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Different but the same - Chapter 2 - Help

'Faces, why could I see faces?' They were faces of furs I knew, loved and loathed. My mother and father, furs from the orphanage, school and Daniel ........'

'Why was Daniel there I had only known him for a few hours' I tried to move but nothing. I glanced down at my body, I was in my human form but the lines of my sawaykoo form where glowing from under my skin. I tried to move again but nothing, not even a twitch.

I could hear beeping, voices, the sound of furs and machines but I could only see the faces, some were smiling or looking hateful, 'what's happening?', the sounds are getting clearer and louder, the faces fading, the darkness gathering.

Darkness, pain, sounds, voices 'where am I?' I could hear sounds they sounded familiar but distant. The scents of furs, chemicals, fear, death..........

"He's stopped glowing?!" that voice, it sounds familiar but foreign.

I could sense something or someone moving around me, those sounds, beeping, the hiss of air, the hum of energy 'where am I?'

I tried to move, my hand came to my face. There is something there on my face, tubes, plastic and the hiss of air. I tried to push it off, I felt tightness around the back of my head, I pulled the strange object harder off my face, I felt a sudden snap as itrelinquished its hold on me. I could hear movement the scuffing of paws.

My eyes was force open and a bright light burned, my instincts kick in, I ducked out of the attaching light, bringing my fists together over my chest and releasing a wave of energy and stopping it to form a bubble around me, pushing my attacker away from me.

"JAKE it's ok your safe" that voice, a different one from before it was soft, caring and kind.

"Judy?!?.........."

"Yes it me, your safe, you're in the hospital" that word hit me hard, the energy I controlled just disappeared and I just lay there.

"No..................why can't I just die" my eyes flooded with tears, all the pain and the emotion I had controlled and bottled just over ran me. I just lay there sobbing into my hands, I just wanted it to all end, the pain, the hate, the loneliness.

"Jack don't say that" Judy put her arms around me and just held me, I continued to cry for until I was to tired to do anything, Judy had stayed and just held my hand in her paw. I just lay there not knowing what to say, think or to do about my life.

"I'm so sorry about what Alex did" she squeezed my hand softly, the memory of the picture and what had happened set me off again but all I could do was lay there and just let the water fall from the eyes, down my cheeks and wetting the fabric below, could feel my eye lids getting heavy as the stress and drugs forced me into sleep once more.

The sound of talking pricked my mind as I awoke, my sensitive hearing picked the out the sound of a familiar voice, the voice was coming from outside the room but not that far away, Dr. Rodgers was talking to someone from what I could see through the glass, I slowly sat up noticing that the pain killers where working well.

Dr. Rogers walked into the room, followed be what I thought was one of the nurses.

"It's good to see you awake Jack, how are you feeling?" he looked at my chart and then to my IV, he looked tired and unhappy.

"To be honest I don't know and I don't want know just as long as the pain killers are working, I'm happy" my throat was dry and me eyes ached from the crying, I rubbed my face with my free hand, Dr. Rogers handed me a glass of water and I took a large mouthful.

"Well that's good I guess but how are you feeling ...... mentally I mean" he asked giving me a concerned look.

"I don't really know" I let out a long sigh looking at my arm, the tubes, the clips and wires just made want to cry and I had to stop myself every now and then from ripping them off me, "I guess I just want it to end one way or another" heard a small whimper coming from the nurse as I said that but I was surprised to see someone else.

"Daniel?!? What are you doing here?" he looked upset and a little tired.

"Daniel and his father have been helping me with your treatment" Dr. Rogers gave Daniel a warm smile.

"Um thank you very much but what do you mean they helped you with my treatment?" I looked from Daniel to Dr. Rogers in a confused fashion.

"Well I take it you know that Daniel and is father are werewolves yes" I gave a small nod, I knew that Daniel was a werewolf, so I guessed that his father was as well, as biting is somewhat frowned upon, "Well Daniel's father has been helping with your treatment by give me information on what dosage to use and how they affect the body of a werewolf, as werewolves and sawaykoos are similar in there physiology and Daniel has been with you while your where asleep just encase something happened if you know what I mean" he looked at me and then to Daniel with a smile.

"Oh ok, thank you very much both of you." I was confused 'why was Daniel and his father helping me? I had only known Daniel for a day if that!' I looked at my arms and noticed that that I was in one of those horrible hospital gowns. Looking up to see both Daniel and Dr. Rogers looking at me intently "How long have I been out?"

"Um well today's Sunday so"

"I have been unconscious for almost a week?! But surly I just fainted didn't I?" I could see that Dr. Rogers was looking a little nervous.

"Well you acutely blacked out with the pain and we've kind of been keeping you sedated, ONLY so that we keep you calm and to stable trough your treatment" I was about to interrupt but he didn't give me chance, but still didn't like the fact I was drugged so they could make it easier, I hated being controlled!

"Why did you have to drug me? I would have been ok" I could feel the tears starting roll down my face.

"Jack are you ok?" Dr. Rogers asked

"For most of my life I have been hated, beaten and controlled by furs that think I'm nothing more than a monster, but now my own body is trying to kill me! SO NO I'M NOT OK!" I wanted to run and hide from the world, but I couldn't I just sat there crying in to my hands.

I felt a set of arms wrap around me and pull me into a warm embrace; they just held me while I cried, I felt so safe and protected as I just let the pain and the sadness fall from my eyes. I must have crying for some time because I found myself starting to fall asleep in the warm and comforting tightness of those arms, I slowly pulled away but met some resistances as they just held me tightly but they slowly released their hold on me.

I looked up to my surprise and embarrassment that Daniel had been holding me the entire time, he had water marks down the sides of his muzzle from where he must have been crying also.

"I'm sorry Daniel, but thank you" I felt so bad for shouting at Dr. Rogers. After all he has done so much for me and for Daniel to see me like that. I just wanted it to all end.

"It's ok Jack, I can only imagine what you have been through, I'm so sorry" he gave me another one of those hugs that just made me feel so safe and calm. I could feel the events of happened catch up with me, I leaned against Daniels chest as he held me, the sadness and pain just seemed to slip away. I let out a small murr as he held me letting the darkness win against my sour and tired mind.

I awoke the sound of raised voices. They were coming from outside the room but not that far away. I decided to go and have quick look as need to go to the toilet anyway. I walked out the door and looked down the hall. But what I saw shocked me, principle Mathuse (my god father) was shouting at a very large wolf who was also shouting back and Daniel was trying to keep them quite but was failing miserably even the nurses where trying.

"You have no right to come here and stick your muzzle in! He's my god son not yours!"

"If it wasn't for me 'sticking my muzzle in' he would most likely be dead by now! And you have no right to call him your god son after what you did to him!"

"How dare you, you filthy beast!"

"SO WHAT DO ES THAT MAKE ME THEN?" I shouted at my god farther who had his back to me. I knew I shouldn't have shouted but what he said and who he said it to just made me so mad.

"Jack?!" The heads of my god father, Daniel and who I could only assume was Daniel's father snapped to look directly at me, all three of them froze as they all looked shocked, I walked towards him glaring at him angrily.

"How dare you talk to someone like that? So what if he's a werewolf that shouldn't make a difference to some like you! Considering you're my god father" I said continuing to glare at him, he knew all too well how I hate it when furs are unkind and hostile for no good reason.

"How do you know they're werewolves?" he looked confused and shocked.

"A. Daniel told me, B. I have a nose and set of eyes, and C. I'm not stupid! and I don't care that they are werewolves! Yes I know that in the past werewolves and sawaykoos weren't exactly friendly to each other but things have got to change! And that is made all the more harder by furs like you that don't understand, so please just go away and leave me alone" I had to look away from him when I finished talking.

"Jack please I'm sorry, don't do this to me, I'm so sorry" I could hear the sadness and the sorrow in his voice as he pleaded with me.

