The Jaguar Deity
Lara Croft the great tomb raider was in one of her usual expeditions, to retrieve forgotten and unknown artifacts. The new artifact he was hunting is now a magical one that could be found only in the Yucatan Peninsula the homeland of the Mayan Civilization. She wasn’t of course the only one who was looking for it, as always one of her arch enemies was also after it, but she had managed to have a head start but only for a couple of hours at least. But she had managed to get to her destination, an ancient Mayan temple covered in vegetation.
“Let’s see if you got what I am looking for.” She said to herself after entering inside, at the top of it. Moving through the corridor she noticed some of the Mayan hieroglyphs that mentioned about the power of a Jaguar god, one of the Mayan’s sacred animals and a symbol of great strength. Going through the corridor she found a dead end. But if we take in account her experience things aren’t as they appear to be. Looking closely she noticed a symbol on one of the stones that showed a jaguar standing straight.
“Hmm, let’s see what this is.” She said pressing the stone for the wall to separate to reveal a secret chamber whose fires immediately lit up on 8 torches and in the center there was an altar that holds a statuette of a jaguar with eyes made from precious stones and was all made of gold.
“A jaguar statuette?” She asked herself before looking at the inscriptions on the walls. It shows some sort of story about this particular statuette from what she could decipher, it was able to conform one with the spirit and power of the jaguar beyond, that it seems that it is guarding some sort of gemstone, but it wasn’t showing how to get to it.
“Guess the statuette is the guardian of a gemstone. Or it was an offering.” She said to himself looking at the inscriptions on the walls trying to decipher it. But from what it seems the rest of message was incomplete.
“Hmm, wonder what the rest of the message was about.” She said before filming everything before turning to the statuette and in a sense it drove her to touch it. And with a bit of restraint she extended her hands and felt the gold jaguar in her hands.
“Wonder what the inscriptions are telling about you?” Lara asked herself before the eyes started to glow tracking her attention before she started to feel strange.
“Ugh I guess the curiosity killed the cat.” She said to herself before feeling a pressure on her shorts and out popped a jaguar tail tracking her attention.
“What is going on?” She asked herself before leaning on the altar feeling a pressure on her boots that ripped off, her legs turned into jaguar paws and fur with spots started to grow all over her body and her nails turned sharp like feline claws and a small part of her top tank also ripped off leaving her belly exposed before her face also was covered in fur, her ears modified and her teeth turned feline like. The transformation took some time before it was over and Lara looked all over her body before seeing her look into a bright surface like a mirror that showed her turned into a half jaguar lady.
“Curiosity really killed the cat now.” She commented in frustration on how she will get out of this predicament.
“It could kill the cat, but this time it can help the warrior.” A voice came from behind her and bringing her hand to the holsters she pulled out her pistols to aim at another full jaguar.
“Don’t need to worry Miss Croft.” The jaguar said.
“You can talk? Or rather because of this I got the ability to understand the jaguars.” She said but then the jaguar turned into a man or more specifically an ancient Mayan priest with feathers and other decorations specific for them.
“Things aren’t as they seem.” Said the man.
“Who are you? And you better tell me how to change back to full human not humanoid jaguar.” She said demanding not lowering her guns.
“There no need to panic. My name is Balam Yaxkin (Jaguar Sun) I am a friend and an ally. And I can help you.”
“How?” She asked still with weapons ready and the man hit the altar with his staff for a circle of light to form.
“In order to help you, you must help me.” He said and images started to show in the circle and Lara lowered her pistols.
“You see, many centuries ago the statuette of the jaguar was the guardian of a powerful, precious stone that has the power of fast healing. However the greedy king of this city, who wanted to us it to become the greatest in battle nearly invincible, came and attacked the temple. The priests managed to hide it and placed a spell on the statuette so that the jaguar spirit will punish the evildoers and reward the righteous warriors. When the king arrived he couldn’t find it, so he killed the high priest and but before warning that if he takes that statuette he will be cursed. But he didn’t listened he took it here the next day he turned into a man beast due to his evil spirit, and out of rage started to ravage everyone around him till he was put down by his own warriors. The only way to turn back is, in the course of 10 days to get the statuette to its rightful place when it is back on the altar the person with good intentions and righteousness will turn to normal. And allow you to take the stone.”
