Neko Gathering

Leone shuffled his feet around, kicking the dirt left and right before sneezing. It was getting awful cold since the fire went out early morning, and only an hour later he was beginning to feel a shiver. Well, being left shirtless it was no wonder he hadn't developed hypothermia as of yet. Still no success with breaking free mind you, this is an inexperienced hunter after all, not quite yet the level of experience as he would attain in present time. Being twenty-four years younger makes quite the difference.

"Chu!" He wiggled his nose, recovering from another sudden sneeze when the curtain began to shuffle once more. "Fuck."

Out popped another cat, mewing softly with its raised tail, its calming eyes staring at him. He tilted his head, nothing out of the ordinary compared to how other cats look. In a moment it began to stretch and change shape, losing some of its brown fur as it began to expand and grow more feminine features. Within seconds, Emyri stood up on her knees with her arms wide open.

"Ta~da! First day of the job, hunter. Let's get started!"

He raised his eye before dropping them and blushing. Catching his gaze, she yelped and covered her chest, turning sideways.

"Pervert! You're going to need to control yourself, unless you'd rather get comfortable with a blindfold on."

He leaned back and shrugged. "Could be fun, I can still imagine how you people look. You girls are pretty... expressive."

"Gross, no more comments of that nature-and keep that thing in check!" She scolded, pointing at his crotch. "I needed to wash up twice after feeling it. Didn't want to catch human cooties or any gross diseases of your kind."

"Cooties?" Was she for real, or was this a joke? Judging by her calm and determined expression, she wasn't bluffing.

"Yea, you know those nasty itty bitty things that make us itchy and not think well. I've heard stories that you humans have it. Don't know about monster hunters though, you are human right?"

"In a way, I guess."

"Then no touchy touchy." She said rather harshly, scooting around him carefully. Another noise was coming in, a cat pushing through before morphing into a woman of similar age, but much slimmer and more innocent looking.

"Emyriiii, be careful! You don't want to get too close!"

Emyri and Leone both raised an eye. "Why are you whispering, he's right here."

"Oh, you can understand us?" She asked, waving her paw at his face. Leone slumped back and glared at her with a gloomy expression.

"Yes, I can understand you. Don't know what speech has to do with vision now stop waving your hand around me!"

Emyri slapped his arm before pulling on his ties. "Be nice! It's not a hand, it's a paw and if you don't behave you are going to be in a lot of trouble mister."

He rolled his eyes, breathing a sigh of relief once he felt the resistance release as his restraints dropped to the floor. Rubbing his sore wrists, his eyes quickly locked onto the exit before hurrying outside, with Zimi yelping and scooting out of the way. Emyri watched him slither out to his freedom, only for his movement to come to a halt. The hunter had stopped, standing up to see himself surround by numerous Nekomata's staring at him curiously with tilted heads and waving tails. My gosh, so many of them around of varying ages, he was too frightened and speechless that he hadn't even thought about their nudity and presented chests.

"Mew!"

"Meow, look at him!"

"He's so tall!"

"I thought he'd be bigger?"

"Is that a monster, Mommy?"

He was panting when he fell flat on his arse as someone crept up behind him, clicking her tongue.

"Naughty naughty, mister hunter. You know you're not very bright, I'm beginning to second guess your status as hunter. Is this your first day or something?"

Frowning, he turned his head away with a sneeze. "Chu!"

"Excuse me." Emyri stepped aside as her mother introduced herself, this time with red markings on her skin and face. "I hadn't caught your name, allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Cyri, Head Mother of our little clutter here. You've met my daughter, Emyri."

Leone looked between the two. "I see the resemblance." It's like a before and after image, really.

Emyri seemed unamused as her mother continued. "And you are?"

"No lies, hunter!" Her daughter added, bringing several chuckles around them. "I remember your name was something something Ishi o'harem!"

He rolled his eyes and sighed. "It's Leone, Leone Nisha Nohera."

"That's quite a name, are you of royalty perhaps?"

Shrug, the idea never came to mind. "Can't say, I never asked."

"I see. Now everyone, this man is a monster hunter!" Several of them began to talk and whisper amongst themselves. "Keep a watchful eye on him, he is our guest of honor you could say. And we have plans for him."

Everyone stayed quiet, with Cyri nudging her daughter forward. "Oh, sorry. Ahem! So, hi I'm Emyri ehe. As you know, we caught this hunter yesterday and he was called in to find us!"

"Did you think he succeeded?" Someone called out, causing some giggles.

She smirked and waved her tails. "Yea yea, anyway it dawned to me that we are always on the run, and it gets very tiring. So many traps out there for us girls to watch for, poisoned crops, poisoned berries, snakes and villagers to keep weary. Heck, when's the last time anyone found themselves a mate?"

Everyone looked around with no show of hands. Crap, I mean paws.

"Definitely been a while, right mother?" Cyri nodded. "So uh... my idea is this, we keep the hunter with us!"

"You mean, as a mate?"

"Wha-no, no-no not as a mate." She stuttered.

"Oh, as a breeder than?"

"Oh we haven't had one of those, now I'm curious! Is he going to breed us?"

"I get it, a strong hunter will make strong babies!"

"NO!" Emyri cried, stomping her foot down. "No one is having babies by this man, certainly not!"

That left a vocal expression of disappointment echo through the crowd. Cyri smiled sheepishly. "Get to the point dear, you're losing them."

She nodded and waved her hand away before facing them. "So uh, I was saying we keep the hunter with us-not for breeding! For teaching. Us. Teaching us, you know so we can learn how to counter these troubles we've been having and all that."

A paw was raised. "So, he's not giving anyone babies?"

Emyri growled as her mother quickly stepped in. "I think that's good enough for now, is everyone understood? We'll keep him around so that we may learn more about them. Recognizing and understanding are our first steps before overcoming. So again, keep a watchful eye and be sure he doesn't leave our circle at any time, no exceptions! If there is any reason he should step outside, you do not do so until I say. Emyri will be in charge of overseeing him, she asks for our help and you will give it. Are we clear? Does anyone have anything to say otherwise, any opposition at all?"

No show of paws, they looked around and nodded with a few shrugs here or there.

"Well done, he is yours now. Everyone else, back to work as if things were normal."

"Yes, Mother." Emyri smiled, turning around as Zimi walked up to her side. Both were staring at Leone who simply crossed his arms while the other girls began to disperse around them, with several glancing back at him.

"So, what is he going to do, what are you going to do?" Zimi asked.

"Well, I do have one thing." Emyri giggled, whispering into her friends ear. She blushed and squeaked in shock before giggling with her, leaving the hunter feeling awkward and clueless. A moment later, he was brought into a den with some leaves weaved together and something... despicable. He felt the fire rise inside him as he sent daggers with his eyes to her.

"No, you've got to be joking!"

"Tough luck, boy. No outdoor privilege without you wearing it." He grumbled and reluctantly picked it up, fitting it over his head before letting it hang loosely around his neck. "Tighten it for me."

His lip twitched as he fastened the collar around his neck before Zimi returned with the chains. "This thing, right?"

She beamed widely as she jangled the same chains he used to catch her ankle in their first encounter before staring into his eyes.

"Purrrrfect! This will make the best leash! Okay hunter, now we may begin!"