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Loyal Dogs

Second Nature

By Evan Drake

©2019-2022, Evan Drake, All Rights Reserved

"Auriel, look alive! It's coming back!"

Auriel spun on her heel and changed direction, hurrying down the hall to cut off their quarry. The pounding of footsteps other than her own filled the desolate hall. She tightened her grip on the arcblade and took a deep breath to steel her nerves.

The world slowed as the Afflicted came into view. Whoever the fox had been before their radical transformation could no longer be determined. It didn't even resemble a canid anymore. Elongated limbs protruded from tattered clothes. Sunken eyes, red and devoid of emotion, slowly turned to her as a crooked muzzle opened wide, revealing rows of large fangs. The teeth were too long and poked holes in its flapping lips. The holes oozed with viscous blood. Its true fur color had been lost and replaced with a washed-out grey bordering on white.

Auriel took a stance and raised her weapon. The blade crackled with aetheric energy, and the area filled with a bright blue light.

The world returned to its normal speed.

The Afflicted skidded to a halt and turned to slash her with its extended claws but was too slow. Auriel took advantage of the opening and charged in, bringing the arcblade upward and slicing cleanly through its flesh from waist to collarbone.

The creature made no sound as it tried to adjust for the change in distance. Its longer limbs and extended nails were working against it now that she had gotten past its defenses. But she knew better than to linger. Afflicted didn't feel pain which made close-quarters dangerous, advantage or not. She parried a strike aimed at her back and then slashed the offending paw, cleaving it in two. She then leaped away, putting distance between them once more.

The Afflicted howled. It seemed a foreign gesture to her because they felt nothing and cared about nothing, not even their own lives. Perhaps it was frustration at its prey not falling easily to its swiping claws. It charged her and took another swipe with its wounded paw. She ducked under the blow, feeling its blood splash onto her back. With another parry and counter-strike, she backed away again. All she needed to do was keep its attention until Charon arrived.

The creature continued its assault. Its wounds had seemingly no effect on it as it continued to move with surprising speed and ferocity. Their steps squelched on the blood-covered floor. The dingy walls became marked with claw and blade strikes and dark ichor.

Where is that damn hound? Auriel thought as she parried yet another blow. Charon wasn't known for his punctuality, but he also didn't skimp on a mission. There wasn't much time to speculate on what happened to her partner as the Afflicted wasn't giving her a chance. The hall around them had been stained crimson yet it still stood. The bloody gashes covering its lanky body only made it look more grotesque and horrifying. A war of attrition wouldn't work here. The blood loss wasn't affecting it while she was getting tired. Partner or no, she had to end this fight, now.

The creature gave another guttural howl and then charged. Instead of attempting to dodge or defend, Auriel rushed in. Against any other foe, she wouldn't have dared, but this thing was more feral than a wild beast. It attacked without logic or concern for its life. So it didn't attempt to defend itself when she breached its guard. It didn't try to dodge the blade that slashed the tendons in its legs.

Once her opponent was face-down on the floor, she spun and leaped onto his back. Then she plunged the arcblade through its shoulder and into the floor. She used her foot to pin the other arm.

This wouldn't hold it for long, but she didn't need it to. She seized the back of its head with her free paw and recited the incantation.

"Creature of chaos, twisted and corrupted by darkness. Walk into the light. Leave the coldness of death and embrace the warmth once more!"

A pale glow began to emanate from the creature's eyes, mouth, and ears. It twitched and spasmed beneath her, gouging the floor.

She tightened her grip and continued, focusing more aether into her paw. "Lost child, abandoned and alone, it is time to return home. Born of the void, now you must return. Give back the gift you have been given and find peace."

The hall was filled with dazzling light that poured from every cut and orifice on the creature's body. It shuddered violently. A warmth spread through Auriel's body and pain shot through her limbs.

She closed her eyes to block out the light and the pain and finished the prayer. "Loyal canid, betrayed and forgotten, Do not despair, for even when alone, we are one. You will always be remembered and loved and continue in the memories of those who mourn you. Now be at rest and may you find peace in the void."

The light grew so intense it hurt even with her eyes closed. In an instant, it vanished and her vision plunged into darkness. She took a deep breath and then slowly she opened her eyes.

The Afflicted lay dead beneath her. The insides of eyes and ears had been burned out yet it still looked to be at peace. Perhaps it was. Perhaps not. She liked to think so and that was all that mattered. Just like her prayer before cleansing its body had no true effect but to ease her conscious and acknowledge that the creature before her once used to be someone. No matter how twisted or disgusting they became, they were victims forced into monstrous forms.

