"Dessie did WHAT?" Inari roared, his eyes glowing like ruby flames as he clenched his fists, his fur and hair all standing on end like a snow-white halo as he stared down at the little beagle at his feet.

Once again, Bear patiently explained what had happened, since he'd seen the whole thing. When he was through, Inari stood there for a good five minutes, his jaw working and his fists clenching and unclenching as electricity crackled all around him, not saying a word the entire time.

Finally, he took a very, very deep breath, held it a moment, then slowly exhaled.

Kneeling down beside Megan, he gently stroked her head. "Miss-I mean, Megan. Poor, dear Megan. I am so sorry this has happened to you. I do not know exactly what those two intended, though it seems obvious that what transpired was not what they planned. If you will please be patient for a little time, I shall request aid of the villagers here. With luck, they will heed their dreams, and your farm will be cared for until you... can be returned to your proper self."

He stood, closed his eyes, and clapped his hands together. Then, to Megan and Bear's astonishment, he began to shimmer. The moonlight passed right through him-they could clearly see the shrine grounds and the ancient trees as if he was no more than a sheer veil before them. He closed his eyes and began to chant softly in a strange tongue, and as he chanted, he began to glow, little sparks shooting from his skin and fur and hair, like tiny stars or fireflies weaving all around him. Then he clapped his hands once more, and the lights gathered themselves together as one before shooting into the sky and exploding silently, showering down upon the sleeping village.

"There. It is done. Now I must consult with Master. She will know what to do." Inari turned towards the altar, but Megan yipped, a worried little yip, and he turned back to her.

Again dropping down beside her, he caressed her floppy ears. "Megan... you are much too kind. Imagine, worrying if those two will be in trouble, after all they've put you through! Do not fear, I will plead with Master on your behalf, but then it will be up to her and the others, what punishment those two will face for their transgressions."

Megan looked down at the ground, cringing at the sight of her fat little paw where her slender fingers should be. She yipped again, barely more than a whimper.

Inari looked at her, surprised. "No, of course I don't hate you like this. I mean... that is to say... I-I, well, I l-l-l... like you no matter what your appearance. Truly. Now I must go. Please wait here, and Bear, please stay by her side until I return." Then he sprang up and vanished from their sight.

Bear stared at the place where Inari had crouched a moment before, his ears perked forward, then he looked down at his companion-mistress, hunkered miserably down on the ground in her unaccustomed canine form, and a light dawned in his eyes. With something very much like a chortle, he settled down next to her to wait.

A few hours later, as the sun rose above the rooftops and the songbirds began their morning canticles, waking Megan and Bear from their tired slumber, they could hear the first stirrings of the villagers. Inari's dream appearances appeared to have had the desired effect, from the snippets of conversation that reached their keen ears.

"Guess what I dreamed about last night?" they heard Shizu whisper to Komari as they passed one another on the street. "I dreamed that Megan had been spirited away, and the god of the shrine appeared and told me to go tend to her farm until she returns!"

"No way!" Komari gasped. "I had the exact same dream!"

"Isn't that strange? So did Ittetsu! Whatever can it mean?"

"You ladies have a weird dream last night, too?" they heard Hinata interrupt. "Kinda seems like we all did. Y'know, I'm not much for superstitions, but... I'm thinkin' someone should maybe go check on Megan. You know, just make sure all's well."

Megan lay back down, whooshing a deep sigh of relief. Soon they'd discover she was missing and spread the word, and they'd take of things for her until Inari could figure out a way to turn her back to normal. If he could, that is....

She did feel badly, though, when by mid-morning, villagers from all three towns had gathered together outside the shrine to form search parties as well as the work parties necessary to care for her farm. She whispered apologies to her worried friends as they milled about in a panic, but they just came out as canine mutterings. It hadn't taken long before someone had spotted Bear lying patiently before the altar of the shrine. While this had resulted in further panic, it also caused her friends to marvel at the bond between the gentle beast and his vanished mistress, that he would apparently seek divine intervention on her behalf.

She looked up at him affectionately, and Bear returned her look with a canine grin. "It'll be okay, I'm here with you," he woofed.