All things considered, it was a rather spacious cage the two friends found themselves in. Still, it was of little solace with their rough treatment and the lack of demands from their captors, especially when they were entirely at their mercy. There was no way they could have expected to be jumped and grabbed without even having a chance to call out for help. Nor were they expecting to be blindfolded and robbed of all their belongings, though neither had much in the way of value on their person. Until now, they couldn’t even talk to each other without fear of reprisal, and while they were OK for the moment, it wasn’t likely to remain the case for long. 

“Well, some vacation, huh?” Jon eventually said, trying to find some modicum of humor in the situation. The pair had traveled abroad for a sabbatical from their college, having been friends and colleagues for years. Sarah worked as a sorcery technician while Jon taught Literature. It was likely they were being held for ransom, Sarah being somewhat famed in her field and the likely recipient of several generous grants.

It seemed Sarah was of one mind. “Who’s going to tell them that the kingdom is cheap on coin for higher education,” she teased, which wasn’t a deep cut, enough to make Jon chuckle. Their status hardly provided the funds that even dissidents would ask for, and while the establishment might eventually pay for their return, it would likely take some time and negotiation to make it work. Not something they looked forward to experiencing while trapped in a dirty cage with only a bucket between them!

“I’ll take first dibs on the beatings,” Jon joked a little morbidly. In truth, he didn’t want to see his close friend being hurt, but it was likely that the pair of them wouldn’t be getting out of there unscathed. 

“I hope you won’t have to, at least from those guys,” Sarah whispered, looking around the floor without meeting his eyes. Jon was a little confused, though he trusted her intuition. If she thought there was something worth investigating there, she would find it!

“So what now?” Jon eventually asked, keeping his voice as low as possible. He hoped she had an idea of how to get away. Still, even with all the time he had spent with her, he had no idea what that would actually entail. Magic was something still rather elusive to those who didn’t practice. Innate talent was key, though there was still some ability for people to be taught. Jon hadn’t taken the time to study, and thus all of his information was secondhand from listening to his friend discuss her lectures. Yet, for now, Sarah seemed focused hard on what she was looking for, leaving Jon feeling a little dejected. It was silly, all in all, but it was still hard to avoid one’s feelings in such a situation.

“I hope I can find something to get us out of here,” Sarah eventually said, picking some detritus from the ground.

“What are we looking for?” Jon asked in the hope he could help. 

“Lichens, insects, and some other stuff you’d rather know about,” came Sarah’s response. Jon figured it was best to leave it at that. Sarah was famed for her potion-making abilities, able to infuse her magical essence to make a workable brew out of almost anything. Jon hadn’t been privy to their uses firsthand, though he was sure that if she was successful, her idea would help them get out of here. Besides, it was better than doing nothing, he was sure!

“I hope you’re right, but there can’t be enough material in a cell like this, right?” Jon asked, still scouring the ground.

“You’d be surprised. Polymorph potions only need a few specific materials. So long as you have the raw animal’s essence, you can pretty much substitute for anything else,” Sarah replied, something that left Jon a little stunned. Was her idea to change them into something else? It made some sort of sense, perhaps becoming capable of breaking out of here and assaulting their kidnappers. Though more likely, something small enough to escape from here. Like a rat, perhaps? 

“Really?” He questioned something that he had little experience with. He knew such was possible, though he couldn’t imagine the idea of turning into something that wasn’t his human self! Having never considered it, Jon found the whole ordeal rather daunting. 

“What’s it like?” He thought to ask, concerned.

“Not pleasant. Especially with animal changes. I don’t think any of the guards will allow us to get close enough to get a sample to turn into one of them and try to fool our way out. Besides, I can’t create clothing out of nothing, and we would still end up here and naked,” she replied, eyes focused on her goal. 

“What are you thinking?” Jon asked, though he soon found he didn’t want to know. 

“It will have to be something small that can move fast enough to get out of here. I guess a rat would be best, but we can’t afford to be picky,” she replied, something that made Jon shiver. He didn’t want to be a rat, of course, nor did he want to think about what materials she would need to make that happen.

“How long does it last?” Jon asked, not sure how any of it worked. He knew he was distracting her with all the questions, but it really was too drastic a prospect for him to leave it alone. 

“It depends on the quality of the ingredients, but I have at least some influence over it when I brew it,” Sarah replied, still looking. “I would think we’d need a few hours just to get out of here, but it doesn’t help when I don’t know where we are or how far we need to go. Besides, I can’t make it last much longer than that without specific ingredients. The body wants to return to its natural form, after all, and it’s hard to keep it changed for any length of time.” 

“Didn’t they take everything you had on you?” Jon thought to ask, figuring she couldn’t simply brew the potion from scratch. She was at the forefront of her field, of course, but it seemed a little much to expect even Sarah could make it work under such conditions. 

“I can brew it so long as we can find something directly from a creature we want to turn into,” came the reply, and Jon felt himself blush a little. What that might entail was a little more than he wanted to stomach!

All of a sudden, the sight of something moving caught their attention, and Sarah was quick to grab it, keeping it still in her hands. It took Jon some courage to look at the squirming thing, a little surprised to discover it was a cockroach. A part of him wanted to protest, but he trusted his friend, of course. And they didn’t have the luxury of waiting around, as best they knew. 

Sensing his potential disgust, Sarah looked up at him with some concern of her own. “We have to do this sooner rather than later. I don’t want to be in here the next time they come with demands. I know we’ll have to leave our clothes behind, and when we get out, we’ll be naked and helpless unless I can get us another form. But I’ve heard stories about people being stuck waiting for weeks or months for negotiations to pass. That is, if they even make it out alive. I trust my abilities to get us to safety more than I do the government or whoever else they try to negotiate with for us. Are you in?” She asked, though they both knew the answer. 

“Well, I’m not ready to let you be a cockroach alone,” Jon replied, though he wasn’t able to really believe the words coming out of his mouth. It was beyond bizarre, but in this circumstance, he knew he needed to put up or shut up, as was the case. 

“Thankfully, I don’t have to kill it. Still, better it than us,” she said, having rubbed it against the leaves and dirt she had set aside. Jon didn’t want to think about what was present in the mixture and simply focused on the necessity of going along with her plan.

“It’s going to hurt, though, I won’t lie. Usually, when I change, I can add some ingredients to numb the pain. Without those, I can’t really say. It’s not something I’ve ever tried or wanted to do. But it shouldn’t be unbearable. I hope,” Sarah explained, and Jon could only hope she was joking, even if it was a little. 

“It’s a risk, that’s for sure,” Jon commented, not really sure what would happen. Hell, they didn’t even know if they would be able to get out in the time span of the change. Then, there were an infinite number of dangers a cockroach could face that their human experience would be unable to comprehend. But no matter how much he tried to think about the risks, the prospect of staying there was too much for him not to try. 

“Yeah, that’s true. But so long as we get out of here, I’m sure I can brew us another potion. All I need is a feather or something, and we can fly back to freedom!” She declared, and Jon nodded. It was far better to think of himself being a bird than a bug, that was for sure!

“But first we have to be cockroaches,” Jon muttered, wanting to get it over with as fast as possible. He continued to scour the ground, managing to find a few things to help as Sarah used a simple spell to hold her findings in place. It wasn’t much of a container, but enough that she could heat them up into a frothy liquid with her other hand. Hoping it wouldn’t dissipate before he had a chance to drink it, Jon waited quietly until Sarah assured him it was ready. 

“Well, bottoms up!” She declared, Jon hoping it was late enough at night that they wouldn’t be caught or checked on.

“How long does it take?” Jon asked, concerned. 

“About twenty minutes or so. I can go first to test it. So long as you’re right behind me, it won’t matter too much. It’s not an exact science or anything, well, it’s not science at all, ha!” Sarah added, laughing at her own weak joke. 

“Also, it’s not pleasant to watch, so I don’t envy you, but I don’t want to throw you into the deep end, so to speak,” Sarah started before taking a gulp. 

“Wait, how are we going to communicate while we change?” Jon thought to ask, hoping there was some strange cockroach way of speaking he hadn’t been privy to. Then again, he was sure Sarah wouldn’t know offhand, either. 

“Oh, that’s the easy part. If we take the same potion, it gives us a psychic report for the duration. All you need to do is think at me and I’ll be able to hear you,” Sarah explained as though it were the most natural fact in the world. 

“How does that work?” Jon asked, feeling a little silly as he did so. 

“Maybe you should take one of my seminars if we get out of here in one piece,” Sarah teased before raising the container to her lips.

“Point,” Jon responded as Sarah drank it in one go. Her face scrunched up with disgust, and Jon didn’t envy her. 

While he was a little surprised to see her take off her clothes next, Jon figured it made sense, not wanting to get caught in them as they changed. It didn’t really bother him; Jon had no attraction to anyone, as did Sarah, their friendship a strong bond with nothing physical. He normally would have averted his eyes, though part of him was more interested in watching the transformation. It was hard to tell, but it seemed she might have already been a little shorter than he was used to. And with the dim light in the room, Jon was sure her skin was starting to turn brown, almost crisp in some places. 

“Not too bad so far,” Jon remarked, figuring the more he watched, the worse it would get.

“Yeah, it gets wild, especially with…ohhh…ouch!” Sarah called out suddenly. While pained, it didn’t seem to be agonizing, rather uncomfortable, as she rubbed her sides. Jon could only watch as something bulged from under the skin. Such was alarming, though more so as the reddening spots seemed to push rapidly against their confinement. Not expecting it, Jon let out a yelp a little louder than Sarah as something burst through, brown protrusions with twin claws that did not look like they belonged on her form. They were thick, though not quite the circumference of her arms, crisping toward brown like her skin.

It was hard to resist the urge to help, though Sarah was able to mutter, “Just watch,” as she winced from their continued growth. Soon, it appeared they were able to wave, though judging by Sarah’s look of concern, it might not have been by her prompting. All she could do was grimace as tiny claws pricked from the nubs, stationary as soft pops made distinct partitions in the limbs. It was unnerving viewing all the points they could flex from, though perhaps worse was the knowledge that the same would become of her arms and legs as well. 

