This story was originally conceived to be a stand alone tale, but it fit Dorothy's M.Y.T.H. universe without too much modification. It starts about a year before Help! My girlfriend is a Unicorn!

My life changed when I was taking my evening hike through the back forty. I just didn't realize it at the time.

I heard some rustling over in the bushes next to the woods. I looked and saw a large black shape.

While bears aren't commonly seen around here, they do exist. And mother bears can be quite protective. I wasn't particularly worried, but I don't take chances. You don't make it back from 'Nam by taking chances. It might have been decades since I served, but old habits die hard. We grizzled old vets take pride in our old habits.

So I released the strap on my holster and turned toward the indistinct black shape, hoping that it would wander away -- after giving me the opportunity to get a few good pictures.

I heard a gravelly voice. "You don't think that gun's gonna hurt me, do you?"

I was startled but, again, panicking is not a good way to stay alive. I forced myself to remain calm.

"I hope I don't have to find out," I replied to the trespasser. False bravado or not, I was going to politely point out that the national forest starts just north of our property. Then, of course, I would invite him in for a cup of coffee. Good fences make good neighbors.

He came out of the brush and into the waist high grass and weeds of the old fallow field.

I was wondering about the intelligence of someone who would walk around the woods in a fur coat. Then, I did a double take. That was no fur coat. I had one of those WTF moments. The Michigan Dogman? Really? Who expects to see a creature of legend in their own back yard -- or anywhere, for that matter?

Yeah, go ahead and look it up. Google on Michigan Dogman. There is a song, two movies, and dozens of tales going back over a century and a quarter, along with legends from the Odawa tribes that lived around the Manistee River.

But werewolves don't exist, do they? If they did, someone would surely have seen them!

On the other hand, the Department of Natural Resources claims that there are no more cougars or wolves in the lower peninsula of Michigan. Until photos from field cameras started showing up. They recently, grudgingly, admitted that some of the cougar sightings had been confirmed.

If the cougars and wolves can avoid people so effectively for so long, why not something more intelligent?

We stood there looking at each other. After my heart slowed down to a rate more befitting a man of my age, I started to ponder the mythical creature standing before me.

Why would someone who has done such a good job of staying out of the public eye intentionally talk to me, then walk out in full view?

It occurred to me that there would be few witnesses if most encounters were fatal. On the other hand, there aren't oodles and scads of mysterious disappearances. If there were fatal encounters, there were few enough that they didn't stand out. Also, while most of the reported encounters were scary, I don't recall any stories where the dogman was particularly aggressive. Yeah, the lumberjacks ran away and never returned, but they had been harassing the poor critter.

Finally, I decided to ask him why he decided to show himself.

"Because you are aware. Or rather, you need to be aware," he answered with a more normal voice.

"Aware of what?" I asked.

"Not aware. A Were." He pronounced the last two words carefully, making sure that he paused in between them.

I looked at him quizzically.

"You have were blood, but you have never activated. It's surprising that you have lived as long as you have. Most unactivated weres die of depression long before they reach middle age."

"I'm not that easy to kill," I snorted.

"Obviously not."

"So, do you want to come to the house and have a cup of coffee? I never had a werewolf over for for coffee."

"how about tomorrow? You'll be well on your way to being a were then. We will have much to talk about."

"I'm gonna be a werewolf? How is that going to happen? I've wandered the night under many a full moon, and never felt the urge to howl at it."

"Not necessarily a wolf. We'll know in a few minutes what your were form will be."

Faster than I could react, or even follow, he ran up to me, snatched my handgun out of its holster, bit me on the left shoulder, and dashed back to where he was.

I cursed vilely, but stood my ground. "What the hell did you do that for?"

"Because you needed it."

He expertly popped the cylinder, ejected the rounds, and tossed them aside. "Smith & Wesson 500 with magnum bullets and dual lasers. You don't fuck around, do you?"

I just growled at him.

"That hand cannon of yours might not kill me, but it would sure sting! I don't feel like taking a bullet or five."

"Not biting me would have worked," I growled.

"Oh, quit complaining. Like I said, you needed it. You'll be fine in a minute or two."

I started to feel a bit faint, but refused to show it. The pain in my shoulder started to go away. He tossed me a bag, which I automatically caught with my right hand.

"You should be about healed by now. You need some energy."

I just looked at it.

"I'm not going to poison you," he said. "If I wanted you dead, I would have done more than give you a little love nip on the shoulder."

Certainly, he could have shot me with my own handgun if he wanted me dead. Or bit my arm clean off. And I was getting really hungry. I chowed down the quarter pound or so of jerky, finished it with a ration bar, and washed it all down with a long drink from my canteen.

"Go ahead and look at your shoulder, foxy."

"Foxy?"

"Sadly," he sighed, "You won't be receiving the same fine canine form that I enjoy. But hey, foxes are canids, so that's almost as good."

Sure enough, the pain was completely gone. I pushed my t-shirt aside and rubbed off the drying blood. There was no trace of a wound. In fact, the skin there was clear and hairless and didn't have the aged texture that it had before.

I thought of what he said about the fox. I couldn't help but smile, since foxes had always been special to me. I really wanted to get one of those Siberian domestic foxes as a pet, but could never afford one.

The werewolf gave a toothy grin. "So, it's starting to sink in already. That's got to be the first smile I have ever seen on your face. Welcome to the pack, girly face. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Girly face?" I asked, puzzled.

But he was bounding away. Soon, he was lost in the shadowy forest.

I walked over and retrieved my cartridges and handgun. I reloaded it, gave the cylinder a spin, and reholstered it.

I realized, as I was walking back to my house, that I felt better than I have in years.

After I got home, I stripped and headed for the shower. I carefully inspected my shoulder, noting that there wasn't even a scar. Also, the skin looked baby-new and there was no hair. The clear patch, which had covered the area immediately surrounding the wound, was now half way to my elbow, and had spread an equal amount in every direction. It was weird that there was no hair. I would have expected to get hairier. Instead, even my armpit hair was gone.

I know that I couldn't have been imagining things. The shoulder of my tee shirt was bloody and had several holes in it. That is, it had holes that weren't there before. It wasn't by any means one of my better pieces of clothing.

I goofed with my computer for a bit, petted my cats, then went to bed.

I woke up under a pile of cats, which was not a new experience. I woke up refreshed, which was a new experience. At least, it wasn't something that I had experienced for decades.

I felt like I had a mouth full of sharp pieces of ceramic or something. I spit them all out. I ended up with a tissue full of crowns and fillings.

I reached for my trifocals and put them on. The world got blurrier. I took them off and noted that I could see perfectly.

I couldn't help but grin as I hopped out of the bed without the usual creaks and groans and aches and pains.

The hairless patch had spread. In fact, the only part of my body that was unaffected was the bottom half of my right leg. Even my pubic hair was gone.

But there was no hair in my bed. The hair hadn't fallen out. It had disappeared.

Magic?

I'm not one to believe in magic without really good evidence, but neither am I one to let my preconceived notions get in the way of my observations.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. If it isn't technology that was developed by humanity or aliens or something, what else can you call it?

If there were no butterflies on Earth, but then we found a some caterpillars turning to butterflies at some remote location, would we call the process of metamorphosis magic?

I took my morning leak and noticed that I was pissing like a garden hose. The stream had been thinning for years because of my prostate. I hadn't noticed at first, but it was impossible to ignore when I started to have trouble completely emptying my bladder. Apparently, getting bit by a werewolf fixes stuff.

I checked myself out in the mirror. My beard was gone. My hair had grown in. My skin looked like a kid's, hairless except for my head, brows, and lashes. My spare tire was gone. It looked like I lost some muscle mass.

Damn it.

I walked to my workout area and picked up some weights. It wasn't more difficult than I was used to. In fact, if anything, it was easier.

By the time I had done my chores, taken my morning shower, and had breakfast, the rest of my right leg was as smooth as a baby's bottom. Also, my clothes were loose.

And I was smiling.

There was a knock on the door just as I was finishing breakfast.

"Hi Jim! What brings you here?"

Jim chuckled. "You invited me over for coffee yesterday."

I thought for a second, then I glared at him. I tried, anyhow.

"I'm sure you have questions," he said.

"Yeah. like why did you bite me?"

"I'm a werewolf. That's what we do."

"Oh? What are ya gonna do next? Sniff my ass?"

He tried to look offended, snorted, then started laughing.

I looked at him, then chuckled. "The last thing I ever expected to find in my back yard was the Michigan Dogman."

"Nobody expects the Michigan Dogman," he replied.

"But even fewer will expect the Michigan Foxman," I countered.

"Or the Michigan Foxwoman," he snickered.

"That reminds me. What was that girly face comment?" I asked.

He took a sip of his coffee. "OK. I know you have questions. Let me give you the obvious information, and then you can ask about anything I missed. That ought to make things go faster."

At my nod, he started ticking points off on his fingers.

"First of all, you carry the were gene. Or maybe it's epigenetics. We don't have our own laboratories, and we can hardly send a bunch of samples to a regular lab and ask for a genetic analysis."

I nodded, then asked, "We?"

"The were community, essentially. I'll get to that later."

"Anyhow, we weres have a better sense of smell than baseline humans, though it isn't as sharp in our human forms. That's how we found out that you are a were. It took a long time because there are so many weres at church that it was a while before we started to realize that we could catch the faint spoor of your were nature even when there weren't any others around. We had a meeting and I was elected to go on a mission of mercy and bring out your were nature."

"So I smell like a fox? Or... That's right, you couldn't tell me what I would be until you bit me."

"Yeah. The scent is light, you hadn't shifted yet, and we were all in our human forms at church. But I detected your nature as soon as I activated it."

"OK, so what's gonna happen?" I asked.

"Well, I'm sure that you noticed that you are now in perfect health. You look like a thirty-something human male without body hair. It will stay that way until the new moon -- a bit over a week. Then, you will slowly, over the span of a few days, change to your new base human form."

"New base human form?" I asked.

"Most weres shift for the first time on the first full moon after, at the oldest, the age of fifteen. Some with stronger blood shift earlier. You didn't get that opportunity, so you will end up looking fifteen again. But don't worry, you will eventually be able to shift to look older."

"So I can be my grumpy old fart self when I want?"

"Briefly at first, but with practice, you will be able to shift for longer periods of time. Still, you'll be most comfortable as a fox, as a teenager, or any form in between. As you get older, you will be comfortable in older forms."

He stood up. I watched as he appeared to get younger -- from his normal thirty-something to a teen. Then, he stripped right in the middle of my kitchen and grew and changed to the black creature that I saw yesterday.

"Nudity is an occupational hazard for shape shifters," he commented.

He shifted back to his normal self and put his clothes back on.

"One thing you need to know is that a small percentage of weres shift to the opposite gender. It's not unsurprising, considering there are so many normal humans that feel that they were born in the wrong body. It's more common for us to shift physical genders, but we think that that is because there are lots of baseline trans people who never report their feelings, and therefore never end up in the statistics."

"Girly face?" I asked.

He nodded. "If it's any consolation, few regret the change, and I have yet to see anyone who isn't delighted with it after the fact."

"I.. Umm..." I blushed, then I shrugged. "I'm so used to hiding it, but there is no sense in denying it. I slowly came to the realization that I would rather be female than male, but I was never desperate enough to try transitioning. I would have been an ugly woman, anyhow."

"You are going to be a very cute teenybopper. There are no ugly weres. Not in human form, anyhow. Whether or not you find a were warthog cute is a matter of taste."

I chuckled, then smiled. "I'm happy to be a fox. I'm even happier to be a foxy fox."

He smiled. "That's the spirit!"

I frowned a bit. "There are some practical considerations..." I started to say.

"Don't worry about it too much," he replied. "We have a system in place that will take care of all the paperwork. You'll have a birth certificate, school records, health records, and all that stuff before you finish transforming."

"What about my driver's license? My ham license? My degree? My PADI card?"

"PADI?"

"Professional Association of Diving Instructors. The card that lets me get my scuba tanks filled when I decide to go under the water and blow some bubbles."

He sighed. "First of all, you're too young to drive. I don't think it'll be too much of a hardship to take the online course and spend some time with a driving instructor. I'll have to check on the other stuff. As for your degree, you'll just have to attend college again. On the plus side, you'll be older and wiser and able to get better grades. And you'll have fun. It'll be free, too. We weres have had plenty of time to accumulate more of that filthy lucre stuff than we need."

I sighed, then thought about it. "I guess it's a small price to pay to get a new lease on life."

He smiled. "That's the spirit! I'm going to enjoy having you for a daughter."

"What?"

He chuckled. "So, to summarize, you will stay in your current form for a little more than a week, you will spend a few days changing to your new base form as a teenage girl, you will stay like that for a little over a week, then you will, at the midnight of the full moon, shift to a fox. You will shift back at sunrise, and will be able to shift back and forth at will after that."

"A full fox? Quadruped, color blind, no hands, and all that?"

"Yes. You will be stuck like that for maybe six hours. At sunrise, you will spontaneously shift to full human. Then, you will be able to shift any or all of your body anywhere between the extremes."

He pulled off his clothes and shifted to his teen form again. He grew a tail and his ears changed shape and moved up higher on his head until he looked like some kind of dog person out of furry fandom. He grew taller when his feet lengthened and he stood on his toes in a digitigrade stance. Hair sprouted on his body. His face grew a muzzle. His posture changed as he went from being a furry human to being a black bipedal wolf. Finally, he shifted to full wolf form.

