Catrina agreed.

Alan was waiting for his sister and her pet cat while looking out his chambers window. The heavy rain and wind had not relented and was pummelling the landscape, the tall trees on the edge of the gardens craning in the winds. He feared many of them would snap and blockade the roads, slowing his coming journey. The road to Mirantia also lead through some mountainous terrain, where mudslides were a distinct possibility. He could only pray it would be manageable.

Catrina opened the door to his chambers without knocking and stepped through. She was wearing her light night clothes, a beige dress reaching to her mid-thigh, which left her enticing legs bare.

‘Sorry to keep you waiting, Alan. I had to—ahm—clarify some things. There is someone who I would like you to meet,’ Catrina said with her hands before her chest, fidgeting nervously.

Alan was confused, there were no other visitors and he had not heard of some traveller seeking shelter from the storm.
‘Huh? But there’s no one in the villa I don’t already know, Cat,’ he said.
Catrina smiled widely at Alan’s confusion—she loved surprising others.
‘O, you know her very well. You have just not been properly introduced yet,’ she said. ‘You can come in now, dear,’ she called to the open doorway at her back.

A familiar feline slinked slowly into Alan’s chamber and Catrina went to close it behind her—she locked it with a thud.

Alan was even more confused. Was she playing some joke? He decided to play along.
‘Ahm—very funny, Cat. Fine, if you want to play,’ he started, cleared his voice and addressed the cat, ‘Greetings, young lady, it is a pleasure to—’

Catrina went to Alan’s side and shushed his mouth with her finger.
‘No, silly. Just be quiet and watch, will you? Luna, if you would?’ she said.

Once again, the transformation began. Black magical smoke bellowed from the cat’s frame and rose up.
‘Cat, what—what’s the meaning of this?! What’s happening?!’ he cried panicked.

Catrina drew him into sideways hug.
‘Alan don’t be afraid. Everything is alright. I should have told you long ago. Just watch, please,’ she tried to calm him.

Alan nodded to her, terror still in his eyes, and turned back to watch the spectacle.

Meanwhile, the smoke had formed the outline of a young woman standing a few paces before the siblings. Slowly it took on the colour and form of the nude, exotic beauty of Luna’s alter ego.

Alan had to gulp at the sight, her face was gorgeous, her body divine and those eyes, one could become lost in them.
‘I have waited so long to finally speak to you, Alan,’ the cat-girl purred, one hand on her bare hip.

Alan could only stare in amazement.
‘She—She, I mean, Luna is a shapeshifter?! Cat, how long did you know?!’ he demanded.
Catrina had to look away from her little brother, embarrassed at keeping such a major secret.
‘O, I revealed myself to her when she turned twelve. How many years has it been? I don’t really keep count like humans do,’ Luna answered for her.

Twelve? But that’s ten years ago! Alan could not fathom it, how could he be so blind for so long? He had his suspicions that there was more to the Cat than met the eye, but a shapeshifter?

‘Forgive me, Alan. I wanted to tell but you had been attacked by that plant monster and I figured, with that terror of magic, you would freak out if you knew,’ Catrina explained, ‘Luna is a benevolent magical being, Al, she has not harmed me ever, in fact, she has been protecting me ever since. You know her well as a cat, right? She’s not so different as a human.’

Alan was still in shock. The cat he had held in his arms so often, groomed and fed, was a shapeshifter all along. She had seen him bathe and do even more intimate things. His cheeks flushed at the thought.

‘You should have told me, Cat. If you vouch for her, then I’ll not be afraid of her,’ he said and turned towards Luna.
‘Ahm—it’s good to meet you. I mean, we know each other but it’s nice to meet you—the other you, I guess. You know what I am saying?’ he told her.

The dark-haired girl giggled at his attempt.
‘I do, and I’ve been yearning to show you my other form for a long time. Aren’t you going to give me a hug, Alan? You’ve always been so kind to me,’ she asked innocently.

Alan’s gaze roamed her form and only now seemed to notice she was completely bare. He looked away, blushing.
‘Y—You are naked! Please, put some clothes on,’ he said.

Alan did not see Luna’s wide grin at his embarrassment.
‘Clothes? I never wear clothing. I suppose if I had to run around naked all the time, I may have need of them. But I can just turn into a cat and not be cold! Neat, right?’ she said giddily.

Catrina and Alan had to laugh at her enthusiasm.
‘Well, humans do need them, Luna. Please find something to wear,’ Catrina said, ‘One of your shirts would do, right, Alan?’

The younger sibling welcomed his sister’s initiative.
‘Yes, yes, good idea. They’re in that dresser over there,’ he perked up and made his way there.

Luna watched him carefully, her hands behind her back.
‘O, if you insist, but can’t I get one that you have worn? I’ve always loved your scent,’ she asked in a sultry tone, ‘In fact, the shirt you are wearing would be perfect.’

Alan stopped dead in his tracks, not daring to look at her.
‘My—my shirt? Ahm—I do not think that’s a good idea,’ he stammered.

