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O. Wolf\n[i]Dedicated to Shyhoof. Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14, 2012[/i]\n\nThe last of the boxes were hefted into the back of my scrappy retro bug. I hugged my mother and father one last time before getting into the vessel of freedom. As I drove out to my new home, I watched through the haze of tears scenery morphing from mundane suburbia with sidewalks and caged trees to larger and larger stretches of fields fenced by barb wire or wood. The morning light brightened into noon harshness and I creaked my sun visor into place, causing dust to scatter down in a frantic bee pattern. As the sun moved down slightly but not yet into the gentle purples of twilight, I saw the mailbox which stood sentry to my driveway. Its side had “Halpins” scrawled in a flowery font and was painted abstract swirls of bright green and blue. A line of black under the name resembled a horse in only the most rudimentary ways.\n\nThe gravel pinged up and into the undercarriage of my car. Boy, I hoped that wouldn’t cause a mechanic visit in my future. I slowed down as I passed over a grate and then turned into a gentle curve into the front of the two story farm house with carport, and followed it back to my new home. I had the key from when I came by a few weeks ago to turn in my deposit and sign a lease. One year seemed like such a long time but the price was right and I have been working from home for a few months now. Supposedly, all you need is Internet and that is available almost everywhere. This place had high speed which is good for the web development that I do and the occasional gaming that serves as a pleasant distraction. I turned off the car and popped the trunk. Considering that I had lived with my parents beyond the normally acceptable age (*cough* I’m over 30), I didn’t have that much coming with me. Of course, I had a computer with two large monitors, plus a couple dozen books on my favorite subject -- horses. The cottage came furnished so there was no need for any heavy furniture. I pulled out my favorite body pillow, nicknamed “boyfriend,” and turned to let myself in.\n\nI heard my new landlady yelling my name in that sweet voice of hers. “Hey, Kara, honey!” I paused with the key in the lock and juggled the pillow so that I could wave back. I guess she only has one outfit because she was wearing the same thing I saw her in the first and only time I met her -- casual slacks, flowery shirt, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. The grey hair frizzled slightly but framed her roundish face and pinkish complexion well.\n\n“Hi, Mrs. Halpin. How are you doing?” I asked.\n\n“Oh, hon, I told you to call me Mary. I’m fine. Thanks for asking. Did you need any help?”\n\nI shook my head and indicated the car with a jostle of the pillow. “No, thank you, Mary. I don’t have too much to move in. But thank you for offering.” She really was a sweet woman. At least I hoped she was as sweet as she seemed and not a murderer luring women to their deaths by offering extremely cheap housing and promise of fresh baked cookies every Saturday.\n\n“Oh, that’s good. If you need any help moving, let me know. Our son should be back from his trip in a few days.” Ah, yes, the infamous son. She talked about him for about three hours last time. I hadn’t met him yet but I had seen a photo. Let’s just say I wouldn’t mind if he helped me move the furniture -- especially the bed.\n\n“Great! I look forward to meeting him.” I leaned slightly toward the door again to as politely as possible indicate that I would like to go in. When she didn’t seem to notice and started to tell me about how he was a very smart man and had graduated college when he was just -- I interrupted her story with a question, “Would you like to come in?”\n\nShe shook her head and held out her hands and said “Oh no, dear. I don’t want to keep you from moving your things. I’ll send Jason over when he gets in so he can help you.” She smiled, paused as if she were going to say something else, but turned and walked back toward the house instead. I looked after her for a few minutes, then entered my new home.\n\nAs far as new homes go, it wasn’t too bad. It was a one bedroom guest house that had a small living room, eat-in kitchen, and a bedroom big enough for a queen bed, dresser, and hope chest. I went straight for the bedroom, pulled down the comforter and set down my pillow. She had even freshly washed and made my bed and left a few cookies on the nightstand.\n\nUnloading the car only took about thirty minutes, and add another thirty to unpack the most important box -- the computer -- and it was already getting dark. I was overcome with exhaustion so headed to bed a little early. As I crawled under the covers, I could hear Mrs. Halpin’s horses nickering to each other. I guess they were saying their farewells and sweet dream wishes as well. I drifted off to sleep thinking about how much I wanted to walk over to the pasture and watch them in the morning.\n\nAnd that must be why I had the most vivid and odd dreams of my life. I woke up in the morning with a soaked pillow and damp sheets from my sweat. As I opened my eyes to the light drifting in from the window, the dream began to disappear. I do remember running in a field and seeing Jason. I also had a flash of us having sex. Yes, I definitely needed to get out and date more.\n\nIn the morning, I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed down to the fence line near my house. I saw around five horses in various shades of browns and reds. In the distance I saw a black one -- male, by the looks of it. I sipped the coffee, then held out my hand to the closest, a pretty little chestnut mare with a white blaze. “Hey, pretty girl. How are you?” She nickered at me and moved closer so that she could sniff me and then let me pet her neck. Her fur was so soft, like she was brushed and loved daily. I patted her for a bit then headed back inside.\n\nI guess I fell asleep on the couch while watching Law & Order because I woke to the sound of a horrible infomercial and a sharp whinny outside. Then another. And another. I tossed off the blanket and rushed outside hoping to scare off whatever was causing them to be so afraid. I blame my courage on not being full awake. As I threw open the door, I saw it in the distance: a bright shifting glow of blue and green hues. I thought maybe it was an aurora borealis but as I gained a bit more wakefulness I remembered I was in California not Alaska. It then shifted out and the sky returned to darkness with sprinkles of stars. I checked on the horses and returned to bed after being thoroughly snuffled and rubbed.