She pulled her blade from the creature and cleaned it, but she did not sheath it. If Charon had not arrived yet, the only reason she could think of was her partner had run into another Afflicted.

Before she left, she noticed something around the creature's neck. It was a locket. She took the trinket to examine later. Finder her partner took priority.

She started down the hall from whence the creature came. There were no sounds of battle which worried her. Charon was no slouch in combat. If he had fallen already, this creature must be incredibly dangerous.

Her mind ran with scenarios and options on how to handle it. Should she leave? Call for help? But without confirming what they were dealing with, any backup could potentially walk into an ambush and the level of Afflicted they were dealing with required varying levels of response. But if she ran into this creature, there was no guarantee she would get a chance to retreat or send a distress call.

She eventually pushed the thoughts from her mind and continued on. Her mind was made up. Leaving now meant abandoning her partner to the mercy of whatever was in here and his fate was undetermined. Until she learned of his death, she would believe he was alive and in need of assistance.

Upon rounding a corner she found Charon leaning against a nearby wall. A bloody bandage had been tied around his left leg that shone red even in the dim light. The hound looked up at her with a pained expression on his brown-furred face.

"Oh, there you are," Charon said. "Sorry. When I tried to round the corner, damn thing got the drop on me."

Auriel sighed in relief and sheathed her weapon. "I'm surprised it didn't finish you off."

"Yeah, me, too." He threw an arm over her shoulder and leaned against her for support. "Guess it has a thing for females," he added with a chuckle.

Auriel said nothing, the irony of the humor hit too close to home to find it amusing. She was a female, and everyone identified her as such. But that wasn't always the case. Could Afflicted even tell the difference? Did they even care? Now that she thought about it, she couldn't identify the gender of the Afflicted, she just fought.

A shudder went through her at that realization. Every trace of their identity had been taken, both mind and body. It was something she understood all too well.

"Hey, you all right?" Charon asked.

Auriel snapped out of her thoughts. "I'm fine. Forgive me. I'm just a bit tired."

"Yeah, sorry about that." He hissed as he had to put weight on the injured leg. "You had to fight that thing off on your own and now you gotta carry my fat ass."

"Better than carrying your tags."

****

The Citadel was the headquarters of the paladins and the place where they lived. But to Auriel, it didn't feel like a place of safety or comfort. The moment she stepped over the threshold, her tail flattened against her leg. She couldn't help it. Every time she was here, she feared being greeted by sneering faces. That someone had recognized her from her time as a male and outed her to the others. She didn't know what the consensus on shifters amongst her fellow paladins and she didn't dare try to find out. Shifters as they were called, were not looked upon in the most positive light, mostly because many used it as a way to change their identities and skirt the law. This left many, like her who felt like a stranger in her own body, painted under the same brush as criminals and shameful cowards. Most canids didn't bother to ask questions or differentiate. If someone felt the need to change their appearance, they were hiding something.

So her discovery would hurt her in more ways than one. The initiation ritual left paladins tainted. In truth, they were closer to Afflicted than other canids which made it hard for them to find employment elsewhere. Actually, she had never heard of anyone leaving the order and living a prosperous life.

That realization only made her fears worse. If she was discovered, she had nowhere to go.

Charon's voice called her back to reality. "Thanks for carrying me this far, but I can manage from here."

Auriel snorted and re-established her hold on Charon. "Not a chance. Until I see you in the infirmary, you'll be at my side." That and she didn't want to be alone. Charon didn't know the truth about her, but she trusted him more than anyone else to accept her for who she was. Around him was the only time she felt safe.

They limped through the hall towards the infirmary. None of the passing canids took notice of them, but the fear still remained.

She got Charon in front of one of their medics then sat down in the hall while he had his wound treated. Since she was alone, she had time to reflect on her thoughts and examine the locket she took off the Afflicted. The trinket was made of silver, egg-shaped, and contained no markings or decorations. Even such a simplistic design would have been incredibly expensive. Toying with it for several minutes revealed it opened up. But instead of a picture, it contained an inscription.

For my love and my beacon in the darkness. J.T.

Auriel sighed as she closed the locket and returned it to her pocket. She had hoped for a name or a picture, something that would give her more insight into the identity of the previous owner. Now she would have to try various jewelry shops and hope something came up. Because the metals used in jewelry were also used in magical charms, all jewelry sales had to be recorded. It was just a matter of finding the right one.

