The reaction

“You better not be thieves, or I'll blast you straight to hell!” Swinging his shotgun to bear, the old farmer eyed the space of the barn, an oil lamp by his foot as he looked around, finding nothing but his tractor and tools. Lowering his firearm to his side, he picked up the lamp and walked inside. The reason he was in here was the strange noises that woke him up. Strange banging and scraping sounds coming from his tractor shed like someone was striking an oil drum with a shovel.

When he hobbled to the back of the barn, he found the source of that noise. Someone or something had torn the tire guard off the back left wheel of his tractor! Crumpled on the ground, the metal plate was twisted and dented, its bolts sheared and scattered around the hay strewn ground at his feet.

“Phew...” Whistled the old man, scratching his head at the damage before him. “Now what could have done that? Must have been a strong son of a bitch!”

Bending down to look closer, his foot bumped into something on the ground. looking down with the lamp hanging low, he spotted a laundry basket with neatly folded clothing in four piles, three of his wife’s dresses and his work pants and shirt.

“Laundry? In the barn? Damn woman... You'll do anything to stay out of the sun won't ya.” Gathering the cloths up and putting them back in the basket, he set his gun onto the bundle of cloths and picked it all up, now with a basket in one hand and a lamp in the other he shut the barn door and walked back to the house, his complaints drifting off as he walked out of sight.

“That was close.”

Crawling down from their hiding spot on the barn's ceiling, the four creatures carefully settled back onto the ground, their tails maintaining their balance despite their hulking size. Tina and Rebecca went to the barn door to keep an eye on the farmer, while Cal held onto a sombre Michelle. He wanted to say something to her, anything to make the woman feel better but Dr. Strentum was at a loss for words, the phage should have reverted them back to human form, and instead they remained as nine-foot-tall monstrosities.

Just as she would do even when she was human her clawed hands stroked down the braid of her hair. Very nearly pulling the thing straight off her scalp in her defeated state. Out of all of them she took the truth the hardest.

“I'm hideous... I'll never be human again...”

Letting the blonde, she-creature down on her feet, Cal's mind reeled at what was ahead of them, they were stuck like this for the rest of their lives now, what did they have to look forward to?

“Michelle, listen to me. I don't know why we're stuck like this but... We are now, WE are, and you’re not alone in this!”

Looking up from her spot in front of Cal, Michelle opened her eyes to stare back at him.

“Not alone?”

Nodding down at the woman in his arms he continued.

“Yes! We're in this together, you're not alone.”

Looking over to Tina and Rebecca, both women waved the two over, telling them the coast was clear to leave. Opening the gate, the four creatures fled into the darkness of night, running until they made it to the tree line and out of the grassy fields of the horse farm. For over an hour they ran, cutting through trees back and forth, slowing down the four came to a stop by a rocky outcrop, a raised hill made of stone that was half buried by a fallen tree. Leaning against the dead oak, Tina caught her breath, her chest rising as she looked to the others with a sullen expression.

“I guess this is our future then huh... We can't go back.” Frowning as her eyes darted to her clawed hands Tina looked to the others with confusion. “If we're not human anymore, then what should we call ourselves?”

“Well...” Thought Rebecca out loud as she looked herself over, her stout tail curling behind her as she was in deep thought. “We ARE a hybrid of animal and human DNA, how about... Chimeras?”

Rearing back with a disgusted snort, Tina crossed her arms over her upper breasts and huffed back at the red-haired creature. “Do I look like I have three heads and breathe fire Becca? We're a patchwork of genes, right? How about... Oh, I don't know... Amalgams?”

Cal sat down just as Michelle darted over to cling to his back like a timid child, the beast-man scratching his head at the name for their species.

“We're a pack of Amalgams?”

Shrugging his shoulder, he did admit it sounded right. A chimera was more of a jumbled mass of conflicting animal parts, but they were a hybrid, a mix of various animals known for their ability to heal or regenerate. Looking down at his muscular arm he wondered just how potent their healing factor was, already he survived being shot. Several times! Could he regenerate lost limbs? Would he live longer? And what of his other new tricks? He could see in the dark, climb walls, what else could he and the others do?

Looking over to the stone formation Cal yawned as the day's events and stress caught up with him. “I guess we should call it a night for now, we're going to have to get used to this for the rest of our lives and... I'm tired.”

Sharing a yawn along with him, the three female Amalgams followed him into the gaping crevice of the stone outcrop. Inside the space was filthy; with decomposed leaf litter, cracks in the stones above caused moonlight to bleed in, along with dripping water from condensation after the hot day.

