Original by  RedNoodle.Inc and  Charem found here

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“Mind if I crash here for the night?”

Though he was reasonably sure he could manage to own his own place, Damian always found himself disinclined to the idea of getting any kind of permanent shelter wherever he visited, no matter how convenient he intellectually knew it would make things. Maybe it was a sense of wanderlust, maybe a sense of freedom, or maybe, just maybe, he was afraid that if he settled down, he’d take root, and loose sight of getting home.

“No worries,” his friend told him, opening the door to let him in. “I already know you don’t mind sleeping on the couch, so make yourself comfortable. You look about ready to drop.”

“Thanks.” It had been a long day, and Damian was thankful that Isaac wasn’t one to ask a lot of questions. While Damian hadn’t told him everything by a long shot, he knew that Isaac knew that there was something…different about him. That the Ocelot could know that, and still trust him enough to let him into his home, Damian was appreciative of. While there was perhaps not quite enough trust to be true friends, he was sure that they were at least trusted acquaintances.

“Just let me clean up a bit. Don’t want you to hurt yourself sleepwalking.”

“Sleepwalking?” Damian asked surprised.

“Yeah, last time you crashed here, I thought someone broke into the house. Came out to see what was going on and saw you milling about. So yeah, don’t want you to trip on something and hurt yourself, not to mention loose sleep.” Isaac was already picking stuff off the floor as he spoke. It wasn’t much really, but Damian appreciated the consideration.

“Uh, thanks,” was all he could think to say though. His parents had certainly never noticed his sleepwalking, and he’d never noticed any signs of himself doing it. All he could think of was that maybe it was something that quirked into power when he gained his power. He wouldn’t doubt it. But then his brain began protesting again that it needed sleep, the offer had been made, and the couch was in sight, so he shuffled his way over, plopped himself down, and was out before Isaac finished his chore.

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Later that night, as Damian slept, a most peculiar occurrence arose. At first, it seemed like a little steam was rising from his chest, most specifically, above his heart. But where the “steam” was lifting, there was no longer fur, but smooth hide. Soon, it began to spread, almost as though the Wolf had caught fire somehow. But there were no flames, no heat. The seeming steam that rose and drifted to nothingness like a gentle mist was the only evidence of anything going on, and it shifted color some as it spread, matching Damian’s fur, and where it passed was left smooth, almost shiny hide.

It spread slowly, but steadily, unevenly, but radiating from the starting point over his heart. It made its way up his neck and around to his back, and once it reached his head and wings, the changes became more drastic. His wings evaporated from feathers into leathery membrane akin to a bat, his ear dissipated into a curved frill, and the curves of his body began to take on a slightly more feminine appearance.

As the progress moved across the head and over the muzzle, Damian’s left eye opened; the eye the progress had already passed over. It too, had changed, now slitted like a feline…or reptilian. The corner of Damian’s mouth now changed to smooth hide quirked up in a smirk as the fur covered half of his head genuinely looked asleep, the portions without fur seeming to move of their own accord as the body began to rise from the couch.

Seems I need to be more careful, Damina thought. It seems Isaac heard me last time. Either he’s a light sleeper or I hadn’t waited long enough. In moments the change was complete, and the Dragon Damina stretched her arms as she sat up on the couch. Fortunate he didn’t get a good look, or thing might’ve gotten complicated.

A part of her regretted keeping Damian in the dark like this, with how close they used to be, but she felt this was what was best for both of them for now. She didn’t get to experience the physical world like this often because of it, and she intended to enjoy every second of it, always thankful she had discovered this little ability of theirs.

Taking a moment to make sure the Ocelot was well and truly asleep, Damina borrowed a key and locked the door on the way out. It had been too long since she had truly used her wing, and there was nothing like flying in the cool night sky and breathing in that crisp night air.