42
Jim and I were up early, but the sounds from their bedroom indicated they were still asleep. We were preparing breakfast when the boys showed up.
"So what's going on?" Cliff asked.
I looked at the young blond cub. I thought about what Jim had told me about him and could see what he had meant. His first concern was about his new cousin. His papa seemed more concerned with getting his belly filled.
"Well, I figure Brian's going to change today," I said.
"And we get to watch the show?" Mike grinned, filling his plate.
"Hopefully that will be all," I said evasively.
Cliff shot me a worried look before grabbing a plate.
Before we could really fill them in on what was happening, Brian shuffled into the kitchen, yawning and scratching his belly. Mike and Cliff's eyes widened in surprise and they glanced at me. I looked at Brian and realized how much larger and hairier he had gotten just over the last week. I think that drove in the seriousness of the situation better than anything I could have said.
Was rather surprised when I woke up in the morning. Normally he was awake before me, stroking my body, urging me to satisfy his needs. But this morning he was still sound asleep. I nudged him, somewhat alarmed. I worried that I might have seriously injured him last night, but he grunted, pulling the covers over his head.
I was finally able to coax him out of bed and get him into the shower. I washed the dried cum and blood from his flesh, relieved to find no overt indication of injury where I had bit him. He leaned against me, struggling to wake up when I turned off the water. I gently dried him off and urged him into the kitchen. He gazed longingly at the bed as we passed it, but I ordered him to get to the kitchen.
I pulled the covers up, straightening the pillows, before following him.
Morning dawned, bright and sunny. Wish the same could be said for me. I'm usually an early riser, but Paul had to practically drag me out of bed. Don't know if it was just the amount of stress I was putting my body through or what, but I just couldn't wake up.
He got me into the shower, supporting me while he soaped me up. His touch made my skin tingle, his finger tips leaving trails that burned like liquid flame across my flesh. His chuckle echoed in my ears as he reached out to turn the water off. I felt the soft terrycloth scrapping against my skin as he blotted the water from my fur. I looked longingly at the bed as I shuffled out of the bathroom.
"Not now," Paul said. "You need to get something to eat."
I stumbled into the kitchen, yawning prodigiously.
"Morning, sunshine," Grandpapa grinned, as he was serving Jim and the boys breakfast.
"When did you get here?" I asked Mike and Cliff, scratching my belly. I was beginning to itch like crazy.
"'Bout half an hour ago. Pops called last night and asked us to get here as early as we could," Mike said around a mouthful of eggs.
Paul walked in and laughed as he watched me back into the door jamb, rubbing back and forth against the corner.
"What?" I growled. "My back itches."
He pulled me towards him, running his fingernails up and down my back.
I shuddered and rumbled, rubbing against him.
"Hey!" shouted Jim. "People are trying to eat here."
"Dunno," Mike said. "Don't you like dinner theater?"
"And what would be served with bear porn?" Jim asked.
"Sausage!" Mike and Cliff chorused as Grandpapa sat a plate of said meat on the table.
"Sit down," Grandpapa chuckled. "The boy needs more than you in his mouth. Eat!"
We sat down and I filled my plate. I plowed through my meal, absently scratching my tingling skin. I could feel five sets of eyes watching me and I grumbled through my pancakes.
"You'd think you've never seen a guy turning into a bear before," I growled.
"Actually, my first time seeing it from this side of it," Cliff said soothingly.
"Everybody's first change is different than everyone else's," Grandpapa said. "Always interesting to watch the process."
He rose and began clearing empty plates.
"Hey, Brian?" Cliff said. "I know you probably haven't had time to think about it, but you said something about maybe making me a set of leathers...."
"Sure," I said, glad of the distraction. "For your bear form or human?"
"Just human, for now," he laughed. "Paul told us about some leather bar in the Chicago area."
"Touche's?" I asked.
"You been there?" Paul asked in surprise.
"A few times. Closer than the Cell Block. Been a while though. Don't know how much has changed in the last few years."
"Maybe we'll have to go find out," Paul growled.
"Will have to wait a bit," I said, rising from the table. "Doubt I'll be able to fit into any of my gear, so will have to make some new stuff for me, too. Come on," I gestured for Cliff to follow me and we headed downstairs, Mike trailing after us.
"Everything okay?" asked Jim as the basement door closed after them.
"I don't know. Was a struggle getting him out of bed this morning."
"His body is under a lot of strain right now," Grandpapa said, rinsing the last plate. "It's understandable."
"So, that's normal?" I asked urgently.
"Well, this whole thing's hardly 'normal'," he pointed out. "Things are just catching up with him. The scratching, now that's normal. His fur is starting to sprout. I could see a dusting of it growing across his cheekbones."
"And his voice is deeper this morning, too," Jim added, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Almost over, Bro."
"I want to get some measurements," I said when we got to the weight room.
"It's about this long," Mike said, holding up his hands.
"Not what I need to measure," I rumbled, digging out my measuring tape and a pad of paper. "Besides, I've had it up my ass. I know how big it is."
"How long you been making gear?" Cliff asked.
"At least since Male Hide closed. Ordering online's just not the same as the hands-on experience. Will the chaps be going over your jeans or not?"
"Not!" Mike said and Cliff chuckled.
I cocked an eyebrow at the blond bear and with a laugh, he started stripping, Mike following suit.
"Am I measuring you, too?" I asked.
"Not yet, but didn't want to feel overdressed," Mike said with a grin.
"Say, do you know a couple of bears from town named Neil and John?" Cliff asked as he kicked his boots off.
"Yeah," I said, blinking. "Why?"
"We checked out the local bar a few weeks ago. When they found out where we were living, they asked about you."
"What'd you tell them?" I asked, distracted as I watched Mike try to get his jeans off over his boots.
"Just told them we were renting your house. That you decided to move on. Hope that was okay."
"Suppose so," I shrugged. "Guess you've got to tell the few people who might miss me something."
Soon I had two bears standing naked in front of me.
"Not like you can tell them I'm out turning into a bear."
"They'd say you already were one," Mike laughed. "Just not the kind they're thinking."
I knelt, running the tape around Cliff's waist, my face pressing into his furry belly.
"I can see what you mean about the better service," he chuckled.
"Who says you get to have all the fun?" I said, jotting some measurements down. "Probably be in biker boots?"
He nodded and I measured his inseam, the back of my hand brushing against his balls.
"Typical chaps? Any studs or fringe?"
"Just plain ones, to start."
"Can always add them later, I suppose."
"So, where do you get the hides?" Mike asked, watching intently.
"There's an Hispanic flea market on South Alpine. One of the guys gets some nice quality hides and other accessories," I said, then grinned. "Doubt he knows what I use them for, though. A lot of the other stuff you can find at any hardware...."
I blinked and my eyes drooped. I felt myself falling, falling. I could distantly hear Cliff calling my name. He was yelling at Mike, something about Paul.
I could feel my heart straining against a sudden tightness. Pain shot through my mind and I tumbled into red shot darkness.
"I'm sorry," I heard someone whisper, then the darkness took me.
Suddenly, Mike came bursting up the stairs.
"Paul!" he cried, stumbling against the doorway. "Come quick! Brian's collapsed and we can't wake him up!"