(Author's Note: This is heavily based on an earlier branch, the author of which I hope returns to continue their prime DMU branches. I wanted to move the story of Lydia and Buster to the same point as the parallel story of the Gibsons, McMillans, and Andrews who have all assembled. Difference is that Buster and Lydia have slept again.)
Buster unlocked the door, and the two entered the house. Buster closed the door behind them and unhooked the leash from Lydia's collar.
"Guess it is just us again," Lydia said.. "But it was great getting out..."
Buster put his paw in front of his mouth. "Rest..." he said. He slumped onto the couch and gestured for her to join him.
Lydia curled up at the foot of the couch. A small rest wouldn't be a bad idea. She closed her eyes.
She woke up, unsure of how long she'd been asleep...it didn't feel like long, but when she looked up, Buster was no longer sitting on the couch.
She smelled the smell of cooking from the kitchen, as well as heard the sounds of someone closing the fridge. She entered the kitchen first and what she saw made her jaw drop. Buster stood on his hind legs in front of the stove, where he seemed to be making something on the stove. He was still wearing a pair of her pants that hugged his legs tightly allowing her to see the shape of them. He was even showing curves at his waist which looked strange with his tail hanging limply from his back. “Wha…” she began, but her voice caught in her throat and came out as a low growling noise, her tongue flopping out of her mouth.
She cocked her head to the side in surprise, and managed to pull her tongue back inside her mouth. It felt uncomfortable to do so.. She glanced over and caught sight of her reflection in one of the shiny cabinet doors. Her nose looked a little darker, and kind of longer too. In fact it looked like her face was starting to stretch out a little. She opened her lips in a strange grin and saw that her canine teeth were a lot larger that’s they were. Her heart started beating hard in panic. She was starting to look like a dog shaped human now. She whimpered again and looked over at Buster who was definitely looking like a human shaped dog. His fur was thinning and a lot shorter than it was, no longer spilling out the edges of his…no her old clothes. He seemed to have no trouble holding things in his paws, as evidenced by the fact he was cooking. Even the fact that he was now tall enough to reach was alarming for her.
“Bussterrr” she growled sadly, keeping her teeth clenched so that her tongue wouldn’t flip out again. He looked over at her and seemingly sensed her discomfort. He reached down and gave her a gentle stroke on the head, allowing her to see his stretched out paw...which explained how he was handling the cooking.
“Good grrrl...” he growled back as he moved his paw and scratched her lightly behind her ear, which seemed to have grown a bit. This gave her a feeling of calm and safety and she let out a happy little whine. Whatever was bothering her melted away under his attention.
Buster, meanwhile, continued making himself something to eat, and petting Lydia.
