Part 4: A Normal Life As Fun Goofs.

With the last night event’s done. Dinner was great and more messing around was fun before we gave bit of sleep and then had another midnight outing. This time was much calmer like most nights.

A week passed on. The Cacomistle and her sister the Puma both got sent to a better rehab place. Cacomistle was grateful for the rescue from me and the family for taking care of them. We hoped for her sister that she’d get better and not have anymore hate for her sister anymore.

As for Janny. We still haven’t gotten any contact about her adoption from anyone. But Janny’s been loving her larger enclosure and the some food she gets of normal human food. She’s told me few times her friends would love take her in. But family, and other related problems force them in saying they can’t for such. She’s even tried finding her own method of getting help to. But not much. But she and we still have hope she’ll find a good loving family to enjoy with. Kim’s been taking care of her and both seem to start getting attached to eachother. Janny’s been more open to coming out and chilling on their shoulder as she watches some of us ruffle around the house. She’s bit confused about me at times being a mouse tuffling it with 2 ferret predators and a skunk, sometimes thinking the fight gets little to tense, since i can hear Kim tell her i’m fine and to relax as she’s notice when watching that Janny tends to flutter among her shoulders much squeaking bit loudly almost as if she’s trying to tell the ferrets and skunk to go easy on me. But course they have been more than easy on me when battling since my body isn’t as well strong to the fanged teeth the 3 have.  But we all have fun playing at times and understand eachother.

The day after we talked about the wolf mouse. Charly setup a chat with her sister Jan. Who video chatted with everyone. And boy did she have stories. Snow pretty interested in listening. Sammy was wowed by the ‘scary mouse’ she was. Rassy kinda wasn’t to impressed. I and Charly already knew most of the whole Wolf-Mouse Grasshopper Mice thing and what not. So i just kinda listened on while Charly’s sister showed herself off and told her few hunt stories. She did have few scars here and there. But nothing to crazy. She also mentioned since the venom in scorpions help remove pain. She’s been harvesting some scorpions for herself to intentionally use the venom to inject into her on some more bigger foe fights to stop the pain from being attacked or kicked. I didn’t know if she’d be feeling that later or not. But somehow it seems the way it works is she does, but not as like much after the venom fades and her nerves return to feeling the pain. It’s more like a light bruise feeling for her. Which she showed a few newer ones from a fight with a elk she had and got kicked around few times. She told she only really goes after big prey after periods of time because of rules surrounding hunting rights and everything. Plus the large respect for the animal balance. Most of her hunts aren’t as dramatic and when she goes big she doesn’t need to hunt for quite awhile since larger prey can have tons of food. Think of having a full cow to yourself. That’s like ordering 500pounds worth of stake. No way one gonna eat that in a sitting.

                                                               The Play is Set.

As for me. Week since my time with my outing of the Puma attack. I been focus on making my choice on whether or not i’d go for the training to be apart of the up coming NutCracker show play at the Playhouse stadium. It was gonna be a big show for the whole city. I was still pretty nervous of the whole thing. But hopefully with preparing and practice I'd get used to having a crowd around me.

When the week started I decided to go. My first day wasn’t to exciting. I mainly got things signed in, confirmed few things here and there with the people. Got the booking for everything set. Unpacked few of my basic stuff i brought to my hotel room for the month i’d be staying there. Which was quite a large space. Had 1 bedroom with standard fixing of human jazz. Kitchen, bathroom with bath/shower, dining/living room. The only thing bit different was the flooring on tile in places like the bathroom and kitchen were featured to have a slight rough-grippy texture to prevent slippage on padded paws for animal-like people. The bedroom also had a addon feature for me, A blackout kinda corner hide-hole with a large dog bed inside it. The side of the room had a large amount of oversize half human-like size huge cotten balls just sitting there for if i ever wanted to use them for ripping apart and setting in my little sleep corner.

