As they hiked through the forest towards town, Daisy watched Maria, noticing the way she tried to keep her distance. She didn't seem scared of them, so much as just nervous about being so close. She slid in closer on purpose, striding alongside her. "I don't bite, promise. I don't have anything wrong with me."

The woman put a hand on her own shoulder. "I don't think you do, no. You are just very different from everyone I know. It's strange to meet someone that looks like a monster that I can actually talk to." Her smile was nervous.

Theo stepped ahead of them, looking back and forth between them both. "We don't mean you any harm. We are just protecting you until we get you home."

"Exactly." Daisy dipped her head low. "I'm sorry if the sign's putting you off. That shouldn't be an issue unless you get way thirstier than you appear to be and forget your manners."

Maria's eyes drifted over Daisy's body before she jerked them away. "Well, no need for that, right? You can still talk, even if you aren't exactly human, anymore."

Daisy perked a round ear at that. "How did you know I used to be?" She spotted something that drew her hand forward, brushing Maria's hair, or trying as the woman ducked away. "Are you alright? Let me see, I am a healer."

Maria ducked her head and ran up to walk closer to Theo. "I'm fine. I just, um..." She bit at her lip. "You're intimidating, alright? I don't know how to deal with that."

Daisy let her hands glow with her healing power and gently prodded Theo with one, sending a healing pulse through him. "See, no harm here. I'm a big soft nothing if you're not attacking us."

Cedric smiled nervously and held out a hand to let Daisy heal him as well. "She doesn't hurt people unless she needs to. We can take care of any problems we run into."

Daisy bobbed her head. "Exactly, now let me see." She stepped in a bit closer to Daisy. "If you're hurt, let's fix that."

Maria shook her head rapidly. "I'm not hurt, thank you."

Daisy's ears twitched with her growing frustration. "You are hurt. I don't know if you're scared, but I am a healer, and I'm not going to hurt you." With Maria not having backed up, she quickly flipped the same hair out of the way, but didn't reveal an injury so much as a green sharp ear that didn't belong on a human girl. "Oh, hello. What's that? You've got elf in your family tree?"

Maria pulled away, putting her back to a nearby tree, her eyes wide with alarm. "N-no, I am human."

Theo clucked his tongue. "Dang, the grablins did get her. Did one of them, uh, make you, you know, service them?" He pointed at his mouth and mimed the lewd act with soft sucking sounds and a complete lack of tact.

Maria's face went red with embarrassment, and she shook her head. "I didn't, no, please stop talking about that." She put a hand on her forehead to wipe away the sweat.

Daisy gently hugged Maria, lifting her right from the ground. "We are not here to hurt you. You're scared, I get that. If this is a secret, we won't tell. We just want to know how we can help you."

The woman struggled briefly in Daisy's grip before she gave in and relaxed. "You'll laugh."

Cedric stepped up next to her as well, though he didn't try to touch her.

"We won't laugh." Daisy shot Theo a look as if daring him to laugh and risk her ire. "Go ahead, we're listening."

Maria put a hand on the side of her head, taking a slow breath. "There are elves living in the forest. I'm dating one of them."

Cedric clasped his hands in front of himself.

"Oh." Daisy looked stunned at the news. "Oh! I see. You two must be... getting along very well. Congratulations." She nuzzled Maria gently. "I'm happy to hear it. Is that why you were so far out in the forest?"

Maria blushed furiously again and looked away. "Yes. They took me while I was walking back. Don't tell anyone? Please? I don't want them to hunt the elves because they think they did this."

Daisy brushed that out-of-place ear gently. "Do you like it, or do you want it gone? Be honest."

The woman looked down at herself and rubbed at her throat. "I don't mind. I'm just not used to it."

Daisy nodded as she set Maria to her own feet. "There's no law saying a person can't enjoy their mutation, and if it came from someone you love, then, well, I'd say it's a fine thing to enjoy."

Theo and Cedric both nodded along with Daisy.

"I like it." She ran her hands over herself, making sure nothing else was showing. "They haven't hurt anyone. I didn't know the grablins would come this close."

"They are a menace." Daisy rolled her eyes and gently nudged them all to resume their walk. "I'll check if there are any postings about dealing with them, and report where their base is. We may be the ones to clear them out. I was asking, to be clear, because I know a person that can get humans back to all human, if you want. Just let me know."

She looked over her shoulder, towards the forest. "No, thank you. I am fine." She followed Daisy's guidance, but her steps were slow. "I just wish they'd left me alone."

Cedric clapped gently. "I'm glad we got to you when we did. Much later and it'd have been too late. Let's get you back to your friends and family." He smiled gently. "You'll get to go home, right?"

She nodded. "Thank you."

