FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Washed Ashore

Chapter 1

By Roofles

A commission piece for Samt517. A mini series about Jungle cats and a human

The intensity of the sun burned through his closed eyelids, forcing Jonathan to open them glaring up at the “daystar” with spite. He shielded his eyes with an arm as the cool feel of water lapped over his legs. He felt uncharacteristically tired. The warm cushion of sand underneath formed around him like a warm hug as he lay there, trying to catch his breath and recall exactly what had happened to bring him to such a place.

Jonathan had been on a trip with his schoolmates. They were taking a plane… where? Jonathan couldn’t recall in that moment as the memory of the airport shifted to inside the cabin of the plane. And just as quickly he recalled the red lights flashing, smoke filling the room as he fussed with his seatbelt. He could smell smoke, he could see fire. Someone screamed, someone else was crying.

Something had gone terribly wrong that’s all he knew.

It was supposed to be a quick trip overseas. He was going to do a tour of Europe, that was what it was he recalled as his foggy brain began to clear. And with it a dull pain that made him groan as his whole body felt like a weight, weighed down by it all. Jonathan’s throat felt like it had never tasted water before; a hellscape devoid of moisture and the human was already looking around for something to drink with groggy, half closed eyes.

The sea stretched before him. Vast and endless. He couldn’t even see anything that looked like a plane crashed and could only wonder just how far the waves had carried him. It was a blessing he was even able to stand.

The sand was warm and soft. The golden white beach stretched as far as he could see one way and then the other. A bird screeched above him making Jonathan try and see it in the clear blue sky. The sun continued to beat down from above and he wanted nothing more than to curl up in the shade and sleep this nightmare away.

“Water…” Was the first thing that came to mind as he trudged up the beach. He had lost one of his shoes during the accident and decided to keep the other out of stubborn spite as he made his way up the beach away from the waves.

Jonathan could hear anything other than the ocean and the occasional bird. He had never felt so alone as he trudged up the sandy shore.

A vast jungle sat before him of tangled vines, spiral trunks and thick ferns that overlapped one another creating a wall of green. The sun couldn’t penetrate the thick foliage and Jonathan was left mystified if this was the best course of action. That was until he spied the small trickle of a creek to his side.

The idea of fresh water was too great and he was already hobbling his way over to quench his thirst.

The shallow creek was more sand than water and Jonathan forced himself to look back into the jungle thicket once more. Resigning to his fate, Jonathan followed the creek deeper inside the tangled mess hoping it opened up more. Vines caught his arms, roots tripped his feet and more than once he found himself walking right into a spider’s web.

He gagged and quickly swiped it away, brushing the sticky thread off before quickly moving several paces away from it out of pure fear.

“I hate nature.” Jonathan just coughed his throat a parched dessert as he struggled to keep going. His vision was shaky at best and he felt far warmer than he was comfortable with.

The humidity here was harsh and he was sweating from head to toe as he desperately followed the creek further inside. The jungle seemed to move against him, blocking the wind and leaving him in a smoldering oven to bake.

Just as Jonathan was about to call it he saw a sight that brought tears to his eyes.

The jungle canopy opened above and a ray of sunlight fell on a pond. It looked straight out a National Geographic cover. The crystal clear blue water was the most pleasing sight for his tired eyes to see. Lily pads gently swayed on the surface as a small waterfall splashed nearby. The small creek weaved out from underneath his legs towards the ocean that he had followed from to this paradise.

“There is a god!” Jonathan almost laughed. He would have if he wasn’t so exhausted. Stripping down to nothing the human was already dipping a toe into the warm, refreshing waters to wash the stank of the ocean from his body.

Unaware of the orange eyes watching him from the canopy above.

Kodakawa was on his patrol of their territory. It was a daily procedure that Koda had quickly gotten tired of. The tiger had gotten bored with the dull uneventful routine of safeguarding their jungle island. It wasn’t as if anything actually happened here. He knew every plant, every bird song and every tree post; marking several as he went with his long curved claws that quickly sheathed themselves back into his fingers.

Every day had been the same. Nothing new ever happened on Tigard island and Koda was sure the sheer boredom of this place was going to kill him. It was by chance that he was sunbathing near his favorite secret pond that he had stumbled on during one of the daily patrols that he saw the peculiar sight.

It caught the cat’s interests immediately.

The strange furless creature stumbled clumsily out of the jungle below made the tiger chuff out a soft laugh at his flailing arms from the cobweb they had just ran into. Their bizarre, idiosyncratic outfit was amusing in and of itself. Half of their clothes were missing or torn. One foot was bare while the other was covered. The fur on the top of their head was a mess and they looked like they needed a stiff drink.

How something like this ended up in their jungle alive was curious in itself. Then the strange creature began to undress perking up the tiger’s round beady ears as a lewd smile crossed Koda’s face.

“Very interesting.” The tiger chuffed happily as he watched the scene from above, tucked between the leaves.

Jonathan had thought he was all alone as he stripped down to his birthday suit. The water was warm against his leg and he already felt a hundred times better as he dipped himself into the water. Instantly Jonathan felt revitalized as he soaked in the cool, yet warm pond. It was the most refreshing thing he had ever experienced in his life. His feet could barely touch the bottom of the rocky pond and the human decided to float there like a log as he let the horrible experience get washed away by the gentle flow of the pond.

He’d deal with food later as he dunked his head underneath, swimming in small circles before breaking the surface. Water droplets flew through the air as Jonathan flicked his long hair out of his eyes, brushing his hands through it like a L'oréal commercial.

Koda only purred deeply as he watched the scene unfold. The tiger hadn’t moved a muscle as his orange eyes burned like small miniature suns as he watched intensely. The tiger’s tail dipped below the branch he was laying on, swaying back and forth as he enjoyed the show put on for him. The voyeuristic feline finding a keen pleasure in just watching the smaller male rub and wash himself off in the crystal clear blue water.

The tiger could feel himself stirring between his legs. The strange furless creature was clearly a male and he wasn’t too bad on the eyes either. With his wavy, slightly curly long brown hair, muscular but with some weight to him as well. The wet body hair that clung to his arms and legs, chest and belly made the tiger purr softly wanting to rub his fingers over it.

It wasn’t at all like anything Koda had ever seen before on the island. All the other felines looked like he did. Large cats covered in thick orange fur with white markings and black stripes; not counting the neighboring tribe, though those black fur felines weren’t much different themselves.

When you grew up surrounded by those that looked alike, it got tiresome quickly. Koda wanting to die from the boredom of it all. Each day like the last. Repetitive, uneventful and filled with the same people he’d known his entire life. His ordinary day to day life hadn’t brought any of spark or fire to the tiger’s eyes until today.

Maybe it was the fact this smaller male was new that made him so excitingly interesting; Koda didn’t mind one bit as he adjusted himself underneath the smooth leather loin cloth he wore with a large hand. Either way, Koda wasn’t going to be bored for much longer…

The tiger tailed curled around the hunting spear at his side, lounging out on the tree branch as he watched the human was a bemused smile taking in every inch of the man for later delights.

The human soaked in the pond for half an hour letting it cleanse both his body and spirit. Jonathan needed to clear his head after what had happened before thinking about his next step to take.

“Refreshing.” Jonathan actually laughed after as he turned back towards his clothes he had left there by the side. He didn’t want to put the salty garments back on but didn’t want to walk around stark nude either.

