Brian gasped as his body twisted painfully, and he felt to all fours. More shouts came from the other side of the bar where the drunk was, but Brian only had eyes for his arms and hands, which swelled and changed into the massive paws and forelegs of a huge black dog. His entire body followed suit, and when the spell was completed Brian was a huge solid black mastiff. A wonderful, exciting scent filled his nostrils, cutting through the thick stink of human sweat and wine. Stag! Brian growled low in his throat, and the people around him scrambled away. The scent was coming from a huge stag that was shaking off some torn clothing and backing away, swinging a set of thick antlers from side to side.
Someone opened a door, and the big deer spun and leapt through it in a panic. Brian was immediately focused on prey and charged out after it, only vaguely aware of laughs and shouts from the tavern. The stag had a slight head start and charged for the forest outside of town. Brian followed, his mind simplified to that of a hunting dog on a mission. The stag vanished into the trees with Brian close behind.