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Post by littlefella on Jul 25, 2008 19:44:47 GMT -4
"Well, yeah, considering how much I swallowed after you pushed me in," I reply. "If two sips could shrink me to the size of a bug, I ought to be as tall as a tree by now."
The mouse just shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, no telling how these things work around here. Anyway, I wouldn't think you'd want to be as tall as a tree, unless you've got some kind of exhibitionist streak in you," he says with a squeaky chuckle. "The tops of these hedges aren't that tall."
I blushed a little at the thought of how much the world would see if I had grown as tall as a tree. Then again, was my current situation any better if someone should see me? It was certainly weird, standing bare-ass naked, only a few inches tall, and talking to an anthro muscle mouse. While one part of me said that I didn't really want anyone to see me in this state, I couldn't help but notice that it was also an intriguing thought. It certainly didn't seem to bother me that much as I stood there in front of the mouse. I shrugged my shoulders, not quite sure what to make of it all. "Well, maybe not that tall, but at least not mouse sized."
"And what's wrong with being the size of a mouse?" the mouse asked angrily, glaring at me, leaning his head in close enough that I could smell the cheese on his breath, his two front teeth looking quite big and sharp now that I was his size. I gulped and stepped back a couple paces. "No offense there, but, well, I'm not supposed to be this size."
The mouse just snorted and pulled off another hunk of cheese and popped it into his mouth. I looked hungrily at the small piece of cheese he still had left in his paw. It looked delicious and it did smell good. After that climb up the bowl I had worked up an appetite. "Mmmm, just like most humans when they first arrive, worried about returning to 'normal,'" the mouse said as he popped the last bite of cheese into his mouth. I watched him munch, and almost felt like drooling.
With one quick gulp the mouse swallowed the last bit of cheese. Dusting off his paws he stuck one of them out at me. "Well, long as you're this size for awhile, might as well make with the introductions. I'm Patrick." He gave me a smile, again showing off those long and impressive two front teeth. Even so, the smile did look quite friendly.
I took hold of his paw and shook. His grip was firm, and his palm was leathery but soft. "Da--Dave," I said, stuttering. I was still pretty wet, and was starting to shiver. My hunger finally got the better of me as my stomach growled. It too was as squeaky as my voice was.
Patrick grimaced. "Oh, hey, I'm sorry. I forget how you humans get chilled so quick, even if you do shake off the water. Sounds like you could use some food, too. Come on," he said, turning around and motioning me to follow him.
Pushing aside some leaves he revealed a hole. He took off down it, and after a moment's hestiation I followed after him. A soft dim light guided our way, which got a bit brighter as we went further down. I was suprised by the floor. Instead of being bare earth it was made of wood. Before I could ask any questions, we were in a parlor, also wooded, with several chairs, couches arranged in a semi-circle. "Wait right here," he squeaked as he went down one a hallway. There were several aof those about.
A moment later he returned, a good sized plush towel in one paw, and a hunk of cheese in the other. "Here, he said as he handed the cheese to me. Eat up, while I dry you off," he squeaked as he then started rubbing me down with the towel. I was surprised at his attentiveness, but thoughts about what was going on were driven out by my hunger. I took a big bite of the cheese. "Mmmm, cheddar!" I said after I'd gotten a bit of it down. "It's delicious!"
Patrick grinned as he continued to dry me off. "Glad you like it. It's a special recipe," he said, a sly grin on his mousy face, his whiskers twitching.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Jul 27, 2008 7:50:49 GMT -4
Whiskers...strange things you think as you look at his while the twitch.
"What is it like...having those...whisker things" you ask as you munch on the cheese, unaware of the strangeness about to take place.
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Post by littlefella on Jul 27, 2008 12:38:38 GMT -4
Patrick just continued to grin. "Oh, they come in quite handy," he squeaked as he finished drying me off. "They help let me know if I can fit through a small space, which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few things actually, as you'll find out very soon," he said his smile growing wider as he folded up the towel.
