A sudden wave of elation overcame James as he started to transform again. He knew he was changing again, and much more quickly than he had been supposed to, and had no clue what into which would normally be a terrifying prospect. But something in the potions magic gave him a remarkable sense of emotional wellbeing accompanied by a pleasant, physical and somewhat intense tingling sensation that distracted him from everything else that was happening to him.
He was fully aware he was getting smaller, growing tail, fur growing all over his quickly reshaping body while his shell seemed to simply dissapear. But in the moment it didn't feel like a problem.
"Thank goodness nobody was around to see that" Elspeth remarked in a concerned tone as she quickened her walking pace and tightened her grip on the white mouse she was now holding "Come on, no dawdling we need to get home. Now."
Once back at the cottage, Elspeth set James down gently on the kitchen table.
"Wait there, dear" she instructed, returning hurriedly with a small cage and placed it next to him.
"Get in, please" she told the rodent, opening a small door and gesturing towards it.
"But Mistress Elspeth!" James squeaked in a higher pitched version of his usual voice "Why do I have to..."
"I said get in!" Elspeth repeated more firmly, leaving little room for debate.
As James scurried into his new temporary home, Elspeth locked the only exit behind him.
"I'm sorry to have to do this" the witch sounded sincere in her apology "but there is an intelligence and logic to magic that should prevent you from turning into anything that cannot fit within this cage. In the meantime I shall work on a spell to counteract the effects of Kenneth's potion."
As Elspeth exited the room Nicola climbed ont the table and sat herself next to James' cage.
"Don't worry' the cat told him calmly "I still don't eat mice"