Hiya. This is a TCP, and a sequel to "So Many Turns". You really need to read that story first if you want this to make sense. For Poi Lass. ;-) Comments to Kaylee1109@aol.com. Enjoy! TCP: So Many Turns -- In Town Adventure by Kaylee (Kaylee1109@aol.com) She started to figure it out eventually. After so many short/long turns, she finally started to notice that every time I died, I came back somewhat...different. (I think it was the tiger that clued her in.) So I actually kept the same name; my _proper_ name. She'd come to the door and call, "Tom!" And I'd lope out of the woods that were just _so_ appealing to my feline mind and meet her in the kitchen, where she did indeed let me eat off the table. (There hadn't even been an argument this time, like there was when I was the domestic cat-type. All I did was smile at her, showing teeth in a friendly way, and she got a little pale and willingly made me a huge, delicious steak, setting me an elaborate place to dine at. I really love this woman.) I liked being a tiger. Such strength at my beck and call...such exquisitely keen senses. Once she got used to me, she seemed quite happy with the form, too. That might have had something to do with the fact that no one would _dare_ try to hurt her with me around... But, as always, that turn passed. I was playing in the woods one day, stalking a deer I wouldn't dream of actually hurting, and a concealed hunter who was probably looking for the same deer saw me and opened fire. I was too surprised to even put much concentration into thinking about my next form...and that was my mistake. There's something _so_ undignified about going from being a tiger to being a _squirrel._ Well, it's not _all_ bad. There are good points to the new form, too -- the best of which is being able to snuggle up in her oversized coat pocket and accompany her on trips into town. I feel so much better traveling with her that way. Always before when she left the farm, I waited nervously for her to return, wondering what I would do if she never came back. But now I can go with her just about anywhere with no one the wiser. Like today. We've been walking around town for nearly an hour, and she's been taking some well-deserved free time to go shopping. It's a small town, without much in the way of clothing stores, but she has a way of sniffing out whatever decent places there are. I slept for a bit when we first got out of the car, lulled by the slight rocking motion as she walked, but now I'm wide awake. She's window-shopping outside a thrift store, trying to decide whether or not to go in. I peek my head out and stare around us. Always be on the look-out, that's my motto. Especially in _towns._ Towns are full of People, which makes them Dangerous. But I don't see any Danger right now (other than the handful of cars racing back and forth in the streets at unsafe speeds), so I tuck myself back in the pocket and resign myself to patience. It occurs to me that I'm not so different from a husband waiting for his wife to finish her shopping. I like the thought, and I let it swirl in my mind for a while as more time crawls by. It's still swirling there when I hear the voices. Young voices. Taunting voices. _Mean_ voices, saying cruel things to her as she tries peacefully to get back to her car. I already know that people in town think she's strange for living "alone" on the farm, but this rudeness is completely uncalled for. I realize with a start that she's almost crying because of what they're saying to her. That's not right! Well, protecting her doesn't always mean _killing_ someone... I poke my head out once more and look at the handful of young men that are teasing her. I try to growl, but...well, a squirrel just isn't made for growling. She's backing up and trying to hide her tears, and I get more and more angry at seeing the smiles on their faces. They follow her, crowding in close. They probably don't intend to actually hurt her...but she's scared. I can almost _smell_ it. And so I go to work, clambering out of her pocket and springing for the nearest boy to sink tiny sharp teeth into his arm. He shouts and jumps back, swinging the limb wildly. Squirrels are very agile, though, so I manage to leap from him to the next without missing a beat. This one actually screams, though I think it's more from fear than pain. I tell myself I'm not _really_ enjoying this so much... But then...no! The tallest one seems to think _she's_ responsible, and he's grabbing her...he's _hurting_ her! I try to turn and jump for him, but another one grabs me by the tail and flings me aside. I hit the sidewalk hard. Something in my back gives. It hurts, but I can still move a little... What am I going to _do?