FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Nnnghh....A-Auren! Its....Its starting!"

Nate was doubled over on the floor, groaning, as the infection reached its peak inside his body, and began to change him. In his blood, the nanites that at one time had been developed to boost the immune system and performance of the human body were now hard at work rearranging his DNA, substituting parts of his normal genetic code for the newer, more potent strands of the infected wolf's. There was no pain, not really, as Nate clutched his stomach tightly, feeling and overwhelming bout of nausea sweep over him. Before his eyes, his body started to change, and his mouth fell open in a silent scream of shock.

As Auren watched, frozen beside his friend, long dark hairs began pushing out his pores, up along his arm at first, then racing down over his chest and body like a blanket. The hairs grew thicker, and fuller, multiplying over and over until they became a thick coat of fur, dark silvery-grey in color. Grunting, Nate bent at the waist and touched his head to the floor, unable to uncurl himself from this position as the growth of fur completed and the infection began working on his musculature. The youth jerked forward as two loud cracks were heard, and he yelped in surprise more than pain as he knees suddenly reversed direction. His now digitrade legs wobbled and shifted, making him sprawl out on the floor as the changes continued, his feet bursting out out his shoes as they became large lupine paws.

The furred hide all over his body rippled, like water under a gentle breeze, as his muscles grew larger and thicker before his eyes. His torso stretched out, as did his legs, even as layer after layer of muscle grew in, making his body thicker and thicker. His clothes ripped and tore along his body as his frame stretched and grew out of the confines of the fabric. Nate's fingernails grew out into hard black nubs, claws, as his hands joined his feet in becoming large, platter-sized paws. Biceps and forearms bulged and grew as the youth's musculature system continued to grow and grow, adding dozens of pounds to his weight as the moments ticked by. His jeans ripped into tatters as his legs and waist became to big for the denim, leaving him bare to the world as the changes reached his groin. Fur crawled up over his member and encased it as folds of flesh grew over it, forming a sheath, even as it too grew larger and thicker than before, making him moan out in lustful pleasure. The youth's sac swelled as his testicles bulged and grew, filling with more potent wolf seed. Nate let out a long, gasping moan as his face stretched out, his nose and mouth bulging out into a lupine snout, as his ears crawled up the side of his head to rest on top, becoming triangular and fur covered like the rest of him. Inside his mouth, his pitiful human teeth grew longer and sharper, replaced by the gleaming fangs of a wolf.

Auren wanted to move away, but he couldn't, sitting against the wall transfixed by what was happening to his friend. A part of him wanted to call out to Nate, to rush over and hold him as he writhed and changed, but he couldn't find the strength to move his body. As he watched, Nate grew larger and taller, passing his old height as even more muscle grew in, dwarfing his old frame as the human disappeared and was replaced by a tall, muscular wolf. A final grunt, and a slender furred tail burst from his backside, swishing slightly as the changes came to an end. The silvery-grey wolf panted and hung its head towards the ground, seeming exhausted by its transformation.

Almost forgetting to breathe, Auren stared at the massive lupine that had only minutes ago been his best friend. He didn't know whether to try and talk to it, or to bolt for the nearest exit. Bumping into the cabinet against the door, Auren realized running was no longer an option, as he remembered he had barricaded himself in here with Nate. A bold move to show his friend how much he cared, yes, but now it could be the cause of his own demise.

Gathering what courage he had, the blonde-haired youth reached forward slowly. "N-Nate?" he whispered.

The instant the sound left his lips, the large wolf threw back its head and a loud, long howl, its piercing cry echoing all through the building. Bringing its head back level, its golden brown eyes narrowed as it locked onto the sight of the human in front of it. A low, deep growl rippled from its maw, and Auren tensed, unsure of what to do.

Then, the wolf lunged.

---

In another room of the Library, Brandon paced back and forth between to overturned tables, muttering to himself and no one at the same time. Nearby, Riku sat atop a counter, the vupline-morph lost in his own thoughts as they watched the minutes tick by. Ever since they had left Auren alone in the little room with Nate, either boy had barely said two words. Then again, what words were needed? All either of them had to do was look at Riku to know exactly what would happen. The only question was-

"You think he'll be feral?" Brandon asked in a soft voice.

"I don't know," Riku sighed, absently running a paw through the fur on his arm.

Brandon halted his pace, then turned around and resumed his circular path. "I mean...you stayed sane, right? So...so Nate might have a chance, right?"

"I don't know..."

Another few nervous steps. "You think he'll turn Auren?"

"I. Don't. Know."

A few pieces of broken table were skittered aside by Brandon's running shoes as he continued to pace. "What if he-"

"Dammit, Brandon!" the fox yipped angrily, hopping off the counter. "How many times must I say it? I don't freaking know!" Riku bit back a snarl, forcing himself to calm down. "Just because I was turned and am the way I am now does not instantly make me a damn expert on this!" He scrubbed his head vigorously and yanked at his ears, trying to contain his annoyance and anger at the questions, even though the same ones were flying all around his own head.

The shorter youth halted his pacing, and stared at his friend-turned-fox. He knew Riku was aggravated, he was too, but how he dealt with the new and unknown was constantly ask questions. Brandon didn't mean to bother his friends when he got like this, but it was just part of his personality. He hated not knowing about a situation, no matter what it was, and that more than anything scared him. "What do we do if he is feral?"

Riku looked up, ready to snap again at being asked another question, but the fox shut his muzzle in mid-bark, his eyes flashing as the query hit home. His gaze fell, to the floor as he stopped to think about this one, and his shoulders slumped. Sighing, he rubbed the back of his orange-furred neck. "I guess....when it comes down to it," he said in small voice. "We do what Nate would want us to do."

At Brandon's questioning look, the fox bent over and picked up a small piece of rebar, about two feet in length, and gripped it tightly in his paw. The end had been snapped off by something, leaving it with a wickedly sharp point. The still-human youth's eyes grew wide as he registered what Riku meant. Before he could say anything however, a loud piercing howl rang out all through the building. There was a spilt-second pause, before both Riku and Brandon bolted towards the source of the sound, instantly fearing for Auren.

---

The wolf was on him before he could move, and Auren felt himself pulled from the floor in a tight bear hug, the lupine's massive arms squeezing him tightly to the furred chest. Pressed into its pecs, the youth was smothered in the thick, masculine musk of the creature, its overpowering scent filling every breath. Auren knew there was no way to fight something this powerful, its corded muscles bigger than his by a mile. Closing his eyes, the denim-clad youth made his peace, and prepared for the fatal bite.

