A New Attitude -Kane-

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Kane couldn't believe he was doing this.

Over the past week, Kane and Red had chatted quite a bit.  Somehow, she'd convinced him that he'd enjoy getting squished flat if he just approached it in the right frame of mind.  She'd even flattened him a few times herself and he'd gotten to the point where he didn't mind it.

Deep breaths... in... out... in... out.  This won't be so bad.

Now, Kane stood in front of Indigo's house.  He walked up to it and rang the doorbell.  A moment later, she answered.

"Oh!  Hello, Kane!  What brings you here?"

"Indigo... I've been talking with Red, and... I think she's gotten me to understand a few things..."

Kane was still nervous.  Finally he stood firm.

"Indigo, I'm not afraid anymore.  Flatten me."

"What?"

"Flatten me.  I can take it.  I don't want to run away from you anymore."

Indigo was too surprised to speak for a moment, but her cheerful demeanor quickly returned.  "Okay!"

The wolf followed Indigo into her workroom just like he'd done on previous occasions.  He constantly told himself that this time it wouldn't be so bad, since he'd agreed to it voluntarily instead of being forced into it like what usually happened.

"Alright, Kane, I've got a new method.  This is going to be a bit new for you.  Just stand beneath the press here."

What?  The wolf had been too busy reassuring himself to notice the new piece of equipment in the workroom.  Against one wall, a large press operated by a handcrank carried quite an interesting presence.  The press's piston, a heavy rectangular prism attached to a chain, was already raised as high as possible.

There was no turning back now.  Kane stepped under the heavy piston that he knew would squish him down before long.  But somehow he felt okay with it.

I guess Indigo gave up the rolling pin... no, it's still there on the table.  Maybe she--

THWAM!  The piston crushed Kane so quickly he barely had time to register what had happened.  It stung a bit because it was so fast, but it didn't feel too bad otherwise.  

After a moment, Indigo cranked the piston back upwards, revealing the newly flattened wolf.  Although usually when Kane was flattened his outline was preserved, since he'd been standing up this time his high height/breadth ratio caused him to "spread out" into a perfect circle instead.  He now resembled a circular disk which Indigo carefully peeled off the floor.

"How do you feel, Kane?"

He was in no condition to speak.

"Ah, of course.  Let's see now... what should I make you into..."

Somehow, a feeling of dread began to envelop Kane, despite his self-reassurances.

"Got it!"

Then he realized it.  He'd never minded getting flattened to begin with... what he DID mind was when Indigo subsequently folded, sewed, or otherwise converted him into some mundane object for her own use.  As she was about to do now.

Indigo smoothly transferred Kane to the worktable, then gently teased his outer rim upwards with her hands, while keeping his center down with her thumbs.  With utmost care, she molded the wolf into a bowl shape.  It wasn't quite painful, but it was downright uncomfortable and humiliating.

That done, she took him into the kitchen, placed him on a cookie sheet, and baked him in the kitchen oven for a few minutes until he went solid.  The oven was hot.  Not quite hot enough to melt him, but not a pleasant summer day either.  He would've been sweating if it were possible at that point.  The sensation of solidifying from the heat didn't make him any more comfortable.

Finally, Indigo took Kane out and set him outside to cool.  As he cooled, the wolf reflected on what he'd just been through.  He'd effectively suckered himself into all of this.  And his perspective on being used for Indigo's arts and crafts projects hadn't changed in the slightest.

Aaargh.  I should never have listened to Red at all.  That's what got me into this mess.  Now I can't do anything but wait it out.

Indigo returned after a few minutes to pick up the homemade bowl that had recently been Kane and transferred him to her kitchen cupboard.

"I think I'll use you for my salad for dinner tonight, Kane.  Oh, I can't wait!"

Neither can I, but probably not for the same reason.