_ I can't stop them like this... Protect her. That's what I do. No matter what the cost. This is going to hurt. I don't let myself think about it as I scramble for the road. The one who threw me is coming after me...I don't have much time. I throw myself forward, ignoring the damage I'm doing to my already injured body. It won't matter in a second. He's nearly on me when I make my final lunge forward...right in front of the approaching tires of a pickup truck. Darkness. Light. Light and... Oh dear. Light and _wind_ and... Oh my. Light and wind and _air!_ Lots and lots of _air,_ all around me...and _beneath_ me! Why didn't I _think?_ Not a _bird,_ not that! Every time I've been one, I've appeared in the midst of flying...which happens to be something _I don't know how to do!_ Pavement rushes upwards, and I catch a glimpse of startled eyes turning towards me from the sidewalk just before the bone-crushing impact... Darkness. Light. I open my eyes slowly, a bit disoriented from that fall. I can see them (still surrounding her) staring out at the dead and broken crow lying in the street. She's crying in earnest now and saying my name, even though she's started to figure out that I don't die for good. I stand, still feeling woozy, and realize that my new form is very, very small. So what am I now? "Mrrrowww," answers a cat from around the corner. I look up, feeling my new mousy whiskers tremble, and don't even have time to move as it happily pounces for me. I focus with every last bit of will on something strong and dangerous for the next turn... Darkness. Light. Ack! Where did all the air go?? I start flopping frantically around, thrashing my unfamiliar new body as I try to find a way to breathe. Someone shouts from the sidewalk, giving me the answer to the question I hadn't even spared a thought to yet -- "There's a _shark_ in the road!" And a speeding delivery truck, thankfully. This isn't working out well at all. Strong...dangerous...air breather... Darkness. Light. Aha! This is a _good_ one, I can feel it already! I stand swiftly. I've had a form much like this before. The young men surrounding her turn with startled eyes as I let out an air-tearing growl. I want to laugh. This has been a _strange_ day for them, no doubt. But instead I snarl, and I lunge forward with teeth bared... "Mad dog!" someone screams. Before I have time to process that, a shot rings out and I feel the thankfully brief pain of the bullet... This is _really_ getting out of hand... Darkness. Light. I don't move at first, but just lay still and wait for something else to go wrong. Nothing happens. I crack an eye open. I'm in the alley behind her and the thugs, and it seems that no one's noticed me yet. I take stock of my senses, noting that my nose is very keen, my ears are sharp, and my eyesight is quite acceptable. Not large, but not tiny either. Warm fur cloaking my hide. A bushy tail trailing behind me. I shift my head and look back, bringing my tail around to examine... Oh. Oh, dear. This is...embarrassing. Ah, well. At least it'll do the job. I stand, giving myself a brief moment to adjust. I really doubt the kids will harm her now...they'll be too confused by all they've seen. Now I just have to get them away from her and get her _home_ so this long, long day can be over with. So I sigh and walk on my short little legs, swaying a bit from side to side, and head out to handle the situation. It's gratifyingly simple. They see me. They shriek. They run. I'm normally a quite happy individual, but even I can't help grumbling a bit internally at how much trouble it took to get to this simple resolution. I watch them run, and then I look up at her to be sure she recognizes me. Her eyes are wide, and I see her throat work as she swallows. "T-Tom? Is that...you?" I sigh again and nod, then bump my nose against her shin in an attempt at reassurance. She looks at me a little doubtfully, then crouches down so she can look into my eyes. "You won't...won't...you know. Will you?" I shake my head silently. Very carefully, she slides her hands around me and picks me up, then carries me rapidly towards the car before we can attract any more attention. I'm working hard to keep my spirits from flagging, but even so I can't help the little surge of irritation as I catch sight of myself in the rearview mirror. A sharp little face...clever little paws tipped with respectable claws...glossy black fur...and a distinctive white stripe running neatly down my back and tail. I sigh again and curl up on the seat, more tired than I've been in a long time. Skunks don't have many natural enemies, and most hunters will be more likely to run from me than try to shoot me. And since I've never been the suicidal type... This is going to be a very long turn. --end--