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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 28: How Will We Know When The Change Is Going To Come?

September 5th, YOE 35

10:28 AM Mahogany Woods Neighborhood (World One)

_The Ghost Hunters investigate a reportedly haunted house... _

"Mr. Speedwell, I... I... don't think that this is going to be a good fit for me." The timid gecko said staring at the creepy one floor ranch. It seemed to stare right back at him. Just looking at it you could tell it was haunted.

"Now you are getting cold feet?!" The cheeky monkey asked growing irritated.

"When we were looking for a intern you seemed very excited Wallace." The hedgehog boy said glancing over his shoulder as they entered the eerie looking three bedroom ranch.

"That was because I didn't believe in the paranormal. Now... I am not so sure." Wallace replied as Arthur was looking at some sort of readout on his cube and Minka was taking in the surroundings. "Let me guess a mortician lives here right?!"

Receiving no reply the gecko decided to change the subject.

"So where should we start the investigation?"

"The basement!" Arthur and Minka shouted in unison.

Wallace watched as the two walked to a cellar door- off of the foyer, opened it, and then climbed downstairs. The door shutting behind the two Ghost Hunters.

"Those guys are fearless!" The gecko said under his breath. He was going to force himself to follow his mentors when the unthinkable happened. The cellar door opened and a full formed shadow entered and descended the stairs right behind the monkey girl and hedgehog boy!

"NOPE!" The former non-believer said turning toward the front door of the ranch, opened it up and marched through it as fast as he could go.

"Wow, the basement is quite spacious and immaculate." Arthur said looking around. The owner's possessions were nicely arranged on a set of shelves spaced along the walls at the far side of the room.

"Wallace?" Minka asked as she heard the stairs squeak behind her. "He certainly seems to be taking his time."

"Uh, Minka, I don't think that is him!" Arthur said pointing at a fully formed shadow descending the stairs right in front of them.

"Hiiiii!!!" The shadow person said.

"Hello yourself." Minka said, smiling. "You didn't happen to see our intern did you?"

The shadow being shook its head no.

"I think he noped out." Arthur said as he started buzzing. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a familiar metallic sphere.

"It chose now of all times to activate?!"

Arthur, Minka and the whatever it was that followed them into the basement watched as the sphere projected an image of a very large forest with supersized trees and rocky terrain.

"Voice where are you leading us?" A black akita shouted as he walked into frame.

It is time.... Come! Come!

"You have been saying that since we left World Seven four hours ago!" The dark akita complained. "And for the last three days until we agreed to listen to you."

"You know Midnight Black there was a time when you would have been completely rattled by a disembodied voice calling us out into the wilderness with everything that is going on." Minka said following the assassin into frame.

The akita stared down a large six eyed furred reptile that was blocking their path. It wisely decided to let the pair pass.

"World Seven?" Arthur exclaimed.

"It is the other versions of us! Well me anyway. So that gorgeous akita with the tight butt is called Midnight Black? It suits him." Minka said watching her other-self following the black canine.

"Is this an alternate reality we have been watching?" Arthur asked out loud.

"A divergent timeline that should not exist would be a more accurate description."

The hedgehog boy and monkey girl stared at the shadow person standing next to them and the metallic sphere.

"What?" The being asked as if it had said too much.

11:12 AM The Dark Forest (Near World One)

"Woof!" The Tian mountain dog said as it followed me from the outskirts of World One into the dark forest.

"Yeah I know, I hate, hate, hate, hate this forest. There are quite a lot of bad memories here. It was here that Lady Ursa and I were abducted by aliens and dropped off on the other side of the planet, took refuge in the Maximum and lost a year and half of our lives to that damned prison."

My former co-prisoner still was inquisitive though.

"Woof! Woof!"

"Yeah it is also where we met."

"Ruff! Ruff!"

"Why am I even out here?! Because I want to see Deer-feeder's master plan for myself. This oasis for humanity away from the empire. I guess I am looking for some validation, you know after joining this outfit."

And so we started trudging through the large forest looking for something. Of what I did not know.

"This would be the perfect place for it. It seems that a lot of runners from World One were making their way here anyway. Anything?" I asked Spirit.