I gave him a puzzled look. "As I'll find out? What're you talking about? Human 'whiskers' don't have anything like that sensitivity, and anyway, it hasn't been that long since I shaved this...." I stopped short. I had reached up to rub what I thought was my still smooth face, only to find quite a bit of fuzz. I started to feel strange again, much like I had after drinking the water. "What the hell?"
Patrick let out a squeaky chuckle. "There's a full length mirror over there. Go check yourself out," he said as he gave me a light pat on the rear. "If you're not afraid to see what's happening."
"Afraid?" I said as I made my way to the mirror. "What do you think I am, a man or a mouse?"
"You can ask me that again after you check the mirror, if you need to," Patrick replied, still grinning.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Jul 31, 2008 3:17:23 GMT -4
You look in the mirror, and you see your face stretching, forming what seems to be an animal look, and your hold up your hands, which are morphing into claws...
"Cheese has quite a kick, eh, old chum?" Patrick smiles.
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Post by littlefella on Jul 31, 2008 19:17:02 GMT -4
I watched in amazement as my face changes, like some weird special effect in a movie. The front of my face elongates slightly, while my ears grow and become more rounder, as they do so my hearing becomes more sensitive. I let out a startled gasp as I watch my face starting to get fuzzy, the fuzz soon turning to fur, and then racing down my neck and shoulders, my torso and then my legs. I look down at my self, my body now covered in caramel colored fur. I let out a yell as my hands start to change, my fingers lengthening a bit, my fingernails turning into sharp little claws. A sudden sharp pricking in my backside causes me to turn my head, just in time to see a long tail reach to the ground. My tail! In a few seconds, it too is covered in a soft, light brown fur.
Turning my head back to look at myself in the mirror I can only shake my head in wonder at the anthro mouse that stares back at me, also shaking his head. "I'm, I'm a mouse!" I said in a whisper.
"See, you answered your own question!" Patrick said as he clapped a paw on my shoulder. He then gave me a pointed look. "So, you still think it's a lot of 'malarky'?"
I gulped, hearing my last comment to Lord Hugo as we entered the maze. "You heard that?"
Patrick nodded. "I just happened to be taking a walk by that hedge when you said that."
I blushed, even though Patrick couldn't see it through my newly grown fur. "I owe Lord Hugo an apology. Right now I feel smaller than when I was bug size."
Patrick chuckled. "Well, you're not exactly that big now, either, my good mouse. Anyway, come on, let's head back out and see if we can find Lord Hugo. If nothing else, you've got some more of the maze to explore."
I grinned and nodded. "Oh yeah, I'd like that. This is an amazing place," I said, not realizing my whiskers were twitching in excitment.
"Looks like you're adapting quite well, too. You've got the whisker twitch down pat," Patrick said with a chuckle as he led me back outside.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Jul 31, 2008 23:24:52 GMT -4
You two head out into the maze, which still looks huge, but your senses are going wild, especially since you have a new body. You feel different, and more energized for it.
Lord Hugo's foot appears a distance away, and you look up to see his face, smiling.
"Nice to see that you got your cheese just right finally, Patrick...How are you feeling Dave?"
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Post by littlefella on Aug 1, 2008 20:36:34 GMT -4
Patrick bowed his head and then looked up at Lord Hugo. "Oh, that's due to your help, Lord Hugo. Your suggestions were a great help, as well as letting me look through that manuscript on transformations by Merlin."
Lord Hugo smiled down at the little mouse. "Oh, glad to do it, my rodent friend. Always happy to help out a budding wizard, no matter what species." Lord Hugo then turned his gaze toward me. "Speaking of rodent friends, how are you feeling, Dave?"
It took me a moment to collect myself before I could answer; Lord Hugo was an even more imposing sight now that I was mouse sized. "Oh, it's incredible," I squeaked. "The air lightly ruffling my fur, tickling my whiskers, all the scents, the sounds, it's simply amazing! It's also just so incredible what's happened to me in so short a time. I shrank to the size of a bug, then grew back to mouse size, and now, thanks to Patrick, I'm a mouse too! I, I owe you an apology, Lord Hugo. I clearly was all wrong in calling those stories about this place a lot of malarkey."
