[34.3] Saving a Tiger to Raise as a Kitten

I came back home and before I could open the door, it flung open.

My mother was standing in the doorway with an ominous smile, "It's past your curfew."

I gulped and held up the cage innocently, "I was saving a tiger from being boiled alive."

She let out a sigh and motioned me inside, "You're lucky that's why you're late."

I walked in and froze when I saw the Headmaster tied up to a chair with a scowl on his face.

I blinked in disbelief, "What's uh… What's going on here?"

My mother skipped over to him with a smile, "He was about to destroy the town to try to find you."

She pulled off his gag which made him scowl more. The Headmaster stared me down, "You were with that Prince, weren't you?"

I shook my head with a pout, "No… He's not talking to me."

His gaze darkened, "What."

I nodded, "He's been avoiding me."

My mother gasped, "Oh my."

Suddenly the ropes burst apart and the Headmaster stood with a bloodthirsty aura, "I'm going to make him regret ignoring my precious daughter."

My mother forced him to sit back down, "Aldrich. If you kill him, how will they make up?"

He mumbled, "Who cares about that?"

Zephyr heard the commotion and strolled down the stairs, "So what's in the cage?"

"Oh yeah!" I put the cage on the ground and removed the blanket to show the terrified tiger cub, "They were going to boil it alive to make magic tonics! Isn't that horrible?"

Zephyr leaned toward the cage and tapped his chin as he thought, "This creature looks familiar for some reason."

It hissed at him.

My mother spoke, "Aw! Look at the poor baby! It's shaking."

I opened the cage, "Then let's let it out!"

They shouted simultaneously, "REIKA WAIT-"

As soon as the door opened, the tiger lept free, digging its claws into Zephyr's face.

He let out a shriek and rolled on the ground to try to get the tiger off of him.

I called to the tiger in a sweet voice, "Kitty, kitty! Don't attack! Bad kitty!"

The Headmaster effortlessly picked up the tiger cub by the nape of his neck so it was unable to keep attacking.

Zephyr sat up with a cry, "Kitty!? What kitty?? That's a monster!"

I stuck my tongue out, "No! She's a sweet baby!"

Zephyr ran over to my mother to hide behind her and hissed, "It's a boy!"

I looked at it, "...So it is."

The tiger flinched and then curled up its body as if it was embarrassed.

I walked over to it and smiled softly, "He's a sweet kitty. Aren't you?"

I reached out to it, but it swiped at me quickly.

I froze and looked at my hand which had three large scratch marks.

My face paled, "O-Oh… T-That's blood."

My body swayed and my vision went dark.

__…__

I pouted in the Headmaster's office while the tiger cub lay on his lap purring.

I mumbled under my breath, "Not fair."

The Headmaster pet it as he did his work, "You can't bring home a wild animal and expect it to behave."

My mother nodded in agreement beside him, "Exactly. Look at Zephyr."

Zephyr grimaced, "Oi."

I stuck my bottom lip out, "But he's behaving for you."

The Headmaster's eyes didn't even stray from his paper, "Most behave for me… Except for you."

I smiled guiltily, "Hehe."

My mother spoke, "What do you intend on doing with him?"

"I don't know. I wish I could ask him what he wants." I grinned mischievously, "I guess I have no choice but to take care of him."

The Headmaster spoke, "You could make him your familiar."

The tiger picked up his head and hissed at me.

Zephyr cried out in desperation, "Noo! She can't! That job is already taken!!!"

I reached out to rub Zephyr's head until he relaxed.

"I don't like forcing those animals into a slave contract. That's just terrible." I reached out to the tiger, "I will just keep him as a pet."

The tiger went to swipe me with his claws, but I pulled back fast enough to avoid it. I crossed my arms in irritation, "Maybe I should have let them boil him."

The tiger whimpered and tried to make himself look smaller.

I let out a sigh, "I'm not serious furball."

Zephyr glared at the cub, "I am."

The tiger cub stuck his tongue out at him.

My mother tilted her head, "Doesn't it seem like he understands us though? He keeps responding to what we say."

We all stared at him, but he looked away and pretended as if he hadn't heard us.

Zephyr narrowed his eyes, "Hm. Suspicious, isn't it?"

"Well if he can understand us, surely he knows I don't mean him any harm." I reached out to him, "Isn't that right, cutie?"

He gave me another hiss.

I shouted in frustration, "WHY WON'T HE LOVE ME?!"

My mother's face lit up, "Oh! I have an idea! You can take him on a walk. That will surely build a bond between the two of you."

I sighed, "How can I take him on a walk when I can't hold him?"

She giggled, "I already came up with an idea."

She ran over to a drawer and opened it. Then, she pulled out a harness and leash.

The Headmaster stared at it in disbelief, "...How long has that been in there."

I looked it over in disbelief.

It's even the right size…

"How did you find this?"

She smiled mischievously, "I made it myself."

Zephyr clicked his tongue, "Do you ever sleep?"

"Nope~" She went to the tiger cub, "Now let's see if it fits."

The cub hissed at her, but she didn't budge.

She grinned at it, "Don't get sassy with me, little one. I bite back."

The Headmaster nodded in agreement, "She does."

I covered my ears, "Gross! Stop! Please, for my sanity!"

My mother laughed and easily slipped on the harness over the tiger cub. She handed the leash to me, "There you go! You can take him out for a walk now."

I jumped up in excitement and grabbed the leash, "Let's go!"

As I pulled the tiger cub out of the door, Zephyr ran after me, "DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND!"