"It's been a hundred and sixty years since the first supernatural 'came out,'" the news anchor on the TV was saying, a supposed expert in Supernatural Affairs despite being human. Jayden paid little attention to what was being said, too distracted by how flushed and itchy she felt. Still, she couldn't help hearing some of it since she was sitting in the room. "It was the vampires that were first, then werewolves and the other animal shifters, and then all the fairies-"

"Ugh. He's an expert, but he calls them fairies?" Jayden's grandfather Keagan grumbled. He was the one that turned the news on, having been over for dinner the night before and staying overnight when Jayden first showed symptoms. Her parents had to work, but she it was dangerous for her to go to school and she was too young to be alone at only ten years old. "Fae will be up in arms over that, especially those still in the Old World."

The Old World was Europe and Asia, though nowadays they were all over the globe. The Veil had been thinnest there, so the Pathways typically led them there more often. Fae had appeared elsewhere, of course, but not in as large of numbers. They were the only supernaturals that came from another realm, as the others are native to this world. 

Vampires used to be wild, bloodthirsty creatures that were hunted down by humans before the Fae helped them. After a couple generations of being cared for by the Fae, vampires were able to control their thirst without assistance and grew in numbers. Their condition is a genetic disorder, and while vampires can reproduce their birth rate is extremely low and they can only have vampire children with another vampire. Human and vampire children are usually a hybrid called a dhampir, which are typically sterile and don't need blood to live.

Were-creatures are descended from skinwalkers, or something similar. The magic that allowed humans to change shape using the pelt of an animal would sometimes cause the soul to become imprinted with the animal's shape, and after this their children would also have that shape on their soul as well. After several generations, shifters were numerous enough that they began to build their own communities.

There were other supernatural beings, including many types of magic users, but they weren't as populous or as public as Fae, vampires, or shifters. Witches of various subtypes, warlocks, shamans, and more tended to keep to the background as much as possible. It's known that they exist and people do seek them for their help at times, but for the most part they are left alone to their own devices.

Keagan touched Jayden's arm, and she realized then that she had started scratching at it enough that there were visible marks showing on her skin. He smiled a little and said, "I know, kiddo. Hopefully tonight you'll have your First Change and then you'll be all better."

Jayden hummed and put her hands under her thighs, hoping that would keep her from scratching. "When is moonrise?"

"Around 4 or so."

The First Change was always during a full moon, and typically would happen as it rose over the horizon. As it came nearer, a young shifter would feel restless and unsettled in their skin as their soul animal woke inside them and was drawn to the magic of the full moon. Jayden was on the younger side for the First Change, but it almost always happened before the age of thirteen. 

It was still morning, and Jayden was overwhelmed by the feeling of something crawling under her skin. She'd always felt disconnected with her body, but was assured that when she had her First Change that she'd feel more settled. Even as she wrestled with the feelings, she was looking forward to the Change so she could be more comfortable with herself.

Her grandfather put on a movie and tried to help distract her with a puzzle as it played, which helped for the most part. Lunch was steak, the red meat necessary for a shifter going through the symptoms of a First Change. After lunch ended, Jayden was starting to shiver and her body felt hot, almost like when she had the flu and her temperature got really high. 

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"Does it hurt?" she asked as the time inched closer to moonrise. 

Keagan hummed thoughtfully. "It's been a long time since I had my First Change, but I don't remember it hurting. No one I've seen through their First has said it hurt either." He looked back down at his grandchild and smiled. "I can't promise it won't be uncomfortable, but you'll be fine. And after the First, you can shift any time and it's easy as a thought."

That was some comfort for the young girl, and she nodded thoughtfully before snuggling into his side to wait out the last couple hours.

When moonrise hit, her fever seemed to dissipate and the itchy skin got worse. Clothes were uncomfortable so she took them off, feeling awkward in her body but having no sense of modesty thanks to living in a werewolf community. She was pacing, too restless to stay seated even though she would rather be sitting with her grandfather to soak in his strength and comfort.

"Moon is rising about now," Keagan muttered, watching the clock. He glanced at his granddaughter, recognizing the signs of an incoming First Change, and nodded. "I'd hoped your parents would be home by now so they'd be able to celebrate your First with you."

Jayden shrugged. "I don't mind. They'll probably be home soon after it happens and we can still celebrate."

Her mom, Theresa but called Tess, was an elementary teacher and her dad, Ryan, was a park ranger. Neither worked in the small town their shifter community lived in and had to drive almost 45 minutes to the city every day. Before Jayden started school they had considered moving into the city, but her mom really loved the large cabin they lived in on pack lands so they chose to stay and continue to make that commute.

Suddenly Jayden felt a ripple of... something pass through her, shuddering from head to toe, and started to lean forward just as her body felt like it was contorting. She blinked slowly, and when she opened her eyes the colors were muted and she was laying on the floor. A look around showed her grandfather standing there with a frown on his face, so she turned her head to look over her new body. Her fur was nearly black with rich copper highlighting, but that wasn't an unusual coloring. She had a fluffy tail and four legs that ended in paws. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Jayden pushed herself up onto her legs and stood with some awkwardness. After a little adjustment, she was able to walk around stiffly to test out how four legs worked. It took a moment before she realized something felt off at her back legs, making her lift one leg and twist to look.

She had a penis and balls.

The rest of the night was a blur, with Jayden barely able to follow along with what was being said around her. She knew several of the pack members, the older and more traditional ones, wanted her to be killed for being an abomination. Others were just confused but generally accepting of it. A handful had started theorizing why her wolf form, which is a reflection of her soul, would have a different gender than her human form.

It was a little mortifying to have to sit through all of this being said around her, and Jayden was worried that if she told them that being a boy felt more right than being girl that they'd all be like the older members who wanted her killed. 

"Quiet!" Keagan said, his voice loud but not yelling. He was the Alpha and didn't need to yell, as they were all connected through some kind of pack magic. Jayden hadn't had a chance to be joined to the pack yet because the pack had known she would be shifting today so they all came over shortly after moonrise as was tradition. Once the pack was present the new wolf would be inducted into the pack. "I am not killing my grandchild nor will I kick them out. If you aren't happy with that answer, you're welcome to leave and find a new pack."

Several grumbled, but two of the older wolves growled at Keagan who just stared them down in return. It wasn't long before they averted their eyes, one of the two standing and leaving.

"Anyone else?" Keagan asked, pausing and looking them all over. When no one else said anything, he nodded once and turned to me. He got down on his knee so we'd be more at my height as I was still a wolf. "Jayden, do you feel like you're a boy when you're in human form?"

Jayden hesitated for just a moment before nodding slowly, hesitantly.

His grandfather nodded and smiled warmly. "Then we'll look into what we should do to help you be comfortable with your body." Then he stood and addressed the forty people standing around. "Starting today, you are all to use the correct terms and names for my grandson."