Contemplating if he should try and wash them here or not, the human waded his way over to the side of the pond.

Jonathan hadn’t bothered folding his clothes, leaving them on a rather smooth rock nearby. It was why the human hesitated, if only for a second seeing a green twig laying over it. It must’ve fallen from above, Jonathan figured looking up into the canopy. With a shrug, thinking nothing of it, the human reached out his hand to grab his clothes, planning on sunbathing dry before putting them on.

There was a whistle that made the human jump before a rather long feathered tipped spear struck the rock his clothes had been on. The carved stone tip had pierced the green twig and instantly it began to thrash and flailing about; Jonathan jumping back discerning that what he had thought to be a simple green twig turned out to be a snake instead.

The snake’s long green body had remained perfectly motionless until the spear had struck it, pinning the poisonous creature to the ground. It bared its fangs at the human, hissing out as its long body whipped out violently in pain.

A soft thud landed nearby catching Jonathan’s attention. Just long enough to see a rather large, imposing figure walk straight past the human on the rocks. Heavy footsteps spread over the smooth stone balancing the tiger’s weight and with strong, careful steps the tiger strode right past the human towards the spear he had thrown. Grabbing it by the shaft, the tiger plucked it from the ground with ease to look at the serpent he’d struck.

Saving the human’s life in the process.

Jonathan couldn’t look away as he watched the tiger’s jaws open and in the next second the snake head went flying as Koda tore it off from the neck in a quick, mercilessly gesture. The tiger spat to the side, slinging the scaly green body over one shoulder, the tiger turned towards the human with a smirk.

The tiger man stood there on large flat paws with thick muscular legs, showing off his ass as he looked back at the human. The tiger man had very little on other than the smooth leather lion cloth, a pair of leather bracers and matching ankle guards. The smooth leather loin cloth the tiger wore left little to the imagination. Jonathan had watched the tiger’s hanging self sway with every step he took underneath the loose leather fabric that blew openly in the gently breeze. The tiger’s body was covered in thick fur but still Jonathan could see just how thick the tiger was. His arms were pure muscle as Koda flexed subconsciously at being stared at. The tiger’s heavy chest sticking out as he lifted his head in pride as he stood there in a ray of sunlight shining down from above.

Koda was showing off not only his hunting skills but his body in turn as he stood before the human with the spear in one hand resting back against a shoulder with the dead snake over the other. The tiger had charmed nearly everyone back in the village with his impressive hunting skills and good looks. He was sure to woo this strange creature just as he’d done the others.

Jonathan did the only rational thing to do.

The human screamed like a little girl, flailing in the pond as he tried to run backwards in the water away from the tiger man. Only for his foot to catch on the muddy rocky pond and twist in a way it wasn’t supposed to bend. Jonathan let out another shriek, this time of pain, before flailing in the water.

Koda entire face fell as he watched the pitiful display. Maybe he had been too charming, the tiger could only figure as he watched the strange creature drown in the shallow pond before him.

With a shrug, the tiger stuck his spear in the ground, wrapping the snake around the carved wood and took slow deliberate steps into the pond to rescue the drowning man. The tiger chuffed with a laugh as he stood there with the human clinging to his body the next second trying not to drown in the shallow pond.

“Easy there,” Koda just purred softly as he bent down into the cool, yet warm pond and scooped the human up in his arms. Carrying him like an infant with ease pulling him up out of the water as the tiger stood there smirking down at the smaller male.

One arm was underneath both Jonathan’s legs and the other behind his back. The feline showed no strain lifting the six foot man out of the water and Jonathan blanked at the controlled strength the feline showed. Koda gracefully saving the human in a fraction of a second.

“That’s the second time you owe me,” the tiger tail swayed in the water as he stood there looking down at the man in his arms.

Jonathan gasped as he clung to Koda’s furry chest, taking several seconds to catch not only his breath but to calm his nerves down. He was acutely aware of the furry arms brushing against his naked, exposed skin as the tiger held him slightly tilting against his chest for support. Gravity forcing Jonathan’s face and body against the tiger’s exposed chest.

A ray of sunlight fell on Koda’s back making the tiger seem to glow softly. His bright orange fur standing out against the lush green foliage behind him. Jonathan slowly looked up into the tiger man’s face. Koda smiled at that, showing off his blood smeared fangs as.

“Hey there, how you doin’?” Koda said, flirting with the human only for Jonathan eyes to roll into the back of his head in freight and the human passing out a second later. Be it from the strain of the plane crash, the fact he hadn’t eaten all day or out of pure shock Jonathan was out like a light.

“Uh…” The tiger’s face fell at that as he shook the human lightly, trying to rouse the man. “Not the best first impression I’ve ever had… not the worse either,” Koda just admitted as he carried the human out of the pond and further into the jungle…

The tiger nosed at the human in his arms. Sniffing at his tangled mess of brown hair and over his cheek, down Jonathan’s neck and against his chest. He had a strange peculiar smell. Not nearly as strong as one of the jungle cats, that was for sure.

“What a strange creature,” Koda just mused with a smile on his face as the feline moved through the jungle. “I know the perfect place to hide him,” the tiger chuffed with a sway of his tail balancing on a log with ease. Not wanting the others to find his new discovery.

…

Jonathan woke butt naked on a bed of fabric. It was soft to the touch and for a split second the human thought he might be back in his own bed. That was until he sat up to look around the room, the white bed sheet draped over him slipping down to his lap. His face falling as he looked around the unfamiliar room.

He defiantly wasn’t in Kansas anymore.

The room he found himself in looked to be carved out of the very wood the small tree house had been built on. The ground was part of the tree with gnarled branches rolling out to stick out of the sides of the wooden walls. The cone shaped building had been built with all this mind; rather than fighting against the tree it had been built on, the carpenter had built it with the tree in mind.

The walls were open where the branches stuck out, the open windows were used to let the leaves flow through and even the central part of the house had a much smaller tree trunk sticking up from the floor to form the central pillar for the thatched roof; the brown dried vegetation woven together to form a pointed cone shaped roof leaving the room very open.

What caught the human’s eye was how the room was… crudely decorated.

Trinkets of all shapes and sizes hung from the support beams blowing gently in the wind. Other things had been hung up on the walls or just spread out over the floor creating a cluttered mess. From numerous sea shells, to small pieces of metal and even what looked like several bones gathered together and sun bleached white. Rocks of various sizes and colors were carefully placed in an ever growing mound to one side; then there was a treasure trove of junk in the far corner that would drive any neat freak insane.

Pop cans, plastic bags and other man’s trash as Jonathan just decided to call it had all been gathered and tossed haphazardly into the pile. An old tire leaned against the wall, threaded and wrapped in a broken fishing net. Bottle caps had been hung from the ripped fishing net over the collection of glass bottles underneath. And it didn’t end there.

Next to the trash heap were several far older vintage items; one was even an old pendulum clock, though it didn’t work. Worn, torn and faded picture frames had been neatly stacked behind it. Hung up over the pile was a sea worn steering wheel for a ship that was missing several handles.

The first thought that came to Jonathan’s mind was that whoever owned this place was a hoarder as he tried to get up.