He shifted back and pulled his clothes back on. "You didn't see it, but I kept my eyes human the whole time in order to retain my color vision. You can do the same thing, and even keep your color vision with slit pupils. And I also caught a slight whiff of cat when I was fully wolf, so I'm guessing that you will be able to take on cat features, or even be comfortable as a pure cat."

"Meow!" I said. "I'm soooo going out as an anime kitty girl this Halloween."

He shook his finger at me. "Behave yourself, young lady!"

"I might not look like it for much longer, but I'm still older than you are!"

"Wanna bet? We weres live for a long time, you know. We don't die of old age, and we're hard to kill." Then he snickered. "You heard about those lumberjacks that chased the dogman and poked at him with a stick? They were so annoying! I had to snap at them to get them to leave me alone."

I gaped at him. "But that was in..."

"1887. Yes, I know."

I thought about it for a second.

"I'm going to outlive everyone that I know."

"You have already outlived most of the people that were at your first birthday party. If we hadn't found you, you would have a funeral in a decade or three, and it's unlikely that there would be anyone there that was at your first birthday party."

I thought about that again.

"Instead, I'll be attending the funerals of my children. And my grandchildren. And my nieces and nephews."

"Maybe not," he replied. The norms have been working diligently on lengthening their lives. Meanwhile, we need to see if you have any relatives that are were. Do you know anyone that's depressed?"

My face fell. "My little sister. She killed herself a few months shy of her thirtieth birthday. I kept trying to convince her that things would get better, but she couldn't see it."

He shook his head. "That happens all too often."

"She saw that her dreams weren't coming true, and she felt that it was all downhill -- that if she hadn't gotten a good start by then, that there was nothing but another four or five decades of sadness and misery."

"And yet, you didn't fall into that trap."

I nodded. "I guess I'm an optimist -- a strange thing for someone who suffers from clinical depression. I figured that technology was getting better and better. When I saw a lot of my dreams passing me by, I reminded myself that there might be another chance. And I really enjoy the way that technology is advancing. And even if worse comes to worst, Heaven is waiting."

"But you lived with depression, just gritting your teeth and believing that things would get better."

I nodded.

"How do you feel now?" he asked. "Emotionally, I mean."

I thought for a few seconds, then smiled. "Happy! I feel happy! And it's not just because I've got a new lease on life. It's like a weight has been lifted from me -- a weight that I have always felt and just accepted as a normal part of life."

I grinned broadly as the realization came to me that a burden that had crushed me throughout life had been lifted.

"Yes! We have to check out my relatives! How can we do that?"

"The same way we found you," he grinned. "After you have changed, and can stay in your old form for a few hours at a time, you need to visit as many of your relatives as you can, so you can sniff out the weres."

"We have a family reunion in a couple of months -- the descendants of my grandparents."

"That'll make things easier. But we can discuss that later."

Jim pulled a tiny leather pouch from his pocket. He loosened the drawstring and spread the opening. It opened a whole lot wider than it ought to have been able to.

He started throwing the contents of his pockets into it. It should by no means have been able to hold even his wallet.

"It's a bag of holding," he said. "My bride made it for me when we were first dating. You'll be able to make dimensional pockets and the like, too."

I smiled. Apparently, there were some advantages to being a were fox, or North American Kitsune, as some call us.

Us. I like the sound of that.

He threw his shoes and socks into the bag. Then he stripped and put the rest of his clothes into the bag. He shifted to his bipedal wolf form -- his three quarter form, as he called it.

He pulled a strap out of the bag, pulled the bag shut so that it was smaller than the little pouches that gamers use to hold their dice, attached it to the band, and put it on his left wrist like a wristwatch.

"My cell phone won't work when it's in the dimensional pocket, but my wife knows to call you if she needs to talk to me."

-----

Never in a million years did I think that I would be chatting and casually strolling through my back forty with the Michigan Dogman.

As usual, I was 'fully dressed.' That is, I had my hand cannon in its holster. Similarly, my camera was easily available. I also had a small pack that I keep loaded with useful items -- an emergency survival kit, essentially. I don't expect to get lost in my own back yard, but it's better to keep emergency supplies handy at all times than it is to constantly try to figure out whether or not they might be necessary this time. The pack goes where I go.

As we walked through the woods, I noticed that I could smell the individual plants, fungi, and animals. Also, all of the life seemed to have a kind of aura. When I blinked, the auras remained. I closed my eyes and found that I could get through the forest just fine. I was seeing the auras, but not with my eyes. But then I stumbled over a rock. Jim chuckled as I cursed.

I could also see some burned areas at the old fence line. They looked like staples and nails inside the trees, and barbed wire on or under the ground, and inside the trees -- blackened areas that almost glowed with darkness. I kinda wanted to squint because it looked vaguely unnerving.

"What you're seeing is iron," Jim said. "We aren't true weres. We're more like the fey. Our ancestors were given fey and were characteristics years ago. It is said that a fey and a were fell in love and married."

"Does that mean that I have to avoid cold iron from now on? How about silver?"

"Not us. Our mixed nature means that we are immune to both. Also, since we are the fair folk, we don't have body hair in our human base forms."

I saw movement deep in the woods -- not with my eyes, but with my new senses.

It's interesting that I can see through everything. It's kinda like everything is transparent, but not really. The auras in front don't block my vision of the auras behind them, but the total effect is confusing -- kinda like if you have several pictures projected on the same screen.

But this image was easy to pick out. The bounding fox stood out clearly from the abundant plant life, the insects and other creepie-crawlies, the birds, and the small animals on the forest floor.

Also, for some reason, I felt a strong kinship with the animal. I was going to ask Jim about it when the fox bounded into the open and came at me in a dead run. I automatically caught it when it leapt at me. Her. She leapt into my arms. I don't know how I knew, but my new friend was a vixen.

Then, I was cuddling this fox, running my hands down her furry body, luxuriating in her soft fluffy tail -- much the same way that I cuddle my cats. She rubbed her face on mine.

I had never had a chance to pet a real fox before. Jim just stood there and smiled at the look of wonder on my face. "Say hello to your new sister," he said.

She hopped out of my arms and shifted. Standing in front of me was a furry anthro fox. Fully fox with a bipedal form. Three-quarter form, as Jim calls it. Somehow, I still recognized her as Jim's daughter Cindy.

Jim reached into his bag of holding, pulled out a long t-shirt, and tossed it to her. "De-nekkidize yourself, girl!" he said with a smirk.

"But daaaaaaad! We're all weres here," she whined.

"John isn't used to casual nudity yet. Wait until he has gone foxy for the first time before flashing him. Her."

She stuck her tongue out at him and pulled the shirt over her head. I pretend to not be affected by how cute she looked.

She gave me a hug. "This is just, so kewwwl! Now I got a little sister that I can dress up and teach how to put on makeup and flirt with the boys..."

"Hold it right there, Missy!" I said as I ruffled her hair. "First of all, I'm too much of a grumpy old fart to be anyone's little sister. I got underwear older than you. And second, I'm a lesbian. The boys will have to concentrate on gaining your favor." I gave her a hug. "But I'll be happy to take girly lessons from you, sensei." I gave her an elaborate bow.

Jim chuckled. "I can see that you two are going to get along just fine. And heaven help the world!"

Cindy gave him a look of wide-eyed innocence and batted her eyes. "Whatever do you mean? The world is lucky to have two foxy chicks such as us."

I tried batting my eyes, too, but it didn't have quite the same effect.

Jim groaned and rolled his eyes. "Heaven help me! Two of them!

"Oh, Daddy! You'll be more than happy to have us wrap you around our little fingers!"

My cell phone rang. The Caller ID read "Linda Lupo."

"Knock, knock," she said when I answered it. "I'm pulling into your driveway. Where do you want me to meet you?"

"We're about a quarter mile south of you and heading back. You can wait for us in the house if you want."

"Make me a sandwich," Jim yelled to the phone.

Linda ignored him. "Would you like me to make some coffee or something?"

"Sure," I said. "The beans are in the freezer, and the filters are in the breadbox. Use six scoops."

As we were walking back, I again saw a vixen coming at a dead run. She jumped into my arms, gave me some fox cuddles, then jumped over to Jim. After giving him some cuddles that obviously spoke of a deep love, she jumped down and shifted to her three quarter form. Jim handed her a long t-shirt without speaking.

"Two beautiful vixens! What am I going to do when there are three?"

"Make us each a sandwich, then bask in our beauty," Linda said with a smirk.

We got back to the house just as the coffee finished gurgling through the artificial geyser that makes the modern coffee makers work.

I poured everyone a cup and put the rest into the dewar carafe. I use a dewar instead of cooking it to death on the coffee maker. I like double strength coffee, but I see no need to burn it.

Cindy took a sip and made a face.

"If you can stand a spoon in it, it's good coffee. If the spoon dissolves, it's great coffee," I remarked.

"C'mon, Cindy, it'll put hair on your chest," Jim said.

"I prefer having fur on my chest," Cindy replied with a smirk.

"I used to have hair on my chest," I commented. "Until someone bit me."

"Are you complaining?" Linda asked.

"You'll have a fuzzy chest soon enough," Cindy added.

While we were bantering, I put some raw sugar and cocoa powder into a double size coffee mug. I stirred them around so that the cocoa powder wouldn't clump, filled the cup half full of milk, added vanilla, and nuked it. I poured the rest of Cindy's coffee in it and handed it to her. "Here ya go, little sis. I used to make this for my kids when they were too little to handle real coffee."

She stuck her tongue out at me and took a sip of her mocha.

Linda went through a large folder that she had left on the table. "First things first: What do you want your new name to be?"

"Victoria Catalina. Call me Vicky," I said.

Linda rolled her eyes. "Oh, that's original."

I smirked. "It's not like the muggles are going to figure it out just based on my name."

"No, but the other weres might figure out that you're a sex change based on the fact that you chose your own name."

I shrugged.

She dutifully filled "Victoria Catalina Lupo" into the appropriate space, went through the rest of the information with me, stuffed the paperwork into an envelope, and sealed it up. Then, she gave me a hug. "Welcome to the family, Vicky!"

This story was originally conceived to be a stand alone tale, but it fit Dorothy's M.Y.T.H. universe without too much modification. It starts about a year before Help! My girlfriend is a Unicorn!

My life changed when I was taking my evening hike through the back forty. I just didn't realize it at the time.

From the previous chapter: She dutifully filled "Victoria Catalina Lupo" into the appropriate space, went through the rest of the information with me, stuffed the paperwork into an envelope, and sealed it up. Then, she gave me a hug. "Welcome to the family, Vicky!"

Linda, I mean Mom, had baked and decorated a "Welcome to the Family" cake. Once I gave her my new name, she put it on the cake. We took some pictures and had a private family party. Then, as an afterthought, they asked me for a name for my current teen male form.

They sure know how to make a guy... or girl feel welcome.

After the party, Mom asked if there was a bit of blank wall where she could install a hidden dimensional tunnel -- a 'foxhole,' as she called it.

We ended up making the classic sliding bookcase secret passage. We did it on the wall between the library and the living room. Nobody would think to look behind the bookcase for a secret passage because it's easy to see that the living room was directly on the other side of the wall.

On the other side of the dimensional tunnel is their home. Their real home, not the little house that they own and use to hide their own dimensional tunnel and to host guests who aren't in the know.

Their home? I mean our home.

That sounds nice.

Cindy took me by the hand and led me through the freshly opened foxhole into our home. As soon as I passed the doorway, I felt energized -- not like after the coffee kicked in, or even after I had been cured of my depression. It felt... Well, it's difficult to explain. It felt like I had the power; the potential to do... something.

It must have shown in my face. "You're feeling the manna -- the magical potential of our home," Cindy told me. "Magic has been declining for years, but we can saturate our dimensional folds with manna if we like," explained Cindy.

"And we like," said Mom.

Once I got used to magic and entered the home proper, the first impression that I had was that we had just entered an arboretum. Or a greenhouse. Or one of those tropical resorts where the furniture is half hidden among the greenery.

The furniture was arranged in conversation groups, some work and craft tables, a few computer nooks, and even a small grouping of chairs in front of a video screen.

While the place didn't look enclosed, there were stone and wood walls separating the areas.

Some areas were brightly lit, while others were shaded by the trees. There was a stream that came in perhaps thirty feet above the rock floor, ran for a while, then tumbled down a waterfall into a deeply shaded pool lit from underneath by colored lights.

Passing through a stone arch, I went from a brightly lit area to a night area with stars in the sky.

There were doors and arches in the walls, in the trunks of large trees, and even behind the waterfall. Both sides of the waterfall.

Cindy led me through some of them -- to gardens, open fields, ponds full of fish and water plants, fresh and salt water beaches, tall trees with treehouses, firing ranges, workout and training areas, meeting rooms, work and craft rooms, kitchens and canning rooms, and bedrooms.

Our home was really confusing until I got used to the idea that a door or arch can lead elsewhere. Two arches next to each other can lead to entirely different vistas. Huge vistas. Looking through an arch, you forget that there can be something right behind the wall. It's no wonder that there are stories of people getting badly lost in the realms of the fey.

Cindy smirked and led me to a spacious bedroom with a huge canopied bed suitable for a princess. The bed was covered with stuffed animals, with plenty of foxes and kitties featured. The room was decorated with rainbows, unicorns, fairies, pixies, and various ordinary and fantasy creatures. There was a huge bath with gently flowing warm water, a constantly running shower, a vanity, mounted blowers suitable for drying furred people, a snack bar, and a huge closet.