The Tian mountain dog sniffed the ground, smiled and then trotted off toward the southeast.

"I knew there was a reason I brought you."

He turned around to give me a goofy smirk.

(Same old Spirit.)

"No, not that! Well not until you are in your other form." I said turning red.

April 11th, YOE 35

6:42 PM Deer-feeder's study (Stuyvesant Neighborhood)

"Spirited Spirt?! How is this remotely even possible?!" I said running toward the beastial in the doorway.

"But it is... I missed you my little comfort animal."

As I approached he placed both of his paws on my cheeks. I was expecting us to touch foreheads in some sign of reunion- closeness and friendship. But my self proclaimed boyfriend from the Maximum kissed me. Deeply, passionately.

"The wild is not the fantasy that it makes itself out to be." He said releasing me from his lips.

"Hmm?" I asked recovering from his greeting.

"I am answering your question. I missed being a beastial; besides it is so much tougher out there than you would even believe."

"But how is it that you are here? Now?"

"Deer-feeder. He recognized I was another who was wronged by the empire. He sought, found and offered to bring me into his fold, I accepted so I am here." He said pointing at the bald headed man with the nicely trimmed beard.

"But... but..." I stammered.

Spirit turned me around and started groping my behind.

"Yours is looking quite fine. I might add." He said joking. "I have missed it."

"No silly. I mean your condition."

"It was a result of his flawed transformation from quadruped to beastial in first place." Riz said. "But not this time. However there is something you should know...."

"I see in my absence you got into a little trouble." The Tian mountain dog said turning me back around.

"I questioned the high master for decisions he made regarding you and some xenophobic beastials in a remote colony I met. I was judged and punished as a result."

"Well that was very noble." He said hugging me.

"I have thought about you every day since my incarceration. What the High Evolutionary did and how you were treated angered me and still does to this day." I said as I placed my forehead onto his. "So you are cured huh?"

"Not exactly." Was the beastial's cryptic response.

*POOF*

The beastial paws I was holding became canine paws as did the rest of my boyfriend.

"Spirit?!"

I looked down where he had been standing to find a quadrupedal mountain dog.

"Um... yeah he does that... well a lot..."

"Riz?"

"We couldn't exactly return him to what he once was. You see the high evolutionary's transformation process... we are still figuring that out." Deer-feeder replied. "For now he is only a partial beastial."

"Two legged at times four legged at others?"

"You got the picture. But hey, his mental instability it is gone and I think he still has the hots for you. I can tell by your reaction that you do too." Mr. Site said standing from his chair in the study. "Consider this a sign on bonus." He said patting me on the shoulder.

The leader of the rebellion gave us some time to get reacquainted. I ended up collecting Spirit's clothing after he kicked it off his person.

"Arf, arf."

"You want me to follow you?"

The dog nodded. I followed. He made sure to lift his tail real high so I could get a good look at his goods. Well his non-beastial goods.

(Same old Spirit.)

The canine led me to a room in the cellar of the building we were in. Tan walls, brown door frame, a nice bed, nightstand, chair and table coupled with some artwork. As I followed him inside he pointed to the bed.

It was about twenty minutes later when there was a knock on the door.

"I see Spirit let you see his quarters." Deer-feeder said.

*POOF*

"He doesn't have anywhere else to stay in the near term!" I glanced over at where the quadrupedal canine was previously to see a nude beastial standing there.

Spirit still had the brown abdomen with orangish wrists and shins that made him look like he was wearing gloves and that two shaded penis sheath I remember. I quickly handed him his clothes trying not to stare.

"Perhaps just the pants. Mr. Winter. It will be easier to..."

"Don't say it." I said to the leader of the new rebellion.

Spirit only took his black shorts not knowing when he would shift again.

"Very, well I know it has been a trying day for you Mr. Winter- you ending one relationship and rekindling another."

"Well, I think I can make it a little better." Spirit said pouncing on me.

"Very well. I will take my leave. See you at dinner." Riz said making sure to close the door on his way out.

"Mmm... you were always a good bottom." The beastial canine said pining me underneath him."

"And why is that?"

"I loved your bottom." He said undressing me with his eyes.

