Don has Tabs, Adam, and Mac in the basement of the house and steps forward closer to them.

“So you want to join Animal and Crossbreed Control,” Don said.

The three stared at him blankly.

“Um, actually dad… I want to be a vet,” Tabs corrected.

“I like art. I’m an artist. I can’t chase around Crossbreed cats,” Adam commented.

“And I….,” Mac laughed. “I don’t know,”

“Well if you DO want to join Crossbreed Control you’re gonna need to know how the technology we use works,” Don pulled out a book. “This is where we keep all our ancient research for Crossbreeds in hopes of fighting them IF WE COULD UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT!!!” Don regained her composure, seeing he had startled the kids. “Ahem. I got my hands on it a couple years ago. But the researcher wrote it in code and I can’t figure it out no matter how hard I try. Crushing disappointment is all part of the job,” Don tossed the book to the side and pulled out the Crossbreed Beacon. “This is a Crossbreed Beacon,” Don cranked it the Hyena setting. “It’s supposed to lure Crossbreeds to your location,”

“And you just… turned it on?!” Adam exclaimed.

“Don’t worry. I set it to the Hyena setting. There’s no hyenas around to hear it,” Don reassured. “Unless of course they’re visiting someone,”

Tabs’s 6th sense that detects nearby Crossbreed got triggered and her eyes turned into her Crossbreed form eyes.

“Oh no,” Tabs whispered.

Two Hyena Crossbreeds broke into the basement, growling menacingly at the group.

“Oh no…,” Tabs moaned.

The two Hyena approach Adam and Mac, grab them, and started to run away. Adam and Mac screamed. Tabs watched in shock and Don didn't even notice.

“Yes yes. I was screaming with joy too when I first started this. But let me show you kids something really exciting,” Don continued.

Tabs transformed into her Crossbreed form and flew after the hyenas.

“Always remember, kids, in fight or flight situations many Crossbreeds will go fully primitive. That means they’ll go into feral mode and they will maul you to death. You won’t have time to draw a weapon after they start attacking you think being attacked by a bear but worse,”

Adam and Mac were knocked back to their chairs from the fight just before Don turned around.

“So always have your weapon ready when you turn on your beacon,”

Mac and Adam are trembling aggressively. Tabs went back to the chairs panting and looking exhausted having dealt with the Crossbreeds.

“Oh, look at you kids. You’re shaking with excitement,” Don said excitedly.

The three kids were, in fact, not shaking from excitement, instead they were shaking from trauma.

…

The next morning, Tabs and her family are downstairs eating breakfast. Don came into the room.

“Oh Don, before I forget, our new tracker came,” Jan said, motioning to the tracker she was assembling.

“Oh yes,” Don grabbed the tablet. “Let’s test this bad boy out. This new Advanced tracker can locate the DNA signature of a Crossbreed even in their human form,”

Tabs froze. “It can locate what of a what even in WHAT?!”

Don and Jan weren’t listening as they turned the Tablet on.

“Bat Crossbreed cub detected. Walk forward,” the tablet said in a robotic voice.

“Ooh, a bat one. You don’t usually see those around during the day,”

Tabs got off her chair and retreated to the far end of the kitchen. Don and Jan walked up to her, eyes glued on the tablet.

“Bat Crossbreed found,” the tablet says, right in front of Tabs.

Don and Jan look forward to notice it’s her daughter.

“What? That can’t be right. Don’t tell me they sent this to us broken,” Don said confused.

Tabs looked down to see her hand had turned into her clawed bat hand. She panicked and strained to bring it back to her human hand. The extra effort made her grow paler and more sweaty, a state that had been consistent with her for weeks.

“Yeah actually there is something that I really should tell you guys,” Tabs started.

Ben looked over at the situation unfolding. “Ugh… Tabs, are they filling your head with nonsense again?”

Ben got up and walked up to his parents and sister.

“How many times do I have to tell you guys there’s more to life than work. You have three children and you’re supposed to be involved in their lives. It’s too late for me but don’t mess up Tabs and Lil,”

“Now Ben, I know our job doesn’t always make sense and takes up alot of our time but you’re only-” Jan started.