"This must be your bedroom," I said. "Unicorns and rainbows? Seriously?"

"Nope," she smirked. "It's your bedroom. I designed it just for you. You can change it, but then I'll pout and have a bad attitude."

I looked at the glint in her eyes and sighed. "I wouldn't even consider displeasing my little sister."

In a real sense, we have merged our homes and properties. It's as if two families with adjacent property tore down the fence in between and merged the properties.

We decided that I would sleep in my old room until I got my foxy form. That would also become my birthday. I was born in the summer of my fourteenth year. Or seventy-fourth year. Or something like that.

I have totally fallen in love with my new family. It's not any kind of mind control. It has to do with our shared were/fey heritage. And I am secure in the knowledge that they love me every bit as much.

After they left, I fired up my computer. I loaded the software that lets me get on the magic users' very secure dark web site. It's on a bootable DVD and is a modified version of Tails Linux, a security focused distro that's designed for private and anonymous browsing. I had to enter a long password just to get it to unpack itself from its encrypted file.

After testing it out, I rebooted the computer to Linux Mint, my favorite flavor of Linux.

I pulled up Oracle VirtualBox and created a virtual machine within an encrypted folder, which was within another encrypted folder. That allowed me to stash the original disk inside my gun safe, down with a lot of other discs that I would rather not have laying about.

After doing a bit of browsing, I saved the machine state, shut down virtualbox, and closed the encrypted folders. I defy even the NSA to crack that.

I pulled up Tomboy Notes so that I could continue working on the space opera that I was writing. I have a soft spot for the old stories, but I like to take modern technology into account while keeping the flavor of the old classics. The ace space explorer pilot, David Stalton, doesn't use a slide rule to plot his courses. He uses a computer, as a modern reader would expect. When he's out there among the stars, he's not as lonely as his predecessors because he stays active on email and social media through his FTL modem. He even does the occasional video chat.

I found a good place to stop and went to the top of the note. I pressed page down ten times, and didn't reach the bottom. Good. I try to post updates that are ten pages long, or maybe a bit longer.

It took perhaps another hour to give it a final proof read, copy and paste it into the browser, and post it.

Then, I was tempted to look at the comments section every couple of minutes because I'm an unabashed comment whore. Gimme some love, oh loyal readers!

I mused about my new life. With my shape shifting abilities, I'll be able to keep my old identity for at least a two or three more decades. Longer, if medical science advances the way that I think it will. And I sincerely hope that it does -- not for my sake, but so that my original family will be around as long as my new family.

Then I remembered the things that I will need to do to keep my old hobbies. I googled and found the PADI open water diver manual. Free download! Yay! That gave me something to study before taking the course once I get my new body and identity.

Then I wondered if I would really need to bother. I made a mental note to ask Mom about shapeshifting into a fully function mermaid. Then, I created a new 'to do' note in Tomboy Notes. I expected to have a long list before too long.

My kitsune nature started to assert itself. A mischievous grin appeared on my face. I could just see myself and my equally mischievous sister swimming around a scuba tour group -- maybe staying barely in sight, or maybe sneaking up and tapping someone on the shoulder or tugging a fin.

With a slight smile on my face, I turned back to my computer and pulled up the terminal. I may or may not get a diving certification for my new identity, but I definitely want to get a ham license. I should be able to pass all three tests cold, but there's no sense taking chances. I typed "sudo apt-get install hamexam." After I entered my password, the aptitude program downloaded and installed the software. All possible questions for all three exams were downloaded.

I went through the exams. As I expected, I had no problem with the technician and general tests. Easy peasy. The Amateur Extra class test had a few surprises, though -- some operating modes that I hadn't heard of. This could be fun. I was confident that I would pass the test, but I wanted to know it all.

I had always wanted to be a pilot. I never had the time and resources at the same time, but that was soon to change. I downloaded a few ground school books in PDF form.

But then, would I want to pilot an aircraft when I could fly? Well, being able to walk never kept me from wanting to drive.

It was time for bed. I took a quick shower, ate another slice of cake, and headed for the bedroom.

There, sitting on my pillow, was a fox plushie that bore a striking resemblance to Cindy's fox form. So that's what she was smirking about when she came back after having chased a cat in her fox form.

I sat in bed reading the Hero and Monster Manual -- a rule book from a somewhat obscure table top role playing game. It contains a lot of accurate information about the various magical creatures that populate the world. It contains even more bullshit. It's up to the reader figure out which is which. It isn't hard, once you know a few basic bits of information.

The North American Kitsune is remarkably similar the Japanese Kitsune. Once I transform fully, I will be able to fly, create fire, create dimensional pockets where time can go slower or faster, create illusions, shape shift, and do some conventional magic.

I never thought that I would seriously use the term 'conventional magic.'

I decided to read a little light fiction on my tablet before nodding off. I grabbed the tablet from my bedside table. I kept the USB cable attached because the battery lasts longer if you aren't constantly discharging it. A battery is only good for so many cycles, so I keep it to a minimum.

After reading a couple chapters, I put the tablet down. Then, I picked it back up and checked for comments on the story I had posted earlier. Somewhat satisfied, I yawned and pulled the covers over my shoulders. I used to have to use a CPAP because of my sleep apnea, but no more.

No more glasses. No more CPAP. No more crowns, fillings, or bridges. No more meds. No more dieting. No more routine aches and pains. No more groaning every time I get up.

But still plenty of cats that want to sleep around and on top of me.

And the Cindy plushie.

Just two days ago, I would have felt silly cuddling a plushie as I crawled into bed.

But then was then and now is now. Now, I am heading toward my destiny as a cute foxy were girl. I plan on embracing that future, so I might as well embrace the gift from my little sister.

I woke next morning to the smell of coffee brewing. I looked at the clock. I had only slept for four hours, but I felt plenty rested. More rested than I had in years. Decades, even.

I'll never get tired of this.

I took a quick shower, reveling in my new healthy body. I felt the water hit and run down my hairless body -- something that I haven't experienced since before puberty.

My skin didn't feel greasy, but neither did it feel dry. It was sensitive, but not painfully so. My hair was silky, even before I entered the shower. It was a nice change from the greasy feel that it used to have just a few hours after being washed.

I grabbed the pumice stone to scrub the excess callus from my feet. Then I remembered that I no longer had excess callus and put it down.

I noted that there were no changes since yesterday. I looked like a kid of fifteen or sixteen, but I could probably pass for eighteen or even twenty if I tried. After all, I had the life experience of an older person.

I threw on a pair of shorts and went to the kitchen. I didn't remember setting the timer on my coffee maker, but my nose doesn't lie.

When I got to the kitchen and saw my new family, in their three quarter forms, in their fur, sitting around the table and sipping away. I must be getting used to being a were, because their lack of clothing didn't bother me at all.

Cindy handed me a big mug of coffee and gave me a furry hug.

"Thanks for the coffee, little sis!" I took a sip. "Mmmmmm... Just like I like it!"

"Like what?" Cindy asked.

"I like my coffee like I like my women."

"Hot and sweet?" she asked innocently.

"Strong, hot, bitter, and creamy smooth," I answered.

"That's not me," she said, sticking her tongue out at me.

"That's OK," I said, returning the gesture. "I like my little sisters like I like my pastries; sweet, nutty, and flaky."

Well, you got what you wanted, then," said Dad.

"Daaaaaad!" Cindy said.

I chuckled, put my coffee on the table, touched the tip of my index finger to my tongue, and mimed touching it to the scoreboard. "One point."

Cindy hopped up and tackled me to the ground. I struggled to escape, but her furry form was way too strong. She wasn't heavy, but I could get no leverage. She kissed me on the forehead and hopped up.

"One point for me, little sister," she smirked, mimicking the gesture I had made.

"Just you wait," I said, shaking my finger at her. "I'll swamp you with my big fluffy tail, once I get a big fluffy tail."

"Like this?" She whacked me across the chest with her tail. "Or this?" She floofed my face with the tip of her tail.

"Something like that," I said, tickling her in the ribs.

Soft, furry ribs.

I can't wait to get my fur.

She tackled me again, sat on my chest, and proceeded to tickle me.

"No fair!" I said, screeching. "Help! Help!"

I felt a hand grab each ankle. Mom and Dad then tickled my feet until I was gasping for air.

"No fair!"

"Were culture lesson number one," said Cindy, "Weres are touchy-feely."

"And ticklish," I said, once I caught my breath.

"That's part of being sensuous," said Mom. "We weres are in touch with our inner animal.

Cindy helped me up. I immediately plopped into my favorite easy chair. It pretty much swallowed me up. It musta gotten bigger. Huh.

Snowball, my big poofy white cat, hopped up onto my lap. I picked her up and hugged her. "Sweetie kitty," I cooed, scritching her under the chin and around the ears.

Sabrina, my long haired black kitty, gave Snowball a jealous glare. She hopped up and demanded her share of the attention. Actually, she tried to push Snowball out of the way so that she could get all of the attention for herself.

I picked them both up and cuddled them, one in each arm. Snowball was completely content with this, but Sabrina is more of a 'pet me in place' kind of a cat. Most people get the strong paw when they try to pick her up, but she is more tolerant of me cuddling her.

Maybe it's because of my extreme animal magnetism. Or maybe it's because I have so many cats, and she has to put up with me cuddling her if she wants the amount of attention that she feels that she obviously deserves.

I set them back down. After some tussling, they came to an accommodation and shared my lap.

Suddenly, a fluffy red fox that outweighed the two of them together squeezed between me and the kitties and made herself comfortable in my lap. The cats looked annoyed and disgruntled, but didn't try to do anything about it.

I picked Cindy up and floofed her fur and cuddled her just like I did the cats. Then I gave her scritchies along her spine, which made her shiver -- just like the cats.

I think that if she had been part cat, she would have started purring.

"I think it's about time to tell you about the birds and the bees, were style," said Mom.

I said, "When a mommy were and a daddy were love each other very much, they kiss in a very special way..."

"And then they fuck like weasels," Cindy interrupted.

It was kinda weird hearing a fox speak.

Dad rolled his eyes. "Handle your daughter, Linda."

Mom smirked. "What about your daughter?"

"Oh, my daughter's an angel," Dad said.

"Anyhow, before I was so rudely interrupted..." Mom continued.

Cindy stuck her foxy tongue out at her.

"Ahem!"

Cindy snickered.

Mom sighed. "Anyhow, the various myths and fictional works have things partially right. Weres and the Fey do tend to form long term relationships, but they aren't exclusive. Tolkien's descriptions of the elves were filtered through a Victorian attitude, I guess."

"You mean you guys will be bringing guests over on occasions? Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice?"

"Not quite so crude," Dad commented. "While pickup sex and friends with benefits are quite common, there are also long lasting and committed relationships that contain three or four or more partners."

Mom continued, "With essentially unlimited lives, it would be easy to get bored or feel trapped. With the freedom to love a variety of people, and with no necessity to reject one person in order to accept another, the people who are truly compatible stay together through thick and thin, while those who are best off as casual friends, maybe with benefits, have the ability to get to know themselves and each other."

"But kids are only born to long term committed couples," added Dad. "The only way to describe how it works is 'magic,' but pregnancy is rare and only happens when a couple is committed long term, happy with each other, and not stressed. That means that the resources are available and the parents are emotionally capable of raising their child."

"So the first boy that bonks you isn't going to knock you up," Cindy said.

"Lesbian, remember?" I replied. "No boys."

She smirked. "For now, anyhow. Some of the were and fey boys look really girly. You can't tell without undressing them. Not that they generally wear clothes when there are no norms around."

"TMI! TMI!"

Cindy giggled. "Don't be such a prude, little sister! You'll be flouncing around in your altogether soon enough."

I turned red, but didn't say anything.

"And when you're a shape shifter, you can be one sex or the other, or neither or both.

Dad got into the act. "Wasn't there some Norse god who shape shifted into a mare and got preggars?"

Mom added, "Zeus did the nasty as a swan, if I recall correctly."

Cindy was relentless. "Remember, you're a furry now. Yiffing is part of the deal."

The next morning, I was the first one up.

I did my usual morning routine. I put the coffee on to brew, checked on the chickens, gathered the eggs, did all my shower stuff, sipped coffee, and cooked some sausage and eggs. In the spirit of being a newly minted were, I didn't bother with clothes.

My ex had disliked my habit of running around the house in the raw. She convinced me to do it less, but I guess it's time to get back into the habit.

After I ate, I went through the foxhole, to the pool under the waterfall, and dove in.

I don't generally open my eyes underwater, but I decided that it couldn't harm me this time. I was surprised to find that I could see perfectly. I was also surprised to find that I could swim quite well. I couldn't go as fast as I could with flippers, but I could definitely move well -- probably better than an olympic swimmer.

I swam around, examining the rock formations, water plants, fish, and even coral.

Fresh water coral? Must be magic. heh.

Actually, the vaguely tropical looking life, colorful rocks, colored glowing crystals, and glowing fish and crustaceans made the swim absolutely magical.

I had been swimming around for half an hour before I realized that I had been holding my breath the whole time -- never feeling the urge to breathe.

I was about to head for the surface so that I could grab my flippers and do some speed runs when a mermaid splashed in above me.

A mermaid? A mermaid! I guess that answers my earlier question about shape shifting to a mermaid. So much fun ahead!

Cindy swam up parallel to me and wrapped me in a wet hug. I hugged her back. She took off like a rocket, making it hard for me to hold on.

