FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

So ... Yeah. I'm here to tell you to please not forget me. I'm sorry I'm not writing all that often, I'm sorry that My Night series has fallen into 'disrepair' and I'm sorry that I'm not spending as much time writing upon one story as I should. However, I will point out that I do update those stories in my 'incomplete' section. Just check back every month or so, there will be a notation if it's been updated. Check the little info thing (the i next to the story that's supposed to give a brief description), it'll say what the size of the story is unedited. When that increases, it means I've added to it.

The title of this story is the working title, and may or may not change. Personally, I like the title, so if other people like the story it'll be added to, if not, it'll be taken down from YS and I'll just continue adding to it for my own benefit. Either way, this story will be completed..... eventually.

The following is a work of fiction, which I wish were reality.

Normal legalisation/slander stuff here. If you're not sure what that means, look up the newest copyright laws and infringement penalties.

Ch1

My Cousin

I did it again this afternoon. I know I shouldn't do it, but I can't help myself. The pleasure I get from shifting into different animal forms is starting to become addictive. I'm even doing it while my cousins are in the house! Just the other day Sarah almost caught me. I only just managed to turn human again before she shouldered her way through my door. I was embarrassed as all hell, not including my erection. She turned around quick like and thankfully didn't speak of it again. I lasted two days before I shifted again. This time I chose a big dog, a Great Dane to be exact. I'd managed to entice him to the front gate of the propperty he lived on. A touch, and I could change into him whenever I wanted. There was another reason why I wanted to be able to shift into him. The dude was hung! I had just happened to be passing by the time he started to lick himself clean. Over nine inches of thick, red hot dog dick disappeared into his maw.

I shook my head and concentrated. The change started slowly, then sped up the more I wanted/needed it. It started at my groin. My genitals were always the first things to change. My own small little piece of flesh sucked itself into my body before my skin darkened to black, small soft hairs sprouting from my groin as I grew a much larger sheath to hold a cock that was starting to emerge because of the pleasure I was feeling. Once my crotch had been fully transformed, the darkness spread like a tide around the rest of me. My spine cracked, forcing my cock further from it's fuzzy holder, my spine lengthened, a tail forming to wag as I grew hornier. My knees turned in on themselves with a wet throck and I fell to the carpet as my hands started to change as well. My shoulder blades cracked as my ribcage shrank in on itself. My neck strengthened while my windpipe and oesophagus switched around. There came a moment where I felt I was choking without air, then, life! Suddenly I could see with scent alone. My ears perked of their own accord as I tracked my way around my room, nosing here and there, knowing what had transpired.

I whuffed at my underwear, my transformation almost complete. The colour that I enjoyed so much, was leeched from my eyes, from my very world. There came the slight pain that always happenned as the micro seconds ticked over, then the seconds, finally the minutes started to tick over and the pain lessened considerably. I could transform almost at will, into any animal I touched and sampled, but the price I paid was high. Starting from the first micro second, the time I was forced to stay as an animal, and the time I was allowed to return to my human form, lengthened, doubled. I was forced to stay in my chosen animal form for one micro second, then allowed to transform back into a human inside the next two micro seconds, then I was forced to stay within my animal form for the next four micro seconds. The process repeated, doubled, doubled, and doubled again. So for one micro I couldn't transform. The next two micro's I could, the next four I couldn't, the next eight micro's I could, then on and on like that. Eventually I had to spend 43 minutes in my animal form, not including the time that had already passed, after that was complete I could transform anytime I pleased inside of the next 1 hour and 27 minutes, then I was forced to stay in animal form for the next 2 hours and 54 minutes.

It was a high price, but I would gladly pay it over and over again for the ability granted to me. I was considering spending three years in an animal form, then transforming back to human form after my time was up. But then I ran the risk of being too seriously injured during the time I was forbidden to transform. That was the only thing that stopped me staying in animal form and running away from my uncle and aunt. I could probably have run off to one of those beastiality places I'd heard about, where men and women screwed animals. Shaking my head to get rid of the thought, I investigated the particularly intriguing scent inside of my underwear drawer. Using my new teeth and muzzle, I grabbed the knob of the drawer and tugged it open. I stuck my nose in, sniffing for, and finding that strange scent. I gently grasped my underwear and tugged it out from under my satin boxers. I dropped it to the floor and sniffed it more, really getting into the scent.

"Micheal? Micheal are you in there? I'm coming in." FUCK! SARAH!! I froze, my nose burried in my underwear as the doorknob slowly turned. What the fuck was I going to do? I ran around in small circles, letting my fear get the better of me.

"Miche- Oh my!" I turned my face to Sarah's, my underwear hanging over one ear. Even in my frozen state, I caught that scent that I'd just been investigating in my underwear drawer. It was coming from Sarah. I watched Sarah as she stepped inside my room and closed my door. The scent intensified, what exactly was it? Where was it coming from?

Sarah circled around me, running a hand down my back. "My oh my, when did Micheal get you in here?" I blinked, trying to follow her and her scent. If it hadn't been for that scent distracting me, I probably would have realised where her hands were headed and not gotten such a shock, as it was I was distracted and I didn't notice. One moment her hand was on the base of my tail, and then..

"Rowwwr!" I jumped in the air, spinning around to face her, baring my teeth and trying to ignore my boner. Since I hadn't cum during the transformation, it was starting to hurt with the need to ejaculate.

"Hey, come now wuffles, I just want to ... help you with your little problem there." As I glared at her, I blinked in confusion. Sarah reached underneath the hem of her dress and lifted it off of herself in one sweeping movement. The scent from before got stronger. So, I followed my nose. Taking a few whiffs, I started sniffing and moving closer to Sarah. A moment's time and I found myself pressed nose to crotch against Sarah's lace panties! "Oh, you are straight forward aren't you?" The panties came down and I found myself pressed against a slit of completely hairless flesh. Thoughts of incest and possible punishments flashed past my eyes. That was of course before Sarah moved her crotch forwards and essentially rubbed my nose in her sex. I pulled away from her and inhaled. My head swam in pretty colours as I got her scent fresh from the source. My cock responded before I did, springing back up to full painfull hardness, my knot starting to swell with need as well.

Sarah reached down to her slit, using two fingers to spread herself. Oh gods how I wished I could see in colour right now! My nuts swelled as I threw caution to the wind. Using my new length of muscle commonly known as the 'tongue' (Check the spelling people, that's how you actually spell tongue. That's T-O-N-G-U-E, try to get it right, please?), I licked, then pushed it up into that tight, wet little passage that untill a second ago, had been Sarah's virgin cunt. Curling the very tip of my tongue upwards, I scraped it backwards, dragging Sarah's juice into my muzzle where I sampled it. Her scent was slowly driving me insane with lust. If I didn't do something soon, I was gonna cum on my carpet, instead of in my muzzle. Sarah's hands grabbed my ears and shoved my muzzle into her slit. My tongue rubbed against her clit while my upper and lower canines grazed against the sensitive flesh of her sex.

"OHH CHRIST!" Christ? Of all the things she yells out, it's Christ? I backed away from her, licking her juices from my muzzle, nose, and chin. Sarah gasped, sitting on my bed and laying back, her legs spread wide as her juice trailed from her parted nether lips to either pool and soak into my sheets, or drip down her legs. I went back between her legs, lapping at the pool in my sheets and at what was dripping down her legs. I didn't want to be sleeping in a bed soaked in Sarah's cum. "Oh, not now, I'm too sensitive, gimme a few moments." A few moments huh? After shoving me in your crotch? Oh Hell no. I jumped up onto the bed, straddling Sarah underneath me. I gave her a slobbery kiss, making sure she got plenty of tongue. "Ick." I placed the very tip of my thick doggy meat at her almost untouched entrance and shoved sharply. She forgot all about what was frenching her as my cock almost split her apart.

"AHHHH!!!" Legs wide, rocking underneath me to every inward and outward thrust I made, she almost screamed when I tried to forcefully shove my thick knot into her. I pounded at her, trying hard to get that thick mound of flesh into her, just that one last bit. Yet each time I tried to shove it into her, she seemed to tighten up, forbidding that one bit more. I found myself a moment away from hitting the edge and decided to try one last time. Digging my claws into my bed, I gripped with both front and back paws, Slamming into Sarah's tight cunt. I felt tension, then with a sudden 'Pop' my knot was buried within Sarah's untouched depths "FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST!!!" She screamed out, squeezing me with her tight walls. I didn't last two seconds, howling out my lust as I came deep within my cousin. My knot swelled even more, plugging up Sarah's tight cunt as my volumnous sperm pumped and jetted from my new balls.

"Oh Christ, Oh dear christ. I can see why Micheal likes you. Dear Christ almighty..." She panted under me, sweating on my bed as my knot kept both mine and her own cum from soaking into the sheets. I wondered if maybe I should turn around, like a dog normally would, but I decided not to on the account that I could stare into Sarah's sexy face while she felt my cum being pumped up and into her. A few minutes went by, and my nuts started to hurt. Sarah was getting a little fidgety too because my knot was keeping everything inside her, so the pressure was slowly building to the point where either she would pop, or I would. "Damn it, I love the feeling of your cum in me, especially how it swirls around in my womb, but if you don't unplug yourself, I may have to squeeze your nuts." Not Happenin' I leaned backwards a touch and trapped one of Sarah's budding nipples between my front teeth. I gently nipped at it while sucking, flicking my tongue over the sensitive flesh every second nip.

From the corner of my eye I saw Sarah's left hand reach up to caress her other nipple, fingers softly twisting the nipple while the palm of her hand cupped her small breast. She moved her legs up and pulled me further into her. Using her heels she 'kicked' my ass closer to her, shoving as much of me as she could get into herself. Suddenly, she grabbed my head and ears and yanked me up to bury a moan in my panting mouth as another orgasm swam through her, my nuts trying to compensate for the new tightness and pleasure wave. I panted and slobbered over her like the dog I was. "Oh god I hope Mike's as good as you."

I felt myself slipping from her tight slit, my knot was going down. I had to move fast if I was going to do this right. I opened my muzzle wide and clamped down upon Sarah's breast. She gave a gasp and released her legs. I slid down her slender form and shoved my jaws around her cunt. My lower cannines dug in just below her anus, while my upper canines dug in just above her hips. She started to leak our combined juices almost before I was ready, but now that I was, I licked in earnest. My thin watery cum was mixed with her own slightly thicker love juice. It was both sweet and bitter at the same time. I could feel the leftovers that had been pressing against my cock while I was in her, dripping down onto the carpet. By the time I'd finished cleaning her out, she'd cum again with the use of my tongue. She became a moaning, shivering lump of hot, erotic flesh.

"Damn it, I wanted to be first!" I turned, not having heard the door open, and found my other cousin staring at us. He looked over his sister's body with disinterest, before he looked me in the eyes. "Hello Micheal."

My heart froze.

