Another fun transformation drawing and story to go with it. I hope you all enjoy.

You will serve

Samuel was walked towards the chamber where his execution was to take place, naked except for the leather mitts around his hands and the apparatus of his inevitable doom clamped around the right one. The needle in his arm ready to inject a lethal substance into his body. But he knew he deserved it.

While he had not been in his right mind at the time, drugged and hallucinating, his actions had led to the death of his best friend, and his best friend’s son being blinded. He was just thankful that the boy had recovered fine, even if he had lost his sight. The boy’s mother had been writing to him every day to let him know how David was doing, while also telling him how much she despised him for the death of her husband. He read every letter as though it was holy text, and wrote back to her to say he was glad to hear about David’s condition. He never asked her for forgiveness. He knew he didn’t deserve it. He pulled slightly at the leather band that connected the two mitts, then stood up taller and tried his best to be dignified despite his situation.

The guard pushed him into a bare grey room. A part of the wall had a mirror, which he knew was only one way. Paige was probably on the other side watching the execution along with some other government officials. A voice crackled through the speakers embedded in the walls.

“Samuel Jacobs. You have been found guilty of murder, and are about to receive the punishment you plead you deserved. There is one question that was never asked at your trial though that I am curious to know before you lose the ability to speak forever. “ Samuel grinned slightly.

“And what is that?” He didn’t recognize the voice, so he didn’t know who he was addressing.

“You seemed so emotionless at the trial. You shed no tears. Did you feel no remorse for your actions? This is your last chance to get things off your chest so you can be at peace.” It must have been a priest. A final confession? Murderers weren’t normally given such lenience for their souls in the empire. He lowered his head slightly as he responded.

“Alex was the best man I ever knew, and I loved him. He had taken me in when I needed help, when I was trying to get clean. I didn’t fight the charges against me because I knew what I deserved. We served together. I repaid his loyalty to our bond with…” He felt himself about to cry and held back the tears for a moment. gathering himself before putting on the prideful and defiant act once more. He would not go sobbing into the afterlife. “I wish I could bring him back. I wish I could help his family now that he’s gone.”

“Your words ring with true remorse. Samuel may die today, but it doesn’t mean you won’t get the chance to serve.” The metal contraption around his right mitt began to hum. The green substance within started pumping into his veins. Finally. It would be sweet oblivion. He was ready to meet a murderer’s torment in the afterlife. The pain began almost immediately. An itching and heat all around his body. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, and in confused wonder at the changes which occurred. His ears started to become pointed, and his face began to bulge forward. A sudden series of cracks in his spine made him arch his back for a moment as fur burst from his flesh, even as his hairline started to recede. He couldn’t hold back the scream from his mouth, the human sound transforming midway through into a howl. Another crack in his spine and he found himself falling to the floor on all fours. It was only then that he noticed he was growing a tail? He gazed back into the mirror and saw the face of a dog with the bare hint of remaining human features staring back at him. In another instant, the humming on the device stopped, and so had the pain.

“Samuel Jacobs, is dead. But Samson looks like he’s doing fine. Your exemplary service in the Empire’s army and your sincere remorse at your friend’s passing have granted you this reprieve and new sentence. David is going to need a seeing eye dog, and you, Samson, will serve. Do you understand? Bark once for yes or twice for no. We can still send you to the afterlife if that remains your wish.” Samuel stared at the mirror for a moment. He was shocked at the dog he had become. He would be responsible for keeping his friend’s son safe from this point on? A chance at a form of redemption? He barked once to accept his position. He would serve.