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Hejira: Crystalline Hall

By Mantrid Brizon

Episode 20: Transmute

The following morning, Faye awakens from a deep sleep. She rubs her eyes and looks around the room. Kelly and Naomi eat a large breakfast consisting mostly of yesterday’s leftovers. Kahlera braids Gareth’s long goatee for her own amusement. Gareth sees Faye and waves to her. Faye runs her fingers through her hair, braiding it tightly before joining Naomi and Kelly. After they have eaten, Kina shows them to the storage hut that they will be living in for the remainder of their stay. Gareth and Kahlera stay behind, continuing to live with Kina.

As they leave Kina’s home, the couple look to each other. It’s time for them to go as well. They take only Gareth’s pack, with a small quantity of food and water, along with a single jade colored crystal. They quickly head out from the house and walk towards the northern mountain pass.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Kahlera asks him.

“Yes, it is.” Gareth replies, holding his lover tightly.

“I just do not want you to do this for me.” She adds.

He strokes her back as her tail sways. She purrs as she nuzzles his neck with her snout, before gazing up at him with her golden eyes. They share a passionate kiss before they begin their hike. Steve waves to them, calling out to the couple, but they either don’t hear him, or outright ignore him. He shrugs his shoulders and continues on his way. Steve walks through the town, carrying his woodcutter’s axe. He splits logs for nearly an hour, humming a pleasant tune. Suddenly, he is surprised by Sarvah, and the reappearance of the Feather Fingers.

“Hi, Steve.” Sarvah begins.

“That is not my name… And what are you doing back so soon?” He asks in surprise.

“Oh… No reason. Is Gareth around?” She asks.

“No. I saw him and Kahlera taking the northern mountain pass a short time ago.” He points in their direction.

Sarvah quickly passes him, racing off and searching frantically for Gareth.

“You’re welcome!” He shouts to her as she darts off.

She rushes to Kina’s home but finds it empty. As she leaves, she runs into Kina who is about to enter. Kina gasps as their chests press into each other and they both stumble backward.

“I’m sorry! Where is Gareth?!” Sarvah pleads.

“He has left. He’s going to appeal to Sahvath.” Kina replies.

“Did you give him the stone?!” She growls at Kina.

“Of course I did… It was his choice.” Kina smiles.

“Take me to his friends, now!” Sarvah demands.

Sarvah grips Kina by the shoulders, spinning her around. Kina complies, leading her to the wickiup where Faye, Kelly and Naomi are staying.

“Hello, Sarvah!” Naomi happily greets her. “You are back awfully soon. Couldn’t stay away?” She teases.

“We have to find Gareth right now. It’s very important. His life may be in danger!” Sarvah insists.

The three immediately rush to collect their packs.

“No time! We need to go!” She barks.

“What is going on?!” Kelly asks.

“He’s going to appeal to Sahvath.” Kina answers for her.

“What does that mean?” Faye asks.

“He’s trying to become Sahvorai.” Sarvah answers.

“Damnit, Gary, you idiot. Why do you always have to do stuff that can kill you? I don’t want to find another best friend.” Kelly thinks aloud.

“This is a nightmare. Wake up.” Faye mutters repeatedly to herself.

They race to the northern pass, leaving Kina behind as they hike hastily up the steep incline.

“How can a human become a Sahvorai?” Naomi asks Sarvah.

“And why are you back so soon?” Kelly adds.

“We had just arrived at a small tribe not far from here. I learned of it from speaking with the hunters. While there, I heard a legend of transmutation; a human may appeal to Sahvath to become his chosen race. They place a colored crystal on an altar of worship, and Sahvath grants them a place among his people. Gareth told me he desired to make this appeal. When I learned that it might be possible, I came back as soon as I could, only to learn that Kina had already given Gareth a jade crystal, a relic of the Blue Feet that belongs to one of their ancient temples.” Sarvah explains.

“Why are you so worried then? How is his life in danger?” Naomi asks.

“The legend says that the old self will be destroyed in Sahvath’s holy fire. It’s not worth the risk.” Sarvah continues.