The bed Jonathan sat on had been lifted from the ground like a miniature tree house in a tree house. There was a small step ladder leading down to the floor to his side. Draping the white bed sheet over himself like a toga, Jonathan took a tentative step down as he looked around.

Instantly he felt a sharp pain shoot up his leg and fell back onto his ass. He held up his leg to see the swollen ankle he had twisted in his attempt to flee from the savage tiger man.

The human felt his breath catch in his throat as he quickly looked around, looking for the tiger. He was alone here in this clutter mess. The human forcing himself to stand back up and hobble down the steps so he could get out of here before the tiger showed up again.

Wooden wind chimes blew in one of the windows making him stop, freezing in place from the sound of it. Birds sung outside the window and Jonathan could tell it was still only afternoon here. Wherever here was as the human limped his way through the open room.

Other than the outer walls of the tree house, there weren’t any walls inside leaving everything open. Jonathan could see a small table to his side with wooden bowls placed neatly stacked on top. Each one needed to be washed. Several woven lanterns hung from the ceiling. Each had an unlit wax mound inside seeing as how the sun was still out.

Several beaded braids, feathers and bones necklaces hung from the wall making Jonathan think whoever lived here’s hobby was crafting random trinkets and necklaces. As well as hoarding them. The feathers were beautiful looking like bright rainbow of colors that flowed gently into the other as the human picked one of the feathers up to look at.

Jonathan wasn’t an ornithologist but knew the feather was from exotic bird species one might only see in the Amazon rainforest. Was that where he was..?

“I’ve never seen a bird with feathers like this…” Jonathan frowned as he placed the feather back, looking over the hand crafted beads lying on the counter next to it. A string loosely tied several together, the end left open to add more beads later down the road.

Like the beaded necklace, several other projects seemed to be unfinished. There were wooden carvings of birds, trees and what looked to be the very tiger man Jonathan had seen earlier half done resting on the mantel piece of a fireplace. The human reached up to take the tiger man sculpture to look it over.

The edges were cleanly done and what had been finished was smooth to the touch as if sanded at one point. Whoever the craftsman was had skill and Jonathan could recognize the tiger instantly as he turned it over in his hand. Underneath the carving on the base was a simple carved K.

Jonathan put it back after hearing the soft rattle of beads and turned towards the open doorway. Hanging beads formed a makeshift door leading outside, Jonathan could easily see through the beads. They rattled in the wind as Jonathan slowly approached to look outside. He stopped then, seeing that the beads formed a pattern of tiger stripes making the human smile softly.

“Ok, that is kind of well done.” He had to admit brushing a hand along the beads. It reminded him of some of the shops downtown back home. This entire place looking like a flea market now that he thought about it. The beads rattled together softly like raindrops falling making the tension building inside Jonathan ease slightly from the soothing sound.

The human slipped out the door, needing a moment for his eyes to adjust before gasping at the view.

The tree house had been built in one of the taller trees of the jungle allowing a perfect view of the area from the front porch. It was breathtaking. The jade green leaves of the jungle canopy blew gently in the warm breeze as the sun lazily hung above. The bright blue sky above didn’t have a single cloud in it as Jonathan rested against the wooden railing and looked out over the trees, towards the ocean that stretched as far as the eye could see…

“Where in the hell am I?” Was the only thought Jonathan had as he winced, placing a bit too much pressure on his ankle. The human glanced down at it. Slightly swollen but otherwise didn’t instantly jump out as being broken.

Brushing a hand through his hair, Jonathan just rested back against the railing letting a cool breeze blow as he closed his eyes. It felt nice at least. Jonathan was afraid the tiger man was planning to have him for lunch and knew he needed to get out of here. Jonathan took a moment though to appreciate the single fact he was still alive after everything he’d been through.

“Maybe it was a fever dream…?” Jonathan thought aloud as he looked around. There were other tree houses like the one he was in, though smaller.

Each of the other huts were connected to the central house Jonathan had woken up in. Wooden cross bridges were set between each of them. Ropes had been fastened along their sides allowing for some sort of support while crossing them.

The human was curious what each hut held but Jonathan didn’t have time to investigate as a thud landed behind him, all too familiar from before. The human instantly jumped, turning around quickly and backing up against the wooden railing of the tree house. His eyes widen seeing not a tiger this time but a black fur panther standing there, staring at him with cold emerald eyes that seemed to shine in the afternoon sun.

The massive jungle cat slowly stood up before the human, looking down at Jonathan with unblinking emerald eyes. The glossy black fur shined like obsidian in the afternoon sun. The feline only had a loin cloth on and didn’t seem to be ashamed in the slightest to show off his otherwise naked muscular body for the human.

“Uh…” Jonathan poetically tried to say in his defense as he pressed against the railing some more. The weight of the human made the thin wooden railing bend and before Jonathan knew it, the water worn wood was snapping.

A hand shot out quickly and curled around the front of Jonathan’s white bed sheet he’d dressed himself with. Grabbing it, the human hung slightly back over the edge of the wooden walkway and above the jungle; glancing back, he could see the broken pieces of the railing falling into the jungle below. It was a long ways down…

The panther held the other end of the linen, looking at him with indifferent eyes as his muzzle curled in a bemused smile.

“Who. Are you?” The panther spoke with a low snarl to his voice, flashing just the hint of those large feline fangs as he asked the question.

Jonathan’s face fell once more; though this time he managed not to pass out as he held on for dear life grabbing the sheet and his life line with both hands.

“I-I’m innocent, I swear!” Jonathan just said quickly in his defense as if on trail.

“Innocent?” The panther ears folded back as he showed his teeth in a snarl. “Is that your name?”

“N-no, my names J-Jonathan.” The human stammered out, gripping the bed sheet tightly with both hands as he swayed over the edge. The fabric began to rip and the human face blanked at that. The panther’s claws dug into the bed sheets but only seemed to be tearing the cloth further.

The feline stood there for another minute watching the human closely with keen emerald eyes… before at the last minute pulling him back to safely, snagging Jonathan’s arm in the process. The panther lifted it and the human by the arm as the feline brought his broad whiskered snout down to sniff along it, down to Jonathan’s chest before snorting in the humans’ face in distaste. Tossing Jonathan back on the deck, the panther crouched over him still looking at him with a cat’s curiosity.

“Ja Ja Jonathan, huh?” The panther said as if in amusement. It was hard to tell if the feline was mocking him or not for stuttering.

“Jonathan, yes. That is my name… Mr…?” Jonathan backed away, only to bump into the wall of the central tree house. Pinned between a tree and an angry jungle cat. Not a place he wanted to be.

The panther chuffed at that, as if laughing at the idea of telling the human his name. The black fur feline leaned forward, flexing an arm as he slammed his palm against the wall next to Jonathan’s head. Only for the cat’s fur to stand on end as he jumped, someone calling towards him in the second ruining his tough guy routine.

“Sabor!” Koda said jogging down one of the cross bridges. The tiger stopped seeing the panther glaring at him, then over to the human pinned against the wall. Koda’s face went from one of confused concern to thrilled excitement seeing Jonathan awake. Those orange eyes widening with the smile spreading across the tiger’s face making the human feel nervous once more.

The panther, Sabor, tail flicked quickly behind him in annoyance as the feline stood up. The feline not seeming to have a problem the human was at crotch height and the feline practically shoved his groin against the human pinned against the wall. Jonathan’s blushed, looking up from the hanging panther to his face. The human jaw dropped at seeing the large, intimidating feline beginning to lick the back of his palm with a hot pink tongue. The panther sasually grooming his fur as if he hadn’t just threatened the human’s life a second ago.

