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The Initiation : Part 1 by: Pent Ghelsburg

Disclaimer: This story series is the fourth continuation of my other series. While it is not directly related to the background story of my fursona, it is very early in his life. This story attempts to maintain the scientific realism of my other works. However the basic theme now shifts from something new but not all together different. Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, or criticisms. I am open to everything so please feel free to leave me a message!

Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity,

and is the torch which illuminates the world. Louis Pasteur

Chapter 1: Cub Scouts

Our lives seemed to have settled with the wind. Summer was fast approaching and the weather was quickly becoming humid and hot. My brother and I found ourselves panting heavily, unused to having fur with the onset of the season change just over the horizon. The news ,when we turned it on, was even including ways to deal with cooling off. Things like increased water consumption and the shaving of fur. Both me and my brother were shedding, the combination of white and black fur led to quite the mess around the house.

One thing I had not thought about was whether my friends in the scouts had been involved in the mass change that our little town had. I was unsure if they were affected or not. A quick call to Darren confirmed that the scouts were all now cubs like myself. Darren suggested that I come to the next meet which was a camp out the upcoming weekend. He made me aware that Arthur was coming as he knew I probably still needed the extra security of my first real friend. I could not help but think how Arthur looked now. I would have to wait and see.

The weekend came and this time I was prepared for another outing with the scouts. I over prepared this time wanting to impress Arthur. It wasn't long before Darren arrived to pick me up. I said goodbye to my brother before gathering my things and joining the scout master in the car. It seemed that Darren too had been affected by the incident. His fur was tan and it was hard to make out exactly what he was from behind. Looking into the rear view mirror it seemed he was a Labrador.

Upon arriving at the campsite, there were no other cars to be seen. A wooded area covered the surrounding perimeter of the parking lot. I assumed that the other boys must have already been dropped off. Darren instructed me to fetch my things before leading me into the wilderness to the camp site. Arriving at the area, I could make out several tents which had already been pitched in preparation for the event. The boys were all sitting by the fireside.

As Darren had said, they were all cubs now. I wasn't entirely sure who was who but they all looked over at me after Darren announced our arrival. Between some barking and howling a somewhat taller German Shepard approached me. "Hey, Pent. How're you feeling?" His voice was like music to my ears. Still wearing his usual glasses I could easily tell who it was. My heart filled with happiness. "I'm fine Arthur. It's been a while."

It was true. I hadn't talked to Arthur in some time and the last time he had seen me was when he rescued me from fainting in the forest. "Yeah, we have a lot to catch up on. We can bunk in the same tent together if you want." I smiled and nodded at him. I wouldn't have had it any other way. He wasn't quite as tall as I had remembered so either I had grown or he had gotten smaller. I couldn't help but stare at him as he coaxed me over to the tent to save us from the awkward moment.

Chapter 2: Uncertainty

The tent was quite quaint and quiet despite all of the other cubs being right outside. Darren decided to let us be knowing full well that we didn't want to bother with the other boys. We didn't need anyone else and had a lot of catching up to do. I sat down on the fabric careful to not pinch my tail behind me as Arthur followed in suit. "You know I never got to thank you for saving me in the forest."

Being this close to Arthur made me caused a tingling sensation to overcome my body.

"I'm guessing the nurse told you, huh?" Arthur asked clearly embarrassed as modest as ever scratching his head fur with his paw. "Yeah, she did. Thanks, Arthur." I reached over and hugged him tightly, it was truly a bitter sweet moment that neither of us expected. His body warmth pressed against me and our fur intermingled with each other. Breaking the hug I couldn't help but think that the feeling in my body had grown worse making me feel itchy. "I owe you one." I incited before Arthur retorted rather quickly. "You don't owe me anything. We're friends and I'd never forgive myself if you died."

Arthur and I had always had a close relationship but I was feeling more awkward around him than usual. Maybe it was because he was like I was now? It wasn't long before my tension was given away. "What's wrong?" He inquired concerned about by disposition. "I dunno, it's hard to explain. Arthur looked at me curiously before seeking clarification. "Come on you can tell me, can't you?" It was true I trusted Arthur but how could I explain something I didn't understand myself.

"I'm telling you the truth. I don't know how to explain it." Arthur seemed a bit saddened by the response but decided to leave it be for the moment. I couldn't help but feel strange around Arthur but we continued our conversation catching up. Arthur explained his own transformation and how he dealt with it. He added his whole deterioration of sight and his reduction in size. He didn't wholly understand why it happened but just chose to accept it. "To be honest, I'm glad were similar now." Arthur chimed in with a cheeky grin.

