Animalasia
"And in other news, the effects of the bacteria that turn people into anthropomorphic animals, continues to spread but scientists believe that they have formulated a cure to remove it from the water." Said the TV news broadcaster.
"Well, it's good to know that they're fixing it." Said a relieved Nate, "It took them long enough though. The damage has been done. Right hon?"
Scarlett rubs her shoulders and shudders "Still….it's terrifying… how something so small… can ruin so many lives…and change so much."
"Hopefully, my company can find a way to reverse it. We have many volunteers willing to be used as test subjects coming in."
"I know…. The anti-furry committee is going to go nuts!" Scarlett chuckled
"Though still, they are being a bit over the top with it. I just wish they'd understand the pain the victims have gone through. It's not fair to them"
Scarlett turns her attention back to the TV. Mabey the cure would fix the anthro animals too.
"Anything good?" inquired Nate.
"Not yet…. Just anti-furry rallies and more politics" Scarlett says, shaking her head
Nate sighs, "Your brother is coming over. He wants to swim in the pool."
Scarlett looks surprised "You mean he finally learned how to swim?!"
"No, he wants to use our pool so he can learn how."
Scarlett scoffs "Figures. I will have to save his sorry butt when he gets to big for his britches and goes to the deep end…"
"Just smack him and move on with it."
She laughs. " At least he grew out of being a ass to everyone"
"Thank goodness for that."
"When is he getting here?"
"In a few hours."
"Good. Plenty of time too~" She turns to Nate, and kisses him
Nate smiles and places a hand on her stomach, "How many more months again?"
"About three. This little man is getting huge!" She sighs, and sits back down, a grunt escaping her as her belly wiggled from the baby.
"He will be amazing."
"And handsome, just like his father"
Nate kisses Scarlett, "and smart, just like his mother."
Scarlett blushes "I love you so much…"
"I love you too honey. So, how goes the internship at the hospital?"
She sighs. "Busy, and the head nurse is a real bitch. Can't wait to get my RN so i outrank her…"
Nate smiles, "good. Now then, I'm going to get the pool warmed up."
"Your gonna put the extra chlorine in there, just in case right?"
"But of course."
She smiles "Good. Better safe than sorry"
"Yeah. Here's hoping it works. I don't want to get out sporting a new tail."
Scarlett chuckles "I might not swim." She pats her stomach. "To risky for the little one."
"Hopefully, your brother doesn't splash you."
"Yeah. But with the extra chlorine, it should be fine."
"I hope so."
"Hey babe? Can you grab me some pickles and ice cream please?"
"Of course dear."
Nate goes and gets the pickles and ice cream.
"Thank you dear. These cravings are intense."
"You're welcome hon."
She eats it, and the baby kicks in her stomach "Look! He likes it too!"
Nate laughs, "Silly kid. He'll be a troublemaker."
Scarlett says nothing, but rubs her belly and smiles.
Nate, "i wonder if there's something good on TV now."
Scarlett hands him the remote "Lets see."
"Ok"
Nate flips through channels.
"Sports, kids, politics, overly religious, depressing, too uplifting and optimistic, stupid, and sad. Over 900 channels and not a single thing good."
Scarlett spits out her drink and starts laughing her butt off.
"That's not water is it?"
Scarlett still laughs, but holds up a jar of homemade grape juice, bottled 7 years ago by her grandmother.
"Ah good it's safe."
Scarlets is catching her breath, and then the doorbell rings.
"Must be your brother."
"Can you answer the door? I'm going to find the mop so i can clean the juice off the floor. "
"Ok. Be careful not to get that water on you"
"Of course silly! I'm using the floor cleaner, no water here!"
"Oh good."
Scarlett grabs the mop and the floor cleaner, thankful this mop was mom-to-be friendly.
Nate goes over and opens the door.
"Hey Ben, welcome. Ready for lessons?"
Ben lets out a sigh, "If it means I can stop being made fun of, yes."
Scarlett laughs from the living room, and walks up to them with a mop in her hand.
"Hey, little bro! How's life?"
"Fine."
She smirks. "Whaat? Are you not happy to see your big sister?"
"A little bit."
