Richard

“We're not friends," the voice at the other end repeated.

“Aren't we, really?" Rich huffed, “We've known each other for more than a decade now. Worked on twenty-four separate cases together, and now it turns out we're not friends?"

“You're just a coworker..." there was a loud sigh, “I shouldn't have to go over this again. What do you want? How did you even get this number?"

“You have to come back to the office. Everyone wants to see you again."

“You know I can't go back to work looking like this..." the voice at the other end said, sounding desperate. “Who's everyone, even? Luke? Lucas Jackson wants me to keep working for him?", there was a laugh.

“That's not what you said the other day." Richard replied.

“I was finishing my duty. That's done now."

“So what are you going to do? Kill yourself?" he said, before leaning against the table, rubbing his eyes, “Look, no, don't… don't do that."

“I'm not going to do that."

“Everyone's excited to see you again, you know? They're interested in your… condition."

“That's the problem."

Rich sighed, “You're not the only one, you know?"

Darius didn't reply.

He continued, “Oh, yes. We've had reports from all over the country. The government wants to keep it hushed, but it won't last very long. They're still figuring out how to approach this mess."

Darius laughed. It was a relief Richard could still get a hearty laugh out of his partner “Bastards. And what are they going to do? Kidnap us for experiments or something?"

“I don't know." Rich paused, thinking for a while before speaking,"People are still dying of A3, you know? We don't want to give them the wrong idea… this is all a very strange situation.

“Besides, what are they going to say? That people are suddenly becoming animals? We don't know anything about this… err… let's call it, 'mutation'. We don't know if it makes you radioactive or something..."

“It doesn't." Darius huffed again.

“Well, we don't know. We also don't know if you can even reproduce. We don't know if it makes you more prone to cancer. We don't even know if you can eat chocolate."

“Is this supposed to convince me to go back?"

“Look… I want to help you, it's all. If you don't want to go back, that's fine. But let me help you."

Darius didn't reply. “Why don't we go for some coffee?"

“Can you still drink coffee?"

“So far I haven't died."

“Alright, I'll pass by. Are you still living in Willis street?"

“No, I… Apparently being dead is a breach of contract. I've been hanging out in my car," he grumbled, “Besides, I hated the place."

Rich paused for a moment, considering how much the whole thing had affected his partner. “Great! I'll see you at Brita's. Are you comfortable with that?"

“Yeah, yeah. I'll see you in a couple of hours."

Brita's was a coffee shop just outside a small commercial square in Truma District. The two used to have their breaks frequently there since it was just in the middle point between the two of their homes and the office. It had an ample parking lot and outdoor tables, which made it an island of calm in an otherwise busy city.

Rich was surprised to find the oversized fox sitting in one of the outdoors tables, looking rather distraught, but otherwise dressing simply, with a red t-shirt and jeans. Whatever secrecy he may have displayed a week back was apparently replaced by a complete lack of care about what anyone would have thought. It wasn't like anybody could recognize who he used to be, either way.

He stepped out of his car and walked towards his (former?) partner, looking around to see if anyone was as preoccupied about the bipedal canine as they should have. It was rather surreal, not just because his former partner was literally a fox, but because no one seemed to care much about it. A few chairs away, a couple sat, having a lively discussion, and beyond that, there was a kid sitting alone, fiddling with his phone. Not even the pedestrians on the sidewalk gave it any interest.

“I thought you didn't want anyone to see you." Richard said as he took a seat.

The fox's ear swiveled towards Rich, but he didn't stare at him after a couple dozen seconds had passed. “Oh?" he asked, “I guess we aren't dealing with murderers anymore," he mumbled.

“You know, people might freak out," Richard spoke almost in a whisper, leaning forward.

Darius narrowed his eyes, “They won't. I already tested it. Everyone thinks it's some kind of costume. They think you're some kind of nerd. At worst, they want to pet you," he shrugs, “And it's not like they can arrest me for being outside."

A waitress interrupted their conversation. She didn't seem to flinch as Darius looked up, “Ready to order?"