I looked at his face the splash of white on his muzzle and nasal bridge, the splotches of orange on his cheeks and eyebrows and those brown eyes with devious intentions. I knew he was going to make me forget about my very bad, no good awful day I had had.

Now....

"Arf, Arf." Spirit said as we arrived at what looked to be the densest part of the Dark Forest. The canopy covered the sky. Standing all directions were trees. One could easily get lost here. To the left there was a grey run down shack with a broken fence.

"Who goes there?!" I heard a voice ask.

*THUMP*

Before us stood the largest human I had ever seen two times the size of a normal man- broad neck, muscles upon muscles black body suit; a titan for the lack of a better word.

"Alex Winter and Spirited Spirit."

"I am Goliath."

(Obviously.)

"I had a feeling you would show up at some point. This way."

"But wait, there is nothing there!"

Spirit and I watched as he disappeared into the foliage.

"That is what outsiders are supposed to think."

"A holographic projection!" I gasped.

"This is the Sanctuary the first human colony outside of the empire free from beastial subjugation and domination. Where humanity can truly be free."

"So this is what the new rebellion is hiding." I said trying to take it all in.

It was a colonial settlement right out of the Cody's Gift movie- high stockade fence

wooden homes and buildings, stone streets with a small human population.

"Self sufficient, solar powered, food that is grown on site, water generated within and sanitation sent to a local marsh." Goliath said handing me a card. "This is for you."

An image of my doppelgänger's brother appeared.

"Neil?!"

"I see you made it to the Sanctuary. It was the next logical direction for the consortium. I mentioned it to Dongo and Doria. They thought about it and slowly came to realize I was right. We have been focusing our efforts to help those wishing to leave the empire to make their way here. As will you from this day forward."

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

September 5th, YOE 35

1:23 AM S'mar Nation (Three Rivers Pride Territory)

Naomi was restless. She was laying on top of Saber the viscous calculating savage who had taken her for his slave and comfort woman. A magnificent specimen of his kind who treated her okay. She loved his whiskers, the sabertooth teeth and the soft pelt she was laying on as he embraced her from behind and that line of fur that ran the length of his torso which tickled her neck and then there was her co-slave and friend Annette whose head was resting on her shoulder while hugging the teen's waist. Despite the company and comfortable accommodations she was unable to sleep; her mind was reeling.

"Something wrong girl?" Saber asked noticing that his youngest slave was squirming within his embrace.

"Yes master..." The freckled teen replied awaiting permission to speak.

"Thinking about the day I finally penetrate you- giving you more moans and gasps then you can handle?"

"Um, no master."

(All though she did wonder what it would be like to be screwed stupid, like the S'mar warrior did to Annette nearly every night.)

"Speak girl. What is it?"

"I was thinking about Bow. It must be tough being away from her tribe."

"Kenja Pride does not exist anymore. They merged with the Sabra."

"Yes, yes that is right master."

"However this is not what is keeping you awake is it girl?"

(Perceptive as always.)

"Master Saber do you intend to rid her of her life?" Naomi spit out the question scared to hear the answer.

"She is from an enemy pride and nearly introduced a skin-walker to our village which would have doomed us all wench." The savage replied, squeezing his lady of the night.

(Was that a yes or was it a no?)

"There is something I don't understand master."

"Which is?"

"All the tribal fighting, why can't all S'mar live peacefully?"

"That is because all prides are in competition for survival." The teen's fellow slave said stirring.

"She is right, some prides are more prosperous than others in that they have ample supply of food, water, food and resources while others do not." Saber replied.

"I see. This pride from what I haven seen is the most prosperous pride in the drylands." The freckled teen replied.

"So you realize that eh? Was it the three rivers?" The chieftain said lowering his paw to brush her danger zone.

"Hence the constant attacks and incursions from the other prides." Annette added.

"Aren't you thankful that I acquired you?" The savage chieftain snickered. "And that you reside here?"

"Now that I think about it master, I really don't want for anything. Maybe a lighter workload, less eyeball soup and some concerts."

"Under Saber's leadership our pride has thrived and prospered." Annette announced.

"Well until recently." Noami said out loud.

The human felt the gaze of the two lion/tiger/panther/jaguar-like felines fall directly on to her.