“Well, I was thinking of shaving it off,” Sarah remarked. Jon was a little confused by the comment until Sarah reached up toward her head. With that, large patches of hair were wiped away, pooling on the floor with her clothes. Jon was a little worried about it being left behind, though he figured since they had to leave their clothes, such was irrelevant. 

Soon, her entire head was bare, and while he didn’t want to look, it seemed the rest of her body hair was soon to follow. However, it was the sight of two lumps forming on her forehead that really drew his attention. Curious, Sarah went to touch them, though she quickly shivered at the contact. They soon burst out, two waving rods working their way from the skin. It was bizarre to witness them growing proportional to her body, though Jon figured it made sense. Sarah hadn’t shrunk much yet, though surely she would have some distance to go before reaching the size of a cockroach. 

Much to his surprise, Sarah seemed rather enamored by their presence, evidently able to move them from their base. A look of curiosity crossed her face, as though they were detecting something she couldn’t quite understand. “They’re really sensitive,” she remarked, curious. It was hard to think that anything about being a cockroach would be enjoyable, but at least it wasn’t totally horrific!

Sarah was soon to wince again, bending forward as her ass started to swell impossibly wide. Getting down to avoid the ache of it, Jon did his best to avert his eyes. He was sure her sex was being readjusted to the end along with her anus, and was thankful she was facing him. The strain on her features was noticeable, though Jon didn’t bother to ask her if she was alright this time. She wouldn’t be able to talk soon, given the rapid changes to her body. It had to be uncomfortable, especially as the internal changes took hold. And it was likely she didn’t want to articulate the more visceral changes to her private areas, something that Jon would come to understand in a few moments. 

All the while, that brown shade was continuing to encroach over her own, the human dermis drying out for immobile insect chitin. Moving down her arms, Sarah winced as the joints and bones cracked in the moments before they dissolved from her body. It seemed her interconnected joints were set stationary position as chitin covered them, though the worst was to come as her fingers stiffened as well. Such was rather alarming, Sarah subconsciously trying to twitch the digits one more time. It seemed the ability would be taken from her, two fingers per hand fusing while her thumbs were removed. With the pointed ridges down their sides, there was little difference between her arms and those of a cockroach. Save the scale, which made things much worse!

A heavy crack caused Sarah to call out as her shoulders were forced forward. Looking at her with pity, Jon lamented his lack of ability to help, though he couldn’t forget that the same was soon to happen to him. “How are you able to change like that without permanent harm?” He thought to ask, perhaps a little too late given the circumstances. It was too late to back out now, and he was sure Sarah wouldn’t purposefully ingest anything fatal.

Opening her mouth to speak, Sarah looked a little stunned when nothing came out, as though the changes to her chest had robbed her of air. Jon barely recalled how insects breathed, though as chitin flattened the contours of her torso, he became aware her chest wasn’t rising or falling as it should. He was left to look on as she gave a pitiful stare before beginning to gag. Jon went to call out but nearly had to stifle a vomit of his own as two separate parts of her cheeks burst apart, forcing her tongue to jut out before its fat flattened into a singular stiff plate. 

<Glad I can’t throw up anymore. Sorry about that,> resonated a voice in his head, and Jon found himself looking around with a bit of panic. 

“Is that the mental link you talked about?” Jon asked, though it took a few moments for Sarah to reply. Yet, after a few moments of her remaining silent, Jon had cause for worry, wondering if something had messed up. 

<Oh, sorry! I can’t hear right now! I think my antennae are reacting, but I can’t make out any words,> she explained, sounding somewhat annoyed. Jon hadn’t noticed, but there wasn’t much left of her external ears, the changes seeming to accelerate. 

Already on all fours, it was obvious how much smaller Sarah was becoming as more of her skin converted to insect chitin. A rounded back twitched with the growth of something underneath, though with her face partially changed, it was difficult for Jon to make out her discomfort. Save for the wincing in her eyes, though even that seemed to be relieved somewhat as the cracks of bones decreased throughout her body. It seemed impossible she could persist in such a hybrid state, though she was obviously helpless as more of the changes overtook her. 

<Thankfully, they aren’t keeping a close eye on us. Even now, they could probably crush me!> Sarah proclaimed, trying to keep up in a joking manner. Still, Jon couldn’t repress his concern, not liking the idea of how helpless they were becoming. Surely better than the alternative, but hardly desirable besides!

“Is that a thing?” Jon asked aloud, as silly as it was. Of course, they would be helpless as cockroaches, and until the spell was over, if they were crushed, it would be over in an instant. 

<Why wouldn’t it be?> 

“Fair point. Wait, I thought you couldn’t understand me?” He asked, though no answer came. He had to wonder if she was still learning to interpret vocal vibrations, though he had no idea what that entailed. 

Sarah still didn’t answer, steadily adjusting her stance as she continued to shrink. While her legs weren’t quite as altered as her arms, there was little difference between her former arms and those that had burst from her sides. Even with the girth of her altered ass, Jon was aware her thinning waist denoted a separate segment, creating three in all, with how narrow her neck was becoming. Little skin remained, save for what had become various shades of brown, her exoskeleton fully formed as her body continued to diminish in rapid succession. She likely couldn’t move, though, as the bones in her hips gave way and her legs started to crack with change, she would soon be able to skitter. There was little of the human woman remaining, and the fact that she was a bug the size of a small dog served to make Jon shiver. Not that he liked seeing a cockroach in normal circumstances, but the discomfort was palpable, especially when he was to become one himself in mere moments!

As he looked into her eyes, he could not expect them to rapidly bulge from their sockets, the entire eyeball splitting in two, then four, and more as they turned pitch black. Jon couldn’t help but yell, though he was able to stifle the sound enough that he did not alert their captors. Yet, as the lids were pulled back into the skin and her skull reshaped, all he could hear was the annoyed, <How do you think I feel?!> 

“Fair,” he muttered, watching the dozens, soon hundreds of lenses that were taking form. He could hardly imagine going through it himself, though such was coming as soon as she was done. What would it be like to view the world that way? Could cockroaches even see the way he was used to? This was not how he expected his day to end!

While she was still shrinking, Jon found his eyes scanning her form for anything that hadn’t yet altered. He was soon drawn to the sight of her back bulging, two hardened lumps that moved to cover all the way down to her abdomen. <Oh, fuck! I forgot about this!> Sarah called out, though Jon wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Soft cracks rang in his ears as she continued to shrink, though he was still privy to the sight of her carapace parting, something buzzing underneath. Were those…wings? Cockroaches did have wings, right? 

It seemed Sarah was not quite ready to try them, shrinking rapidly as she attempted to crawl forward. The sight of growing wings did alarm Jon somewhat, though he stifled his disgust, watching the rest of the process. Some primal instinct within her was afraid of the thing moving, though she was hardly as scary with how small she was becoming. “Thankfully, they aren’t that big…” Jon muttered to himself, though he was not expecting to hear Sarah reply, <Hey, I heard that!>

<I’m starting to get the hang of this,> Sarah eventually stated, though Jon wasn’t sure if she meant her hearing or crawling. With her legs all equal size now, she seemed perfectly able to skitter, her weight no longer a hindrance. In fact, as her changes finished, she looked exactly like the cockroach that she had captured in the first place. Save for the fact that she seemed to be moving with purpose, not a slave to her instincts, as Jon had hoped was not the case.

<Everything feels good down here! Your turn!> Sarah said the words Jon had been dreading. Not that he was hoping something bad would happen to her. But now that she had given the OK…

Despite the plan they put in place, Jon couldn’t help but shiver from the dread that came with drinking his own potion. He had little choice, especially if they found him alone with only Sarah’s clothes and no sign of her. And with little space in the corners of the room, there was little chance of a rat or something similar emerging that Sarah could use for the spell. Figuring there was no point putting it off, Jon held the magical container to his lips before downing it in one go. The taste was repulsive, and Jon wished he had water or something to wash it down with. At least he didn’t throw it up, though it was little solace as the container dissipated and he was left to wait for the changes. 

Staring at what was to be his fate, Jon was a little surprised to see the cockroach looking up at him with a bizarre interest. <I can’t really see you well,> she explained, though Jon didn’t want to think about what it would be like as he took his clothes off, shivering in the room. Yet, he was soon overcome with a gurgling in his guts, making him sick. Sarah had undergone the same thing since their potions were brewed from the same batch. Surely, it would be just as safe for him to consume it, though he couldn’t shake the notion that maybe something was wrong and he was about to encounter a fate worse than becoming a cockroach!

Jon was suddenly ripped from his thoughts as the skin around his mouth opened and forced itself into two sets of plates, able to articulate the moment Jon focused on them. He wanted to scream, not prepared for such an alarming change to take him all at once. Thankfully, his cockroach mouthparts prevented him from doing so. Jon was able to feel the sensation of his tongue stiffening and his teeth dissolving, leaving only horny ridges against the chitinous hardness where his gums once lay. All he could do was give thanks that he could not look down and see the changes this time, having his fill from witnessing Sarah’s own.

<Everything OK?> Sarah managed to ask, figuring something was off even with her limited vision.

<Wow, this is gross!> Jon thought, only afterward able to hear the echo in his mind. Not expecting the mental link to take effect so soon, he was a little surprised to hear Sarah reply, <You’re telling me!>

Jon was barely aware of the sensation of shrinking, rather fixated on moving his new mouthparts in all the ways they could now articulate. Jon could scarcely imagine what it would look like to eat in this body. Thankfully, it would only be his for the next couple of hours or so, and he would not have to experience such firsthand. It disgusted him to no end to have such repulsive parts replace his mouth. Their only advantage was preventing him from screaming and perhaps alerting their captors. 