Instead of a growl, snarl, or vicious teeth tearing into his neck, Auren's eyes flew open as he felt the slightly cold touch of the wolf's nose to the bare skin, a quiet snuffling sound coming from the large creature. Its arms still held him tightly, but its grip wasn't crushing, and he could have sworn one of the paws was rubbing his back. Remembering to breath, Auren sucked in what little air he could inside the bear hug, getting a full nose of the wolf's musk, as he managed to find his voice. "N-Nate?" he whispered.

Another snuffle into his neck. "A-Auren....its me."

"Nate!" the youth cried, somehow managing to get his arms up and around the thick neck in a pitiful attempt to hug the large wolf. Instantly, all his fears and worries washed away, to be replaced by the warm surge of happiness as the words rang in his ears. His voice was deeper, and with a hint of a growl buried in it, but Auren knew that voice. It didn't matter where or what it came from, he knew that voice. It was Nate.

A slight pressure registered in Auren's abdomen, and after a moment or two, he realized what it was given his position against the wolf that was his friend. "Er....Nate? You're...um....poking me..." The wolf grunted slightly, and let his friend go, setting his feet back on the floor as he moved away, ears flattened in embarrassment. As the large wolf took a step back, Auren finally managed to take in the sight of his changed friend, unable to contain the look of surprise on his face.

The muscular wolf before him stood at least 6' 4", with the ripped build of an Olympic athlete. Nate hadn't exactly been a string bean before, but should he have stood next to this wolf form of himself, he would have looked a toothpick in comparison. Thick, plump pecs adorned his chest, sitting above a perfectly chiseled six-pack that showed even through the lighter grey fur on his belly. A dark grey, almost black streak of fur ran from the top of his head down his back, ending at his tail where it mixed in with the lighter tones. His biceps were at least as big around as Auren's neck, the bulging muscles leading to equally firm and toned forearms. The wolf's digitrade legs, thick and corded, were built for running long and hard without stop for hours. Nate's face was a pure lupine visage, complete with his fang-filled muzzle and pointed, fuzzy ears atop his head. Behind him, the gentle swish of a tail could be heard, detailing his emotions at any given time.

Unable to stop himself, Auren's eyes took in the sight at Nate's groin. A thick, plump sheath sat against his lower belly, the first few inches of a tapered red wolf cock poking out, evidence to the increased arousal of his changed friend. Beneath it, a pair of lemon-sized furry balls swung gently.

Feeling his friend's eyes on his wolfhood, Nate grunted softly and covered himself with his massive paws, a tinge of red appearing beneath his fur on his face. His ears sat folded back against his skull, embarrassed as he stood naked in front of Auren. "Ermm...."

"Mm? Oh! Sorry," Auren snapped out of his daze and hastily went to grab the blanket on the floor. He didn't make it two steps before the door behind him crashed inward with aloud smash. Spinning around, feeling his fight-or-flight instincts kick in, Auren instinctively raised his fists, as Nate snarled in surprise. The orange-furred form of Riku, tumbled into the room, clutching a piece of rebar in his paws like a make-shift spear, Brandon right behind him with what looked like a chair. The duo saw Auren, then the large silvery-grey wolf next to him, and raised their weapons.

"Whoawhoawhoa!" Auren shouted, stepping between them and Nate as the tall wolf backed up a step. "Its Nate! Its Nate!" He waved his arms, urging them to lower their implements, lest they startle the newly-changed wolf to a point his own instincts would take over. "Its Nate...."

"Nate?!" Brandon asked incredulously, taking Auren's word for it and dropping the chair he held , peering past Riku's shoulder. "Damn....you got big!"

"I'll say," the fox muttered, his gaze instantly dropping to the muscular wolf's groin. The moment he had burst through the door, Riku's sensitive nose had been smothered with the scent of the large, Alpha wolf, diving him to his combat instincts. Now, seeing that he wasn't hostile, the same scent sent jolts of warmth straight to his groin, his own sheath tightening as he felt his cock start to bulge out his shorts.

Seeing the silent exchange, Auren quickly grabbed the blanket and gave it to Nate, who hastily covered his lower half up. "Its okay guys.....its really him," the denim-clad youth said again, trying to assure them as much as himself. "Big and furry, but really him."

"He's....all there?" Brandon asked cautiously, tapping the side of his head.

The large wolf that was Nate gave a small nod, his ears still down. "Yeah...I'm me." Looking over his new body, he shrugged. "Or at least...on the inside."

Sagging against the doorframe, Brandon sighed as all the adrenaline started to leave him. "I...I gotta go lie down. This is just getting too much." Tramping off, the youth disappeared into the main part of the Library once more, shaking his head and muttering to himself.

Still drinking in the striking wolf's form, Riku found himself taking a step forward. "How do you feel, Nate?"

"Umm....different," the lupine mumbled, one paw coming up to rub over his newly chiseled torso. The paw wandered over his muscles for a moment, before sinking lower to rub at the bulge showing through the blanket. "And...uh....kinda..."

"Right," Auren said quickly, hiding a blush of his own as he strode forward and took Riku's arm. "Best we leave Nate to...ah....relieve himself." The fox looked like he was about to protest, his own lust clawing at him, but his better judgement got it under control - for now. The two friends left their lupine companion to his privacy, the door barely swinging shut before the blanket was dropped to the floor.

---

Letting out a large yawn, the muscled wolf that was now Nate rolled onto his back and stretched his newly-grown limbs out, fighting back a grumble at the now too-small cot beneath him. Lifting his head, he looked around the room to see that he was alone in the room, and sighed as he slid the blanket off his lower half, revealing his throbbing morning arousal.

After a short talk last night, the group had decided that Riku and Nate would sleep in a different room of the Library for now. Love their friends as they might, Auren and Brandon still had their slight reservations about all that had happened. There was still fear, no matter how small, that their newly-changed friends might get a little....aggressive. Nate and Riku tried to make them feel better by saying they supported the idea; they could never be too careful, seeing as how they still knew very little about the whole infection plague. Plus, it gave the wolf and fox the privacy if they needed to take care of some personal business.

Speaking of such personal things, Nate looked down between his legs at the thick, lupine cock that jutted out from his groin, and he sighed. The 10-inch, tapered red cock that was now his was impressive, his more lusty masculine side and all around pride getting a nice ego boost from it. Still, like the rest of his body, it was going to take some getting used to, especially when it seemed to wake up before he did. Gently gripping his wolfhood by the slowly growing knot at the base, Nate grunted softly and prepared to relieve himself for the third time since his change.

