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The lake and Kikue

Meeting by the cliffs.

AIM rp

Pyroth had come to approve of the cliffs of late, their sheer drop to the glittering waters below were nothing more than a pleasant reminder to him that he did still have some control over his life and the very height of the place allowed him to almost imagine that you could see the faint edges of land on the horizon although you never could.

Today he sat in the sparse grasses and ferns that clung to the rock, looking out over the sea where it shimmered all kinds of colours below. It wasn't the colours that interested him though, after all he was almost colour blind these days and his mind had begun to completely neglect aesthetic beauty. What he was interested in were the scents, the rolling cacophony of smells that were blown up the cliff face as updrafts and carried to his nose.

He sat, like some sort of meditative elder, listening to nothing except his nose, trying to learn the various scents by heart, it was a useful skill to hone, and for his slightly more canine mind, a fantasticly interesting pasttime.


Ambrose had been wandering for most of the day, just letting his feet carry him without bothering to give them much direction. He had stopped back into his duplex late the night before after finishing checking up on Cody, slipping into bed besides the snoozing Angelina, careful to keep the small box away from her notice. He had been elusive, and she had queried him about it, but Ambrose remained vague. He was sure she was suspicious that he was up to something, but as long as she didn't know what then he was good.

He had gotten up early, showered, dressed, and slipped the ringbox back into his pocket before Angelina was awake, stopping by the cafeteria to pick up breakfast to much on during his walk and pondering. He hadn't run into many other people, and so just let his thoughts drift as he walked Eastward for a change, away from the main beach.

The walk was pleasant, slow, and the wind had kicked up enough and the shade on the road from the trees was enough to keep him from sweltering. He wanted the proposal to be perfect... Well, at least as could be managed given their location. And so, Ambrose let the beauty and the naturalness of the island be a backdrop to his brainstorming. Perhaps finding a nice location could help him piece together a romantic event.

Before he even realized it, the scents of the deep, earthy jungle gave way to the fresh sea air as he emerged from the canopy to the thin strip of land before the sudden drop to the sea below. The air, blowing back from the sea, kept his scent downwind from Pyroth - btu at the same time alerted Ambrose to the coyote's presence - a strong canine scent pulling him from his reverie. Ears pricked and suddenly aware of his surroundings his eyes widened as he saw the hunched figure perched near the edge. The decidedly canine form that the man now possessed had not ceased to send chills down the wolfman's back, setting his fur on edge. Pyroth was always a sharp reminder to him of his own potential future. ... and an even more pointed note of the transience of his current shape.

Clearing his throat so as to not startle him, Ambrose approached, ears pricked and tail raised.


Pyroth was too caught up in the breeze to notice the movement nearby that signalled Ambrose's approach even before his cough did. He had been oddly out of thigns lately, avoiding people, avoiding everyone in the main apart from Bobby and Kikue, whom he'd spoken to briefly in one of his better moments. It was for that reason that when he did hear Ambrose' signal that he was nearby he found himself oddly torn between two instincts, fight or flight before his more normal human thoughts kicked those intincts aside and made him look round.

The other canine still took him by surprise, so similar did they look. Of course he had crossed that invisible line slightly more than Ambrose but still, the resemblance was there. It was still unnerving to see the changes from the outside and to realise how other people probably perceived him. But once again it wasn't the changes but the scent that reminded him of their similarity. The coyote was hesitant of the scent, not sure wether Ambrose was friend or foe, but Pyroth knew the other man had never done him any harm and ended that mental debate decisively too.

He grinned, nodding his head in greeting, only growing ore amused at the coyote's face-licking greeting instincts. They were never going to be allowed free reign he decided. "Hello Ambrose, long time no see." he swished his tail in greeting. "Hope I'm not hogging the best scenery." he chuckled

"Hi Pyroth." Ambrose responded genially, his own tail returning the waving greeting as he closed the distance between them and forced himself to extend a hand instead of the greeting that the back of his mind insisted would be appropriate.

"And no problem. I've been enjoying the scenery for the better part of the day by my lonesome, and I wouldn't mind some company if I'm not being a bother." He looked over Pyroth's shoulder out to the endless ocean that stretched as far as he could see with a sigh. A strange combination of the hopelessness and isolation merged with the beauty of the scene - both visually and oilfactorily. Ambrose took in a deep, appreaciatory breath.