“If it ever be so humble...” Joked Rebecca as she cleared some of the scum and leaf litter off the ground to find a place to sleep. Clearing out a spot, the four made a space to rest and bundled up close, leaning against a stone wall as sleep finally claimed them all.

***

Cal slept fitfully that night, nightmares filling his dreams as he tossed and turned on the rocky outcrop, he used to rest his head over like a pillow. Sweat matting his fur, he mumbled in his sleep as it turned worse. He was giving a seminar, Gennex had appointed him to the local university to teach on cross-species genetics and its applications and history. The auditorium was spacious, easily filled to capacity with over a hundred eager students listening in on his lecture as he wrote away with a stick of chalk and began scratching out diagrams from the chalkboard in front of him.

“The phage virus was a revolutionary artificial retrovirus that allowed the manipulation of the human genome possible, encoded to break down when no longer required, it would return the subject back to its original genetic structure with no lingering side effects after the effects of the initial changes were implemented.”

Just as he finished illustrating the RNA composition of the virus over the chalkboard, his stomach began to growl, loud enough that the first row of students could hear it. Eliciting a giggle from the crowd.

“Heh... Guess I missed lunch before coming here.” Garnering a quick laugh at his embarrassment, Dr. Strentum turned back around to continue his lesson, just when his stomach growled again, more insistently this time. “I... Oh my...”

Looking over to the class at his seminar, he felt dizzy, sweat dripping over his forehead as his heart began to pound in his chest. Buckling forward and holding his stomach in both arms, the crowd of students stood up to see if the man needing help when he fell to his knees. Looking down at his hand, Cal could only look on in horror as his hands began to grow, his nails growing thicker and sharp. Arching his back with a cry, his bones cracked as they changed and shifted, the sleeves of his shirt tearing down the seams as his coat tore open behind him.

Standing up on his feet, his shoes burst open as his toes grew out and stretched the leather apart to reveal curved talons, his pants splitting open as muscles bulged from his thighs and ankles. Hearing his heart pounding even in his ears, Cal growled as he grew, spikes shot out of his back, the back of his pants tore open as a tail shot out and snaked its way around his legs. Fur spread over his body in seconds as his cloths fell from his now towering body. Seeing the panic in the crowd, he screamed as his face stretched forward, his teeth growing sharp as a pair of horns exploded from his head, gnarling to either side of his face like the horns of a bull before he darted his attention back to the screaming students. What stood now was nothing like the man who now sniffed the air and leered at the screaming, panicking crowds trying to race for the exits. His eyes wild and predatory as he inhaled sharply.

“Huuuuuunnnnngggrrryyyyyy.” Bellowing out a roar that shook the windows of the auditorium, the creature that was once Dr. Cal Strentum smashed the podium out of his way before charging into a group of students stumbling over each other to escape.

With a slash of his talons, he tore open the neck of a nearby student and clamped his jaws over his throat, tearing into him with wild abandon as the screaming throng of people barrelled through the double doors to escape. Tossing the dead boy aside Cal tackled two more on their way out, striking them with his powerful tail and knocking them into the opposite wall. Driving his claws into one he clamped his teeth down on the shoulder of the other, their screams falling on deaf ears as the monster tore away at their flesh.

“Hungry!”

More and more he attacked, killing everyone he came upon as he gorged on their blood and flesh, his stomach forming a heavy paunch from all he had consumed. Smashing through the door of a locked classroom he found a woman hiding from him like the rest, cornering her at the wall he slammed his claws at the walls at her sides. Bringing his blood caked muzzle down to smell her fear, smiling wickedly at the terrified woman he licked the side of her face with his hot tongue, tasting the salt of her tears.

“Hungry...”

***

Waking up with a start, Cal panted as he felt his heartbeat like a hammer in his chest. His fur slick with sweat as he calmed down from his nightmares and looked around the cave interior, he had slept in. Instead of a blood-soaked auditorium he was laying in the stone cave they had slept in the night before, looking up he spotted Tina and Rebecca curled up in front of him near the entrance.

“Bad dream?” Moaned Michelle, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she moved over to press against the male Amalgam by her side.

“Yeah... Just the last couple days catching up with me.”

Leaning back and closing his eyes, Cal released the breath he was holding, his heart settling back into its normal rhythm now that the moment had passed. Moving up to face him, Michelle pressed her breasts into his chest as she looked him in the eyes, gently running a clawed finger over his sweaty brow and horns.