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 4, 2008 3:42:44 GMT -4
"You weren't the first, and you wont be the last, my bo...er...mouse. Now that you know the truth, do you wish for anything specific."
Lord Hugo picks you up and holds you in his palm as he softly admires your transformation...
"Really, Patrick, This is top notch. I must have you teach my potion masters a thing or two"
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Post by littlefella on Aug 4, 2008 16:32:17 GMT -4
Patrick grinned, and I'd swear he was blushing under his fur. He looked down at the ground and kicked at it a little bit with his footpaw. "Thank you, Lord Hugo. Hearing that from you is high praise indeed," Patrick said as he looked back up at Lord Hugo. Lord Hugo held down the hand I was standing on, and Patrick climbed on. "I'd be delighted and honored to teach your potion masters," Patrick squeaked as Lord Hugo stood back up. "Though, I could use an assistant to show what the potions can do," Patrick added, looking at me and grinning.
"Well what would you want me to do?" I squeaked.
"Oh, just drink the potions to show what they do," Patrick replied. "Not to worry, I'll be able to turn you back to normal once we're done. That is if you really want to be human again. You do make a fine mouse," he said as he gave me what looked like a flirty wink.
I was a bit disconcerted and before I could reply Lord Hugo started chuckling. "Patrick, Patrick, if you had your way, you'd turn everybody into mice."
"And what's wrong with a world full of mice?" Patrick said with a note of indignation as he placed his paws on his hips and looked up at Lord Hugo. The grin on his muzzle, though, left no doubt that this was a bit of fun between mouse and human.
Lord Hugo chuckled again as he turned his attention back to me. "So, Dave, my fine, young mouse, let me ask you again, now that you know the truth about my mansion, do you wish for anything specific?"
I rubbed my ear with my paw several times while my whiskers twitched. There were so many possibilities? Which to choose? "Well, I did enjoy shrinking, I'd like to try that again.
Lord Hugo smiled and nodded. "As small as a bug again?"
"Yes, though I'd like to shrink to other sizes as well, not as small sometimes, and other times to microscopic size!" I answered, my whiskers still all a-quiver.
"Mmmm, hmm. I see I'll have to be sure that all the microscopes are in good working order," Lord Hugo said as he lightly rubbed my back with his fingertip. I don't know if it was because I was covered in fur or what, but never had a back rub felt so good before. "Anything else," he asked, bringing me out of my reverie.
"Would it be possible for you to make me younger?"
"Of course!" Lord Hugo said with a grin. "There are many spots in the maze that will make you a teenager again, or a young lad of 10. If that's too old, well it would be no trouble at all to turn you into a child of 5, ready for kindergarten. Or if you still think that's too mature, we can send you back to a toddler of three, or keep going until you're a babe of only 6 months, only able to crawl and not even able to talk yet. Why, it would be even possible to make you only one day old!"
I squeaked happily as I clapped my paws together. "Wow, that would be amazing!"
Lord Hugo looked pleased. "Anything else?"
"Well, I would like to be a mouse again sometime," I said as I looked over at Patrick, who also looked quite pleased. "But I'd also like to see what it's like to be other animals as well," I continued, looking at Patrick, not sure if he'd be disappointed. To my relief he smiled and nodded.
"Excellent! Yes, you should try to see what life is like from other points of view, whether in size, or age, or in species," Patrick said enthusiastically as he patted my shoulder. "You'll do fine helping me demonstrate my potions."
"When would you like my help?" I asked.
"Oh, not for some time," the mouse replied. "I've got to decide which potions to demonstrate, gather my notes, arrange a time with the potion masters. Lord Hugo and I will have several details to work out. Besides, you should look around the maze some more."
Lord Hugo nodded. "Yes, Patrick's right, Dave, you should wander the maze some more. Let's get you back to human form first though."
"Maybe not yet, Lord Hugo," Patrick said as he put a paw on Lord Hugo's thumb. "Dave hasn't had much chance to see the world as a mouse. He might enjoy a bit of a challenge."