"It seems you do have an eye for the choice locations." He returned his attention to Pyroth. "Perhaps I should seek your company more often."

Pyroth shook Ambroses hand with his own paw and nodded.

"No problem at all." he gestured to the grass nearby "It gets tiresome always being on your own." He grinned at Ambroses' comment on his choice of locations. "I don't just think with my eyes anymore, I let my nose find the good places to sit. Besides, most people don't come up here, the breeze can get chilly. That is, when you aren't covered in fur from head to tow." he smirked, despite himself growing attached to some of the aspects of being on the island.

"So how've you been doing lately? Haven't seen you since Colche's birthday and even then it was brief." he enjoyed chatting to the wolf, after all, it wasn't like anyone else on the island could understand his changes as well as someone who had all but gone through them himself.

"I can sympathize with that." Ambrose smiled as he shook the hand, nothing how pawlike the man's hand had become as his own large paw-hand wrapped around it.

"And despite the beautiful scenery and the interesting scents... the heat and humidity can be miserable when you've got a fur coat you can't take off." Ambrose lifted his muzzle again, smiling as the sea-wind whipped around him, ruffling his fur. "This is a nice location. Almost as good as air conditioning" He grinned back at his companion.

"I've been well. Giving some things a lot of thought. Namely forcing myself to deal with the fact that I really don't think we're going anywhere... and how to make the best of things and move forward instead of closing my eyes to it."


Pyroth agreed, he could only guess how uncomfortable Ambrose' fur could be in this climate. He was lucky, his fur was more adapted to warm areas, granted that he would much have preferred slightly more arid conditions than the clammy ones on the island.

"I can only imagine how uncomfortable it must be with fur as thick as that. At least mine is more thin and keeps me cooler than bare skin probably would have. But yeah, definately, if you don't mind your fur getting all salty and numbing your nose with the smells it's a lovely spot. Wouldn't get me up here during a storm though, coyotes can't fly that I know of." he laughed at just the mental image.

As the wolf man spoke of dealing with what they had been dealt he shrugged. "That's pretty much the way I see it these days, might as well settle down and deal seen as I'm going to be here for a while. Can't even remember what cities were really like anymore and part of me thinks that's a good thing in some ways. I wouldn't mind so much really if I knew where I would end up appearance wise, if I'd still be able to think human thoughts. I'd heard we'd just end up like upright animals, but I'm not so upright anymore." he flicked his ear and grinned wryly "But que sera sera, I'll deal with things as they come, in the meantime though I'm having a bit of enjoyment out of these changes."
his grin returned.

"Let's just say that back home I'd never have had the motivation, ability or energy to go out and hunt in a jungle."

Ambrose nodded with a bitter expression on his face. "It's thicker than it was before the last stage. Unfortunately wolves are rather well suited to a Northern climate - temperate forests at the hottest, and those that get snow. I've been... well.. I've made myself sit down and read about my ... 'predicament.' On top, wolves aside, of that I'm from Massachusetts. We don't get weather like this in Massachusetts."

He nodded as he settled down to take a seat, glancing out at the crashing waves below. "I don't mind numbing my nose from time to time - sometimes it's a nice respite from how active and... distracting it can be. Just so long as it's not that... charred scent that filled my nose during the lockout at the helicopter crash site." Ambrose gave a shiver as he remembered THAT smell. "And no... not last I checked." He chuckled in response to the flying bit. "I bet the winds are nasty up here during a storm, not to mention the rocks and waves below."

"I'm glad to hear that you're adapting." He smirked. "Coyotes are good at that from what I've read. As far as changes... I'm with you. Even the labs don't seem to know... other than the fact we apparently have one left. I ... I can't imagine them robbing our sense from us if ANYTHING. I... I hope to keep my hands, my voice... my thoughts.... but at this point it's impossible to tell what to expect. Some people seem to be losing their reason and they're not half as changed as I am. What does that mean?" He shook his head, a small whimper in his words. "I... I can't help but wonder if how ... advanced we are has something to do with us being some of the first subjects... Aubrey has said as much, especially in your case, that they never expected the changes to be as sweeping." He finished quietly.