Finally accustomed to moving his new growths, Jon was able to look around and realize he was getting smaller, that the flame on the wall was further away. He was thankful for Sarah’s magical abilities, especially since they would have been forced to sleep under the light. A form of torture, to be sure, though objectively not much worse than the changes he was currently undergoing. Things were tolerable at the moment, save for his annoyance at his clicking mouthparts. Even as the skin turned brown, hardening to dried-out chitin, he was left more curious about the process. It was fascinating that his firm skin could shrink with him, though his understanding of magic was rudimentary at best. At least it wasn’t cracking over and over, and despite the discomfort, Jon wasn’t privy to much pain. 

Curious, Jon reached out to touch the brown flesh that now made up his sides. Yet, he was not expecting to feel a prick of pain from forming claws, nor the ache of the digits stiffening. Thankfully, he had no ability to scream, though the pressure in his fingers was intense, making him try to shake them in desperation. Yet, the discomfort could not be stemmed as his thumbs were reduced to stubs, and the fusing digits formed two distinct claws. No doubt the same was to become of his toes, but it was still alarming to lose such an important human attribute in the moment!

<Fuck, I’m glad I can’t scream but…fuck…> Jon moaned, feeling his arms bending uncomfortably. As much as he wanted to resist, deep down, he knew they would bend regardless of his desires. All he could do was click his mandibles in frustration as his arms cracked in several places, human bones and joints dissolved just seconds before he was inflicted with a sharp pain. At least it lasted only a fraction of the time, and Jon was left with the residual tingling as he felt his insectoid legs take shape. 

<It gets better!> Sarah tried to assure him, but Jon had his doubts. It was uncomfortable to feel his body shrinking, his skin converting, and bringing him closer and closer to the bug on the floor, still watching him. 

Even knowing that was to come, Jon was still bothered by the pressure working from his sides. A jarring pop resounded as the growths within burst out, skin-shaded nubs that began to alter toward insect chitin. While they didn’t feel like part of him at first, their presence sent shocks through his body, especially as the new insect connections allowed him to finally flex them. It wasn’t much, and Jon found his upper arms moving in a similar fashion, his brain not able to separate the two. It was bizarre to watch the claws pushing from the tips and the new growths crack in several places that he worked to try to flex. The ability to move them individually was largely lost to him, though he figured there was some merit to having his limbs moving in tandem. 

Like Sarah before him, Jon could feel his ass being pushed outward, lowering toward the floor. It seemed his cheeks were being forced together, though not without his rectum being forced underneath. It took him a moment before Jon realized it was encroaching toward his cock, pulling the two orifices together and making him tremble in his discomfort. He didn’t want to admit that to Sarah, knowing she had likely undergone something similar. But he could not stand the sensation of his ass pushing into an insect’s abdomen, what remained of his genitals sitting on his backside. Hell, part of him wondered if he was male or female, though it didn’t matter with the short period of time he would be in this body. 

Pain radiated through his frame as his arms were forced to rotate to the sides, dissolving shoulder blades not happening fast enough to ebb the ache. With indents in the sides, he was able to feel them move somewhat, nervous about the ability to flex them from multiple points. They were longer in relation to his body, matching what would soon become of his legs. While he had shrunk somewhat already, it was still disturbing seeing his insect limbs in such detail. It was one thing to watch Sarah going through it, but far worse to have it happen to him!

Having not expected it, the loss of his pelvis and hips caused Jon to abruptly fall over, unable to lift his arms to catch himself in time. Thankfully, the fall didn’t hurt. His skin was already numb, and the bones and muscles within his torso were waning. Jon was worried about making a sound in his moment of panic, though his still-human ears didn’t detect anything. But as his legs cracked and popped uncomfortably with changes, he became concerned with his helplessness in the situation. If someone came across him now…

<Are you OK?> Sarah asked, though Jon could only think of nodding while his neck possessed the ability. It was scary to think he couldn’t move like this and had several minutes to go before his new anatomy worked to right himself. 

With the encroaching chitin over his belly, Jon was barely aware that his chest and torso were uniform now, unable to touch it. The gurgling within his guts as organs shifted and dissolved left him discomforted, even though he no longer felt real pain from the process. He could scarcely imagine what was happening within his body, though his lungs were no longer present, his chest unable to rise or fall. He vaguely recalled Sarah saying something about holes at her sides, though it was difficult to properly perceive. His heart was non-functional as well, though whatever system was pumping his fluids seemed to be working well enough. It didn’t leave him very comforted, unable to understand how he was able to function, but thankful it was working. 

<Are all the changes like this?> Jon asked, feeling his legs twitch and crack with the development of new joints.

<Never this bad. But usually, I have more ingredients so I can numb the sensations. Also, I’ve never turned into a bug before, or anything so removed from a human being. Not that I want to try it again when I have better resources, mind you. It’s definitely been a learning curve!>

Jon didn’t have enough concentration to respond, dizzy as his body began to shrink rapidly. As much as he tried to hide, Jon could not avoid the fact that the world around him was rushing around him. As disgusting as seeing Sarah’s compound eyes forming was, he longed for the ignorance they would provide. Yet, that was not to be the case just yet, Jon feeling his ears shrinking and losing the ability to perceive his shifting body as the world deafened around him. There wasn’t much sound, regardless, but it was still alarming to be left in a silent void. 

Yet, that was not to be the case for long, as two pinpricks poked their way out of his bare scalp. They were small, though painful as they extended to full length. Their bases caved on his skull somewhat, allowing them some level of articulation. It took him a moment to realize what they were, and he briefly lamented the inability to touch them. While he could wave them a little, it was their odd sensitivity that really drew Jon’s attention. Moving in response to air currents that wouldn’t stir anything of his human size, Jon was made aware of motions that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. But stranger still were the things he was not expecting, as though he was smelling through them. With his nose gone, Jon was a little shocked to realize the musky scents of the prison room had returned to him now. But with cockroach abilities, they had so much more nuance than his human brain could possibly comprehend. 

<This is amazing,> Jon stated, discovering his antenna could even detect small vibrations in the air. There wasn’t much in the room, as best he could tell, but surely if someone was talking, then that was his new method of hearing it. 

<Almost worth it, right?> Sarah remarked, and Jon had to giggle a little at that. 

<Well, I mean, we are getting out of here because of them. I guess might as well make the best of it,> Jon replied, though he couldn’t help but wiggle his antenna, trying to ascertain any details with them he could.

By now, he was less than half his human size, and with his legs in their proper cockroach position, Jon found he could move forward somewhat. It wasn’t much, but he was able to walk toward the other cockroach, one that he was able to make out somewhat better. It was more comfortable being smaller, though Jon was still dizzy as the walls expanded around him. His skin felt ever tighter around him, and a shiver over his back made him sure he was about to grow his wings. Feeling them slide from the skin before their carapace formed was disturbing, making him worry about damaging them. He couldn’t move them yet, and even compared to all the changes thus far, having their thin membranes behind him felt beyond bizarre. 

<It’s so weird, right? I don’t even want to try them,> Sarah remarked, though as Jon watched, she did attempt to flutter slightly. Her efforts lifted from the ground, though she soon began flailing, as though panicking. With that, she allowed them to return to their place, shivering from the attempt. 

As nervous as Jon was about watching her, it wouldn’t be an issue for him much longer. An ache around his eyes prompted him to close them before realizing he no longer had the lids to do so. The lenses started to bulge rapidly, pushing parts of his face out of the way. The pressure was almost more than he could bear, though he did his best to shift his thoughts and ride through it. Yet, it was alarming to perceive the world widening around him, especially as he was subject to a view of the contours of his altered body. Such was not to last, as rapid divides began to form in the lenses, causing the world around him to fracture. Colors were washed out, and his focus seemed to have faded away to the point that Jon could barely make out the room he was in. The size of his eyes was almost too big for his head, though, save for his antenna and mouthparts, there was little in the way that hindered their space.

<Damn, the world is messed up!> Jon called out, unable to make sense of things. The thousands of lenses were overbearing, and even in places of overlap, he could barely discern the room around him. Even the other cockroach was difficult to perceive, though to his delight, Jon soon discovered her presence was readily detectable by pheromones. In some ways, it was much simpler, though he was hardly accustomed to all the information his mind was able to take in. 

<I wish we had the time to get used to it,> Sarah remarked, echoing what Jon was thinking. Jon did his best to stay still and orient himself with what he recalled of the rest of the room. It was difficult, though, helped by the fact that his senses seemed to fixate on the other cockroach in the room. For the moment, he was larger than she, but not for long, as his body reduced to that of a bug. 

As best he could discern, the changes were nearly done with him, though Jon hardly had an idea of how much time had passed since he drank the disgusting brew. His body was flat, elongated, and held up by six flexible legs. He could perceive his massive ass behind him and the new muscles that made up his wings. Attempts to move them sent a shiver down his body, and like Sarah before him, Jon figured it was best to avoid using them. Waving antennae gave him the best perception of the world, though Jon was somewhat aware that new spaces on his face were surprisingly sensitive to light as well. However, the more he focused on it, the more his eyes seemed able to take in the world around him, albeit with fuzzy edges that only made sense with his human recollection. 

<Can you move? We should get going,> Sarah suggested, and Jon did his best to focus, trying to skitter toward the other cockroach. Antenna waving, he was more aware of her status than any human sense could provide. Something about her made him confused, as though he was detecting his own pheromones rather than another cockroach. He had to wonder if they had become the same being from the process. However, he didn’t have the chance to ask, but rather followed the other roach as they easily moved under the bars. 

Moving forward was bizarre, something Jon was sure he wouldn’t be able to do under his own instincts. It seemed that while the mind of a cockroach wasn’t present, he at least possessed some drive for self-preservation as well as the connections needed to operate his body. With his new perspective, it seemed he was rushing forward at a rapid pace, though he was sure he couldn’t be moving faster than the average pest. Still, from this perspective, it was rather exhilarating, his six legs moving in synch as he followed Sarah. As small as the space had once seemed to him, it was massive to their new bodies. That was so long as they didn’t revert prematurely, which was a concern he couldn’t quite shake. 

