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Remodeling

September 25, 2013

"So, Stacey," Sheylyra said, breaking the mid-afternoon silence in the shop, "How's it going? How are you and Sean settling in?"

"Hmm?" the equine teen asked, looking up from her Medical Terminology textbook. "Oh, it's not going bad, I guess. I'm getting A's and B's in all of my classes so far, but we're only one month into the semester. Thanks again, though, for letting Sean and I rent your guest house. It's more than we need, and you really could charge a lot more than what we're paying."

"I know, but why should I? You two are good friends, and fun to be around, plus the sex with you and Sean is great. And I hope you don't mind the 'no clothing' rule at my place; it's just I prefer to be nude when I am in private."

"As long as we can still wear clothes in the guest house, that's completely fine with both of us," the mare said, a slight blush tingeing her cheeks. "We just have to be careful in case we get unexpected company. I can only imagine how his parents, or mine, would react to one of us answering the door in the buff."

"And how is Sean holding up?" shi asked.

"Pretty good," Stacey smiled, leaning back and closing her textbook, apparently ready to take a break from her studies. "He was able to walk-on to the football team, and will probably be the backup quarterback for this year and the next. He really appreciates you letting him go down to working two nights a week so he can comply with NCAA rules."

"It really isn't a problem," the shopkeeper smiled, "I understand the need to do what -"

Just then, the door buzzer rang and a young feline girl walked in - Siamese, perhaps? - looking as relaxed and confident as if she owned the place. Shey glanced over and studied her for a moment, deciding whether or not to throw the minor out of her shop. The teen was average height, maybe five-foot-six, five-nine if you measured to the tips of her ears, with long, silky black hair tied up into two buns and sparkling, ice blue eyes with pink pupils that sparkled with mischief. Her body was toned, lithe, and athletic, and the wolf herm found hirself wondering what the girl did to keep herself so trim. As she walked towards the counter, she casually let her gaze roam around the store, taking in the merchandise.

"Hi, Stace!" she said as she walked up to pair behind the register. "Long time no see!"

"Layla! You're not supposed to be here," the equine girl protested. "You're only sixteen!"

"What? I'm just visiting an old teammate at work," the cat girl purred. "I hardly ever get to see you ever since you graduated, went off to college and got a job." She looked over at Sheylyra and said, "Hi, I'm Layla. Stacey and I are friends. Can I borrow her for a moment?"

"Sure, no problem. Knock yourself out, Dear; it's a slow day anyway," the wolfess said with a smile and dismissive wave.

"Thanks!" the kitten said as she grabbed Stacey by the paw and pulled her outside.

Sheylyra chuckled to hirself at the young girl's exuberance and went back to ordering the latest adult film releases, but the sound of several boxes falling to the floor snapped her attention back upwards. "Be carefu-" she started to say, but then caught sight of another teen feline, frozen in place, staring back at her.

"I'm sorry!" the teen cried out suddenly, dropping to his - or her? Sheylyra really couldn't tell - knees and hastily trying to rearrange the vibrators back to how they were before. As s/he did, his/her tail swished nervously, knocking down several boxes of flavored condoms down off of a rack. "I'll clean it all up, I promise! I-"

"Relax, dear," the wolf said, giving the minor a welcoming smile. "I'm not going to call the police over a kid being in a sex shop. That is, unless you were shoplifting." Shi intended it as a joke, but the skittish youth must have misunderstood and thought shi was making an accusation.

"N-no!" s/he stammered, springing up his/her footpaws and accidentally bumping a shelf with his/her shoulder, sending a supply of vibrating eggs crashing to the floor. "I'm just here with Layla! I snuck in because I didn't want to be seen waiting around in front!"

"It's okay, dear, I really don't mind. And besides, I only enforce the 'minor' rule when a minor is coming in, already drooling and the only thing on his mind is SEX," shi said soothingly, trying to calm the youth down. "Now, please relax, before you break something. Since you're under eighteen, I can't enforce the 'you break it, you buy it' policy."

"Yes, ma'am," the teen said, visibly relaxing, though still a little skittish. The young feline approached the counter nervously and softly mumbled, "I'm sorry about the mess. I'll pick it all up. I promise. Thank you for not calling the police."

Shey set her tablet down on the shelf beneath the register and stood up, walking around the counter to the nervous youth and wrapped hir arms around him/her in a gentle hug. "Don't worry, dear, you have nothing to fear from me. Wanna join me in the kitchen for a drink and a few snacks? It will give you something to do while you wait for your friend."

The nervous teen thought about the offer for a moment, and gave a slight nod. "Yes, please. As much as Layla likes to talk, I could be here for a while. And I'm less likely to be spotted by anybody if I'm in the back. I'd hate for you to get in trouble if anyone walked in."

Shi released the feline from hir embrace and escorted him/her to the small kitchen located in the back of the store. S/he took a seat at the small table while Shey opened the refrigerator and rambled off the choices of beverages. "Okay, we have 7Up, Coke, OJ... the rest is sadly not for minors. Or I can get you a glass of water."

"7Up would be fine, ma'am. Thank you," the teen said, respectfully.

"Would you like it straight up, or on the rocks?" the wolf asked as shi pulled a can from the fridge and opened it.

"From the can is fine," the feline answered. "No sense in me dirtying a glass."

"Aww, I was hoping you'd say 'on the rocks,'" shi grinned as she set the can down on the table. "My ice trays make penis-shaped cubes. And what would you like to eat? We have pizza, mac 'n cheese, some salad ingredients, and meats for sandwiches."