“Let me make it better than.” Eyes going wide he was unprepared for the kiss she planted on his muzzle, or the next one after that, or the next after that. Kissing her way down his neck and chest, she left a trail of butterfly kisses leading down to his naval. Feeling her hand grasp his rising erection, he tried to protest before she gently pushed his arms back to his sides. Straddling his legs, she leaned down and sandwiched his erection between her large heavy breasts, her soft fur and warm skin making him harder as she massaged his erection. Licking the crown of his cock delicately to stir him up. Michelle felt him buck his hips to her ministrations and sat up to position herself over him, lining him up with her pussy as she stretched it open with her free hand.

“Michelle? I...”

Slamming down hard she opened her mouth in a silent moan as he filled her utterly, grinding her wide hips against his own as her tail pushed his legs further apart. Pressing up against him, she kissed his fanged lips again, darting her tongue into his mouth as she moaned in pleasure.

“Not... Alone... Anymore... We're a Pack!” She swooned. Panting as she bounced in his lap; Michelle brought his claws up to squeeze at her thighs. Her horned head lolling back and forth. Pulling his claws up to her many breasts, she sighed as he pinched her erect nipples, one at a time, guided by her hands. Unable to resist Cal leaned down and captured her lips in his again, growling into her mouth as she did the same. Pulling away after a minute and increasing the intensity of his thrusts, Cal took one of her stiff nipples into his mouth, nibbling on the stiff nub as she pulled his head closer, arching her back to give him more room. “Hnnnnngh, more, MORE! So close… So… Close…”

Soon the two tensed into a shared orgasm, one that left them paralised as they embraced each other. Grabbed her hips, he kept her planted where she was as he came hard, filling her up as she groaned out her own release. Panting in shared exhaustion and bliss, the two Amalgams locked eyes with each other as they still sat connected. Looking over to her braided hair hanging over her shoulder, Michelle unhooked the small clasp and tossed it over her shoulder, hearing the little plastic thing bounce before disappearing into the leaf litter. Combing her clawed fingers through the braid, her blonde hair spilled down her back and over the sides of her face, tossing her head back she let her hair flow before it cascaded down her shoulders again.

“Not alone anymore... Not WEAK anymore...” Leaning forward she pressed her head against Cal's chest, breathing a sigh of bliss as he wrapped his arms around her.

***

Stepping out of the cave and breathing in the morning air, Tina hummed to herself as she stretched her limbs over her head and her tail out behind her. The sun was high in the morning light, shining columns of sunlight through the thick canopy of leaves high above. The distant sounds of birds chirping filled the air along with the subtle buzz of cicadas that would call out every so often from afar. Breathing in again she sighed as she recognized the scent in the air. Licking her lips, she sniffed the air again, following it deeper into the trees. She was hungry, and right now she knew what she wanted to sink her teeth into. Making a brisk run, she darted through the trees and shrubs, moving on all fours, she found she was faster this way while she crossed the distance of a football field and stopped dead in her tracks. Crouching low, she smiled at what she had smelled from the cave.

There, scratching its head over the bark of a tree was a lone deer, raking the sharp points of its antlers over the thick bark of a nearby tree in an up down motion. Keeping low, she licked her lips again, scrunching her legs under her, ready to pounce. Just as the buck looked up to move away from its scratching post, Tina struck. A blur of black fur and claws, she grabbed the thing by its head and leg and bit down on its neck. Frantic and wounded, the buck flailed its head around, jabbing Tina in the shoulder with its antlers before falling limp and lifeless when she bit down hard enough that its neck snapped. Looking over to her left shoulder she winced at the wounds before they began to clot, scab tissue forming instantly just as it all cracked and dissolved off her skin, totally healed in seconds. Looking down at the lifeless buck in her claws, Tina smirked to herself as she hoisted it over her shoulder.

“Well guess we're having venison for breakfast.”

Turning to head back to the cave, she stopped when she felt a presence come up behind her. Confused she hesitate as she heard the crunch of branches and leaves, the heavy breathing of some great big animal as a shadow loomed over her own. Heavy footsteps going oddly quite as she turned around to see what it was. She never saw the blow coming...

With a roar that shook the trees, a mighty claw swiped forward and struck her across the face, sending Tina crashing into the side of a fallen oak and splitting the rotten trunk in half. Looking up in a daze and guarding her wounded face, she stared up at the largest bear she had ever seen. The thing was just about as big as she was, standing up on its hind legs, it roared down at her, steam blooming from its hot breath as it collapsed down on all fours, stomping its way over to steal her kill.

Feeling the sting of her flesh re-knitting, the skin puckering over with scab tissue before flaking off like dust, the injuries inflicted by the bear’s claws were completely gone, and Tina regained her footing and stood to her impressive height. Taking in a breath of air, she bellowed out a roar that sent birds fleeing from the trees, the bear dropping the dead buck in its jaws as it turned to look at the Amalgam bearing her fangs and flexing her claws in rage.