While hiking through the pass, they encounter the corpse of a large mountain lion. The carcass is warm to the touch, and riddled with burn holes from Gareth’s main talent, the holy bolt. They rush up the mountain pass as rocks fall from the hills around them, cracking loudly as they roll past them.

“Déjà vu.” Kelly thinks aloud.

“Is this also the way to the Crystalline Hall?” Faye asks.

“I don’t know. There are several mountain passes and I have never been here before.” Sarvah answers.

“Shit. I didn’t bring that map.” Kelly grumbles in frustration.

After hiking for about an hour, they see a stone temple in the distance. The temple is in the form of a step pyramid, made of dark gray stones of varying sizes, and jutting from the side of the mountain; the back half of the pyramid appears to be either buried by rubble, or carved out of the rock itself. Sarvah clambers up the hill with incredible fervor, leaving the others behind.

“Are you sure you want to do this? There is still time to turn back.” Kahlera pleads with Gareth.

“Why would I want to do that?” He asks her.

“I just don’t want you to feel as though you have to do this.” She says.

“If I do this, we can pair. Besides… This is something of a dream of mine. It’s as much for me as it is for you.” He explains. “Who knows… You might like me more this way.”

“I like you quite a bit already.” She murmurs.

Kahlera lowers her head. They stand at the top of the pyramid, at the mouth of a small room built atop it. Her heart pounds in her chest, turning her eyes to Gareth. She watches him walk towards a small pedestal. He looks at it, noting the impression carved into it. He takes off his musette bag, boots and vest, setting them neatly to the side as he carefully removes the jade colored, translucent crystal from his pack. Its flat, hexagonal base is a perfect match for the space carved into the pedestal.

Sarvah climbs the steps of the pyramid as Naomi, Kelly and Faye struggle to keep up a few meters behind. Reaching the top of the stairs, they see Kahlera standing near the opening of the pyramid. Sarvah races up to her, grabbing her by the shoulders.

“What are you doing?!” Sarvah growls.

“It’s what he wants.” Kahlera replies, swatting her hands away.

“This might kill him!” Sarvah barks at her.

Gareth places the crystal on the pedestal as it begins to glow. Faye, Kelly and Naomi rush towards the room but stop as it grows brighter within. They are afraid that whatever is going to happen will affect them too, if they are close enough. Sarvah watches with watery eyes as a light beams up from the crystal and into the ceiling. She can’t fathom her life without Gareth being in it. Her fear is palpable. Kahlera also becomes terrified that Gareth is about to die, and feels her heart breaking.

The light beam strikes another crystal, which is mounted high in the ceiling of the temple. The clear crystal is cut like a polygonal dome. As the light from the jade crystal enters the center of the dome, it passes through and beams down nearly a dozen more cones of light onto the floor. They illuminate the floor in a perfect circle; Gareth is already standing in one. As the light touches his flesh, he begins to smoke, as though he were being burned by a giant magnifying glass.

Sarvah and Kahlera are both petrified, as it appears that Gareth is about to spontaneously combust. The light grows more intense over him as he groans in pain. He falls to his knees and the light grows ever brighter, making it impossible to see him within the temple. The five shield their eyes or turn away entirely. Gareth cries out from inside the room; Sarvah tries to step inside to get him, but Kahlera and Kelly both grab onto her arms, holding her back. Sarvah struggles with them for a moment.

“Let go of me! I cannot leave him in there!” She cries out.

“It’s too dangerous!” Kahlera warns.

“I don’t care!” Sarvah whimpers.

Kelly’s grip is too strong, and Naomi soon wraps her arms around Sarvah’s waist; they keep her from entering the temple. She bites her bottom lip as the light pulses. It oscillates throughout the room, as though searching for more targets. After a moment, it begins to dim. It has soon faded enough to see within the temple. Gareth leans over the pedestal, gripping the crystal tightly in his left hand, as though trying to remove it. The light maintains its current strength as his body completes the transformation before their eyes.

