Getting ready for bed, Siegmar loathed the few moments he was forced to get naked and view his belly and legs directly. Or more specifically, what was now covering them. During the day, his heavy layers were able to hide him away from the world, as much as the persistent itching against the fabric told him otherwise. But in the moments when clothing was no longer applicable, he was reminded of the curse that had played over his skin. It was slowly robbing him of his humanity and perhaps simply a prelude to what was to come. 

That last thought troubled him each and every day, as much as he continued to distract himself with work, movies, or other hobbies. Since it had been some weeks since the growth of black fur patches had subsided, and with no further alterations to his body, it might very well stop there. He’d been keeping careful tabs on all the developments of the viral spread and the more obscure effects of contracting it, of course. Many of those infected with animalistic changes, himself included, were given room to breathe after the first changes came and eventually stabilized. Those cursed would start to develop animalistic traits, like ears, tails, claws, or, like himself, a coat of bestial fur. As far as he could tell, after those initial changes, most of those afflicted were to be stuck with them, yet they would go no further. 

Of course, not everyone’s curse ceased with the initial symptoms, and that was what concerned him each and every day. Perhaps it could have been worse, in some respects. The global pandemic of what was dubbed the ‘Novel Zoomorphic Virus’ has taken millions of lives, forcing most people into isolation and inflicting millions more with a debilitating illness. Siegmar would not have wished to die, of course, as much as he didn’t wish to be one of those afflicted with changes that added animal DNA to one’s genome. So many were showing some degree of animalistic traits, and the truly unfortunate were damned to become animals in full, losing their born bodies to become non-human species. Perhaps not to the detriment of their humanity or memories and awareness, but such was of little reprieve with the end result being losing one’s human body. 

And even though his changes had halted for now, Siegmar was still terrified that would be his fate in the end. Not that he wanted to live with his arms, back, shoulders, and legs covered with panther fur. He hated the feeling of it, being unable to see the rest of his skin, and constantly irritated wearing clothes over it. Still, it was a change he could hide, one that kept him from being a pariah in his hometown. But that was of little solace if he was to change more, or if someone got close enough to him to discover his condition. And that inevitable conclusion was surely drawing closer with each day. 

It was a frequent occurrence for him to reflect on the past few months, especially his infection and the subsequent changes as a result. He lived alone in his parents’ former home, somewhat remotely in the country. He never minded the isolation, not being much of a people person. He had been switching between working from home and heading to his company’s offices in Berlin. It was a reasonable balance, though, of course, once the pandemic restrictions were put into effect, he was to work exclusively from home. Public life was all but suspended, though Siegmar never had much to do than to drive to neighboring towns for shopping and the like. It was a lonely circumstance, but one that he tried to cope with as best as he could. 

Of course, one eye was always on the news, even if some of the more bizarre stories left him with much skepticism. The idea that a virus could make people grow fur, tails, or claws was beyond his ability to believe. It seemed rather foolish to think of such when the real-world consequences were as dire as they were. At least Siegmar had never heard of any infections in his neighboring towns, thinking he would with the local populations so tight-knit as they were. Certainly, he would be aware if anyone had been seen with animal ears!

Yet, as time went on, Siegmar’s disbelief became suspended as his country took active measures toward those that showed any degree of mutation. People exhibiting those symptoms were being cared for in what was referred to as ‘special disease centers’, though other than through government rhetoric, no one had any first-hand information about them. Of course, officials denied any wrongdoing, and that everything within their power was being done to protect those infected while looking for a cure. In some ways, the preventative measures made sense, and there was some cause for providing a place for those individuals to be protected from public persecution. But the secretive nature of the facility led credence to the fact that something more sinister was afoot. It didn’t help matters that efforts from the government to round up infected individuals were ramping up, some, apparently, against their will. 

Over the course of the summer, it became clear that while some people who began to change would transform all the way into an animal form, others were functionally stable. Naturally, those changing had total immunity to reinfection from the initial disease, as though their DNA had been too greatly altered against a human illness. It was likely of little solace when the trade-off was possessing animal traits and an uncertain future. But despite what conspiracy media seemed to suggest, none of those infected with the secondary changes were contagious. Still, it meant very little as those infected in Germany were becoming increasingly forced to sign themselves over to the research facility, losing their autonomy in the process. 

Still, with all this going on, Siegmar was fairly certain his risk of exposure was minimal. His location was remote and he left the house so infrequently besides. He was lonely, to be sure, spending far too much time online without anything else to do beyond his work. It was his life now, though as time went on, Siegmar found himself wanting something more, though was unsure what that was or how he would obtain it. Perhaps it was that longing that left him a little cocky, no longer taking health advisories to heart. So few people in the villages wore masks or anything of the like, given their remote location. And yet…

Siegmar had no idea where or when he had contracted the disease. No one he’d heard of in his area had reported any symptoms, though perhaps everyone’s shame of reporting their weakness might have played a factor. It mattered little, in the end. Siegmar woke with the normal symptoms of the flu, aching limbs, a cough, and exhaustion. While he did have tests on hand, he didn’t think it prudent to use them, the symptoms mild and sick days from work covering him. Yet, one day on a whim, he figured what the hell, and was shocked to receive a positive test. Of course, he didn’t tell anyone, even his employers, though the disease would have granted him special time off work. 

Still, Siegmar returned to work the moment he felt he was able to, not having much else to occupy his time. And he soon felt entirely better, tests showing he was over the virus as he got back to his routine, as banal as it was. In fact, for the next few weeks, he didn’t think anything of it, finding his own case to be rather mild compared to some that had been reported. All in all, he figured he was lucky, not immune to future strains but unlikely to catch it again as the world caught up and vaccinations became wildly available. 

It was a few weeks later when it happened, the event that changed the course of his life forever. Having a shower before bed, his bath towel rubbed roughly against the skin of his chest and caused him some mild irritation. Looking at it more carefully, it was evident the skin was red and inflamed, irritating to the touch. Not sure where such a rash would have come from, Siegmar paid it little mind, applying some lotion and resisting the urge to scratch. As much as he wanted to put it out of his mind, the patch seemed a little more irritated in the morning and was even a little wider, though he was not inclined to take a measure of it. 

Finding the itching was becoming annoying, Siegmar was unable to stop checking it at frequent intervals. The formerly reddened skin seemed a little darker, the patch slowly spreading across his pecs and down toward his stomach. Waking one morning a few days later, Siegmar was so stunned he couldn’t help but cry out, the blackened skin looking more like that of an animal, a dark patch in the center that was spreading outward. As much as he didn’t want to admit the truth, there was little else that could be the cause of such a development.

Of course, Siegmar had no reason to report his symptoms and hid them away, which was easy enough. He didn’t have many places to go on a typical day, and the affected skin was largely relegated to his chest, which a shirt could easily cover. It did little to amend the fact that the blackened patches were continuing to spread over his chest and belly, forming even darker rings over darkened skin. Waking up one morning, the irritation against his sheets was enough to think the reddened skin had spread to his back as well, though in an area he was not able to easily see. Without seeking out a specialist, there was no way to know what the progression would lead to. But that would mean revealing his secret, and that was not something he was inclined to do, the repercussions too dire to fully think about. 

Rubbing the skin one day in reflex, an odd texture met his touch, one that took a moment to process. While his skin had altered, the human hairs over it remained intact, as sparse as it was over his chest. Yet, the sensation was almost soft, almost like the hairs were much more numerous. The realization left him terrified, but there was little other recourse than to head to a mirror and see for himself what had developed. Fearing the worst, Siegmar was unable to stifle a gasp as a patch of fur had sprouted in the small space where he had discovered the initial spot. The fact that he was changing into an animal could no longer be ignored. 

As much as Siegmar wished for the changes to be a dream, there was no denying the itching against his clothes, worse now, especially around the small patch of fur. The need to scratch was almost maddening, though he was reluctant to touch it, figuring that it was infectious and might spread the changes to his hands. It was paranoia, he knew, but there was no denying his fear of the first tangible change since his illness. 

Every morning he woke up, Siegmar was afraid to look in the mirror or feel his skin. Yet, figuring the inevitability of such, he always made his way to see how far the fur had spread. At first, it was only within the circular patch where the initial redness had popped up. But one morning, a patch of black fur on his side left him surprised and irritated in equal measure. The redness was spreading all over, as well, covering his back, up to his collarbone, and even over his upper arms. It left him to look rather diseased and inhuman, a sign of what he was to lose. Worse, the persistent prickling was a prelude to another patch to find in the morning. 

It took some time for him to identify the animal that the hair belonged to, much to his chagrin. Black fur was common among the animal kingdom, in a variety of species as well as a variety of morphs. He was a mammal, of course, but so were most people who had been exposed to the virus. There wasn’t much left to distinguish what his species was, save the strange shapes he’d noticed on his blackened skin before hair had taken over. They were rather large circular patterns that almost looked like rosettes, almost akin to a parasitic infection save for the size of them. A quick Google search on that front narrowed down the species significantly, and Siegmar had to wonder if he was becoming some sort of a big cat, a black jaguar, or a panther. It seemed unlikely, given that most people reported turning into more indigenous animals to their local populations, or into pets or other domestic species. It wasn’t impossible for people to turn into big cats. He found reports of sightings of a tiger in the middle of a city that was likely a former person, albeit one that had changed far too fast. But the odds were rather low, and Siegmar couldn’t deny the irony that he’d won the lottery, still damned but in a unique way. 

Each morning seemed to bring more change, and Siegmar was tempted to apply for his paid vacation, though in the end needed the distraction work could provide. He couldn’t think about anything other than the progression of his condition, and checking his skin for further fur growth became an all-consuming task. For now, the reddening skin hadn’t spread past his collarbone, which was a minor reprieve given the potential loss of his skin to whatever animal he was becoming. The fur was spreading a little faster, as much as he was able to measure. More of it peppered his chest around the initial site and was spreading from his side as well. He was sure a third patch was starting on his back, to the point the irritation was too much for him to sleep under covers any longer. Not that he needed to with the heat that came from his changing body!

Time seemed to stand still as fall continued toward winter, and the areas of skin Siegmar possessed were steadily robbed from him. His belly was slowly subsumed by the fur, forming the start of a pelt, one that Siegmar might have found pleasant to touch had it not been covering his body. Several patches had sprouted from his sides and back now, and each day had them spread toward the inevitable goal of intersecting with each other. With the redness and irritated skin as far down as his calves and even the top of his feet, it seemed little would be spared in the end. For now, his shoulders and the backs of his hands were devoid of irritated skin, but there was no way for Siegmar to know how long that would last. 

Trips into town for supplies were sparing at best, though Siegmar was at least thankful he was able to hide his shame with a turtleneck sweater. The hours before were spent scouring every inch of his visible body to make sure nothing could be seen as long as his clothes stayed on. And so far, it was safe for him to go out, sure he wouldn’t spread his condition as patient zero for a new wave of animalistic alterations. He feared going to a doctor and registering his status as infected and changing, wary of the ramifications. As best as he could tell, people who did so simply disappeared, being whisked off to some facility with little contact with the outside world. Not all countries had the same measures taken, but it was of little reprieve when he had nowhere else to go. 

Thankfully, he was still able to hide away his changes until the spreading of the irritated skin seemed to stall, and then stop. The backs of his hands and his shoulders were still spared, leaving Siegmar to hope that might stay the case. Even for those whose changes stopped at a certain point, there was no baseline standard for how long that would last. Siegmar could barely conceive the idea that he might keep changing further. Then there would be no avoiding the intervention from the state, whatever that future entailed. But with so much uncertainty, it was all he could do to keep his sanity, much less retain a semblance of normalcy. 

The reddening skin seemed to have stopped spreading after several weeks, which was only a mild relief, given how much it pained him. Lotions and creams had only a limited effect to alleviate the irritation. And when black fur started to poke from the pores, not even cream could provide any relief. He had to imagine that the bases of hairs were formed deep underneath, pushed upward and parting the layers of the dermis to sit beside the rather sparse hairs of his humanity. Siegmar was almost thankful when it stopped growing, the itching alleviated save for the annoying sensation of it against his shirt. At least at home, he could take it off, though eventually opted to leave it on and hide the sight of his shame. It was little reprieve, as much as he could still tell it was just under the shirt and ready to remind him of all he had lost. 

As time went on, it seemed obvious where the fur coat would pause, at least for now. His shoulders and lower arms were still void of fur, though it was a small blessing with the overall implication of his infection. But his upper arms soon erupted with their own coat, all the way to the elbows and forming a full pelt within days. The fact it was coming faster than before was not lost to him, but it was a daunting task to measure the rate. Every day the reddened irritation ceased to spread, Siegmar found himself breathing a sigh of relief, if only briefly. Any day could be a sign of his further degeneration, something that weighed on his mind. Surely, his blood pressure was through the roof, though doctor’s appointments were sparing at best. Besides, such would give the game away and risk him getting whisked away to some unknown fate. 

By now, his chest and back were covered, the consistency rather soft as much as he loathed his possession of it. The texture of it was a little different over his thighs and upper arms, and slightly shorter as well. Even the backs of his feet were not spared, and he hated how even wearing socks and shoes was meddlesome for him. Of course, there was no denying the fur was there, even as it finally seemed to stop growing and Siegmar was finally given a reprieve. For how long, he had no way to say. 

As much as he had the free time to do so, Siegmar took to the internet to keep up with the newest developments with the disease. There was a lot for him to wade through, given the myriad of misinformation or bigoted statements toward those changing. And many stories that made the news cycle were vague at best, repeated to death with breaking news being a rarity. It was unofficial channels that allowed him a more nuanced perspective, places where people felt safe enough to post their status. He didn’t know the specifics of treatment or containment within other countries, though it seemed as far as he could tell, the US wasn’t actively confining infected people. At least he hoped everything came through in translation, Siegmar having to use a plugin to translate everything to German as he browsed the web. 

There were a variety of people within those spaces that reported transformations. Some were further along than others and a few were likely to change all the way, or perhaps already had. That last realization was a little hard for him to swallow, given the lack of hands that befell most victims. There were prototypes of hand-held devices that made it easier for claws or even hooves to work, enough that some fully transformed people were able to communicate, albeit slowly. Part of him didn’t want to hear from those perspectives, hoping that he would not have to experience the same. Ignorance was bliss, as the English saying went, though eventually, he forced himself to read those accounts. Some were just as bleak as he’d figured they would be, people trapped in their homes, waiting for government subsidies, and struggling with a variety of animalistic habits and instincts. Everything from diet to bodily functions to sleeping habits was all turned upside down, and much of the discussion was devoted to the trials of coming to terms with such. Siegmar fell into a state of despair after that, thinking that any day might be confirmation such would be his fate, as well. At least people seemed to be functioning, albeit not easily, a testament to the human spirit. But it was something he didn’t want for himself, lamenting his lot in life. 

As much as it discouraged him from looking, Siegmar scoured the posts for signs that someone else was turning into a big cat. He wasn’t sure himself, of course, but there was nothing else he could find that matched the black spotted pattern. With most of those infected becoming more mundane creatures, pets and livestock, and the like, it was hard to find anyone who was in similar straits. And, of course, not everyone changing would be willing, or able to post about their status online. The number of people becoming domestic felines was about as high as expected. At least larger keyboards made it possible for them to use their smaller paws to type and discuss their circumstances. As much as their life circumstances were different from his own, it was at least the closest thing he could find out about what his future was to hold. That was, at least, before he met Sara. 