She took us to the bottom, swam to the top, and porpoised. I couldn't believe how high and far we flew. It was better than any ride at Cedar Point.

We porpoised a couple more times, then stayed up in the air.

Cindy shifted to her three quarters form, somehow also drying the both of us off.

That's right! Kitsunes can fly! I can't wait for the full moon.

Once we landed, Mom handed me all of my Vicky paparwork. Everything that didn't involve a picture, anyhow.

She also gave me the paperwork for my new young male form, John Charles Nicholas, nineteen years of age. She included picture IDs. And a driver's license. And even a PADI card.

I went to bed on the night of the new moon, and woke up feeling slightly different. A quick look verified that my features had softened, by eyes were bigger and less recessed, my adam's apple was gone, and my body was subtly less angular and more soft and curvy.

It took a few days for the changes to complete themselves. The secondary sex characteristics were complete before anything happened with the primary characteristics. Then, over night, I became all girl.

I gave my new equipment a test drive that morning. Actually, ever since I woke up that first morning, I have been enjoying my newfound health. The fact that I lost my... ummm... favorite appendage doesn't bother be because I knew I would be able to get it back whenever I need to empty my chalice against a tree or write my name in the snow or whatever. After the full moon, anyhow.

Mom made me put on a shirt so that she could take pictures for my school and state ID cards. The next day, the ID cards were ready.

I had been using a pair of shorts, an old t-shirt, and a pair of sandals that one of the kids outgrew to go out and do the chores.

But such rags wouldn't do for going out on the town. At least, little sis didn't want to be seen with someone wearing such rags. Also, they would leave me rather vulnerable to scratches, and I felt like wandering my property.

So I dug through the clothes that I had never gotten around to taking to the free store.

Never heard of a free store?

There are resale shops that take clothing donations and sell them cheaply, then send the profit to whatever charity they prefer. Some use volunteer labor, so they have a more money to send. Others hire people to run the stores, so there is less to pass on. Not that I have any gripe with that because the employees need to make a living, too. Rather than receiving charity, the employees earn their money.

But the resale shops have to be more picky than the free stores. The items don't have to be salable, just usable.

The free stores don't resell the donations. They give them away. No money passes hands, so all they need is a bit of volunteer labor to sort things and lay them out. Very often, that volunteer labor comes from the customers and the donors. The only real cost is the building, and there are a number of churches with enough space.

Anyhow, I dug through the clothes that I had slowly been pulling from the kids' bedrooms, washing, and putting into bags.

Socks were easy enough to find, since fit wasn't critical. The same goes for shirts, except that I needed to get loose shirts to keep my nipples from being too obvious. I also found a few pairs of cargo pants that fit reasonably well. They are like the rumpled shapeless old camouflage battle dress uniforms that the army started using in the early eighties.

I lucked out with the shoes.

A friend of one of the kids had tromped through the mud and had to take off his boots in the mud room and wash them off. We sent him home in a pair of flip-flops. His mom used that opportunity to get him a new pair.

So, we ended up with a rather raggedy pair of what looked like army boots.

Some Kiwi and a brush made them look a lot better. They are still going to go to the free store, but not right away.

So I went wandering about the property fully dressed. I had to adjust my web gear and backpack to my new frame, but everything fit well enough.

My magical aura vision was even sharper than before, as was my sense of smell. And the cold iron was somehow more annoying. I'm glad that modern steel is less annoying. It must be because of the martensite, austenite, cementite, pearlite, and other phases in modern carbon steel. Cast iron is ugly stuff. Stainless steel is detectable, but not ugly.

I hated to do it, but I ended up cleaning up all of our old cast iron cookware and packing it into boxes. To the free store it shall go.

Now I know why I haven't seen any cast iron cookware at the church.

I was walking through my woods and reveling in the feel of nature all around me when I saw a certain little fox running straight at me. She took a running jump and, in mid leap, transformed to her three quarter form.

She knocked me down and sat on my chest like a certain cartoon tiger.

"All right, Hobbes, wanna let me up?"

"Nope!"

I struggled to get up, but I couldn't get any leverage.

"What'sa matter, Calvin?" she smirked.

The next morning, I woke up under a pile of cats, as usual. But they sure felt heavier this time.

I was laying on my side in a half folded position -- pretty much the way that I always sleep. There was a particularly heavy pile of cats on my hip. But how can more than one fit there?

I reached my hand out from under the covers and petted... fox fur!

Cindy yawned. "Mmmmmmm... You're comfy."

At that point, I was awake enough to easily see her with my aura vision. I quickly grabbed her and dragged her under the covers and hugged her tightly and wiggled.

"Oh goodie! My favorite little pet foxie! If I had a foxie of my very own, I would hug her and squeeze her and I would name her George -- I mean Cindy..."

I could tell that she was about to shift, so I held her tighter. "Don't even think of changing, my little foxie pet!"

She shifted anyway, of course.

She gave me the same treatment. She wrapped her furry arms around me and squeezed -- tightly. "It's my favorite pet hu-mon!"

"Can't... breathe..." I gasped.

"Silly little sister! What do you need to breathe for?"

She was right, of course. Haven't I been swimming underwater in the enchanted pool for the past week or so?

I wrapped my arms around her furry body and squeezed. It soon devolved into a wrestling match -- one that she could win easily. Not that I minded being smothered in fur.

Cindy looked at the door and smirked. I looked and saw Mom standing there with an amused expression.

"It isn't what it looks like," I said.

"And so what if it was?" she asked. "Would that be a bad thing?"

I gave her a dumbfounded look.

She chuckled. "Lesson two about the weres and the birds and the bees."

Cindy maintained her escape proof grip on me.

"All of the human taboos came from the fact that controlling sex is the only to control fertility. The charitable say that the taboos are an attempt to make sure that all children born are wanted and cared for. Less charitable people will point at the male-dominated society and the males' wish to ensure that any children born are theirs, and not those of a rival."

"What about incest and pedophilia?" I asked.

"The same, essentially," Mom answered. "Incest can result in damaged offspring, and its prohibition is largely instinctive. There is a natural aversion, as evidenced by the fact that unrelated children who were raised together and destined to an arranged marriage generally don't do as well as conventional arranged marriages."

"Pedophilia?"

"Lots of factors. An aversion to harming children. A desire to keep girls virgin to make them more desirable to their future husbands -- whether arranged or not."

"And what about weres?" I asked.

"With weres and the fey, the age of consent is whenever the person is ready, and the parents agree. Even in human society, twelve was a common marriage date until a couple of centuries ago. And even now, there are some states that allow marriage as early as twelve."

"Yeah, Mom, You remember when it was like that!" Cindy smirked.

Mom shook her finger at her. "Mind your manners, sprout!"

"Marriage age was twelve in Rome, and among the ancient Jews, right?" Cindy said.

"So I am told," Mom said, sticking her tongue out at Cindy.

"I hear that if you get divorced in West Virginia, you are still brother and sister," Cindy quipped.

Mom shook her head. "Even there, first cousin is as close as you can go."

"One big family! Really!" I couldn't resist chiming in.

"Fortunately, Cindy is your adopted sister," Mom said. "She isn't a virgin, by the way."

"But we're not doing anything!" I protested. "My meanie meanie furry little sister is beating me up!

Cindy gripped tighter and squeezed the breath out of me. Again.

Mom rolled her eyes. "I'll just leave you two to work it out."

"Help! Don't leave me alone with this meanie meanie bobeenie!"

This story was originally conceived to be a stand alone tale, but it fit Dorothy's M.Y.T.H. universe without too much modification. It starts about a year before Help! My girlfriend is a Unicorn!

From the previous chapter: Cindy gripped tighter and squeezed the breath out of me. Again.

Mom rolled her eyes. "I'll just leave you two to work it out."

"Help! Don't leave me alone with this meanie meanie bobeenie!"

Cindy released her tight hold and backed up enough to look me in the eyes. For the first time since I started this adventure, she looked vulnerable.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked.

"For being so mean. For coming to you before you were ready. For... I dunno... confusing you? I saw you sleeping there and you were just so darn cute! I couldn't resist curling up on top of you."

I wrapped her in a tight hug. "Oh, sweetie. You didn't do anything wrong." Tears leaked from my eyes. "I have never felt happier and full of life. I love you and Mom and Dad so much! I love my new life and my new body. I love the way that you all have welcomed me into your family and home. I love the way we tease each other. I even love it when you call me 'little sister.'"

There was a look of profound relief on her face. "Mom and Dad warned me that you wouldn't be ready to fully embrace the freedom that comes from being were and fey. Some changelings never do."

"Yeah, I went from grumpy old fart to jailbait in less than two weeks. To me, you are so adorably cute in all of your forms. But it's hard to see you as anything but jailbait -- cute and sexy, but off limits. It took all I had to playfully goof around... to... I dunno... There's a part inside that's afraid of looking like a dirty old pervert."

"Compared to Mom and Dad, you are barely out of the cradle."

"You, even more so," I replied.

"How young were your kids when you started taking them out in a canoe, riding the quads, hiking, fishing, hunting, and all that other fun stuff?"

I sighed. "Yeah, I know what you're saying. Sex has about the same significance as any other recreation. It's us humans that have messed up something that is perfectly natural."

"'Them humans,' not 'Us humans.'"

"I'm still getting used to that, too. Have I really lost my humanity?"

"Not in any way that you don't want to," she replied. "Humans, fey, all kinds of weres, unicorns, mermaids, naga, witches, dragons... We're all people. You have gained some important abilities, but you haven't lost a thing."

"Aside from a certain appendage," I snerked.

"You'll be able to get it back any time you like. But you won't have it getting pinched in your tight shorts anymore."

I chuckled. "How would you know about that?"

"I have been told. And I tried it, just to see if they were exaggerating about how annoying it can be."

"Were they?"

"Were they what?"

"Were they exaggerating?"

"No! Not even a little bit. I don't know how you guys can stand it."

"Well, I figured that it was easier to tolerate than bleeding every month."

She scowled in disgust. "I'm sure that's even worse. Sometimes, in my prayers, I thank God that we were don't have to put up with that shit."

"What about sweaty boobs? I'm not looking forward to that."

"We don't sweat unless we want to. And a little bit of shifting takes care of most annoyances."

"Any more little details that I might want to know?"

"I'll tell you about them when I think of them." she said loftily. "But one thing you can look forward to is that shifting puts you into a fresh body. Everything that you don't want, both inside and out, will be gone. You'll never need to poop or pee again. You can even make some changes inside yourself so that you don't even have to shift to get rid of it. It'll never get made. It'll all go back into the ether."

While we were talking, she had curled up next to me, and I curled around her. Fuzzy foxy! I was stroking her fur and scritching her ears.

She turned to me. "You seem more relaxed and comfortable."

"I'm no longer worried about being inappropriate, or pushing the boundaries, or being seen as a dirty old man."

She snickered. "Pushing the boundaries? Not even close!" Then she got just a bit more serious. "Does that mean that you might, uh, make a little more use of your new-found freedom?"

"Is that an invitation? I didn't know that you were a lesbian."

"Like most fox fey, and a lot of other were fey, I am bi. You will probably get there, too."

I had to admit that I wasn't particularly worried one way or the other. I like curves and breasts and smooth skin. I'm not fond of hairy bodies. Fur, on the other hand...

She looked at me. "Well? You didn't answer."

I shrugged. "I'm not ready yet. But you can ask on occasion if you like. Just don't take it personally that I still have some old fuddy duddy in me."

She snerked and gave me a tight wiggly hug. "That's OK grandpa little sister!"

I ruffled her hair.

She suddenly jumped up. "Oh! We need to get showered and dressed! Or, you need to get showered and we need to get dressed. You need to show the farm sitter around."

"Farm sitter? I'm not planning on going anywhere."

"Oh, we didn't tell you yet. We are all going camping. Jimmy Jenson is watching everything. He's a fey nature mage. I think you'll like him because he's a nerd, too."

"Jimmy... Is that Mark and Donna's son? Is he old enough to watch the farm by himself?"

"He's kinda like you," Cindy said. "Teen on the outside, grumpy old fart on the inside."

"Well, the guest room is ready. I'll just have to make sure that the larder has enough food that he likes."

Cindy shook her head. "Don't worry about it. He'll be sleeping in his own room and coming here through the foxhole from his home to ours."

I jumped up and headed into the shower. Ten minutes later, I came back. I rummaged through my closet for my cargo pants and stuff.

"You can't wear that stuff! We Lupo dress nicely, even when we dress trashy."

"Like, when we aren't wandering around in our altogether?"

She smirked. "Just stand there for a second." She shifted to her teen human form. "Don't look all shocked. It's just us weres here. And it's just us girls here."

That got a smile from me.

She grew a little taller. Her body changed to match mine. The size did, anyhow. Then, a pair of thigh-high boots appeared on her.

My surprise must have shown. "I though you did your reading. If we can make hair and fingernails appear and disappear, why not other nonliving organic substances?"

"I thought it took years of practice to be that good at it."

"It does," she said. "Now twirl around."

I twirled around, then did some jumping jacks just to be a smartass.

She adjusted her size minutely.

"Hmmm... Not showing enough leg." The boots shrunk so that they came up to a little below her knees. A mini skirt appeared, then a halter top that tied at the bottom showed off her breasts to good effect without making it too obvious that she wasn't wearing a bra. She did a twirl before the mirror, nodded, and took it all off.

"There ya go, little sis. Get dressed!"

"Ummm... Underwear?"

She snorted. "You don't need those. It's just us weres and fey, remember? And even if there are normies about, just don't bend over and reveal yourself. Unless you want to."