His feet and head have already altered shape, taking on Sahvorai characteristics. A tail sticks out above the waistband of his pants, pushed into a rather painful looking bend. He stretches out his arms and roars as his hands crack loudly, still changing shape. His fingernails fall to the floor, black claws springing up in their place. Smoke gray fur quickly grows over his body, visibly darkening his figure as it covers his flesh. He turns his head to reveal a moderate snout. His human ears appear to shrivel, falling from his head as new triangular ears, similar to Kahlera’s, sprout atop his skull. He spits out several bloody teeth at regular intervals.

The group watches in mixed awe and horror as the transformation appears to finish. Gareth slumps over the pedestal as the crystal falls out of its place. It rolls away, and he barely grabs it before it tumbles to the floor. He looks at the dull jade crystal in his hand, noting his claws. He moves his arms wide apart and arches his back as he stretches, groaning as he flexes his muscles. He turns, but stumbles and looks down at his feet.

“Well that’s different.” He casually comments, clicking the black claws of his paw-like feet on the stone floor.

Sarvah is elated to see that he isn’t dead. Now, though, she is nervous to see his appearance.

“G-... Gare?” Sarvah meekly calls out to him.

“Sarvah?! What are you doing here? I thought you were off trading.” He replies, his voice unchanged.

He steps out of the temple. Faye gasps and turns away in horror, though Kelly and Sarvah stand in stunned silence. Kahlera and Naomi seem more intrigued, as they both approach him slowly. Gareth stands the exact same height as before, though his brown hair has turned black, and his eyes have become a deep purple, like his aura. His new fur is a solid and shiny smoke gray color. It seems almost iridescent, as it shines more when he moves in the light, and is very soft.

His beard has been replaced with noticeably longer fur on his chin, reminiscent of a goat’s beard. His mustache has disappeared entirely, as did all other facial hair. He has a distinct feline appearance, though his ears seem taller and thinner than Kahlera’s, and his snout is slightly longer and more squared; it remains shorter than Sarvah’s. He has a black feline nose.

“Wow... You’re soft...” Naomi comments, touching his arm.

“And still quite handsome.” Kahlera says, looking him over.

“Thanks. I’m glad I didn’t do this only to become uglier.” Gareth laughs.

“Unlikely. I don’t think that was possible.” Kelly quips.

“Why did you do it?” Sarvah asks with tear filled eyes.

“Because I wanted too.” Gareth promptly answers.

“I liked you the way you were...” Sarvah mutters.

“Yeah, this is kind of weird... By ‘kind of’ I mean ‘a whole fucking lot’.” Kelly adds.

“I think I look on the outside how I always felt on the inside. You will get used to it after a couple of days. Plus, I should live another two-hundred and fifty more years as a Sahvorai, right?” He turns to Kahlera.

She smiles, nodding her head as she wraps her arms around him and feels him against her. She sniffs his neck and sighs.

“You are still my Gare. You do not smell differently.” She coos.

“That’s another thing... I feel like my senses are enhanced. My vision is decent instead of crappy, my hearing is sharper, and I can smell all of you... Especially you, Kel.” Gareth jokes.

“I should have brought more deodorant.” Kelly chuckles.

“So, is this your Faustian bargain?” Faye barks.

“What?” Gareth asks.

“Powers and a longer life in exchange for being... That!” She growls.

“No. Those are just a bonus. I really didn’t like my human body much to begin with. It was kind of pale and pathetic.” He smirks.

“You surrendered your soul…” Faye mutters.

“My soul is still in here, and so is my heart and mind. I just look better now.” Gareth replies.

“Eh.” Kelly rocks a hand from side to side.

“Whatever. You’re just jealous.”

“You’re mistaking that for relief again. They look very similar on my face.” Kelly retorts.

Sarvah slowly looks Gareth over, from his digitigrade feet to the tips of his ears. He looks drastically different, but he acts the same, sounds the same, and even smells the same. He hasn’t really changed from before, at least not on the inside. As she looks up to him, his purple eyes turn and lock onto hers. Staring at him for a moment, she sees into his heart, and it’s unchanged as well. Moreover, to her surprise, she still finds him physically appealing.