The fact that there was a regular poster who had turned into a tiger escaped him for a rather embarrassing amount of time, given her prominence on the forums. After finding her profile, under the user name Ember, however, Siegmar was able to bring up everything she had posted under that tag. She certainly had a tale to tell, having been one of the first people to change fully from human to animal, and one of the first to start posting about her daily struggles as well. Using her real name seemed not to bother her, and Siegmar found himself thinking she was lucky she could do so without persecution. It seemed she was lucky to have some friends with a basement large enough that she could stay there as a temporary arrangement. She was not shy about outlining some of the trials that such a living arrangement had brought about, in great detail. And, in recent days, she made mention of how a big cat sanctuary was to be built near her town. It was something publicly funded to be a gathering place for those who had been changed into big cats under the care of experienced zoo staff. 

Reading all she was able to share, Siegmar found himself fascinated. Not only had she changed in rapid succession, but she was able to make the most of it. Working with her roommates with some start-up capital, they were able to make items for people who had changed. Saddlebags, harnesses, and a number of upcoming things that she seemed to enjoy teasing her future clientele with. It was a fascinating story, not only for her form but her personal experiences and aspirations for the future. Naturally, she had many followers and likely replied to dozens if not hundreds of people each and every day. Just because she was a fellow feline, it didn’t mean she had to take the time to talk to him. And yet, given her circumstances, how could he not reach out?

Unsure what to say in greeting, not only from a cultural perspective but to someone who had already changed, Siegmar took the better part of a day preparing his message. He wanted to know what her life was like, in as much detail as possible. Yet, there was a part of him that didn’t want to know, either, hoping that would not come to that. Still, in the end, there was no putting it off, and he hit send and waited with bated breath for a response. Taking a risk, Siegmar included a few pictures of himself, as a way of proof that he was changing, likely into a cat himself.

Knowing about the significant time difference, Siegmar was patient, resisting the urge to check his email every five seconds. There was little that he could think to do as a distraction, but he managed, eventually heading to bed. Thankfully, there had been no further itching in the past few days, no more fur moving over his shoulders or hands, something he would be unable to hide. His human hair, as well, remained as such, though there was no guarantee it would stay that way. At least each morning he woke up with no further fur, there was some hope. 

He wasn’t expecting to hear from Sara so soon, but seeing there was a message waiting for him, Siegmar felt his elation grow. She was happy to hear from him, knowing very few cats in the US and even abroad. As best as Siegmar could tell, his translation plug-in seemed to be working well enough. The language barrier could be a little cumbersome, but the gist of the message was intact. She quickly bombarded him with questions, offering any advice and assistance she could. Siegmar wasn’t sure what to ask, a million questions through his mind but none that he wanted the answers for, not really. Either way, he had opened the door, and for the first time since the changes began, Siegmar felt some level of comfort.

Using a VPN to mask his location in case of government observation, Siegmar scoured the threads for people discussing the status of changing people in Germany. Very few other people who used the forums were in his country, much to his dismay. And none of them had been admitted into one of the country’s medical facilities, which made him even more afraid. He was eager to talk further with his countrymen, though none of them were willing to reveal much about their location, for fear of incarceration. Knowing there were others made him feel relieved to a degree, as much as knowing there were others in similar straits could. Several people were trying to leave the country while they had enough humanity intact to hide the changes. But with all the travel restrictions in place, such was a troublesome affair. International travel was starting to return with the promise of incoming vaccinations, but it was still some time off, a luxury that some did not have. 

In the meantime, Siegmar continued to seek solace with as many people as he could, discussing his fur and his worry about the changes. The idea he would be an animal was not something he wished to entertain at first, not wanting to complain when others had it worse. But with as many people growing fur coats of their own, Siegmar was inclined to share his own experiences. So many people went without clothing to avoid the irritation, and many infected people started having compulsions to lick or groom it, something their altered tongues were eager to do. Yet, Siegmar couldn’t imagine having to do that himself. Combing it was one thing, but to do it with his tongue? That’s how cats got hairballs, damnit!

He continued to converse with Sara regularly, who had a wide variety of suggestions for the start of his feline life. Everything from protein supplements to dietary changes to some subtle purchases such as a scratching post for his eventual claws were all good advice, at least in her opinion. Though, in the end, Siegmar was not inclined to take any of it to heart. His digestive system didn’t seem to have altered much yet, Siegmar was still able to eat as he normally did. He didn’t have the start of claws, and if he were to order a scratching post large and sturdy enough for a cat his potential size, people would surely notice! And that would only matter if he changed further, right? He could only hope with a measure of certainty he would not change any further, as had many of those who had developed animal traits. 

Sara also had some tips for his fur, something that Siegmar was more amicable with. Unlike their domesticated counterparts, jaguars didn’t mind going for swims, and he wasn’t inclined to forgo his showers, even without a feline sense of smell. Sara imparted that maintenance was important, especially as he started to shed a little, leaving the black hairs everywhere. Grooming his chest, sides, and legs became part of his routine, annoying but something he was able to fall into. He had no way to comb the hair over his back, of course, but the rest was at least somewhat manageable. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, the sensations felt somewhat good, and he even found himself looking forward to his brushing. It was made even better when Sara offered to ship him a comb for cats that one of her friends had made with a 3-D printer. It hit the spot in ways Siegmar had not been expecting, and he was glad for it, almost happy he had fur just to use it. 

In the end, Siegmar decided to bite the bullet on a question that had been bothering him for some time. As much as he was sure he was talking to someone who had actually turned into a tiger, it was another thing to see it in person. Asking for a picture felt a little forward, though Sara was eager to share herself in her roommate’s basement, not a place a tiger would normally persist. Siegmar felt he had to swallow a bit, given that it was made more real to see someone that, in a few months, could be him. It was all he could do to continue living as he was, hoping it stayed this way and he did not meet the same fate as Sara. Yet, she looked oddly content in the photos, having achieved a level of comfort in the hauntingly human expression that he could not deny. 

Still, even life with panther fur was maddening, even with as good as grooming it felt. He was constantly overheated, and the sensation against his clothing was more than grating on the remaining nerves. Worse was that as restrictions began to lift, he was forced more often into situations around other people. He was the only person in his office for those rare meetings still wearing a turtleneck sweater, even though it was spring. It did gather some stares, but he wasn’t questioned further on it, for the time being. It was a small reprieve, though he figured that eventually his status as an infected person would be outed like a ticking time bomb. But all he could do was to hope each day that he could continue to live with his condition with a semblance of normalcy.

And that was only the case so long as the changes did not progress beyond his panther fur. Given the few weeks since the last itch of fur growth, there was every chance nothing else would happen. Even a peculiar ache in his tailbone was ignored for the first few days, played off as some injury with age that might have happened to anyone. But the morning he woke up sitting on a specific lump, one beyond anything he felt before, Siegmar was brought to the conclusion he was changing further. At least with only fur, he might be able to shave most of it away once the world had opened up and his condition didn’t have to be hidden away. But if he was really growing a tail, then there was nothing he could do to retain a semblance of normalcy…

It took a couple of days for him to really come to terms with what was happening to him. The ache of sitting on his spinal growth was enough to make him have to adjust constantly, much to his irritation. In his ignorance, Siegmar did not immediately think to ask Sara or anyone else in the sphere of changed persons what it was like to grow a tail. Even if he wasn’t inclined to measure it, Siegmar was sure with each morning the growth was longer, if only by an inch at most. And it showed no signs of stopping, as much as the persistent irritation could tell him. Sure, it still wasn’t a sign that he would eventually change fully. As much as his frequent searches had revealed, developing simply fur and even a tail on their own would not signal a descent to a full feline form. But was it too much to hope he would be left with panther fur and nothing else? Even then, it would be nearly impossible to hide those alterations away forever. If he was outed at the wrong time, he might be whisked away to some facility, to lose all his autonomy and his life as he knew it. 

Eventually, Siegmar decided to measure the rate of its growth as best he was able to. It was hard to bend back and touch the thing, and more alarming to discover its warmth and sensitivity. Its red skin was raw, itching as though it was preparing to grow its own coat. The fur that had covered the skin above his ass had parted to allow its development, the bare skin a stark contrast to his furry body. It couldn’t move for now, of course, given it was simply an extension of the bones within the coccyx and its new nerves and muscles hadn’t taken hold just yet. But he was sure that would happen eventually, figuring the growth would not stop until it reached the size of a proper panther’s appendage. 

Its extension was gradual, making it harder for Siegmar to discover in real-time. It was hard for him to sit in his chair in a comfortable manner, not wanting to crush it. With the way it was sticking straight out of his backside, he could not do much to hide it, making traveling out of the question. At about two inches, the new tendons and muscles within started to take hold. While he could not manage to move it on his own, he could at least push it down somewhat, enough to at least go into town and get supplies without drawing unwanted stares. It was hard, not wanting to make it too obvious why he was purchasing so many groceries at a time. With the steady growth of his tail, there was no telling when he would no longer be able to be seen in public without its presence being obvious. 

As hard as it was for him to sit in his chair for work, driving was a nightmare, given how he had to lean forward to avoid crushing it. While thankful there weren’t many people driving during the pandemic, Siegmar wasn’t sure what things would be like going forward as his tail grew longer and more unruly. It was all he could do not to think about it as he went through his day, hoping to all hope he wouldn’t get worse but unable to imagine a world where things were better. 

Over the next several days, Siegmar was granted another couple of inches of tail, enough that he was forced to sleep on his side. While his mostly fur-covered body couldn’t handle sheets, Siegmar found it nearly impossible to sleep. Quite often, he was left to browse his phone and doom scroll about the impact of the virus as a whole. And he was tempted to rub the back of his spine quite often, to feel if another inch of tail had been added. Constant worry about it getting too long to hide away occupied much of his waking hours. The damn thing woke him up more than once, forcing him to sleep on his chest and making proper rest seem more fleeting.

It was during the middle of a work conference call that Siegmar felt the damn thing move of its own accord. The sensation burrowed up his spinal column and made him yell out from the shock of it. Not expecting to be seen below the waist, Siegmar didn’t think enough to stop himself from leaping up, tail likely on full display as it moved back and forth. It was by sheer coincidence that his action caused his webcam to tilt, and no one had seen the bestial appendage. It was of little reprieve as he tried to explain the situation away as a spider, to which no one seemed sympathetic. He was left unable to concentrate as his irritation caused the growth to hit the back of his chair without his ability to control it.

Its growth steadily continued over the next few days, and with it, Siegmar discovered it possessed a rather bizarre level of articulation. While it started by only moving from the base, the tip soon began to twitch as well, causing Siegmar to rub at it to alleviate the discomfort. Several other spots gained the ability to flex as his tail extended beyond 6 inches, still a fraction of what a large cat’s tail would reach. It was alarming to think it would be close to the length of his body when it was done, making the thought of hiding it almost too daunting. His control over its movements came with some practice, something he didn’t want to focus on but something he figured would be inevitable. For now, it largely moved of its own accord, and it took some time for Siegmar to realize it had something to do with his emotions. Much of it was irritation and fatigue, much to his chagrin. It would have been fascinating, had the implication not been that he would spend the rest of his life as a cat! 

Though he had expected it to happen sooner or later, it was still rather alarming to feel the itching of fur growth from the base. It was disgustingly familiar and brought with it a sense of dread he was trying so hard to avoid. The growth started from the base, moving in a slightly different direction than the fur on his back and making rubbing at it uncomfortable. Before the fur itself covered his tail, the skin began to alter to the same spotted pattern that he was familiar with on his formerly human skin. While the tail itself was still growing, once its fur had reached the tip, there was little turnaround time as new inches acquired their own fur coat. He hated to touch the thing, though a brief novelty was not entirely lost, given he would never touch a real panther in such a way. And, as much as he’d come to get used to brushing his chest and leg fur, so too did he start using Sara’s combs to help keep the tail fur in place as well. 

With the final development of his tail, Siegmar spent too much time browsing the internet for information, both true and false. He was desperate for a clue as to whether he would change further. Rhetoric on everything from the change being a punishment from God to a virus of man-made origin to bring forth a new world order was commonplace. Siegmar did his best to ignore that, figuring there was no reason to worry why he was changing when he had no control over it. His biggest concern was that there might be no possibility he would remain a human and would fully turn into a panther. As hard as it was to hide a fully formed tail, any further changes would surely out him and leave him at the whims of his government. 

The more he looked into the fate of those infected, the more concerned he had for his future. Government intervention was all but assured, and Germany was in the process of accelerating their construction of ‘long-term care’ facilities. Worse, they were mandatory for those who had been confirmed to be changing. With little media attention on the fate of those people, much existed in the way of speculation, whether they were OK or could be reintroduced into society or even if they were alive at all. It was a fate Siegmar didn’t want to reflect on, certainly not something he wanted to experience firsthand. 

While it started as more of a joke at first, Siegmar felt somewhat serious when he posed the possibility of immigration to the US. Having done some research of her own, Sara was quick to jump to his defense, asking if he would be amenable to living at the big cat sanctuary she was helping to set up. If he was being honest with himself, the idea was rather daunting, being around those who might be a window to his future. But at the very least he would be able to remain active online, and even allowed to leave in his feline form, as limited as interactions would be. It was the lesser of two evils, though Siegmar had never traveled, and didn’t speak a word of English. But in the end, what choice did he have?

Given the travel restrictions the pandemic put forth, the only way for Siegmar to visit the US was to have a job lined up. Sara agreed to lie on his behalf, and with some effort, the pair turned in their paperwork. She had some authority in her career and could justify the need for new employees. The idea was daunting, and even taking the first steps toward leaving left him shivering and wishing he could still sweat through his fur. It would take some time, and in the interim Siegmar could only hope he didn’t change any more. 

Unsure as to his future, Siegmar found himself spending all his free time on the forums, looking to talk to anyone in the process of changing. More and more victims were starting to gain access to the internet after their changes, like Sara. At least talking to Sara was a reprieve, an example of what a successful life could be like even for someone who changed into a big cat. It was not a fate he wanted to imagine for himself, but he did get a chuckle out of her success in her business ventures. It was admirable not just for a victim of the virus but a testament to her ingenuity. He didn’t know many people from overseas, to begin with, and it was nice to connect with Sara in a way that he couldn’t quite manage with anyone else. The fact that he couldn’t speak or read English and had to use a translation program was not something he was willing to share. Yet, it was something he figured he would need to admit if the time came. 

With the amount of time he was able to spend talking with her, Siegmar couldn’t help but feel close enough to allow some fears to surface during their conversations. His life as he knew it was functionally over, a shock for anyone. Any of his friends or family were unlikely to be able to help or understand should he change the rest of the way. It was hard not to fall into fatalistic thoughts, thinking his life was over and there was little worth continuing with that in mind. He was not the only one with such thoughts, especially those in the same circumstances who faced the possibility of a complete change. Having Sara as a sounding board was thankfully cathartic, helping give him the courage to seek out others and exchange stories. He was becoming a rather recognizable part of the Changed Community, and in his current predicament, Siegmar couldn’t ask for anything better. 

