Hello there readers! Here's chapter 2 of The Shift! I truly hope that you all enjoy it!
The Shift (Chapter 2)
by
Elite Shade
"Alright Eli, just one paw in front of the other!" Judy encouraged as Eli slowly stepped forward, holding onto the rails on either side of himself just in case. When Eli had gotten up to use the nearby bathroom, he quickly learned that he did not quite know how to walk with feet much longer than what he was used to, and stumbled repeatedly. So now, he was practicing with a device used mainly for patients who suffered leg or back injuries, and worked to recover from them. What he was using was called the Parallel Bars, which were pretty much a pair of long parallel handrails. Looking around, he saw several different species of mammals on other pieces of exercise equipment, most being supervised by hospital staff. As he looked around, Eli tripped again, thankfully not falling this time due to the rails.
"That's okay sweetie! You're doing great!" Judy reassured, as she reached over and gently rubbed Eli's back through his hospital gown. The doctors were still keeping him and the other former humans for observation and more tests, which, so far, had revealed nothing about the sudden transformations. As Judy, Nick, and Eli had been informed, every single test run on him after his transformation were all exactly normal for a rabbit kit his age.
"That's the third time I tripped today. How is this okay?" Eli sulked, still a little surprised at having to look up at Judy now. She merely beamed down at him, and pulled him into a hug.
"You haven't tripped as much as you did when you first woke up. You also tripped a lot less than you did yesterday. It may not seem like it, but you are getting used to it, so please don't get discouraged, okay sweetie?"
"Okay." Eli said, breaking into a smile, before he was startled by a larger set of paws picking him up. He thrashed around for a bit before coming face to face with a smirking Nick.
"Sorry about that buddy, it's just so hard to resist doing that now, what with you being so much smaller than you were." Judy had to stop herself from commenting on how cute it was to her to see Eli's ears flop down behind him in embarrassment.
"As a further apology, can I interest you in a foxyback ride?"
"A foxy what?" Eli's question was answered when Nick placed him on his shoulders. Once more, Eli could look down at Judy. "...I guess that this is okay...kinda embarrassing though..."
"What's so embarrassing about this?" Nick asked as he and Judy started to walk back to Eli's room. Eli didn't answer as he blushed, especially every time they would walk by a mammal in the hall, each one stopping to stare at Eli and smile, some looking a little surprised to at the sight of a fox with a non-terrified rabbit on his back.
"Why do they keep looking at me like that?" Eli asked, feeling very self-conscious. "Do I really look that weird?"
"You don't look weird at all sweetie!" Judy answered, looking up at him on the fox's shoulders.
"Agreed buddy. They're probably all just staring because they think you're cute now-OW!" Nick winced after Judy stomped on his tail.
"I've told you before, Nick, that it's offensive for someone who isn't a rabbit to call a rabbit cute!" Judy said sternly.
"I wasn't saying it myself, I was just saying that that's how those others were seeing him!" Nick defended.
"Uh-huh." Judy rolled her eyes as they made their way to the room. "Now, I get to say that Eli is outright adorable." Judy explained, making Eli blush.
"I'm going to have a hard time getting people to take me seriously, aren't I Judy?" Eli asked. She looked up at him and sighed.
"Unfortunately, yes Eli. Despite it being offensive, other mammals are going to see you as being cute from now on. And many of them are probably not going to take you very seriously as a result."
"What's more...there may be a problem with small children of larger species mistaking you for a toy bud, so you gotta be on you guard." Nick chimed in, earning him a glare from Judy. He just smirked back at her with a playful wink, while Eli continued to blush in embarrassment.
"Anyways," Judy said, changing the topic, "Mrs. Amur has informed me that you're all caught up on your lessons, so once the doctors give you the all clear, and after we get you all settled again back home, you can start going to school. How do you feel about that?"
"...Alright...I guess..." Eli trailed off, nervous at the thought of going to middle school with a bunch of different mammals, especially after being transformed into a bunny.
"Of course, we're going to need to get you an all new wardrobe again, in addition to you school supplies, since you're a little smaller than you were."
"A little? That's a bit of an understatement fluff." Nick said, while Eli hung his head in shame.
"I'm sorry..." He said.