"A small salad would be nice," hir guest said. "I'll take Italian dressing if you have it, ranch if you don't. I have to cook dinner when I get home, so I don't want to spoil my appetite."

While Shey was assembling the salad for the kitten at the table, shi decided to try and strike up conversation. "You say that you need to cook dinner when you get home? What about your parents? Where are they?"

"They're both busy with their careers," s/he said. Looking over hir shoulder, shi could see a hint of sadness on the youth's face as s/he spoke. "Dad is in politics, and is working hard on the upcoming mayoral election. He usually doesn't get home until close to eleven. Mom is self-employed, and her business takes up pretty much every minute of her time. I tend to the cooking and chores around the house."

"And they leave you, poor dear, all alone. Not exactly a loving family, if you ask me," Sheylyra said as shi sat down at the table across from the teen, passing the salad over. Shi grabbed a bottle opener and uncapped a bottle of Guinness for hirself.

"I don't know," s/he said. "I remember when I was younger, before I was old enough to redecorate on my own, my bedroom was painted blue, with all sorts of cute animal appliques on the wall and mountains of plushies. I don't think I was an unplanned or an unwanted pregnancy. I just... wasn't what they expected, I guess."

"That's hard, why would they make you feel unwanted?" shi asked, folding hir arms on the table and resting her chin on them as hir visitor ate the salad.

"I don't know... I don't exactly feel unwanted or unloved..." s/he answered. "I mean, they could have easily put me up for adoption, or handed me over to social services, but they didn't. It's like... I don't know, like they don't know how to relate to me, if that makes any sense."

"But the question still stands, why? I mean, you're friendly, helpful, polite, probably good at school, everything to make parents proud," shi countered.

"Everything but what they were hoping for," the teen muttered.

"You're a herm, am I right?" Sheylyra pressed.

"I should go," the teen said, quickly standing up and turning for the door. "Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am."

"You're a herm, like me, and your parents have no idea on how to raise you," shi said, reaching out and gently grabbing the feline herm by the sleeve of hir school uniform.

The teen turned around and buried hir face against Sheylyra's chest as the tears began to pour out from hir eyes. "Do you have any idea who my father is?" shi sobbed. "Eugene Quesenberry, the campaign manager for Roman Zaritzky, the biggest anti-herm politician in the city."

"Oh my Goddess, you poor, poor dear," Shey whispered as shi stroked the teen's silver hair.

"My entire life, they've tried to hide what I am, first by trying to make me look as boyish as possible,' the young herm explained. "Then, as I started to get older and they worried that my boobs would give it away, they claimed I was just a tomboy. They even made me join the girls' volleyball team to maintain the illusion. But I haven't even started growing any boobs yet! Everyone just looks at me funny, wondering why there's a boy on the volleyball team." Shi shuddered as hir smaller body was racked by a series of powerful sobs. Once shi finally calmed down, shi whispered, "They haven't even attended a single game."

"That's awful," the wolfess said as shi reached across the table and gripped the teen's paw.

"I wish I had your confidence," the tabby herm muttered.

"What's your name, dear?" Shey asked. Hir tone was stern and level. Shi had heard enough of this torn and conflicted youth thinking so negatively about hirself. Shi was going to do something about it.

"Rachael," shi answered softly. "Rachael Quesenberry."

"How do you want people to see you, Rachael?" Shey asked.

There was a moment's pause as Rachael considered the question. "I guess... I want to be seen as gender fluid... I know I have some masculine features, but I also want to be seen as a woman, if that's how I'm feeling. But I want to look like whatever gender I identify with at that moment, and not somewhere in-between," the feline teen said before letting out a frustrated sigh. "I'm just tired of constantly looking somewhere in-between, and not feeling like either."

The wolf herm scooted around the table and draped her arm over Rachael's shoulder as she said, "Now that you know what you want, you've taken your first step." Shi raised hir bottle of Guinness and with a smile said, "To my sexy new friend."

Rachael blushed and nearly coughed up hir beverage before saying, "I wish you wouldn't say that. I'm not sexy."

"What would you say if I said I can prove it? Would you agree to let me try?" Sheylyra offered.

"How... I mean..." the gray tabby stammered.

"No, not that way, though I like that thought, too. No, what I have in mind would require you spending the day with me Saturday. Tomorrow is Thursday, and unless I'm wrong, you have school, same with the day after. So that takes us to Saturday. Are you interested?" Hir eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked over at hir companion. Shi had hir, shi knew.

"You're not going to tell me what your plan is?" Rachael said with another sigh.

"Oh, no, but you have to agree to give me the day to prove it. I will tell you that we will be in very public places all day long, though," Shey promised.

"I'm dying to know how you'll pull this off, so I have to say 'yes,'" Rachael agreed. "But I have volleyball practice until noon."

"I have a question about that," Sheylyra said. "If you only joined because your parents made you, and they never come to your games, why do you still play?"

"Because my teammates are some of the few friends that I have," the tabby answered. "That and it helps people to see me as a girl, instead of a really feminine boy... Plus, I don't want to give up on something I enjoy just because of them."

"Excellent!" the wolf said, flashing a brilliant smile. "That's the kind of spirit I knew you had in there. But, you'll have to trust my judgment. Agreed?"

"We'll be in public the whole time, you say?" the shy tabby herm said. Shi was in.

"We most certainly will," Shey said, "from the time I pick you up until the time I drop you off. Well, except for when we're in the car, but I can't do much about that."

"Then I accept your invitation," Rachael said with a smile before finishing off hir drink.

