The boy was still nervous about what had just happened and looked at his hellhound feet while sitting on the doctor's bed. Loona as with him while the others were waiting outside of his office.
"Well," said Dr Goldstein, "this is quite a remarkable discovery. Looks like we found out what happens when a human gets the case of Hellhound fever."
"Will i be like this forever, Doctor?" asked Cody. "I look cool a little bit, but i don't want to he a hellhoubd forever. I'm scared of what my brother will say and how he will react seeing me like this. And i don't want to scare anyone in the human world."
"Why not? i think that look is better on you, young one. Fits you better as a Hellhound actually. Besides, you humans are always too sensitive."
Loona growled and snarled right at Goldstein's face, obviously frightening him. "Watch it, you quack." she warned him.
"Sorry. sorry. my sincere apologies. But you do not feel any more symptoms like you have a cold?"
"Well, i don't feel stuffy anymore and i don't have a cough anymore. i don't know if i have a fever or not."
"Well, let me check." said the doctor before doing just that. "Hmmm... Remarkable. You have a normal temperature in yoyr system."
"Oh. Good. But do you know if i will be stuck being a Hellhound forever or not?"
"To be fair, i honestly do not know. I mean, something like this has never happened before. I would call this a remarkable discovery if you ask me. But i wouldn't worry about this too much. You can use your new Hellhound traits to good use. Matter of fact, you might go back to being a human first thing tomorrow. Just carry on with your life and hope for the better. I'm sure you'll be just fine."
"Really?"
Goldstein nodded his head a "yes" to the kid and said: "Don't worry. Hellhound fever is a short term sickness and you'll feel better in no time at all. It could be over in another day or the day after. Only time will tell."
"Thanks dr."
"Don't mention it, Cody. Do come back when you feel any more problems."
"Got it."
Loona wondered if this little transformation would he permanent herself. She kinda wanted it to be permanent because it would actually feel like Cody is her new little brother and it would feel complete to have a direct family member to her. Of course, Loona was happy if Cody himself was happy and didn't want to see him sad and she would hate to see him cry again.
It showed how much she really cared about him and how much she was starting to love him. Deep down, even though she won't admit it, saving Cody and bringing him with her down here was probably one of the best things that ever happened to her.
Both she and Cody then got out of the room and told the others what happened in there. "Going through a whole day as a Hellhound?" said Moxxie. "Not in a bad way, but this should be interesting. I mean, your hearing is probably enhanced, along with your sense of smell, Cody."
"I agree with my hubby." said Millie. "Even if it's not permanent, this can be a good thing. You might blend in down here more in that form. Plus, how can anyone not like that furry mug you have right now?"
The kid flushed, as Millie was obviously calling him cute and adorable. Deep down, he wondered if he went to the human world, maybe many humans would find him adorable too and not scary at all. Alas, the kid didn't want to take any chances.
"Can you turn into a human like other hellhounds?" asked Tex."
Cody didn't know for sure and he tried turning into a human on command, and he was straining himself. "Grrrrr! Come on!" he strained. he had a face like he was trying to back one out of himself. "Raaagggh! Come on!" alas, it was no use. "Whoa! almost passed out."
"Kinda looked like you were trying to turn into a super saiyan there." said Loona, getting a few laughs from the others.
"very funny. But I guess I can't turn back into a human like this."
"At least wait a day or two like the doctor said before, kiddo." Blitzo ruffled the kid's brown hair. "You look like Loona's son now."
"Dude, I wouldn't go that far. Plus, I'm only twenty-five." Loona scowled.
"Speaking of which, can you buy some stuff at the store for me, Loony?" Blitzo asked her. "I'm running low on whiskey and bourbon and all that."
"I think you've had enough of that stuff for one day, Blitzo." the female hellhound rolled her eyes."
"well, we need more melon ls anyway."
"Whatever. You coming, Cody?"
"Sure." the boy smiled. "Can I still eat chocolate?"
"Oh yeah. you can." said Vortex. "we're not like actually dogs or wolves. we're just dog-like, or wolf-like."
"Ohhhh, that's right." Cody remembered. "I forgot about that."
"And about those video games I promised you," said Blitzo, "I'll look around the area for any consoles or games for you."
Cody smiled and said: "Thanks Blitzo."
"Don't mention it." he gave the kid the gun gesture with his right hand.
"And you wanna hit the arcade later?" asked Crystal. "We'll pay for the tokens."
"And we'll have so much fun." Serena added.
"Yeah! that sounds fun."
Vortex decided to come along with Loona and Cody to make sure the kid will be alright since Hell is quite unpredictable at times. Cody set foot inside the store which was named: "Bargains and Beggars" and it looked similar to any other store in the human world, except... like most places down here, more demented.
