Solution?
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3rd Pov.
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The comforting aroma of baking chocolate filled the den, as Cosmo carefully watched the brick oven, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips. The Chocolate Rugelach were coming along perfectly golden, flaky, and rich with the bittersweet scent of melted chocolate. It had taken weeks to get his hands on good-quality chocolate, but finally, his trusted merchant had come through.
Cosmo hummed softly as he wiped his hands on his apron, glancing around his cozy kitchen. He had spent the better part of the evening kneading dough and preparing fillings, trying to keep his mind busy. Lately, things in the village had felt tense, as though a storm was looming just beyond the trees.
Across the table, Scraps flipped through one of Cosmo’s old cookbooks, her ears flicking as she muttered to herself. Goob, on the other hand, was already lounging back, feet propped up on the table as he watched the oven with a lazy grin.
“I still don’t get it,” Goob mused, stretching his arms. “You went through all that trouble just to get chocolate? It’s just chocolate.”
Cosmo shot him a look. “It’s not just chocolate, Goob.”
Scraps smirked. “You should know by now once Cosmo sets his mind on something, he won’t rest until he gets it.”
Goob rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. But I still say it wasn’t worth dealing with those stuck-up merchants.”
Cosmo shook his head fondly. He knew Goob didn’t understand, but that was fine. Baking had always been more than just food to him. It was care, it was kindness it was the one thing that always reminded him of Sprout. Of the human boy who once braved a forest just to give him a red velvet cake.
The thought made his chest ache. It had been years since that moment, but he still remembered the look on Sprout’s face the way he smiled so brightly, so fearlessly, like Cosmo was just another person and not a monster lurking in the woods.
Before Cosmo could linger too long in his thoughts, the door creaked open.
Boxten stood in the entryway, looking as stiff and awkward as ever, his golden eyes scanning the room. His shoulders were tense, his grip tight on the edge of his cloak. The weight of responsibility clung to him like a shadow.
“H-Hi…” His voice wavered slightly. “Uh… w-why are you guys here?”
Cosmo turned toward him with a soft smile. “Oh, good morning, Alpha!”
Boxten’s entire body went rigid, his face heating up instantly. His heart did an embarrassing little stutter at the way Cosmo said it so casual, so effortless, like it wasn’t a title crushing him under its weight.
“Cosmo, please don’t call me that…” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not even an Alpha yet.”
Cosmo tilted his head. “Not yet, but you will be. It’s only a matter of time.”
Boxten swallowed hard. He knew that. Everyone knew that. He was the next Alpha in line, the one who was supposed to lead, to make the hard choices. But he wasn’t ready. He wasn’t his father. He wasn’t strong like the past Alphas before him.
Goob let out a dramatic groan, throwing his hands in the air as he leaned back in his chair. “Ugh, can you two flirt somewhere else? We’re trying to enjoy our stolen chocolate here.”
Scraps shot him a glare before smacking the back of his head. “Goob, shut up.”
Goob just grinned, unfazed. “Oh, come on! I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.” He leaned toward Scraps, nudging her playfully. “Vide modum quo ad eum spectat? Tam blande, tam indulgenter!” (Look at the way he looks at him! So soft, so fond!)
Scraps rolled her eyes but smirked. “Si tu non desinis loqui, te de fenestra proiciam.” (If you don’t stop talking, I’m throwing you out the window.)
Goob gasped, clutching his chest. “Crudele! Meum cor fragile frangis!” (Cruel! You break my fragile heart!)
Cosmo just sighed, rubbing his temple. He loved these two, truly, but sometimes he wondered how he put up with them. “Will you two stop making things weird?”
Goob grinned wider. “Weird? Cosmo, please. You’re the one practically batting your eyelashes over there.”
Boxten’s ears flicked downward as his face burned. “I-I am not-”
Goob didn’t let him finish. “Oh no, don’t be shy! We’re all friends here! Just admit it-” He suddenly gasped, eyes widening in fake realization. “Wait. Are you two already a thing, and you just didn’t tell us?”
Scraps groaned. “Goob.”