Ch 2

My other cousin

He stared down at me from his higher vantage point, ignoring his sister that was moaning and shivering upon my bed.

"Hello Micheal."

My heart froze. My heart full on froze. Over the years I had been, if not paranoid careful, then at least extremely careful. The fact that my cousin knew, meant I was a dead man. I immediately dropped to an attack pose, growling low with the 'I'm about to attack and rip out your throat' growl. In response, Kyle removed his pants, thrusting his small boner at me. I dropped the growl and just stared in consternation. This was not what I had expected. I sat and tried to think, my tail lying out behind me as I sat upon my haunches, my fore paws straightening my back as I stood them directly infront of me.

Kyle removed his shirt as well, rubbing his small penis and tiny scrotum. For an eight year old, Kyle was extremely smart. He knew how to work the computer, and even how to take it apart to build his own. His parents, my aunt and uncle, were considering sending him to college in order for him to get the most from his intelligence. Kyle dropped to all fours, turned around, and waved his small ass at me, making me blink in shock as Sarah sat up on my bed.

"C'mon Micheal, I know you want it. I want your hot thick doggy cock up my ass, your nuts blasting cum into m-"

Be quiet.

Sarah gasped, Kyle just grinned, turning his head to show me the smile. "I knew you could speak when you changed forms. You've just never had a need to, have you?"

No.

He waved his ass again, backing up into me. I placed a fore paw on his back to stop him.

You wont be able to take me, not in this form.

He smiled, then rolled onto his back, his boner waving in the air, completely devoid of any hair, just like Sarah's crotch. "Do you have anything smaller? I've always wanted to fuck you Micheal, ever since you came to live with us. I've only had Sarah to play with, and that's not as much fun. I want a dick in my ass, not my dick in Sarah's cunt."

I turned to face Sarah.

Is that true? Were you two screwing before I even laid claim to you?

"Are you really Micheal?" I nodded once. "Then yes, but he only did me up the butt, he said my virginity wasn't his to take. Is that what you took?" I nodded again. "I see." Sarah got up from the bed, then crouched to put us on the same eye level. She wrapped her arms around me, sticking her face into mine and licking at my lips. "I love you micheal, I'm glad we're going to be married."

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

Kyle and Sarah clamped their hands over their ears to stop the shout. Kyle then held up his hand as I glanced between the two of them repeatedly. "My fault. I told her that whoever took her virginity would marry her." I stared in horror at the two of them. This was well beyond what I'd intended to find out when I went sniffing through my underwear drawer this afternoon.

I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to tell anyone about me.

I stared at my two cousins, my chest aching at the decision I was forcing upon myself. Sarah looked confused, but Kyle didn't. He was smarter than any child, so he knew what I meant.

"You intend to kill us to cover up your secret. It'll be a dog attack right? A feral dog attacked two children, killing them in a vicious display of dominance. You'll probably get into a fight with another dog to spread a scuffle and hairs. Right?"

I nodded, and Sarah looked horrified. She backed away from me, grabbing Kyle's shoulder and trying to drag his naked body accross my carpet.

"What if I said we would never betray you?" I shook my head.

I have no assurance of that. I can't watch you every second, and all it would take is a camera in my room as I was changing.

"What you don't seem to understand is that we love you." I glared at him, growling low in my throat.

How can you love me? I'm a fucking monster! I just raped my cousin after transforming into a dog. I tore her hymen, taking her virginity. A fucking animal stole your sister's virginity! How can you not think I'm a monster?!?

I twirled around, faced my partially open window, and raced towards it and the freedom of the night. I dived out into the alley between my Uncle's house, and the business next door. I fell two storeys, and landed with only slight pain. I took off running, wishing for all the world that I could cry as a dog. I raced along the sidewalk, my great dane body giving me untold amounts of strength and endurance. I raced towards the school, not knowing where else to go. I couldn't go back home, not with my cousins knowing what I was. I stopped at the brush fence before the school's propperty. I knew it was stupid, but I wanted to be strong, I needed to be invisible, and strong enough to fight against anyone and anything I met.

I felt the change begin immediately. I didn't go back to my human form, instead, I morphed straight into the creature I dreamed about at night. It was a werewolf, something I wanted to try to become. Knowing such creatures didn't exist, didn't stop me from melding my DNA with another creature's. I had been lucky enough to lay my hand upon a drugged, midnight black wolf as he was carted to a zoo's vet.

My spine cracked loudly as it strengthened beyond all possible thought, my tail lengthening to three times it's original size before the fur turned jet black. My fore paws turned into partial hands, muscles lining the bones, adding inconceivable strength to my furred hands. My claws from being the great dane, grew, becoming inch long claws that covered my nails. My wrists altered again, becoming more human like, but stronger. My forearms increased in size along with my ribcage, stopping only when it did. My chest widened to twice the size of my human chest, my arms becoming thinker and stronger. My hips jerked violently as the bone changed drastically from a quadruped stance, to a mixed quadruped/biped stance. My knees kept their backward bent shape, but my legs grew stronger. my foot pads increased in size and spatial width in order to support my much larger frame. in a sudden rush of energy, my head dropped the dane's shape, and exploded into a larger wolf's head with slightly human characteristics. I could smile with this head, and my tongue was stronger too.

The shifting energy washed throughout my body, touching up what had been missed by the first changes. My fur completed it's transformation to spiky black fur, and my genitals grew to match my new size. I cupped a furred hand around my drastically increased balls, feeling their heaviness. Just the gentle touch caused my new dick to rise from it's sheath, leaving me to marvel once again at the power I had. My dick was now longer and thicker than it was when I was human, having the slightly pointed tip of a dog's cock, and what felt like a knot as well. Lust hit me almost immediately as the tingle of the first few micro seconds passed into a gentle spike indicating when I could and couldn't change.

I growled low in my throat, my ears picking up the seperate nuances within each vocal peak. I was warning anything and everything nearby that I was ready for mating, whether it could survive the mating or not. That's when I smelled something that made my blood run cold in fear. I could see in scents, my eyes could see in colour, but my nose communicated with my brain somehow, and I could see the scents I was smelling, follow them with eyes and nose. A thick blue scent I was smelling was labled fear, and it was a swamp. It seeped from the very earth at my feet. It coloured the school, and part of the motor way. I shifted slightly, and found a new scent. This one was red, and came in then streamers, weaving through the blue miasma of fear. My brain said this was rage. I blinked, and a multitude of different scents exploded into my sight as I opened my eyes again. There were different shades of blues, reds, browns, greens, yellows, purples, oranges, aquas.... it was a forest of scent.

I crouched, sampling the different scents surrounding me as I slowly moved towards the school. I was confused about the duel scents, and five multiple scents. I could label the smells to humans I knew, to actual people, except for those five multiple scents. I sorted the scents with images of people I knew, and got through the entire school, but not even one tenth of all of the scents.

Quick, this way!

I froze where I was. Someone was using telepathy near me! My new body flooded with power and energy, and I saw several dark shapes heading towards the school. They were the five multiple scents from earlier, but they weren't human, at least not anymore. I stepped out into the school's oval, dropping to all fours and going into a loping run.

Jake! You've got some type of mutant wolf heading straight for you, it's coming in at eight o'clock!

I heard a new voice, young/fierce? I took the information and circled around the five heading into the school from the back door that's never locked for some reason.

Guys, it's circling around you, coming in at five o'clock now.

I stopped, looking around for the voice. Who the hell had my ability?

He's stopped. You should be able to see him with your tiger's eyes from where you are, I've got shit night vision. He's looking around. I think he's tracking you by your scent, everyone split up, I'll circle above him and tell you who he goes after.

Above! I looked above me and saw a tiny black speck flapping hard above me. As soon as I saw it I recognised it as one of the multiple scents I had been smelling earlier.

Allright Tobias, We'll split up. Marco, Rachel, you guys go left. Ax, go into the school and scout out the new entrance. Cassie and I will swing right and try to draw it's attention away from everyone else. Cassie, can your wolf handle him?

I stood up within the night. They were like me, they had the same ability as me. How had I never heard of them before?

JESUS! Jake, it just stood up! I don't know what it is! It looks like a wolf, but it can stand! Guys, get outta there! It's gotta be the Visser!

Yeerk! I felt the rage and hostility within that one word directed at me, and me alone.

Ax! No! Damn it. The plan's busted, get out and regroup at Cassie's barn. Four of the vague forms by the school took off in seperate directions, the fifth coming straight for me. it wasn't untill he came down the crest of the slight hill that I saw it for what it was. This thing .. it looked like a blue deer, but it had a human's face. Or at least part of it. It galloped towards me, it's eyes full of hate, that's when I noticed what was behind it, attatched to it at it's spine. A long, thick tail with a type of blade at the end.

This is for my brother! The tail arced up and came crashing down into my shoulder as he raced past. It sliced through my shoulder, ribs, and lung before I could even blink. The pain didn't even register untill I saw my arm on the ground. I stared stupidly at it as the pain almost made me faint. It was hard to breathe. Power suddenly flowed through me and it was easier. Something cracked to my right and I felt my skin bubbling. The pain lessened and I found it easier and easier to breathe.

Oh My God. He's regenerating!

Feeling returned to my right arm and hand bit by bit, untill I could flex my hand and bend my arm again. I felt a deep, bloody rage bubble up from deep within me. A low angry growl bubbled from my throat, sounding as if a hellbeast had become real.

Run Ax! Rachel, Marco, Tobias, Cassie, attack!

I loped after the blue deer creature. I was thankfull to know that this body could heal itself, but I was going to hunt down that funky deer, and kill it, ability or no ability. He raced and I raced. I could smell and see his fear, follow it like a dense trail of fog.

Take this! "Tseeeer!" A hawk screamed out above me. knowing already that it wasn't a hawk, and that he had told me he was attacking, I dropped my head sharply and flipped. My body twirled lightly in the air, my paws acting as blades in a fan. He got caught, and was smacked to the left. I regained my footing and raced after the deer.

Tobias! I heard a wolf snarl behind me. Somehow I could feel her. I could feel her in a way that I couldn't feel the blue deer, or the bird, or any of the others nearby. She snapped at my tail and I grabbed the first low hanging branch I could. I swung up and around, my claws ripping deep grooves through the bark of the branch. I swung back to the ground behind her, and gave chase!

He's behind me! Someone get him off me! I held back my speed, watching her body move, feeling myself connect and move in tandem with her. Left paw forwards, right paw down. I followed her as she ran, shrugging off the attacks from the others.

I can't stop him! Cassie, stop running and fight, you're heading towards your parents! Cassie.. the wolf in front of me, stopped, twisted around, and bared her fangs at me. I leaped over her, rolled, then came about to face her, lips curled and teeth bared in a larger mirror image of her own threat. My growl was deeper and more powerful though, and I proved it by snarling so savagely that she dropped to the forest floor, baring her neck to me in a gesture of submission.

Cassie! What are you doing? Run!

