Everything around you feels so much at ease…the warmth wrapped around your body provides comfort while you drift off into the deep state of sleep, unburdened, and at peace…
…
Everything feels just so peaceful…
…
Yet why do you feel this unnerving tension that something is about to happen? Something disruptive…dreadful…it's almost as if-
‘WAKE UP!!!’
“Ahh!”
‘AHH! VIOLET!’
You jolt awake, opening your eyes to see a grumpy anthropomorphic goat glaring down upon you and Rose.
‘Roossseeyyy!!! I can’t believe you would do this! Don’t tell me you are replacing me!’
‘Violet! I am not replacing you! I would never do that! We are besties!’
‘What kind of bestie would ditch her friend and sleep on her own bed?? And with a human no less!’
‘Violet, you know how I don’t like sleeping alone…’ Rose replies bashfully.
‘So why not do it on your bed??’
‘I…well-’ Rose stutters, still feeling slightly embarrassed.
‘Hmph! I thought so.’ Violet says, pouting and looking away from her as if to shun her.
‘I did it to help you, Violet! I just don’t want your pranks to get you into trouble that I can’t get you out of!’ Rose changes the topic, hastily avoiding her question.
‘Facing the consequences of my own actions was it?’ Violet asks, looking at her raising a brow.
‘Yes!’
…
‘You know, to tell you the truth…you were right. I should be facing the consequences of my own actions more.’
‘I…eh? Really?’ Rose asks, surprised by Violet’s sudden change of tone.
‘Yep, pranking that human? My method was…maybe a bit too cruel…’ Violet shares a glance at you, with a strange look in her eye.
‘Rose…I’m not liking this…’
‘I know…’
‘...after all, if doing stuff like that gets me this cool thing-’ Violet trails off, reaching into her chest, pulling out a small purple…blanket? Before wrapping it around her shoulder.
‘Then I should do it way more often!’
‘I-I what? How did you get that??’ Rose stutters, causing Violet to smirk.
‘From Weaver herself! She made this shawl all for me!’
‘But I thought Weaver forced others to wear her clothes!’
‘She did! But it turns out she had taken advice from a certain human…and decided to make blankets just like this!’
You mentally slap yourself in the face, recalling the advice you gave to Weaver and the sleeping feline latexes when you last saw her.
‘Oh damn it! I forgot about the blanket idea! I even saw that it was working so well!’
‘H-human!! Why didn’t you tell me??’ Rose exclaims.
‘It slipped my mind! I was in distress when I bumped into you!’
‘I…Augh Violet! This isn’t what I meant by facing your consequences!!’
‘Really? I thought it was.’ Violet says teasingly.
Rose groans in defeat while Violet’s playful demeanour persists.
‘I wiiiinnn’ Violet proclaims, showing off her new prized possession.
‘Now I see why you humans adore these clothing, if they are as comfortable as this, I wouldn’t want to lose them!’
‘Seriously Violet?’
‘It’s not my fault you were such a drama king when we first met.’
‘I literally woke up with amnesia that day!’
Violet’s eyes snap open upon hearing it.
‘Wow…no wonder you were so terrified of us.’
‘You had no idea.’
‘Err my point still stands.’
‘Violet…’
‘I felt bad for that one alright?? I just wanted to have fun.’ Violet pouts, gripping tightly onto her shawl.
‘Violet, you can do pranks and have fun…you just need to know the limit.’
‘I know…’ Violet quietly whimpers.
…
Seeing a pause, you decide to quietly get up from the purple beanbag, heading to Rose’s side.
‘So human, what will you do now?’
‘I need to get back to the library, there is something that I need to take care of.’
‘The one where the black latex wolf lives?’ Rose asks.
‘Yeah, that place.’
‘Do you know how to get there?’
‘Yeah, I-’ You quickly pause in thought, realizing that you never knew how the maintenance tunnels connect to the library.
‘Actually no…I don’t.’
‘I can take you there if you like.’