"I can't wait! It will be a life changing day for both of us, I'm sure," the wolfess said with a broad grin. "I'll pick you up at Chimera Prep at noon?"

"Yes, ma'am, thank you," the kitten said sweetly. "But how did you know where I go to school?"

"Please, dear, none of this ma'am business anymore," the herm woman said, pulling the confused teen in for another hug. "You can call me Sheylyra, or Shey. And the school name is emblazoned on the crest on your jacket."

"Thank you, Shey," shi said, returning the hug.

~~~~~

September 28, 2013

Saturday morning came, and Sheylyra walked into the Cerberus Center at Chimera Prep right at eleven forty-five, with Lucrezia in tow. Shi valued hir pet's opinion about clothing and fashion, and believed that the beautiful silver fox would be able to help with Rachael's transformation into a sexy, confident young herm. The pair watched from the doorway as the young tabby scrambled all around hir side of the court, successfully saving everything that came hir direction.

Shi also spotted Layla, the other underage feline that had visited hir shop a few days earlier. Sheylyra chuckled to hirself as shi recalled the rather large employee purchase shi rang up for Stacey that afternoon. Shi had been in bed with the equine teen and Sean enough times to know their sexual likes and dislikes, and shi had no doubt that the sale was really for hir friend. As shi allowed hir eyes to roam over the girl's spandex-clad body, shi could now see that Layla was a Snowshoe, not a Siamese, and hir mind began to conjure up images of the teen girl playing with her new toys.

"Is that hir, Mistress?" Luc asked, pointing Rachael out among the other girls.

"Yes, pet," Shey replied as shi took the vixen's paw in hirs. "Poor thing is so lost and confused about who shi is."

"Shi seems jumpy," her companion observed as the tabby flitted around the volleyball court, trying hir best to help hir practice squad win. Hir motions were quick, jerky, and awkward.

"You should have seen hir in the shop Wednesday," the wolfess explained. "Shi actually looks relaxed now compared to then."

An older lioness blew her whistle and the players all gathered around, listening as the woman debriefed them from the morning's practice. Once they were dismissed, Rachael glanced their way and waved shyly before disappearing to shower and change.

Rachael emerged from the locker room a short time later wearing a loose-fitting pair of blue jeans and a hoodie, doing a great job of masking hir gender, which was the opposite of what Sheylyra was hoping to accomplish. Shi walked over to where the wolfess waited with hir pet and with a gentle hug, Shey said, "Now the adventure begins. Rachael, this is my pet and lover, Lucrezia. Pet, this is Rachael, the shy herm I was telling you about."

"Hello, Lucrezia," Rachael said, shyly holding out hir paw to the silver vixen. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hello, Rachael," the woman said, accepting the offered paw and giving it a gentle shake, "it's nice to meet you, too. But please, call me Luc."

The trio walked out to the parking lot and the wolfess pulled hir keys out of hir jacket pocket and pressed a button, causing an alarm system to chirp. Rachael just stopped and stared at the car that made the sound, and asked, "That's your car?"

"Car?" Sheylyra chuckled, "Sweet darling, calling this a 'car' is like calling a samurai sword a letter opener. This..." Shi gently caressed the hood with hir fingertips, being careful not to scratch the black paint with hir claws as she continued, "...is a 1967 Shelby Cobra GT500. It's one of the most desirable and sought-after machines in the world."

"I'm sorry," the teen said, turning bright pink, "I don't know much about cars. It is very pretty, though."

"I'll have to teach you some things, then," the wolf chuckled as shi shook hir head in disbelief. "Because just like you fail to see your own beauty, you don't see this masterpiece of American craftsmanship for what it truly is."

Rachael was as nervous and curious as shi could be, but Sheylyra had promised that the day would be spent in a public place so shi seemed to relax a little. They pulled up in front of Sequoia Square Mall and headed straight to Victoria's Secret. When Shey turned the young feline in there, Rachael looked at hir and hesitated. "Trust me," shi said encouragingly, placing hir paw on the younger herm's lower back. In they went and found a sales clerk.

"May I help you?" a young hedgehog woman asked from behind the counter.

"Yes, we're looking for several bras, a dozen or so, that will accentuate my friend's modest bust, ranging from cute to sexy," shi said, gesturing to Rachael's chest.

The clerk raised her eyebrows but said, "Of course. Right this way, Miss." With a slight motion of her paw, she indicated for Rachael to follow her into the back of the store.

Sheylyra stopped them and said, "When you're done, I'd like hir to be wearing something white, and she'll need a garter belt and some nylons. Any questions?"

"Uhm, no ma'am, I don't think so," the hedgehog girl said with a smile, leading the brightly-blushing tabby to take hir measurements. Shey and hir pet strolled over to a set of armchairs along the wall and sat down to wait.

"Not that I mind, Mistress," Lucrezia said softly as she pressed herself against the wolfess's side, "but why did you bring me along? You don't have a lot of trunk space, and shi already doesn't have much space in the back seat. "

"I brought you along, Pet," Shey said, affectionately stroking her claws through Lucrezia's flowing silver hair, "because shi is damaged and scared, and I am trying to heal hir. But it's not something I can do alone; I'm going to need your help. Plus, we're going to give hir male and female makeovers, and I could use your fashion sense."

When Rachael and the sales lady returned a little later with a large pawful of items, Sheylyra gave the nervous teen a look over and said, "Very nice. It is a good start, but we also need a dozen pairs of panties, ranging from boyshorts to bikinis, thongs to G-strings, in colors that will complement the bras you selected."

"Of course," the hedgehog said with a broad smile, and escorted the nervous kitten back to the fitting rooms. "We'll be back shortly."

"How is shi damaged?" the silver vixen asked, the concern clearly written across her face. One thing Shey loved about hir pet was how empathic she was towards the troubles of others, which reminded hir of something shi needed to ask.

"Rachael comes from a home that does not understand or support hir because of who shi is," Shey explained. "Hir parents fear what shi is, and try to suppress it while ignoring hir."

"That's awful," Lucrezia said softly. "No child should ever be made to feel like that, especially not by hir parents."

"There's something I wanted to ask you, Pet," Shey said, taking Luc's paw into hir own and giving it a comforting squeeze.

"What is it?" the vixen asked, intrigued by the statement.

"I've been thinking about expanding on my business ventures," shi said. "The shop is up and running, and pulling in a nice profit. Our villa is all set up, and we're comfortably moved in, thanks in large part to your efforts."

"If it makes you happy, then it is my pleasure," Lucrezia churred happily while her Mistress caressed the back of her paw.

"But there are a lot of other things I want to get into. Recently, an old Irish pub went on the market, and it's caught my attention," Shey continued. "I've been thinking about buying it, and letting you manage the day-to-day operations for me. I'd like to build a small stage there, and let local bands perform. It would be good exposure for them, and entertainment for our guests."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea, Mistress," the vixen said. "I think I'd like that a lot."