Sara spent many of their discussions trying to paint animalistic life in a better light. As much as she had struggled with things at first, she was motivated to make things better for herself. Once her own situation was stabilized, she wanted to help others in similar circumstances. It was inspiring, not only for her actions but how she came to handle her new body. Overcoming her handicaps such as lacking hands or human speech was impressive, and highlighting her strengths spoke to her ingenuity and vigor for life. Sara downplayed her level of success, though, from an outsider’s perspective, she had objectively made the best of a terrible situation. As scared as he was of further change, there was something reassuring to know that if he did, he would be able to transition with Sara’s help. 

Eventually, the paperwork came through and it was time for Siegmar to book a flight to America. There were few flights in operation, of course, but with his reasoning in place, Siegmar was successful. Now, all he had to do was hope the screening process would not look for physical traits and simply whether or not he tested positive for the active viral form. His changed body should have tested negative as much as he understood, and he didn’t think the German government was patting down flyers to another country. But there was no denying his fear and nervousness, knowing it was a final effort to get out before he was inevitably discovered and forced into one of the ‘care facilities’, a fate he would rather avoid.

Thankfully, Sara had put aside all her previous commitments to wait for his successful flight and was online to message him at any time. Had he been alone, Siegmar might not have had the courage to go through with it. If he was found out, he might be whisked away to a facility on the spot. Either way, as he got into the cab for the airport, he knew he wouldn’t ever be back to his home again. Not that a panther needed any of his human items, or would be able to use any of them. But there was certainly a sense of sorrow about leaving everything behind for the last time, not only his possessions but his life, and possibly his humanity. 

Getting to the airport, the reality hit him that he was not only leaving his home and his belongings but his country as well. He loved it here, and it was a shame how harsh the current administration was treating victims of a virus. With circumstances as they were, Siegmar had no reprieve but to leave, assuming he was successful. Thankfully, he had gotten a negative result on his test and was able to present that to the border security. He was not patted down or anything of the like, though as he passed through the screening process, Siegmar was sure his tail twitched against his inclinations. Looking back at the agent, he was ready for the worst, though other than a confused expression, the agent said nothing on the matter. It was a close call, and Siegmar was only thankful he was allowed on the plane at all. 

Being confined to a seat with his tail stuck under his pants was the most trying experience of his life. There weren’t many other people on the plane, thankfully, and he was constantly able to squirm his discomfort. But the ache in his heart that he was leaving his country forever was not lost, and his departure was bittersweet. Living in a new country, possibly illegally if he continued to change, carried with it its own set of challenges, despite what assurances Sara gave him. And the fact he didn’t have the ability to contact her while en route was hard as well. But reading the messages of encouragement she had left was enough to get him through, and he braced himself, hating the long flight and eager for the end. 

Thankfully, Sara had recruited some friends to pick him up at the airport, and he didn’t have to worry about the language barrier when trying to get to the sanctuary. Not only that, but it would have been rather difficult to explain why he needed to go to such a place, even if changed people were better received in this country. Looking out the window, Siegmar was privy to a myriad of sights that might have drawn some interest had he not been in the most difficult period of transition of his life. More to the point, he wished he had asked more questions about the sanctuary itself. Were there any people in mid-change like him, or was he moving in with a dozen or so fully changed cats? Would he have a bed or place to sleep that wasn’t a cat cushion or some other animal amenity? Would he be able to even get food there? And how would interacting with Sara be in person? 

Either way, he would find out as soon as the car pulled up to a large building. Gathering his bags, he was unable to hide the motions of his tail as he walked inside, not sure what to expect. It seemed the entryway was some sort of visitor’s center, hardly the trappings of a home for multiple former humans. Even stranger was what appeared to be a gift shop off to the side, in which Siegmar could see rows of merchandise waiting for some grand opening. What had he gotten himself into?

The sound of padding paws made him look up with some terror to see a massive tiger walking toward him. She looked friendly enough, and Siegmar was sure it was Sara. But without knowing what to say, and thinking Sara couldn’t understand German, Siegmar could only stand there awkwardly, pulling out his phone to type his message. It took the tiger a moment to regard him before she walked away, likely to get her own pad. Siegmar wanted to follow but ended up simply standing there, not sure what else to do. If he was able to distinguish confusion on the face of a cat, then he was sure Sara had no idea what was going on. It had been stupid of him, in hindsight, not to confess that he did not speak a word of English. It was not something so common these days and had been a point of embarrassment in his online life. Certainly, it was not helped by the fact that he was sure there was no one within a several-mile radius that could translate for him! A text-to-speech option was available, but with the time it took to run his words through a translator, such seemed inefficient. Not to mention the time it took for Sara to type her own responses, massive paws and claws were only so efficient in doing so. 

It took some time for Sara to finally establish what was going on. It did leave Siegmar standing out with his luggage and overheated from the layers he had been required to wear. Sara had to stay in her room to talk to him. The inconvenience of moving her set up was too great to meet him down in person. She invited him up to her room as well, but that, too, felt wrong, Siegmar feeling nervous about being around the tiger. He couldn’t put his finger on why at first, likely a result of being scared of an animal that could easily injure him. Yet, his rational mind told him otherwise, and Siegmar was left unable to fully understand his apprehension, only to appreciate that Sara didn’t want to push him. 

While it took them far too long to discuss arrangements, Sara eventually came down and guided him to his room. It was smaller than those the cats used, likely a slightly dug-out office room or the life. Worse, all they had for him was a rudimentary mattress and a couple of blankets. There was also a table and chair, at least, as well as some storage for his things, not that he would necessarily need such. Siegmar simply nodded his thanks, sitting down and looking away as a sign he wanted to be alone. Sara did push him with her head and Siegmar reluctantly touched her, but in the end, she left him to his privacy. And with that, the tears started to flow, the reality hitting him all at once that he would be condemned to this fate. Not that becoming an animal wasn’t inevitable, but before he was able to live in his delusion with his human comforts. And now? He’d given up his apartment, his stuff, and most of his dignity, to be kept in a facility that was geared for animal occupants. Would being around those changed make his own infection work faster? Had he made a mistake?

Though Siegmar was sure he would never be able to fall asleep, the sound of a tiger knocking on his door came sometime later after sleep had taken him. It was embarrassing to be seen in his current state, having taken off his clothes to make things easier on his fur. It was a matted mess, something it would take hours for Siegmar to untangle. Though for now, he was starving and was thankful that the chef on staff catered to human tastes as well. Sara encouraged it to be a mostly meat diet, and Siegmar agreed, fine with such a pallet and not wanting to make himself sick. And thankfully, as embarrassed as he had been about broaching the subject, Sara arranged for her roommates to give him a ride home to access their showers. It wouldn’t be a long-term solution, but if he was to change anyway…Siegmar tried not to think about things too much, with everything being as overwhelming for him as it was. 

Over the next few days, Siegmar slowly allowed himself to become accustomed to the sanctuary and its inhabitants and staff, though mostly in passing. He was inclined to stay in his makeshift room as much as possible, and even as Sara visited him, she seemed able to tell he was uncomfortable. She didn’t say much on the matter, going back to her room and typing with him as they had while he was in Germany. It was somewhat comforting to still have her there in that capacity, even if she was technically in the same building as he was. As much as he hated to admit it, Siegmar found it impossible to get over his initial nervousness about being around her. It was a sign of all he had to lose and what his future would be, possibly starting any day from now. 

Eventually getting used to his surroundings, Siegmar finally allowed himself to spend more time around Sara in person. Such wasn’t very efficient, given that they couldn’t talk directly. It took some time for Siegmar to accept the reality that this was the same person he spent all his time online with. Sara was very friendly as well, often rubbing against him and assuring him of her presence. She was soft, as well, more so than his own fur. She likely took better care of it, but that was something he didn’t want to think about too much. Eventually, they even slept in the same room together, Siegmar loving the company and having her purs relaxing him. 

As much as he was able, he took the time to help Sara with any tasks that required hands. The facility was largely sufficient in that regard, with doors able to be pushed open, stair ramps to make it easy to move between levels, and other cat-friendly architecture. And Sara had set things up in her room for the most part to work within the confines of her paws. But it was still a boon to have him around, manipulating her work things and generally making her life more efficient. He was happy to do so, feeling it gave him some sense of purpose.

Siegmar also had some chance meetings with some of the other residents of the sanctuary, though there were less than a dozen for now. He was privy to a pair of male lions, rubbing against each other in a way that implied they were a couple. There was a cheetah as well, though Siegmar only saw him running outside around the sanctuary, a single track leading away enough for him to run all out before coming back. A female snow leopard caught his gaze one morning, too, and Siegmar couldn’t help but admire her coat, long and silky and mysterious. Yet, he quickly chastised himself, not wanting to find anything beautiful in the feline form. More than that, he didn’t want to think about the reality that would soon be his, and when he would be forced to live as they did, with all the trials and tribulations that came with it. 

As much as he loathed the feline form, there was something about being in the sanctuary that allowed Siegmar to relax a little. It was nice not having to worry about his status as a changed being, whether he would be whisked away or lose all contact with the world. Everyone knew his status here, of course, and there was no point in hiding away. His tail was always on display, moving around on its own as a sign of his mood. Eventually, the notion of going without clothing was welcome as well, his fur covering most of his body and his clothing feeling confining. He took to wearing a loin cloth, of course, to hide away his maleness. And having a covering over his shoulders was welcome as well, given the temperature in the place. It did not escape his awareness that it might be the last time he would don human clothing, but with the inconvenience they posed, there was no point trying to hold on to them. The staff in the facility were kind as well, even though he couldn’t understand them, or they him. Still, they seemed to treat him as well as any other human, not reacting to his mostly nude state, and happily provided him meals and hotel-type services. It made him somewhat more comfortable with his state of being, as much as was possible given his circumstances.

As much as she could, Sara spent her time trying to reassure him of how good his life might be going forward. There was no sign of further change yet, of course, but no assurances it wouldn’t happen eventually. In the meantime, she seemed to focus on all the aspects of being a cat that she enjoyed, things that even Siegmar wouldn’t have thought of. Having fur was itchy, and inconvenient in human terms, but it passed quickly, especially as he stopped wearing clothing full-time. And it felt good to have it brushed, even better to have it groomed as much as Sara insisted on using her tongue. And tails, too, were wonderful for a variety of things, not just balance, though that was good as well. As much as Siegmar had figured was the case, a tail was indicative of mood, something that words didn’t need to articulate. As fascinating as Sara was in explaining things, Siegmar couldn’t help but carry some resentment, not wanting this to be his fate but unsure how to escape it.

One other thing she was quick to stress involved just how much meat he needed to consume, even before further changes took hold. Of course, they had no way of knowing if that would come to pass, but Sara seemed insistent that it wouldn’t hurt to stick to a protein-heavy diet. After all, she had gone from a 62 kg woman to a 360 kg tiger in the span of a week or so, and it had been nearly impossible for her to buy enough food to keep her going. He still had the option to eat a variety of foods in the interim, but figured he would abstain, not being able to eat his favorite meals regardless of being in the US. Among many other things, it was something he had given up on when he’d taken the risk to move here in the first place. 

As much as his curiosity about the outside world came over him from time to time, Siegmar couldn’t bring himself to go out and explore. He had the freedom to do so, though, as much as he wouldn’t be whisked away for being in public, many people with partial changes were harassed being out and about. That and Siegmar had come to appreciate not having to wear clothes within the sanctuary. As much as he didn’t want to deal with such a situation against his fur or confining his tail, it would be taboo for him to go out as he was. And there was the language barrier, of course, not even able to read to get around. He wouldn’t have known where to go or what to do, and a guide without German language skills wouldn’t help him to do much. 

Still, when she found out about Siegmar’s interest, Sara was quick to recommend him some of her favorite things, as best she could recall them. Foods, movies, places to see, that sort of thing. Not being able to go out comfortably himself, Siegmar was thankful that Sara’s roommates were willing to run those errands. While many of the experiences didn’t meet his particular tastes, there was something about trying Sara’s formerly favorite things and sharing such with her that Siegmar enjoyed. To his surprise, she didn’t seem too upset about the things she could no longer experience. In her haste to get her new life together, she hadn’t reflected as much on her former one, and it served as a point of self-reflection. 

Even with as much time as he spent with Sara in recent days, Siegmar was left with too much time to think. He had terminated his job remotely, sold his house, and came with a sizable sum of his savings. As much as he was technically on Sara’s payroll, she hadn’t required him to do anything, not yet. Without much to occupy his time at the sanctuary and nowhere to go in the city, Siegmar spent much of his time online. He felt it important to meet with other people who were in the midst of change. He was particularly interested in those from Germany, wanting to know what might become of his countrymen. At least his own experience was an incentive for others to try to escape the country. Such was not easy, but he hoped that as many as possible were able to make it. At least he wished that Germany would become more lax about their policies as the pandemic waned. But that was neither here nor there, and all he could do was hope for the best and be a source of inspiration for those remaining. 

There was another somewhat urgent implication that came with his time online, though not one he wanted to admit to himself. It would be the last chance he could use his hands to do so if the changes ever went further. Such was not necessarily enviable, but there was no denying the real fear. He didn’t bring his concerns to Sara, though as best he could tell, losing her hands had not been something that impeded her in the slightest. Sure, it took her a while to type, and she needed a special keyboard that a tiger’s paws could operate. But she could at least go online with her specialty iPad, and she had even typed to him about setting his own up. It was something he hoped was premature, but he allowed her to help him, given her penchant for looking for more work. 

In the meantime, Siegmar spent as much time reading news articles as he could. He would often run American stories through a translator, not comfortable about what his own country was saying. As much as he didn’t want to believe it, many of those who had shown initial changes were starting to go all the way, taking weeks and months to fully transition to an animal form. And nothing he read could alleviate his fears on the subject. Often, it sent him down a hole of doom-scrolling, something it didn’t take Sara reading his search history to know what was bothering him. At first, he declined her presence, a reminder of all he would lose and the inevitability of his fate. But with the loneliness that had become much of his new life, he soon welcomed her in person as well as online. After all, she had always been there for him no matter what and wasn’t going away any time soon.

As much as he worried about what his new life was like, there was no denying how his new living conditions were starting to shape his perception. As best as he could perceive, all of the residents were surprisingly well-adjusted. Much of their time was spent resting, or at least during the hours that Siegmar was awake. But there was no denying how much fun the residents had in the gym that had been provided, giving them a range of equipment to exercise with. Their abilities to jump, to run, and the sheer range of their power were mesmerizing to behold and left Siegmar to often stare for hours. He couldn’t imagine that being him, as much as logic told him that would be his fate. But with their freedom to leave, their well-constructed accommodations, and their power and grace, he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe…

The weeks carried on, and with it, Siegmar’s depression deepened. A dark turn within his thoughts left him to sit in his enclosed room for hours on end, pondering what might end his torment, in whatever form that might take. Sara checked in on him much too often for him to act on those darker impulses, which was for the best. Still, after weeks on end, Siegmar decided it would be best to find something to occupy his time that went beyond chatting with those online. There was some catharsis in that, though often they were in similar dire straits, and those conversations took their mental toll. As he typed out to Sara, anything productive was better than the seemingly endless boredom he was contending with. At first, he offered to help her and her friends with one of their creative ventures. Since they were working from Sara’s former lodgings, she found the idea of having someone with hands beside her rather welcome. There were designs that she needed to try on herself, and it saved time not having to pay one of her friends to make the drive out. And some of the designs could be made in-house, something Siegmar was eager to try, despite having little experience in such creative endeavors. 