“What? It’s a valid question!”
Cosmo just shook his head, exasperated but smiling. “Sit down, Boxten. The rugelach should be ready soon.”
Boxten hesitated for a moment, his ears flicking as if debating whether to stay or turn around. But the warmth of the cottage, the gentle scent of chocolate and spice filling the airit was too inviting. With a slow breath, he stepped forward, letting the tension in his shoulders ease, if only a little.
Goob, never one to let things rest, wiggled his eyebrows at Scraps before leaning in to whisper dramatically, “Videbis, tandem confitebuntur.” (You’ll see, they’ll admit it eventually.)
Scraps rolled her eyes but smirked. “Non si te prius interficiam.” (Not if I kill you first.) She leaned closer, dropping her voice so only Goob could hear. “But seriously, stop teasing Boxten. You know how shy he gets.”
Goob huffed, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I know, I know! It’s just for fun.”
He flopped into the chair next to Boxten, stretching out as if he owned the place, before turning to Scraps with an eager grin. “Hey, sis, where’s your mate?” His voice took on a teasing lilt. “I’m not done with her yetshe still needs to experience the joy that is funnel cakes!”
Scraps’ smirk faded, replaced by something softersomething heavier. She let out a slow sigh, her fingers tracing the grain of the wooden table. “She won’t be visiting anytime soon.”
Goob blinked. “Wait, what? Why?”
Scraps hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “A messenger came to her father… Apparently, they’ll be staying in their village for now.” Her voice dropped, her tone grim. “There have been… disappearances. Not just thereeverywhere. People are going missing.”
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud. The warmth of the cottage, the laughter, the teasing it all felt distant now.
Goob shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Disappearances?”
Scraps nodded. “They don’t know who’s behind it, but the rumors are spreading fast. And until things settle, her father won’t let her leave.” She let out a bitter chuckle. “Not that I blame him.”
Boxten stayed silent, his hands curling into tight fists on his lap. He had already been carrying so much pressure, expectations, the weight of a title he wasn’t sure he was ready for. And now this? Another layer of responsibility, another threat lurking beyond the village borders. It felt endless.
His claws dug slightly into his palms, a nervous habit he had yet to break. His mind raced with possibilities, with worst-case scenarios he had no control over.
Cosmo, who had been quietly observing, noticed the way Boxten’s shoulders had tensed, how his claws twitched against his skin. With a soft sigh, he finally spoke, his voice gentle yet steady.
“Well, I hope she’s doing fine,” Cosmo said, offering a small but reassuring smile.
Boxten nodded absently, but his thoughts remained elsewhere.
Goob, ever the troublemaker, suddenly perked up as an idea sparked in his mind. His grin widened as he clapped his hands together.
“Well, if that’s the case, how about we sneak into the village and bring her some treats?” he suggested, his voice brimming with excitement.
Scraps blinked at him in shock. “Goob-”
“What? Think about it!” Goob continued, gesturing wildly. “She’s probably miserable, stuck in the village with all those guards breathing down her neck. A little visit, some delicious baked goods instant mood booster!”
Cosmo shot him a look, unimpressed. “Goob, you do realize how dangerous that would be, right?”
Goob shrugged. “Come on, we’ve done worse.”
Scraps pinched the bridge of her nose. “That’s not the argument you think it is.”
Cosmo ignored Goob’s grin as he turned back to the brick oven, carefully checking on the rugelach. The rich scent of chocolate and baked dough filled the small cottage, but even that comforting aroma couldn’t erase the growing sense of unease in the room.
“As Scraps said, disappearances are happening,” Cosmo reminded him, his tone firm but calm. “Which means the village is probably crawling with extra guards. They’re on high alert, and sneaking in right now? That’s not just reckless it’s stupid.”
Goob frowned, slumping back against his chair. “Alright, alright. No fun ideas, got it.”
Scraps exhaled, giving Cosmo a thankful glance before turning back to Goob. “I know you mean well, but we can’t take risks like that right now. Things are tense, and if we get caught sneaking around, it won’t just be us in trouble it could make things worse for her too.”
