Narrowing down her choices, Mary decided to go with some form of large predatory feline. After all, cats were relatively similar to dogs, so she wouldn't have to undergo a drastic change in physique, although she would probably lose some of the effect of the monkey vial. However, she took a moment to ponder which species would provide her with the greatest benefits. The three options which she considered the best at the moment were cheetah, leopard, and tiger.
While cheetah would give her a large boost in speed, she would likely lose some muscle mass, and speed would be hampered by the terrain of the woods, since it lacked the open spaces which she would need to take full advantage. Returning the cheetah vial, Mary moved on to the tiger. The largest of the great cats, size and muscle would definitely be a plus. However, having already taken the size and muscle vials, Mary didn't believe she needed to be much larger, as it would prove more difficult to hide the larger she was.
Picking up the final vial, Mary nodded to herself, believing she had made the right choice. Leopards had decent night vision, as well as being excellent climbers, a major asset in the woods, so she wanted to keep that advantage from taking the monkey vial. Uncorking the leopard vial, Mary downed about a third, then closed it and carefully returned it to the box.
As traumatized as she had been from recent events, Mary couldn't help but feel a bit excited at the next round of changes, and a tad disappointed that she had no mirror to view them in. Although the changes occurred slightly slower than the monkey vial since she had drunk less, as twilight set in, Mary definitely felt her vision adjust and become more sensitive. Relieved that things appeared to be going as planned, she continued to examine herself.
Although her feet shifted largely back into paws, her hands only became slightly stubbier, and retained much of their dexterity. Amazingly, she also found she could retract her claws ever so slightly. Mary happily noted that her tail did not appear to lose its prehensile attributes which she had gained from the monkey vial, but simply slightly thickened. As her bones and muscles shifted slightly again, Mary felt much more comfortable on all fours. Mary shivered a bit as her skull began to alter itself as well. The ears which had rounded and moved lower with the monkey vial shifted back upwards again, becoming pointed and much more alert. While the elongated Doberman muzzle had given way to a slightly more pug-like snout, it now grew a bit again and squared itself off, as acuity returned to her nose. As her nose twitched at the resulting aromas, Mary noticed something new; they were relatively short for a leopard, but definitely present: whiskers. Mary let out a small laugh which sounded more like a grunt from her burly body.
Although a bit startled by the new depth to her vocal range, Mary was too immersed in her changes to worry about it. Finally, her fur coat returned to its former thickness and luster, and as Mary examined it, she realized that although the fur remained relatively black, there was a definite pattern of darker rosettes. Running her paw through her new pelt, Mary quivered at the sensation, almost forgetting her earlier worry and panic. Nevertheless, the sounds of the woods at night brought her to her senses.
Sitting back - now comfortably - on her haunches, Mary looked around and considered what to do next. While her immediate concerns had been taken care of thanks to the vials, she would now be spending at least a few days in the woods alone. Should she take some additional precautions to ensure she would be safe, or throw caution to the wind an enjoy herself?