Ava Ross may have said she was going upstairs to unpack her room, but instead she stayed at the top of the stairs hidden from sight and listened closely to everything her parents and Samantha Twist talked about.
Besides, her big brother's bedroom door was closed so she couldn't hear what him and Tad were talking about anyway.
Finding out about weres was a big enough surprise in her young life, but Connor's gay? was an even bigger shock.
That might explain why he didn't have much interaction with girls after Tad and his mother left. He was polite enough to them, but Connor can't be interested in Tad, can he? The two have been friends since...
"But now that we’re in Moon Lake and having sex with a Were can turn you into a Were," she heard her mother say, "we’re worried that…that…”
“...that he’ll end up making a rash decision and becoming a Were species that he’s not happy with in the long run,” said her father, finishing mom's concern.
Ava listened to Samantha Twist's response*, to which her parents seemed happy with. Then the Town Chancellor added, "One thing that should be stressed is that, regardless of what Connor decides his sexual identity and preference is, becoming a were is a once in a lifetime event, so I do strongly both agree with you and advise that he makes his choice in regards to exactly which were to be carefully because unlike video games, there is no reset or do over. Once you become that were..."
"I get it," replied Kent Ross. "Make sure he's a 110% sure before he joins because he can only do so once."
"On the other hand though, Moon Lake is a progressive community. We privately recognized both interracial and same gender marriages long before Washington state, let alone the rest of the country did," said Samantha proudly. "With Connor being over 14, he can legally become a were as far as the town is concerned," added Mrs. Twist, to which Ava smiled.
That means I could become one too if I want! she realized.
"But as his parents, we still have concerns," added Mrs. Ross.
"Naturally," agreed Samantha. "But even with the uncertainty of his sexual identity, becoming a were does have many benefits. Besides the extended lifespan, while we are not invulnerable, we do not suffer many common ailments like colds and the flu. We do heal quicker from things like sprains and broken limbs, but can still be affected by major stuff like cancer. I didn't bring it in with me because Tad insisted on coming because of his connection to you, but before I depart, I'll leave a copy of a guide book that explains everything in greater detail, along with having photos and information about every were that we were aware of when the book was printed."
"Okay. Werewolves I've seen in the movies, although you say those are skewed against such beings. But you are a were... cat?" asked Diana Ross.
"Yes. Did you want to see me change?" wondered Samantha.
"If you don't mind," replied Kent Ross.
"No problem. Bigger weres like the wolves need to be fully undressed before they transform completely. Smaller weres like myself can change without risk of damaging our clothing, although I would need to kick my shoes off first if you don't mind," said the Town Chancellor.
When the Rosses nodded in agreement, Samantha stood up and kicked off her footwear.
Then she smiled as fur began to spread across her entire body, although it wasn't until it started appearing on her hands, feet, and face that the people before her knew what was going on.
Kent and Diana stared in rapt attention as Samantha's hands changed into paws. They were too intent on her facial features shifting to notice Twist's feet as her lower face started changing into a feline muzzle even as her ears went higher on her head and shifted into a triangular shape.
What was originally a female human was now an anthropomorphic female tabby standing in the Rosses living room.
"I do have to adjust the rear a bit to allow my tail to be free. Otherwise it can be uncomfortable caught in my dress slacks," said Samantha, shifting the back hem down just enough to allow the appendage a chance to swish freely behind her.
SHE'S BEAUTIFUL! said Ava, staring down the stairs at the were before her parents.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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*At the tail end of our previous episode, where the excerpt before that came from.—tmw.