You sighed in content as the coffee warmed you from the inside out. Your winter cabin was always your source of respite from your exhausting city life; a place where you could just relax for a few days.
Nothing but you, your books, a few critters that didn't hibernate, and a large, beautiful snowy expanse.
You decided to sit in front of the window while you enjoyed your newest book, letting the sunlight and the picturesque winter landscape be the backdrop as you spend hours in a world of fiction.
However, as you parted the curtain, you saw something in the snow. It was far, too far for you to make out its exact shape.
Curiosity took the better of you, and you ventured out of the cabin. You approached the shape in the snow, your heart dropping at the sight before you.
It was a fox. Not an anthro one, but a regular quadrupedal one. It laid still, unbreathing. The poor thing looked starved, its bones visible through its skin. A part of you told yourself to leave it, that it was already dead and there was nothing more that you could do for it.
But another part of you said otherwise. That even if it was already dead, you could at least make an effort in case there was even the slightest chance to save its life.
You rushed back into the cabin, grabbing the biggest blanket you have and running back out with it in your arms. You were careful as you wrapped the long piece of cloth and wool around the fox's frozen form, making sure only its head stuck out before rushing back into the cabin.
You laid it in front of the fireplace, hoping the flame's heat would help it.
It felt like hours were passing as you sat there, unable to tear your eyes away from the fox, praying to any god willing to hear that it would show some sign that it wasn't over yet.
And then, it happened.
The fox's eyes became less glassy, movement returned to its still form, and relief beyond words filled your heart as it let out a sound that removed any remaining traces of doubt that it was still alive.
The fox, of course, was apprehensive at first.
To it, you were just a stranger. It probably didn't realise that you were the one that saved it, or that it was even saved in the first place.
But it was too weak to run or fight back, so in the end it had no choice but to trust you.
You quickly took to the internet to know what foods you needed; what was safe for a fox to eat, as well as what could help it get better, as well as what portions for safe for a creature that looked like it was on the brink of starvation.
Days had passed, becoming weeks.
The fox grew healthier, no longer like a skeleton with a thin a layer of skin placed over it.
You found that the fox was a male and decided to name him Finn.
Yes, you grew attached to Finn. And he grew attached to you.
When he could finally walk again without trouble, Finn would be attached to you by the hip, you couldn't go anywhere without him being by your side. Once, you closed the bathroom door while you tried to do your business, but Finn would just scratch at the door and whine on the other side until you let him in. And of course, he always wanted to either play or cuddle with you, no matter what you were doing at any given point.
He even responded to the name you gave him, sometimes even showing joy when you used it.
But you knew the good times wouldn't last. You would have to go back to the city soon. And even if you were good with Finn, you're not sure that you could keep him in the city, not as a pet.
If he were an anthro, it would be fine, because he would be another member of society. But that's not the case with regular animals.
And so, it was the night before you had to go back. Finn snuggled up to you in bed, a habit he developed ever since he realised you were his friend.
You couldn't help but tear up as you look into those eyes of his, so happy and unaware of the inevitable separation.
"I'm gonna have to leave you, Finn." You told him, voice trembling. Immediately, all joy vanished from his face, the fox becoming distressed, already making whining sounds in protest. You try to shush him as soothingly as possible, scratching him behind his ear, a spot you learned he loved to scratched. "I know, Finn. I know. I don't want this either. I have to go back to the city, and I want to take you with me - trust me, I do. But I don't think you'd adapt to it well. You're still a forest creature, the city wouldn't really work with you."
Finn nuzzled your face, as though to tell you to stay. To not leave him. You saved him just as Death was going to take him, and now he owed his life - his everything! - to you.
But none of it could change the inevitable.
As hours passed and the night grew darker, Finn fell asleep, the fox's face nestled deep into your neck. Your eyes felt sore with all your crying. It was ridiculous to be this attached to a wild creature you've known for only two or three weeks, but you were really reaching a point where you couldn't bear to be apart from him.
You held Finn close, and finally let exhaustion take you.
---
Darkness surrounded you.
No matter where you looked, no matter where you went, all you saw was an endless void.
You fell to your knees, not know what was going on. Then you heard a bark in front of you. You looked up, seeing Finn. The poor fox looked confused. It looked like he was running, but he wasn't moving even a single inch.
You got to your feet and tried to run to Finn, but you weren't going any closer to him either. You called out to one another, you yelling his name while the fox barked and whined like crazy.
"What the hell is going on?!" You screamed. You gave up on running to Finn - stand still or run, it didn't make a difference. "Why are we here? Who's doing this?!"
It seemed after that, the entity responsible finally - finally! - made itself known. At least, it made it clear that it existed.
"You prayed for the fox's survival, son of man." You don't know where the voice came from, it had no clear source. All that you knew was that it was booming, and that it sounded more like something beyond your comprehension mimicking a human voice than anything else. "And the fox, the one you call Finn, has sworn his life to you. Sworn that he will protect you and do anything for you."
"What? Who are-?!" You called out, but the voice didn't let you finish.
"Very well!" The endless void surrounding you appeared to shake, a divine light glowing from the very top of it (or at least what seemed like its top). "Young fox, Finn, I shall grant you and your master's wish. You will become an anthro. You will become bigger and stronger with time and then become something beyond even that. As long as you swear to remain eternally loyal to your master, this will be so!"
The light became blinding. You reached out, calling out for Finn. But the fox didn't seem to hear you. He just stood still, a similar light shining in his eyes.
And then, everything became blinding.
---
Your head was heavy, like your mind was just hit by a speeding train. You felt a heavy weight over your body, far heavier than your blanket has ever been.
You look to your side, where Finn should be...
And saw an anthropomorphic fox hunk sleeping in his place.
You blinked once. Then twice. Then thrice. After that, you let out a scream, sending the fox flying off of you.
"What happened?!" The fox screamed, getting on his feet. You had to admit, he was rather attractive. Having a nicely toned body, with noticeable abs, pecs and biceps. And that wasn't even bringing the nice pair he had between his legs into consideration. He looked right at you, immediately jumped onto you, arms wrapping around you protectively. He looked you in the eye, his own looking familiar. "Are you all right, Master? Did something hurt you? Did someone sneak in?"
"Wh-who are you?" You asked, to which the fox raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you recognise me, Master? It's me, Finn." The fox - Finn - answered happily. "Didn't you pay attention? The entity that helped you save me has changed me into this. I wanted to stay with you, to protect you, so now I'm big and strong. And I'm only going to become bigger and stronger. Even right now, it's happening..."
Finn's tail wagged from side to side, the prospect of being able to help you and becoming bigger and stronger exciting him immensely. And judging by how his other tail was beginning to wag up and down, that excitement was also pleasing to him.
Your face heated up as you saw that member harden. You tried to look away, focusing on his muscles instead. And you found that his muscles were, indeed, growing.
And they were growing...
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