Here kitty, kitty, kitty

You need someone who's been transformed, so Doe can see that they don't hate their new bodies as much as she assumes they do. It needs to be a woman, obviously you don't want Doe getting attached to some other guy. And it can't really be a centauress because any centauresses are going to get sent to the cavalry. There are a lot of young knights who would be seriously put out - at this point they're all looking forward to the chance to ride their new mounts.

The next day you send out some feelers. Another few days and you get a reply you can work with. There are often traveling circuses and traders in exotic animals. In this case it seems some noble was interested in having a big cat as a pet. But he wasn't really prepared for it and after getting clawed he decided to sell it off. Big cats are a sign of wealth and status, but they're also temperamental money sinks. So now there's an animal trader looking to sell off a big lynx that's already known for clawing its last owner.

You want to practice and expand your skills before you go for the more difficult snake transformation of Doe, so a big cat is a great choice. As for who to pair it with, you chose Linne, a young woman who was part of the castle staff. A young maid, so not exactly someone with combat training. No one is going to stop you from buying her outright, not when you're so clearly in the king's good graces. Linne is short and small bodied, which should pair well with the lynx. She's also very timid, a good counterbalance for the aggressive cat.

Small as Linne is it still wouldn't work out properly if you connected her torso to the body of a lynx that's only about 26 inches tall at the shoulder. The time spent magically enlarging the lynx also gives you a far better idea of how the cat's organs and musculature work. After a few days you've managed to bulk up the lynx to a point where the transformation should work out. It's bigger than some tigers now, if you're not mistaken, and about twice as mean. No wonder the noble ended up with claw marks on his arm.

You do find a lot of your work on centaurs carries over. As you hoped, once bonded to the torso of the former lynx Linne's small waist and narrow shoulders look just right. She remains almost the same height, since you grew the lynx till it's shoulders were level with her hips. That leaves her at 4'11", a very cute size for a half woman, half **** cat.

You make a few other small changes to her, some of them 'feel right' as the transformation magics flow through her new body, as if the lynx is insisting some of its features carry over in Linne's face and head. Her ears become slightly pointed, shift a bit higher on her skull and develop a fuzzy coating of fur. Her eyes develop the silvery sheen of cat's eyes and turn a beautiful light green. You fight against and successfully block the button nose and whiskers that try to develop, though you do allow some changes in her voice box. Not enough to prevent her from speaking, just enough to let her growl, grumble and purr as the big cats do. And of course she ends up with some fangs. Not as big as the lynx's but still very noticeable.

There are some changes in her upper body too. You don't fight the tightening of her waist and stomach. Little Linne now has a toned set of abs courtesy of the lynx side. Unlike the centauresses you've changed her breasts get a little smaller, though admittedly the large A cups do suit her. On a whim you decide to fix the lynx's coat in its winter colors. The soft gray fur looks very fetching on her and doesn't conflict with the dark black hair on her head as much as the brown-reds of the summer coat.

When it's over you're almost as tired as she is. Linne wobbles as she takes her first few steps, her tail slapping against the table and wall as it overcompensates for her movements. Still, she gets the hang of it quickly and can soon walk around in circles. She even tries carefully hopping up on the wall with her front paws, which means her head nearly touches the ceiling.

You just watch her as she experiments, recovering from all that spellwork. Maybe you became a little overconfident. This was a good reminder that just because you figured out how to make centaurs tackling a new creature is a very different thing. It seems like 'cataur' is probably the best name for what you've just created. 'I wonder if some nobles might be interested in the idea?' you think to yourself before remembering how many of them are massive perverts. Yes, the minute you show Linne to anyone you're going to start getting requests.

Speaking of your first cataur, she finally drops back to the floor. She's notably quiet, almost soundless. "How are you feeling?" you ask her.

"Good," she says, sounding almost surprised, her voice deeper than it was before. She twists around in a way that shows off how flexible those feline traits have made her. Unlike the centaurs you bet she could turn her torso right around and bite the base of her own tail.

"Let me get a better look at you," you say, taking one of her front paws in hand. Sure enough, at a press her claws come out. Perhaps a little smaller than those of a real lynx, but still more than enough to do some damage.

"That kind of tickles," she says. Her voice used to be very quiet and timid. After the transformation it's still pretty quiet but now it's rather smooth and luscious. Probably those changes to her voice box at work. Regardless, she sounds a little sultry. Linne notices it too and sucks in a breath, holding a hand to her chest. "Oh, I didn't mean it that way!" she whispers.

Yes, nobles will be interested. Hell, you're interested a bit too, even though you've already got your eye on Doe. "Don't worry, I'm sure that's just the new shape of your windpipe," you tell her. "Here, take a look," you say, leading her on to the next room, which has a mirror.

"Oh," she exclaims. She takes a while looking into her own new eyes and feeling her now pointed ears. Things she hadn't even noticed till now. Then she turns back to you and, looking down at the ground, asks, "So, your lordship, what happens to me now?" She tries to sound timid but those words come out syrupy sweet.

"Well you're a bit of an odd case," you tell her. "They'd have to find a smaller person to ride you if they were going to place you with the cavalry." Linne's ears flatten. "But don't worry, in this case it's entirely up to me and I was hoping I might have your help at my tower."

"I'm sorry?"

"I've been very busy, so it's driven home the fact I could use a maid to help take care of things."

"I did used to be... that is, I could..." she stops trying to explain and gestures at herself, "But like this?"

"Yes, why not? How is your new body going to be a disadvantage as a maid?"

She looks back at herself and then answers, "I suppose it won't be. But I'll need a different uniform."

You have to laugh at that. "I'm sure we can come up with something."