Darius smiled, “Just a double cappuccino, darlin'."

Richard was staring intently at the fox. This whole situation was beyond surreal. “Same," he said.

The fox turned to him once again, “Besides, you know, I still have my badge."

“Except you're supposed to be dead."

“Yeah, that might be a problem," he scratched the side of his head, “Do you think they can take my picture again?"

Rich rubbed his head, “I don't think we have a protocol for this situation," he stared at the fox for a moment, and then grinned, “Besides, you look kind of adorable now."

Darius waved his hand and made a 'pfft' noise. “You think that's cute, but that's not even the weirdest thing I've been told."

“Look, everyone is really excited to see you again. It's not even because of this… How many people can say their coworker came back from the dead."

Darius didn't reply. He grabbed his coffee as soon as it arrived, and took a long sip.

“You know dogs can't have caffeine?" Rich said, taking a sip of his own.

“Well, I can," he grumbled. “Why do you care so much if I die or whatever? We were never even friends."

Rich brought a hand to his chest in mock offendedness. “Again with that? You're like a brother to me! I care about you."

“Yeah, sure."

“What have you been doing, either way? How are you supporting yourself?"

Darius took another sip, “well, I had savings," he mumbled, “But those dry way too easily when you have to drink bottled water and eat out every couple of days because you don't have a kitchen." He frowns, “Admittedly, I was really scared that someone would see me and freak out as you say, but that hasn't happened so far. Not a single time."

“And then?"

“And then…" he paused for a moment, as if considering the answer, "...and then lately I've turned to begging. Just a couple of hours a day." he shrugs, “I am… a bit more successful than my peers, as you can imagine."

Rich narrowed his eyes again, “That's awful." He muttered quietly.

Rich frowned when his phone buzzed in his jacket. “Let me just take this one. Stevens? Yeah. Yeah… I'm speaking with him. I don't… I don't know. He… He doesn't want anything, sir. Yes, I know, sir."

He sighed, putting his phone back in his jacket.

“Look, I can't imagine how this whole thing has affected you… but you obviously need help," he turned to the fox, “You don't have to work again. I mean... if you don't want to. But you can't keep living in the streets like this, man."

Darius shrugged again, “What am I going to do, exactly?" he looked back at the human, leaning forward “This… I'm not this thing. I can't be Darius again, Rich," he whispered, “What if I have another accident? I couldn't… I don't know how anyone will take me seriously."

Richard raised a brow, “You mean the bite?" he asked, “That was pure self defense, man. I would have… I would have done the same!"

The fox looked to the side, staring at a couple of pedestrians. He seemed distraught. “I don't mean just that," he sighed, “And you know that's not true."

“It's true!" He protested, “Look." He leaned forward, “I didn't want to go there, but they have an offer for you," he says quietly, “Ten thousand, weekly, in exchange for a few medical examinations. You go back to your life, and things go on as normal, I know it won't be exactly the same, but in time-"

The fox balled his fist, “So that's what this is about?" he growled, leaning forward. In response, Rich backed towards his seat. It was truly terrifying. He could feel his heartbeat rising. “Experiments? That's what I am now to you? To them?"

“It's not like that!" He shouted, “Come on, just… just consider it. I want to help you."

“No! Fuck you!" the fox shouted, his jaw parting terrifyingly, “I can't believe you dare to tell me we're friends with that kind of horseshit..." he leaned back, panting a little “Go tell them I'm gone. And don't try to call me again."

Richard stared at the creature, panting slightly before leaning down on the table, massaging his forehead. “Goddammit, Darius..." he sighed, “You never appreciated how difficult it is to track someone down. Always one for the exciting parts." He pursed his lips, pausing for a moment to get another look at the street next to them. “Or especially how difficult it is to strike a deal with the goddamn army to let you come voluntarily on your own terms. With fucking pay on top of that," he says, “I was hoping you'd appreciate the effort," he shrugs, “And well, you did ask me how the government's been handling this whole thing."

