Chapter 25: The Deadly Cat

I ALWAYS have these questions in my mind-- if I were a boy, If I were a man. I always ask, what if I was born man, will I be treated better? Will I have a better life? Paano kung lalaki ako, matatanggap ko ba ang respeto ng bawat isa? Matatanggap ko ba ang paghanga ng bawat isa dahil malakas ang loob ko, matapang, at hindi nagtatapang-tapangan lang? Kung lalaki ba ako, makakatanggap ako ng parehong trato na natatanggap ng mga kasama kong nag-aagaw buhay sa gitna ng laban?

And then I came up with this thought, I don't need to be a boy to receive compliments and respects, I don't need to be a man in able to help the others, I don't need to be a man in order to get everyone's likes. I can simply be me, a fearless woman who have the clear intention to help, clear desire to save others and passion to keep doing what I want and nothing more.

I am a woman, and I can save others if I choose to be brave and fearless. And right now, I'm declining every discouragements attacking me, because right at the moment I only have one goal in my mind. It is not to win the cup, it is not to get the Alpha position, but indeed to save my teammates from dying.

Again, I don't need to be a man to save my teammates. I just have to be me, with this burning desire in my heart to help them.

All of a sudden, I felt my body burning. Hindi ito pangkaraniwang alab, lubha itong kakaiba at napakalakas at talagang hindi ko na mapigilan. Kusa nang bumaba ang katawan ko sa punong pinagtataguan ko upang takbuhin ang distansyang namamagitan sa amin at sa mga kasama ko. I know this isn't part of the plan, but I can't afford to stay at one place and watch my teammates die.

So when the guy named Grim prepared another shot of bomb again, I started moving.

"YYAAAHH!" I yelled and squealed hard to get his attention in able to stop him, and it worked because he immediately looked at me with an amused and proud face.

"Hm," he reacted and withdraw the bomb, "So, you still have one remaining. I should also shut you down to wipe team Felidae out, and then cleaned. Team Canidae won!" He laughed hard as he prepared his two edge sharp sword to counter me.

Kung nasa normal akong katinuan ay matatakot na ako at aatras, ngunit nang sandaling iyon ay umusbong lamang ang kagustuhan kong lumaban para sa grupo ko.

Unti-unting nagsitayuan ang team Canidae, mukhang pinaghahandaan na nila ang bagay na 'to. I think they have this potion to regain their strength. So this is their plan, papagurin nila ang kalaban pagkatapos ay doon na nila tatapusin para manalo sila.

I can't say this is a dirty play, this is just their strategy because after all we are up to the same cup. This is a clever scheme indeed, but this is too much. They are obsessed in getting the Alpha position, to the point that it's okay for them to hurt their opponents.

"So, they are not wiped out yet?" Nakangising tanong ni Aurelius, "Still have one remaining, and a girl?"

"Piece of cake, Captain. Leave her to me." Ani Grim at sinalubong ako.

Mas lalo kong binilisan ang pagtakbo ko, wala na akong pakialam sa mga nagpaparamdam kong sugat. Mula sa aking tiyan at braso, hindi ko na ito pinansin. I just want to counter then all and save my team.

"What are you up to, kitty?" Grim insulted, "Death?"

And with that, he immediately ran towards me to attack. I stopped running and waited for him instead. To make his approach fast, he morphed into his kind and suddenly turned into a human again the moment he reached my place-- which I predicted already.

"Hmp!" Ngisi ko matapos madaling masangga ang atake niya.

Dahil sa pangmamaliit nila'y nagugulat na tuloy silang lahat sa kilos ko. Hindi kasi nila inaasahang may ibubuga din ako, dahil nga ang mindset nila ay mahihina kaming mga babae.

So that is why you should never just judge someone, you have no idea of what he or she is capable of. Always be careful, so you cannot be judged. Counter not, to avoid being countered. Life is fair, what you give will be returned back to you depending on who will return it. But sometimes, women are not. Because what you did to them, they'll give it back to you tripled. You give them apple, they'll give you a meal. You give them a shelter, they'll give you back a home.