The sound of the door opening stopped him dead, however, and he quickly covered himself with the blankets as he saw Riku shutting the door behind him and quickly padding over to him. "Hey," the fox whispered with a smile. "You're up. Good." Hopping onto the bed beside the larger wolf, Riku unashamedly stared at the paw trying to hide the large bulge beneath the blanket. "And you're up...even better."

"What are you talking about?" Nate growled back softly, shifting away from the vulpine slightly.

"Come on, man," Riku murred, his bushy tail twitching behind him. "I know what you're feeling right now....I'm going through the same thing." Again, his eyes wandered over the muscled wolf's form, a bulge appearing in his own shorts. "Lets just do it. Here, now."

"Wha-?" Nate practically yelped, jerking back from the apparently eager and horny fox. "No!"

"Don't kid yourself, Nate," the fox purred. "I've been holding in my urge to rut since the minute I changed, and now, I know you're doing the exact same. Why fight it? We're both guys....we know what its like to need to bust a nut. Besides," he looked over at the door. "The others will understand."

The wolf's ear flicked as his mind wavered, feeling the truth behind Riku's words. Ever since his transformation, he had been almost constantly horny, granted only a small reprieve after every time he jerked off. A part of him wanted to just give in, to hopefully calm his lusty lupine side, but the human surged back into the front of his mind. "No," he growled again. Thinking past his hard-on, he blurted out the first thing that came to him. "What if we...like...cross-contaminate each other."

There was a brief flash in Riku's eyes, and his seductive smile faltered for the shortest moment. Then, it was back with renewed vigor. "I don't think we can," the fox said with a wink. Lifting his right arm, he showed Nate a bandage around his forearm that the wolf had failed to notice up until now. The white gauze stood out in stark contrast to the more rusty colored pelt of the fox. "When we were running out of the store, one of those wolves managed to get a piece of me. Luckily, I was able to smash it in the head with a shelf, but it still got a good chunk out of my arm." He patted the bandage gently. "Now, I'm guessing saliva is just as potent a carrier as pre or cum, meaning I should have gotten some wolf infection in me. Yet, a whole day later, here I am, just as foxy as before." Riku patted his abs proudly. "My guess? Once you get infected, the nanites become much more resistant to other infection, making you keep the first form you get."

The hypothesis made sense, seeing as how the nanites given to the island's population were originally created to bolster the natural immune system. The virus, or whatever it was that was turning people, must rewire the nanites to change the person's body to match whatever strain infected them, before coming that much more resilient, and preventing further change. Shaking his large head, Nate brought himself back on topic. "Still," he growled, crossing his thick arms over his midsection. "Doesn't mean we can just drop and do it. Sorry, not happening."

Riku wasn't deterred, and slid a dainty black paw up Nate's thickly corded leg. "Nate, come on, you can't tell me you don't feel that overpowering lust inside," he said in a smooth tone. "I got it too, and so far, I've been holding it in. But now you're like me, and from where I'm sitting, we could both use the release."

Nate shook his head and held the fox at an arm's length. "No....no I'm not that far gone."

"I'm not crazy, Nate, and neither are you! I get that. But you can't deny how much we need this."

The big wolf shook his head again, making his ears twitch. "No," he repeated, growling a bit to emphasize his stance. "I know I've changed, Riku, and yeah, I know I'm a bloody horny wolf right now. But I'm still me, and as long as I am, I'm gonna keep this under control." The fox frowned and made to grab the wolf's groin, but Nate snapped at him and pushed him away roughly, forgetting his increased strength. The smaller vulpine was pushed off the bed and landed hard on the cement floor with a yelp. Instantly, Nate went from angry to worried, afraid he had hurt his friend. "Oh shit...Riku! I'm sorry!"

"Its okay," the fox mumbled, pulling himself back up and shaking his head, feeling the slight bump from the cot's frame. "I guess I kinda deserved that."

"Man....I'm sor-"

"Its fine," Riku grinned, sitting back down beside the wolf, now looking much more in control of himself. "I shouldn't have been so pushy. Its just.....arrgh! Now you know how I've felt since I turned," he panted, rubbing at his own groin, feeling his cock swell out of its sheath.

Nate lowered his ears in apology. "Look....its not that I don't want to," he began, and Riku's face perked up in curiosity. "I'm....I'm just not.....ready."

"Ready?"

The wolf sighed and rolled his shoulders. "Before you ask; no, I'm not one of those people that believe in 'no sex until after marriage and only with your spouse' stuff. I'm not that deluded_._" A large paw scratched the back of his thick neck as he searched for the right words. "I just.....I don't think I'm ready to take that plunge just yet."

Listening intently, Riku's keen hearing picked up on the inflection in Nate's choice of words, and his eyes lit up. "Dude....are you still a virgin?" he whispered, leaning in with a wide smile. The wolf's fur instantly fluffed up, and he looked around in a panic, thinking someone else would hear. The fox beside him simply yipped a small laugh. "You are! You totally are!"

"Hey!" Nate hissed, gesturing at him to shut up. The fox stopped laughing, but still had a huge smile on his face. "Yeah, alright? I am."

He rubbed his muscled arms slowly, fumbling around the right words to say. "Like I said, I'm not about the whole marriage-clause towards sex, its just...." he sighed and laid back on the bed. "I do think that you're first time should be with someone...I dunno...special." The big wolf grunted and sat back up, fidgeting under the personal topic. "I guess I just haven't found that one yet. And regardless of this new body, or sex drive, I'm still me, and I'm going to hold onto my beliefs." He looked over at his vulpine friend and gave him a warm smile. "You're a great guy Riku, and its not that I'm against messing around with you - especially with current circumstances as they are - you're just not that one."

The fox just nodded, the smile still on his face. "Its cool, man, I get it." Standing up, he stretched his lean frame, arching his back. "I take no offense to it. Besides.....there's always after you lose the big 'v', right?" he chuckled giving Nate a wink. Heading towards the door, he cocked his head back at the wolf. "Come on, the guys are making breakfast. Horny or not, I do know how hungry you are." Nate just smiled and rose from the bed as Riku disappeared around the corner. A heartbeat later, however, the fox poked his head back inside. "Oh, but Nate?"

"Mmm?"

A knowing look entered the fox's eyes, and his grin was just that much more-so. "Just make sure you tell him soon. You know....before anything else happens to us."

With that, the vulpine youth vanished and left his larger companion stunned in the middle of the room, thinking over those cryptic words. What did he mean by that? Did Riku know something he didn't?

