"…This is so unfair…"

(The Wolf Rabbit Aki commented on his situation, he and his sister were forbidden to join their parents on their trip to Great Grandpa Gosha's. He stared out the window and watched the snowfall across the town from their apartment, though serene and relaxing, it did little to make him feel better.

Eventually he left his room and entered the Living room to find his little sister Winter, named so for the snow white fur she inherited from her Mother and the Wolf-like Hair pattern from her Father, drawing something on a piece of construction paper. Curiosity got the better of him and so he greeted his sister and asked "What're you drawing?" to which she held up the progress she made, it looked to be a juvenile cartoon sketch of her parents, her brother and herself, all holding hands. Above the family of stick animals, there laid a word that spelled "Sorry" though the 'S' was backwards, she explained her intention as the two began to converse.)

Winter:"I made this for Mommy and Daddy! I want them to know I'm sorry."

Aki:"Hey…Thanks by the way. I know I haven't been the best brother lately and I'm sorry for that…I want you to know that I appreciate you standing up for me though."

(Winter's tail began to wag as she smiled at this comment from her brother, she then responded to his gratitude.)

Winter:"You're welcome, I'm sorry I bit that boy's hand…"

Aki:"Don't be, it was funny to see that Hyena freak out when a little girl bit his finger."

(The two continued conversing until they noticed something, the familiar sound of a car pulling up into their Apartment's parking lot. They recognized the engine's model and knew it was their parents, mostly because it was a unique car designed perfectly for large AND small animals alike. They both rushed out to the terrace and confirmed their suspicion once they saw the vehicle they were familiar with. Aki was glad to see they were home as he would once again try and convince his Mother to unground him, Winter was worried however. Her gift for the two was not complete and once he noticed her worries, Aki rushed to help her finish it.

It wasn't even ten minutes until they noticed the lock to their apartment door began jiggling, showing them their time was up and that their parents were entering their home. Haru entered through the door, alone to see her two children holding up a small crudely made drawing, this time with more additions done to the piece of young artwork. Aki was the first to say something as he stated "Hey Mom, welcome back! Check out what Winter made for you guys!" but Winter then immediately spoke as she explained "Aki helped!" causing the Dwarf Rabbit to smile and warm her heart. She was caught up in the moment and almost forgot the big news she was to tell them before Legoshi ascended the stairs to their home. She looked back to see if he had reached their floor and upon seeing that there was still time, she quickly turned back to her children and told them to be ready for some big announcement as the following conversation ensued.)

Haru:"Hey, I want you two to know that I REALLY appreciate this, but I need you both to do something VERY important…Ok?"

Aki:"Sure, what is it?"

Haru:"So, Your Father looks different since we left. He looks more like Great Grandpa Gosha now, you have to promise me that you'll treat him no differently than you did before, ok?"

(Both children nod in agreement, of course Aki played the Devil's advocate and asked the question of "But Mom…are YOU ok with it?" causing the Mother to look annoyed and respond to her son with summaries of their past experiences.)

Haru:"Aki, Your dad nearly ate me when we first met, I tried to seduce him the second meeting and I nearly jammed my arm into his mouth because of my stupid genetic reflexes during our first attempt at making love (Aki mutters "Ew" at that last part and Winter just displayed a look of confusion)…him having scales is the LEAST biggest change I ever had to adapt to…but you two never had that issue before, so tell me…will you see your Father any less for looking different."

Aki:"Of course not, we love Dad as much as you do! If anything…I'm looking forward to less hair in the shower when we enter."

(Haru turns her head back to the hall as the family hears the sound of footsteps approaching their apartment door, she then snaps her focus to her kids and informs them "Here he comes!" as she tried to get them ready for the new image their Father has been given.

He had patches of scales across his arms, legs and even a little on his back, Legoshi kept his focus on the floor as he tried to avoid looking at his own children, afraid of the possible looks of horror he may have unintentionally forced on them…but upon looking up, he is surprised as he see their true reactions.

Both children awed in amazement as they witnessed the new look their Father had, Aki and Winter approached him to see it up close and in better detail. Aki ran his hand across Legoshi's arm, specifically the part covered in scales as he muttered "Cool…" to himself and smiled. Winter was just staring at them, amazed at the beautiful glow and shine these jewels on his arm displayed, she then commented "Daddy, your scales are beautiful!" as she still kept staring at her Dad's arm.

Legoshi smiled a little, thinking that maybe his life wouldn't change so much after all, though his worries grew again as he began to think of a question to himself. Of course this question took a back seat when his children asked him several of their own, all of which pertained to his condition.)

Aki:"Does it hurt?"

Legoshi:"Not really."

Winter:"Can you still feel through your scales?"

Legoshi:"Sort of…it feels…thick, but I can still feel through it."

Aki:"Are you cold blooded now, because that would suck, ESPECIALLY considering what time of the year it is."

Legoshi:"…Unfortunately yes…I'm…surprised you guys are taking this so well."

Winter:"I think you're pretty Daddy!"

Aki:"Yeah, you look cool. Why wouldn't we be ok with it?"

Legoshi:"I…It's just-…The same thing happened to your grandmother…it's actually why-…She's not…with us…anymore…"

Aki:"So…does this mean…this can happen to us too?"

Legoshi:"…I thought because of the generational gap that it wouldn't happen to me…but…this-…might- happen to you guys too."

(The room was silent, Aki and Winter contemplated this revelation of their potential future while Legoshi was worried as to what kind of hardships they'd have to endure from their already hybrid DNA. But the first thing that was said, the first thing Aki said, surprised Legoshi as he didn't seem deterred by such a genetic chance, in fact he and his sister were actually somewhat excited by the possibilities of such a turn of events.)

Aki:"Cool! Can I spit acid?"

Winter:"Can I bedazzle my scales when I get older?"

(Causing Haru to giggle at her children's questions as she then states to Legoshi "I told you they wouldn't mind." causing Legoshi to rub the back of his head in a sense of relaxation. Legoshi's tail began to wag as his children continued to be fascinated by his new image and began to ask even more questions.

By the end of the day, the Family spent Rexmas together in their home…Virtually no different than all the others they celebrated in the past.

Yes, this is a Fanfic OF a Fanfic (Because I'm THAT much of a loser and a dork) Anyways! I really loved the story of this guy's writing so check out "Scales like Jewels" by [Solora Goldsun] when you guys get a chance, it's REALLY good and the dude nails the characters perfectly! I also did this as both a respectful nod to the guy and as a way of doing a "What if" scenario for Aki and Winter's reaction to such a twist of events.

Thank you all for your time, I PROMISE that I AM writing more "In the Shadow of the Beasts" (In fact I already have a huge head start on a couple of chapters and will post as many as I can upon completion) and I have yet ANOTHER question for you guys...I've been busy with a lot of things, I helped my Dad renovate his house, I helped a friend of mine move, I finished my Pre-Calc class (Passed by the way!) I also have been dealing with some medical issues and family stuff...

But... I also got a new Laptop in these cavalcade of events! Which is great because it's got an MS paint function and I was pondering if you guys would be interested in me trying to draw the story in Manga format? I'm still going to post "In the Shadow of the Beastars" here, but I feel like I could do a Manga version faster and easier since I like to draw a lot as is. (Again, I WILL post more of the story here, but this way, I have to type less, have to think of what words to use less and I could show you what the characters and environments in my head looks like more accurately.) Let me know what you guys think (Of both the story AND this news of my horrid attempts at a manga)!