Battle Within

Ch. 2 Meeting Her

Kol Mikaelson marched right through the rainforest like he was invincible. To the naked eye, this was simply arrogance. To those who knew, he was right. Nothing here could kill him, except for a single panther. Many accounts claimed that the panther resides on the southeast side of the river bend. He swiftly made his way towards that area, eyes watching for any movement. It was near a more open area that he found the very animal he was looking for pacing back and forth. Standing there, watching it, all thoughts disappeared. Now that he found it, what was his plan? Go back home, content with his discovery? No, something was nagging at him that he wasn't finished here. So, he whistled to get its attention.

The panther stopped immediately. Its head turned instantly, locking eyes onto the man before it. Kol quickly realized the town's people were right. This was not your average panther. It was strikingly beautiful. Those eyes were something else. Close to green, but not yet forest colored. Any human would be sane if they were scared of it. The size was one thing, but boy, those eyes. They could stare down into your soul and steal everything you have.

Despite this, he felt drawn to the animal. He needed to be near it. Touch it. He was never one to deny himself his wants, so he stepped closer. The animal did not move but instead tilted its head in what looked like confusion. Such human thoughts for an animal. Each step brought him closer to the animal who never backed away. Eyes remained locked on him the entire time like they were trying to figure him out.

When he finally got close enough, he reached his hand out slowly to touch the top of the panther's head. What surprised him was the purr it made. Continuing to pet it, the panther sat on its hind legs and pushed its head into his hand. Kol squatted down to be eye level with the feline. Looking into its eyes, only one thought made its way to his brain.

"You're more than this, aren't you?" He questioned out loud. The panther's purrs stopped. It stood back up on four legs and seemed to take a more defensive position in front of him.

"Hey, hey, easy. No need to get upset." The panther just stared at him, with what could be classified as confusion.

"You understand me, don't you?" A short, strong huff was released from the large cat.

"Are you... You're a shifter? Is that possible?" The animal did not move. No sounds. Just staring.

"It's okay. If it makes you feel better, I'm a vampire. See?" Transforming his face, fangs emerged and veins appeared. The panther's face tilted the other way in interest. After a few seconds, it nodded.

"You understand me?" A nod.

"You're a shifter?" Another nod.

"That's possible, huh? A black panther shifter?" Another huff in what seemed like annoyance could be heard. If it could speak, Kol swore it would be saying I'm right here, what do you think?

"Yea, okay. Dumb question. So, that means you're human." Another nod. 

"Can you shift? It would be so much easier than asking yes or no questions." The panther just gave him a blank face like the thought of shifting was so much effort and it just could not be bothered. 

"Please? I'll owe you a favor and if your worried about the lack of clothing, I can give you something." Another huff and a light growl was heard, but the panther walked closer to Kol, grabbing his jacket and shirt in its mouth and pulled gently. 

"Alright, I get the message." He laughed lightly. He took off his jacket first, then pulled of his shirt. Offering it to the panther, it took the clothing in his mouth and jogged away behind the treeline. Kol sat himself down on one of the rocks waiting for the shifter to return.