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Synopsis: Becca has recently completed her graduate program and is now figuring out the next step of her life. Her friend Julie drops by one day with a plan to help her friend achieve a lifelong dream through use of a magical trinket that can grant its users one wish each. However, unintended side effects occur as the two discover their individual wishes manifest in a peculiar way, granting them a unique opportunity to help someone in need.
*******
It's finally over.
Three years of slaving away at the university had finally led to Becca achieving the graduate degree she had always dreamed of. Countless late nights greeting the sun before bed, chewed fingernails, and a host of supportive friends all along the way was now officially translated into the credentialing needed to further her passion for computer science. It was almost unreal. Becca was sure there was still one more paper, one more advisor meeting to attend, but there was nothing more to do than celebrate now. She'd start by finishing the rest of her delicious triple fudge ice-cream container she had been saving for this special occasion, only a few shallow craters carved into its surface from prior emotional mending. No earthly force would beseech her away from her respite.
A knock at the door jostled Becca away from her chocolate-infused paradise.
“What's shakin' bacon?! Girl, I know you're in there, so open up!”
Becca voiced a muffled groan, swallowed her current bite, then begrudgingly set down the remaining portion of her ice-cream on the end table.
“I'll be back.” she promised to her dairy-based companion.
She slipped on her fuzzy panda slippers and shuffled her way over to unlock the door to the smiling face of her best friend Julie.
“Congratulations!” Julie exclaimed, wrapping Becca up in a fierce hug while bouncing her weight back and forth on each leg. Becca was certain that if technology advanced far enough to utilize human excitement as an energy source that harnessing Julie alone would resolve many of the world's current crises.
“Oof...hey there Julie.” Becca said, finally managing a brief reprieve to catch her breath.
“I thought you were going to be dropping by later for us to head out and get dinner or whatever.” Becca asked, spying a stretched tan handbag filled to the point of bursting strapped across Julie's shoulder.
“Change of plans. I've got something WAY more exciting for us to do. It's more of a long term affair, but I think you'll be agreeable to it.”
“What's that supposed to mean? Here, come in already. I don't want any bugs getting inside while we're yapping away.”
The two sat themselves down on some of Becca's floor pillows, each depicting one of her favorite japanese anime shows she enjoyed watching. Julie fumbled with the bag in her hands like an excited school girl holding the juiciest gossip in town.
“Well, aren't you going to ask what I brought?”
Becca rolled her eyes. “What did you bring Julie?”
“Glad you asked!” she answered without missing a beat.
From the handbag cradled in her hands, she pulled out a leather bundle wrapped in twine. Pulling the knot apart revealed a mass of assorted herbs with the colorful plumage of different birds woven at the end.
“A smudge stick? I get that it's a brand new chapter of my life now, but I don't think we need to be purifying the “energies of my intentions for a prosperous future” right now” Becca said with her hands held out on either side in a faux imitation of a meditative stance.
“Hey! Don't knock that stuff. It's shown to have benefits, both nourishing the body and the spirit. It's efficient. Besides, that's not what we're going to do with this.” Julie continued with a grin.
“This artifact has been blessed to provide a single wish to whoever breathes in its sacred smoke. Once the wish is identified it will be fulfilled within seven settings of the sun, after which time any effects used to gain the wish will vanish. If the wish is communicated to another person, spoken, written, that kind of stuff, then the wish will cease to be for that person...forever.”
Becca waited for Julie to say how she was kidding, how it was all some joke, but her eyes were dead serious.
“That sounds a little extreme. So let me play devil's advocate here with my own rationality for a moment. If this...artifact is able to grant a wish, what stops me from wishing for more wishes?”
“Purity of intent. It means if you aren't super serious about what you are wishing for, then it's not going to happen, and you get no take-backsies.”
“Julie...you've come up with some pretty hair-brained schemes before, but where did you even get something like this?”
“Amazing what you can find on the internet these days. After it shipped, I had it blessed by a friend I know upstate. Don't worry, they're legit.”
“Don't worry she says.” Becca echoed with a condescending tone.
“Alright, fine. Then tell me what's the rest of the stuff in the bag for then?”
“Well, I took a stab at guessing what you might wish for and wanted to get some preparations in place.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
Julie flipped the handbag over and poured out an assortment of objects: various plush toys, heartworm medication, a soft, starry blanket, and a silver-banded collar with a golden tag dangling beneath it. On closer inspection Becca saw that the tag was engraved with her name.
“You got me dog stuff? Don't you think suggesting puppy play is a little presumptuous on your part?”
Julie bit her lower lip and folded her arms, averting her eyes from Becca's scrutinizing gaze.
“I don't know Becca. You go on about it sometimes. What it would be like to be a dog, “No worries, no nothing; only food, sleep, and all the pets I could handle.”. Those are your words. At first I thought you were kidding, then a little odd to keep at it, but I could see you were sincere about it. I know you've been through some stuff before, so I could understand how something like that would be cool to think about, and well, if that was what you chose then I only wanted to be prepared for you to be happy during that time.”
“Oh....that's...actually pretty thoughtful Julie. I honestly don't know why I say that kind of stuff. That's usually only when I'm feeling down from school or family....things like that.”
“I get it. Really, I do.” Julie said reaching out her hand to rest atop of Becca's. “So, are we going to give this a try?”
“I guess, yeah. You went through all this trouble. Might as well see if it works like you said. At least then we know if you should have gotten a warranty on the thing.”
“I think cosmic technical support canceled their two-year coverage a while back now.”
*******
Julie stood up, pulling out a lighter from her pocket aimed at the base of the magical artifact held tightly in her other hand. Becca took up her invitation to join her and stood opposite her, her heart already beginning to thrum up into her neck in anticipation. She didn't wholly know if any of this was possible, but a piece of her wanted to believe that it was.
“Is there a time limit on deciding for this kind of thing?” Becca stammered.
“I don't know, but faster is probably better.” Julie said while lighting the upper end of the woven bundle of herbs and leaves. She closed her eyes as drifting trails of gray smoke slowly swirled about her face. Becca closed her eyes then too.
What am I going to wish for?
I could wish to have a personal trainer that sticks around afterward to help sculpt away this extra tum-tum. No...that's not worth it. Maybe I should wish to be a dog. That would be the easy choice huh? But, Julie's only half right. Me wanting to be one...if I'm honest with myself it's for something different. Yeah, that's what I would want.
I wish that....
Becca focused her mental energy on projecting her wish as loudly as she could in her mind, solidifying an image of what she hoped could come to be. When both were said and done, Becca began to sway from side to side, feeling light-headed. She reached out a hand to the nearby end table to steady herself, but only succeeded in sliding her hand across its polished surface and knocking over the bowl containing the last of her ice-cream. It crashed and shattered on the ground, green and white porcelain shards piercing through the remaining partially melted chunks.
The sound snapped Julie out of her own stupor as she stumbled backwards onto the floor.
“Woah, Becca, you ok?”
“Yeah I'm fine. That was weird though.”
“You felt dizzy too afterward?”
“Uh-huh. Must have been the smoke.”
“My body's feeling weird now though, like something's really off.” Julie said rubbing at her belly.
“It feels that way for me too. Almost...unsettled I guess is the word for it. It's like my body's getting ready for something really huge to happen.”
“Come on Becca, let me help you clean this up.”
Becca voiced a defeated sigh as her hand slowly mopped up what was left of the ice-cream on the ground. While Becca lamented the loss of her tasty treat she noticed that Julie had frozen in place with an odd look on her face.
“I thought you were helping.”
“I am, but don't move. What the heck is this?”
Julie tightened her fingers over where she spied a clump of dense blonde hairs trailing down along the back of Becca's neck.
“It's soft, almost like...fur.”
Becca reached a hand back to confirm what her friend had felt, and bit her lower lip in confusion.
“I didn't wish for that...”
“Um....maybe you just have been having a bad reaction to something. Sorry to point it out.”
“No worries, Julie.” Becca said, clenching and unclenching her hands while focusing on her breathing. She looked back up at Julie and now it was her turn to adopt a confused expression.
“Maybe it was something we both had. I hope it wasn't some weird food-poisoning strain. Have you been having pink-eye or something?” The iris of Julie's right eye was different, larger and darkened from its warm green to a pale, muddy brown. She excused herself to check in the bathroom mirror, a scream soon following seeing her reflection in the mirror. When she returned to the living room, Julie's gaze was focused and forlorn as her trembling touched over the space around her brow, feeling a faint peppering of smaller hairs sprouting around the space there.