Scarlett messes with her bro's hair. "Aw c'mon Ben! I'm not going to tease you this time!"
Ben whines, "you said that last time…"
Scarlett pats her belly. "I am too big now to even try to tease you, silly! Want to feel your little nephew?"
"...sure." Ben places his hand on Scarletts stomach.
The baby kicks and Scarlett smiles. "He's going to be a strong boy."
"Please don't let him bite me." Pleads Ben
Scarlett laughs. "He will be a baby. Babies bite everything when they are teething. Don't you remember our younger nieces and nephews?"
"oh gosh"
She giggles, and points to a box near the patio door. " There is some swim toys and pool noodles in there if you want them."
"Thanks.' Ben goes over and picks them up
"Boo~ I am going to get some snacks for everyone, can you get the table set up outside?"
Nate gets up, "Who else is coming again? I forgot."
"My parents are going to be coming over later for dinner, and I bought the most amazing goat cheese."
Ben hears goat cheese and rushes outside, slamming the door screaming.
"There he goes."
"Every fricken time I mention goat cheese he does that…"
"I'll go get those tables set up."
"Thank you" Scarlett begins slicing apples and carrots, and makes ants on a log.
Nate goes to set the tables up.
Scarlet comes outside, and hands Nate a tray of snacks and a jug of apple juice. "How you doing over there Ben?"
"Fine."
"Good. Be right back with dome napkins." Scarlett goes inside to grab napkins.
Nate pours the juice into glasses, "So Ben, when do you want to start?"
"When you're done."
Nate shrugs, "ok"
Scarlett comes back with napkins and a plum pie "Surprise!"
Nate smiles, "Those look delicious honey."
Scarlett gives him a slice and cuts one for her and Ben. "I guess swimmings going to wait until after our snack?"
Ben breathes a sigh of relief, "yup"
She takes a huge bite out of her pie.
Ben takes several small bites
Nate just eats normally.
"How is it?"
Nate finishes eating, "excellent"
Ben stops chewing, "Great."
Scarlett smiles. "Good! It's my own recipe!"
Nate smiles, "finish up Ben."
"don't rush me."
Scarlett smiles. At least he wasn't as picky anymore.
After several minutes, Ben finishes, "Alright, let's start."
Scarlett pulls up a chair under the umbrella to watch them swim.
Nate and Ben both slowly enter the pool but not before Nate superchlorinates it. Nate then teaches Ben freestyle, back swim, butterfly, dolphin and wading.
Scarlett watches them swim, proud of her family.
"Keep those legs straight Ben." Instructed Nate, "No bending at the knee. No matter how much it wants to."
"Got it. Like this?" Ben kicks without bending his knees in the water.
"Yeah like that. Remember, this could one day save your life."
"Remember to breathe every other stroke!" Scarlett calls.
"I know!"
She smiles and goes to clean up the mess left on the table.
Suddenly, Ben gets out, goes onto the diving board, and does a cannonball. Water goes everywhere.
Scarlett gets splashed by the water as Ben surfaces.
"BEN! You got me soaked!"
"Sorry. You shouldn't have been so close."
"You covered half the patio!"
Nate sighs, "Break it up you two. That's enough lessons for today."
Scarlett looks sheepishly at Nate. "I'll go get some towels."
Ben sighs, "I'll wait inside."
"good." Nate absentmindedly scratches his back.
Scarlett goes and hands Nate and Ben a towel, and then dries her hair.
Ben heads into the downstairs bathroom while Nate heads to the upstairs bathroom. They come out dried off and in clothes a few minutes later.
Scarlett comes out of the bedroom with a new dry shirt on. "Alright, now what?"
"Food?" Ben asked, "I'm hungry"
"Anybody craving meat? Or is it just me?"
"I'm craving a little." Responded Ben
Scarlett laughs. "You men and your meat. I'll go and make some sandwiches."
"Thanks honey."
"Yeah, thanks sis."
Scarlett grabs some ingredients out of the fridge and starts preparing sandwiches.
"Smells good honey."
"Hurry up." Whined Ben
"Ben, you know full well that food takes time to prepare. Why don't yall go watch tv till im done?"
Ben groans, "fine."