There was also a hybrid desk not to far away that i could either lay, sit, or lean back on while chilling at the desk. Along with a tailhole in the back of the seat if i sat down. And as they mentioned the walls were noise proofed so when i entered it was like walking into a silent chamber. Even inside there wasn’t a single echo, even though the room didn’t have any pictures or stuff on the walls to absorb noise. So it was kinda nice for it to be basic without so much inner and outer noise for the place.

I also brought some of the ferret toys who were fine with me taking them, cause they wanted an excuse when they ever came over to come stash play with them again in my place. So yeah.

                                                            End Journal.

I soon walked into the training room for the stadium’s backroom of the playhouse where most were stretching and working on their dance moves across the room. I wear my tan sleeveless shirt, legless shorts, with my sock-feetpad shoes as i walked into the room. There were few humans scattered around and 2 other mice humanoid changers. One male and a female who were doing leg bends on a railing wearing similar clothing as i was.

“Aww hello. You must be Charly’s kid Speckles right?” A tall dude 5’9 human with blond hair looking about in their 50’s said as they slowly walked over to me.

“Yes.” I simply said looking up at them. 

“Good to have you. I heard of your idea. Quite a stage turner it’ll be. You sure we don’t need to have you on a harness or anything? I mean i know you’re a mouse. But it’s just for safety measures.” He said.

“I think it’ll be fine. Tree’s only gonna be like 20foot high? Long as the pole or climbing object you guys have will have good grip. I should be fine.” I told.

“Ok. Welp. Find a spot, get some stretches out. Then we’ll do some dance tests.” He said as he opened a arm and pointed to the room.

I nodded and walked to a lone spot to kinda stretch and work out a bit. Though while i was doing that and 10mins past. Another person came walk in. They were a 4foot tall humanoid like me. But their appearance was slightly off compared to a mouselet. Their tail wasn’t as frizzed with fur a bit and it looked bit thicker, longer, and scaly. Their ears also were bit smaller on their head.

“Aww Reggie. How’s it going.” I heard the teacher say as they greeted the person.

“Hey dude. Good. Family’s doing great.” They responded and soon glanced over to me. “1….2….3….Did we get another changer?” They questioned after doing a headcount of me and the other two mice changers in the room.

“Aww well yes and no. We had him prepare for awhile. He’s been interested in joining for awhile so they had to get him all setup. He’s the mouselet that posed the idea of climbing from the tree to make it bit more suspenseful.” The teacher mentioned.

“Nice. Bold move. So they aren’t playing the mouse king or anything, just the standard mouse mob?”

“Nope. Just the standard mouse group.”

The person soon walked on over and leaned on a wall with a foot propped up on the wall as they looked me over. “So how you liking being a rodent?” They said.

“EXCUSE US RAT. DON’T call us rodents just cause you wanna be that.” I heard someone in the back mention.

The person chuckled lightly. “OK OK ok…Sorry.”

“Being a Rat i think you’d also know that word is quite rude. But being a MOUSE i’m ok with. Nothing wrong with it. Why?” I questioned.

“Eh. Some have their dislikes of being it. Whole being small, skittish, and well few other things.”

“Are you gonna be in the play? Didn’t know they were gonna allow other species changers to play apart of the play.” I questioned.

“Aww right. About that….” They were saying before one of the other mouse changers came walking over. “This goof wants to be apart of the mob in the play. A rat with mice.” They said.

“It’s a play with ro….Ehm you know. Some plays i seen play as rats. Others with mice and kids as part of that. Rats are just the Adult version. So what’s wrong with me being just bit bigger with longer tail than yours. Hmm?” 

“If the teacher has no problems with it and they allow. It shouldn’t mean he can’t play. Many other creatures i bet wanted to also.” I said.

“Mmmm.. Maybe. Just weird.”

“Weird? We are all fricken animal things. Not sure how weird it can get being a rat vs a mouse.”

“Naturally Mice and Rats don’t mix. I don’t know fully why. But my best guess not related to us. But related to the animal feral itself. Is Rats tend to be headstrong on themselves while mice have to worry about so many more problems being the smallest and everything on the hunt for them. Rats get bit more layoff.” I said.