"Look I'm not saying that I don't want to see you again. It's just that I can't cope mentally or physically with you being around me at the moment, you hurt me too much for you just to walk back in. I still want you around but not right now, ok" I kept looking away from him. I could feel my eyes starting to water as I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"I'm sorry Jack I'll go. I'll come back later on in the week with some work if you want?" I could hear the pain as he spoke, I looked at him, I could see that he was starting to cry.

I quickly moved to him and gave him quick hug saying "thank you" into his ear, turned and gave Daniel and his father a warm smile and a nod, I quickly walked to the toilet wiping my eyes.

As I closed the door I leaned against it breathing quickly, as my breathing returned to normal I began to think about how I have been acting and what has happened these past weeks. How I wished for a simple life, to able to walk down the street without the hateful looks and the comments, to be able to be normal and plain rather than different, a lot had changed for me in the past year.

This time last year I had my own home and my freedom from that hell hole of an orphanage as I had turned 18 only a couple of months earlier, had saved all the money I could from doing odd jobs too selling some of my art, but I managed to find a nice cheep place to live, I was only going to be living there for about 6 months or so, as I had decided to move to the USA as I may have some family there from my mother's side and I hoped there might be some other humans or sawaykoos. I had packed all I had into 3 or 4 boxes, filled out all the paper work, sorted what I needed and made sure I had it all ready for me to move straight into my new home and that's when it all started.

I had found no other humans or sawaykoos and the only family I had found was the same furson that abandoned me when I needed him most, but I continued my search. When someone found out that I was a human or a sawaykoo they either hung up, ignored me or worse. I managed to find a martial arts center that would let me continue my training, I was good but I was not allowed to compete or to spar with anyone other than the master because I might hurt someone, but the master was a nice and kind bull. So he trained me personally and I had one of the best times of my life when we sparred because we were evenly matched in strength and skill but I remained in my human form to make it fair. I went every Saturday and spent most of it training and talking to James, my trainer and master. It was during one of my training sessions that I started to have trouble breathing and started to tasted blood and that is when all of this started.

I let out a long sigh. "Things change" I said to the empty room. The movement reminded me why I had come in here, I did what I needed and washed my hands and face. That simple action of washing my body felt as if I was washing the pain from my very soul, but as soon as the cool embrace of the water fell from my hands and face the pain and the memories returned. I stood and dried my face and hands, seeing my tired and stressed form in the mirror, I looked at my hair it was just like my father's but blonde, I slowly ran my hand through it snagging on the odd knot and tangles as my fingers ran through my hair, feeling the pull of my hair as it did not yield to the movement of my hands made me smile as the chemo had not affected my hair yet.

I turned the leave the small room knowing that all the worries and problems of the world lay beyond that door, hoping in some way that I would walk out and find myself back in my home, but I had no such luck. I held the back of my hospital gown together as I was walked, I was thank thankful that I still had my underwear on, 'never mind the cancer, I would have died of embracement if some fur saw me naked' I thought to myself as I walked out the door and into the complicated world that I dwelled in. I walked to my room, still holding my gown, and noticed Dr. Rogers just down the hall; I bit the preverbal bullet and walked over to him.

"Dr. Rogers can I have a quick word with you?" I felt really bad for shouting at him, he gave me a wary look but smiled

"Yeah sure Jack what's the matter?"

"I'm sorry for shouting at you earlier, I know you've done a lot for me but lately things have been getting too much for me to handle and I.......I just don't what to do it anymore" I was looking at the floor as I was too ashamed of myself to look at him. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I looked up to see him smiling at me.

"Jack it's ok, it's a lot to cope with on your own and considering what you've been through I'm amazed that your copping so well but please do me a favour and let someone in. You can't do this on your own" he gave my shoulder a soft squeeze and smiled at me warmly.

"I know I can't do this on my own but I haven't got much option because I don't think anyone outside this hospital will want to help because of what I am and I know I shouldn't have, but I've gotten use to it"

"Jack look" he pointed to my room, I could see Daniel and his father talking to each other "for some reason they want to help you and they have been extremely helpful with your treatment, so please just take it easy and let us look after you" he looked me square in the eye and smiled "common back to your room. I will be into to see you in a while and please call me Criss" he gave me a warm smile and walked me to my room, then walked down the hall.

When I got to my room I saw Daniel and his father in deep conversation, I felt a little rude but I knocked and asked if it was ok to come in.

"Yes please do, it's your room anyway" Daniels father said as they both stood smiling. I smiled at them both and got into my bed.

I stretched out my hand to Daniels father "I don't think we have been introduced, I'm Jack Laang", he smiled and took my hand in his and shook softly.

"I'm Arther Reather, I'm Daniels father and it nice to see you conscious for once" he had a friendly look about him as he and Daniel laughed lightly. He stood a good half a foot taller than Daniel making him about 7 and a half feet tall, he was the same shade of gray but he was a little lighter around the muzzle.

"Thank you very much, it's nice to meet you too and sorry about my god father he can over react a little."

"Don't worry about it pup, I can understand he's just worried about you", that word 'pup' no one has called me pup for such a long time, not since my parents died have I been called pup. I laughed to myself lightly, they looked at me in a confused manner.

"No one has called me pup for such a long time. Anyway thank you, both of you so much" I looked down at my hands, no one had showed me this much kindness for a long time. Especially from werewolves which confused me immensely, "I don't want to seem ungrateful but why are you helping and being so nice me?"

In history werewolves and sawaykoos haven't been that friendly to each other, werewolves were very dominate and controlling over sawaykoos because they were bigger and stronger physically and most of them resented the fact that we have greater powers over magic. Which meant that there were fights and many casualties on both sides and when there were demands for equality and respect where always met with hostility and unfairness because sawaykoos were outnumbered by werewolves, but as time pasted so did the hostility to one another, but are numbers where becoming smaller and smaller for sawaykoo and werewolves alike so interaction between sawaykoos and werewolves became less and less.

"Well in a way it's my job, I don't know if Daniel told you but I work for a member of the Clan of Werewolves and I am head of magical relations, basically I communicate with and help the members of the magical community that the C.O.W. has contacts and relations with, but to honest when Daniel told me about you and that you where so nice to him it made me want to help you anyway I can, we both did" he sounded very honest as he and Daniel looked at me with a smile.

I was taken aback by what he said. He sounded so nice and the fact that me being nice to someone actually helped me rather than getting abuse "Um, thank you very much, but how did you know I was in the hospital?"

Daniel stepped next to his father and said "Well let's just say that you have a strong set of lunges even if they are in bad shape and that sort of thing travels like wild fire in school" he had grin on his muzzle as he said it. I felt so embarrassed that the whole school knew I was in the hospital. Fortunately Criss walked in saving me from any further embarrassment, he smiled a little nervously at Daniel and his father as he entered and looked over my chart.

"So how are you feeling Jack?" he asked as he looked through his notes and sheets of information.

"I feel better but I think that's because of the loooooooong sleep and the pain killers, but I still get out of breath quickly if you know what I mean" they all smiled and laugh about the sleep comment but I did feel better but wasn't sure if was the drugs or the company.

"That's good" he said taking out an X-ray and putting it to the light "I have some good news, the cancer mass seems to be retreating by the day after the second higher dose we gave you" he gave me a warm smile and looked at some other X-rays and scans "but you're not out of the woods yet but the trees are getting smaller."

"Wow I thought I might not hear those words but......hey wait I've only had one high dose, when did I have the second?" I thought I knew the answer but wanted to know for sure even if I didn't like it.

"Well that was one of the main reasons that we kept you sedated so that we could monitor your progress and see how you reacted, which was quiet shocking" he looked from me to Arther.

"What do you mean shocking, what happened?" I was getting worrying if I had done something.

"Well you kind of started glowing, you had like stripes on your arms, legs and face but they looked as they where glowing from under your skin and there was also some sort of invisible barrier around you that we could not get through but when you woke up they just disappeared, I asked Arther even he didn't know what happened" he and Arther looked at me in a confused manner as they looked at me for an answer.