“You’re plaything is awake, Koda…” The panther just kept grooming himself, brushing the hand over his head and down his braided hair.

The panther fur was short and curved over his muscular body. His mane however was far longer than a normal panther’s and Sabor had braided it, tying the end of several strands with white strands of thread highlighting each braid as they moved.

“Oh, good!” The tiger said not even coming to Jonathan’s defense making the human very worried in that moment for what exactly the tiger had in mind for him.

The tiger was dressed far more than he had been before. Previously, the large jungle cat had been wearing a leather loin cloth and paw covers; now he was dressed as if he were about to go to some gala… though a jungle themed one.

Koda had an intricate necklace slung over his chest made of long thin bird bones, feathers and beads. It didn’t hide his two large pink nipples on the tiger’s white fur thick chest any making Jonathan blush as the feline puffed out his chest before him. Koda had twin bracers on made of smooth brown leather with golden rings above it. Each finger had several metal rings of silvers and gold as well. He still wore a leather loin cloth though it was mostly covered by a loose, open half sash made of several layers of dyed fabrics.

“How’d the meeting go?” Sabor asked, ignoring the human for the time being as he turned towards the tiger. Sabor was an ear length taller than Koda was and just as thick as the tiger. The two jungle cats talking as if Jonathan wasn’t even there, the human still just sitting on his butt looking up at the two and trying not to stare at the groins directly in his face.

The loin cloths left little to the imagination.

“Oh, you know father.” Koda just laughed with a shrug. “What am I going to do?” The movement made his hips sway to one side giving Jonathan a clear sideview of the feline’s furry sack. His length was flaccid and looked far more humanoid than the rest of the feline, much to Jonathan’s surprise.

“How about NOT bringing livestock home, for starters.” Sabor thumbed over at the human. A breeze blew by and Jonathan had to look pretend he didn’t see the panther fatty flaccid length as his loin cloth blew open.

“He’s not livestock.” The tiger just chuffed with a laugh, sticking out his chest and tossing his head back. His long furry mane blew gently in the breeze as those keen cat like orange eyes looked over at the human. “I think he’s fascinating.” Koda practically purred.

“Of… course you do.” Sabor just grumbled, dragging a hand down his muzzle as he griped about it. The panther adjusted himself openly with a large hand, making his sack bounce and sway after. “Another one of your fleeting fancies, no doubt.” The panther spoke up but the tiger had already moved past him to crouch in front of the human.

The tiger squatted down in front of the human, his muscular legs flexing as the jungle cat inspected the human. His pink nose twitched as he hung loose underneath his loin cloth not seeming to notice it wasn’t long enough to cover up his white furry sack hanging low.

“What do you suppose it is?” Koda spoke up, reaching out a finger to touch Jonathan’s face. Those large orange eyes staring at the human in pure fascination of the human. The tiger utterly captivated by him. Jonathan instantly tensed but it only last that brief second as he looked back into those large orange eyes, like rings of fire.

Koda was far more gently than Sabor had been. His voice was calm, soothing even like warm honey. It purred out his lips as he spoke making the white fur on the bottom muzzle quiver slightly as he spoke. His pink tongue curling with his words as the muzzle parted just enough to allow it to dance and speak inside. Koda’s ears were up in full attention as he looked at the human with interest.

“How in the nine hells would I know?” Sabor crossed his arms. The panther’s long black fur tail flicked to one side as he looked at the human with a snarl. The disinterested feline seemed more worried and bothered by the human’s presence than the tiger did.

“His fur is so short… and soft…” Koda just went on, dragging his fingers over Jonathan’s cheek, down his neck to his exposed chest. The feline’s eyes eating it all in as they went. Koda rumbled out a purr as he felt the soft body hair of the human in his fingers, rubbing them between his fingers. “So little… you don’t think he’s sick, do you?” Koda asked concerned.

“Maybe he has mites? Or ring worm?” Sabor chuffed with a laugh at the idea of the toy Koda brought home having some kind of sickness. That only made the panther frown realizing that if it was sick, Sabor would most likely be the one stuck nursing it back to health…

“He did faint when I first met him.” Koda nodded as if thinking that was somehow related and not the fact he was a seven foot tall tiger man.

“Doesn’t explain what it is.” Sabor was getting far more invested in the conversation as the two feline’s basically dissected the human out of pure curiosity at this point. The panther crouching down next to the tiger to poke and prod at the human. Sabor poking Jonathan’s cheek with a sheathed finger.

“I’m a human…” Jonathan finally spoke up, flushed in the cheeks from the feel of those warm leather pink paw pads rubbing over his bare chest. Koda hadn’t stopped and the large soft fingers kept bumping into the human’s nipples. It was hard to tell if that was on purpose or not.

The two feline’s perked up at that staring at the human far more intently now. Both their eyes dilating before retracting into their cat like pupils.

“I forgot it could speak.” Sabor admitted almost sheepishly pulling his hand back, getting caught up in the moment.

“I didn’t know it could!” Koda eyes widen as the fanged smile spread across his muzzle. Whereas Jonathan had been very perturbed to hear the feline speak, Koda seemed to be utterly fascinated by the fact the human could. The tiger even scooting a bit closer, pinning the human now against the wall as he nosed him from one side; the panther on the other trapping the human between the two muscular felines.

The pink tiger nose twitched several times as it sniffed over Jonathan’s neck and face before that large snout moved down to push against his chest. The tiger holding back little restraint or care for the human’s personal space as Koda continued to nose at him. One paw touched Jonathan’s leg making him tense as the feline felt him.

Jonathan could feel the feline chuff out against his chest, hot moist breath panting out against his chest making the human very uncomfortable as the tiger continued to inspect his prize. Koda was blocking out the sun above as the large jungle cat leaned over the human, placing a hand above Jonathan’s head as the other came down to pull on the cloth the human had been wearing with a clawed digit.

Jonathan whole face began to turn red, about to say something when Sabor’s ears perked up. The panther quickly stood back up, turning his attention elsewhere catching the human’s attention. Koda barely seemed to notice as the hungry tiger’s eyes trailed down Jonathan’s happy trail between the human’s covered legs.

“We have guests.” The panther quickly spoke up, snapping his fingers in front of the tiger’s face. Begrudgingly, Koda pulled back and away from his catch. The tiger’s ears jumping up as they twitched as he focused hearing what the panther had his attention.

“Bring him inside, quick!” Koda was already grabbing Jonathan’s legs as Sabor grabbed the human’s arms. The two feline’s quickly running inside as they carried the human against his will.

“Where?” Sabor said getting antsy now as he bouncing back and forth on his feet looking around the spacious open room. It was a clutter mess as Koda had always left it. Even still, there were very few places the two could hide the human at in the open room.

“Bed!” Koda said quickly and Jonathan could only yelp as the two felines swung him away and then flung the human up onto the lifted bed with the sheet. “Distract them,” Koda stressed the words undressing on the spot. He tossed his ceremonial outfit onto the nearby table, planning on worrying about it later as he leapt up onto the bed over the very startled human. The agile tiger easily jumping up the several foot high bed frame.