“I think I get what's going on...we'll be fine Becca. Just have to let whatever happens happen. Guess I was right to get all that stuff earlier.”
Becca gritted her teeth, baffled by what the actual process of her body changing in such a dramatic fashion would actually be like. She resigned herself to whatever would transpire. It was already too late to back out. She had agreed to try, and there was no malicious intent from Julie that she could detect. Hopefully her wish could still take place even if she were to become what she had yearned to be for these past few years.
*******
Time passing only compounded on their suspicions as more patches of fur-like hair began to sprout on other parts of Becca's body. The hair was silky smooth, soft, and golden blonde like that of the golden retriever her family had when she was little. Most of the patches were hidden from view, although the itchiness of its growth nagged at the back of Becca's thoughts. Throughout the entire episode of one of her favorite anime series she was rubbing her back against the edge of her couch like a bear satiating an itch against a tree. Becca's feet steadily tingled, fingers brushing across their soles detecting an added roughness and thickness to the flesh there. Becca caught Julie's turned head watching her self-examination of the blunted points of her elongated nails and she hesitantly showed her changes in comparison.
Julie had not been exempt from the furthering of these incredible changes. The edges of her ears had grown out with a slight droop to them, and at the other end of her body her toes were beginning to round and swell into the beginnings of more paw-like proportions, her nails darkening into the precursors of dark brown, blunted claws. Her left eye had joined the right in its more distinctly canine appearance: a pair of large, muddy brown pools gazing out into the world.
“I need to go out for a little bit.” Becca said suddenly, grabbing for her jacket to hide the thin patches of fur along her forearms. “I'll be back soon, I promise.” she said to her friend who was busy fixing up a batch of nachos from the fridge.
“Oh ok...um...don't get caught up with any handsome fellows at the park then.”
“Ugh Julie, that's gross.”
Becca left then, hearing the muffled sound of her friend's laughter from inside, amazed at her ability to stay so calm during a situation like this.
To be fair, she half-expected this to happen, so that probably helps somewhat.
Becca traveled down the street and entered the local pet store, filling her basket with what she estimated was enough dog food to last the two of them for the week, and paused at the kiosk for custom tag engravings. Becca had an idea came to mind, which startled her from the accompanying sudden feeling of her stumpy, bony tail wiggling to and fro for the first time. She quickly entered in her selection and once the tag was made, paid up front with the rest of her items.
The front cashier noticed the slight roughness to her palms as she fumbled for exact change.
“Uhh..you alright there miss?”
Becca smiled, showing her slightly elongated canines. “Yep, I'm totally good. Why wouldn't I be? Thanks.” The cashier doubled his pace, and watched the strange woman leave the store, swearing that he could see something sliding around back there inside her pants.
“I'm not paid enough to deal with all these weirdos.” he commented before getting ready to clock out for the day.
*******
Returning home, Becca peeled off her shoes which had grown tight while at the store, and saw that they had begun to change too, the end of her foot widened with rudimentary thickened pads forming beneath each toe. Then she freed her tail which eagerly slid out into view, its rapid growth in the store leaving it nearly as long as her forearm now, and dusted with more golden hairs like the rest of her body. Becca breathed a sigh of relief. She itched across her belly with curled knuckles, her growing coat of fur uncomfortably matted down beneath the fabric of her shirt.
“Hey, you're home.” Julie commented, picking her face up from where she had been eating the nachos she had prepared. Julie extended her tongue to lick over the front of her nose, highlighting the slight muzzle she now possessed. “Everything all good?” Julie asked seeing Becca's furrowed brow and unbalanced stance.
“Yeah, it's just...the fur's gotten pretty tough to handle, but I don't want to go flashing my tummy around for everyone to see. You know I'm a little...self-conscious about it.”
“It's only me here Becca. You don't have to worry about that girl. Think of it like removing a bra at the end of a really long day. Give it a try to see if you at least feel better.”
Becca followed through on her friend's suggestion, rolling her shirt up to let air pass over the expanse of golden hairs trailing across the full reach of her belly now. “That feels a bit better now.” Becca said, turning to investigate the contents of one of the bags she had brought over.
“I guess I make stuff like that worse in my head than it is in real life.”
“Woah...you too huh?” Julie further added, spinning in her seat and focusing on the space to lightly wag her own smaller tail hanging behind her.
“Yeah...it doesn't look like it's slowing down much at all. I got this for you too.” Becca said, handing Julie one of the smaller bags. Julie eagerly dug inside and pulled out a purple dog collar with a golden tag that read “Jewels”, her childhood nickname.
“If we're going to be spending a whole week like this we need to prepare for whatever could happen. You got me one so that way if we change...all the way, I'd be safe. I don't exactly plan on getting picked up and dumped off in the pound anytime soon. I thought I'd extend the same courtesy to you.”
“Aww...Becks, that's super nice. I shall wear it proudly!” she said pounding her hand on her chest.
“Do you want to spend the night?” Becca asked, her tail swinging to and fro gingerly.
“I can't imagine you're going to be heading back home looking like that.”
“And what's that supposed to mean exactly?” Julie retorted.
“Like you're trying to get some tail.”
The two women laughed to the point of tears, and once they were able to breathe again, Julie humbly accepted Becca's offer.
*******
Their gradual transformation progressed through the evening, both experiencing dreams of running faster than they ever had before. Julie woke and took inventory of the suite of changes that had washed over her during the night. Her human hair was now blended partway into her golden fur, which covered the majority of her body. Her hands looked like her feet from the previous night, brandishing thickened digits tipped in claws, but her feet themselves were even more extremely altered, with only their increased size hinting at her old form.
Julie stumbled out of bed to see and down the hall to see Becca lounged in front of the window, nude if not for her dense, golden fur soaking up the sun's morning light while she contentedly wiggled her heavily padded toes. Becca's breasts had reduced in size significantly, and trailing down her chest and stomach now were two neat rows of smaller teats. Her chest had become increasingly barreled and her shoulders had slid part-way back up along her back restricting the range of motion of her arms. Despite all of this, when she spotted Julie, any air of bashfulness or shame was absent, her previous self-consciousness erased in the embrace of her new appearance.
“You look different. I can't quite put my finger on it.” Julie said with a toothy grin.
“I'm not sure if I can either even if I wanted to.” Becca replied, holding up her exceedingly paw-like hands.
Becca found that she was no longer able to use her hands to easily open devices around the house and was resigned to using her teeth and head to push and manipulate most objects around her. Working the remote to watch some shows on TV was a struggle, but their teamwork helped to offset some of the difficulty involved.
The hours flew by. Becca's tail continued to lengthen as the day had progressed, and now swished behind her as she went about her daily actions. Her nose had grown wet and cold, and in her field of vision was the start of her muzzle from her projecting face. She spotted Julie resting on her makeshift perch by the window, watching a man with his dog walking by. She unleashed a remarkably authentic bark, her paw-like hands digging into the soft pillow below her before she shook her head from side to side.
“What was that about?”
“I... really don't know. It just sort of came out. I saw that man and then I couldn't stand seeing that dog down heading towards our territory! Bruhff!” she barked suddenly in Becca's face, immediately pulling her ears back in embarrassment. “I'm sorry...I mean...your house.”
“I think I get it. Julie, come help me with something. Let's do this now while we have the chance.”
Julie fetched the pair of collars set aside, and each helped put the other's collar on. They made preparations for the next few days then, leaving portions of food and water around the house in case they could no longer access it. Becca unlocked and hinged the door slightly open as well, so if either of them needed to take care of their natural business it wouldn't have to be inside the house. When their hard work was said and done, they were exhausted. They decided that going to bed was best and so Julie and Becca curled up together for another night's sleep.
More vivid dreams occurred throughout the night, their senses heightened within them, both whining and rolling as the slow burn of their transformations continued to roll over them. By the time the sun drifted again through the slatted blinds, it was difficult to discern the women as having originally been anything other than a dog. Long, silky fur covered their bodies and broad muzzles tipped the ends of their faces. Only a sharply punctilious eye could find the various inconsistencies in their proportions, gait, and mannerisms.
