"That will be $300, sir" The ticket seller told the young man standing on the other side the glass, who handed out his credit card without delay. That didn't mean he was glad to do it. To the contrary, the fact he was paying that much for two Opera tickets didn't please him in the slightest.

"It will be worth", he kept repeating to himself while looking at the two tickets with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, "There's no way she will refuse the invitation".

The lucky lady that would hopefully accompany him that Saturday night was his workmate Erica, the newest intern at their work place. She's been there for about six months, and it only took her one to steal Joel's heart.

She was a beautiful blue eyed redhead. Nice, cheerful, hard-working, and most important of all she was in very good terms with Joel. They had good chemistry, and shared quite a lot of interests which made chatting really easy and enjoyable. But there were also other things that were pretty much incompatible. Her interest in Opera was one of them.

She was also quite reserved about her private life. Every time Joel tried to ask about her family, where did she grow up or if she had any other friends besides her coworkers, she would easily find a way to evade the question, sometimes while stating that she didn't like talking about her private life and that it wasn't important. The tidbit of information that he was able to get out of her was that she was single. And for the moment that was all that mattered.

His cellphone alarm brought him back to reality and reminded him the lunch break was almost over, and without wasting any time he made his way back to the office.

Standing at the entrance of Erica's cubicle, Joel looked at the girl browsing an array of websites. He unsuccessfully tried to get her attention by knocking the door, so he walked in.

Unlike the knock, she did heard his footsteps and evidently tried to close the web browser in a rush using a combination of keys, right before facing the person inside her cubicle. As soon as she saw Joel's face her expression relaxed and she sighed in an obvious sign of relief. "You scared me" She said.

Joel chuckled. "You were so focused that didn't even notice that I knocked the door. Had I been the boss you would be in trouble by now", he said. "What were you looking for anyway? That looks like a website with information about wild animals". She looked back at the screen and was surprised to see the website she tried to close was still open. In her rush she obviously pressed the wrong keys.

"Yeah, I've been looking information about wild animals available for purchase in the area, but no luck so far" she said.

"Well, I know for certain that there are tons of squirrels and raccoons in the suburbs if you really need one, but as far as I know they don't make the best pets", he said "If that's why you're looking for one, that is".

"Oh no, it's not that" she replied, "Well, sort of". She made herself comfortable on her chair before continuing. "Maybe I should listen to my friends and go with a cat or a ferret. They are easier to deal with and a more traditional choice" She said, more to herself than to Joel, "But I really want a Raccoon. They are so adorable and fluffy!".

Joel was taken by surprise by the sudden comment Erica just made. It was the first time she had ever mentioned something about her friends, or about anything from her life outside the office for that matter. Did she do it by accident? That aside, he made a mental note to look for information about a shop or breeder that could sell him a domesticated Raccoon. Judging by her obvious interest it would make a really good Christmas or birthday gift. It might even impress her better than an Opera ticket... something that reminded him why he was there in the first place.

"By the way, I got these" Joel said, taking both tickets out of his suit and handing them to Erica. "I thought you might be interested". Erica grabbed them and smiled after reading the contents "I suppose you're asking me out, then?"

He simply smiled back, the answer being obvious. She looked at them again, and as soon as she saw the date her smile disappeared. "Saturday...".

That reaction wasn't exactly a good sign, and something he certainly didn't expect. "You had... plans this Saturday?" He asked.

"Yes, but it's a few hours earlier than the performance" She replied. She stood there for a moment, thinking. "I... guess I could leave early and meet you at the Theater in time, or at most a few minutes late".

"That'd be great" He said.

"Ok, I'll get back to you later then" She replied.

Satisfied with that reply he chose to not push the issue any further. It wouldn't change much and might even make things worse. They both said goodbye and he went back to his cubicle.

By Friday evening Joel was cursing the fact he might have missed a very good opportunity to skip having to watch an Opera performance. Erica had shown interest in going out with him, and that was exactly what he wanted. He could have simply told her to not worry and to keep her plans for the weekend intact, that it was really a non-issue and that they could as well go out for dinner on Sunday or maybe the following weekend. In a weird change of events, he found himself actually expecting Erica to give him the "bad news".

Joel was relaxing on his bed using his notebook when his cellphone started ringing. The screen showed Erica as the caller.

"Hey there" He said after answering the call.

"Hi Joel" She said, "So, about tomorrow..." she continued before being interrupted.

"You think you can be there on time, or should we arrange something else for some other day? I have no problem with the later" he said.

"No, we can, that's why I'm calling you" She replied, "Actually..." she said, pausing for a second before continuing "I was wondering if you could do me a big favor before we go to the Theater"

That question took him by surprise and made him stutter slightly. "I... uh... of course!" he stuttered. "I mean, what do you need me to do?"