‘What about Violet?’
Looking to Violet’s side of the room, you see her sitting on her beanbag, seemingly in deep thought while trying to get comfort from her purple shawl.
‘She wants some time alone. She does that when she feels a bit down.’
Nodding in understanding you follow Rose’s gesture to the exit, lifting and stepping through the blanket covering the exit as Rose follows close by.
‘I will be back soon, we can talk then if you like ok?’ Rose looks at Violet, still on her beanbag deep in thought.
‘...ok…’
Rose disappears, taking you through the labyrinth of the maintenance corridors.
‘...Come by soon human,’ Violet calls, more subdued now.
…
----------------------------------------
‘The Library should be just up ahead.’ Rose assures you, as you climb through the open vent duct, finding yourself back at the library.
Despite having been here for a short amount of time, finding yourself back in a familiar place feels…different.
‘Huh…feels kinda nostalgic in a way.’
‘Really?’
You flinch when you hear her response.
‘That was private.’
‘You gotta learn how to separate thoughts from telepathy, human.’ Rose comments, climbing through the vent duct.
‘Easier said than done.’
“Yip?”
A strange yet oddly familiar squeak rings out as a fox appears from a box, presumably sleeping inside it.
The fox is pure white in colour with a rather large bushy tail, a brush of red fur on it as well as on the tip of its ears, the fox even has a red symbol on its forehead. Its yellow eyes gaze upon yours, its tail shaking rapidly as it does so.
“YIP!”
The fox yips as it rushes towards you. You quickly realise that this enthusiastic fox is the same one you had met before with Puro.
Understanding the fox’s intention, you ready yourself to catch the fox as it leaps upon you.
“Eeeeeeee!” The fox squeaks as it jumps.
Catching the fox into your arms, you stumble a bit before finding balance as the fox nuzzles and licks you affectionately.
‘Aww…it likes you!’ Rose calls out.
‘I know!’
You crack a smile as you pet the fox as best as you can, petting it on the head with occasional scratches behind the ear. This amplifies the fox’s excitement as it starts to melt slightly, dripping its goo as it starts to deform into a more liquid state…
‘I think he is going to-’
*SPLAT*
‘...Yeah…I figured as much’
You barely hear her as the fox throws itself upon you, causing your instincts to flare as you flail around blindly before stopping yourself, realising what the fox is doing.
Blinded by the goo, you cushion your fall to the ground as the fox begins its transfur, eager to have its reward after waiting for so long.
The goo has already taken over your head and torso as it wraps around completely, forming a pair of triangular ears while a large amount of excess goo crawls its way down, covering your arms and down to your hips.
The white goo eventually forms the familiar fox paws while it builds up and stretches behind you, forming a large bushy tail. You force your eyes open as the fox, now in control of your body, watches in excitement and awe as its tail stretches further and further.
The goo flows down onto your legs, coating your feet and forming theminto paws…allowing the fox to make one last adjustment. Through your eyes, you can see your new tail developing its red fur, shifting from pure white to red, matching the stripey traits of the fox that transfurred you.
At last…the fox finally has its host!
You can feel the fox’s excitement, satisfaction and pride in its new body as it brushes its new tail with its own new and improved paws.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
‘Human, it’s checking out its own tail! That’s so cute!’
‘Yeah, kind of like me when I got transfurred into a fox.’ you comment, as your paw reaches the top of your head and touches the tip of your triangular ear, causing it to flicker.
‘Were you THIS curious?’
‘More or less.’ You reply, as the fox lifts up one of its new legs before giving it an experimenting shake, testing it.
‘Hey, what’s the fox's name? Do you know them?’
‘Actually…no I don’t. He…I think…? Did try to transfur me but was stopped by Puro before he could have the chance.’
‘The black latex wolf?’
‘Yeah.’
The fox’s fur puffs out, hugging itself as you feel a sense of joy and gratitude from the fox. You can hear Rose trying her hardest not to squeal from the sight.