After a few more minutes of planning her next move, the medic left the examination room. "I patched him up and gave him something for the pain. He's passed out now, so he'll be staying here until he wakes up. I'll let you know if anything changes."

That worked perfectly for her. With her partner recovering, she had some free time to spend.

****

"Welcome!" the jeweler said with a wide grin. "And how may I help you today?"

Auriel took a quick look around the store. It was thankfully empty, ensuring privacy. Her gaze returned to the elder fox standing behind the counter and wearing a friendly grin. Such a look might have worked on his customers, but she could tell that his old canid's mannerisms were dependent on how deep her pockets were.

There was no doubt in her mind now that this was where the locket came from.

"I was hoping you might be able to identify this locket for me," she asked placing the locket on the counter.

"Oh, that is a pretty piece, isn't it? Are you looking to sell it?"

"No. I wish to return it to its proper owner."

The fox's ears fell slightly. "Is that all? Well, aren't you a charitable one? Just lemme check to see if I have any record of the sale." He pulled a worn leatherbound book from beneath the counter and began leafing through it. "There's an inscription on it, yeah?"

"There is."

"Ah, good. That'll make this go a lot faster. Oh! Here we are! Yep, I did sell a pair to the same fella just a last year. Yes, I remember this one. Some coyote came by, dressed up real clean. I know that because it was hot that day and I was shocked to see someone dressed up in this kind of weather and--"

"May I see those records?"

The fox pulled the book away. "Oh no. I'm not betraying my client's privacy! Gotta look out for my customers."

Without missing a beat, Aubrey pulled out a pouch full of calc and dropped it on the counter. "It's important that I return this locket to its rightful owner."

His eyes darted to the money then shot back to her before he leaned on the counter. "Are you trying to bribe me, miss? How dare you! This is a reputable establishment, I say! Or do you have rocks in your ears? Now if you'll excuse me, I have important orders to fulfill!" He made sure to take the pouch off the counter before storming off to the far end of the store.

It didn't escape her notice that he had conveniently forgotten to put the book away or even close it. She quickly spun it around and memorized the address of the buyer before leaving the store.

****

It didn't take long to find the apartment building. From the price of the amulet, Auriel expected something fancier, but this building didn't stand out at all. It was the kind of average place where average canids worked average jobs and lived average lives.

She chuckled softly to herself at the train of thought. She grew up impoverished and even now, she wouldn't call herself well off. Even that bribe took a big chunk out of her savings that she would feel for quite some time. But this was what passed for "average" in her mind.

Pushing the thoughts aside, she focused on her task. The amulet had been purchased by a Jen Tierling living in an apartment on the 5th floor. Getting to the fifth floor was easy, finding the right apartment was not. The building was much larger than its exterior let on, but she eventually managed to find the right place.

It didn't take long before a coyote answered the door. "Hello, can I help you?"

"Are you Jen Tierling?" she asked.

The coyote's ears fell. "I'm sorry, but Tauri isn't in right now. If you have an appointment, you'll have to come back later."

He attempted to shut the door, but Auriel quickly place her foot in its path. "I do not have an appointment. My name is Auriel Rhodes and I'm hoping you could recognize this." She held up the locket.

The coyote's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?" His ears and face fell. "No, don't tell me--"

"May I come in? I would rather not have this conversation in the hall."

Jen nodded and stepped aside, but the blank expression on his face revealed that he wasn't listening, just operating on autopilot. When Auriel stepped inside a strange tingling feeling washed over her, making her shudder. She hoped Jen didn't notice but his mind was elsewhere.

He sat on the sofa and stared into space. Auriel gave him a few moments to collect himself and process the information.

Eventually, Jen spoke. "H-How did she die?"

"She turned."

"Turned?"

"Into an Afflicted."

"What? No, no! She can't have! I just spoke to her a few days ago!"

A few days? The Afflicted I killed was a stage 3. It is not possible she progressed in a few days. Not unless something accelerated the process.

She fought to keep her voice and expression calm. If he lost his cool, her lead went with it. "Perhaps we should start at the beginning. Are you certain you spoke to her?"

"Yes! I mean...it had to be her. I know her voice anywhere."

"But you didn't see her? Don't you live together? I thought she was your--"

"Wait, what? Oh! Uh, she was away on a...trip. She had told me she was on her way back."

Auriel leaned forward. "Listen to me. Lying to me does not benefit you in any way."

"But I'm not--"

"Stop," she interjected firmly. "If your story is true that means she came into contact with something that drastically accelerated her transformation. It would be imperative that we find it and seal it away as soon as possible. Look at me." She waited until he made eye contact again before continuing. "Do you understand what that means? But if you come clean now, everything gets put to rest and you may mourn in peace."