“Rat’s are just smarter and cooler. If Mice are so shallow and weenie about everything. Eh that’s their choice.” The Rat said.

“Hey we didn’t get to choose what we wanted to be.” The other mouse said.

I sighed and took a breath closing my eyes. “Ok calm down. We’re all still human. Let’s not fight. There is no territory fight or battle we are in to get aggressive over our species differences.” I told as i opened my eyes again looking to the other mouse.

“Least i don’t get butthurt when i hear someone call me a……” The rat person was saying before the teach hmphed. “Ehm…. Reggie. Please don’t.” He said. ||| “Ok. Sorry.” ||| “Thank you.”

“Ok.” The other mouse said and rolled their eyes before walking off.

“We all know that such identifies us as a whole to such topic. Some don’t like it. Some don’t care. But commonly alot of people use that term in a really bad manner and when to much gets said on it. It becomes more sounding offensive than just the term. Like Dork. In the generic sense it sounds like a goofball and so. But in reality it’s really a offensive word for a such animal’s part that i won’t go into mention. But you get the idea. That’s how people take it at times.” I told.

“Hmmm i’ve never seen someone take dork literally. But ok.”

“Nor would be for such. But since it’s more used as offensive some do take it as so.” I told. ||| “How far changed are you of being a rat changer?” I questioned.

The rat guy hmmed. “Well i’d probably say i’m similar to you. Or maybe less. But the company i got that mentioned my condition told me i had over 35% mental animal to me or something. Not really sure how that differs. But yeah.”

“That would explain your aggressive stance then. You feel bolder and take us as being smaller that you feel more power. Right?” I said.

The rat huhed. “Huh…….Thinking on it. I kinda do. Is that how the animal part feels? Strange….”

“Try giving us space and not focusing on us to much to feel like you need to push us away. Normally Rats and Mice don’t mix in nature well. Both kinds have their own little battles between each species. Rats being more aggressive in such stance and….Here let me show you.” I was saying before i pulled my phone out of a pocket in my shirt and clicked it to turn the screen on and unlock the device. Then i opened a browser and searched ‘why do mice and rats not mix well together as pets?’ When it showed the information telling on the search info. I turned my phone and showed it to the rat person.

The rat guy leaned in and looked. “Huh. Well that’s quite interesting.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and zipped it shut. “Rats are more common pets and more research on them. Compared to mice with behaviors. But with little information. Our two species don’t mix because the bigger one feels more in power than the smaller species. Rats in general just tend to feel more like the top dog. So i don’t know if it’s really you just being a jerk. Or your inner side is just being spiteful cause you feel more higher ground due to your side.” I said.

He held his hands up and gave a few steps back. “Right right. Maybe i might’ve got hasty.”

“Relax. You can put your hands down. It’s ok. Just try not to feel so tall to others. Try to imagine us as a normal human and ignore our smell. That way you’ll focus more on the idea of a person more than the animal aspect.” I mentioned.

He lowered his hands and nodded. “Ok. But hey. Was the teacher right in saying you were gonna take on a new move and crawl down the tree for the play? That’s pretty wild.”

“Yes. I kinda wanted to give a unique move for the play to kinda spice the turn when the girl comes to the smaller realm as we steal the gifts. Coming down from the tree to show the flexibility and give bit more inside interest about the creatures. Instead of the same old coming from the sides of the play and running around.” I told.

“That’s pretty cool. Anything else you plan to do that isn’t the normal?” They questioned.

“Not really much. Maybe a gift to climb over and disappear into the back. But most of it just kinda going with the flow and making up moves. What about you? Are you gonna be apart of the play to?” I said.

“That’s pretty cool. Kinda has a bit of a horror-movie twist to it with the spooky creepy crawl down and vanishing act. But yeah. Gonna be part of your little dance mob who runs around the kid and such.” He said. He leaned on the wall watching as i grabbed the railing beside me to test it’s strength.

