Tobi stepped out of the small lecture hall, pulling his jacket tighter around his shoulders as the cold evening air bit at his skin. The biology workshop had gone well, and the students were engaged, but the drop in temperature made him shiver uncontrollably. He quickened his pace, heading towards the sanctuary of his apartment a few blocks away.

As he walked, the chill seeped deeper, causing his hands to tremble. Suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through his fingers, and he glanced down in alarm. His hands had begun to morph, fingers elongating and thickening into fur-covered paws. Panic gripped him, and he tried to steady his breathing, willing the transformation to reverse.

Before he could fully regain control, he felt eyes on him. Tobi’s head snapped up, and he locked eyes with a person standing under a nearby streetlamp, their expression a mix of curiosity and concern. He quickly shoved his hands into his pockets, hoping they hadn’t seen too much.

Clearing his throat, he forced a casual tone. "Evening," he said, nodding at them. "It's a bit cold out here, isn’t it? Did you need something, or are you just enjoying the brisk air?"