Despite the announcement of the vote results and the basic assumption that the meeting was over, hardly anyone had yet to leave the Town Hall.
Most of those present were still discussing what they had just heard: that while the details and logistics still had to be worked out, Moon Lake was preparing to take the first steps to reveal the existence of were society to the world at large while they (weres) could still "control" the circumstances.
"Err... excuse me," one man said from the crowd.
"Yes?" Katherine Chambers said, wondering what would happen next.
"On one hand, I was originally born human, and can agree with a lot of what that Tom fellow said to a point," began the man. "I didn't become a weretiger until I proposed to my wife and she accepted. We've been happily married for 3 years now and are expecting our first cub before the end of this year."
"Congratulations," said Katherine, wondering what was on the gentleman's mind.
"Anyway, I honestly didn't know what I was missing until I joined were society. I love being a were as much as I love my wife, who unfortunately couldn't be here tonight. I relish the moments when I can release my fursona and do wish the day will come when I can be who I am now 24/7 without having to go back to the way you see me at the moment," the man said, indicating a normal looking, fully dressed human male. A statement which actually received some applause from the audience still present.
"Yet I'm concerned about revealing our existence, not only for all the reasons you folks have already stated, but the fact that while I trust President Obama, he's having a hard time with that Republican majority in Congress as it is, plus the fact that 2016 will be an election year, so technically he's a lame duck who can't run for re-election again."
"Yeah!" said someone behind him. "Some of those politicians seem more interested in themselves and their rich supporters than us regular people. What if they manage to get someone in office who agrees with them? What happens to this country even if we don't reveal ourselves during the term of whoever the 45th President of the United States turns out to be?"
Other voices began expressing their political views too, until Akane no Tachibana rose and called for silence.
"Let me remind everyone," she began once they could hear her, "that this council has only decided to start making preparations for revealing were existence to the world. There is still a lot of details to work out concerning this matter, and not just deciding the proper time of when and where."
The crowd became more calm at hearing this as Akane added, "Also, besides abiding by this Council's decision and stipulations tonight, as a werefox, Tom Herald is also under the jurisdiction of the Skulk, and you all know that we do not take such matters lightly."
Akane waited a moment for that to sink in before saying, "Tom is correct though in reminding us that the world is changing. There have already been many instances where we have had to make adjustments, not just as individuals, but as a society as well. There will come a day when the world does become completely aware of who and what we are, but Tom is also correct in his belief that we must make sure the world truly knows the full story, and not just whatever bits and pieces they may want to hear or accept."
The crowd seemed more at ease now, and many prepared to finally leave.
Then another voice spoke up.
"Excuse me," said a teenager in the rear of the crowded room. "My name is Tad Decker. My father was the Marine Corps Officer in Virginia that Lionel Ulysses killed, which prompted my mother and me to move back here to Moon Lake, and I would like to hear whatever Mister Herald can tell me about that."