“MINE!”

Barrelling forward with the **** of bulldozer, Tina body tackled the brown bear in her grip and lifted the massive animal in her arms, throwing it back against the rotten oak she landed in. Splintered wood splattered in every direction as the husk of the tree exploded from the impact, the animal shaking its head in a daze as it lolled and staggered getting back on its feet. Standing her ground on all fours Tina arched her back, showing off her horns and spines as her lip curled to show off her fangs and teeth. Roaring back at the Amalgam the brown bear raged forward, drool dripping from its open maw as it made a swipe for her face again.

“I SAID IT’S MINE! GET YOUR OWN FUCKING BREAKFAST!”

Running forward on all fours with her head down, she rammed into the 900-pound beast with her horns, pinning it against the trunk of a tree with enough **** to make it rain splintered wood in every direction as it rolled onto its back. Swiping with her own claws, she slashed deep gouges into the bear's chest and shoulder, clamping her jaws down on the very same claw it used to slash her face. Crying out in pain, the bear struggled and squirmed to get away, roaring out and taking another swipe at the Amalgam to shake her off.

Getting free and rolling back onto its paws to dart its head as Tina swiped at its flanks. The bear tried to rise to its hind legs to scare Tina off, only for it to fail miserably when she tackled the beast again and threw it over her shoulder to crash into trees again. Getting to its feet and guarding its injuries, the bear looked up to see Tina still there, ready for more with her teeth bared and snarling back at it. The bear had been through enough and turned running for its life, howling in pain as it guarded its wounded shoulder in a mad dash to escape this horrible creature.

Breathing hard and looking down at the rapidly healing wounds on her arm, and finding her scars were evaporating. Tina grabbed the broken neck of her prized deer and hoisted it back over her shoulder. Rearing up, she bellowed out a roar, making the forest silent in the echo of her presence.

“TELL YOUR FRIENDS ASSHOLE... I KEEP WHAT I KILL!”

Turning to leave, she trudged her way back to the cave, her blood still boiling from the hunt and fight for her meal. A thrill of pride swelled in her heart from the entire ordeal… She was hoping Cal wasn't busy when she got back. Because she had other ideas for what to do after they had eaten their meal.

***

Sitting on a rockface overlooking a small lake, Cal was tossing pebbles he had gathered at his feet to skip over the water's edge. He discovered the body of water after wandering off to explore their new home, gratefully, the water was drinkable and clear enough to see the sandy floor at least ten feet in. Reeds and lilies poked out of the deeper ends of the lake where the occasional splash told him there were fish. Dragonflies darted back and forth over the water while a waterfowl swam a safe distance from him since he arrived.

Deep in thought he had to wonder about the future for himself and the others; for some reason the phage wasn't working like it should be, they should have reverted to normal last night. Instead, he was now a hulking monstrosity, along with doctors Simmons, Hilbert, and Chambers. And the changes weren't just physical, their instincts had changed dramatically, even now he wanted to roam the forest and hunt, to sink his teeth into live prey and glut until he was too full to move. What scared him more was the prospect of accidentally encountering more people and how they would react to the giant nine-foot-tall Amalgam. And then there were the instances with his companions. The women were acting like they were in heat around him, perhaps he was too. Should he tell Tina he had sex with Michelle this morning? Would she be mad? And what about Rebecca? His mind swarmed with worrisome thoughts until he resolved to head back to the cave, dropping the small pile of stones back onto the beach as he stood up and walked.

Trekking through the trees for a good ten minutes, he returned to the cave that he and the others had slept in, Tina and Michelle were nowhere in sight, but he was pleased to find Rebecca at the entrance, taking arms full of the rotten leaf litter from inside and tossing them out.

“Welcome back Cal.” Called out the red furred Amalgam, waving as she turned to get more. “I decided to clean up our little den, I don't know about you, but I don't want to sleep on rotten mulch again tonight.”

Seeing her work on cleaning their home, Cal went inside to help, gathering as much as he could and dumping it all out front. Walking pass Rebecca as she carried a fresh bundle of leaves, she gave him a coy look before brushing her thigh against his leg, her tail tracing down his own as he turned to watch her walk away, wiggling her hips as she moved. She did it to him again before he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards him. Feeling bold he pulled her up for a kiss, letting his claws roam over her back before lowering them to squeeze her round ass. Grunting into the kiss he felt her grind against his growing erection, her nipples hardening against his barrel chest just as they broke the kiss to breath.

“What brought that up Cal?” Husked Rebecca, still pressing up against the man as her claws felt up his sides and back.