Jen slowly nodded. "Okay. The truth is Tauri and I were never a couple. We only live together because we can't afford to live on our own."

"I don't understand. Why fake your relationship?"

There was a brief flash of regret in Jen's eyes. "I guess there's no avoiding it now. Tauri is--was running a con. For some reason, canids thought she was a seer. She read fortunes for money and made predictions and such."

"I take it Tauri was a registered weaver."

Jen nodded. "Yeah. Canids took one look at that collar around her neck and just assumed she had mythical powers and could see the future. Fucking morons."

"You sound very upset about that."

"My friend had to live a lie just so she could live in peace!" Jen cried, his fur bristling. "You know how weavers get treated. If you're collared, you're dangerous. We were getting threats and strange looks from all of our neighbors, but once everyone thought she could predict the weather, suddenly they want to be friends."

"I'm very sorry to hear that," Auriel said sincerely. She wasn't a weaver herself. She had only unlocked an innate magical talent after joining the paladins. But the prejudice and fear surrounding magic users were well-known and according to many, justified. Weavers were sensitive to aether and thus more susceptible to corruption and becoming Afflicted. Worse, magic use left behind residual aether which also leads to corruption of those exposed to it. In that sense, she understood. A simple spell cast by teenagers playing around could have disastrous consequences, but most canids behaved as if just being near a weaver could make them turn or that they turned at random.

"Yeah, well, Tauri wasn't a threat to anyone," Jen said. "I lived with her and I never turned."

"One thing I don't understand however is why you lied about being in a relationship?"

Jen shrugged. "Another part of the story. Someone assumed we were a couple and it just went from there. It got her more attention and more clients so we just ran with it." He reached into his shirt and pulled out a locket identical to the other one. "I bought these for her birthday. It was her idea. 'To keep up the illusion', she said," he added with a bitter smile. "It was stupid and cheesy, but everyone ate it up at what a cute couple we made."

Sounds like she got wrapped up in the attention. Auriel thought. From being ostracised to liked, she became wrapped up in a fake life. And the higher she climbed the more terrified she was of failure, so she was likely desperate to do anything to keep the lie going.

"It sounds like it wasn't an illusion for you," Auriel said.

"Okay, so maybe I developed a thing for her. But as far as she was concerned, we were a fake couple."

"I see. So when was the last time you spoke with her?"

Jen started playing with his paws again, ears flattening against his head. "I...well...Tauri started experimenting with magic stuff. I think she got tired of lying and wanted to actually see into the future."

"That magic doesn't exist. And magical experimentation is a very serious crime." _ It also explains how she turned so quickly. There's no telling what she did to herself._

"I know that! She knew that! But she kept saying she...she didn't want to be a fraud anymore. Then I threw it up in her face that she didn't include her relationship with me in that equation and things got awkward after that. She started staying out more and more until she just didn't come home. I thought...I thought she just needed some space. I should've pushed her, made her stop. If I had, she would be..." He broke down, loud sobs breaking the awkward silence in the air.

Auriel shifted closer and gently touched his shoulder. "I'm very sorry, but I have to know: do you know where she held her experiments? It's important that I inspect the area and determine if it's dangerous."

Jen stopped crying and wiped his eyes. "No. I never asked, but Ferrin would. He was getting her supplied illegally and I'm pretty sure they were sleeping around, too. He lives in the apartment directly under us."

"Thank you and I'm sorry for your loss."

"By the way, can you take this with you?" He held out the locket. "I don't want it. It just reminds me of everything I did wrong."

Auriel didn't want the locket, but she took it anyway and left the coyote to his grief.

Finding the apartment just one floor below took more time than expected. The size of the apartments clearly wasn't uniform, making it hard to predict which one she was looking for.

It took several minutes of banging on the door before a grungy red-furred wolf answered. Judging from the state of his eyes, she caught him sleeping off a hangover.

"Are you Ferrin?" she asked.

"I already told them, I would pay them Thursday. Come back later."

She quickly placed her boot in the doorway. Canids trying to slam the door in her face had already gotten old. "I'm not here to collect on a debt."

The wolf gave a once-over. "I don't know what someone told you, but the brat ain't mine. I got snipped years ago."

"I'm not here for that either," Auriel said, her patience thinning as her dislike towards him grew. "I'm here about Tauri."

The wolf's disinterested expression turned cold. "I don't know who that is."