I sighed, then started getting dressed.

"Oh! Remember when I told you that I'll give you the information when I think of it?"

"Yeah. That was just a few minutes ago."

"Well I thought of something. I'm not a teen-ager. Not really."

She put her hands on her hips. "Don't give me that look! You know that we can look any age we like.

"I remember when you were first christened at church. I watched you grow up."

"Now, you're a genius nerd and stuff. It shouldn't be too hard for you to figure it out."

"Oh! You must have spent a lot of time in a pocket universe with the time running fast."

"Got it in one! See? I knew you were smarter than you look!"

"Hey! I iz rocket scientist. I make things go boom boom."

Cindy snickered.

I went over and picked up my web gear and stuff. "This is going to look really funny with my mini skirt."

"You don't need that stuff. Your body is a lot sturdier than before."

"I always carry it. And I'm allowed to be eccentric. That's one of the privileges of age. And being a were, or fey, or whatever."

"OK. Just plop it on your bed and I'll take care of it while you make me some coffee, pancakes, sausage, and eggs."

"Who said that I was going to make that for breakfast?"

"I did, little sister. Not hop to it! And let big sis take care of your eccentric little toys."

I turned to her and bowed low. "Yes, madam sensei foxy chick!"

The eggs and sausage were in the fry pans, and I was just pouring the fresh blueberries into the batter when Cindy came down. She was wearing clothing identical to what she made for me, except she had on a belt with what looked like pockets, but were way too small to actually hold anything. She was carrying a second belt. As I was pouring the batter onto the griddle, she reached around me and attached the belt. Then she grabbed my free hand, held it over the belt, and did something. I felt the power travel from her hand, through mine, and into the belt.

"There, your very own utility belt! I just tuned it to you and made it yours. Nobody else can get into it. Don't say I never made ya nuthin!"

While the pancakes were cooking, Cindy showed me how the utility belt worked. The pockets looked way too narrow to hold anything but, like Dad's pouch of holding, the openings expanded way out and the interiors are way bigger than the exteriors.

I explored the pockets and found everything that had been on my web gear and in my backpack. Even my hand cannon. I must be the first person to ever have a fifty cal five shooter in deep conceal. Someone could strip search me without finding it, since I am the only one in the world that can open the belt. Well, Cindy can, too, with some effort.

Then she handed me a small, dainty purse. I looked in it and found kleenex, tampons, pads, lipstick, and stuff like that.

"You need the tampons and pads in case someone needs one. And also people will be less likely to notice that we don't have a period."

Then she put her hands on the hand that was holding my purse and made it mine. That's when I noticed that there were a lot of pouches inside, kinda like the hanging folders in a filing cabinet. When I opened one, I found that the opening would stretch for anything from a foot to a few yards, and the depth ranged from about two feet to several yards.

A little later, Mom and Dad came in. "Perfect timing!" I told them. "Cindy, how about setting the table while these pancakes cook? The jam and maple syrup are in the fridge."

Cindy went over and whispered something to Mom, then started setting the table. The coffee finished, so she filled up the dewar carafe and put it on the table, along with a container of half and half, some raw sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla.

I put the six pancakes on a serving plate, poured another six onto the griddle, and set the timer for four minutes. When I turned around to put the pancakes on the table, I noticed that Mom was wearing clothes identical to Cindy and me.

Dad looked at the three of us. "Methinks that my girls are up to something."

I pointed at Cindy. "Don't look at me. It's all her idea. I was just going to wear my cargo pants and a t-shirt."

Cindy stuck her tongue out to express her distaste at that idea.

After we were done eating, Mom called Jimmy Jenson. It took him all of three minutes to get here. He came out of the library foxhole.

"The cat food is here," I said as I showed him around. "Make sure that they all come in at night. I hate losing them to the coyotes."

Jim looked at Mom. Mom said, "You don't have to worry about that anymore. When we put in the foxhole, the wards were automatically extended to the house. I extended them to the rest of your property without even thinking about it."

"Wards?"

"Animals leave your stuff alone. Everything that isn't a pet has an aversion to coming into your house -- including mice and flies. Predators won't eat your animals, though they will still eat wild animals. Herbivores won't graze in your garden. Your livestock won't challenge your fences. Your animals won't leave the property. People with ill intent will find a reason to not trespass."

"Will it keep the JWs away?"

Mom chuckled. "In general, they don't have ill intent. They are just doing what they see as their duty. But if you ask them to leave, they won't come back. At least, they won't come back unless they use strength of will to overcome the aversion."

We walked through the barn and around the pens, most of which have been empty since my ex and the kids moved out.

We came to a large fenced in area. There was an outer and inner woven wire fence with strands of electric fencing held a few inches away. The inner and outer fences were separated by four feet. Chickens wandered around in that corridor, snatching up any bug that might dare to try to cross to the inner part.

The inner area was separated into four squares, with a chicken coop in the center. I led them to the coop and showed Jim where to collect the eggs and add food and water.

One of the four squares was planted with my vegetable garden. The 'chicken moat' protected that garden from bugs.

The gate between the moat and a second square was open, and contained about two dozen laying hens and two roosters. They were all free to wander the moat, their pen, and the chicken coop.

Another of the four pens had fifty little cornish rock chicks. I reminded Jim that the cornish rock chickens could only have food available for twelve hours a day or they would have heart attacks and flip over.

The last pen was full of older cornish rock chickens, almost ready for butchering. I already had an appointment with a local Amish farm that did butchering to make a little more cash.

"I keep about half a dozen breasts for myself, and send the rest of the meat to the Shepherd's table and two different food pantries. The younger birds will be ready in time for the Shepherd's Table's big Thanksgiving meal. I'll be raising another fifty in time for Christmas."

"You keep the breasts? Does that mean that you are a breast man?" snarked Cindy.

"Actually, I am a leg girl," I replied.

Cindy smirked, then posed, showing off her long, silky legs. I made sure to visibly ogle them. She giggled. Jim, on the other hand, looked a bit disappointed.

"Now that I have a family again," I said to Mom, "Should I keep back a little more meat? I can definitely raise more chicks to make up for it."

"If you want," she said, "But it isn't really necessary. We can raise whatever we want as fast as we want in a pocket universe with the time sped up."

Cindy piped up, "You're eating with us, remember? Instead of just keeping the breasts, how about keeping the whole bird for us dark meat lovers?"

"So, you're a leg girl, sis?"

"I like all of the parts," she said to me with a smirk.

It was my turn to primp and pose.

Jim looked like he felt left out.

I thought about the time accelerated weed free bug free pocket universes and smiled. "I am sooooo going to have fun with that."

"I can help," Jimmy said. "I can help you develop plants and animals that are better than you can buy."

I smiled at him. "Thanks! That sounds like fun. And maybe I can even teach my little sis how to cook."

Cindy stuck her tongue out at me.

I led them through the garden, showed him what was getting ready to harvest, and wrote down where he could send any excess.

I led them to the chicken coop and let Jim collect the eggs.

"It's a chicken sedan," Dad said.

"A chicken sedan?" I asked.

"Yeah, it has four doors. If it had two doors, it would be a chicken coupe."

We all groaned.

"Where are you going to put the garden next year?" asked Jimmy.

"It's going where the young meat birds are now. They will be butchered a little before Thanksgiving, which gives me time to throw on some mulch and let the manure age so that it doesn't burn the roots of the plants. Just before the snow really flies, I'm going to let the egg girls in for a while to scratch everything up and eat any seeds that might have come in with the mulch."

"Good system," he said with approval.

"Thanks," I replied.

Mom and I spent some time going through some of the characteristics unique to the North American Kitsune. Dad shares some of the skills due to long association, but he is a were wolf, not a were fox.

One of the skills Dad shares with us is an aura vision that is sensitive to what is inside the mind, or soul of the person.

I also found out why our church promotes the PRH, or Personality and Human Relationships method of fostering growth.

It turns out that the concepts taught in PRH are very close to what we see when we look into someone's aura -- the part of the aura that shows who they are inside.

The PRH folks like to talk about there being five components to the person, but it simplifies well to the body (which PRH doesn't really address, as it can't be changed. Or, more accurately, diet and medicine are out of PRH's purview.)

They draw a diagram like an egg. The shell is the body. Everything external interfaces through the body. Inside, like the white, is the sensibility. It is where most people live. It is the part that is sensitive to the world and feels both positive and negative emotions. Near the top is a circle they call the "I" -- the intellect. That is the part that thinks. Pure, dry, analytical.

At the bottom is what they call the "Being". I like to think of it as the soul. It is where we are connected to God. It is the real person -- the place where we are all good.

I have always thought of the sensibility as the flesh as described by the Bible. It is tossed and turned by the pains and pleasures of life. When something painful hits us, we can feel it and let it go by, but we usually shove it down. We generally learn to push our pain down as kids and continue to do so as adults. Those pockets of pain just sit there and fester and get worse, coming back at the worst times.

Sometimes, some little tiny thing will happen that we will overreact to. Really, was getting cut off in traffic that bad, or did it remind us of something that caused us such profound pain in our past that we just shoved it down? The PRH folks call that a disproportionate reaction. I call it an overreaction.

When too much pain is shoved down, the pockets of pain crowd the being and keep it from growing. Finally, we are puppets that remain angry and react harshly to everything that happens in the world

So we are all of those things. When we live in our sensibility, we are the shallow folks that just go through life trying to get what we can from it, and lashing out when things don't go our way. When we live in our "I," we analyze everything and try to do what is optimal, but don't really live -- don't really allow ourselves to feel the joy or pain of life.

I have to admit that I have lived from my "I" way more than is healthy. I did it to escape the pain. It doesn't really work, but it allows one to work around and with the pain -- to do what is right while trying to not react too much to the pain.

But does Mister Spock really live?

But is it worth it to constantly deal with the pain just to say that you are living?

We all have to make our decisions and work with what we have.

Ideally, we want to live from our being -- our soul -- our true selves. If we can't? Well, some people seek out all the pleasures that life can give, while cursing every cause of their pain. Others try to rise above it and live intellectually. Or exist intellectually.

But we all have talents deep within us that want to be expressed. We all have gifts that we need to use -- that the creator of our souls want us to use. If we can live from our being, we live a truly satisfied and satisfying life. We stand on firm ground while the storms of life lash at us with little effect.

It is something I aspired to, but only recently got a good taste of.

I lived from my being as much as I could before, but it always remained mostly out of my reach, despite my best efforts. Despite the efforts that I eventually abandoned as futile.

I love my daddy. That bite delivered me. I'm just now, finally, starting to learn how to live.

When bedtime rolled around, I took a quick shower and crawled into bed. I couldn't resist posing in front of the mirror. For the first time in my life, I liked what I saw.

I crawled into the bed and laid on my side, slipping one long, silky leg over the other. I luxuriated in feeling of being who I have always wanted to be.

I can't say that I was always this way inside. My mismatched body didn't let me feel this way. I ached to feel this way, but never really convinced myself.

Until now.

I grabbed my Cindy plushie and held it to my chest, hugging it tightly.

The cats hopped up and took their positions on and around me. I used to joke that some of them like to lay respectfully at my feet.

I stroked the cats that were in range. Some wanted petting, and others were content to stay out of my reach.

Sleep was just starting to take me when I felt a heavy critter hop up on my hip. Even with the covers over my head, I could tell that it was Cindy in her foxy form. I love having aura vision.

I quickly flung the covers back, grabbed Cindy, pulled her to my chest, and wrapped my self around her, squeezing her tight.

"I just love my fluffy cuddly little pet!"

She struggled, but I paid her no mind. "I've got you, little foxie!"

She started to shift to her three quarters form. As soon as her front legs turned into arms, she wrapped them around me. "On the contrary. It is I who have you," she said in her best Bugs Bunny voice.

I made a few token struggles, but I felt loved and secure. The fact that I could see the love in her aura made me feel even happier. And who can get upset about cuddling so much fur? I kept my arms wrapped around her as we both dropped off to sleep.

I had never been able to sleep cuddled to someone like that before. Being large made it cumbersome. Being heavy meant that we both ended up with cramped and tingly arms. I love how we both are light, yet sturdy enough that we aren't bothered by a little weight laying across our limbs.

It turns out that aura vision can act as a kind of alarm system. Even in my sleep, I felt the approach of two people. I also felt that they meant me no harm. Just the opposite, in fact.

"Those two are just too cute!" snickered my mother. Dad nodded.

I could feel them lovingly probing me. I was asleep, but I later woke up and vividly remembered everything.

"It's amazing how much her being has grown since she started her rebirth. And her sensibility is largely cleared," Mom said.

"You should have seen all the junk that was there before I bit her," Dad replied. "It's amazing that she could function at all. About half of it popped free as soon as she realized that she was a were fox."

"I'm surprised that she believed you so quickly."

"She's a smart kid," Dad smirked. "The instantly healing wounds, along with the deep feeling of release that all changelings report, convinced her. And seeing the Michigan Dogman didn't hurt."

"Her being has been growing by leaps and bounds," Mom smiled. "Far from slowing down, it sped up when she woke up as a girl. She's going to be amazing in a century. Actually, she's going to be amazing soon after her final conversion."

"I think she survived for so long by living through her 'I,'" Dad said. "Her 'I' has had to carry the load for so long that it has grown really powerful. Then, when her body was released piece by piece, all the pockets of pain related to her not being her true self vaporized. That released a lot of the related pain."

