A/N: So hard to update, but I can't stop now! When you start something it only feels right to finish it you know? Anyway, I know updates haven't been coming fast but its nice to see that my fics aren't forgotten. Thanks for reading and please try to review!

Disclaimer:

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Chapter 14: Being a Furry… Again

He must've been nervous. Jon had dragged Wolf back into Zoness and it was obvious from the expression on the canines face that he was nervous.

The only thought going through Wolf's mind was is Jade here? Then he quickly realized Jade should be the least of his worries. What if Katt were here? Or worse, Shane. It wasn't that Wolf hated Shane it was that he was in competition with Shane to win Katt's heart.

As the two stormed into Zoness eyes were quickly upon them. Not just because it was a fur and human together but because it was WOLF with a human. It wasn't that they knew Wolf, it was that Wolf looked scary to them. It was surprising to most furs he didn't try to strike Jon down. Likewise, Wolf was surprised he wasn't trying to kill Jon. He seemed to have promise.

Wolf was wondering if he'd actually see Shane. He did need to speak with him after all. The problem was he didn't know what he needed to speak to Shane about. He just knew he wanted to see him. Whether it was because he obviously had some connection with the Will of Great Fox or not, he'd decide later. "Where are we going?" Wolf asked.

Jon was leading him to the pub. "You need to be around your own kind for once. You need to be OUT there Wolf."

Wolf was going to pretend he didn't hear any of that. "What kind of human are you anyway?"

"I'm not any 'kind' of human. I'm Jon. Jon is the only person I know how to be, just as Wolf is the only person….furry you know how to be."

Wolf stopped just outside the pub. "Well, if Wolf is the only fur I know how to be then let me be Wolf, and I'll have you know a pub is not the place where I'd go to 'meet my own kind.' If I wanted to meet my own kind I'd just go out and do it."

Jon shrugged. "Well, you're obviously a loner. I bet you think you're pretty tough, taking on a human in your young life and being on your own with one eye. But I bet you have no idea just how vulnerable you really are."

He hit it right on the nail and Wolf knew he was right.

Jon opened the door for Wolf and gestured him to come inside. "I promise they don't bite…furs anyway." Jon chuckled. "Join me for a drink?"

Wolf stepped up to the door. He was about to walk in when he turned his attention to Jon, "Don't think for a moment I trust you. You're still a human and regardless of what the furs in there may think," he pointed into the pub as he said this, "we're not friends. We just met, which isn't far from the truth."

Jon smiled. "Alright, we don't have to pretend to be friends but I know for a fact that a part of you trust me."

"How do you figure?" Wolf asked, poised.

"You haven't left me standing here yet."

Strike. Wolf began to think. Strike true.

***

After the last entry it was hard for Fox to decide whether or not the next entry should be read. Fox wanted to go on reading… but a part of him knew he didn't want to know anymore to Shane's dark side. But it was interesting, the next entry was a year after the event with the Wolf. Fox scanned the entry and he mentioned that he hated himself for what he was now… but that was all he got out of it. What happened April 12, 1021?

"Should we read it?" Krystal asked.

"We've come this far right? I think we should. If we don't, some questions may never be answered."

It was then Krystal began to wonder just what answers she was looking for. Suddenly she didn't know what she wanted from Shane anymore. She was about ready to tell Fox it was time to stop but much like Fox, she couldn't bring herself to put the diary down either. "You read it." She ordered. "Go on."

***

April 12, 1021

Yesterday was perhaps the worst and most depressing moment I've ever had to go through. It was raining hard yesterday, dreadful rain. Of course I was nice and comfy in my own home… and then there was a knocking at my door. My initial thought was of course 'Who would be here now?' Someone must've been really stupid to be walking around in rain like this.

I answered the door and it was an old woman. The rain had her soaked. I ALMOST felt sorry for her but it served her right for being so damn stupid… but I ended up letting her in anyway.

She interrupted me when I was in the middle of a great book, "The Legend of Zelda". But I invited her in anyway. I had her sit down. I offered her something to eat but I suppose she didn't like Elk Meat. I thought it was good but she was disgusted by the idea of eating another animal. A vegetarian? Looking back on it now I wish!

Then it happened. We had a few words. After my going on about how I just didn't like animals she decided she'd leave. Good, I didn't need a sick old woman in my home anyway.

Before she opened the door she offered me something. It looked like a soda of some kind. I took the bottle and watched all the fizz inside. What kind of soda was this? I looked at her staring at me. She probably wasn't going to leave unless I drank it. I'm not usually one to put up with people this long but what could she do? She was a harmless old woman and I was a young strong man.

I took a sip at first and then guzzled it down. I didn't give her the bottle back instead I threw it down to the ground… but something wasn't right… she was… smiling. I began to shout and yell that she needed to get out when I felt a sharp pain in my ribs.

I couldn't bear some of it and before I knew it I had hairs on my arms…and not just that but ALL OVER MY BODY. My hands became a bit smaller and I felt myself grow a tad bit shorter. Then my nose…where the hell was my nose! It wasn't a nose… it was a muzzle! A goddamn muzzle! Before I realized what I had just done to myself the old woman standing before me had an eerie glow surrounding her and when I blinked… it wasn't an old woman… it was a vixen.

But for some odd reason I found her fur…beautiful. She WAS beautiful.