<Do you have any idea where we’re going?> Jon asked, his antenna not detecting anything beyond the tunnel they were in. A shiver of fear ran through him, thinking they might not make it outside before the transformation potion wore off. Why hadn’t he thought about bringing that up sooner?!

<Nope!> came Sarah’s reply, and Jon felt his heart sink. It wasn’t helpful, though there was nothing he could do about it except run forward in the dark. They were likely moving as fast as they could, strange for the size of their bodies. Jon wished he could see better, but with their antenna, he didn’t really need to worry about it.

It seemed that Sarah was of the same mind. <I’m really going to have to update my lectures when I get back!> She exclaimed, rather enthused about the experience. 

<This is quite the perspective,> Jon replied, yelling somewhat in their minds even though such wasn’t necessary. Still, it almost felt as though he was racing on horseback, even faster if it were possible. A brief thought was spared for the other animal forms he might someday want to take on, all less disgusting than a cockroach. But that would have to wait, assuming they got out of here alive and intact!

While it was difficult for him to take stock of the sewer, Jon was somewhat aware that there was little to trigger the attention of his cockroach senses. That was rather thankful, given that he would be alerted to any predators or even other cockroaches. As best he could tell, it was a long, singular path to where they had to hope was an exit. Too late, Jon was hit with the realization that they might be heading back into the building where they were being held. That wouldn’t do, the two turning back in front of their captors. They would be naked and helpless, or worse, stomped to death for fear of being seen as abominations. 

Before he could voice such, Sarah’s excited call rang in his head. <I think I can see light! I can tell there’s a breeze out there, at least! It’s making me nervous, but that should be a good sign, right? Cockroaches don’t like the light!> She declared, and Jon had to admit, it made sense. 

Cockroach instincts were hardly an inconvenience, present but not in control of his actions. Still, it didn’t make things easier to crawl out of the damp tunnel where he felt he would be in greater danger. While he couldn’t have imagined fearing a bird or the like this morning, it was a real threat now in the time between escape and changing back! It was still somewhat dark, though dawn was not too far off, and the cool air currents sent shivers through his being. Still, they had to escape as far as they could in the span of the next couple of hours. 

<I think we should try flying. It feels like we are moving fast, but I don’t think we really are,> Sarah commented before pausing, as though waiting for Jon to reply. As much as he knew her words had merit, the idea was rather daunting. Not only the experience itself, but they were putting themselves in danger. Though perhaps no more than staying in captivity…

Before he realized what he was doing, Jon took to the sky, wings buzzing from his back with barely any prompting. It was far too fast to conceive, and Jon felt he was largely on autopilot, unable to fully comprehend moving in three dimensions. Still, he was able to aim forward somewhat, in what he perceived was the direction away from the vent they had escaped from. While he couldn’t see her, the vibrations from the other cockroach moved through his antenna, enabling him to tell where Sarah was and fly in relation to her.

<I take it back! Why was I scared of this!?> Jon exclaimed, rather surprised by the dynamic nature of flight.

<I’ll have so much more to teach when we get back!> Sarah exclaimed, followed closely by.

<That’s assuming we make it back!> Jon replied, though it was hard to imagine misfortunes in the heat of flight. 

<I don’t sense anything yet!> Sarah called out. Yet, no sooner had she said so than Jon felt his body failing him, as though his wings were giving out. The sound came not moments before Jon’s antenna picked up what he felt concerned was bird song. Surely, any birds would be eager to make a meal of the two should they be caught out in the open!

<Looks like we aren’t made to fly far,> Sarah observed, landing beside him. As far as Jon fell, the impact was barely felt, and Jon was able to right himself and start scurrying right away. As much as he wanted to try flying again, there was no denying the threat his antenna had picked up. The pair mutually agreed that maybe it was for the best to keep to the grass. It was unlikely to be very tall by human standards, but castle-sized to their cockroach bodies. 

<How far out are we?> Jon asked, though he realized he was being silly. Neither of them had any idea where they had been taken or what the layout was. All they had was to hope they were going in the right direction, at least far enough that they couldn’t easily be retrieved! 

<No idea, but let’s get as much ground as we can before we change back,> Sarah suggested before taking off. Jon was on her, the two of them scurrying as quickly as their bodies allowed. It was impressive that their bodies could move all out for so long, not as fatigued as he might have figured. It was of little solace given their stature in relation to the world at large. And something he was soon to realize was more futile than either could have hoped. 

It seemed to take little time before the tingling started in his body, and Sarah told them to stop. <Is it happening at the same time?> Jon asked with some curiosity. 

<Yeah, I’m a little surprised, too. I guess I could have carried you part of the way,> Sarah remarked, though Jon was perhaps thankful for that. Still, it was harder for him to focus with the intense swelling playing through his body. He was growing far faster than he might have expected, even when compared with the changes from before. It was almost dizzying, their extra legs weakening as their skin softened and their eyes opening to a human perspective once more. Jon almost missed his antenna for a moment, though pheromone detection was far removed from his human experience in vision!

“Why were the changes so fast the other way?” Jon asked, keeping his voice soft in case they weren’t alone.

“The body naturally wants to return to the form it was born in,” Sarah replied, matter-of-factly. “It’s a basic principle of both magic and science. The conversation of mass and substance. Have you not taken in anything?” She ended, a little annoyed. 

“I will dedicate myself to better study if we make it out of here,” Jon replied before the pair of them headed out into the oncoming morning. 

******

Taking in their surroundings, it seemed they were some distance from a large building, though not far enough that they couldn’t be spotted. While the sun was not quite up yet, the two ducked down somewhat, moving toward what Jon perceived as a swamp. The ground was troublesome against his feet, though Jon did his best to wade through it, hating the squelching sound. Sarah didn’t seem inclined to complain, so Jon did his best to keep his mouth shut as well. He wanted to talk to her, but with the sun coming up, Jon figured their captors could be awake at any moment and find their cage empty, save their clothing. And it gave them no time to waste in their efforts to escape. 

Yet, it was soon obvious their trek was largely limited by the terrain, and the sounds from moving in the swamp would be hard to stifle if they were being pursued. Worse, the swamp was opening up into deeper water, and the prospect of wading up to his exposed genitals was unnerving. “Should we start looking for another body to assume? Preferably a bird of some sort?” Jon wondered, though there was a part of him that liked the idea he might be able to fly once more. And in a body that was made to do it for longer than a few moments!

“I think so, but we shouldn’t be too choosy,” Sarah replied, reaching into the water as though looking for something. Jon had to think she was simply grabbing ingredients for the next potion. Looking around, knowing a part from an animal was required, Jon found himself hopeful to find a feather or the like, assuming a bird was the way to go. 

After a few moments of coming up dry, Jon found his concerns growing. There wasn’t anything he could see for them to use, not a hint of anything he could catch, much less a feather. Any insects would prove insufficient to make enough ground, and while there were fish splashing around, he didn’t have the speed or skill necessary to catch one. Sighing, he relented, a helpless expression on his face as he once more looked to Sarah for assistance. 

Jon was not expecting to hear a loud splash, followed by Sarah’s triumphant face as she raised her catch before them. He was quickly disturbed to discover she had an eel in her hands, and though Jon was disgusted, he quickly deduced it was no worse than a cockroach. Passing it to him, Jon struggled to hold the slippery, writhing thing as Sarah scraped off a few scales for their use. Taking only a moment, Jon let it go, impressed at the speed it moved to escape. Surely, such a form could get them out of the swamp to open water and several miles downstream to evade their attackers!

With Sarah asking for help finding a few simple ingredients, Jon pulled up patches of mud, scanning carefully for the specific debris and detritus she would need. It was amazing how skilled she was at finding usable ingredients out of almost anything. As much as he wanted to compliment her, Sarah was quick to give him a look, saying, “You might not thank me after the day is done.”, to which he replied, “Point.”

Soon, Sarah was brewing the ingredients in her manufactured container, Jon waiting with bated breath. Yet, the glow of lights in the distance caused him to shiver, likely from the torches from the building. “Are you almost done?” Jon whispered, fear running through him.

“Yeah. I won’t have time to go first, though. Are you ready?” She asked, using her spell to split the container in two. Jon winced, though if the changes were to take about twenty minutes again, they didn’t have a moment to waste. Taking the bitter liquid in one gulp, Sarah got on her belly in the water, holding herself above it, though only just. Jon swallowed it as well, wincing as it went down hard. A little confused, he went to ask her what she was doing, though he was distracted as his stomach gurgled. As best he could tell, the process was happening faster than before, but he had little frame of reference, even knowing what to expect now. 

Eyes on Sarah, Jon was a little surprised to witness a black shade playing over her skin, running down her back, and toward her neck. So interested in the changes, Jon was largely ignorant of the spread of the black scales over his own. Reaching down to rub at it, the cold, slimy sensation was a little disgusting. The idea that he was going to be covered in them was alarming, as he felt them spreading up his chest and peeling his skin back for their formation. It left shivers down his spine, feeling as though his entire body was getting colder. 

“I know you haven’t done a bug before. Or a bird, apparently. How about a fish?” Jon asked, still keeping his voice low in the event they were caught. 

“Nope. I really should have. A dog probably wasn’t enough to…oh…” Sarah went to respond, though the cracks of bone breaking within her body were likely enough to cause her trouble speaking.

Jon was still standing there, shivering and well aware that he was starting to shrink. The same cracks weren’t quite as painful as they seemed to be for Sarah, though an intense ache in his fingers prompted him to look down, wincing. The bones seemed to be shrinking faster than the rest of him, a series of cracks denoting the dissolution of the joints within. It was jarring to lose the ability to move them, though he could still perceive the cool, slimy sensation of webbing forming between them. It seemed the thinning lengths of his digits remained to become the rays within his fins, and the webbing moved to encompass them, left to sit useless on his arms. With the painful cracks moving through his shoulders and upper arms,  he was sure the fins would soon be all that was left!