“Where is this temple you are talking about and how can I get there?” Lara asked.
“I was the only survivor from the priests, in order to protect that statuette I had to turn into a jaguar till modern day arrived. And one righteous soul of a warrior will get it, and it seems it is you. The temple is at the coast, the jaguar spirit will guide you there but you must reach it in 10 days otherwise the savage spirit will get out it could get out faster if you get enraged.” The priest said.
“There is a problem; mercenaries want to get the statuette as well either for the power or for gem.” Lara said “they could show here any minute.”
“You must waste no time then. And don’t worry once the statuette is back in its place the jaguar spirit will get back in it. To protect the temple and allow you to take the stone.”
“Hmm, thinking how deep I am in the Yucatan peninsula I guess I have to go now before they arrive.” She said.
“Indeed, and do not worry, the jaguar spirit will guide and help you, and if you need it’s, help he will give it for the duration of the battle by saying: Mighty spirit of the jaguar help your guardian to stop our common enemies that want the harm of both.” He said.
“I will keep in mind.” Lara said with a small smile.
“Good luck then.” He said and he turned back into a jaguar and left the room while the young jaguar lady started to walk out of the temple to get on her path to her destination. The tomb raider moved through the jungle at a very rapid pace by all her new feline abilities were making her faster than before and by all accounts, she didn’t just liked it, she loved it.
“Who knew that having feline abilities would be this enjoyable?” Lara said to herself while slowing the pace walking normally through the exotic forest right when her right ear picked something from several miles away in the distance, right from the hidden temple.
“It should be here.” A man said.
“We searched everywhere the statue isn’t here.” Another said.
“We shall find it I want the power of the jaguar with it no one will stop me…..If I get it no one will stop me from becoming the incarnation of the jaguar deity.”
“I don’t think so.” Lara said starting to move forward at an accelerated pace without stopping, jumping from several trees and avoiding natural obstacles, managing to reach a large opening in the ground and below not too far was a cenote that is an opening to a water body below the ground and this didn’t had the water too far from where she was, not mentioning the fact that due to what seemed to be powerful and sturdy vines.
“The water looks great to take a dip, too bad that I need to move on.” Lara said before hearing a terrain car coming looking from behind a tree she absentmindedly used the cat eyes to notice the men who were surely after the statuette.
‘I need to lose them but how, can’t risk myself been seen, not to mention that some crazy people these days like to watch and see female half human felines.’ She thought to herself before her gaze went towards the cenote. ‘I wanted to make a dip anyways since I probably am starting to feel more and more wild.’ Lara thought as she jumped in the whole and landed in the water while the terrain vehicle stopped and the 2 man went out from it with their guns at the ready to look around.
“Do you think that Croft had taken the artifact?” Asked one of them.
“Of course she did, who else do you think will be interested in it, aside from our Mr. IQ.” They said going near the hole to the cenote to see if there was someone in there.
“Yet I wonder what does this old relic would do to the one who has it.” Asked the other mercenary.
“We aren’t paid to ask what fantastical thing this could do, but whatever it is I hope it will come with something more.” Said the other going back to the car before turning to his colleague.
“Come, we have to move. Doctor Philips Knox isn’t a patient man” He ordered and the other moved away from the cenote while anthro jaguar Lara moved from a darker corner of the cave listening to what was they were talking.
“Doctor Philips Knox.” She said knowing about him but never met him in person and she wasn’t very impressed, not by his name or title but for whom he was, an eccentric artifact collector. Who primarily, likes to find, take and collect curse artifacts driving him crazy along the way.