'Oh great I had freaked out and used a whole load of energy protecting myself for no good reason, no wonder I feel so tired. Why can't I control my gift better and why did I have to do it in front of everyone' I sat there thinking about what they said rubbing my eyes with my free hand, I knew they wanted to know, but I did not know how to explain without sound like a freak.

"Well as you know all sawaykoos have markings that relate to their gift" I looked at Arther who gave me a smile and a nod "well my gift is the gift of energy, so I am able to absorb and control the flow of energy around me, but when you sedated me I wasn't able to control how much energy I absorbed, so I guess it just built up and when you gave me the higher dose of chemo it must have kicked my body into over drive and it must have caused me to glow and make a barrier around me to protect myself and to dispel the high amounts of energy that had built up. I'm sorry if I scared anyone and I'll understand if you don't want to be around me" I felt so ashamed that I could not control something so dangerous, something that made me who I am. I could feel my eyes start to well up.

"Why would we not want to be around you? What's the matter?" Daniel asked they all looked concerned.

"Because of the chemo I have been having trouble controlling my gift and my changes. I just don't want to hurt anyone."

"Jack it's ok, you only have one treatment left and I'm sure that you can control yourself, you just need some help that's all and that's what we're here for" I looked up to set them all smiling at me.

"Thank you" was all I could manage to say. It had been a while since I've had so many furs wanting to help me.

"That's ok, just try and relax a little for your next treatment this Friday. I don't particularly want to be scared out of my fur this time" Criss said as they laughed.

"So when am I allowed to go?" It was very much apparent that I don't like hospitals at the best of times.

"I'm sorry but I can't let you leave considering that you live on your own and what happened last time when I said to take it easy" he gave me a look that any father would be proud of.

"Please, you know I don't like hospitals and I'll try my best" I mentally smacked myself for sounding like a pup but would do anything to get out of this place.

"Why don't you come stay with us? If that's ok with you, dad" Daniel asked.

"That's an idea, we've got lots of space and we can make sure that you take it easy" before I had the chances to say anything or protest the arrangements were made and the numbers were swapped.

"But I can't, you've already done so much" I tried to get them to stop and explain that I could manage on my own.

"Jack what did I say, now come on and get changed" Criss had a point. I did need to take it easy and that wouldn't have been that easy on my own. But still I didn't want to be a burden to anyone but to be honest I was relieved that I would not have to worry about this and that. To be able to relax and actually take it easy for once.

I got changed. It made me feel better that I was in more comfortable and concealing clothes rather than the breezy and ill-fitting gown. I was given an inhaler encase I started having trouble breathing. I thanked Judy, the other nurses and Criss. Then I signed myself out with Daniel and Arther. The drive was uneventful and I was starting to grow tired from not doing much. We stopped quickly for me to get some clothes and stuff from my apartment. I was feeling nervous about what might and might not happen as I had never stayed over at any ones house before, so I didn't know what to expect. We arrived at a large house that looked at least 3 stories high but only had 2 rows of windows, we entered through the large front door and the place was huge.

"Welcome to our home" Daniel said dramatically waving his arm in the air as we entered, getting a laugh from his father.

"It's humongous! Why is the ceiling so high?" From the ground to the ceilings must have been 14 feet or more, it made me feel very small.

"The house is made especially for werewolves so we can walk around comfortably in are full forms, it's one of the perks of working for and being a member of the C.O.W. Do you mind if me or Daniel change into are full forms? It's just a good way to relax after a long day" he said yawning and rubbing his back. All I could do was nod my head. I was still too stunned at the size and majesty of the house.

"Daniel why don't you show Jack around" Arther said.

"Yeah sure, let me take your bags" he said and before I could react my bags where no longer in my possession. "Wow what's in this one rocks" he asked giving me a funny look. Which made me laugh a little.

"No just some crystals, I us them to help with the healing and the pain relief" I said with a nervous laugh as Daniel gave me a confused look.

"You know how to use crystals?!" I almost jumped out of my skin as Arther almost shouted at me "Sorry Jack but not many, if anyone, of the furs I know know how to use crystals" he looked at me curiously.

"Well I just know the basics but I can show you later if you like." I was a little surprised that he didn't know anyone else that knew how to use crystals, but it was another one of the specialties of sawaykoos.

Arther just looked at me with a smile and said" There is defiantly more to you than meets the eye Jack." He then walked off into one of the rooms smiling and shaking his head leaving me and Daniel wondering what he was on about.

"Is there any chance that I could have a bath" asked after a moment.

"Yeah sure I'll show you to your room and dump this lot off" he said as I followed him up a large set of stairs and long the hallway, he showed me where his room and his father's rooms where. We came to another large door and entered, the room must have been the at least half the size of my apartment and when he told me that I would be sleeping in there, my jaw dropped. The bed was at least twice the normal size of a king and a good two feet higher off the ground than normal; Daniel put my bags on the bed and took me to the in suite bathroom.

"That's not a bath! That's a swimming pool" I exclaimed. Daniel just laughed and continued to show me how to use the bath and the other things that were in there, the fur dryer looked a little interesting but would I give a miss as didn't have that much at the moment.

"I will be just down the hall if you need anything ok" he gave me a warm smile and shut the door behind him leaving me alone in the very large room.

I walked back into the bath room and started the bath. It must have been 4 feet deep and 10 feet by 6 feet. It didn't take as long to fill than I thought it would. I removed my clothes and stepped into the large bath. I was enveloped by the warm inviting embrace of the water. Slowly I lowered myself into the water, feeling it creep effortlessly around my frame. I started to move the water around with my hands, rubbing the weary and tired muscles that lay below my soft skin. I sank beneath the water letting it cover the hole of my stress ridden body, washing the pain and the memories monetarily from me. I let the water lift me back to the surface. I reached out and took hold of one of the bottles of shampoo, putting a large amount in my hand and putting the bottle back, I began to rube the viscose liquid into my hair, feeling it froth and foam. Washing the rest of my body was one of those simple pleasures that I relished. The feel of one's body being lifted from the coating of dirt and oils that had built up, feeling clean and secure once more I rinsed myself off and extracted myself from the relaxing grasp of the water. I dried myself as much as I could, leaving my hair just a little damp. I tightly wrapped one of the very large towels around myself and started to look for some clean clothes in my bag.

"Damn it" in my haste to get my stuff I had forgotten a rather important class of clothing, underwear. I grumbled and cursed myself for being so stupid, I couldn't go commando not with 2 other sensitive noses in the vicinity, I put on a nice baggy shirt and made sure that towel was not going to go anywhere and walked to Daniel's door. I could hear the steady beat of music coming from inside. I knocked and waited for a reply while holding to my towel for dear life.

"Just a moment" I heard Daniel call out from inside.

"BLOODY HELL" I staggered backwards but I caught my feet in the towel landed on my backside, as a 10 and half foot werewolf opened the door.

"Jack are you ok? Sorry if I scared you!" He looked concerned as he helped my back onto my feet; thankfully the towel had stayed in place much to my relief.

"Yeah, I'm fine just give me a minute or 2 to put my skin back on" I said making us both laugh making the situation less awkward, "don't worry about it, I didn't expect you to be in your full-form for some reason."

"Whys that?" He looked at me with a confused smile.

"Well I guess I don't see you as a werewolf. I see you as you, if you know what I mean" I said sheepishly while tightly holding onto my towel, "but the reason I'm here is um well when I got my stuff I kind of forgot something.......... and I was wondering if I could um borrow some......." I could feel my face start to blush.

He started to grin as he saw me blushing, making him look quite menacing but I knew he was only playing around, he leaned against the door frame waiting for me to finish.

"Well what do you need to borrow my little fluffy haired friend" I quickly put my hand on my hair, it was indeed fluffy and frizzy. 'It must have been the shampoo I used' I thought to myself

"I need to borrow some .....underwear......please" My face felt as if it was ablaze. I could see he was enjoying watching me blush.

"See that wasn't so hard was it. You need to lighten up Jack and have some fun for once now come on in and I shall have a look and see what I can find for you" he stated.