"Eli, what are you sorry for? You didn't do anything wrong." Judy said, feeling the pit of worry return.
"You already spent so much on me...with the clothes and the furniture..." Eli said miserably, "And now, none of that stuff fits me..."
"Eli!" Judy said in her stern voice, standing in the middle of the hallway, her left foot beginning to tap as she looked up with her arms crossed. Nick stopped as well and turned so that Eli was facing her, internally glad that she wasn't about to give him another one of her lectures. "Eli, you have nothing to feel guilty about. I didn't mind buying all of those things for you in the first place. Not to mention, we can always just exchange most of everything we got. Nick knows people, after all."
"Francesca definitely won't have a problem with it." Nick placated.
"Still...that's all just extra hassle...just for me..."
"It's not a hassle when it's someone you love sweetie." Judy said, with Nick taking the hint to set Eli back down in front of Judy, which she smiled her appreciation before pulling Eli into a hug. Eli hugged back, his gloomy thoughts abating, for the time being at least.
"Well now, I certainly hate to intrude on what's clearly a warm moment," Robbie said with a grin, the three now noticing the beaver's presence, "but I have some good news for ya. The doctor's are thoroughly satisfied that after one more night of observation, this little guy will be all set to be discharged tomorrow."
Eli's ears drooped again at being referred to as little guy, but he quickly got over it, mostly due to Judy's excitement.
"Yes! And so, tomorrow, we'll celebrate, after we go and get you everything that you'll need! Isn't that wonderful sweetie?"
"Uhm...okay..." Eli said, feeling a little shy as a lioness in nurse's scrubs passed them in the hall, stopping to admire the small rabbit, before continuing along her way. Judy pulled him closer to her, and smiled reassuringly, making him smile back.
Meanwhile...
Baily smiled as he laid out a new card spread. After waking up and coming to terms with his transformation into a timber wolf, Baily had found that it's a little more difficult to shuffle a deck of Tarot cards with paws. So, he had been practicing his shuffling and card laying techniques for the majority of his hospital stay, as a form of physical therapy. He had also had a little trouble with maintaining his balance with his new paws, but could now walk confidently, for the most part. There was a knock at his door, and Baily looked up to see Sophia happily enter, with a wide grin on her face.
"I know that this isn't exactly very well liked by rabbits, but I just saw the cutest little bunny with his mother on my way over here." The lioness gushed as she walked over and sat at the edge of Baily's bed. Sophia found that she rather liked his new look, with his stark white fur and his bushy tail.
"Oh? Why don't they like being called cute?" Sophia shrugged in response.
"Anyways, I came over to tell you that I got a chance to speak with Arnie, and he told me that the apartment and the job are both still waiting for you!"
"That's great! I'll be sure to tell him that I said thanks when I see him next!"
"Well, that's going to be tomorrow."
"Why?"
"Because, after one more night of being observed, you're getting discharged! All of your tests are pretty much finished at this point, and there's nothing abnormal about them...aside from them all now confirming that you are one hundred percent a full grown timber wolf."
Baily smiled, but looked away.
"Is something wrong Baily?"
"...So...they still don't know why we changed?"
"...No...everyone has absolutely no answer as to why this happened..." Sophia answered, feeling a little disappointed that she couldn't have given him more information, not that there was any to give.
"Well, being a wolf isn't bad. Granted, this fur is a little warm...and kinda itchy, but I can totally live with this." Sophia smiled at Baily's positive attitude.
"I'm glad." She said as she reached over and hugged him, before standing up. "Sorry Baily, but I still have got to do my rounds. Talk to you a little later? Like, when my lunch break comes up?"
"Sure." Baily said, trying not to sound too eager, a little confused at Sophia's giggle fit that started as she left.
I thought that I had played that cool... He thought to himself, right before he noticed how fast his new tail was wagging.
Oh...
Elsewhere...
"Amazing, truly amazing!" Edwin said into his tape recorder as he scribbled notes down into his notebook. Currently, he was at his desk at his home, a series of photos of the former humans now pinned to a corkboard on the wall nearest to him. They consisted of both before and after pictures of each human, with their names and new species written on scraps of paper taped in place beneath them. Next to the corkboard was a chalk board, with many different formulae and facts about the different humans scrawling all across it.
