Starting off as Helena..
Is rated PG-14 for language...

Edit: Ace the Bat-hound Appears in this chapter as a wittle puppy... Awww... ;D

Changed the Title (again).. I thought this one would be more fitting.

Cat's Cradle Chapter 2: Meta-morphosis

"Helena!" Dinah yelled.

"What!" I said half-moaning/ half screaming down the stairs. I glanced at the clock: It's 2 in the evening.

Crawling out of bed, I grabbed my robe. Ace woke up as I tugged it from under him.
He growled at me. Something he never does, unless someone annoys him.
I hissed back. He winced, putting his tail in-between his legs, going near his bed.

As I walked into the bathroom, closed the door, and peeled off my clothes. I nearly dropped dead. Staring back at me was.. Well.. Me, but sinewy-er.

This is not happening. I muttered to myself, thinking that this is a dream. I looked at the mirror and felt my face. Everything was normal, exept for a pair of pointy canine teeth sticking out.

"Helena, you okay up there?" Dinah yelled. I heard her, crystal clear.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" I yelled back.

Peering at my hair I saw two tufts of fur sticking out. Moving my hair back, I saw that my ears looked elfish with little tufts of hair sticking from the top. My lower back also began to itch a little

Please don't tell me I grew a tail. I said begging to myself. I bent backwards, and pulled my pants back an inch. I saw a full length tail where my tail bone was. I nearly jumped to the wall. I took a quick shower and grabbed the baggiest pair of PJ's I could find. Pulling them over myself I heard Barbara talking to Dick Grayson on the phone from down in the basement.

"Mistress Gordon! Master Grayson is on the phone for you" I heard Alfred yell.

"Thanks, Al. " , came the reply.

"Barbara! How are you?" , I heard Dick say.

"Good, Trying to solve a crime-"

"-As usual." I heard him chuckle, "Same old Barbara."

"So, why'd you call?"

"Just wanted to see if you wanted to go with me -"

"Mister Grayson, are you asking me out?" I heard her slyly reply.

I tuned the rest of it out.

Running down the stairs, I grabbed a bowl of cereal and poured some milk. When I was done with the cereal I lapped up the milk.

Alfred coughed, "Would you like a ball of yarn along with that, Ms. Kyle?" I looked up. Dinah eyed me curiously.

"No thanks" , I said quickly. I grabbed my things and headed out.

"Where are you going?" Dinah

"Out." I replied.

Later that day...

Something feels weird. I can sense it. Walking to an alleyway nearby, I saw two figures walking.

"What's the matter, Commissioner G.?"

"Ever have the feeling that you're being watched?"

"Yeah I get it all the time" I heard the guy laugh.

I heard him open a bag

"Shoot."

"What happened"

"I got a paper cut."

Then all hell broke loose.

Sensing the blood, my mind went into overdrive. I heard them scream. Blood went everywhere.

(Fades out)

There have been days that I wished I didn't have these abilities. But, Most of the time I love it. Getting to dive off a building and feeling the wind rush through my hair as I land feet first onto the concrete. Walking to the bar, I took off my jacket and started to work. Benny, The boss, was in the room nearby.

"Late again, Hel."

"I know. ",I said, as I placed some cups on the cup holder.

"I don't know what you do out there. But, the next time it happens, I won't let you off so easy." He warned.

" 'Kay, Boss." I said with a sigh, as people trickled in. I looked ahead and saw three guys, One, too big for his shirt. Another that looked like a lost Circus clown. Green hair, place face. Thin and lanky with a purple suit. And the last one was the same as the first guy. Some people started to whisper and thinking that they're seeing things.. Most of them ran off after they saw the one in purple. Leaving me at the bar, and Benny in the back.

"What would you like?" I asked one of the bulky guys. The guy in the purple bagan to push the guys back. Apparently, He was the boss of the other two.

"Move it!" He yelled, whacking the guy with a miniature cold fish that he had in his back pocket.
He, then, gathered his composure and smiled.

"Sorry about that."

"It's ok. What would you-"

"Gotham definitely changed the last time I was here." He interrupted. He exchanged glances
with his buddies, who smiled in appreciation. He headed to the back.

"Excuse me, Sir. But you can't go in there." I said blocking the door.

"Why not? I just came to meet an old friend." He said with a frown and a knowing sparkle in his eye.

"You can't go in there, Sir.",I repeated, in a cold tone of voice.

"Who's going to stop me?"

"Take a wild guess" I said staring into his eyes.

"You?" He laughed, maniacally, Then, as mysteriously as he came in, his voice completely changed to sound like the Devil incarnate.

"Boys."

They looked up. One of them cracked their knuckles.

Great.

As he, whoever he was, slipped into the back, The bulky guy on the right took a swing at me and missed. I grabbed his arm, pulling him up and into the bar.

One out. One more to go.

"This is definitely going to come out of my paycheck. " I muttered as the other one ran towards me. I moved to the side, letting him go past me, and straight into the other guy.

"Too easy." I said grabbing my coat. As I put it on I heard faint noises coming out of the room.

"Hello, Benny-boy. Long time no see."

"I-I thought you were dead." I heard him stammer.

"On the contrary...You're the one who hasn't been a very good boy-" I heard him pull out a piece of paper.

" -Remember This?",

" Wh-Where'd you get that?"

"It's not of you're business, You've been keeping this a secret from me?"

I heard Benny, panicking

"No. I-I..."

"Never mind." He stuffed it in his pocket. He calmly said, afterwards, " So with that said, I think you deserve a little going away present. " I heard him, pull out a gun and shoot him.

Shit

"BENNY!" I yelled, rushing to his side.

He started to cry.

"It's going to be okay Benny...I'm going to take you to a hospital." I said as I wrapped his wound. I called 9-11, who called an ambulance to pick him up, and told them the story.

"As for you." I said darkly to the crazed man, grabbing him by the jacket and thrusting him outside. The thunder began to start. Pouring buckets of rain along with it.

"You have no idea who you're messing with." I glared at him. Eyes, feral. I let the rain soak my hair leaving two points on each side of my hair stick up.

"Same here." He replied with a maniacal grin.

"Who are you?" I said, staring at him for a few minutes.

"The Joker."