Liaws-Outfoxed

Liam sat at his computer, thinking over the day. His business, a bookstore called The Fox’s Den, was doing well enough that the human seriously considered hiring an assistant, maybe an anthro, to take over evening shifts. The potential hiring would be twofold for him. It would bring him some much-needed sleep. He had also been behind on the paperwork, and, as the calendar app on the desktop showed, his own birthday.

Liam had forgotten about the day, simply because he was too busy to put much thought into it. His dad, who had died two months previously, was Shawnee so birthdays weren’t that important. His dad made a bigger deal of Liam taking his first steps and graduating kindergarten than his birthday. He still got gifts, though, and he could see several from where he was sitting. They were all fox-themed trinkets, given as much for his lifelong love of foxes as for his tribal name. As a kid, he’d wanted to be one.

"Huh...got really busy. Oh well, I'll have a quick drink to celebrate and then head to bed."

One drink turned into two, two turned into three. Liam did eventually get into his bed, sober just enough to strip off his clothes, just drunk enough to make sleeping easier. He quickly sunk into his bed, and the blackness of sleep, then found himself standing in a forest on a sunny day. Liam brushed himself off as he walked forward. In the distance, Liam heard the faint thunderous roar of tribal drums. He followed the sound until he came to a clearing. A circle of anthros, animals and humans was assembled in the clearing. At the center stood an elder wolf woman who leaned on a tall walking stick.

She was ancient. The hair on the top of her head was pure white. Her body was brittle; she seemed ready to shatter. The bags around her eyes showed her age and her wisdom. Despite how she looked, the woman was friendly. Though she didn't ask for respect, the elder was granted it. None dared cross her. As the Grandmother looked around, a smile formed on the old, grey muzzle. Liam walked up to her.

"Swiftpaws," came her soft voice, using the name his father's tribe had given to him. She bowed in his direction as the others looked. "Welcome to our little council."

Liam, at once, recognized what this was. It was the Council of Elders, but he hadn’t expected anthros to be on the council as well. He knew that animals and humans sat by side, or so the stories told. The stories never told that anthropomorphic animals also sat on the council. Around the circle sat a feral wolf, an anthro cougar. Liam noticed no birds or coyotes were present, but this was to be expected. It was shocking to say the least, but not unwelcome. This was the fundamental and secret government of the spiritual world, though it also had an impact on the physical world. The council was just a myth. Or so Liam thought.

"I am honored to be here, Grandmother." He bowed to her and the others. "But why am I here?"

Grandmother gave a small laugh. Her paw gripped the walking-stick tighter, and she banged it against one of the drums. At once, all eyes turned from Liam towards Grandmother.

"It is the thirty-second anniversary of your birth, Swiftpaws. According to our traditions, you sit on this council now replacing your departed father."

All heads bowed to pay respect. The only other wolf, a smaller pup by Grandmother's standards, howled the sad song of his people. For a brief moment the only thing Liam could hear was his own heart beating. His body was stiff as his brain tried to process the information. His lower jaw slacked as words tried to form. Nothing came out. He had no idea the council was even real, yet here they were telling him that his father had been a member.

“First, we need to do something about the imbalance we have here. Your world is still imbalanced, as it was in your father’s time. My child, I intend you to be a warrior for my animal-people, the ones you call anthros, as well as my world and the environment. Much as your grandfather and father.”

Shocked and confused by what the wolfess had told him, Liam looked around the circle. He was confused by what the wolfess meant by imbalance until Liam looked around the circle and saw that indeed the humans outnumbered the anthros and the animals. But he didn't know what could be done about it. Then his eyes widened and Liam gulped. He knew what Grandmother was going to do now.

"Grandmother, respectfully, you aren't suggesting…"

The wolfess merely nodded. It had already begun.

Liam winced and felt as though his feet were on fire. The toes began to curl as they became smaller, though not by much. Thankfully, he was as naked in the dream as he was in life. All who came before Grandmother were. The changes were progressing even further. Black socks over his feet ended at just above the knee. For a full five minutes, Liam stood there in shock as his body started to become more and more vulpine. His ears changed next, shifting from the side to the top. Then it was over, and Liam stood there as a Fox-man, as well as part of the council.

“Grandmother, why?”

“The world is imbalanced my child. I do what I can to correct it. I looked into your soul and saw you were unhappy as a Man, so I took it upon myself to correct this. But it time for you to wake up, child. Go into the world and be happier!”

Soon Liam saw darkness, and the drums started loud again, but then got softer and softer until they faded to nothing.

When he woke up, Liam wasn't afraid of what happened. He knew that Grandmother had something planned and put all of his trust in her as he adjusted his t-shirt and left