Boxten, who had remained quiet through their bickering, finally spoke up. His voice was quieter than usual, but steady.
“Scraps is right,” he admitted. “We can’t afford to be careless. Not now.”
For once, Goob didn’t argue. He simply sighed, drumming his fingers against the wooden table, his usual mischief dimmed by the weight of the conversation.
Boxten glanced between them, hesitation flickering in his golden eyes. He knew a way. A dangerous way. A path that could lead to something irreversible. But if it meant helping them helping her then maybe it was worth the risk.
He swallowed hard before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper.
“W-Well… I know a way,” he admitted, his claws tightening around the fabric of his sleeves. “But… it may change you. It may change all of you.”
Silence fell over the room like a heavy fog.
Goob’s ears perked up, his tail giving an excited flick. His eyes gleamed with curiosity, with reckless eagerness.
“What do you mean, Boxten?” he asked, leaning in, practically buzzing with energy.
Boxten averted his gaze, his expression conflicted. “I’ll… explain later,” he murmured. “At my den.”
The way he said it so quietly, so seriously sent a ripple of unease through the air.
Goob opened his mouth, ready to push for answers, but before he could, a plate was gently placed in front of Boxten.
Warmth. The scent of melted chocolate and flaky pastry filled his senses.
He blinked and turned his head.
Cosmo stood beside him, smiling softly, the glow of the fire casting gentle highlights over his features. It was a look so warm, so filled with quiet reassurance, that Boxten felt his breath catch.
Like the moon itself had graced him with its presence. Like, for just a moment, the weight of his burdens wasn’t so heavy.
His heart stuttered.
“You should eat,” Cosmo said gently, his voice carrying the kind of warmth that could thaw even the coldest of nights.
Boxten hesitated, his fingers hovering just above the plate, the warmth of the freshly baked pastry radiating against his skin. He swallowed hard before finally picking up a piece, his grip slightly unsteady.
Cosmo’s soft smile didn’t waver as he watched Boxten take his first hesitant bite. There was something reassuring about the way he stood there, calm and unwavering, as if offering silent support.
Then, with the same tenderness, Cosmo turned and walked over to Goob, placing a plate in front of him with a bright grin. “For you, troublemaker,” he teased lightly.
Goob grinned back, practically snatching up the treat. “You really do know the way to my heart, Cosmo.”
Cosmo only chuckled in response, but Scraps barely noticed the exchange. She was still lost in thought, her mind circling back to Boxten’s cryptic words.
‘It may change you.”
The weight of that statement sat heavy in her chest, stirring something bitter and uneasy within her.
What had Boxten meant by that?
What exactly were they about to walk into?
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Whatever it was, she had a feeling there was no turning back.
---
Time Skip
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Boxten’s den was quiet, the only sounds coming from the crackling fire and the faint rustling of pages as he thumbed through a stack of books. His expression was tense, brows drawn together in concentration as he searched for something anything that could help explain what they were about to face.
Cosmo sat nearby, absentmindedly scanning the spines of books on the shelves, his fingers tracing the worn leather covers. He knew Boxten well enough to understand that when he got like this lost in thought, flipping through pages like the answers were just waiting to be found there was no rushing him.
A small smile tugged at Cosmo’s lips. Boxten had always been a bookworm at heart. Anytime Cosmo had free time, Boxten would eagerly take it as a chance to talk about literature, suggesting new reads or sharing stories he found fascinating. And if they weren’t talking about books, they were baking together. Boxten always said he didn’t mind the company in the kitchen. In fact, Cosmo was pretty sure he preferred it.
Boxten was hunched over a heavy, leather-bound book at his desk, flipping through its aged pages with careful precision. His ears twitched slightly with every crinkle of paper, every shift in the room, but his eyes never left the text in front of him.
Cosmo then sat on the floor near the shelves, skimming his fingers over the spines of books, some of which looked older than Boxten himself. He wasn’t reading, not really. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about how uncharacteristically tense Boxten which is odd.
Sure, Boxten always carried a certain level of anxiety he was meant to be the next Alpha, after all. That kind of responsibility weighed on a person. But this? This was different.