"I think the rest of the pockets of pain are going to fade away just because they aren't being fed. Though she'll be able to get rid of them faster if she does the exercises."

"Heh. Yeah, on the occasions when she has a recurring disproportionate reaction. I haven't seen any of those lately."

"They'll come eventually. She's just too gleeful right now. And she's still heavily into her 'I.'"

Mom and dad hugged. "I'm so glad she's our daughter now."

As they started to walk back to the foxhole to the main area, Mom chuckled. "You know what? I think her fey powers grew a little more than we expected. She's hearing us in her sleep. She's going to remember our conversation when she wakes up."

Dad just chuckled. "That's OK." Then he turned to me. "Sleep tight, sweet girl. We love you!"

I smiled in my sleep.

When I woke up, I remembered it all.

With my new utility belt and purse of holding, I had no trouble packing for the camping trip. Actually, I packed for a major expedition. I stopped short of packing all of my scuba equipment, since I don't need an underwater breathing apparatus. And my wetsuit and drysuit no longer fit me. And my prescription lens mask was useless to me. I just tossed my flippers in for the heck of it. Come the full moon, I'll be able to shift and therefore won't even need those.

I started boxing up stuff that I would no longer need and put them into the back of my pickup. After that, I started stacking boxes around the garage. Having a new energetic body allowed me to get stuff done that I had been putting off for years.

I played with my ham radios, but didn't use voice. I used digital modes and morse code.

I spent a lot of time learning some of the finer parts of being were from my new family. I explored my new home. I swam in the magical pool, and also in the fresh and salt bodies of water in the various pocket universes.

Mom and Dad had been building our home for centuries. It wasn't just a matter of making the pocket universes and manifesting the contents. The ecologies had to be designed, experimented with, and allowed to run at high speed for a while until they were reasonably stable. Ecologists would love to be able to run experiments like my parents have been doing for centuries.

This is set in my A New Life universe, which is set in Dot's M.Y.T.H. universe.

Wendy Jean made a comment on We Give Thanks that triggered this story, so I dedicate it to her.

This story actually occurs after the main part of Christmas Wishes Granted, but before the epilogue where they pick up the orphan kids and adopt them.

Fair warning: Suicide is attempted, but (spoiler alert) the attempt fails. And thus comes the real Christmas gift in this story.

The Christmas Eve midnight service was wonderful. I took my place in the soprano section of the choir and sang carols that I had literally known for decades. I had to pay attention to what I was doing, though. It would have been easy to slip into the baritone or tenor parts that I had learned years ago.

At the stroke of midnight, Pastor Dan placed the baby Jesus into the manger. We all wished each other a very merry Christmas, sharing hugs all around.

After the service itself was over, we all went to the fellowship hall and shared snacks and desserts.

It didn't take long before the baseline humans said their goodbyes and drove home. I remember doing that myself -- last year, in fact; though if feels like years ago.

Actually, it was years ago. At least, to me, it was years ago. Ever since I gained the ability to slow and speed time inside of a dimensional pocket, I used it to good advantage. I spent days or weeks at a time working on projects and learning new skills. If my schedule got harried, I would literally take time out to sleep for a few hours. It allowed me to have solitude when I needed it, and to come out and be around my family and other people when I wanted it. We introverts need our friends and loved ones just as much as anyone else, but we also have a deep need for solitude.

And all of the people in the know did the same thing. The church has entrances to the labyrinthine 'fey realm,' as many call it. Some, especially those with youngsters, sneaked off to take a nap or just decompress. The norms didn't notice because, to the rest of the world, they were back instantly.

But, once the last muggle left, we all repaired to the church's magical fellowship hall and closed the door for our annual three day Christmas celebration.

We partied and partied and partied some more. People went into the side rooms and rested or slept or celebrated with a lover or several. Food was plentiful. Fellowship was plentiful. Love was plentiful.

In ones and twos and families, the people trickled out.

For the brief time that the door was opened, time inside passed at its normal rate. To anyone standing outside of the room and watching, it would seem that people were walking out the door every few seconds.

Some went home via the realm, but most went out to their cars and drove home. While this was less convenient, it solved the problem of anyone wondering why so many people seemed to attend church without driving there.

We were driving home when Mom suddenly gasped. "Stop!" she said to Dad.

She burst out of the vehicle, shifted to her fox form, and ran. Our aura vision told us that nobody was watching.

Cindy and I burst out of the back doors, leaving Dad to drive the Jeep. We followed Mom to a house maybe a tenth of a mile from were we stopped and followed her inside.

We were met by the grisly sight of a man in a dress dangling from a rope, with a toppled chair underneath. His face was purple, and his tongue was hanging out.

I quickly shifted to my three quarters form and wrapped my arms around him, lifting him and taking the weight off of his neck. Mom shredded the rope with her claws, then created a dimensional pocket. I shoved him inside and Mom stopped time.

"You got her just in time," Mark Jenson said. "Her spirit was about to leave. I had to rebuild her entire body based solely on what her soul says she should be."

"It's amazing that she lived as long as she did with such a severe mismatch," Dad commented.

"Yeah, tell me about it," I said, remembering my years of desperate unhappiness.

My family wrapped me in a group hug. "You're better now, sweetie," Mom said. "And so is she."

I turned to look at the girl laying on the bed -- her bed. The bed that we built for her as soon as Mark had healed her and we all got a good read on who she truly was inside.

On the princess style canopy bed lay a little girl in a diaphanous nightgown. With her candyfloss blond hair, we could just imagine the bright blue eyes that were behind her peacefully closed eyelids. And, indeed, Mark assured us that her eyes would be a bright and inquisitive blue.

Mark put his hand on her and carefully examined her one last time before leaving.

Cindy and I took turns shifting into a copy of her and manifesting clothes for her closet. We made everything from shorts sets for rough and tumble play to lacey and ribbony lolita style dresses to sun dresses to mini skirts. We also made plenty of princess clothing, anticipating her squeals of joy when she found herself living a dream that she could only have imagined in the past.

Cindy and I could feel her easing her way to consciousness.

It had taken her three days to reconnect with her new self. With none of her old body left, her soul had to seep into every bit of her new body and become one with it.

She yawned and opened her eyes. "Am I in Heaven?" she asked, looking at us. Her hand flew to her throat. Startled, she looked down at herself.

"Not quite, but it was a near thing," Cindy said.

"You gave us a scare, young missy," I said. "Welcome to your new life, and welcome to the family."

She looked at us. "Cindy? Vicky? But how?" She held out her hand and looked at it, then looked at her own slight body. "Why am I so calm?"

Cindy and I got on the bed with her and wrapped her into a sandwich hug.

"Mark saved your life. He rebuilt your body to match your soul. He left a calming spell in place so that you won't freak out. Try to stay unfreaked when the spell starts to fade," I said

She shook a little. "I... I tried to kill myself..."

"It's OK sweetie," I soothed.

She smiled. "Sweetie? I can't remember anyone ever calling me that."

"Get used to it," Cindy chuckled. "We always wanted a little sister to spoil."

"Little sister? How can that be? I'm older than both of you"

I chuckled at her. "Actually, no. I'm a Vietnam vet, just like you. Cindy here, however, hasn't been around for that long."

"Longer than you think!" she huffed.

I snickered at her, which made our new girl smile.

What do we call you? Your old name doesn't fit anymore.

"Penelope!" she said without hesitation. "You can call me Penny."

Cindy and I both smiled. "Welcome to the family, Penny!"

"I second that!" Mom said as she came into the room.

"I third that!" Dad said with a smile.

He walked over, picked Penny up, kissed her on the forehead, and set her back down. "Welcome to the family, my daughter!"

She looked like she was going to tear up. "I... I don't know what say. I don't know what happened!"

Dad picked her back up and held her to him. "What happened is that you lost hope just days before we were going to approach you. We didn't realize that you were so close to ending it all."

Mom continued. "We knew that you were getting more and more depressed, and we were discussing ways of helping you. I think it got worse when John stopped showing up to church."

Penny looked thoughtful. "Whatever happened to John? I haven't seen him in months."

"I'm right here," I told her.

"But..."

"Don't look so surprised. If you have any doubts, just take a look in the mirror." I pointed to a full length mirror next to her closet.

Dad set her down and she ran over. There was a look of wonder on her face as she stared at her reflection, then twirled and posed.

She got a thoughtful look. "What now?"

"That depends a lot on you," Mom said. "How much of your old life do you want back? We can make it look like you succeeded and just leave everything behind. We can grab whatever you might want from your old house. We can arrange it so that you leave everything to your previously unknown grand daughter. You can even have a facsimile of your old body back."

"No!" She shuddered. "I don't want to go back to being a man. But who is this grand daughter?"

"Her name is Penelope," Cindy chuckled. "You can keep all of your old stuff, but you will need to live with us until you grow up. And you can keep an eye on your old home, no problem."

Mom and Dad walked out, saying that they needed to get everything ready for Christmas morning. They were really just giving us some girl time.

Cindy took her by the hand and led her to her new closet -- a huge walk-in closet. I threw the doors open and she gasped, then squealed in delight.

Cindy grabbed a red and green Christmas party dress and held it up. "Try it on!"

Penny started to take off her gown, then hesitated.

"It's all right, Penny. It's just us girls here."

She grinned, then stripped out of her nightgown in a flash. Cindy and I helped her into her new dress. She grinned and twirled, just like she had dreamed of doing for all those years.

After about twenty dresses, and twenty trips out to the main room to show Mom and Dad, Penny noticed that Cindy and I had somehow grown fox ears and a tail. We had both shifted to our quarter form during the clothing marathon and silently wondered when she would notice.

She noticed Cindy first. She ran over and gave her a hug. "You're so cute!" she squealed.

After that, we had to show her our half and three quarter forms. Then, Cindy shifted to her fox form and I shifted to a fluffy leopard spotted cat. We both hopped up on to her lap.

"Let me get this straight. I was out for three days, then we spent most of a day setting up my room and trying on clothes, and it's still only about three in the morning on Christmas day?"

"That's about it." Cindy said. "Time can go slower or faster in our pocket universes."

"That means that my house is just as I left it."

"Yes. Have you decided what you want to do? Do you want to keep it for later? Do you have some heirs that could use it? Do you want to give it to charity? You have a forever home here; and I do mean 'forever.'"

She thought for a minute. "I have some old pictures and mementos that I would like to keep, but the rest of my old life can just go to... whatever."

I grinned. "Nice save there, young lady. We wouldn't want you talking like a salty old sailor."

She grinned back. "Not anymore."

She contemplated her situation for a bit. "Not that I'm complaining, but why am I so young? I'm what? Ten or so?"

"Nine," said Cindy. "Once Mark got you stabilized, we could all feel who you are -- a girl that had gone through the wringer, but had never really got the chance to experience life as a girl; to grow up as a girl."

"Kinda like Maggie the Kitten," she mused.

Cindy looked confused, but I understood. "Yes, just like Maggie the Kitten. Maybe a bit older, but yeah, you have that joy and spark that has been denied for so long and needs to be exercised."

We curled up together on her bed, spooning and sandwiching her between our furry three quarters forms. She sighed and fell asleep, surrounded by fur.

I could feel Mom and Dad peeking in on us just as I was drifting off. Their love always made me feel warm and safe.

It had been a long time since I went to sleep at night with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head. The last several Christmas mornings had been pretty much the same as any other morning. Before that, for a couple decades, I was Santa Claus. Before that, there were times when I woke up in a barracks room or in the jungle.

But this time, I was with my foxy little sister and a brand new sister that we had spent a day playing with.

We felt Penny wake up, and gave her a sandwich hug. "Let's see what Santa got us!"

I laid a hand on her and pushed a little magic. All of the night sweat left her. "There ya go, little sis. All clean!"

We had done that for her just before bed time, so she wasn't at all surprised.

She walked to the closet and pulled out a Christmas dress made of very light red and green fabric.

"You can wear that if you want, but we are going in our fur," Cindy said.

"I don't have fur, so I guess I'll have to wear this," she grinned, holding up her dress.

I grinned and changed to my three quarters kitty form, but colored my long silky fur a festive red, white, and green. I tapped Penny on the shoulder. "I'll race you to the Christmas tree!"

We all ran out of her room and to the Christmas room with its brightly lit Christmas tree -- not a cut tree, but an actual live and growing Douglas Fir.

Penny looked at it in wonder. It was decorated with glowing ornaments, old fashioned candles that produced no heat, and classic wood, ceramic, and metal ornaments that the family had collected over the years. It was topped with a large crystalline glowing seven pointed star.

Under the tree were numerous presents.

Since we live an essentially post scarcity lifestyle, the presents are mostly fruits of our creativeness. Calling them knick-knacks doesn't give them credit. They are gifts from the heart -- items of beauty that we all lovingly crafted or magically manifested.

Penny looked at the pile of presents with wonder, but a little sadness. "I didn't get anything for anyone," she said.

I gave her a hug. "You are our present. I have always wanted a little sister! Besides, how many presents does a nine year old girl give out, anyhow?"

Cindy joined us. "We have all of the material stuff we want. The real treasures in life are our loved ones."

Cindy and I went over to the snack table. I grabbed a dark coffee with plenty of cream, and Cindy grabbed an amaretto mocha. The wonderful aromas mixed when we pressed the buttons that released the time stasis of the cups.

Penny, having already experienced our handy instant food and drink containers, chose a festive candy cane mocha and pushed the button. Her eyes closed and a look of bliss came upon her face as she breathed in the aroma.

We were just settling ourselves in front of the crackling fire when Mom and Dad came out.