"I have a... meeting with some friends" She started, "I know I have kept you in the dark regarding my life outside the office and never talked you about them, or my family or anything at all, and I'm sorry."

Joel remained silent as she talked. "I... need someone to accompany me on this meeting, someone I can trust on" she continued, "And since we have known each other for a several months and have a very good relationship, I thought that person could be you."

If he didn't know better, he would swear she was talking about her prom. That was of course not the case since she was a 24 years old college student working as an intern in an Accounting Firm. What kind of meeting between friends would require you to attend with a companion?

"I... sure, no problem" He replied, hoping he wasn't doing a mistake.

"Awesome! Thanks a lot, really. I'll be in your debt for life after this!" She said happily. It surely sounded like it was a big deal...

"I'm going to text you my address now. Make sure to be here tomorrow at 6pm. The meeting starts an hour later and ends at 10pm. We can leave early so we will make it to the Theater in time just fine. See you tomorrow!" She finished

"Uh, yeah, see you later" Joel said, a bit confused, right before the call ended.

The prospects for the following day were interesting, to say the least. Not only he was going to attend a performance he wasn't really interested in, but he would also attend a meeting full of people he didn't know at all, and of a nature he was not aware of. But on the bright side, he was going to spend an entire night with the woman of his dreams.

His cellphone broke the silence once again by notifying Joel about a new message. Knowing what it was Joel checked it before getting back to his laptop. The next day was surely going to be interesting...

Joel parked his car in front of what supposedly was Erica's house. It was a big two story suburbia house, with a decently sized front yard filled with trees. He figured it was her parent's house, since it was a bit too big for a single resident. She was 24 and still on college, so was most likely waiting to graduate before moving.He certainly hoped that by then she wouldn't have the need to move alone. Getting out of the car he walked towards the front door and proceeded to ring the doorbell. He heard the sound of footsteps walking towards the door before it opened.

"Welcome, come in!" Erica said before walking back inside the house, apparently towards the kitchen. "Close the door, please, then make yourself at home. I'll be back in a minute!".

Joel complied and walked into the living room, then sat in a couch. The room was clean, well maintained and furnished. It didn't take too long for Joel to realize that there was nobody else in the house. Maybe her parents were away, or maybe she was indeed living alone in such a house.

His train of thought was interrupted when Erica entered the living room with a plate in her hands. "Sorry about that, you ringed while I was in the middle of making some tea" She said, before placing the plate on a table. "Want some?" she asked, pouring her cup.

"No thanks, I'm ok" He replied.

Erica started drinking her tea before taking a glance at the clock. "Five past six, you're right on time" she said, "Let's get started then!"

With that she placed her cup on the plate and walked towards a bookshelf, where she grabbed an old book that has certainly seen better days.

She started to turn the pages, as if looking for something specific, and then stopped. She read that page for a few seconds before looking up at Joel.

"Alright" She said, looking at the young man, "Whatever happens, please don't panic."

Contrary to her expectations, that request raised a few alarms instead and prompted Joel to ask what she was talking about. Before he was able to say a word Erica raised her hand and aimed her palm at him, then pronounced some strange words Joel didn't recognize. As soon as she finished, Joel felt a pressure inside his chest which subconsciously made him reach for it with his hand. Could it be a heart attack? That made no sense, considering he was a healthy 27 years old man who never experienced stress and had relatively sane alimentary habits.

The pain stopped a few seconds after it started, only to be replaced by a strong and accelerated heart rate. His legs felt weak and it was hard to maintain balance, and he started to feel hot and dizzy.

Erica placed the book on the table and ran towards Joel to prevent him from falling. His expression was that of confusion and even fear. What the hell just happened? What did she do to him?

She was smiling. Not a smile of malice but one of reassurance, or maybe of expectation. He started to feel an itch on one hand, which got his attention. He raised it to look what was wrong with it and instantly froze at the sight.

Black hair had started to sprout from the top, while the nails slowly thickened and darkened.

"It's okay, it will be over in a minute. It won't hurt at all, so please bear with it. I'll explain afterwards" She said, grabbing his changing hand with her own.

He was about to snap back at her but was interrupted by a tickling feeling inside his throat, which made him cough. He tried to say something afterwards but the only things to come out of his mouth were rough noises. He was unable to form a word.

He looked at his hand again and saw that his thumb had become a finger, similar in shape to his changed pinky. The palm was black and with a leathery texture and what used to be nails were now claws. It definitely resembled the paw of some animal.