"Your evil you know that" I said as we walked into his room, he laughed as he started to rummage around in one of his draws, muttering to himself as he went, I could make out the odd "nope" and "too big" as he continued to look.

He didn't look that different from his soft-form apart from being taller and well muscled but nothing like some of the fitness freaks I've seen, I could nearly see his muscles move under his vary large blue T-shirt and brown shorts. The colours seemed to go with his lovely gray fur, his large fluffy tail lazily swaying side to side as he looked and move around lightly. I realised that I had been staring at him for a while so I started to look around his room which was bigger than mine but not by much, it was a bit muddled but not messy and his laptop was flicking through music at random on the desk, he turned around holding a few pairs of boxers.

"I think these will fit you well, they are a bit small for me so they should fit you fine and there very stretchy so that you can were them when you change" he said as he handed me the boxers.

"What's the hole and clip for at the back" I asked as I held one of the boxers you get a better look.

"That's where your tail goes for furs and when you're in your full-form surely you should know that" he gave me a confused look "Jack when was the last time you where in your..."

"DINNERS HERE" Arther's voice called out from down stares stopping Daniel from finishing what he was about to ask.

"I'll be down in a minute, I just need to get dressed and thank you" I said as I left before Daniel could stop me and finish what he was about to ask, I quickly walked to my room and shut the door behind me. I knew what he was going to ask and I knew the answer but still didn't want to say it out loud.

I sat on the large bed thinking about what had happened lately; school, my health, Daniel and his father and what the future might bring. Thinking about it I let out long sigh as I reached to one of my bags and pulled out the small bag of pills and my inhaler, looking them over 'more chemicals and poisons to keep me alive and pain free, how long do I have to go through this?' I thought to myself. I slowly got dressed while thinking about why they were helping me 'not even werewolves are this nice to me normally. There must be something else, another reason why they want to help me.' I pulled on the boxers that Daniel had given me, laughing to myself as the hole for your tail rested where my tail would be. I pulled a pair of sweatpants on and brushed my hair and put the pills and inhaler in my pocket.

I slowly walked down the hall and down the stairs; I followed the scent of food and the sound of hushed talking, I rounded a corner to see Daniel and Arther both in their full forms laying at the table and talking quietly, they stopped as soon as they saw me.

"Hello Jack how are you feeling" Arther kindly asked

"I'm fine thank you. A little tired but that's all. May I have a glass of water, please" Daniel quickly found a glass and filled it with water and handed it to me with a smile.

"Thank you very much" I moved over to one of the counters that was out of the way for Daniel and Arther and pulled out my pills, making sure I had the right ones, I swallowed them down each with a mouthful of water, I turned to see Daniel and his father looking at me with sad expressions.

"That's a lot of pills" Daniel said as water stared to collect in his eyes. I felt bad for making him feel sad considering what he had done for me. I put the pill packets back in my pocket and hugged him.

"It's ok, I don't mind that much, not anymore anyway" it was strange hugging someone that was 4 feet taller than me, I could feel his large paws and arms hold me tightly making me blush deeply.

"Would like some dinner" he asked as he looked down at me, making me feel very small and making me blush more.

"I would love some thank you, what are we having?"

"Well Daniel told me that you love Chinese so I thought I would give you a little treat after a rough couple of months" Arther said as he stepped out of the way of the table to reveal a large spread of Chinese, there was everything you could think of and the amount was humongous.

"Wow you cooked all of this, it must have taken you ages to do!" the smell was heaven to my sensitive nose that had been subjected to the chemical ridden air of the hospital. Daniel burst out laughing when I finished.

"That was one of the funniest things I have heard in a long time, trust me if my dad cooks anything for you don't touch it! He can burn coffee for a hobby." Arther gave him a sour look and hit Daniel on the head with large spoon making him yelp in shock.

"Look my pup if you're not careful I will send you to bed without dinner" he said pointing the large spoon at Daniel with a large grin. Daniel just pouted like a little pup as he rubbed his head playfully "Come on you two dig in before it gets cold or I get there first" I sat next to Daniel in one of the large chairs and he started to pile large amounts of food on my plate along with his own.

"Whoa whoa, hang on a minuet I don't think I can get all of this, I have a small stomach compared to yours" I said as I chuckled and tried to stop him from putting the 5th spoonful of rice on my plate.

"Well you could always go into you full form to get it all in" he said with wide grin as he put the seconded spoonful of noodles next the rest of the ever mounting food.

"No I think I can manage in this one thank you and anyway I don't want to rip my clothes" I managed to move my mountain of food away from Daniel's spoon.

"Well at least the underwear would fit" he started to laugh loudly as his father looked at us both with confusion, as I started to blush violently.

I chose to ignore the comment and asked Arther for some chopsticks, he gave me a funny look as he handed them to me. I started using them easily and happily to eat with the chopsticks much to the surprise of both of them. Daniel asked for a pair himself as he said it was easy to do. Arther and I spent most of the meal in fits of laugher as we watched poor Daniel try and use his chopsticks with very little success. It was very comical in its self seeing a 10 foot wolf trying to use some normal sized chopsticks, at one point he was stabbing whatever he could fit on one of the chopsticks. In the end I showed him how to use them properly much to the relief of my sore and aching lungs, after we had all finished the large amounts of food, of which Arther and Daniel had the most, we cleaned and tidied the area. I sat back down with some protest as I was told I was the guest and that I was told to take it easy. I started to yawn as the combination of the pills, food and events of the very interesting day took their effect which was much to the amusement of Daniel.

"Aw you curl your tongue when you yawn like we do" Daniel said as he looked intently at me making me blush, "it's so cute when you blush as well."

"Daniel stop embarrassing the poor boy, he's just tired so leave him be" Arther said as he poked Daniel with the spoon again, it was funny watching the two play and joke around with each other. "I think it's time for you two to go to bed. Mainly you jack as it's been a long and somewhat stressful day" he said as he poked Daniel again to emphasize the fact that he should be keeping me calm and not wind me up.

"But dad it's only 8.30 come on" Daniel was whining like a little pup, which made me laugh lightly.

"I don't know about you, but I'm knackered and I normally go to bed about 7 or 8, so this is a bit late for me" Daniel looked defeated in his attempt to stay up longer, but I was feeling very tired "I don't mind if you stay up longer, but the pills and the wonderful food are making me very sleepy and I don't think I can stay up much longer anyway."

"Ok Daniel you can stay up until I go to bed and I will see you in the morning Jack" he smiled warmly as he looked at me. Getting up and walking to the door way I turned to see them both looking at me with loving smiles, it made me think of my parents and how much they loved me and I them.

"Thank you, thank you so much both of you" they just smiled and said their good nights. I turned and walked up to my room feeling water roll down my cheeks, I was happy that I was loved but I missed the love of my parent dearly. I wish in some way that I had died with them but then again I am grateful that I lived.

I moved my bags off the bed and sat on the edge, thinking about the wonderful dinner and the amazing company and the laughs we shared 'What is it about Daniel that makes me feel so happy and safe, perhaps it's because he's the first furson my age that has ever been nice to me and had actually made me laugh, or is it because we understand that we are both different and are able to except each other for who we are and what we are.' I lay on the bed thinking about the next few days and what might happen and the questions that might get asked. It was not the questions that worried me but the reaction to the answers that worried me most. I continued to think about Daniel and his kind father until before I even realized it sleep had enveloped me.

I woke to the sound of knocking from the door, sometime last night I had fallen asleep while I was thinking but I had fallen asleep on top of the duvet but now I was most certainly under it. Either Daniel or Arther had 'tucked' me in as the lights were off as well 'I must have been really tired last night' I thought as the knocking continued followed by Arther's voice.

"Jack are you up? It's time for breakfast" he opened the door slightly to see if I was up.

"Yeah, sorry did I over sleep?" I slowly and carefully sat up in the very large bed as Arther smiled and walked over to the side of the bed.

"No, I was just making sure that you're all right. So how did you sleep?"

"Thank you. I slept like a log but I remember being on top of the duvet?"

