Species (Anthro Skunk)
Hitting this panel hides the old menus and brings up a new one. In the top left corner is a checkbox labeled 'Anthro', one which you quickly hit. You don't want to risk losing your ability to interact with your in-game menus, and though you've never been a part of the furry fandom, you figure it couldn't hurt to find out what that's about.
To your surprise, hitting the checkbox brings up another three: 'Domestic (25%), 'Civilized (50%)', and 'Feral (75%)'. Unsure of what these boxes really mean, you settle for the middle one, curious as to what will come of this choice.
As it turns out, a whole lot of nothing happens, and you chuckle as you realize that the screen's waiting on you to choose a species to blend with. Of course it would; you shouldn't have expected any changes to come simply from being an 'Anthro Female Human', as the progress meter atop the main menu proclaims.
You look down to the species selector, seeing quite a few options, from real to mythical creatures. There's even a create-your-own panel, though you don't really want to try tapping that. Instead, you return your attention to the real -world animal tab, hitting it and flicking through the pages.
Every species on God's green Earth from ants to zebras seems to have been logged in here, and you find yourself a little overwhelmed. Maybe it would be a good idea to stick with something you know... You look to the screen, finger wavering slightly before finally settling on the word 'Skunk'.
It might seem odd to some people, but you've always found the little furry animals to be cute; and you've heard they make for good pets. Moreover, if this is an adventure game, you're sure that this body will come in handy. It has its own defense mechanisms and a good set of senses, and boosting your passive perception is never a bad thing.
You press the button without further ado, only to yelp as you immediately sprout a long and fluffy tail. Its long, white hairs sway behind you as you look to your backside, gawping openly in shock. This game letting you feel what it was like to be in a woman's body was one thing; but to think that it would also really give you a tail, too? Whoever programmed this deserved to be a billionaire!
You can't focus on your new tail for too long; however, as another change makes itself apparent along your body. Your scalp begins to tingle once more, though this time it's less of a massage and more of an itch. This itch spreads down your entire body, and you look down to your hands and arms to watch as you grow a luscious coat of soft black fur, the thick hairs matting themselves down under your clothes.
An almost electric sensation races along your back, and you realize with a smile that you've just gained your skunky stripe. At least, that's the only explanation you can come up with for why some of the itching should feel so different to the rest.
Before you can mull this over any longer, your hands and feet begin to ache. Your mind changes gears as you go from admiring your fur to watching another change, and a smile spreads across your face as your hands get a little larger, pads forming along your palms.
You have no doubt that a similar thing is happening to your soles, and you kneel down to undo your shoes, your tail lifting behind you to keep your body balanced. As your fingers touch your laces, they begin to ache; and you watch as they shrink slightly, your nails growing over them to form long claws instead.
It's not uncomfortable; nor is it a hindrance to your everyday life. Rather, each of your digits from the first knuckle to the tip is a long claw, perfect for foraging. Or, in this case, undoing a pair of shoelaces.
You hook your claws into the knots and undo them with ease, only for a strange ache to come from your face. This must be the last of your changes, you realize; and you flex your jaw as it begins to stretch out from your face, becoming a skunk's tapered muzzle.
This change comes a little faster than you'd expected, almost like your head is a ball of clay and some master artisan is kneading and reshaping it. In seconds, your snout is complete, your nose having flattened out on its tip while your teeth have grown a little sharper in your mouth.
Your vision is slightly worse, but the wealth of scents that you can pick up from your new nose more than makes up for it. Moreover, as your ears change, you begin to hear more and more of the area around you. You twitch one of your rounding ears as it rises up your head, a smile on your face as you think of how difficult it will be to ambush you in this game.
The happy thought makes your tail wag gently, and you rise to stand once more, kicking off your loosened shoes and feeling the soft grass beneath your feet. Going barefoot worked for hobbits, so it should certainly work for an anthro skunk.
You look back to the character selection screen, finding only one remaining option that appeals to you: 'Stance'.
Written by SketchySeraph on 11 March 2016