The sensation of his hair falling out was familiar by now, though the cold, slimy scales took some time to get used to. He was still standing there shivering, his shrinking body having a harder time maintaining heat, especially naked in the cool dawn air. It was almost unbearable, though he was still aware of something pushing from his spine. He wanted to touch it, though all he could do was moan about his inability to do so. Feeling it being forced out was one thing, but the sensation of bones popping and snapping caused him to groan uncontrolled. Worse was the sensation of its damp, slimy length rubbing against his inner thighs, making Jon wish they had changed first. As he focused on it, the thing started to twitch a little, though he had to admit, it was better than growing an insect abdomen. His genitals, as little as he cared to keep them, wouldn’t be sitting at the end of it, at least!

Seeing Sarah writhing in pain in the water, Jon had to ask, “Why did you lie down? Are you sure you’ll be able to breathe in time?”

“It’s better than falling face-first!” Sarah retorted, shaking as her body uncomfortably cracked and shrank. 

Jon was about to ask if she was OK, though a shiver of pain began to rush through his pelvis. Before he could try to balance himself, Jon felt his legs give way, yelping out from the pain and the impact against the water. Hitting face-first as Sarah had warned, it was hard for him to right himself, splashing around and trying not to drown. It wasn’t that deep, but he was so much smaller now, and without arms, he could barely hold himself up. Eventually, he managed to do it, albeit barely, looking at Sarah and seeing how she was able to readjust herself with little discomfort. “Told you so,” she tried to say, though it was hard to make out as her chest compressed and her voice was robbed from her. 

<I hope no one was out there to hear that splash,> Sarah scolded, switching to the mental link they now shared. 

<You didn’t say anything!> Jon protested, though he was soon distracted by the ache in his legs. He did his best not to cry out, his voice still present and able to scream if he was so inclined. They were shrinking all the while, though not fast enough to avoid the pain of such. It was all Jon had to stay still and not thrash in the water. Feeling the toes crack and pop away, or his legs being subsumed into his serpentine body, was powerfully alarming, leaving him to resist the urge to work the stiffness. 

<You should have looked over the eel’s body before deciding how to stand,> Sarah chastised, though it was obvious even in her mental voice she was dealing with the pain of change. At about the halfway point now, Jon had to hope the aches would soon subside. Worse, perhaps, was the concern that they weren’t changed enough to avoid getting caught should their pursuers decide to check the swamp. It would take more than ten minutes for them to be done, and in the middle of their changes, they were completely helpless. 

All Jon could do was feel his spine cracking, groaning as it pushed further into the growth sticking out of his backside. It stung, prompting Jon to twitch it in his effort to ease the aches. Yet, it surprised him to discover that as he shrank and lengthened, his body was becoming powerfully flexible, able to twitch from multiple angles. <OK, OK, you’re right,> Jon eventually relented, recalling how the eel had moved away from him, its body almost able to compress on itself. Once more, Jon could only wonder what was happening within him. Surely, his organs, his stomach and intestines, and even bones were stretching far leaner than he could fathom. Hell, even his lungs would be subsumed by his new form, likely in need of gills to breathe once he slipped under the water. 

While they were still in shallow water for their moment, their shrinking bodies wouldn’t be able to breathe once they sank below them. Jon did his best not to worry about it, figuring Sarah’s spell wouldn’t cause harm to them so easily. It was slow for him to move with any speed, able to rock his body side to side, but little else. With his pelvis dislocated, what remained of his limbs were totally non-functional as they shrank into nothingness. What remained was in the way of his efforts to roll, especially as the bones within dissolved to leave fleshy things sticking from his lower body. It was a little surprising that they were not being reconfigured to become fins, as had happened to his arms. It was evident he needed to work on his study of anatomy, assuming they got out of here unscathed!

By this point, all of the hair on his body was gone, having dissolved away in the water. There was little skin left unchanged, and Jon hated the sensation of scales crawling over his flesh. At least they were not completely covered with slime, though it mattered little with his inability to feel his own. Jon found, as he wriggled his growingly flexible body, that it was slowly moving further toward deeper water. The skin over his back was soon to erupt with what felt like a fin, thin and long down his back, and even reaching the tip of his tail. It was disgusting, creating a layer of sensitivity that left him feeling ill. 

<Bleh. I’ll take cockroach skin over slimy!> Jon griped, Sarah, chuckling in their heads. 

<You didn’t have to hold it as long as I did!> Sarah replied, and Jon had to admit <Point.>

At this stage of the transformation, there was little left of his humanity, save for his head. Thankfully, he was still too large for the small amount of water they were lying in, though Jon had to hold his head up to maintain his breathing.  He was a head left on a serpentine body, worse as his shoulders compressed and pulled his fins toward his trunk. At least his shrinking form could contort rather aptly, a boon as his body continued to shrink. It was bizarre how flexible his spine was, allowing it to compress on itself on multiple layers. Feeling the water splashing from beside him, Jon forced himself to turn in Sarah’s direction. He was soon to regret that, the water stinging his eyes and making him call out, <Ahhh!>

<Are you OK?> Sarah asked, though paused for a moment before saying, <The change works better if you try to accept it. I maybe should have said that earlier…>

<Yeah, you should have-ahhh!> Jon called out, feeling his skull starting to alter. With his bones still intact for this change, the pain was more intense, and it was all Jon could do to close his eyes and wince through it. Water washed over him, and reflexively opening them, Jon found he could see, as though they had shifted in the interim. He was just in time to roll over in the water, and his mouth opened and gasped, worried he wouldn’t be able to raise his head once more. As he rolled further and felt his body going underwater, his last deep breath of air was unnecessary. A parting of skin at the sides of his neck left him shuddering as it began to intake water, and Jon felt himself move forward, guided by instinct and his ability to breathe in this new medium.

<Wow, this is weird!> Sarah called out, as though the same thing had happened to her in tandem.

<It’s quite a coincidence!> Jon replied, moving toward where he perceived her to be in the water. It was a wonder they were able to change in sync like that, able to breathe at just the right time to go underwater. 

<It’s an additive element to the magic,> Sarah explained, even as Jon’s eyes settled on her form and he was able to follow. <It allows the user to make sure that they aren’t harmed by an intermediate state.> 

<I really do have to take up your seminars,> Jon muttered, though he truly meant it as the rest of his face moved to alter. It was amazing how long and thin he was, barely able to perceive the length of his body in the water. It did have some drawbacks, Jon feeling it was rather slow to swim as he forced his form to undulate.

At least that was not to be the case for much longer as his mouth pushed out, and his body was left totally streamlined. Teeth turning into points within a smaller mouth, Jon was left aware that his body was that of a predator, at least in his own domain. He could somewhat see his muzzle in front of his face, perceiving his nostrils oriented to the tip of his pulled-back lips. And while he still possessed eyes, it was harder for him to see in the darker water. 

Finally able to move all out, Jon found he oddly enjoyed the sensations, even if they went against his human instincts. While his vision was muddied, he was somewhat aware of multiple vibrations in the water. It was easier to hone in on Sarah’s location, not simply through her movements but through a sense he couldn’t quite place. It was akin to some energy she seemed to exude, something he had no word for. It was strange, though oddly normal to his altered being as his body ungulated and writhed through the water. As much as his inclinations seemed to detest being exposed, he forced his way through it, the fear of being caught something that his new body understood in spades.

A splash in the water caused Jon to panic, his instincts prompting him to swim away and find somewhere to hide. It was hard to fight the fear, figuring they only had a few hours in the form before reverting and risking being caught. The guards had no idea they were eels, of course, though they likely wouldn’t stay searching the water if they came up empty. All Jon could do was hope the pair made it far enough before they had to change back that they weren’t caught. 

A sudden splash in the water caused him to panic, as though someone were reaching for him. Had he been caught? What he could only perceive as hands suddenly wrapped around his body, and Jon was jarringly lifted from the water by a giant. It was almost impossible for him to see it out of the water, but the way he was being held, Jon had to assume it was one of their pursuers rather than a predator digging deadly claws within him. 

<They got me!> Jon called out, though it was fruitless. There was nothing Sarah could feasibly do to help him as an eel herself. Yet, all he could do was panic as he felt his body being lifted further from the water, helpless in the open air. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move, and the terror of being vulnerable enveloped both him and the animal in his mind. 

<Slip away!> Sarah called out, and Jon wanted to reply sarcastically at the obvious. How was he able to do that when he was being held tight?! Did their pursuers know their quarry was eels now, either capturing any such eel showing understanding? Perhaps not. Recalling his own difficulty in holding an eel, Jon allowed himself to wriggle in opposition. Thankfully, his slimy skin was an effective deterrent, and soon the person holding him lost his grip. With amazing speed, Jon felt himself moving into the deeper water, the eel instincts being in agreement with his own desires now. And with his senses honed on Sarah, he was able to move out to a place they could not easily follow. 

<You made it!> Sarah said, knowing without words. It seemed her eel senses could distinguish him from any other eel, or no naturally born one would be following her out this far out into the water. Either way, Jon was happy to be free and safe, still in disbelief at his own close call. 

<Did you think I wouldn’t?> Jon teased, and Sarah’s giggle in his head made him relax at that. Surely, her plan was as sound as possible, and a brief inconvenience was hardly a deterrent to their goal. 

<I hope there are no predators out here…> Sarah remarked as they rapidly swam downstream. Surely being a cockroach was more dangerous, but between larger fish, waterfowl, and any number of unknown predators, Jon figured it was naive to think he was safe. 

<At least no more people!> Jon retorted, to which Sarah said, <Point>

With that, the pair ducked back into shallower water, their slithery bodies now able to navigate with some speed. It was impossible to know how far they had made it in so short a time. However, there were no vibrations to signal they were being followed, and both had to assume it would be safe when the time came to change back. 

<I wouldn’t mind being in the water a little longer,> Jon admitted as the tingling of the spell’s reversal started over him. 

<Maybe not as an eel, though. I think there are better choices> Sarah countered, moving as close to shore as she dared. Jon did the same, not wanting to be stuck with his head underwater and no gills. Despite Sarah’s assurances that the changes worked to keep them alive in various media, it wouldn’t do to find out the hard way about the spell’s limits!