"So now, these aliens called humans have revealed themselves to be some form of shape-shifter." Edwin said excitedly after finishing what he was writing and slamming the journal shut.
"A truly fascinating new species. Undoubtedly, those observing and examining them will undoubtedly see just how important it is to detain these creatures for further study! Maybe some will be dissected as well!" Edwin said excitedly, his left eye beginning to twitch relentlessly.
"And so, now all those who called me crazy, and treated me with such suspicion and disdain will truly see my genius! Indeed, the only reason that I am currently not observing them myself whilst hiding is because I am currently awaiting the phone calls that are sure to come pouring in. Zootopia General Electric will probably be first, once they realize just how mistaken they were to put me on Administrative Leave!" The armadillo said as he whirled his chair so that he could stare at the phone. He took a second to check the time on the wall, before continuing.
"And of course, the university will be clamoring to apologize and get back into my good graces after denying my tenure and firing me!"
He continued to stare at the phone while he heard the ticking of his wall clock, which seemed to get louder to his ears.
"And that stuck-up Doctor Richards, if you can even call that snake-oil salesman a Doctor! Some psychologist he was, suggesting that I may have an underlying personality disorder...oho, they'll all see!"
Tick-Tock.
Tick-Tock.
TICK-TOCK!
TICK-TOCK!
Edwin pulled off his shoe, and whipped it at the clock, shattering the glass over its face, and sending it tumbling to the floor, it's ticking stopped permanently. Edwin smiled to himself, his eye twitching once more, as he continued to stare at the phone.
Back at the hospital...
Russell was once more staring into the mirror, and looking at the face of the husky staring right back at him. His new muzzle was white, with the fur turning black around his eyes, going all the way down his back. His belly, arms, legs, all four paws, and the very tip of his tail were white. He had felt very disoriented upon first waking, but had eventually recovered. There was a knock, and Barry entered. Thanks to Russell's transformation, Barry's figure was now much more imposing, since Russell had lost some height.
"Hi there Russell." Barry said softly. "How are you doing today?"
"...Okay...I guess..." Russell said, walking back over to his bed to sit, as the polar bear sat down in a nearby chair.
"That's good to hear. So, you're getting discharged tomorrow."
Russell just nodded, and Barry continued.
"Mr. and Mrs. Spitz have your room all ready for you."
"...Okay...how many other kids will I have to share it with?"
"None Russell. It'll be a room all to yourself."
"...Okay..."
Barry sighed internally. Russell had withdrawn internally somewhat after his transformation.
"I cannot even begin to understand all of these big changes for you, Russell." Barry began as Russell just looked down, not attempting to make eye contact. "But I can promise you this. I'm not going to leave you alone once you get to the Spitz residence, understand?"
Russell said nothing.
"I have spoken with Mr. and Mrs. Spitz, and they have agreed to let me see you regularly, to help you adjust."
"...Okay..."
Barry smiled sympathetically, resting a massive paw on Russell's shoulder.
"Things will get better Russell."
"...I...I wanna believe that..." Russell answered.
Barry smiled a little more.
Definitely an improvement. He thought to himself.
"How you feel at this moment is perfectly valid. It's just important to try and remember that things will get better." Barry reaffirmed.
"...Okay..."
Still, it's an improvement. Barry resolved.
Elsewhere in the hospital...
"So, we're really doing this Emmitt?" Mrs. Otterton asked her husband, while they stood outside Sarah's room. He was holding some forms, which they had both signed.
"I think we are honey!" He said, starting to feel as giddy as she was.
"A new little otter pup! Oh, we're about to become her mommy and daddy!" She said, almost jumping up and down, accidentally jostling Emmitt and making his glasses fall a little askew. He chuckled as he adjusted them.
"And that'll make three little pups." He said.
"We're going to make her so happy!"
"Now, now. Let's not startle her when we go in, honey."
"Right." Mrs. Otterton took a second to take a breath and compose herself, unable to prevent the wide grin on her face.
"Alright, let's go have a chat with little Sarah." He said, before opening the door to let his wife enter first, entering behind her.
And that, dear readers, is the end of chapter 2! I hope that you enjoyed it, and , as always, feel free to leave me a review!