"You are? But you were fine before." I was surprised at his comment and it made me shiver in glee. "Yeah, but now we have in more common and people won't stare at us funny anymore when we hang out." This was true but he was forgetting the whole town was like us now. Regardless I was the one that drew ire, not him. But thankfully this was behind me now. Still I couldn't help but blush when he suggested it. He was obviously amused that he was getting to me, smiling more widely than before.

"Pent, promise me you won't ever do that again, alright? I was really worried about you." My heart was beating a mile a minute in my chest. I was becoming increasingly uneasy in the closed quarters with him. I needed fresh air to clear my mind. "Yeah...I promise don't worry. Would you excuse me for a moment?" I rushed myself out of the tent. I needed time to myself. Arthur was making me feel really strange and I couldn't understand why.

It was already getting late. Darren and I had arrived later in the afternoon. Surprisingly Arthur didn't follow me out of the tent. I had a mixture of feelings swirling around in my head. The strange tingling sensation had left me after departing the tent. But I couldn't help but think about it as if it still beleaguered me. I decided to sleep under the stars tonight to clear my mind. The sky was clear and no clouds showed any signs of incoming weather. I curled up on the floor, somewhat chilled, combating with restlessness, tossing and turning.

Chapter 3: The dream

That night falling asleep with many things rolling around in my head was proving difficult. My mind was never one to be at rest when questions were left answered. Left with the uncertainty of the strange feeling in the tent, I desperately wanted answers. Searching within myself, I was unable to provide myself with the satisfaction of clarity. The chilled air didn't help either but after several hours of combating fatigue my body finally gave in and fell asleep.

Seemingly awoken again, I found myself in an vast expanse of darkness. The chill of the air caused me to shudder as I wrapped my hands around my body for warmth. My fur didn't seem to help. I couldn't see much as I wondered around lost. I wasn't quite sure where I was, there was no light and I continued to fumble around searching for direction. I tried shouting for help but no words came from my mouth. Falling onto my knees, I was uncertain of what to do.

I picked up a low sound into the distance. The sound of galloping became more apparent as a blur became visible against the pitch black expanse. A small lantern was held in the right hand of the figure as it seemingly rushed towards my location. The figure came closer and closer, I was unsure whether to remain or run away. Seeing no other option available, I picked myself up heading towards the figure. Within range I could get a better look of the figure. It's face was covered by a hood and it's figure draped in a white robe.

As it stopped by my side, the figure leaned down to me and extended it's hand to me. Able to make out the faint features of it face, it seemed to be a canine. It's paw still gesturing toward me as it helped me up on the horse. The body warmth of the figure, and the horse pressed against me replacing the chill of my body with a hopeful sense of happiness and hope. Urging the horse to go onward the figure and I dashed onward seemingly against the black horizon to nowhere.

The figure didn't say anything. It just continued ever onward. In the distance I could make out yet another faint light. The light becoming more dominant the closer we came to it. The shape of a door rose into the distance. As we traveled through it, the figure looked back at me. It's face shone anew with daylight and glee. It was Arthur. "Wake up, Pent." I awoke amid panting between panic and delight. My body was heavy with sweat and overheated as I came to.

Chapter 4: The chat

Coming around, I found Arthur staring straight into my eyes. My heart skipped a beat before my nerves took over me. That same sense of unease from before replaced by the churning of my stomach. Arthur's paw and face was over my face, dampening it with a rag. "Did you have a bad dream or something?" Arthur asked me. I found it hard to conjure anything but a a short answer. "Kinda..." The truth was I didn't know what to think of the dream.

Anxiety was filling my body as the feeling in my stomach worsened the longer he tended to me. I could feel his body warmth pulsate from his body as his musk wafted into my nose, I began to lose myself in euphoria. I could feel a stirring in my loins before I tried to back away from him in panic. Of course he noticed before inquiring. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" I wasn't really sure how to answer this and didn't want to upset him. "Yeah...I'm going to get some medicine." My heart pounded against my chest as I picked myself up and darted into the distance.

I just wanted to clear my mind. I found myself dangling my feet over a small hill throwing rocks trying to figure out my feelings. I was lost in thought as I heard someone shuffle in behind me. Half expecting it to be Arthur, I looked behind me to discover Darren. "I noticed you slept alone. Is something wrong?" Darren and I had known each other for sometime, even if I didn't remember it. I still had an innate sense of trust in the man.