I slowly stalked towards her, snarling whenever she so much as twitched.

I ... I think I'm okay. He's acting like a dominant wolf that's had his territory invaded. I know it's weird but that's how he's acting.

I approached her, standing over her. I nudged her lower jaw, snarling once. She made no move, either to protect herself or defend herself. I dropped the snarl and nudged her again with my nose at her neck.

Cassie, I'm in bear morph, don't move!

No!

"HROOOOOAAAWWRR!" Something dark brown swiped at my head, and would have burried me into Cassie had I not put out a hand to support myself. I took the blow that had enough power behind it to put a dent in a cement truck without falling. I felt that bloody rage fill me again, like it had when that blue deer sliced off my arm. The great big bruin roared in my face, raising it's paw for another strike. I pulled back my right hand, pulling it accross my body, then shot it out as he brought his paw down. I back handed the bear with enough force I heard it's spine snap, after it hit the tree to it's left.

Rachel! Cassie, there's no time, we have to take him down! The wolf got up from her prone position, coming to me and the bear.

Rachel, morph out.

I stood over Cassie, nudging her away from the bear. It could attack again and she'd be hurt.

But the Visser will- Cassie raised her hackles and snarled.

He's not the Visser! Right now he's trying to herd me away from you, he's acting like an alpha, protecting his pack. He's not the Visser. The bear struggled feebly and I gave it a warning growl, moving closer.

Don't move! Everybody demorph and go to wolf, he hasn't attacked me once yet, only you guys. Then again, you all attacked him first.

Are you sure about this Cassie? Cassie nodded her head, a very unwolf like thing to do.

Demorph Rachel, everyone else go wolf. I'll keep him away from Rachel, there's no telling what his reaction will be at seeing a human coming out of a bear. Cassie nudged me, offering a low bark. My tail wagged once, but I watched the bear. She tried again even while the bear started to shift and melt. My hackles raised and I growled, nudging her away from the thing that was not a bear. I stood up on my legs again, knees bent and paws up, ready to attack whatever this thing was.

Is that what I think it is?

Yes Jake. That ... is a werewolf.

ch3

The Animorphs

I could feel them coming through the trees. I stepped over Cassie, one foot planted either side of her as a young male and his pack came towards us. The bear continued melting, and my priorities were screwed. I wanted to protect my female against the creature that was not a bear, but there was also the male and his pack. Cassie gave a soft growl, moving out from under my legs and nudging her nose against the shrinking bear. I inhaled, and colours exploded accross my sight as my nose filtered the different scents through my brain. The pack was edgy, they stank of fear. I planted my feet and lowered my stance, raising my arms to show myself as larger and more threatening. One of the females backed up, her tail between her legs.

Jake buddy, you know I'd be one of the first to take on the Visser if you needed it, but that's a Werewolf! The female to the right of the leader had her tail tucked between her legs, and she was the one that stank the most. The alpha male was standing at the head of his small four wolf pack. He and his three females tried to stalk towards me, but their fear was too great, their movements were short and choppy.

Marco, don't worry buddy, when's Cassie ever been wrong? The alpha rubbed his nose in the neck fur of the female, and her fear stink lessened.

I had no idea what the hell was happening. One minute I had my back to the bear, then something small and light jumped onto my back, wrapping it's arms around my throat and pulling. I made a choked sound, throwing my body forwards and rolling as four voices yelled Rachel! inside my mind. She flew from my back, hit the dirt of the forest floor, and I stood above her, right hand raised and claws ready to rip and tear at the thing that dared attack me.

It happened so fast I couldn't stop myself. The female stared up at me with scared, defiant eyes, then Cassie was between me and the female. I pulled back my hand, but the damage was already done. Four long grooves dug directly into Cassie's fur, blood immediately flowing as she let out a soft whimper of pain.

Cassie!

The alpha jumped at me, but I backhanded him easily with my bloody hand. Power flowed through me again, the power to change. I gently picked Cassie up, my tail between my legs, and I looked around for an open spot in the trees. A single shaft of moonlight penetrated the forest, and I took her to it. I opened myself up to the song singing within my blood, my shifting energy becoming something more, for a moment. The shaft of moonlight glowed around us, intensifying untill it looked like the beam from a floodlight. Half of my energy left me suddenly, flooding Cassie's wounded body. The four long gouges in her shiny coat sealed up immediately, fur automatically sprouting along the faint lines of pale flesh untill she looked whole again. The rest of my energy left me, causing me to fall to my knees and release her. The shaft of moonlight darkened untill it was just another faint glow of light, the intensely magical feel dissipating rapidly.

Did he...? Was that..?

Cassie wriggled out of my limp grasp, turning around to lick at my throat and chin. Her tail wagged slightly behind her while her eyes seemed to show her love and kindness without words.

I think that was magic Jake, real life, actual magic!

The lead wolf shook his shaggy head, his eyes showing his confusion and uncertainty. Magic or not, whatever that thing is, it can't be trusted.

Jake! Cassie stood between the wolf pack leader and me, a soft growl echoing through her throat. What if we can use him? He didn't attack us, we attacked him. He defended himself. Shouldn't we at least ask him for help?

And what if he's related to the yeerks? Did you think about that Cassie?

The pack leader whirled and snarled at the female to his right.

Quiet Marco!

The female balked, turning onto her back and baring her throat.

Sorry buddy, didn't mean any disrespect.

Jake turned to face me and Cassie, thoughts hidden behind his eyes. He made a choice, and his eyes showed it.

Everybody but Cassie, Demorph. That's an order.

But I can't see at night.

Jake slapped his tail into the muzzle of the female behind him.

At the very least you'll be able to fly.

Prince Jake, might you reconsider? This creature, as far as I am aware, is not indigenous to Earth's life. Might this not be a trap set up by the Yeerks to make you reveal yourselves to them?

That was an order, do not discuss it. The females growled a little more, and then they started to melt and twist in upon themselves. I backed up immediately, horrified at these creatures that were kin, yet not. Cassie nosed herself againt my leg.

Be calm, you are not in danger, you are safe here. I blinked slowly, seeing images within her voice. A soothing tide of strength and calmness, a feeling of danger being pushed away by a fellow pack member, an image of home, where my cousins and I ....

I opened my eyes wide. I dropped to the forest floor like a puppet with it's strings cut, grabbing my head with my hands, horror struck that for a while, I hadn't been myself. I had lost myself to the wolf, to whatever this thing that I had become, was. I opened my jaws, and let forth a howl that would have shaken the dead free of their graves. I put all the anguish I could into that long, drawn out howl, allowing the bitter sorrow of my heart to bleed out through my voice.

Hey! Hey! Listen! Be calm, stop howling! JAKE! Cassie's not-voice. I calmed down, my memmories flowing back. I had raped my cousin, I was a monster, I was.. I looked at myself in a new light. What was I? I looked up and saw the transformations coming to a halt, two humans, a blue deer, and a small wolf turning into a bird.

"What on Earth was that about?" The human standing where the pack leader had been standing, talked - spoke. My race through the forest replayed itself to me, my hope that these were people like me, that they were different, like me.

"Hughmun?" My voice, it was so deep! They stared at me, the two females, one human, one wolf, the two humans, both male, the odd deer with it's four eyes, and the small brown bird.

"Did that thing just talk?" The one with dark hair pointed at me, his eyes wide. Jake nodded, Cassie nodded. The blue deer ducked his head slightly.

I do believe this creature has some means of communications, and may at least possess rudimentary intelligence.

The blonde haired female rolled her eyes. "What was your first clue Ax? When he regenerated his arm and came after you, or when he spoke?"

Jake held up his hands. "Enough. Cassie, when you're ready demorph, but do you think you could do it in such a way as to look like him?" Cassie nodded her head.

I'll try Jake, I've never really done anything like that before, but I'll try. Cassie ducked her head, and moved away from me a bit. She grew in size while I watched, and I took a step back as her size doubled. My ears twitched as the sounds of bones breaking caused images to run riot throughout my mind. Her forelegs lengthened along with her back legs, her grey pelt shifting as it was forced to cover a greater body size and mass.

I watched, somewhat awe struck, as the wolf turned into something similar to me. She stood up upon large pads, her foot muscles working like, yet not like mine. Her body was different, wrong, but she was so similar, her shape was so close to mine that I was willing to let go of the wrongess, and just accept the form before me.

I stepped forwards and grasped that similar yet different body to me, relief coursing throughout my body at finally having someone who understood.

ch4

The Seventh

"Hey!" Jake moved towards Cassie to pull us apart, but stopped at Cassie's raised hand.

He's not hurting me, and this isn't what you think. He wants comfort, that's all he wants. He's scared and unsure what to do. I don't think this has happened to him before. Cassie's not-voice within my mind again. Her voice was young, but I felt a comfort within her voice that was reserved for me, and me alone.

Jake, the only way I can explain how he's feeling is like a child that's lost their mother. He's full of sadness, despair, and a need for something that wont reject him for what he is.

The blonde female snorted. "Well he came to the right place then didn't he? Tobias is hardly normal, Ax is an alien, and Marco isn't even human."

"Ha ha ha, and also ha." The black haired male. "Rachel, if anyone's not human, it's you. How often have you been to a modelling agency, on the most dirtiest, dustiest of days, and been photographed in pristine glory without so much as a touch up?"

The humans stared at Marco. "Marco, that was a little long winded, and not exactly a joke."

Marco shrugged. "So I can't make a joke about the great Xena every single time, sue me."

Jake raised a single eyebrow. "Ookay.. Back to business." He looked at me, and I saw anger behind his eyes. I saw jealous rage. I closed my eyes for a moment, calling back my ability to see scents as colours. I opened my eyes, and my vision was awash with colour. All the creatures before me, except Cassie, leaked a grey/white smog labled fear. The leader though, also leaked a smokey green fog with red sparkles within it. Jealous rage.

"I guess tonight's mission is canned. We'll find our way into the Yeerk pool some other night. Right now, we need to deal with this guy and what he could, and could not be." Jake looked up into my eyes as he said that, and I clutched at Cassie. She turned her head to face Jake, her body temperature spiking as a red fog labled anger seeped from her.

Don't threaten him Jake. He could be exactly what we need in order to get one up on the Yeerks. Her grasp around me loosened slightly and I felt an energy within her. I watched her body shrink, her nice shaggy head and coat staying exactly the same size untill she was human sized. Her pelt disappeared, replaced by a full body black leotard, her head slowly deflated and shrank, turning human like the rest of her.

I stared at the dark skinned human female, who was probably a couple of years younger than me, and felt an emotion I hadn't felt in a long time. Adoration. I adored this dark skinned girl who could change herself to whatever form she wanted. I watched as they held a whispered argument amongst themselves, with small comments made by the only telapthically capable creatures.

I trusted the dark skinned female named Cassie, but I didn't trust the others. I decided I wanted to show them I was like them, but I didn't want them to know I was human. I waited a couple of minutes for the slight tingle that said I could change again, then I started to morph. I focused upon the black wolf and shifted into his form.