"That's very nice to hear, Pet," Shey said. "We'll talk about it more tonight over dinner. For now, we have our lovely young friend to consider." Shi nodded, indicating with hir muzzle that the sales clerk was coming back with Rachael in tow.

The young tabby was dressed in a white lace demi-cup bra and matching thong, capped with a white lace garter belt and lace-topped white stockings. The hedgehog woman held up all of the various bras and panties, and suggested a few other slips, bustiers, garters, nylons, and teddies to accessorize with. The wolfess smiled hir approval at the mild transformation and simply stated, "Perfect." They shy teen tried to protest as shi paid for everything, but Sheylyra wouldn't hear any of it. Moments later, they walked out of the shop carrying two full bags.

"Shey," the teen herm squeaked quietly as they stepped out into the main concourse, "do you realize the panties I'm wearing barely cover my, uhm, you know..."

"I know. Isn't it wonderful?" the wolfess grinned.

"I feel so..." Rachael blushed, unable to finish hir thought.

"Sexy?"

"No... I feel so exposed, so naked... so daring," the kitten practically whispered, making Luc let out a little chuckle.

"I'll settle for that for now," Shey said, giving the teen an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Rachael sighed, "Sheylyra, you just spent a lot of money on me."

"Don't worry about it, dear. We have a long way to go," Sheylyra said, guiding hir along.

Their next destination was at the beauty shop next to Macy's where they booked an appointment for four o'clock with a friendly porcupine woman named Connie. While they waited, they strolled to the department store next door. Sheylyra led her to the juniors' section and asked, "What size top do you wear, dear?"

"I don't know... large?" the younger herm shrugged noncommittally.

"Okay..." Sheylyra huffed, "Let me rephrase that. What size top would you wear if you weren't trying to hide your body?"

Lucrezia grabbed several of the same top in various sizes from the closest rack and held each up to Rachael's torso. "Shi looks like shi would be either a small or a medium, depending on the brand," the vixen said. "And likely a size five-six dress."

"Thank you, Pet," the wolf said as shi scritched hir Pet under the chin.

Up and down the aisles they went as Sheylyra and Lucrezia pulled garments out for their companion to try on. With an armload selected, they ventured to the dressing rooms. Shey sat down on a nearby bench while Luc stood just outside of the door and said, "Try these on and come out so we can see."

A few minutes later, shi appeared in a cute black, red, and white dress that complimented hir gray fur, accessorized with a black blazer. "I like that, it looks nice," Luc said, looking Rachael up and down. "Don't you agree, Mistress?"

"Very cute," the wolf herm nodded, giving Rachael a comforting smile. "We'll add it to the cart. Try another one, dear."

When shi reappeared, shi was wearing a pair of short denim shorts and a tucked-in white blouse with the sleeves rolled-up to hir elbows. "Now that's nice, but let's do this," Lucrezia suggested, undoing the top three buttons of the shirt and pulling it open. The result was that lot of Rachael's small chest was exposed to Sheylyra's view, revealing a little of the white bra beneath.

"Very nice call, Pet," Shey said, causing the vixen to beam with pride. Shi looked back at Rachael. "Try another." Lucrezia handed the young herm another outfit and shi disappeared into the changing room once again. A couple of minutes went by as they listened the rustling of fabric and the shuffling of pawpads. Then, in a small whisper, Rachael said, "Shey... my belly is showing."

"You play sports, and it's a very nice belly, dear," the wolfess called back. "Why don't you come out here and let us see?"

Shi slowly emerged from the fitting room wearing a form-fitting pair of blue jeans that hugged her barely-there hips nicely and a designer print top that stopped just below hir ribs, capped off with a black leather jacket that left her navel exposed. Shi shyly held hir paws up over hir midriff, embarrassed to be showing off that much fur. "Rachael, dear," Shey said, "lower your paws and let us see. Trust us."

The teen herm slowly did as shi was told, revealing a flat, trim belly with just a hint of muscle tone showing through hir white-furred abdomen. "Very nice," Lucrezia murred as she walked around the tabby, inspecting her appearance from ears to toeclaws, "you should dress like this more often, right, Mistress?"

"Absolutely," Shey said, uncrossing her legs and sitting forward on the bench. "You have an amazing body, dear; it is both beautiful and handsome at the same time, not somewhere in between, like you believe. You should be proud of it, and show it off more. Luc, give hir something else that will show off hir nice tummy and those legs."

"Yes, Mistress," the vixen said eagerly.

And so it went until the pair had selected eight or so feminine outfits for their new friend, ranging from cute to demure to edgy, and all points in between. Sheylyra was having a great time; every time Rachael came out in a nice-fitting outfit that accentuated hir modest curves, shi'd smile and compliment the young herm on hir appearance. Again, Rachael attempted to protest, but Shey silenced hir with a few kind words and a playful grin. They headed out to the food court for a bit to eat when Lucrezia spotted the jewelry counter. The clerk addressed Luc, being the most femininely dressed, as they came near, "Good afternoon, ladies. Can I help you find anything in particular?"

Sheylyra stepped in and took over, unbuttoning Rachael's top until hir small, bra-clad breasts were almost on display, then said, "I'd like to see some nice necklaces and earrings for my friend here." The gesture caught the saleswoman by surprise, but she quickly gathered her wits and started pulling out a variety for them to choose from. Shey held different pendants up to Rachael's chest as Lucrezia stood there, offering her opinion. The trio started two piles, one to keep and one for rejects, before adding a few bracelets and a couple of rings to the collection. By then, they were starved and tired.

They took their packages out to the Mustang and Lucrezia dug out one of the necklaces. "Put this on and let's see how you look," she said. Rachael stood there with hir shirt half unbuttoned and hir new necklace drawing the eye down to between hir undeveloped breasts. Hir ears burned bright pink at hir embarrassment at being so exposed, but the vixen gave hir a hug and whispered, "You look beautiful, Rachael; very pretty." With everything they'd purchased so far loaded into the small trunk of the Cobra, they headed back inside to the food court where they could rest and eat until Rachael's hair appointment. Once they had their food and beverages, they scoped out what would have to pass for a private area and sat down to eat and talk.

With her mouth full of pizza, Rachael said, "Shey, my head is spinning, and I don't know what to think. I've already tried on more clothes than I have in my closet, and you're spending a fortune on me. Why? You know I can't pay you back for any of this. At first, I thought you might be trying to seduce me, but then you show up today with your lover, so I don't know."

"Rachael, dear," Sheylyra said as shi took the kitten's paw into hir own, "I wouldn't think of you paying me back for anything, either with money or other means. This is my treat, and I'm having a wonderful time. Helping a shy, confused herm like yourself blossom into the person shi wants to be is reward enough. I don't expect anything more than us becoming friends."