Give them pain, they'll return it with excruciating anxiety and depression. But give them love, they'll give you everything you could ask for.

And right now, these people gave me heartache. I have no idea what should I give them back, but I am always up in protecting my loved ones even if it means I sink.

Nagpalitan kami ng atake at sigawan ni Grim, at sa hindi inaasahang kilos ay sumugod pa sa akin ang dalawa niyang kasama.

Napasimangot ako at napaatras, "Calling me weak but you can't even take me down alone. Shame."

Napasimangot si Grim, "Fight me!"

"I can!" Lahat kami'y napalingon kay Anlow-- isa pa sa mga kasama nila na may bitbit na pana, at sa isang iglap ay bumulusok sa akin ang palaso nito.

"I also can," Kaagad na sunod ni Evren-- isa pang kasamahan, at pinakawalan rin ang palaso niya.

Sa sobrang gulat ay hindi ako kaagad nakailag. At huli na upang tumakas ako, dahil ganoon na lamang kabilis na tumusok sa magkabilang braso ko ang dalawang palaso dahilan upang mapatumba ako sa panghihina at sumuka ng dugo.

"ARRGHHHH!" Sigaw ko nang maramdaman ang tuluyang pagkagising ng kung ano pang nabubuhay sa aking kaloob-looban, "AARRGHHHH!"

Tila ba naging paraan pa ang sakit na iyon upang tuluyan kong matawag ang kaibahan ko.

"See, a piece of cake."

I... I think I'm ready to morph!

"I can easily take you down, miss."

I think, I'm really going to morph!

"AARRGHHH!" I yelled in excruciating pain and depression, "RROOAAARR!" My voice suddenly became thick, making everyone stop from coming at me.

"H--hybrid," tawag ni Cap sa akin na mas lalong nagpabuhay ng dugo ko, "R--run away."

Ganoon na lamang ang pagkulo ng aking dugo, pagtaas ng tensyon sa paligid at ang pag-alab ng aking nararamdaman. Unti-unti ko nang naramdaman ang pag-iiba ng kulay ng aking mata, ang pagtubo ng aking tainga bilang isang hayop, at ang pagtulis na lalo ng aking mga kuko.

"Damn it!" Sigaw ni Kron, "She's m--morphing!"

Ganoon na lamang ako kalakas na napasigaw sa pag-aalab ns aking nararamdaman. Tumayo na ang pitong lalaki sa harapan ko at naghanda ng kanilang sarili upang magdepensa at umatake.

"H--hybrid!" Galit na sigaw ni Kap, "I said, run away now!"

Doon na ako tuluyang nagliyab, "I'm so tired of you all telling me to run! I. AM. NOT. RUNNING. AWAY!"

And with, I suddenly felt myself morphing into another kind.

"Remember this, you are not an ordinary hybrid!"

"You are not an ordinary hybrid!"

Umalingawngaw sa tainga ko ang tinig ng aking Ina na mas lalong nagpainit sa akin. Ngunit sa gitna ng aking pag-iibang anyo ay nalito ako kung anong dugo ang susundin, magkaiba kasi ang dugo ng mama at papa ko. Sa oras na iyon ay nalito ako, at iyon ang bagay na hindi ko man naisip.

Ano ako kapag nag-iba ng anyo?

"Damn it! Let's just attack her!" Sigaw ni Kron at nagsimula nang tumakbo patungo sa akin.

Dahil doon ay nakapagdesisyon ako ng wala sa oras. Tuluyan ko nang naramdaman ang sarili kong lumiliit-- paliit ng paliit...

Teka! Bakit ako lumiliit!?

Oh, please! Don't tell me I'm morphing as a domestic cat? I need to be big! Bigger! Kailangan kong tapatan ang mga hayop na nasa harapan ko.

Tuluyan ko na ngang naramdaman ang panliliit kong lalo. Nalilito namang tumitig sa akin ang lahat, ngunit lahat ng team Canidae ay kaniya kaniya na ring palit ng anyo. They are wolves and foxes already, and then there's me... morphing, as a small cat!

I felt myself with an endearingly round face and a light brown, black-spotted body that is small even compared to domestic cats.