"Well...." The freckled human said as she realized she had stated the obvious.

"My army's numbers may have decreased, but no one is hungry, thirsty, weak, sick or without a place to lay their head."

"It is your leadership sir." Annette replied.

"I will answer your question wench, I have considered turning Bow into some useful the pride could use like a belt or shawl." Saber said thoughtfully.

"If you do that. Then what of her quest master?"

"It is a fool's errand girl." The chief replied to his youngest slave.

"Is it? I know I am just an off-worlder observing, but we all have seen what is befalling the planet."

"Your point girl?"

"She seems to be the only person trying to do something about it." Naomi observed. "Acting, not reacting."

"Keep in mind that the leader of that pride left on a similar quest; he hasn't returned and is assumed dead. In his absence his pride collapsed. But I will give the matter some more thought." The savage said, fingering her. "Now moan for me."

"Yes, yes master. OAH!!!" Naomi groaned as her master was able to slip three paw fingers inside her cave of wonder. It wouldn't be much longer until something else would slide into there...

9:13 AM Vacant Hut

"So now we have this additional duty to our list of chores?" Namoi said handing Annette a bowl and spoon.

"The master thought that the reason you were having trouble sleeping was that you weren't tired enough like we weren't working hard enough or didn't have enough to do.... Thanks for that." The female feline said grumbling at her co-slave.

"Sorry Annette." Naomi said realizing that she had screwed up.

"I don't want whatever it is." The acting leader of the Kenja Pride grumbled at her morning feeding.

"You will accept whatever is given to you and like it Kenja Pride." Annette hissed as Bow turned her nose up at whatever the feline with the flower in her hair was offering her.

"Let me try!" Naomi interjected. "What my friend means is that it is our responsibility to make sure that you don't starve."

"Who said I was even hungry for whatever that is?" The Kenja warrior grumbled.

The human girl placed her paw on the female's stomach much to her embarrassment.

"Like I thought, your tummy is rumbling." The freckled teen said smiling.

"So what? Saber is just going to kill me anyway." Bow retorted.

"Wouldn't you like to die on a full stomach?" Annette replied.

"Maybe he won't?" The freckled teen smiled at their bound captive.

"He could use her for target practice for up and coming warriors Naomi."

The freckled teen couldn't tell if the female with the big breasts and wide butt was serious or joking.

"Annette! I think she is joking." She said to their captive.

"Am I?"

"In the meantime it wouldn't look good if you wasted away during our watch." Naomi said blushing.

"Your master would hold you responsible?" Bow asked turning to face her.

The teen in the white loincloth nodded her head enthusiastically.

"So what is this anyway?"

"Meat in a thick sauce with fruit and vegetables." Naomi said lifting the spoon to Bow's mouth. "Please eat."

The female feline ate what she was given. "This is very tasty. It is better than what my pride had before they surrendered to Sabra."

"We pasted it with poison. Your end will come quickly."

"Annette!!! WILL YOU STOP!!!" Naomi chastised her fellow slave. "It is not! See!"

Bow watched the freckled teen sip from the same spoon before resuming to feed her.

"So exactly what are you?"

"Property of master Saber." The brunette replied.

"No. What are you?" Bow asked again.

"A human. I am not exactly from around here. The pride took me in when I had no where else to go. Now I serve him and the pride."

"You have been looking at me funny since my arrival here. Why?"

"She thinks you are pretty." Annette butted in.

"Annette!" Naomi shouted as Pestle entered the hut. "Well very pretty."

"Thank you Naomi." Bow replied.

"Perhaps when all of this is over you could teach me how to use a bow and arrow?"

"I would like that." Bow said taking another spoonful.

"And how is our prisoner?" The tribe's witch doctor asked.

"Needing badly to relieve myself." Bow said rather bluntly.

"Well, that is understandable, you have been in here for a while." Pestle replied. "Naomi, Annette, I will take it from here."

Annette and Naomi watched as the thin warrior examined the acting Kenja Pride chieftain. Despite what she has been through she seemed well.

"Alright this way." He said checking to make sure her paws were still bound behind her. He then led her out of the hut, through the village, its outskirts and to a marsh a quarter mile outside the village.