His other hand started to follow suit right away, experiencing the same changes in almost the same order. He could also feel something soft filling his shirt, making it tighter against his body, and as if Erica were reading his mind, she proceeded to remove his suit and shirt and put them aside. Joel simply had no strength to fight back.

Without his shirt he was able to see the bushy coat of gray fur that was growing from his skin, slowly spreading from his wrist all the way to his shoulders, back, chest and belly.

Erica placed one hand over Joel's furry chest as soon as it was fully covered and began to stroke it. That action immediately generated an inexplicable feeling of pleasure that took the changing man by surprise, making him close his eyes. Then, as if triggered by the stroking, the fur started to make its way to his head, starting with his chin and neck.

He felt her stop the stroking, which surprisingly made him feel disappointed. She smiled and proceeded to pet him under the chin. Once again he found himself flooded by a wave of pleasure, and instinctively stretched his chin to facilitate the petting.

A purring sound could be heard coming from his throat in response to the petting. His nose started to darken and reshape, becoming moist. His whole face started to protrude forward, forming a pointy narrow muzzle that was immediately covered with a light shade of gray fur, almost white.

Long whiskers sprouted around his nose. His lips darkened and became thinner, while his teeth and tongue reshaped inside his mouth. He made some chittering noises in response to the odd feelings these changes were generating, but the petting made it bearable and practically impossible for him to react.

His nose started to get scents that were imperceptible until then. One of them was Erica's, who hadn't put on perfume and who had only smelled of clean clothes to his human nose. She had now a clear and unique smell.

His eyes lost their natural color and became a dark shade of brown. Black fur grew around them, giving the appearance of a mask that clashed with the lighter fur on the rest of his face.

His ears slowly crawled to the top of his head, becoming pointy and growing the same gray fur most of the upper side of his body was now sporting. His hair then started to fall, being replaced by the same fur that was spreading from his face and ears.

At no point Erica stopped stroking his chin. It was obviously making things much easier and the purring and chittering noises Joel made were extremely amusing and adorable to her.

Joel's head was pretty much that of a Raccoon at that point, save for the fact it was slightly oversized, and it didn't take long before it and his upper body - which until then was mostly unchanged save for the new coat of fur - started to shrink.

His hands and arms were first, but immediately accompanied by his thorax and abdomen, which were also becoming rounder. The fur then started to make its way below his waist.

Unlike his upper body, his legs and groin started to shrink alongside the growth of fur. It took only a few seconds before his pants and underwear were too loose for his changing body and slipped down his legs.

The realization that he was suddenly resting pantless made him break free of the trance that was Erica's petting. He opened his eyes, looked down at his body and with a noticeably animalistic scream he freaked out at the sight of his private parts shrinking and reshaping.

Erica chuckled and started to pet him behind the ears. The slight moment of realization he had was completely lost as he once again was submerged in a sea of pure bliss. His feet started to change in a similar way his hands did moments before, while every part of his body kept shrinking and losing mass.

A strange and uncomfortable pressure at the base of the spine made him chitter in surprise. What started as a little stub slowly grew out of his back into his new tail, twitching reflexively and sprouting fur as it became longer and fluffy, with black and gray fur alternating into a ringed pattern.

Erica looked at the new raccoon with a smile. She stopped her petting and picked him up, putting him face to face against her.

"You're adorable!" She said happily, and then gave him a hug. The pleasure that was clouding his mind slowly started to dissipate, and the Raccoon opened his eyes. He screamed and tried to break free from her grasp, instinctively using his claws against her.

Erica then dropped Joel in a reflex to avoid his swipes. He initially tried to run on his hind legs but tripped at the second step, hitting his face against the floor. His back was forcing him on a quadruped stance and any attempt to walk on two legs was futile.

Without giving up he started to clumsily run on all fours towards the door. He didn't get far before he felt two hands grabbing him from his chest and lifting him up off the floor.

"Calm down! I told you I would explain after it was over!" She said, sighing. Joel at first tried to once again get free from her grasp, but gave up soon afterwards. There wasn't much he could do, and running away from her was impossible.

Erica walked back towards the couch then sat down, placed Joel on her lap and carefully started to stroke his belly. Joel found himself once again enjoying the stroking, but because of the stress this time his mind was much clearer than before.

"You can't talk right now, but you can think. Try doing it the same way as when you talk to yourself inside your head".

*What's the point?[/i]* He thought *It's not like she can hear me[/i]*.

"I can, in fact. That's why I asked you to try it" She replied, surprising Joel. "Ok, where to start" She said before placing the Raccoon next to her on the couch. "The reason why I haven't talked about my private life is simple: I'm a wizard. A witch if you will"

Given the circumstances, that revelation wasn't much of a surprise for him.