“I should have known that he will want some cursed object.” She said to herself thinking about the statuette in her backpack. “And yet I wonder, if the statuette is suppose to get the one who touches it the power and form of a humanoid jaguar, wonder what the main artifact does.” She asked herself hearing the vehicle moving away.
“Let’s first get out of the cenote, heh wonder if I will turn full jaguar or the animal instincts get me and will have to give up on my clothes, if I don’t get there before those slime-balls and that crackpot.” She said to herself grabbing a vine and started to climb fixing her claws from both hands and feet to climb out of the hole fully wet however.
“I will need a place where to dry myself, secluded and with a lot of sun, preferably old Mayan temple.” She said to herself and started to advance in the jungle keeping herself away from the road where the car with the mercenaries passed and it didn’t took very long till she had found another Mayan temple that was hit very hard by the sun, just perfect for what she needed. She quickly undressed herself from her short pants and shirt and placed them on top of the temple to dry in the sun, remaining only in her black bikini. And the results were not something she expected since she was feeling very liberated.
“Hmm I really feel liberated now after getting off my clothes. I guess that the fur is a replacement for the clothes even with that I don’t intend to undress myself naked.” She said to herself leaning on her back right on top of the temple to fell the sun touching her fur.
“Hmm, and no wonder cats like to bath in the sun rays. It causes them to relax a lot, prr, prr.” She said purring while staying in the sun relaxing for some time kind off till the sun indicated it was 4 in the afternoon. After that small relaxation and her clothes getting dry she prepared to continue however the assumption that the fur is replacing the clothes for animals was indeed true since when she tried them on they seemed a bit uncomfortable and so she decided to place both her short pants and her shirt in the backpack remaining only in her bikini before moving on till night fell.
“Wonderful, I surely spent too much time relaxing like a feline in the sun and the night have fallen already. It isn’t like it wasn’t however feeling nice.” She said to herself admitting that now she was an anthro jaguar and this happened. Looking however around her she noticed that she didn’t had trouble seeing things in the night on the contrary she can sense and see everything.
“Well this will be something useful.” Lara said to herself moving forward throw the dense vegetation for several miles, her sense of orientation really had heightened after the transformation however she really could use an indicator to point to where she was suppose to go and so she stopped for the moment and pulled out the jaguar statuette from it.
“Wish you would do more then turn me into a humanoid jaguar person.” She said to the statue before the eyes started to glow driving the tomb raider suspicious.
“What are you up to?” She asked before the head started to move to the right side of the object and 2 red lights coming from the eyes pointed into a direction.
“Are you showing me the direction where I have to go?” Lara asked and the statue’s eyes flickered to indicate a positive response.
“In this case thank you for the direction.” She said moving forward to where it was pointed. Moving in the night in the jungle with all speed she couldn’t help but like more and more those new abilities that she had gained however she had to agree that all this was making her also feel tired after literally running several kilometers and had to now lay down even the mighty Tomb Raider has to stay down and rest for a bit.
“yawn’ I have to stay down for a bit.” She said going near a tree that gave a perfect cover from possible torrential rain, although it was pass the rain season it was better this way then be wet afterwards. Lying down on her back near the tree among dense vegetation she closed her eyes and fell asleep for the night. When the sun rose up in the sky the next day, she after getting on her feet started to some stretching and some exercises to get her anthro body running, especially after such a sleep on the ground but not completely out of comfort.
“Mmmm, staying on hard ground and on grass, dense leaves and vegetation really isn’t for me despite this form but surely isn’t for me. Hopefully I am getting close to my objective.” She said to herself before noticing something on the ground, a clay plate with some gain meat in it.
“Gain meat? From where could it come from?” She asked herself before hearing a sound with one of her ears, turning around combat ready for any fight and hissing.
“Hiss who goes there.” She demanded before seeing a familiar jaguar who turned into the mayan man who gave her the mission.