It wasn’t like him..
Across the room, Goob was doing anything but paying attention. He had made himself comfortable by Boxten’s large fish tank, pressing his face close to the glass as he watched the fish swim lazily in the water. The blues, silvers, and oranges flickered in the low light, their scales shimmering like tiny lanterns.
Goob had wandered over to a large fish tank nestled against the far wall of the den. He pressed his face close to the glass, watching the fish dart around in flashes of silver and orange.
“Damn, Boxten,” Goob muttered, his voice breaking the silence. “Didn’t take you for the type to keep pets.”
Boxten barely glanced up. “They’re not pets. They’re calming.”
Goob scoffed, tapping a claw lightly against the glass. “Sounds like something an old man would say.”
Scraps, who had been sitting on a worn-out armchair with her arms crossed, let out an annoyed sigh. “Goob, focus.”
Goob held up his hands in mock surrender. “I am focused,” he said, though the way his tail lazily flicked behind him said otherwise. “I’m just waiting for Mr. Doom and Gloom over there to finally tell us why we’re here.”
Cosmo let out a soft sigh, finally turning his attention back to Boxten. He had been patient, but Goob wasn’t entirely wrong. Boxten had been acting strange all day nervous, distracted, like there was something clawing at the back of his mind that he didn’t want to face.
“Boxten,” Cosmo finally said, his voice gentle but firm. “Whatever it is… just tell us.”
At those words, Boxten stopped flipping through the book.
For a long moment, he just sat there, his fingers resting against the worn pages, his eyes staring down at the inked words as if willing them to speak for him.
Then, finally, he exhaled.
“I wasn’t sure if I should even tell you,” he admitted, voice low. “Because once you know, there’s no going back.”
The fire crackled in the silence that followed.
Scraps narrowed her eyes. “Boxten. What are you talking about?”
Boxten hesitated for a moment before carefully closing the book in front of him. He ran a hand through his hair, his shoulders stiff with unease.
“Before I explain, I need you all to understand something,” he said. His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. “What I’m about to tell you is something that’s been kept quiet for a long time. It’s dangerous knowledge. And if anyone else finds out we’re even discussing it…” He trailed off, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. “It could put all of us in danger.”
Goob, for once, didn’t joke.
Cosmo felt a strange chill settle over him, his mind racing with possibilities.
Scraps sat up a little straighter, the look in her eyes turning serious. “Then why tell us?”
Boxten looked up at her, his expression unreadable.
“Because I trust you,” he said simply. “And because if I don’t… you’ll walk into this blind.”
A beat of silence passed between them.
Cosmo, who had been watching Boxten carefully, finally spoke again, his voice quiet but firm. “You said something earlier,” he murmured. “Something about this… changing us. What did you mean?”
Boxten’s ears twitched, his gaze flickering away as if he could hide from the weight of the conversation. His fingers tightened around the edges of the book he had been holding, his claws lightly scratching against the worn leather cover.
He took a breath, steadying himself, but Cosmo noticed the slight tremble in his shoulders.
“…I mean exactly that,” Boxten finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Goob, who had been lying upside down on a cushion just seconds ago, sat up properly, his ears perked with interest. “Well, that’s ominous,” he quipped, though there was a noticeable lack of his usual teasing tone.
Boxten hesitated again, and for the first time, Cosmo saw something rare in his expression.
Fear.
Not the kind of fear that came from uncertainty or nerves no, this was something deeper. Something real.
Not just fear for himself.
Fear for them.
Boxten clenched his jaw, then, in a voice just above a whisper, he said,
“…There’s a way for you guys to turn... human.”
Silence.
A heavy, suffocating kind of silence, the kind that made the fire in the hearth crackle louder, the distant rustle of the wind outside sound sharper.
Cosmo felt his breath hitch in his throat.
Scraps blinked once, then again, before sitting forward, her usually composed face betraying a flicker of disbelief.
“…What do you mean by that, Boxten?” her voice was careful, slow, as if saying it too fast would shatter the reality of what she had just heard.