"That was Daniel, he's really taken a shine to you, but he's very worried about you" he sat down at the end of the bed with a serious look about him.

"What do mean? I know that he worries about the cancer but that seems to be getting better and I do feel a little better" I knew that he was worried about me, but Dr. Rogers said that I had one more treatment left and that the cancer was reacting well.

"Yes he's worried about the cancer, but he's worried that your suppressing your full form and your gift. You don't have to but could you tell me the last time you where in your full form?" I looked away from him, I felt so ashamed of myself. "It's ok Jack you don't have to tell me" he looked at me sadly.

"No I should considering all that you have done for me" he looked at me intently as I let a long sigh "it has been over 9 years since I was in my full sawaykoo form" Arther's expression changed from concern to shock, as I heard a gasp from the doorway, me and Arther turned to see Daniel standing there with an equally shocked expressions.

"Daniel what have I told you about eves dropping" Daniel's ears folded back and he looked at the ground, "go on with you, out!

"No, I don't mind, you have as much right to hear what I have to say" Arther gave Daniel a small nod for him to stay, he quickly found a seat on other side of the bed. Arther turned his attention back to me after giving Daniel a disapproving look.

"Why have you not been in your full form for all that time" Arther asked as they both looked at me with concerned looks. I had to take a deep breath to prepare myself as I knew what was about to say would upset me greatly.

"The last time I was in my full form was when I was in the hospital after my mother and father died, I woke up in one of the beds in my human form and started calling out for my mother and father, one of the nurses quickly came into comfort me and to help me to calm down but I was in a state of shock and started to freak out that I could not see my mum or dad. It took 4 nurses to pin me down and hold me still so they could sedate me."

"So that's why you went a little skits when Dr. Rogers said that you had been sedated" Daniel had look of shock and sadness, while Arther just sat there trying to control his emotions as the sadness built in his eyes.

"Yes, but when I woke up again there were some large men there just encase something happened, they just looked me with cold eyes. When they told that my mother and father had died I lost it, the men tried to hold me still but I had lost all control over my gift and my changes. I was so scared and grief stricken I changed into my full form as they tried to sedated me again, I resealed a massive wave of energy sending every fur and thing into the air, the glass shattered and the whole building shook. Thankfully no one was hurt but the way they looked at me hurt more than any wound. They only saw a powerful monster of a beast, not the helpless pup that sat there crying for his mother and father that would never come."

I sat there feeling the tears roll down my face as I remembered those painful times, I felt the bed shift. I looked to see Arther wrap his large frame around mine and just hold me.

"I'm so sorry pup but please just think about going into your full form, it might just help a little mentally if not physically" I could hear the sadness and sorrow in his words.

"I don't know, I can't forget the way they looked at me with those hate filled eyes, I just don't wont any fur to look at me like that again" I held onto him tightly as I spoke, I knew he was right but I was to scared of what might happen.

"Jack look at me, yes furs will always look at you differently but that's because you are different and should be proud of what you are and what you can do, you are very special even among werewolves" that made me smile as I looked at him, I could see out of the corner of my eye that Daniel was watching use intensely. "You shouldn't worry about what other furs think about you and anyway we won't look at you any differently just because of what you are, considering that I'm a 10 and half foot tall werewolf" he gave me warm smile and another hug.

"Thank you" was all I could say as he held me tightly.

"Don't worry about it ok, now Daniel will bring some breakfast up to you in a couple of minutes as I have to go work today" he said as he got up and gave me another warm smile.

"No, no I'll come down and have some" I pulled my legs over the other side of the bed and was about to step onto the floor.

"Jack I told Dr. Rogers that I would make sure that you take it easy and I will make sure I will not go back on my word even if I have to get Daniel to pin you down" they both had mischievous grins on their muzzles which made me laugh lightly.

"No offence but if Daniel tries to pin me down he'll end up being pinned to the ceiling" I said as I gave both of them a playful but serous look, Daniel just grinned.

"Is that so my little friend, we shall have to see won't we" he started to walk around the bed with a playful smirk.

"Daniel I'm warning you don't! I'm not in the mood" I was deadly serious, I would not let any fur control me let alone pin me down. He just kept walking toward me with a large grin and Arther just watch with a smile as he stood there waiting to see what would happen. "Daniel don't!" I glared at him as he just kept grinning. He was about 4 feet away from me as he got ready to jump and pin me down.

I stretched out my right arm as my finger nails started to glow, he jumped as thin rope like strands of energy erupted from my finger nails and wrap themselves around Daniel's air born form, before he could react or say a thing I move my hand up so that he came to rest on the ceiling tightly held still by my energy strands.

"I'm sorry Daniel I warned you", they just looked at me in total shock, Daniel more so as he stared down at me from his position in total disbelief.

"I told you not to wind him up Daniel" Arther started to laugh, I must admit it must have looked rather funny see a small human pinning a large a powerful werewolf to the ceiling with on hand.

"Dad a little help please" Daniel looked somewhat worried as he tried to free himself but I kept the energy strands tight enough to hold him still. Arther just laughed as he watched his son get his tail handed to him.

"No way am I getting involved with this alpha" my head snapped to look at him as I let Daniel down back to the ground softly. My breathing had become a bit ragged as I had not taken any of my pills yet, I quickly took my inhaler and to my relief and surprise it worked rather quickly. "Jack are you all right?" I gave him a nod and smile between breaths.

"Why did you call me an al............" something clicked, he was testing me. He was testing me to see how I would react to some fur that was trying to dominate me and to see what I would do and of course I stood up for myself and so Daniel ended up on the ceiling but only after I had given him a chance to back down, like an alpha would. "You sneaky over grown fur ball, you where testing me weren't you!" he just started laughing again as I looked at him with indignation.

"Yep and as I suspected your an alpha. Only thing I didn't expect was the way you did it. It was nicely done by the way" he chuckled to himself. I just looked at him in total disbelief as he had just put me and Daniel through a mean little test of his. At this point Daniel was looking from me and then to his father in complete confusion.

"What are you two on about? And jack please don't do that again!" he gave me a worried look but smiled as I nodded in agreement.

"Do you want to tell him or shall I?" I gave Arther a sour look, he just laughed and walked out the room muttering something about "being pups." So I explained what happened and what Arther was up to and apologised for scaring him but did find it a bit funny. Daniel just sat there looking shocked and annoyed; he left the room like his father muttering about something.

I sat thinking about what had just happened in the last hour or so, I told some of the nice furs I have ever met one of my biggest fears, I had opened up for the first time in years, I had pinned Daniel to the ceiling and had been told that I am an 'alpha'.

"A lot can happen in an hour" I said to the empty room as I walked into the bath room for some water for my dreaded pills, I brushed my hair, sorted out my bed and made sure that I had my head screwed on.

As I entered the kitchen I was met but the sound of squabbling, Daniel was having a go at Arther and Arther was just winding him up by saying he got his tale handed to him by a little sawaykoo and of course Daniel was biting like crazy. I had small cup of coffee and a bowl of something that look a little like bird food and sat down and watched the live comedy show.

"Ok pups I have to go to work now, Jack remember to take it easy. Daniel I made you a list of things that need to be done as your not going to school and there is some cash on the side for when you go to the store" Arther quickly went up stares changed into his soft form and put his work clothes on and then came back down. We said are good buys and he left.

"So how come you are not going to school, I hope it's just because you think you need to look after me" I didn't want to keep him from his education even though it wasn't much of one.

"No it's not just because of you, the board of governors heard what happened and some of the parents got a bit iffy about me being there so I was asked to stay away for a while" he said as he cleaned the table.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry, surely Richard told them what had happened and that no one was hurt" I felt so guilty that it was my fault that he was not at school just because I couldn't control myself.

"Hey, don't be! It's not your fault that some smart ass fur decided to be a prick and to be honest I'm glad to get away from that scrap heap of a school" he continued to clean the table and sort out the kitchen. "And yeah he tried, but they were having none of it, even Judy said that you did nothing wrong. She can be very scary for a normal fur, the way she had a go at Alex and the governors was just frightening!" I just sat there feeling guilty that it was my fault that Daniel was asked to leave and that Judy had defended me but the governors still saw me as the one in the wrong.