We exchanged gifts. I gave Cindy a long furred kitty plushie that was colored like my current form. I gave Mom and Dad hand made coffee mugs with family portraits on them. We all pretty much wanted for nothing, so we gave things that make our lives more beautiful.

The first thing Mom gave to Penny was a lot more practical. It was a birth certificate, school ID, and a whole new identity. Penelope Caitlin Lupo was the name on the adoption papers.

Cindy gave her a purse and belt just like the ones that she had given to me after I first transformed. I gave her what looked like an ordinary cell phone, tablet, and computer. They were the same machines that we all had -- where the electronics and power supply were all in a dimensional pocket. The cell phone went into a special pocket on her belt or purse that would let it receive signal. It was preloaded with all of our contact information.

Dad placed a pendant around her neck and showed her how she could make it disappear by touching it and wishing so. Once he sent his magic through it, nobody could take it off but her.

Dad and Mark had infused their magic into the coin.

Mark spelled it so that it would guard and heal her body, and also keep its apparent age in sync with the real world. She could spend as many years as she liked in a dimensional pocket, and still come out looking the same as when she went in.

Dad had added some glamor magic. He added the powerful type that could change her form such that it was indistinguishable from reality. In fact, there was some debate among the experts about whether or not it was technically reality. "A difference that makes no difference, is no difference," some of them like to quote.

While Penny is not were or fey, she does have some cat characteristics in her soul. Because of this, we felt that she would enjoy the same forms that we were enjoy. In her case, deep within her soul, lies a leopard spotted house cat -- very much like a Bengal.

We helped her change into her various forms, including a small winged cat and a few different human forms for emergency use. Most of the human forms came pre clothed.

She decided to shuck off her dress and change into her three quarters kitty form.

Then, the family, consisting of the Michigan Dogman, two foxes, one festive red, white, and green long haired kitty, and one very cute spotted kitty girl, sat around the table and enjoyed their Christmas breakfast.

Penny gave us all a hug. "This is the best Christmas EVER!"

This little ditty came to me this morning. It is set in my A New Life universe, which is set in Dot's M.Y.T.H. universe. I didn't let it sit or edit it too heavily, so there are probably some errors.

"This is embarrassing!" Jimmy complained.

'Awwwww, come on! There are boy elves, too. Rudolph's best friend was a boy elf," Vicky replied.

"It's still embarrassing!"

Vicky, Linda, and Cindy had all used their North American Kitsune shapeshifting ability to make themselves into cute little four foot tall elves, complete with red and green clothes with white fur trim, curly toed shoes, striped tights, and Santa hats.

Jimmy's clothes were similar, but the colors were mostly reversed, and the cut was a little more masculine -- but equally elvish. He had used magic to reshape his body.

Cindy giggled. "Quit complaining. You get to be taller than us."

"Yeah, four foot two. Thanks a bunch."

Vicky put the finishing touches on his costume. "There! All done. Now, how about making yourself useful and go check on the reindeer."

As a nature mage, Jimmy didn't really need to go outside to check on his charges. Still, it was a chance to get away from the estrogen overload produced by a bunch of North American Kitsunes busily putting the finishing touches on the decorations.

Outside, he noticed that there were already several cars parked in the lot, and there were dozens of people either getting refreshments from the stand, sitting around one of the fires, or skating on the well prepared pond.

There were children climbing all over the sleigh that he and his father had built, and even more petting the remarkably docile reindeer.

He and his father, Mark, had gotten the reindeer fawns from some mages that they knew in the north, and had trained them to be docile enough to be petted, but it was the kitsunes' time warped dimensional pockets that allowed them to grow them in just a couple of months, real time. Once the day was over, they would go back into their very natural looking home. After what seems like a couple of weeks to them, they would be back entertaining the kids for a day.

It wasn't long before the kids noticed him. He winced as they turned and ran to him, but couldn't help but smile at their happy enthusiasm.

"Is Santa here yet?

"Are you one of his elves?"

"Can I ride a reindeer?"

"I thought the elves were all girls!"

"No, silly! Didn't you watch Rudolph?"

"Wow! I'm almost as tall as you!"

"When can we see Santa?"

"How does Santa eat all of the cookies that everybody gives him?"

"Does he give any cookies to his reindeer? I'll bet they get really hungry."

The girls peeked out the window and snickered at Jimmy's predicament. He seemed to be taking it in good grace, though, and was doing his best to answer all of the kids' questions.

While Jimmy was outside, his father Mark sat himself upon Santa's throne.

"OK, Kids, Santa is ready!" Jimmy yelled to the crowd as he headed to the door. Pandemonium ensued.

Some of the kids lined up, while others milled around. Some wrote on little slips of papers and stuffed them into the Santa's Wishes boxes.

The four elves worked hard making sure that everyone had snacks and were kept entertained while they waited in line. They even had to show the parents where to take the kids when they inevitably needed a potty break.

Jim Lupo, Cindy's and Vickie's dad, made sure that the fires were fed, both outside and in the fireplace. He kept the snack bar stocked, and generally ran around keeping things in order. When he had a few spare minutes, he took his turn behind the camera.

But there was one sad little girl with a worried looking daddy and a very tired looking mommy sitting on a bench and waiting for the crowd to thin out.

There was a sad looking teenage boy trying to keep his younger siblings in line. When Vickie walked over to give them some treats, she caught a familiar smell. She chatted with him for a minute, then asked for his contact information. "We have a special prize for you and the kids."

The printer was busy spitting out picture after picture, and the computer was busy emailing pictures and posting to social media.

Santa gave his best jolly laugh and asked, "What would you like for Christmas?"

"I... I just want mommy to feel better. That's all I want."

Mark looked up and could, through his nature mage senses, see the cancer eating away at the little girl's mom. He gave her a hug and said, "I'll pray really hard for your mom." Then he whispered, "I'm sure she'll get better."

He beckoned the parents over. "I want to get a family shot. Can you sit with Santa?"

The parents looked a little embarrassed, but came over. With the little girl on his lap, he had the parents, one on each side, huddle in close to their little girl.

Cindy snapped at least a dozen pictures. This gave Mark time to use his nature mage powers to set the cancerous cells to self-destruct over the next month. It was exacting work, and took a lot out of him, but it was worth it.

After three weekends of helping to add joy to Christmas, the Lupo and Jenson families busily used their talents and resources to make sure that the kids with parents who couldn't afford a nice Christmas got one, anyhow.

They emptied the Santa's Wishes boxes one last time so that they could either let the parents know what their kids wanted, or provide the gifts themselves.

They gave presents and food baskets to the local churches, whose members made sure that they all got to the intended recipients. They also donated food to the churches so that they could cook Christmas dinners for their members and guests.

Meanwhile, the money that some of the parents insisted on putting into the Christmas Wish boxes were divided among the churches.

Jim, Linda, Vickie, and Cindy drove to the foster home one last time to pick up their new charges. The foster parents were getting ready to retire, so Jim had no problem using his contacts to expedite the fostering of Tom, along with Karen, Lucy, and Matthew, his little siblings.

"I would tell you that magic is real and that I'm a werewolf and they're all foxes, but you wouldn't believe me, would you?"

Karen, Lucy, and Matthew said, "We believe you!"

They all giggled, and Tom gave a good imitation of a fish, when their new family shifted to their three-quarter forms.

Cindy went to Tom and said, "You're a were, too. I need to bite you to make it happen, though. Can I do that?"

Tom looked a little taken aback. Then, after a little while, he smiled and bared his neck.

"Your shoulder will be better," she said. Then she bit him.

She smiled. "You're going to be a kitty -- a lynx, to be exact. And you're going to be a girl!"

Tom looked a little perplexed, then a wide smile slowly spread on his face.

Dear Santa

Thank you for praying for my mommy! She is getting better. The doctors say that it is a miracle. Daddy is smiling again.

She was starting to get sicker after we saw you, but she started to get better after a while. Nobody knows how it happened but I know! I try to tell them but they just smile but they look like they don't believe me.

But I know you did it and I love you very much for giving me my mommy back!

Love bunches!
Lucy

(If this doesn't fit with the contest rules, let me know and I'll remove that tag.)

It had just turned midnight. It was officially Halloween. I came up with this ditty. I started writing it at around noon. Pardon its unpolished state. It is set in my A New Life universe, which is set in Dot's M.Y.T.H. universe.

---

"Well, Aren't you just the cat's meow!" Cindy exclaimed.

Vicky primped, then gave her adopted sister a warm hug. "You're not so bad yourself, foxy lady!"

They had both dressed as sexy mad scientist girls at school, but decided to show off their were forms on Halloween night.

Vicky embraced the cat part of her nature. She used her half cat form, but in honor of Halloween, gave herself long silky black fur and green eyes. Similarly, Cindy went as a black fox. They both had ears and tails, and a fur coat, but kept their human faces. Both wore witch costumes for that cute junior high witch girl look.

They piled into the back of the Jeep for a quick trip to the church, where they were holding a 'trunk-or-treat.'

Since many of the rural roads have houses spaced a quarter mile or more apart, the kids would have to do a lot of walking to do just a few houses. So, rather than canvassing three or four houses per mile, the kids prefer to trick or treat in the towns.

The rural land owners, not wanting to be left out, get together in a church, business, or volunteer firehall parking lot, decorate their vehicles, and pass out candy.

Many of the adults like to dress up and socialize. Coffee, cocoa, cider, and donuts are served. It's a big party for everyone.

The sun was still well above the horizon when the Lupo family backed their Jeep up to the wide awning that was erected in case of rain. They backed in right next to the Jenson family's truck.

Cindy and Vickie rapidly set up the decorations, dumped the candy into a huge bowl, then carried pastries, coffee, cocoa, and other supplies to the large fellowship hall where the party was being held.

"Oh no! It's a scary werewolf!" Cindy squealed.

Jimmy Jenson made an 'aroooooo' sound, then came to greet them. "I'm Wolfman Jack, I'll have you know. Be afraid. Be very afraid."

"Oh, please don't eat me, mister Wolfman," Cindy giggled.

"Why don't you three go off and collect some goodies?" asked Mark Jenson, Jimmy's father. "We can finish passing out the treats."

"I'm too old to go trick or treating," Jimmy said.

"Not us!" Cindy said. "We girls can go trick or treating even when we're in high school!"

Vicky smiled. A few months ago, she had been an aging Vietnam vet. Now, she unabashedly embraced her new gender, her new health, her new abilities, her new life, and especially her new family.

"Come with us," Cindy said. "We need a big strong wolfman to protect us!"

"And carry our loot," agreed Vicky.

"Well, aren't you all just the cutest things!" the middle aged lady said as she dropped fun sized candy bars into their bags. "Those ears and tails look so real!"

A little four year old boy dressed as squirrel came up and started petting the girls' legs. "Your fur is so soft," he cooed.

"Mark! That's not polite!" said a young tween dressed as a kitty girl cheerleader. The parents stood back by the road. They were going to intervene and correct their little one, but saw that their older child was handling it.

Vicky picked him up. "Oh, I guess it's all right on Halloween." She gave the kid a hug and kiss, then set him down.

Vicky and Cindy gave each other a meaningful look. They had both caught a whiff of were in the children. They followed the pair of siblings to their parents.

"Well, that's the last house," said the father.

Vicky said, "The party's not over yet. Why don't you bring the kids to the fellowship hall with us for some cocoa and donuts?"

"Yay!" said the two kids.

Harry and Julie Garmish, along with their two sons, drove to the address that the Lupo family had given them.

"I don't know why, but I trust them," Julie admitted.

"I do, too. And I have learned to trust your instincts," Harry agreed.

The door opened soon after they knocked.

They exchanged pleasantries and the Lupo family offered them refreshments and let them get seated comfortably.

"I'm sure you're wondering what the mystery is all about," Jim said.

They nodded.

"Well... you're not going to believe this, but you are weres. All of you. And sometimes it takes one to know one."

The Lupo family all shifted to their three quarter forms. Harry and Julie looked gobsmacked, but there was no look of disbelief. Steve, their older son, just stared. Mark ran up and hugged Vickie around the legs.

Vickie picked Mark up and hugged him.

"How did you do that?" Mark asked.

Vickie ruffled his hair. "You just wish it. You'll be able to do it too, when you get older."

"Do I get to be a squirrel?"

Vickie nodded. "Yes, you're going to be a squirrel."

"And me?" Steve asked.

"A cat. A girl cat." Cindy answered.

Steve's smile lit the room.

This story was originally conceived to be a stand alone tale, but it fit Dorothy's M.Y.T.H. universe without too much modification. It starts about a year before Help! My girlfriend is a Unicorn!

This is the New Year edition.

I had intended to get it out by the end of December 2018, but real life intervened. I hope you all enjoy it, anyhow.

We first met Harry and Julie Garmish, along with their kids Marcie (was Steve) and Mark, in Halloween Dreams.

We first met the new family members, Mindy (was Tom,) Karen, Lucie, and Matthew in Christmas Wishes Granted.

We first met Penny (Penelope Caitlin Lupo) in The Best Christmas Ever.

This story is dedicated to dorothycolleen, who came up with Harry and Julie Garmish's were forms. It is also dedicated to Laika. She knows why.

While subdivisions and property owners' associations are common fixtures about the western world, Tamarack Lake Shores is a bit off the beaten path. It's not your ordinary sub/POA. Like many of the wilderness subs, there are more summer/vacation homes than permanent residents.