He nodded. "I didn't smell the scent myself but at a helicopter crash I can imagine what it'd be like. Since the changes I've smelled some things acutely that I don't think I'd ever like to again. It's a blessing and a curse." he frowned "Granted, raw meat and blood smell a hundred times better than they ever did. It'd turn a vegetarian to meat." Just the thought of the scent made him crave it when before he would have been repulsed by it.

Pyroth grinned "Always was someone to adapt before the island, I used to have trouble with it at first, rebelled uneccisarily in my teen years. After a while you learn that some things you can't change. I mean, I'd join in a revolt or something if something like that took place, but other than that I'm willing to relax a bit. The coyote does help I guess, I remember the books mentioning their versatility. Never struck me a adaptable myself, not unless adaptable counts harassing people by tearing open their bins in the early hours of the morning. I'd classify that under "death wish"" he shook his head, he hadn't got along with coyotes in general.

As for Ambrose's last statement, it made it all the harder to hear it aloud, so what was happening to him /was/ an accident. Just his luck it'd seem. "I have a feeling the serums aren't as stable as they'd like us to believe, I mean we are the test subjects, who knows how intense some people would feel the instincts compared to others. I mean, I feel them sometimes, like wanting to lick peoples faces an embarrassing amount, the ears, the tail, wanting to chase things, but I have seen people on the island much worse off in terms of agression." his mind drifted to chubbs who, despite seeming like a nice enough guy, seemed to have a whole pile of intincts seething under the surface.

"You say you've heard from Aubrey? Did she mention how many injections are left?" he frowned.


"It was horrific. And that was even before my most recent change. My nose has grown much stronger since then. I'm glad that I didn't encounter it with a longer muzzle. It clogged my nose, filled it with the stench of burnt rubber, acrid metal and blackened.... person" He grimaced.

"And meat has been... likewise embarrasingly appetizing to me recently. It seems to be all the more fragrant and tantalizing if it's not even properly cooked. That being just one of the many quirks that I've been through." He nodded to each of the urges that Pyroth had mentioned. "All of those... shaking myself dry, being more of a touchy person in general... those I can deal with at least. But I think the most frightening part of it is that they feel like they're my own urges. They come from within, you know? It's not like some people talk about it being "the animal" whispering it to them. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was just what I wanted to do?" He shook his head "It's difficult to explain. I don't know if others are just disassociating... or if it really is like a separate entity to them. At least..... at least the more drastic urges have been .... few. And usually managable if I am not hungry. But.... I... I killed a rabbit once. With my mouth... I didn't even think about it... I had been snoozing near the edge of the river..." He trailed off with a shrug.

"But... I've noticed that sometimes things that play to other urges help. Like... the soccer match was wonderful. I love fencing, don't get me wrong. And I know that I never used to be as keen on group sports - I hated depending on others in a competition - I prefered a single match of skills in a combative setting - like something out of a swashbuckler movie.... I think it's the.. pack hunting instincts..... or maybe I've just been reading too much and am reading too far into things." He sighed.

"But yes.... I... I would probably be the first one on a boat if it was taking us back.... but as far as launching anything myself... I....I think I'm scared." Ambrose didn't know why he was opening up so much to the Coyote -man... other than he felt a strong sense of kinship a hundred times stronger than when he first had met the Native American man and their backgrounds had clashed so strongly, leaving Ambrose feeling uncomfortable. "I am scared about the threat of cancer if the injections aren't complete.... and I'm scared that I'd never have a hope of fitting in back home. That it would just be another research lab to try to figure out what the hell Moreau did to me." He shrugged, wrapping his arms around his knees.

"I don't know if it's the serums... or the person that reflects how strong the instincts are. Maybe it's a bit of both. Jamal certainly doesn't seem to be trying to fight his anger." He frowned.

"But yes.... Aubrey says... that there are five injections in total... counting the one we got when we first arrived. That means... one more for me - and I think you too..... for better or for worse." His ear flicked as he turned his amber-stained blue eyes to the coyote.


"I know what you mean, definately. I mean I sort of categorise or try to, the emotions, reactions and such that I would /assume/ are the coyotes fault, but as they hit me they seem like valid and perfectly normal things to do. I refer to them as the coyote but there isn't a voice, there isn't any indication that I can see that it isn't just me who is suddenly having a change of heart in terms of eating habits. The only thing stopping me from just letting myself react as I'd like to is being able to guess the outcome of those actions." he frowned, it was hard to explain, harder than he would have thought "Though I'm definate that the urge to hunt and flex my newfound abilities isn't all down to the "coyote" part of me just really likes being able to move fast, react fast and regain senses that I was sure had just started down that slippery slope of ageing."

