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It was remarkably similar to the day before.
This only built up the anxiety in Emerwyn, not for herself, but for Ian. He had suggested it, asked it of her, but was he prepared for this? With a smile hiding this fear, she entered.

For a moment, she hesitated, not sure how he'd feel if she sat on the bed next to him.

Emerwyn sighed inwardly a sigh of relief, and walked over to the bed, settling down right next to him.

She looked at him, and smiled.
"Happy birthday."

It was up to him to decide what to do next. She was ready for anything.

Emerwyn slipped into it. Her hands came so slowly up around his neck.
Her body was held close to his, warm fur on warm fur.

The powerful force between them was shared, and they didn't have to be afraid anymore.

This was all new for Emerwyn. New in so many ways.
She let her body completely relax, unafraid of what would happen should she let her guard down. Ian was there. Ian would protect her. And she would stand by Ian.

Time slowed, elapsed in their sweet reverie.
Nothing existed that they didn't want to exist. The bed was not there. They were amidst green leaves, soft with gentle dew. Cares of the human world evaporated around them in the sun's sweet warmth. Every touch was scared; their eyes radiated, reflecting the earth.
Love was born, faith strengthened, and hope renewed.
In this place they had made for themselves, evil was banished, and every hardship was bearable, for they were together.

The next morning, after a night full of nightmare, Ian awakes as his next transformation finally begins to take hold. Your face muzzle spreads out further into a more defined muzzle, the bones on you face contorting and stretching. As your fingers and toes, which have already started to harden and blacken at the nails, fuse farther into more hoof-like proportions. The center of balance in your body shifts as your neck and chest are thicken and gain bulk, causing you to hunch a bit when you walk.

The most frustrating part of your transformation, at least as you'll discover when you try to walk, is that your right leg remains relatively unchanged, while your left leg painful grows digitgrade. Your foot stretches and expands, leaving you only able to put weight on your toe-hoof.

Ian woke up still on his bathroom floor. Staggering to his feet he waited a minute for his vision to clear. After passing out, no new changes had occured, and his legs were still uneven. Anger welled up in the deer's chest and his eyes narrowed. This was it, he needed to speak with someone. Using the wall as support, he managed to slowly make it to the intercom and press zero. "Anyone there?" his voice betrayed the barely contained anger.

"Main Laboratory can I help you," a bored sounding male voice answered on the other side.

Oh great, who was this yahoo? The voice sounded really bored so Ian assumed he didn't have much authority except to comply with some ridiculous requests. "Do you have the authority to answer some of the questions I might have?" There was a lot of sarcasm in that response, Ian did not want to have to deal with any morons.

"That depends on the questions, but considering the tone in your voice, I have a feeling probably not. Please hold for a team leader." The line clicked to white noise for several moments, only little green LED light on the panel indicated he was still connceted at all. After a few moments, a female voice came on. "Dr. Lockheart, how I can help you, Mr. Campbell?"

Ah, so the man wasn't qualified. While he was put 'on hold' Ian took some deep breaths trying to control himself. Anger would probably not go well if he was answered by Moreau or some such. But he was given Dr. Lockheart, he had met her once, she was nice. "Dr. Lockheart, I fear that a few things might have gone wrong in my latest change." His voice was calmer, but not by much, he was extremely angry about the whole thing.

"Yes, we've noticed. Your feet, correct?"

"Mainly," he was also worried about his back, but being mobile was his first priority. "How am I -" no, that wasn't what he wanted to say. "How did this happen," he asked instead.

"We've noted it, but to be honest weren't not too concerned. You have another injection in a few months. We're fairly certain the problem will correct iteself." From the other side, the sound of keyboard keys could be heard clicking. "There was a relatively small amount of lab animals that developed a-symmetrically, which is what it looks like is happening to you. You see, on a deer the 'bend' in the leg that most people call the knee is actually their ankle. It looks from the videa at least that one of your legs just developed more than the other. If you'd like, to be sure, you can let me examine it personally."

"No, I believe you." He didn't want to wait a few months for another injection. "When you say correct itself, does that mean that it'll change on its own again before the next injection or will I have to wait?" He was trying to remain calm, but panicked thoughts were going through his head. He remembered the attack announcement and knew that there were dangerous predators on the island. "What if I encounter," Ian swallowed hard. "What if a predator wants to eat me?" His throat closed up as deer instincts went into a panic with the prospect of a rpedator. "I can't stay in my duplex forever." Which brough about another problem which he would mention later.

"We can't be sure, but it probably won't grow to match your other one until your next injection. If you want something to help you, like a walking stick or a cane, we can help you that department. But from the looks of it you can probably get around relatively unhindered with a bit of practice. And you shouldn't have to worry about the predators, Mr. Campbell. There are no natural predators on the island capable of bringing down a full sized human, cept for a crocodile, so be careful abuot the River. Otherwise, you shouldn't have to worry about the i slanders. For the most part they aren't muderous yet, save towards staff." She gave a bitter chuckle. "And we're always watching."

Joy. Things just kept getting better and better. Though Ian could understand being angry at the staff. "Perhaps a quarterstaff would be helpful." That way, when he could walk again, he could have his favorite weapon to keep in shape with. Quarterstaffs were really useful. "And one more thing, if it is possible. . . While I am still able to open doors with a bit of work, could I perhaps get a new door that is easier for me to open. I am unsure how well I will be able to open doors after my next injection." His breathing was heavy, he was not looking forward to the next few months at all.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I'll a team right on that."

Ian felt faint, but before he just hung up on the nice doctor, he ventured one more question. "By the way, are you recovered from your injuries?" Ian did not share the malice that most other islanders had towards the labtechs.

Aubrey smiled at her desk. "Getting there. I've got a long way to go, but the fact that I'll be recovering at all is good news to me."

Ian was glad for her. "Thats good. I don't feel very well so I think I'll be going now. Thank you for all your help." He looked at the intercom and grimaced. Things could be worse - at least he wasn't a slug.

"Let us know if you don't feel any better soon... " Aubrey hoped something was going wrong with the serum. Annie was recently brought into the labs for a sick feeling after changing. "But best wishes. Goodnight." With that, she clicked off the intercom

Ian would return home later that day to find Emerwyn, still collapsed on the floor.
Her book is crumpled beneath her, a torn page with photos glued to it cast off to her side, and a paper just beyond reach of her outstretched hand.
The smallest trickle of a thin, red liquid trails from her mouth, where her head lies sideways on the ground.
She has a steady pulse, that of one in deep slumber.
Occasionally, however, her breathing catches, and her body gives an abrupt shudder. It just as quickly subsides, and she sleeps on.

What troubled dreams haunt her mind?

Maybe the letter that fell from her hand holds the answer...