"I think you do. I think you acquired illegal goods for her to perform unsanctioned magical experimentation."

"Well, I couldn't give a left nut what you think, lady. Unless you got proof, you can take your accusations and--urk!"

Auriel reached the limits of her patience and shoved the door. It didn't go far, but it struck Ferrin in the nose, causing him to step away. She forced her way inside and shut the door, ensuring at least a few moments of privacy. To discourage any retaliation, she drew her blade and pointed it at him. A strange feeling washed over her. She shuddered and focused her mind back on the situation at hand. It wouldn't do to get wrapped up in her emotions.

"I am not with Cerberus," she said. "But you will answer my questions."

Ferrin snarled as he faced her, but the fury quickly drained upon seeing the arcblade inches from his face. "L-Look, whatever she said I did, it was consensual, okay? I didn't force her to do anything, okay?!"

"Did it ever occur to you to wait until after someone makes their accusation before you offer excuses? At this point, I feel I should stab solely on principle regardless of what you've actually done."

"Whoa, whoa! Chill, lady! Okay, you wanna talk? Let's talk. What do you wanna know?"

"Where did you deliver the contraband for Tauri's experiments?"

The wolf tilted his head. "That's it? Then why'd you come busting into my place?"

"Because you're an insufferable bastard who was more interested in saving his skin than paying attention!"

He flinched at the outburst, his eyes never leaving the weapon trained on him. "Like I said, I didn't force her to do anything."

"I don't believe I asked you that, but you seem determined to make it known."

"Because I know how this works. She's popular and known around here while I'm the asshole everyone goes to but never admits to meeting. If you're here asking about her, it's because something happened to her and you need someone to blame."

Auriel sheathed her weapon. "I'm not looking to blame anyone. She's dead--and before you start, I'm already aware you are not to blame."

The wolf's ears and expression fell. "Dead? She turned, didn't she? Fuck! I knew I shouldn't have gone along with this shit!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Tauri was into some dangerous magic stuff. She was trying to enhance her power or something stupid. At first, she was paying me good, but after a while, the calc dried up and she wanted to pay me in other ways."

"You are a truly disgusting creature."

"Come on, it was her idea! Honestly, I thought she wouldn't go through with it, but once I saw she was serious, I couldn't back out!"

"Oh, yes. The blow to your pride and your image would have been devestating," Auriel spat.

"Okay, maybe I was also curious. I never been with a seer before, sue me."

"And in return for satiating your 'curiosity', someone is dead and who knows how many other lives are endangered. Now I grow tired of looking at you." She drew her blade again. "Where is her lab so I may go clean up this mess?"

****

Auriel's mood still hadn't improved. She still felt like she needed a shower after that meeting with Ferrin. Knowing that there were bottom-feeders like him who could exist freely while other canids had to hide parts of themselves for fear of persecution from others left a bad taste in her mouth.

Worse, it showed just how desperate Tauri was to keep up the ruse, how much she was willing to sacrifice to keep up the illusion and the life she had built up. If only she had stopped to see what she had left behind.

That locket felt very heavy in her pocket after that.

Finding Tauri's secret lab wasn't as hard as she feared. Ferrin had given very clear directions and it turned out to be in the same abandoned building they had found her in. That was one good thing at least; Tauri hadn't gone far from where she turned. The lab was well-hidden in the basement which was why they missed it the first time. The fox had clearly been worried about safeguards in the event something went wrong, but one look told Auriel it wouldn't have mattered. Multiple aether scrubbers had been installed and the walls were reinforced, but not enough for the size of the spent aether cores piled in the corner. One bad reaction would have leveled the entire building and likely everything else within a several-mile radius. Worse, most of the equipment was used, outdated, or both. The whole place was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

"It's a miracle she was the only victim," Auriel said to no one. She didn't relish having to call in a disposal team to ensure the remaining aether cores were properly disposed of.

I shouldn't be here, she thought. I should call this in, and have a team investigate. There's no telling how many other Afflicted are here.

But her curiosity wouldn't let her leave. It felt wrong to simply pass this off to someone else. Especially after seeing how others reacted to the news. Admittedly, it was also a little personal. She may be one of the few who completely understood the pressure Tauri was under.

Her decision became final when she peered into the joining room. The room was much smaller and emptier. A single chair and table had been bolted to the floor. The message "I am not a fraud" had been scribbled all over the walls which were covered in dents and scorch marks. It was likely this was the test room.