Conversation stopped as the blue deer creature announced my transformation to the group. They turned and watched as I shrank, my forearms losing the strength and manouverability of half human arms, becoming full canine legs. My spine cracked and shortened, my legs doing the same. In mere moments I was a dark wolf, looking up at four humans who looked rather tasty from my perspective.

"Impossible..." Rachel, the long haired female. She stared at me with a mix of horror and awe.

"Where's the blue box?" Jake, he turned to face Cassie who was rather pale.

"It's under the water pump at the barn, you know that."

"Yes, I know that, but how else could he gain access to morph technology?"

Prince Jake? Jake turned to face the blue deer thing. I do not believe this creature gained it's ability to morph from Andalite technology. It posesses a unique ability to regenerate itself when damaged, an ability Andalite morphing technology does not posess.

"Your point?" Jake's eyes narrowed, along with Rachel's. It struck me suddenly that the two humans might be related to each other.

The blue deer's eyes on their stalks dipped slightly, possibly a sign of unease. My Prince, it might actually be fully morph capable on it's own. This creature can possibly hear and respond to thought-speech not directed at it, and can regenerate it's body at shocking speeds. Prince Jake, it is not beyond reasonable doubt, though the percentage is less than impossible, that this creature is a fluke of nature.

"Your saying this thing's a freak?" The dark haired one, Marco.

I am saying that this is not Andalite morphing technology. As far as I am aware, Andalites are the only sentient species that is morph capable.

"You have been known to be wrong before." Rachel, her voice was light, but also mocking. The blue deer's eyes drooped even more.

Yes, but those times have been when my memmory of the subject was fuzzy, indistinct, and unsure.

"He's got you there Rach." Marco again.

"So what are we going to do about him?" Cassie. "We can't exactly kill him, he's a wolf! After all the Yeerks have done to us, you're going to kill a wolf because he can morph like us?"

Jake turned to face Cassie, he had a rather hard look upon his face. "Cassie, if he..it ... whatever it is, gets taken by the Yeerks, there'll be no stopping them. They'll have his memmories to access, his strength and abilities, and we wont be able to hide any longer. We have to do something to ensure our survivability."

"What about the Yeerk peace movement? Can't we ask one of them to keep an ear out for information on a new host body with morphing ability?"

The blonde female, Rachel, swaggered forwards. "Those Yeerks are too busy looking efter their own skins with Visser three removing heads whenever he's in a foul mood. They're Yeerks, and if they thought for a single moment that taking control of him would give them freedom, your so called peace movement will turn into a war effort."

"Rachel." Jake, just one word, her name, in a set tone, and she shut her mouth. Cassie looked horrified.

"Is... Is that what you all think? That the peace movement is just Yeerks trying to find a way to be on top?"

Yeerks are Yeerks Cassie. I believe these Yeerks are different from the others, but I still do not trust them.

"But what about Aftran? Surely you have to admit that she was a good, peace loving Yeerk!"

"Cassie, this is neither the time nor the place. We need to decide what to do with him now." Jake once more. Was he the leader of the pack? Probably. Cassie looked unsure about what to do next to help her argument, so I decided to but in.

What is a Yeerk?

The group turned towards me. Their eyes moved amongst themselves, possibly trying to see who would speak for them. Finally, all eyes turned towards the blue deer. He gave a slight nod, then stepped forwards upon his four dainty hooves.

Yeerks are a parasitic species. They infest their hosts by entering the ear canal, flattening and expanding themselves untill they can touch the brain. Once they enter a host, they assume full and total control. Every three days they must leave the host they inhabit and swim within a pool full of concentrated Kandrona rays, or they will die. This is currently their only weakness.

Silence. I needed to know more. How they could change, what they were doing, why they attacked me, so many questions.

Why can you change like me? I thought I was the only one on the planet that could change forms, and mix them.

"Mix?" Cassie, the black female.

I concentrated upon my half wolf half human form, and morphed. I revelled in the freedom of power this body gave me, but I made sure I remained myself, made sure that I kept my consciousness my own, and not the werewolf's. I stood up upon my enlarged pads, my thicker and longer tail sweeping behind me. I cracked my wrists by rolling them, feeling the almost unrestrained power within them.

"Thiish isth a micksed form." Gah, my voice was too deep, and my tongue was too long! I tried again, but this time I spoke with my mental voice, using the current voice of my form for it's base.

Sorry. This is a mixed form. I melded human and wolf matter to create this. Knowing already that this form had regenerative abilities and was immune to all items bar silver, it seemed like a good choice for a trial run.

I looked at them, and saw confusion on most faces. Jake sighed and shook his head.

"Cassie, I know this is too much to ask, but can you take him?" Cassie shook her head.

"I can't have him at home, or in the barn, dad'd know immediately if there was a wolf on the propperty, he'd want him drugged and mom would want to take him to the Gardens."

Is the only problem the fact that I am a wolf?

Nods all around.

If that's the only problem, I can change forms to a doberman. Will your parental units allow you to bring home a stray dog?

"Parental units?" Jake frowned, but Cassie smiled.

"Yes! They'll let you stay, but only if you have nowhere else to go. How long can you stay in one form before you need to change back?"

Forever.

Every single one of them froze where they were, the bird in the trees around us stared down at me. I could swear I felt rage and envy.

Not possible.

I looked towards the blue deer. "Ax?" The blu- Ax turned to face Jake.

My prince, it's not possible. Morphing technology has limitations for a reason. Too long, and you lose yourself to the morph, bit by bit, untill there is nothing left of you, and the morph takes over. Tobias already knows about this, because he's freely choosing to allow the hawk he is becoming, to show itself on occasion, and to take part in his mental abberations when he changes forms.

Frowns of puzzlement all around.

I have a limitation to the time between when I can and can't change forms. It's just that I can stay in any one form for days, weeks, years, or even decades before changing to another. I don't appear to age because I spent a year in one form, then changed back to my original form to see I hadn't changed at all. My limitations are based on doubles. For the first micro second I can't change forms, the next two I can, the next four I can't, the next eight I can, then next sixteen I can't, the next thirty two I can, and so on, and so on.

They looked at me again, their eyes sowing puzzlement and fear. Ax turned an eye towards me, and asked a question.

What are the prodceedures for your genetic reconstruction? Is it touch? Sight? Mental link with the subject?

Touch and taste. It does not matter which form I am in, so long as I sample the creature's genetic code.

Ax turned further towards me, focusing all four of his eyes at my wolfish head.

You do not need to switch to your base form in order to morph? You may morph straight from one form, directly into another provided it's within your time limit?

I nodded at him, and focused upon the doberman as I felt the gentle surge that said I could switch again. Everything about me pulled in, and I transformed into the doberman. Once more my eyes lost all sense of colour, my jaws shortened from their massive size, and I was eventually left in a much smaller body. I looked up at those assembled and wagged my tail. He was alot different to my dane, his mind was happy and he just wanted to play. My dane on the other hand, was used to guarding, so he knew how to follow scents.

Maybe I should switch to the dane? This body is happy, and would be defenceless against any type of sudden attack.

I morphed before they could say anything, my body growing slightly larger, my coat turning a mixed dusky and woody colour, stripes lined my ribs and my ears lengthened. My spine cracked, minor adjustments were made to my feet, and I was a dane once more. I got up and walked towards Cassie, sitting at her heel and looking up at the others, completely silent.

"Wow... You can change almost whenever you want, can't you?" I nodded at her question. She dropped a hand to my head and rubbed gently at my ears, before realising what she was doing. She tugged her hand away and apologised immediately for her actions. "I'm sorry, I just-"

Do not apologise. If this is to be sucessful, you need to trust and play with me like a normal human would. Pet me as you would a normal dog, and forget I have any intelligence. I will follow you everywhere, and act like any guard dog. Collar me if you wish, but do not act like I am anything more than I appear to be. Please Cassie.

She looked down at me, then replaced her dark hand, rubbing and scratching at my ears. I turned to look at those surrounding us, and I memmorised their scents. I would know them, no matter which form they took. The blonde haired female carried several scents with her, bear, wolf, horse, dolphin, elephant, seagull, eagle, ant..? Termite.. mosquito.. cockroach? Insects? Lots and lots of insects? Why would one need to change into insects? No matter. I labled all her scents, and focused upon the bird. He held scents as well, all of which I located and memmorised. I turned to the blue deer, ax, and was simply thrown for a loop. My brain couldn't identify his main scent. It was soft and delicate, but nothing near recreatable upon earth. He had a few scents that I couldn't place, and just memmorised them. I moved onto the dark haired human male. His were like the female's a large selection of the same animals, with a few differences. The leader, Jake, held a small collection of very powerful animals within his slight body. Wolf, Tiger, Rhinocerous, and others. He was not one to cross lightly.

Will this do Jake? So long as I change forms once a day, I can morph at almost any time, so long as my time limit isn't locked. That is my one weakness. If I am ever injured when I am locked in one form, I have to wait before I can morph out of the pain and injury. This is why I change forms constantly, else wise I could be locked in one form for too long, be injured, and have no way to morph back in time to prevent my demise.

Jake looked down at me, shaking his head. "Cassie, take him home, explain it to your parents however you can, try to keep him with you at all times. Even when at school. We're going to have to come up with an excuse for him, a stray that's fallen in love or something." I whuffed slightly in surprise, and not a little humour. He ignored me and continued. "Find a collar for him, and we'll meet up tomorrow night, unless something comes up." Jake looked at the others, and they nodded. "Let's go home, we've spent too long out already." Everyone morphed to birds, and took off. Cassie stayed where she was, waving at everyone as they left. She looked down at me an smiled. I waved my tail once to show excitement.

"We'll, let's go home. I'm not sure exactly how this will work out, but I'll give it a shot. My parents are the epitome of niceness. They don't know what we do and fight for, and I want to keep it that way. We keep this secret from our families in order to protect them, and ourselves. Jake wouldn't want you to know, but his brother, tom, is a controller. We found out by accident when we visited the yeerk pool for the first time, and Tobias was trapped in his current body. Ax we rescued from his crashed ship in the middle of the ocean, and that's the gist of everything." I looked up at her, and she scratched behind my ears again. "Let's go." Her body twisted and shifted, bulging and shifting. She leaned forwards, and her body shifted back to the female's wolf's form, and immediately my desire was sparked. I pushed it out and away, now not being the time for that.

Let's run!

Ch 5

Cassie's Home

She took off, and I chased after her! We raced through the trees, ducking up and over what logs were in our way, weaving between the trees as we raced through the forest. We spent maybe an hour racing through the trees. I delighted in the simple joy of racing through the dark forest, the moonlight shining through the broken branches. I kept her body in sight, and tried hard to ignore the brief glimpses she gave me of her sex. It wouldn't do to follow through with my base desires. I was meant to be her dog, and as such I couldn't do anything like that. She stopped suddenly, and I had to dig my claws into the pine needles to stop from planting my muzzle into that warm and moist spot that was on my mind.

