Mrs. Olma was scaling a fish on the wet counter when Luna came over to Jolly Fish that afternoon. When she noticed the gaze that fell upon her from the corner of the store, Mrs. Olma smiled at Luna. Her tooth were yellow and crooked, but her face was kind and pleasant. Business was particularly good that day, customers lined up and picked the fishes on the counter. Jolly Fish was the only fishmonger in town, and it had been like that since the past ten generations.

Mrs. Olma was busy with the bustling customers, and Luna didn’t want to stand in the way. Her eyes were busy looking around for a sight of a ginger, tabby cat but she couldn’t find any. It was only after a while that she approached Mrs. Olma, now that there were less than five customers at the shop.

Mrs. Olma was a very kind old lady. She spoke in a gentle manner, despite her stuttering. She answered patiently to each of her questions, like a grandmother to her granddaughter. To her frustrations, Luna couldn’t get any decent clues from Mrs. Olma.

“If you see her around, please tell her to come home,” Luna reminded her for the last time and bid her goodbye.

Within a few minutes’ walk from Jolly Fish was the Sleethallow Bridge. It was a solid brick bridge, wide enough for one horse- carriage to pass. A watchtower was built on the other side of the bridge, and few guards kept watch.

On the other side of it was a thousand years old Wisdom Tree. The history of Sleethallow Town had recorded that the tree was planted by Sir Sleethallow, the first man who set a foot in that land. The Wisdom Tree stood tall, its branches occasionally swayed, dancing to the song of the wind. Its shadow fell on the ground where dozens of cats laid on the grassy floor, chewing on grasses and munching on fishes.

A black cat sat on a branch up on the tree. Luna wondered if it needed some hand to get down. None of the cats paid any attention to her. She sat down on the grass, her back leaning on the tree. Salmon, the gray munchkin cat approached her with curiosity and offered a piece of fish tail.

Luna started their conversation with the same sentence she asked almost every cat she met.

“Have you seen Ginger?”

All the other cats she met left her with disappointment when they all shook their head in response. This time, however, Luna was thrilled that not only Salmon knew where Ginger had been, he had also agreed to accompany her to find Ginger. That was, of course, after he negotiated for the price of his service.

“Two Friskie fish, no less.” He said.

Luna, who had just arrived at this place a day ago, agreed to his request. What was Friskie fish and where she can find them, she had no idea at all.

“It’s every feline’s favorite,” Salmon explained, “and believe me, if you are a cat too, you’ll be addicted.”

‘Addicted to fish? Uhhh… No, thank you. I’m a fried chicken person.’

Looking at her confused look, Salmon explained further. It was the kind of fish you can get inside the forest, and it was very tasty. Small, but tasty. He repeated tasty over and over again until she sighed and promised him that she will pay him accordingly. What he deliberately didn’t explain – hopefully he just forgot to mention – was the kind of danger that lies ahead inside that forest.

‘Ah, oh well, she did agree to it, didn’t she?’, Salmon thought to himself.

Along with Salmon, Luna headed towards Darkbark Alley.

“Darkbark Alley is where all the funny businesses are,” Salmon explained, “and rule number one of the Darkbark Alley, never pissed off Silvertooth.”

“Silvertooth? Is that the boss or something?” She asked.

“The Lord of Darkbark Alley, their descendants ruled over Darkbark Alleys for hundreds of years.”

Salmon, who grew up in Sleethallow Town all his life, knew all the nook and crook in the town like the back of his paws.

“This way to Darkbark Alley,” He pointed as he led her into a bar. Two female Labrahound sat in a corner and chugged down a mug of Cheeribeer. On another corner was a male Labrahound, chewing on a plate full of bones. A dog in a hat talked to the bartender, which was another male Labrahound. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they stepped in. The female Labrahound growled at the sight of Salmon.

The bartender seemed to know Salmon. He waved and smiled at him. His hand reached for a glass, saying, “The usual, Salmon?”