Before Darius could even reply, a pair of arms grabbed his chest, squeezing the life out of him. He felt a cage wrapping around his snout. A leather muzzle, tightened way too heavily to back of his head. The fox-man squirmed, kicking the chair and the table as he felt himself being lifted up. Three men held his arms and torso, dragging him away from the coffee shop and onto a small van.

“No, no need to hurt him, come on..." Richard calls as they take him away. He massaged his forehead a bit more, hearing the doors of the van slamming shut and screeching as they drove away. His phone buzzes for a good ten seconds before he picks it up.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. It went well, I suppose," he says, “We're on our way."

Owen

He didn't stop until he was sure no one from town would accidentally run into him. As he ventured further and further into the dense foliage, it all started to seem like one big mistake. Perhaps he really had overreacted. But, good Lord… what if someone saw him like that? What would his parents say? What would his sister say? Looking at his hands for the twentieth time that morning, he felt a burning shame that rose to his face up to the tips of his new ears. What the hell was he?

Perhaps all he needed was to ponder about his game plan before anyone could discover him. Make this go on his own terms.

At least he wasn't feeling sick anymore.

Instead, he was hungry. Terribly, awfully hungry. He hadn't had anything to eat since early the past day, and he could hear his stomach groan loudly at the lack of food. It caused him a faint feeling of pain. Panting lightly, he took a seat to rest.

The forest was rather hilly, adorned with small cliffs and mountains that made the trek difficult. He had to circle around a cliff to find a path, and that path would usually lead to another cliff, and another hill, and another cliff. The morning sun was starting to seep through the leaves, giving him a slight warm that was rather comfortable, even with that thick layer of fur that now coated his body. About twenty five feet ahead, he could hear the steady stream of the nearby Lucky River, and over him, birds and critters made all sorts of faint noises in the forest.

With a long sigh, Owen stood up and walked the short path to the river. He stepped on a large rock over the water and crouched. Narrowing his eyes, he took a good glance at the creature that stared back from the reflection.

He ran his fingertips through the fur of his cheek. What was he, even? He was some kind of animal, with vaguely familiar patterns. Certainly not one he'd remember seeing in real life, but perhaps seen a picture or two online. His white snout was rather short, a white contrast to his red face. His nose was a nothing but little dark button. His sister would probably think he was adorable. The thought mortified him momentarily.

After making sure it was dry, he sat down on the large river rock. He reached back towards his tail, and it took him about five attempts and all his concentration before he managed to grab it. It jerked back every time he tried to reach it. The stupid limb had a mind of its own. And it was long, about long enough to reach all the way from his back onto his forehead, and maybe more. The stupid limb protested like a crazed snake even after he had it in his grip.

He took a big breath before he managed to calm it down. He was looking goofy enough as it was. Carefully, he brought it to his face. It was the same auburn color, with much redder rings along it. He pressed a claw on it and grunted as he felt a little jolt of pain coming from it. It was… strange, for sure. A location of pain he'd never felt before. He'd have to get accustomed to that.

“This is awful," he muttered, “I don't even like animals."

It was true. It wasn't exactly like he hated critters, but he never understood people's obsessions with them. He had a dog when he was a child, but after he passed away, he never felt the need to get another one. People who talked about what it'd be like to be an animal seemed weird to him. What was wrong with being a person?

Well, now he was some monstrous mix of an animal and a person. It was truly the worst case scenario.

He noticed the sun over him. It was getting hot. He took off his shirt. It was much more comfortable without it rubbing against the hair in his body, but it didn't get any less hot, thanks to that thick layer of fur.

And then his stomach groaned again.

“Fuck…" he mumbled, standing up. He was hungry. He needed food right away. It felt like he'd collapse at any moment. And clean water. At least he still had his phone with him.

Clutching his shirt, he stepped away from the rocks. Carefully. He wasn't going to let a clumsy accident ruin his only way to contact someone on his own terms.

At least he wasn't completely lost. He knew the forest more or less well. When he was a kid, he used to visit with his family. Of course, there were better paths for vehicles, but he could somewhat tell where everything was. If he was standing on Lucky River, then that meant he was only about five miles away from Arnestville, the 'twin town', as they were known.