“Fuck!” Jonathan could only curse, shielding his face from being mauled by the tiger. Koda was pulling the sheets off the human before flinging them up in the air and crawling down over the human.

“Sh! Quiet.” Koda growled far less friendly than he had been before. His tail tip was flickering quickly as the sheets landed over the two, the tiger having crushed the human against the bed as he laid over him. Placing a large hand over Jonathan’s mouth, the human got the idea quickly enough as the tiger pretended to be sleeping.

Koda used his larger, thicker body to press the human against the mattress away from anyone prying eyes as the tiger pulled the sheets around the two of them. Jonathan’s face was pressing roughly against the tiger’s white fur chest. Jonathan could feel the tiger’s ragged breaths, hear his quick heart beat and smell the musk from the feline.

“Sabor! Where’s Koda!” A shrill female’s voice came from outside making the tiger instantly tense on top of the human.

“Fuck, not her.” Koda practically cried as he hugged the human tightly against his chest, resting his weight fully on Jonathan as the tiger pulled the feathered pillow over both their heads.

The ragged breath of the tiger panting hotly against Jonathan’s face as Koda tried to reassure him, or maybe himself, that everything would be already.

“Koda!” The voice only grew louder as the feline pushed past the panther trying to explain to her that he wasn’t here.

Koda’s fur stood up as the feline hissed out softly in annoyance. His tail swayed quickly behind him as the tiger wormed his way onto the human fully trapping Jonathan underneath his bulky, furry body. The tiger’s body was warm and his musk was strong as he laid over the human; using his body to shield Jonathan from view and his natural smell to hide the human’s scent from the noisy female.

Sauda was already at the door, pushing past her brother Sabor to come into the tree house. She was looking around, her nose twitching before spying the movement of Koda’s tail up on the bed. The pantheress was a shorter, lither version of her brother who quickly followed in behind her. She was dressed in ornament beads that had been designed as a bra and a skirt allowing for free movement as she strode towards the bed. Only her fur covered the more intimate parts of her body, the beaded outfit leaving just as much imagination as the male’s loin cloths did.

“Koda!” She shouted loudly making even Jonathan feel bad for the feline pinning him to the bed.

The tiger made one final shushing motion towards the human before letting out a large, fake yawn making Jonathan fearful for his life. The tiger’s muzzle opening wide in front of the human’s face giving Jonathan a clear, final view of what his fate would be if he pissed the feline off. Koda placed another hand over the human’s face, shoving him against the bed as the tiger pushed himself up with a long stretch that only a feline’s agile body could fully achieve.

Jonathan could smell Koda on the palm of the tiger’s sweaty palm, making the human question if the feline ever bathed properly.

“What time is it?” Koda said sleepily, pulling off a rather disheveled look as he rubbed his eye with his other hand. He looked around the room, smacking his lips before centering in on the female panther standing there. “Sauda? When did you get,” Koda faked another yawn. “Here?”

Sauda had both hands on her hips, glaring at the tiger. Her tail lashing behind her like a beheaded snake.

“You left the morning meeting without even saying hi to me!” She snarled at him. The tiger shifted his weight, using his large bulky body to hide Jonathan behind him now as he laid out on the bed looking down at the pantheress.

Koda had moved over to practically sit in the human’s lap, the hefty weight of the tiger making Jonathan wince and tear up slightly as the feline lounged out over his body. Jonathan was sure whoever the female was wouldn’t be able to see him; though he worried he might be broken and crushed if she didn’t leave soon.

The tiger stretched out one leg, opening and wiggling his toes in the warm breeze that blew through the room as he settled back down on the bed. Jonathan’s face underneath his armpit, pressed against the white and orange mixture of fur there as he got an even stronger whiff of the masculine feline spread out over him.

The human could only pray as he wheezed for breath for her to leave soon.

“I was out all night,” Koda faked another yawn. Though it was convincing enough for even Sabor to buy it as the male panther stood behind his sister, trying to get her to leave. “Patrolling the perimeter,” the tiger shrugged an orange black striped shoulder as he lazed out on his bed looking down at her. “Be glad I even bothered to show up at all.”

Sauda wasn’t buying it as the panther crossed her arms underneath her breasts lifting them up. This usually worked on the other males of the tribe but strangely had little to no affect on Koda for reasons she couldn’t fathom.

“You’re father wasn’t happy about it.” Sauda brought up. It made the tiger twitch, showing a flash of his fangs at the remark. She just smirked at that, looking away as she held her head up high and proud at the wind she’d achieved from it. “Any man in the tribe would be happy to be paired with me, you know! You’re lucky.” She didn’t beat around the bush. “That you were paired with me.”

“Good. Go sleep with one of them then!” Koda just said, shooing her off with a hand. That irked the feline like nothing else.

She hissed, fur standing up now a her claws sprung out.

“Listen here, you… you… flea bitten rug!” Sauda took a step forward only for her brother to finally intervene.

“Sister,” Sabor brought up with a frown. She glared at him, clearly hurt by Koda’s remark. “He had a long night only for you to storm in here and wake him up from his cat nap…” The panther looked at the tiger with a frown now. It was hard to tell if the feline was truly annoyed with Koda or was putting on an act. Maybe a bit of both. “Even if he is a thick headed baboon… he still is the chieftain’s son and deserves his rest…”

Sauda opened her muzzle about to make a sharp retort, then closed it. She opened it again about to get angry… then closed it. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Koda.” Sauda turned back towards the tiger who was still smothering the human to make sure he wasn’t seen by this nosy pantheress. “It was rude of me to just butt in here and…” She wiped a fake tear from her eye. “Bother you… I just missed you…”

“I’ll see you during the festivities tonight.” Koda just said, waving her off without a care for her sorrows. Trying to get her to leave as Jonathan was beginning to squirm and fight against the tiger who was suffocating him with a hand; Koda forcing a smile on his face as Jonathan bit one of his fingers making the feline’s tail lash out.

The pantheress thought he was annoyed at her which wasn’t what she’d been going for. Hoping the tiger would feel guilt for leaving her behind, again. Instead Koda looked ready to claw someone’s face off.

“Yes, I suppose that is true…” Sauda thought about it far longer than any of the three males would prefer. “Very well,” and she gave a curt bow. “I’ll see you tonight!” And with a fair more giggly airy voice, she skipped out of the room leaving the three to let out a collective sigh of relief.

Save for Jonathan who was going blue in the face.

Koda finally eased up and the human took several large lung filling breaths before glaring at the tiger man still lazing out on him.

“Are you trying to crush me to death?” Jonathan snapped, his fear of the feline briefly being replaced by anger. The tiger just lazed out over his lap, purring softly as he looked at the human with that bemused smile.

“Do you want me too?” Koda just asked with a sly smile, his feline eyes sparkling at the idea. Jonathan just flushed in the face much to Koda’s amusement.

It was so easy to tell what the human was thinking or feeling in comparison to his best friend and personal guard, Sabor. The black fur panther was a master at hiding his emotions and only the greatest of disturbances could get under his skin. To have someone around Koda could easily tease and see it affecting them was far too fun for the feline to pass up.

“You can get off me now.” Jonathan said, trying to pull himself out from underneath the lazing feline. The cat just yawned loudly at that and this time Jonathan knew the feline wasn’t faking it.