\n\nThe lights returned nightly and they were so regular and beautiful that I actually got up to watch them. It wasn’t until around the fifth night that I noticed that the display didn’t stretch so far across the sky but actually seemed to line up more with the trees. On the sixth night, I went out with my blanket and sat on the bench outside my door and waved to the gathered horses. They nickered in greeting, seeming to look forward to my visits or the lights more now. I watched the space where the colors usually wave into existence but there was nothing for an hour. I glanced at my phone to check the time and confirmed its tardiness. Then there was a flash from the corner of my eye but I missed what it was by the time I glanced up. I returned to watching the distance but didn’t see them until a barest blue flickered and gathered up into a zigzag form. I watched it, compared it to the trees, and even the slope of the pasture. Yes, it definitely looked like it was closer and smaller. The horses didn’t seem afraid so I wasn’t either. Until it started racing toward me.\n\nI stood to be sure of what I was seeing. The twisting blue and green glow seemed to be carried on a strong wind. Tendrils reached out and brushed the ground as it came closer. I dropped my blanket and ran inside. The sound of the deadbolt sliding into place snapped at the same time as the nickering chorus started. Oh! The horses! I was leaning against the door, contemplating going out and I don’t know what, when I felt the surface getting warm. I backed up as the twisting blue-green light came through. You’d think as many times as I’ve seen horror movies that I would know that the monster always finds a way in. It was a monster, right? I backed up farther until I hit the arm of the couch with my leg. I fell back. It then paused as if contemplating its next move. From this distance, I could really appreciate its beauty. There weren’t just blues and greens, but all the colors of a rainbow appearing and disappearing as if a painter’s palette was dissolving into water. I wondered what it would feel like and reached out my hand. The air closest to it was warmer than the rest. My extensive horror movie knowledge told me that that was not a ghost since they consume heat. I started to pull myself up when it rushed me. The last thing I remember was feeling warm, loved, and at peace.\n\nI woke up the next morning to the sound of knocking which was echoing in dull thuds in my head. “One second,” I called out as I held my head with one hand and pushed myself up off the couch with the other. I opened the door and found a dark haired beautiful man smiling at me. I was suddenly conscious of my unbrushed hair, unshowered body, and unbrushed teeth.\n\n“Didn’t think I’d wake you. Sorry about that.” He held out his hand and introduced himself, “I’m Jason. I got in a few hours ago and Mom wanted me to come over and see if you needed any help.”\n\nDidn’t think he’d wake me? It was 8 in the morning, right? A quick glance to the DVR said otherwise. Oops. Late noon.\n\n“Thanks for the offer but I think I’m OK.” As soon as I said that I felt my knees buckle and strong arms around me -- catching me before I fell too far.\n\nI must have mumbled an apology because he said something about it being alright and getting Mom.\n\nI woke up in a different bed. It was very large and softer than my own bed. I snuggled down into the comfort caused by a pile of blankets and looked around me. I didn’t recognize the room, but it was also very large. Jason then came in and smiled at me. The warmth of the blankets wasn’t anything compared to the warmth growing in other places because of that smile.\n\n“Ah, she’s awake!” He brought in a glass of orange juice and handed it to me. After I chuckled, and drank the whole thing in a gulp, I apologized again for fainting or whatever.\n\n“I don’t usually faint when meeting handsome ranchers.” Did I just say that? I blushed, but noticed a blush on his cheeks too.\n\n“Thank you, but I’m not really a rancher. But thank you for the compliment.” There was this awkward silence as I held the empty glass. He then took it from me and got up to leave.\n\nI nestled back into the bed and drifted off to sleep.\n\nI woke up again because I felt constricted. It was just the sheets tightened up around me from tossing too much. Also they and my pillow were drenched with sweat. Maybe I was coming down with something. That would explain hallucinating the lights and fainting. The headache continued to throb and I felt that same pulse extending down my neck. Next, I felt a dull aching in my arms, then lower back, and legs. The aching increased till it became sharp and I cried out. The door opened and Mrs. Halpin came in. I started to ask for help but another wave of pain took over and I curled up. I then noticed my nose was in the way of my view of my darkening arms. More pain shut my gaze but I could feel it now that I’d seen it. I was changing but to what?\n\nI learned the answer after what seemed forever with the building pain and Mrs. Halpin watching me, sometimes saying things like “Oh, hon. It’ll be alright. Hang in there.” and various encouraging phrases reserved for a woman going through childbirth. After the pain subsided to a dull ache, I remember shaking and reaching out with my arms to find, instead of a hand, a hoof. It thunked down and stretched the sheets a bit.\n\n“I told Jason we should have taken off the sheets, but he wanted you to be comfortable.” She said as she pulled the sheet from my leg, unentangling me so that I could slip toward the floor. I was a mess of lanky legs as I tried to stand. Fear coursed through me as I couldn’t escape. I shook again and snorted. Mrs. Halpin left, and didn’t shut the door. I followed her the best I could, though it was slow going. I used the door jam to lean up against and find more strength and balance. I poked my head out to see where I was. It was not a room but a stall in a huge barn.\n\nI made my way ungracefully (though mostly off the ground) to where I saw her disappear. I followed her to another huge stall-room and ran into Jason leaving. With a thud, I wobbled and fell again. My unsure horse legs splayed out under and around me.\n\n“Wow,” he said after reaching out a hand to me. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.” Imagined? I sighed which came out in a whuffling snort. He reached further as if to say hello to a strange animal. I pulled my head back so that I wouldn’t smell him, though I could even from where I was sprawled. I wanted to get up and run but had no idea how I was going to lift all billion pounds of me.\n\nI closed my eyes and tried to pull my legs back in so that I would be able to heft myself up. When I opened them, they were a little closer, and so was he. I squeaked in surprise.\n\n“I didn’t mean to startle you, girl. It’s going to be alright. Maybe I can help you get up?” I was suddenly so angry. The anger consumed me as I reached out, ears flattened, and tried to bite him. He chuckled softly as he backed up out of my way. “I know. This is frightening. Come on, let me help. Don’t you want to get up?”