After twenty minutes of more cliff-climbing and walking, he reached a large grassy area devoid of trees. Cell reception, at last! But also farmers. Maybe. He hid behind the trees in hopes that nobody would see him.

The phone rang about three times before they picked it up.

“Hey…" Owen started.

“Owen? We tried calling last night, but your parents said you were sick." A female voice answered.

“Nancy? Oh, yeah. I'm better now. Are you doing anything today? I need to ask for a huge favour."

“Sure, what's up?"

“Does Henry still have his car. I need you to pick me up. I… uhh… need you to hide me. Please."

Nancy didn't respond. Her faint voice was heard over the line during a few excruciating seconds. She was speaking to someone else in the room.

Moments later, someone else took the phone.

“Owen?"

Owen chuckled nervously. “Henry…? Oh, yeah, it's me."

“Are you okay, man?"

“Oh? Yeah, yeah. I just need you to pick me up. I'm standing on the road to Arnest, do you know those plains where Lilly and Dan used to go at night…? Do they still do that?"

“Uhmm, Hon…?" Henry called back to Nancy, “Could you write that down? Three miles on the thirty six," he said before turning back to the phone. “Why do you need us to hide you?"

“What?"

“Why do you need us to hide you?"

“Oh, just... Just something I said. Duuude I just need you to pick me up. Bring something to eat. I'm dying here."

Henry paused for a few moments before seemingly replying something to Nancy. “I don't know, could be…" His faint voice sounded over the phone, covering the microphone.

“Henry?" Owen called.

“Yeah I'll be down in a moment. Just hang in there. Don't move, okay? Meet us along the road. What do you look like?"

“What?"

“What are you wearing?"

“Just…" Owen couldn't help but blush. “Just a red shirt and black jeans. It's a long story."

“Yeah, yeah. We're on our way."

With that, Henry hung up the phone. What did he look like…? Well, he'll find out soon enough.

Darius

“So, just tell me again, what color do you see here?" The plump man in the coat said, holding a cardboard print with the color wheel and a handful of squares of different hues.

“Green." He repeated with another grumble. His arms were crossed over his chest, out of boredom more than anything. They'd been at this for more than an hour, with questions ranging from pointing out different shapes, to telling the name of things. He felt more like a child than a strange creature they'd brought in for close examination.

The plump man looked at the skinny man sitting by his side.  They'd brought in a doctor and a veterinarian. Both of them looked pretty old. Must have been the best of the best to be here with the test subject.

“And this one?" he pointed at another square.

“Blue." Darius sighed.

“And this one?"

“Pink."

The two men stared at each other again.

The skinny man leaned forward, “You know dogs are dichromatic, right?" he says, “You shouldn't be able to distinguish these colors." He pointed at the pink square.

“I've been informed of that." Darius replied. “And I'm not a dog."

“Well, awfully similar. A red fox." the skinny man said with a smile of fascination. “Vulpes vulpes."

“I'm not a fox either." he grumbled, narrowing his eyes, “What did you bring me in here for? More questions about my eyes?"

“Oh, no, no, no." the doctor, the plump one said. “We just want to know a few things. How you're feeling, how well your brain is doing… you know, that kind of stuff."

“Well, I'm feeling mostly annoyed. And a little hungry." he shrugged. The plump man immediately dropped his cardboard cutout, before frantically scribbling on a small notepad on the table, “No… don't… don't write that. That's not important." he rubbed his temples in annoyance. “Listen, am I free to go? You can't hold me in here, you know." He looked back at the guard on the door.

“Just stay a bit longer, please. We'll finish in a moment." The plump man said.

Darius grumbled before looking back at the two. The veterinarian leaned forward and examined his head carefully. Darius momentarily felt the need to snap his muzzle at him, but he thought better of it if he wanted to get out of this one alive. The man had a wide smile that bordered on a grin, and he seemed to be in deep fascination with the shape of his snout.