Boxten swallowed, his claws digging into the book cover. “I mean exactly what I said,” he muttered. “There’s a way. A method. A ritual, an old one. Something that’s been buried in history for a long time.”
Goob, for once, wasn’t making jokes. He was staring at Boxten like he had grown a second head.
“Wait, wait, wait so you’re saying there’s a way for us to just what? Poof? Suddenly be human? Just like that?”
Boxten shook his head. “No. It’s… not that simple.” His voice grew heavier, as if the words themselves were difficult to say. “It’s not something that was ever meant to be used. The process is dangerous. Complicated. And the cost…” His voice trailed off.
Cosmo, still gripping the book he had absentmindedly taken from the shelf earlier, finally found his voice.
“What’s the cost, Boxten?”
Boxten opened his mouth, then shut it again. He exhaled through his nose, pressing a hand to his forehead as if trying to push away an oncoming headache.
“…I don’t know everything yet,” he admitted. “I’ve been trying to piece it together for months. I only found out this was even real by accident an old scroll hidden in one of the Alpha’s archives. And before you ask no, I wasn’t supposed to be looking through it.”
Scraps narrowed her eyes. “Boxten…”
Boxten sighed, rubbing at his temples. “Look, I know. I know it’s insane, but it’s true. There were stories, old ones, about wolves who wanted to walk among humans, wolves who became human. I always thought they were just myths. But then I started digging deeper, and the more I found, the less it sounded like a fairy tale.”
Cosmo felt his stomach twist. His mind was racing flashes of his childhood, of the warnings, of the ancient stories told in hushed voices around the fire.
Legends of wolves who tried to shed their fur.
Of those who walked away from the moon’s embrace.
And of those who were never the same again.
“…Why are you telling us this?” Cosmo finally asked, his voice quiet.
Boxten looked up at him. And for the first time since this conversation started, there was something else in his eyes something that sent a chill down Cosmo’s spine.
Desperation.
“Because,” Boxten said, his voice almost pleading, “if what I’m reading is true… we might need it.”
The room felt colder.
Scraps’ brows furrowed. “Need it? What the hell do you mean, need it?”
Boxten’s grip on the book tightened.
“…Because something is coming,” he murmured. “Something bad. And I don’t know.. what will happen.."
Another silence.
This time, heavier.
Goob shifted uncomfortably, his ears twitching. “You’re really laying the drama on thick here, Boxy.” He tried to keep his tone light, but there was an underlying unease in his voice. “Are you talking about the disappearances?”
Boxten’s expression darkened.
“Yes,” he admitted. “But it’s more than that.”
He hesitated before standing up and walking toward a small chest at the side of the room. Kneeling, he undid the latch and carefully lifted the lid. There, among old scrolls and loose parchment, he pulled out a single, worn-looking paper.
Boxten turned back toward them, his ears twitching slightly as he carefully laid the aged parchment on the table. His movements were precise, deliberate, as if the very act of placing the paper down carried some kind of unspoken weight.
Cosmo leaned in first, his breath catching in his throat the moment his eyes registered the image.
A drawing.
It was old, the ink faded in places, the parchment yellowed with time, but the details were still disturbingly clear. A figure stood in the center neither fully human nor fully wolf, caught in a horrific in-between state. Their limbs were stretched unnaturally, their fur patchy, clinging to skin that shouldn’t have been there. Something dark coiled around them, tendrils of shadow curling like smoke, sinking into their very being.
And their eyes.
Hollow. Empty.
Like they had seen something they shouldn’t have.
Like they were watching.
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. Even Goob, who always had some sort of quip ready, remained quiet.
Boxten swallowed hard, his fingers tightening slightly on the edge of the table before he spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper.
“This isn’t just about turning human,” he said. “It’s about what happens if you don’t do it right.”
His words lingered in the air, heavy and cold, sending a shiver down Cosmo’s spine.
Scraps frowned, her gaze flicking between the drawing and Boxten, watching him carefully. “And what exactly is the risk?” she asked, her tone measured.