\n\nThe logic was sound but I had no idea how he was going to help me since he was a fraction of my size. I nodded which tousled my mane a bit. The feeling was so strange. It was heavier than my normally long hair and stringier. He then reached out and put his hand on one of my legs and told me to pull as he pushed, and coached me through where to put my weight and when until I was on all fours again. After a shaky step, I braced myself to stay upright.\n\nHe ran his hand over my neck, and buried his fingers under my mane. I held still as I took in my surroundings to see if I could find a way out. I turned my head and stretched out my neck a bit to watch him as he moved his hand further down to my shoulders. “You’re ok,” he said reassuringly. No. I wasn’t. I was a horse. That’s pretty much the definition of not alright. He kept saying it softly as his hand went down my body, circling my upper leg, then around my back to my rump. I don’t know if it was his voice or repetition, but I felt my anger and fear being replaced with the throb of attraction I had for him the first time I saw him. He continued to caress me into calmness as he talked and walked around me. He moved to the other side after pausing behind me. I had been around enough horses to know you don’t go back there or risk getting kicked. I felt my back leg twitch as if instinct wanted to show him how dangerous being there is. He then moved his hand over my left side’s rump, and up my back to play his fingers along my neck again. All the while, he kept telling me how ok I was. My head dropped down slightly and I felt so relaxed. I then felt his hand move up my cheek and smelled him as his hand caressed my nose. I inhaled him. He smelled so good. I looked at him through half-slitted relaxed eyes. He was smiling as he rubbed the soft part of my muzzle. “Shh... You’re ok. Such a good and beautiful girl.” I snorted half-heartedly as I felt one of his hands move from my nose to under my chin. I felt my head get heavier and rested it on his hand for support. “Yes, you’re fine.” He started to back away and stretched his arms so that he still had contact with me. I felt myself step forward to keep the distance between us as small as possible. He stepped back again, and I stepped forward, more confidently this time. I picked up my head, feeling stronger on four legs. I followed him a little more till we rounded a corner where there was an even larger room where a stall would be. There was a small mattress on the floor. He pointed at it, then a large pile of sweet hay next to it. “Let’s see if you return to your human form, ok? Just to make sure that you’ll be safe, I’ll sleep on the mattress next to you.”\n\nI whinnied in alarm. If? I could be stuck like this? I snorted and nodded. I walked to my side of the room and he turned to shut the door. I danced in fear and he said in that soft voice of his, “I don’t want you sleep walking out of here and getting picked up my strangers.” I smirked which came out on my lips. And he returned a smile. I stood on my side as close as I could to him without being obvious. He turned and lifted the blanket on his cot. He then unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the ground. His back rippled with slight muscles. I watched him as his hand dropped to his pants and they too fell with a clatter of belt buckle. He kicked them off and went down. His boxers tightened so that I could see a brief moment of bulge where his hardened cock was. I felt another throb deep inside. He was so sexy. I must have sighed because he glanced at me as he got under the covers with an even wider smile. “I think you’re sexy, too.” He flicked off the little light and we were plunged in darkness. I could still see his outline and watched him watch me for what seemed an eternity.\n\nIn the morning, I found myself curled up against him, in his arms and under the blanket. I stretched slightly and realized a few things: I was human again, and I was nude next to a hot man. I glanced down the blanket and saw the bulge. A hot man with an erection. I looked at his face and met his eyes. He was grinning at my blush. “Good morning,” he said. His arms tightened around me and I felt his thumb caressing my arm.\n\n“Uh. Good morning,” I said. I started to pull away then stopped. Was it a dream?\n\n“No, it wasn’t a dream.” He then explained that the dancing lights that I saw was an old horse spirit that he met a long time ago. Over the years, she told him about the way the earth had changed while she watched and how much she wished she could feel the earth beneath her hooves once more. As he told the story, he kept rubbed my back lightly, soothing me even more. “She must have sensed something in you that would allow her to be with you. I realize it might not seem like it but it is a gift unless you don’t like horses.” He chuckled. And I chuckled with him.\n\n“I love horses and used to dream of being able to be one when I was a kid. But this is crazy, right?”\n\n“Not that crazy, really. There are lots of stories of shapeshifters. Werewolves, for example. In this case, it’s not a bite that changes you, but the actual spirit. She’s sharing herself with you.”\n\n“But all that happened was a lot of pain and becoming a horse. How is that sharing?”\n\n“There are more gifts you’ll see with time. And, also with time, it won’t be as painful.”\n\n“Is it forever?” I don’t know why but I suddenly feared losing this. What child didn’t love horses? And how many girls grew up pretending to be one?\n\n“Maybe. We’ll see how the pairing is.”\n\nI smiled and wrapped my arms around him and snuggled into his musk. “Thank you for being there.”\n\nI felt the wetness on my thigh from his precum. “My pleasure. When my mom told me you answered the ad, I figured this would happen. I’m sorry that I was too late to warn you.” Feeling his cock touch me as he shifted made the throb return. It had been a while. My emotions were on overdrive as much as my sexual desire. I smiled at him and pulled him tighter against me till he felt my hardening nipples brush across his smooth chest.\n\n“There were others who answered the ad right? The price was amazing. Plus, there are horses.”\n\nHe shook his head as he kissed my nose. One of his hands ran down my front, rubbing my belly as softly as he caressed my neck last night, and a finger rubbed across my wet slit. “No.” He kissed down to my neck and I arched as I felt the finger go in further till it curled up in me. He slipped another in and slid them in and out slowly, stretching me so that I would be ready for his thick cock. He rolled on top of me as he guided the wet head into my swollen lips. My clit tingled as he rubbed his pelvis against me. His intensity built as I felt the clutching oncoming orgasm. He nibbled my neck then whispered. “We never placed an ad.” I gasped as we came together.\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Vessel of Freedom
by Morgan. O. Wolf
Dedicated to Shyhoof. Happy Valentine’s Day! February 14, 2012