Auriel returned to the main lab. Sitting on one of the counters was a small box-like device she recognized as a visual recorder. The recorder was out of power but thankfully, she found a set of batteries to run it. Turning it on revealed an image of a young red-furred fox just like the one in the pictures at Tauri's place. The vixen looked very different from the tall gangly Afflicted she would later become, but already she was showing signs of turning. Her fur was faded and streaks of white were in her hair.

She was turning and she didn't even notice.

"I think I made some progress," Tauri said. "I managed to increase the energy output and last night's experiment showed a 62% success rate, but it's not good enough. 62% is unreliable and afterward, I spent most of the afternoon recovering. I think direct exposure to the waves is the way to go. Channeling it through a device is safer but it loses so much potency in the process and I can't produce enough on my own to make up the difference. But I'm worried about the side effects. I get bad headaches just using the device now." She paused long enough to move her hair away from her face. Her free paw gripped the locket around her neck. "I can't increase the output anymore. I could barely stabilize it as is. I'm so close. I know I can get it to work. I can feel it. Then we won't have to pretend anymore!"

"We?" Auriel asked, tilting her head. "Was there a partner I didn't know about? Or are you referring to the one who gave you that locket you refuse to let go of?"

The recorder changed scenes. It showed the same lab from a different angle. Tauri's condition had deteriorated immensely. Her hair had thinned and her fur looked even more washed out than before. Heavy bags sat under her sunken eyes. One paw tightly gripped the locket.

"I did it," she said, chuckling softly. "I was able to predict the exact number of bounces the ball would make before coming to a stop and where it would land! But I need to confirm it. I need to be sure it wasn't a fluke. It's just..." She tottered a bit before regaining her balance. "Sorry, what was I saying? Oh right! I need to rest for a minute. Direct exposure makes me so sleepy."

Auriel covered her mouth.

The image changed again. This time Tauri looked to be on death's door. What hair she still had was white. Her once red fur had become now grey. Her cheeks and eyes were sunken, making her face resemble a mask. A milky film covered her left eye. Once again, the locket was held in her fist.

"I just don't get it," Tauri said, her fur standing on end. "Today I didn't get a single prediction right. It doesn't make sense! I tried everything and went over my notes, again and again. I triple-checked all of my calculations. I should be seeing improvements!" She slammed both fists on the table putting two very deep dents on its surface. doesn't work. She ignored the application of strength and continued. "I bet it's those damn machines he got for me. That bastard Ferrin stiffed me! And after I had to--oh, he's going to pay. I'm going to make sure he pays."

That's odd. The Ferrin I met was alive and well.

A sudden thought crossed her mind but a new image on the recorder drew her back. It showed Tauri carefully placing books and papers over the recorder and checking her disguise. Right on cue, there came a knock at the door. Tauri smiled and disappeared from the frame.

There were voices, but Auriel couldn't make them out. Suddenly, Tauri and the wolf Ferrin appeared in the frame again. They pawed at each other, their faces locked together as they bumped into the counter. Ferrin swept the countertop, no doubt clearing the way for whatever lewd acts he had in mind. The recorder was knocked from its hiding place but thankfully swiveled so the pair remained in view. But as he reached for his pants, he paused and tilted his head. Auriel's stomach plummeted upon realizing he looked directly at the recorder.

"What the fuck--?" was all Ferrin managed.

The moment he took his eyes off Tauri, she drew what looked like a knife from her pocket and stabbed the wolf in the neck. Blood spilled between his fingers as he crumbled to the floor. Tauri leaped on him, the bloody knife bobbing into and out of view over and over. Auriel could only watch horrified.

The act itself was hard to watch but it meant the wolf she met wasn't truly Ferrin. She turned off the recorder and bolted from the lab. The one back at the apartment was Tauri, she assumed Ferrin's identity. With her abilities as a weaver, it wouldn't be hard to change her appearance temporarily with illusion spells. She recalled her visit to the apartment as she rushed up the stairs two at a time. How did she miss it?

She knew how. That strange tingling feeling she felt when she entered the apartment. At the time she was too focused on controlling her emotions and didn't realize it.

That also meant the Afflicted they killed wasn't Tauri at all. But it had the locket with her picture inside.

Auriel increased her pace as it dawned on her. The Afflicted was Jen, Tauri's friend. That same feeling she felt back at the apartment was another illusion spell. But was too focused on the grieving coyote in front of her to pay attention to it.

But the Afflicted we fought was a...had mutated. Of course! I couldn't even determine their gender let alone their species! I was too quick to leap to conclusions!

She burst through the door and made it outside, not even slowing down as she continued full-sprint towards the car.

