Tale 7 Practice makes perfect

Jinki has been practicing for months now to change on his own without the moon’s help. He was doing it a few times a week but once he met Taemin it was practically every day…. But today was the big day that all that work would pay off!  Like always when he practiced Jinki was at work in the back room of the shelter sitting with all the cages open. All the dogs and puppies out of the cages and sitting around him watching and listening to him practice changing from a man to a wolf and back again.  He wanted to learn to master the skill so the moon couldn’t change him against his will every single night. Unless it’s a full moon then he’ll change regardless. But when there wasn’t a full moon night he wanted to have control of his body and he wanted to empress Taemin with his progress.

Fists balled up, eyes closed he pushed and pushed, with a grunt and a growl he pushed again “Grrrrr.”  Jinki said as wolf ears popped out. The little puppies yipped and barked happily. Jinki opened one eye and asked Sparky. “How do I look?”

Sparky nuzzled his nose into Jinki’s ankle.

“It’s only my ears isn’t it?” Jinki sighed disappointed. He looked at his non furry arms. “Yep, I knew it. I’m just a man.”

Closing his eyes, Jinki tried again and poof his tail came. The dogs barked and let him know it was there.

His eyes shot wide open, he was greeted by their happy faces “REALLY?” Jinki looked over his shoulder and saw his tail wagging.  He turned his head around and looked at his arms: furry. The werewolf had successfully turned into a wolf all by himself without Mother Nature’s help. “Yes!” In celebration, he fell to his knees and playfully hugged the dogs. They his face and nuzzled into him as they all, including Jinki, howled.

“Ok let’s see if I can make them disappear.” The dogs backed up and sat letting Jinki stand back up and try again. Their tails wagging in anticipation.

Jinki once again closed his eyes, concentrating as hard as he could. His soft pointy ears dissolved and his tail vanished, fur leaving him and his handsome tan skin revealing it’s self. The sound of the dogs barking let him know he had finally done it.  He opened his eyes and checked himself out. “YES YES YES! I DID IT!”  He happily fell to the floor and let the puppies pounce on him and attack him with kisses and barks. He was so happy as he hugged and pet them as they roamed on top of him that he morphed without even trying, next thing he knew he was a wolf again and barking and nuzzling into them too. He realized he was just trying too hard and stressing out about it too much all along, all he had to do was just feel it and let it happen and it would work.

Later on he had changed back into a man and gave them all doggie treats for being so supportive and to bribe them to keep it a secret and not to tell Taemin. Not that Taemin could understand the language of canine. But just in case. It had to be a surprise. He’d reveal it on their date!

All week Jinki practiced. It got easier and easier. When night arrived and the moon started to come out, he was able to remain a man if he wanted to when he felt the changes start to happen. By the time Taemin and him would go on their date he would be ready and he could stay out late in public if he wanted to, now that he was in control.