“You're a beautiful specimen, you know that?"

Darius closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, “Please don't say that to anyone ever again."

The veterinarian leaned back on his chair, “Err… I mean… taxonomically speaking."

The doctor looked at his notes and then back at the fox, “So, for this next part… would you mind taking off your clothes?"

Darius widened his eyes, and he was about to snap again when he heard a knock at the door. His right ear swiveled for a moment before he looked back. The guard uncrossed his arms to open the door. It was Richard.

“Hey, guys. I thought it was time for a little break," he said, placing a hand on the fox's shoulder and squeezing lightly. Darius looked up at his former partner with a frown, “How's he been doing? Doing fine?"

The doctor was frantically reading his notes and the veterinarian had a smile that he couldn't seem to be able to hide.

“Oh, he's been great," the plump one said.

“Incredible." The skinny man nodded in agreement.

“That's good to hear. It'll be just a moment. Dar?"

As soon as the two left, Darius stood up, “Fuck you," he grumbled, walking towards the door. The guard stood on his way. He stood there with a frown.

“Let him go." Rich instructed. When the fox stepped out of the door, Richard quickly paced behind him. They'd brought him to a small military base just outside town and had arranged an interrogation room for with medical equipment for his examination. Soldiers paced all around the hallways around the intricate complex. “Come on, Dar!" He shouted, “What other option did I have? They've been all over my ass since they learned about your situation! They don't want to hurt you, they just want to learn."

The vulpine man stopped in front of a coffee vending machine, and Richard stepped forward, “You can't keep ignoring me, man!"

“You've always been a child.", Darius muttered before turning away to the hallway, finding a bench to sit.

“Look, I just want to talk. Like friends."

“You're not my friend," he muttered, rubbing his temples, “What do you want to tell me?", he sighed, “I don't care about your money. I don't care about… whatever they want to learn. I just want my life back. And you're just making it worse."

“I know, I know!" Rich sat next to him. “Look, when this all blows over, you can go back to work like nothing happened. You'll get your life back. They'll find a cure, I'm sure."

“There is no cure!" The fox shouted, “I've been looking at this over and over. There's no going back! The virus changed me for good. Short of getting infected again… there's nothing we can do."

“You don't know that!" Rich said, “Besides, even if there wasn't… what's the worst that could happen?"

Darius buried his face in his palms. As best as he could, at least. “You just don't get it..." he muttered. “I'll be a monster forever. Fuck. They'll just keep me in here and do these silly tests over and over, and you better believe they'll get less silly given the time," he sighed, “Tell me, how many people survive A3?"

Richard moved his mouth up and down, as if trying to find the right words, before staring at his phone, “About… nine in one-hundred," he said, placing a hand on the fox's back. “Look, man, you are a survivor. And you're not alone. That's a lot of people. People'll figure this out and eventually return you your life."

He stared at the ground. “Yeah," he said quietly, “Why do you even care?" He looked back at the human.

Rich flashed a little smile, “Hey, if twenty-four cases don't make a friendship, nothing will."

Darius couldn't prevent himself from chuckling a little.

“We're not friends," he replied with a little smile in his lips.

Rich had tricked him, kidnapped him and brought him to some secret location. And yet, he couldn't be as mad as he probably should be.

Darius sighed after a while. “Do you have a cigar?"

The rest of that evening was uneventful. The couple of doctors insisted in a full physical examination, which lasted about forty five minutes. The pay had better be as good as promised.

Afterwards, they brought him to a small room fitted with a bed, a nightstand and some military clothes. There was dinner, too. Two lone pieces of chicken legs. Perhaps the guys in the coats didn't want to risk giving him anything but meat. It was a miracle the thing was cooked at all.

But he couldn't complain. The food was filling and no one was bothering him. For the first time in who-knows-how-many weeks, he could finally sleep in a proper bed. Darius fell easily in a deep slumber, and dreamed he was back in his human body. His actual body.

Nancy

“What do you think he morphed into?" she asked as she put on a pair of pants. Owen's call had been rather inconvenient, but now she was feeling excited.

