The black cat sat in the sun, eyes closed, tail still. Then a desperate meowl escaped him, as he began rising, shoulders lifting straight up, back elongating, legs growing, fur falling off in big tuffs - until he was a man.

“My beautiful fur!” He shrieked as he looked around, and saw a tall man, stick in hand and a wide grin on his face.

“Martin?” The former cat said “did you do this?”

“Yes!” Said Martin, happy with his new creation, although the former cat was naked - he would have to fix that, he thought and swung his stick.

“Argh!” Yelled the former cat, as he was suddenly enveloped in a black cape, the big hood putting shade over his eyes.

“Martin!” He yelled, stepping closer to the wizard

“What the fuck did you do to me, you two-legged, hairless idiot?!”

“I… I made you human, Casper… we can talk now. We can be friends now.”

“We were friends.” Growled Casper, feeling the useless small hairs on his back rising, as he lowered his head and voice. “We were friends, and now we’re not. How could you make me into this hideous thing?”

“But… but you can talk now. And enter the human world on our terms…”

“And why would I want that? You are a useless species. Know not how to hunt, or to be still. Have to wear the skins of others beings. Make constant mouth-sounds instead of just using your body to talk, like better animals. Why would I want to be like you?”

Then, without another word, he spun around on his heel and stormed off.

Martin, stumped, as he thought the transformation would have been an aid for his friend, felt the tears filling his eyes. “Nonono” he muttered, spun around, and spun around again. “What did I do. Poor Casper. I have to make this right” he whispered to himself, and then ran after the man.

He found the cape a little down the road, tossed aside. Then, he heard something in the bushes, and found Casper curled up, shaking.

“Oh Casper” he said “I am so sorry. Let me make this right”

Casper looked at him, hopeful

“Will you give me my beautiful fur back? And my silent paws?”

“Yes, yes of course. I am so sorry about this. I should have known that you are happy being you.”

“Thank you…” said Casper, and added

“But can you also… can you maybe make me bigger? I want to be the biggest cat in town”

“Of course. Anything else?”

“No”

“Alright. Lets fix this” Martin said and swung his wand.

The man shrunk, and was soon the size of a Maine coon cat. He stood up, and pounced, disappearing into the tall grass, only to reappear a second later with a small rabbit in his mouth. It kicked a few times before he bit down, crushing the windpipe of the small animal. He then purred, and rubbed against Martins leg before dropping the rabbit at his feet and, tail in the air, walk into the sunset.