The cat-girl took the opportunity and drew closer to the young man, pressing her perfect curves to him and placing both hands on his chest. Alan groaned at her embrace but was stiff as a board—he was lost at what to do. She ran circles on his blue shirt with her fingers.
‘Mmmh, such smooth cloth, is it silk? May I have it, pretty please?’ she made her best pleading voice.

He turned his head to her and met her gaze, trying his best not to look at her cleavage below.
‘I—I guess, if you really want—’ he tried to say.

Catrina only watched the two of them with bated breath.

When Alan started to voice his approval, she immediately went to undo the knot at the top of his shirt and start to lift it up.
‘Hold your hands up, would you?’ she cooed.

Alan did and before he knew it his shirt was over his head, exposing his lightly muscled chest and abdominals. Luna held the shirt to her chest, partly concealing her body from view. She brought one of the arms of the shirt to her face and inhaled deeply.
‘Mhm, I do love you scent,’ she purred.

She turned the shirt and started to pull the bottom over her head. She made a deliberately clumsy attempt at it, pushing her head into one of the arms instead of the corded collar at the top.
‘O, no! I’m stuck! Alan help me with this would you?’ she pleaded.

Catrina laughed at the scene, but it was not lost on her that the vixen did it on purpose. It did indeed look comical, Alan standing in his breeches with bare chest and Luna with her torso inside the shirt with her lower half completely exposed.

Alan did not realise she did it on purpose. He figured since she never wore shirts it might be difficult the first time. It certainly was for him when he was a toddler!
‘You got the wrong end—here let me,’ he said as he reached for his shirt on her frame.

He drew the arm up off her head and brought it to the side, coming down again when her head found the collar.

When her head came through, they gave each other a long look. Alan noticed how mesmerising those green eyes were, how enticing her lips were, how cute her nose was. He did not say a word and neither did she.

‘Ahm—aren’t you forgetting the arms?’ Catrina suggested.

Luna and Alan were drawn out of their trance.
‘Right!’ Alan said.

He helped the girl into the arms of the shirt and took a step back. It came down just above her womanhood, concealing her neatly trimmed pubic hair. She twirled, as if modelling a new dress. With her back turned, Alan could just see the bottoms of her cute cheeks.
‘What do you think? Does it suit me?’ she teased.

‘It’s a bit short, but you look lovely in it, Luna,’ he said.

How long has it been? Ten minutes since he first saw Luna in her human form? And he’s already looking at her with that gaze Catrina always wanted to elicit from her little brother. Catrina felt a pang of envy in her heart at the way things unfolded.
‘I hate to interrupt your blatant flirting,’ Catrina said, ‘but there’s something you should know, Alan.’

Alan did not quite understand. Flirting? Was he flirting? Intimacy with a woman other than Catrina was alien to him but if this was flirting was he doing so with Catrina all this time?

‘Luna will go with you to Mirantia, Alan,’ she said with finality in her voice.

Now, he was even more confused.
‘Come with me? But she can’t come, father won’t allow it, he doesn’t even know she’s human—can turn into a human—you know what I mean!’ he said.

Catrina knew her brother was not stupid when he put his mind to something, but he certainly lacked some creativity.
‘Yes, and that’s good! You know he hates magical beings. I shudder to think what he would do if he ever found out! No, I mean she will come with you in the carriage as a cat, dummy,’ she groaned.

Luna liked watching their back and forth, but now she could finally participate.
‘Yes, I can be your spy and bodyguard, Alan. The roads are treacherous, bandits are preying on decent folk,’ she chimed in.

The little brother gave the unassuming woman a once-over again.
‘You? Protect me? I’m sorry to doubt your ability but you don’t look that tough,’ he said as gently as he could.

Luna giggled, as she knew looks could deceive—she liked it that way.
‘Come here and I’ll show you,’ she said.
He went closer to her, curious what she was about to do.
‘Watch and learn, Alan. Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ she commanded.

She held her hand in front of Alan’s face and her nails lengthened to blades as sharp as a freshly whetted sword and Alan had to draw in a frightened breath. She opened her mouth and her incisors lengthened likewise, giving her the maw of a tiger. She withdrew them again and brought her hands to Alan’s hips. With a jolt she easily lifted the young man until his crotch was level with her face.
‘Hmm, you’re as light as a feather, love, are you eating enough?’ she teased him.

Alan was sufficiently impressed by her display.
‘Alright, alright! Let me down. I am sorry for my quick judgement!’ he almost cried.

Luna let him down gently but then instead of stepping back, she drew closer, bringing her arms from his hips to his back, and laid her head on his shoulder.
‘See, I’ll protect you, Alan. I’ll bring you back to Catrina safe and sound,’ she murmured into his neck.

He could only bring his hands around to return the hug.
‘That was scary, Luna. Please don’t do it again, unless called for, ok?’ he pleaded.

Luna only nodded her affirmative, enjoying their embrace.

‘Aw, don’t leave me out of a good hug!’ Catrina said as she walked towards her two most important people, arms spread wide.

The three embraced and stood silently for a long moment. Only the rain on the windows and balcony door could be heard.