Lord Hugo raised his eyebrows and grinned. "A challenge for a mouse, eh? Well, that can be arranged. What do you say, Dave, my good mouse, want to give it a go?"
I looked back and forth between Patrick and Lord Hugo. The challenge did sound intriguing, and with all that had happened, and still feeling quite energized after being turned into a mouse, I was feeling adventurous. "All right! Bring it on!" I squeaked, thrusting my tiny paw into the air.
Patrick gave me several pats on the back. "That's the spirit! You show them what us mice are made of!" he squeaked as Lord Hugo lowered his hand to the ground.
Patrick and I hopped off. "Well, enjoy your challenge, my good mouse. I'm sure you'll find it exciting, and, I hope, enjoyable. I will see you again, soon enough," Lord Hugo said, standing back up. Giving a wave, he headed off down the maze, then turned down one of the adjoining paths.
I looked back at Patrick. The mouse was grinning from ear to ear. "Well, this has been a pleasure," he said, as he took my paw in his. "Have fun with your challenge. I'll be seeing you again, soon."
I smiled and nodded as we shook paws. "I look forward to it." We stopped shaking paws and looked at each other for a moment, then wrapped our arms around each other in a big hug.
"Be careful, though, these challenges can get a bit wild, and I wouldn't want that cute tail of yours getting a kink in it," Patrick added as he gave my rump a pat. Before I could say anything, Patrick turned, made a leap for small pile of leaves, and disappeared under them.
With Patrick and Lord Hugo gone, it suddenly seemed very quiet. I looked around, once again feeling quite small as I looked up at the hedges, the tops of which looked like they were hundreds of feet away. I gulped and shivered just a bit, my whiskers quivering and my nose twitching. I was picking up all kinds of scents. I listened closely. I could hear the birds chirping. They'd occasionally stop now and then to make a bit of conversation.
I stood there for a moment, feeling quite, well, mouse-like. But I had said I wanted a challenge! Gathering up my resolve, I started forward, heading in the opposite direction that Lord Hugo had taken. After walking a couple of minutes I had just made it to the end of the path. It went off to the left and right as well as continued on straight ahead. I stood there for a moment wondering which way to continue. I sniffed at the breeze again.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 6, 2008 1:59:18 GMT -4
The breeze is coming at your face, and it smells almost sweet, as your new senses take it all in. You get down on all fours and start to run, and the breeze flows through through your fur when suddenly you feel a strange hot breeze coming from behind you. As you turn your head, your eyes widen in shock as the words of Patrick's come back "these challenges can get a bit wild"
A giant (to you anyway) housecat, Black, is staring at you...grinning almost as it lowers it's head to get a better look at it's prey.
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Post by littlefella on Aug 7, 2008 17:04:25 GMT -4
If there was any part of me that didn't feel like a mouse already, seeing that enormous black cat, with his big, yellow eyes staring at me removed any such feeling. I couldn't have felt any more like a rodent than if I'd been one all my life.
The cat's gaze transfixed me, his big eyes were almost hypnotic. My mind yelled at me to get out of there, but that gaze had a nearly complete hold on me.
"Well, well," the cat said, his smile growing wide enough that I could see his sharp, pointed fangs. "A little mouse running about the maze, and my, my my, don't you look delicious." I let out a nervous squeak. "Oh, pardon me," the cat added, correcting himself. "I meant to say 'cute.'" the cat chuckled in a dangerous sort of way.
I gave a weak little smile, finally able to tear my gaze away from the cat's eyes. I glanced about, looking for some escape, only briefly looking back at him to see if he had moved. Finally, my eyes fell on a tiny gap between the leaves of one of the hedges, if I could just make a quick enough dash for it, I thought, I could get away from this feline. I started to make for a run for it when a heavy paw thumped down on my tail. I let out a loud squeak as I was lifted high up into the air by my tail, and then found myself staring at the huge head of the black cat.
"Just where do you think you're going, mouse?!" the cat demanded.
"I'm...I'm not really a mouse. I'm actually a human!"