"What the hell! This list is as long as my tail, it would take me ages to these jobs and go to the store as well" the sound of Daniels whining broke me out of my thoughts.

"Can I help with anything, I know I have to take it easy but I can still clean or tidy up" I wanted to help out in any way I could, so I wouldn't go crazy but mainly so that I could repay them in some way.

"Ok you can help me with some of the cleaning but if I see you getting out of breath or anything else I will send you to go rest 'Alpha'" I just playfully stuck my tongue out at him at that last word. He laughed as he did the same.

We started cleaning the bath rooms and the bedrooms first, laughing and joking with each other the whole time. I felt like a fifth wheel as most of the jobs where too big for me to do on my own as the overall scale of things where bigger because they were designed for werewolves. Daniel would just laugh and joke about it until I threatened to put him on the ceiling again as I waved my hands around with evil grin. The reaction was priceless, he fell over the pile of laundry as he stumble backwards trying to get away from the little scary human. I almost wet myself laughing until I started to have trouble breathing but I took my inhaler and it quickly calmed down but it was worth it. That's when the phone rang and he bolted to get it and to save what was left of his dignity.

For the first time in a long time I had actual been having fun. I felt as if I didn't have a care in the world other than enjoying the time I spent with Daniel, he would always make me laugh and smile whenever he could, the way he would make sure that I wasn't doing too much by being right next to me.

"That was the school, they said that they have got some work for me and you, so I was thinking that could go and do the shopping and stop by the school and pick up the FUN stuff on our way back" he had a very displeased look when he mentioned the school work. "It would take me about 2 or 3 hours to get it all done, so better get going if that's ok with you?"

"Yeah sure that's fine, you go do what you need to and I'll finish doing the jobs" I was about to turn and pick up the wash when I felt a large paw on my shoulder.

"Promise me that you won't start trying to do too much while I'm gone. I don't won't to come back and find you collapsed in the floor ok" he had a caring smile on his face as he looked at me. "Because I'm not digging the hole"

"Fine I won't do anything" I said a little moodily

"Aw, you're so cute when you pout" he ruffled my hair with one of his very large paws at the same time. I put my fingers together and clicked them, I stretched out my right arm like I did only a few hours a go with a large grin. Daniel saw this and ran for his room, I just laughed seeing the werewolf bolt for it. I put the laundry in the basket and went to my room, when I came back out Daniel was in his soft form wearing a nice pair of black jeans and dark blue shirt that showed off his impressive but not overly muscled torso. He picked up some keys and the list with the money and said his good byes and left me in the very larger house with not much to do.

I wondered around the house idly looking at the many pictures that adorned the walls, Daniel was very cute as a pup, Arther had not aged much in most of the pictures thanks to his being a werewolf. There was a photo of Daniel and Arther with a beautiful she-wolf who I could only assume was his mother, she had the same amber eyes as Daniel but she was a very light grey almost white. She was holding Daniel very tightly but lovingly as she looked at Arther, Daniel looked younger, 16 or 17 maybe, in the photo. I could not see any other photos of him with her where he looked older. Judging by the beautiful and elaborate frame that photo must be very special, 'I think something happened to her, maybe I should ask? No, it's not my place to stick my nose in' I thought to myself as I continued to look.

It was about twelvish and I was bored out of my little mind. I looked over the list of jobs, but there was none I could do without getting to tired or going against my promise. I made myself a pot of coffee and took a cup to my room, I didn't feel like doing any of my art. Then it occurred to me that this is the longest I had been awake for a week or so. I decided to take a shower, as for some reason I could always relax and think better when I was surrounded by water. There was something about being shut off from the outside world and to be able to just forget all my problems and worries that really appealed to me.

I stepped into the bath room removing my T-shirt off flowed by my sweat pants, I did a double take as I noticed the underwear as I quickly remembered that they where Daniel's, I remembered the hole at the back for your tail as I stepped out of them and put them to the side.

"Maybe I should try going into my full form" I said with a heavy sigh as stepped into the bath and tried to remember how to use the shower. As the warm soothing water began to fall from the high shower head above me, I began to think again as I ran my hands through my hair testing to see if it would remain in place. 'It might have some benefits and it would be safe and they don't seem to mind. They seem to understand. Maybe I should' I continued to think as the warm soothing water wrapped its self around me.

I loved water. There was something about it that just seemed to calm and sooth me, even when I was little I would try and spend as much time as I could either in or around large amounts of water. I just loved the way I could feel the energy moving and swirling around me, I could feel the energy of the water seeping into my body as it caressed every part of my soul.

I let out a content sigh as I reached for the shampoo. Having a quick look I saw the one I used last time -Put some Volume back into your coat- "no thank you" as I reached out to one of the other bottles that looked like normal shampoo. As I rubbed the thick liquid into my hair and over my body I continued to think about what Arther said about that they would not see me any differently considering they're both werewolves. As the suds wash away from my now clean and fresh feeling body, I stepped out of the bath/shower. Drying and wrapping a towel around myself I looked in the very large mirror, I didn't look to bad for a human, I was about 6 foot something, a little chubby but heavily framed, with medium-long blonde hair and soft blue eyes. I could barely remember what I looked like in my full form. I was only about 10 so I would have changed quite a bit by now, but the colours and the markings should have stayed the same.

"Why not I have nothing to lose" I spoke in a small burst of confidence as I made my decision "this is going to sting!" I started to stretch my legs, arms and the rest of my body as I prepared myself mentally more than physically for what was about to happen.

I closed my eyes and the let the energy of my full form wash over me. I could feel my bones and muscles start to spasm and vibrate as they started to change and reform. I could hear pops, clicks and moans bounce around the room as I continued to change and reform. The pain wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be but it was still pretty bad. As the vibrating changed the shape and position of many of my bones, mainly in my feet and legs as they began to lengthen and fill out as my heals lifted off the cold tiles so I rested on the balls of me feet/paws. My nails started to burn as they pulled in and then push back out as white blunt claws as my toes and fingers started to pulls and grow. My toes started to feel very tight as they grew. My big toes moved up my feet so that it was no longer touching the ground. The pain intensified as my top and bottom jaw start to push out to accommodate my teeth as they became bigger and sharper, my nose flared as it moved with my top jaw. I could feel my ears also flare, lengthen and move to top of my skull. I could feel a throbbing pain at the base of my spine as my new, but old, tail started to form and grow. I kept my eyes closed as my body started to buzz as the hair all over me was pulled in and was quickly replaced by a thick soft coat. My body started to pulse and change further, my insides churned and rearranged, the popping, clicking continued until it slowly started to slow down until I could feel nothing moving or changing.

I slowly started to open my eyes, I gasped at the sight before me as I looked in the mirror. I knew it was me but I didn't recognize the image staring back at me. I slowly moved my arm to my muzzle and the black and white wolf did the same. I was taller about 9 feet, my coat was pitch black with my white markings going down my feet, arms, back and face they were much bolder than I remembered. I moved my head from side to side and then turned around looking at the mirror to see my back, the markings started in between my shoulder blades. A small ball with 5 lines coming from it, two going down my back until my hips then moving round the to the front and down my legs, two other lines went over my shoulders and down my arms. When the lines got to my hands and paws they lines forked to go down to each claw along the top of each digit. The last line went up the back of my neck and head when it reached the top it forked into five lines like it did on my paws but the middle lines went down the centre of my face and along the top of my muzzle to stop just before my nose, two of the lines when down to stop at the top of my eyes, the two remaining lines when up the backs of my ears to stop at the tip.

As I continued to look at myself and see the changes, a smile crept across my muzzle as I looked at myself. I almost jumped out of my skin as my tail started to wag. It's been long time indeed. As I continued to look at my old but new self I couldn't help but smile every time I herd my claws click on the tiles. I was amazed at the muscles I had, I was nothing like as well muscled as Daniel or Arther, I had more a swimmers or runners body compared to Daniel's heavily muscled frame but it was still had muscles 'the years of martial arts may not have made much of my human form but now.... WOW' I thought to me self as I started to feel my chest and stomach. I continued to look myself over as if I was deciding whether to buy an expensive suit. Looking at myself at different angles and stretching every now and then.