---

The sky above was such a pristine blue that if one stared straight up, they might get a sense of peace or normalcy from it. Auren was doing just that, taking in the sight of the clear blue sky, that for a the smallest moment, he forgot where he was. Then, as a distant shape of a large bird crossed sky, the blonde-haired youth was pulled right back into his reality, and his gaze dropped to the mess before him. Picking their way through a mass of smashed and abandoned cars, the group had spent the morning combing another small section of the area around their Library looking for supplies. Buildings both collapsed and nearly-collapsed lined the street, the smaller ones leaning against their larger brethren as for support as many of their walls were now reduced to large holes from the changing occupants.

Nimble as the fox he was, Riku hopped from one wrecked car to the next, avoiding the large pothole between them, as Nate used his new-found strength to lift a chunk of debris out of the way for his two human companions. Giving the wolf's rock hard abs a gentle pat as he passed, Auren flashed his friend a quick smile in thanks, which was returned albeit with more teeth, before the wolf let the slab of concrete fall behind them. Like Riku, they had managed to scrounge up a pair of pants to fit Nate's larger frame, although the handsome lupine remained shirtless like his smaller fox companion. With the added fur coat they had, it would just be too hot for them.

As with Riku's transformation, it was quickly becoming apparent that Nate's new form came with its advantages to the group as well. Inheriting the same heightened canine senses as his smaller vulpine friend, Nate was also quick to find that his large, muscled frame was not just for show, the silvery-grey wolf being able to make full use of his new musculature. The handsome wolf fell into step behind Auren as the group trudged on, heading towards one of the smaller districts downtown, hoping to scavenge more materials for their shelter back at the Library. Every so often, the denim-clad youth would glance back at the wolf behind him, giving a smile whenever Nate caught him looking. The furred ears of the wolf flattened slightly as he grinned in slight embarrassment, knowing Auren well enough to notice a hint of jealousy when he saw it.

Brandon on the other hand, had been uncharacteristically silent for the past hour or so, his head down in thought as they walked on. He too had been looking over Nate and Riku every now and then, as if they were some puzzle to figure out, but never saying anything outright. Now and again, Nate's sensitive ears picked up a stray word or two as the shorter human muttered to himself under his breath, but never enough to make out what he was going on about.

After a few more minutes, the group halted for a quick break, passing a canteen around to one another. Relishing the cool water flowing down his throat, Auren sighed gently and replaced the cap, only to tilt his head in question as he saw Brandon staring at him with one of his 'thinking' looks. "What?"

"What do you think the odds are of Nate and Riku keeping their sanity after their infection?" the dark-haired youth asked out of nowhere.

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Auren fumbled a bit with the lid of his canteen as he thought. "Well....to be honest, I dunno." Taking a moment, Auren tried to think back to earlier Biology classes when they had dealt with plagues and such. "I guess, like any sickness or disease, there are always a small number of people who have a random, natural immunity to it," he shrugged finally. "The same could be said for this, I suppose." He looked over his friend with a careful expression. "Why do you ask?"

Not answering the query, Brandon turned his head to their two changed companions, who were halving a sweet roll between them. "How do you guys feel? Besides needing to mount something..."

The two canine friends flicked their ears at the rather brash statement. Biting back a retort of his own, Nate cleared his throat as he swallowed the hunk of cake in his mouth. "Well, all things considered....pretty good actually." The tall wolf flexed his thick bicep. "I mean, I can feel the strength of my body now, almost as if I was pathetically weak before."

"And the senses are pretty cool too," Riku admitted with a shrug. "Compared to what I have now, I fell like I was deaf and blind when I was a human."

Nodding his head as if confirming something, Brandon turned back to Auren with a grim smirk. The denim-clad youth had seen that look before, and his gut twisted slightly. "What are you getting at, B?"

His friend just shrugged. "I was just thinking....maybe we're looking at this infection thing the wrong way." He fiddled with a piece of broken street light atop the car he was sitting on. "What if the key to surviving all this...is to adapt to it, instead of fighting it?"

Auren nearly dropped his canteen as he caught the ulterior meaning behind his friend's words. "Adapt? Wait...." his twisting gut suddenly fell. "Dude....are you saying....you want to get infected?!"

"Think about it for a moment, hothead," Brandon snapped, suddenly defensive. He pointed to Nate and Riku. "Look at them! They are still themselves, but now, they are better than they were before. Riku is quick and nimble as hell, and Nate is freaking ripped! They can more than take care of themselves out here. Plus, they have super senses now, which will only help to keep them out of danger." The two furs shuffled slightly as Brandon talked about them as if they weren't there, although they couldn't deny the truth of his words. They did feel great, aside from the constant libido nagging at them.

"Are you fucking serious?!" Auren practically shouted, throwing his arms up. "Have you already forgotten the beasts that attacked the school, and mauled people around us? Or the ones that tried to hunt us down and rape us in that store?" Nate's ear flicked as the last part drove home, and Auren gave him a brief glance in apology, before going right back to his argument. "There is absolutely no guarantees that won't happen to you. They," he said, now waving at the fox and wolf himself, "may very well have been a fluke. We have yet to see any others that survived like them!"

"Doesn't mean they aren't out there!" Brandon countered, his face getting slightly redder. "We've only searched a fraction of the city around the Library. Who knows what we have yet to find?" Swiping at the broken light, he sent it flying off the wrecked car angrily. "You can't just make a snap decision on this whole thing because of a few bad examples."

"A few.....do you even hear yourself?" Auren roared. "You are talking about voluntarily throwing away your humanity in the CHANCE you might become bigger and better?"

"Says the one who has always been on top and in front!" his shorted friend spat.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh come on, Auren," Brandon sneered. "You've always been fit, always been strong, always been the head of the group." He jerked a thumb at his own chest. "I've always been the scrawny guy, looking up to and hiding behind the three of you and your muscles. Is it so wrong that I would like to be the big, strong one for once?"

The denim-clad youth looked at his friend in utter shock. "Is that was this is about? You want to get big and strong because of me? Because you feel like the underdog?"

"Maybe," Brandon sniffed, looking away, even though the red flush on his cheeks remained. "Maybe I want you to feel what its like to be inadequ-"

"Enough!" Nate finally roared, stepping between them with a snarl. "Both of you, cool it!" The pair of humans grit their teeth but fell silent, avoiding each others gaze. The argument had been coming for a while now, they both knew it, as both Auren and Brandon had started having serious thoughts about recent events ever since Riku has first transformed. The wolf stood in the middle of the little group and looked back and forth at his two friends slowly. "You two coming to blows is not going to help matters any!"