****

Auriel was out of breath when she reached Tauri's apartment. Her legs hurt and her lungs burned. But she didn't hesitate to draw her arcblade and kick the door open.

This was a stupid idea. She was about to challenge either a deranged weaver or an Afflicted without backup. She had called it in on the way there, but they hadn't arrived yet and she wasn't going to wait any longer.

The feeling from before didn't occur this time. It wasn't a good sign. Had Tauri made her escape?

The answer became apparent upon seeing the white-furred vixen sitting in the middle of the living room.

Auriel raised her blade and slowly approached. "Tauri?"

The vixen's ear twitching was the only indication she heard.

"Tauri," Auriel repeated, louder. "It's over."

"I know it is. I saw it. I'm not leaving this room alive."

"If you knew that, why did you lie?"

"I wanted someone to know the truth before I died. For once, I wanted someone to see me, all of me."

"What about Jen? Didn't he see you?"

Tauri snorted. "Jen was the one happy living a lie. I only twisted the story for sympathy. He saw me as nothing more than free rent and an easy life. And Ferrin, he got what he deserved. We had a deal and he lied. Fucking bastard."

"Were there others?"

To her horror, the vixen nodded. "The room behind me, there's a ladder that leads into Ferrin's apartment. I used it to hide the bodies. Turns out hiding a body is pretty easy when you know the right spells."

"Then why give up now?" Auriel asked shakily. She still had trouble stomaching the truth.

"Because I finally met someone who gave a damn. You didn't try to use me like the others, you actually wanted to know me. And I can feel myself slipping. Sometimes I black out. I know what that means." She took a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes. "Are we done talking? Can we get this over with?"

"Yes, we can."

****

"After I confirmed the identity of the deceased, I immediately contacted the Citadel of the 14th ward to send a cleansing crew," Auriel finished. It was nothing more than a simple report of her recent events to a superior, but it felt personal.

She supposed that was normal. She understood to some degree how Tauri felt. The need to hide and live behind a mask to avoid misconceptions and becoming a target. So much anger and fear had been bottled up and when she began to turn, there was no holding it back anymore. Part of her feared she could have gone down that same road in a different life. It wouldn't be the first time one became corrupted trying to change themselves and if she truly had to, how far would she have gone to be who she is now? How much did she want to keep up the ruse? And how much did she hate those who forced her to wear the mask?

She liked to understand she knew where the line was. That she wouldn't lose herself. But maybe that was just her pride talking. It was easy to say what she would have done when she had all the time in the world to process it.

"Auriel, are you listening?" Markson asked.

Auriel snapped out of her thoughts and blinked at the older hound sitting behind his desk. Seeing the stern expression on his dark-furred face and straight posture made her feel like she was under the gaze of a strict parent. In a way she was. Markson took protocol and safety very seriously. "I...sorry. I was distracted," she said.

The hound's features softened. "Yeah, these cases are never easy. But as I was saying, you did good. I was just told that lab you uncovered had several unstable cores in it. It's a miracle none of them ruptured. But for the record, don't you ever go off investigating on your own without telling me first, got it?"

"I understand. To be fair, I didn't set out to find the lab. I was simply trying to return a lost item to its rightful owner."

"I don't care what you were trying to do. You don't even go to take a piss without leaving a note. We're stretched thin as it is and the biggest problem is most Afflicted cases go unreported until it's too late."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, what's really bothering you?"

Auriel tilted her head. "I'm sorry?"

"You're one of my most careful paladins. You never go off on your own without word."

"Truly, sir. It's nothing."

"Don't give me that. I raised six pups. I know when someone's holding something in."

Her tail tucked between her legs. She didn't want to have this conversation. But keeping silent wouldn't end well either. For now, he was giving her a chance to step forward, but if she didn't give him something, he would investigate on his own. She knew he would.

There was no way out. She had to say something. At the very least, it would be on her terms.

"It's...It's just this case was a little personal for me."

"Oh? Did you know the victims?"

"No, sir, but I know the situation. I'm...a shifter. I never felt right as a male so I changed the moment I was old enough."

She straightened up and looked her superior in the eye. But Markson's expression never changed. His posture remained the same. Not even a subtle twitch of his ears.

"So you're worried that someone's gonna get the wrong idea and assume you're running from something," he said after a lengthy silence.

"Yes."

"Well, I don't blame you. Assumptions and labels are how we survived in the past so it's hardwired into our systems. It's ironic how what was meant to save our lives from outside threats is killing us on the inside." He paused for a moment, his expression showing an internal struggle. "Does Charon know?"

