Alistair's Story Part 5

I ran home as fast as I can after what just happened that day. I still didn't relaxed when I actually got home, worrying the family friends watching over me. They asked me what happened out of concern. I didn't have a clue of what to tell them. I knew the truth, that I just make someone a snake, was a bad idea, so I came up with something quickly, that I would end up regretting. "Someone was chasing me," I said, not having to fake terrified, as all the excitement from that day that build up in me was enough to be convincing.

That, of course, only added more worry. Soon, they convinced me that I couldn't be left alone, that anywhere I go I have to have someone with me. This was bad though, as I couldn't go save my parents as I had planned, as there was no way I could take the people's cats without them punishing or possibly reporting me. I only grew sadder due to this, becoming more distant from others, even Ryan, the only other person who knew about what I am (For those who are curious about if I ever fixed his side effects, after long, failed attempts, I eventually figured out I needed to say completely back to normal. I was glad when I figured this out, but find having to do that pretty annoying). Soon I was alone in school, with people giving me the space they thought I wanted.

About 2 months after the snake incident, I just sat in the corner of the classroom. The teacher announced the arrival of a new student. I didn't take much interest in it, fake caring as he came in. The student, a blonde hair kid with green eyes, introduced himself as Brayden, and took his seat. He turned out to be one of those new kids that didn't become popular on the first day. What I noticed, which intrigued me a bit, was that he didn't seem to care much about that.

The school day was pretty uneventful after that, with most of my classmates leaving as soon as the bell rang. I was in no hurry to go, and neither did Brayden. He just calmly walked out alone. I left afterwards, finding him very strange. I didn't plan on following him or anything. I was just a little curious.

Soon I was out of the school building. I started heading off of the school grounds when I heard some kids being loud and disruptive. I turned to see the normal school bully, picking on those he thought were weaker than him. Not wanting to get into trouble, I go to leave again. That is, until I saw who the bully was picking on.

The victim of the bullying turned out to be Brayden. I could see the expression on his face. It wasn't fear, hate, or even pain. He was calm, which I figured was him trying to make the bully think he wasn't being bothered by him. This only made the bully more determined though. He kept fighting the new student, most hits connecting. Soon, I see Brayden giving up on just staying there and playing calm, and decided to run to an area between school buildings. As he turned to run, I still didn't see fear on Brayden. It was more like he wanted to lead him there. The bully followed, as did I, confused about what exactly the kid was thinking.

The area we all ran to wasn't that popular of a hangout for the kids at the school. Brayden was soon stopped by the bully, and pushed towards a wall. I go to hide behind a corner, peering to see what would happen. Brayden wasn't fighting back at all, worrying me. I thought that I had to helped him, but I wasn't a good fighter. The idea of changing him came into mind, but I wasn't sure about it. On one hand, I needed to keep Brayden from getting beaten up badly. On the other, it seemed to be a temporary fix, as soon the bully would be after me as well, since I would need to fix him eventually. I hated seeing the new guy getting hurt though.

It turned out though that I didn't have to decide, as someone else did.

"Now, you'll stop being such a jerk, and become a nice, fluffy bunny instead," Brayden told the bully, grinning. I detected a change in his tone, just like what happens when I use my gift.

No, it can't be.... He can't... I thought, soon getting the answer.

The bully was laughing at how Brayden thought that would work. The laughing ended with him receiving a headache. I couldn't believe it, but I was watching someone change, due to someone else.

The bully, while in pain, almost didn't notice that his hands were growing white fur. His fingers were also becoming shorter, with sharp claws growing from them. His feet, while this is happening, where experiencing similar changes, except his feet were still bigger than his hand paws. The bully demanded to know what was going on, confirming that I could understand those others changed as well.

"Oh, this is just your punishment," Brayden replied, as the bully's arms become much storter. His legs became shorter as well, but also stronger. Soon his torso is covered in a mixture of brown and white fur. His torso reshaped to be smaller in length and to have an alignment that allows him to move easily on both 4 and 2 paws. With a short fluffy tail growing from his, he started to shrink to be much smaller, terrifying him.

Halfway to his final size, the fur covers his face, his hair changing to join the fur. His ears grew much longer, and moved higher on his head before flopping down. His eyes became smaller and rounder, and became mostly black. His face pushes forward a bit, and his nose grew smaller, and started to constantly twitch. His mouth became smaller, and most of his teeth disappeared to leave 4 made to do all the chewing. Whiskers appeared on his face next. Soon, he shrank into a complete bunny, which Brayden picked up and started petting.

He's just like me. Maybe... maybe he can help with my parents, I thought, hope returning yet again. Without thinking, I stepped out of my hiding spot, catching Brayden's eye.

"Did you just see this?" Brayden asked, looking more angry than scared.

"Yes, but don't worry. I'm just like you," I reassured him.

"Like me? Prove it. Make this bunny into something else, like a mouse," Brayden tells me, holding the bunny out, who looked scared about changing again.

"Um, I don't really like changing people..." I responded, hoping he wouldn't make me.

"I can't trust you then. In that case, I'll just change you like I did him..."

"Alright. I'll do it," I replied, a little scared. I looked at the bunny. "You'll become a mouse now," I told him, feeling guilty as I heard the change in my voice.

The bunny was terrified as the headache came in to change his instincts again, though there wasn't that many changes, so it didn't last long. Soon the fur on his paws disappeared, and his fingers spread out more. His fur became rougher, and became completely grey. His tail lost it's fur too, and grey slimmer but much longer. His face changes to end in more of a point. His two bottom teeth shrunk away as well. His ears became shorter and rounder, and stood up now. He shrank even more, till he was small enough to fit in one hand.

"So, you really are one of my kind. It's a relief. I thought my family would be the only ones here," Brayden said with a smile.

"Yeah, me too," I replied, happy as well.

"I think our parents would like to meet each other," Brayden said, reminding me about what I wanted him to help me with.

"Um, that'll be hard..." I started to say.

"Why?"

"Well...." I started to tell him about my parents becoming cats, and then getting captured and sold.

"Sounds serious. My family will gladly help," Brayden told me.

"Thanks. I would appreciate it," I replied, so happy at that moment. That happiness blinded me though from realizing something. I figured out, later on, that Brayden was just a little too willing to change people, as I saw with that bully.