Becca remembered little from this third day. Her thoughts were incoherent, blurred and mashed in between new circulating senses and instincts. Although the world as she knew it through vision had waned slightly in her reduced visual acuity, everything else had opened up many times over through her sense of smell. Breathing in the scent of her friend beside her filled Becca with feelings of peace and calm. The two golden retriever women ate, rested, and at one point their play quickly grew into a full wrestling bout there in the living room. Two-legged stances were abandoned for four. Human sensibilities tossed out for primal freedoms. Growls, whines, and play-filled yips were heard from the two dog-women as they happily enjoyed the simple matter of their existence until they were ready for bed once more, circling their sleeping spot together thrice before settling down into a large, golden heap.
*******
When they awoke the next day the world carried a different hue. Becca's thoughts swam through her mind as if coated in a heavy, dense fog. She could only recall bits and pieces of her old identity and life from before becoming a dog. Becca could assemble some memories into hazy images, but she surprisingly found that aspects of others had become even more vivid. She recalled the scent of her mother holding her from when she was a little girl, and recalled the feeling of her fingers brushing through her long hair rolling down her back. Becca whined and shook her head, the pain of her loss still acute after these many years.
Julie adjusted easily to her new body, although she was oblivious to some of the limitations of her new canid form, attempting to give one of her overwhelming hugs to Julie which brought both of them flat onto the ground in a meshed furry heap. The two golden retrievers could not communicate with human words to each other any longer, but their increased acuity towards the other's body language made up much of the difference.
After briefly exploring Becca's apartment, Julie caught sight of the front door hinged open as they had left it the previous evening. She beckoned Becca with a quiet huff and a swish of her tail, curiosity leading her as she promptly vanished from view. Becca paced her paws back and forth in front of the door anxiously until with a surge of resolve she squeezed her head through the gap and emerged out into the bright world.
*******
The dogs had no concrete plan for their makeshift adventure today, led only by instincts neither of them could readily identify. They had traveled a few streets down when they came across the local dog park. Becca sat back on her haunches watching the other dogs playing at their owner's side or resting in the shade. For the most part they all looked happy. They had someone they could rely on, and that person on them in kind. People or most living things for that matter probably didn't need much more than that she figured.
A quick bark from the other side of the iron fencing spooked Becca to an alert stance, her ears lifting while her tail stuck out straight behind her. She saw that the offender was Julie who had taken the initiative and shoved her way inside the park from a nearby open chain-link gate. Becca dashed inside as Julie had done, and the two of them were able to explore the park properly.
The other owners didn't pay much attention to the roaming pair, figuring their owner was among the small group waiting at the nearby shaded benches. Becca heard a loud sniffing sound nearby, followed by a cold touch on her rear end. She yelped, then growled seeing an ambitious male dalmation making a point to get better acquainted with Becca. She landed a swift kick to disorient the now quite confused dog who rubbed a forepaw to nurse his aching muzzle. Becca trotted away, growling under her breath, sure her face would be flushed red with embarrassment if she were still human.
Ugh...person or dog, men are all the same.
Becca scanned the area in search of her friend who had vanished in the brief time she was handling the dalmation. She finally spied Julie seated at the edge of one of the benches where only an older woman was sitting all by herself. The woman was petting through her fur with a sweet smile while Julie panted with her tail wagging behind her at a mile a minute. Although the old woman's skin was sagged and wrinkled, her pale blue eyes were bright, focused, and twinkled with kindness.
“I've been here a while and haven't seen anyone come with dogs like you. Oh dear, you've got a collar too. Let me see here...” the old woman said while bending down and reaching out a gentle hand.
Becca arched her back, curling her tail slightly between her legs while licking her nose.
“It's ok girl. I won't bite. I don't have any teeth for that anyway if I wanted to.”
Becca sensed the woman's friendly intentions and eased enough for her to wrap her fingers around the golden tag dangling at her neck.
“Becca huh? Well I've already met your friend Jewels. Here, have a bite. I've already had enough.”
The woman shared small samplings of the sandwich she carried with both of them, and after savoring the delectable bite, Becca allowed her to pet her across the top of her head. The old woman spent some time thereafter trying to locate the owners for these two lovable dogs, but no one claimed them or knew who they may have belonged to. They appeared to be well-fed and groomed, so to the woman it was clear that someone must have been taking care of them. Finally feeling like she had exhausted the resources around her, the old woman turned to the dogs again.
“If you've got nowhere else to go, would you like to come back with me?”
*******
Becca and Julie followed the old woman back to her home close to the outskirts of the town they lived in. All the while, Becca watched people going about their daily lives: going from here to there, chatting, laughing, extending kindness or in rarer cases anger and misunderstanding.
Her pace is slow, but at least that lets me look around a bit more.
When they finally arrived, the old woman ushered the dogs right in. The old woman's house was well-suited for her: small, simply decorated, and filled with knick-knacks of all kinds, the epitome of “a place for everything, and everything in its place”. Lines of books filled her shelves, nearly all coated with a fine layer of dust. In a far corner opposite an old television the old woman settled herself into a large armchair, rubbing the tops of her aching legs while she wistfully stared at an old, cracked photo on her shelf depicting herself and another man, both in the prime of their youth in front of an old diner .
For the rest of the day the old woman showered Becca and Julie with a range of pleasantries: treats, a bath, and construction of a makeshift dog bed beside her own from two adjusted bundles of knitted blankets, and for much of that evening they listened to tales and stories from this old women. She learned that the old woman's name was Ethel. Ethel spoke about good times: memories of a family now lost to the passage of time, silly anecdotes and customs from bygone years, and her own furry companion who had passed away only last year. With her body curled up in front of the woman, Becca whined, sharing in the old woman's loss and pain. At one point, warm tears soaked into her fur and Julie comforted Ethel with gentle licks across her hands while distracting her with more pets. When Ethel had finally fallen asleep in her chair, Becca walked over to grab one of the knitted blankets from her bed in her mouth. With a quick flick of her head she loosely laid it across the old woman's lap before bedding down for the night at her feet, thoughts swirling with stories from an unsettled past, feelings she knew all too well herself.
*******
The next day, Ethel contacted a few local agencies to attempt to locate the owners for the pair of lovely dogs in her home. No one could provide any information to assist her, and told her what she had figured at this point: that they had most likely been abandoned at the park and that she was welcome to bring them into a humane society or other adoption facility. Despite the setback, Ethel smiled and decided to make the most of the day.
“Come on you two. There's something I need to do now, and I think you'll like a nice surprise.”
Ethel grabbed a pair of dusty leashes from a coat hanger, and fastened them to Becca and Julie's collars, her eyes carrying a similar pained expression to the night prior. The three headed out then, Becca's eyes widening as she caught a glance at the dalmation she had run into from the other day straining at his leash while they walked by the dog park. Becca hastened her pace, wishing to avoid a repeat incident from the other day at all costs.
“Oh my! I guess you really did want a walk today.” Ethel called out with a small, crinkled smile on her face.
Eventually, Ethel led the pair into a large building with a set of wide, wooden double-doors and what appeared to be a small grassy area nestled behind. She was greeted at the front by a sharply-dressed woman with tied-back brown hair.
“Oh, you have new friends with you. How wonderful. The kids will love that you know.”
As they walked down the hall, Becca saw the hallmarks of kids arts and crafts: hastily colored scribbles, splotches of glue pressing up beneath cut out animals, unevenly folded edges, the rudimentary foundation of human creativity.
“I volunteer here to read to the kids.” she said to Becca who had stopped with her head tilted towards a particularly interesting depiction of an octopus. “They don't have a lot of people who come and visit them, so I make it a point to.”
Heading further down the hall, Becca's ears lifted hearing the cacophony of little voices at play. Then a stout woman with jet-black hair, a buttoned shirt, and khaki-colored slacks poked her head out from a door at the end of the hall. Her brow furrowed after spotting the two dogs with Ethel.
“Hello Ms. Monroe. You know you're welcome to read to the kids anytime, but as you also know our animal policy has changed..”
“Oh my gosh! There's new dogs now!” one of the kids shouted seeing Becca and Julie standing at the door. “Everyone look!” The kids were immediately beginning to gather around the front door in a mass to get a better look at the new guests.
