Changes 2

"You presume much."

Her voice was rich and melodic, but with an edge that set bones vibrating. Mossfoot huddled against the unseen ground and whined.

"But I won."
"And you will still have first opportunity. There may be some delay though."
"Aren't I dying?"

Lady Inle turned toward Fuzzy, her fur gradually shifting to luminous white as she spoke.

"You were born dying."
"I meant --"
"I know what you meant. You have a decision to make."
"I don't understand."
"He doesn't deserve a second chance, Lady. Make him stay."
"He cannot avoid coming here. You will have your chance, Mossfoot. What is fated is what will be."

She focused her gaze on Fuzzy.

"As for you. You are not expected to understand. You have served me in the past and you will serve me in the future. The only question is where. That is your choice."
"I've been infected?"
"Yes, what is your choice?"
"I ... I don't know."
"Time means nothing here, despite what the waiting ones say. You will decide and then it will have been as it should have been. Speak to those who wait if you like or sit with your own thoughts. Know that few are given the choice, even of those who recieve the seed."
"Yes Lady. Thank you."

Fuzzy and Mossfoot watched her fade back to darkness and further until she was gone, leaving the shadowy forms to flow back into the void.

"Why not stay here? If you go back you'll be a monster on the outside too."
"I was only a monster to those who wanted to betray the warren."
"Then you should definately stay. After you change, you'll certainly betray the warren."
"But She said I'd serve Her."
"If you go back you'll feel the hunger that Sawgrass felt. He's here you know. Skulking in his mad shadows."
"That was different."

Mossfoot leered knowingly at him.

"Was it? I read your report."
"Then you know that Major Sawgrass wasn't infected."
"I don't think it mattered much to his victims."

Mossfoot scratched an ear with his hind foot.

"Well, you have things to think about. Others to see. Don't worry though, I'll wait up for you."

He hopped off into the shadows, leaving Fuzzy behind, lost in thought.

"Oh ... yes. Be seeing you."