“Morph? Is that what we're calling it now?" Henry asked with a raised brow as he cleaned his glasses with his shirt.

“I mean… transform sounds rather ugly, doesn't it?" she chuckled, following Henry out the door and onto his car, a stocky Sedan from the 80s. It was a miracle the damn thing still managed to turn on.

“Well, we don't know." He sat down in the driver's seat and turned on the ignition. “We don't even know if that's what happened to him."

“Oh, please. It's obvious, isn't it?" she leaned against the window as they passed along the houses of their little ol' town. “Why else would he find himself in the middle of the forest after being ill. He obviously freaked out and ran away."

Henry made a 'pfft' noise. “There are lots of reasons people run away," he said, “Maybe he told his parents he's gay and they..."

“Owen came out like ten years ago!", she protested, “And his family has been very supportive, for your information."

“I'm just saying." Henry shrugged. It didn't take much longer for his car to leave the little town that was Ashen Springs. “We can't just assume that for him. You know if he did… that means he almost died, right?" he asks in a bleak tone.

“I know. We can't tell him that, though. It'll just freak him out."

“A3's no joke." Henry muttered. The car bumped as the asphalt turned into rocks, leading them to the hilly road that lead to Arnestville. “But the worst has passed, at least."

Nancy huffed in agreement, looking out the window. “He's going to freak out," she said, “You know Karen bit Andrew when he found her in that warehouse?"

“Yeah, and she's apologized like a thousand times already."

“He got like a million shots."

“He's fiiine. Besides, he did call us. I don't think he's going to go that crazy. Did you bring the food?" He asked, turning to her for a moment.

“Just some of that leftover pizza. Hope he likes it."

“Hope he can eat it."

“What do you mean?"

“I mean… if what we think happened did happen after all, then we have no idea what he can even eat." He shrugs. “Just… hope there's nothing in that pizza you wouldn't give to Sammy."

“It's just ham and cheese," she says, “Worst that can happen is he's gonna be a little indisposed."

Henry shrugged, mumbling something about biology or anatomy or whatever. Nancy entertained herself looking out the car window The rest of the ride was thankfully uneventful. The morning sun was slowly casting itself more heavily over the green plains. It wasn't too hot, but she wondered how their friend would be handling the heat.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the aforementioned plains. Dispersed cows and sheep grazed around with apparently no supervision at all. It was large after all. Owen, morph or not,  was nowhere to be seen.

The two stepped out of the car, looking around. Henry grumbled, reaching into his phone and dialing his friend's number. He picked up immediately.

“I'm seeing you..." He whispered to the phone, “Just walk into the forest, about ten feet into it. I'll be right there."

Henry rolled his eyes. “He says we have to walk in there."

“This is freaking me out," Nancy whispered.

“I know, me too," Henry said, the noise of dead leaves filling their ears as they walked forward. “Owen?"

“Okay, now…" Owen said through the phone. There was a big sigh, before more leaves rustled in the ground.

From behind a tree, the creature stepped forward. Very clearly a red panda, with an auburn-and-black coat and an incredibly long ringed tail. He looked down at the ground, rubbing his arm. “This is me. Owen."

“Oh my goodness!" Nancy shouted, stepping forward with a huge grin on her face. “You're adorable!" Extending her arm, she made a reach for Owen's face.

“No! Stop it!" He batted at her hand, taking a step back, “Don't…!" He took a deep breath, “It's me! It's Owen…! Don't touch me, please.", He furrowed his brow. “Did you bring the food?"

Nancy looked at the cardboard box on her hand. “Yeah… it's a bit cold, I think." She says, handing it forward.

Owen opened the box and dipped his snout in it, the little black dot of a nose twitching slightly as he smelled the leftover pizza. Immediately, he reached in and desperately began to eat. How cute.

“Oh my god. I was dying." He said, swallowing and mouthful and continuing eating. “Do you have any water?"

Henry offered the metal bottle, and Owen chugs from it just as desperately. The red panda sat against the tree and ate as if his life depended on it. Perhaps because it did.