Boxten hesitated, his fingers drumming anxiously against the wood. He always did that when he was thinking when his mind was racing faster than his words could keep up. Cosmo had seen it before, during long nights when Boxten would bury himself in books, mumbling theories under his breath, so caught up in his own world that he forgot the rest of them were there.
Now, though, there was no excitement in his eyes. No eager ramblings.
Only fear.
Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“…The ritual is complicated,” he admitted. “It’s not just some simple spell or potion it’s old magic. Older than anything we’ve ever used. And if you get it wrong, even slightly, you don’t just fail.”
His claws scraped lightly against the table.
“You change.”
He motioned toward the drawing.
“This… isn’t a myth. It’s real. It happened before, to wolves who tried this and failed. They got stuck. Between forms. Between instincts. Not wolf, not human. Just wrong.”
Goob, who had been staring at the image with an uncharacteristically serious expression, finally spoke.
“So… basically, if we screw this up, we become nightmare fuel?”
Boxten sighed. “Pretty much.”
Another heavy pause.
Cosmo was the next to break it. “But if we do succeed?”
Boxten inhaled slowly, then tapped the book he had left open beside him.
“If we succeed,” he said carefully, “then you’ll become human. Completely. You’ll be able to walk into villages without suspicion, live among them, blend in.”
Cosmo felt something stir in his chest a mix of unease and intrigue. The idea of walking freely, of no longer having to hide, was tempting.
But Boxten wasn’t finished.
“…But there’s a catch.”
Scraps narrowed her eyes. “Of course there is.”
Boxten nodded, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose a nervous habit he’d developed when he was deep in thought.
“Once every full moon,” he continued, his voice quieter, “you’ll turn back.”
The words hit the room like a weight dropping.
Cosmo tensed.
Scraps’ expression darkened.
Goob blinked, then let out a slow, thoughtful hum. “Huh.”
Boxten shifted uncomfortably. “It’s… a balance, I think. The magic doesn’t erase what we are, just buries it for a while. But on the night of a full moon, it unravels. For that one night, you’ll be a wolf again no way to stop it. No way to fight it.”
Cosmo’s hands curled into fists against his lap. “So, we’d be trapped between two worlds.”
Boxten exhaled. “Pretty much.”
A long silence stretched between them.
Finally, Scraps leaned back, folding her arms. “And why,” she asked, voice steady but firm, “do you think we need this?”
Boxten’s ears lowered slightly. He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the table before he whispered
“Because I don’t think we’ll survive what’s coming.”
His words were soft, but they sent a chill down Cosmo’s spine.
Because he could see it in Boxten’s face
The way his hands clenched, the way his tail flicked restlessly, the way his usually calm demeanor had cracked just enough to reveal the truth underneath.
Boxten wasn’t just theorizing.
He knew something.
And whatever it was…
It terrified him.
Scraps stared at Boxten, watching the way his fingers trembled ever so slightly against the parchment. He wasn’t just nervous—he was scared. And if Boxten, the one who always had a plan, always had a solution, always had something to say, was this shaken...
Then whatever was coming was worse than any of them could have imagined.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she thought about his words.
Turn human.
It should’ve been a ridiculous idea. She liked who she was, what she was. She was a werewolf. Strong, fast, fierce. She had survived this long by embracing that part of herself. She had fought, bled, and lived as a wolf.
And yet…
Scraps’ mind drifted to her.
To Poppy.
To the way she laughed, the way her nose crinkled when she smiled. The way she always smelled of fresh bread and honey, warm and inviting. The way her fingers lingered just a little too long when she handed Scraps something at the bakery, both of them pretending it was nothing.
But it wasn’t nothing.
It had never been nothing.
For years, Scraps had been forced to love her from a distance, to steal moments in the safety of shadows. Every touch, every glance, every whispered conversation in hidden corners, always with the knowledge that it had to stay a secret. That if anyone found out, Poppy could be in danger.
That Scraps could be the danger.
But if this worked...
If she could be human, even just for a time...
She could walk through the village without fear. She could hold Poppy’s hand in the open, dance with her at festivals, kiss her in the middle of a sunlit street without worrying about who was watching.
