It was a dim and cloudy evening, just after sunset. Iximaz was passing through a park on the way home. Their eyes shone gold in what was left of the light, and their long pants covered a rather embarrassing scar that looked like a claw mark.

Then, very quickly, impossibly quickly, as if someone were speeding up the footage to skip though a long, boring processes, a full moon rose. In fact, four moons rose. They seemed to peer down at Iximaz with a collective smile.

"Oh, no.," Ix muttered. They tried to keep theirself together through sheer force of will, holding back the explosion that was about to overcome them as best they could.

"Not. Time." they grunted as patches of fur burst out of their skin in a few places. "Hate this."

It'll be OK, Ix. the moons said, somehow. I can help. This doesn't have to a curse.

Really? Ix thought, hoping that would get back to the voice they'd just heard, before yelping in pain as their bones shifted around. They roughly threw their bag to the ground so that it wouldn't get too banged up during the rest of the transformation.

In response, the moons concentrated their light onto the transforming werewolf,, enveloping them in a warm, white glow. I'll help you through this.

As the moonlight surrounded Ix, their transformation much more fluid and graceful. Fur rippled out over their body as it slid into a more canine form without all the violent rearrangement that usually accompanied a full moon. Their face stretched out into a muzzle. A tail rose out from their lower back without the usual ‘pop'. Even their clothes neatly came off and floated onto Ix's bag.

Wow. Ix said. Can it always be this easy? Also, thank gooodness I don't need to replace that jacket.

Yeah, I can make this how your transformations usually go. the moons said. After all, I'm four moons, and that beats the one moon you usually deal with.

Ix's tail wagged. Nice!

There was a pause. I like your jacket too, by the way.

Uh, OK, sure. Thanks!

No problem. the moons said softly.

Ix took a few hesitant steps forward. This new way of being a werewolf sure left them a lot less exhausted than what they usually had to deal with. Then, filled with a burst of energy, they took off running around the park.

This is great! they thought-shouted up at the sky as they ran. I don't think I've ever felt this good as a, y'know, wolf.

That was the plan. I noticed how miserable you were getting at night and thought I'd do something about it.

A few laps around the park later, Iximaz walked up to their stuff, panting. I like this. they said quietly. I like you.

I like you too. the four moons watching said.

Ix sat down. There was only one real way to properly express their thoughts on the situation, they realized:

"Awoooooooooooooooooo!"