He sees the tears in Sarvah’s eyes and steps up to her. Kahlera watches for a moment as Gareth gives Sarvah a hug. Sarvah feels his fur against hers, and the warmth of his arms, then soon feels herself melting from his touch, just as she did before he transformed.

“It’s alright. I’m still the same guy, and I’m still your best friend.” He speaks softly into her ear.

She feels his snout alongside her face, and as he speaks, his words strip away her worries and fears. He leans back, gently wiping away her tears with his thumb. He smiles at her, bearing his teeth. He suddenly turns and touches his new teeth with his fingers.

“That is sooo cool.” He says aloud, poking his fangs.

Kahlera and Sarvah both chuckle as Gareth plays with his own jaw.

“Well, now I know who to blame when I find dead birds in front of my house.” Kelly quips.

“It’s a present, because we’re such good friends.” Gareth grins.

Naomi grabs Gareth’s arm and rubs her cheek against his shoulder.

“Mmm... Soft!” She grins.

“Faye, please take her back now, before she rubs it all off.”

“It’ll grow back!” Naomi whines.

Faye sighs in frustration, and reaches out. She seems hesitant, as though worried that Gareth is going to suddenly maul her. She grabs Naomi’s arm, pulling her away from Gareth; Kahlera quickly takes her place.

“Aww...” Naomi groans.

Gareth turns back and collects his things, slipping his vest and pack back on, but carrying his boots, as he is no longer able to wear them. He turns and tosses the jade crystal to Kelly, who throws it aside like a hot rock, only for Sarvah to catch it.

“You don’t want a turn?” Gareth chuckles.

“Hell no.” Kelly replies.

“What about you Faye? Curious to know what your other self looks like?” He asks, trying to break the ice.

Faye merely glares at him with disgust and rage. Sarvah returns the jade crystal to Gareth’s pack for him. They all climb carefully down the stairs of the temple. Sarvah purposefully lags behind a few paces, staring at Gareth and looking him over as she struggles to accept it. Though she is adapting to his new appearance surprisingly swiftly, what she struggles with is the fact that she still desires him, even though he is no longer human; to her knowledge, she only ever found human men attractive.

The mere fear of Gareth’s demise nearly destroyed her, and only furthered her realization of her true feelings for him. She has never cared about a male so much in her life, even her previous lover; his outward appearance is inconsequential. Never did Sarvah ever consider walking into a mysterious room to help another, let alone one glowing with potentially deadly and mystical light. For Gareth, however, it wasn’t even a conscious act; she simply started walking toward him. Sarvah now worries that, despite her claims of one day overcoming her feelings, she cannot ever live without him.

“So... What did it feel like?” Naomi asks.

“Do you want the Disney version, or the truth?” Gareth asks.

“Hm... The truth...” Naomi replies, after briefly thinking it over.

“At first, it tingled like when your arm or leg falls asleep and are starting to wake back up. Then it began to burn so hot that it felt cold. After that, everything went numb. I lay over that pedestal to keep from falling over. As my hands, feet and face changed, it stung quite a bit, but then it all subsided. I didn’t even notice the tail, claws, teeth or ears. When the fur began to grow, it tickled all over; I could feel it sprouting. Then I suddenly felt normal. All in all, it really wasn’t too bad.” Gareth recalls, tapping a black claw against his bottom lip.

“I see.” Naomi seems deep in thought.

“Why do you care?” Faye grumbles.

“It’s fascinating. Aren’t you the least bit curious?” Naomi asks her.

“Nope!” Faye replies.

“Glad to see you woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.” Kelly quips.

As they hike from the temple, Gareth briefly struggles with his new tail. He pauses to cut a slot into the backside of his pants, allowing for his tail to poke through, without bending so painfully. As they walk down the pass, he quickly adapts to his feet, but finds it awkward walking only on footpads.