“12. I’m 12. And in need of an intense level of therapy thanks to you guys scaring me with this stuff. I’m not letting you guys traumatize my sisters with it,” Ben grabbed and hugged Tabs close before leading her away.

Ben grabbed Lil’s arm on the way out and started dragging her out of the kitchen.

“Come on, Lil, we’re walking to school,”

“Uh gosh darn it, Ben. No. I’m not done eating,”

Ben led the girls out of the room.

“That’s weird. Ben NEVER wants the girls to walk to school,” Jan comments, confused.

“Hey yeah,” Don’s eyes widened. “Oh my God, that’s a shape shifting Crossbreed!” Don ran into the living room. “HOW DARE YOU WEAR MY SON’S FACE YOU DEMON! MY CHILDREN ARE NOT YOUR PLAY THINGS!”

Don brought out a chainsaw, reading to attack.

“OH MY GOD! DAD! NO! STOP!” Ben screamed as the three kids ran out of the house as fast as they could.

…

Ben walked Tabs and Lil to their elementary school.

“I’ll be here to pick you guys up after school, okay?” Ben said.

“Sure, Ben,” Lil dismissed as she walked into the school.

“Oh and Tabs, don’t forget to get your homework done early today so you can enjoy the party,”

Tabs freeze. That’s right. It was her 8th birthday today. For the first time, she didn’t feel much like celebrating. She felt too sick. Not like she was going to throw up, but like something was very wrong. It was a feeling she had had since the doctor’s appointment.

“Oh… yeah,”

Ben picked up on her nervousness. “Relax. It’ll be fun,”

Tabs give a small smile. “Yeah, I’ll be ready,” 

Tabs went into the school and met up with her friends. Mac picked up on her pale sweaty face and walked up to her, concerned.

“Hey Tabs, you feel okay?” She asked.

Tabs let her calm composure immediately fall apart at the sight of the only two people who knew what happened to her. “No! And that’s the whole problem! I can’t sleep! I can’t be around my family without a part of my transformation! My head hurts! My arms and legs hurt! Everything hurts! Everything’s hot and cold! I don’t even know if any of this is normal! I don’t even know if it’s not! All I know is that I’m scared and I don’t know what to do!” Tabs shook Mac wildly.

Tabs sighed, letting Mac go, having successfully gotten her in a daze. “I really need to tell my mom and dad soon,” Tabs said quietly.

Adam got in between them. “Why would you even want to at this point? Adults don’t listen and more importantly, they don’t understand. Don’t you get it?! I’m gonna be an artist dad! Put the science down!” Adam snapped.

Tabs gave Adam a deadpanned look. “Adam, I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m talking about the whole me becoming a Crossbreed thing,” Tabs said annoyed.

“Oh yeah…. So was I?” Adam lied, sheepishly.

“It’s been over a month since it happened and I still barely have any control,” Tabs’s wings sprouted out from her back and started instinctually flapping, lifting her up in the air. Her two friends calmly watched her as she flew higher and higher.

“If someone sees me, I’m gonna get locked up in no time,”

“You mean like by doing something like that?” Mac asked.

Tabs looked down and noticed she’s in the air and yelped. Adam and Mac reach up, grabbing Tabs’s legs, pulling Tabs back down. Tabs’s wings go back in.

“I couldn’t do that to save my life last week and now I’m flying whether I like it or not,” Tabs pouted before storming off. “ If something could make a human into a Crossbreed why is there nothing to turn a Crossbreed back into a human?” she said, frustrated.

Tabs’s Crossbreed instincts move her out of the way of an opening door. Adam ran up in front of her.

“Tabs, your powers are special. Whoever heard of a human being turning into a Crossbreed before?”

“And what does that even mean?” Mac asked.

“It means I’m a freak against nature and can use it to make other people feel better about themselves,” Tabs said deadpanned.

“Meh, who wants that? Tabs, One method. Ignore it all, and it’ll eventually solve itself. All you gotta do is find something to distract yourself till you-,” a fly passed Mac’s face and she gasped. “Hey! Look! A fly!” Mac cheered.