"A bog?" Bow said looking at several shallow pits that were filled with this black goo.

"Yes." Pestle replied as the female feline realized she was looking at the community toilet.

"Three Rivers Pride is pretty well off." She said as she approached a pit and tried to squat over it."

"It will be more comfortable if you sit down." The medicine beast replied.

Bow wiggled her rump, lifted her tail ensuring that she covered the hole completely. Pestle watched in earnest. Small breasts, petite butt, nice cub bearing hips, cute tail pleasant face. She was definitely a looker.

"This is more comfortable than the bush." Bow said as she realized he was watching her do her business.

"Naomi was right, you are beautiful." The witch doctor said. He gasped as he realized she was now behind him, her bound paws underneath his neck.

Bow had quickly relieved herself and then snuck up behind him before he had known it.

"That aside I must continue my mission." She said slyly.

"Doubtful."

"I could break your neck here and escape...."

"If you did, I would then greet the ancestors with a smile on my face." Pestle blurted out.

"What?" She said lifting an eyebrow.

"I mean that would be quite a bad look for someone trying to unite the prides to confront the imbalance." He said back peddling.

"Pestle, the situation is dire- it is not going to resolve itself." Bow reasoned. "Come with me. Two warriors from different prides stand a better chance of convincing the other chieftains to join our cause than one."

"I can't. My duty is to this tribe." Pestle said pointing the female back toward the village.

"If we don't confront the imbalance together, we will get picked off separately." Bow warned releasing him. "I thought I made that abundantly clear."

"You sound desperate." The witch doctor said as he started to follow the Kenja Pride warrior back toward the village.

"I am willing to take any help that I can receive on my journey."

"You do know what the other chieftain reactions will be if you approach them with your proposal?"

Bow looked at Pestle.

"You will be captured, imprisoned, interrogated and most likely executed."

As the two arrived back at the hut they found Saber waiting.

Bow was led inside, laid on a comfortable rug- her paws stretched above her head and tied to the floor. She noticed a few snickers from the Three Rivers Pride leader.

"So this is it. This is how my journey ends." She bemoaned looking up at Saber and Pestle.

"You are young, inexperienced, idealistic and naive- traits that will lead to your end." Saber said kneeling to feel her up. Her breast size was fairly close to Naomi's.

She looked at the Three Rivers Pride chieftain.

"I don't believe in combining the prides, however, after considerable thought and pleading from my slave, I will not end your life. Instead I will aid you in your quest."

"How is this aiding my quest?" Bow said guesting to her bound wrists and ankles.

"Sir?" Pestle asked.

The beautiful female was laid out on the floor like some type of mat.

"I have ordered every male in the pride to service her."

"WHAT?" Bow gasped as Saber rubbed her slit. "How dare you!"

"You will be penetrated repeatedly by every male here until you are pregnant. Pestle will periodically check on your progression."

"What happens when she is with cubs chief?" The witch doctor asked.

"When she starts to show, release her to continue her quest." He snickered.

"You... you... you...." Bow started to say.

"Watch your tongue girl." Saber warned. "You did say that you were receptive to any assistance?"

"I did but... not like this!!" Bow said struggling against her binds.

"Look at it this way Kenja Pride, the other chieftains are less likely to capture, interrogate, torture and kill a pregnant female from an enemy pride who wanders into their territory asking for help don't you think?" Saber said turning to take his leave. "Pestle you are first. Don't take long, a line is forming."

The witch doctor's eyes went wide as he watched his chief leave and before staring back at the lovely nude bound on the floor of the hut ready to be impregnated. He dropped to his knees and started crawling toward her.

"Alright everyone form a line." Saber said to all who were present outside the hut. "And remember it is for the greater good."

Returning from their water run Naomi and Annette watched the line outside the hut Bow was being held prisoner in.

"What is going on over there?" The freckled teen said noticing that it only consisted of the tribe's males.

"You don't want to know."

"Of course I do." Naomi replied.

Annette whispered into her fellow slave's ear. Naomi's eyes went wide in astonishment.