I remembered what my father said to me when I first started to be able to control my changes 'The more you change from one form to another, the easier and the less painful it will become' I let out long sigh as I remembered those words, he would suffer the same amount of pain as me when he changed, but he was right.

I looked myself over one more time as I started to concentrate on my human form closing my eyes before doing so. I could feel my body vibrate and rearrange again into a smaller form, it felt just like the opposite of when I changed in to my full form and true to my father's words it was quicker and less painful.

I opened to see a human looking back at me, I was breathing a little heavily as the size of my lunges had changed but I was still breathing normally. I continued to changed back and forth from my human to my full form a few times, all the while looking myself over in each form for anything that shouldn't and to keep an mental image of each form to help me change more quickly.

"Jack I'm back, where are you?" I froze as Daniel closed the front door. I was in my full form and panicked, I was slow to reply.

"I'm in my room" I covered my mouth with my paws as my voice was deeper.

"Are you ok? You sound different" I reached for my underwear and put the flexible item of clothing on, I then reach for my trousers.

"Yeah I'm fine, why wouldn't I DAMN IT!" I tried to put my trousers on but I was too big and my claws had shredded the front of them as I tried to put my foot paw in them.

"Jack what's the matter?" I could hear him running up the stairs with concern in his voice; I rushed into the bed room to look for some more trousers. Before I could say a thing the bed room door burst open, I turned to see Daniel standing there looking just as shocked as me.

"J-Jack is that you?" he looked me up down slowly.

"Yes it's me, sorry for worrying you I'll change back" I had my ears folded back which made me smile a little nervously.

"No, no don't, please. You look good ....... Not that you didn't in your human form, but you look um, different, but good" he started to blush as the insides of his ears started to turn red, which made me smile and blush also.

"Thank you, but I think I will have to because none of my clothes will fit or they got shredded" I held up the pair of ex-trousers.

"You can use some of mine and anyway dad will want to see those funky stripes of yours" he was practically bouncing on the spot.

"You can't do that, I will end up with you entire wardrobe at this rate and anyway this is just a little strange for me" I looked at my paws and flexed them.

"You can have some of my old clothes, they don't fit me anymore and they would just end up in the trash so don't worry about it stripey. You'll get used to it, I promise." He grabbed me by the wrist and practically dragged me into his room and told me to sit on the bed. He quickly disappeared into another room attached to his, which I assumed was a walk in closet which shortly after came large amounts of rustling and muttering, with the odd random item thrown out the door. I was feeling very exposed and nervous as I'm most certainly not use these kind of situations and not much of an exhibitionist at the best of times, so standing nearly naked in a friend's bedroom was one of the most embarrassing times of my life. I moved over to the bed and sat down a bit to quickly as I yelped very loudly.

"What's the matter? What happened? Are you ok?" Daniel's head appeared around the door frame with a confused look.

"I'm fine I just sat on my tail" I said as pulled the offending appendage out from under myself to give it quick brush down, which amused Daniel greatly as he started to howl with laughter.

"Aaw bless stripey he sat on his tail" he quickly disappeared and only to reappear with an arm full of clothes. He started to flick through them, holding the odd one up to give it a closer look. He threw some clothes at me and told me to put them on. I gave them a look over.

"Um, Daniel could I have something a little less.... well revealing" I said as I held up a dark red tank top and a pair of dark blue short shorts. He let a dramatised sigh and took the short shorts and handed me a longer pair in the same colour with a light blue floral pattern with a large grin.

"You're enjoying this aren't you!" I said as I stood. I was about 2 foot taller than him when he was in his soft form.

"Yep, oh you might want to put your tail in the boxers properly. You haven't fastened the tail clip up." He had a large grin as he spoke. I slowly reached back and undid the button clip and pulled the small strap of fabric over top of the base of my tail and fastened it. "See told you'll get use it. Now come on and get dressed dad will be home soon. I'll go put these on your bed" he walked out of the room with an arm full of clothes. I followed him into my room where he dumped the cloths on the bed "I'm going to get changed and then start putting the groceries away, so I'll see you in a minute or two" he walked out of the room with a big grin and looking very pleased with himself, leaving me to get changed and to stop my eye from twitching from the way he was winding me up.

I looked at the tank top and the shorts, letting at a stressed sigh as I looked at them and shaking my head slowly as I put the tank top, which fitted very nicely surprisingly and then putting the shorts on while being mindful of my claws and to remember the tail clip. I looked over the other clothes he had given me.

"Why are there so many? I'm only going to be here or at the hospital.............I hope!" I said as I looked through the pile of random clothes that I was given. I was feeling a little tired but I knew it would be rude of me to take a small nap while Daniel was working and sorting things out down stairs and to be honest I didn't want to be on my own.

I walked down to the kitchen, as I did I noticed that everything looked normal in proportions compared to how it first seemed when I first saw the inside of the house. The size of the chairs, the hight of the ceiling, the tables and all of the other simple things like that you take for granted where all the normal size for a 9 foot tall sawaykoo or a 10 foot plus werewolf. It just made me smile, the way I felt when I first came in was that I was very small but now I feel normal and nothing was out of the ordinary. I walked into the kitchen to see Daniel in his full form putting the shopping away very quickly.

"Hiya do you need a hand or a paw?" I said chuckling to myself as I looked at my paw flexing it. I looked up to see Daniel staring at me, his mouth was open and his eyes where wide. "What, what's the matter?" I looked at myself to see if something was wrong or looked out of the norm about me.

"N-nothing, you just look wow .........um good in those" he pointed to the clothes I was wearing, I gave him a confused look and walk over to the hallway to one of the large mirrors and Daniel followed.

My jaw dropped as I saw myself in the mirror. The tank top hugged my frame snugly showing the muscles that would normally be hidden by my dense coat or a light layer of fat in my human form. The colours of the tank top and the shorts really went well with my black coat and my white markings. Daniel stood next to me looking equally as impressed as me. He then turned so he could get a better look at me.

"Now do you know how to look good or what" he asked as he turned back to the mirror and putting his paws on my shoulders and grinned.

"Yeah.........wow thank you.......wow" I turned from side to side looking myself over which brought a smile to Daniel's muzzle.

"Do you work out or something" he asked as he walked back into the kitchen to finish packing away the shopping, I studied myself a little further and then joined him.

"No I just did a lot of martial arts before I got too ill and the doctors said that it would do more harm than good to continue until the treatments finish" Daniel whipped around to look at me in total shock.

"You do martial arts? I have been looking for a place to learn but they won't let me because I'm a 'werewolf and I might hurt some fur', but where did you learn?" he had a slight tone of disappointment in his voice.

"When I lived in England I knew a family of dragons that ran a centre and I knew their son pretty well, so he taught me, but when I moved out hear I tried several places until I went to the on the other side of town -The Open Palm Martial Arts Centre-. I spoke to the master and explained that I wanted to learn so that I could protected myself and to stay active" I said.

"I went there and a big bull said that he would not let me join because he doesn't want to have any of the other students hurt. That's not fair" he crossed his arms and pouted like a young pup that didn't get his way.

"What!? I'll have to talk to James and see what is going on. But in the mean time I can teach you some stuff but nothing to big as I still can't do much even in this form" Daniel's face lit up with joy. He then rushed over to me and hugged me.

"WOW! Really Thank you so much!" he hugged me tightly, a bit too tightly as I let out a gasp of pain as he squeezed my sore ribs and the lunges beneath, "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, sorry" he quickly let go of me.

"Don't worry about it, could you go and get my pills? They should be on the table next the bed" before I could say please or thank you he was gone, only to reappear only a matter of moments later with said pills in paw "thank you, your fast" he gave me a glass of water to take them with.