Neither human said a word in apology, instead keeping their eyes somewhere else as the big wolf growled back and forth at them. Riku was hanging back, unsure of whether he should offer his point of view, when Nate spoke up once more. "You both have valid points all this," he said as evenly as he could. Turning to Auren, he addressed his closest friend. "Brandon isn't wrong, man. I feel great, despite the urge to get my rocks off every few hours. I mean look at me," the wolf grunted flexing his new, ripped frame. "This transformation packed at least 50 pounds of muscle onto me - probably more - not to mention the energy I feel. There is absolutely no shame when I say; yeah, I'm starting to really like this change. I like what I have become. I feel....no, I know I can take care of myself alot better now. And with these new senses.....yeah, I might very well have increased my odds of surviving this by quite a bit." Auren lifted his gaze to meet the eyes of his lupine friend, and Nate saw the conflicting thoughts there. He knew all the apparent advantages that Riku and Nate had gained from the infection, there was no denying that part. But still, he couldn't get the images - and screams - from that attack on the school out of his head.

Shifting his golden brown gaze to the smaller, dark-haired youth opposite him, Nate bit back a small snarl as he continued. "But Auren is exactly right in pointing out the risks involved. There is no guarantee that you would be as lucky as Riku and I and keep your mind intact. We've seen it how many times already; the feral creatures that used to be humans like us, reduced to basic animalistic instincts, even if they are still somewhat 'human'."

Nate's example was referring to a group they had avoided just a few hours ago, one that seriously made them question all they had thought they knew. When the lupine's sensitive nose had picked up the scent of creatures - hyenas - approaching, they had taken shelter inside an abandoned bus as the group came near. The creatures were indeed hyenas, standing bipedal like he and Riku, the gang moving about, smashing the few windows that remained. Each of them wore bandanas or tattered jackets, as if they were part of some street gang. They even spoke to one another, as if they were all still completely human. But the nanite plague had released their animal side, even if they weren't feral. They had just disregarded 'normal' society and taken it upon themselves to live how they wanted, with no regard for rules or law. Then again, with the entire island's infrastructure basically collapsed, was it any surprise that people began reverting to more base instincts of survival?

Shaking his head, the large wolf that was Nate folded his ears back in slight despair. "You can't deny the huge risks against you, Brandon," he went on. "To focus only on the potential gain, and ignore the high possibility of failure.....that's just not like you, man." The last remark hit home, as the shorter youth looked away sharply, his cheeks flaring red once more.

Stepping forward, Riku cleared his throat and spoke up for the first time since they had stopped. "Hey...guys....we should probably keep moving," he muttered in a low voice. "All this shouting is bound to attract attention." Atop his head, the vulpine's ears twitched to further emphasis his point, his senses attuned to looking out for trouble.

With a grunt, Auren hopped off the bin he had been sitting on. "We'll finish this later," he growled at Brandon, as they gathered their packs and began walking once more. The air between them now was less than jovial, as each one of the companions was left to some serious inner thoughts. Nate looked between his two still-human friends, worried about their recent attitudes and the weight behind the words they had spoken. Hearing Brandon abandon his cautious nature in favor of reckless ideas......or Auren's views on the potential danger his friends may have become....it was like they were changing even with out transforming.

They may not be infected, but still, how long would it be before they started losing who they had been to this city anyways?

---

"I'm not completely against it, you know."

Nate flicked and ear and looked at his friend beside him. Auren hung his head, staring at the rubble between his legs as they rested together, Riku and Brandon a few yards away talking with a trader. With Riku being the most charismatic of the group, and Brandon's eye for detail, they were more suited to bartering that Auren and Nate, who decided to take some time to themselves.

The trader, at first, was inches away from getting a rebar spear thrown at him, when Riku and Nate had smelled the approach of another creature. However, the group of friends has been utterly shocked when the donkey-man had come into view, and immediately yelled in fear, begging them not to kill him. Lowering their makeshift weapons, Auren and the others found that despite being an anthropomorphic donkey-man, the person was still very much himself, just like Riku and Nate. Accompanied by a large ox, who the man told them had once been his partner Pete, the trader - whose name was Phil - told them his story quickly and clearly. He had been a street vendor downtown when the plague hit, and was turned into the donkey he was now. Poor Pete had been turned into a pure, feral ox, but had still kept his docile human nature, despite losing the ability to speak.

After the initial attacks, the pair had realized what had happened to their world, and taking it upon themselves, set out with all the supplies they could scavenge from their shop in search of others in need. They roamed the 'wasteland' as they called it, trading supplies and goods to those like them that they came across. It was dangerous, but according to Phil, it didn't mean it wasn't worth it.

Looking over at his friend by his side, Nate tilted his furred head in question. "Not against what?"

"Changing," Auren said softly, bringing his eyes up to meet those of his lupine companion. "A part of me knows Brandon is right. I mean, look at you, bud," he said, reaching over to gently squeeze the wolf's thick bicep. "You are more suited to survive out here than I am with that body."

"But the risks..." Nate whined slightly, hoping his friend wasn't about to suggest something drastic.

Auren removed his hand and scrubbed his face. "I know there are risks, that is foremost in my mind. But to ignore the potential rewards....and the survivability that comes with them...nnnggh! I just don't know!" he growled, sagging in defeat. Auren stared at his hands - his normal human hands - and wondered just how long they would stay that way. What if Brandon was right, and in order to survive, they had to adapt to the infection. Then, he looked over at Pete the ox, and his gut twisted. What if he became like that? His mind intact, but his body lost to the feral side of the infection? "I just don't know," he repeated.

Feeling protective, Nate slid closer and draped a thick arm around his friend without a second thought, pulling the smaller human close to him. "Hey, come on now, don't beat yourself up over this." He did his best to smile with his lupine muzzle, earning a small grin from Auren. "You are the strongest person I know, and I'm not talking about muscles. You don't need to go thinking about infecting yourself just to keep yourself alive when you still have us." Nate tightened his grip around Auren's shoulders, hugging his friend against his furry frame. His stomach warmed and jumped when he felt the denim-clad youth's arms slide around his abdomen and return the hug, the action saying all that needed said. Pulling back, Nate flashed a more sly grin. "Besides, with a big Alpha like me watching your back, you know you'll be okay!"

A gentle laugh escaped Auren as he chuckled at the goofy grin on the big lupine's face, trying not to imagine Nate as a cute pup right now. "Thanks, Nate," he sighed, laying his head against the wolf's muscled chest. "I don't know what I would do without you."