The last of the boxes were hefted into the back of my scrappy retro bug. I hugged my mother and father one last time before getting into the vessel of freedom. As I drove out to my new home, I watched through the haze of tears scenery morphing from mundane suburbia with sidewalks and caged trees to larger and larger stretches of fields fenced by barb wire or wood. The morning light brightened into noon harshness and I creaked my sun visor into place, causing dust to scatter down in a frantic bee pattern. As the sun moved down slightly but not yet into the gentle purples of twilight, I saw the mailbox which stood sentry to my driveway. Its side had “Halpins” scrawled in a flowery font and was painted abstract swirls of bright green and blue. A line of black under the name resembled a horse in only the most rudimentary ways.

The gravel pinged up and into the undercarriage of my car. Boy, I hoped that wouldn’t cause a mechanic visit in my future. I slowed down as I passed over a grate and then turned into a gentle curve into the front of the two story farm house with carport, and followed it back to my new home. I had the key from when I came by a few weeks ago to turn in my deposit and sign a lease. One year seemed like such a long time but the price was right and I have been working from home for a few months now. Supposedly, all you need is Internet and that is available almost everywhere. This place had high speed which is good for the web development that I do and the occasional gaming that serves as a pleasant distraction. I turned off the car and popped the trunk. Considering that I had lived with my parents beyond the normally acceptable age (*cough* I’m over 30), I didn’t have that much coming with me. Of course, I had a computer with two large monitors, plus a couple dozen books on my favorite subject -- horses. The cottage came furnished so there was no need for any heavy furniture. I pulled out my favorite body pillow, nicknamed “boyfriend,” and turned to let myself in.