"I'm sorry," the teen said as she swallowed the bite and looked down at the table, "I didn't mean to accuse. And believe me, I'm having fun, too. I truly am grateful for all of this, but my world is just spinning and I can't keep up with all that is happening to me."

"Then stop trying to keep up," Lucrezia said softly, taking Rachael's other paw. "Just relax and enjoy. We still have a lot to do before the day is over."

Rachael let out a sigh. "There is this girl, a herm, actually, like me... us," shi explained. "Hir name is Quinn, and shi was the only person to ever show any interest in me in a romantic sense. I was tempted, so very close, to letting myself get into a relationship with hir, but shi and hir family live on the road, and are not in town very much. I'd still like to call her my girlfriend, or whatever we herms call ourselves in relationships, but I need someone that can be here by my side as I try and figure out what being a herm means to me."

"Let me be that someone for you," Sheylyra said, taking the tabby's paw into hir own. "I'd really like to help you."

"I don't think you understand," Rachael explained. "I don't just mean in public, with my friends or at school, but..." Shi blushed bright crimson as shi finished hir thought, "behind closed doors, in the bedroom. That was why I had to pass things up with Quinn. I couldn't bear the thought of hir being gone for weeks or even months at a time, not when I still have so much to figure out."

"I'd say we just wait and see what the future brings. Remember, dear, one step at the time," the wolfess said with a reassuring smile. "But, as you become more comfortable in your own fur, if you want some help and guidance with that, I will be here for you."

Rachael blinked, then asked, "But what about Luc?"

"Oh, I'm sure she would be willing to join us," Shey chuckled. "That is, if you'd want her to. She has a very loving and gentle nature that I'm sure you would find very nurturing." Rae looked over at the silver vixen, who simply gave hir a demure smile and a slight nod.

"If things ever go that far," the teen feline said, "I don't think I'd be interested in anything serious or long-term. Really, I'm very serious about finding out who I am and learning to love myself, so that I can be ready to be in a relationship with Quinn, no matter how far apart shi and I are."

"I couldn't have worded it better, dear," the older herm said.

As they left the food court, Shey said, "We'd better get you to the salon for your makeover." Like in all of the other stores before, the wolfess took control and showed the stylist the short-length unisex cut shi wished Rachael to have. The porcupine woman seemed a little uncomfortable with the situation, but didn't interfere as Sheylyra indicated with waves, gestures, and slashes with hir finger indicating where to cut. Once shi was done explaining, shi continued by saying, "I'd like for you to explain to hir about hair care, and show hir how this style can be worn in both a feminine and masculine fashion. Then, set hir up with all the products she will need to maintain both appearances. Everything. We'll check back later."

As they left the salon to continue the shopping, Sheylyra looked over to hir companion and asked, "So, now that you've had some time to spend with our friend, what do you think of hir?" With a point of hir finger, shi said, "In there," and steered toward the entrance to American Eagle Outfitters.

As they moved through the store Lucrezia said, "Shi must be a very special person to you, Mistress. I've never seen you act like this towards anyone but me."

"Shi becomes more special every minute I spend with hir," Shey explained. "That poor darling is the embodiment of everything wrong with this fucking town's view on herms. So if I start to get real and change the situation, I have to start somewhere, right?"

The pair worked together to determine what size jeans to look for by converting Rachael's women's size five-six into a men's twenty-six waist, and guessed at the inseam based on hir height, deciding on twenty-eight. Several pairs of jeans, in a variety of fits and washes, were selected, as well as a few pairs of khakis, before they moved on to tops. Shey picked out six graphic print T-shirts while Lucrezia browsed the polos and plaid button-ups, picking out seven shirts to wear over the T's. The pile continued to grow as the wolf and vixen moved through the store, adding belts, a watch, a hoodie (one that wouldn't hide their friend's features), a quilted bomber jacket, a few ball caps, a beanie, a wallet, a necktie, and two pairs of sunglasses. They had so much fun, even without having Rachael there to try things on and model for them, that before they knew it they had to get back to the salon. Shey actually winced a little at the register when the total popped up, but shi still smiled, happy for the difference shi was making for the troubled teen.

With their arms loaded down with bags, Shey and Luc headed to the Shelby for yet another deposit into the trunk. As they walked back to the salon, every so often Luc would break away to casually window shop to investigate some random thing that might look good on the tabby, but Shey told her to wait until after they saw the results of today's efforts. They stopped far enough out away from the entrance so that they could sit and wait while Connie finished up. It took them a little while to assemble all of the products shi might need or want, and for the porcupine woman to explain how to apply each properly, but Rachael finally sat down back down in the waiting area and picked up a magazine.

"That looks like our cue," Sheylyra grinned as shi patted Luc's thigh, and together they worked their way through the throng of shoppers and entered the salon. When Rachael saw them approaching, shi stood up with a little smile and did a playful twirl on her right footpaw. Shey and Luc stopped when they were ten or so feet away and looked hir over. They just stood there staring at hir for what must have seemed like forever to the poor teen, and she began to panic. Just as shi was reaching up to mess with hir hair, Shey broke into a big smile and said, "You look stunning!"

"Absolutely perfect," Lucrezia nodded, echoing her Mistress's sentiment.

Lucrezia walked over to the porcupine woman and slipped her a fifty dollar bill as a tip, thanking her for doing such a wonderful job. As they walked together, Rachael slipped hir arm around Shey's waist and said, "Thank you both so much. This has been a day I'll never, ever forget."

"I'm glad you've enjoyed it, but it isn't over," Shey said, giving the teen a gentle squeeze in return. "You still need some new shoes!"

"Oh God, there's more?" she sighed. "But you were right... I actually feel... sexy."

Lucrezia took hir by the paw and said, "And you should. You are very sexy, and when we are finished, you will take away the breath of any boy, girl, or herm that looks in your direction."

"I'm so worried about all the money you two spent on me today," Rachael said, making one last feeble attempt to protest. "What if our friendship doesn't pan out?"

"Rachael," Shey said firmly yet gently, "don't worry about it. I'm doing it because you deserve to be happy, even if that doesn't involve me at any point after today."

"Rae," the teen said thoughtfully. "I think I'd like to be called 'Rae' from here on out. It's still a feminine name, but it also sounds like R-A-Y, which is a boy's name."

"Whatever you want, Rae," the wolfess said, hir heart swelling with pride at the change shi was beginning to see in the youth.