The cat just snorted as he continued stare at me with his cold, yellow eyes. "What, you think *I* don't know about this maze and the mansion? Like you're the first transformed human I've come across. Of course I know this isn't your true form. I overheard the conversation Lord Hugo had with you and that wretched, little upstart of a mouse, Patrick."
The cat held me closer to his face, his big, cold, yellow eyes filling my vision, and sending a shiver down my spine, right to the tip of my tail. "But it makes no difference if you were a human to start," the cat said, his voice soft, low, and dangerous. "You're all mouse now."
I gulped. "What...what are you going to do to me?" my squeaky voice quivering.
The feline just purred. "What do you think, little mouse? I am a cat after all."
I shuddered. "You're...you're going to eat me?"
The cat said nothing, he just stared at me and me and purred, his eyes half shut.
"But you...you can't! You wouldn't!" I squeaked, getting even more nervous as the cat started me swinging slightly, back and forth.
"I wouldn't what?" he asked, a teasing note in his voice.
"Eat me!" I squeaked
"Eat you? Well, if you insist," the cat said with an evil chuckle as he lifted me up and tilted his head back, his mouth wide open.
I squeaked and wriggled as best I could, as I stared down in horror at the inky blackness of his throat. "No, no!" I squeaked in terror.
After what seemed like an eternity as he held me above his open mouth, the cat laughed and tilted his head back down. "You should have seen the expression on your face, mousy! Priceless, absolutely priceless, I tell you!"
For a moment I was speechless. I waited for my racing hear to slow down while I continued to dangle by my tail from the cat's paw. Finally, letting out a squeaky growl, I yelled at him. "That...that was a joke!? You scared me out of my wits for a joke!?" Granted, it wasn't the smartest thing to say for me to say, but my adrenalin was pumping hard, and my terror had turned into outrage.
"Well, I do like to toy with my...playmates," the cat said with a snicker.
I gulped. "'Toy with your playmates'? Then you aren't going to eat me?"
The cat purred. "Well, I won't say that I won't eat you, and I won't say that I will. I prefer to keep you rodents wondering."
"But why?"
"Because it's the way things are supposed to be, since we felines are the superior species to you wretched little cheese nappers. If you know you won't be eaten, then you're apt to get some fool notion that you're as capable as a cat, much like that wretched Patrick. The idea of that little peasant thinking that he can do magic. Bah! What nonsense!"
"Well, you have to admit he did a good job in turning me into a mouse. Good enough that Lord Hugo wants him to teach his potion masters."
"Bah! I have nothing to learn from that amateur, that phony. What could a mouse possibly teach me, Giovanni Gatto, the greatest feline wizard in the world?! Why I've known more about magic from when I was a kitten than that mouse will learn in his entire lifetime!"
Giovanni held me closer to his eyes, examining me. "Maybe I was too hasty to call you a true mouse."
Giovanni looked me over, turning me around as I dangled from his paw. His expression as he looked at me made me feel like I a germ under a microscope. Then, to my surprise, he brought me to his nose and started sniffing me. I squeaked in protest, that seemed to be getting too familiar, but he ignored me. Finally he held me up to his eyes again. "Hmmm, you do seem to be all mouse, you do have the proper scent, size, and shape. But I refuse to believe it was because of his handiwork. Pure luck! That must be it!"
By this time I was losing some of my fear that I my days were going to come to an end as a cat's dinner. I was also starting to get pretty tired dangling by my tail, not to mention that it was making that point on my backside quite sore. "Giovanni, if there's nothing else want from me, could you set me back down on the ground? Please?"
Giovanni gave me a sly grin. "Oh but there is something, mousy. As I said, I do like to toy with my...playmates, and you would make an excellent one. And since you are so willing to help out that upstart Patrick with his worthless demonstrations, I don't see why you won't help me. I have a good number of potions I'd like to try out."
I shivered once more. Maybe getting eaten wouldn't be so bad in comparison to his potions, given this cat's feelings about mice.