"The meeting we're going to attend is a wizard's one" She continued, "The reason why I was looking for a place to buy a Raccoon was because I needed one for it. Each attendee is required to bring an animal companion".

*Couldn't you just get a cat or something instead of going to such extents to get a Raccoon?[/i]* He thought, his tail swishing reflecting his annoyance and generating an alien feeling that distracted him a little, *Y-you turned me into a damned animal![/i]*

"I told you I wanted a Raccoon, remember? I didn't want to go with a traditional choice, and the only way to get an intelligent domesticated Raccoon around here was... well" She said.

*So because you wanted an exotic pet to show your friends and because you couldn't get one by more traditional means, you chose to make one out of me?* He thought, *You could have at least asked first or something!*

"Are you telling me that if I had asked you about this you would have taken me seriously, or even accepted the offer afterwards?" She asked, with an incredulous voice.

Joel admitted to himself that it was indeed a stupid assumption. He shifted position, sitting on his haunches. It felt odd, but ultimately natural giving his current shape *Alright, fair enough. But still, turning me into an animal against my will and expecting I'll be cool with that...*

"Technically, it wasn't against your will. You see, my magic can't work when the target is unwilling. It's a big and annoying drawback, but something that in a way stops me or any wizard that could otherwise do mayhem" She said, "The fact my magic worked on you was because you were willing to help me and trusted me, even if you weren't actually aware of my capabilities" She continued, "In a way you could call it a loophole in the rules".

"Now that you're aware however, unless you're still willing to be affected by my magic you will slowly return to normal after a few hours. By morning you would be fully human again" Joel's face lit up at that revelation, or at least as much his Raccoonish features allowed him to.

*So this is not permanent?* He said, whiskers twitching in anticipation.

"As things are right now, no, it's not" She started, "But you losing your will to help me defeats the purpose for which I transformed you in the first place." she continued. "All I need is for you to attend this meeting with me in your current form. It will be at most three hours, and after we're done we will get back here, grab your clothes and go to the theater just as we planned" She finished.

Joel gave the offer a thought. She would turn him back right after the meeting was done, which was much faster than letting the magic wear off in the span of several hours.

If he agreed, he would be doing the woman he liked a big favor, one that would make her be on his debt for life, as she mentioned on the phone the previous night. Also, he has finally gotten to know more about her and her life outside the office. It wasn't exactly what he expected, but he knew that the fact she revealed her secret to him was because he was trustworthy.

However, if he refused the offer he would then kill their friendship or at least any chance of taking their relationship beyond said point. And in the worst case it could get him a wizard as a resentful ex-friend. Willingness or not limiting her magic, he didn't really feel like facing such risk. For all he knew there could very well be other "loopholes" in all this...

*So, all you need is me accompanying you to this meeting, right?* He asked.

"Yes. All I ask you is to spend three hours like this" She replied, "Please, you have nothing to lose from this"

She was right, Joel thought to himself. He was already a raccoon after all, and one way or another he was going to change back to human. Agreeing to help her was the only choice with a good outcome.

Before letting her know his decision, Joel took a minute to look at his body. The easiest thing to notice was his muzzle, which was blocking a good part of his line of sight. He apparently was also slightly overweight, even after flattening his fur against the skin. He was a pudgy Raccoon and it was surely making him look even more adorable.

Looking at one of his front paws he started to move his fingers experimentally. They were quite dexterous and far from useless, and he knew he could grab certain stuff with them even if he lacked thumbs. There's a reason the little rascals are so good at stealing stuff from people, he thought to himself.

But out of all the changes, the one that took the cake as the most strange and distracting feature was his tail. Unlike essentially everything else, it wasn't something he already had that simply took a new shape; it was a completely new appendage that he could both move at will or by reflex.

Erica watched quietly with a smile in her face as the Raccoon inspected his new body. She even felt compelled to pet him again but refrained from doing so.

*All right, I'll help you with this* He said, breaking the silence and looking back at Erica, *It's not like this is too bad after all...*

He didn't want to admit it, but he was starting to enjoy this unusual experience. His mind was clear now and the initial anger and fear that were consequence of his sudden change had dissipated. And after he dedicated a few moments to inspect his body he came to the conclusion that in the end this was going to be the most unique experience of his life. He could very well make the most out of it.

"Great! Thanks a lot!" She said happily, and once again grabbed the Raccoon to give him a hug. The fact he had got closer to her as a cute 35 inches long furry critter than he did as a human was in a way hurting his pride.

"Ok, I'm going to get ready and then we can go" She said, placing Joel in the couch before running upstairs. "Just wait there, and don't touch anything!" She finished.