We're here.

I looked past her at the dark barn and two storey wood and brick house next to it. She morphed back to human, and stumbled. Immediately I placed myself under her, and caught her before she fell. She leaned her weight against me, my skeleton supporting her light frame easily.

What's wrong? Are you okay?

Cassie took a moment, then rubbed at my head. "I'm okay. When we do too many morphs in a short span of time, we get exhausted. It's normal, and will wear off soon. I just have to morph to owl, fly into my room, dress myself, and come down to you. Can you wait for me here?" I nodded at her. "Do you have a name I can call you by?" I nodded at her again.

You can call me Mason. That's a normal name for a dog, is it not?

"I guess so, I've never really had a dog before. My days are too busy with school, caring for the animals in the barn, and making sure everything's clean and tidy. I'll be back in a sec." Cassie's form shifted once more, shrinking rapidly as feathers sprouted across her skin. She was so gracefull in what she did, it was almost magical. I simply changed forms, but she melded them perfectly. I resolved to become like her, to control how I shifted from one form to the other, in order to blend them as perfectly as she did. I watched her take off, and zoom towards the open window facing us.

Be down soon Mason, I just have to get out of this leotard, then get dressed.

I shall be awaiting your presence.

I tried not to think about her removing her leotard, her dark skin peeling from underneath the polysynthetic. Her nubile form bending to pull the crease from her crotch, the lewd imagery of her pausing and rubbing at her mons to relieve her internal tension..

"Mason?" I startled, hiding myself from her as she poked my head gently. I blinked, seeing her before me in a soft nightgown. The soft blue accentuated her dark skin underneath the moonlight, and I had to physically rip my gaze from her.

This will not work. I do not think I can stop thinking about you long enough to act like a propper dog should. I will not scare you with the imaginings of my mind, but will say you would find the imagery disturbing. I shall sleep in the barn, away from you. Grab me in the morning before you go to school, and I shall work upon my control.

I turned away from her and padded towards the barn, tail low and hiding the growth I was sporting.

"Mason?" I paused and turned back to look at her. She looked at me funny, a strange sparkle in her eyes. "Sleep with me in my room. You're a decent .. creature, I know you wont try anything unless I say you can. And one way or another, we need to get along. Surely you can contain yourself long enough for us to work something out."

"Cassie?" I growled and raced between her and the human male coming out of the house. He backed up as I snarled savagely at him, paws planted and tail rigid.

"Mason, Sit!" I sat, curbing my growl to a low rumble. The human male looked between me and Cassie, a concerned expression upon his dark face.

"Cassie.. Would you like to explain?" He checked his watch. "Inside please." He turned his back on us and walked into the house. Cassie followed him, and I followed Cassie. We walked into the living room/kitchen, and the male I assumed to be Cassie's father turned on the kitchen light. "Now. Explain."

Cassie looked at me, looked at her father, and stuttered. "I..I .. we .."

I found him a few weeks ago, and he immediately took a liking to me. He's loyal, dependant, and utterly trustworthy. He's looked after me a few times, and I've looked after him. Please can we keep him dad, he's clean and he takes care of himself.

Cassie blinked, looked at me, then repeated what I said, verbatum, embellishing slightly with her arms and body language. Her father looked at her, then at me. I sat myself next to Cassie, staring up at him, watching his every move. He looked down at me and stared into my eyes. I growled low and soft, my hackles raising on their own.

"Mason." I stopped and looked up at her, tail wagging. Cassie looked down at me, and did what she would have done to any type of errant dog. "No. You do not growl at daddy. Daddy is ... pack. Pack is family. Do not hurt family." I had a brief flashback to my cousin, and dropped down low, hanging my head upon my paws. I lay upon the floor of the kitchen, my nose by her small and elegant feet. I licked her toes once, not moving from my position.

"He's well trained.. And we've always needed a guard dog." I didn't move, but Cassie jumped up and hugged her father.

"I can keep him? I can?" Her father placed his large arms around her.

"You may, on a few conditions. He earns his keep. He protects the farm, and us. And he stays outside." I caught that, and growled low. Cassie shook her head.

"No, he stays with me. He knows me, and listens to me. He's smart dad, really, really smart. If you tell him to do something, in english, and allow him to process a new command, he'll do it. He can handle a few orders at a time, but more than four and he loses track. Give him a single order and he'll follow it as well as he can. I've been training him for weeks."

Her father looked at me, and I looked at him. "Speak." I looked at him, turning my head to express just what I thought of his command.

"Mason." I looked up at Cassie, tail wagging, expressing that I was eager to please. "Listen to daddy. If he gives a command, follow it, or you wont be able to live here." My tail wagging stopped. I looked back at the male, and barked. Once.

"Lie down." I lay flat upon the floor. I looked up at him, waiting for the next order. "Stand." I stood up on four legs, lent down upon my front legs, and pushed upwards. I stood upon my hind legs, looking the human in the eyes as I stumbled slightly. His face showed surprise. "Grab me a knife from the second drawer from the top, in the kitchen." I fell back to all four paws, and concentrated upon what he'd just asked of me. I did as Cassie said I would, and processed the request. I moved behind him, looking at the drawers in the kitchen. Luckily for me they had loop handles. I grabbed the drawer with my teeth and yanked it slowly. I stood up and planted my paws upon the kitchen bench, looking at the contents of the drawer. I grabbed a knife carefully, the plastic handle resting within my muzzle. I dropped to the floor and turned back to the father. I sat before him with the knife in my mouth. He knelt and reached for it, and I dropped it into his hand.

"That... was amazing." He moved to the sink and washed the knife under water and detergent. He put the clean knife in a dish rack, then turned to us. "Does he know the dfference between forceps and clamps?" I blinked, and just looked at him. Cassie shrugged.

"If he doesn't move, he doesn't understand. If you want him to learn something new, you'll have to teach him what you want a few times, and to be sure he knows you have to ask him to get, or do, what you want a couple weeks or a month after training him. The more he does something, the easier it is for him to remember." Cassie walked forwards and rubbed the back of my head, her fingers scratching slightly. I whuffed in pleasure, and just waited.

"Okay then. Manson-"

"Mason" Corrected Cassie.

"Mason, I want you to go out into the barn. Pull the ring to open the door. Inside, at the end of the barn, are my tools. I want you to bring me back a pair of forceps. Can you do that for me?" I sat and processed his request, trying to understand what forceps were. I went to shake my head, and paused in the action, knowing he'd be suspicious at a dog that knew to shake it's head to indicate no. I whined at him, unable to complete the order. Cassie's father looked at her, and she looked at me.

"Mason, what's wrong?"

I don't know what forceps are. How can I get them if I've no idea what they are?

Cassie looked at her dad. "Uhmm, can we do this in the morning? I don't think he knows what forceps are. He knows what doors and drawers are, but seeing as he hasn't seen medical equipment, I don't think he can get them. Please, can we just go to bed?" She started towards the stairs next to the kitchen, and I stayed where I was, contemplating what I should do.

Ca..Cassie...?

Cassie stopped on the stairs, looking back at me. Her father sighed and walked past Cassie, heading to what I assumed was his bed. "What's wrong Mason?" I padded in the kitchen.

I .... I haven't eaten. I know it's not nice to impose.. I could go out and find something to eat if it'll be too much trouble.

"No, no, I'll get you something."

"What was that honey?" Her father's voice echoed down the stairs.

"Nothing dad, I was talking to Mason. I think he's hungry." Cassie came over to me, her gown fluttering within the air. "What would you like?"

Something edible. I look like a dog, but my tastes are human. I would prefer something a human would eat, but I know you wont have enough time for it. Anything to fill my stomach that isn't raw would be nice.

I looked up at her, and she wandered around the kitchen. Her gown fluttered, and I accidentally noticed that it was the only thing on her slim body. I averted my gaze, instilling deep within myself a need for concentration. "My family's all about healthy eating, so I don't think I have anything for you. I could do you some mac and cheese that Jake left here?" I nodded, not looking at her. "Mason? What's wrong now?" I turned away from her as she moved closer, knowing her gown was spreading, and that her slim form was starting to show through.

Your gown is parting, and I'm trying very hard to ignore you and your form. I'm breathing shallowly trying to ignore your scent, and I'm doing my absoloute best to avoid jumping you and humping you like a dog would.

Cassie gasped behind me. "Man, are you horny all the time or something? Jake'd kill you if he knew you thought like this." I turned and looked up at her, avoiding the distracting view of her half parted gown.

I'm sorry, I tried to tell you earlier. Go to your room. I shall stay down here and cook. I'll wash everything up and put it all away, just leave out what I can and can't use.

Cassie looked at me in shock and surprise. "Well... I guess I can do that, but shouldn't I do it?"

Cassie, you'd be cooking for a dog. Turn out the light, and I'll morph into my werewolf body. I'll be able to see in the dark and cook quickly. I'll wash up, eat, wash my dish, and put it all away.

Cassie paused, uncertain. "Are you sure?"

Go cassie, I'll be with you in a half an hour, or an hour. If you're still awake, we can talk untill you fall asleep. I'll sleep on the floor.

Cassie's dark brown eyes showed her uncertainty, but she nodded, moving past me and walking up the stairs. "You can use anything we have to cook the pasta, just be sure to clean everything up and leave nothing out of place." I nodded towards her, and she continued up the stairs.

I looked at the sachet packet of mac & cheese. I waited untill I couldn't hear anything with my ears, then I focused upon the werewolf. I shifted, reveling within the power of my new form. I quickly went to work, following the directions upon the packet. I grabbed out a bowl, filled it with water, put the contents inside, and set it in the microwave. I blinked at the controls to her microwave, and figured it out through trial and error. I set the timer for three minutes, and waited. The microwave dinged, and I removed the bowl. I picked up a spoon and stirred, mixing everything in. I set the bowl back in the microwave and put it on high for another two minutes. The microwave dinged once more while I was waiting, and I removed the Mac and Cheese. I spooned through the contents to make sure everything was mixed well, and proceeded to eat. I burnt my tongue once, and never again. I wolfed down the small amount of food, cleaned everything up, dried it all, and put it all back in it's place. I shifted back to my great dane form, and padded up the stairs.

I followed my nose to Cassie's door, two doors down from her parent's room. I stood up upon my hind legs, and pulled down upon her door handle. The door clacked open, and I entered Cassie's room. I froze on the doorstep, automatically assailed by all the scents within her room. Her scent was the predominant one, and all sorts of animal scents touched hers. Cassie was in her bed, a small lamp on and shining over her pillow. The second I entered she sat up in her bed, pulling the covers up over her. I ignored the scents as best I could, entered, and closed the door. I sat upon the floor, facing her, and trying to keep my mind out of the gutter as best I could.

