Idiot. Idiot. Idiot.
Keith kept muttering that word under his breath after he left the meeting. He thought he had adjusted to this male thing, but the rush of hormones triggered by his first sight of Jackie put paid to that theory. How could he have been so stupid? Even though she was clearly attracted to him, and he to her (if she had looked at his crotch she would have no doubt of that), even a brief conversation had brought about such emotional chaos that he panicked and left to clear his head. It was like high school. Was it always this difficult for men?
Keith sucked in his breath as he had another scary thought. What if a sweet girl like Jackie fell into the claws of one of the players among the male panthermorphs? Being a male among males had confirmed some of Cathy's fears about the attitude of some males towards women. The wrong guy would be exactly the worst thing for Jackie as she struggled with her new gender and sexuality.
Alright, Keith thought. I need to calm down. He remembered that there was a creek nearby.
After a quick dip in the creek's cold waters had cleared his head and temporarily banked some of the raging fires of his new libido, Keith, shivering, made his way back to the circle. He crept up next to Jackie, and was rewarded with the radiant expression on her face as he joined her at the fire.
"I was hoping you'd come back" she whispered.