The sun had barely risen over Wolf Creek Animal Care, but Martha was already buzzing with anticipation. Ever since she’d discovered her strange new ability, she’d been itching for opportunities to use it.
Her first patient of the day arrived promptly at 9 a.m.—a Doberman named Jasper. Sleek, black-coated, and typically well-behaved, Jasper was now obsessed with chasing and eating flies, much to his owners’ dismay.
“It’s all he does,” the man complained, holding tight to the leash as Jasper snapped at the air. “Day and night, it’s flies, flies, flies.”
“It’s like he’s forgotten how to be a dog,” the woman added.
Jasper’s sharp eyes darted around the clinic, following the faint buzz of an insect near the ceiling. Martha crouched to examine him, feeling the familiar electric tingle in her fingertips.
“I think I can help,” she said with a calm smile. “Let’s step outside for a moment.”
She led them to the backyard of the clinic, where a small pond glimmered in the morning sun. Frogs rested on lily pads, croaking softly as dragonflies skimmed the water.
“Give me just a second,” Martha said, her voice steady.
Her hands buzzed with energy as she focused on Jasper and a large bullfrog sitting at the edge of the pond. With a quick gesture, she unleashed the crackling power. A bright flash enveloped Jasper and the frog, and when it faded, the transformation was complete.
Jasper now had a perfectly proportioned frog head on his muscular Doberman body. His smooth green skin and wide, bulging eyes looked oddly fitting atop his sleek frame. Without hesitation, his long, sticky tongue shot out, catching a fly mid-air with a satisfying snap.
The bullfrog, meanwhile, had Jasper’s Doberman head, neatly scaled to match its small, squat body. It blinked in confusion, its bark echoing comically across the pond.
The owners, however, didn’t seem to notice anything unusual about their dog.
“Oh, wow, look at him!” the man exclaimed. “He’s eating the flies!”
“That’s amazing!” the woman added, clapping her hands. “And flies are healthy for him, right?”
“Full of protein,” Martha assured them, keeping her tone professional.
Jasper let out a loud, resonant ribbit, his tongue flicking out again to capture another insect. His owners beamed with pride.
“He looks so happy now,” the woman said. “Thank you, Dr. Martha. You’ve solved everything!”
“Always happy to help,” Martha replied, barely containing her amusement as they clipped Jasper’s leash back on.
The couple strolled out of the clinic with their frog-headed dog in tow. As they reached the front door, Jasper let out another booming ribbit.
An elderly woman entering the clinic froze, clutching her purse. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the frog-headed Doberman, who casually hopped to snatch another fly.
“Good heavens!” she gasped, nearly dropping her bag.
“Oh, don’t worry,” the man said cheerfully. “He’s just a little excited today!”
The old woman muttered something about the “strangest dog I’ve ever seen” and shuffled into the waiting room, shooting nervous glances over her shoulder.
Back at the pond, the bullfrog with Jasper’s Doberman head barked indignantly, its tiny body puffing up as it hopped clumsily onto a lily pad.
“I’ll fix you later,” Martha murmured, stifling a laugh as she turned to head back inside.
Her mind buzzed with possibilities as she returned to her clinic. If Jasper’s owners hadn’t even noticed the change, what else could she do? Her hands tingled with excitement.
Martha smiled to herself. The day had only just begun, and she couldn’t wait to see what other opportunities her newfound powers would bring.
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