“I am rather tired… A cat nap sounds wonderful.” Koda rubbed one eye as he stood up on all fours with a long body stretch. Koda spun around once on the bed quickly before practically curling up on Jonathan once more. “Keep me company.” The tiger was already purring as he wrapped his muscular arms around the human and crushed Jonathan’s face against his furry pecs.

“Will you two be ok…?” Sabor asked making sure he saw his sister off before checking back in on the tiger who was smothering the human once more. The panther face twitched as he just stared at the tiger and the struggling human’s arms flailing in the air. “Sorry I asked.” And the panther gave a wave before heading out. “Don’t forget about tonight!” Sabor quickly came back in to shout before stomping out the door once more.

“Don’t leave me here!” Jonathan tried to call as the feline nuzzled and pressed the human against his body. The fur was warm from the sun outside and there was a smell coming from the tiger. Jonathan quickly learning that was just how Koda normally smelled.

“You’re just so soft. And smooth.” Koda said as he ran his hands up over the squirming human’s sides. The more Jonathan tried to resist, the more enticed the tiger became as he crawled up over the human. It made the feline chuff as he smirked down at the smaller male restrained under him.

“You’re so heavy…” Jonathan grunted, trying to push the feline up off him with both hands. All he managed to do was cop a feel of the tiger’s thick chest which only seemed to encourage the tiger. Koda slowly resting his body down on Jonathan’s arms, forcing the human to relent against the bulky weight of the tiger purring on top of him.

“You’re just… so smol.” The tiger smirked at Jonathan’s frown. The tiger letting a fang slip free of his lips. “Why you so smol?”

“I’m not! You’re just… big.” Jonathan cheeks flushed realizing in a way he had just complimented the tiger, who purred in delight at that.

“What else am I?” Koda asked, resting down on one elbow to look down into the human’s face. That Cheshire cat smile never leaving the tiger’s face who was having the time of his life with his new plaything.

“You just want me to stroke your ego…” Jonathan frowned, looking away from the tiger. The striped feline just chuffed at that.

“Oh? What else do you want to stroke of this big kitty?” Koda continued to tease as he pulled up the sheets a bit to show off more of the muscular feline’s body.

Jonathan instantly blushed at that. If he could, the human would’ve gotten up right there and then and left the tiger behind. Unfortunately, that was physically impossible with the feline laying over his lap.

“What? I thought we could get to know one another…?” Koda just teased a claw underneath the human’s chin. The very tip of it brushing against the stubble there as he regained the human’s attention. The tiger tilted his muzzle down, their lips almost touching as the feline chuffed lightly.

“This is how you get to know someone!” Jonathan was a bashful mess as the human struggled to pull himself even an inch out from underneath the tiger. Koda let him before easing his weight down once more, chuckling softly as the tiger dragged a hand down Jonathan’s chest as he pet the smaller male.

“You don’t seem to mind.” Koda noted dragging a finger over the human’s stomach and a bit lower.

Jonathan had to stop him at that. Aroused or not, the human did not want to lead this horny feline on for fear of what it would mean for him.

“Whoa, whoa!” The human grabbed the tiger’s wrist stopping Koda from touching him… down there. The human had let the feline work out his curiosity by exploring his body up until this point. Jonathan fearing what might happen if he just tried to stop Koda from doing whatever he pleased.

There was a line and that was it.

“You can’t just touch a guy like that!” Jonathan stammered out at the look the feline gave him.

“…why not?” Koda asked seriously, the feline rubbing his chin as he thought that over. The tiger’s round ears had perked up and the feline tilted his broad head to one side looking at the human with intense curiosity. The orange rings of fire like eyes burned as they stared at the human, waiting for an answer.

“Well…” Jonathan scooted back, Koda letting the human sit up now as the two talked. The tiger was strewn out over the human’s legs, the tiger’s feet hanging over the edge as the feline rested on one arm looking at him. “You don’t just touch someone… there, you don’t know.”

“Then I’ll get to know you.” Koda just stated as if it were that simple. Jonathan blushed even more at this, the human squirming underneath that intense gaze.

It had been some time since someone had touched him… there. Jonathan desperately continued to try and get the feline to understand that wasn’t an a-ok place to touch whenever he pleased. It wasn’t like these jungle cats were embarrassed about letting everything… hang out there.

“It’s… private.” Jonathan tried to start with. He just got a look at that. The human wasn’t convincing the tiger at all but Koda was giving him a chance to explain and the human always hated being put in front of the class to give a report. “Private parts… you don’t show off to others you don’t want them to see.”

Koda scratched his chin at that, thinking it over. “Ah, like Sauda.” The tiger nodded. Jonathan was the one to quirk an eyebrow at that. “The female panther you saw earlier.”

“You really don’t like her, huh…?” Jonathan felt almost bad for the tiger at the look that passed the feline’s face. While the panther might as well have been carved out of stone, Koda’s expressions were far easier to read over his furry face. And even the human understood Koda only saw her with disgust.

“She… and I… well, it’s not like I chose this.” Koda just shrugged a shoulder casually putting it off as he brought the human back into the conversation, dancing around the subject of the female panther. “Then? Do you not want me to see it… Even if I already have?” Koda asked innocently.

Jonathan blushed at that and the tiger just smirked, teasing the human some more.

“What…?” Jonathan had woken up naked and was already putting two and two together as Koda explained.

“Well, you sort of fainted back in the water. How’d you think you were brought here?” The tiger waited a second letting it sink in. “You’re welcome.” Koda finished with a chuff and another smug smile. “You should be thanking me.” Jonathan wanted to kick the cat off the bed but was sure the tiger would land on his feet…

“This is still different!” Jonathan insisted, covering his lower half with the bed sheet some more. It was thin and in the right light, you could mostly see through it. It didn’t stop the feline from looking him over and stopping where Jonathan had both his hands, covering his groin over the sheet.

“Oh? How is it different?” Koda wanted the human to say it.

“You want to touch it!” Jonathan voice went slightly higher. “And… and… you don’t even know my name!”

“Do you have a name for it?” Koda teased but relented a bit, easing up. “What is your name, then?” The tiger offered. Koda reading Jonathan like a book. Poking, prodding and teasing just to the point the human was about to shut down before pulling back. The tiger finding great amusement in seeing how far he could tease this smaller male.

“Jonathan…” The human frowned not wanting to give his name to this strange tiger man but didn’t want to push his luck any more than he already had. It was clear the feline was keeping him around out of some kind of twisted form of curiosity.

If Jonathan became boring or too resistant, the human feared for his life.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan.” Koda said far more respectfully than the human had expected even offering a hand. The tiger tilted his fingers downwards so the claws weren’t facing the human. Jonathan wasn’t sure about the hand gesture and just awkwardly shook it to the tiger’s amusement. “I’m Kodakawa, but please… call me Koda.” The tiger’s tail flicked.

“It’s… nice to meet you, Koda.” Jonathan replied looking into the tiger’s eyes. The tiger’s tail flicked once more at that.

“Now can I touch it?” Koda just asked with a toothy smile making the human back away.

“No!” And the tiger just laughed.

Maybe he was more amused by the fact how resistant the human was to it rather than the act itself. Either way, Jonathan was left uncomfortable as the tiger lounged out in front of him, turning on his back as the two continued to talk into the day.

They went over the island Jonathan had been washed up on and how the human even ended up there.

