Ranma Meets his Fear


As I stand there, looking at the very face of death, a thousand thoughts and
memories pass through my mind.  Why am I still alive?  Why hasn't he
attacked me yet?  The words keep repeating themselves loudly in my head,
almost nullifying the sounds of my shaking body.

Slowly, I look down at myself, flexing my arms and legs, feeling the energy
flow through them like streams of hot lava.  A small bead of sweat trickles
down the side of my head, passing swiftly by my earlobes and collecting at
the end of my jaw.  Still, I look of the beast before me, his face wear an
expression of ferocity, amplifying his eager need to disfigure me with the
wantonness that only another of his kind would be able to muster.

Gently, I life my leg, to make a step backwards....from the reaches of hell
itself, I hear an unearthly sound, which echoes between my ear, for what
feels like eternity.  My movement freeze, my legs plant themselves firmly
old the ground, imitating the stillness of a statue.

My gaze jerk back towards the animal before me, a wicked grin can be
perceived behind the curl of his lips, and the rows of razor sharp teeth.  I
can sense the amusement of the animal as I look deeply into his feline eyes.

I see his thought as he imagines how grandeur it would feel to slice my
throat with his razor sharp talons and feast upon my blood, as it spews out
from my juggler vein.  Then when the flow of blood finally stops, he
imagines the shear joy of tearing me limb from limb, starting with my head
in search for more blood, as he begins to feast on the very meat of my body,
until nothing but bone and marrow are left.  When he is done, he licks my
very life off his paws and maneuvers himself away from my remains, as other
creatures swoop hungrily down to feed on what is left behind.

Slowly, my thoughts etch back to reality, with fear showing in my eyes.
Perceiving this, the animal slowly advances towards me.

My mind wills me to move, but my body does not obey, being as still as a
rock.  Only my eyes seem to be able to respond to my thoughts.  The tiger is
close to me now, so close, that I can feel the moisture of his nose touching
my skin.

And with one smooth movement, he sticks out his tongue and licks my hand
with comfort and understanding.  He nuzzles his face against my hand for a
moment and then runs past me, back into the wilderness.

When he is gone, my whole body feels weak and I collapse to my knees,
relieved and shaken by what has happened.

--

End.

C&C would be very much appreciated.