Within an hour or two, calm settled again over the zoo--except for the press, who'd arrived just in time to witness the last of the invaders escaping, a hoard of Were-kind in hot pursuit. As many of the Weres shifted back to human form, cameras whirred and clicked, flashes flared and stunned reporters tried to capture what they could hardly believe they saw.
After he assumed his human form, Zyl turned to Brun and Max, who had also changed back and now spoke quietly. Carl shifted also and followed close behind him.
"We're outed now," Max grumbled. "Well, I guess it was inevitable. I'm not sure what the Big Man will deem best, but I figure we need to open up to the media now. Put the word out we're ready to start working with the human leaders for the good of all. What do you think?"
Brun shrugged massive shoulders. "Yeah, that beats getting into a war where they're shooting us on sight or something. Of course, we could fight back, but it would be bloody and wasteful and...well, we'd all end up fucked in that case."
"Cooperation is the route if we can do it," Zyl agreed. "I've said as much for some time. But I abided by the code, my oath. At least the king gave us all permission to come here and make common cause, didn't he? He had to know we'd be seen, that the media would get wind of it and they'd be recording stuff. We can't go back into hiding now."
Some of the other Were-kind gathered with them. Most agreed. "We need a spokesman, a leader, but someone who can talk well with the humans."
Zyl shoved Carl forward. "Here's the guy to do that job. He just found out he was one of us a few days ago. He's been living as a human all his life. I'd say he can speak to them better than any of us."
Panic and terror washed across Carl's face. "Oh my God, no! Not me. I've always been a mouse, a quiet, timid kind of guy. A follower, not a leader. I'm the least likely mouthpiece you could find!"
Zyl laughed. "A mouse that's really a cat? No way, bud. You were just hiding your wild cat inside, a lion or a jaguar, only in a smaller spotted hide. Maybe we can do this together. Max, you're a leader, a real one, but you're too intimidating. You'd scare these humans shitless if you got upset and growled at them."
Max gave a rumbling laugh. "You've got that right. Can you two give the press a short statement right now and then tell them we'll have a delegation to meet with some of their folks...you know, the human leaders, tomorrow or whenever they're ready?"
Carl looked at Zyl, anxiety darkening his blue eyes. "I-I'll try if you'll come with me and help."
Zyl cuffed his shoulder, just gently enough not to really hurt. "Yeah, I'll come along."
They broke out of the circle of Were-kind and headed toward the reporters. Of course, they were both bare-assed, clothes somewhere back down by the feline area. With mind-to-mind speech, they exchanged the unlikely hope the cameras would focus above their waists. They'd have to reassure the reporters that future meetings would see everyone properly clothed.
* * * *
Carl could hardly believe he was doing this. At the moment the notion surfaced, he'd glanced back and forth from Zyl to the two Were-bears in disbelief approaching horror. No way could he do this. He could not even speak for the limited community of zoo vet techs, much less what he had come to realize was quite a large population of shifters or Were-kind. He wanted to squeak like the habitual mousy and shy guy he'd always been.
Then meeting Zyl's green glance, he felt the feline stir within him. The cat-self gave an aggravated yowl and told him in no uncertain terms that it was time to shit and git! He was going to have to both walk and talk this new vision of himself, although he'd barely met that aspect. Zyl's approval and reassurance buoyed him.
I can do this. I need to. I want to and I will.
There were a couple of women in the group of reporters, and Carl sensed they were ogling him and Zyl with avid interest. He almost laughed when he caught Zyl's disdainful thought.
::Sorry, girls. This is my lifetime for guys.. You can look, but no touching.::
When Carl opened his mouth to speak, he found the words poured out smoothly. He sensed that Max and Brun, as well as Zyl, were telepathically feeding him the basic points, but he had no trouble framing them into strong, positive, emphatic and unequivocal words.
Yes, Were-kind had been living beside and among humans for some time. Yes, they were aware of the protest and attempted raid in advance and did not support it. Although they sought fair and ethical treatment for animals, they did not advocate a sudden release of every creature under human control and protection. That would be tantamount to genocide because the captive animals were not able to survive without the care they were now used to.