Daisy beamed with pride as she led the way back to town. "Glad to meet you. Even in this trying situation."

They made their way swiftly back to town. Maria dashed off towards her own things, and Daisy led the others towards the closest guard to report what they had done. "And you can find the grablin den right about there."

The man glanced at where Daisy pointed, then nodded and scribbled something on the paper he had with himself. "We appreciate this. We will try to find and destroy the nest before anyone else goes missing."

Daisy clapped at that. "Oh, fantastic. They're not strong by one, but they have a lot more than one. Standard for them, I hear."

He smiled up at her, unphased by her size. "You are not wrong. I would also recommend you report your actions to the guild."

Theo nodded, speaking for Daisy. "We were going to do that. Daisy insisted we stop by here first to give the location of their den." He tapped his chin with a finger.

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Daisy waved them towards the guild. "And now we go get our rewards. Thanks, sir, for the help."

"Wait right there," called a familiar voice. Jaspur coming into view with his usual thoughtful frown. He held out something, a badge with the image of a paw on it. "The guard is recruiting people to help us with keeping peace in town. You've shown yourself capable, strong, and willing to follow our laws."

Daisy recoiled, head snapping back in surprise. "M-me? I thought—" She waved at the floating sign over her chest. "—you thought I was more of a monster that needed to be watched."

Jaspur looked down at Daisy's feet, then away. "I am glad I have not seen any signs that you were doing anything worse than you did, and you have certainly been keeping your men busy, not letting them loose to cause mischief."

Theo bristled at that. "We do not cause mischief!"

"Of course not." The guard's tone was flat. "You seem like good boys." He returned to Daisy with an unchanging expression. "And I would like you to join the guard to help me keep them in line. That you took time away from 'dungeon crawling' as the adventurers put it to take on this far less rewarding but vital task of protecting your fellow citizen speaks well of your desire to do right by your fellow townsman."

Theo and Cedric blinked, stunned.

Daisy looked down at herself, rubbing the pads of her paws together nervously. "This is a big question."

"It is." Jaspur nodded stiffly. "Go, consider. Return when you have made up your mind. To serve the town and king is a noble deed."

Theo started laughing, only to get an elbow in the ribs by Cedric. The fox turned away, holding his chest where he'd been hit.

Daisy swatted the both of them. "You aren't helping." She wrapped her arms around them and led them away from the guards. "Let's leave them to other pressing business. We'll talk about this."

***

Daisy and the boys made it a short way through town, the crowds giving way to let the large mouse and her companions pass. A lot of people knew her by sight. Some with smiles or friendly waves, others scooting aside hurriedly.

One stayed in place, blocking the path. "Daisy!" The voice made it clear it was Selena, returned to her first feline form. "I challenge you!"

The crowd stopped as Daisy did. Theo and Cedric looked up at Selena, then Daisy herself.

"Keep your cool?" Theo asked hopefully. "Don't get angry. No violence."

Selena's eyes narrowed. "This isn't your fight, little boys." She turned her attention back towards Daisy, eyes flashing dangerously. "Go ahead. You were challenged. You get to name the challenge."

Daisy rubbed the side of her head. "Really? That's, um, generous. I didn't want to fight with you, Selena, but, hm. If it's my decision, how about an eating contest?"

Selena cocked a brow. "You're twice my size, hardly a fair contest. Go for something that isn't won by the form we already have."

Theo put a hand to his chin in thought. "Something more on even footing. How about a game of chance?" He gestured towards a tavern nearby. "A dice or card game."

Selena sighed and turned to face Theo directly, staring him down. "I don't want to roll dice at her!"

Daisy clapped her hands. "Actually, dice may be perfect. We can't have this contest here though. We need to report something to the guild. After that, we can do this, back at our place."

Selena crossed her arms. "You're stalling!"

Cedric laughed nervously. "We're not stalling. We rescued someone and we'd like to report it. The reward won't be much, but we still feel a little underpaid. So let's go get what's coming, and then we can settle whatever this is."

With some grumbling Selena followed along after them. Daisy gently swatted the feline with her long tail on the way. "Why are you so mad at me, anyway? I didn't do anything to you."

"I don't like being outdone." She grinned and leaned in closer to Daisy. "I'm also a little jealous that you have two boys chasing you all day."

Theo and Cedric looked to each other, unsure how they felt about her words.

Daisy coughed gently. "They aren't 'chasing' when they already caught me." She smiled anew. "This will be fun, look forward to the game I have in mind."

They reported their good deed, got their meager pay, and started back for the university dorms. Daisy held the door for her companions before following them in and leading the way. "Now, let's get comfortable. Would you like some tea?"

Selena crossed her arms, her ears flattening. "I came for revenge and to show I can outdo you, not have tea."