“Several things wash up on the beach,” Koda motioned towards the junk pile. “It’s always fun to find new things.” The tiger said casually, treating Jonathan as another thing he had found washed up on the shore.

The two continued their conversation.

Koda explained over the fact this wasn’t a “Tree house” as the human crudely put it but an old guard post that had been abandoned over the years. Koda explained that no one came from the sea and their attention had been turned elsewhere in recent years. The tiger had a habit of never going too indepth into any details leaving things open ended for the human to try and piece together on his own.

It was hard to tell if Koda did this on purpose, to tease the human or if the tiger found such extensive conversations exhausting. Koda preferring to keep things light and fun than bogged down by details.

As the sun was fully up in the sky did the tiger get up, easily jumping off the raised bed to the floor. Koda landing on one paw before taking a step with the same motion, walking into the room with a catlike grace. Jonathan decided to use the step ladder.

“You can wear one of these.” Koda came over the next second offering the human a leather loin cloth. Jonathan’s face just blanked at the single leather strap with a square fabric threaded into the middle. “What? You do know how to put one on, don’t you?” Koda was having the time of his life as the flustered human tried to save face.

“Of course I do!” Jonathan just snatched the leather strip from Koda’s hand to hold up and look up in the afternoon light pouring through the windows. The cloth hung from the middle but otherwise there was no clear indicator how you were supposed to tie it...

Koda rested back against the central beam supporting the roof as he watched the human turn it one way, then the other looking it over to try and find some kind of fastener for it.

“I can help you,” the tiger said inspecting his nails as he crossed his legs resting back. “But… I’ll have to touch you…” Koda bright orange eyes looked up at the human who quickly looked away. “Or, you can go naked. I won’t mind that either.” The feline just shrugged, trying not to let the smile show on his face.

“Are there other things than just… this?” Jonathan asked instead.

“Of course. But you need to put that on first…” Koda tail swayed lazily behind the feline. Jonathan knew the tiger was enjoying this far more than he should’ve been. “You know… Sabor might be coming back soon. I doubt he’d mind seeing you nude,” the feline extenuated the words with a purr. “You don’t even have any fur to hide your bits.” The tiger let out a hearty laugh.

Jonathan stopped at that. “That’s… the panther guy, right?”

“Correct.” Koda chuffed softly. “I call him Sabor. He doesn’t like being called ‘panther guy,’ just a friendly heads up.” The tiger went back to inspecting his nails.

Jonathan took another second before swallowing what little pride he had left and conceded to the tiger. “Please, just… don’t make this awkward.”

“I might make it something, but not awkward.” Koda chuffed as he strode over in the next second having clearly been just waiting for permission to help the struggling human out.

Jonathan stood there butt naked as the tiger looped around his side to help him into the leather cloth strap. The human could feel the feline’s fur brush against his arm as the tiger pressed against his back, leaning down to whisper softly into his ear.

“Now then, you firmly grasp it…” The feline purred against his ear making the human stand taller in more ways than one as Jonathan felt that rumbled against the feline’s chest pressed against his back.

Koda guided and instructing the human as he held the leather strap up before him, arms slipping underneath Jonathan to show the human just how it was done. The feline showing no concept of what personal space was as the tiger assisted the human in the most direct way possible.

Koda had a skilled, grace to how he worked. It would’ve been very impressive if the feline wasn’t currently grinding against the human’s rear. The feline didn’t seem to understand what the world shame meant as Jonathan lifted one leg, Koda slipping the leather between them before taking his sweet time to tie it for the flustered smaller male.

More than once the tiger’s hands brushed against the flustered human groin. The feline insisting he was just reaching for or grabbing something… never explaining what that something was.

Koda’s hands were gentle, soft with the feel of warm leather as the pink splotched paw pads glided over the human’s sides and hips, down around the curve of his ass before helping him out. Koda made sure to thoroughly inspect his work after it was done, Jonathan just standing there feeling violated as the tiger walked around him.

“It’s a bit… small.” Koda noted with a frown.

“Hey!” Jonathan snapped at that, blushing.

“I meant the strap…” Koda chuffed as he took a single step closer, instantly closing the gap between the two. Holding Jonathan’s chin with two fingers, he tilted it up to look down into that flat, muzzleless face. “You are rather impressive… for a smol boy.” The tiger just teased, chuffing a breath against the human’s face before letting him go.

A finger lingered underneath Jonathan’s jaw as the tiger stroked up to his chin, flicking it softly before turning his back on the human and walking over to a cabinet that had been built into the wooden wall itself. The cabinet looked as if it had been carved not only out of the wall but the very floor the two were standing on.

Flinging the doors open dramatically the tiger stepped to the side showcasing several different outfits he had.

“Take your pick. Though, most probably won’t fit.” Koda was already thinking about it as the half naked human came over to peer inside.

The cabinet was filled with outfits hung up on hooks and spaced out from one another. Leather leggings stood out though it left the ass and crotch fully exposed; Jonathan realizing although the tiger had been teasing him, Koda had been serious that you needed to wear the leather loin cloth first before anything else. The sash that was loosely hung up above the leggings would work well to help cover Jonathan’s exposed skin and soon enough the human had a makeshift wardrobe to go with a good ten minutes later trying things on.

“Are you sure…?” The human asked as he slipped a vest on. The inside was smooth and warm to the touch like an animal’s hide; the outside being covered in fur making the human think the tiger had used some kind of animal to make it.

Koda was looking the human over before pacing around him and then back. “I’ll have to change up the cuffs; the pants are bit too long in the back and…” The tiger just mumbled to himself like a seamstress looking over all the work she needed to do to fit someone into their prom tux.

Koda didn’t stop there and Jonathan felt once more the tiger invade his personal space. The tiger’s large fingers brushing over his arm before dipping the finger tips into the opening around his arm, gauging out the space that was open there. The tiger in work mode while the human just stood there feeling far more exposed than he’d like to be as he was looked over with a fine tooth comb.

“It’ll work decently for the day but the night?” The tiger flicked his tail. “I suppose it’ll have to due before I can make adjustments.” The tiger left Jonathan where he was as he moved over to the table to grab one of the discarded ceremonial clothes he’d worn.

Jonathan sniffed at the vest he wore; it smelled of the tiger making the human think Koda had worn the vest at one point and didn’t bother to wash it after.

“My smell will help mask you from the others.” Koda just answered the question Jonathan had been thinking of. The human gave him a look. The tiger tapped his nose. “I’m surprised you hadn’t realized it yet,” the feline smirked at the human.

“What?” Jonathan walked over to watch the feline dress back up. At one point Koda asked him to get one of the latches on his back for him, above his tail, and Jonathan did without question.

It was a first for the feline’s who blushed at the feeling of those small hands skillfully looping the string around his tail before securely latching it and letting the skirt like dress hang from one of the tiger’s sides. It was an arrayed of layered fabrics of varying colors. The gaudy clothing didn’t match the strong feline wearing it.

“You think I’ve just been rubbing against you this whole time to tease you, don’t you?” Koda wasn’t looking at the human as the inside of his beady round ears burned with his the white fur on his cheeks in embarrassment.

Sabor had been far rougher with his touch than Jonathan was assisting him into this ridiculous outfit. It was traditional and if there was one thing Koda’s father, the current chieftain wanted was for everyone to follow their traditions and customs.

