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It was Lucas' same worry as things sunk in. He nodded mutely.

Glad that Lucas was doing better, Dasher's tail wagged and he stood.

"My feet?" He turned to look at them. He knew they had changed, and now he saw they had suffered much like his hands. Grimacing, he moved to stand up. Inhaling sharply as he placed pressure on them, he wasn't sure what to do. Stand on the tips, or force himself to walk flat-footed like before? He couldn't even stay on his feet for long and dropped slowly to his knee. "Damn..."

Sighing, he looked back up at Gaius. "Me? Brave?" he scoffed. He holed himself up in his room most of the time, away from everyone else. "Your friends shouldn't care what you look like." He lifted his hand again and took the hoofed hand. He wobbled again as he stood. "I'm sorry about your hands. I guess we have something in common."

Lucas joined Gaius in the chuckle, then cleared his throat. He needed that drink.

As he was helped up, he cringed as he placed pressure on his feet for the second time. "How does anyone walk like this?" He was grateful for the slow pace to the cafeteria. Looking toward the building, he watched Vixen move ahead and hold the door for them. At this he raised an eyebrow, but didn't remark on it. Dasher just barreled right through the door. The only thing on the dog's mind now was dinner.

"I suppose." Being back in the Cafeteria brought to mind one of the transformations he had witnessed. He never did learn the name of that man...woman? He shuddered at the memory. "I'm not sure which is harder." He wondered how many changes Gaius had been present for.

"I bet I look pretty bad. I didn't look that good before as a human. At least I didn't scare young girls and frogs." He gave a dry laugh, but it died off quickly. "But what can I do? Might as well just get it over with than prolong it." He wouldn't say it, but the bandages kind of looked silly on the poor guy.

That got a laugh out of Lucas. "'Not in a bad way'?" He shook his head, but didn't say any more on the subject.

Easing himself to the table, Lucas groaned at the ache, then let out a slow breath as he slumped in his seat. It was good to be off his feet. "You don't have to wear them with me around. They can't be comfortable. But... whatever you're more comfortable with."

He sat quietly while he waited for Gaius to return. Then Dasher pawed at his leg.

Giving the glass of water a passing glance, he gave Gaius an apologetic look. "Actually...We're kind of hungry. We haven't eaten all day." He gestured to the dog, who looked at Lucas expectantly.

Left alone at the table with the dogs, Lucas turned his focus to the glass in front of him. Glancing to see if Gaius was watching, he hesitated, then reached a hand out for the water. It wasn't exactly easy to get a good grip on it, but once he did have a hold, he realized he had another problem. His heart sank. Overcome with his need to relieve his thirst, he drew the glass closer, leaned his head forward and lapped at the water. After only a few seconds he pushed the cup away, truely disgusted with himself. He was half tempted to swat the glass off the table, but he restrained himself.

The selection of food brought back didn't do much for his mood either. Of course Gaius wouldn't know he refused to eat just meat. For the last few months he'd kept a strict human-like diet, a balance of vegetables, fruits, grains and meat. He considered forcing himself to walk over and pick up some other non-meat items, but tossed it out. Not only would it be rude, but he realized he didn't want to eat anything else but meat. Already worn out from the change, he didn't have the will to fight the dhole and gave in.

But before he ate there was something he had to address. "Is something wrong? You can sit down." It was awkward having the pegasus standing nearby doing nothing. It made him feel more self-conscious.

His voice was soft and even. "I haven't tried eating since I changed." He stared at the raw piece of meat as he rubbed his muzzle. "If you don't want me to see you, I won't look. And I'll be able to hear if anyone tries to come into the cafeteria. Then I'll growl and bark or do whatever it is that mad dholes can do to scare them away. I'll even lend you my shirt to put over your head if you want. But please... eat."

Lucas felt bad for keeping the man from his food, but at the same time he selfishly didn't want to be left by himself. The company was actually helping. If left alone now he was sure he'd breakdown. Whether that would be bursting into tears or taking his anger and frustration out on the objects in the cafeteria or his duplex, he wasn't sure.

A small smile appeared on Lucas' face when Gaius finally gave him. It was a relief and a comfort knowing he would stick around and join him. He didn't watch while Gaius unwrapped his face until he thought the man was done.

It appeared as if his eyes had moved and he wondered how much his vision was affected. He had to admit that Gaius did look odd, but not as odd as he did with the bandages. That only drew attention to himself and Lucas was sure the poor guy would get more strange looks for that than his present face. He chose not to make any remarks about the man's appearance for now. That seemed to be the best course.

"I guess so." Without silveware, and not about to ask Gaius to stand up and retrieve some, Lucas had just one option. Picking up the fried chicken first, he bit off a little and chewed. His mouth was still sensitive, but he ignored it. Too hungry to take little bites, the meat pieces he pulled away from the bone grew larger. Hopefully food would settle him down.

Searching for a change of topic, Lucas looked down at Vixen. "So she's your dog? She's pretty smart. Did you get her for Christmas, too?"

Eating had already been weird when his muzzle started to grow out a couple of months ago. He didn't think it then, but he got used to it. The new length, his tongue, his teeth... Before he took another bite he brushed his tongue against some of his new fangs.

"Dasher and Vixen? A theme." He wondered how many more reindeer dogs were out there. "'Stupid mistakes'?" Once again Aubrey was mentioned. The one they dubbed 'the kind scientest'. All he knew of her was what other people had told him. He didn't know her or had any contact with her, so far as he knew. "Ever since he showed up at my door I've been thinking about this. I wonder why they'd pick me." He poked at his food with the chicken bone. "Is this their way of trying to win us over?"

"Yes, I would agree it's not very effective. If they really were trying to win us over I'd imagine I'd see more 'gifts' and considerations. Nothing else, so far." He was kind of glad that nothing like that had happened. He wouldn't be sure how to take it or react. "It's kind of hard not knowing why I got Dasher. I mean, what if I wake up one day and he's gone? As much as I'd like to believe that the labs just gave the dogs to us as a kindness of some kind, I just don't believe them capable of that. Even if this Aubrey person is nice, as people keep saying, she's still involved in these... experiments." It had been one of the things that made it difficult getting attached to the dog. He still fell in love with the hyperactive pooch regardless. It was hard not to. Dasher was really all he had in a companion on the Island. "Is the dog really mine? Or is he some kind of test? An experiment? Am I just watching him until the labs are ready to take him back?" He sighed, his ears drooping.

"Maybe," he picked up one of the steaks and bit into it. After he swallowed and spoke again. "It was hard enough getting ahold of Sabin once. I heard this Aubrey person is even higher up than that guy."

He shot a look at his cup of water. He wanted another drink, but he was too embarrassed to lap at it in front of anyone.