‘Aww, is he hugging you??’
‘Maybe? I’m picking up a sense of gratitude from him.’
‘You haven’t talked yet??’
‘I’m kinda surprised that he hasn’t said anything.’
‘Well say something to him.’
‘Alright, let me give it a shot.’
Focusing your attention on the playful fox, you center your thoughts toward him, causing the link to grow stronger. This grab’s the fox's attention, opening its eyes, its tail pausing mid-air.
‘Hello? You there?’
The fox blinks as it searches the room, trying to locate the source of the link. The fox looks upon Rose, tilting its head in askance. Understanding the implication, Rose quickly pulls her paws up in front of her before shaking her head, denying that the link is coming from her.
‘It’s me…you know…the human you just transfurred?’
The fox looks down upon himself, taking one of his paws before carefully poking himself in the chest.
‘Yes…I’m the one talking to you.’
*Poof!*
The fox’s fur puffs out in shock as you sense his shyness and excitement. The fur starts to drip, as you feel the fox start to pull away from your body, melting onto the floor, releasing you. The sudden act has left you in a slight daze, as the fox’s goo piles onto the floor, forming back into its normal body.
‘Human? What just happened?’
‘Umm…he didn’t say anything…he just became startled and decided to pull off.’
‘Just like that?’
“Yip!!” The fox squeaks out.
The fox then starts running around the room in circles, knocking down a few books, hopping over a few boxes, and occasionally spinning around in an unpredictable manner.
‘What is he doing?’
‘I don’t know…but he seems REALLY happy right now.’
The fox then runs around you in circles, yipping, barking, squeaking, and other sounds you can’t quite describe.
‘Hey, I know you are happy right now, but you CAN hear me right??’
“Yip! Squeak!”
‘So that’s a yes.’
‘Wait you can understand what…oh right…um, what is he saying?’
You watch as the fox continues to make cheerful positive sounds while running around the room.
‘Not much. But gathering from what he is throwing out, he is saying he has been waiting for you for a LONG time apparently, and the fact he didn’t know humans can use telepathy.’
‘But can’t he USE telepathy?’
‘I’m not sure. Never heard of a latex that can’t use telepathy.’
The fox runs up to Rose, making a long line of gekkering sounds.
‘Oh, apparently he is out of practice, prefers to communicate this way.’
‘But how am I supposed to know what he is saying??’
The fox runs up to you, sitting down in front of you before placing a paw on your leg looking up to you in askance.
‘Umm…Rose?’
‘He is asking for more of those pets you gave him.’
‘That’s it?’
‘Yes.’
“Yip!”
Getting onto your knees, you proceed to pet this lovable fox as much as your heart’s desire. The fox continues to let out squeaks and yips, finding your affectionate petting blissful.
…
‘What is all that noise?’ A telepathic voice rings out.
Your eyes snap open, recognising the echoing sound.
‘That voice…that sounds like-’
The door in the room pushes open, as an anthropomorphic feline steps through. It’s…it’s
‘Neon?’
The black panther with glowing green patterns and hypnotic powers? Here? At the library? HOW did she get here…WHEN did she get here??
It didn’t take long for Neon to spot you and the fox, who is still demanding your attention with reckless abandon. Neon freezes in fear and worry, dreading the sight before her.
‘Human…back?’
You flinch as she makes eye contact with you, the terrible vision of a nightmarish monster taking her place, unearthing the fear and terror from that nightmare…
“Hu…man…ok?”
The non-telepathic voice snaps you back into reality, looking up to locate the voice at its source…from Neon herself.
“Neon?” you ask, unsure if she had truly spoken to you.
You notice that Neon’s glowing green marks are mostly if not all completely dim, devoid of energy or raw power.
“Ye-yes?” Neon says, stuttering as she tries her hardest to speak.
“You can talk??” you ask in shock quickly getting up, much to the fox’s displeasure.
“I…Ne…Neon. Talk!”
“But how?? I thought you couldn’t talk!” you say in surprise.