_Date Unknown _

Location Unknown (A place outside of conventional time)

It was a lazy day in the marble temple of god Haas and his mate goddess Selene. The deities were enjoying a glass of their civilization's finest wine while seated on their elevated platform observing all. Below were numerous worshipers who bowed and prostrated themselves in front of them. Behind they were being fanned by their favorite hedgehog boy as the numbat sisters were playing a melodious tune on their lyres nearby.

"Our subjects are quite lively today. Don't you agree dear?" The grey canine observed turning to his mate. He was wearing gold colored eye shadow, jeweled earrings with tassels along with decorative shoulder necklaces and golden belts around his tunic.

"I have seen livelier my love. What do you think Arthur?" The white canid asked. She like her mate was wearing grey-gold earrings, with a lavish two piece outfit complemented by a blue shawl.

"Well, I um..." He stammered as the deities turned to face him.

Should he agree with Haas? Then Selene might be upset. Should he agree with Selene? Then Haas may become upset.

A visible bead of sweat formed on his forehead before all in attendance laughed. "Um I can't tell."

"Seems like our fan boy didn't know which way to jump." Selene teased.

"At ease boy there is no right or wrong answer here." Haas jested. "OR IS THERE?"

Since the deities mouths did not move when they spoke, it was awfully hard for the hedgehog boy to tell when they were being serious or when they weren't.

"How are your studies progressing?" The white canine asked him changing the subject.

"Goddess, I have learned much." Mr. Speedwell replied respectfully.

"Such as?" Haas asked.

"It's history, stories, customs, rituals and traditions." The leader of the Ghost Hunters replied.

"Really? Which is your favorite?" Selene asked.

Arthur looked down at the ground and blushed profusely.

"If I may." Sata replied.

"Of course." The grey canine deity said to the numbat.

"Our custom where there is no such thing in this society as a virgin his age and the ritual for ensuring that isn't so. Don't you agree sister?"

"Precisely... what were Arthur's words? Serious mysterious!" Sorrel replied as the whole court laughed out loud.

That night those two took his virginity was one of the best nights of his entire existence.

"God, goddess!" A salamander/dragon came running into the marble temple. She was orange and red in color, had quite the pleasing face with green penetrating eyes and small cute horns on the top of her head and was dressed in a white layered sash skirt but nothing else.

"What is it Haden?" The white canid deity asked her subject.

"We have a visitor!" Haden managed to spit out as she was brushed aside by what looked like a blond humanoid child. He had wavy hair, a grey and worn full piece bodysuit and deep black eyes.

"The black eyed child." Selene said standing from her throne.

"The black eyed child!!"

"It is the dark child!!"

"Are we doomed??" The worshipers in front of the deities gasped.

Haas raised his paw, ordering silence across the marble temple.

"Black eyed child, why are you here?" The grey canid asked.

"For him..." The wavy haired boy said pointing to Arthur.

"Me? Why? I am just an outsider here, an observer; I am not even from this world." The leader of the Ghost Hunters replied looking at his simple white skirt.

"Indeed but you have an integral part to play. Which is why you were brought here." The dark eyed being replied.

"It was you who pulled me into the mural!!" Arthur said, lowering his palm frond.

The white canid placed her paw onto the hedgehog boy's shoulder quieting him.

"Speak child." Selene's mate ordered.

"The world is imperial! I can no longer stand the terrible destruction plaguing Chaundoon; the planet is dying."

More audible gasps were heard throughout the court.

"Wait... at the dawn of creation you warned about this civilization's destruction by the hand's of its enemies." Sata said dropping her lyre.

"You said it was tied to a celestial event." Sorrell added.

"And now you are saying the world we are from is in danger?" Haden added.

"Indeed that is quite a jump." Haas said crossing his arms.

"If nothing is done this will be Chaundoon's fate!" The black eyed child said, lifting his head and splaying his arms lengthwise.

The marble temple faded away in a bright light. Arthur and the court found themselves in a vast desert- sand blowing in all directions. Above a purplish red sky inhabited by a single red sun with a dark hole in it.

(The dark moon did it envelop the sun?) Mr. Speedwell thought to himself.

The other two moons were in shattered pieces visible across the sky. From what the hedgehog boy could tell all life- flora, fauna, biological, humanoid, plant, sentient, non sentient life had ceased. It was nothing but a wasteland.