“No worries here Mrs. Croft I thought that it will be wise for the guardian to eat something, especially antelope. Although advisable was to hunt it.” He said with a soft smile while the anthro jaguar let her guard down.
“Didn’t expected you to come. Sorry about this.” She said.
“Don’t need to be sorry a jaguar is always territorial I expected this and you did well.”
“How much do I have to go to get to my destination?” She asked.
“You are almost there but now you need to use your instincts in order to find it and also you will need to call the help the artifact will give you to keep away the men that want it for evil deeds.” He explained.
“I know it’s Doctor Philips Knox the one who wants it, still what the artifact would do if he gains it?”
“What do you think it will, not only will it do what it did for you to become a guardian but it will also make him gain control of the jaguar spirit giving him the power to control animals and especially the jaguar but it also has a great treasure of gold and silver, the gemstone in the center is the most important and is guarded by a big statuette what you have is the image of the jaguar deity itself on top of the head there is a hole where the gemstone had to be placed.” He explained and then Lara looked closely and on the head of the jaguar saw the hole. “If it has the gemstone it can give the one who posses it the power to order the animals. However everyone could be tempted to use this for selfish interests, especially that the feeling of greed and the lust for power could poison the mind and make one loose his senses believing all the world is his.”
“This is what Doctor Philips Knox would like.” She commented.
“Indeed and it happened before, thousands of years before, before the white man came a kind from the neighboring nation came and attacked my temple whom we had to guard. The kind wanted the power to control the entire known world by using the power of the jaguar but it brought destruction to our people and misery and that is why it must be brought back to its place because after it, the entrance could be sealed and no one would be able to enter after this.” He explained.
“I think I understand.”
“This is good, and I know about your craft as archeologist, you can take what you want from there. Inside there, is a copy of the original that you posess it is also hundreds of years old and very valuable but there is also a message written on a scroll left by a people that came here before the Europeans.” He said.
“What kind of people?”
“The ones that also belonged to an ancient civilization but what they did is no more around.”
“Atlantis.”
“Indeed.” He said preparing to leave. “You better eat now and then continue you will need all your strength, because there is another thing that guards the stone, the former ruler who was cursed to be a jaguar monster for all eternity.”
“I expected for this to not be easy. Wonder if I can use modern weapons on it.” Lara commented.
“You can but you need to be fast however. And you will surely need those and what you will be near the temple.” The Mayan priest said before leaving a spear in case close combat will be needed “I will have to leave you, good luck.” He disappeared into the jungle while Lara started to eat what was prepared for her. The meat was very well roasted and prepared with different spices and she enjoyed it. After she finished eating she continues to go for some time with short breaks to drink some water from her own supply. And by all she felt more and more like a feline by jumping and running through the jungle. She however at last reached her destination near the end of the day; climbing up the stairs at a rapid pace she reached the top of the pyramid.
“Well here we are, still from what I know this place should be near the sea.” She said to herself before climbing on the roof of the pyramid and she didn’t only saw that the sea was close she could also see even her yacht that she used to bring her here, it was ironic and she couldn’t believe how close she was from this place the moment she came here.
“Well this is really a twist of irony.” She said to herself before climbing down and entered inside and near the entrance she found a red loincloth and a crop-top the same size.
“Hmm, guess this should be the ceremonial cloth for what has to come, well since I stayed in my bikini I guess I can use it.” She said taking off her bikini and changing it with the cloths that were inside and from what she could tell they were comfortable but were feeling tight while wearing them they were probably made for her in order for them to not fall which was by all accounts fine in her view and at least it doesn’t bother her jaguar fur covered body.
“Well then let’s see what the challenge is laid ahead.” Now she said placing her bikini in her backpack while continuing to walk on till she reached a chamber that was in essence a giant hallway where the torches had lit by themselves till she reached the entrance of a large chamber that lead to a large stone door that had the figure of a jaguar.
“Here we are.” Lara said moving forward for several steps but after several steps she remembered what the Mayan priest had warned her about the ruler turned monster.
