The Professor watched the cruxette as she stumbled along the street. Judging by the nasty bite marks on her arm, she had been just transformed -- and it has been forced upon her. Abandoned like this, she would be harmed by any of the random cruxes that might come upon a newly transformed body. Some of them delighted in extracting organs or experimenting on their physical forms.

It appeared more difficult for her to walk. Her mind appeared to fight her body as she looked down at her feet. Leaning against the wall for support, Lauren tested her legs with another step. The moment she lifted her other foot off the ground her muscles failed her. On all fours, Lauren struggled to move her body, but it was clear she had no strength left. She lowered her head to the ground and passed out.

As he stepped closer, he recognized her clothes as from the Talwyn nation. She was not only a foreign citizen, but a VIP as well. Though he was able to identify her as a user of the craft, her identity escaped him. Transformation of foreign nationals was forbidden without their voluntary agreement. She had been changed against her will, but to leave her here was tantatmount to murder. He kneeled over her, close enough to hear her moan 'help me', and picked her up in his arms.

Placing one hand under her legs and one under her arms, he picked up the unconscious cruxette. Overwhelmed by her transformation she had passed out and would not wake for some time.

#

Diffused light illuminated the entryway to his mansion. He kicked the door open and shouldered it closed with a grunt. The Professor carried his guest to one of the many bedrooms where he places her on top of the covers and laid a blanket over her body.

Several hours later, she came to.

"Don't move around too much, your body has been through a lot," Enkai said.

"Where am I?" Lauren asked.

Enkai set a tray of tea and milk next to her bed on the left nightstand. He poured a cup as he spoke. "My mansion. I brought you here when I saw you pass out. It was not safe to leave you there."

Lauren accepted the tea with a grateful nod. "You do me much kindness, thank you." She paused. "I suppose I am fortunate no one had their way with me while I was vulnerable."

"Crux do not reproduce that way."

Confused at first, Enkai stood so she could see that he had no genital organs as she knew them. Surprised, she touched her chest. "Then I am...?"

"Not female. Feminine, certainly, since your body was from a female form, but crux are genderless, born from other species. I was from a male body originally. If it helps, you may think of yourself as a woman. I will not think less of you for it." The Professor intertwined his fingers with hers, their sharp claws shining under the light above.

"I do not feel any different, at least, I feel almost normal," she said.

"The change is finalizing. You are Talwyn?"

"Yes, I was here on a mission when I was... When I was changed. Please, you must help me change back." Lauren clasped his hands to hers. Her expression became one of pleading and desperation.

The Professor shook his head. "Not right away. It can be done, if you truly wish to become a zebra again, but you would not survive it in your present state. It is painful and draining. Heal for a few days, two weeks is preferable. After that time, I will help you change back."

The cruxette sat up. "My mission cannot wait. I must complete it, crux body or no crux body."

The Professor touched her face with his gentle paw. "Then I will help you."

The Professor is enkaixiomasa
Art by omadaun