They go to watch TV
Scarlett comes out with a plate full of ham and turkey sandwiches.
Nate smiles, "Smells delicious honey. Thanks."
Ben just says, "gimme"
Scarlett scoffs. "Grumpy much? At least say please!"
"Please?"
Nate just laughs, "Just like old times."
She laughs, and hands Ben and Nate a sandwich. "Just like old times!"
Ben starts to eat the sandwich, "Delicious. Hey is it getting a little hot in here or is it just me?"
Nate swallows his bite, "Now that you mention it I am a bit warm."
Scarlett goes to check the thermostat. "It says it's at 65 degrees. Why is it so hot then? Is this thing malfunctioning again?!"
Ben sticks his hand up his shirt and feels something, "...I feel fur"
Nates eyes widen up and he puts his hand up his shirt, "...i feel fur too. I think we got infected by the bacteria!"
Ben eyes widen, "Ah shit!"
Scarlett looks shocked. "The baby…"
Nates eyes widen, "Oh no. The baby."
Ben yells, "it's spreading!"
"Nate get the chlorine! Ben call 911!"
Nate quickly runs and gets the chlorine while Ben gets the phone and dials 911.
"Hello, 911? I've been infected with the bacteria and so has my pregnant sister and brother in law."
The operate says nothing into the phone, but hits the panic button and then says. " A Emergency Anthro Research Team is on their way. Keep calm, and don't let anyone else near…. Wait. You said your sister is pregnant?!"
"Yes! Hurry!"
"Oh my gosh…. Keep her calm, and make sure she sits down! There's never been a pregnant person turned anthro before! Emergency Dispatch is on their way."
"Ok."
Ben hangs up just as Nate has come around the corner with the chlorine. His ears have changed into cat like ones.
"Nate, get Scarlett to sit down, oh my gosh."
"Yes, I'm much aware of my ears now shut up and hold this chlorine."
Scarlett is nearby, panicking about her unborn baby.
Nate helps sit Scarlett down and Ben applies some of the chlorine. His ears have started to gain fuzz.
Nate reassures his wife, "Breathe honey. Breathe. If our baby is infected, we will love him just the same. It's ok. Relax. Relax."
"I'm worried about his health! He could end up stillborn or very sick!"
Ben chimes in, "This has never happened before so who knows."
Nate glares at Ben. His nose has darkened, "Not helping Ben."
Scarlett suddenly screeches, as her legs snap backwards into a digitigrade pose.
Nates eyes widen, "Ben, apply more!"
"I'm trying!" His ears have changed into cat ears and it appears he has begun to get smaller.
Nate grunts in pain as his legs become digitigrade.
Scarlett's ears stretch out and snap forward, and start to turn grey.
Ben has started to grow a fluffy orange tail, "When is the ambulance going to get here?!"
Nate has started to grow whiskers on his face, "I don't know! But they're taking their sweet time!"
Scarletts back lurches forward as a huge grey and black tail erupts from her spine.
Nate is starting to panic, "How much slower can they be?! Can't they hurry?!" Fur has started to cover his hands and his whiskers are fully developed
Ben's tail has finished growing and his nose has turned pink. He has shrunk to be about four feet tall. "They need to hurry! I'm shrrrrrrinking!...Did I just roll my 'r'?!"
Scarlett screams and clutches her stomach, that starts to shrink at the hips and grow fur.
Nate groans as his face pushes out into a muzzle, "How much longerrrrrrrr… Crap I did it to!"
Ben's face has become extremely cat like, "I feel like I'm gonna…..pass out." Ben faints
Nate's eyes widen, "Ben!"
Scarlett goes to pick Ben up, and he wakes up, clutching his muzzle. "Ouch.."
Scarlett opens her mouth to reveal canine teeth. " They better get here soon, or I'm gonna-" She growls loudly
Nate goes to comfort Scarlett, "Hey it's ok honey, it's ok. I think I can hear them arriving now."
Scarlett sits on the couch, breathing heavily due to the changes in her body.
The door opens up and medical personnel rush in.
Nate looks at them, green eyes glaring, "Well you took your sweet ass time. And if you give me the "traffic" bullshit, I have claws now so I will claw your eyes out."