“Hmm, this seems strange where the monster is?” She asked herself before.
Bang
Something had pushed her from a corner and made her fall down to the stone floor, moving her vision upwards Lara noticed the giant humanoid jaguar that landed right near the door. This anthro or humanoid jaguar was by all wearing a gold necklace with a red stone on it aside from wearing a loincloth.
“It seems I jinx it.” She said to herself while the man-jaguar jumped at her but this time Lara was prepared and with her feet she pushed him into the wall while Lara got on her feet and prepared her spear but also having her pistols close.
“Well then it’s not the first time I have to fight a bit cat. Some come over here kitty, kitty.” Lara said.
‘Wroar!” The jaguar roared and assaulted again but Lara managed to jump above him and made him get into the wall again with its head.
“You are headstrong I give you that, but too wild.” Lara said to him in a teasing way, angering him even more and made him roar again.
“Some things never change about males.” She commented preparing for the next attack.
“You are on.” She said while the jaguar-man attacked again but Lara this time putted out her pistols and fired at his legs making him fall on his knees.
“Like I said, too wild, it is no wonder you turned so crazy, more an animal then a man.” Lara said before she felt an energy coming from her backpack, it came from the statuette. Pulling it out from it she noticed the gemstones starting to glow and from Lara noticed that something else was glowing, it was coming from the humanoid jaguar’s necklace.
“Hmm it seems like the necklace you got also is linked to the statuette well then it seems like I have to take it as well.” Lara said but the jaguar leaped up in a defensive stance and jumped again at the tomb raider and despite some struggles Lara with the spear managed to crawl it to the medallion to literally rip it from the humanoid jaguar’s neck which infuriated him even more and this time it managed to push Lara into the wall. In that moment the tomb raider felt scared of what might come, either she would be killed, throw her out or he would force her to mate with him. The last though he nearly puked at the idea, the jaguar preparing for the final strike she lifted the medallion to him and a red light started to emanate which affected him and also an energy came from the statuette as well as, so Lara grabbing both them and showing them to the jaguar person it started to turn him weaker and weaker till the light amplified as if it was a ray of fire which eventually burn him to a cinder.
“Wow, no wonder that Dr. Knox wants this thing. This power could really affect one as well as destroy the one who uses it for ill intentions.” Lara said to herself.
“Indeed it does.” She heard Balam Yaxkin who came here in his jaguar form. “That is why people with ill intentions could cause a lot of harm.”
“And I have to lock both of them.” Lara said.
“Not quite, you see the medallion was the important treasure here that I mentioned, it gives the one the ability to communicate to jaguars and other animals here. Calling them when you are in peril however, abusing it and wanting to create an army to attack and not defend. You can already guess what happens.” He explained turning to the pile of ash that was once the jaguar person.
“Saw it first hand and don’t need another demonstration.”
“Well then now you only need to place the medallion on the door, in order to open it.” He said and Lara did just that she placed the medallion in the center of it and immediately the large stone door started to move upwards and behind it was a room with a pedestal, and behind it was also a carving of a jaguar’s head with its mouth open. But this wasn’t the only thing the room was filled with treasures from jewels made of gold and silver to jade and so on, on both sides. Which everyone that couldn’t hold him or herself back could turn one made of gold fever, it wasn’t however the case for the famous Lara Croft.
“Now the only thing that you must put is only the statuette.”
“Need to ask however after this will it change me back to human?”
“Yes because the guardian already accomplished what it must be done unlike the one before it.”
“The Jaguar man?”
“Yes you see the statuette is able to turn one into a guardian in order to protect the people and to protect the deity it represents. However this could also turn into a curse if the one who takes it has evil intentions for power and dominance and the beast takes over. However if one stays for too long, the effect could also happen. The time limit is actually 5 days, it might be nearly a week by modern European standards but for us Mayans it is barely half. In 5 days the beast starts to take more and more control over the mind and indeed in 4 days after that you saw what could happen with the one you had already beaten.”