He flicked his ears back almost guiltily "I hunt things all the time, though If you honestly asked me I'd probably say that it's just a way to vent rather than a concequence of the serums." he smirked "Never been part of an islander game yet, but I definately was flying on wings of adrenalin when Jamal and I went out to bring down a boar. Co-operative hunting, it's better than any drug I've even had." he flicked his tail.

He heard his own words from earlier echoed back on him as Ambrose admitted that he was scared too. "I think we all are scared. Terrified. And with good reason, we are forced to be the first line in something humanity should never have touched on. People back home would fear us, that much is true, but it's not that I'm so scared of, it's the possibility that if we did make it back, all we'd be is proof that such things are possible." he flicked his ears back "I know for a fact there are companies out there with as much money and as few morals as Moreau who would seize upon the idea and develop it, harming more people." he shook his head "To be honest I'd rather die than be the cause of that. It was the rescue helicopter that made me think that if a boat home did come along, I'd probably not board it, as painful as that'd be."

He nodded "But yeah, I think it's directly to do with the person. I might not look it at first glance, but I was never a very gentle person, I don't really object to the odd bit of anger when you are frustrated. Giving me teeth and fast legs...well fast /awkward/ legs wasn't really a wise choice I guess."

He shook his head in minor despair at the thought of another injection.

"Well, it better be the injection with the least impact out of all of them or I'm quite frankly, screwed."


Ambrose nodded quickly, "Yes, that's it precisely!" He leaned back on his hands with a bit of a sigh. "So I'm not the only one that feels them like that.... good." His ears pricked as he listened, nodding in harmony with Pyroth's observations. "I've noticed myself moving quicker in reaction to stimuli... from starting at noises to faster response times in sports and the like." He gave a small bitter snort. "I probably would have killed for that when I was on the fencing circuit.... though nooot necessarily with the drawbacks." His ear flicked back.

Ambrose nodded at the venting. "I don't blame you.... I've had the urge more than a few times.... and you need to blow off steam here somehow. Honestly.... Angelina has... uhm... helped me a bit as far as some of my frustrations have gone." His ears lowered to the sides and he wore a sheepish smile as he spoke.

"You went hunting with Jamal..? Hunh. I hadn't thought about doing that.... I... I don't know - I think I scared myself when I went for the rabbit... and... the thought of hunting down food ... snapping at it like... well... an animal.... it's... it's a line that I'm not very comfortable with crossing.... despite how thrilling it sounds." He lifted a hand to rub at his temple. There was the strange conflict of emotions - part of him exalted at the idea of hunting - with another canine - working with him, sniffing out the prey.... it could be even better than soccer... and then the part of him that bottled those urges down, that still clung to wanting to be more than just normal but refined... a gentleman... revolted against it apallingly.

"I hope the last one isn't bad either... Especially seeing as how they seem to vary between injection and between individuals. For some, the first might be much worse than the second... for another... the opposite. But me too... I don't know how much more I can change without starting to lose MY upright-nes.." His ears crumpled back. "I mean... they said they envisioned us to be upright... with hands and our voices... That's where I am now...."

"We... we'd be freaks back home. No matter how you look at it. Even if - like Vasile has mused on - we went public, went to talk shows and got peoples' understanding - it would be sympathy... and a glorified freak show - even if it DID pay. And that's the BEST case scenario. Worst case - like you say, we're just snatched by another, possibly LESS ethical company. ... At least here we're ... taken care of. Have our range of the island... can form relationships...." His tail gave a few thumps against the rocky ground. "Speaking of... I... I think I'm going to propose to Angelina. I... I always talked about it... you know... "when we settled down". "After college". Well... there's no more college now. And There's no hope of Olympics. We're about as settled as can be."

"It isn't really so bad for me, I had just begun to feel like I was getting sort of tired, out of it, older. In some ways these injections have fooled me that I'm a lot younger than I was. Wether that's a true side effect or just my emotions and current lifestyle that are doing that, only really the labs would know I guess." In response to his comment about Angelina, Pyroth couldn't help but grin and laugh. "We aren't all as lucky I'm afraid. For me hunting will have to suffice."