"Unimaginable!!!" Arthur said, turning around.

"This is Chaudoon's fate unless you act now." The black eyed child replied ending whatever it was he had shown.

"Act how child?" Selene asked.

"The outsider, he must be sent back. He is to play an important role in the planet's salvation."

"Serious mysterious! God Haas, goddess Selene..." Arthur said, kneeling before the beings.

The white canid turned to the grey canid.

"I think we are strong enough to return our him to his own kind." Selene replied.

"Haden, Sorrell, Sata!" Haas ordered. "You should say your goodbyes now."

The numbat sisters kissed their student. "Be well young Speedwell. We will never forget you."

"Nor I you." The hedgehog blushed.

"I will miss you as well." The salamander/dragon said, hugging him.

"I will never forget any of you." Arthur said returning to the deities.

"We trust that you will do you best to exceed your role." Selene said touching his shoulder.

"And fulfill your destiny." Haas said touching his other shoulder.

"Thank you. You have been beyond kind and generous. Will I ever see you again?"

10:28 AM Red, grey and white rock formation (Chaudoon's Wilderness)

"Here we are again at the scene of the crime." Minka replied. "Although there aren't any weird lights ushering us inside this time."

"IS THIS WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE?!" The black akita shouted at the mysterious voice that had led them four hours into the wilderness to the site of their leader's disappearance.

The voice that had guided the two there was silent. Nothing in the affirmative or the negative.

However that did not matter. The silence was soon shattered by the sound of a flying hedgehog thrust right out of the stone formation.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

*OOF!!!*

"And that would be a yes." The cheeky monkey girl replied.

The akita assassin and the monkey girl watched the boy land on his chin with is butt in the air.

"OWIE! Entering was much easier than exiting."

"ARTHUR!!! ARTHUR!! ARTHUR!!" The dark akita yelled picking up the hedgehog by his arms and spinning him around and around.

Minka was spellbound at the display the normally emotionally detached assassin was performing.

"Mr. Black." Arthur said hugging him and Minka when she ran up to them. "I missed you very much."

"Ahem, as we did too boy." Midnight Black said returning him to the ground.

"Where have you been?" Minka asked beginning the inquisition.

"In another dimension serving the deities we met at that celebration. They taught me much- about themselves, their society and culture."

"We have been worried sick boy." The dark akita said crossing his arms.

"How long have I been gone?"

"Eight months." Minka volunteered.

"From my perspective it seems like it has only been a week and a half."

"How is it that you returned?" Mr. Black questioned.

"I am to serve some sort of purpose course correcting the planet's destruction."

"Planet's destruction? WHOA..." The monkey and akita said in unison. "Really?"

"Yeah." Arthur said realizing that he was still wearing his white roundish skirt from the deities' temple.

"How boy?"

"Umm...."

"You don't how do you?" Midnight Black said crossing his arms.

"Well...no."

11:12 AM Infirmary (World Seven)

"...any change..?"

"I am sorry Rumble. No there isn't. Not in the last several days." The sexy lioness said to the concerned werewolf. "I will let you know if there is any improvement."

*Nod*

"Don't give up hope big guy. Corey is a fighter he will pull through." I said comforting the brown were-beast as he left medical heading to their home.

As I returned, I could tell my lioness was concerned.

"I have tried every medical concoction I could think of little cutie, but his condition is not improving."

I hovered the triangular scanner over the black haired teen. "He is still suffering from a high fever, the chills and shakes. Could it be related to the imbalance?"

"Possibly. But I don't want that to be a blanket excuse for everything ailing everyone around here." My devious person replied.

"Freckles? Is that you?" Mr. Collins moaned.

"Yes. I am here Corey."

"What about that hot feline with the big ta-tas?"

"Present Corey." Shakara replied. "And thanks, I think."

"How long have I been here?" The teen moaned.

"Three days." I replied.

"Why am I still feeling like this?"

"Because nothing we have tried is working." My leonine female replied.

"Don't take this the wrong way gorgeous, but you have poor bedside manner. I was expecting better."

"Corey when did these symptoms come about?" My lioness said recovering the teen with a blanket.