“No…I…I…umm…”
Neon pauses, as she looks down in thought. Neon frowns, as she becomes more and more frustrated.
“Le….le…le…learn…learn…learn…wolf…bl…”
Neon’s marks start to glow slightly, becoming more and more frustrated.
“I…bad…Ne-Neon…Neon…!”
Neon’s glowing marks dim out as she lets out a tired sigh, slumping in defeat. Before you can speak, a telepathic voice reaches your mind.
‘Talk is hard…’ Neon whimpers.
‘Human? What is going on? Who is that?’ Rose calls out to you.
You quickly look back to Rose and make a gesture, pointing to Neon and yourself.
‘It’s ah…complicated. If ah…’
‘... Oh!’
Thankfully, Rose quickly understands the situation and quickly leaves the library, heading into the maintenance corridors, leaving you and Neon…
“Yip!”
…and the fox.
‘So you just started talking, Neon?’
‘Yes.’ Neon says, her green marks starting to glow, making you feel a bit uncomfortable.
‘How? I thought you couldn’t.’
“Yip!”
‘I didn’t think so. But I learn. From wolf.’
‘From ‘wolf’? You mean Puro?’
‘Yes.’
“YIP!”
‘...I…honestly didn’t expect that. But why?’
‘After I hypnotise mean latex. I got upset, I hurt-’
“YIP!!!”
You and Neon look down at the barking fox, who is currently jumping to its hindlegs, pawing your leg to get your attention.
‘Do you mind?’
The fox whimpers, his ears drawn back slightly.
“Squeak…”
‘You REALLY want my attention don’t you?’
“Yip!”
‘Alright fine…’
You bent down, intending to pick up the pesky fox before bringing him up upon you. However, the fox yips in fright before running off and climbing under a pile of blankets, its beady eyes peering out from underneath.
‘What are you doing?’
“Yip!”
‘But weren’t you…augh…nevermind.’ you sigh in fatigue, unsure what to make of the strange fox.
‘You were saying, Neon?’
Neon glares at the fox, giving a slight pout.
‘Wolf is right. Fox very pesky.’
‘He is, isn't he?’
“Murr…”
‘Neon feel bad. What Neon did.’
‘About what? Back at the aquarium?’
‘Yes, Neon hurt human…again.’
‘What happened back there wasn’t your fault, nor back at the greenhouse. You did the right thing by stepping in and helping us. If you didn’t I might have died…Puro could have been hurt, you remember how many of those sharks there were?? He couldn’t have taken them all on!’
‘But…Neon ruined friendship…’
‘I don’t follow…’
‘Human and wolf. Neon ruined friendship. Neon broke Human’s friendship with wolf. Human got angry at wolf. Neon responsible.’ Neon whimpers, her ears and tail drooping as her glowing green marks dim.
‘Neon bad friend.’
You look down in thought, trying to come up with something to comfort Neon.
‘Neon, what happened between me and Puro was not your fault. If any, it was probably bound to happen anyway.’
Neon looks up to you in confusion, her green patterns glowing slightly.
‘Really? Why?’
‘You remember that I had lost my memories and I wanted to find answers about my past?’
‘Yes? You remembered something?’
‘More than I wanted. It turned out that Puro and I were friends way back then, before the riot.’
Neon blinks in surprise, not expecting such a response.
‘Human befriend Wolf? Long ago? Before the scary gas?’
‘Yeah.’
‘But…wouldn’t wolf remember?’
‘He couldn’t, he lost his memories just like I did.’
‘But why human angry? Why hate wolf?’
‘He…had to do something drastic to protect me, and I hated him for it back then. Back at the aquarium I received a memory, a memory that he assimilated my own brother right in front of me. At first, I thought he was just being heartless, but it turned out he did it to protect me.’
Neon’s eyes widen as her green colour flares.
‘B-but why?? Wolf kill human’s brother?? How that protect human?? Neon doesn’t understand! Does not sound like wolf! Wolf too nice!’
