” Anna snapped as she turned to face me. Her eyes boring into my like drills.

“You both have been since Scout has been here! I guess I will have to give him back!” I yelled as my tail popped into my pants and I felt the fur creeping up my skin.

“You don't need to do that!” John shouted as he slammed his fist on the table.

“Of course I do! Otherwise you two will be tense...ROAR!” I screamed before I totally transformed; then I angrily stalked upstairs. I reached my room and Scout went berserk on me. “Sit Scout!” I commanded, hoping to stop his growls.

“Who are you?” he yapped as he jumped about in his crate.

“James, the boy you live with,” I roared quietly as I laid down near the crate.

“Really? You don't look like a boy, but you smell like the boy,” he yipped quickly.

“Trust me Scout. I'm him,” I hissed before I looked away. I mewed, “I'm sorry Scout.”

“Why?” he whimpered as he tried to come closer; so I let him out of the crate and he crawled up next to me.

“You are going to have to leave,” I mewed as he snuggled closer.

“Why?” he cried as he stared into my cat eyes.

“My friends don't like dogs, it seems; but I will visit you at the clinic,” I hissed as I glanced away, feeling tears filling my eyes.

“I don't want to go back! They don't like me there!” he barked as he backed away from me.

“They do like you, but they want you to have a family of your own,” I mewed and he edged closer again.

“Okay,” he yipped gloomily.

“We can still see another,” I promised as he laid against me again.

“As boy and dog or cat and dog?” he asked confused but defiantly happy.

“Boy and dog,” I purred. “Let's sleep.”