Feeling Auren so close to him, and smelling the human's scent with his super-sensitive nose, Nate felt his sheath tingling a bit as his stomach did back-flips. His arm held his friend close without trying to and he rested his head atop the blonde-haired boy's, letting the moment persist. He and Auren had always been close, but recently, with his new lupine brain, he wondered if maybe they might-

"Hey guys," Riku yipped, jogging up and breaking the two from their thoughts. Auren pulled away from Nate, much to the wolf's disappointment, and looked to their fox friend. Jerking a thumb back over his shoulder, he said," Phil says there is a place not too far from here, where a bunch of people like us have set up a kinda sanctuary for survivors. Its maybe an hour or so away, and he's willing to take us there."

"Great," Auren said, standing up and brushing off his jeans. The large wolf beside him gave the briefest look of annoyance when his friend moved away, but it was gone as quickly as it came, the lupine standing and stretching himself. "We could use to meet up with some other survivors, and maybe acquire some more supplies. Tell him we're ready to go when he is.

Nodding, the energetic fox jogged back to the trader with the decision. Turning back to Nate, Auren offered a quick smile. "Ready to go?"

"Right behind you, my friend, as always." Hmm...that's not bad ide- ack! Bad thoughts!

---

A short time later, Phil and his oxen companion had led the four friends to the sanctuary he had spoken of, nestled further downtown. Originally a nightclub/hotel nestled between a few other buildings, the still-intact structure was one of the few still standing in any form of decent shape. Making their way past the two burly tigers guarding the front door, Auren and the others were shocked at what they found inside.

The nightclub was still very much a nightclub, with an otter DJ playing music from his switchboard up on stage. The dance floor was moderately full of patrons talking, dancing, or simply just enjoying the atmosphere. At the bar, patrons sat and drank their troubles away, or enticed other patrons to a little 'private time' in some of the back rooms. Almost every person in there was mutated in some form or another, a variety of different humanoid animals all socializing as if nothing had ever happened. There were even a few more animal-like patrons, walking around on all fours, even though they were laughing or talking like it was no big thing. Everyone was acting like they had before the outbreak.

It was almost....normal.

Leaving them to their own business, Phil strode away to meet with some fellow traders in on of the booths at the far end of the bar/restaurant, Brandon tagging along to see what goods they might have. Riku and Nate wandered around, just taking in the sights and others like them, talking to people to see how they were coping with their new selves, and Auren headed for the bar.

Behind the counter, was a tall red dragon, busily washing some glasses as he served the patrons. A sturdy 6' 1", the white-maned dragon had a toned build that showed through his simple sleeveless shirt, noticeable eight-pack on his lower torso, but he was still lean, not huge like the two tigers they had seen outside. The gentle blue eyes stood out from his crimson scales, as did his handsome smile as he nodding to the young human that approached. "Hey there, what can I get for ya?"

Looking at the menu of drinks, Auren pursed his lips as he read the unfamiliar drink names, his head turning to look out onto the floor at the patrons as some of the titles started to make sense. Known for his keen eye, the dragon chuckled and leaned over the bar. "Must be new to the place. I'm Sam," he said, inclining his head to the slightly out-of-place human.

"Auren," the denim-clad youth responded, offering his hand in an automatic gesture. Caught off guard, the dragon blinked, then slowly accepted the proffered and hand with a thick, scaled paw, shaking it gently. Since the outbreak, any physical contact between people had been almost always either sexual or violent in nature. It took a moment to remember the civil things like a handshake.

Clearing his throat, Sam the dragon nodded to his establishment. "The Wolf's Den is my place, a little bar/club and hotel in one. When the outbreak hit, those of us in here began to change. At first, everyone kinda freaked out," he said, sighing a bit. "Then, we saw what was going on outside, and it made us realize we were probably the lucky ones." Auren could see it on the dragon's face that he too had seen the more vicious side of the infection outbreak; the feral creatures and the breakdown of civilized order. "Anyways, when we realized what was happening, we knew we couldn't be the only ones like us - those that changed but kept their sanity, ya know? So, we barricaded all the entrances but one, and started bringing in others that came along, giving them a safe place to stay. The Den has a hotel part upstairs, but we needed alot more than that, so we knocked out the walls on either side of us, and set up make-shift rooms in the other buildings." He pointed a toned arm at the newly-constructed doorways on either side of the main room of the club, and Auren saw patrons moving between the connected buildings every now and then.

Shrugging, Sam put away the glass he was cleaning and continued. "Its not much, I know, but at least these people have a safe place to sleep, and get some food. Everyone is free to come and go as they please, as long as they don't bring trouble. Nobody has any money, but no one cares. We're all here to help one another."

Auren nodded as he looked around the club again, seeing the truth of the dragon's words. Sure, the people here may have changed physically, but you could see it on their faces; they felt safe here. "I think its great," he smiled, turning back to the tall red dragon. "I'm impressed."

"Aww, shucks," Sam said, thumbing his snout shyly. "I just did what anyone would have done. We may all be animals on the outside now, but it doesn't mean we aren't still human on the inside." Auren's smile changed slightly as the dragon's words hit home, reflecting on the earlier argument with his friends. Reaching under the counter for some keys, he offered one to the youth. "I have a room upstairs if you need a place to stay."

"Thanks, but we have a shelter in the Library not too far from here," Auren said, dipping his head in appreciation at the offer. "We might stay for a while, though, trade a bit and rest out feet."

Sam just shrugged in understanding, and put the key back under the counter. The crimson drake turned to see one his patrons waving him over, and he nodded to the denim-clad human. "Well, either way, you and your friends are welcome here anytime. Please, stay as long as you like."

Offering his hand again, Auren shook the dragon's paw and bade him farewell, leaving the dragon to his duties as he returned to the main floor. He hadn't taken two steps before running into Riku. "Did I hear you right? We're gonna be here a while?" the fox asked, clearly eager about something.

"Yeah....I suppose. Why, what's up?"

The vulpine turned and looked over at the end of the bar, where skinny black-furred fox waved back at him, sipping a fruity drink in one paw, and giving the pair a sultry wink. "Well," Riku said shyly, "I kinda got propositioned to take care of....some personal business..."

Holding his hands up, Auren smiled and chuckled. "Its cool, man. Go do what you gotta do." He had no delusions of how hard it was for Riku and Nate to keep their new libidos under control, and with this place filled by other people battling the same hormones, it was no secret to what all the 'private rooms' were for.

Hugging his friend quickly, Riku yipped a soft goodbye and hurried over to the bar. The black-furred fox had finished his drink as Riku came up, and he took the orange vulpine's paw to lead him off towards the back rooms, their tails already wagging in anticipation. Auren just chuckled as he continued walking, coming to find Nate off by himself leaning against one of the booths. "Found a friend, did he?" the lupine grinned, watching their friend disappear into the side building.