Feeling his pelvis and legs grow from nothing was a bizarre experience, more so when they started twitching, as though working out the kinks within. Still, they weren’t much use in swimming, and Jon let his shrinking tail push him into the mud. It was uncomfortable to be so dirty, something he perceived even through his slimy skin. And it became much worse as his scales began to diminish, and his human skin felt the mud stick to him.

As soon as his legs were able to gain balance against the water’s bottom, Jon tried to stand, feeling his gills retreating the moment his head hit the surface. While his head was still pointing upward, it was hard to make out the shape of Sarah’s body doing the same. She was largely black, eel skin glistening in the midday sun. But they were steadily growing taller, Jon feeling his slimy tail slapping against his bare legs with some discomfort. The best was when his fingers started to regrow, Jon cracking them as the joints took shape once more. Arms were finally able to flex, and his shoulders popped into place as he rotated them, getting used to his body all over again. 

The worst part was the feeling of dirt and mud still clinging to him as Jon’s hair grew back, trying to shake it out of his eyes. Sarah’s longer hair was even more of a struggle, and Jon looked over, shocked to see she still possessed eel eyes. Soon they returned to a more familiar configuration, and the pair blinked, trying to take in their surroundings. It was midday now, the pair having spent several hours in eel form. And, much to their relief, there didn’t seem to be any sign of their pursuers. 

“Think we got far enough away?” Jon whispered, just in case they weren’t alone.

“I hope so. We didn’t make too much noise, but we have to keep going. That only bought us so much time,” Sarah cautioned, carefully walking onto the shore. She had to watch where she stepped, given her bare feet. Jon did so as well, feeling disgusted but determined. After all, this was still better than being in prison, subject to whatever their kidnappers had planned for them.

As they walked, Jon couldn’t help but notice that Sarah’s eyes were scanning the trees, not the forest before them. Rather than looking out for their captors, she was clearly seeking any sign of ingredients they could use. If Jon knew what he needed to grab, he would help her, knowing they weren’t getting out of there without brewing another potion. And hopefully they could turn into something more aggressive this time…

******

By now, the sun had reached midway across the sky, though it was sometimes hard to tell through the canopy of trees. Jon didn’t have too much thought to pay attention, focused more on the path before them. Things were made difficult by their lack of footwear, forcing them to use a more well-traveled path through the woods. And while it allowed them to move faster than in the bush, it also made them easier targets for their pursuers. If they didn’t make good time, all their efforts would be for naught, and they would be imprisoned once more. Likely this time with arms restrained so that Sarah would be unable to work her magic. 

“It should be around here somewhere,” Sarah whispered, not wanting to draw too much attention to them. Jon wasn’t sure what she was looking for, though he took solace in the fact that she had a plan. All he could think of was to scan the ground for feathers or something to help make another potion. 

“No, I don’t think that will be enough,” Sarah recommended as Jon stopped, wondering what she had in mind. 

“We have to get out of here fast, and on foot isn’t going to cut it,” he countered, despite not knowing what she might have in mind.

“No, but just escaping isn’t going to work, either,” Sarah retorted as quietly as she could. 

“I’m not sure what you mean,” Jon asked, a little surprised. What else was there could they do?

“Well, they picked us specifically, right? They know where we frequent and where we work. And we know nothing about them. What’s to stop them from trying again? We need to stop them or else we’ll always be looking over our shoulders,” Sarah replied with a certainty that made Jon nervous. Escape was one thing, but did she mean they needed to kill them as well? How? 

“We don’t need to kill them, I don’t think,” Sarah replied, reading the look on his face. “We just need to drive them back. Make sure they know it would be dangerous to come after us again. Easy,” she added, the joking tone allowing Jon to relax. 

“How are we going to do that? Is there an animal around here you can change us into?” Jon asked, confused. The odds of such were low, and save for wolves or bears, he didn’t know of anything large enough to be dangerous. Hell, acquiring the materials from such animals would be just as dangerous for them!

“No, I don’t think so. I have an idea, though. It will need some special materials, and I think there’s a spot around where some are stored,” Sarah said, focused on the trail.

“Do you know where we are?” Jon asked, somewhat hopeful. If they were in more familiar terrain, then looking for help from the authorities was likely the best option. 

“No, but I’ve been using a simple locator spell. It won’t guide us out of the woods, but it does hone in on places of power. People with magical abilities often store supplies there for use by anyone who knows how to find them. And there’s one nearby I should be able to take us to. I don’t know what I’d be working with, but it’s the best option I can think of,” Sarah suggested, and it was all Jon had not to race forward as well. Despite how sore his feet were, time was of the essence. And having a tangible goal in mind was enough to motivate their sore and tired bodies, a light at the end of the tunnel. 

It was some minutes later before Sarah stopped, focusing on the woods to the left of them. As Jon waited one minute, and then two, he resisted the urge to rush her, wondering why she was looking out so intently. “It’s there,” Sarah eventually said, stepping directly into the bush. Jon had no idea what she was talking about, but he followed close behind, not wanting to get lost. 

It hurt to step over branches and debris, but he repressed it, rather looking ahead to what had Sarah’s attention. Blinking several times, the outline of a building, a simple shack, seemed to come into view, though he had to struggle several times for it to appear clear. It was akin to his mind trying to ignore that it was there, and Jon wondered how anyone could find it without knowing exactly where to look. “It’s a concealment spell. Tricks your mind into thinking it’s not there. It even works on those with magical abilities, but since I cast a locator spell, we’re able to eventually break through,” Sarah explained, and with that, she moved to open a door, which Jon closed behind them. A thick, musty smell burrowed into his nose, making him sneeze several times as he tried to get used to it. The floor was filthy, though he couldn’t deny it was better than the ground outside. 

Looking around the small cabin, there were a few desks and chairs around, though the true spectacle was all the labeled jars, most of which were in Latin. He couldn’t tell what most of them contained in the low light, though they were likely parts of animals or other things that had been gathered by magical practitioners. It would take him months to fully catalog their contents, and he had little idea what they might be used for. 

“I hope there’s something good here,” Sarah muttered, quickly looking through the labels. Jon wanted to help her, though, with no idea what potential the items had, all he could do was watch. He could at least rest his feet, though if they were to change once more, the damage to his skin would be healed. He wasn’t sure how the process worked on other illnesses or the like, though he figured it was a question for another day. 

“What sorts of things are you looking for?” Jon asked, figuring it was best to have an idea of what they were in for. Surely, it had to be better than a bug or a fish!

“Well, I think something like a dragon would be best. I know a few places have access to dragon bones and the like, things that haven’t been alive for a long time, but-oh, here’s something!” Sarah exclaimed, pulling out a pair of jars. “It’s only the bone, and we won’t know exactly what the creature looks like. There have been a few found, though, and at least it’s big and has teeth. I’m not sure if anyone has tried to transform into this yet, but it should be safe,” Sarah commented, and Jon gulped a little. 

“Well, it’s not like we have a choice,” he replied, thankful they had found something before too long. 

“I’ll need a few minutes to whip something up. At least I have access to my tools,” Sarah remarked, opening a few drawers and pulling out a combination of flasks, measuring tools, and a burner. “I’m not sure how much time we have. The glamor should hold, but they’ll be scouring the woods, and we might need to take you outside to change,” Sarah explained, and Jon nodded, not getting the implication at first.

“Wait, me? You’re not changing with me?” Jon stammered, a little afraid. Not that it mattered, but there was something more relaxing about transforming together. Though having changed twice already, he eventually concluded it should be fine. 

“I don’t know what the form looks like, and I’m not sure I can brew the proper potion for us both,” Sarah said by way of explanation. Seeing Jon’s look of panic, she was quick to follow up. “Oh, don’t worry. The potion I’m going to use won’t change you outright. I’m going to make you more malleable to magic as well as start your change. That way, I can control the progression of your body so that it’s not so hard on you. It is basically the same process, but safer, I guess, is the easiest way to explain.”

“Well, that makes sense. Let’s do it,” Jon replied, bracing himself. It seemed a little more complex, though not as strange as the change in the first place. In truth, he didn’t really understand how magic worked, but he was willing to go along with what Sarah said, trusting her implicitly. 

Soon, she had a pair of potions for him, the first to make his body malleable and the second to impart the essence of the dragon-like creature he would become. “These smell so much better,” he remarked, drinking each in succession. 

“That’s what I can do with quality ingredients,” Sarah joked a little as she stepped back, waiting for the process to begin. 

Jon, too, waited with bated breath, not sure what form would befall him. He felt warm, though the changes weren’t beginning as he was accustomed. Confused, Jon went to ask Sarah before she reached up to rub his chest, causing him to step back a little. Yet, as he did, the warmth seemed to seep into his skin, spreading around her touch. Its shade soon began to darken to brown, thickening and spreading outward in a wave. Without thinking, Jon reached out to rub it, surprised at the leathery texture. The skin was pebbly, like nothing he had ever touched before. It left him curious, especially as the change moved all the way over his chest, up his arms, and down his legs. While the scaly skin was dark brown over his sides and legs, it was noticeably lighter over his belly as the contours of his pecs and nipples shifted, like they were preparing to be subsumed. 

“And you have no idea what I’m going to look like?” Jon asked, still incredulous about the idea. 

“I have some ideas, but we can’t quite tell from the bones. I’m not sure how often this has been tried, to be honest. There’s no reason it shouldn’t work, though. So long as there’s not a magical element to the dragon, or whatever it was. Even then, there have been numerous cases of successful changes into magical creatures that-” Sarah started, though Jon clued in to yell out, “You mean you don’t know if this will work!?”

“It should be safe. Otherwise, I wouldn’t risk it!” Sarah confessed, and Jon felt himself relax. In truth, it was simply his nerves about changing into something he had no idea what it was. Undeterred, Sarah worked her hands over his skin, up to his neck, and over his arms and hands. As the leathery hide spread all over, the loss of his hair was something that no longer bothered him. Having happened twice before, it was safe to assume it was to be the case in tandem with the scales of whatever form he was becoming. 