“This feels very strange.” He comments.

“Does it hurt?” Kahlera asks.

“No. Even though the ground is cold, it doesn’t seem to bother me like it would if I were walking on bare, human feet. It’s a very strange feeling. My new feet must have a much thicker skin.” He answers.

“You will grow used to it soon. You adapt very quickly.” Sarvah adds.

They walk down the mountain pass as Gareth seems winded.

“I think the transformation process drained my energy. I feel like taking a little cat nap. Heh... Cat nap.” He says with a grin.

As they hike down the mountain pass and back towards the village, Gareth stops at the mountain lion. He briefly laments having to kill it. They return to the Blue Feet village as Gishner and Kina wait for them at the mouth of the pass. Kina and Gishner both smell the air, before looking to the gray furred Sahvorai.

“Hi!” He says happily, with a wave.

“I see it was a success.” Gishner comments.

“Gareth... You look different.” Kina says with a smile.

“Did you do something to your hair?” Gishner jokes.

“Do you like it? I heard that gray fur is ‘in’ this season.” Gareth quips.

They pass by several more Sahvorai as they return to Kina’s home. Volaren sees Gareth as he approaches Sarvah. He stops in his tracks, smelling the air.

“Gareth? Is it really you? … You look different… It suits you.” Volaren comments.

“You think so? It was a tough choice between corvette red or mustang blue, but I went with lowrider primer.” Gareth smirks.

“... I’m sorry?” Volaren raises a brow.

“Never mind. I’m glad you don’t think I’m hideous.” He replies.

“I don’t look at men in that way, but you certainly aren’t ugly. At least it won’t be so strange; we can travel without the one human standing out.”

“What about me?!” Naomi interjects, a hurt tone in her voice.

“Everyone already loves you; you’re one of us. Gareth, on the other hand...” Volaren teases.

Steve suddenly approaches, having spotted the familiar posse walking back from the pass. He stops and sees the foreign, gray furred Sahvorai. He smells the air, taking a step back in surprise.

“Gareth? You look different…” Steve comments.

“I didn’t do shit to my hair.” Gareth snaps.

“What?” Steve sounds confused.

“Nothing. It’s a joke.” Gareth chuckles.

“It’s not quite as funny when I don’t understand it.” Steve points out.

“That’s half the fun. Besides, I understand it, and that’s why I said it.” Gareth replies.

“Well, you look like you actually belong here now.” Steve adds.

“I didn’t before?”

“Not really!” Steve admits.

“Well good. It’s all going according to plan.” Gareth says facetiously, rubbing his hands together.

The group walks toward the storage hut, where Gareth, Kahlera and Sarvah part ways with Kelly, Faye and Naomi.

“I’m feeling very tired, so I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early… Or I’ll just see you tomorrow.” Gareth smiles, his fangs gleaming.

Kelly and Naomi say goodnight, even though it is barely mid-day. Faye is very apprehensive, even quietly disgusted; she doesn’t say anything to Gareth. He and Kahlera return to Kina’s home, followed by Sarvah and Volaren. Once at the foot of the steps, Gareth says goodbye to both of his friends, giving Sarvah a hug and Volaren a forearm grip. Sarvah and her soldier walk away, but as Gareth turns and walks up the stairs, she stops and watches him, sighing as she looks him over.

“Hm… I did not know that about you.” Volaren suddenly says.

“Know what?!” Sarvah asks defensively.

“You are still interested in him. Your only other mate was a human; I assumed that Gareth becoming Sahvorai would eliminate your desire.” Volaren replies.

“Be silent, and mind your business.” Sarvah growls.

“Apologies.” He smirks.

Inside, Gareth and Kahlera sit next to each other on their bedroll. Gareth’s eyelids feel heavy. Kahlera feels his forehead and notes a mild fever, possibly a side effect of the transformation. She takes his pack off and sets it aside. Kina suddenly sits down before them, looking Gareth over. Kahlera returns the jade crystal.