"It was tremendous fun, we caught a boar, somehow. Got pretty scraped up but it was worth it for the runaround and the bacon afterwards was fantastic." he nodded understandingly "Oh I know, I definately see where you are coming from, not everyone is happy with giving that much ground over to the "animal" I mean I was very very hesitant at first and made every effort to fight it, but now its one of the few truly stressless things I get to do. It's not for everyone though, we all react differently I think. I mean lok at me, I can't handle having to drink in front of anyone because I have to lap it rather than drink it from a bottle of whatever" He grinned "But if you ever do intend to come out on a hunt someday, just give me a poke, I don't really care about these things."

He eyed Ambrose for a second, aware that what he was saying was right. "Maybe the last injection is like a fixative or an anti-carcinogen? Maybe it just stops us changing?" he didn't much like the idea of being stuch the way he currently was with all the aches and pains that went with it but it would be better than going further.

He hadn't even thought of going on talk shows and the like "That'd be strange to say the least. We might make money from it but you just know the religious vigilantes would be out to get the abominations, companies would want to study us. All sorts."

Raising a brow he looked surprised. "Congratulations." he grinned "But yes, definately no better time to arrange for the future than here where the future is pretty unchangeable. Have you decided when to propose yet or where?" he looked genuinely interested and smiled reassuringly "Not that I'd say Angelina'd turn you down anywere on the island."


Ambrose nodded, looking interested. "I just hope that our... lifespans aren't affected by all of this. But... given your age and your apparent virility it doesn't seem hampered. And in that, Pyroth, despite being a scary example of how far these changes might take us, that's one bit of reassurence.

He smiled, his tongue lolling. "And don't give up hope! There are plenty of lovely ladies on the island." His tail wagged again, the wolfish grin spreading across his face as he gave his friend a sly wink. "But I shall definately take your offer to heart! It... it does sound like something that... maybe I'll try it someday." Ambrose dithered.

"I hope you're right about the last injection.... but I guess there's no telling. I'd feel bad for Cassidy, though... she's at the same point we are.... and like you she's very... awkward right now it seems, but moreso. I don't know if you've come across her. "

Ambrose felt his cheeks burning, and it wasn't from the heat of the island as he fished out the small black box from his pocket. "I... I've been trying to decide... that's the main reason I took this stroll today - looking for spots.. trying to think of the perfect way to ask. I think... I am pretty certain she'll say "yes".... but I want it to be memorable. I... I'm certainly open to suggestions!" He smiled.


"I'd been worried about the same thing personally but if anything the serum seems to have made me feel better than I did and as far as I see it, that can't be /too/ bad of a side effect." Pyroth laughed along with Ambrose's comment, not mentioning anything further on the subject of the island's ladies. "The offer stands anyway, pretty much any islander is welcome to take me up on a hunt."

"Cassidy?" he dredged his memories for the snake woman "I think I saw her a while ago, I know what you mean about the awkwardness." he fell silent for a moment "Kind of makes you glad you aren't turning into a reptile or.." he thought of a Billy "a mollusc."

Pyroth eyed the box with interest, glad that at least some happiness was in the works on the island. He looked thoughtful

"Well I don't really think there are many places you could go wrong on a sprawling desert island. Depends on Ange though and what places have good memories for you guys. I know you can't see the labs from the beach and it has the most stunning sunsets but there are loads of other places on the island where you could. Even the jungle has it's flowered clearings if you know where to look."

Ambrose nodded, ears pricked as he listened to Pyroth talking about his renewed vigor. "maybe that IS a positive side-effect. I... I've not admitted it much, but I have felt like I have more energy... I love to go just... running sometimes. More than I've actually followed through upon - usually due to the heat, but still. I feel good - I was in pretty good shape when I came here, but ... it's different."