I measured myself with only 14 to 20 inches (36 to 52 centimeters) long, stands about 8 inches (20 cm) tall and weighs about 2 to 6 lbs. (1 to 3 kilograms).

WHAT THE HECK IS THIS!?

"H--hybrid?" Nalilitong tanong ni Hunter, hindi ko maintindihan kung nalilito o disappointed sa pagbabagong anyo ko.

"W--what the hell?" Dugtong pa ni Zeen na animo'y mas lalong nanghina.

Sinabayan naman ng halakhak ng mga lahing asong nasa harapan ko. Kulang na lang ay mamatay sila kakatawa dahil hindi umabot sa ekspektasyon nila ang pag-iibang anyo ko.

"W--what the actual fu-- what kind of kitty are you?" Kahit na nanghihina ay hindi parin maiwasang mapamura ni Seven.

Ngunit hindi... ako... nakakaramdam ng panghihina o panghihinayang. Dahil ang bisyon ko, ay higit sa doble, triple o anu pa man. Ang pagkabuhay ko'y higit pa sa aking inaakala, ang aking pandama, pandimig, pang amoy, ay sabay-sabay na kumikilos sa mabisang paraan.

"FOCC! HERE KITTY KITTY!" Pang-aasar ni Grim habang lumalapit sa akin.

Oh, God help me!

Sa halip na mawalan ng pag-asa ay inihanda ko ang aking sarili sa isang pag-atake. Tuluyan nang nagsilabasan ang pangil ko, tumulis na rin ang kuko at nagsitaasan na ang mga balahibo ko dahil sa matinding inis at galit.

"You are not an ordinary hybrid!"

Muli na namang umalingawngaw ang tinig ng aking Ina.

"Not an ordinary hybrid!"

And then all of a sudden, I tried roaring,

"Meow."

"BWAHAHAHA!" Humagalpak ng tawa ang buong Canidae. Pakiramdam ko'y nagsisitawanan na rin ang mga kasamahan ko ng pasimple dahil sa kapalpakan ko.

Ngunit hindi ako palpak. At sa oras na iyon ay tuluyan nang umusbong ang matinding pagbugso ng aking damdamin.

Nagsimula na akong tumakbo na mas lalong ikinatawa ni Grim.

Sinamantala ko na ang pangmamaliit niyang iyon upang umatake. Isang napakabilis na pagkilos ang nagawa ko na hindi inaasahan ng lahat, ngunit ang nasisiguro kong hindi talaga inaasahan ng lahat ay ang pagiging asintado ng bawat kilos ko.

Isang mataas na talon ang ginawa ko upang atakihin si Grim, at nang dumating ako sa harapan niya ay bumalik ako sa pagiging tao.

"BWAHAHAH-- AY PUT-- AARRGHH!" Sigaw nito nang bumagsak ako bilang tao sa kaniyang ibabaw, ganoon na lamang ako kaagresibo na umatake sa kaniya. Ang matutulis kong pangil ay marahas na kumagat sa leeg ni Grim, hindi pa ako nakontento sa kagat na iyon dahil gamit ang matatalim kong kuko ay sinigurado kong matanggal ang ilang laman ni Grim habang mariing siyang kinakalmot.

"ARRRGHH!" Tuluyan na itong napaiyak.

"Back up! Fuck, she's dangerous! Back up!" Mabilis na tugon ni Aurelius.

Ngunit masyado rin akong mabilis, dahil sa oras na umalis ako sa ibabaw ni Grim ay bumalik ako sa pagiging pusa at mabilis na tumakbo upang sumugod kay Aurelius na pasugod rin sa akin.

I tumbled to the other side and turn back to human again, I summoned my sword and hit Canidae's Captain without hesitation. My aim were really good, that I hit his chest impeccably making him fall down feeling an excruciating pain. And I was not contented, I immediately ran over him to bit his neck just like what I did to Grim.

Tuluyan nang nagsisunod ang iba pang team Canidae, at katulad ng lagi kong ginagawa ay gumagawa ako ng isang mabilis na pagkilos sa pamamagitan ng pagiging pusa, pagkatapos ay nagiging tao matapos ang ibang pagsirko upang mahuli sila.

