Squeak squeak.

*Takes deep breath*

G-go away! *huff huff squeak!*
Oh my... that was... challenging. One foot... err... paw at a time I suppose!

Trixie: That's it! I'd say that's enough progress for one day. *she tucks the picture away in a bag and extends an index finger for a high five*

*I take a moment to let my heart rate return to normal before standing up on the tip of my paws and slapping Trixie's finger as hard as I can* (A barely-registered tap from Trixie's perspective)
"I-I'm glad I'm making progress... I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to look at that picture without turning tail and sprinting underneath something warm... and cozy... and safe...."

*I shake my head and rub at my muzzle*
"But I know I don't need to scurry away now, it just took some time; thank you for being so patient!"

Trixie: *smiles* It's what we're here for. Now, before we end our session, it has come to my attention that you're having a hard time navigating the halls safely when we have so many larger clients. I thought we might work out kind of a partnership between you and another client to help solve the problem. She would be a bodyguard for you, and you could serve as impulse control for her. She has a hard time thinking before she acts, partially due to her condition, but I'm sure it was a problem before her spell. How do you feel about that?

*Nods and rubs the back of my head*
"Yeah, it's been a little bit scary whenever I hear the clomping of the other patients... considering that they're hooves are... *gulp* larger than I am. It's not their fault though, of course, I would be surprised if they could hear my voice from that high up."
*Flicks my tail and looks around*
"If she's okay with mousesitting me then I'm more than happy to have a large companion... just so the other clients can spot me, at least!"

Trixie: That's what I was hoping to hear. Just a minute. *she stands and goes to the door* Amanda? Would you come in here please? I'd like you to meet your therapy buddy. *the clattering of excited claws sounds against the tile floor and a canine head pops through the door, panting* Please come in for a moment and introduce yourself.

Amanda: *looks around the room, slightly confused since she doesn't see another animal present right away, but locks onto her target and wags her tail furiously* Ohhh! You're so tiny! No wonder you need help getting around! *she sits in front of the dresser with a huge doggy grin* I'm Amanda.

*I crane my neck slightly to see if I can spot the client Trixie is referring to, my nose twitching slightly as I try and pick up their scent. As Amanda clatters into the room with a blur of motion my muscles tense and I immediately turn to scurry away.*
"Nnnf... no, I can do this"
*I manage to shrug the flight response but I remain frozen for a moment, unable to turn around until I feel dog breath on my back, fluttering my fur somewhat. I turn around slowly, a sharp jolt of adrenaline courses through me for a moment as I'm face to face with the big, grinning dog muzzle.*
"He-hello Amanda... I- I'm Jon..." I manage to say without succumbing to squeaking again "Yeah, very tiny... I could definitely... uhm use your help if you are okay with that?"
*I went to extend my paw to shake her hand, catching myself when I remember that I can't exactly use shaking hands as a greeting anymore. I opt for a 'hello' wave*

Trixie: *nods her approval at the small victory of not running from the yellow lab*

Amanda: *holds up a paw and bobs it up and down in a clumsy attempt to mimic a wave* Sure! So long as you're okay with warning me when I'm about to do something stupid. *her tail thumps against the floor at her own joke*

Trixie: Very good! I'll let you two get acquainted. Amanda, be gentle, please, and Jon, don't be afraid to set up boundaries with her. You two will have to work together, after all.

Uhm sure! I think I can handle all that, shouldn't be too difficult...
*I tap my claw on my chin as I think about how to handle all this*
Could you give me a ride outside? I haven't really been outside in a while and I've been a bit cabin-fevery lately... been worried about *gulp* hawks and other birds...
I only ask that there are no licks or... close sniffs... it's difficult being so close to your mouth. I think I can hang onto your fur pretty easily but be careful not to jostle me too much as well... please and thank you.

Amanda: *the grin falters a little* I will definitely try not to. Sorry in advance if I slip up a little. Not sniffing people is kind of something I'm working on... *she sidles up to the dresser and holds as still as she can despite the wagging tail* So... outside. There's a lot of it. I'm guessing you want to take it slow, like the pasture or the garden or something?

Marvelous!

Thank you! ^w^

Kauntry: I know the feeling.

Trixie: It is hard being small in a big world, isn't it?

Kauntry: Especially if you can't be sure what wants to eat you.

