While Sarah looked between herself and Malice in the spare uniforms that Shelly had loaned to the "sisters" the she-wolf officer continued to go about her work and make sure things were under control.
"There you go," Shelly spoke politely, "you both do look better than you were just going around naked."
"Not that that isn't fun in the right setting," Malice commented.
Shelly shook her head with a sigh, "Pups."
"That was all an accident, ma'am," Sarah said carefully as she looked to Shelly with her ears and tail low. The she-wolf officer responded with a careful nod before responding.
"Can you tell me how old the both of you are?" Shelly asked carefully.
"One and a quarter... in dog years," Malice commented, "I think."
Sarah watched as Malice looked to her, and she nodded to assure Malice that she had her age right. Shelly looked between them and took note of Malice's answer.
"Well... the scientists think we'll age at the same rate as people... but on the whole, while you are a double-douser... you were pretty close to being an adult already," Shelly commented.
Malice wagged her tail happily while Shelly turned to Sarah.
"And you're the same age as your sister?" Shelly asked, guessing at a relationship between Sarah and Malice based on how close the two Huskies were to each other.
"We're more "adoptive sisters" rather than blood sisters," Sarah answered, "and I am fourteen..."
"Fourteen?!" Shelly spoke in shocked surprise, her golden eyes wide.
From there, Sarah and Malice went into their explanation of what had happened. That Sarah was human and Malice was her pet and that Malice was first infected when she drank from her water dish and the Wesley family came to the Brown Farm/Animalia with the base hope that the scientists could make sure that Malice was okay. Malice explained the confusion on Sarah's instructions not to drink any water and coming across the milk canisters in the barn and satisfying her thirst there, leading to her second dose. Sarah then picked up with the report of seeing the results of Malice's second dose, hearing Malice claim to feel Sarah to be a sister and then tripping over a rock when she went to hug Malice, leading to her first dose. Sarah also added that Malice's milk tasted so good that she couldn't stop herself from drinking more and getting a second dose. Shelly listened to all of this quietly, but did seem to understand.
"And that's when your other officers found us," Sarah finished.
"I see," Shelly said slowly, "well... with that, I can't say that we will be charging either of you with anything. The nudity issue is cancelled out by the fact that you got a second dose of the virus, and it would appear to me that both of your transformations were accidental. The government and the company that's made a lot of our clothing may pay for at least some of your new attire since it was accidental... but because you're the second human transformed, Miss Sarah, and that means of infection with the Animalia Virus is known, there is the potential that they may pay for your sister, but not for you."
"I understand," Sarah nodded.
"I will also need to inform your mother of what has happened," Shelly said slowly.
"What?!" Sarah barked in surprise.
"Despite your physical age, you are legally a minor as far as humanity will be concerned," Shelly spoke, "we have to inform your mother."
"But what if she doesn't accept the new us?" Malice asked, "My sister's been nervous about that."
"If that happens, you'll both be welcomed in Animalia," Shelly spoke, "but by what the government told us when our town here was formed after the initial outbreak, we have to work within the existing laws."
"Okay," Sarah sighed, "Hopefully she isn't too mad at Malice and me."
"She won't," Malice said to Sarah, "I'm pretty sure she truly loves you and will understand."
Sarah nodded looked to Shelly who had produced a cellphone. The she-wolf looked to Sarah and Sarah answered by giving Shelly her mother's cellphone number and then waited for the inevitable explosion of anger and frustration.
"Mrs. Wesley?" Shelly spoke after a few moments, "I'm Officer Shelly, with the Animalia Police Department, I'm needing to report to you of an issue."
Sarah watched as Shelly nodded. Her thoughts of being an officer with the Animalia Police with Malice remained in her mind, but she was also concerned and waiting to see how her mother responded.
"Mary Alice... or Malice as she has said she prefers... is fine," Shelly spoke calmly, "the issue is actually with additional exposure to the Animalia Virus for Malice and the accidental infection of your other daughter."
"WHAT?! SARAH IS MY DAUGHTER!" came her mother's reply over the phone with enough volume that Sarah and Malice both heard and Shelly was forced to pull the phone away, "WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY SARAH?!"
"Due to a series of accidents, she was exposed to the Animalia Virus through Malice's DNA," Shelly stated, "I must stress that while she is now an Animalian, the transformation was an accident."
Sarah heard a heavy groan, but not much more than that. Eventually, Shelly looked to both Sarah and Malice.
"Your mother will be here with the Browns shortly," Shelly spoke, "if it means anything, while there was some frustration... I don't think your mother will reject you."
"That'll be a relief," Sarah sighed.