Shaggy was now holding the chain of one of his charms in his mouth. It looked like a tiny locket.

“Spiritual power comes from within, so we must prepare your mind for introspective meditation.”

You raised an eyebrow and knelt down to sit on the floor with your legs crossed.

“Is that really how it works?” you asked, trying not to sound too skeptical.

The black dog gave you an admonishing look.

“Your body is changing in ways that neither of us can fully predict. A proper warrior shouldn't expect to be able to expertly wield an unfamiliar weapon with a body that they aren't entirely comfortable with.”

You draped both tails over your legs and began to rub them self-consciously. He might have a point there.

“If you're ready to come to terms with your new body, then I'll support you.” he went on. “If you ever want to become as strong as your grandmother, then you must learn to accept everything about yourself. The good and the bad. You will always be yourself, even if your sense of self is constantly shifting.”

You stared down at your clawed hands, wondering if you could ever fully accept a version of yourself that you had no part in developing. You didn’t want to. Because the fact that someone else was capable of changing your life so easily made you feel helpless.

There might be no going back. But so what if there wasn't! No matter what happens to you or what you become, you'll always be Cindy Moon. And there'll always be people that care about you enough to pull you back from whatever dark path you might stumble down.

You cupped one hand under the other, resting them both over your stomach. You closed your eyes, breathed in deep, and let it out slowly after about ten seconds.

“Thank you. I'm ready now.” you declared.

Shaggy responded by moving his head from side to side, and causing the pendulum to swing gently. You allowed your eyes to follow the pendulum, feeling your heart relax as your focus became incredibly singular.

You were no longer thinking of drafts for upcoming essays, or the unfinished homework you had waiting for you. Instead, your awareness of your own body was being heightened by the hypnotic rhythm of the pendulum.

You weren’t susceptible enough to be made to cluck like a chicken like some people, but since this fell further into the category of guided meditation, you felt more comfortable with participating.

“Close your eyes, and focus on breathing.” Shaggy slowly said. “Just breathe.”

You did so, breathing in and out slowly for at least a minute.

“Feel the air pumping in and out of your lungs. Feel the blood flowing through your veins. Feel the very beating of your heart. Do they feel any different than before?”

“...No. My heartbeat is a little faster than normal.”

“That's normal.” Shaggy said. “But you know your body better than anyone. What's different this time?”

(Cont.)