“Well, now that you actually belong with us, I suppose we will need to construct a home for you and Kahlera. I hope you two will pair very soon.” Kina says with a smile.

Kahlera looks down, visibly embarrassed. Without allowing either of them to answer, Kina stands up and leaves the home.

“I wonder where she is casually walking off too…” Gareth says in a tired voice.

“Just lie down, Gare. Your body needs rest.” She speaks softly.

She lies Gareth down on the bedroll, placing a soft pillow beneath his head. She gives him a kiss on the side of his snout, before lying down next to him. She watches him, covering him with a blanket before burrowing underneath it. Lying beside him, she slides an arm across his chest and snuggles with him.

“Well… Today has been pretty interesting! My best friend is now a cat.” Kelly laughs.

“And we still have several more hours of daylight ahead of us. Maybe one of us will turn into a dog?” Naomi quips.

“Do you two really think this is funny?!” Faye barks at them.

“Yeah, actually. I do. Don’t you?” He asks.

“No! This nightmare is getting worse…” She grumbles.

She places a hand on her forehead, gritting her teeth as she clenches her skull in her fingers. Kelly and Naomi look to each other in combined worry and fear.

“It’s not so bad. If he gets into anything, we’ll just blast him with a spray bottle.” He jests, hoping to get a laugh out of Faye.

“Maybe petting him will help reduce stress?” Naomi teases.

“Just… Both of you… Shut the fuck up.” Faye grumbles as she lies back.

“Are you tired too?” Naomi asks.

“I’m tired of everything…” Faye murmurs.

“Let’s take a walk!” Naomi urges.

She reaches out and clutches Faye’s arm, pulling her up. Naomi takes her sister outside, trying to keep her calm, as they walk away from the village. They come to a hill, just beyond the village, and serving no real purpose. In an effort to take Faye’s mind off the events of the morning, Naomi and her sister train with their talents. Kelly sits alone in the wickiup for a moment, staring at the stick and hide ceiling.

“Left alone, again…” He sighs. “Damn, I wish I had a PSP or something… I could go for Pokemon right now.”

He eventually gets up and walks out of the hut, taking a look around outside. He doesn’t see Naomi or Faye anywhere, and Gareth looked worn out from his ordeal. Eager to find a familiar face, he roams around until he finds the Feather Finger’s convoy. Volaren is packing up a wagon, and notices Kelly.

“You look rather lost. Is there something I can help you with?” Volaren asks the human.

“You’re one of Gary’s buddies, right?” He asks.

“Yes.” Volaren nods.

“Cool. Everyone ditched me, and I’m feeling out of place. I need something to do. A chore… Anything.” He says.

“I believe I can help you.” Sarvah suddenly speaks.

“Oh, good.” Kelly replies as he turns around.

“Someone told everyone to unpack, but we are not staying. You see those empty carts over there? Pack them back up, and do it right… That will keep you busy for a while…” She dryly orders.

“Thanks, I’ll g-” He begins, but she walks away before he can finish. “Man, she’s a lot nicer to Gareth.” He comments.

“This is true.” Volaren says, before returning to his work.

Kelly walks over to the empty carts and examines the stack of supply crates. He begins loading the carts, stacking the crates quickly but carefully. He loads one cart, and then another. Out of eight carts, he loads six of them in what feels like minutes. He stops for a moment, wiping his brow with the back of his wrist, as sweat only now begins to bead on his forehead.

“Taking a break?” A soft feminine voice asks.

He whips around and sees a girl sitting atop a wooden crate. She is young looking, with a rabbitesque appearance. Her snout is short and broad, with large and tall ears that come to sharp points, with a flat, pink nose and a fluffy poof of a tail. She is covered in short white fur, with blue eyes and white, wavy human hair that is cut to shoulder length. She wears a cream-colored top and skirt made of simple cloth; at a glance, she almost appears nude. She sways her feet, and is clearly quite short.

“Uh… No.” He answers. “Just a second, really.”

“Oh. Well you look like you are working hard.” She smiles.