"So.. Did you wash everything up and put it away?" I nodded, and some tension left her. "Well.. Uhm.. Maybe I should tell you a little about us?" I nodded, and laid down upon the timber floor. Cassie shook her head, and patted the bed. "Up here."

Cassie.. You and I both know I shouldn't be any closer to you than I already am. Treat me like a dog.

"I am treating you like a dog. I'm treating you like a dog I adore. Now, move it mister." I whuffed at her and got up on the bed, easily jumping up. The springs rolled under me and I sat at the foot of the bed. Cassie turned to face me, the light shining off her dark skin. "Now. A year or two ago, we were walking through a construction site on the way home from the mall. We knew we weren't supposed to be there, but we took the shortcut all the same. Had we not taken the shortcut, had we not gone some other way home, we wouldn't have these wonderful abilities, and we wouldn't be involved in a war against an alien race. A damaged fighter pilot landed at the construction site, and Elfangor, an Andalite prince, exited. He gave us our ability to morph and told us about the Yeerks. Were it not for him, we wouldn't be here today. He was shortly eaten be Visser Three, the leader of the Yeerk forces on earth. We have fought many times with Visser Three, and though we have won and lost every battle, we are still here to fight again. Tobias paid the ultimate price the first time we fought the Yeerks. He got trapped in his hawk morph and hid while the rest of us escaped." Cassie looked me over, pausing in her story telling.

"So you really don't have a time limit?" I shook my head. "You can stay in any form for as long as you like?" I nodded. I lay down at the end of the bed, curling up. I yawned once and settled down.

So why do you guys fight the Yeerks? I know they're slugs that take over the body, but why do you fight them? Is it completely impossible to co-exist with them? Could they not be befriended?

Cassie leaned forwards immediately. "That's what I think! I always want to know why we can't be friends. If they were more focused upon friendship instead of world domination, we might possibly have found a way to co-exist with them. There are comatose patients we might be able to save, or possible offer as hosts if they have no mind. I know it's unethical of me to think such, but if they can't be saved no matter how we try, why not?" I sighed.

If these Yeerks are as bad as you say, there's probably a reason as to why. So.. a bunch of teenagers fight homocidal aliens every day of the week, hide this activity from their families, and go to the school which is almost ontop of the gigantic pool nestled below the ground.?

"How do you know about the pool?" I yawned again.

It's where all the fear and sorrow resides. There's anger too, but mostly fear and sorrow. The school is tainted with it, and the scents of other things, not human or animal. It's.. I don't know how to describe it. It's like ... a jelly donut that's been deepfried with the jelly inside until it's burnt. It's a sickly sweet, burnt batter smell.

"You can sniff out Yeerks?" I missed the level of fear and excitement in her voice.

I guess so, if they're the ones producing that scent.

"You have to come to school with me tomorrow, I don't care what Chapman says, the Yeerk in his head can die of Kandrona starvation. I'm taking you in. I'm going to ask that you spot those with Yeerks in them and remember their names and faces. If I specifically point to someone, do you think you could tell me if they're infested or not?" I thought about that.

I'm not sure. When I'm in my Werewolf form I see scents as colours. I suppose I could try in this form. A canine's nose is far superior to a human's.

Cassie leaned full accross the bed and hugged me. I looked up at the wrong time and pressed my muzzle against her lips. I immediately backed away, shocked, and Cassie just wiped at her mouth. "Thanks.. but a cheek would have been fine too."

You... You're not angry?

Cassie looked at me with a quirky smile. "Why would I be angry?" I shook my head and left it at that. "Well, I guess we should go to sleep, we've both got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. Wake me up at six." I nodded, and she turned out the light. I sighed, and went to sleep slowly. Cassie got comfortable under the covers. "Good night Mason."

Night Cassie, sleep well.

I missed her grin in the darkness, my eyes closed and my breathing slowing.

Chapter 6

School

Spot on five thirty my internal alarm screamed at me. My eyes opened, and I yawned semi-tiredly. I looked at the alarm clock upon Cassie's bedside table, and watched the numbers flick over to five thirty-one. Dawn light streamed in through her open window, and I lay there and listened to the sounds of the waking world. The birds chirped, and I watched a flock of starlings flit past the window. I yawned and stretched, my spine and tail arching and straightening in that order. I jumped off the bed and padded about Cassie's room. I identified scents within her room, noting her clothes and desk. A bag by the desk looked to hold most of her books for her school. My stomach rumbled at me, and I looked around, ignoring it. I nosed open the door to her wardrobe, and saw a very, very small selection of clothes not pertaining to work, school, or quite possibly home wear only clothes.

My internal clock ticked over to five fifty-two. I turned to Cassie still asleep upon her bed, and went over to wake her. I licked her hand repeatedly, getting in between her fingers, wrapping my long tongue around each slim digit. Cassie smiled and giggled. "Jake, stop it.." Oh ho! Cassie liked Jake, big time. I continued my licking before grabbing her wrist, and tugging gently. Cassie moved partway out of her bed, before yanking from my grasp and rolling over.

So that's how it's gonna be...

I grabbed the covers, faced the foot of her bed, and yanked them off of her. Cassie sat upright immediately within the chill of the dawn air. "Oh .. Jesus ... Couldn't you have woken me up a different way?" She shivered and rubbed her arms. I pointedly ignored her night shirt and knickers, poking my nose at her open wardrobe.

You said to get you up at six. It's six. I tried licking you hand, but you just smiled and told Jake to stop.

Cassie brought a hand up to cover her mouth as she gasped in shock. I gave her a doggy grin. Cassie scowled and moved to her clothes. "Okay, I need to get dressed, feed the animals, check the wrapping on the vixen's foreleg, and clean out the water trough for the horses. Then I need to shower and get ready for school." I nodded, watching her dress. She stripped out of her night shirt without a second's thought, grabbing an old and worn shirt. She tucked it on then grabbed some jeans. She bent and put them on, while I growled low at the imprint of her and mons showing through her knickers. I turnedmy gaze away from the impressive sight, and looked out the window.

"Don't growl at the geese, they're starting to head south. You know it's going to be winter in a few months, right?" I nodded at her. Even though it was still summer, it was turning into fall in a few weeks. I turned to face Cassie and she waved at me "C'mon, let's head downstairs. I want to show you off to mom."

Are you sure about that? Maybe I should jump out the window?

Cassie placed her hands upon her hips and glared playfully. "Dad knows about you, and he's likely told mom about you too. If you jump out the window you're not going to seem like a normal dog." She turned and headed out the door to her room. I sighed and sent a thought after her.

I'm not a normal dog

"C'mon Mason."

I sighed and trotted after her. I tucked my tail out of the way as the door slammed closed with a gust of wind. I padded my way down the short corridor to the stairs, and walked down them. I looked around for Cassie, and saw her boy her parents. Her father looked different in the morning light, but that was to be expected. I walked over to Cassie and sat by her side as I examined her mother. She smiled atme in surprise, her dark skin glistening with morning freshness. She smiled at me. "My, and who are you handsome?" I perked my ears at the 'handsome' comment.

I like her.

Cassie giggled and shook her head when her parents looked at her. "Just thought of something funny." I whuffed at her, and wagged my tail at her mother. She leaned her left wrist out to me, and I sniffed it. I dropped to the floor as some type of alcoholic scent hit my nose and scrambled my brain. I shook bodily and convulsed, whining. Immediately the entire family leapt upon me. The mother opened my eyes, and I tried to move away from her as that scent wiped accross my fur and nose.

"Mason? Mason, what's wrong? Talk to me!" Cassie..

Scent... the scent... something wrong with scent, bad scent.

Cassie pet my head, pushing her mother away. "Mom, I think he's alergic to what you're wearing." Cassie's mother moved away from me, and I stopped whining.

"But it's gardenia, it's supposed to be a natural fragrance."

"Mom, since when has perfume ever been a natural fragrance?" Cassie wiped my head, rubbing between my ears.

"Here, give him this. It's a general anti-biotic and anti-inflamitory. If he doesn't calm down immediately, your mother can take him to the gardens."

Gardens? Why will plants help?

Cassie heard, but apparently couldn't explain with her parents near her. A pain stuck me in the side and I yelped. Cassie's hand rubbed at the spot, her voice shushing me. "Mom, he's going to be okay, isn't he? He only reacted to the scent, so he shouldn't be harmed massively by it, right?" I whuffled and tried to stand. Something heavy pushed me down, and I reacted. I snarled and snapped, clawing at the floor in order to rise.

"Mason, STOP!" I growled and snarled, but slowly settled. One thought kept running through my head. I had to listen to Cassie, I had to obey Cassie, I needed to do whatever she said. I don't know if it was my fogged mind reverting to the one thing I had resolved myself to do, or if I actually remembered that I needed to obey Cassie in order to survive in this environment. I slowly settled back onto the floor, rolling over onto my side as Cassie's hand stayed in my fur.

"Well.. I'm glad at least you can control him. I've never seen anything of the like. Not even police dogs react like that to their handlers. Cassie, where on earth did you find him?"

"Uhh.. In the forest. He was caught in a trap and whining in pain. I set him free, and the hunter that set the trap turned up. He went to hit me, and Mason jumped him. He knocked him out when his head hit a tree root, and came back to me. Ever since I've cared for him, and he's cared for me. I was finally going to take him to school today, but if this happens again, I'll need to take him to the vets. He's never reacted like this before." Cassie shook her head, and her mother laid a comforting hand upon her shoulder.

"Not to worry honey. Alergies to perfumes are common. Sometimes it's as simple as a single rare ingredient, or the specific chemical make-up of that perfume. Just be careful with him. He's a nice enough dog, and apparently very loyal. I'm glad you found him. I'll get breakfast ready, I'll give him some bacon and eggs as well." Cassie's mother moved into the kitchen. My breathing slowed back to normal, and I immediately perked up at the scent of bacon.

Cassie's dad laughed. "I see your cooking has more healing powers than usual today, Mason's perked right up." Cassie looked worriedly at me as her father started to move into the kitchen.

"Are you okay Mason?" I nodded.

I'm fine Cassie, thanks to you and your parents. I swear I didn't know I was allergic to that perfume, otherwise I would have told you. There was just something in it that hit my brain, and I just shut down. I'm sorry for causing a fuss.

Cassie hugged me to her. "No no, no trouble at all. You couldn't have known you'd react like that if you didn't know you had an allergy, no one's going to hold it against you Mason. You eat, and I'll go see to the animals." I got up and followed her as she went out the door. She turned on me and pointed. "Mason, go eat." I shook my head. "Why not?"

My job is to look after you. If I don't do my job, what will Jake say? What will he say about my possibly joining your group if I can't follow you and protect you from whatever or whoever if I'm not with you?

Cassie sighed. "Fine, just don't chase any of the animals, and stay quiet." I nodded, eagerly following her. Cassie opened he barn door, and dropped an empty syringe into a bin marked Bio Hazard. She set about feeding the animals in their cages, and grabbing some gause from a cabinet in order to change the dressing of a female fox's front leg.