~~~~~

September 29, 2013

"I'm sorry, Rachael," Shey heard Sean say from the front door. "The law says I can't let you in. My boss could get into a lot of trouble, and so could I."

Shi heard some distressed muttering coming from outside, and spoke up, "Sean? Is that Rachael?

Hearing the worry in his employer's voice, he looked back over his shoulder and nodded.

"Let hir in, please. It's okay, we'll talk in the back," Shey said, walking out from behind the counter. "Could you watch the shop for me for a little bit, please?"

"Sure thing, Shey," the panther said as he stepped aside to let the younger tabby inside.

The wolfess could sense that something was wrong immediately. All of Rae's confidence from the day before was gone; if possible, shi seemed even more anxious and uncertain than ever. Hir eyes were red and puffy, and hir cheeks were damp and matted, evidence that shi had been crying. "Rae," Sheylyra said as shi wrapped her arms around the teen reassuringly, "Everything is going to be okay. Come with me to the back, and we'll talk."

Escorting the teen back to the small kitchen, shi pulled out a chair and let the young tabby sit down. Grabbing a can of 7Up for each of them, shi sat down across from Rae and passed the can across the table. "What's the matter, dear?" shi asked softly.

"My parents are furious, Shey," Rachael sniffled. "I tried to show them all the nice clothes you bought me, and they said that you had no business butting in to our lives." Shi fidgeted nervously as shi continued, "They want you to take everything back to the stores, and they gave me fifty dollars to give you for the 'awful haircut.'"

Sheylyra could feel her blood on the verge of boiling. She stood back up and walked around to her younger friend, hugging her lovingly. "It's ok dear," shi said soothingly into the teen herm's ear, "you deserved everything I did for you yesterday. Don't worry; I'll take care of everything." Shi turned hir head and yelled out to the sales floor. "SEAN! YOU. HERE. NOW!"