"While traveling with Rumble...."

"He is out cold again." I observed. "It could be the crazy. Or maybe just Chaundoon itself; this planet isn't exactly like the one we came from." I suggested.

"Yes, little cutie, it is enchanted." My devious person replied as we watched the daylight fade into night outside. Which would have been normal if it wasn't near the middle of the day.

"I am going to talk to Rumble a little more. We need to know exactly when and where Corey developed these symptoms."

11:32 AM Corey and Rumble's house.

"It must feel a little weird to be back home again." I said entering the stone two level townhome which was next to Corbin and Dawn's and across the street from the home I shared with my three bears and lioness.

"...it is..."

"Regardless how far you two roam, you will always have a place here with all of us."

"...thanks..."

"Besides we all missed you while you were away."

"...planet is vast and wondrous..." Rumble grumbled.

"No arguments there big guy. Say Shakara is still trying to figure out what afflicted Corey. Do you remember anything about when he fell ill?"

"...it was while we were on our way back... in the mushroom forest..." The escaped lab experiment said recollecting.

"Excuse me- mushroom forest?!"

"...we camped there one evening..."

"And Corey became sick afterwards?" I asked the brown werewolf. "Can you show me where?"

3:45 PM Mushroom Forest

"If I hadn't seen it myself, I would have never believed it." I said to shaman Psi.

"There a few forests like this across Chaundoon." The grey sand dragon replied. "Just really far away from the city on foot and paw."

"...this way..." Rumble announced.

And so we followed into the thick forest of mushrooms, some as small as a stone others as big as a house. They were a multitude of colors orange, yellow, red, blue and translucent.

"...it was here..." Rumble said stopping.

Psi and I immediately started examining the surroundings taking air, soil and mushroom samples.

"All seems normal." The sand dragon replied.

"As in enchanted and weird but not necessary hostile." I replied to the grey dragon.

"Hmm.... what about that pond over there?" Psi asked our werewolf.

"...we bathed in it..."

"Seems normal." I replied approaching it.

"Alex wait!" Psi said holding me.

"What?"

"Watch."

The grey dragon picked up a small toad stool and hurled it into the translucent waters and watched it sink. He then grabbed some moss from a nearby rock, peeled it off and threw it into the pond.

All three of us watched as it turned into a mushroom before sinking.

"Rumble did you and Corey bathe at the same time or one after the other?" The sand folk's shaman asked.

"...I went first. Corey kept watch..."

"And then bathed while Rumble kept watch. What are you thinking Psi?" I asked the sand folk's healer.

"That is no ordinary pond- it has duplication properties."

I couldn't believe his analysis. "Say what?!"

4:04 PM Infirmary

*GYUH*

"Corey what is wrong?" Shakara asked running in to check on her patient.

"The room is spinning!"

The sexy lioness held her triangular scanner over the black haired teen in his bed. His fever was spiking. She quickly removed the blanket she had placed over him and his clothing down to his undergarments.

The lioness was contemplating how to try to cool him off when she observed that the boy's skin was bubbling like a thick broth as he continued to shake and tremble.

Patches of thick white fur sprouted at first on his limbs, then hands spreading to his feet. The teen's muscles became larger and more defined. At the same time claws and paw pads began to develop from his hands, his feet reformed into digitigrade paws!

Corey's skeletal structure changed as well, his chest barreled to become more top heavy, a tail burst through his bottomwear, his ears started elongating as did his nose as a muzzle extended from his face forming a snout with sharp teeth!

*GAAAAAAROAR*

The sound echoed throughout the infirmary gaining the attention of the head of medical, Lily Blossom who was treating other patients and professor Stern who was visiting former S'mar chieftain Club.

The three of them ran to where the roar had come from. The room where the dark haired teenager lay on an examination bed.

The lioness nearly wet herself as the transformation finished. The black haired teen was no more. In his place was a white anthropomorphic wolf complete with fangs, claws, paws and a bushy tail.

"I don't know what you did doc but the fever, chills, the shakes and spinning- it is all gone. I feel like a new man!!" Corey said stretching before looking at the collected stares from Shakara, Penny, Lily and Dawn. "What?"

To Be Continued....