“It took you 10 seconds to go from one topic to the next. That’s a new record,” Tabs smirked.

“It’s a gift! My ability to break my attention span is seven years strong!” Mac grinned.

“And it’s about to end. We’re heading over to Tabs’s house for her birthday tonight together and you’re on balloon Duty,” Adam smirked.

Mac’s eyes widened. “Wait… I’m on WHAT?!”

…

Adam showed the girls the list of party supplies at the lunch table.

“Isn’t this a bit overkill,” Tabs asked.

“Why would you put me in charge of balloons?! If the balloons end up weird, it’s not on me,” Mac said, annoyed.

“Mac, this is our best friend's eighth birthday. It is serious business. You must chill,”

…

Outside the lunchroom, the sewer grate rose up. A grey Rat Crossbreed wearing a royal crown was peeking out from the sewer grate into the window of the school lunchroom and noticed the table filled with cupcakes inside. 

“Ooooh sweets,” The Rat Crossbreed grinned before going back down in the sewer.

…

Back inside…

“Adam, this is gonna cost like 300 bucks! Where are you even getting all this money?!” Fiona asked, shocked.

“His parents,” Mac answered.

Adam’s eyes widened. “Untrue!” Adam defended.

“True,” Mac responded.

“Fine but still shut up,”

Tabs’s 6th sense goes off and she looks up to see the Rat King running across the skylight.

“Uh.. guys? We have a problem,” Tabs tries to stop the fight when a cupcake is thrown at her face.

“LEE!” Karen screamed across the lunchroom.

“Oh great… Two problems… This is the best birthday ever,” Tabs snarked.

Karen stormed over to them. “My boyfriend just ditched me! So I’m gonna take it out on you!”

“Karen, stop,” Tabs quietly demanded.

“Yeah Karen, stop,” June mocked.

“You guys are such jerks! Seriously?! Back off! It’s Tabs’s birthday!” Fiona defended.

“I can't believe you need the charity case kid to stand up for you, Lee” Karen mocked.

Tabs looked around for anything she could use to distract the blonde. “Uh… Uh… FOOD FIGHT!” Tabs yelled.

The other kids stare before throwing food at each other in joy. Karen and crew flee screaming along with Fiona. Tabs grabbed Adam and Mac and led them towards the entrance.

“Come on let's go,”

The three of them go to the library where they see a large Rat Crossbreed scurrying around in the library. The three kids freeze.

“Uh.. you know I think the food fight sounds fun” Mac said as she tried to leave.

Adam grabs her by the shirt and pushes her back. “Get back here!” he says through gritted teeth.

The Rat Crossbreed looked up and noticed the kids standing there. “Hello there children. I came in here because I smelled sweets. But I didn’t see the sweets. Could you tell me where they are?” the Rat Crossbreed said smiling.

The kids approached the Rat Crossbreed, confused and put off by his friendly demeanor.

“Oh you mean the cafeteria? Yeah they took the desserts away. You can’t get them anymore” Mac explained.

The Rat Crossbreed stared for a moment before snarling at the kids. “You DARE tell me what I can and can’t do?! I am the king! I can have whatever I want!”

“Get behind me!” Tabs ordered her friends who jumped behind her.

“I’m hiding behind a girl in the face of danger… No one tell my parents” Adam whined as Tabs transformed into her Bat Crossbreed for.

Tabs flew up to the Rat’s eye level as the Rat simply stared at her unsurprised.

“Uh…. Uh… Go away?’ Tabs said sheepishly, unaware of what she was supposed to say.

The Rat’s unfazed expression turns to sheer confusion and he smacked Tabs away. Tabs flew back and smashed right through a bookshelf. She squirmed her way out and tried to attack again but the Rat Crossbreed grabbed her by the leg and flung her into her

friends. The three go flying out of the library into the hallway. Tabs was in a daze lying out on the floor.

“Huh? What?”

“Come on, change back! We gotta go!” Mac exclaimed.

Suddenly the three of them got grabbed by the school principal.

“You three aren’t going anywhere”