If the instructor had whipped her head around any faster, Becca was afraid she would have snapped it. “Alan! Inside voice please. Everyone, please put away what you took out, and be seated and ready for extra outside time.” The kids roared a unanimous cheer as they set out to finish the instructor's tasks. The woman with jet-black hair rubbed her fingers hard against the bridge of her nose.
“I don't have time right now for this. I'm going to look the other way for today, but we need to talk afterward about your unexpected surprises.”
“Crystal clear dearie.” Ethel answered calmly.
The children, a group of mixed ages all in one large central room organized themselves with an unnerving silence as their instructor Mrs. Thompson, explained rules and procedures regarding “right and proper” conduct with visiting animals.
“We remember from when Ms. Ethel used to bring Yumyo.” Alan blurted out.
She flashed a hard stare at the one who had spoken out, then gathered herself. “Reminders are good for everyone Alan, since it has been some time since we've had an animal friend visit.”
Once the group had been briefed, they were dismissed outside in rows. Ethel unfastened Becca and Julie's leashes and ushered them outside.
“Go make some friends you two.”
*******
Becca and Julie were an absolute hit with the children. At first the two were tentative with so many voices calling for their attention, but they were soon caught up in their games, getting chased or playfully chasing others, having bits of their fur braided, or snuggled and petted beneath the shade of the large tree in the back of their grassy play area. Standing beside Ethel, Mrs. Thompson smiled.
“Ok, I'll admit it. This is going better than I thought it was going to go.”
Ethel only laughed.
“You should bring them by more often. If they can get these kids tired, then that does half my job for me.”
“Yeah, they really are one of a kind.” Ethel said, watching her two new friends bringing joy to others as they had helped do for her in their short time together.
*******
The rest of the night was spent back at Ethel's home watching some of her favorite shows on television. No one had called Ethel back regarding the whereabouts of the dog's owners, and by the time she turned off the lamp in her bedroom seeing Becca and Julie comfortably dozing on the floor on either side she resolved to take on the responsibility of them herself.
However, it was now the third day since their transformation, and upon waking Becca was already beginning to notice that the changes were already beginning to gradually ease back. Her forepaws had improved dexterity and her shoulders and hips ached as they yearned to slip back into a more human orientation. Julie was similarly affected. Her furry coat was thinner in patches across her body, and her muzzle had receded some as well. The changes were subtle enough that Ethel merely thought her new friends were perhaps sick after their time with the children yesterday, and promised she would be back soon after a trip to the vet to pick up some medicine for them.
When the door had closed, Becca stared at it, feeling a heavy weight form in her heart. She had come to learn of this woman's struggles, and seen the joy her presence could bring. She whined with guilt at the pain she knew she would cause Ethel to feel yet again. However, it was time for both of them to go.
Becca barked and bumped into Julie, gesturing up towards a nearby window. Becca lifted herself up, forepaws landing on the edge of the windowsill. With an audible crack she heard and felt her hips pop, finding that she could stand a bit more easily in this relatively upright stance now. She fumbled her paw-like fingers at the latch to unlock the window while Julie clamped down hard with her teeth to lift up the lower latch. From their sustained efforts, they were able to get the window open barely enough to squeeze through. They both paused and bade a silent farewell to this temporary home and the kind person who had welcomed them into their lives.
*******
Becca and Julie were careful to avoid the main streets, instead opting for travel through the secluded back-alleys. Their noses were assaulted by the rank odor of old garbage and small pools of stagnant water. All the while, their canine forms continued to steadily regress, their limbs slowly adopting more human-like proportions. Julie peaked around the last corner before reaching Becca's house, now standing upright again on clawed feet. The short remnants of her tail twitched nervously behind her, but thankfully the street was empty. They made a mad dash across the narrow street separating them from safety and barged in with exasperated breath.
The last echoes of their changes dissipated throughout the afternoon, all hints of their escapade as dogs now erased. Becca sat with her legs tucked up against the rest of her body, already missing the warmth of her fur across her bare skin. Julie sat down beside her with hands held on the floor, their dog-like mannerisms still lingering, and sheoffered a reassuring shoulder to lean on.
“I didn't know it was going to be like that.” Becca muttered under her breath.
“Me neither. That was really something huh? I had fun though.”
A breath of silence formed between them.
“Did you get your wish? We can talk about it now that it's over right?” Becca asked with an accompanying tilt of her head.
“I did.” Julie answered with a smile. “My wish was to be at your side to support you since you've always been helping me with stuff. I thought it would be nice to pay back the favor.”
“Aw, Julie...that's really cool of you. Thanks.”
“So out with it girl! What did you wish for that caused all of this to happen?”
“Well...I wished....that I could be a friend to someone who really needed it. I guess whatever force we invoked mixed the dog thing into it too.”
“Oh...that makes sense. But it seems like you got what you wanted to. Ethel was really happy with us. We gave her new friends for a little while.”
Becca growled quietly under her breath. “Not quite. We left.”
Julie grinned.
“Who says this has to be the end?”
*******
“Just a minute.” Ethel called out, standing up from her armchair to head towards the door. She opened it to see the bright, cheery faces of two young women.
“Hello. Is this Ms. Monroe's residence?
“You've come to the right place dearies. How can I help you?”
“We saw your newspaper ad for those two lost golden retrievers you picked up.”
“Do you know who they belong to or where they are? I'm sorry to say, but they managed to sneak out the other day while I was out.”
“I'm sure they're not too far away.” Becca said, trying to hide her smile.
“With someone as kind as you doing something like that, I don't think they would vanish for long.”
“That's quite nice of you to say. Would you like to come in for some tea?”
Becca looked to Julie and the two nodded in unison.
“We would both like that very much Ethel.”
*******
The seasons came and went thereafter, and Becca and Julie were able to continue developing their bond with Ethel. The old woman's loneliness faded into the past through her newfound friends, and a glimmering smile was often seen spread across her wrinkled face. Becca and Julie found that the magic they had initially invoked to change themselves into dogs still carried lingering flecks that could be stoked once more with enough focus. The women would sometimes sneak over to the old woman's home during the evening hours in their doggy skins to spend time with her and accompany her on her visits to read to the needy children who wholeheartedly welcomed their new canine companions.
One of their friends Christina caught wind of Becca and Julie's midnight escapades and confronted the two one day. Having no way explaining their way out, they shared their secret with her, transforming there back and forth in front of her amazed eyes. Christina saw her once human friends develop fur, compact paws, a long sweeping tail, and their faces press out into broad canine muzzles, obliterating any former trace of their humanity. When Becca and Julie had finished their transformation back wispy scraps of golden hair still clung to their arms, back, and feet. A darkened textured nose tipped the end of their face, and they stood on thickened, clawed toes. Despite the enormity of what had taken place in front of her, Christina only shook her hands excitedly and jumped up and down. She too wanted to feel like she was helping to make a difference for someone in need.
“Can I join you?!” Christina asked with a fervent tone.
“If that's what is meant to happen, then sure, I don't see why not. We didn't quite expect it to be this way for us when we first stumbled across this magic, but I can't imagine it any worse with an added friend to tag along. All I can say is expect the unexpected.”
So it came to be the following week when the cloak of night descended upon the town they called home, there was a familiar scratching at Ethel's door. The old woman opened the door bewildered to see that her two friends had increased their number by one, a third, shy golden retriever in their small makeshift pack. The old woman rested her kind, gentle hands on Christina's furry head, and she immediately knew why Becca and Julie had wanted to reach out to this kind, generous soul; to give and receive friendship, care, and love to one another in a cycle that only compounded on itself with the wondrous passage of time.
THE END
********
Big thanks to internmatt over @ dA for choosing to commission me on this project! This is my first time formatting to post directly into the comment box here based on feedback from other users, and I'm wondering if this is a preferred story format for you as it is more involved to post like this. I want to continue striving to make my stories the best that they can be and I can only do that with the help of all of you!
Interested in getting a story commissioned by me? I am currently open! I'd love to get the chance to bring your ideas to life. My commission info can be found here:
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*******
EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY
It's finally over.
Three years of slaving away at the university had finally led to Becca achieving the graduate degree she had always dreamed of. Countless late nights greeting the sun before bed, chewed fingernails, and a host of supportive friends all along the way was now officially translated into the credentialing needed to further her passion for computer science. It was almost unreal. Becca was sure there was still one more paper, one more advisor meeting to attend, but there was nothing more to do than celebrate now. She'd start by finishing the rest of her delicious triple fudge ice-cream container she had been saving for this special occasion, only a few shallow craters carved into its surface from prior emotional mending. No earthly force would beseech her away from her respite.