Cassie?

"Yes Mason?" Cassie didn't even look up from her work.

Would you mind if I took some DNA samples while I was here? I only have a wolf, cat, and a few dogs in me. If I'm to be with you, I need to gain a lot more forms.

Cassie nodded, and the first thing I did was walk over to her. The vixen eyed me warily as I approached, and Cassie had to hold her tight. I licked the vixen once, tasting her fur and adding her DNA to mine. I moved away and looked at all of the other creatures within the barn. "That's it?" I nodded, looking at a male badger. He swiped at me, his big claws catching in the wires of his cage, and I moved quickly. I brushed myself against his claws and sampled his DNA before he removed them. I looked around at the birds nearby, and waited for Cassie to finish.

Cassie? Can I ask you to grab a few animals for me?

Cassie nodded. "You going to take their DNA so you can morph into them?" I nodded. "Okay, which one do you want first?"

That swan you have there, then the .. kestrel, the hawk, the carpet python, and I smell a skunk, do you have one?

Cassie got the swan first. "No, we don't have a skunk here. I know where a skunk mother and her kits live, we had to morph her temporarily to look after her kits when she got injured. You can still smell her scent?" I nodded and touched the swan. I took her DNA, and waited for Cassie to grab the Kestrel. I took her DNA, and the Hawk's. I quickly touched the Python, and Cassie set it back in it's case. "Was that all?" I nodded.

Thankyou cassie. If you could take me to see that skunk sometime, I would be most appreciative.

"Sure Mason. Now, I need to water the horses." I followed her to the other side of the barn, where she went through a door into a new section of the barn. A number of horses were corraled there. I nosed a stallion and a mare, taking their DNA. Cassie emptied, washed, then refilled the trough for the horses, then set the horses free. "Okay, now it's back inside, breakfast, and a shower. Dressed, and off to school. Let's go Mason."

I followed Cassie, tail wagging, as we went back inside. A plate was on the floor, bacon, sausages, and an egg waiting for me. I sat at the plate, and waited. Cassie sat at the table and ate, making small talk with her mother. I sat and waited, and waited, and waited. I sighed, and the two looked at me. "Oh my goodness, he hasn't touched it, what's wrong with him?" I looked at Cassie.

I wasn't told I was allowed to eat. It was just on the floor. Imagine if the food was poisoned and a normal dog without training ate the food immediately.

Cassie nodded in response to what I said. "Mason, you can eat." Immediately I dug into the cooling food. I chomped through the sausages and bacon, my tastebuds singing at the textures and flavours. Her mother deffinately knew how to cook. I sat back from the plate, leaving the egg alone. "Mason, you're not going to eat the egg? I shook my head. Cassie's mother gasped. "Why not?"

I like neither the flavour, nor texure of eggs. When I was younger I could eat them, but not anymore. The second I taste them I need to regurgitate. Best not to touch them at all, than do so and risk vomiting.

"Apparently he doesn't like eggs." Cassie's mother looked at her in surprise.

"Well. At least he's polite. Waited untill you said okay before he even touched his food. Maybe someone's lost him? I'll put up some flyers around town."

"Mooom." Cassie rolled her eyes. "Nobody's lost him. He's a stray dog I found in the woods and trained. He's extremely smart, and acts kinda like a human. I'm taking him to school today as a kind of show and tell, and then he's back here. He's going to be helping out alot around here, and on trips to town. Think of him as a personal body guard. You'll be able to walk around freely without those kids hassling you when you go shopping on weekends." Cassie's mother looked her over.

"I don't know.. They haven't bothered me in awhile. Maybe their parents talked to them?" Cassie shook her head.

"I'm going to have a shower." I immediately got up, picked up my plate, and brought it to her mother. She looked at me in surprise and took it from me with a smile. She rubbed between my ears and I turned to follow Cassie.

"Oh no you don't mister." I turned around to see her holding my tail in a firm grip, and I growled low. "Uh uh, you leave her alone. Shower time means alone time."

"Mason, C'mon!" Cassie's mother looked at me, then shook her head.

"That fool daughter of mine.." She released her hold on me, and I raced up the stairs. I raced to the ed of the hall where Cassie had left the door open. I entered the bathroom and shut the door. Cassie stuck her head out of the shower, and gestured me inside.

"C'mon Mason, you probably need one too." I shook my head at he, and entered the warm spray of the shower.

Ohh sweet mother of darkness this feels good...

It did. I was never allowed to have sweet hot showers like this one, my aunt and uncle having set the hot water to barely above tepid. It dripped out of the shower head, and we had to use it full boar in order to get a decent spray out of it. Cassie dropped beside my unnoticed, and gripped me tight. Two hands soaped and lathered my fur with shampoo, covering me untill I was a giant white foam dog. Cassie stood and aimd the shower head at me, and the water ran grey and brown with dirt and sweat. I shook myself, getting water and foam everywhere. Cassie laughed and added conditioner to her own hair. I shook myself as best I could, then raced out of the shower, and into the bathtub. I stood, allowing the water to drip from my soaked form. I stood and shivered, waiting for Cassie to finish and get out. She did, and I saw a sight I'd never before seen.

Water dripped from her dark, naked skin. Her short hair was fuzzy and glistening with water. She grabbed a towel and immediately started removing water from her body. She lifted her leg, and I saw a brief flash of pink before I turned my gaze, growling. "Oh Jesus, Mason!" Cassie flurried the towel about her body, catching what water she could, then came to me. She wrapped me up in the towel and got as much water as she could from my body. I licked her nose and she smiled at me. "Sorry for the wait Mason. Let's go to my room. I'll get dressed, and maybe you can help me finish my maths homework." I think she meant it as a joke., but all the same.

I'm rather good at maths, mind if I have a look? I haven't seen algebra equasions in months.

Cassie boggled at me. "C'mon, I'm stuck on a question about weight ratios." She dashed out of the bathroom, racing to her bedroom. I followed with a towel wrapped around me, shaking my head in wonderment. Cassie was flipping through a book as I walked in, and set it down in front of me. She got out a pen and a book, flipping it open to a certain page. "Okay, you tell me the answers, and I'll write them while I'm getting dressed." I nodded at her, and looked at the page. There was a small notation beside question seven in pencil.

If a water container holds seventeen litres of water, how many cubic litres of water does it contain?

"Uh huh." I sighed.

Cassie, it's exactly the same.

I moved onto the next question as Cassie moved to the desk and wrote seventeen.

In one year, a water level indicating device levels rainfall to be just over two hundred millimetres. If the next year's rainfall is exactly the same, how many years will it take for a forty thousand litre miniature dam to fill?

A diagram representing the the scale size of both the dam and the water level indicator were written. I looked at the height measurement for the dam, and saw it was two metres.

The answer is ten years, or nine years if you include the previous year. The reason why is because, regardless of shape and size, if water falls on a certain area enough to give it twenty centimetres of water, it's going to give something of a larger size, the exact same amount in proportion to it's depth.

Cassie blinked at me. I shook my head.

Sorry, thnking too hard. It's an easy thing to figure out if you just ignore the size of the dam and stop thinking of the question as impossible. You may want to make a notation that if the weather was dry or wet, it would have two completely different effects on the amount of time needed to fill the dam.

"Wow.." I moved onto the next question.

If a3 squared is equal to b5, what does a equal if b is 45?

It took me about three seconds.

The answer is five. Five by three is fifteen, squared is two two five, forty-five by five is two two five again. A equals five.

"Thats it, done. I was only stuck on those questions. Thanks Mason!" Cassie hugged me tight, her overalls pulling her leggings higher and showing mismatched socks.

What on earth are you wearing?

Cassie blinked, looking at her clothes. "They're what I wear for school. Why?" I shook my head.

Strip.

Cassie blinked in shock. "What?" I looked her in the eyes.

Cassie, I am not going to let you go to school dressed like that. You are going to strip, and then you are going to wear something that actually looks good on you. Spread the wardrobe doors wide.

She stripped, looking at me funny and blushing, then spread the doors. I sat, and shook my head. I morphed to my werewolf form, and colour suffused my vision. I blinked at the sudden surge of something I hadn't realised I was missing, and looked at her small collection again. I moved through her clothes, immediately dismissing things as I saw them.

"I'm kinda cold Mason.." I acted without thinking, grabbing Cassie and pulling her against my furred body. She eeped, then went very quiet. I ignored her, searching through her collection. "Fifteen minutes Mason, then I need to go." I pulled out a nice light blue shirt, lemon yellow dress, underwear, and socks. I turned, and went searching through a side drawer. I blinked, and immediately snatched up a vinyl belt.

Get dressed with what's set out, then let me put the belt on you just right.

Cassie moved out from under me, and got dressed. The shirt I put her in showed off her brilliant eyes and dark skin, and the lemon yellow dress added an air of innocence. She put on the underwear, as yellow as the dress, and put on the socks. I pointed to a set of shoes, not gumboots, and insisted upon them. I laced the belt around her waist, and set it off balance. The vinyl added to the innocent picture by gving it an air of tainted purity.

Excellent.

Cassie looked herself over as I turned back into a great dane. She twirled slightly, then went to take off the clothes. I growled.

No. A gorgeous young girl like you needs to flaunt her charms. I'll not have you going to school with all manner of filth upon you.

Cassie turned a worried face to me. "You're almost exactly like Rachel.." I blinked.

The extremely brave and suicidal female?

Cassie nodded.

Well at least someone in your group knows how to dress propperly. I would have added a clip to your hair, but it's much too short for that, and would spoil the look.

Cassie sighed, put her books away, and headed for the door. She looked at the mirror, smiled, then opened the door. Her father stood tere, his hand raised to knock. "Oh... you're ready. Well, the truck;s ready when you are. No jeans today?" Cassie gave me a dirtylook.

"Mason seems to think I look bad in what I normally wear." Cassie's dad chuckled at what he thought was her playing around.

"You look beautiful honey." We walked out of the house, Cassie fussing with her dress when we got into the truck. I sat in the back, and we left the house quickly with minutes to spare. I looked out at the town I knew, yet didn't. Scents availed my nostrils, informing me about everything that was happening around me. Bakeries opened, tanning and nail salons smelled of chemicals. W epassed by a pool hall and all I could smell was chlorine. We only made a short detour into town, and then we were sliding around the edge towards the school. We got out the second he stopped.

"Take care honey, you want me to pick you up as well, or are you going to take the bus like normal?" Cassie looked at me.

The bus sounds fine. You know I'm not going to make a mess. Speaking of messes..

I dashed off into the bushes and took care of business. I kept it as clean as I could and tidied up before going back to Cassie. I looked around, and spotted her being hassled. There were only two girls, but Cassie's body language and their body language was completely different, yet perfectly in sync. Cassie was showing fear, and they were showing rage and agression.