I heard my new landlady yelling my name in that sweet voice of hers. “Hey, Kara, honey!” I paused with the key in the lock and juggled the pillow so that I could wave back. I guess she only has one outfit because she was wearing the same thing I saw her in the first and only time I met her -- casual slacks, flowery shirt, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. The grey hair frizzled slightly but framed her roundish face and pinkish complexion well.

“Hi, Mrs. Halpin. How are you doing?” I asked.

“Oh, hon, I told you to call me Mary. I’m fine. Thanks for asking. Did you need any help?”

I shook my head and indicated the car with a jostle of the pillow. “No, thank you, Mary. I don’t have too much to move in. But thank you for offering.” She really was a sweet woman. At least I hoped she was as sweet as she seemed and not a murderer luring women to their deaths by offering extremely cheap housing and promise of fresh baked cookies every Saturday.

“Oh, that’s good. If you need any help moving, let me know. Our son should be back from his trip in a few days.” Ah, yes, the infamous son. She talked about him for about three hours last time. I hadn’t met him yet but I had seen a photo. Let’s just say I wouldn’t mind if he helped me move the furniture -- especially the bed.

“Great! I look forward to meeting him.” I leaned slightly toward the door again to as politely as possible indicate that I would like to go in. When she didn’t seem to notice and started to tell me about how he was a very smart man and had graduated college when he was just -- I interrupted her story with a question, “Would you like to come in?”

She shook her head and held out her hands and said “Oh no, dear. I don’t want to keep you from moving your things. I’ll send Jason over when he gets in so he can help you.” She smiled, paused as if she were going to say something else, but turned and walked back toward the house instead. I looked after her for a few minutes, then entered my new home.

As far as new homes go, it wasn’t too bad. It was a one bedroom guest house that had a small living room, eat-in kitchen, and a bedroom big enough for a queen bed, dresser, and hope chest. I went straight for the bedroom, pulled down the comforter and set down my pillow. She had even freshly washed and made my bed and left a few cookies on the nightstand.

Unloading the car only took about thirty minutes, and add another thirty to unpack the most important box -- the computer -- and it was already getting dark. I was overcome with exhaustion so headed to bed a little early. As I crawled under the covers, I could hear Mrs. Halpin’s horses nickering to each other. I guess they were saying their farewells and sweet dream wishes as well. I drifted off to sleep thinking about how much I wanted to walk over to the pasture and watch them in the morning.