“Well…” Jonathan admitted with a frown. “Haven’t you been?”

“Just mostly.” Koda chuffed as he turned around to face the human, his long orange black stripped tail rubbed over the human’s groin in the process. It was hard to tell if Koda had done that on purpose or not. “My smell is… strong.” The tiger took a step forward, making Jonathan step back.

Koda took another step and Jonathan took one more back, bumping into the tree trunk sticking out of the main room serving as the central pillar to this tree house. The tiger leaned forward, placing a hand on the tree as he motioned with his muzzle towards his armpit.

“Sniff it.” The tiger growled making the human stand a little taller at the sound. “Go on, sniff me…” The feline purred, flicking Jonathan chin with another finger. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise…” Koda licked over one of his long fangs seductively though the human found it more intimidating.

Jonathan obeyed not wanting to upset the feline, nor wanting to admit he was curious about the feline.

The smell of Koda was indeed strong and the feline pressed his armpit gently against Jonathan’s face before pulling back and giving the human some space.

“I’m the chieftain’s son.” Koda said adjusting one of the leather bracers on his wrist so the feathers were sticking outwards rather than inwards. “Everyone knows my smell. My markings. One day, I’ll take over the tribe…” The tiger tail flicked at that. “If you smell of me, they won’t... immediately kill you.” The tiger shrugged the thought away as he’d done with so many other concerns.

Jonathan didn’t say anything but, for reasons he wasn’t sure about, felt bad for the feline in that moment. Koda was looking out one of the windows, out over the jungle… and at the sea. A solemn look of longing that Jonathan couldn’t place before the tiger shook his head.

“Everyone knows to respect my space.” Koda snarled softly putting the human back on edge. The tiger just looked away. “Well, most everyone… there are still a few who, well, need to learn their place.” It was hard to tell if Koda was talking about the female panther from before or… if he was talking about the human, as if warning him.

Jonathan made sure not to overstep his boundaries, just in case as he took a timid step forward.

“Here.” The human offered, waiting for the tiger to look at him then down at his slightly tilted sash. “I’ll adjust this for you…” And Jonathan, with Koda’s guidance, helped prepare the tiger for the ceremony he’d be heading to tonight.

“So, what’s the deal with tonight?” Jonathan finally asked as the sun began to set. The two had taken a seat at the table, looking out the window as they savored some brightly colored mangos Koda had hung up from one of the bright green vines wrapped around the rafters.

Jonathan had thought the mangos were growing from the vine until he watched the tiger twist the end of it undone. The tiger using the vines to hang things from. Pulling out a small blade, Koda quickly and skillfully skinned the mango. Cutting the fruit up into several smaller bite size pieces before stabbing the knife into the table. Licking his fingers clean, the tiger pushed the plate towards the human with his other hand fully aware Jonathan had been watching him the entire time.

Koda would normally just eat the skin and fruit alike but had a habit of showing off. The human had been watching and so the feline’s obliged, giving Jonathan a show.

“It’s a ceremony my father puts on, is all.” Koda just answered the question open ended as ever. The tiger rested his arms on the table, watching the human.

“What about you…?” Jonathan asked as he took one piece of the fruit to look it. The knife work was phenomenal and it was clear Koda had been the one to carve the wooden figurines on the mantelpiece. Jonathan popped the piece into his mouth and was instantly rewarded with an explosion of juicy flavor. The human groaned at the taste as he realized he hadn’t eaten since the crash. “Ooooh, that’s so damn fucking good…”

“Don’t mind me…” Koda swallowed loudly watching the human intently.

Koda watched, once more feeling a flush on his face from the lewd noises the human was making. Stabbing a nail through another piece, the tiger offered it to the human as he watched carefully. Jonathan thanked him as he took another sweet juicy bite.

“This might just be the best mango I’ve ever had in my life.” The juices dripped from the human’s mouth as he took another large piece from the tiger. Koda tail flicked as he watched, his eyes almost hyper focus on the human now.

Jonathan took another bite as he groaned out, practically holding his cheek from the sweet explosion of flavor. He didn’t know fruits could taste like this.

The table shook as the tiger got up, leaning across the table as Jonathan looked up just in time to feel the soft, warm broad tongue lick up over the corner of his cheek. Jonathan instantly felt his face turn red as the tiger wiped the juices from his own chin, ironically before sitting back down.

“Don’t want to make a mess…” Koda chuffed, clearly not minding it one bit as he licked his finger clean seductively as he kicked a leg up on the table, stretching out his toes in the warm breeze that blew through the window. The tiger lounging in front of the human.

“Koda… you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?” Jonathan took a second before taking another bite of mango, unsure what else to do with his hands. Jonathan swallowed as the tiger just smirked. “Aren’t you?”

“Only if it’s working.” The feline leaned forward, chuffing out a breath as he resting his chin on both hands his tail swaying behind him as he stared at the human lustfully. Jonathan felt more like prey in that moment as if he was what the tiger had been planning to have for dinner this entire time.

Koda chuckled with a shake of his head, getting up. It rattled the table.

“Relax, Jonathan.” Koda stood up with a large stretch showing off his body once more to the intimidated human. The feline took his time to stretch one arm, then the other. One leg, then the other before turning one side and then the other…

Only after did Koda give the human a smile knowing full well Jonathan eyes had been on him the entire time.

“You aren’t on the menu… yet.” Koda just teased as he flicked his tail in the humans’ direction, sauntering on over to grab the necklace he had hung up. He slipped it over his head, adjusting it on his large chest before turning back to the human. “I’ll be back tonight, don’t leave.” The tiger warned and for a second his demeanor shifted, becoming uncomfortable as Koda looked away from the human’s face.

“Right… I’ll just stay here until you get back…?” Jonathan stood up to see the tiger off, limping slightly on his ankle over to the door to join Koda.

“How’s it doing?” Koda asked, stopping at the door to look down at it. Jonathan turned his ankle over to look at it.

“It’s just sore. Couple days rest it’ll be fine.” The human shrugged this time. The tiger lingered there, not leaving just yet. “You’re going, right?”

“Right.” Koda sighed, shaking his head as he placed a large hand on his face. “I really don’t want too.” The feline frowned, his black striped brow lowering over his burning orange eyes. “It’s always such a bore.” The tiger said unconsciously looking at the human who was far more interesting.

“Isn’t it a festival… ceremony… party in your honor?” Jonathan asked, unsure which it really was. Koda had been purposefully evasive about the subject.

“Something like that.” The tiger smiled softly as he looked at the human. “I’ll see if I can’t get some medicine from the shaman for your… ankle…” Koda brushed a finger over Jonathan’s face. “I’ll bring back some food as well. Stay safe, Jonathan.”

“My friends call me John…” Jonathan said unsure why his voice had caught in his throat. His heart was pounding quickly as those large orange eyes stared into his own.

“Ok then, John. I will be back late tonight…” And the tiger leaned down to chuff his breath against the human’s face, sharing it with the smaller male before letting him go and heading on out.

Jonathan shuddered as he watched the feline’s tail slip around the corner. His heart was pounding quickly in his chest and he could still feel the warm breath of the tiger against his face.

“Uh oh…” Jonathan realized. “This isn’t good.” He swallowed not trying to think of that tiger booty for the rest of the night…