"You can do both." Daisy sank down to sit on the floor, suddenly eye to eye with Selena. "Alright, so, here's how this game will work. You'll roll this die." She showed a twelve-sided die. "The result will tell us what species it is. Theo, make a list of twelve common species. Like cat, dog, squirrel, bunny, etc."

Theo blinked at her. "Oh?" He looked between them. "Wait, I know what she has in mind, yes!" He laughed. "No fair. You're going to make us all change into something else and then have some contest."

Daisy flashed a bright smile at Theo. "You are clever, but not all of you. This is Selena's contest." She slapped her breasts, making them jiggle briefly. "And I am the dispenser of this one. Theo, got that list ready?"

Selena narrowed her eyes at Daisy. "What is this contest?"

"The die will say which of twelve species you will get. You roll the die, then you come up to me and have a drink, a little drink. A sip, really." Daisy tapped at her breasts. "The sign isn't a lie. You will get a change towards that species. which bodypart, we leave to the fates to decide."

Cedric blinked. "Oh, I see." He held out a sheet of paper with the list Theo had prepared already written on it.

Theo grinned anew and laughed. "Oh, I see, I do like this!"

Selena looked between the three, her tail lashing behind her. "I am sensing a joke here that I am not getting."

Daisy nodded, holding out the die for Selena. "Give it a roll, and endure the changes. If you make it to ten without wanting to give up, I surrender. Easy."

Selena frowned at the die. "And what happens if I give up?"

"I don't have to surrender." Daisy rubbed her chin with a smile. "And then I get to keep my boys. And you stop bothering me. If you want to be friends, just say that, you silly person you."

Selena rolled the die, and it landed on the number 10. She glanced at the sheet of paper Cedric was still holding out. "Rabbit, okay..." She gave the group a look of suspicion, but leaned up to let Daisy hug her with one arm while she moved in. "You're okay with this?"

"I'm okay with this," assured Daisy, using the same words right back. "Drink, a little."

Selena leaned in to press her lips against one of those pink nipples. She shuddered as she drank, taking only a small sip before she pulled away.

Daisy warmed in the cheeks faintly but largely sat still, but Selena immediately grabbed at her head. Selena fell back as her ears stretched upwards and turned into large black and white bunny ears.

Daisy giggled and helped Selena stay sitting. "See, this is fun, you can win easily." She took the die and passed it back to Selena. "How are you feeling?"

Selena groaned, trying to adjust herself to these new ears. "I want another." She rolled again. This time she got an 11 and looked up. "Human? Really?"

Daisy gestured at herself with a hand. "Drink. You challenged me, remember?"

Selena grumbled as she leaned into Daisy again, drinking from the source of mutations. She fell back onto her rump again, looking down at herself as her body shifted, her fur thinning as long hairs became short and thin, leaving her with silky smooth human flesh.

Daisy clapped at the sight. "A naked cat with bunny ears, what an interesting creature you are becoming. Roll the dice, eight to go."

Selena grabbed at her head as she felt it shift, her muzzle receding as her face took on a human look with a button nose and full lips. "Oh, this feels so weird."

Cedric leaned in. "Oh, more than one change this time. Did you drink more?"

Daisy waved Cedric and Theo back. "Shush." She gave Selena's bottom a pat. "Keep going."

Selena rolled the die again and then, before she even looked to the results, she leaned up to take another sip from Daisy's nipple. Her body shifted and shrank, becoming smaller, more petite, her fur growing short and brown, forming into stripes.

Daisy pushed her back before she could get more. "We didn't even get to see what you rolled. Let's see what you got out of that. Seven more to win."

Selena looked down at herself, her hands patting over her smaller frame, taking in the tiger-striped fur that covered her body. She took the die. "Sorry. I got a little carried away. This is more fun than I thought it'd be." She let the die fly. "There, three."

Daisy pointed to the sheet with the number three on it. "Wolf. Go ahead."

Selena took her time drinking this one. The changes were subtle as her fingers grew more claw like and her tongue grew rougher, longer, and wetter. She leaned back, panting over that new tongue. "How are you doing this?! This is incredible."

Cedric leaned in. "Magic is magic." His eyes ran down the list. "Six left to go."

Daisy patted Cedric's head gently, petting down his back. "Go on, keep rolling. You're almost halfway."

Selena laughed as she rolled the die, holding her hand up as it clattered across the floor. She looked to it and grinned wide, showing her sharp canine teeth. "Nine!"

Daisy glanced at the list, tapping the ninth entry. "Mouse."

Selena crawled in close again to drink, leaning heavily against Daisy as she sucked. Her body shifted subtly, growing even smaller. She leaned heavily against Daisy afterwards.