And, to his dismay, it seemed that lack of experience wasn’t much help. Sara started off by giggling at his ineptitude, though Siegmar was not in a mental place to really take the jeering in stride. But as he struggled with the simplest sewing and mending skills, even he had to laugh at himself. Not everything had to be perfect, and he was struggling with enough as it was. There was something cathartic about exploring something new with no pressure to get it right. Such was common practice for those recovering from debilitating illnesses, and as much as Siegmar didn’t want to admit it, such was more apt for him now in his current state. 

There was something else he could do with his hands that Sara welcomed. Pulling out his feline hair brush as was his routine, it only then occurred to him that she might enjoy the same as well. She had her tongue to groom herself with, of course, but the moment he reached out with the brush, a purr escaped her lips, not expecting the contact to feel so good. She had tried her own wares, of course, and it had felt amazing being her roommate’s guinea pig, as she later told him. But to have someone brush her who had experience on his own fur…Sara was on him like a cat to catnip. The pair languished together as Siegmar took turns brushing his own, cuddling his new friend. “See? Having fur isn’t so bad, is it?” Sara had typed it out later, and Siegmar was actually able to smile at that. 

Such mutual grooming became a regular affair, something Sara enjoyed after her days at work. It saved her from having to groom herself, and she hated to admit it, but even her flexible body had a harder time finding a comfortable position. It was more than just grooming, the two bonding in a way that Siegmar hadn’t been expecting. He had not been romantically inclined to anyone in his past, not finding purpose for it in his life save for pressure from his parents and peers. And it was a slow process, typing to her at one moment and brushing her fur the next, unable to do the same at once. But Siegmar wanted nothing more than to stay with her, eager to learn from her and finally starting to feel a modicum of peace. It was fleeting, given his fear over the changes and what might come next. But in recent weeks, Siegmar had been learning to live in the now, and during this part of his life, at least in some capacity, he was able to find a sliver of happiness. 

As much as he’d felt that way for a while now, all the time he spent with Sara caused his appreciation for her as a person to rapidly grow. Not only was her success at adapting to her new life admirable, but her charity was unparalleled. If he was being honest with himself, Siegmar had initially questioned her motives, not thinking such was normal, even for someone helping another changed big cat. But as he came to learn about her financial endeavors, much of her money was invested in whatever she could think of to help victims of the Zoomorphic Virus. I was simply her natural ingenuity, always thinking of different projects she could tackle and being in a position to work with those who possessed corresponding talents. Siegmar came to love that about her, spending long hours in her room asking her about what she had done that day or what she had planned for the near future. 

Those moments of happiness between human and tiger, like everything else in life, were fleeting. It was Sara who noticed the changes first, though she was remiss to say on the subject, not waiting to alarm him. Still, it escaped him at first, Siegmar not thinking much about the numbness in his feet, stumbling a little as though he couldn’t quite get his balance. Sara was later to tell him that there was a shift in his scent as well, something more feline even beyond the undercurrent that his fur gave off. And as ignorant as Siegmar was about the possibility, it was lost to him for long. Siegmar understood, eventually thanking her for her discretion. It took a couple of days for him to reach that conclusion, however, the shock over what he discovered was literally life-changing

He came to understand the implications one morning when he awoke. The numbness in his feet had come to a head, and standing proved to be a precarious affair. But it was the sight of several discarded toenails on his mattress that sent him to alarm. Such was bloodless, at least, and tepidly rubbing the skin reported no pain. But there was something under it that left him alarmed, as though new nails were preparing to poke through. Having seen such on Sara’s paws, the parallels were obvious, as much as he wished to deny it. Still, there was nothing he could do about it, and Siegmar was left numb from the overwhelming fear that he was to truly experience his worst-case scenario. Perhaps one he might have seen coming, but no less alarming at the moment.

Though a part of him longed to hide away the changes, there was nothing to be done for it when his interactions were largely with people who could smell them. Sara quickly moved to comfort him, even licking the skin of his toes in solidarity. He had a reflexive urge to pull away, that her tongue might be a catalyst for further change. But given his eventual fate, there was no point in trying to resist. And if truth be told, he was thankful to have the company. Sara promised she would be there for him as his descent into being a feline started in earnest. 

While his feet hadn’t altered too significantly yet, Sara was eager to impart that using his tail would be paramount to balance in the interim. It was something he rejected, of course, distressed by the notion he was even changing in the first place. Such caused him to withdraw a little, his depression resurfacing as his mind played images of what he was to lose. This time, Sara was determined to force her presence on him, and Siegmar could not reject the company, no matter how scared and hurt he was. Still, it was hard not to cry at the realization he was to change further, and Sara never seemed to judge, lying beside him with her massive body as he petted her for comfort. He had to admit, he liked the feeling of her fur, but the realization he would not have hands for long to touch it was not lost on him, as determined as he was to enjoy it in ignorance.

As much as Sara tried to assure him it wouldn’t be so bad by the end, there was no denying how difficult the period of transition would be. Fur, while itchy, was not a detriment to his human activity, nor was his tail, save for an inability to sit on most human seats. But as his feet started to swell, and the skin on the bottoms began to darken, Siegmar was met with significant struggles trying to walk. He was left wobbling on feet that didn’t exactly respond in the way he was used to. And that was before the major changes took root, prompting Siegmar to take Sara’s advice. It was hard to work his tail in a way to offset his posture, not intended to be used for bipedal locomotion. Still, he was eventually able to manage, even walking mostly normally, at least for the first couple of days. 

The transition of his feet was gradual as much as the growth of his fur had been initially. Their backs itched with their own forming coar, and Siegmar hated having to constantly rub at them, any relief was only temporary. It was sad to see the remaining bits of skin turning black, the steady spread of several patches at once that soon connected and removed any doubt of their eventual covering. Only patches at the balls of his feet as well as the tips of his toes remained bare. Even that skin was steadily beginning to darken, the texture noticeably different as he rubbed at them. With the size they were growing, Siegmar was sure shoes would be forfeited but figured that might be for the best in the end. He could barely walk as it was, and it was getting uncomfortable to put them on.

As long as he still could, Siegmar played with twitching his toes, trying to remember the sensation. They weren’t very long, to begin with, and they were starting to noticeably swell along with the rest of his lower feet. And while the expansion didn’t exactly stick them together, it was almost impossible not to feel them touching. They were slowly shortening, though it was the pops of joints cracking within that drew his attention. As much as he wanted to twitch them to alleviate the discomfort, Siegmar soon discovered his efforts were for naught. Soon, it was only the bases of his toes that he could move, albeit barely. Sections of bones within had lost their connection via joints and muscle, and soon, the bones themselves were to dissolve altogether, preparing to be repurposed for feline anatomy. 

As much as he hated the changes to his four toes, his large primate toes were in for a worse fate. They, too, lost their ability to move within a few days. The way his lower feet were continuing to swell, their bases were pushed to the side, and it was obvious what their ultimate fate would be. Siegmar was forced to feel the weight of them, unable to do anything with them. The bones and tendons within were slow to dissolve, not leaving an empty husk but rather steadily shrinking nubs. They seemed to sit there, looking more like tumors than anything. And as the length of his heels continued to stretch, those retracting nubs continued to reduce, leaving little but empty bumps, which themselves were subsumed entirely. 

Siegmar was not given long to mourn their loss, however, not with the rest of the changes to come. Stretching heels left his ability to stand precarious at best, and one morning as Siegmar went to walk, he was forced forward, unbalanced, and unable to catch himself. Falling with a hard thud, Sara was soon there to help him, and with some work, he managed to rise, albeit barely. It was impossible to lower his heel, Siegmar forced it onto the balls of his feet like the cat he was becoming. It was hard to make it work, taking well over an hour to balance as he tried to walk in his new gait. And such was largely pointless. In his current state, there was little place for him to go, and he did not want to go barefoot besides. He could make it to the bathroom, though he was now being brought his meals. 

By now, the thickening skin under his feet was the only part of them that was devoid of panther fur. Touching the padded, dark patches, he couldn’t manage to feel much through them, even though they had not yet swollen to their feline equivalents. He had to admit, the patterns were rather interesting, amused at how perfectly shaped they became to match Sara’s own. As much as the cat he was becoming, he was barely inconvenienced by the floor against his feet and was willing to try walking once more. This time, he didn’t request Sara’s help, rather mad at himself for having so much trouble. He wanted to rage his frustration every time he fell, but even if they didn’t understand the language, every cat in the sanctuary would be able to hear the intonation. In the end, he didn’t want to bother them, or perhaps worse, bring them to memories of their own early stages of change, struggling with hybrid anatomy. 

Within a week of noticing his toenails falling out, a sharp prick within grew to a head, making him wish to pull at the skin to release them. There was little he could do, and asking Sara for help led to no obvious solutions. As much as he could tell, none of the other felines who had changed lost their nails beforehand in such a way, rather than having their own change to feline claws. Waiting for them to erupt from the skin was maddening. At least they had some cat-grade medical supplies on hand, and one of the employees was willing to regularly apply some topical ointment to at least keep the pain down. It was a few days before the claws actually made their presence known, though once they had, they seemed to push out faster. They were sharp at the tips, much thicker as well, though hardly a candle to Sara’s own. Before their new joints took shape, Siegmar was largely forced to sit with his feet propped up, unable to have them against the ground. He knew they would eventually be able to retract them, but until then, he was left with yet another inconvenience in the interim of change.

A sudden surge of electricity one day drew his attention to his claws as the joints within obtained their ability to move. It was bizarre to be able to work the muscles in such a way, Siegmar was trying to move them all at once but only finding a single one retractable. Further efforts eventually triggered the second as soon as its joints were in place. Relaxing them pushed them out while tensing them allowed their contraction, much like internal springs. Such exploration was a little painful at first, though Siegmar was glad to feel the tingling of a sheath forming around each, ebbing the pain. Curious, Siegmar reached out to play them over his mattress, delighting in the sensation of sticking them within the material. Such ended up leaving holes in the cheap material, but Siegmar figured he would be forgiven and rather enjoyed the pleasant sensation of teasing them over the fabric. 

Still, not able to leave his room without struggle, Siegmar couldn’t help but reflect on what would become of the rest of his life. Surely, once the changes were finished with him, sharp claws, stretched heels, and thick pads would barely be an inconvenience. And that was the rub, in some ways. Everything he had come to love about his anatomy, to take for granted, would be changed, altered, and reformed into something that barely resembled the form he had been born in. It was almost too much to think about. Not only his body but his movements, and his activities would all fundamentally be altered. No hands to interact with the human world, a diet of only meat, walked on all fours, slept at different parts of the day than he was used to, and far more than he was not prepared for. And the reality of such only served to stare him in the face as he woke up to his fur, his tail, and now his paws, which were only the beginning. 

Yet, the more he ruminated on the subject, the more he slowly began to view things in a different light. There were about a dozen others in the sanctuary and all seemed to be thriving. Acting like the cats they were, certainly, and accepting that could not have been a small feat. Surely each and every one of them had sat in mid-change like he was now. And all were now active and vital, as much as he could tell. Would he, too, come to that conclusion eventually? Would it be so bad for him to, in the end?

And then of course there was Sara. She, of all the changed people he’d met, had not only survived her changes but was thriving financially and in her personal life. It was admirable, and Siegmar found himself delighting in the time they spent together, a warmth to her presence that left him excited for more. It took some time and reflection, though it was hard to deny he might have been developing some feelings for her, rudimentary though they were. Such wasn’t a surprising outcome, though Siegmar couldn’t remember feeling this way about anyone. His sexuality might have been described as not being interested in anyone, and he had been content to live that way. But now…whether the connection was a deep friendship or developing into something more romantic, he couldn’t say. They were becoming different species, but as best he understood, they would likely be…compatible, if such was the right term. Could he do such a thing when the time came? And, more to the point, could she ever feel the same about him? Such was too soon to say, and he left it there, simply allowing things to happen as they would and enjoying her company where he could. 

Several more days had passed, and even with as off balance as his elongated heels had become, Siegmar still somehow managed to balance his walk. It was at least enough to use the bathroom, another facet of humanity he would soon come to miss. He tried to put it out of his mind as best he could, especially with more immediate concerns. At this point, Siegmar had decided to eat an all-meat diet, though such was not the biggest loss in recent days. He was going to change all the way regardless and did his best to take things in stride. And at least he had gotten his walk down with his lengthy heels. By now, they were almost longer than his current calves and angled upward to make him dance on the balls of his feet. 

The next change, much to Siegmar’s surprise, was rather pleasant, all things considered. He hadn’t noticed at first, the sensations so gradual and subtle. It was the sight of his reflection in the mirror one morning that drew him to his ears. They were sticking somewhat out of the sides of his head, their shape more ovular than the last he recalled. A rise in the skin underneath them denoted an expansion of muscle, though Siegmar wasn’t sure what that entailed. It was the next day when he’d checked on them that he realized they could twitch, and he delighted in making them do so. Like a new muscle to play with, only not one as intrusive as his tail. It was oddly delightful, given that he no longer cared about the loss of his humanity. Such was inevitable, and moving his ears of his own accord was oddly stimulating, something he took to doing as much as possible.

In the ensuing days, the widening of his canals and the itching of hair growth on the insides made him steadily aware his hearing was getting better. It started as being able to hear the other cats moving through layers of walls. Siegmar delighted in twitching his ears in their direction to try and tell what they were up to. It was a little distracting at first, though he soon grew accustomed to it, as much as his new ears seemed hyper-focused on what they could detect. What did confuse him, however, was how the sounds of voices started to come to his attention, as though the staff had been loudly talking to each other and often. At first, he figured that was what he was hearing and left it there. Yet, there were times when the staff was surely off for the night, and he could still hear snippets of conversation. The strangest thing, too, was that some of the words were on the cusp of making sense to him, even if they weren’t being spoken in German. He couldn’t tell quite yet, and it was only a few odd words here and there he could discern. He had to wonder if he was hearing the other residents and almost wanted to ask Sara to try speaking to him. The idea he could talk to people in person for the first time in what felt like forever made him excited, it was one of the first changes he wished to see through to conclusion.

Peculiar aches in his jaw started soon after, though rather than be afraid of the loss of his voice, Siegmar was rather curious if the changes would allow him to be understood. He would often try to speak when he figured he was alone, still able to make out his own words without any panther inflections. It would likely be a few days before he noticed anything, but he was determined to try as often as he could. It hadn’t quite pushed out like a muzzle, though his lower jaw was noticeably thick. His lips had parted somewhat, and there was more space within his mouth, seeming to force his teeth out of line. New muscles seemed to pulsate through his neck as well, increasing the chances he would soon lose his voice. 

With the shape of his face steadily altering, Sara didn’t comment on it, wondering if it might make him anxious to discuss. Still, as his jaw continued to protrude, Siegmar’s excitement only served to grow. As much as he didn’t care for the sight of it in the mirror, he was still inclined to try his voice at least a couple of times a day. For now, it sounded German, as much as he was used to. But there was no denying the gradually guttural quality in his voice with each passing day. It came to a head one day as he performed his experiments and his voice came out completely warped and growly. Further attempts to rub his throat left him unable to verbalize and worried he wouldn’t be able to understand it again. It was enough to prompt him to go back to his room and cry, just another reminder he was becoming an animal. Sara was there for him, and her massive furry body was once more a physical comfort.