"Yeah," Auren said, coming to stand next to his companion. He looked out over the crowd on the dance floor, seeing furs of every shape and size. Glancing over at Nate, he let his eyes wander over the wolf's frame for a moment, before speaking up again. "You know....if you need a release....I wouldn't hold it against you."

The large wolf, turned to look at his friend in slight surprise. "Er...thanks," he blushed, his ears folding back on his head as he shuffled slightly. "But I think I can contain myself for a while yet." Auren nodded in understanding, giving the lupine a gentle pat on the arm. Again, Nate felt his stomach warm as he stood with his friend, and he thought about telling Auren what he had told Riku that morning about waiting for the right one.

Unfortunately, they were interrupted before the wolf could open his mouth, a waitress coming up and asking if she could get them anything. Auren politely said no, and the smiling skunk girl nodded and continued on her way to the next table. "Well," Auren said, stretching slightly. "I'm going to go find the traders and see if I can't barter for anything we might need," he grunted, hefting his full pack onto his shoulder.

"Oh...okay," Nate said, his ears falling as he watched his friend walk off towards the back of the club. Keeping an eye on Auren as the youth moved through the crowd, the lupine growled to himself and wondered why he suddenly felt so awkward around his friend. Aside from the lust in the back of his mind, there was also these odd feelings he got whenever he and Auren were alone together, or talking just one-on-one. It was like......like he felt driven to be near him, or protect him, but from what he wasn't sure.

Damn wolf instincts, Nate grumbled to himself, shaking his head and heading towards the bar.

---

Leaving the group of traders he had been bartering with for the past hour or so, Auren hefted the long bag he had acquired with a smile on his face. The bag didn't contain anything really useful as far as supplies went, but when he saw it, he knew he just had to have it. Not for himself, but for Nate. The youth was not blind to the fact that something was bothering his friend, aside from the whole turned-into-a-wolf thing, and tried to think of something that might cheer him up just a little bit. When he saw the object he now carried over his shoulder, he instantly knew that was the ticket to getting a smile out of the muscled lupine. So, a pack of sanitary-wipes later, Auren strolled out of the back room with his gift for Nate.

Just as he was returning to his lupine friend at the bar, a loud crash echoed from outside, as well as a deep roar. Several of the patrons yelped and fled away from the doors when they heard a scream add to the commotion outside. Without thinking, Auren and Nate dropped what they were doing and raced towards the entrance. Sam called out to them, but it was no use as the two friends threw open the door and disappeared outside.

The scene they came across could have been described as cliche, if it wasn't for the presence of all the anthropomorphic animals present. A gang of the hyena bikers they had seen earlier were squaring off with the two burly tiger bouncers, who tried to protect a woman hiding behind them. The woman was gripping the tattered remains of her dress, a gentle dusting of fur covering her skin in evidence to a minor infection that she had caught. Still very much human, save for her canine ears, the woman cowered in fright as the band of hyenas fought to get past the tigers to get to her.

The pair of felines were outnumbered, even though they did their best to contain the yipping, laughing bikers, who jeered and threw taunts at them and the woman they were chasing. One of the hyena's dodged around the tigers, and darted towards the screaming woman. "Hehehe! Gonna be one of the pack soon, sweetheart!" the canine yapped, his leather pants bulging with arousal. He reached to woman and started to tear the remains of her dress off, hungrily grabbing at her as-

WHACK!

A vicious kick from a denim-clad leg jerked the hyena's head back, sending the canine scrambling on its ass as Auren stood between him and the woman, face set in a mask or grim determination. The woman looked up in fright, scurrying back slightly as the youth squared off against the muscled hyena. Nearby, Nate had jumped into the fray against the rest of the group as one of tigers had taken a blow to the knee from a lead pipe, and was nearly downed.

Snarling, the hyena biker grabbed his fallen aluminium bat, hefting it as he looked at his opponent. "Ohhoohhh....you are fricken dead, kid. Gonna make you into a nice bitch for me too."

"Try it, furball," the youth spat, dropping into a ready stance.

Barking sharply, the hyena swung the bat with alarming speed, aiming for Auren's head. The youth ducked quickly, and jabbed out with his right arm, catching the canine in the jaw. A yowl of pain, and the biker took a step back, shaking his head as Auren cringed and cradled his hand. The hyena's face was like hitting solid bone!

Lunging again, the hyena swung the bat, missing Auren by a few inches as it smashed a stone planter, the youth barely able to roll away in time as he nursed his bruised hand. Getting back to his feet, Auren squared off with his biker opponent again as the hyena swung once more. This time, the denim-clad youth stepped into the swing, getting inside the canine's reach and grabbing the bat. Twisting hard, Auren rolled the hyena's wrists downward, forcing the biker down as his hands were wrenched roughly in their sockets. A sharp jab upwards with his knee, and Auren connected with the canine's blunt muzzle, causing him to yip in pain. Yanking the bat from his grip, Auren turned the weapon on its previous owner with a crack, impacting the hyena's head. The biker dropped like a sack of potatoes, knocked out, and Auren whirled around to look for Nate.

The wolf was going all out, claws and fists jabbing out at his attackers, a snarl of his own on his face as he grappled with a pair of hyenas. One of them swiped at his chest with a switchblade, slicing through the thick fur, and causing the wolf to yelp in pain. A harsh blow from the muscled lupine's arm was the answer, and the blade-wielding hyena was thrown through one of the few remaining wooden benches. Another charged Nate with what looked like a metal pipe, likely the same one that had smashed one of the tigers' knees out. The wolf took a blow to his midsection, knocking the wind from him, and he dropped to a knee with a grunt of pain. As his other gang members were busy subduing the remained tiger, the pipe-swinging biker laughed his hyena laugh and strode close to the stunned wolf, aiming for his head with a cocked arm, ready to deliver the final blow.

Before he could swing, a vicious crack sounded as the hyena's leg was taken out from under him, Auren standing behind him with the now-bloodied metal bat in his hands. The pipe-wielding hyena dropped with a high-pitched cry, looking up at his attacker. Auren finished him with a bash to the face, using the handle of the bat."Three strikes, you're out, fucker," he snarled. Seeing their comrades go down, the remaining hyenas decided to retreat, grabbing their fallen members and bolting off, yipping and barking curses as they disappeared into the ruined city.

Nate grunted in pain as the wound across his chest flared, and he bared his teeth when he tried to stand up. Right away, Auren was at his side, the metal bat dropping to the ground with a clang. "Nate!" he yelped, trying to see the wolf's injury. Nate tried to brush him away, but the youth would not be deterred, and pried the dinner plate-sized paw from his chest. "Damn...that looks kinda deep." Grabbing the wolf around the midsection, he attempted to help him back into the club, but the muscular lupine was just to heavy. Fortunately though, Nate was able to limp in under his own power, though he leaned against his friend for support. One of the tiger bouncers was helping his partner inside as well, the woman tucked tightly against his other arm.