Ambrose nodded seriously. "I... don't like to say it out loud - especially not when I'm around the people with... less fortunate serums.... but I do have to count myself lucky... despite everything. Then on the other hand I feel like a spoiled brat if I ever try to complain about it - because I AM very lucky by comparison to people like Cassidy, Billy, even Amaya. Vasile was talking about the same feelings. NONE of us are lucky in this... we're all having to face the issue of seeing an animal's face in the mirror and realizing that it's YOU. And the fact that that's what other people see when they encounter us.... I have worried... when it IS done... and when you encounter new people who never knew your human face... will they ever see you the same way? It's different... for the old islanders... you remember them as they really were - but newcomers? They meet you as an animal... it has to affect how they think of you...." He shrugged his shoulders. "Stupid, I know... perhaps too much of old habits and worries." His ears pinned back. "But however they think, I'm sure it's ten times better than someone who wasn't sharing our fates would feel... back home..."

Ambrose nodded thoughtfully. "But... those are some good suggestions. I've given thought to the beach... but it is somewhat cliche. The cliffs might be too stark and windy..... a flowered clearing might be nice. I'm not sure about memorable spots... the only one of those was the campsite from the lockout, and that probably woudln't spur the most fond of memories..."


Pyroth nodded "Yeah, you don't want to make things harder than they already are for the less fortunate islanders but sometimes you do have to thank your lucky stars that when you arrived they didn't give you serum c instead of serum a or whatever. I know what you mean about the guilt though, you kind of feel that you don't have a right to complain because you are still a mammal." he sniffed "We really shouldn't feel like that."

He was surprised that Ambrose mentioned something else he'd had on his mind since meeting Kikue and the other newcomers. "That is /very/ true. I mean my appearance was striking before but it was me through and through, now people won't remember me as Pyroth but as "the coyote guy" or something when really I didn't choose to have that part of me added." he shrugged "I was going to call the labs a day or two ago, see if they have a picture of me the way I was before up there. Y'know, as a keepsake, these days I'm forgetting what I looked like."

He laughed "Yeah, that's the problem with an island, everywhere has been done to death. It's not like you could propose on a snowy mountain in a log cabin with a cosy fire while stuck in this heat." he returned to looking deep in thought. "Maybe scout the perimeter of the island, see if there are any coves or anything that you might have missed out?"

Ambrose nodded. "I don't know what pursuaded Moreau to grab the "Wolf" Bottle for me... but I'm glad of it. I still wonder if it might have something to do with their logo... being I was the first subject. But I guess whatever the reason, I'm lucky."

He nodded seriously. "That has been on my mind... these characteristics, the animal has been attributed to us, but it's how people will remember us now... Though, ironically, in getting these serums we ARE becoming more like the animal they chose for us." He gave a small shrug.

"I'm sure they'll have photos... or at least could make you one. Given they have cameras everywhere, I bet they record everything. THey could make a still or something. I... I was lucky enough to have brought a photograph of Angelina and I with me when I'd be away from her for 'two weeks'. So... I've got that in my room at least. It's a bittersweet keepsake. But.. I think it helps. And I like the fact that I have the ability to show it to people."

Ambrose slowly got back to his feet, stretching. "And, that's not a bad idea. I think I will take a look around and see if anywhere speaks to me." He returned the smile to Pyroth as he slipped the ring case back into his pocket. "Thank you. For the talk, for the suggestions. And... if you ever want to do more, you know where to find me."

Pyroth nodded "I'll be sure to leave them a request on the com later, try my luck, you never know with the labs." he wagged his tail gratefully "Nah, thank you for taking the time to have a chat with me, good luck with the proposal, not that you need it!" he grinned "I'll be sure to come pester you again soon to find out how it went."

Ambrose clapped him on the shoulder and grinned. "Best of luck with your request! And I'll look forward to telling you all about it!" Ambrose waved to Pyroth and trotted off in a general Northward direction, continuing his exploration of the seacoast.

First encounter with Ang.

You knew by now that there was a final injection. The rumors had been whispered between the subjects that it wasn't done yet. But yet, hope remained that perhaps, that last injectino like the first did not bring with it another change. So when you wake up that morning, in a slightly different position than when you fell asleep, and with a soreness on your left arm... you know that it's happened.

Sometimes before the changes you didn't even notice the pinpricks on your arms, or it was easy to mistake for a bug bite. The changes came unannounced then, with no period of waiting and anxiety. But somehow, deep in your gut you know that it's more than that.

IT's several hours before you start feeling the effects. It begins with a feeling of restlessness, of feverishness and this sense that something is building up inside of you, poised. When what little remained of your mane of red hair begins to fall out... you know it's started... and that there IS in fact a last change.