The canine sat his longer legs over the hill, looking into the distance awaiting my answer. "I dunno it's hard to explain." Darren looked over at me, my discernment gave me away despite being lost in thought. "So, try me. I won't judge. I didn't when you first came here nothing had changed." It was true he had welcomed me even as an outsider when the troop was human. "I just feel really weird around Arthur is all." Darren took some time to mull this over before responding.

Darren's tail flitted me from behind as he casually tried to respond. "Well, he's your friend, and you like him, right? Maybe you're just feeling a bit weird because he looks different now." I rolled my shoulders. That didn't sit quite right in my head, it didn't match up to the weird feeling in my stomach. Darren's considered response was delayed, and serious. "Maybe you like him more than you think?" I looked over at him as Darren's gaze met my own. "What do you mean?" Darren wasn't fully expecting this but tried explaining in as simple of a way as he could. "Maybe you have feelings for him?"

I hadn't considered this. Arthur and I had plenty of reason to be close. The suggestion brought a sense of hesitation up inside of me. "Maybe." Darren could sense my obvious unease and continued his efforts to soothe me. "Look, it's perfectly alright to have feelings for him. Maybe you should talk to him about it?" I probably should but I was concerned what Arthur would think. "What if he hates me because of it?" Darren looked at me carefully considering his response.

"He won't. Trust me." This was all I needed to hear. But I was still unsure if I was ready to combat my feelings for Arthur. Sure he was my friend but was I ready to deal with the possible fallout as a result. I didn't really think Arthur would freak out but I didn't want to risk my only true friendship either. "Thanks, Darren." I picked myself up still pondering the possibilities of what could happen if I came out to Arthur. I decided that it couldn't wait and returned to camp.

Chapter 5: Coming out

Arriving back at the tent I found Arthur unpacking both of our things into an organizer he had set on the side of the tent. Hearing the tent open Arthur looked over me having been startled by my sudden entry into the tent. "Feel any better?" To be honest I felt worse than before. My head swam with negative impulses as I tried to make my way into the tent. I felt as if a barrier was keeping me from getting closer to Arthur. It was as if I was on a tread mill.

Arthur could see right through me and wandered over to coax me onto the floor next to him. His touch provided caused me to snap back to reality with him standing right next to me. Looking dead into his eyes, I knew it was now or never. "Arthur, we need to talk." Arthur looked at me his interest clearly piqued at my sincere words. "What's bothering you Pent, you've been acting different today." I wanted to be careful with my words but knew I had to speak my mind in order to clear my thoughts.

Arthur guided me onto the floor across for him. His scent hung about the tent as he had been working on the tent all day, though he showed little signs of being tired. I was at a loss for words and couldn't come up with what I wanted to say to him. He shuffled himself over closer to me huddling against me, as if he knew I was fighting some internal struggle. His boyish musk hung about his body mixed with sweat and pheromones. It reminded me of the day in the forest and almost caused me to lose myself again.

"Arthur, I think I like you." My heart skipped a beat with those words being uttered from my maw. Arthur just sat there for a moment carefully considering his reply. "Well of course you do silly, we're friends after all." Arthur seemed just as naive as I was about what I was dealing with. "I mean I really like you a lot, Arthur." Arthur stopped to think for a moment weighing in on his words. "Pent..." Arthur seemed just as loss for words as I was before. This was new for both of us. Now neither of could look the other in the eye, sitting there in awkward silence.

"Your not mad are you, Arthur?" I asked finally breaking the muted moment. Arthur shook his head but still seemed unable to speak. I wasn't really sure where to go from here. My heart continued to pound a mile a minute, my head racing with consideration of what I had just done. But the bottom line was neither of us had acted on those words. I'm sure neither of us was entirely sure as to what we wanted. Wanting to relieve the tension, I tried to change the subject. "Wanna go swim?"

Arthur looked up me still confused over my confession, so I continued. "Come on it will be fun." Arthur seemed to be in a bit of a funk now, I couldn't think of what to make of it. Arthur's dragged his hands claw into the bottom of tent as if doodling to wander his mind in other ways. I picked myself up from the floor going over to the organizer to fetch my suit. I had half a mind to change in the tent but didn't want to exacerbate the situation more than it was. Instead I grabbed a towel and headed outside, hoping that eventually he'd join me.