Back inside, Auren cleared the nearest table with a broad sweep of his arm, and ordered Nate to lay down. The larger wolf growled in protest, but the look from his friend silenced him. Laying down as he was told, Auren opened one of their medkits and started pulling out bandages. "Heh...once again, you're taking care of me and my injuries," Nate joked lightly, trying to take the edge off their waning adrenaline, even though his chest twinged again.

"Mmm...you may have the muscles, but you'll still just be a big pup to me," his friend grinned as he cleaned the wound with another alcohol wipe. The cut wasn't as deep as it had first looked, but it was obviously still painful as he saw and felt the wolf wince. Working as quick as he could, Auren cleaned the cut and started wrapping Nate's chest with bandages. In order to wrap the long gauze around the wolf's large frame, he had to practically hug Nate to reach around his back. After four revolutions, he reached back again to tie the bandage. Auren's face pressed into the wolf's muscled chest, his arms wrapped around the lupine's body as he fumbled with the wraps.

Looking down, Nate felt himself blush hard as he felt Auren pressed up against him, his sheath tingling warmly once again. Without thinking, he lowered his arms and held his friend against his body, titling his head down to peer at him. Auren looked up with a puzzled expression, not anticipating the hug. "Thank you," Nate mumbled, smiling softly. "For everything."

Instantly, he was rewarded with Auren's face lighting up in one of his brilliant smiles, and the warmth flooding his stomach and groin doubled. "Anytime, Pup," the youth whispered, returning the hug. They stayed liked that for a few minutes, and in the back of his mind, Nate could feel his lusty thoughts turning into something....more wholesome, and he started to understand a few things about the way he was feeling. The two shared their moment together, both enjoying the simple affection after such a heated exchange.

A gentle cough from behind them forced them apart, and the crimson dragon Sam stood there with a pair of glasses filled with water. "Thought my two new favorite friends might want a drink after that," he grinned, handing the water over.

"Favorite friends?" Auren echoed in question, even though he accepted the water and took a large sip.

The dragon chuckled. "Not just anyone around here would run out and help like that without even hesitating, and I know for certain she won't be forgetting what you did any time soon." Sam nodded to a nearby table, where the skunk waitress from before tended to the woman from outside, the half-canine girl smiling at Auren and Nate gratefully. The two companions nodded their heads in return, smiling back at her. Crossing his arms as he regarded the two friends before him, Sam pursed his scaly lips in thought. "You two have some fight in you, and with those skills, you might be able to help others out there in danger. Ever think about it?"

Auren and Nate traded looks with each other. "Us?" the big wolf grunted. "We are barely keeping ourselves from getting raped and/or killed. I don't know if going around looking for danger is the best idea."

Sam shrugged his broad shoulders. "Well, its a thought anyways. From the way to two handled yourselves out there, I daresay you might make a difference. Never seen others with your skill before."

"Skill.....right," Auren grinned, rubbing Nate's bandaged chest. He had meant it as a teasing gesture, but the gentle growl of tenderness that came from the wolf caught them both off guard. Nate blushed and flattened his ears as Auren coughed and looked away, leaving the dragon before them to chuckle quietly.

Blue eyes twinkling with a knowing look, Sam just grinned. "Either way, I thank you. Tony and Jerry would thank you too, once they finish mending Jerry's leg." The dragon turned and headed back to the bar, then stopped. "Oh, and by the way. You two - and your friends - just earned a permanent room here. My way of saying thanks." With that, the crimson drake sauntered off to his bar, leaving the two friends with a lot to think about.

---

"Are you two crazy?"

"Brandon-"

"I mean, you freak out at me for suggestion that infection might be the way to go, and then you pull a stunt like that?" The shorter youth fumed and paced in front of the table where Auren and Nate sat after telling him what happened. It had been almost an hour since the fight outside, when their friend had finally found them in the booth and confronted them about the rumors flying around the club. "What if you guys had been beaten and taken by those horny bikers? Hmm? What then?"

"Hey, we're still here, aren't we?" his blonde friend grunted, leaning against the booth's edge with his arms crossed. "Besides, we couldn't just stand there and do nothing."

"And you call me reckless," Brandon snorted, throwing his hands up as he sat down. The other two just traded a look and rolled their eyes. Brandon had apparently been off talking to the other patrons on the bar when the ruckus happened, and he was less than pleased when he found out what Auren and Nate had done. "Where is Riku, anyways?" he asked suddenly.

Snorting in his water, Nate fought back a laugh as he remembered the fox. "Oh yeah....he's probably upstairs still, er, working his issues out. I guess he doesn't know either." The look on Brandon's face was priceless as the other two shared a look and a chuckle.

"Am I the only one actually thinking with his head here?"

"Gee, I dunno," Auren countered, rolling his eyes. "What were you doing schmoozing with all these people while we were out? Getting phone numbers?"

Instantly, Brandon's face went red and he turned away from Auren, fidgeting a bit. Right away, Nate's humor vanished and Auren sat up straight, alarm bells going off in their head. "I was....uh....talking, to some people," their shorter friend mumbled, playing with his hands. Neither of his friends needed enhanced hearing to hear the hidden meaning behind Brandon's words, and immediately their faces became looks of worry.

"B....what did you do?" Auren asked in a low tone.

Standing up, the shorter youth puffed out his chest in an attempt to conceal his unease. "I made a choice," he said plainly. "And since you two seem free to run off and jump into battle with whomever on a whim, I think I have the right to do things of my own choosing." As he said this, the two friends saw a tall, thickly built equine break away from the group on the dance floor and slowly make his way over to them. The horse said nothing, but came to stand behind Brandon as if there to support him, and the alarm bells in Auren and Nate's heads went up a few dozen notches.

"Brandon...." Nate whimpered, starting to piece it together.

"I made a choice," their friend said again, nodding to the horse behind him. "I'm not going to be the one you have to leave behind or protect anymore. I'm sick of being the weak one of the group, and I'm sick of having to always follow you two because you take the lead in all the decisions."

"So.....I'm going to let Harold here infect me."

///////////////////////////////////////

Dun dun duuuuuunnnnn! :p

Anyways, a significantly longer chapter here, but that's because I tried to fit quiet a bit into it. I don't know if the next chapters will be this long or not.

Guess you'll find out when you cum back!