Jen awoke the next morning curled up into a ball. She almost went back into the ball before forcing herself up on all fours. 'I shouldn't be able to bend like that and still feel comfortable.' Jen thought. She looked over at Rex, then bending down to sniff across his back. Rex was in that position and completely comfortable.
Something about this was very wrong, but Jen was struggling to understand WHY it was wrong. Her thoughts kept slipping from her mind. She'd grasp at one and it would evaporate. Unable to understand the problem, Jen focused on a more immediate problem. Her hindquarters were itching! Moving her face as close as she could, Jen tried to bite at the itch.
All she succeeded at though was falling over. Jen landed on Rex, causing him to bark and jump up with his tail wagging. Jen wagged back. Rex sniffed her rear, before nibbling on the itch for Jen, making her pant with joy. She leaned into him, but Rex ran over to the door. Jen followed close behind, just in time for the door to open.
"How's my favorite little pack?" Helen asked, coming in with a supply of food. Rex began panting, his tail wagging a mile a minute. Jen tried to wag just as fast. 'Gotta let her know I'm a good girl so I can get out!' Helen leaned down to pet her, making Jen wiggle with glee. 'Maybe she'll scratch my ears too!'
Jen was soon distracted by her breakfast, which had real meat in it! Yeah it had for the last few days, but every day was like she'd never had it before! As Jen gobbled down her meat (surprisingly well considering the fake muzzle), Helen continued to stroke down her back. "You've got another grooming session today girl. We're going to work on those paws of yours." Jen looked up from her bowl and wagged.
'My paws...hands...' Jen sniffed at her paw gloves, 'I have hands...hands and I walk on them on all fours, I have to or else I'd fall over?' Jen's mind was swirling around in a circle. Helen took this opportunity to lean in and clip a leash to Jen's collar. She grinned at the dog-girl, wiggling slightly with joy.
"You're so far gone aren't you girl?" Helen asked with a laugh. Jen wanted to respond, but her new tongue and drooling made it impossible, so she just panted. Helen pulled her out of the room, pushing Rex back inside. Rex tried to force his way out and stay with his Jen. Jen's heart ached leaving him.
'I am still human...' Jen thought, 'Still human, don't forget...forget it...' All of the hallways looked the same, but Jen was increasingly noticing the scents they had. Different dogs came through here, some more often then others and something in Jen's brain told her that was a way to tell them apart.
They returned to the grooming room, Jen unclipped for a moment. She started sniffing along the base of the wall. '...dog...retirever?' Jen looked up, wagging her tail harder. '...Is that me?...'
"Jen! Up girl!" The dog-girl snapped to attention. She rushed right over and leapt onto the metal table, all in one fluid motion. To an outsider, Jen really looked like a dog. Helen quickly secured Jen in place, then allowed the girl to sniff and lick her hand. "Good girl Jen!" Helen stroked her head, then took a paw in her hand.
Helen began to remove the straps keeping the paws on, causing Jen to stop wagging. She watched this, sniffing at the same time. 'She's...removing it! My...I could have my hands back!' The paw glove was removed, making Jen wiggle with glee, 'My hand! My-' Jen watched as a mass of golden fur popped out of the glove, 'My...my...my...'
Helen let go and Jen's big golden retriever paw thumped on the metal table.