It wasn’t until a couple of days later when he tried to speak again. His face had been pressing out further and his mouth often felt dry and sore. He’d managed to work out the stiffness as he continued to try speaking, hoping his mind or ears would allow him to interpret his efforts as speech. And for a moment, it seemed to, as though the words were clear rather than the growling quality he had come to hear coming from his lips. “Meerorrorowllll I Rraann…”<understand myself?> Siegmar managed and played with the words a little more. It took some time, but eventually, he could comprehend the words he was trying to say. Practice made perfect, and he knew it was only a matter of time before his body had changed enough to understand other big cats as Sara had alluded to. 

<I think I heard that!> Came a strange voice from outside, and Siegmar opened the door to see Sara, sure the words had been coming from her. 

<You can understand me?> He asked, able to make out his own words. 

<You can understand me?> Sara repeated, and Siegmar couldn’t help but rush over to hug her. Thankfully, she was large enough to catch him when he tripped over his paws!

<You have a lovely voice,> Sara remarked, rubbing against him with her massive head. Siegmar was eager to rub her back, glad they no longer needed devices as a buffer. <It’s worth it to talk to you like this,> he replied, knowing he was speaking German as much as she was speaking English. Rather, they were now speaking tigerish and jaguarrish, a language both their new bodies and minds could comprehend. 

Siegmar’s elation was short-lived, however, given the continued changes to his face. It was nearly visible in front of him now, his nose pushed forward uncomfortably against the top of his lips. He couldn’t bring himself to despair for too long, however, especially when Sara commented how handsome he would look with a muzzle. Siegmar blushed at that, and knowing it was to happen, he figured it was worth it to attract her attention. It was terrifying to lose such an important feature, but the end result would be worth it, and soon become his new normal. 

As his face continued to push out, Siegmar was steadily coming to recognize the changes were happening a little faster than before. He’d asked Sara about it, to which she responded by saying, <It was the same way for me as well. I think when the virus gets going, it really gets going.> As much as Siegmar felt he should be worried about it, the idea of being mid-change for too long wasn’t appealing. If he was going to be a big cat, then it was best to get it over with.

<You’ll appreciate having a proper muzzle for eating. Makes meat taste better, too,> Sara commented as they went to the kitchen for breakfast one day. Siegmar wasn’t eating raw yet, but Sara assured him it wasn’t so bad, and a cat’s taste buds were less suited for complex flavors. Siegmar figured that was reasonable, and tried his best to look at the remainder of the changes more objectively. 

Yet, it was difficult to do so as he went to bite down, and the feeling of a tooth loosening gave him some alarm. Quickly making his way to the bathroom, Siegmar was alarmed to feel a tooth fall out, followed by another. <Is everything OK?> Sara asked, following him. Siegmar couldn’t reply, rather walking out holding three of his teeth. A look of panic crossed his features, made worse by Sara’s comment, <That’s not what happened to me!>

By the end of the day, the rest of his teeth had either fallen out or were loose enough that Siegmar pulled them out before sleeping. At least his receding gums showed the start of pointed tips that might make up his feline dentation. But without knowing how long that would take, he was left mute once more, which might have sent him into another depressive spiral. Yet, being able to listen to Sara now, his spirits were lifted when she related, <I’ll do the speaking for the both of us for a while. Sound good?>

For Siegmar, it did, and she spent the next few days with him, chatting about a variety of things while Siegmar listened, enraptured by her words. The topics ranged from her work plans and future goals to how her friends were doing to other big cats from other countries she was trying to help immigrate to live in the sanctuary. Siegamr hung on her every word, feeling he was able to listen to her for hours at a time. He greatly admired her resourcefulness and loved to hear what she had in mind next. And no small part of that was due to how she had gone out of her way to help him in his time of need, as well!

Still, there was one thing in particular that Siegmar found himself noticing about Sara, especially the more she talked. Everything seemed to relate to her business ventures, her work, and what she had to give to others. It seemed she was reluctant to talk about herself, and her own feelings, rather focused on the greater good than her own self-care. And Siegmar couldn’t blame her, not really. For the longest time, it was the case for him, as well, focusing too much on his work and output. Many of his interests lay in fantasy, with little tangible to speak of. And with his job and his old life taken from him, what was left?

It didn’t take him long to come to the conclusion that it didn’t really matter. He could be anything he wanted to be as a cat, at least what wasn’t inhibited by his new body. He had his own resources and money, and little to really spend it on. Given Sara’s own contributions as well as donations, he needed very little to pay for day-to-day life. So then, what was he to do? It was literally a blank slate, and with all the changes to the world from the virus, there were certainly plenty of positions that could be filled. Nothing came to mind for the immediate future, but Siegmar was learning to live in the now and eventually allowed himself to relax into his inevitable new form. 

While it was powerfully annoying to wait when (or if) his new teeth came in, thankfully, Siegmar did not have to wait long. He had been hungry, and even liquid food was enough to satisfy him. Thankfully, his shearing molars didn’t hurt as they pushed their way through, finally having the necessary space in his growing muzzle. It was a gradual process, though Siegmar was able to open his mouth wide enough to watch it happen. Top and bottom molars took shape first, and Siegmar’s curious tongue traced across edges that lacked any smooth surfaces, unlike his former primate dentition. He was sure they were designed for crushing things as thick as bone, though such was largely to be a non-issue with his feedings. His bottom molars, in particular, were much larger, making up part of a carnassial tooth along with the rear upper premolar. Premolars were quick to follow, and Siegmar delighted in the sight of them filling his jaw, unobstructed by his front teeth for the moment. As best he understood it, his new dentition was better suited for biting off chunks of meat at once. His digestive tract would take care of the rest, something he figured there was no point in worrying about. Cats had been doing it for thousands of years, after all, and there was no need for human cooking or processing.

As happy as he was for the rest of his teeth, Siegmar was most excited to see his massive feline canines taking form. They were almost heavy, pointed daggers that barely fit into his muzzle. In the wild, his new kin used such fangs to puncture prey’s windpipes and suffocate them before eating. In his new life, Siegmar figured they were of little use, but he was nonetheless happy to have them, fetching in tandem with his other feline features. They were rounded out with two sets of six incisors, much smaller and easily able to fill the gap between his canines. He had learned they would be used for grooming, as much as the idea of using his mouth for such was daunting, 

<You look much better this way,> Sara teased, though Siegmar had no way of knowing if she meant with feline teeth or simply having teeth at all. Still, he relished in the compliment, especially since he was finally able to articulate, <Thank you. I appreciate that.> 

The changes to his face were not to stop there, of course, following with an intense prickling at the sides of his nose. Reaching up to touch the stiff hairs, Siegmar couldn’t help but pull back, surprised at the level of sensitivity they provided. He had read all he could about feline abilities, and the fact cats used them for feeling around in the dark was something he took for granted. It left Siegmar eager to feel them growing, possessing several dozen now. As best he could tell, they had fully grown over the span of a couple of hours, which left him eager to explore them. Twitching the skin underneath, he was delighted to discover his whiskers possessed some minor level of articulation, something he soon came to play with often. 

Soon after the growth of his whiskers came the popping of cartilage in his nose. Siegmar was almost eager to raise his hand to feel it flattening in real-time. Like his ears, this was a welcome change, nostrils moving closer to his lips and looking more fetching with his muzzle. And while he was already privy to a degree of enhanced smell, it barely held a candle to what was coming. His longer rostrum had more room to drink in scents, and the slits that parted the skin from the sides drank in even more air. Siegmar delighted in how easier it was to breathe, though that was hardly the only benefit to such a nose. Despite his hesitation, he couldn’t wait to relearn the world from a feline sense of smell!

Even before his nose had fully changed, Sara was eager to make a game of things for him. There were a myriad of things he was already able to detect in the sanctuary, some obvious but some evading his awareness. Being able to pick things up with his nose was one thing, but it was another to shift through the multitude of things that were drawn in all at once. Meats and other such treats were easy, though with several such items offered at once, Siegmar found it took some effort to learn to distinguish them all. And to not only detect things hidden throughout the sanctuary but from a distance was a challenging exercise as well. Sara was mean enough to have him practice the exact path someone had taken a meal from start to finish, even as it took several strange turns! Still, it was almost fun, giving him something to focus on before the more jarring parts of the change came for him. 

Perhaps most embarrassing of all was a peculiar scent he picked up a few days later, one that had an unwanted effect on his physiology. As much as Sara had often talked about her heat and how unpredictable it could be, it still took Siegmar some time to realize what he was smelling. Siegmar was somewhat tempted to avoid her, lest he be compelled into something he didn’t want to do. At least, not yet. But such would have been rude, and Siegmar had come to appreciate her company. He didn’t want to be apart from her for long lest he get lonely and his thoughts moved to less healthy pursuits. 

Naturally, Sara was annoyed in her time of heat, not having much in the way to alleviate it. She all but asked Siegmar for help, though didn’t expect such of him if he wasn’t ready. And Siegmar couldn’t yet imagine doing such a thing, even if he was soon to become a similar species. That, and his anatomy wasn’t in the proper position to do the deed, so to speak. Things were made worse by the fact his body wanted her, his nose readily drinking in her perfume, and craving more. There were other ways he might help, though having never done them as a human left the prospect daunting. For example, his tongue wasn’t changed at all, and might not hurt her sex like a feline tongue. Even if it was pleasant, as she had told him before, such was a temporary reprieve. Still, the sexual tension was palpable, and growing with each hour they spent together. Even if their words weren’t clear, their bodies betrayed their desires!

Waking one morning, Siegmar made his decision. Sara was almost shocked when one day, Siegmar returned with a feline-shaped dildo, something that he had seen in her room but had never thought to bring attention to before. Surely without hands, she was not in a position to use it, given how she had never mentioned it before. But Siegmar was in a unique position to do so, as much as he was nervous about trying something like that for the first time. <Are you sure?> Sara was quick to ask, but the sway in his tail was all he needed to know of his decision. 

Nervous as he was, Siegmar said little, moving to her backside as she lifted her tail. The scent was almost overwhelming, making his cock leak. Some shame remained for the size of his prick, though that mattered little if he would never be using it in its current state. Still, there was no denying the attraction, his member leaking and throbbing at the bit to be used. He had not thought to touch himself, especially in the midst of change as he was. Yet, as he sexually pleasured his friend, there was no denying he would have to take care of his own needs soon after or his body would do so of its own accord!

It was all he could do not to stick his nose into her nethers as Sara stuck her ass in the air for Siegmar’s access. The scent was heavenly, and the way her damp fur was stained and her sex seemed to clench made Siegmar sure of her need. As nervous as he was, he was able to take the dildo and insert it into her sex, making her growl out, <Fuck, that’s good! That’s the right angle!> Siegmar wasn’t sure what experience she had using it before now, but her words of encouragement were enough to trigger his desire to pleasure her further. He was a little slow for her tastes, but she was quick to correct him, and Siegmar managed to move the dildo as quickly as he could. The motion made his hand a little sore, but he was determined, and with her heat at its apex, she was quick to call out, <I’m cumming…fuck!> though the words were rather incoherent as she clenched on her toy. 

The force of her grip was enough that Siegmar let go, her sex massaging it without his help. It was all he had to resist touching himself, and part of him desired to lick the sexual fluids from the toy once she was done. Such felt very taboo, but there was no denying the thoughts as soon as they appeared. He didn’t want to move his muzzle closer, either, as maddening as the scent was. He was already on the edge, any minor stimulation was enough to bring him to orgasm. Surely he would not be able to hide any release from her nose, though he figured such was hardly shameful, given what they had just done. 

<Did that help?> Siegmar eventually asked, unable to keep the nervousness out of his voice, even through the feline inflections. 

<A little,> Sara said, and Siegmar felt his heart sink. He’d wanted to actually help her for once. It was the first thing he was actually able to do for her since she had rescued him to bring him to America. And all he could do was help her a little, not yet the cat she needed him to be. 

The sound of the toy hitting the floor caused Siegmar to lift his muzzle, and Sara was quick to rub against him. <It’s not your fault. When I said I could go all day…cats in heat go for days at a time, you know? I can’t really explain it. I’ve only done it once myself, with another tiger. Thankfully we had morning-after pills!>

<Oh, that is interesting,> Siegmar said, not really sure what to think about that. He had been so lukewarm on the idea of sex in his human life. It seemed cats were much more forward in such matters, which would be his life going forward. His body certainly felt that way, but he was more than the sum of his instincts, right? At least there was still a little time before he was changed enough to concern himself with such things. 

<Well, turnabout is fair play. Do you want some help with that?> Sara asked, moving to regard his human prick. The sensation of warm tiger breath on his loins made Siegmar growl out with his need. He was almost ready to lie on his back and accept Sara’s offer without hesitation. He needed it so badly at the moment!

Yet, that prior level of shame still sat with him, and Siegmar couldn’t bring himself to accept, despite what his body was screaming at him. <No…no, that’s OK. I don’t want to impose. I don’t think…> he answered, letting his voice trail off. In truth, he was powerfully conflicted, wanting to think things over for a moment. But then again, thinking was not something that applied to many facets of animal life. As much as he was human in mind, the instincts were there, and the conflict between them was almost more than he could parse through!

<Well, if you don’t want to…I don’t want to push but I can smell your need. And I wouldn’t mind tasting you at least once before, well, it changes…> Sara offered, and it was all Siegmar could do not to beg her. Instead, he finally got down on his back, modest prick waving there as rigid as a flagpole. At the moment, he couldn’t think about what to say, needing it too much and knowing there was no other reprieve.

As much as he thought he was prepared for it, the sensation of a massive, rough tongue against his erection caught him by surprise. It was almost too much for him to handle. Yet, the way she used it to wrap around his member, holding it in place as she massaged the tip was sublime. Surely, she had no experience in pleasing a human male in this way. But the way Sara was being so gentle with him, Siegmar couldn’t help but relax into the strange sensations, allowing them to build as they would.

Much too soon and to his embarrassment, Siegmar felt his human testicles spasm and his orgasm start before he could even think to hold back. Against his inclinations, a growl escaped his lips as he spilled his load, something that Sara was eager to lap up. It seemed not a drop of his cum was able to spill on his groin as Sara worked over it. It had been some time since he’d orgasmed, and the quantity was more than he was used to. Even his meager human prick couldn’t do much for her, it seemed!

Eventually, Sara pulled off him, licking her lips like a cat-eating cream. <That was good…but I’m sorry I didn’t last…> Siegmar managed to moan, confessing his embarrassment.

<Don’t be. Cats aren’t designed to go long. We go hard and fast, and a lot at once,> Sara reaffirmed, moving toward Siegmar’s muzzle and rubbing against him. Once more, Siegmar was made aware of how much smaller he was than her, but it was hardly a deterrent. He still cared for her, and while it had not been the dream date he had long ago envisioned, it was still a nice icebreaker. 