Henry stood there with his arms crossed, watching as Owen practically swallowed the four slices they brought him. “You feeling okay, man?"

Owen looked up, his nose still twitching slightly. He paused for a while, thinking his answer. “Aside from the hunger, the thirst and the lack of sleep… I'd say I'm surviving." He replied.

“Ain't that so?" Henry grinned.

Nancy gave him a punch in his shoulder. “You must be really shocked."

Owen finished his meal in less than five minutes, and chugged more water before replying.

“Shocked?" He laughs, “I woke up in this fucking… thing, freaked out, ran out into the forest and found myself dying of hunger. I'm a bit more than shocked. If this was some sort of video game, I'd be dead"

Nancy crouched down in front of him, examining him… Contemplating just how utterly precious her former classmate had become. How could he not be content in that new body?

“You're not the only one. You know that, right?", she finally said

Owen looked up with his eyes wide open. She just wanted to give him a hug then and there, but resisted.

“What?" He asks.

“It's true." Henry nods, “we've had four cases in this town alone. Arnestville has had one so far."

“You're kidding."

“What? You thought you were special or something?" Henry smirked. “Tough luck."

Owen stood up, wiping his muzzle with his forearm. He'd worry about messy fur later. “That's… That's great news! I need to talk to them, Henry!"

Henry nodded. “Of course, that's the game plan," He smiled, “Gene has a small cabin near Birdcall Mountain. That's where the others have been staying We can get you there until you're ready to… come out."

“Please, oh god!" Owen cried. “I need you to hide me."

“It'll be okay." Nancy said, placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing lightly. That thick coat of fur was just so soft.

“Yeh, don't worry." Henry chuckled, leaning forward. “Besides, it's not like you got the shortest the stick as far as… Morphs go." He looked back at Nancy with a roll of his eyes.

“What do you mean?"

“Don't worry about it. He's being silly," Nancy patted him in the back, leading him out to the parked car. The red panda stopped right before the forest ended. “Something wrong?"

“N-nothing." He said, stepping forward. “I'm still not ready for… other people to see me."

It took a few moments for him to step out, following Henry and Nancy to their car. Owen sat in the rear seat. Nancy covers his body with a bedsheet that was lying in the car, before giving him a light brush and sitting next to him. Not long after, the stocky cars made its way towards Birdcall Mountain, about half an hour away in the bumpy road.

“So, who has died?" Owen finally said.

“What?" Henry looked back for a moment.

“You shouldn't worry about that."

“I'm… saying… this is about A3, right? I was thinking about it all day. It has to be," he shrugged, “But the news are saying everyone who gets A3 dies. Is that true?"

“We've had twenty three confirmed deaths." Henry replied.

“Henry…", Nancy said.

“Mostly people from the outskirts. The entire Norman family. A guy name Peter Heeds. Lucy, Dev and Gus, from high school.", He looked back, “Remember them? They got infected at a party, same as Shane. And a bunch of others I don't want to recall."

“Oh." Owen muttered.

“Henry, stop it." Nancy protested.

“What? He asked." Henry sounded annoyed. “After the party, the government guys came by and cut our water supply for a week. Quarantined the entire town. Your folks didn't tell you?"

“I had no idea."

“Doesn't matter now. If they find out what happened to you they'll probably freak out again."

“And how many survived?" Owen asked, his ears lowered.

“Three."

“Henry, come on. Seriously." Nancy called, “it's not funny."

“Linda, Shane, Devon. Four if you count Lucas."

“Why wouldn't he count?", Nancy shouted.

“Well, you know…" Henry shrugged.

The black furred hand of the red panda that was Owen reached towards Nancy's, pressing gently. She replied in kind with a smile.

“You're fine." Nancy said. “The worst has passed, and after all this blows over, you'll be able to get back." She smiled.

“I hope so," Owen replied, looking out the window.

