A gentle rustle of leaves filled the air as they decided to step back outside. With a soft click, the door swung open, revealing the bright, inviting world beyond. Clutching their colorful masks in their hands, they made their way down to the sidewalk, their footsteps echoing against the pavement. As they walked, animated conversations flowed between them about their therian identities, sharing little anecdotes that brought smiles to their faces. Suddenly, the warmth of their chatter became overshadowed by an unexpected silence. They spotted a young girl adorned in vibrant therian gear, her outfit a kaleidoscope of colors that matched their own spirit. Intrigued, the cats trotted over, their tails flicking in curiosity, meowing softly as they approached the girl to greet her. “Why, hello, kitties!” the girl exclaimed, her eyes widening in delight at the unexpected visitors. Ava and Emma meandered over, eager to introduce themselves. “Hello! Are you a therian too?” Emma asked, her enthusiasm evident in her voice. The girl appeared startled and quickly turned, her gaze dropping shyly to the ground. “H-hi?” she stammered, her cheeks flushed. “I’m Emma, and that’s Ava! What’s your name?” she added, extending a friendly hand. “Um, my name is, um, Rachel?” she replied hesitantly, still trying to gather the courage to meet their friendly eyes. “Rachel, good name! Wanna be friends?” Ava suggested with a warm smile. “Sure,” Rachel cooed softly, her demeanor still shy but a hint of excitement glimmering in her eyes. “Okay!” Ava exclaimed, her face lighting up. The three girls quickly fell into an easy rhythm of conversation, exchanging stories about their lives, their experiences, and what it meant to embrace their therian identities. Before long, the trio decided to venture to Emma and Ava’s house, the prospect of spending more time together filling the air with anticipation as they walked side by side, laughter intertwining with the gentle breeze.
