Here is the finalized version of the transformation piece. Since this will be the one not in the scrapbook I will explain how it came about here.

I was talking with some folks on the FA discord and someone brought up the idea of doing the 5 stages of grief as the five stages of transformation. I thought the idea was wonderful and asked if I could use it, and here is the result. Thanks Infy for the great idea!

There is a story below if you care to read it. The setting and character were a bit thin/rushed for it, but it served the purpose for the drawing which is what I wanted it to do.

Added Note: This counts as two! it took me two days to actually get this drawing completed. I had promised myself after a 6 panel transformation piece previously that I would stick to 3 panel transformations from now on. This idea just struck me immediately though and I had to do it. Another new piece will hit tomorrow sticking within the theme of characters with hairstyles so I can play around with that.

Story:

Alex sat on a couch at the edge of the excitement, watching on the way one might a sporting event. A dance party like this was sort of like a sport. The goal of the game was to find someone to go home with that evening. While he was not one for playing the game, he lacked the looks and confidence of some of the best players even if he could dance as well as any of them, he enjoyed the show.

At the edge of the dance floor a woman eyed a man, her every motion beckoning him to come closer. Oddly, the man did not, his gaze looking past her to another player that had intercepted her attempt to catch. The fumbled seduction found another mark however, a rather handsome canine beast-folk that walked up to her to try and pick up what the man had missed. The woman accepted seamlessly as though her intention was to snag the dog initially. But would the canine manage to keep her through the night and take her home? The tension and excitement had him leaning forward on the couch, his glass of the cheapest beer available and price of admission clasped between both hands.

“You look a little lonely over here. Could you use some company handsome?” Alex’s attention was taken away from the action on the dance floor.

“Hmm? No not really. I’m just enjoying the show.” The first thing he noticed about the person talking to him was her height. She was easily six feet or taller. The second was the immaculately groomed coat of white fur that showed everywhere except for where her tube top and short skirt covered. Why was she over here talking to him when she was clearly a player of this evening’s sport? She did not belong in the spectator seats.

“Just enjoying the show?” She asked, gracefully sliding into the seat beside him. The distance she left suggested she wasn’t interested. Just taking a break. He let out a relieved sigh. Her calling him handsome had gotten his hopes up slightly that she might be interested. He was better off anonymous on the sidelines though. “I guess the dance floor does make for some wild viewing.” He just smiled and looked back over to try and find the dog and woman he had been following. They had however disappeared into the crowd of bodies pressing together for any inch of space. Now he would have to find another game. “Why not get up and dance?” Alex looked back at the cat.

“Me? Oh no. I’m okay at dancing but I really just come to these to watch. No one would ever want to spend time with me.” The cat grinned and slid a bit closer to Alex. At the unexpected move he felt himself begin to sweat. This wasn’t’ happening was it? There was no way someone like her would be making these kind of moves on someone like him.

“I think you could do great out there, all you need is a little confidence.” He found himself transfixed by her eyes. They were a deep blue that he fell into as her muzzle moved closer to his lips at a glacially slow pace. Why was he shaking? At the moment before she seemed about to kiss him, she licked the end of his nose, her rough tongue scraping against his flesh. He grumbled to her.

“Right, you can stop messing with me.”

“I’m not. But you were trembling, so I figured I’d do something to get you out of your own head. You’re not shaking now are you?” He realized that she was right. His anger at the lick had brought him out of his anxiety.

“I… yeah.” She patted his back.

“Tell you what. Why don’t you actually finish that beer before it gets any warmer, go to the bathroom and splash some cold water on your face, then come back out here and join me on the dance floor. I’ll be waiting right here for you.” Alex gave a weak smile, wondering if she actually would be. What did he have to lose? A chance to be a player instead of a spectator at last. He tilted back the glass, drinking until it was empty before making his way to the bathroom. As he walked there though, something felt strange. He didn’t realize how strange until he went to the sink and saw his reflection in the mirror.

Denial: Alex could not believe what he was seeing. His ears has grown fur, and were on top of his head instead of at the side. All he felt was a strange tingling warmth though. His body was reshaping in front of him. But this couldn’t be happening. He was hallucinating. She had put something in his drink to make him hallucinate and sent him into the bathroom so he could suffer alone without anyone to help him. This couldn’t actually be happening.

Anger: As the changes continued, he looked down at his feet. His shoes grew tight, and he quickly slipped the shoes off before they became stuck to him. His socks bulged with the change of feet to paws, new foot claws forming and tearing through the fabric before he gained control of them. This was happening! He growled at the mirror as though it was to blame and shook his fist at it.

“YOU! How DARE you do this to me?!” He didn’t have anyone else to lash out at here, but then he realized it still had to be the cat somehow. His shouting and cursing at the creature was drowned out by the music in the club. No one heard his rage.

Bargaining: For the first time, in a long time, he put his hands together and prayed as his face continued to push out and fur grew up his arms. He only had to pause a moment to undo his belt and let a newly growing tail poke out from above his pants instead of through them.

“Please god, make this stop. I’ll go to church. I’ll be nice to old ladies. I’ll work at food kitchens, just please stop this.” Despite his prayers, the changes continued.

Depression: The changes completed, and he stared at his new reality in the mirror. Tears welled for a moment in his eyes before he began earnestly crying. What was he going to do? He was a human, not a beast-folk. How would he explain this change to his family? His friends? Would they believe the truth if he told them?

Acceptance: Gradually the tears stopped as looked at himself closer. He still did look a bit like himself. He talked, and his voice still sounded like him. All of his work was online. He didn’t drive, he didn’t travel. His voice still sounded like his. He might be able to convince people it really was him, even if he couldn’t explain the change. He stood up straighter and pulled his shirt down to reveal the definition of his chest. He had gained muscle, and if he smoothed out his fur a bit could actually be considered… handsome? He reached out and touched the mirror, flexing his claws to try and get the hang of sheathing and unsheathing them before he dared leave the bathroom. He could live like this. He smiled at his reflection, then confidently turned and opened the door to a new life.