“I guess it could come off creepy. But just wanted to make it a different move than coming off the stage from right or left. But if you’re joining to. If you can try to remember we’re all humans. Try not letting your nose and animal side feel like pushing away and be better. We aren’t trying to push on being better than anyone else. We’re just doing this all for fun and to have a good show.” I mentioned and soon jumped on the railing to hold on with all fours. Easily balancing myself upright on the metal rail.

“Right. Still pretty strange of everything.” He said.

“It is. But we just gotta live and find our comfortable ability in it all.” I mentioned and slowly walked among the railing.

“You seem to be pretty in tune with your’s. How you do that so easily? Like. You’re not scared of me or what other think about being this?” He said.

“I don’t try to fight it. Giving it a balance of understand is key. Letting yourself out, but also letting yourself understand the differences. It takes time and opening yourself to let yourself understand the balance effect from the two ends. Some might handle it better than others. I don’t know the other mice two over there’s side feeling. But they might take it harder or easier than others. You just need to know to respect that.” I said.

“Well saying that is easier done than doing it.” He said.

“That is true. So it can only go so far as to you being the one to figure how to judge that into helping yourself. Since we can’t do it for you. Even without this problem many people have other mental problems that we can’t fix. It’s more up to them to help themselves on fixing it by trying to figure it out on their end.” I told.

The rat guy jumped on another bar not to far away and stood on fours to. “Mind i ask a personal question? You smell a lot of other smells. Including a stinky smell from two different kinds of creatures. What’s your family like?” He questioned.

“I’m with an adoptive family now that helps animals out. I live with 3 other changers. 2 ferret anthros and a humanoid striped skunk.” I told.

He backed up slightly on the railing. “Dude the frick? You must have some balls living with 3 predators!” He said.

“2 really. Skunks are Omnivores. And so are mice, rats, and other such creatures. Even chipmunks and squirrels. So yes we can also eat meat at times. The two ferrets are more understanding to us. We have more fun playing than having problems of attacks. We all get our fun time going out at nights enjoying a hunt or adventurous exploring time. The ferrets don’t hunt at home or anything. So we all understand our little selves.” I mentioned.

He perked his ears and looked away for a moment in a ‘huh’ look like. “I thought rode….Sorry i mean mice, rats, and so on. Were all herbivores eating seeds, and plant stuff. Though i guess that’s why i never had problems eating scraps of meat foods. Hmm.” He said.

“Opportunistic eaters. We’ll eat normally what is easiest for us to grab. Only in real direr time we’d really ‘hunt’ or kill to eat. So the option of eating anything is there. Chipmunks, Squirrels have a wide range of food in their depending living area’s. But i’m sure you seen them stealing human foods like fries, burgers meat, and so on. So it depends largely based on the supple of food resources. Rat’s and mice general find scraps easier due to their way of living near humans and can easily find scraps of food to gather rather than foraging it in the wild. So they commonly will use that as a means of food resource since it’s easier.” I told.

“You must have done your research on all this. This is pretty nice.” He said trying to do a 3 legged stand but wobbling much and grabbing back on fours to hold himself up. Both us trying to keep ourselves balanced on the railing.

“Yes. Gotta understand yourself right? Doesn’t hurt to do bit of research on understanding the animal you are.” I mentioned. “Also try to twist your tail around the railing and then try standing on threes. Like this.” I said and showed the rat guy how to do it by curling the tail around the railing behind and then standing on three. Using the tail to support holding up and also focusing more center of gravity weight lower.

“I can’t believe i’m listening to a mouse of advice. But you know what. It’s kinda cool. Sorry if that sounds mean. I mean you’re still you. But just… I don’t know….Just weird.” He said and tried similar and it worked better.

“A person. Don’t think of me as a different animal. Try to picture everyone same as anyone else.” I mentioned.

“Right. Focus more on you being a human and not animal. Ignore the animal urges.” He said.

“Don’t ignore them. Just try not to focus so much on it. If you ignore it. You’ll cause it to fight itself more. Just focus more on something else rather than the difference of species.” I said.

“OK bro. I’m starting to feel like you’re some kinda of….What of those weird people you sit with and talk about your problems with? Do you really work on doing that?” He questioned.