For instance, there were was a sign at central register that was labeled: "No fucking refunds!", and another on a shelf that spelled out: "If you get hurt, you're on your own." and another that said: "We are not responsible for any deaths, injuries, or sickness related to food poisoning."
Those signs made Cody feel uncomfortable but he went along with it and asked: "Can people get hurt here?"
"Some occasions but it's kinda like the chance of being struck by lightning, but... the chances would be a little higher. Like twenty percent more higher."
"Ah you'll be fine. Just be careful." said Tex.
There was some alcoholic drinks on sale in the alcohol section and Loona got some bottles for Blitzo. "Wait, I thought you weren't going to buy Blitzo anymore?"
"It's not that simple unfortunately." said Loona. "She got about five bottles of bourbon with her. "Blitzo is not one to give up so easily."
"Wanna bet he might get wasted again?" Tex joked.
Loona couldn't help but laugh and said: "Right? good chance he might make a fool out of himself again."
After they were done getting the alcohol, they moved on to the melon section which looked rather ripe. Next to thay melon pile was something labeled "forbidden fruit" on it.
"Forbidden fruit?" asked Cody
"Oh yeah those. They are the same ones from the Bible."
"cool." said Cody
"Unfortunately, as it's name implies, you can't eat them Cody."
"Why not?"
"Some things are better left unheard of. trust me."
"Alright. Just asking."
"I know. you're just a kid." Loona said. They looked around for a few other bits and Cody had a thought in his head.
"Loona?"
"Huh?"
"If this transformation wasn't permanent and I turn back into a human tomorrow, would you still like me?"
Loona stopped with Tex and she looked at him. "Of course. Why wouldn't I care about you?" she knelt down on her left knee to make better eye contact with him.
"Well, I just had a thought." the boy admitted: "Do you like me better as a hellhound better than a human? I don't want to feel unwanted if I get turned into a human again."
Loona gave him a sympathetic look and and said: "Come on, human? hellhound? it doesn't matter. I will always have you as a friend and I will always help you if needed. So don't ever doubt that."
"Yeah Cody. we won't care about you any less if you got turn back into a human. No matter what you are, you will always be the Cody we know and love."
Cody felt Loona hug him gently in a sisterly way to show more love and it was a rather tender moment between them and he felt Tex do the same after Loona did, but it was a little more constricting, given his muscular, buff physique, but he was being gentle either way.
It was reminding Cody of an actual bear hug. "Thanks guys." said Cody
"Don't mention it." Loona said. "Come on, let's go check out."
A nice arcade in Hell looked cool especially with long lines of flames along the walls, rather fitting down here. There were some games from the human world that demons can play down here and it wasn't a total loss for Cody. There, tons of demon kids of all kinds were having fun and enjoying the games.
"Wow. look at this place." said the boy.
"Yep. kids kinda ditch school to go to this place. Kids ditching is not uncommon." Loona said.
"So watcha wanna do first?" asked Tex.
"Well... how about the hoops." Cody suggested.
"Sure. Come on."
"Hey!" said Serena, and Crystal with her. They both came rushing towards them like a family reunion. "There you guys are."
"What took you guys so long?" asked Crystal.
"There was a little problem with Blitzo and his little drinking problem." Loona said.
"Dude needs to lay off the sauce." Vortex added.
"Oh."
"Cody wants to shoot some hoops if that's ok." Loona said.
"Sure! that sounds fun." said Serena. There they were at the hoops and some kids were playing with them. One demon boy with a buzzcut noticed Cody and said: "well, look what we got here."
he was considerably larger than Cody, both in weight and height, probably thirteen years old. "Hello." was all Cody can say.
"What's a little runt like you doing in a place lake this?"
"Just want to play some games."
Without warning, the kid just pushed Cody to the ground. "oops? Did i do that?"
Loona growled and punched the kid in the face. "Never do that to my friend again, kid!" she said in anger.
"Easy Loona," said Tex. "We don't want unwanted attention."
Loona growled at the kid some more and eventually listened to her friend. "Fine" she said. She then barked at the kid, "Get the fuck out of here!" and the older boy was obviously frightened by her and ran off crying. Loona turned off her angry face and looked back at Cody, lending him a helping hand. "You ok?"
"Uh-huh. Thanks Loona."
The female hellhound smiled back at him, and asked: "Are you hurt?"
"No. Just surprised."
"Well, don't worry about it. Come on. Go shoot those hoops."
Cody did just that and thanks to his enhanced focus and agility, he is able to get perfect scores, scoring more tickets as he made his perfect shots.