Even though I'm moving, I can clearly hear my teammates talking.

"W--what the heck am I-- wait, is this real?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Kugo.

"She is not an ordinary cat," ani Hunter.

"Black footed cat." Singit ni Kap na maski ako'y napahinto, "What a deadly cat." Dagdag pa nito.

Napangisi ako habang hinaharap ang natirirang miyembro ng Canidae. Nagkanya-kanya nang takbuhan ang mga ito palayo, hindi na maintindihan kung saan patutungo. Basta kaniya-kaniyang direksyon na lamang upang iligtas ang sarili mula sa akin.

I smirked.

"What a freaking deadly cat," Hunter seconded.

Yes people. The deadliest cat on earth isn't a hirsute maned lion, a buffed satiny leopard, a furtive shifty tiger or a large stocky jaguar. It's a wee cat that you've probably never heard of.

The size of a black footed cat doesn't seemed impressive compared to sizable big cats that are among the world's most fearsome predator. But despite its small size, black-footed cat hunts and brings down more prey in a single night than a leopard does in six months.

Black-footed cats use three very different techniques to nab their prey. One method is known as "fast hunting," in which the cats bound quickly and "almost randomly" through the tall grass, flushing out small prey such as birds or rodents.

I randomly picked my next target, and in a swift movement I ran to get Anlow. Because I was hard to track, he couldn't find me that easy. So the moment I found him, I immediately caught him off guard and punch him mercilessly.

Another of their methods takes them on a slower course through their habitat, with the cats weaving quietly and carefully to sneak up on potential prey.

And then when I took Anlow down, I observed Evren, the cute guy in team Canidae. Cute lang s'ya, agresibo ako. I carefully sneaked up while he was looking for me in the wilds but then with my fast reflexes and better vision, I found him and easily took him down as I attacked being a black footed cat and then suddenly morphing into human to catch him.

Finally, they use a sit-and-wait approach near rodents' burrows, a technique called still hunting.

"Hybrid, calm down!" Umalingawngaw sa tainga ko ang tinig ni Kap, "Calm down, come here!" Utos niya na wala na akong balak sundin.

I sat and waited for Terrel to come. He was dangerously handsome, but then I have no plans on taking exemptions. So when he reached my place, I didn't hesitated to jump over him.

"AAACCKKKK!" Terrel yelled as I caught him off guard, "Damn you! Damn you!"

I smirked, "Goodbye, handsome face." I said and scratch his face down to his body mercilessly, watching him scream and cry in pain.

"HYBRID!" Narinig ko ang agresibong sigaw ni Captain sa akin. Ngunit ang biglang ikinatakot ko'y hindi ko na makontrol ang sarili ko, animo'y lahat sila'y naging kaaway na sa akin.

I can only feel and see them as prey, and there is this very urge to hunt them all down.

"Hybrid!" muling sigaw ni Kap.

I waited on my place to catch Kap as well, and as I saw a person approaching I wagged my tail in excitement. I can't stop myself, I want more preys, I want to hunt more!

"Hy--"

Walang pasabi kong tinalon ang lalaking patungo sa akin, "ARRRGHH!" sigaw nito at pilit akong inalis sa kaniyang ibabaw.

Nahuli ko si Hunter! Namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata dahil hindi ko na talaga makontrol ang sarili ko, akma ko nang kakagatin ang leeg ni Hunter nang maramdaman ko ang malakas na impak na tumama sa akin dahilan upang tumilapon ako palayo sa karamihan.

Dahil sa gulat ay agresibo akong nagpumiglas, ngunit ganoon na lamang kalakas ang lalaking humuli sa akin at mabigat akong pinatungan. Pagkatapos ay hinihingal niyang hinuli ang mga kamay ko at itinaas upang huwag akong makalaban.

Ganoon na lamang naghuramentado ang puso ko nang makita kung gaano nahihirapan at nagpapigil si Kap sa aking ibabaw.

"C--calm down, I'm here. It's me, my hybrid. Calm down."