“Ready for the hard parts?” Sarah asked, and Jon nodded, bracing himself. With that, she took one of his hands, gently rubbing the skin before pulling at two of the fingers. His thumbs and index fingers were getting longer, cracking as the joints popped within. It ached, especially as the nails burrowed into their beds. With some effort, Sarah was able to coax out a pair of deadly claws, weighing on Jon’s hands as he flexed his new digits with some effort. 

“Seems dangerous enough,” Jon remarked, and Sarah nodded before saying, “It better be.”

Yet, what he was not expecting was for the opposite to happen to his other fingers as Sarah tentatively rubbed them. It seemed her hands were primed to push them inward as the changes dictated. He couldn’t help but wonder if she knew they would shrink, pushing all three into his palm. As best he could tell, only the bones of his middle finger remained, and even the sides of his palms were reduced to nothing. Soon, Sara was working her way to his other hand, and Jon was left to flex the two-fingered hand with wonder. 

“What sort of beast looks like this?” He asked, regarding his fully transformed fingers. They were somewhat flexible, though fantom tingles still emanated from the spaces beside him. He couldn’t help but think they wouldn’t be useful for combat. Hopefully, the creature had something else more deadly for their pursuers to contend with!

Working her way up his arms now, gently massaging the flesh, Sarah replied, “I don’t know, but it should be right. Even if the bones weren’t complete, the spell should make you into whatever the actual animal looked like. I know, it’s strange to me, too. But as best as I recall, this animal didn’t have big arms.”

Such was to be confirmed as she rubbed the muscle under his upper arms, causing them to bulk up just slightly. Jon was eager to flex the first as she worked on the second. While slightly larger than his human self, they were hardly of a stature for a beast like he hoped to become. “Are you sure this is the right creature?” He asked once more, worry overriding his trust in her. 

“Yup. It’s big, alright. Here, I’ll show you,” Sarah assured him, getting down on her knees. Working his big toe first, Jon was alarmed to feel it being pushed upward into his heel. A claw tore its way from the tip, though he could not move it the way his fingers could. He was about to protest when Sarah’s deft fingers reached down to pull the next three toes out all at once. Like his fingers, each nail was drawn into its bed before popping out into a rather dangerous-looking talon. But the flattened toe tips were soon much larger, and Sarah was quick to pull more of the toes outward. His heels, too, were beginning to lengthen, forcing him somewhat up the balls of his feet. With as massive as his digits were becoming, Jon felt a certain energy, almost excited for the end result. These were the kind of feet needed to support a body the size he would grow into!

“These are really neat!” He declared, trying to raise one foot for his inspection. His efforts were difficult for human legs, and he nearly fell over onto Sarah as she worked his other foot. “Careful! I don’t want to change you wrong!” She yelped, and Jon rebalanced himself, feeling nervous. 

“I’m just kidding. I think. More like I don’t want to make you disproportionate or leave you to crush me!” She laughed, and Jon couldn’t help but blush a little. “Damn, you’re going to be big, though. I don’t have any idea how big, but I’m glad there’s a ladder in here!” She said, finishing her work on the other foot. 

As she moved up his legs, Jon was overcome with tension as the muscles swelled and popped. They were rapidly doubling in size, and Jon had to dance on his new toes to get used to his new posture. There was no denying the power they possessed, and as she rubbed his calves and knees, Jon found himself widening his stance every few seconds. Looking down, it was obvious he was adding height as well, his feet still growing to hold up his added weight. It made sense from a gradual standpoint as his thighs swelled to the point of parting his ass cheeks. Trying to clench them left him unable, and he was powerfully embarrassed as Sarah moved her hands around them. 

“No need for modesty at this point,” she commented, and Jon wanted to protest as she moved close to his junk. But her skill at teasing around the edges seemed enough to trigger the necessary alterations. Much like his other forms today, his anus was drawn through the reduced space between it and his cock, until the orifice nearly touched the rim of his testicles. A surge of pressure left him uncomfortable, able to feel a modicum of blood flow to his member. With no foreskin and a pinker shade, he was unable to avert his gaze as his maleness altered to match this monstrous creature. Of all the things to consider…how did this thing mate? 

Jon had little time to fixate on it as the discomfort in his testicles erased any level of arousal the changes imparted. It seemed they were being drawn within his groin, sack deflating as the orbs themselves reoriented further upward. Devoid of hair by this point, all that remained was a lump of flesh, the warmth within enough that his maleness felt comfortable. Part of him desired to touch it, though there was little ability with his arms shorter than the new frame he was taking on. And that was for the best, given he didn’t want to debase himself any more than his body naturally presented itself. His penis, too, seemed to deflate, all the additional space allowing it to cave in on itself. It took him a few moments to realize his cock was more flexible than he was used to, leaving him embarrassed. If he was this big, it made sense to have an undulating cock, though it was unnerving to feel it firsthand!

“Thankfully, I can direct the magic to the skin beside where I’m touching…not that I’m too bothered, but…well, this day had been trying,” Sarah explained, and Jon only nodded. He had to admit he was glad to avoid the experience of direct contact, not something he would ever live down!

With her hands working just above his hips, Jon was soon aware of something pushing out of his spine. Quickly forming a minute bump, Jon was tempted to reach back even as Sara massaged the spot. Yet, his arms were ill-equipped for such a task, and he was thankful for Sara’s attention. Soon, the growth was rather thick, filling in all the space that his widened hips had allowed. The cracks and pops of its rapid expansion were largely uncomfortable, though the more Sarah’s hands worked over it, the longer it grew. Soon, Jon was inclined to bend lower, allowing more room for it to properly extend. A wide smile crossed his face as it started to swing side to side, Jon becoming aware of the size of the thing already. And if he was still to grow…

“Rrrhis feel rreird…” Jon muttered, having not been aware that his grin was widening further all the while. He wanted to reach up and touch it, once more annoyed at the lack of utility in his new hands. Still, the dry, spreading sensation could only be new scales forming over his lips and chin. And an ache in his gums must have been new, dagger-like fangs that he might have expected such a creature to possess. They seemed to stretch the width of his new maw, and as best he could figure, his mouth was currently only as long as his human face could handle. Until his neck and body grew to new bestial proportions, that was!

It seemed bizarre to change without Sarah’s direct touch, though she was quick to assure him it was part of the process. “You’re already infused with the magic. I can still guide it, but by this point, you’ll change regardless. Speaking of which, I think you’re going to need to leave. You’ll outgrow the cabin in a few minutes,” she explained, and Jon simply nodded. Voice warped, he figured there was little reason for him to talk. 

Struggling with the awkward proportions of his feet, Jon stomped out the door, careful not to hit his head. Having to step one foot out and then the other left him nearly toppling over, but he managed it, hit once more with the warm air. It felt pleasant on his scaly skin, and Jon figured it was obvious his new form was meant for warmer climates. Still, at least he wasn’t feeling sweaty and gross, standing there wagging his tail stub. 

“I think I’ll use the ladder now. Just to be safe,” Sarah said, just as Jon was hit with a surge of growth. The muscle and bone cracking was almost enough to pain him, though Jon did his best to wade through it. She would have to reach up and rub his tail otherwise, and Jon managed to stay still for her. 

While already decently sized, it seemed it had further to grow, and Jon growled, loving the feeling of his spine lengthening. Almost too much, as his wagging tail nearly knocked her off the ladder. “Careful!” She yelled, using his tail for support as her fingers worked more of the muscle and bone within it. 

“Rrrooowwrrree!” Jon tried to say, but his jaw was far too large to allow it. All he could do was crack it a little, wondering how big it was going to get. What he would have given for a drawing of the creature before agreeing to become it, even if it was largely speculation!

“Use the mental link. It should be working now,” Sarah suggested as she readjusted the ladder several times. Even she seemed impressed with the rate his tail was growing, and Jon could feel his hips and ass parting further to make way for it. 

<It makes sense. Feels better for balancing. It’s a lot longer than I would have thought, though!> Jon laughed, relishing the sensation of his hind muscles swaying it. Sarah had gotten clear of it after her fingers drew its pointed tip to a conclusion and made sure its length was covered in deep brown scales. 

Now it seemed time for her to work on his chest, and Jon did his best to stay still. While his skin was already scaly, it was bizarre to feel her fingers work across his belly and pecs before they sank into his form. Obviously, a reptile had no use for such anatomical traits, and it was not the first time he’d watched them go in recent hours. What did surprise him was how massive his belly was becoming, growing large and distended as he backed away to allow Sarah to do her work. There was copious fat there as he grew massive, though that was to be expected. The muscle underneath was truly impressive, however, and Jon wished he could rub it. Sarah’s exploration was enough to assure him how thick he was, even as her magic worked into his internal organs. Yet, Jon was no longer concerned, knowing that if they could keep him alive to become a cockroach, surely her talents would have no ill effect on him now!

As her deft hands worked up his chest and shoulders, Jon spared a thought for the state of his arms. While the rest of him had grown massive, his arms remained perhaps shorter than his human ones had been. He was barely able to move them as the bones settled into place, pushing them off to the sides. Even as his neck thickened and his head prepared to alter, Jon’s arms were left curiously stunted, like they belonged to another creature. All he could do was flail them in some sense of frustration, Sarah giggling as she rubbed his chin and chest. 

“We thought they were the wrong bones at first. Even if they did match up with the rib cage. And it looks like they’re right for you. The bones don’t lie,” Sarah teased as she played her fingers over his arms once more. It was almost as though she was trying one more time to work her magic into them, in case they had further to change. But just as they expected, his arms were left in their minute state. 

<What are these even for?> Jon wondered, and in truth, figured he might not remain in this form long enough to find out. Oh well. 

“Who knows? You aren’t going to be tearing up the bad guys with them, that’s for sure!” Sarah teased as she reached up to rub his face. 

