“As my clothes started to tear in more and more places, I quickly got rid of them.

Not only to free myself of what suddenly felt so strange on me, like it never belonged there, but also to grasp fully what had happened to me. There was also a child-like curiosity about discovering my body in a way that hadn’t been possible in its former state. The first thing I took in with a mixture of nervousness and joy was the full and soft mane that covered my head and parts of my chest. Just letting my fingers run through felt almost ecstatic.

When I realized I sat uncomfortable I moved my newly grown tail around, at first as if it had a mind of its own, but soon very natural, like it hadn’t been different at any point in the past. That led my gaze to my feet, which were of a shape now that would probably never fit again into common shoes, but neither would I want to hide them again, or even need to, considering the thick pawpads that covered them. It was an interesting observation indeed: while I had never given much thought to my feet in the past, they seemed now like a very attractive and sensual part of my body. What wonders this ‘change’ had brought me…

After having drank in my new appearance to have my curiosity satisfied at least a bit, I looked for my face in the nearest reflective surface. It was just as strange as it was familiar at the same time: the blend of human countenance and animalistic features didn’t look anywhere near as Frankenstein-like as one would’ve assumed it would. Instead I dare to say it looked natural, the way this new face conveyed my emotions, of which joy and surprise were the strongest by now, after having went through feeling startled and curious before.

Finally I leaned back, inhaling deeply, and feeling more content and at ease with myself than I could remember. My true self had carved its way to the surface, it seemed to me.”

This is a commission I was doing for Byakko110 on FA of his person transforming into a lion, accompanied by a small story I threw in.