Much to his excitement, they repeated the act the next day, and this time Siegmar didn’t hesitate to allow her to taste his cock when he was done with the toy. He was able to make her cum twice this time, a far cry from alleviating her heat but much better than she’d had in her tenure as a tiger. There was a part of Siegmar’s mind that wanted to mate with her, figuring it was a budding panther instinct that came from her smell. But he would not do so with human genitalia, even if such lined up the right way. Looking at the tiger dildo as he used it on her, Siegmar didn’t think he would be able to get it in. Besides, while they were certainly able to consent, there was something about the fact they weren’t the same species that made him a little hesitant. And then there was the size of his penis…it would get much smaller as a cat, right? Already it seemed insufficient for a tiger’s cunt, and thinking he wouldn’t be able to please her left Siegmar more than a little ashamed. How else could he best repay her for all she had done for him?

Of course, the changes were not to relent, and some of the more daunting transitions were on the horizon. One day soon after, Siegmar’s attempts to stand up were for naught, his spine feeling stiff and not allowing him the motions necessary. Already having difficulty with his balance, Siegmar found himself falling over, close to a dozen times, before he realized such was unlikely to work. If he was being honest with himself, there wasn’t far he needed to go, but it was shameful for him to have to crawl. Sara was there for him to help him balance, and they practiced most of the day before Siegmar figured it was worth giving up.

That wasn’t the only thing he had to contend with, as embarrassing as it was. Getting on two legs to use the toilet wasn’t easy, and in the end, Siegmar resigned himself to using the litter box in the back of Sara’s room, one kept closed for her privacy. Thankfully, it was cleaned regularly by the staff and he could use it without concern about getting dirty. Still, using a sandbox for his bodily functions, while he had prepared for the reality, was deeply shameful. At least he didn’t need to touch it, able to pee into it and use a scoop to cover it. Relieving his bowels was far more daunting, though Siegmar had the foresight to bring toilet paper with him, if not a place to dispose of it right away. The idea of cleaning himself like a cat was repulsive, but Sara didn’t complain about it, at least. And the day was coming when he would have to do the same, sooner rather than later, when he lost his hands.

A longer spine was soon followed by a series of widespread aches and pains through his pelvic region. It was hard for him to really place all the changes he was going through, rapidly happening all at once. Organs needed to reorient, enlarge, or shrink, and everything needed to shift all while keeping him alive. At least he was assured no one had died as a result of the changes, at least not directly. But it was a little daunting to imagine all that was happening within him. Having Sara with him through it all was a gift from the heavens. Honestly, he couldn’t imagine going through all this without her!

As the days passed, it was obvious his internal changes would not come as easily as the rest. The aches of which, while not painful outright, were still largely paralyzing, and he soon found he didn’t have the energy to move. It left him with little else to do than to sleep, something Sara shared was the same with her transition. Sara’s changes came much faster than his own, taking a few days of massive physical alterations rather than what Siegmar was coming to understand would be several days if not weeks for him. His longer spine, leaner stomach, and barreling chest would be welcome by the end, but in this state of transition, Siegmar loathed his body and how much of an invalid it made him. Worse, Sara still had to go out and about through her day, while Siegmar had to stay in her room, waiting for the time he would be able to move efficiently once more. 

It was obvious the next time he walked would be on all fours forever. There was little the changes could do to numb the ache of his pelvis popping apart and leaving him unable to move below the legs. He was terrified at first, thinking something had gone wrong and he would never walk again. But Sara and some of the other residents assured him it was only temporary and that within the next few days, he would be up and about once more. Still, as his pelvic bones shifted to push his hips and thighs out of alignment, and his spine continued to lengthen, Siegmar was left to growl his irritation. Someone needed to come to feed and clean after him, which was embarrassing as he had never had an extended hospital stay in that capacity. All through the process, Siegmar was able to remind himself it was only transitory. And as the changes continued to work over him, the prospect of becoming a panther was looking more and more appealing. 

As much as his internal organs and systems were rearranging, Siegmar was able to discover some more visible changes that made him intrigued. The first of which was two pairs of nubs along his belly that he couldn’t immediately identify. It wasn’t until his chest had expanded that he discovered that his human nipples had migrated toward his belly. They were surprisingly sensitive, though not an erogenous zone for him, and something that Siegmar soon forgot about. Watching him reflexively touch them one day, Sara was quick to show off her own, lamenting the loss of her breasts and having them reduced to nipples she couldn’t touch. While he still had hands, Siegmar was eager to rub not only the pair that had replaced her human breasts but the new ones that had formed as well. As worried as he was over his performance, Sara seemed to like it, purring a little as he teased her. She wasn’t in heat any longer, and he didn’t have a feline tongue to use, but it was still rather nice to make her growl in contentment and even ask for his help again the next day. 

A dryness in his mouth the next day was sign of what he would be able to try next. Siegmar couldn’t guess if a barbed feline tongue would be better for teasing either her sex or her nipples. But as a panther, it was all he would have, and there was some delight to be able to experiment with it properly. He certainly didn’t mind the change, given his human tongue was a little too small for the muzzle he had grown. While he could articulate enough to be understood, it felt more comfortable to have a feline tongue in his mouth. The sensation of forming barbs over its surfaces, gradual as it was, felt a little uncomfortable, though he could really only perceive such with his hands. As to his delight, it seemed more mobile, its width thinner and far more flexible than he was used to. Hell, if he tried it, Siegmar found it could even reach up toward his nostrils, though he was a little uncomfortable with the thought of such. He didn’t really want to have to lick snot from his nose, but at least he could manage it, if necessary. As Sara was to explain, part of being a feline required regularly moistening the mucus membrane at the apex of his nose for it to properly function. 

As much as he had been nervous about trying it, Sara was eager to show him the process of self-grooming once he was ready. While Siegmar knew it was inevitable, he still wanted to use his hands to comb the two of them. Even as his shoulders became more restricted, Siegmar preferred to hold onto his old methods, as though a fleeting effort of defiance. But Sara was insistent, and Siegmar eventually relented and tried licking the back of his bare hand. It wasn’t the same as coating fur for grooming, but he had to admit there was something appealing about rubbing the fur over the back of his head with it. Much to his disdain, it became rather addictive to rub his saliva into his fur, and there was a part of him that longed for the feline flexibility to lick it directly. With the way his spine was extending, he figured it might only be days before he would be able to manage it. It took him far too long to groom what he could, but there was something to be said for the distraction while Sara was away. When she was around, she frequently teased him to try out his changed tongue, and while he was sure he would want to do so eventually, Siegmar wasn’t ready quite yet!

All the while, the soreness over his frame was not inclined to dissipate, and the changes to his body were extensive. As much as he didn’t want to feel his head shifting, the bones and muscle aches less tolerable than he wanted, there was something to be said for the scope he could now open his jaw. It was nearly enough to split his head in two, but Siegmar felt little inconvenience from the action. The way his skull was shifting, less rounded and flatter in relation to his muzzle made it easier for him to open it as far as the cat he was becoming. Strangest of all, as his brain started to alter its shape and mass, there was no inconvenience to his ability to think. As much as he was assured such wasn’t an issue, there had always maintained a modicum of worry. He had been developing feline inclinations all the while, and they didn’t seem to get any worse as his brain altered. In some ways, he was thankful for it, figuring he would require a feline brain to operate his new body. At least if the changes ever finished!

Waking up one day exposed him to a rather jarring change, something he had not been expecting and couldn’t avoid yelling about. Sara was panicked for a moment before he confirmed what had happened. It took him some time to come to grips that while the edges of the world were sharper, his color vision had been robbed of him in compensation. Reds and greens were not needed for panthers, it seemed, and there was no denying the sense of sadness that came with that reality. Even Sara’s words about the trade-off being worth it didn’t bring any comfort. At first, he didn’t want to talk about it, though Siegmar quickly determined there was no point keeping things to himself. She had gone through everything herself, after all.

<It is a little sad, isn’t it?> Siegmar lamented, knowing he would have to get used to it but unable to get over his despair, at least for now. 

<It’s worth it. I do kind of miss it, I admit. But it’s way better being able to see at night. When you can walk, I’ll take you on a night tour. You’ll love it! The place really comes alive at night, and going for late runs is the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever known.>

<Why can’t we have both?> Siegmar asked, though he knew the sentiment was silly.

<I don’t know. It’s hard, isn’t it? Losing the bodies we were born in? Being turned into something we didn’t want? I know I make it look easy, but I think I keep myself busy so I don’t have to think about it. Don’t tell anyone though, I have to keep some secrets,> she teased, and the two of them rubbed their heads together in a show of comfort. 

Such confront was fleeting, of course, a fact that Siegmar had taught himself to contend with in recent weeks. A familiar tingling in his fingers was a sign they would soon be gone, something destined to come sooner or later. As much as he was distressed by the changes to his torso, there seemed to be a finality to their loss that made him lament his fate. In some ways, he was surprised it took this long for them to change, given how far along in the process he was already. Siegmar couldn’t ignore the urge to continue flexing them, as long as he could. He didn’t even need to inform Sara before she realized what was happening, empathizing with him as she rubbed against him. As much as it hurt him to do so, Siegmar still rubbed her fur, knowing it was the last time he would ever experience such. And he wanted, more than anything, to savor the sensations for as long as he could. 

<I don’t mean to compare situations, losing your hands is tragic for anyone. But when I was alone in the apartment…feline murder mitts only go so far in holding cooking utensils. And that was before I could eat meat raw! And I know I told you about how I got stuck in the apartment without a way out!> Sara regaled, though Siegmar was fascinated, even having heard the story before. For his current state of being, it was far more poignant!

<That must have been very hard for you. I am thankful you did manage to escape,> Siegmar added, moving to rub her head with his own this time. He figured there was something to be said for using his sensitive whiskers and cheeks to rub now, the primary way they would be able to touch going forward. 

<I don’t think the neighbors would have been able to ignore a roaring tiger for too long,> Sara mused as she rubbed him back. <I’m glad you didn’t have to go through it like I did. I know it’s been hard, but we have lots of helping hands here, and there are so many more ways to interact with the world that don’t require hands.>

<I will get used to it,> Siegmar tried to assure her, though the words were obviously hollow. Not that he wasn’t determined, and at least his future as a cat now held some hope when before he was uncertain. 

<I know you will. But it’s Ok that it hurts for now, you know?> Sara said, and she stayed there curdled up with him for as long as she could before having to tend to errands. 

Like his toenails before, the separating beds of his fingernails caused them to fall off, without any blood or pain from the exposed cuticle bed. Siegmar decided he would keep them, not sure why, but figuring there was some room for sentimentality. It took some hours for the change to rid him of all the nails, and while his fingers still retained tactile ability, Siegmar was curious to touch the flesh. It was strange, almost spongy, perhaps new and fresh, though the virus would not allow them to stay that way for much longer. 

Before the day was out, the pressure of his new nails forming within was enough to cause him to growl in irritation. It didn’t hurt, as much as the rest of the changes, though it did ache, and he ended up tensing his fingers to allow them to form comfortably. As much as he had been expecting, the spring-loaded joints within his fingers made it impossible for him to flex them properly. Already used to the ones that had taken over his toes, it was not as jarring as some of the other changes. But the stiffness within his fingers was not something he could really get used to, knowing it would get worse from here. The formation of sheaths to protect his new claws or their massive size was secondary to the implication of all he was to lose. All he was to lose and all that would remain for the rest of his life being a cat, a fact he was no longer able to ignore. 

As a way of providing comfort, Sara was eager to show off everything she was able to manage with tiger paws. While her thumbs were largely non-functional, she was able to guide them a little, at least able to hold things between the two paws. It was rather impressive, Siegmar had to admit, especially with how limited he figured feline paws would be. She had learned to work door handles, carry objects, and even type a little, as long as it took to master that last part. Such gave Siegmar some hope, even as his fingers and especially thumb continued to shrink and their flexibility waned from what he was used to. Such happened, of course, even in the human world when people’s fingers or hands were damaged. And people managed to adapt to such loss. In some ways, Siegmar was starting to realize, he was much more fortunate, given he possessed functional anatomy for the form he was growing into. Still, there was little solace with what he was dealing with, and as Sara encouraged him, Siegmar allowed himself to mourn the loss before moving forward with his new lot in life. 

As the skin under the tips of his fingers started to thicken, Siegmar figured he might as well try to feel with them as much as possible while he still could. The texture itself was a little fascinating as well, as much as he had explored the sensation of his toe pads before. But even that was a brief novelty as the skin continued to thicken and it became harder and harder for him to feel through them. With as sensitive as his face and whiskers were, he didn’t mourn the loss of touch as much as he might have figured. Hell, Siegmar even did his best to think of the positives. They would be hardly bothered by anything he might walk on, never needing shoes or the like ever again. And the shape of them was rather pleasant as well, holding him up rather ably when he tried to rise to all fours. He was not in a state to walk quite yet, but he could already perceive how strong his upper arms were becoming. After seeing his kin leaping across the larger playroom provided for them all, a part of him was eager for any anatomical advantages to do so. 

Of all the changes to his hands, the itching of fur growth was almost welcome, especially with his tongue ready and eager to try grooming. Moving his body to lick his fur directly was still difficult for him, but it was nice to groom the hairs over the backs of his paws, encouraging it to grow and loving how well they held his saliva. With eager strokes, he delighted in rubbing them through the hair over his head. There was something to be said for putting the hairs in place, though never being able to hold the combs to groom him or Sara was something he would miss. But as she reminded him by licking his head and back, felines had other ways to groom each other, he was eager to experience that in full. 

As his wrists continued to widen and his thumbs started to pull up them, Siegmar found himself excited to be able to walk again, even if it was to be on all fours. As the changes to his pelvis forced it to crack back into its new shape, Siegmar discovered he was able to get up and move, albeit barely. Struggling to make it to the sand pit was rather trying, and needing assistance with his cleaning by some of the staff was not the most glamorous prospect. Part of him didn’t want Sara there at those times, but in the end he figured such was silly and let it go. But now that his mobility was slowly returning, Siegmar wanted to tend to things himself, albeit in a feline way, for whatever that meant. Going down on himself wasn’t the most palatable of prospects, but as much as he didn’t want to think about it, he couldn’t block that reality out of his mind. Better than having his caretakers clean for him, he figured!

While Siegmar was thankful for Sara’s company in recent days, he had to wonder how she was able to take so much time off work lately. She simply teased him for it often, saying she was largely able to run things online, as well as allocate things through her staff. But with all the time she had spent in the room with him, Siegmar couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. When he eventually confronted her on the subject, however, Sara was quick to reassure him. <I’m working with lots of people to help others who are changing. But I’m the only one here to help you directly. Let me do that for you, OK?> She offered, and Siegmar could only nod at that. After all, of everything he’d come to learn about Sara, once she made up her mind, there was little he could do about it!

One thing he was grateful for was the use of her pad, something that was designed with her paws in mind. It took far longer for him to get used to typing with claws than he would have liked. Sara didn’t tease him this time, no doubt recalling how much she struggled with the same as she had gotten used to her new paws. Worse, perhaps, since her equipment hadn’t been made to withstand a tiger’s strength. But Siegmar took to it rather aptly, especially with Sara’s guidance. Getting on the Changed Person’s forms was annoying, as was typing more than a few short words without typos. Running things through his translator program was made even more troublesome, but for the larger messages, Sara was willing to type them in English for him. Siegmar was thankful she was able to act as a translator of sorts for him, glad they could understand each other in a more feline way. 