“And in my case it was only 2 days but somehow I felt some of the instincts that I had to use.” She said.
“Correct.” He replied while Lara moved towards the pedestal ready to place the jaguar on it still he ears flinch hearing something outside.
“This is the place at last we found it.” A man that was none other than Knox said.
“Hope this journey was worth it.” Another commented one of the mercenaries from earlier.
“Shut it, you will have all you want when we enter.” He said.
“Dr. Knox I should have known she would arrive.” She said.
“We can’t let him enter.”
“I can try to stop him with those abilities that I still have.”
“No, I have a better idea, the medallion can summon all the animals nearby but with the statuette you will be able to summon almost all for miles away if you use both of them especially in this form and could order them to chase them away and bring some of them here.” He said.
“Here?” She asked before another block started to open upwards revealing another passage.
“This passage leads outside behind the pyramid.” He said with a smile before turning to her. “So are you ready for a last act?”
“What I must do?” She asked with the same smirk.
_
Outside
“This time I will get the legendary Statuette of the Mayan Jaguar God alongside the Eye of Yucatan. It will be marvelous in my collection.” He said with high expectations while climbing the stairs.
“Do you think it was a good idea following this crackpot here?” Asked one of the mercenaries to his colleague.
“If not at least we got paid. So there is no worry for me.” He said while following the doctor to the top and entered inside.
_
In the meantime Lara placed the statuette on the pedestal and was wearing the medallion while listening to the instructions set by the Mayan now in human form. Placing both hand the statuette and the medallion started to glow while Lara was feeling the animal power rushing through her making her eyes glow white.
“Now is the time.”
“Oh might and powerful Jaguar, hear your guardian I summon you to come and defend your holy temple and drive those wicked man away from here. By youw power I summon the animals to defend your temple.” She called and during that time lots of jaguars started to enter in the room through the secondary hall alongside other predators.
_
“We must be nearly there I can feel it.” Said Dr. Knox however out of sudden a jaguar jumped on him.
“AAAAAHH”
“BOSS!” Said the mercenaries coming to his aid turning their weapons to the beast before they as well were attacked by 2 jaguars from the shadows who scratched and bit them on their body before each managed to throw them to run away towards the exit. Outside however they were met by a bunch of other animal predators and the birds were also attacking them now.
“To the car now!” Knox ordered and they went towards the car and once inside the main mercenary tried to start it with some difficulty.
“HURRY UP!!!” Knox shouted till he managed to make contact and immediately they started it and fled the place while Lara was watching with satisfaction while holding the statuette once they were out of sight the animals started to leave as well while she and the Mayan were still there.
“The mission of the guardian and mine was completed at last.” Said the man.
“What would happen from here now?” She asked.
“The temple will be safe as for you your mission was a success.” He said while the statuette’s eyes started to glow and she felt her body change again this time the fur was retreating along with her tail and claws and her feet were back to normal as was her whole body in a matter of seconds. After that Lara returned to the chamber and placed the statuette at its rightful place while with the permission of the Mayan filled her backpack with a big load of the treasure before the chamber and then the temple was sealed again for the final time and still wearing the clothes she had been wearing that was before the fight with the beast. And now in front of the pyramid she was talking with the priest.
“Well I will now have to go since my ride is close by.
“Indeed and I have to thank you Miss Croft for freeing me. I at last am able to be with my other ancestors.”
“Guess that this is goodbye then.”
“Don’t say that who knows whether we will meet again or not.” He said before turning transparent smiling at him.
“Farewell Lara Croft may you always be blessed in your paths.”
“Farewell to you too Balam Yaxkin, may your ancestors receive you with open arms.” She said walking through the jungle still dressed with the cloths that were inside the temple towards the sea now with a bag full of treasure and the medallion at the neck. Once on her yacht she placed the necklace in a box while enjoying the hot evening watching the sun settling in the distance through her sun glasses.
The End