A knock at the door jostled Becca away from her chocolate-infused paradise.
“What's shakin' bacon?! Girl, I know you're in there, so open up!”
Becca voiced a muffled groan, swallowed her current bite, then begrudgingly set down the remaining portion of her ice-cream on the end table.
“I'll be back.” she promised to her dairy-based companion.
She slipped on her fuzzy panda slippers and shuffled her way over to unlock the door to the smiling face of her best friend Julie.
“Congratulations!” Julie exclaimed, wrapping Becca up in a fierce hug while bouncing her weight back and forth on each leg. Becca was certain that if technology advanced far enough to utilize human excitement as an energy source that harnessing Julie alone would resolve many of the world's current crises.
“Oof...hey there Julie.” Becca said, finally managing a brief reprieve to catch her breath.
“I thought you were going to be dropping by later for us to head out and get dinner or whatever.” Becca asked, spying a stretched tan handbag filled to the point of bursting strapped across Julie's shoulder.
“Change of plans. I've got something WAY more exciting for us to do. It's more of a long term affair, but I think you'll be agreeable to it.”
“What's that supposed to mean? Here, come in already. I don't want any bugs getting inside while we're yapping away.”
The two sat themselves down on some of Becca's floor pillows, each depicting one of her favorite japanese anime shows she enjoyed watching. Julie fumbled with the bag in her hands like an excited school girl holding the juiciest gossip in town.
“Well, aren't you going to ask what I brought?”
Becca rolled her eyes. “What did you bring Julie?”
“Glad you asked!” she answered without missing a beat.
From the handbag cradled in her hands, she pulled out a leather bundle wrapped in twine. Pulling the knot apart revealed a mass of assorted herbs with the colorful plumage of different birds woven at the end.
“A smudge stick? I get that it's a brand new chapter of my life now, but I don't think we need to be purifying the “energies of my intentions for a prosperous future” right now” Becca said with her hands held out on either side in a faux imitation of a meditative stance.
“Hey! Don't knock that stuff. It's shown to have benefits, both nourishing the body and the spirit. It's efficient. Besides, that's not what we're going to do with this.” Julie continued with a grin.
“This artifact has been blessed to provide a single wish to whoever breathes in its sacred smoke. Once the wish is identified it will be fulfilled within seven settings of the sun, after which time any effects used to gain the wish will vanish. If the wish is communicated to another person, spoken, written, that kind of stuff, then the wish will cease to be for that person...forever.”
Becca waited for Julie to say how she was kidding, how it was all some joke, but her eyes were dead serious.
“That sounds a little extreme. So let me play devil's advocate here with my own rationality for a moment. If this...artifact is able to grant a wish, what stops me from wishing for more wishes?”
“Purity of intent. It means if you aren't super serious about what you are wishing for, then it's not going to happen, and you get no take-backsies.”
“Julie...you've come up with some pretty hair-brained schemes before, but where did you even get something like this?”
“Amazing what you can find on the internet these days. After it shipped, I had it blessed by a friend I know upstate. Don't worry, they're legit.”
“Don't worry she says.” Becca echoed with a condescending tone.
“Alright, fine. Then tell me what's the rest of the stuff in the bag for then?”
“Well, I took a stab at guessing what you might wish for and wanted to get some preparations in place.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
Julie flipped the handbag over and poured out an assortment of objects: various plush toys, heartworm medication, a soft, starry blanket, and a silver-banded collar with a golden tag dangling beneath it. On closer inspection Becca saw that the tag was engraved with her name.
“You got me dog stuff? Don't you think suggesting puppy play is a little presumptuous on your part?”
Julie bit her lower lip and folded her arms, averting her eyes from Becca's scrutinizing gaze.
“I don't know Becca. You go on about it sometimes. What it would be like to be a dog, “No worries, no nothing; only food, sleep, and all the pets I could handle.”. Those are your words. At first I thought you were kidding, then a little odd to keep at it, but I could see you were sincere about it. I know you've been through some stuff before, so I could understand how something like that would be cool to think about, and well, if that was what you chose then I only wanted to be prepared for you to be happy during that time.”
“Oh....that's...actually pretty thoughtful Julie. I honestly don't know why I say that kind of stuff. That's usually only when I'm feeling down from school or family....things like that.”
“I get it. Really, I do.” Julie said reaching out her hand to rest atop of Becca's. “So, are we going to give this a try?”
“I guess, yeah. You went through all this trouble. Might as well see if it works like you said. At least then we know if you should have gotten a warranty on the thing.”
“I think cosmic technical support canceled their two-year coverage a while back now.”
*******
Julie stood up, pulling out a lighter from her pocket aimed at the base of the magical artifact held tightly in her other hand. Becca took up her invitation to join her and stood opposite her, her heart already beginning to thrum up into her neck in anticipation. She didn't wholly know if any of this was possible, but a piece of her wanted to believe that it was.
“Is there a time limit on deciding for this kind of thing?” Becca stammered.
“I don't know, but faster is probably better.” Julie said while lighting the upper end of the woven bundle of herbs and leaves. She closed her eyes as drifting trails of gray smoke slowly swirled about her face. Becca closed her eyes then too.
What am I going to wish for?
I could wish to have a personal trainer that sticks around afterward to help sculpt away this extra tum-tum. No...that's not worth it. Maybe I should wish to be a dog. That would be the easy choice huh? But, Julie's only half right. Me wanting to be one...if I'm honest with myself it's for something different. Yeah, that's what I would want.
I wish that....
Becca focused her mental energy on projecting her wish as loudly as she could in her mind, solidifying an image of what she hoped could come to be. When both were said and done, Becca began to sway from side to side, feeling light-headed. She reached out a hand to the nearby end table to steady herself, but only succeeded in sliding her hand across its polished surface and knocking over the bowl containing the last of her ice-cream. It crashed and shattered on the ground, green and white porcelain shards piercing through the remaining partially melted chunks.
The sound snapped Julie out of her own stupor as she stumbled backwards onto the floor.
“Woah, Becca, you ok?”
“Yeah I'm fine. That was weird though.”
“You felt dizzy too afterward?”
“Uh-huh. Must have been the smoke.”
“My body's feeling weird now though, like something's really off.” Julie said rubbing at her belly.
“It feels that way for me too. Almost...unsettled I guess is the word for it. It's like my body's getting ready for something really huge to happen.”
“Come on Becca, let me help you clean this up.”
Becca voiced a defeated sigh as her hand slowly mopped up what was left of the ice-cream on the ground. While Becca lamented the loss of her tasty treat she noticed that Julie had frozen in place with an odd look on her face.
“I thought you were helping.”
“I am, but don't move. What the heck is this?”
Julie tightened her fingers over where she spied a clump of dense blonde hairs trailing down along the back of Becca's neck.
“It's soft, almost like...fur.”
Becca reached a hand back to confirm what her friend had felt, and bit her lower lip in confusion.
“I didn't wish for that...”
“Um....maybe you just have been having a bad reaction to something. Sorry to point it out.”
“No worries, Julie.” Becca said, clenching and unclenching her hands while focusing on her breathing. She looked back up at Julie and now it was her turn to adopt a confused expression.
“Maybe it was something we both had. I hope it wasn't some weird food-poisoning strain. Have you been having pink-eye or something?” The iris of Julie's right eye was different, larger and darkened from its warm green to a pale, muddy brown. She excused herself to check in the bathroom mirror, a scream soon following seeing her reflection in the mirror. When she returned to the living room, Julie's gaze was focused and forlorn as her trembling touched over the space around her brow, feeling a faint peppering of smaller hairs sprouting around the space there.
“I think I get what's going on...we'll be fine Becca. Just have to let whatever happens happen. Guess I was right to get all that stuff earlier.”
Becca gritted her teeth, baffled by what the actual process of her body changing in such a dramatic fashion would actually be like. She resigned herself to whatever would transpire. It was already too late to back out. She had agreed to try, and there was no malicious intent from Julie that she could detect. Hopefully her wish could still take place even if she were to become what she had yearned to be for these past few years.