The panther appeared in the doorway in an instant. "Is something wrong, Shey?"

"Close down the shop for today," shi muttered through clenched teeth. "Take the delivery van and drive poor Rachael to the guesthouse and leave hir with Stacey; the no clothing rule is waived for now. I have to give someone a piece of my mind." Looking at the younger herm, shi said, "What's your address, dear?"

"Shey, I don't think -" Rachael started to protest, then faltered. "It's thirty-two seventeen King Charles Court."

The wolfess keyed the address into hir phone while shi continued giving instructions to Sean. "Make sure Rachael gets a big Russian chocolate, and let hir sit and talk with Stacey for a bit so that shi has a chance to calm down. Tell Luc to bring the van and meet me at Quesenberry's place as fast as she can." Shi was practically walking out the front door as shi finished giving orders, grabbing hir leather jacket from behind the counter as shi went.

Moving with intense purpose, shi unlocked the Shelby and climbed inside, making the engine roar to life. Fastening hir seatbelt, she pressed hir footpaw down on the clutch and shifted gears, making the tires squeal as shi rushed to confront Rachael's parents, leaving a trail of smoke and rubber in hir wake.

Several minutes later, shi parked in front of a large Victorian-style house in an affluent neighborhood. Killing the ignition, shi gripped the steering wheel and took a few calming breaths, reminding hirself that shi was there to help Rachael, not to get arrested. Stepping out of the car, shi strode up the nicely-maintained walkway to the front door, pressing the doorbell.

A moment later, a middle aged tabby man opened the door. Judging by his demeanor and the expression on his face, he knew who shi was, and was not surprised to see hir. "Sheylyra Loire," he said coldly. "When Rachael said 'Shey,' I was afraid she meant you. I'd like it if you would stay away from her; the owner of a porn store isn't the type of influence I'd like her to be around."

"I think you just don't want one of your family members being seen with a herm, especially someone who supports third gender rights," Shey retorted. "Adding insult to injury is the fact that this family member of yours is a herm hirself."

"An unfortunate circumstance," he said. "But you aren't here to discuss my political stance. You're here to collect the trash you bought for my daughter and take it back. So, please..." He stepped inside, opening the door the rest of the way and making a sweeping gesture with his arm. "Step inside."

Shey stepped into a large living room decorated with large, ornately wood-carved furniture and heavy green velvet curtains, which complimented the soft beige paint on the walls. Motioning to the steps, he said, "This way. Rachael's room is up here." Mr. Quesenberry escorted hir upstairs and turned the knob on a heavy oak door, pushing it open to reveal a sparsely furnished room with plain white walls, almost totally devoid of any personality. All of the bags of clothing were on the floor next to the closet, seemingly all of the items still with their tags on them.

"Do you really hate herms so much that you treat your own daughter like this?" shi asked as shi looked around the boring room.

"What exactly do you mean by 'this,' Miss Loire?" the older tabby asked. "Rachael has a roof over her head, a warm bed to sleep in at night, clothes to wear... which is precisely why we don't approve of your charity."

"But nothing to develop and express hir own personality, to be hirself," Shey said as shi looked back at Rae's father.

"She's allowed to express what she likes and doesn't like," he said dismissively, "as long as it doesn't go against what my wife and I find to be morally acceptable. So excuse me if what young people these days find to be cool doesn't fit into that category."

Sheylyra was about to respond with something a bit less polite, but was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing again. "That must be my... assistant... with the van," shi grumbled, angry at hirself for holding back. Shi could hear the sound of the door being opened, and the muffled dialogue between Mrs. Quesenberry and Lucrezia downstairs. "If you don't mind, I'll be taking these now," shi said, not really asking permission, as shi reached down and gathered up as many of the bags as shi could.

"By all means," Eugene said, stepping out of hir way.

As shi descended the stairs with Mr. Quesenberry following hir, Shey saw Luc nervously waiting at the front door talking with Rae's mother. She glanced Shey's direction as shi came down the steps and said, "Shey, I came as soon as I could. What's..." Her voice trailed off as she saw both of the wolfess's arms laden down with the bags from the mall. She looked back at the woman that let her inside and asked, "You're making Rachael give everything back? Don't you love hir?"

"We do love her," Eugene said, a shred of remorse visible in his eyes for the first time that afternoon. "When we found out that we were pregnant with Rachael, it was one of the happiest days of our lives. It's just, her condition -"

"Condition?" Shey practically shrieked as shi dropped the bags and spun around on hir footpaw. "Condition?!?! Are you fucking kidding me?"

"I'm sorry, did I -" the older male started to ask before the furious herm interrupted him again.

"Shi is a normal child," shi snarled, rising up onto the balls of hir toes, almost pressing hir muzzle against his chin, "and shi is still your daughter! How dare you to talk about hir like that! It's your job to love, protect, and support hir!"

"Miss Loire, I -" he tried again to defend himself, but shi kept on with hir rant.

"But no, your public standing and narrow-minded beliefs are more important to you than your own flesh and blood. You make me sick!" Shi whirled around to stare down at Rachael's mother, who was standing there wide-eyed and slack-jawed at the ranting herm on the steps. "You two are the worst of the worst, choosing narrow-minded bigotry over your own kid! Look at Rachael for once; shi is unsure who shi really is. Is shi male, or female? Shi was looking at you for guidance, but all you ever gave hir was doubt! You hid her like something devious, demonic even."