Joel sat down and then moved his tail to a position where his paws could reach it. He started stroking its fur, pleased with the feeling it generated. He was enjoying this way too much, he though. It was simply too surreal.

Joel's self-petting was interrupted minutes later by the sound of footsteps walking down the stairs. He rapidly put his tail aside and sat on his haunches.

Erica was wearing a tight long gray dress that did a good work accentuating her features. She also reeked of perfume and it made him sneeze. "Let's go, then" She said, smiling at his reaction.

Joel stood up and carefully tried to get off the couch, first his forepaws, then his hindquarters. His face didn't meet the floor, which was considered a success in his book. Unfortunately walking on all fours was a different situation, as his pace was still clumsy and measured. It was evident that the change of body didn't come with a lifetime worth of experience and proficiency.

As with his attempt to get off the couch he didn't have much of a problem trying to get into the car, as all it took was a slight jump. Erica closed the passenger seat door after him and then made her way towards the driver seat.

A middle aged man greeted the redhead and motioned her to enter the house. "Welcome Erica" The man said after closing the door behind her and the Raccoon at her side. "You were able to get one after all" He added with a smile, "I thought you would give up and just buy a cat".

He bent down with the intention to give Joel a pat in the head but stopped midway, with a surprised look on his face. "A human..." He whispered.

Joel's ears perked reflexively as soon as the man made that remark. His shock was short lived when he remember the fact he was in a wizard's meeting. If one can turn him into a Raccoon, it's not weird to assume others can see beyond the magic.

He looked at the Raccoon for a moment before talking again. "Well, you're quite a fortunate woman! Your friends are going to be jealous" He chuckled, and then directed the newcomers to the living room.

The room had a big table in the center, surrounded by several chairs and filled with drinks and expensive snacks. There were no more than thirty people scattered around the room, either chatting next to the main table or sitting in one of the many couches lying against the walls. Oddly enough, only a handful of the attendees had an animal making them company. At first sight there were only two cats, but judging by the size of the pockets in some people's coats there were also a few smaller species, probably hamsters or similarly sized critters.

*I thought everyone needed to have an animal companion* Joel thought. *why are there so few in here?*

"Most are in the basement. Do you honestly expect a few dozen animals, some of them not even domesticated, to behave and not make a commotion in an unfamiliar house filled with strangers?" She asked. "Those you see here are either well domesticated and trained, or used to be human just like you" She continued, "So it's to be expected they will behave".

That reminded him of the man's remarks about Erica being lucky to have him as his companion. *You mean there are other transformed people here?* He asked.

Erica looked at the animals in the room, inspecting them one by one. "The cats" She finally said, "Just the two". She seemed pleased that was the case.

*Why does that make you happy?* He asked.

She looked back at him smiling and then picked him up, placing him comfortably against her chest. "Bringing a human that accepted to be changed as a companion is quite a privilege. No more than two of those are usually present in one of these meetings" She started. "When I said you were making me a big favor, I really meant it."

"Erica! There you are" a feminine voice said, prompting Erica to look to forward.

A woman in her late twenties - probably the same age as Joel - was walking towards them. She had short brown hair, and was wearing a long red dress. "I was wondering when you would show up. This is your big night after all!" She said happily.

The woman looked at the Raccoon in Erica's arms, and her gesture changed to one of surprise for a second, before smiling again.

"I see the little rascal used to be human, uh?" She said, "Not only were you able to get a Raccoon as you wanted, but a transformed human at that!"

"Are you jealous, Jess?" Erica replied, jokingly.

"Of course I am! It makes things so easy and gives you so many benefits..." Jess said. "You were talking to it just now?"

"Yeah, I made a mental link as per usual for the occasion" She replied, making Joel realize that she was the only one capable of hearing his thoughts.

"Great! So, what is it? Male or female?" Jess asked, then without even waiting for an answer she grabbed his tail and tried to lift it.

Joel reacted immediately at the feeling of someone grabbing his tail and moved instinctively, pulling it off her hands. The sudden action made him almost fall off Erica's arms, but she was fast enough to prevent it. He was snarling and showing his teeth menacingly.

*The hell was that for?!* He shouted.

"He's male, and don't do that again" She replied to Jess, annoyance being evident in her tone. "And she didn't mean wrong. Please, calm down" She then said to Joel.

Jess laughed at the Raccoon's reaction. "Well, isn't he modest? Given the circumstances I thought he wouldn't really mind me trying to confirm his gender. For starters, he's naked in a room full of people".

*Of course I mind, dammit!* He though, even though she wasn't able to hear him.

