“Where to next?” Charlie said.
“Skunk’s shop.” Hagerd replied.
The noble’s manor had taken an hour. If they were fast enough, they could hit the skunk’s shop without having to take another whiff of orca essence. That was a good thing in Charlie’s mind, because he wasn’t sure he could handle the new personality.
At last, they arrived at the boutique shops nearby. It had taken them half an hour of walking to get there, but Charlie guessed they still had time. He didn’t feel weird or woozy. If anything, the body felt more natural than his own did now.
Palseks, the noble tiger, must have caught a hint of worry in Charlie’s eyes, because he turned to Charlie and said, “Don’t worry chap, it felt like I was going to be trapped in that cow forever, but both the cow and its urges wore off.”
The skunk’s shop was rather small, a bit cramped, stuffed between a chocolate shop and a floral arrangement store. A tiny sign was flipped, indicating it was closed. The group walked around into the alley behind the boutiques and waited for the kobold to quaff the skunk.
“Is it safe?” The tiger asked
“Who cares.” Gregory rolled his eyes, “Aren’t you happy to not be a kobold?”
“I’m pregnant,” The tiger said.
“...Oh.” Gregory stroked his jaw. “Well…hmph.”
“I mean, do you want to be pregnant?” Hagerd asked.
“Yes, I’d like to keep my clutch, thank you very much.” Palseks said.
“Whose…”
“I mate-bonded with the…” Palseks began as she felt her heart begin to flutter,“blue kobold from the caravan.”
“No wonder he was so desperate to buy you,” Charlie murmured.
“I don’t want her to be useless because her brain is fried.” Charlie said. “You quaff it.”
“Me?” Gregory stared at Charlie, appalled.
“I’ll do it.” Geoffrey growled. “Don’t sully yourself just yet, my liege.”
“Just yet?” the mink sputtered,whiskers twitching.
“You didn’t take the tiger’s essence or this one, so if we finish this shop in say, half an hour, yes. You’ll be the only one who can safely quaff essence.”
“B-but-!”
“You can be the eagle. He was quite handsome.” Hagerd boomed.
Prince Gregory sagged. “Fine. Ugh, if the essence sticks and you stay a stink-butt, I’m not sure you can stay my boyf-my bodyguard, Geoffrey.”
“Don’t worry about me, my liege,” The polar bear winked. “Bottom’s up!”
The group watched as the polar bear’s eye widened, pupils dilating.
Geoffrey began to shrink, slowly at first, then quickly. His short, dense white pelt quickly grew into long, lush black and white fur. His little bear tail sprouted and the fur fanned out. The smell of skunk quickly filled the alley as his bottom half changed. By the time the transformation was finished, a short, cute, fluffy skunk man was standing in the alley, dressed in a floral tunic and purple pants.
“Oh!” Geoffrey’s voice was high and effeminate, “Nicolas is very gay!”
“The man who owns perfume shop is a homosexual. What a surprise.” Gregory rolled his eyes. “bet he’s a bottom, too.”
“No.” Geoffrey said.
“Wonders never cease,” Gregory rolled his eyes. “Open up his shop.”
Geoffrey nimbly walked over to the backdoor and moved his paws in a strange, circular manner.
“Combination magic lock.” He explained.
“Nicolas was a magic user?” Charlie said, surprised. “Good thing we didn’t force the kobold to drink. Or you’d be down one slave, Gregory.”
“Please.” Gregory rolled his eyes.
The door opened and soft, delicate fragrances wafted out, competently covering up the skunk-stench.
Inside were rows of jars and boiling pots and essences. It appeared Nicolas didn’t just do perfumes, he also did candles and incense. There was even an Alchemical kit set in the corner.
“Wait outside,” Geoffrey said, “there’s all sorts of traps in here and I’m assuming none of you wants to spend the rest of your life as a skunk’s asshole.",
The party could hear Gregory shuffling about inside, before before bustling out with a crate of goods.
“Here, take these.” Geoffrey huffed. “Heavy! Don’t drop it.”
“What are these?” Hagerd asked, easily lifting the box out of the skunk’s paws.
“Potions. Hold on.” The skunk went to the back. The sound of clinking glasses came from the back of the shop as the skunk came back out, piling up crates of perfumes. “These are magical too.”
“Magic perfumes?” Gregory scoffed.
Geoffrey strutted towards the mink, skunk tail swaying. “Yes, sweetheart.”
The skunk pressed his lips firmly to Gregory’s and wrapped him in a hug. His tail curled around the couple. Charlie heard low moans and happy murmurs. Then the skunk released the Prince and walked away. As the skunk stalked back into the shop, Charlie noticed that Gregory’s pants were tented, a dark stain spreading from his crotch.
“He’s...really hot.” The mink panted.
Finally, the skunk returned with the contents of the safe. “All done! Your turn, Gregory.”
Gregory rolled his eyes and helped pack up the crates and goods in the back of the prince’s carriage. The party had considered using it as a bad idea, but since it was pure black and had no real distinguishing marks (it looked like any other carriage, really), they figured it was safe.