As sharp as his teeth had become, there was no denying how distasteful Jon found the prospect. He didn’t want to hurt anyone, at least if he could help it. Not that he would lose control of his new body, but there was still a chance their foes wouldn’t get the idea. Still, without any way to know, Jon was fine to let the changes happen and hoped to learn his body as quickly as possible. While his head was relatively small in comparison to the rest of his body, Jon had to think it had some growing to do!

With his jaw swelling rapidly, Jon resisted the urge to shake his head, feeling the bones crack and sinew struggling to keep up. The muscles swelling from his neck surged into his jaw, the force of which was almost enough to tear at the skin. Sarah had to stop a few times, nearly falling off the ladder from the speed of its growth. Jon did his best to back up for her, though with the rapid expanse of his maw, such was made difficult. Without the ability for her to reach around his head, Jon was thankful her magic allowed the steady increase of his skull to match. 

Soon, the intense pressure of change seemed to slow down, and Jon became aware of how massive his head really was. “Damn! Your breath alone is deadly!” Sarah teased, and Jon couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. Of all the things for him to experience in a new body, the stench of his breath was not high on his list! Still, he couldn’t help but run an expanding tongue over his jaw, aware of the sharpened daggers of teeth that were working their way through his gums. Surely, anything he bit down on would be torn to shreds, not that he would experience that firsthand! At least, so long as things went according to plan…

In the interim, Jon was made aware that the bridge of his nose had flattened, leaving only massive holes near the rounded tip of his muzzle. Flaring them, Jon was shocked by the intense olfactory abilities that came with his body, with so much more room through his rostrum to detect scents. It felt far more natural than his previous antenna or the electric detection he had enjoyed from previous forms. Of course, he couldn’t help but smell his own breath, and was quick to retort, <Damn, you’re right! I do stink!> Yet, with all the nuance his new body provided, Jon was hardly bothered, rather curious to make sense of the world around him. 

Distracted as he was, Jon didn’t notice Sarah moving around to his side, reaching up to touch his ears. “It’s really warm!” Sarah giggled, tracing her fingers over his skin and exploring the pebbly texture. There wasn’t much left of his external ears in the massive expanse of his skull, and what remained was soon dissolved into the flesh as well. Sarah was quick to trace a hole in the scales, small though more functional than his human ones. It was impressive how well he could hear, made better as his other ear shrank without Sarah’s direct touch. Nothing remained to be damaged, on the off chance that these creatures fought with each other. Not that anything in this forest could challenge the body he now possessed!

Looking out at the bridge of his muzzle, Jon discovered his gaze was fixated forward as befit a predator, a sign of his completion. “Almost done. I think,” Sarah confirmed, though Jon was largely distracted by his new senses. While she did not touch his eyes directly, rubbing the expanse of skin underneath was enough to spread the changes. Massive as he was, Jon winced as they expanded in their sockets, far larger even in relation to his massive head. Slits widened at the brightly lit forest scene, and Jon was vaguely aware they had turned a frightening amber, giving him a haunting visage befitting a being of his stature. 

“There. All done. Rather impressive, if I do say so myself. Tell me everything, I’ll want to write a paper on this!” Sarah exclaimed, rather gleefully. 

<I’m glad you’re confident we’re getting out of this in one piece,> Jon replied, though, in truth, it was hard for him to feel any doubt as to their success. He was a massive, muscled beast, his kind unmatched in the current ecology. Hell, he almost felt like a king, perhaps even among these creatures’ long-extinct fellows. 

Blinking several times, it took him some moments to get used to his new perspective of the world towering over the shack as he was. His balance felt rather comfortable, Jon taking a moment to really feel his weight on his new clawed feet. As they dug into the forest floor somewhat, Jon felt sturdy, yet powerful, easily shifting his weight and thrashing his tail. Best was the surging muscles in his neck as he clenched his jaws, their bite power obvious. Opening and closing it, he found it curious how many of his teeth remained on the outside, lips stretched tight around his new muzzle. His small arms were still confusing, though hardly a concern with the ferocity that his form presented.

Massive nostrils were far more aware of the world than any form Jon had taken thus far, and he took a few deep breaths, curious at what he might discover. While Jon was quick to pick up on it, he didn’t want to voice the fact that he could smell Sarah’s fear. Not that he would never hurt her, his new instincts were subtle and more useful for operating his body rather than acting like a predator. But it was fascinating to be able to determine emotions, as best as he was aware. There were a myriad of other things other than the two of them that caught his attention, the woods beyond a treasure trove of information. However, Jon did his best to ignore them for now. There were more pressing matters than the number of squirrels or deer around!

Taking a careful step forward, Jon was shocked to feel the ground shaking under his weight. With his pillar-sized legs and massive tail, maintaining his balance was easy, and he had to assume he could reach a significant speed if he ran all out. It wouldn’t do them any good for him to attempt such right now and draw the attention of their pursuers. Not that they could stop him, but as Sarah assured him, it wouldn’t serve their cause to scare them off without knowing it was Sarah who was in control. The fact that she could ‘command’ such a beast would surely be a sign they were not to be trifled with!

Still, there were other ways to test his power, and Jon regarded a nearby tree before walking toward it with his mouth open. With a simple bite, his massive maw tore into the tree, splitting it in two. Of course, his mouth was filled with splinters, though they were hardly an inconvenience as he looked down at his destruction. It had been so easy, even though the tree was relatively large. <Wasn’t very tasty,> Jon remarked, the disappointment noticeable. Not that he wanted to bite into flesh or the like. But he certainly wasn’t a herbivore!

“Remind me never to use this spell on anyone else…” Sarah teased, just as impressed as she was frightened. “Well, maybe on myself…it would be interesting to teach a class on…”

<I think I hear something. They’re here!> Jon said suddenly, moving off the path. It was hard to keep his body silent, though he did his best, searching for any response from their pursuers. 

Without a word, Sarah went to work muttering a spell and extended the glimmer in the air in front of them. Standing still just in case, Jon’s eyes settled on the direction of the sound as several men appeared down the trail. Their numbers would have been a cause of concern had he not been such a beast. And he was sure that even the weapons they brandished would hardly be an inconvenience to his new hide. Still, he was a little nervous to have Sarah visible, acting as the decoy. It was necessary, he knew, but all he could do was brace himself to make a move should she come to risk.

Even as prepared as he was, Jon was a little shocked to see more than ten men walk toward them, armed with blades, as they slashed through the underbrush. One called out excitedly as they spotted her, something akin to, “Finally! The witch couldn’t have gotten that far! And she’s all alone!” 

“Not that two would make a difference,” another sneered, brandishing his weapon in a threatening manner. 

“She’s a witch. You can’t trust them, especially with as far away as they got.”

“Not far enough. She doesn’t even have clothes!” 

“Maybe there’s time to have some fun with her? Boss never said what condition she had to be in…”

Those words seemed to awaken something in Sarah, and for a moment, Jon wasn’t even sure his presence was needed. “Don’t take another step! Lest you be victim to my true power. No amount of coin will be worth my wrath!” Sarah called out, and Jon had to admit, it was somewhat intimidating. After all, magical prowess wasn’t well-known among most people, and there was a chance her threat would be enough to dissuade them. 

However, that was not to be the case. “And what are you going to do, naked and afraid?” Their evident leader mocked, motioning for his men to move forward. “Careful. Make sure she’s in one piece. And watch for the man. He could be in the bushes or something. Probably abandoned her, but no need to be hasty.” 

Jon couldn’t suppress a grin as the men approached, eyes on the woods around them. It seemed they had no idea Jon was waiting just in front of them. As much as he wanted to pounce on them, it was too tempting just to wait. They were getting closer, cocky even as Sarah recited what he figured was a purposeless chant. Still, the fear across their features was enough for them to move at a quicker pace, perhaps trying to stop her before she finished. And that was Jon’s cue. 

“Rrrraaaawwwww!” He bellowed at the top of his lungs, his roar reverberating through the entire woods. Birds silenced their calls, no insects chirped, and even the breeze seemed to be still in its wake. It took the men a few moments to come to terms with what had happened, not expecting an extinct beast to appear before them, as though summoned by a witch’s spell. But their reaction was priceless, faces going white as though unable to comprehend the monstrosity before them. 

Pausing a few moments, Jon regarded them with what he figured was a hungry expression. The men were frozen in place, as though not wanting to move to coax the beast into attacking. Jon decided to play with them for a moment, looking past them as though he didn’t see them. The group remained stiff as statues, Jon sniffing their fear with some excitement. Yet, without giving them a warning, he lunged forward, faking a strike that sent them all scattering.  

“They aren’t worth it!” One of the men yelled as he passed the leader, dropping his sword. The man only needed a single glance back at the oncoming beast before taking off. While they were likely running all out, it was obvious that Jon could catch up with little effort. It was all he had to slow his speed enough to keep up the charade, wanting to make sure they got the idea. And in some ways, it was fun to tease them, getting close enough to snap his jaw by their ears, and the screams for their lives to catch in the wind. 

As tempting as he was to chase them to their end, Jon eventually figured they had gotten the hint. With another mighty roar, Jon stopped, allowing the men to escape through the bushes. They were a fair distance from the cabin, though Jon figured the magic would prevent them from finding it again, regardless. And with that, he headed back, keeping up the facade that he was a beast returning to his master. 

“I think you enjoyed that a little too much,” Sara giggled as he stood over her, grinning the best he could with his new body. He was elated, predatory instincts awash in the thrill of the hunt. And there was a part of him that longed for the taste of flesh, knowing that it would have been too easy. Besides, when would he ever take on such a powerful form and hunt with it again?

Instead, Jon approached Sara, lowering his massive head to allow her the chance to rub his nose once more. Rather than smell scared any longer, Sarah seemed proud of her efforts, patting him a little before heading back inside. “It shouldn’t last more than a few hours. Thankfully, I’ve got some potions that will transmute leather into clothing for us. Rudimentary but better than walking back naked. I know the way from the cabin, thankfully. Unless you want to be ridden the rest of the way?” Sarah teased, and Jon had to admit, the idea wasn’t unappealing. Of course, she would need a saddle large enough, but with all the materials at her disposal, there was likely little she couldn’t manage!