"...nigger like you thinking they can wear propper clothes." I blinked, shocked. What?!? Cassie turned to me, her eyes speaking volumes. I got up close behind the females, and snarled viciously, barking and snapping at their heels. The girls screamed, running, and I chased them. I made them run for five minutes before returning to Cassie. Cassie was with her friends, the group from earlier. Jake, Marco, and Rachel were there. Tobias and Ax, were not. Rachel looked directly me, and she was smiling.

"I hear tell you're the one that forced Cassie into this glorious little ensamble. You've got my vote." I blinked.

What?

Marco rolled his eyes and Cassie and Jake were busy not looking at each other. "Rachel has excellent fashion sense, and you forced Cassie into something she would have picked for her. You made her come to school wearing something decent instead of the raccoon poop covered overalls she normally wears." I shook my head.

She was wearing them, and I told her, in no uncertain terms, that she was not setting one foot outside of her house while wearing them. They were completely unflattering to her physique, and they smelled.

Rachel smiled and leaned down. She rubbed my ears and head. "I'll say this for you, you have excellent fashion sense. And the belt, I never would have thought of it. She looks completely innocent in that outfit, but then you see the belt." Rachel laughed, and it was a distinctly musical voice. "She's innocent, yet not. I'd forgotten I'd given that belt to her." Rachel's smile brightened up the already bright sunshine. Marco rolled his eyes again.

"Great, Xena has a crush on the mutating mutt, now she'll never see me as her perfect boyfriend." Rachel's eyes darkened, but I spoke before she could.

There is no possible way a mere shrimp of a mortal boy could satisfy the great and glorious goddess that is Xena.

Conversation stopped. "Oh, he has deffinately got my vote." Rachel chuckled.

Jake eyed everyone around as the bell rang. "Okay guys, cafeteria at lunch time?" Everyone nodded. Marco spared a glance at me, his dark eyes laughing. Apparently he was the trickster of the group, the one that kept everyone from going insane. This would deffinately be interesting.

Chapter 7

School Part two

We encountered a problem the moment I entered the school itself. The students around us immediately started pointing, gossiping, and chattering about my presence. I started having doubts about my ability to be present at school without arousing suspicion.

"Cassie _______!" Cassie and I turned to face the male, and I instantly recognised the smell surrounding him. Yeerk! I backed up and snarled, causing Chapman to stop in his tracks. I saw rage and fear cross his eyes as he looked at me, then Cassie knelt down and hugged me to her. I quietened in her grip, but watched the principle as he watched me.

"No Mason, no. Be a good boy and calm down. Leave Mr Chapman alone." I shifted my eyes to her, and saw a small tightness around her own dark brown orbs. Her eyes flickered with fear, and I understood. Thi yeerk, he was someone she knew, maybe not personally, but from the battlefield. I returned my gaze to Chapman's, looking at himtrying to stare me down.

"What is that beast doing inside of these premesis Cassie _______? You know school policy, no pets on the propperty!" Cassie ducked her head and whispered into my ear.

"what should i do mason?" Her fingers tightened in my ruff, and I could feel the slight tremble in her hands. I pulled gently at my energies and closed my eyes. I thought about my werewolf form, thought about the shape of the nose and eyes, and pushed genty at the image with my shifting energy. My eyes and nose itched. I sneezed, and colour infused my closed eyes. A grey miasma of fear was seeping from Cassie. Sorrow, rage, jealousy, contempt, and helplessness oozed from Chapman. The sickly taint coloured most of the negative emotions, except for sorrow and helplessness, those were untainted, and I assumed they came from the human, chapman, himself.

Tell him I'm your guard dog. Tell him that I'm here to prevent you being bullied at school since the teachers seem to think it's okay.

Cassie repeated what I said, but hesitated at the last part. I nuzzled underneath her chin and licked softly at her exposed neck. Cassie swallowed, and continued. I whuffed at her, keeping an ear to the silent school kids around us and Chapman's heart beats. Chapman took a deep breath, then sighed. I sniffed the air and stared at the new fog that was seeping from him. It was dark green, speckled by hints of gold, and it left me feeling unclean.

"Cassie, you know the Sharing is here to help. If you have problems I'm sure they would be more than happy to help. I'm sure Melissa would enjoy having an old friend join her." Chapman smiled, and that dark green, gold speckled fog increased, enshrouding him and blanketing all the other scents coming from him. Cassie's hand dug into my fur, and I understood her need.

Jake, I apologise for this.

Jake startled abruptly, and I moved my head underneath Cassie's dress. I wagged my tail, and licked. The reactions were immediate. Students shouted, Chapman lunged, and Jake offered a swift kick to my side. I yelped and fell to my side. Jake stood over me, rage fogging his body. Cassie was beside him, her hands pushing at him. Rachel and Marco were staring in shock, and Chapman was moving to crowd control. Everybody was in such a state that I was left pretty much alone. The bells for start of class rang, and students started to disperse slowly.

Cassie, what's you first class?

I dodged around a pair of Yeerk infested students who were staring at me with cold, hungry eyes, and sat next to Cassie and Jake. Jake tried to take a swing at me, and Cassie stood infront of me, her expression cold and chilling. "biology." She glared harshly at Jake and I nodded to the both of them.

I do apologise Jake, but because of what I did, Chapman holds no interest in me, and the students think Cassie has a new pet. This was the best way to defuse the situation without bloodshed.

Jake glared at me, his body exuding a thick red cloud that flickered and flashed with darker strikes of rage. "Don't you ever do something like that again, or I swear I will kill you." I nodded at him, and turned. I walked down to biology while Cassie took a moment to have a very heated discussion with the group. Marco and Rachel cast dark looks at me before I turned the corner. I padded down the hallway, late students taking a moment to try and get my attention and pat me. I sniffed the hands offered to me, but made certain to register the smells of those who avoided me, or cast me dark looks. Some of them were just humans who had something against dogs, but the others were infested. I passed twenty just on the way to biology, not including chapman and the others in the front of school area. I stood up on my hind legs and knocked at the door as best as I could.

"Come in already." Mr Jelse, our biology teacher. I moved back to all fours, and waited. "Well? Come in already!" I still waited. I heard a chair being shoved backwards angrily, scraping against the tiled floor. Mr Jelse's heavy footsteps angrily pounded towards the door. He yanked it inwards with a sharp jerk, then glared, looking left and right to see if he could find any students. I slipped between his legs and the door frame, grinning at the students at their desks. They grinned and smiled back at me, except for a small group at the back of the class. Seven Yeerks in a class of twenty-six? I sniffed the air, and made my way to Cassie's desk. It was over by the window over looking the sports field, I laid down between it and the window, and faced the front of the class.

"Ah Cassie, you've finally come." I looked between the desks at the door, and saw Cassie's boots.

"I'm sorry Mr Jelse, principal Chapman kept me back from class." Students twittered and giggled, giving me glances. At least some of them knew the reason why. I heard Mr Jelse sigh.

"Cassie, be that as it may, you still need to be in class on time. Do I need to send you to detention to think over the importance of your education?" What?

"No Mr Jelse, it wont happen again Mr Jelse."

"Mmm, see that it doesn't." I bared my teeth in irritation. It wasn't her fault she was late!

"Yes sir." Cassie.... I watched her walk slowly towards her desk, then pause as she saw me. I nodded subtly to her, and she quickly moved to her desk.

"Mason!" She hissed heatedly at me.

Cassie, I'm here to observe. Treat me as a normal dog that would obey your every thought as though it were his own. The group of seven behind and to your right are all infested with Yeerks.

Cassie froze, her expression turning fearful. I glared at her mentally, turning to face the front.

They're not aware of what you and the others are, they just happen to be here. I passed around twenty on my way here as well, and those seven were already in the room. Cassie, I'm not sure you truly understand the absoloute magnitude of the danger you're in. This school is tainted, there are probably hundreds of infested students and teachers here, and if there's that many in one place, there's more than likely several thousands outside.

Cassie laid a trembling hand into the fur at the base of my neck. "Thankyou Mason, I needed to know." I whuffed gently at her, and settled down to wait, keeping an ear open as Mr Jelse started to talk about the mamalian reproductive system, with it's pros and cons versus the reptillian reproductive system.

Chapter 8

The First Meeting.

The lunch bell rang, and Cassie packed up her books. She said a quick goodbye to her english teacher and we walked towards the cafeteria. I sighed, lost in thought. I wondered how my cousins were. They'd probably be in their fifth classes by now, Sarah would be in japanese, and Kyle would be in advanced mathematics, the only child ever to be in such a highly advanced class.

"Mason?" I looked up at Cassie, then to Jake, Rachel, and Marco. All of them had angry looks on their faces. I shook my head.

Once more, I apologise, but if I hadn't acted like an overly excited dog, I wouldn't be here, and you wouldn't know how deep you are in the shit pile.

Jake opened his mouth to offer a harsh retort, but Cassie glared. "In every single one of my classes, there were seven to twelve Yeerks." Everyone stopped and looked at eachother. Gazes and thoughts passed in seconds, messages being sent faster than telepathy could provide. I marveled at their close knit group, to be able to talk without words, argue, compromise, and agree in seconds without offering a sound. Their anger ebbed and their scents changed to controlled fear and determination. Jake held his head in his hands and sighed.

"The more we know, the better. Mason, I'm sorry for kicking you." I nodded at him

I'm sorry for doing something unspeakable in order to shift everyone's thoughts away from inquiry. It had to be done, and I was a little bit rushed.

Cassie's hand scratched gently at my head, flicking behind my ears and touching those tender spots. "So what're we gonna do now? Super mutt sniffed them out, but we still don't know how many of them there are in the school." I looked up at Marco, his dark eyes flashing with calculated cunning.

"We should try for the pool again. The more hostages we free, the less they have for infection." Rachel's eyes flashed with anger. Jake shook his head.

"No, the first and last time we tried a direct assault, we lost Tobias and almost lost everyone in the group. We can't attack head on without reason. What about you Marco? Have Tobias and Ax found any entrances that we didn't know about?" Marco shook his head.

"No, we both know about the Jenny's accross the street from the motor enthusiast's store, so that's out. Ax said he and Tobias might have found a new human that was infested recently. She changed her habits all of a sudden, and started hanging out with Sharing members." The group nodded, and I frowned. The logic behind it, using a group in order to infect new hosts, I couldn't grasp it. I mean, I understood from an infiltrator's standpoint, but wouldn't it have been better to build the pool underneath everything, then send shafts to select buildings thoughout the city, and infect everyone in each building, one at a time? That way you'd have the entire building, families if you spread that far, the heads of other companies who might be friends with people from that building. Geeze, just the thought sent shivers up my spine.

"Mason, I'm not entirely sure about you yet, but I'm almost positive you're not a Yeerk, or related to them. If you can be of use to us, we would gladly welcome you to the animorphs." I raised my head to look at Jake, and nodded to him.

I'll try to help you as best as I can