“Not today, Spike,” Said Salmon as he pointed to Luna, “running an errand today.”

“New face in town,” Spike commented as he leaned closer. His nose was sniffing around her.

‘Err… Weird. Don’t tell me I have to sniff some butthole too.’

Luna smiled awkwardly. She reached out her hand. Offering a handshake is better than kissing some ass, she told herself.

“Don’t mind him,” Said Salmon, “Let’s go.”

He pointed down a stone passage and led her down the stair. A gentle drip of water trickled down the walls, along with the sound of her footsteps. The footsteps stopped in front of a large wooden door, guarded by two Barbhound.

“Oy Salmon, haven’t seen you for a whole week.” The Barbhound grinned and pointed to Luna. “A fellow of yours?”

“She’s with me. Is Dorsia around?” Salmon asked.

“Nah, that bitch went out hunting.”

The Barbhound threw a glance at Luna before he whispered to Salmon, “She can’t go in. You know the rules, Salmon.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. As a matter of fact, I got you something nice from my last trip.” Salmon handed him a small package. The Barbhound sniffed it under his nose before he kept it in his pocket. Pleased, he handed over a bottle of potion to Luna.

“Think of a cat as you chug down this morphing potion. A cat. Imagine that correctly. A mouse and I’ll eat you, a dog and I’ll dump you.” Warned Salmon.

“Is this permanent?” Luna muttered, worried about staying cat forever.

“Don’t worry. You’ll just have to drink a counter potion to shift back. Now, come on. Faster.” Said Salmon impatiently.

Luna held the potion in her hand, and stare at Salmon.

‘Ahh, fuck this. I bet if I get turned to a cat, I’ll be a cute one.’

She brought the potion closer to her nose. The smell reminded her of that one time she forgot her dirty laundry for a whole month until her mother discovered it one day and broke into fury– the smell of fear and week-long detention.

“Are you sure this is really safe?” She asked again.

“Well, as a matter of fact,” Salmon smirked, “If the old potion master haven’t gone insane, it should be.”

‘Life is a gamble, and sadly, I am the worst gambler.’

She pinched her nose and in one gulp, she drank the whole potion.

You have consumed Morphing Potion. Consuming it will morph you into any desired animal form.

A weird tingling feeling spread rapidly from her stomach and up to her head, then down to her fingers and toes. Every part of her body melted like a burning candle, before it was molded into another form. Furs grow in places she had never imagined them to be. Before her eyes, her hands turned into fury paws. She looked down the floor in disbelief, the floor was getting closer and closer and –

Thump!

She fell on the floor, followed by a giggle from Salmon and the Barbhounds.

“You’ll get used to it. Now, try to stand on your feet like how you normally walk.” Salmon raised his paws, he was now standing on two feet. He marched from one end to another, demonstrating her the way to walk.

It took her quite some time to adjust to her new form. Every time she stood up and walked, she kept falling back on four. It was only after her dizziness disappeared that she was able to move on two feet.

“Welcome to Darkbark Alley, kitty.” Salmon announced as he opened the door to Darkbark Alley.

Another town exists under Sleethallow Town. Animals in all species strolled around the alley. They walked on two feet instead of four. There were stalls selling all kinds of rare goods, majorly for animal uses. Inns, tavern, bookstore – you named it – Almost everything can be found in Darkbark Alley.

A little mouse was selling cheese on one side, and a cat selling all types of catnips next to her. The little mouse sniffed on the catnips, and the cat smacked her head with a rolled paper. There was a squirrel too, and he was struggling wiath his bag of nuts as he walked. He kept on dropping the nuts from the hole of the sack, another squirrel followed him behind and pick it up. He put it back into the sack, repeating the same movement until they were gone from her sight.

There were voices of haggling along the alley, and once in a while, followed by cursing and fighting. None of the passersby paid attention to the fighting, it was never their business.