“Want me to stop?” Asked the beast-man just as she pursed her lips into a smile.

“No.”

Continuing to make out in front of the cave, their hands explored each other's bodies, moaning as their claws traced over sensitive areas. Moving back, Rebecca led them both against the stone walls, arching her back to offer her breasts to his firm hands. Breaking the kiss again, Cal slowly turning Rebecca around, the red-haired creature moaned as he bent her down and raised her tail. Lining up his bobbing erection he growled as he speared into her from behind, mounting her as she cried out from the intrusion. Within seconds the two lovers had fallen into a rhythm, thrusting into her as he grasped her wide hips, her long tail wrapped over his shoulder and neck. Closing his eyes Cal growled as he pounded into Rebecca, totally lost in the sensations as he felt himself become rigid.

“More... Harder...” She growled, leering at Cal from over her shoulder.

Gritting his teeth Cal growled as he **** her legs wider, gripping her hips as he felt himself get closer. Suddenly he felt something press up against his side, grabbing onto the base of his tail possessively with one hand while the other traced a claw around his chest.

“Now you’re screwing Rebecca, Cal? You stud you.”

Opening his eyes and turning to the source of the voice, Tina had leaned up to kiss him full on the lips while he continued to pound into Rebecca. The female amalgam moaning as her orgasm crashed into her full ****.

“Tina! Hnngh... You’re... You're not mad?” Grunted Cal as he thrust harder, reaching his limit.

“Do I look mad Cal?” She purred into his pointed ear, her claws roaming down his back as she pressed up against him further. “She's not.”

Confused he felt another pair of hands pull his head the other direction, another pair of fanged lips pressing against his own and dart her tongue between his teeth to explore the inside of his mouth. Michelle moaned into the kiss, pulling away to growl out in lust and nip at his ear.

“We're a pack now Cal, just the four of us.” Husked Tina, kissing up his neck and pressing her breasts against his arm. “Which means you have all three of us, any time… Anywhere…”

Unable to hold back anymore, Cal roared as he came hard into Rebecca, pumping her full as she cried out her second release. The two shivering as their orgasms coursed through them. Steadying himself, he lost the strength in his legs and fell back, the three women moving close to press up against him as he caught his breath on the cave floor.

“It's just the four of us Cal, we're a pack now, and that means that makes you the alpha male.”

Crawling over to straddle his lap Tina breathed a sigh of bliss as she wiggled her hips to line herself up, pleased that he was still hard.

“From now on we share everything together, just one big happy- Ah...” Hissing as Michelle bit down softly on her upper right nipple Tina moaned out load, lolling her head and arching her back to give the blonde furred creature better access, just as Rebecca did the same on the other side. Raising her arms over her head Tina gave them more room as they all suckled and nibbled her plump breasts, all six of her nipples rigid and sensitive from being pulled on.

“Argh... FUCK!” Gasping as Cal gripped her wide hips more tightly, she cried out as her orgasm tore into her, her lover pumping hot seed into her again and again until she lost the strength to sit up and rolled off his lap.

Panting as he tried to regain his strength, Cal winced as he felt a delicate claw caress his still erect manhood. Looking down he found Michelle stroking his shaft while Tina and Rebecca made out at his feet, the two moaning into each other's mouths as they rolled around on the leafy floor. Looking into Michelle's eyes he found her whole demeanour had changed. No longer shy or timid, the blonde female gripped his cock possessively and began licking the tip, her eyes smouldering with lust as she stared back at the man in her grasp.

“My turn lover...”

Crawling her way up his body, she shoved him down onto his back with just her fingers, inching her way up to face him, she playfully kissed his nose, her clawed hand still stroking his stiff member between them. With a low growl Cal rolled them both over, pinning her down between his arms as she wrapped her strong legs around his waist.

“Your turn Michelle.”

Lining himself up he thrust into her pussy, the blonde moaning as she felt him invade her insides. Snorting as he bucked his hips Cal had gone almost completely mindless as the she beast under him moaned and cried out in pleasure, howling out to the world that she was in heat, and she had claimed a powerful mate.

“Harder, I'm not delicate Cal! Fucking plow me!” Wrapping her arms around his back as he rammed into her, she raked her claws down his back, red lines scoring down his muscles as they instantly healed. With a bellowing roar, Cal exploded into Michelle, rocking his hips as he flooded her with cum again and again. Her screams echoing out into the forests before she fell silent in bliss.

For the rest of the day and onto the night the woods echoed with the mating calls of four powerful amalgams, the local predators fleeing to find better grounds to hunt in, terrified of the new competition.