*******
Time passing only compounded on their suspicions as more patches of fur-like hair began to sprout on other parts of Becca's body. The hair was silky smooth, soft, and golden blonde like that of the golden retriever her family had when she was little. Most of the patches were hidden from view, although the itchiness of its growth nagged at the back of Becca's thoughts. Throughout the entire episode of one of her favorite anime series she was rubbing her back against the edge of her couch like a bear satiating an itch against a tree. Becca's feet steadily tingled, fingers brushing across their soles detecting an added roughness and thickness to the flesh there. Becca caught Julie's turned head watching her self-examination of the blunted points of her elongated nails and she hesitantly showed her changes in comparison.
Julie had not been exempt from the furthering of these incredible changes. The edges of her ears had grown out with a slight droop to them, and at the other end of her body her toes were beginning to round and swell into the beginnings of more paw-like proportions, her nails darkening into the precursors of dark brown, blunted claws. Her left eye had joined the right in its more distinctly canine appearance: a pair of large, muddy brown pools gazing out into the world.
“I need to go out for a little bit.” Becca said suddenly, grabbing for her jacket to hide the thin patches of fur along her forearms. “I'll be back soon, I promise.” she said to her friend who was busy fixing up a batch of nachos from the fridge.
“Oh ok...um...don't get caught up with any handsome fellows at the park then.”
“Ugh Julie, that's gross.”
Becca left then, hearing the muffled sound of her friend's laughter from inside, amazed at her ability to stay so calm during a situation like this.
To be fair, she half-expected this to happen, so that probably helps somewhat.
Becca traveled down the street and entered the local pet store, filling her basket with what she estimated was enough dog food to last the two of them for the week, and paused at the kiosk for custom tag engravings. Becca had an idea came to mind, which startled her from the accompanying sudden feeling of her stumpy, bony tail wiggling to and fro for the first time. She quickly entered in her selection and once the tag was made, paid up front with the rest of her items.
The front cashier noticed the slight roughness to her palms as she fumbled for exact change.
“Uhh..you alright there miss?”
Becca smiled, showing her slightly elongated canines. “Yep, I'm totally good. Why wouldn't I be? Thanks.” The cashier doubled his pace, and watched the strange woman leave the store, swearing that he could see something sliding around back there inside her pants.
“I'm not paid enough to deal with all these weirdos.” he commented before getting ready to clock out for the day.
*******
Returning home, Becca peeled off her shoes which had grown tight while at the store, and saw that they had begun to change too, the end of her foot widened with rudimentary thickened pads forming beneath each toe. Then she freed her tail which eagerly slid out into view, its rapid growth in the store leaving it nearly as long as her forearm now, and dusted with more golden hairs like the rest of her body. Becca breathed a sigh of relief. She itched across her belly with curled knuckles, her growing coat of fur uncomfortably matted down beneath the fabric of her shirt.
“Hey, you're home.” Julie commented, picking her face up from where she had been eating the nachos she had prepared. Julie extended her tongue to lick over the front of her nose, highlighting the slight muzzle she now possessed. “Everything all good?” Julie asked seeing Becca's furrowed brow and unbalanced stance.
“Yeah, it's just...the fur's gotten pretty tough to handle, but I don't want to go flashing my tummy around for everyone to see. You know I'm a little...self-conscious about it.”
“It's only me here Becca. You don't have to worry about that girl. Think of it like removing a bra at the end of a really long day. Give it a try to see if you at least feel better.”
Becca followed through on her friend's suggestion, rolling her shirt up to let air pass over the expanse of golden hairs trailing across the full reach of her belly now. “That feels a bit better now.” Becca said, turning to investigate the contents of one of the bags she had brought over.
“I guess I make stuff like that worse in my head than it is in real life.”
“Woah...you too huh?” Julie further added, spinning in her seat and focusing on the space to lightly wag her own smaller tail hanging behind her.
“Yeah...it doesn't look like it's slowing down much at all. I got this for you too.” Becca said, handing Julie one of the smaller bags. Julie eagerly dug inside and pulled out a purple dog collar with a golden tag that read “Jewels”, her childhood nickname.
“If we're going to be spending a whole week like this we need to prepare for whatever could happen. You got me one so that way if we change...all the way, I'd be safe. I don't exactly plan on getting picked up and dumped off in the pound anytime soon. I thought I'd extend the same courtesy to you.”
“Aww...Becks, that's super nice. I shall wear it proudly!” she said pounding her hand on her chest.
“Do you want to spend the night?” Becca asked, her tail swinging to and fro gingerly.
“I can't imagine you're going to be heading back home looking like that.”
“And what's that supposed to mean exactly?” Julie retorted.
“Like you're trying to get some tail.”
The two women laughed to the point of tears, and once they were able to breathe again, Julie humbly accepted Becca's offer.
*******
Their gradual transformation progressed through the evening, both experiencing dreams of running faster than they ever had before. Julie woke and took inventory of the suite of changes that had washed over her during the night. Her human hair was now blended partway into her golden fur, which covered the majority of her body. Her hands looked like her feet from the previous night, brandishing thickened digits tipped in claws, but her feet themselves were even more extremely altered, with only their increased size hinting at her old form.
Julie stumbled out of bed to see and down the hall to see Becca lounged in front of the window, nude if not for her dense, golden fur soaking up the sun's morning light while she contentedly wiggled her heavily padded toes. Becca's breasts had reduced in size significantly, and trailing down her chest and stomach now were two neat rows of smaller teats. Her chest had become increasingly barreled and her shoulders had slid part-way back up along her back restricting the range of motion of her arms. Despite all of this, when she spotted Julie, any air of bashfulness or shame was absent, her previous self-consciousness erased in the embrace of her new appearance.
“You look different. I can't quite put my finger on it.” Julie said with a toothy grin.
“I'm not sure if I can either even if I wanted to.” Becca replied, holding up her exceedingly paw-like hands.
Becca found that she was no longer able to use her hands to easily open devices around the house and was resigned to using her teeth and head to push and manipulate most objects around her. Working the remote to watch some shows on TV was a struggle, but their teamwork helped to offset some of the difficulty involved.
The hours flew by. Becca's tail continued to lengthen as the day had progressed, and now swished behind her as she went about her daily actions. Her nose had grown wet and cold, and in her field of vision was the start of her muzzle from her projecting face. She spotted Julie resting on her makeshift perch by the window, watching a man with his dog walking by. She unleashed a remarkably authentic bark, her paw-like hands digging into the soft pillow below her before she shook her head from side to side.
“What was that about?”
“I... really don't know. It just sort of came out. I saw that man and then I couldn't stand seeing that dog down heading towards our territory! Bruhff!” she barked suddenly in Becca's face, immediately pulling her ears back in embarrassment. “I'm sorry...I mean...your house.”
“I think I get it. Julie, come help me with something. Let's do this now while we have the chance.”
Julie fetched the pair of collars set aside, and each helped put the other's collar on. They made preparations for the next few days then, leaving portions of food and water around the house in case they could no longer access it. Becca unlocked and hinged the door slightly open as well, so if either of them needed to take care of their natural business it wouldn't have to be inside the house. When their hard work was said and done, they were exhausted. They decided that going to bed was best and so Julie and Becca curled up together for another night's sleep.
More vivid dreams occurred throughout the night, their senses heightened within them, both whining and rolling as the slow burn of their transformations continued to roll over them. By the time the sun drifted again through the slatted blinds, it was difficult to discern the women as having originally been anything other than a dog. Long, silky fur covered their bodies and broad muzzles tipped the ends of their faces. Only a sharply punctilious eye could find the various inconsistencies in their proportions, gait, and mannerisms.
Becca remembered little from this third day. Her thoughts were incoherent, blurred and mashed in between new circulating senses and instincts. Although the world as she knew it through vision had waned slightly in her reduced visual acuity, everything else had opened up many times over through her sense of smell. Breathing in the scent of her friend beside her filled Becca with feelings of peace and calm. The two golden retriever women ate, rested, and at one point their play quickly grew into a full wrestling bout there in the living room. Two-legged stances were abandoned for four. Human sensibilities tossed out for primal freedoms. Growls, whines, and play-filled yips were heard from the two dog-women as they happily enjoyed the simple matter of their existence until they were ready for bed once more, circling their sleeping spot together thrice before settling down into a large, golden heap.