Trixie: So I've been told. *sits cross legged* How did it come about for you?

Kauntry: *Sits all mouse-like* I caught wind of something I shouldn't have. I wanted to see wizard in my town and I caught him plotting something, I think against some rich family. He wanted me out of the way, so he cursed me and threw me into the woods.

Trixie: *frowns* So this is all because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time? That's not fair at all.

Kauntry: * looking a little deflated* Basically. You never want to get too close to a wizard's quarrel.

Trixie: Well, perhaps we can undo the damage. Even a wizard's spell can be flawed.

Kauntry: Thank you. I'm hoping there's a flaw in this spell, too.

Trixie: Apart from the obvious, what kinds of struggles has this spell brought with it? Do you find yourself overcome by instincts or thoughts that you wouldn't ordinarily have?

Kauntry: Well, I do feel the urge to chew things sometimes. But my grandpa told me mice need to do or their teeth get too big.

Trixie: *nods and traces the scar on her chin thoughtfully* Of course. That isn't exactly a behavior that is healthy to modify with therapy... at least not at this stage of your curse. What we need to find is an instinct that is safe to weaken so the spell might begin to degrade.

Kauntry: Oh. Um *nervously pawing at his tail* I'm not sure. I mean, I don't think I get nervous around. But I have a friend who was turned into a fox and I'm okay around him.

Trixie: *raises her eyebrows curiously* That is interesting. So this wizard does not seem to have altered your human instincts too severely. That is a good thing. However, that does make this process a little more difficult. *she offers a hand at floor-level* Shall we walk and talk?

Kauntry *ears falling a bit* Oh, I guess my case is a bit different then. *hops in her hand.* I wouldn't have guessed that overcoming the animal instincts would help with changing the body back.

Trixie: *standing carefully so as not to upset his sense of balance* That's only part of the process. So, really, you're ahead of the curve. *she begins to head toward the modest cafeteria* A lot of it does have to do with very human problems. These spells tend to cling to our personalities and habits as well, and that means having to really dissect how we react to things.

For instance, I once had a client who had been turned into a donkey. He was a thoroughly tenacious person, which is a good trait to have, but the nature of the spell exploited that and turned it from tenacity to downright stubbornness. What was good about him had become a flaw, and he needed to learn how to differentiate what was good and healthy -the drive that came from his tenacity- and what was dragging him down -stubbornness that had become a defense mechanism. Does that make sense?

Kauntry: Yeah, that makes sense. Too much of a good thing. *Sniffs the air* What's cooking?

Trixie: *pushes through the double doors into a fairly large seating area with several different sizes of tables and manners of seating* Let's see... *looks at a dry-erase board hung on a nearby wall* Today's Thursday, so... corn chowder for the herbivores, chicken for the carnivores, and... well, the omnivores are free to choose. Hungry?

Kauntry: the corn chowder sounds good. Shall we?

Trixie: *with a smile* Of course. *She picks up a tray and a kindly-looking woman on the opposite side of a long counter ladles a human-sized portion of chowder in a bowl and then a mouse-sized portion into a specially made bowl complete with a tiny spoon. Trixie scans the cafeteria* Let's see... why don't we sit here? *she sets the tray and Kauntry down at a wooden table in a defensible corner*

Kauntry: *clumsily picks up the tiny spoon with his paws and examines it* Trying to keep things as human as possible? *Checks to make sure the chowder isn't too hot, then takes a bite.* Mmh. Cooked food tastes so good after eating nuts and berries for a few days.

Trixie: *blows on a spoonful of her own to cool it* That's the idea; reintroduce human behaviors and foods to start resetting the brain a little bit. In my experience, the body tends to follow whatever the head is doing.

Kauntry: *swallows another bite* kinda reminds me of eating soup when you're sick.

I love this concept.

Dearshul provided the kindling with this fun commission concept, I just sparked the flint ^^

*tune of Be a Man from Mulan*

Dont be a mouse!
You must stand up to the scarry kitty!
You must not scamper away, but see it through!
Even if it is the size of an angry tiger!

Just whatever you do, resist the urge to chew!

Haha nice! I love this movie!

*Begins montage on tiny training dummies*
"Hi-yah! *squeak*"

Lol i am making stupid songs for all of these