Chapter Four- First Change

Seto stood near the Training Hall entrance with a basket in hand and watching Mahad teaching his students. He saw that his boyfriend had his tail out and, instead of walking among his students like he usually did, he stayed in front of them. He had a good idea why: His tail would distract the students from their spell work.

"All right everyone. That is enough for today. Good work." Mahad's nose flared and caught two scents he identified as lotuses and meat. He turned to the entrance to see Seto off to one side as his students walked by, a few looking back to see the tip of Mahad's tail as it moved ever so slightly.

"Not hiding it anymore, I see," Seto commented as Mahad approached.

"I will when on patrol. The entire palace knows I'm a werewolf so hiding it is pointless." Mahad sniffed and caught those scents again. "Seto, your scent reminds me of lotuses," he said as they headed down the corridor.

"My scent?"

"I found on patrol this morning that everyone has a scent all their own. I'm also smelling meat."

"That's because I have some with me. The pharaoh surmised that you would desire meat."

"I think only close to and after nightfall. I ate some bread and fruit earlier and my body hasn't rejected them."

"Good." Seto passed him the basket. "Will you change in your room?" he asked as they turned into the corridor where the court's bedchambers resided.

"Yes and I would like for you to be with me to see how I will act."

"I'll stay by the door just in case." Seto doubted Mahad would act like Reynard but knew his boyfriend was concerned that he might.

Mahad swallowed the last bite of meat, grateful that it had been cooked. He didn't like the idea of eating it raw even if he ate it after he changed. If I was out in the desert, I'd likely hunt for food.

The room darkened as the sun went down and Mahad fell forward onto two furry paws. He shook himself out and realized that his clothes had disappeared. Now that I think of it, Reynard's clothes had done the same when he changed. He stood there to see if he felt any wolf impulses, like attacking someone. Instead he felt a desire to howl and make canine sounds but not much else. Seto was right again. The personality of the person determines how one will be in wolf form. He tilted his head back and gave a howl that was full of joy.

"Mahad?" Seto asked, sounding concerned.

"I'm okay. I want to make canine sounds but that's all." He turned to face Seto, tripped over his paws, and hit the floor. He shook his head, got up, and laughed. "I need to learn to walk with four legs."

"You're not hurt?"

"No. It was just a short fall." He closed his now gold eyes and tapped the wolf's instincts for walking before opening his eyes. His left forepaw was forward so he lifted his left back leg and right forepaw and moved them forward. He slid the right back one forward and moved the left forepaw forward. He kept moving his legs, getting a feel for his four-legged gait. He then executed a turn successfully and finally turning in a circle which gave him the chance to see himself. He was strong and lean with long legs. His muzzle came to a point and he felt the sharp teeth he now had. "I like how I look," he said, his voice no different than before he changed.

"It is impressive. It's nice to see that you're not afraid or angry over this."

"Angry? I never said I was."

"You did to the pharaoh. He related your talk to me when I was delivering a report. I agree with the pharaoh's assessment. You tend to act as any human would and a magical solution is a second thought to you."

Mahad thought back to when he took a snake bite for Atem when the pharaoh was a child. He had given no thought to using magic to protect any of them. He had reacted as a normal person would. "You're correct. I did that once saving the pharaoh from a snake bite when he was a child. I took the bite for him and then he sucked out the poison to save me. I didn't think of using a spell one bit."

Seto shook his head out of amazement. "You are a true protector, Mahad. You protect the pharaoh, the citizens, and me. You give no thought to your own safety. That's another reason why I love you."

"You protect me when in battle," Mahad pointed out as he came over. "And I love you for that." Seto crouched down and scratched Mahad's lower jaw. Mahad gave a whine of pleasure and his tail wagged a little. "Oh, that feels real good."

Seto grinned at Mahad's response. He truly seems happy being a werewolf. His concerns over his actions have vanished; of course I had no doubt that he wouldn't be like Reynard. He saw Mahad's nose flare and his head turning to the door. "Mahad?"

"The pharaoh is coming. I'm picking up a scent that brings confidence and authority to mind. I know only one person who would smell like that."

"Is it a pleasant scent?"

"It is and it's getting stronger and I hear footsteps."

At first, Seto heard nothing and then the sound of footsteps reached him and he looked in that direction to see Atem coming up the corridor. He knelt before him and Mahad did the same by stretching his forelegs out and bowing his head.

Atem smiled at the bowing wolf. "So, only your body's changed. Nothing else is different."

"Aside from wanting to howl and make other sounds, you are correct," Mahad said.

"I imagine it would be different if you were in the desert," Atem said. "Surely, your hunting instincts would come into play."

"That thought did occur to me. I would likely behave like a wolf on the hunt. Right now, I feel more like a protector."

"Can you access your magic?" Seto asked.

"I'll try." Mahad sat up straight and tapped his magic. I can sense it and access it, but can I use it? He closed his eyes and decided to try a simple spell. He focused on the words and willed it to happen.

"Hey! I can't move!" Seto exclaimed.

Mahad barked happily a couple of times as he opened his eyes. "I thought I test the simple paralysis spell. Clearly, I can use my magic in wolf form."

"Great. Now, could you lift the spell?""

"Of course." Mahad did the counter spell and Seto was free. He then tried to summon his monster, but nothing happened. "It would seem my monster can't be summoned right now, most likely because of my body."

Seto nodded and Atem said, "Yes. Animals do not have monsters as they don't know the difference between good and bad. You do, so maybe it is the curse that keeps your monster restrained until morning."

"Yes, I sense it is sleeping right now. Seto, I have time tomorrow for a practice duel. Would you be up for it?"

"Always. I won't let myself be distracted like last time. That is the only reason I lost."

"You didn't lose," Mahad countered. "I called an end because you weren't focused."

"You weren't focused?" Atem asked.

"It was the day before telling you about us. My thoughts were on how we got together." Seto looked at Mahad. "Be ready for a good practice for I won't let myself be distracted."

"You'll get a good practice as I won't be distracted either."