*******
When they awoke the next day the world carried a different hue. Becca's thoughts swam through her mind as if coated in a heavy, dense fog. She could only recall bits and pieces of her old identity and life from before becoming a dog. Becca could assemble some memories into hazy images, but she surprisingly found that aspects of others had become even more vivid. She recalled the scent of her mother holding her from when she was a little girl, and recalled the feeling of her fingers brushing through her long hair rolling down her back. Becca whined and shook her head, the pain of her loss still acute after these many years.
Julie adjusted easily to her new body, although she was oblivious to some of the limitations of her new canid form, attempting to give one of her overwhelming hugs to Julie which brought both of them flat onto the ground in a meshed furry heap. The two golden retrievers could not communicate with human words to each other any longer, but their increased acuity towards the other's body language made up much of the difference.
After briefly exploring Becca's apartment, Julie caught sight of the front door hinged open as they had left it the previous evening. She beckoned Becca with a quiet huff and a swish of her tail, curiosity leading her as she promptly vanished from view. Becca paced her paws back and forth in front of the door anxiously until with a surge of resolve she squeezed her head through the gap and emerged out into the bright world.
*******
The dogs had no concrete plan for their makeshift adventure today, led only by instincts neither of them could readily identify. They had traveled a few streets down when they came across the local dog park. Becca sat back on her haunches watching the other dogs playing at their owner's side or resting in the shade. For the most part they all looked happy. They had someone they could rely on, and that person on them in kind. People or most living things for that matter probably didn't need much more than that she figured.
A quick bark from the other side of the iron fencing spooked Becca to an alert stance, her ears lifting while her tail stuck out straight behind her. She saw that the offender was Julie who had taken the initiative and shoved her way inside the park from a nearby open chain-link gate. Becca dashed inside as Julie had done, and the two of them were able to explore the park properly.
The other owners didn't pay much attention to the roaming pair, figuring their owner was among the small group waiting at the nearby shaded benches. Becca heard a loud sniffing sound nearby, followed by a cold touch on her rear end. She yelped, then growled seeing an ambitious male dalmation making a point to get better acquainted with Becca. She landed a swift kick to disorient the now quite confused dog who rubbed a forepaw to nurse his aching muzzle. Becca trotted away, growling under her breath, sure her face would be flushed red with embarrassment if she were still human.
Ugh...person or dog, men are all the same.
Becca scanned the area in search of her friend who had vanished in the brief time she was handling the dalmation. She finally spied Julie seated at the edge of one of the benches where only an older woman was sitting all by herself. The woman was petting through her fur with a sweet smile while Julie panted with her tail wagging behind her at a mile a minute. Although the old woman's skin was sagged and wrinkled, her pale blue eyes were bright, focused, and twinkled with kindness.
“I've been here a while and haven't seen anyone come with dogs like you. Oh dear, you've got a collar too. Let me see here...” the old woman said while bending down and reaching out a gentle hand.
Becca arched her back, curling her tail slightly between her legs while licking her nose.
“It's ok girl. I won't bite. I don't have any teeth for that anyway if I wanted to.”
Becca sensed the woman's friendly intentions and eased enough for her to wrap her fingers around the golden tag dangling at her neck.
“Becca huh? Well I've already met your friend Jewels. Here, have a bite. I've already had enough.”
The woman shared small samplings of the sandwich she carried with both of them, and after savoring the delectable bite, Becca allowed her to pet her across the top of her head. The old woman spent some time thereafter trying to locate the owners for these two lovable dogs, but no one claimed them or knew who they may have belonged to. They appeared to be well-fed and groomed, so to the woman it was clear that someone must have been taking care of them. Finally feeling like she had exhausted the resources around her, the old woman turned to the dogs again.
“If you've got nowhere else to go, would you like to come back with me?”
*******
Becca and Julie followed the old woman back to her home close to the outskirts of the town they lived in. All the while, Becca watched people going about their daily lives: going from here to there, chatting, laughing, extending kindness or in rarer cases anger and misunderstanding.
Her pace is slow, but at least that lets me look around a bit more.
When they finally arrived, the old woman ushered the dogs right in. The old woman's house was well-suited for her: small, simply decorated, and filled with knick-knacks of all kinds, the epitome of “a place for everything, and everything in its place”. Lines of books filled her shelves, nearly all coated with a fine layer of dust. In a far corner opposite an old television the old woman settled herself into a large armchair, rubbing the tops of her aching legs while she wistfully stared at an old, cracked photo on her shelf depicting herself and another man, both in the prime of their youth in front of an old diner .
For the rest of the day the old woman showered Becca and Julie with a range of pleasantries: treats, a bath, and construction of a makeshift dog bed beside her own from two adjusted bundles of knitted blankets, and for much of that evening they listened to tales and stories from this old women. She learned that the old woman's name was Ethel. Ethel spoke about good times: memories of a family now lost to the passage of time, silly anecdotes and customs from bygone years, and her own furry companion who had passed away only last year. With her body curled up in front of the woman, Becca whined, sharing in the old woman's loss and pain. At one point, warm tears soaked into her fur and Julie comforted Ethel with gentle licks across her hands while distracting her with more pets. When Ethel had finally fallen asleep in her chair, Becca walked over to grab one of the knitted blankets from her bed in her mouth. With a quick flick of her head she loosely laid it across the old woman's lap before bedding down for the night at her feet, thoughts swirling with stories from an unsettled past, feelings she knew all too well herself.
*******
The next day, Ethel contacted a few local agencies to attempt to locate the owners for the pair of lovely dogs in her home. No one could provide any information to assist her, and told her what she had figured at this point: that they had most likely been abandoned at the park and that she was welcome to bring them into a humane society or other adoption facility. Despite the setback, Ethel smiled and decided to make the most of the day.
“Come on you two. There's something I need to do now, and I think you'll like a nice surprise.”
Ethel grabbed a pair of dusty leashes from a coat hanger, and fastened them to Becca and Julie's collars, her eyes carrying a similar pained expression to the night prior. The three headed out then, Becca's eyes widening as she caught a glance at the dalmation she had run into from the other day straining at his leash while they walked by the dog park. Becca hastened her pace, wishing to avoid a repeat incident from the other day at all costs.
“Oh my! I guess you really did want a walk today.” Ethel called out with a small, crinkled smile on her face.
Eventually, Ethel led the pair into a large building with a set of wide, wooden double-doors and what appeared to be a small grassy area nestled behind. She was greeted at the front by a sharply-dressed woman with tied-back brown hair.
“Oh, you have new friends with you. How wonderful. The kids will love that you know.”
As they walked down the hall, Becca saw the hallmarks of kids arts and crafts: hastily colored scribbles, splotches of glue pressing up beneath cut out animals, unevenly folded edges, the rudimentary foundation of human creativity.
“I volunteer here to read to the kids.” she said to Becca who had stopped with her head tilted towards a particularly interesting depiction of an octopus. “They don't have a lot of people who come and visit them, so I make it a point to.”
Heading further down the hall, Becca's ears lifted hearing the cacophony of little voices at play. Then a stout woman with jet-black hair, a buttoned shirt, and khaki-colored slacks poked her head out from a door at the end of the hall. Her brow furrowed after spotting the two dogs with Ethel.
“Hello Ms. Monroe. You know you're welcome to read to the kids anytime, but as you also know our animal policy has changed..”
“Oh my gosh! There's new dogs now!” one of the kids shouted seeing Becca and Julie standing at the door. “Everyone look!” The kids were immediately beginning to gather around the front door in a mass to get a better look at the new guests.
If the instructor had whipped her head around any faster, Becca was afraid she would have snapped it. “Alan! Inside voice please. Everyone, please put away what you took out, and be seated and ready for extra outside time.” The kids roared a unanimous cheer as they set out to finish the instructor's tasks. The woman with jet-black hair rubbed her fingers hard against the bridge of her nose.
“I don't have time right now for this. I'm going to look the other way for today, but we need to talk afterward about your unexpected surprises.”
“Crystal clear dearie.” Ethel answered calmly.
The children, a group of mixed ages all in one large central room organized themselves with an unnerving silence as their instructor Mrs. Thompson, explained rules and procedures regarding “right and proper” conduct with visiting animals.
“We remember from when Ms. Ethel used to bring Yumyo.” Alan blurted out.
She flashed a hard stare at the one who had spoken out, then gathered herself. “Reminders are good for everyone Alan, since it has been some time since we've had an animal friend visit.”