The exchange between the raccoon and both women was interrupted by a familiar voice. "He just changed, so it's to be expected he's not going to like being treated like that just yet".

It was the man that greeted Erica and Joel at the entrance. "We're about to serve dinner, so if you don't mind Erica, can you take your little friend here to the basement?" He asked.

*Wait, what?* Joel thought, surprised at the man's request. *I thought I could stay here...*

"I'm sorry, but you can't stay here while we're dinning" Erica replied. "It won't be long, so bear with it, okay?"

She then started to pet him behind the ears and walk towards a door. The feeling was every bit as pleasant as it was back at Erica's house, instinctively making him purr and clouding his mind. He wished she would never stop...

Unfortunately for him the petting stopped at some point, and he slowly started to regain awareness of his surroundings. He had somehow fallen asleep and didn't really know how much time had passed. The last thing he remembered was being carried around the house by Erica, after she was asked to take him to the basement.

Unfamiliar sounds and smells helped waking him up, and he suddenly found himself in a slightly lit room filled with cages, each of them containing an animal. Joel was of course inside one of them.

The two cages next to him contained raccoons as well, both of them looking at him curiously. Apparently Erica hadn't been the only one to find a way to get a domesticated Raccoon out of the thirty or so people present in the meeting. And based on what she said, these two were real unlike him. One of them even had a collar, which confirmed it was a pet.

He could see in the distance that many cages contained cats, while in the other end of the room were a few with dogs. Closer to him he could see a handful of ferrets. They had apparently separated the animals based on species.

There was no doubt he was in that house's basement, brought there by Erica who didn't even bother to check if he was okay with that. And considering that he was currently locked in a pet cage, it wasn't hard to assume he would have never agreed to it.

He felt a bit embarrassed that Erica's petting was so enjoyable that it even made him fall asleep. The fact that such a simple action made him so vulnerable - even if one as enjoyable as this - was far from reassuring.

He chuckled at his predicament, wondering how did things go so wrong in such a short amount of time... *Would you look at me. A human in the morning planning his first date with a girl ending up a Raccoon inside a pet cage in the evening* He thought.

*Pleased to meet you! Name's Joel Bradley, Accountant, Analyst, Raccoon. Among the services I offer I can do your taxes and even keep an inventory of the items in your trash can* He joked sarcastically, engaged a fictional conversation.

Out of the many distinct scents his nose was detecting there was one that started to become more noticeable, getting his attention and making his whiskers twitch reflexively. He curiously looked around for the source of the smell until he located it coming from one of the cages next to his. It was from the collared female Raccoon.

He wasn't sure how he knew that it was female in the first place, or why her scent was so much more noticeable and even pleasant than the rest. He looked at her for a few seconds, mesmerized at how beautiful she was... until he snapped out of the trance at the realization of what he just thought.

He was surprised and ashamed of catching himself feeling attracted and even aroused at the presence of the female Raccoon that stood less than three feet away from him. And he was even more ashamed of the fact that becoming aware of said thoughts hadn't really affected them at all.

Joel moved to a corner inside the cage as far as possible from the other Raccoon and curled himself into a ball. He was going to tell Erica after she had turned him back that he was going to return home, get a long cold shower and sleep for a whole day. Opera performance be damned, he needed to clear his mind.

He was also considering taking a week off his job, if any to stay away from Erica while he let this experience cool off. This certainly was the most unique experience he's ever had, just as he originally though, but it developed in ways he didn't expect.

Minutes passed, making Joel more and more anxious. He couldn't even try to sleep since most of the animals were making a ruckus, obviously because they were just as happy to be there as he was. Also, he needed to go to the bathroom...

He remembered the two cats that were originally human like him, and wondered how they were taking this, or what was the story behind them. How did they end up agreeing to be transformed for this meeting? Were they also doing it for a friend? Maybe the choice was also pretty much forced on them as it was on him...

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. People started walking down the stairs and into the basement, each of them heading to different cage. Among them was Erica, who with a smile on her face opened the lock and asked Joel to get closer.

*I'm waiting for an explanation... Why did you lock me down here without even letting me know?* Erica's smile disappeared when she realized Joel wasn't sharing her mood.

"It's not my fault you fell asleep as I brought you down here..." She replied, "Were you expecting me to wake you up to tell you I was going to put you in here?"

*Yes!* He shouted.

"Look" She said, rolling her eyes "I knew you wouldn't agree to getting locked in a cage alongside the other animals without a lengthy discussion, so you falling asleep was an opportunity that I simply couldn't let pass" She said, "Besides, you looked so adorable that waking you up would have been a crime" She finished, slightly blushed.

