Story 1. Chapter 1: Shortcuts cause trouble

On a foggy evening, in a quiet side street a young woman walks home carrying a pharmacy bag. It was a chilly and damp evening, the pharmacy had been particularly busy with cold season having struck.

Dark hair stopped just short of her shoulders, bushy ends sticking out from under a grey beanie hat; a chilled and reddening nose buried into her phones map application.

Slim, blue knuckled hands gripped the anime character phone cover, it might snow tonight.

'Lets check the weather' she mused internally.

Naomi Clair peered at her location marker and looked around, everything was a blanket of white haze.

Her footsteps echoed ominously as she rounded the corner, following the obscure path she could now finally hear the distant sounds of traffic.

'The crossing walk should be along here somewhere' she though confused.

Suddenly two brightly blinding lights appeared beside her, stunning her; something sharply struck the side of her body with enough force that her bundled frame flew through the air briefly.

It was a mini-van, collecting empty kegs from the nearby bar.

Naomi felt only that brief pain, none now though, only a strange pulling coldness.

'Ahh man, 31 no close family left and no long term boyfriend. Who's gonna take care of my bonsai collection.' 

Regretful, she knew she was dying.

'Why am I thinking about bonsai? Why am I....

.....so cold..?'

Her thoughts were muddled.

The apparent driver of the van found where she had been thrown to the side; her battered body was shrouded in the dense fog.

He grasped her hand tightly and bent over her torso, his tired, wrinkled face twisted in sorrow.

"I'm so sorry!" He wailed " I'm so sorry child, you don't deserve such a tragedy! I swear to you now, it will all be alright in the end!" He keened over her, Naomi wishing he would at least cover her.

'Jeez can you not see I'm freezing?....' her thoughts were fading away now, quietly slipping into oblivion.

Wailing, he lifted his head and Naomi imagined she saw a gleam of light momentarily flash through his hooded eyes.

The older man turned to her pausing, still regretful but no longer sobbing, and she swore she clearly heard him say:

"You will get all you desire and more I promise! But maybe not the way you expect! I swear!" He called to her, but she was slipping away into quiet nothingness.

'What an really odd man'

The silence surrounded her now and,

All went black .

Somewhere in the beast world...

A gently breeze carried the scent of a stranger on the wind. Two large heads lifted, picking up a fragrant and enticing smell.

A healthy 'female'?

Who would reach her first?

The sun was bight and high in the sky, shinning over the middle of the jungle clearing. Birds called overhead, as someone lay passed out in the bright sun.

'Ugh I'm too warm?.... wait.' Naomis mind swirled in confusion, blearily rubbing her face.

She could move- she was alive!

But how? Where?

As her eyes burst open she immediately shied from the glaring light.

"Argh !Ow Shit! I'm blinded!" Naomi cried out, rolling onto her side in the long grass, clutching her eyeballs. That wasn't very fun.

Wait... Grass? Where's the tarmac? The fog had disappeared, but nothing was as before.

'Where am I?' Am I in heaven? No then that wouldn't have hurt so much I don't think'. the thoughts were feeling a little clearer, 

'okay, I'm somewhere else now...'

Pondering to herself, Naomi suddenly heard a rustling sound behind her.

The dense shrubbery parted; It was a fully grown adult lion, stepping out of the jungle canopy.

A shriek froze in her throat, looking around there was nothing to defend herself with. Of course there'd be wild animals in a jungle but she still wasn't expecting this.

The big lions round ears swivelled as it watched her, stopping to observe.

*thump thump thump*

Naomi almost choked on her heartbeat.

'??No-No-No!-Oh please please god leave me alone!-'

She didn't get to finish the thought and her hopes vanished; her heart dropping, as the lion burst towards her a deep growl rumbling deep in it's chest.

"Nooo!" Screaming, she dove to the ground attempting to make her skinny frame frame smaller. It was a futile effort, to wish it might somehow miss.

Lunging with an almighty roar, the lion landed miraculously astride her, attacking something just behind her.

With a start, she flinched to see the lion ripping the head off of a medium sized king cobra. Any remaining blood drained from her face, what if it was poisonous. Naomi didn't know much about snakes, it was better the big cat had killed it.

'What?? good kitty? Please?'

It didn't make any sense too her at all.

Bewildered by the event, Naomi sat there stunned as the lion cleaned its paws blinking at her innocently.

Wondering if she should try to escape, Naomi couldn't help but glance around for any chance or distraction. The lion noticed her action, emitting a low growl in displeasure.

She froze, immediately focusing back to the lion. Could it sense her will to flee?.

It shook its large golden mane, and stepped toward her before striking out with large paw and pinning her to the ground.

"Oof!" Naomi thumped the ground, struggling a little to breath under the weight. She could only lay still, dreading her fate as the large beast huffed and sniffed her- surely deciding the best meat to feast on first.

'This sucks, I have to die twice?' Tears pooled and fell, soaking her face.

Why couldn't she just catch a break?

Lamenting sorrowfully, Naomi suddenly felt the weight lift; curling into a ball instinctively she waited for its next strike.

Instead she felt a warm hand upon her back. Confused, she relaxed enough to peer out at the familiar touch.

The large lion had been replaced by a tanned and blonde bearded man, crouched down to check on her.

He was totally nude.

She was as low to the ground as you could get so she didn't even need to turn her head, opting to focus on the face.

"Sob-help-sniff-" Naomi was in shock, just managing to cry out.

She was sort of asking him- but also anyone, not knowing who this person might be. She didn't move from her kneeling posture. 

The big hand patted her gently, and the blonde man's face looked so sad as he spoke to her 

"You are safe dear female, I promise you. No harm shall befall you, I am at your mercy. I am Oren" his deep timbre rumbled.

"Wh-where am I? Were you the lion??" Naomi couldn't help but ask, still hiccupping a little. She thought it was crazy but it where else could it have gone so fast?

She noticed now his yellowy eyes were hazel, he smiled sheepishly 

"Yes. That was my beast form. I just happened to be nearby and scented the ground snake angered by your intrusion. Curious I found a beauty in peril." he honestly replied.

"This is the rainforest outskirts, near the Hawk tribes' village".

Naomi momentarily blushed a touch, it had been a while since someone had genuinely complimented her appearance. While she was good-looking, she didn't dress up as much anymore and chose to go bare face usually. Confusion triumphed flattery though.

Puzzled she listened to the words over again. 

'That's not a real place but why does the sentence sound like something I've read.... beast men, hawks, tribes, beast....world?! like those online novels?' she thought it was too-far fetched. 

The details were too familiar to her though. 

Sitting back up to look at the concerned man, she noticed he'd left his ear and tail out. Her mouth dropped open.

'No way. It's true? He's a lion? I died and now I'm alive again here?'

Her sniffling tears bubbling over in laughter now, Naomi believed she was suffering hysterics from all the shocking circumstances. 

The Lionman Oren could only watch, baffled at Naomi's sudden change in demeanor. He felt the strangest thing, seeing her crying laughing; like she was letting go in someway, or of something. 

Eventually though her tears dried up and with a contented sigh, Naomi gathered herself to stand, Oren offering her a hand.

Accepting it, she grasped his large hand and was easily pulled to her feet; he didn't let go of hers though, but she didn't mind his big warm palm so much.