I sat on fours holding the rail. “Nope. Just experience of understanding myself and trying to share it with you.” I mentioned.

The rat guy tried to copy my sitting on the rail and ended up sliding upsidedown. “Dang. You’re good at this. What do you do?” He questioned after letting go and flipping back up to his feet to stand on twos again.

“Like how i’m so good at the animal thing? Or doing this?” I questioned watching the event play out.

“The whole….This. You’re doing it like this is natural.” He said.

“Well kinda is. But also getting yourself used to it all. Family lives in middle of the woods. We tend to go out on midnight outing to keep our animal side active and just let ourselves be ourselves. So i let myself get used to running through the motion.” I told.

“Jeeze. Mine are city grumps. I don’t get that kinda of fun.” He said.

“So you don’t let yourself out to roam around and enjoy the night or time out?” I questioned.

“If you can call playing outback with a few toys and running on a spinner top fun time. I guess.” He said.

I shook my head no. “That’s kinda very limiting. I’d say you should get out more often. Maybe go to the woods edge and kinda just let yourself loose.” I said.

“You’re joking right? Fricken woods have bears! And and mountain lions and bobcats. Probably fricken wolves! NOTUH no fricken way.” He shook his head no.

“Uh. Been living with the family in the forest for awhile. We’ve checked the place and most animals there are pretty chill. Even some bears we ran into. They’ll ignore you if you don’t bother with them. Give respect to them and they’ll respect you. It’s only dangerous if you make it so. But if you be nice it’ll be nice back. I lived out there for long time. And not because of the two ferrets and skunk living with me. They go on their own little outing. I go on my own path, they go on their own path and we just kinda split 3 different ways. So no escort or guard protection.” I told.

“Well yeah….But…i mean…….Well…..uh………” He wasn’t sure what to say.

“There’s not alot to be scared about. You’re quite big for a Rat. So your worries of being out in the open are far far far less than what you’d of been if you were turned feral now. That i would understand. But you being this size is a whole different story. You’re more agile, and far easier to use your form to get out of sticky things. Mice and Rats also have very well keen sense of smell. So you’d be able to pick up a smell pretty well before something likely would get you. Most kin are underground and mostly rely on hearing for that. But since you’d be above you’d know what to smell and what is good or not good. If you’re not up for exploring the woods just yet. Try just walking around at night in the city.” I mentioned.

He sat on the ground and hmmed. “A city walk might be better to start. Yeah. Sounds like a plan. I might do that. But that wouldn’t help me climb and hold onto stuff now though. There’s nothing to climb and hold onto.” He said.

“Apparently there’s tons. You’re just missing the big picture around. Street lights. Poles that aren’t power poles the least. Tree’s in the park. Or so. Just somewhere that won’t get you introuble for enjoying a little climb and to test your abilities. Just don’t trash raid to much. Cause your nose might likely lead to quite a few of those in the outside city.” I told.

“Right. Hmmm. I might then. But for now best i train here.” He told.

I nodded as i stood on fours again and jumped off my railing back to the floor and stood back up on twos. “It was nice talking with you. But if you don’t mind to work alittle ways that’d be nice. Not being rude or anything.” I said.

He huh for a moment and scratched a ear for a second. “Oh right right. Cool Good chatting.” He mentioned and nodded as he soon walked away to another side of the room.

One of the other changer mice came over and huh. “Your mom lets you go wild nuts in the woods. That’s pretty nice. What’s it like going wild out there?” He questioned.

I chuckled and told a few stories of my outing. Leaving them kinda like O.O Whoa faced. “That’s epic! My family are still my normal family and are bit tight on going out. Had to beg them for me to join the play. So this is gonna be my first big event to play in. But man that forest sounds awesome to just go wild on out. Might need to sneak out one time for that.” He said.

“Just be careful. Let your instincts take you around. And maybe bring a phone or so with you just in case.” I told.

He nodded. “Like your coloration. Mines more solid with grey spots.” He said.

I nodded. “Yeah. Sometimes though white can be bit bright. But the tan parts are pretty cool.” I mentioned.