"However, I'm a fair minded feline, and I'm willing to give you a sporting chance and avoid being my new, ahem, guinea pig. Since you did say you wanted a challenge, here it is, a simple game of "cat and mouse." Oh, it's cliche, I know, but, well, it is one of my favorite games, naturally. I'll even do a kindness and give you a head start. If you can keep out of my paws for, oh, let's say 10 minutes, you're free to continue on your merry mousy way through the maze. However, if I catch you, well, I have a lovely cage all set for you back in my lab."
The cat was giggling as he started to lower me back down to the ground. I was already looking frantically around for places I could hide, or openings in the leaves that I could leap through. "Just one more thing, mousy," Giovanni added as he held me just above the ground, "I do like to know who's going to be my new...assistant."
Why I bothered to answer, I don't know, but at the moment I was so concerned about getting away that I did. "D...Dave," I squeaked.
"Dave. Ah, very well Dave. I wish you good luck, not that it will help. I have your scent well memorized, and in addition to being the worlds finest feline wizard, I am a champion mouser. Enjoy your run, Dave. I shall count to 10!"
Giovanni let go of me and I took off like a shot on all fours, his voice as he counted oh so slowly getting more and more distant as I sped away through the maze. Everything in me seemed to be mouse now, my mind screaming at me to run and get as far away as fast as I could. I tore down the maze, every time I came to a turn I'd take it, passing books, coins, potions, bottles, rings, lamps, fountains, and countless other objects. Yes, I should have stopped, tried something that might have turned me into something else, but any rational thought I might have had seemed to have been completely lost to me.
After how many twists and turns I made, I finally had to stop, exhausted and panting from my running. I stopped under some of the hedge leaves, panting and gasping for breath, trying to be as quiet as, well, a mouse, listening intently for any sign of Giovanni, sniffing the breeze for his scent. I had no idea how long I'd been running, but I didn't want to take a chance that it hadn't been for the full ten minutes. I'd gotten a little breath back and was readying myself to start running again.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 8, 2008 22:08:32 GMT -4
The cat lunged through the hedges, attempting to cut you off, and for a while it seemed as if it were hot on your heels, but suddenly it vanished, and there was no sound but the desperate, tired breathing coming out of your tiny mouse lungs. Then, with a burst of fresh hot wind, Giovanni the Cat stood in front of you a smile on his face...
"Well done, You survived for ten minutes...a rare, very rare, feat, my little friend."
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Post by littlefella on Aug 9, 2008 19:50:44 GMT -4
"Then...then you'll...you'll let me go?" I said as I continued to recover my breath.
Giovanni nodded and sighed. "Yes, I must. Regretfully, I admit, but I must.s I am a cat of my word, after all. Be free, be happy, continue on your merry little trip through the maze. I shall find other ways to continue testing my potions."
I smiled and nodded as I started to back away from the big, black cat.
"Such a pity, too," he continued, his eyes watching me closely. "I'd have kept you in such wonderful accommodations. Yes, you would be in a cage, but oh, what a cage!" He gave a flip of his right paw and suddenly he was holding a cage. A gold cage, with a running wheel, a small bed, a feeding tray, and a water bottle. It wasn't much, but something about it attracted me. He swung it back and forth a couple of times, and I swung my head back and forth watching it. I vaguely noticed Giovanni's grin, but it wasn't nearly as interesting as that cage.G
I didn't want to keep staring at it, and there was a small part of my mind that kept screaming at me to look away. It was enough to make me take another step backward. But, having done that, I stopped, stood there, transfixed, staring at that golden cage.
Giovanni purred. "Oh, and how well I would keep you. You would always be so well fed." He waved with his other paw and a big wedge of cheese appeared in it.
The cheddar cheese that Patrick gave me that turned me into a mouse the scent from that couldn't even begin to compare with this. I hadn't been a mouse for very long, but it was long enough to know that *this* was the ultimate cheddar. Nothing from the the first cheddar to now, even to the end of time, would compare with this slice of sharp, tangy, cheese. I tried not to drool as I gazed at it. It was all I could do to keep from lifting my arms for it.