By now, Eugene had stopped trying to argue as hir words hit home. He simply stood there, staring at his footpaws as Sheylyra continued on hir tirade. "You should have asked yourselves the question: 'what's more important in your lives, Rachael or you?' Do you have any idea how much you're hurting hir? You don't deserve to be hir parents! You don't even deserve to know hir!"

By now, shi could hear Helen Quesenberry behind hir, beginning to sob, but shi wasn't through yet with getting hir point across. "When we gave hir that makeover, she told us that no one was ever so nice to hir! You should have been so nice! Don't you realize what that means? A total stranger was gentler, friendlier, more helpful, more understanding, and more loving than hir own fucking parents."

"What was I supposed to do?" the male tabby said with a defeated sigh. "I built my entire career on the teachings that herms were unnatural. I never could have known I'd have a herm child of my own. If I changed my standpoint, I'd be ruined! I'm too old to reboot my career, too old to go back to school, and we'd be financially devastated if I just retired."

"We just don't know what to do," Rachael's mother said, speaking barely above a whisper.

"Then sign over custody of Rachael to me," Shey requested. "I am financially secure enough to where shi wouldn't be any trouble at all, and I know enough about being a herm that I can help restore some of hir broken confidence and self-esteem."

"No," Mr. Quesenberry said stubbornly. "Absolutely not. No one outside of this room knows that Rachael is a herm except for her doctor and a select few staff members at her school, and I'd prefer it if word didn't get out that I handed her over to a herm. Again, it could damage my career beyond repair, especially if I handed her over to such an outspoken member of the herm community."

Shey was about to argue, but shi was surprised when shi heard Luc say, "Sign hir over to me, than."

All the heads in the room turned to look towards the silver vixen, making her blush slightly, but she explained, "I'm female, one hundred percent. While Shey and I live together, we are not married, and have not been in the state long enough for common law to apply. I prefer to live a more low-key lifestyle, letting Shey have all of the attention. If you're as good as your reputation, you should have no problems drawing up the necessary documents, and you should have a notary available that you trust can maintain your confidentiality. If anyone asks, you can say that with upcoming election taking up so much of your time, Rachael is staying with a family member."

"That... could work," Eugene said, scratching his chin. "Of course, before we can do anything, I'd have to have a background check ran, just to make certain. Despite how things may appear to the both of you, we don't hate Rachael; we just can't relate to her. The last thing we would ever want is for her to be hurt any more, even if we are the ones responsible for how she is now."

"Shouldn't we ask Rachael about what she thinks in all of this?" Mrs. Quesenberry asked.

"With your permission," Luc said, taking over the conversation for Sheylyra, her cooler demeanor going a long way towards winning over the tabby cats, "Shi is at our home now. You can call hir to make sure shi is okay, if you like. Let hir spend the night in our guest room to have time away from the situation and think things over, and to get a feel for what living with us would be like. In the meanwhile, I can sign the request for the background check. Once you have the results and Rachael's decision, you can either draw up the documents, or we can bring your daughter back to you."

"What do you think, dear?" Eugene asked his wife.

"While I'm not happy about signing her over like that," Mrs. Quesenberry sighed, sitting down in an armchair, "We have to consider what's best for Rachael... even if it isn't us." She wiped a tear from her eye and said, "If it's what she wants, then I'll support the decision."

"That sounds like a good plan, just let me make a video call to my mansion," Sheylyra said, speaking up once again. "Shi is being kept company by one of our mutual friends, Stacey Kibodeaux, from hir volleyball team, who also works for me. That way you can see for yourselves that shi is safe, and in a friendly environment."

"Very well," Eugene nodded as he gestured toward the sofa in the living room. "Let's sit down. If we all look relaxed, and like we're trying to get along, it might make her feel more comfortable with the situation."

~~~~~

"So this," Sheylyra said as shi opened the double front doors, "is where Luc and I live. Here we have the living room-slash-lounge." Shi indicated to the large room to hir right with a sweep of hir paw, then pointed to the left. "And the library-slash-study is here." Shi led Rae further toward the back of the house, pointing out the kitchen and dining rooms as they went with Luc following close behind. Rae was in awe at the large sets of curved steps, one leading upward while the other went to the basement.

"We'll go up to the bedrooms in just a moment," Shey explained, "but I'd like you to see downstairs first. Right this way." Once they were in the basement, Rae was shown where the laundry room was, as well as Shey's home office. There was a home movie theatre-slash-game room, a dojo-slash-meditation room, a bar with a pool table and dartboard, and a room that the wolfess fondly referred to as 'the dungeon.'

When the tour finally reached the top floor, the first thing that Rachael noticed was that the library reached all the way up from the ground floor. There was a home gym with an attached massage parlor and sauna. Sheylyra led the way to a large set of oak doors and pushed them open, saying, "And this is where Luc and I sleep."

"Well, first, we make ourselves tired enough to go to sleep," Lucrezia said with a giggle.

Rae found hirself looking in a large, lofty room with a massive bed which must have been custom ordered, and thick, plush, fluffy carpet. The bedroom was painted in a soft pastel yellow, and the walls were decorated with photographs of forests, waterfalls, and other landscapes. At the back of the expansive space there was a luxurious private bathroom.

"It's beautiful, Shey," Rachael said softly, amazed by what shi had seen of hir friends' home. "It must be amazing living here."

"The tour isn't done just yet," Luc said, taking Rachael by the paw. "We still have the most important room left to go."

"Which one is that?" Rae asked.

"Yours," Sheylyra answered as shi draped an arm over the teen's shoulder and led hir towards a door. "But it may need some remodeling..."

~ To be continued