She could belong to her, truly, fully, without the weight of secrecy pressing down on her shoulders.
Her hands clenched into fists.
She wasn’t afraid of change.
She wasn’t afraid of losing herself.
She was afraid of never having the chance to live the life she wanted.
Scraps exhaled slowly, steadying herself. Then, she lifted her gaze, meeting Boxten’s uncertain eyes with unwavering determination.
“Let’s do it.”
The room fell silent.
Goob blinked at her, his usual teasing nature gone. Cosmo frowned, concern flickering across his face. Even Boxten seemed caught off guard, his ears twitching slightly.
Scraps stood straighter, shoulders squared.
“I don’t care what the risks are,” she said firmly. “I need this.”
Her voice didn’t waver.
For the first time in her life, she wasn’t just thinking about surviving.
She was thinking about living with her.
Goob's ears perked up, and his tail flicked excitedly as he processed Scraps' words. He wasn’t always great at reading emotions, but he could feel the weight behind her decision.
Scraps was serious.
This wasn’t just an experiment for her it was everything.
Goob frowned, rocking slightly in place, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his leg as he thought. Change was hard. Change was scary. He liked things the way they were predictable, safe, structured. But… the idea of turning human? Of walking through the village without anyone staring at them like they were monsters? That was interesting.
And the food.
Goob’s thoughts spun wildly, his hands flapping slightly as excitement bubbled up. He had always been so curious about human food, but most of what he knew came secondhand from Scraps’ whispered stories about Poppy’s bakery or the rare stolen bite of something Cosmo managed to trade for.
“I-I mean-” He paused, stumbling over his words, overwhelmed by too many thoughts at once. He took a deep breath, grounding himself the way Scraps had taught him.
His eyes darted to Boxten, then to Cosmo, then back to Scraps.
Then, he grinned.
“I’M ALSO JOINING!” he announced, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “I WANT TO TASTE WHAT THE HUMANS USUALLY EAT!”
Cosmo let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “That’s your reason?”
Goob flapped his hands again, his face scrunching up as he tried to find the right words. “Of course! Do you even know how many different foods humans have? They have-” He started counting on his fingers. “Bread with different flavors. And soups! Spices! And those...those twisty things that Scraps told me about!”
“Pretzels?” Scraps guessed.
“Yes! Those! And pies! And-”
“We get it,” Boxten interrupted, though there was no real annoyance in his voice. If anything, he seemed relieved that Goob’s energy had eased some of the tension in the room.
Goob huffed, crossing his arms. “Well, you might get it, but I haven’t gotten a chance to taste them yet! And I want to! So I’m doing the ritual too.”
Cosmo’s smile softened. “It’s not just about the food, is it?”
Goob hesitated for only a second before shifting uncomfortably. He wasn’t great at explaining emotions. They always got too big, too fast, and then he’d get frustrated trying to make the words fit the feelings. But Cosmo was patient.
So Goob tried.
“I want to know,” he mumbled, his fingers tapping against his own palm. “I want to know what it’s like. To be human, even just for a little while. To see what Scraps sees when she’s with Poppy. To-” He trailed off, biting his lip. “To understand things better.”
Scraps’ expression softened, and she nudged him playfully. “You’re gonna miss your tail, you know.”
Goob’s eyes widened slightly, and he reached behind him, running his fingers through the fur. “Oh.” A pause. “Oh.”
Boxten sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You didn’t think about that before deciding to do this?”
Goob pouted. “Well, no - I was thinking about food, obviously! Priorities, Boxten.”
Cosmo chuckled, stepping closer and resting a hand on Goob’s shoulder. “You know, if you really don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Goob was quiet for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath and straightened up.
“No. I want to.” His voice was firm now, more certain than before. “I mean, yeah, I like being a wolf. But if Scraps is doing this, and you’re doing this…” He looked at Boxten and Cosmo. “Then I want to try too.”
Boxten studied him for a long moment, his ears twitching as he took in Goob’s sincerity. Then, he let out a small breath and nodded.