‘That’s what I thought as well. It turned out my brother was infected by a feral latex, and he could have infected me as well.’
‘Feral latex?’
‘Think what the latexes were back before the gas.’
‘Oh…Neon barely remembers. Neon remembers being…different…always searching…strange scary instinct…this…not Neon.’
‘Yeah, I would have become one of them if Puro didn’t stop him, he had to assimilate him to save my life. I knew my brother was infected…but…I just wanted him to survive.’ you say sadly.
‘I hated him so much for it…it’s so frustrating…devastating…I just had to know if he remembers it. Any of it.’
‘Does…does human hate wolf? Does human blame wolf?’
You had all the time in the world to think this question through. Yes, you feel bitter and hurt about what Puro did, but who could blame you? It is for your own safety but you feel…sad…you didn’t want it to end like that…
…Maybe Puro felt the same way?
‘Not really, though I just don’t know what to make of this situation. I know he did it for my own good yet I just…it’s just so much to take in! I’ve only been awake for a few days! I’m not supposed to be dealing with stuff like this yet!’
‘But Human knows Wolf is friend?’
‘I just…I feel so conflicted about this.’
‘Wolf is trustworthy. Wolf is friend. Wolf is Neon’s friend. Wolf comfort Neon when sad. Wolf helps Neon learn. Teach Neon how to talk, so Neon don’t need telepathy. Talk like Human does.’
‘Yeah, but I don’t know if I should see him after the fight.’
‘Wolf cares for Human. Wolf talks about Human, and worries for Human.’
‘He does?’
‘Wolf says he worries for Human. Thinks what Human said, expresses confusion. And guilt…worrying he did something bad.’
You nearly bit your tongue at the news, this just proves that Puro knew absolutely nothing of what happened back then, and you snapped back at him for it. This makes it even more important to confront him about it.
‘Do you know where he is?’
‘Yes, further in library. Neon can help you.’ Neon replies, gesturing to the door behind her.
Neon then gestures you to follow her, making her way to the door…but pauses, turning to face you.
‘Human?’
‘Yes?’
‘Does human see Neon as friend? Despite Neon’s mistakes?’
… You can see why Neon would ask this sort of question, you both didn’t exactly leave on best terms.
‘I still do Neon. I still see you as a friend, in fact, I…Hey wait a minute! ’ you trail off, recalling that you have kept a certain possession at all times.
Reaching into your pockets with your right hand you pull it out to reveal the broken friendship bracelet, causing Neon to gasp in surprise.
‘After I woke up, I found this bracelet broken. I was tempted to throw it away, but after hearing some advice from Leevo, I decided to keep it with me. I always did, and I’m glad I did. I know things didn’t go well, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try again right?’
Neon’s green patterns give a warm glow, stepping forward as she places her paws onto your hand where the bracelet is.
‘Neon likes that. Neon happy Human is friend.’
And with that, Neon concentrates onto the bracelet, deforming it into a shapeless goo as it slithers down from your hand to your wrist, slowly wrapping around it.
You watch as the goo forms a ring, connecting with itself as it slowly loses its goopy form as it becomes firm…reforming back into the same black bracelet just like before, reforging your friendship with Neon.
‘Human is Neon’s friend again! My friend!’
‘You know we don’t necessarily need a friendship bracelet to say you are my friend right?’
‘But Human is Neon’s ‘Human’ friend! Special friend!’
Though a simple gesture, you can't help but feel a bit flattered. Neon releases her paws clasping your hand, allowing you to see the bracelet fully reformed.
‘Is human ready?’
‘I guess so, I’m still a bit nervous you know?’
‘Neon will support human. Neon promises Wolf is good friend.’
You nod in understanding, following Neon out from the room and deeper into the library, uncertain of how the reunion with Puro will turn out.
“Squeak.” The fox squeaks out, unhappy with the lack of attention he is receiving.
‘...Pesky fox…’ Neon pouts.