The personnel say nothing, too scared to really say anything for fear he may actually do it and quickly just get Scarlett and Ben onto a stretcher while leading Nate out. A long black tail begins to grow from him which soon starts to swish side to side.
Nate sighs, "Well, this is a major change. I hope I'm strong enough to bear it. For both my wife's sake, and mine."
Scarlett looks at one of the personnel." Will my baby be alright?"
Personnel, "We don't know. But we'll take you to the hospital to find out. Come on people, let's move!"
Scarlett stares at the quarantine room ceiling, wondering how and why this was happening to her family.
Nate is sitting in a bed across from her. He reaches an arm out and holds her hand like paw.
"Everything will be okay honey. You'll see. Everything will be fine."
"How are we gonna explain this to my parents?"
"By keeping our heads held high. I'll have Bullet Science work double time now. Don't worry honey. We'll find a way to fix this. We'll find a way. We're stronger together."
"Helen is going to have a freakin hay-day with this."
"Yeah well she can stuff her head down a toilet. You look cuter like this anyway. I just hope for our child's sake, he'll be fine. I just hope he will never have to go through something similar."
Scarlett blushes. "Thanks boo. But what if he has changed as well? No one knows what will happen to him.."
"Then we will love him just the same. He is our flesh. He is our blood. No matter what form our appearance. He is still him."
A groan from a table not to far away from them is heard and an orange anthropomorphic tabby cat sits up.
"What, what happened?" It's Ben.
Nate's jaw drops, "Oh no." Nate starts to chuckle
Ben look startled, "what what's wrong besides the obvious?!"
Nate laughs, "I'm sorry little guy. But I'm a bit short on words."
Ben's eyes widen with realization, "No no no no no" he goes to a mirror and sees, that he is now three feet and ten inches tall, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Nate just starts laughing harder. "I'm freaking dying over here."
Scarlett is laughing her butt off. "I told you karma would come back to bite you in the butt for calling me short!"
Ben moans, "This can't be happening! Now no one will believe me when I joke I'm older."
Nate glares and points his finger, "Oi, that's a dick move."
Ben just starts crying
Nate facepalms, "Oh grow up."
Scarlett looks upset. "You are 5 years younger than me…"
Ben whines, "But I looked olderrrrrrrrrrrr. Darn it! I did it again." Ben hops back on his bed, holds his tail in his arms and pouts.
Nate double facepalms, "Ben, stop being a little crank, and relax at least a little bit. It's not that hard."
Scarlett sighs and stares at the ceiling. This day could not go worse.
Ben yells, "It's not funny jerk!"
Nate smugly replies, "Neither is making fun of your sister short stuff. Now get back in bed."
Ben just glares, his tail swishing angrily, "Fine!" Ben goes back into his bed.
Scarlett covers her face with a pillow. "Good grief…"
Nate just sighs and gets cozy in the blankets. He slowly starts to purr.
They move Ben to another room and move Nate to the other side of the room.
A doctor enters the room, "Scarlett, can you come with me please?"
Scarlett looks nervous. "Why? Is it because of my baby?"
"Yes. We only want to take some tests. Nothing to serious."
Scarlett removes the pillow and gets up to move, when she gasps and grabs her belly.
"What's wrong?"
She screams and drops to her knees.
The doctor calls for a nurse, "Get the infant incubator! The baby is coming!"
Nate immediately jumps up at this, "The baby is coming now?! I'm coming to!"
The doctor looks toward Nate, "Sir I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'm the father, I don't care if it is or not."
The doctor groans, "Fine. Nurse, get Scarlett on a stretcher to a room with an incubator. Lead him to the room as well."
The nurse looks toward the doctor, "Yes doctor."
"WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE BABY IS COMING HE'S NOT DUE FOR 3 MORE MONTHS!" Scarlett screams.
Nate's eyes widen, "The bacteria. It must have accelerated his growth."
"WHAT."
"That's the only logical explanation. Honey, the bacteria accelerated it."
"I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT ANIMAL I AM AND DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR SON!"
"You appear to be a grey wolf honey."
"What! Wolves pregnancy only lasts 6 months! I- AGGHH!" Scarlett screams and clutches her stomach, crying and yelping.
