She tried to fluff up her fur with the hand held hair dryer, which the hotel had supplied and which she considered completely insufficient. Still, after last night, her fur had been all sweaty, sticky and overall smelly. She had urgently needed a shower, and now she had to deal with this measly specimen of a hair dryer.

  Done with that and feeling quite a bit better, fresh and fluffy, she left the bathroom corner, which was part of their hotel room. Roger had gotten up meanwhile as well, was sitting at the small table and waved to her, "Hey Vivian, come over. I want to talk to you about something."

  She waved back, "Good morning Roger", walked over, took seat and smiled at him, "What is it? And, did you sleep well?"

  He laughed, "Didn't get much sleep with you, but I sure slept well when I did. There is something though that bothers me some. See, I want a companion who can go out with me. So, how about going to a restaurant with me today? I understand that you don't want to eat raw meat in public, but at least give me company, what do you think?"

  She didn't say anything right away.

  He nodded to her, "Have a bit of confidence."

  She took a breath, then another, "It's alright, sorry, it just came a bit surprising. Of course I'll come with you." She showed as smile. "Just", she paused, "well, you know I failed the stupid test. I'm worried I might cause problems with so much food around. Meat, you know."

  He reached to grasp a hand of hers, "I know, but that's been a while ago. You've grown since then, I'm quite sure you can do it. Also, you're not alone this time, like during the test. I'm there too. Just focus on me and ignore what is around us."

  She nodded some, "Yeah, having someone as support might help just enough. The food test was actually one I thought I can do, until I didn't."

  He rubbed the fur on the back of her hand with a thumb, "Let me do the talking, Vivian. I'll try to make it easy for you. Something more though. I don't expect you to look happy while were there, but I don't want to see a sad and troubled cat all the time. Keep some composure, pull yourself together, will you?"

  She nodded and showed a new smile, "Sure. I'd be a bad companion if I couldn't do even that."

  He smiled as well now, "Sounds good. I found a place not far from here, which looks quite nice."

  She smirked, "So you want to start the day with lunch?"

  He laughed, "Did you check the time?"

  ----

  The ride with the hovertaxi had been short, and on her request they had stopped some hundred meters from the restaurant so they could walk the remaining distance and she had some time to get used to the situation.

  Despite Roger's support she still felt quite anxious about the idea. A restaurant. Food everywhere! Her lack of self control. The hunger. She hoped the hunger would spare her, she had eaten well yesterday. There was no reason to feel hungry at all today.

  Nevertheless, she was sure anyone with a nose could smell her anxiety half a mile against the wind while she walked dutifully at Rogers side towards the entrance of the restaurant that he had chosen. Her contract and therapy were on the line. Be a good companion, she told herself, make a good impression. At least the food test had been the one where she had not so completely failed like some of the other tests.

  She tried to show a confident posture and keep her ears up, tail swaying, but not too nervously. No need to fake happiness, Roger had said, just look presentable. Upright, with measured steps, she walked at his left, holding hands with him.

  "Alright, Vivian, let me do the talking. If someone says something stupid, does something stupid, I'll deal with it. All you have to do is to be at my side and look pretty", he looked at her with a quite serious expression.

  "Sure, Roger", she tried to show a smile.

  The door to the restaurant opened automatically for them and the smell of food hit her like a wall. She stopped for a moment before she felt pulled at her hand and remembered the plan. Just stay in control. Don't do stupid things. She took two quick steps to be at Roger's side again.

  The place was fairly big, well lit with a high ceiling shaped in decorative arcs, which optically divided the place into several smaller locations, the walls painted white and decorated with plants in hanging baskets. It was quite nice, vivid, but not crowded. Many humans, but she could also see a furry couple, wolf, at least canine looking. Of course they had meat. She tried to ignore the very idea. No need to not steal food today.

  A waiter, human, approached them, "A table for two?"

  "Yes. A quiet place if possible", Roger requested.

  The waiter led them to a table in a little nook which gave them some privacy, and at the sight she managed to relax some more. Not quite so exposed to everything. The waiter arranged a chair for her to sit down and she made sure to flick her tail to the side before she took seat. A pinched tail was the last she needed now. "Thank you", she nodded at the man with a smile. He just barely visibly flinched at the sound of her voice.

  Roger took seat across of her and she tried to smile at him, ears kept up.

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  The menu selection was semi automatic, with a holographic display in the table. It actually showed correct colors even for her eyes, but she wasn't sure what to order.

  Luckily Roger was wary enough to notice, "I know you shouldn't eat today, but how about some salad? Shouldn't be too unusual for a woman who's trying to lose weight. So you have a reason to tell if someone asks."

  She nodded, "I guess salad will be alright. And some water, that's more important actually."

  "Plain or sparkling water?" He asked.

  No risks today, she decided. "Plain water, please."

  "Alright, got it", he nodded to her and she returned a smile, a genuine one this time.

  Roger selected the water and a mixed salad for her, a big soda for him, a steak, fries and a green salad as well.

  She was about to scream. Meat! He had ordered meat!

  "Sshhh", she heard Roger's voice, felt his hand on her forearm and blinked. He must had noticed her tension, "Stay calm. Just sit and relax."

  She nodded and tried to smile again, "Sit and look pretty. Never thought that might be so ... challenging."

  He chuckled, "The 'look pretty' part you've got down already. Just relax."

  A waiter arrived with their order, not the one who had seated them, and Roger helped out, "Salad and water for my companion. I'll have the steak and fries."