And that must be why I had the most vivid and odd dreams of my life. I woke up in the morning with a soaked pillow and damp sheets from my sweat. As I opened my eyes to the light drifting in from the window, the dream began to disappear. I do remember running in a field and seeing Jason. I also had a flash of us having sex. Yes, I definitely needed to get out and date more.

In the morning, I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed down to the fence line near my house. I saw around five horses in various shades of browns and reds. In the distance I saw a black one -- male, by the looks of it. I sipped the coffee, then held out my hand to the closest, a pretty little chestnut mare with a white blaze. “Hey, pretty girl. How are you?” She nickered at me and moved closer so that she could sniff me and then let me pet her neck. Her fur was so soft, like she was brushed and loved daily. I patted her for a bit then headed back inside.

I guess I fell asleep on the couch while watching Law & Order because I woke to the sound of a horrible infomercial and a sharp whinny outside. Then another. And another. I tossed off the blanket and rushed outside hoping to scare off whatever was causing them to be so afraid. I blame my courage on not being full awake. As I threw open the door, I saw it in the distance: a bright shifting glow of blue and green hues. I thought maybe it was an aurora borealis but as I gained a bit more wakefulness I remembered I was in California not Alaska. It then shifted out and the sky returned to darkness with sprinkles of stars. I checked on the horses and returned to bed after being thoroughly snuffled and rubbed.

The lights returned nightly and they were so regular and beautiful that I actually got up to watch them. It wasn’t until around the fifth night that I noticed that the display didn’t stretch so far across the sky but actually seemed to line up more with the trees. On the sixth night, I went out with my blanket and sat on the bench outside my door and waved to the gathered horses. They nickered in greeting, seeming to look forward to my visits or the lights more now. I watched the space where the colors usually wave into existence but there was nothing for an hour. I glanced at my phone to check the time and confirmed its tardiness. Then there was a flash from the corner of my eye but I missed what it was by the time I glanced up. I returned to watching the distance but didn’t see them until a barest blue flickered and gathered up into a zigzag form. I watched it, compared it to the trees, and even the slope of the pasture. Yes, it definitely looked like it was closer and smaller. The horses didn’t seem afraid so I wasn’t either. Until it started racing toward me.

I stood to be sure of what I was seeing. The twisting blue and green glow seemed to be carried on a strong wind. Tendrils reached out and brushed the ground as it came closer. I dropped my blanket and ran inside. The sound of the deadbolt sliding into place snapped at the same time as the nickering chorus started. Oh! The horses! I was leaning against the door, contemplating going out and I don’t know what, when I felt the surface getting warm. I backed up as the twisting blue-green light came through. You’d think as many times as I’ve seen horror movies that I would know that the monster always finds a way in. It was a monster, right? I backed up farther until I hit the arm of the couch with my leg. I fell back. It then paused as if contemplating its next move. From this distance, I could really appreciate its beauty. There weren’t just blues and greens, but all the colors of a rainbow appearing and disappearing as if a painter’s palette was dissolving into water. I wondered what it would feel like and reached out my hand. The air closest to it was warmer than the rest. My extensive horror movie knowledge told me that that was not a ghost since they consume heat. I started to pull myself up when it rushed me. The last thing I remember was feeling warm, loved, and at peace.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of knocking which was echoing in dull thuds in my head. “One second,” I called out as I held my head with one hand and pushed myself up off the couch with the other. I opened the door and found a dark haired beautiful man smiling at me. I was suddenly conscious of my unbrushed hair, unshowered body, and unbrushed teeth.

“Didn’t think I’d wake you. Sorry about that.” He held out his hand and introduced himself, “I’m Jason. I got in a few hours ago and Mom wanted me to come over and see if you needed any help.”

Didn’t think he’d wake me? It was 8 in the morning, right? A quick glance to the DVR said otherwise. Oops. Late noon.

“Thanks for the offer but I think I’m OK.” As soon as I said that I felt my knees buckle and strong arms around me -- catching me before I fell too far.

I must have mumbled an apology because he said something about it being alright and getting Mom.

I woke up in a different bed. It was very large and softer than my own bed. I snuggled down into the comfort caused by a pile of blankets and looked around me. I didn’t recognize the room, but it was also very large. Jason then came in and smiled at me. The warmth of the blankets wasn’t anything compared to the warmth growing in other places because of that smile.

