• After a few minutes, the elaborate hairstyle was in place. Tunia smiled gently at her reflection and examined the silky black waves that trailed down her back.

    "Perfect." Tunia told Hun and squeezed her. Robby stood from the bed and wrapped his arms around both the girls.

    "Gah, Robby, you're squishing me!" Hun struggled, but Tunia and Robby held on, laughing.

    "Enough!" Hun laughed and ducked from between the two, making them slam into each other. Robby chuckled and turned from Tunia to sweep Hun into his arms. They kissed in front of her, and Tunia gagged jokingly.

    "Keep it PG, please!" Tunia cried and pushed them out the door. Suddenly remembering Grant, she glanced at the clock that rested on the opposite wall in the hall.

    7:00.

    "Crap!" Tunia said irritably and rushed down the stairs, careful not to tear her dress. Hun and Robby curiously trailed her with ease. Tunia pushed past her parents, who called after her as she left the house.

    "Tunia! Back before midnight please! You know what happens then!" Her mom yelled, and Tunia flashed a thumbs-up to her while she disappeared down the pass, Hun and Robby at her heels.


    Only a few minutes passed, and the three were walking down Grant's street, quietly and carefully. Hun began going over safety procedures.

    "Okay, you know if you start shaking, you get your skinny butt out the door. There's a forest nearby, over the fence. That's where you go."

    "I know, Hun." Tunia muttered, scanning house numbers.

    "And what do you do if he chases you?" Hun questioned.

    "I go faster. Hun, I know all this." Tunia snapped back at her sister. Robby set his jaw but didn't say anything, and Hun fell silent. Tunia halted in front of his house.

    "2154 Roberts Ave. This is it." Tunia strutted up the buckling walk and knocked twice. Who answered the door looked like a younger sister.

    With one look at Tunia, the girl turned into the house and yelled, "Graaaant! She's heeerreee!!"

    "Okay, okay, Melly. Geez." Tunia heard from inside, and Grant bounded to the door. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, and his hair was slicked nicely.

    "Hey." Tunia breathed. Grant smiled that smile again, and took her hand.

    "You look gorgeous tonight, Tunia." He kissed the hand and turned back to the door.

    "See you later, Milly! Please keep out of trouble!" He shut the door and grinned back at Tunia.

    "Shall we?" He started down the walk, then stopped short when he saw Hun and Robby. As if on cue, Tunia spoke up.

    "My entourage." She said with a laugh, but when Hun crossed her arms, her laugh faded.

    "I mean, my big sister, and her fiance." Tunia pulled Grant's arm to bring him to her family; Grant didn't resist.

    "Hun, and Robby." Hun introduced themselves, and politely shook Grant's hand.

    "Nice to meet you." Grant said, seeming dazed. He shook Robby's hand, and his face stiffened. Grant pulled away almost immediately, and looked to Tunia.

    "We're gonna be late..." He started, and Hun and Robby led the way down the street.

    "Not on my watch." Hun called behind her, and walked too quickly for any human, holding Robby's hand. Tunia narrowed her eyes and walked patiently beside Grant, whose eyes were as big as saucers.

    "Show off." Tunia mumbled under her breath, and Grant raised an eyebrow. She shook her head.

    "Nothing. Come on, let's catch up!" She looked at him mischeiviously. His gaze flitted from Hun's disappearing figure to Tunia's certain face, back and forth.

    "I'll take that as a yes!" Tunia smiled wildly and held his arm firmly. She ran like a human at first, then continuously picked up speed until the wind was lifting her hair. To not much of a surprise, Grant kept up. Also to no surprise, he was loving every moment of it.

    All too soon, the group halted in the back of the school. They had easily leapt the fence and snuck around to the rear entrance, nothing out of place besides a little wind-blown hair. Tunia smirked at Grant, and he grinned back, but realizing what he had just done, he shied away from her warm touch.

    "I didn't just do that." Grant told himself, staring into the starry sky.

    "I knew it!" Tunia almost yelled, but at a glance from Hun and Robby, she quieted down.

    "I knew you were a Were." Tunia whispered excitedly to him. His eyes widened fearfully and he took two steps back.

    "No, no I'm not!" He exclaimed. Hun stepped forward, along with Tunia.

    "Don't worry about it!" Tunia encouraged, then looked at Hun. She nodded, and Tunia took another step.

    "We're Weres too. It's okay, calm down." She held her hands up, palm forward in submission, and he slowly shook his head.

    "Don't make me have to prove it to you. How do you think I made that scratch today?" Tunia put one hand on her hip, the other showing off elongated claws.