“Anyways better get back to training. Have fun!” He said and soon walked off. Leaving me once again alone.

I nodded and looked around spotting the teacher who was sitting by watching and gave a thumbs up.

—---------

As time went on. Most of the dancers arrived and everyone met eachother. Lot of the humans were pretty wowed about us the changers. Loving our change, Fur, colorations, and so on. Asking questions and stuff about how it felt and everything. Bit much but most were ok to tell, other times not so much.

After our meet and greet chat and what not. We all took times doing dance moves and listening to timing of the music following beats, and moves to go along with the song. My part along with the mice and rats came and we did our little mob roles. I did my split idea that more used one of the training stretch leg railings to pretend climbing down and going onwards with the rest. Sometimes breaking off and doing my own little skit. The rat also seem to have his own kinda skit of a creepy roam around. While the humans and 2 mice roled as the mob. Then us all fleeing away. Me running under the supposed ‘tree’ which i just ran to the back of the room compared to the sides, The rat followed not far with the mob after and so forth.

After doing bit of training and everyone use to eachother. We finally finished up few hours later.

—--------

“Ok Cya guys!” The female mouselet said as she grabbed her stuff and put on a harness backpack on her back before jumping on fours and running out.

“Gonna split to. Cya everyone!” The boy mouse also mentioned as he grabbed his stuff to and pack to run off.

“Cya you two!” The teacher said watching the two run off along with most other humans leaving after a bit to.

“Well that was fun.” Reggie said as he laid under a railing to mess with his feet on it from the underside.

“Welp time for me to head off too. So if you guys chill here for awhile or not. Don’t get yourself into any trouble.” The teacher said as he packed up and walked off to also leave.

“Just the rat and mouse left and some overs chitchatting in the back. So what was your name again mouse?” Reggie said.

“Speckles.” I told as i itched a shoulder with a hind foot while semi sitting to standing on fours.

“No no like your real name. What’s your real name. Cause like i doubt someone called you that when you were born as a human.” He said.

“I changed my name after the change. So i don’t use my human name anymore. This is my name now.” I told itching my neck.

“Really? What made you decide that?” He questioned.

“Just fit with the new lifestyle and everything. They said i could when getting all the new gear, clothes, and other stuff for me when moving. And the family i went to was fine with it to. So just decided to go with it. Sounds more to me.” I told after a yawn and little four legged stand up body shake before sitting down and curling my tail beside me.

“Huh. Kinda weird. More like a pet name than a human name. Doesn’t it sound weird?” He questioned.

“Na. I like i said i think it suits my new self.” I told.

“Huh well ok. I’m Reggie by the way.” He said as he got up and walked over to me to hold a hand out like he was wanting to shake hands.

I looked to him as he walked over and held a hand out for a shake. I looked from it and to him in a tilted head look. “Not a shaker person?” He questioned. 

I shook my head no. “Not being rude. I just don’t shake peoples hands anymore either.” I told

“Huh. Ok. Quite a strange dude mouse, whatever you are. But i kinda like it somehow. You’re wild but not crazy. Maybe next time you can show me more about climbing rails and holding on better like we did at the start. I need to get better at that.” He said.

“If you want. Not much i can train you. You’d more just have to watch what i do and try to understand my stance. It’s more to do with following your animal side then really being ‘told’ what to do.” I said.

“Sounds great. Well i’ma go to. Catch you later on. Peace!” Reggie said before he nodded walking off and grabbing his stuff to before walking off. He stopped for a moment and glanced at his hands before looking at me. With a chuckle he turned and transitioned to fours to walk off before slowly increasing it to a run before leaving the building.

I later on left not to long after and returned to my hotel room. I took a nice bath before drying off and grooming. Then i crawled into my hide hole in the back of the room to snuggle in my little dogbed to curl up and fade into the sleep world.

Life was different for people. Some wanted to keep their humanity. Others accepted the change. We all have our differences. No matter human or animal. We’ll live the life in this world our way.

Part 5: The Focus of Play.