“Ah, she’s awake!” He brought in a glass of orange juice and handed it to me. After I chuckled, and drank the whole thing in a gulp, I apologized again for fainting or whatever.

“I don’t usually faint when meeting handsome ranchers.” Did I just say that? I blushed, but noticed a blush on his cheeks too.

“Thank you, but I’m not really a rancher. But thank you for the compliment.” There was this awkward silence as I held the empty glass. He then took it from me and got up to leave.

I nestled back into the bed and drifted off to sleep.

I woke up again because I felt constricted. It was just the sheets tightened up around me from tossing too much. Also they and my pillow were drenched with sweat. Maybe I was coming down with something. That would explain hallucinating the lights and fainting. The headache continued to throb and I felt that same pulse extending down my neck. Next, I felt a dull aching in my arms, then lower back, and legs. The aching increased till it became sharp and I cried out. The door opened and Mrs. Halpin came in. I started to ask for help but another wave of pain took over and I curled up. I then noticed my nose was in the way of my view of my darkening arms. More pain shut my gaze but I could feel it now that I’d seen it. I was changing but to what?

I learned the answer after what seemed forever with the building pain and Mrs. Halpin watching me, sometimes saying things like “Oh, hon. It’ll be alright. Hang in there.” and various encouraging phrases reserved for a woman going through childbirth. After the pain subsided to a dull ache, I remember shaking and reaching out with my arms to find, instead of a hand, a hoof. It thunked down and stretched the sheets a bit.

“I told Jason we should have taken off the sheets, but he wanted you to be comfortable.” She said as she pulled the sheet from my leg, unentangling me so that I could slip toward the floor. I was a mess of lanky legs as I tried to stand. Fear coursed through me as I couldn’t escape. I shook again and snorted. Mrs. Halpin left, and didn’t shut the door. I followed her the best I could, though it was slow going. I used the door jam to lean up against and find more strength and balance. I poked my head out to see where I was. It was not a room but a stall in a huge barn.

I made my way ungracefully (though mostly off the ground) to where I saw her disappear. I followed her to another huge stall-room and ran into Jason leaving. With a thud, I wobbled and fell again. My unsure horse legs splayed out under and around me.

“Wow,” he said after reaching out a hand to me. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.” Imagined? I sighed which came out in a whuffling snort. He reached further as if to say hello to a strange animal. I pulled my head back so that I wouldn’t smell him, though I could even from where I was sprawled. I wanted to get up and run but had no idea how I was going to lift all billion pounds of me.

I closed my eyes and tried to pull my legs back in so that I would be able to heft myself up. When I opened them, they were a little closer, and so was he. I squeaked in surprise.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, girl. It’s going to be alright. Maybe I can help you get up?” I was suddenly so angry. The anger consumed me as I reached out, ears flattened, and tried to bite him. He chuckled softly as he backed up out of my way. “I know. This is frightening. Come on, let me help. Don’t you want to get up?”

The logic was sound but I had no idea how he was going to help me since he was a fraction of my size. I nodded which tousled my mane a bit. The feeling was so strange. It was heavier than my normally long hair and stringier. He then reached out and put his hand on one of my legs and told me to pull as he pushed, and coached me through where to put my weight and when until I was on all fours again. After a shaky step, I braced myself to stay upright.

He ran his hand over my neck, and buried his fingers under my mane. I held still as I took in my surroundings to see if I could find a way out. I turned my head and stretched out my neck a bit to watch him as he moved his hand further down to my shoulders. “You’re ok,” he said reassuringly. No. I wasn’t. I was a horse. That’s pretty much the definition of not alright. He kept saying it softly as his hand went down my body, circling my upper leg, then around my back to my rump. I don’t know if it was his voice or repetition, but I felt my anger and fear being replaced with the throb of attraction I had for him the first time I saw him. He continued to caress me into calmness as he talked and walked around me. He moved to the other side after pausing behind me. I had been around enough horses to know you don’t go back there or risk getting kicked. I felt my back leg twitch as if instinct wanted to show him how dangerous being there is. He then moved his hand over my left side’s rump, and up my back to play his fingers along my neck again. All the while, he kept telling me how ok I was. My head dropped down slightly and I felt so relaxed. I then felt his hand move up my cheek and smelled him as his hand caressed my nose. I inhaled him. He smelled so good. I looked at him through half-slitted relaxed eyes. He was smiling as he rubbed the soft part of my muzzle. “Shh... You’re ok. Such a good and beautiful girl.” I snorted half-heartedly as I felt one of his hands move from my nose to under my chin. I felt my head get heavier and rested it on his hand for support. “Yes, you’re fine.” He started to back away and stretched his arms so that he still had contact with me. I felt myself step forward to keep the distance between us as small as possible. He stepped back again, and I stepped forward, more confidently this time. I picked up my head, feeling stronger on four legs. I followed him a little more till we rounded a corner where there was an even larger room where a stall would be. There was a small mattress on the floor. He pointed at it, then a large pile of sweet hay next to it. “Let’s see if you return to your human form, ok? Just to make sure that you’ll be safe, I’ll sleep on the mattress next to you.”