Still, the leaders of Were-kind, including their supreme ruler, were ready and open to working with any of the human leaders who would accept them as equals and partners in many issues related to animals and the environment. A delegation would be ready to meet as soon as tomorrow. Carl asked the reporters to share this message with their audience on television, radio and various print or electronic media.
After he and Zyl fielded a few more questions, they firmly ended the interview and suggested the media representatives go back to their normal business. The day's excitement was over. Before they got to that point, though, the zoo manager and his senior staff had all gathered there, too. They spoke briefly to the media, but avoided most direct questions by issuing a short statement.
They declared the zoo closed for the rest of the day and barred the gates as soon as the last reporter departed. Then, almost as one, they turned to the assembled Were-kind, obvious uncertainty in their posture and expressions. They all tried to appear strong and expressed determination to retain control of the facility. At least they began with diplomacy rather than a misguided show of force.
Carl exhaled a sigh of relief. He felt sure the Weres would not take kindly to any arrogance or overbearing attitude on the zoo staff's part. He prepared himself to try to intervene if that began to appear, but he didn't need to. Max and several of the other Weres said they'd be glad to meet with the zoo officials soon, but that there had been enough uproar for one day.
Everyone agreed and both groups began to move away, most of the Were-kind leaving, while the zoo staff went back to their normal duties. Carl made the rounds to check on all of his feline charges. None of them even seemed to be upset or stressed. Although conflict had raged around the area, no fences or walls were damaged and none of the animals had been so much as threatened. While he visited all the cats, Zyl tagged along beside him, saying very little, but observing with keen attention.
Evening came with feeding time and the normal closing time, which today only involved checking the gates to be sure everything was secure. Though no one expected the protestors to return, they were taking no chances. All the security devices were active, as were the surveillance cameras and scanners. At least two people would be observing their input in the security office all night long while the old, trusted guards would roam the grounds in pairs.
With that reassurance, Carl felt he could safely head for his cottage and rest from the stressful day. He turned to Zyl, who paced along beside him. "I'm surprised you're still here. I thought you'd be heading off with Max and the others, or are you going to continue to stay with the cheetahs?"
The shifter lifted one mobile eyebrow, answering the question with one of his own. "What are your plans for the night?"
"Nothing that can't include you, if you're so inclined."
* * * *
"I wasn't going to invite myself, but since you seem willing, I think I can take the night off. We could join some of the Were-kind at the bar, but I'd just as soon hang out with you. Any Were business can wait until tomorrow."
Zyl saw relief and something like contentment sweep over Carl's face, his human face. That his new friend had managed two shifts today with no help except for the spur of urgency boded well for his adjustment to his new status. However, for this evening, he hoped they might both stay in human form.
Intimacy between a male cheetah and a male ocelot could be a bit awkward. Few animals were really gay and Were-kind in their beast forms seldom acted on any such urges, either. Although there was no rule against it and their oath did not speak to the matter, there was still an unspoken agreement or stricture that was almost never violated. And sex between different species simply felt off-key, whether it was between male and female or two individuals of the same gender.
In the deepening dusk, Zyl laid his arm across Carl's shoulders. "I'm proud of you, you know. It won't be long before the take-charge personality of your cat-self infiltrates your human self and infuses you with new power and capability. You're using it already. You'll make a damn good spokesman."
Carl slid his arm around Zyl's lean waist. Together they strolled across the zoo to Carl's house and went in. An urgent excitement began to build in both of them. Zyl could feel Carl's tension and knew it matched his own. They stepped through the door after Carl unlocked it. Then he shoved it closed behind them. "Finally," he said.
Zyl didn't waste any time on words. The adrenaline rush of the fight still coursed through his body. Perhaps there was a flashback to the beast side where a battle for supremacy often preceded mating. The fact he and his chosen mate had fought, not with each other, but for the same side in the conflict didn't change the response. If anything, it heightened the effect.
