Page 109 of Moon Tamed

“We’re usually together.”

“As we’ve been looking at the physical bonding elements, we’ll have to look closer into the emotional elements. You were the cause of her worries, so this tracks, as it’s clear enough to me that you’re the general subject of her interest.”

“While I appreciate your concern, my mother died many years ago, we know why she died, and her death has helped prevent numerous other deaths. It’s not my fault, nor my father’s fault she had a faulty gene. But because she had that faulty gene, there are others who won’t share her fate. We’re making progress on correcting the issue with gene therapy. Don’t get me wrong. I loved my mother very much, but perhaps it’s time for everyone else to accept what I accepted a while ago? While I was worried Coraline might have the faulty gene, she was tested, she is negative, and she’s fine. We have two weeks to get her settled. Dad’s going to be taking care of the election, and I’d rather be here with her than dealing with the politics.”

“We’re going to nominate Lucky the Doom Bird for a leadership role,” Kirkland announced.

Calden’s eyes widened. “Espresso and Latte deserve to be public leaders. They’re that adorable, Kirkland.”

“There is no reason the peacock and the bunnies can’t form a campaign together or compete against each other. We can put Lucky in as the representative of the crafting or artisan factions, Espresso and Latte can represent the Hunters, and we can nominate other animals for the other factions. We will have three days after your father announces the election to fill out the forms and pay the election fee. Or they can run for his position. We’ll figure something out.”

“How much is the fee to propose a new position?” Calden asked. “Do you know off-hand?”

“I do. It’s ten dollars.”

“We should nominate Coraline as the Queen of Animals for the year, and every year thereafter, we should have an election for the King and Queen of Animals. Or Other.”

“Co-run with her and figure out what the obligations of the role will be. I’ll handle the actual filing. If we’re going to turn the election into a circus, we may as well have fun with it.”

I foresaw trouble on the horizon, and I looked forward to aiding their cause. At a lack of any other idea of how to express my enthusiasm, I wagged my tail.

“Coraline is very enthusiastic about spreading her love of animals, so I don’t think she’ll mind helping. She needs to stay a wolf for at least thirty-two hours, however. That’s our average, and we find it helps with the next shift,” Calden said, and he crouched in front of me. “I get to meet your every need, and I get to clean up after you if you don’t figure out how to use the toilet as a wolf first try. Using toilets can be done, but let’s just say it takes some practice. Do not be surprised if you fall into or off the toilet the first few times.” He bowed his head and laughed. “It’s easier to teach a cat to use the toilet.”

“It really is. As new shifters are often embarrassed by bathroom issues, I’ve set aside a bathroom just for you, in case there are, ah, any unfortunate mistakes.”

Ew. I turned my ears back and regarded Calden with wide eyes.

“Would you like to practice before the call of nature kicks in?” Calden asked.

I bobbed my head.

“And that’s our first task for the day. Kirkland, can you handle figuring out what she needs to eat?”

“Fish. A lot of fish. Salmon, according to the book I referenced.”

Calden grimaced. “My wallet already regrets this, but get her several large salmon on my dime. We’ll try her on raw and cooked, and we may as well all indulge. Get some other fish and see if she likes them?”

“Judging from her general body language, she likes fish and will be very pleased with her wolf-form’s diet.”

As agreeing would get seafood on my plate, I bobbed my head. At a lack of any other way to get Calden’s attention, I lifted my paw and touched his knee.

While still focused on Kirkland, Calden scratched behind my ear. The sensation did me in, and I flopped against him in a bid for more attention.

“I see all wolves have the secret ear scratch spot,” Legacy’s leader said with laughter in his voice.

“Who said anything about it being secret? I don’t know what it is about that spot, but our fur is soft there, and it’s heaven to have it scratched just right.”

“As evidenced by the melted puddle of wolf all over you.”

Calden laughed and moved his hand to dig his fingers into the thicker fur around my neck. “I’ll scratch behind your ears all you want a little later, Coraline, but I have a list of things we need to go over while your body adapts to your new shape. Let’s begin with the bathroom, as there’s little as uncomfortable as having to ask someone for help with the basics.”

Thanks to coaching from Calden, some patience, and a good sense of balance, I managed to master the art of using a bathroom while a wolf without having to request assistance or cleanup. I planned on celebrating my victory over my new form with every piece of chocolate I could get my hands on, something I was banned from eating while a wolf.

Chocolate tended to make wolves rather ill, and while it wouldn’t kill me, I wouldn’t appreciate the level of sickness I would endure. A bunch of other foods joined the list as well, but the loss of chocolate annoyed me the most.

While Kirkland went out and acquired fish for me, Calden decided I would be eating right out of his hand, a situation I didn’t mind in the slightest.

He wanted to teach me how to chew and swallow without choking, and I wanted the attention.

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