Giovanni just sighed again as he tossed the wedge into the cage. "Ah, but that all means nothing. My challenge is over, and you have won, much to my surprise. So, I must bid you farewell. Enjoy the maze, and if we should meet again, well, what will be, will be."
With that he turned and quickly walked away from me. My inner mouse was squeaking at me to follow after him, while my inner mouse of self-preservation, as well as my human side, kept holding me back. I stood there, torn between the innner voices, and sniffing the air for the wonderful fragrance of that cheese.
As I stood there, my self-preservation side became stronger. It didn't hurt that the further Giovanni walked away from me that the scent of that oh, so lovely cheese got fainter and fainter.
Taking a deep breath to clear my head I was about to start down the maze in the opposite direction that Giovanni took when I heard a small clink and jingle, like something of metal had been dropped on the ground. In spite of human self, my newly acquired mouse instincts took over. I listened and sniffed the air. That cheese! The scent, the fragrance, it took hold of me, wrapped around me with such a hold that would put chains of steel to shame.
I turned back toward the direction Giovanni had gone. The scent of that cheddar was stronger. Dropping to all fours and keeping myself close to the hedge leaves, I quickly ran toward that delicious scent. When I arrived at the turn, I cautiously peered round the corner. There was the cage, the wedge of cheese laying there on the bottom of the cage, sharp, tangy, and impossible to resist.
Resist I tried to do, but it was too much for me. I was, indeed, all mouse. Dropping to all fours I made a mad dash for that cheese. I hardly noticed when I hopped into the cage, all I wanted was to start munching on that cheddar! I'd hardly made a couple of nibbles when I heard the door of the cage sliding down with a small "jing" and being locked shut.
I reeled about and saw Giovanni's broad cat face grinning at me. "Ah, my dear mousy friend. It looks like I was right, you are all mouse. I used but the littlest amount of magic to encourage you into this cage, but it was enough. I think now I wasted that magic on you. I could have just used an ordinaruy piece of cheese to catch you. Ah well, no matter, I have what I want! Now to my lab!
Giovanni waved his paw, while I, I have to admit, cowered in a corner of that cage. Before I knew what had happened we were in a well appointed room. I only made a quick glance around, but it was enough to see a variety of flasks, measuring cups, scales, and other assorted equipment. Along the walls were many, many leather bound books, scrolls, and loose papers.
That was as much as I was able to look at when Giovanni set the cage I was in down on the table with a clank. He stood over my cage and looked at me, saying nothing, just stroking his chin. After several seconds of this, I stood up and took hold of the bars of my cage. I stared back at him, wondering what I could possibly say to that cat to let me free. Then I finally recalled my one hope. "You...you can't do anything to me! Lord Hugo won't stand for it."
Giovanni looked down at me with a contemptuous look, like I must have been born an idiot. "Lord Hugo? Feh! He is a bit better than Patrick, but he is still a rank beginner in comparison to my talents!"
I started to say something, but Giovanni fixed me with a stare that made my mouse self just wilt. I just stood there waiting and wondering what that cat was going to do.
When I started to think that that cat might stand there for days, he turned and took a small vial from a holder sitting on one of his bookshelves. In a flash he turned, lifted up the gate to my cage, and grabbed hold of me.
"It took me some time to decide, but this particular potion has always tickled my curiosity the most," he said as he held me tight in his paw. "I found it in an obscure potion book. While I was able to recognize the names of the ingrediants, the name has always puzzled me. What possible animal could be a "Woofus?" I expect it's some kind of weasel. We shall soon find out, my mousy friend. Now open wide. Oh, going to be stubborn? Well a little squeeze might help...."
Giovanni did squeeze me, and hard. I let out a squeak, and before I could shut my mouth, that wretched cat was pouring the contents of that vial down my mouth. I sputtered and cursed. Then I felt very strange. Something must have been happening with my form because Giovanni quickly lowered me to the ground and took a couple steps back.