Joel looked at her, still somewhat upset at her behavior. Starting an argument would be useless, and the faster they left the place the faster he would be back in his human body.

Most people had already picked up their companion and walked upstairs at this point. Erica was surely going to be the last person to leave the room.

*So, what now? Can we go home or is there something else you have to do?* Joel asked, *Also, what time is it?*

"It's almost nine" She said, looking at her watch "and now comes the real event and the reason why I'm here".

*And what is that?* Joel asked curiously, recalling the comment Jess made about this being Erica's big night. *Are you like, getting a wizardry diploma or something?* He said, half joking.

"More or less. Tonight is my initiation, which means that from now on I'll be a member of this guild" She said, her face and tone showing anticipation and joy. "Getting into a guild is a privilege, one not many get the chance to experience. It opens many doors as a wizard, effectively putting you way above the guild-less."

*So it's a ceremony to approve you as a member? Sounds like a wizard's only kind of fraternity* Joel joked

Erica chuckled, "Only five of us are being initiated tonight, and I'll be the first. The rest of the people here are old members. Jess is one of them, and she's the one that recommended me to the head of the guild" She said, then motioned Joel to get closer. "Come on, let's go upstairs"

Joel walked towards Erica, who picked him up then walked out of the basement and into a different room than the one they had been earlier.

Compared to the living room this one was slightly smaller, completely unfurnished and dimly lit by a pair of wall mounted lamps. The attendees were gathering in the center, each of them with their respective companion and forming a circle around a single person.

Joel noticed the man in the center was the one that greeted them hours earlier, which pretty much confirmed he was the head of the guild. Now wearing a long brown robe, he held an old book in one hand and a quill in the other. There was no doubt the initiation was obviously going to be some sort of ritual.

Erica walked inside the circle and stood in front of the robed man. It surprised Joel at first, but then he remembered that she was going to be the first to get initiated out of all six new members.

He caught sight of Jess among the members forming the circle with a ferret resting on her shoulders, and of an old man holding the cute female raccoon that had made him company for the past two hours. Her presence made him feel a bit uneasy.

"Shall we begin?" The man asked. Erica nodded then started to pet Joel under the chin, making him purr at the sudden wave of pleasure. It felt as good as before and slowly washed his nervousness away.

The man started to speak in what seemed to be the same language Erica used when she changed him, as a glow coming from the floor started to brighten the entire room. He didn't pay it any mind, being instead fully focused on the pleasure he was getting from the petting.

Erica started to pronounce single words and short sentences in the same language, as if answering questions the man was making. The room was getting brighter with every passing second and a humming sound was becoming noticeable, growing in intensity in parallel with the glow and making it difficult to hear most of the words the two wizards were speaking.

Soon after that, both the humming sound and the words stopped in an instant. Then, as the man wrote something in the book, Erica lowered her head - her face illuminated by the glow that still covered the entire room - and whispered in his ear the first comprehensible words since the ritual started.

"Thank you."

The sunlight coming through the window slowly woke the creature up. He was curled up in a ball, his muzzle resting over the tip of his tail. His thoughts were fuzzy much like his memory, but he had the feeling he'd just woken up after an exciting night. He unfurled from his curled position and yawned. Then, as he was about to walk out of his bed, some of the memories from the previous night returned to his mind and it dawned upon him that he was still a Raccoon.

Joel stood still for a few seconds wondering what happened the previous night and why he hadn't change back. It was morning, so the magic should have worn off by then on its own, even without Erica's help... Or at least, that's what she had said it would happen. Then again, he hadn't lost the will to help her during the night, so maybe that explained why he hadn't change back.

He looked around and recognized the place as Erica's living room. He was standing right next to the couch, even though there was no sign of his clothes. Erica had obviously brought him back to her house, probably after he fell asleep once again because of her petting.

He looked under his feet and saw what looked like a cat bed. It seemed new at first sight, or at least unused beyond the time he'd slept on it. A slightly uncomfortable feeling on his neck made him sit and reach for it with his forepaws, making him aware of the collar that was buckled around it.

He chittered in surprise, alerting a person in the adjacent room of his presence. The first instinctive thought this generated was to flee and hide, but it was discarded as soon as his nose caught a familiar scent.

Erica entered the room and looked in the general direction of the couch, then smiled at the sight of the confused raccoon sitting on the cat bed.

"Hello there! I see you're finally awake. Did you have fun last night?" She asked.

*Of course not! I can count at least three things that made that meeting humiliating, boring and awkward* He said. *Besides, why am I still a raccoon and why am I wearing a collar? I thought you'd change me back as soon as we were done with it...*

"I wasn't talking about what happened during the meeting. I meant afterwards, when you lost your mind for a few hours following the ritual and went on your own around the neighborhood" She said, "And regarding the question, I guess I still owe you an explanation".