All the while, his body was getting larger, packing on significant muscle toward its eventual size. It was a far cry from a cat the size of Sara, of course. But it still came with the need for far more meat than he was used to eating in one sitting. As much as he didn’t relish the prospect at first, his changed body seemed more amenable to eating it raw. Sara mused it was significantly more than she had access to mid-change, but the more Siegmar ate, the more insatiable he became. He didn’t care for the bland bloody taste at first, though Sara assured him he would get used to it. His sensitive feline taste buds could hardly stomach spices or the like, which was something he lamented. Still, it seemed a distant thing to have lost in the wake of everything else. And at least his meat diet helped with the frequent stomach pains, something that had grown worse with the major changes to his torso. 

It took him a couple of days to get used to the overall alterations to his body at large, though it was quickly coming to the point of completion. His chest was compact, shoulders forced forward and rib cage expanded to leave his body streamlined. The muscle swelling within his upper arms was rather pleasant, giving him a gripping power that went far beyond anything his human body could have managed to acquire. His back legs, too, were stronger, and as his joints and bone structure started to settle, Siegmar found himself able to walk somewhat, albeit awkwardly. Sara chastised him for pushing himself, sometimes having to get up to balance his weight as he struggled. But it was obvious as the aches and pangs of bone restructuring were beginning to abate, his body was close to acquiring its proper panther form. Muscles and tendons were constantly tearing and reforming, though the virus saw it fit not to make the process agony. And judging by the way he was already eating raw meat, his digestive system was changed enough to function as a cat. It didn’t make him violently ill, at least, something that was a real concern for people mid-changing. Thankful he didn’t have it as bad as some!

As much as Sara wanted to stay with him through the changes, other things eventually needed her direct attention, and she apologized for not being able to stay as much as she would have liked. Siegmar gave her a lick across the cheek, more mutual grooming than anything romantic, but enough she reciprocated, before heading out. There was a part of him that was thankful for that, given the next changes that were to rob the lingering threads of his humanity. At first, Siegmar figured the tingling in his loins was a sign Sara was coming into heat again. It didn’t seem to be the case, not so soon after her last heat, at least. That, and she wasn’t present, as much as her scent still lingered in his nose and the room. It took Siegmar some time to realize that it was his loins to change next, and part of him was thankful for that. As much as he didn’t want to lose such an intimate part of himself, there was something to be said for allowing it to take on the form that would better suit Sara’s needs. Perhaps it would even be finished by the time she experienced heat once more. 

As his loins continued to tingle, Siegmar was quick to realize that his longer spine and the spaces within his ribcage between allowed him a level of flexibility that he hadn’t known before. It was enough he was able to bend around and closely inspect his penis. It was a little bizarre to feel how small it was steadily becoming, less than 4 inches erect, far smaller than the human size he was used to. Still, he didn’t need anything more to service a female in heat. To give it a home, the space of his foreskin started to part from the surface, allowing it to deepen toward the base. One of the few things that hadn’t been covered with fur, the final itching of black covering it was bitter-sweet, a sign of the journey he had undergone coming to a close. It did not take long for his foreskin to cover with fur, and as his cock continued to shrink, Siegmar was sure it would properly sit in his sheath by the time it was done. It was a bit awkward on his groin, and Siegmar’s research revealed it would sit backward on his lower half when not in use. That had not quite happened yet but was coming soon. 

His testicles, too, were soon to change, and with that, he was pleased to know they were growing larger than his human equivalents. Their groin hair had already converted to fur, and as much as he wished for the ability to touch them, the sight of them was rather pleasant. It felt a little bizarre to feel them move back along his taint toward his anus where they would properly sit. Siegmar hadn’t even noticed much, save for when his tail played over it. Within a day or so, they had reached their goal, uncomfortable but hardly worse than he was used to. The fact that his sheath was soon to follow left him a little concerned, making it hard for even his flexible body to view it properly. Falling over on his back a few times in the attempt, he was at least thankful that Sara was out at the time, not there to make fun of him!

Often sitting in its warm home as it was, Siegmar had to struggle a little to witness the changes to his maleness. It took some effort to recall arousing stimuli enough to bring him to an erection. Sara’s lingering presence was sufficient for that, Siegmar getting over the fact she was a cat when he now was, too. It was silly semantics, he knew, especially since she could clearly consent. And there was something to be said for watching his member developing into something she could better enjoy. With that in mind, it wasn’t hard for him to develop a partial hard-on and to see what the changes would bring. It was smaller, and the shade was shifting toward red from its former human tone. The contrast was a little jarring, given there was little in his panther anatomy to compare to such. Even his skin didn’t appear to sport a similar shade, mostly pink with the patterns of black spots as he’d been able to determine. 

But its strange new color was quickly forgotten as its minute size tingled with growth along the surface. There seemed to be dozens of points forming, and Siegmar was once more left to lament his lack of hands. Not that he wanted to touch such barbs so readily, though they weren’t particularly sharp. It was the fact that there were dozens of them, backward-facing so as to stimulate a feline female into ovulation. And accentuate an orgasm, as Sara had told him on more than one occasion. As the head grew pointed and the glans faded into nothing, Siegmar was conflicted about how he felt about the shape. But it was easier for him to accept if it was the sort of thing he could use to help out Sara in her time of need. And given his own budding feline instincts, it was something he, too, found himself looking forward to with some anticipation!

With the changes to his genitals came one of the things he was most concerned about, using the litter box like a cat. Now able to move, he no longer required the staff to clean for him, which was thankful in itself. But he would have to learn to relieve himself as a cat would, and with that came cleaning his backside, leaving him concerned. The need was rather abrupt, and Siegmar figured there was no time like the present to practice it. Not sure what position to take, he stepped over the sweetly scented gravel and squatted down, discovering a stance that felt rather comfortable. He could perceive his cock sliding out of his sheath, and the fact it was facing behind him still felt a little weird. Relaxing his bladder, Siegmar was thankful when his urine collected in the small depression he had dug for himself, and there would not be a mess. Not that such never happened, he figured, but that was something he didn’t want to deal with, at least for the time being. 

While less urgent, he still needed to relieve his bowels, and Siegmar relented, figuring now was as good a time as any. Having done so from urgency over the past few weeks as an invalid, it was nice to finally have the privacy to do so on his own. And he readily allowed his body to relax into a different position as he released his bowels. The smell was much stronger, of course, and this time his instinct to bury his waste came to use. He had to note it was more effective in some ways, not having to wait on the toilet as he had in his human body. Still, it came with the rather annoying lack of ability to wipe himself. With his anus bare of fur and his hips positioned backward, there wasn’t nearly as much mess as bipedal creatures had to contend with. But his anus was still irritated, and he eventually opted to scoot on the edge of the litter pan, a little disgusted as he did so. It wasn’t the most sanitary of acts, but he was at least a little cleaner than he had been. He didn’t want to admit to Sara what he was doing, though he figured it wasn’t too unusual, and left it there until more feline urges prompted him to clean in other ways. 

By this point, so little remained of his humanity now that it was easier to consider himself a cat, not as daunting a prospect as he might have once thought. He wanted to be complete now that the changes had come this far. As best as he could tell, there was no progress on the search for a cure for those who had changed. And if he could change back, without Sara, he was sure he would wish to remain a cat. He welcomed the final changes to his skull, the wider sockets that made her eyes water, the way his skull flowed into his muzzle and allowed it another half an inch. And while he was still contending with feline instincts, they had largely been part of his life for the past few weeks. There was little in the way of difference, save a stronger desire to eat raw meat, an alteration in his circadian rhythms that required more sleep and odd hours, and an incessant need to groom, something he was more eager to do now that he had more bodily control. That, and one other thing when Sara came into heat once more, but that was neither here nor there. If this was all that made up his new desires, then Siegmar figured it was something he could live with, and even adapt to. 

It seemed his time of change was nearly over, the steady discomfort that came with his body altering finally ending. He was getting restless, wanting to get up and walk around in his new body. Lacking experience as a quadruped, Siegmar was thankful for Sara being beside him as he headed out of the room, down the stairs, and around the sanctuary grounds. For the most part, his mind had altered to allow the connections needed for proper locomotion. But if he allowed himself to think too much, there was a risk of falling over, something that Sara was thankfully there to catch him for. It wasn’t too difficult, Siegmar was doing his best not to fixate on it and found he was able to walk rather fluidly within a few hours. 

There was much more for him to learn, however, something Sara was eager to help him with. While Siegmar had looked out to see the multi-platformed gym that was provided for the residents’ use, he had never ventured out into the space. For the most part, it was restricted to cats only, though it was an area that could be viewed by guests once they allowed some access to the public. Having watched the jumping capabilities of some of the other residents, Siegmar found within a longing to try the same. His muscular haunches ached for the chance to leap, eager to be used now that they were formed. And now was the perfect time to give it a try!

Naturally, his eagerness prompted some concern from his tiger. <Maybe wait a week? I mean, I know you’re excited but you’ve just finished changing. I don’t think-> Sara tried to say, but Siegmar was already off, wriggling his butt and trying to judge the scope. It seemed his mind was ahead of his feline instincts, and without thinking, Siegmar moved to jump, much to the calls of objection from Sara. Be it her warning calls or Siegmar not allowing his new instincts to take hold, Siegmar missed the mark, claws reflectively trying to scramble for a grip to prevent him from falling. It slowed his descent, and as he hit the ground, the only thing that got hurt was his pride. 

<Well, that’s one way to give it a try!> Sara laughed at him as Siegmar tried to climb his way back up the platform. He had to admit, it was rather funny all things considered. Hardly the ideal first try but the fact he had not hurt his new body was a testament to his future success. Still, it was hard not to feel a little embarrassed as Sara jumped herself, moving from platform to platform with ease. Within mere moments, she had scaled the entire structure, impressive since it didn’t buckle under her weight. She was by far the heaviest cat at the sanctuary, and if it could manage her weight, then it would be safe for any other resident. 

<Someday soon?> Siegmar said, determined to make it a challenge of sorts. Having his pride wounded a little, he jumped down to the lowest platforms, getting used to measuring shorter jumps. The feline instincts demanded he try something a little more challenging, but he did his best to curb the desires, at least until his body was able to match his mind. 

Making a more sizable jump, Siegmar went to boast about his success when the thud of a massive cat landing beside him nearly made him jump off.  It was Sara, of course, and she gave him a long lick, as though to tease him. She had moved so fast he didn’t even see her, and he had to admit, he was rather impressed!

<It’s amazing how good you are,> Siegmar said, rubbing her head against his and causing the two to purr.

<I know, right? I figured all those months living in a basement would cause my instincts to atrophy!> She said with a laugh. Siegmar had been told about those early days of the change, either directly or from reading the forum posts that she made. He couldn’t imagine doing the same, relishing in the care and opportunities that came with being in the sanctuary. Without an outlet, it must have been maddening in those first few months for her, a testament to how much of an idol she was in the Changed Community. He had said as much before, many times, but it didn’t seem like his words could do it justice. Now he was a cat as well, it was easier for him to show physical affection and his willingness to do anything in his power to make her feel better. 

<You really are a light to so many Changed,> Siegmar remarked, rubbing her once more. Sara seemed a little taken aback by the attention, though she was eager to rub him back. He had to assume it was modesty on her part, though it was hardly warranted. Still, he was happy she was at least allowing this physical comfort, saved especially for her. 

<Yeah, if I didn’t have my roommates…that’s why I wanted to get this place set up,> she explained as the door opened and the two lions came in to play. Lions didn’t climb as much as other cats, but these two seemed to take it rather well. At least, when they weren’t busy sleeping or mating!

<I don’t know what I would have done without it,> Siegmar mused, unable to think about what his life could have been like. Surely, he would have been found and relocated to one of several more facilities that had been set up in Germany for mandatory relocation. And then what?

<Why don’t you get back on the forums and see if it’s gotten any better?> Sara suggested, though it was something Siegmar had already been working on those days she was largely away. He was still largely inexperienced using her keyboard, and truth be told, something a little smaller and closely spaced would fit his needs better. But it was enough for him to get online, and to his dismay, the situation in Germany hadn’t improved. Worse, there were several such sites where Changed people were being housed now. Even as other world governments were encouraging freedom and rights for their Changed citizens, Germany still had a state of emergency issued for those infected. It was disheartening, though the moment he was able to log on, he discovered he had many DMs from people wanting to know how he managed. As slow as it was, he was eager to reach out to them, each happy to hear he had made the transition and was thriving in his new life. 

One thing he was quickly able to ascertain was that no one was looking for him, as frightful a prospect as that had been. He was still an employee of Sara’s, and his status as a cat did not play into that. Surely, there would be legal ramifications, things he would have to apply for as an extended stay. Sara told him not to worry about such and that she was able to look into it. Siegmar still felt a pang of guilt from her help, though she assured him it was for the best. He couldn’t deny the truth in that, though it didn’t make thinking about his countrymen any better. 

Over the next few days, Siegmar was left to get used to his new life within the sanctuary, now that he was fully one of its feline residents. He didn’t bother taking his own room, opting to live with Sara instead, something she insisted on as well. He still was inclined to ‘scoot’ after his little box trips, as much as it irritated him and made him wish to lick down there as well. He resisted for now, but sometimes relieving his bladder came with a mess over his leg or in his sheath. There was little reprieve but to use his tongue, though with his duller taste buds, such wasn’t as repulsive as he thought it would be. 

As much rest as he had gotten as of late, Siegmar still found his circadian rhythms required much more sleep than his humanity. In particular, he liked to nap in the mornings and afternoons, as well as some time into the night. It was a relaxing sort of life in its own way, he found that alleviated his waking hours of the perceived boredom that came with being a cat. Eating raw meat was more palatable as well, something he quickly grew accustomed to. It smelled better for him, and he was starting to find the taste was rather nuanced. Part of him still questioned if seasonings would be too much for his senses, though Sara was quick to confirm. The way it was prepared was perfect for him, in flavor as well as tenderness and consistency. He was able to easily cut off pieces small enough to swallow and digest, requiring much more food than his human self. It was a far cry from what Sara ate, Siegmar finding himself impressed!

While Siegmar spent some time online reading the news in regard to developments within the Changed Community, in truth, Sara was already at the forefront of new technology through her job. Her various business ventures were flourishing, and even with how busy they kept her, Sara had no intention of slowing down. <It’s fun for me!> She’d said at one point, and Siegmar was content to believe she wasn’t overworking herself. In truth, he wished he could do something to help her, reminded of when he had brushed their fur with the comb. However, he had recently taken to grooming her fur, something that she was happy to reciprocate. The two did so often, and the scent of each other served to suit some feline instinct in his mind that Siegmar didn’t know he had. He was bonded to her, as best he understood, and it meant the world to him that she seemed to feel the same way. 

With the weeks steadily passing, Siegmar felt his courage growing and even desired to head out with Sara on her trips. It was far removed from doing so as a human, but with Sara by his side, it would be fine. Hers was a familiar face out on the streets, after all, and it would be as safe as could feasibly be. Still, it was an unnerving prospect, the scents, the sounds, and even the feeling of pavement and grass on his paw pads were all new and overwhelming. His first foray into the human world was intimidating, but he was willing to go again, provided Sara didn’t expect him to roll over for belly rubs when she set up her busking business! And it was fun experiencing things from a new perspective, so much there that he needed several trips to really understand it all!

