Mask of the Lioness

"This one, the one that looks like a lioness." The blonde said pointing at the mask.

The older shopkeep looked at the foreigner skeptically "That one? No no no, you take this one. Cheaper." he pointed at a second less elaborate mask, a decidedly less... magical mask.

"Money is no issue, I've got more than enough to afford a silly souvenir." The blonde flashed a smile trying to convince the shopkeep to part with the mask that had caught her eye. The owner sighed and frowned. Who was he to stop some ignorant tourist, as long as she was willing to pay it wasn't his business what happened when she put the mask on.

The two haggled over the price for a bit, but she eventually left with her prize in tow, a carved wooden mask, shaped like a female lion and painted in detail swirls. There was just something about it that called to her. It would make a perfect addition to all the things she had collected from her travels, sure some people called her a bit of an eclectic, but whats wrong with being eclectic?

She waited the long trip home until she finally held the mask to her face, wanting to see how it looked before she put in on the wall next to a few other travel trophies. As she held it up a slight tugging sensation pulled it closer, she was startled at the sudden force as it yanked her arms and the mask closer to her face. The tried to pull it back but there was no stopping the sudden suction and the mask slapped against her almost painfully. She doubled over as a fierce heat seemed to engulf her. Her head swam and the room seemed to tilt as she struggled to keep upright. She could feel some... some strange power coming from the mask. She tried to pull it off of her face but she couldn't even find the edge at first it was so tight...

The burning power felt like it was melting her from the inside out, and she was dimly aware that her body was... changing. She caught a glance of what looked like a tail growing out from her spine, she could feel her ears growing in size as they almost slid up the side of her head. With a last panicked burst of adrenaline she gripped the tight edge of the mask and pried with all her might, eventually popping it of in a blinding flash of light.

She woke several hours later, blinking away stars as she rubbed her face. It felt... strange. The mask was gone, but... the shape of her face felt wrong and... was that fur? She rushed to a mirror and looked at herself. Two round furry ears poked up out of her hair, she still had a lion's tail, and a mask of fur covered her face from her muzzle up her wide feline nose to her now golden eyes.

I do not own the rights to the original image used for this photo-manipulation, if the owner requests its removal I shall do so 
~The Warlock