You hear something approaching you from behind. Just as you turn around, you see what you can only assume is a young woman approach you. She's jogging, sweating and breathing hard.
It wouldn't be an abnormal site except for the fact that she seems to be part raccoon!
She's a little shorter then you, has gray fur with the classic mask, is wearing a white hoodie with black track pants and she has green eyes. Her eyes stand out and although you know it's probably more your imagination then anything, her eyes really do seem to stare into your very being.
"Hi," she says, extending her right hand.
You see that it has short black fur on top and skin on the bottom. What strikes you is that the skin is Caucasian as opposed to the rough dark skin you might expect.
You're nervous, there's no doubt about that. You've seen raccoons in your backyard but you never thought of touching one. They're wild animals and you'd never risk touching a possibly vicious animal that might be any number of communicable ailments.
Of course, those raccoons didn't wear clothes, walk about on two feet or speak.
"It's all right, I won't bite," she says.
You take her hand, her skin is warm and soft but a little rougher then human skin. She has short claws but is careful not to scratch or cut you.
"I'm Cassandra, what's your name?"
You tell her your name and look her over, noticing that she's barefoot. As strange as it sounds, hairy somewhat large feet look quite cute on her.
"I see you like what you see. I'm guessing you're curious as how I exist or even *can* exist," Cassandra says.
You admit that despite being part animal, she really is quite striking.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare," you say.
Cassandra smiles. You notice her muzzle is shorter then a natural raccoon's.
"I don't mind," Cassandra says.
"So um, how did you -- that is, I've never seen a raccoon lady before. How can you exist?" you ask.
"This park did this to me," she says.
"How is that possible? You're telling me the park has magical powers that can turn a woman into a raccoon person? Come on, you have to be kidding me," you say.
Cassandra puts her hands on her hips. "Look at the evidence friend, if it were impossible, you wouldn't be talking to me."
"Yes but, it can't be possible, it's too weird," you say.
"Let me show you," Cassandra says.
She walks a short distance and sits with a tree against her back.
"Rub my feet," she says.
"Rub you *what*?" you ask.
Cassandra smiles. "My feet honey. They're not toxic."
You gulp and kneel down. Taking her right right foot into your hands, you see that she has small black claws on each toe. The skin on the bottom of her feet is the same color as the skin on her hands. It too is a bit rougher then human skin, but it still looks human. As you hold her foot you feel a strange itchy sensation across the entire surface of your skin.
"Um, is something going to happen to me?"
"Just try it," she says.
You look at her foot and rub it for a few seconds before you notice gray fur sprouting all over your arms. It's impossible, yet it's happening before your eyes. This is getting to be a bit too strange, so you put her foot down and look at her.
"This is nuts, you're changing me," you say.
"You said this was impossible, I wanted to show you otherwise," she says. "You are free to continue if you'd like. I'd love a little brother to share this with."
"Wait a second, a little brother. So, you're not after a mate?" you ask.
Cassandra shakes her head but still smiles. "You're new here, I've been here for a few months. Time flows differently here. If we leave the park, we'll revert physically to who we were before we changed. As long as we stay here, we'll age at such a slow rate that we could stay here for centuries. You see, even though I've been here months, outside, only a few hours have passed."
"How do you know this?" you ask.
"I have spoken with others. Tell me, what's the date and time you entered this area?" she asks.
You tell her.
"Only a few hours as I suspected. Now, you can continue if you'd like," she says.
"You say, I'll change back once I leave the park?" you ask.
She nods.
"Oh what the hell," you say. "But, why rubbing your feet? Why not your shoulders?"
She shrugs hers.
"Call it a hunch," she says.
You resume rubbing her foot taking care not to rub too hard. As you massage her, you feel warmer and the world around you seems to be growing. Your arms are getting furrier to the point where you cannot see your skin. Black fur grows on your hands and you gain short claws. As you continue your massage, you switch to Cassandra's other foot, massaging her right foot with your left hand and her left foot with your right hand. It doesn't take long before you feel something touching the ground behind you. Without skipping a beat, you look back and see what you now have a ringed tail.
A new feeling goes through you as your shirt feels strange. When you realize that you're now wearing a black and gray hoodie along with blue jeans, you start feeling like you shouldn't be doing this to Cassandra. The feeling gets to be strong enough that you have to stop massaging her when your muzzle finishes growing. You stand up moments before she does and realize that you're now only tall enough to reach her chest.
"See, that wasn't so bad," she says.
She gives you a hug and then stands back. You look at her then at your changed hands.
"I'm a kid," you cry. You gasp at the sound of your voice.
"like I said, I wanted a little brother. I could sense that a part of you wanted this. Otherwise, it wouldn't have worked. So, how do you feel?" she asks.
"I feel like, I dunno, it's like I just remembered something from a long time ago. Now that I remember it, I feel stupid for forgetting it. So, you're really gonna show me around here?"
"You bet," she says.