Truth be told, Siegmar had come to accept his new life, especially with Sara by his side. There was still some concern about what he would do going forward, but Sara reassured him there was no rush. As lazy as he perceived his new life, Sara was there to remind him that he had gone through a literally life-changing experience and it was valid for him to take his time getting used to it. Sara’s own business was what Americans called ‘the pot calling the kettle black,’ but Siegmar did well to hold his feline tongue. Still, the days were passing easier than he would have expected, eating and sleeping and practicing jumping across the platforms. He was even starting to chat with some of the other residents, sharing experiences and glad his German and their English could come together to speak in a feline tongue.

Still, in recent days, Siegmar felt himself becoming a little lonely without Sara there. She was often busy, leaving Siegmar to look for other things to occupy his time. And with his flexibility from grooming, there was something on his mind that he had been considering for some time. Having licked the tip of his penis a few times, Siegmar found himself wondering what it would be like to go down on himself. It was something cats had the flexibility to do, and in fact, something males partook in frequently. To be fair, he figured there was no need to do so in privacy, given that Sara would probably be into it. But he figured it was valid for him to come to learn his new body on his own, given it would be his for the rest of his life. 

While Siegmar didn’t have the comfort of Sara’s heat to spur his lust, the memory was enough for him to bring his cock to arousal. It felt weird having it come from a sheath, more so as it rotated from its spot on his groin. It was still in an awkward position, though its reaction to arousal at least allowed his tongue to make contact. Aware of the spines that were present, Siegmar was a little nervous about trying to lick it, figuring it would either be painful or at least irritating against his tongue. But his tongue barbs didn’t feel much in the way of pain, and perhaps better was their composition was different enough they didn’t catch on each other. It was strange, to be sure, though hardly a deterrent as he started to lick with some speed. The taste was a bit acrid, even to his diminished senses, but the pleasure was enough that he was brought to full arousal. 

As slow and curious as he was, Siegmar felt his end coming all too quickly. He didn’t find a reason to hold back, even if he was a little nervous about the flavor. Reflexively, he could feel his upper lip pulling back, a feline fleshman’s response to a potent scent. It was not enough to deter him, and he was already too close that he wasn’t inclined to stop. With surprising quickness, his panther testicles unloaded and spurted a small quantity of cum into his muzzle. There wasn’t a lot of it, and Siegmar couldn’t help but feel a modicum of shame for that fact. It was likely normal for a cat, as best as he could assume. And the taste wasn’t bad either, as much as he licked it up and swallowed it. Making sure to clean the tip of his penis, Siegmar took a moment to reflect on the experience. There was certainly something lacking that his previous human masturbation was easily able to provide. Almost as though it wasn’t enough, and he was soon reminded of how often cats mated in the wild. Not that he had any inclinations to go down on himself that often!

To his embarrassment, not only did Sara come back to their room soon after, but she was quick to give him a knowing grin. <How was it?> She asked, more curious than anything. It took Siegmar a moment to figure out what she meant, and he chose his next words carefully. <You were better at it,> he replied, to which Sara came and rubbed against him.

<All you have to do is ask,> she teased, though it was obvious Siegmar felt a little embarrassed. 

<It’s OK. We’ve all done it, and you can’t really hide smells from other cats. It’s nothing to be ashamed of,> Sara assured him, rubbing against him once more. True, he had smelled sex on the other residents, some rather frequently. But it was one thing to allow others something he felt shame over, and another to experience it himself. 

That was not the only thing on his mind, something the formerly virgin man had not yet voiced, not even to himself. He didn’t prefer to have others know of his sex habits, having kept to himself often. Being a cat was a much more promiscuous affair than he was used to. And even masturbating came with some hesitation, something he could no longer keep private. But soon would come a time when he would be tempted with far more than that, Sara’s heat due any day now. As much as he loved her, and saw her as his savior…could he really be the male she needed? He would do anything for her and had feline instincts to fall back on. But the truth he told, it would be his first time, something he had never sought out with another partner. Having it thrust upon him in such a way…how would he handle it? More importantly, what would it mean for his life going forward? If he performed poorly, he would have the decision taken from his paws, but was that really the best choice for him?

It seemed his time was to come sooner than he had hoped, for better or for worse. The familiar stirrings of Sara’s heat roused him one morning as they slept together, and against his inclinations, Siegmar could feel his penis coming to bear. It had been on his mind too much in recent days, that when it was now time, he felt his body going into autopilot. He had wanted to talk to Sara, to discuss where they might take things afterwards. However, his nose was already precariously close to her cunt before he realized what he was doing, and he pulled back, ashamed of his throbbing erection. 

It seemed Sara was happy for the attention, rubbing against him with a lusty purr. <Now that’s a way to wake me up. Have an itch there, lover boy? How about I give you a place to scratch?> She offered, turning around and flagging with her tail. 

Yet, Siegmar was quick to move with her, not wanting a whiff of her musk to tempt him into an uncertain sexual act. It seemed she wasn’t getting the memo, however, assuming he was playing hard to get as she rubbed more insistently against him. It was maddening with the conflict in his mind, not sure if he wanted such a circumstance to be their first time. Physically, he wanted it, or at least his body did. And it did make him a little sad to think the choices were being taken out of his paws. Of course, he would want things to be with Sara, and there was little point in delaying the inevitable. Then why was he so conflicted? 

<Everything OK?> Sara asked, able to read the expression on his face. Without knowing what to say, Sara still managed to get the hint and headed off, giving him some space. He couldn’t help but worry he’d hurt her. She had done so much for him, after all. And sex was such a small thing to ask in return. As scared as he was about giving into such strong instincts, things could change with his mentality in time. Besides, he would be lying if the ache in his cock wasn’t maddening, desperate to be used!

Eventually, Sara had to return, though part of Siegmar’s mind wondered if it was her unconscious desires hoping he might be more receptive. It didn’t take him long to find himself in the mood once more, and he was once again compelled to sniff at her sex. A part of him was determined to allow his instincts to go where they would. After all, they were as much a facet of his new self as anything, and there was no point in denying them for some ill-conceived human modesty. Sara was happy to loosen him up a bit, giving him a tease of her cunt lips, before turning around, playing hard to get on her own. In truth, it gave him some time to sit with the instincts flooding through his mind. And in the end, the conflict was so strong it was easy for him to allow his feline instincts to take over and go with those desires. 

One issue soon made itself known to them as Sara got into position, flagging her tail and exposing her moist, leaking sex for his inspection. Like before, Siegmar was compelled to lick, only this time allowing himself to do so. The flavor was hardly offensive, and the effort caused her body to squirm with need. Hell, her cunt lips almost squeezed around his tongue, as though he was already fucking her in part. Eventually, however, even his saliva was not enough to keep him going, and he pulled back, prepared for the next inevitable act. Yet, it was not only the smaller size of his panther penis that kept him from moving toward the desired goal. He was so much smaller than Sara, and getting over her back as his instincts dictated was troublesome. Sara’s call of, <Put it in me!> was enough for him to struggle a bit, and he did so, dry humping against her fur and growling in feline annoyance. 

With the disparity in their sizes, the eventual penetration did not come as quickly as Siegmar would have liked. Yet, he was determined, her words of encouragement enough to spur on his efforts. It was frustrating with how small his penis was, less embarrassing now and more impractical as he tried to mount. However, with Sara’s somewhat limited experience, she was able to manage aid, and with a growl and grunt, Siegmar felt his cock hitting home. With feline speed and energy, he started to thrust, all instinct as he worked his way inside her. Part of him worried it was far too shallow, though her calls of, <Oh, this is good!> were a sign for him to keep going. 

As much as he could perceive, his spines were hitting the mark, accentuating his efforts in just the right way for her to call out, <That’s even better than a tiger!> It was enough for Siegmar to thrust faster, feeling his modest panther balls slapping against her backside and preparing to blow their load. Awash in instincts as he was, it seemed unlikely he could hold back, and even the human parts of his mind were hard-pressed to find a reason to. He could only thrust faster, his end coming and his spines hitting Sara’s cervix in a way that made her reflexively grip on his cock. While the human him figured it was selfish for him to allow orgasm, the feline part was in control, and in the heat of the moment, it was all he could do was see it to conclusion. 

<I want you to cum in me!> Sara growled out, giving him the allowance to go over the edge. 

<I…fuck…need> Siegmar tried to call out, though the words were largely incoherent even in his new language. With some effort, he was able to work his jaws toward her nape, grasping for the folds of skin to hold her in place as would a cat. Missing its mark, Siegmar accidentally bit down a little lower than intended, though the effect on Sara’s libido was the same!

<Fuck…I’m cumming…> Sara managed to moan, and her cunt lips reflexively clamping on his cock brought him as well. As his panther testicles spasmed, a small amount of cat cream entered her womb before he pulled out, panting. While he was a little cautious about cumming in her, instincts dictated he did, and there was little he could do to resist. Besides, as best he could tell, their species were incompatible, making pregnancy a non-issue. 

<How did I do?> Siegmar eventually thought to ask, though was a little anxious about the prospect. In truth, he had liked it as well, as nervous as he was. While his human form had been hardly sexual, panther instincts dictated a different lifestyle. And having an eager and willing mate was something he was glad of, depending on his performance, of course…

<You were amazing….I could get used to this…> Sara purred, moving toward him and licking his muzzle a little. Siegmar was taken aback at the intimate gesture, though leaned into the larger tiger, feeling such was appropriate in the moment. 

<Do I compare with a tiger?> Siegmar thought to ask, though felt a little ashamed as he did so. Wasn’t that something a silly male might think to pride himself on? Surely, a tiger was bigger and better suited for her anatomy. There would be no comparison. And yet…

<You know, actually…the spines didn’t hurt as much,> Sara mused, and Siegmar felt somewhat relieved with that. At least he was able to please her, to give back for all she had done for him. And it didn’t hurt that the pleasure was enough that he wanted to do it again…

Siegmar was a little surprised at how soon she was ready to go, Sara turning back and presenting not ten minutes after their first fuck. While part of him worried he would not be up to the task, his penis quickly came to bear, and he was already sniffing her sex, liking the scent of his own cum on her. Yet, with panther stamina, he could only hold out for a few moments before needing to fuck again, something he was soon to learn was just the beginning of their session…

Siegmar was hardly aware of the passage of time, having mated every twenty minutes or so as the hours went by. At a few points, the two passed out, their circadian rhythms off balance from the heat that plagued Sara’s tigress cunt. In her chamber, as they were, neither could watch the passing hours as the sun rose and set, though it mattered little. Mind awash in panther hormones, Siegmar hadn’t even found the motivation to eat, and neither did Sara, apparently. As much as he figured he should have been spent after every session, his stamina soon returned, and his feline cock was hardly sore or chaffed from his efforts. He was powerful, virile, and well-fed, fully up for the task of breeding a female in season. And Sara was in the same scenario, wanting it as much as he could provide, her heat never quite abating. The notion of such vigorous and frequent sex was beyond his ability to conceptualize, even while in the middle of it!

Some time later as Sara licked his muzzle, she finally, blessedly said, <I think I’m good. Fuck…> 

<Me too, I think,> Siegmar repeated, though if he was being honest with himself, he might have been done some time ago. Yet, he was determined, even if his body was fatigued beyond belief. It was fortuitous that the life of a cat required little responsibility beyond mating, and was now free to rest as much as he needed to do. 

Hunger was at the forefront of their needs now, however, and the pair of them eventually padded out to get some much-needed sustenance. What Siegmar was not expecting was the area to be roped off, or for a sign to have been hung. With his inability to read English, Siegmar had to wait until Sara walked to the other side, reading the words with a chuckle. 

<Closed for a private party. Remind me to thank whoever posted that,> she said, and Siegmar gave a little chuckle of his own. Perhaps the mating habits of big cats were a little louder than he might have hoped…

******

While it had been some months since the end of his changes, Siegmar was already forgetting his time before the sanctuary. It seemed like a lifetime ago, given everything he had undergone. As much as he expected he would miss his old life, things were so dynamic with his tenure as a cat that Siegmar found he didn’t have time for regrets. Getting used to life as a cat came faster than he was expecting, even the parts he had been worried about, such as self-cleaning, eating only raw meat, and lacking hands. There were so many more things to look forward to, the power in his body, the option to relax and sleep large portions of the day away, and, of course, the frequent bouts of sex. As tired as he was after periods of Sara’s heat, it was a good fatigue, one that he came to cherish!

With Sara’s financial resources and Siegmar’s own savings, there was little need for him to work or worry about money. His fees to the sanctuary provided the necessities for his new life, food and shelter, and basic forms of entertainment. And while new inventions were coming to market all the time, with Sara’s position, Siegmar was privy to all the latest prototypes. Sara’s saddle bags and gear were welcome, and she had been working hard within her company on a translation program that could work for a variety of different species. If he was being honest, it wasn’t something Siegmar cared about for himself. But he understood how vital it would be for so many thousands to be able to communicate with their loved ones once more. He supported her long hours and busy schedule, even if it meant there was little time for them to spend together. 

As much as he was there for Sara, Siegmar was still trying to carve out his own path and purpose. Sara, of course, encouraged him in doing so, giving him some ideas of how to spend his days. She was busier lately, and while they stayed together when they could, Siegmar had too much time on his paws, so to speak. As much time as he needed to spend to get caught up with online messages, Sara encouraged him to think about making it a full-time commitment. Siegmar wasn’t sure what that would entail, but he was eager to entertain the possibility. There were enough people online turning into cats that he could provide support. That, and things in Germany would be coming to a head sooner than later and he wanted to be available when they did. 

Things in their own town were changing rapidly, too, raising excitement in the sanctuary. Likely inspired in part by Sara’s efforts, a new park for Changed Persons would be open within a few months. Boasting a variety of facilities for different animal species, the temptation of having a social place to go was strong. The sanctuary was nice, and Siegmar had come to think of it as his home. But even he had to admit there was some appeal to having a place they could visit outside. He was protective of Sara, of course, and would stay with her regardless. But even he had to admit going out and making friends with others in similar circumstances was appealing. 

And speaking of Sara, Siegmar hoped the two of them would stay together no matter what. He couldn’t deny they were in love, he was certain she felt the same way about him now. They were a monogamous couple, something that seemed to suit Sara well. They spoke often about such things, and Siegmar felt a true companionship with her, something that had not been a factor in his human life. As much as he had not been expecting the final outcome of their relationship, their budding feelings could not be ignored, and each had become a special part of the other’s life. 

Even something Siegmar would have thought was not essential to his old life, sexual intercourse, was an activity he took great pleasure in. The pair made love often, even when Sara’s heat had passed. It was tender, sensual, lacking the urgency of animalistic intimacy though special all the same. Not something they could do all the time, given Sara’s schedule. But when they had time, Siegmar’s panther cock hardly needed prompting for the task at hand. 

One thing was for sure, especially with everything to look forward to on the horizon. Any animosity he’d felt toward life as a cat was long since abated. What started out as what he’d perceived to be the worst fate imaginable had awoken him to an entirely new world of possibilities. A new life, a partner, and a purpose, one that would not have come about had he not contracted the virus. And a new body to enjoy, one he would not trade for anything in the world…