Toshi appears from the ashes

*It had been months since the Compound was destroyed. Those first few days had been terrifying. She still didn't know how she had avoided the R.UN.ners. Frightened the world had still fascinated her. Never had she dreamed of all the colors or the smells. Or the sun.. She still marveled at the feel of the sun on her skin. Chuckling she now knew that Warpole could never tell her of the outside because it was too varied. Thinking of Warpole she wipes a tear away that slowly rolls down her face. He must be dead. If he wasn't she was sure he would have come for her by now. Hearing a yell she looks over at the young girl, a street rat, that had helped her survive all this time.*

*Smiling at Liz she waves to her* Hi.. Did you find someplace to get food? //Liz: Yes.. You should have no problem getting in and out. //Toshi: All right. Show me where and I'll check it out. *she had been afraid to tell anyone of her special abilities, but had learned she needed to use them to survive. Having spent all her life in a controlled environment she wasn't at all prepared for life alone on the streets. Since she had not been expected to go out on patrol with the other G.U.A.R.D she didn't know of any of the other facilities.*

*The two girls head back to the abandoned building they called home. Toshi knew that she would have died a long time ago without Liz's help. Laying down to catch some sleep her mind wanders back to the times she spent with Warpole. He had been the only friend she ever had her big brother. The scientist didn't care about her.. All that wanted was to know how she ticked. She hadn't known life was any different until after the attack. Perhaps she should be thankful to the R.UN.ners for her freedom. Yet what kind of freedom was it with out Pole. Fearing he is dead she lets the tears come. *

*Returning to her 'home' with Liz after getting more food and money she looks around. Frowning at the dark rooms. Liz usually had candles burning. Especially now that Toshi made sure they always had plenty. Liz hated the dark.* Liz? *Hearing no response she moves further into the room. Stubbing her toes on a crate they used as a chair. Her hands reaching out to the table next to it. Lighting a candle she looks around the room.* Liz?

*Still no response. Setting everything down on the table she moves into the bedroom. Seeing Liz lying on the old mattress they had found she sighs in relieve. Several times before Liz had gone out to get drugs and hadn’t returned for days. Those times terrified Toshi. Not until the Compound was attacked had she ever been alone. There was always someone monitoring her. Moving closer to the bed she realizes something is wrong. Kneeling down she shakes Liz.* Liz? *Only then does she see that the girl is dead. Her eyes are drawn to the needle lying on the bed next to Liz. Naive she may have been at the beginning, but several months on the streets with hookers, drunks and druggies had taught her what an overdose was. * No!!! *Liz had been her friend. Had helped her survive the last few months. In this her naiveté showed through. Liz had only been using her to get food and money for her drugs. Yet even in using her she had protected Toshi. Knowing that if others found out about her they would take her.*

*Cradling Liz’s body she holds her rocking for several hours. Her mind on the edge of reality so much had changed. She was totally unprepared for it all. Slowly her mind drifts back to happier times. Times spent with Warpole. She remembers a conversation she had once with him where he talked of the fight with the R.UN.ners. * What would Pole do? *She knew he wouldn’t just sit there. He would hurt the ones that hurt him. A plan begins to form in her mind. A cruel smile slowly appears. Yes.. Hurt the one that did this to Liz. Tenderly laying her friend down on the bed she gathers up a few things. Stopping in the door she takes a last look at Liz. Then turning she heads out to get her revenge.*

*She knew exactly where to go. Once before she had gone with Liz. Reaching the drug den she slips behind a dumpster. Pulling out lock of Liz’s hair. They may not let her in, but they would let Liz in. Taking a deep breath she concentrates on the shift. Her features slowly change to those of the other girl. They had been about the same size the other being just a little taller. Unaware of the drunk laying in the dark a several feet away. It takes about 15 minutes for the shift to complete. Once done no one would be able to tell the difference. She then adds a few touches to the shift. Soon appearing as Liz had when high on drugs. Approaching the building she smiles prettily.*

*Knocking on the door she waits. Hearing someone approach, then a voice…. Yes.. She was in luck. Recognizing the voice as the same man who had been there the time she was with Liz..* Is me Joe.. I got money.. /// Joe: *chuckles* Back so soon darlin.. Come on in.. *The door opens and she slips inside. Looking around the room carefully she sees only a few people. Knowing that there were bound to be a few more in the rest of the house she knows she will have to be careful and quick. * Toshi: Yeah.. You know how it is.. I got money.. // Joe: Come on then.. *He leads her back to another room. Smiling when she sees the room is empty. Closing the door she leans against it. Hearing the door shut Joe turns around.* Joe: Hey! What gives? *Seeing her smile he misinterprets it to mean she doesn’t really have money and is willing to trade her body for the drugs. Shrugging his shoulders he moves towards her.* You know I ain’t going to give you much.. Not for that overused body, but… *Keeping the smile on her face she lets him approach. Her hand then whips out from behind her back. A knife slicing quickly and deeply across his throat just as Warpole had told her once. Joe doesn’t have a chance to call out. Catching his body as it falls she lowers him to the floor. She then reaches in her pocket for the second surprise of the night.*

*Again she pulls out a lock of hair. Concentrating on shifting again. This shifts takes longer as she is adding a lot more mass. Crying out in pain at the shift the form so different. The others in the rest of the house hear the noise, but think it is for other reasons. Soon where a young girl had once stood a full grown male Siberian Tiger stands. Growling the Tiger knocks the door down. It was time for Toshi to finish her revenge. Catching those in the living room by surprise she is able to maul and kill most of them. Before others coming running out of the other rooms. One of them having the forethought to grab a gun. Surprised by the sight of a Tiger the shot goes wild. Catching her a glancing blow down her side rather than a killing shot. Charging the man with the gun she kills him, but can see others scrambling for weapons. Not waiting for them to recovery she lunges against the door breaking it down and disappearing down the alley into the night.*

*There was a park not far from the drug house. She keeps the tiger form until she is well within the park. Hiding in the trees she releases the shift. The added mass seeming to melt away. Taking less time to revert to her natural form. Cold, wet and hurt she shivers. Her eyes going to the horizon. It was almost dawn. She couldn’t go home, but she couldn’t stay out here in the park all day in the nude. Seeing an old drunk passed out she quickly steals his coat. Slipping it on she heads back towards home. Knowing several buildings in the area where she could hide.*