Once the group had been briefed, they were dismissed outside in rows. Ethel unfastened Becca and Julie's leashes and ushered them outside.
“Go make some friends you two.”
*******
Becca and Julie were an absolute hit with the children. At first the two were tentative with so many voices calling for their attention, but they were soon caught up in their games, getting chased or playfully chasing others, having bits of their fur braided, or snuggled and petted beneath the shade of the large tree in the back of their grassy play area. Standing beside Ethel, Mrs. Thompson smiled.
“Ok, I'll admit it. This is going better than I thought it was going to go.”
Ethel only laughed.
“You should bring them by more often. If they can get these kids tired, then that does half my job for me.”
“Yeah, they really are one of a kind.” Ethel said, watching her two new friends bringing joy to others as they had helped do for her in their short time together.
*******
The rest of the night was spent back at Ethel's home watching some of her favorite shows on television. No one had called Ethel back regarding the whereabouts of the dog's owners, and by the time she turned off the lamp in her bedroom seeing Becca and Julie comfortably dozing on the floor on either side she resolved to take on the responsibility of them herself.
However, it was now the third day since their transformation, and upon waking Becca was already beginning to notice that the changes were already beginning to gradually ease back. Her forepaws had improved dexterity and her shoulders and hips ached as they yearned to slip back into a more human orientation. Julie was similarly affected. Her furry coat was thinner in patches across her body, and her muzzle had receded some as well. The changes were subtle enough that Ethel merely thought her new friends were perhaps sick after their time with the children yesterday, and promised she would be back soon after a trip to the vet to pick up some medicine for them.
When the door had closed, Becca stared at it, feeling a heavy weight form in her heart. She had come to learn of this woman's struggles, and seen the joy her presence could bring. She whined with guilt at the pain she knew she would cause Ethel to feel yet again. However, it was time for both of them to go.
Becca barked and bumped into Julie, gesturing up towards a nearby window. Becca lifted herself up, forepaws landing on the edge of the windowsill. With an audible crack she heard and felt her hips pop, finding that she could stand a bit more easily in this relatively upright stance now. She fumbled her paw-like fingers at the latch to unlock the window while Julie clamped down hard with her teeth to lift up the lower latch. From their sustained efforts, they were able to get the window open barely enough to squeeze through. They both paused and bade a silent farewell to this temporary home and the kind person who had welcomed them into their lives.
*******
Becca and Julie were careful to avoid the main streets, instead opting for travel through the secluded back-alleys. Their noses were assaulted by the rank odor of old garbage and small pools of stagnant water. All the while, their canine forms continued to steadily regress, their limbs slowly adopting more human-like proportions. Julie peaked around the last corner before reaching Becca's house, now standing upright again on clawed feet. The short remnants of her tail twitched nervously behind her, but thankfully the street was empty. They made a mad dash across the narrow street separating them from safety and barged in with exasperated breath.
The last echoes of their changes dissipated throughout the afternoon, all hints of their escapade as dogs now erased. Becca sat with her legs tucked up against the rest of her body, already missing the warmth of her fur across her bare skin. Julie sat down beside her with hands held on the floor, their dog-like mannerisms still lingering, and sheoffered a reassuring shoulder to lean on.
“I didn't know it was going to be like that.” Becca muttered under her breath.
“Me neither. That was really something huh? I had fun though.”
A breath of silence formed between them.
“Did you get your wish? We can talk about it now that it's over right?” Becca asked with an accompanying tilt of her head.
“I did.” Julie answered with a smile. “My wish was to be at your side to support you since you've always been helping me with stuff. I thought it would be nice to pay back the favor.”
“Aw, Julie...that's really cool of you. Thanks.”
“So out with it girl! What did you wish for that caused all of this to happen?”
“Well...I wished....that I could be a friend to someone who really needed it. I guess whatever force we invoked mixed the dog thing into it too.”
“Oh...that makes sense. But it seems like you got what you wanted to. Ethel was really happy with us. We gave her new friends for a little while.”
Becca growled quietly under her breath. “Not quite. We left.”
Julie grinned.
“Who says this has to be the end?”
*******
“Just a minute.” Ethel called out, standing up from her armchair to head towards the door. She opened it to see the bright, cheery faces of two young women.
“Hello. Is this Ms. Monroe's residence?
“You've come to the right place dearies. How can I help you?”
“We saw your newspaper ad for those two lost golden retrievers you picked up.”
“Do you know who they belong to or where they are? I'm sorry to say, but they managed to sneak out the other day while I was out.”
“I'm sure they're not too far away.” Becca said, trying to hide her smile.
“With someone as kind as you doing something like that, I don't think they would vanish for long.”
“That's quite nice of you to say. Would you like to come in for some tea?”
Becca looked to Julie and the two nodded in unison.
“We would both like that very much Ethel.”
*******
The seasons came and went thereafter, and Becca and Julie were able to continue developing their bond with Ethel. The old woman's loneliness faded into the past through her newfound friends, and a glimmering smile was often seen spread across her wrinkled face. Becca and Julie found that the magic they had initially invoked to change themselves into dogs still carried lingering flecks that could be stoked once more with enough focus. The women would sometimes sneak over to the old woman's home during the evening hours in their doggy skins to spend time with her and accompany her on her visits to read to the needy children who wholeheartedly welcomed their new canine companions.
One of their friends Christina caught wind of Becca and Julie's midnight escapades and confronted the two one day. Having no way explaining their way out, they shared their secret with her, transforming there back and forth in front of her amazed eyes. Christina saw her once human friends develop fur, compact paws, a long sweeping tail, and their faces press out into broad canine muzzles, obliterating any former trace of their humanity. When Becca and Julie had finished their transformation back wispy scraps of golden hair still clung to their arms, back, and feet. A darkened textured nose tipped the end of their face, and they stood on thickened, clawed toes. Despite the enormity of what had taken place in front of her, Christina only shook her hands excitedly and jumped up and down. She too wanted to feel like she was helping to make a difference for someone in need.
“Can I join you?!” Christina asked with a fervent tone.
“If that's what is meant to happen, then sure, I don't see why not. We didn't quite expect it to be this way for us when we first stumbled across this magic, but I can't imagine it any worse with an added friend to tag along. All I can say is expect the unexpected.”
So it came to be the following week when the cloak of night descended upon the town they called home, there was a familiar scratching at Ethel's door. The old woman opened the door bewildered to see that her two friends had increased their number by one, a third, shy golden retriever in their small makeshift pack. The old woman rested her kind, gentle hands on Christina's furry head, and she immediately knew why Becca and Julie had wanted to reach out to this kind, generous soul; to give and receive friendship, care, and love to one another in a cycle that only compounded on itself with the wondrous passage of time.
THE END
********
Big thanks to internmatt over @ dA for choosing to commission me on this project! This is my first time formatting to post directly into the comment box here based on feedback from other users, and I'm wondering if this is a preferred story format for you as it is more involved to post like this. I want to continue striving to make my stories the best that they can be and I can only do that with the help of all of you!
Interested in getting a story commissioned by me? I am currently open! I'd love to get the chance to bring your ideas to life. My commission info can be found here:
K9 Lupus Commission Info
If you'd like to gain early access to more work like this and other transformation stories/illustrations, please check out my Patreon page at the link below where you'll gain access to exclusive content and story updates before they are publicly released by choosing to support my work for as little as $1. Every bit goes towards me continuing to do what I love and sharing it with all of you.
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Category Story / Transformation
Species Dog (Other)
Gender Multiple characters
Size 120 x 65px
I don't know how long it's been that I've read a wholesome transformation story like this, but I'm glad to have read it now.
Thanks a ton Guilrel. :) I'm glad that you enjoyed the story. Feel free to check out some of my other work, as much of it is in a similar tone. ^^
When I first started reading stories on FA, I would prefer those that were standard .txt documents or that had the stories in the description box, but nowadays I don't care one way or the other. Still, it's nice to have them in the description so that I can read the title before the story.
I appreciate the feedback. :) Having the stories be engaging and accessible from the get go is my goal so I'm happy if I can achieve that.
Absolutely incredible. One of the best Tf stories I've ever read. The TF stuff was excellent and the general story elements were great too. Really sweet and wholesome story
Thanks so much for the lovely comment. :) I'm glad the story was engaging for you. It was a lot of fun to work on!
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