Tamarack Lake Shores is a group of homes, cottages, and empty lots huddled around Tamarack Lake. The majority of the lots contain a cottage, or maybe just a place to park the fifth wheel or motor home. There are no restrictions on the type of home you may have. Flags, far from being banned, are encouraged. The fact that the were/fey community owns the majority of the lots is little known.

Local legend has it that there has never been a successful robbery or other crime there. A look at the police records bears this out. Those who have tried it are remarkably tight lipped about their experience, and refuse to set foot anywhere near the place again.

Guests of the residents, especially children, tell stories about petting wolves, bobcats, cougars, and bears; and meeting mermaids in the lake.

The lake itself is deep and very clear -- much clearer than any other local lakes, and even rivaling the famous Kitch-iti-kipi spring in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Most lots have a sand beach, and the undeveloped area near the tamarack marsh is well populated with bluegill, bass, perch, pike, walleye, and trout.

Twelve year old Marcie Garmish skipped along Lupo Avenue, a narrow private dirt road. She walked down Larch Street, and finally to her home. She was looking forward to ringing in the new year with new friends.

Her aura vision had detected only a few people, and no norms, as she walked from her friend's house. She wasn't surprised to see her brother Mark turn himself into a squirrel. He stood on his hind feet and chittered at their dog.

Before the dog could react, Mark skittered through the snow, ran up the dog's tail, and over his back. He paused on the dog's head and gave him a light tap on the nose. Then, he jumped straight forward and landed just about the same time the dog scrambled to his feet.

Mark let the dog almost catch him, floofed him in the nose with his tail, and scrambled to a tree. He climbed, spiraling up the trunk. The dog, just like any other dog, gave chase. He jumped up and down, trying to catch the squirrel that was just out of his reach. Mark chittered, teasing the dog mercilessly.

"Two can play this game," Marcie said gleefully. She touched her pendant, and was replaced by an over sized house cat with leopard spots. She shot after Mark, who scampered up the tree in seeming panic. He ran off the end of the branch, and on to the roof of the house, followed by Marcie.

They both ran across the roof and dropped down by the front door, leaving the dog in the back yard barking his fool head off. They switched to their three quarter forms and ran inside.

Harry Garmish, in his three quarter raccoon form, heard the music that had been playing in the other room stop. He slunk into the family room, where a three quarter skunk, after having just finished playing the piano, was languorously stretching. “Where are you, my little object of art? I am here to collect you,” he said in his best (still very bad) French Pepe Le Pew accent. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off of the piano bench. "We weel make beautiful music togezzer, no? A rar rar rar!"

She made a show of struggling to get out of his grasp. "Eet ees a trash panda," she said with an equally bad accent. "But it cannot be! My stripes go along, and yours are sideways. Zink of ze cheeldren! Ze weel be plaid!"

"We weel find a way, no?" He held her tighter and kissed her.

Mark and Marcie burst into the room. They mimed sticking their fingers down their throats and made retching noises.

"Ah, Julie, my petite femme fart squirrel! Zer ar ze plaid fuzzies right now!"

Before the kids could react, they ran over and wrapped them in a hug.

Penny, age nine, ran along Trowbridge street, enjoying the swish of her skirt, the bounce of her hair, and the lightness of her step.

She remembered the first time she was nine, almost seven decades ago, when she, then a he, was allowed to run freely about the neighborhood.

Times were different then. Even though it was somewhat more dangerous, people were less paranoid about children getting into trouble. Also, the neighbors watched any kids that happened to be in the area, and reported any problems to the kids' parents. Kids used to grumble that their mothers knew what they did before they even got home.

Nowadays, people can get officially charged for letting their kids into their own fenced back yard without parental hyper vigilance.

But not in this neighborhood. In this neighborhood, the 'mom network' is alive and active, and includes dads and brothers and sisters -- many having aura vision.

And, with the various were and fey active in the local law enforcement and justice system, such frivolous charges never come up.

Any who dare to attempt to molest the children don't succeed. They are never seen or heard from again.

The neighborhood is peaceful and safe. The norms appreciate that, but have no clue about why. Or, rather, they don't know the extent of the effectiveness of the local neighborhood watch.

Penny waved at the few people she saw peeking at her through the windows, and at the many more that were watching with their aura vision.

She ran around the corner to Jenson street, down half a block, then skipped up the walk to the Lupo home.

She ran in, yelling a greeting to everyone. She gave Cindy and Vicky a hug, grabbed a candy cane cocoa, and sat cross-legged next to the Christmas tree. Mindy, in her bobcat form, crawled into her lap. Both ends drooped over, but she didn't care. Karen, Lucy, and Matthew also cuddled around her.

"Hey, squirt! Have a good time with Ginny?" Cindy asked.

Penny smiled. After so many years spent as a sad and grumpy old man, she relished being called 'squirt.'

Mark, Donna, and Jimmy Jenson had a light snack, then went through a few foxholes and over to the church.

Being long time friends of the Lupos, they had teamed up with them centuries ago to build their respective homes, and several other homes in the fey realm. With Jim's nature powers, Linda's ability to twist time and space, and the other abilities among the two families, they made an effective team. Their willingness to help the other magic denizens earned them plenty of good will over the centuries.

With centuries of building and cooperation, it was easy for them to get around via the fey realm.

Vicky went to the baptismal font and touched the two latches. The lid slowly hinged up, revealing clean and warm chest deep water. The underwater foxhole that connects to a large warm clean freshwater lake in the fey realm was invisible and inactive. Satisfied that everything was ready, she closed the lid.

The Garmish family, all in their three quarter forms, ate a light dinner at around 4:00 PM. They were getting ready for game night.

While it would be more convenient to use the fey realm, they volunteered to drive in order to maintain the illusion that everyone and everything was normal. They got to the church in time to help the Jenson and Lupo families finish setting up.

The latches on the baptismal font worked themselves loose and the lid hinged up. A blonde head with intense turquoise blue eyes popped up, followed by a very busty torso.

"Hello, Veronica," said Cindy. "Fancy meeting you here."

Veronica ducked back under the water, then burst out like a jumping fish. Several feet of mermaid flew out of the font. At the peak of her trajectory, her long emerald green tail turned into a pair of legs. She landed lightly, totally dry, wearing nothing but her pewter locket and a smile.

Pastor Dave rolled his eyes. "The norms will be arriving soon. You wouldn't want to scandalize them, would you?"

Veronica, seemed unworried. "I'll be done in a bit."

A tidal wave of water came out of the font and soaked the carpeted floor of the sanctuary. Jimmy Jenson chuckled and manifested some powdered soap above the puddle. Veronica caused the water to start churning and moving throughout the church -- up the walls, on the ceiling, over the lamps, in the pews, through the bathrooms, through the kitchen, all around the fellowship center -- everywhere. The glob of water hovered over the trash barrel and dropped a load of dry soap powder and dirt. It made another circuit of the church to rinse the last of the soap and dust out of everything. After dumping a much smaller batch of dirt into the trash, Veronica caused the clean and sterile water to go back into the baptismal font.

And not a second too soon.

Veronica dashed behind the sound booth when she heard people enter the vestibule. She picked up her locket and looked at it. On one side was a beautiful mermaid with tiny emeralds set in her tail, two small turquoises set in her eyes, and hair of a gold alloy that matched Veronica's hair. On the other side was a young girl in her middle teens, similarly adorned with the turquoise eyes and golden hair. All of that was set into a tin alloy locket that Vicky had carefully crafted.

She opened the dry side -- the side with the girl engraved on it. At her touch, it expanded. The bottom still contained the engraving of the girl, but the top contained an opening -- a bag of holding.

She reached inside and pulled out a wad of clothing. By the time the first guests had entered the sanctuary, she was dressed.

People started arriving and chatting. They filed into the pews when Pastor Dave made his way to the front.

He gave a short service, thanking God for the previous year and the new people who have joined the church family. Three of the new people wanted to be baptized, and the eve of the new year was as good a day as any.

As soon as the service was over, the volunteers pulled the cold snacks from the refrigerator and set them out. The rest of the congregation and guests wandered into the fellowship hall.

As more people arrived, the sound level rose. Still, it was mostly calm. There was no booze and no raucous behavior. People ate, drank, and were merry. There were a number of board games set up. Monopoly was popular, but so was checkers, Parcheesi, backgammon, chess, and even mouse trap. Some of the more traditional adults grumbled about the video games, especially the small hand-held games that were played solo.

The party ended at about nine, giving those who wanted the traditional booze-filled revelry time to travel to the party of their choice.

The members of the magical community that drove to the church left that way, including those that closed the church building and turned out the lights. They went back via the fey realm and met in the magical fellowship hall. Once everyone was there, they turned on the time dilation.

Vicky gave Veronica a hug. "Ah, so here is my favorite fashion challenged mermaid!"

Veronica huffed. "Bite your tongue, foxy! I happen to like tin."

"It's pewter, but whatever. It's mostly tin. But I offered you gold or silver or platinum or iridium or osmium or rubidium or..."

"I'm afraid that rubidium wouldn't do very will in the water," Cindy interrupted.

"Neither would the silver, for that matter," Veronica added. "Not salt water, anyhow."

"Diamonds or rubies or emeralds or nice, ocean blue sapphires or..."

Veronica stuck out her tongue. "I like tin!"

"No accounting for tastes," Vickie giggled.

"Ha! She does know how to giggle!" Cindy said.

"It was your imagination. I don't giggle." Vickie said, sticking out her tongue.

Pastor Dave whistled for attention. "It's time to introduce and welcome everyone who has joined the magical community in the past year."

He called up the first three, one at a time. Vicky was was number four.

Jim Lupo, along with Linda and Cindy, joined Pastor Dave.

Jim called Vicky up. "Earlier this year, we found an unmanifested were right here in the church. What had started as a mission of mercy became a great blessing for our family. Victoria Catalina Lupo has embraced her vixen side and has joined the other two vixens at keeping this poor defenseless were wolf on his toes."

Cindy called up Harry, Julie, Marcie, and Mark Garmish. Harry, in his three quarter raccoon form, wore a 'Sandra and Woo' shirt. Julie, in her three quarter skunk form, wore a Fifi Le Fume shirt. Marcie and Mark, in their spotted cat and squirrel three quarter forms, didn't bother with clothing.

"We were trick-or-treating when we found these adorable kids. They must have sensed their eventual forms because Mark was dressed as a squirrel, and Marcie was dressed as a kitty girl cheerleader. When we met their parents, we could tell that they were unmanifested weres. We fixed that as soon as we could. So now, our little community is richer by one trash panda, one fart squirrel, one spotted kitty, and one mischievous little squirrel. "

Vicky called up Mindy, Karen, Lucy, and Matthew. "When we were helping Santa grant wishes for all of the local kids, one very mature but sad child tried to help his brother and two sisters enjoy Christmas. The four of them were the last foster kids of Harry and Thelma Buckmaster, who were trying to retire. To make a long story short, Mom and Dad adopted them. So, we now have a lynx girl in the family. Karen, Lucy, and Matthew are also having a wonderful time, and are trying different forms."

Vicky and Cindy, together, called up Penny. "Come on, squirt!"

Penny came up and told her own story about almost ending it all just a week ago. After she was rescued by the Lupo family, she was healed by Mark Jenson, and adopted by the Lupos. The magic community, having heard of other unactivated weres that had died of depression, understood.

Everyone welcomed the newcomers.

After some hours of enjoying each other's company, the people left in ones and twos and threes and families. The Lupo family, now nine strong, were the last to leave.

This is set in my A New Life universe, which is set in Dot's M.Y.T.H. universe.

This is just a bit of fluff that I wrote to celebrate the season.

The Garmish family, having recently moved into the area, were delighted with their invitation to the Lupo family's Thanksgiving feast.

Having met at the orphanage where they grew up, Harry and Julie had little experience with a real Thanksgiving dinner.

They weren't at all surprised to find the Lupo family wearing nothing but their fur. After receiving their 'love nips,' then attending church with the various weres, fey, and other magical types, they were getting well used to the culture. They were getting even more used to the love and camaraderie.

Mark and Steve stripped out of their clothes and ran up to Jim.

"Can I be a kitty girl, Uncle Jim?"

"Can I be a squirrel?"

Jim Lupo cast a glamor on the two boys, not genuinely transforming them, but allowing them to look and feel like the weres that they would be once they came of age.

Mark giggled in delight and scrambled up the tree that shaded the well laden table. His tail twitched as he went from branch to branch.

Steve, now called Marcie, followed him up. Her claws dug into the wood as she bounced after her brother.

"Don't knock any bark into the food!" called Harry.

While the kids were bounding around, Jim renewed Harry and Julie's glamor.

While the glamor didn't affect the way any of the local magical community saw Harry and Julie, it caused everyone else to see them as their original 'thirty something' selves. Once they went through the final transformation, come the next full moon, they would be able to take care of their own appearances.

After the kids calmed down and came out of the tree, Jim gave the blessing.

Lord, we thank you for this reminder of all of our blessings. We thank you for new friends, new family, and new lives. We ask for the opportunity to spread your word and your blessings.

Thanks again for growing our families and bringing them together.

And everyone said, "amen."

Linda, Cindy, and Vicky brushed the bark and dust off of the serving table and dishes, then released the time stasis from the food.

Everything was hot and fresh, even though it had actually been prepared days earlier.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who is celebrating the holiday, and a very happy Thursday to everyone else.

Now, for the reader participation part, I solicit ideas.

What are Harry and Julie's were forms?

And no, Doggie McDogface isn't a valid answer. ;-)