"Breathe hon, the docs will take you somewhere safe."
Scarlett is crying, and clutching her stomach, and the doctors bring in a stretcher, that looks specifically designed for anthros.
"Please be careful with her." Pleaded Nate
The Doctor gives him a sympathetic smile, "Don't worry Mr. Babkirk. My wife was affected by the bacteria as well. We'll take good care of her."
The doctors move towards Scarlett, but she growls a little and shuffles a bit away from them, holding her unborn baby in her stomach.
Nate rests a paw on her shoulder, "They only want to help honey. Let them. Don't be the ferocious wolf."
Scarlett glances at the chair, which is covered in straps and fuzzy pads. "Easy for you to say, you dont have a baby in your stomach…"
"Still, trust the doctor. They will help you."
Scarlett sighs, and sits in the chair. The doctors strap her in and take her to another room.
Nate sits in a chair next to the door to the room. Waiting to come in.
Scarlett is screaming while the doctors run around, the commotion can be heard from outside.
Nate is panicking, what if the baby dies? What if Scarlett dies? What if I'm a bad dad? He tries to get rid of these thoughts but cannot. His tail twitches with worry.
The room is suddenly silent, and a baby can be heard whimpering.
Nate's ears perk up at the sound.
A doctor pokes her head out, "Mr. Babkirk, you may enter now."
Nate walks into the room to see Scarlett, alive, relieved and happy. Holding their new baby.
"He's beautiful honey."
Scarlett looks exhausted. "Want to hold him?"
Nate looks excited, "Yes please." Nate takes the baby from Scarlett, "What are we going to call him?"
Scarlett pants and looks tired. " Something awesome. At least he's not mutated…"
"Hmmmmmmm, how about, Roland. How does that sound?'
Scarlett smiles and looks at them. "Roland Babkirk. I love it."
Nate smiles and carefully pets little Roland. "Looks like things are starting to look a little better. Despite us changing appearances altogether. For now, let's enjoy our new baby, and hope for a better tomorrow."
Scarlett smiles. "Were you this philosophical when we were dating?"
Nate chuckles, "I wish I was. Sadly no."
She smirks. "Is that so? I remember it that way~"
Nate starts to blush, "Well, I, um, er, uh… my memory isn't what it was."
Scarlets smirks, "Whatever, Mr Philosopher."
Nate gives Roland back to Scarlett then he kisses her, "We will get through this. Just a bump in the road is all it is. And we will raise a handsome son together."
Scarlett looks lovingly at her baby, and the doctor arrives with a incubator.
"Mrs. Babkirk, may I please take the child from you now?"
She looks at them and her ears pin back and she bares her teeth.
The doctor turns to Nate. "Is she a first time mother?"
Nate smiles at the doctor, "Yes. She is. Roland is our first born so tensions are a bit high. Especially now. You may have to compromise."
The doctor looks thoughtful, and brings the incubator close to the bed, opens the top, and puts blankets inside so it looks like a den.
"See, it's safe. And we will keep it here so you can still see him."
Scarlett looks satisfied, and gently hands the baby to the doctor, and the doctor does a full checkup on Roland, and then sets him in the incubator.
Nate smiles, "See hon? That wasn't so bad."
She lays back in the bed. "It's just so nerve racking… Can you check on Ben for me?"
Nate chuckles, "Sure I'll check on the little guy."
Nate gets up and goes to the area where Ben is. He is in a smaller quarantine room sleeping on the bed curled up in a ball.
Nate returns back to Scarlett, "He's sleeping, and he's curled up into a little ball."
Scarlett smiles. "At least he's fine."
She strokes her infants cheeck. "He's so beautiful"
Nate chuckles, "just wait until the fur comes in. I'm curious to see what his fur coat will be."
"He may not even have fur. He looks like a healthy human to me."
"Looks can be deceiving hon. But if he is like us, then we'll love him just the same."
"Yeah. I know."
The doctor returns with Roland and tells them that he's fine but he may to change as well. The doctor hands Roland to the new parents. Nate and Scarlett both smile and hug their new baby boy in their arms, hopeful for the future that is yet to come.