  The waiter bowed lightly, "Very well" and served her the salad and a glass of plain water. She nodded to him, "Thank you."

  The waiter flinched. Even that she could speak well enough meanwhile so that people understood her easily, her voice just sounded like a very throaty hiss all the time.

  "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you", she tried to help out, but only earned a slightly pained smile, "No need to apologize, Madam."

  Roger grinned a bit, set up his meal and the waiter left them alone again, "Please enjoy your meal."

  "Thank you", she nodded, took a sip from the water and found it unpleasantly cold. Better to wait till it had warmed up some, so she focused on the salad. Holding a knife and fork with clawed fingers was a bit tricky but she managed to eat with what she considered proper table manners. The salad was disappointing enough so that she wouldn't get hungry over it, something she appreciated.

  She chewed some greens which lacked every sort of taste that she had learned to like and looked over the restaurant. It wasn't as bad as she had expected. She felt little urge to steal food, nothing that she couldn't control. At least not from the other tables. And just knowing that the steak on their table was Roger's food also helped to deal with the urge. Unguarded, left alone food was much more tempting, she realized. And even if the salad was rather boring to her senses, it helped to chew just something to get her mind off such thoughts.

  "How are you doing, Vivian?" Roger's voice woke her from her thoughts.

  "Better than I've expected. I think I can do this. Just ... don't leave your steak alone with me", she tried to explain and smiled a little.

  "Thinking of stealing my food?" He looked at her while chewing with a slight grin.

  "Trying not to think of it. But, I'd like to try a fry. Never ate any fries since I got this body. Many things taste different now. I used to like salad before, but not anymore", she tried to explain and pointed a claw at his fries.

  "Feel free to pick one", he allowed with a nod to her.

  She quickly did so and chewed just to find it ... salty. Salty was not bad. A bit fatty, but no fat with a particular taste. The fry itself was severely lacking. She ate it anyways and felt a bit disappointed. Fries had tasted much better in her memory. Another lost joy in life. Well, new joyful things had come too, like running and playing fetch.

  "How's it?" Roger inquired.

  "Somewhat disappointing. Salty and fatty, but not much else. Lacks some meat", she grinned.

  "So I can leave fries in your presence?" He chuckled.

  She nodded and pointed a claw at the fries, "Probably. Unless the salty taste tempts me. Or if you get some which are fried in animal fat. That would make them much better I think."

  "Want to try another one?" He offered

  She shook her head, "Nope. These are mostly just salty and salt isn't that good for me. Luckily not a big temptation either."

  A good moment to drink a sip of water. It was very refreshing, quite the opposite of the fry. Plain water tasted better than ever before.

  "No meat? Have you been a bad pet? Or did your master put you on a diet because you are too fat?" She heard some impersonal voice from nearby and almost dropped the glass of water in surprise.

  She set down the glass while her ears tracked the source of the voice. But all she could see was a buzzing fly. She swiftly fetched the flying nuisance from the air. It kept buzzing in her closed hand. She made sure to keep the fly safely trapped between her middle finger and her palm and then cracked it with precision work of two claws of her other hand.

  Plastic crumbs rilled onto the table and the buzzing stopped. She could see tiny wires and metal bits as well, thanks to the acuteness of her new eyes.

  "Caught a fly?" Roger voice sounded up.

  She shook her head, "Nope, a fly shaped drone of some sort, it seems. That's plastic and some metal bits." She pointed to the remains, "The thing insulted me. Not sure if you could hear it though?"

  Before she could explain anything more a man in a white suit approached their table with quick steps, pointed at her and addressed Roger, "Your animal destroyed my drone! You should control her better!"

  Roger looked at the man and waited a moment before he responded, "I think she did that very well. Couldn't have trained her any better."

  She was speechless. Animal! And, trained?

  "You will pay for the drone!" The man demanded.

  Roger crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, "I don't think so. Your drone has absolutely no business at our table. And my companion said the drone insulted her." Roger looked at her.

  "I don't want to repeat that. The thing had a voice synthesizer or something", she was still quite bewildered. Animal, the man had called her.

  "So, see", Roger nodded to the man, "you play stupid games and win stupid prizes."

  Now a waiter was approaching them, "What's going on here?"

  The man pointed at her again, "His animal destroyed my drone!"

  Roger explained calmly, "He sent a drone to our table. My companion stopped it."

  The waiter stood very stiffly when he addressed the man in the white suit, "Sir, this is unacceptable. I must strongly advice you not to bother other patrons. Please return to your table and pay up before you leave."

  "But she's just an animal!" The man protested, pointing at her again.

  "Sir, it is not allowed to operate drones in our establishment at all. I must ask you to pay up and leave immediately." The waiter stated with a firm voice.

  Two more waiters had joined meanwhile and led the still arguing man away. "I'm very sorry Sir, Madam", their waiter bowed to them, "May I offer a voucher for a free meal, next time you visit our establishment as compensation for the inconvenience?"

  Roger nodded to the man, "You may, but we're in town only for today. How about a kitty bag for my companion? I think she likes beef?" He looked at her.

  She nodded, "All meat is fine. Beef, pork, poultry, any meat is good for me."

  The waiter bowed again, "Very well. I'll ask the chef to provide a good selection of meats."

  She smiled, "Thank you. Make sure the bag is really air tight or I might eat it all right away. And I should not eat meat till tomorrow evening at all. Please?"

  "For sure, Madam, as you wish", the waiter bowed again and left towards the kitchen.