"Thank you. Why are you so excitable today? And why did you give so many cloths? I'm not going to be in my full form when I go to the hospital" I asked as I finished taking meds.

"Well to answer both it's my birthday on Thursday, today's Tuesday by the way and dad is taking me to the clans club to let me join and I was kind of hopping that you would come as my guest so you'll need to be in your full form" he started to blush as he finished putting the shopping away and sat across the table from me. That was a sudden wave of information that hit me. I had several things flying around my mind 'it's Tuesday. It's his birthday in 2 days time. What do I get him? He wants me to come. Why do I have to be in my full form?'

"It's your birthday in 2 days time? Congratulations your 20 if I remember correctly. I don't know what to get you?" my mind was racing as what to get him for his birthday as a 20th birthday is a big thing.

"Yeah it's my 20th and you coming to the club me with can be all present you can give me" he had a very playful smile as he refilled my glass.

"You sure? It's your special day of course I'll come but why do I need to be in my full form?" Having to be in my full form in public bugged me a little.

"It's one of the rules that all werewolves should be in there full form when they use the gym, pool, etc so that we are all on equal ground, so to speak. It's one of the old rules that just never got changed if you know what I mean."

"It makes sense but I'm not too keen on the idea of being in my full form in public but if I have to I will, save rocking the boat if you know what I mean." Daniel just nodded his head and smiled. We turned to the sound of the front door opening.

"Daniel I'm back! Work was crazy, who knew unicorns where so jumpy. How's...... Jack ........ doing?" he stopped as saw me, he looked tired but very shocked to see me. I just smiled and waved shyly as I could feel my ears and my cheeks start the heat up.

"Jack is that you?" he looked at me up and down taking everything in. I just gave a nod and a smile as continued to look at me which was making me a little uncomfortable. "Sorry I don't mean to stare. It's just from jumpy unicorns to a striped sawaykoo is just a little different for me that's all" he gave me a warm smile as he undid his tie and put his brief case on the table.

"Daniel said you where striped but I didn't think they would be like this" I stretched out my right arm and leg so he could get a better look, it was funny the way he was studying my markings.

"So how was work dad?" The question snapped Arther out of his little stupor, he walked over and got a glass of water then taking a seat in one of the chairs as he collapsed into it with a heavy sigh.

"It was crazy, I had to sort out some stuff with the unicorns and god they are jumpy around werewolves. One almost fainted when I smiled at them, if they see me in my full form they would have a coronary. And the paper work is going to kill me! Who knew they were so fussy. I need a break or at least something to keep me going" that gave me an idea.

"I will be back in a minute" I quickly walked up to my room and pulled out a good sized box out from my bag and returned to the kitchen, where I was greeted with puzzled looks until I opened the box.

"Wow that's a lot of crystals, what are you going to do with them" Daniel asked as he leaned over my shoulder, which wasn't to hard as he was a foot taller than me.

"You'll see" I started to look for two specific crystals which was a little more awkward with my big paws but I found them soon enough. I held a large piece of amethyst in my right and small piece of quarts in my left; I was trying to work out which one to use as I moved my paws up and down as if I was physically weighing them.

"Amethyst will do I think" I moved over to Arther who was watching me with great interest. I held the amethyst point between my thumb and my middle finger, while silently mouthing a simple spell to release the energy I had stored inside it, it began to glow slightly. "Hold this in you right paw for a while and you should start to feel better" I handed him the glowing crystal as he and Daniel continued to watch me, he took it gingerly but smiled as soon as he held it in his palm.

"Wow that's amazing; I can feel the energy coming from it. It really does help. I feel better all ready!" He looked from the crystal and then to me with a surprised but pleased smile.

"Just don't hold onto it for too long as it can knock you out for awhile" he gave me a small nod as he continued to stare at the crystal.

"Now that is cool, what else can you do with them?" Daniel asked as he walked to box of crystals and had a look at them.

"I use them separately to get a simple reaction like healing or I can use some of them together to get the desired effect i.e. I can use amethyst with quarts to heal and restore the energy to the damaged cells of the body or I can use jade and labradorite to make a small explosion. It's more of a case mix and match and see what happens" I went through the crystals explaining what they can be used for and what should not be mixed.

"I think someone has had enough of the amethyst" I quickly walked over to the nearly unconscious Arther and removed the crystal from his paw and woke him out of his very relaxed state.

"You're not kidding it does knock you out! But thank you I needed that" he got up from his chair, yawned, stretched and walk up the stairs. I put the crystals back in the box and put them to the side. Arther came back down about 10 minute later in his full form looking much happier and refreshed.

"So what have you pups been up to?" he said as he took a beer out of the fridge, which was a little odd as it looked like he could drink it all in one gulp, bottle and all. I just pointed to my face to state that I was in my full form for the first time in years which just got a hearty laugh from both of them.

"Well me and Jack did the tidying and stuff on the list. I did the shopping and .......Oops! I almost forgot" he quickly rushed over to the hallway that lead to the front door, he returned holding a bunch of notes and folders. "School rang and said they had some work for me and Jack so I picked them up on the way back" he unceremoniously dropped them on the table with a sour look.

"Aw common it's not that bad, I'll give you a hand or a paw with them" they both chuckled as I looked at my paw again 'still not use to having these' I thought to myself as I started to flick through the mass of work and assignments that needed to be done. Something caught my attention, it was a letter with my name on it in my god fathers paw writing, I slowly took it out of the pile of papers and looked at it.

"Jack what is it" Daniel asked as he moved a little closer. I ignored him as I slowly opened the letter and started to read.

-Dear Jack

I am so very sorry that I've hurt you so badly. I know I should have been there for you when you needed me most but I just didn't know what to do, I was so scared that I might put you in danger or to suddenly lose you like your wonderful mother and father.

You remind me so much of them, it just hurt too much for me to bear and for that I am truly sorry.

I am so very proud to call you my god son and I only hope that one day you may be able to forgive me even though I know do not deserve it and I will understand if you cannot.

Get well soon!

Love Richard

I read the letter a few time to let it sink in, I could see some water marks on the paper from where he must have shed a tear or two writing. I continued to stare at the letter until I noticed something poking out of the same envelope, I put the letter on the table to then be quickly picked up by Daniel as Arther gave a disapproving growl. Pulled the glossy paper out from the envelope, I gasped as I saw the furs in the photo. I was curled up on my father's chest while we slept, we where both in are full forms and my mother was lying next to us on the grass in the sunny garden. I must have been about 3 or 4 as I was still small and had only just been able to change. I could feel my eyes flood with the memories of those days and as the water started to fall I just stared at the picture until I felt a paw on my shoulder, I turned to see them both looking at me. I slowly handed Arther the photo as Daniel still had the letter.

"Is this......" I just nodded as he looked at the photo and handed it to Daniel who in turn handed him the letter.

"So what are you going to do?" Arther said as he handed me the letter and photo after tugging it free from Daniel. I let out a long sigh and thought for a moment.

"I guess in some way I have already forgiven him, I know there is no point in living in the past but I just wish he could have done it differently somehow rather than leaving me. I think I just need to talk to him and find out for myself why, but I think I know why he did what he did". Daniel went to say something but stopped when Arther flicked his ear and gave him a look that said 'don't you dare'.

"I think these can wait until you are doing better and when you feel up to helping this silly pup of mine" he ruffled Daniel's head fur and getting the usual reaction, then picking up the pile of paper and moving it to the side.

I spent the rest of the afternoon deep in thought and in memories past, didn't feel like eating but after a little bit of nagging and poking I gave in and had some pizza, which was very nice but I felt it was wasted on me as I was not in the mood. I decided to have an early night as the day had been somewhat tiring so I said my good nights and headed for bed. I was out before I even knew I hit the bed.

I want to say a big thank you to [Eveser](%5C) for being my editor (OMG I still can't get over the fact I have an editor!!)

http://www.yiffstar.com/?action=watchlist - have a look at some of his stories!!

Sorry that it is a bit long!

Thank you so much for looking!!!