He had never been here before, but it was a nice place.
An old building on the edge of downtown Moon Lake. The front facade dated back to at least the late 1800s, if not earlier. Probably one of, if not the first modern building erected back then, he realized.
But the interior was as completely modern as current construction methods would allow.
Lance Knight showed his ID to the lone human guard at the front door, even as a security camera was trained on him by remote control. The windows were heavily tinted, not allowing anyone a view of what might lie beyond the door. The guard nodded, and allowed him inside.
As he started to walk in, Lance was greeted by a stunning weretigress, displaying the classic orange and black stripe pattern common to that species.
"Mister Knight? I'm Lila. Follow me, please," she requested.
"Okay, but please call me Lance," he asked in return.
Lila simply smiled and led him to a private room. "You can change in there. Strip and once furry, please put on the robe and come back outside. I'll take you to the others then."
Inside was just a small bench, a private locker that already had a white robe hanging within, and a full length mirror attached to the back of the door.
Having been told the meeting wasn't until 8, Lance Knight knew he was seriously early, but obviously not too early if "others" were already here. Completely undressing, Lance released his inner werepanther.
It felt good to be furry again, even as he felt his hands becoming paws and his tail stretching outward. Sometimes he wished he could be like this 24/7, 365 days a year, but knew that was physically impossible if he wanted to help keep Moon Lake safe, even as he felt his jaw shift and his muzzle complete itself.
Looking in the mirror, the man with brown hair and eyes had been replaced by a much taller black furred panther standing on two legs, his tail swishing happily behind him even as a smile crossed his muzzle and felinish eyes stared back at him.
Content, Lance grabbed the white robe and threw it on before leaving the room.
Lila was waiting for him outside, as promised.
"Listen, I hope you don't mind me asking. I came early because this is my first meeting, but who else is already here?" wondered Lance.
"Mrs. Tachibana of the Skulk is discussing business with Andrew Curry of the were-mers in the Reception area."
"I thought Mayor Stovall represented the were-mers."
"No. Being Mayor is a separate position since that office represents the whole town and excludes him or her from serving on the Elders' Council, although whoever is Mayor does make monthly reports to the Council on the town's status and is answerable to them. Meanwhile, the weredog and weretiger representatives are enjoying some of our other services before the meeting starts," said Lila.
"Other services?" he asked, confused.
With that, Lila turned to him, smiled, and reached out with one paw to caress his sheathed penis. "You know..."
"OH!" said Lance, realizing what she meant. "Are those, and you, available after the meeting?"
"Yes, to both," she purred, before releasing his cock and resuming the walk.
Lila led Lance to the reception area, with a promise to look for him after the meeting ended.
Walking through the wooden double doors, Lance discovered a buffet table with assorted offerings, along with tables and chairs set up for dining. There was a set of closed double doors at the far end of the room with a guard stationed in front of them, and Lance assumed that led to wherever the Elders' Council actually met.
Helping himself to some food, Lance never saw the Skulk leader excuse herself from the were-merman she was talking to until she was right next to him. "Greetings, honored Council member," she said with a smile, bowing.
While there were slight hints of gray here and there in her fur coat considering the werevixen was almost 200 years old, Lance had to admit the woman still looked very sexy, but knew she was committed to the memory of her late husband, since werefoxes mated for life.
"You honor me, Tachibana no Akane," replied Lance, bowing while using her formal name, "since I have yet to be officially inducted, let alone formally briefed as to my duties, responsibilities, and current matters of Council business."
"Mere formalities, I assure you," promised Akane, "and occasionally quite ceremonially boring," she whispered, as a smile briefly crossed her vulpine muzzle. "Try the canapes. They're simply delicious!"
Lance started to move a paw to heed Akane's advice, when a weredog came rushing into the room.
"I am sincerely sorry to interrupt ma'am," he began, addressing Akane since she was the most senior council member present, "but news has just come over the police scanner that you should be made aware of."
"Of what nature?" she asked, suddenly all business once more as she addressed the weredog.
"There's a report of some kind of an altercation occurring at the Knight estate between a werepanther and a werewolf, with a minor werepanther injured somehow in the proceedings," announced the weredog.
Lance dropped his plate in shock, afraid his niece Frieda might be hurt, as Akane put a paw against her forehead and said, "Oh, bugger!"
Then Akane addressed the weredog. "Have my car summoned immediately. Alert the others as they arrive, but as soon as Mister Knight and I have made ourselves presentable*, we'll be on our way."
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*She means resuming their human forms and getting dressed again.—tmw.