Everything seems to start to hurt at once - your face, your chest, your hands, your feet, your back, and there's this sickening grinding sensation as bones begin to twist and distort, accompanied by an immeasurable pain that seems to come from everywhere. Not like the last changes that was one step at a time.

Your chest barrels out - your ribcage deforming to become wider between your sternum and back than from side to side. Your face pushes out, your muzzle becoming even longer, your forehead flattening. Whatever sinous curve your spine had left straightens and bows as your hips turn forward and misshape, locking you into a completely quadrupedal build. And your hands and feet become even more pawlike, facilitating a rapid movement. Your thumbs and big toes, however, remain - your big toes becoming large dewclaws and your thumbs remain just barely enough to still be somewhat servicible . Additionally, Your arms are have more of a range of motion than a normal canid, but still less than a man's, and thankfully you can still speak.


When it's all said and done fore, and you lie panting for breath, what is left could no longer be recognized as ever having been once a man.

Yes it's me.

Meeting with Ambrose.

It was night on the island, the oppressive heat of the day finally surrendering to the cloudless night sky and relenting just a little. Pyroth had lost count of the days it had been since his transformation, lost track of everything since that single moment in the cafeteria, his brain basically freewheeling for a while. However now it had come to a point where he could ignore the reality no longer, he was out of drugs, out of alcohol and out of options. As it was he lay on his bed, half curled, looking out of the door which these days had to be left wide open to the elements simply because he panicked when it looked like there was no way out.

For some reason it had never been harder to face the mirror but at the same time it had never been harder not to look. Now that he had lost that haze that had surrounded him the last few days, the bottomless feeling in his gut before the transformation was back tenfold. Always night, it was always night time that made him think to deeply, dwell too long on things, fear for the future. Unknown, it was the fear of the unknown that lurked within every human being that still stalked his mind in some places where the animal hadn’t reached. He wished he was the religious type, at least then he could place his fate in the hands of whatever deity he had faith in. As it was everything he’d been told as a child seemed woefully inadequate, false idols from tales that rambled with no meaning endlessly through time. Human things, made to house cosy human morals and human instincts.

Not his.

He wanted to run, stretch his new abilities, see what it was like to be a canine charging like lightning, more agile than a cumbersome human could hope to be, armed with teeth and senses that gave the impression someone had turned all the dials to 10. Just the thought of it quickened his breath, flashed images of the hunt through his mind, coyotes were animals and therefore exulted in survival and instinct over thoughts and logic. Pyroth was closer to them now than what he had been and he could feel that all-encompassing joy just waiting to be evoked.

Finally he embraced his fears and getting to his paws, faced the mirror.

What he saw reflected was not him. Not him as he had been. Not even his eyes held that human glimmer in their depths, cold animal eyes, scared animal eyes. Pyroth was gone, all that was left was a spark in the mind of a coyote.

Looking like this, what was the point of pretending he was human any longer? He might as well practice what he preached and do what he told Ambrose he would, make a new identity for himself, one that dealt with his problems rather than repress and amplify them.

That meant hunting. That meant letting himself do what he wanted to.

Wriggling out of the restrictive shorts he’d been wearing in a sort of vain grasp at retaining human modesty he stretched, looking out at the night rather sadly. It was the first day of the rest of his life and he’d never be going home.

He leapt, landing on the porch only briefly before breaking into a run towards the jungle, tongue lolling as he galloped with all the speed that a coyote could muster, tearing across the ground like a bolt of sand-brown lightning. All too soon the undergrowth swallowed him up as he leapt over a fallen log. Barely even breaking his stride he slid from a charge to a lope, easy and springy as though all his muscles were resting, only using the merest effort to propel him. He had thought it would feel unnatural, ill fitting as his last shape had, but it did not, he felt as though he was flying, a sleek and magnificent creature, free from the flesh that had once trapped it.

Out here the night and the unknown didn’t scare him. Didn’t phase him. Here in this place, he was no longer Pyroth, he was part of the night, part of the sounds of life around him. Bones once stiff from lack of use responded to his every request and he felt young again. It wasn’t so bad really. Not as bad as the old him had made it.

With a joyful howl he moved out to hunt.

Tommy

Halloween party? Bobby to the rescue!