She slashed me across my chest and that's all I can remember. The vixen's name was Mia…

***

Fox turned the page. He was suddenly recounting that the way Shane had described it was much different from the way Mia had SHOWED him.

"Fox?" Krystal said.

"Shane hasn't told any lies…" Fox suddenly said. "I SAW this happen… Mia showed me on her crystal ball. It proves that Shane isn't making any of this up…"

Krystal tilted her head. "So this actually happened?"

Fox nodded. "The vision of it was… very much different."

"We're getting closer to the present time now." Krystal said. "Four more years until the year in which we live… 1025. The change shows more than anything now."

Fox almost didn't hear that last statement from Krystal as he was already starting to read the next entry.

***

July 25, 1021

Not too long ago a pink cat came by… her name was… Katt Monroe. She handed me a book called "Being a Furry." She said I should read it. It would help me better understand the furry lifestyle.

Apparently to break my "curse" that Mia placed on me I have to show love for animals in my heart. But not any animal… it has to be a vixen. But it isn't as easy as it sounds! I HAVE to confess my love to her and she HAS to confess hers to me in return. How can I be expected to love anyone?

Well, it turns out that Katt stopped by again yesterday to ask if I'd read any of the book. It was Mia's way of checking up on me I suppose. When Katt came by I hadn't read any of the book at all and she told me I probably should.

"What's so great about being an animal anyway?" I asked her as we sat down. I had learned to invite people into my home but apparently I hadn't learned how to talk to them… or so Katt tells me from Mia.

Katt didn't reply right away. "You have to find out yourself. That's why you read the book. But can I say something?"

"Sure, I've got nothing better to hear."

"Well," Katt began. "first of all, stop being so damn moody. Lighten up a little bit. You made a mistake and it caused you to become something you obviously hate! If you ever hope to break this curse you're going to have to learn to some respect."

"Why should I? Animals don't have any respect!"

"Second thing, right off the bat. Stop calling us 'animals'. You're not an animal you're a furry, an anthro. Furs for plural. You're not a human anymore, that part of you is dead!"

Ouch! She hit quite hard and I couldn't bring myself to respond to that. My human life…dead. That was okay, I didn't like it much anyway.

"Tell me about your life as a human." Katt suddenly said. "You seem lonely."

I rested my head in my paw. Dammit! The one thing I had to get used to the most. I didn't have "hands" I had "paws". I didn't know how to control my claws so I often times cut myself. Katt said I'd get the hand of it someday, and I suppose I believed her.

She cleared her throat, waiting for an answer.

"My human life was empty. There was no one in it." I told her. "I only had my father. I went to Earth and tried to fit in… I really did. But I just couldn't and so I don't go there unless for some reason I have to."

"That's really sad. See, I think you'd like being a furry."

"What makes you say that?" I asked her. She seemed pretty sure of herself.

"Well, for one, furs aren't quite as judgmental as some of the humans you meet. You've got to try not to fit in. The furs are nice." Katt assured me.

"When was the last time YOU were with any furry? Besides Mia?"

Katt looked away. "I haven't been back for years now." she trailed off. "I'm only trying to help you Shane and--"

"Been back where?" I cut her off.

"To Corneria. It's the village to the south."

I kept that in mind. A furry village to the south of here. I'd seen it many times, actually. But perhaps I'd actually be able to GO there now. But then the questions came about: What if I didn't fit in? What if I couldn't be "one of them"?

I tried not to think about it but nothing seemed to get past Katt.

"Go there someday… meet somebody. Fall in love and experience it."

I sighed. "Mia's not available?" I must've already been getting desperate to break the curse.

"Mia doesn't even count!" Katt said. "This isn't like the books you read where magical things happen."

"I think it is." I said. "I'm a fox out to break a spell and become human again aren't I?"

Katt didn't say anything to that. "Look, what I'm saying is if you start now you'll be out of this curse in no time. It isn't just going to go away."

I swear that if I weren't turned into a fox and I had to fall in love with a cat instead, she'd be the one. I didn't know why at that moment but Katt was imbedded into my mind. She was actually trying to understand me. Was this… a friend? Could I call her a friend? I couldn't help but admit that even though she wasn't my… "species" she was speaking to me in a way I'd never been spoken to before. I can't even begin to tell you what this feeling is… only that I wish it hadn't come to me. I was feeling warm that I suddenly ONLY saw Katt.

"Shane?" She waved a paw in my face and it brought me back to reality. "Read the book okay? It'll bring you closer to understand just who you are now."

"I don't need a book." I told her. "If I'm to be a furry, I shall be a furry. A book can't tell me how to be myself."

I don't know why I said that but we stood in my doorway as I did. She looked at me and actually smiled. For the first time in months I felt myself smile. Then for what ever reason she put her arms around me and embraced me. This kind of touch… was soothing…. It was warm. But the most peculiar thing about it was I wanted to go further than this touch. A hug is what it was called.

After a moment I wrapped my arms around her and embraced her back. I wanted to go further… I wanted to feel her sensual touch but I knew I couldn't… shouldn't. I was slowly becoming a whole new person. But not a person…. An animal…NO, not an animal…

A furry.

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A/N: This chapter ends there. I know I should probably put Krystal and Fox's response but I used this particular entry to show that Shane and Katt's affection for each other goes further back. If you've read "Behind the Foxes Eyes" then of course the part where Shane becomes a fox isn't really new to you. Anyway, read and review!