At lunch, the group sat together to discuss Rachel Van Direstag's situation further.
"I'm curious," began Alice, who was a wererabbit when furry. "Why bear or fox?"
"I've gone over the entire Guide Book that lady Samantha Twist left," said Rachel. "It's not that I have anything against any other were species, but in my specific case, those are the two I'd feel the most comfortable with."
"How so?" asked her friend Mel Jenkins.
"I've still got every teddy bear my folks have ever given me since I was born, so I just have a natural interest in them. As for foxes," Rachel continued, "I've seen a few wild ones growing up in Michigan. Every once in a while it would be either one of them or a stray raccoon that would raid the garbage cans dad always left out for the trash. Of the two, I always thought the foxes were the more beautiful, with their sleek fur and long tails," she added, not noticing Megumi blushing.
"Well, every were species has its good and bad points," Alice reminded her. "The main thing will be to choose the one you will be the happiest as."
"That I'm still uncertain of. Yet I'm feeling a bit pressured because of the possibility dad and mom might try to leave Moon Lake without complying with the were law and—"
"Like I said," Jason began, reaching out to pat his new friend on her shoulder, "I've never heard of anyone being forced to become a werewolf if they don't honor the were law, but we'll do our best to make sure you have your choice."
"I wasn't sure what I'd become when I first moved here and faced the decision," Mel said. "But then I met and fell in love with Trevor, so the answer seemed obvious."
Trevor just smiled at her and said, "Moo."
"You've all been great, and I'm thankful that you want to help me," Rachel said, looking at all her new friends. "But what happens if I become a were and my folks still try to leave? Can the town—"
"No," Jason told her. "The law says only one must join were society so the whole family has to share in the burden of keeping the town's secrets. Any other Van Direstag joining would be purely on a voluntary basis."
"Besides, it doesn't necessarily have to be you," Alice reminded her. "Another member could decide to or actually join before your folks pack up and attempt to leave. That is, if they're actually dumb enough to do so. No offense," she quickly added.
"None taken," replied Rachel. "But what if I join and the rest do decide to leave?"
"First you'd have to decide whether you want to stay here or be with them," answered Roy.
"And if you decide to stay, we'll see what we can do about accommodations," promised Mel.
"Now then, Megumi can answer any questions you might have about being a werefox," said Alice.
"We shall have to get together at your convenience to discuss the matter in depth," the vixen offered.
"The sooner the better," Rachel responded.
"Then after school at the latest," promised Megumi.
"But I don't know any werebears. Do any of you guys?" asked Alice.
The others thought about it for a moment, then Roy said, "There might be one or two enrolled in school, but I don't seem to have any classes with one."
The others quickly concurred that while there might be a bear or two in school, no one present at their table had a class with one either.
"Then we'll have to start asking around between now and the end of the day," realized Alice, who had seemed to appoint herself leader of getting Rachel inducted into were society. "While Megumi, let alone the Skulk in general, are a great bunch, it wouldn't be fair to base a decision on only partial information."
Whatever might have been said next was lost to the bell ringing.
"Okay. On to our next class," Mel realized, getting up to leave.
As the others rose and started cleaning up after themselves, Rachel couldn't help staring at Megumi as she turned to leave the cafeteria.
Watching the werevixen walk away in her human form, she couldn't help recalling Mel's words when they discussed her situation earlier that day.*
Considering how fertile weres are, if I can't get my specific new species birth control pills in time...
Rachel had never noticed before how Megumi's hips swayed when she walked, let alone the poise and confidence she displayed.
But regardless of bear or fox, even if it becomes an absolute necessity to avoid becoming a wolf, could I...?
TO BE CONTINUED...
______________________________
*Back in our previous episode, "Advice to the Worried".—tmw.