    "No, no, no!" Grant said loudly, holding his head in both hands, shaking wildly.

    Finally Tunia realized what was happening.

    "No!" He screamed, then fell to his knees. Tunia wanted more than anything to help him, but she was held back by Hun and Ruby.

    "Grant!" Tunia cried, fighting against her sister's strong hold.

    "There's nothing you can do, Tunia! Now stop it, you're making me bruise you!" Hun yelled over Tunia's yelping. Tunia halted. Why was she fighting to get to him? He was perfectly capable of transforming by himself, of this she was sure. But was there something else, pulling her to his side?

    She shook her head, forcing back the trembling that took hold of her body.

    "Tunia! Calm down!!" Hun hushed loudly. Tunia squeezed her eyes shut, fighting with all her might. She couldn't transform, not here. But the sweet luxury the transformation offered was almost unbearable, like a sweet, sweet poison on her lips. The moonless sky burdened her with heavy weight. The moon was the only thing that could keep her human. That would have to count for something now.

    Tunia cried out in a loud mewl, then pushed onto her knees. She held onto the small consiousness that remained human for dear life, but she knew it was worthless now. She had pushed the boundaries.

    "S**t, Tunia." She heard Hun curse and let go, backing up against the wall. Tunia clawed the grass as a sickly sweet crunch of an elongating spine filled her ears. She arched her back dramatically and felt the tail grow from her lower back, the midnight black fur crawling across her tanned skin. Hands and feet became paws, almost dainty compared to her long, well shaped limbs. Her pupils lengthened as she opened her eyes, the blue reflecting the faint starlight.

    "Tunia, dammit, get to the forest!" Hun yelled, pushing her side once she had fully transformed. Tunia forced a nod in silence, then leapt over the fence in one bound, disappearing into the darkness.

    She felt a presence behind her, and she sharply turned, tail whipping around impatiently. She didn't recognize the scent, and the thing was getting closer.

    Tunia? A familiar sound. Tunia's human side sighed in relief, and she trotted slowly through the underbrush.

    Grant. She thought to the dark brown werecat that sat patiently in front of her.

    I'm so sorry... You just surprised me. He thought, looking up at the sky.

    Don't worry about it. Tunia thought quietly, staring at her paws.

    How in the world did we end up together? Grant said and coughed in laughter. She tried to laugh along, her cat vocals resisting. All that came out was a similar coughing noise. He stood up, and her head snapped up in a reflex. He came and sat a yard away from her, staring with friendly greyish eyes.

    Hurried footsteps approached, and Tunia's ears flattened against her head. Grant backed up, hissing quietly. But Tunia recognized the scent, and stepped forward to greet the intruder.

    A black and white cat silently stepped into the clearing.

    Jon. Tunia nodded in greeting.

    Tunia. He sniffed absentmindedly at the air around him, then his nose scrunched. What's that awful smell?

    Tunia raised her head in defiance. My Homecoming date. Any issues?

    Plenty. Jon responded, then tried to look behind Tunia. She shifted so that Grant was blocked from view, and mirrored the move on the other side when Jon leaned the other way.

    What's his name? Jon thought suspiciously.

    Grant. They heard behind Tunia. The musky brown cat loped up next to Tunia, and she groaned inwardly. She would never hear the end of it from Jon now.

    Graaannt... She whined, then sat restlessly on her haunches. Jon spat at Grant's feet, which he neatly dodged.

    You. Jon glared with squinted eyes, but Grant seemed oblivious. Suddenly, they all turned around, luminesent eyes glowing.

    "Tunia!" She heard Hun calling, and she bolted with all her might from the boys.

    Behave! Tunia ordered, feeling their angry and anxious thoughts. She stepped behind Hun and nudged her back.

    "Tunia!" Hun screamed in surprise and whirled around. "Stupid, you ripped your dress!" She stuffed the black fabric in Tunia's face, then threw it to the ground, hands on her hips.

    "What are we going to do with you?" Hun scolded as Robby stepped close.

    Tunia tried to look guilty, but her catty face didn't respond well. It ended up in an odd formation. Hun blinked once, then laughed hard at the look.

    "Ah, Tunia. Poor, poor Tunia. Where'd Grant go?" She looked around Tunia's black body, but not seeing him anywhere, her gaze returned to her little sister.

    Tunia rolled her eyes and turend around, bounding into the underbrush behind her. Hun kept up easily enough, Robby following next to Hun.

    When they reached the clearing, they found Grant and Jon glaring at each other.

    What are you guys doing? I thought I told you not to argue while I was gone. Tunia scoffed and sat on the edge of the clearing.