A little transformation piece that I put together, a character mid transformtaion. I wanted to put some of the paw study I had been doing to use in a different way.

Here is the story if you like that sort of thing too. Enjoy!

If You Can’t Beat Them

Andrew watched Alice as she guarded the lone entrance to the room they found themselves trapped in. The screams of his fallen comrades still filled his ears as he ran a thumb over the seal that closed the scroll he held in a shaking hand. Peter sat nearby, a surprisingly relaxed pose lounging on what was once likely a rich, ornate chair. Now the padding had rotted away leaving only the wood outline of what it once was.

“So what are these scrolls?” he asked, motioning to the folio that was full of them. The fact that both folio and scrolls were left unblemished while the rest of the ruin had been ravaged by time suggested magic, and the three survivors hoped also some form of key to escape. Andrew stared at the seal. The symbol was that of a wolf’s head, grinning.

“I’m still working on it. These scrolls are definitely magic, but someone made sure to hide what type of magic is in them. Normally the seals on a scroll have an indication of what spell is inside them. Once they’re opened the spell needs to be read off the scroll, then it activates.” Peter sighed.

“Yes, everyone knows how scrolls work Andy. We want to know what these scrolls do.” Andrew frowned.

“That’s the point I’m trying to make Pete. These scrolls don’t say. Which suggests to me this might be some kind of trap.” In the distance, they heard a wolf howl. Their captors communicating in the darkness. The beasts in this area moved with surprising coordination, even for creatures with the reputation that wolves have. A party of six reduced to three. A wizard, a rogue, and a fighter.

“What kind of trap?” Pete asked, rising from his chair to pick up another one of the scrolls from the folio. They were all marked with the same seal.

“Scrolls can be set for two types of triggers, when read, or when opened. Sometimes a wizard wants to be able to cast a spell even when silenced after all. A spell on a scroll has already been cast, it just is contained in the paper until it is released via one of the triggers. If this is the type of scroll that casts when opened, then who knows what type of effect it might have. Only the wizard who made these would know.” Pete tapped his chin.

“So, if we popped one of these open and aimed it at the wolves…” Andrew sighed.

“If it’s offensive magic it might hurt them, or it might be a giant growth spell and then we’ve got a bigger problem. Literally.” The rogue placed the scroll gingerly back into the folio, and Andrew tried once again to read what magic was contained in the scroll trough the obscuring weave of the seal’s cloaking spell. “How are we doing on supplies?” Alice let out a snort.

“Gareth was the one carrying the main food pack. We’ve got maybe a day of rations for each of us. The hard stuff. Might be able to make it last a little bit, but I don’t think we’re getting past these wolves.” Andrew took a deep breath and handed the scroll to Peter.

“Alright, pop the seal.” Peter blinked.

“But you said….” Andrew motioned towards Alice.

“She’s guarding the door, I’m the only one who can counter a spell if this goes badly, so you are the guinea pig. Good luck.” He patted the rogue on the shoulder and stepped away. Peter glared at Andrew, but nodded. He moved as far away from them as the space in the room would allow, then popped the seal. At first, nothing happened, and the rogue let out a sigh of relief. Andrew felt the magic begin the moment the seal was broken however. He concentrated on containing the spell, only to be blasted back against the wall with the sheer force of its unleashing. The scroll unfurled and shone a baleful red glow upon Peter, the light showing his form and sticking to it as though a liquid. Where the light touched, he began to change. His arm that he brought up to shield himself covered in thick fur in an instant, fingers thickening, melding together, and changing into sizable paws. A tail forced its way through the seat of his pants with a rip as his face pushed outward into a muzzle, a cry of agony turning into the whimper of an injured wolf. Soon, where the rogue was, a beast in his clothing stood on all fours looking confused. Andrew asked in hushed tones.

“Pete? Are you still.. you?” the wolf sat on its haunches and stared at Andrew. It growled but gave a curt nod that suggested their rogue was still in control of his own intelligence.

“I thought you could counter magic?” She asked the fallen wizard.

“I tried Alice, what do you think blew me against the wall. Whoever cast the spell on these scrolls was… frightening powerful. They all have the same seal though so…” He blinked and looked outside into the darkness, catching only the occasional flash of a beady eye. “Do you think we can beat them Alice?” She shook her head, a grim expression on her face. The wizard sighed and made his way to the folio, only now realizing why it might be half empty. The wolves had driven them into this hideaway on purpose. It was an offer. He pulled out two scrolls, then began undressing. Alice gasped.

“What are you doing?” Andrew sighed, his own clothes discarded he helped Pete out of his clothing as well since his new form denied him the ability to undo the buckles on his bandolier and belt.

“If you can’t beat them Alice, then you have to join them.” The pack gained three new members that day, and six adventurers disappeared at the cursed ruins. Devoured by the wolves, or whatever dangers lay in that place.