I whinnied in alarm. If? I could be stuck like this? I snorted and nodded. I walked to my side of the room and he turned to shut the door. I danced in fear and he said in that soft voice of his, “I don’t want you sleep walking out of here and getting picked up my strangers.” I smirked which came out on my lips. And he returned a smile. I stood on my side as close as I could to him without being obvious. He turned and lifted the blanket on his cot. He then unbuttoned his shirt and dropped it on the ground. His back rippled with slight muscles. I watched him as his hand dropped to his pants and they too fell with a clatter of belt buckle. He kicked them off and went down. His boxers tightened so that I could see a brief moment of bulge where his hardened cock was. I felt another throb deep inside. He was so sexy. I must have sighed because he glanced at me as he got under the covers with an even wider smile. “I think you’re sexy, too.” He flicked off the little light and we were plunged in darkness. I could still see his outline and watched him watch me for what seemed an eternity.

In the morning, I found myself curled up against him, in his arms and under the blanket. I stretched slightly and realized a few things: I was human again, and I was nude next to a hot man. I glanced down the blanket and saw the bulge. A hot man with an erection. I looked at his face and met his eyes. He was grinning at my blush. “Good morning,” he said. His arms tightened around me and I felt his thumb caressing my arm.

“Uh. Good morning,” I said. I started to pull away then stopped. Was it a dream?

“No, it wasn’t a dream.” He then explained that the dancing lights that I saw was an old horse spirit that he met a long time ago. Over the years, she told him about the way the earth had changed while she watched and how much she wished she could feel the earth beneath her hooves once more. As he told the story, he kept rubbed my back lightly, soothing me even more. “She must have sensed something in you that would allow her to be with you. I realize it might not seem like it but it is a gift unless you don’t like horses.” He chuckled. And I chuckled with him.

“I love horses and used to dream of being able to be one when I was a kid. But this is crazy, right?”

“Not that crazy, really. There are lots of stories of shapeshifters. Werewolves, for example. In this case, it’s not a bite that changes you, but the actual spirit. She’s sharing herself with you.”

“But all that happened was a lot of pain and becoming a horse. How is that sharing?”

“There are more gifts you’ll see with time. And, also with time, it won’t be as painful.”

“Is it forever?” I don’t know why but I suddenly feared losing this. What child didn’t love horses? And how many girls grew up pretending to be one?

“Maybe. We’ll see how the pairing is.”

I smiled and wrapped my arms around him and snuggled into his musk. “Thank you for being there.”

I felt the wetness on my thigh from his precum. “My pleasure. When my mom told me you answered the ad, I figured this would happen. I’m sorry that I was too late to warn you.” Feeling his cock touch me as he shifted made the throb return. It had been a while. My emotions were on overdrive as much as my sexual desire. I smiled at him and pulled him tighter against me till he felt my hardening nipples brush across his smooth chest.

“There were others who answered the ad right? The price was amazing. Plus, there are horses.”

He shook his head as he kissed my nose. One of his hands ran down my front, rubbing my belly as softly as he caressed my neck last night, and a finger rubbed across my wet slit. “No.” He kissed down to my neck and I arched as I felt the finger go in further till it curled up in me. He slipped another in and slid them in and out slowly, stretching me so that I would be ready for his thick cock. He rolled on top of me as he guided the wet head into my swollen lips. My clit tingled as he rubbed his pelvis against me. His intensity built as I felt the clutching oncoming orgasm. He nibbled my neck then whispered. “We never placed an ad.” I gasped as we came together.
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