The store
Alex stared at the magazine one last time, comparing the printed address on one page with that of the building before him. Uncertain and nervous he swallowed, taking a moment to glance around, feeling as if he was being watched, but he soon shrugged off the paranoia. Boldly opening the shop door he stepped inside, decision made and fate settled.
"Good evening."
The voice startling the young man, he jumped a little almost, dropping his magazine. The light inside the shop was such that he was having trouble making out anything. The speaker still very much a mystery, the young man turned vaguely in the direction of the male British accent.
"I see you having a copy of 'Equinus' there in your hand," the voice continued. "Very good choice, if I do say so myself. And of course you're here because of our ad. But first, forgive my manners. I am Sir William Witherspoon. At your service."
"Well I just...."
"Wanted to see if what we claim is true? Of course of course. Come right this way, young sir. No waiting at all this time of day. You're in luck you are."
It's then that Alex's eyes adjusted enough to the dim light that he was able to see about the store enough to wonder how he ended up in what looked like an animal feed store. But at that point Sir William had his hand and was leading him farther back into the depths of the shop. The maze of lefts and rights, passing shelves of different kinds of animal care products, quickly caused him to lose all sense of direction.
"Ah, here it is! Here it is. Go right in and pick that which fits you best. Do not worry over pricing for now. No pressure at all. Must savor the enjoyment and all."
Alex opened his mouth to ask questions, but by that time he was already being gently pushed through a doorway. The new room was surprisingly well-lit in comparison to the other part of the shop. It looked much like an average department store dressing room, but it was the rack of clothing towards the back of the room that got his attention. The magazine fell from his grasp in his haste to get a closer look, page spilling open to show a chestnut-colored mare.
"I can try on any of them?" Alex asked, turning only to find the door closed and the shopkeeper gone. Shrugging, he wasted no time in stripping down to his underwear, setting his clothes on a chair to the side. Shivering slightly now at the very idea of trying on these garments that are before him, his eyes roamed over what looks like multiple animal skins. Oddly enough, a faint animal musk seemed to hang upon the air, but this he passed off as the fancy of an overactive imagination.
"This one!" the young man said aloud, then blinked in surprise, looking at the fursuit within his grasp. He had expected to see a horse one, but this costume was clearly not equine. Yet something about just holding it felt right to him, so it was without pause that he began slipping into it. Feet and legs went into the furry pair of pants, and he took a second to admire the nice tail attached to the rear. Paw-like booties fit onto his feet with ease, as if specially made for him. His heart was racing with excitement at the feel of the strangely warm material against his skin. Yet the pants part did not seem to fit right. A moment later he removed his underwear, then put the furry pants back on, finding the fit to be now much more glove-like. The tail almost seems to wag while he looks for the chest part of the suit. Slipping the chest piece over his head, then getting his arms through the furry arm pieces proved a minor challenge, causing him to spin a few times before he managed to get it on.
Almost breathless at this point, yet still without pausing, Alex took up the headpiece, admiring how lifelike the canine head looks. The black nostrils almost seemed to flare and take his scent as he picked up the head. But remembering warnings about the headpiece limiting one's field of vision, he reluctantly set it back down and took up the paw gloves instead, quickly putting them both on. As if in a race, Alex then put the head on last of all, snapping it into place within seconds.
Not sure what he had expected to feel at this point, the itching of his feet came as a surprise. Moreso when the sensation spreads up his legs, then to the other parts of the suit like wildfire. Thinking the costume was somehow full of bugs, Alex tried to take it off, but between trying to pull and trying to scratch, he was unable to find any seam. Comforting warmth soon began replacing the itching, much to his relief. Feeling so relaxed, Alex went so far as to open his muzzle and let his tongue loll out the side. Yet only a second of panting passed before his eyes widened with surprise and wonderment. Trying to give a lick to his nose, Alex found out, not only could he do it, but he found himself touching flesh, not rubber or plastic, and was very much aware of the feel of his tongue upon his nose.
Panic rising within him, he tried to stands, only to keep falling back down to all fours after only a second of an upright standing. Hide! The thought came into his head so fast he didn't question its origin. Racing about the room, he cannot help noticing a door that smells strongly of dog and oddly of safety. Rearing up on his hind legs, Alex begins trying to turn the door handle, but thanks to the paw gloves he is not able to bring his thumb into play. Yet hearing the far door starting to open spurs him to place both forepaws upon this dog door and give a push, oddly opening the door easily once he used a more simplistic, canine way of opening it. Door hinges soundless, he barely had time to give a yelp as he fell through the dark doorway into the unknown. No sooner was he through than the door swung shut, sealing him in pitch darkness, much to his distress.
Panic rising anew Alex began to yell for help, but each call is nothing more than a howl-like bark, no matter how carefully he tried to say something in English. It was then that instinctive impulses surged forward and ensnared his thoughts as ears and nose are used to help sort out this strange place of darkness. Calming, the dog began taking careful sniffs, letting his nose lead him as both ears perk forward at distant sounds. Strong smells of aged leather all about him, it was the alluring scent of fresh air from the outside that in time led him to another door. This time Alex didn't to put any thought into rearing up to place both forepaws upon the wood in hopes of pushing it open. And once again the door opened easily, causing him to fall forward to all fours even as he stared at what lay before him. Kennels and sleeping dogs were all about this new room, bringing him forward in an impulsive urge to investigate. Yet no sooner are two good sniffs taken than dogs awoke and began barking loudly.
"Who are you?"
"Part of our pack?"
"You smell interesting!"
"Let's play!"
Alex stared, confused not only at hearing barks but also at hearing many questions from different speakers. Distracted, it was not until a hand had hold of his scruff that he was even aware of the human. Grip solid to the point that, no matter how he wiggles or tries to break free, the human held him still.
"Let go! Who are you? Where am I?" he asked, looking up at the man even as a collar was placed around his neck.
"Easy. Calm down," the man says in a soothing tone, holding Alex both firmly and gently. A leash was soon attached to the collar with a loud clipping noise.
"No! Take it off!"
But at a sharp jerk of the leash, Alex found his head jerked and himself falling silent, much to his surprise.
"Good, you're smart enough to not need farther correction, then. Good dog."
The following stroking of the human hand was enough to cause Alex's eyes to narrow in bliss. Tail wagging he found himself openly begging for more petting, which brought an amused chuckle from the man. Then the sounds and scent of another human approaching brought Alex's ears to perking.
"What's got the dogs stirred up, Frank?"
"Oh, seems Joe let one of the dogs loose by mistake. He should know by now these dogs are smart enough to be very creative in escaping their kennels."
"Well, put her back in a kennel so we can get back to our card game. I want a chance at winning back my ten dollars, after all."
"Right. Will do. Do not want to lose this one, after all, as it looks like she will be good for the bloodline. Smart, but not a troublemaker. Never once tried to bite me."
Alex, having been impulsively sniffing at the shoes of the two humans, looked up in sudden surprise at hearing this part of the conversation.
"See, look at those eyes of hers. It's almost as if she understands what we are saying."
Frank, chuckling while petting the dog once more, led the bitch to a nearby empty kennel and settled her in.
It was only when the two humans were walking away that Alex snapped out of his shock enough to inspect his surroundings and himself. A quick nose under a hind leg was enough to confirm what the two men said. But how can this be so?...then it dawns upon Alex. That fur suit had no sign of a sheath! Yet at the growl of stomach the new kennel bitch was soon sampling her food and water before settling in for the night, feeling so sleepy that it was easily decided that questions and escape can wait until tomorrow. Even whispered questions from nearby dogs get ignored as sleep claims Alex.