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As I staggered out the door in the supplied elaborate designer heels, I was positive they had been mistaken. Although my “feet” were more feet than paws, they still felt alien to the concept of the four-inch high heel shoe. I was certain I had never worn any such torture devices in my life. After the maids stabled me, I was able to shuffle forward on my own, and as I made my way down the hall they had pointed me to, I was able to accomplish some species of actual upright walking.

Yes, mistaken indeed. I don’t know how, but it had to be. The room at the end of the hall was concealed behind a silvery door, in which I could clearly see my own reflection. I felt misplaced among such sophisticated surroundings… and I looked to myself like a pet cat some little girl had dressed in doll clothes. Barbie clothes, it seemed.

As I wondered after the word, Barbie (it had come up from nowhere, and I supposed it was another object of my past life), I turned the knob, feeling it’s cool against the pads of my paw/hand.

The aroma of cooked meat hit me full force, and my stomach clenched painfully. Hunger pounced full-force, and I felt a migraine drifting over like angry rain clouds. The room was darker that the rest of what I had seen, in luminance values. Shades were drawn, causing the blinding white to appear a muted grey. The table was set for two, one seat on either end of its modest length. The room was supposed to be a drawing room of sorts, and the table looked to be temporary in its center. Fluffy couches bordered the windows, and sculptures and small potted trees occupied the corners. The modern-looking chandelier shed dull light only on the table.

Yes. Very mistaken indeed.

I understood the concept of “manners,” of one waiting to be invited, then joined in the ritual of dining… but cats rarely observe politeness by nature. I rushed to the covered platter, tossing aside the impeding silver dome and sinking my teeth into some recipe of beef.

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I cared not what kind, it was delicious. Saliva flooded my mouth as I devoured the boneless delicacy, pausing only momentarily to swallow after half-sufficient, ferocious chewing.
Part of me knew I was being watched. This is why my ears had been turned to the sides since I entered the room. Because of my sudden voracious hunger, though, I had forgotten- hadn’t bothered- to address my senses to the door at the back of the room.

I froze, gulping down the last mouthful hard. My talons gripped the remains of the expensive main course on instinct. My ears flattened to my skull as I felt my tail bristle in its slow, deliberate swishing. The low, predatory growl rose in my throat as my eyes lifted to the figure in the doorway.

MY kill… That’s what my body said. MY kill, prepare to fight for it.

The man chuckled softly. I could see his teeth in the half-light. His teeth, but not his face. Instinct unfurled again at this feline challenge of bared teeth. I hissed, baring my own

Stop it! Stop it now! You’re not in danger, for Christ’s sake! What are you doing??

“Yes, that’s it. Just calm down. I didn’t mean to startle you.” 
It was that voice again. Reedling. I recognized it from Dat’s walkie. Odd… it was as if he’d heard my inner battle with carnivorous propensity…
I withdrew my claws, straightening and wiping at my mouth, mortified. I brushed at the now-ruined dress, cursing under my breath as I ripped a slit in the skirt with a wayward claw…
Cool hands took mine, and I looked into the eyes of a fellow feline.

Or, so I may have imagined at first. The pupils had that same, diamond tipped shape… though now dilated in the gloom, it was almost imperceptible. He was human. Mostly.

That smile, though… it bore sharp incisors.