“Alright.”
Goob grinned. “Great! Now, when do we do this? And more importantly-” He turned to Boxten with serious determination. “-will I still be able to eat raw meat as a human?”
Cosmo crossed his arms, giving Goob an incredulous stare, his ears twitching in mild exasperation. “Wait a moment...since when did I even agree to this?”
Goob, unfazed, simply grinned, his tail wagging as if he hadn’t just decided for Cosmo. “Since right now!”
Cosmo pinched the tip of Goob's ears, inhaling deeply as if that would somehow give him the patience to deal with Goob’s boundless enthusiasm. He glanced at Scraps, expecting some kind of support, but she only raised an eyebrow as if to say, Well?
Cosmo sighed. “Goob, this isn’t some game. We don’t even know if it’s safe.” His golden eyes flickered toward Boxten, searching for confirmation. “Right?”
Boxten, who had been quietly observing, tensed under the sudden attention. “I mean… there are risks,” he admitted hesitantly. His ears flattened, and his fingers curled against the edge of the book in front of him. “But if we follow the steps correctly, it should be fine.”
Cosmo didn’t like the word should. It wasn’t certain.
He had spent his whole life taking careful steps, avoiding unnecessary risks. He had to because mistakes weren’t just mistakes when you were responsible for others. And now, suddenly, he was being asked to throw himself into something completely unknown?
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “I don’t know about this…”
Goob groaned dramatically, flopping onto the table. “Cosmooo, come on! What’s the worst that could happen? You get to experience a new perspective! Maybe even—” He wiggled his eyebrows. “—visit the human bakeries~?”
Cosmo shot him a flat look. “I can already make bread, Goob.”
“Yeah, but have you ever bought bread as a human? Different experience.”
Cosmo ran a hand down his face, feeling an oncoming headache. “You really think that’s enough of a reason for me to agree?”
Goob smirked, leaning forward on his elbows. “Nooope. But I do think you’re curious.”
Cosmo stiffened slightly, and Goob’s smirk widened.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” Goob said knowingly, tapping the side of his head. “You’re curious.”
Cosmo opened his mouth to deny it, but hesitated.
Because… wasn’t he?
He had spent his entire life on the outskirts of human civilization, peering in from the shadows. He had learned how to bake from stolen glances at human cookbooks, had listened to Sprout’s stories about life in the village with fascination he never voiced out loud.
And Scraps she had been living between two worlds, balancing the impossible.
She had Poppy.
And Cosmo…
He had nothing tying him to humanity.
But what if he could understand? What if, just for a little while, he could step into that world and see what it was like?
Cosmo glanced at Scraps, then at Boxten, then finally at Goob, who was practically vibrating in his seat with smug anticipation.
He sighed, rubbing his temples. “You’re insufferable.”
Goob beamed. “That’s a yes~!”
Cosmo groaned, but there was no real fight left in his voice.
Maybe… just maybe… this was worth the risk.
Cosmo exhaled through his nose, his patience wearing dangerously thin. Without warning, he reached out and pinched Goob’s ears between his fingers, tugging them just enough to make the younger wolf yelp.
“Ow! Ow! Abuse! I’m being abused!” Goob whined dramatically, kicking his feet under the table.
Cosmo’s grip didn’t loosen. “Oh, really? You make life-altering decisions for me, and I’m the problem?”
Goob squirmed, his tail thrashing behind him. “It was a suggestion! A very good, fun suggestion!”
Cosmo gave his ear another firm tug, making Goob let out a strangled chirp.
Scraps, watching the scene with mild amusement, crossed her arms. “You kind of deserved that.”
Boxten, meanwhile, was clearly trying to keep a straight face but failing spectacularly.
Goob pouted, his ears twitching between Cosmo’s fingers. “I thought you were supposed to be the nice one.”
Cosmo finally let go with a sigh, shaking his head. “Nice doesn’t mean tolerating your nonsense.”
Goob rubbed his ear dramatically. “Okay, but like, ow.”
Cosmo simply rolled his eyes, but there was the smallest hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Why does he feel like he had forgotten something...