The trio didn't speak for the rest of the ride. Owen entertained himself by looking out the window at the forested landscape and the gravel road, while Nancy simply leaned against him, softly stroking his back. Henry seemed more annoyed than anything, occasionally grumbling and staring at them from the rear-view mirror, but he didn't say anything for the rest of the ride.

Around twenty minutes later, they reached a wooden cabin in a small clear at the base of the mountain. The three stepped out. It was significantly colder than it had been back in town.

Owen followed Henry and Nancy towards the entrance. Inside, it was rather cozy, but nothing special. There were three 'morphs', as Henry had called them, and one human girl, who was looking distraught at some game show on the television. A clearly female tasmanian devil was busy with an electric kitchen, cooking something in a pan, while a male brown tabby cat sat on the opposite couch, shouting something at the TV, and lastly, a male coyote sat on a desk farther from the living room, writing something on a laptop.

The scene was immediately disrupted when the three entered. Four sets of eyes were staring directly at them.

“Hey, Henry! Is it groceries day again?" The cat called with a grin, “Never too much food."

“No, it's not that." Henry rolled his eyes.

“Another transformed?" The coyote asked, staring at Owen.

“I think morph is a better word." Nancy corrected.

“Henry, you know we don't have space…" The tasmanian devil lady turned around. She sounded and seemed somewhat older than the others.

Owen was starting to blush. His tail was swaying madly behind him.

“Okay, everyone, stop!" Henry shouted. Everyone immediately paused. “Yes, we do have space." He stared angrily at the marsupial, making sure everyone was finally quiet. “Alright... Geez. Owen here really needs a place to stay. Like all of you, he has no idea what could happen if they see him back in town. I hope you'll all be as sympathetic as Gene has been by giving us this place.

Henry took a few steps forward, “Owen, this is Devon." Henry pointed at the coyote.

Devon distracted himself from the laptop to wave at Owen, “Hey." He said simply.

“This dumb cat here is Shane. You know him from school."

“Hey man! Didn't think I'd see you again." He grinned, offering a hand-paw. Owen grabbed it nervously. The cat had the biggest grin he'd seen in his life. He looked somewhat like the Cheshire cat from Alice in Wonderland.

“This is Linda."

The tasmanian devil nodded, taking her attention away from the food.

“And this is Jessica." He pointed at the human girl sitting in the couch, looking distraught.

Owen raised a brow, but he didn't say anything.

“Should we introduce him to Lucas?" Shane asked with that toothy grin in his face. “Does anyone have a camera?"

“I do." Devon said, standing up and walking to his room for a moment.

Jessica was blushing heavily.

“Jess?" Henry called her attention, “Would you mind?"

“He's busy," she replied.

“Come on… it'll be just a quick greeting."

Jessica bit her lip. “Alright." She said quietly, standing up.

Owen was starting to look increasingly nervous.

“Hey, if they don't want to…" he told Henry.

Henry chuckled a little, “Don't worry, you'll see why in a moment."

As Jessica walked towards a closed door, she opened it to reveal a rather small bedroom. Henry, Nancy and Owen followed behind. The other three 'morphs' followed them like a parade. Shane, the grey tabby cat, had a camera clutched in his hands.

Jessica had crouched close to a nightstand, saying something into it, before looking nervously back at the group that followed her. Nancy simply crossed her arms, but Henry actually seemed to be enjoying himself.

As Owen leant forward, Jessica lifted her hand from the nightstand. Owen couldn't believe his eyes. Today had been a crazy day, but even that hadn't prepared him for what he saw.

Standing in the nightstand was a mouse 'morph'. No more than three inches in height, smaller than the girl's fingers. With a grey coat of fur, he was dressed simply with a small piece of fabric that wrapped around him like a toga. He shifted nervously on his feet, looking at the group gathered around him.

“That's Lucas." Henry said, bumping a little into Owen. “Lucas, this is Owen. He'll be living here with you guys."

The mouse lifted his arm and waved nervously, swallowing before replying. “Hello there, Owen."

The red panda blinked a few times, staring at the miniature animal-person in front of him.

“What the hell?" Was all he managed to say.