Chapter 3

Ron Conrad stared in shock at the horror that met his eyes. Four bodies lay on cots, unmoving and still as death. The rhythmic sounds of the monitoring equipment were the only thing signifying that they were still among the living, but for the life of him, Ron hadn't a clue as to why.

"Ron...Ron...RON!" Dr. Sazara placed a gloved hand on his shoulder shaking the Raccoon out of his enthrallment. Turning to look at Shari's isolation suit, her face clearly visible through the clear visor of her helmet, Ron thought these suits looked like they belonged in deep space, rather than a bio-medical lab.

"Ron..." Shari's voice came over the com unit. "I told you it wasn't pretty," she said, her voice tinged with concern.

"Sorry, It's more of a shock than I was expecting." Realizing that he had just stood and stared at the poor unfortunate furs that lay before him. Coronas of shed fur lay around on the floor around the cots. There was so much of it that, it looked to Ron, as if they were laying on fur rugs for they had shed everything except their headfur, and now they lay pink, bare, and unmoving. But that wasn't the worst of it, the three males and a femme had... changed. They were completely unrecognizable, save for the shed fur that gave the only clue.

S-Shari... W-what happened to them? Where are their tails... and their muzzles? What happened to their muzzles!" Ron exclaimed, sounding on the verge of a panic attack.

Dr. Sazara stood in front of him, taking hold of his shoulders and giving them a good shake. Forcing him to look at her, and away from the cots.

#

"Honey, I'm not feeling so good." Sally said laying on the bed. She ached all over. Looking at Rafe, he didn't look like he was feeling any better.

"I know what you mean, do you think it was possibly the seafood we had for dinner?" he asked, placing a paw on her forehead. "You're burning up hon, you should try a cool shower, it may help you feel better," Rafe suggested.

"Good idea, love, I'm aching all over. I hope we aren't coming down with the flu on our wedding night," she mewed, quite upset at the prospect. Rafe collapsed face first onto the bed.

"I know what you mean, hon. I feel like I've been beaten with a sack of door knobs," he mumbled, face down in the pillows.

"You are a silly skunk, Mr. Johnson, do you know that? It doesn't matter though, I still love you anyway," Sally said, rubbing his back. Gods how she loved this skunk. Their lovemaking had transcended her wildest fantasies. He was an unbelievable lover, gently guiding her through her lack of experience, he brought out passions in her she never knew existed. Despite this unfortunate bout of flu, she felt their marriage was starting out wonderfully. And nothing save death would separate them. Rafe groaned, she wasn't quite sure if it was from pain or pleasure.

"Sweet Love, if I weren't feeling this sore, that would feel wonderful...But right now, you are showing me just how sore I truly am," Rafe moaned, sounding about as bad as she felt. Perhaps a shower would help her feel better.

End of Chapter 3