"No, sir."

"Are you worried, he'll find out?"

"Perhaps a little."

"Then you should tell him. He's your partner and you can't trust him with your life if you won't trust him with your secrets."

"But what if--"

"If you're worried he'll turn on you, then you never trusted him either and that means neither of you should be partnered up."

Auriel stared at the wall. It never came during a mission, but she supposed it made sense. Still, she didn't look forward to that conversation. Charon would not be happy.

"As far as anyone else is concerned, it's none of their damn business. You're Auriel, a well-respected female here in the 14thCitadel and that's all anyone needs to know. If anyone gives you grief, you point them to me, understand?" Markson said. When Auriel nodded in agreement, he added, "Good. Now get out of here. You and Charon are to take the next few days off to work through some things and to let him heal."

She gave one final nod before leaving the office. It felt strange traveling the halls. She thought that revealing her secret and even being accepted would erase her fears. Instead she felt only a little better. She supposed it wasn't going to be such a simple change, but knowing someone had her back meant the worst case would not come to pass. That would do for now.

Now there was one last thing to do. Tell Charon. She didn't look forward to that conversation but it would be the final hurdle.

****

Auriel never felt so nervous in her life. The fear and anxiety returned when she reached their cell. Every paladin was assigned one in the Citadel they were stationed in. Many found it easier to stay on-site than bother trying to find a new place and have to travel between them. Thankfully, it was essentially a private apartment that he shared with his partner, so no one else would listen in.

The hound sat across from her, staring at the coffee table. His cup remained untouched since they sat down, his brow furrowed. He wore that expression when he seriously thought about something.

Finally, he raised his head and spoke, "So what's going on with you? You've been quiet since you got in."

Her eyes went to the bandaged leg resting on the chair.

"What this? Nah, it's fine. I already healed but he told me to wear it until tomorrow anyway. I don't get why but I'm not about to question the healers. Wait, you don't tell me you feel guilty that I got hurt?"

"No, it isn't that."

"Then what's up? You're starting to scare me."

That was how she felt. Coming out hadn't gotten any easier. The situation was very different.

"Charon, there is something I must tell you: I'm a shifter. I never felt comfortable as a male so the moment I came of age, I underwent the change."

The hound's ears rose. "Oh? Well... that's...um...wow. So you've been"--he gestured to her body--"this since we've met?"

"Since even before joining the paladins, yes."

"Ah. And who else knows?"

"Just my closest relatives and the captain."

Charon nodded and fell silent. Auriel shifted uncomfortably in her seat. For the first time, her partner was impossible to read. She wasn't sure what to do. Should she wait until he spoke or should she say something? Was it better to give him some space or stay?

In the end, she decided to wait. Trying to get ahead of a situation before having all the facts was the kind of thing she liked to avoid. The situation was awkward enough as it was.

Finally, he spoke again. "Just tell me one thing, why'd you take so long to say something?"

"I was worried you would reject me if I did."

"You saved my life how many times since we partnered up and you still think I give a fuck about that?"

"Some canids do."

"Well, I'm a little miffed you think I'm one of them. I trust you with my secrets all the time."

Auriel frowned. "Telling me you have a foot fetish is not the same as my wanting to change genders."

"Tell that to my last girlfriend who was convinced I was going to cut her toes off to keep in a jar. Honestly, the shit canids come up with sometimes." His expression softened as it often did when something dawned on him. "Okay, I see your point, but you really couldn't trust me?"

"I was afraid of losing you. I trust you with my life, and I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that."

The hound grinned. "Well congratulations, you still haven't. We're partners until the end. Just promise you won't lie to me anymore."

"Only if you agree to keep some things to yourself. There is such a thing as too much honesty and I don't wish to hear about every curious experiment you undergo."

"I did that one time," he mumbled, the insides of his ears turning pink.

"And it was one time too many. Now, is there anything you wish to ask me?"

Charon thought for a moment. "Actually, yeah. When you changed, did you get to pick your cup size, or was it left to chance?"

Auriel sighed and rolled her eyes.

"What? It's a legitimate question!"

"One I will not justify with a response."

"Sounds like a 'yes' to me," he said teasingly.

Auriel burst into laughter. It was nice to see Charon was still Charon and this new development hadn't fazed him in the slightest. Still, there was one thing she had to be sure of.

"Charon? May I ask that you not treat me like a sideshow? I'm just a female like any other."

"What do you mean? You're a paladin, just like me. We're both sideshows whether we wanna be or not."

Auriel smiled. "Thank you."

---

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