I was feeling very strange, and so was only dimly aware at the worried sounds that were coming from Giovanni. I was just as dimly aware that I was growing. I didn't notice that change so much because I was finding it hard to stand on two feet. I heard something hissing, but I couldn't place where it was coming from. All I could do was shake my head. I raised it and looked around. Things weren't as big as they were to me just a few seconds ago, but they were still too tall from what I'd known up until I'd entered the maze.
After a moment I looked back at Giovanni. To my surprise he was on all fours, his back arched, and hissing. "No! By Bubastis, not that!" he hissed at me. I couldn't imagine why he was so upset. Wondering what was wrong, I opened my mouth to ask and what should come out, but "Woof?"
That shocked me. I looked down, and back and "wrrfed?!" I was a dog! As much as I could tell there was a lot of German Shepherd in me, but not completly. It was a quick appraisal, but it was enough. I looked back at Giovanni, feeling quite a bit more confident. I smiled because of the change in our situation, but, not surprisingly, it didn't look like much of a smile to Giovanni. He hissed and backed away.
It probably wasn't the sporting thing to do, but after what I'd been through with this cat I growled, low and deep, taking a pace forward. Giovanni, even if he was a wizard, was all cat. He spat and mrrowled low and deep, then, in a flash, he turned and leaped out the window.
I took a couple of quick leaps and was out the window an instant after him, barking and yelping for all I was worth. Oh, how much I enjoyed running this time! I tore after that wretched feline, ever so near, and yet not quite able to nip at his heels. Just when I though I had him, Giovanni raced up a tree. He found himself a high branch and hung to it. He hissed at me and meowed, as well as said some rather indelicate comments about my parentage, intelligence, and size of my manhood. I didn't care. I stood with my forepaws on the tree and barked and barked and barked.
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Post by Lord Hugo Prosperio on Aug 10, 2008 20:02:33 GMT -4
"Great...another one of my experiments backfires..." Giovanni hisses as he tries to climb up even hire, which only results in him almost falling into your yapping mouth.
"Perhaps if I can just get the antidote, and get you back in my paws..."
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Post by littlefella on Aug 10, 2008 22:06:24 GMT -4
I barked at Giovanni several more times before my attention was drawn toward the scents around the base of the tree. While I still had my human level of intelligence, thank goodness, my new canine instincts were making demands of me.
Taking my forepaws off the tree and dropping to the ground I started sniffing the tree, circling it a couple of times. The scents were quite...strong, but apparently not repulsive, at least not for a dog. After satisfying myself, again with my canine instincts in control, I lifted my hind leg, and...well, watered the tree.
"Ha, typical stupid dog!" Giovanni cried as he lept from the branch to a nearby branch on another tree. His leap caught my attention. I barked and ran to the next tree. By that time Giovanni had leaped across to a couple other trees and was scrambling his way back down to the ground.
Barking, I gave chase, but Giovanni was back on all fours and running for all he was worth. We chased down the length of the maze when suddenly he made a left turned and shot through between the leaves of the hedge.
I stopped short, now too big to make my way through, of course. I lowered my head and sniffed back and forth where Giovanni disappeared. Looking up I looked down the length of the maze. Not too far away was an intersection. I took off, barking and wagging. I made a left, and tore down that length. Finally I came to another intersection and started down the left again, lowering my head, catching Giovanni's scent now and then.
Coming to the end of that length of the maze, I was again at the base of another tree. Sniffing it, I wagged, noticing Giovanni's scent strong. It went up the tree. Looking up I saw Giovanni again! Wagging, my doggy self pleased with having tracked him down again, I started barking once more.
However, instead of hissing this time, Giovanni just grinned. "Here, my canine..."friend," have a..."treat." He dropped a dog biscuit that landed near my paws. Again, my canine instincts again asserted control. One quick sniff and then I was chomping away happily, finishing the biscuit off in seconds. I looked back up, panting, tail wagging, my eyes gleaming in expectation, hoping for another one of those delicious biscuits.
Giovanni, for his part, just sat there and grinned. I tilted my head, my brow furrowing, wondering why he seemed so pleased with himself, when suddenly I started feeling very strange. Giovanni watched closely, his grin growing wider
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