He grabbed the shorter man and dragged him into a fierce embrace. When Carl tilted his face up, Zyl kissed him with a voracious hunger, demanding, devouring. Carl remained passive for a few seconds, then he began to give back as good as he got. Timeless moments later they broke apart, gasping for breath.
"Wow," Carl said, his eyes sparkling. "That was some kiss. Is that how shifters do it?"
Zyl cuffed his shoulder. "Smart ass. That's how I do it when I really need, really want, somebody. No more talk now. Get up against that wall."
They had retrieved their clothes on the way from the front gates to Carl's house, but neither had felt any need to put them on. That meant now there were no barriers. Just as well, Zyl thought. If either of them had been dressed, he would likely have demolished the garments. Patience was not his strong suit.
He followed Carl, who had backed up to the wall, to one side of the front door. The smaller man looked puzzled but eager. "Can I ask what you intend to do?"
"This." Zyl pressed against Carl, so nearly every bit of their bodies touched from toes to knees to groin, chest and faces. Zyl moved in a sinuous way, rubbing against Carl, letting their cocks feel the friction and roll against one another's upper legs and bellies. Although he was already so hard he ached, he'd keep going until he was sure Carl was in the same state. The other man began to moan, a low humming sound deep in his chest.
When he spoke suddenly, it caught Zyl by surprise. "Let me turn around and bend over a little bit. I want to feel you inside me, as deep as you can go."
Zyl moved just enough to let Carl turn to face the wall. With both hands pressing against the surface a bit below shoulder height, Carl pushed his butt back toward Zyl. Taking his prick in one hand, Zyl rubbed it along the crease of Carl's ass, down between his upper thighs and back up past the opening.
"We need lube of some kind or I'll be tearing you up," Zyl said, his voice near a growl with tension. "What have you got?"
"On the table, the butter tub. It's the only thing I can think of."
Zyl gave a sharp laugh. "That's crazy, but it'll work." He stretched to reach the plastic container, dipped a finger into the half-melted margarine, and spread it into Carl's ass. A second fingerful slicked onto his dick completed the preparations.
This time he did not pause, didn't even hesitate. He plunged between Carl's cheeks and thrust in, a long steady drive, doing his best to meet his partner's desire. Then it was thrust and draw back, rocking, twisting a little bit, accelerating as he began to lose control. Thought faded until there was only feeling.
Tight and hot, so good, sooo damn fucking good...
Then he came, giving a very feline yowl, pain and pleasure so intertwined there was no separating the sensations.
After he caught his breath, he realized the other man was trembling, holding a good part of their combined weight with his extended arms.
Zyl backed away then, pulling Carl's slighter body with him. He spun the other man around and again drew him close. "I hurt you, didn't I? I got carried away. I don't usually lose control that bad. Are you all right?"
Carl nodded, his face buried against Zyl's shoulder. "Not hurt," he murmured. "Well, maybe a little good hurt, but I'm fine. I needed that, wanted it."
"What can I do for you now? That was all about me and I'm not just a one way kind of guy. The first time, the other night, we were sharing. I want to share more."
Pulling back a bit, Carl reached and caught one of Zyl's hands. "Come on, then. Let's go to the other room, get on the bed. Right now I'm kind of worn out, but I'll be okay if I can lie down, lie down with you."
Zyl felt an illogical urge to pick Carl up and carry him, but he didn't. He wouldn't hurt the other man's pride for anything. He knew Carl was still unaware of his shifter strengths and how to tap into them when he needed to, but he'd learn. Teaching him would be one of Zyl's new self-appointed tasks. There was so much for them to explore, learn and do together. If only the powers would grant them that time...
* * * *
Despite his exhaustion that hit behind the fading rush of adrenaline and energy from the day's conflicts, Carl's whole being sang with elation. His doubts faded. He was one of them now, a real shifter. He'd done it on his own, as well as come back to his human form. Even better, he'd gotten past his habitual timidity and stepped up to be a spokesman and liaison between Were-kind and the rest of humanity.