The mention of events after to the meeting triggered something in his mind, and slowly one by one those memories started to come back to him. He could vaguely remember walking gracefully on what seemed to be a sidewalk.

"Where to begin..." She said, "I haven't been completely honest to you even though most of what I said was true, like the fact the meeting was my initiation, that I needed an animal companion for it or that my magic only worked on you because you trusted me and were willing to help" She continued.

"What I have kept from you however was the actual meaning behind the initiation, including the role of the animal companion and why I went as far as to turn you into a raccoon for it," she said, "The answer is simple: Every wizard in a guild is required to have a familiar, and the initiation consists of crafting a contract with one".

Joel wasn't sure he liked the direction things were going. *You mean... that I'm your familiar now?* Joel asked, surprised to be more curious than shocked. The memories from the previous night were still coming back to him, dividing his attention.

"That's right!" She said smiling. "You see, having a familiar is not simply a status symbol to differentiate those who belong to guild and those who don't. It actually increases your potential and lets you master arts that would otherwise stand beyond your reach" She continued. "In addition, if the familiar is sentient, said potential is even higher".

"So earlier this week I found myself desperately looking for a place to buy a Raccoon, convinced that I'd somehow get one in time. Then the idea of getting a human 'agreeing' to become a raccoon and my familiar came to me not too long after you showed me those tickets." She said. "The fact you were interested in me as more than just a friend wasn't as apparent before that. After all, you were always friendly but never really made a move until last week," she continued.

"So I decided that if I had to get a human, it should be you. I really like you, and the idea of having you at my side as a familiar was much better than having a wild animal that could prove to be a real pain to own" She continued, "In the end you could said I killed two birds with one stone. As Jess said, not only was I able to get a raccoon, but a transformed human at that; one that I liked, even."

*But... if you like me as you said you do, wouldn't it had made more sense for me to remain a human?* He asked, still a bit dazed.

Joel's mind was not only trying to piece together all the memories from his recent adventure wandering through the neighbors' frontyards, but also struggling to process all the stuff Erica was suddenly revealing him.

"You were the one interested to take our friendship to the next level, not me. I was never interested in you like that. It would have never worked anyway" She said, waving the thought away.

*That... well, It sure would have been nice to know that a week ago...* Joel thought. He was definitely sure that he should be terrified of his current predicament. Yet somehow it didn't bother him as much as it should.

Erica smiled. "You will grow to love being a Raccoon and have as much fun as you had last night, but while having your mind intact instead. It's a matter of time until you get fully accustomed to your new body as well" She said, scratching the fur on his head.

Most of the memories of the previous night were back, albeit a bit fuzzy and lacking some details. He remembered happily wandering around the neighborhood, finding a pair of feral raccoons and joining them in their quest for food, and almost getting into a fight with some random cat. He had a good time indeed.

"Alright, these are the rules of the house" She started, "One, you will sleep on this bed I bought for you and not on my bed or the couch. I don't want you to shed fur all around the place. Two, don't steal food from the kitchen or the trash, and ask me instead if you want something. Also, don't even think about 'inviting friends' for dinner. And three, when you need to relieve yourself do it on some neighbor's backyard and not on mine. You already did it once when we got back from the initiation, but that's forgivable since at the time you were a normal raccoon in both mind and body. For rainy days I will put a litter box in the bathroom" She finished. "Aside from that, make yourself at home!"

Joel wasn't sure how to take all this. In one hand there was the complete indifference shown by Erica after lying to him in order to accept becoming her familiar without actually being aware of it, and in the other was the prospect of being some sort of glorified pet, and even being attained to some relevant rules. The later was pretty much the last thing he expected would happen to him.

"Anyway, right now what you need is a bath" She said, "I don't know what you did last night, but you stink." Apparently, rummaging through people's trash had not only satiated his hunger, but also got his fur dirty.

She picked him up, carefully trying to avoid contact with her clothes, and walked towards the bathroom.

All things considered, he couldn't deny he had gotten what he wanted, albeit in a bizarrely twisted way. He got a special place in Erica's heart and even her house, and he would apparently spend the rest of his days with her.

It was his own fault things came to be as they did. He had the chance to back off at virtually any time until the ritual, since both his transformation and the contract seemingly relied on his will, but his good nature had played against him and he was now paying the consequences of his naivety.

Then, as she started to sponge him down, mixed with the pleasant feelings this produced was the thought that things could have certainly been much worse, and that with time he might be able to fully embrace his new life.