“Nah. This is nothing. You should have seen me move people’s furniture. I could break down a whole house and load it into a tru… Cart in under an hour.” He smirks.

“Well you certainly look strong enough.” She adds, her eyes gliding over his body.

“You think so? I’ve been on a strict jerky and berry diet. I didn’t think it was working out.” He says, jokingly flexing a muscle.

The girl giggles, sliding off of the crate and stepping up to him. She is quite small, standing barely five feet and two inches tall, and couldn’t possibly weigh more than one-hundred pounds.

“So, what is a snow bunny doing out here all by herself?” He asks.

“Just… Poking around.” She winks. “What is a strong human doing loading carts?” She asks, gently tapping him with an index finger.

“Nothing better to do.” He replies.

“Really? Well, I can think of quite a few things.” She coos.

“Oh boy… I bet you can, Lola.” He comments, stepping back from her.

“Lola?” She seems puzzled.

“Sorry. Dumb joke. I’m Kelly.” He says.

“And I am Vahna… Do you think you could help me, Kelly?” She asks sweetly.

He looks around, almost expecting to be surprised by cameras at any moment.

“Yeah, sure. Why not!” He replies.

Smiling wide, she takes him by the hand and leads him away from the carts, taking him toward a yurt. The situation feels familiar, but he isn’t entirely comfortable. They turn the corner and there, in a pile before the yurt, is a considerable stack of fabric rolls and nearly a dozen empty carts. Kelly laughs aloud as he looks at the mountain of cloth.

“What is so funny?” Vahna smiles expectantly.

“You just uh… Oh, nothing.” Kelly replies.

“I did ask you for your help.” She adds.

“Exact words, right?” He chuckles.

The two of them carefully load a cart with the rolls, packing it full. As they work, Vahna regularly eyes Kelly.

“So why do they have such a small girl doing this kind of work?” He asks.

“I’m stronger than I look.” Vahna replies.

After loading two of the twelve carts with fabric rolls, he begins to sweat; Vahna seems fine, and even content. He wipes his brow, taking a deep breath. Vahna sits atop a large fabric roll, crossing her legs at the knees as she leans back. Her eyes narrow as she gazes at Kelly.

“Do you want to take a break now?” She asks with a smile.

“Sure…” He says, sitting just below her feet.

She lies back on the roll, gently swaying a foot.

“You seem like you enjoy this.” He comments.

“I’m just a happy person.” Vahna replies.

“Plucky girl, eh? So then when you want to actually have fun, what do you do?” Kelly asks.

Vahna looks down at him and sits up. She scoots closer to him, quickly looking around.

“Would you like me to show you?” She asks sweetly.

“Sure!” He blurts out.

She swiftly stands up, pulling him by the hand. She leads him away from the fabric rolls. She slips into the yurt, pulling him through the flap behind her. The flap smacks him in the face as he passes under it. He lets go of the girl’s hand and steadies the flap before turning back. As he looks at Vahna, she stands in the middle of the yurt, facing him.

She reaches to her right shoulder, pulling the knot free in a single motion and dropping her top down over her body and onto the ground. His eyes widen as she reaches behind her and does the same to her skirt, now completely unclothed. He looks over her form and is surprised by how human it is. Kelly can’t help but become curious. He turns back to the flap, suddenly second guessing himself. Vahna approaches him, pressing her body against his.

Kelly’s brain tells him to leave, but his body stands still. Thinking back to Gareth and Kahlera, before his transformation, he is compelled to stay. Reaching out and resting an arm around the girl, he feels her soft fur against his forearm. It immediately unnerves him, but he still hesitates to leave. He has no idea which impulse to follow as Vahna pulls back and lies down on the ground, looking to him as she presents herself. He wonders if he can truly know how he feels, until he has experienced it for himself.

“Wow...” He mutters. “Maybe I should play the whole album before I judge.”

“What?” Vahna asks with a perplexed look on her face.

“Nothing.” He says, taking a step closer and removing his shirt. “Just thinking aloud.”

“Would you like to think over here?” She coos, resting a hand over her loins.