The Kelmendi Virus
The Kelmendi Virus: Outbreak
"Time now for a hard-hitting local story, exclusive to Fox 13 News," The anchorwoman said into the camera, "With staggering new footage we go to our on-the-scene-reporter, Meghan Rodgers."
"As our viewers certainly know by now, roughly 6 months ago, a new illness made it's appearance in the world," the screen suddenly changed to a large grassy field, populated by a herd of grazing horses, the reporter continued speaking, "The outbreak, for reasons no one in the general public fully understands, all the initial victims of this bizarre plague were centered in our own city, around those that worked and visited the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office."
The panning camera stopped on the attractive young reporter, her auburn hair gently blown by the wind, "Behind me you can see the victims of what leading epidemiologists refer to as Mutagen EQ1, or as most know it, the Kelmendi Virus, so named for the corrupt corporation that created it. Yes, for the first time, government's Centers for Disease Control officials have allowed the victims to be filmed, exclusively by Fox 13, here at Containment Unit 1, or the Indianola Ranch as come to be known, the first of these compounds to be created. We around told that 16 others, located across the country, operate to the same high standards. Our guide, Dr. Orme, spoke to us about the Compound and the victims."
"As you can see, none of their humanity remains," Dr. Orme spoke as the camera panned the large pasture, "This field is populated entirely by stallions, former men, as mixing of the sexes results in breeding, as there is no checking of the mating instinct, and we are reluctant to castrate former humans, particularly when there may yet be cure.. We know this is matter of some debate, as some well intended individuals argue that known couples should be allowed to live together. However, this sudden and unexpected strain on resources, adding offspring to the mix will help no one. And..." As the doctor spoke the screen showed another field, this time with what were clearly mares, some were clearly pregnant and others nursed young foals, "In fact, many of the women, or former women, had already become pregnant before being found by law enforcement or CDC officials."
"At this point," Meghan spoke once more, and again the on scene footage changed, this time to a large gray horse being loaded into a trailer, "Officials have determined that once the virus has run it's entire course and victim is entirely equine, whether that be, horse, donkey, or even zebra, they no longer carry the contagion."
Dr. Orme explained further, "All tests show that, at this point, perhaps a week after the last indication of human physiology and anatomy has vanished, there is no trace of Mutagen EQ1. The victim is as benign as any natural born equine, and maybe treated as such, with no concern of becoming infected. This illustrates how we are learning more about this contagion everyday. A preventative vaccine is just weeks away, and a cure is just over the horizon."
"Here is the first victim to be taken home to live with his family," Meghan explained as the stallion huffed and stamped as he was pushed into the trailer, looking frightened and confused, only entering with to men pushing his rump and a woman coaxing and pulling on his halter, "Meet Officer Bradley Smith, one of the earliest victims of the initial outbreak 6 months ago, and his wife, Connie Smith."
They camera was now on a middle aged woman standing in front of the trailer, her eyes red and puffy, like she clearly had been upset recently, but seemed to have control now, "I'm just relieved to take him home. I-I mean it was only a month and a half ago when I was first allowed to see him! By-by that point he-he was already gone, but he does recognize me! I know it! We've set up a nice little pasture in the backyard, with the city council's approval, of course. The police department is helping me... They... they agreed to accept him in the new mounted officer program. He's young and healthy now... it's... it's what Bradley would've wanted..." The woman wiped her eyes with a tissue, "Please, excuse me."
Once again, Meghan was back on screen,"This new program will reunite families and create more room at the Containment Units, but CDC officials want to reiterate to those without the means of taking care of their loved ones, can still rely on the CU's to provide the best of care for the transforming and transformed.
"And of course, we would be remiss if we do not go over the points the CDC provides to prevent infection.
"Number one, always use safe sex practices, while all modes of transmission are not yet fully understood, officials are certain that the surest form is through sexual contact. One of the first symptoms is an increased sexual drive. If you or your partner is behaving strangely in this regard, please contact the near CDC Containment Unit.
"Number 2, Avoid contact with anyone in midst of transformation between human and equine states! This seems to be a time of increased contagious potency when the virus may even be able to spread through the air or casual contact. If you come across anyone in this state, please contact law enforcement or the CDC immediately.
"Number 3, Avoid contact with strange equines. All safe equines, whether formerly-human or not, have been freeze branded near the withers, with a serial number, in this case, 00008 and the local CU number, 01 for the Indianola Unit." The TV showed an example of the number, taken from Officer Smith's withers, "All approved equine living quarters are required to display government issued "Safe Pasture" or "Safe Stable" signs on fences and gates." An example of the bright yellow sign with large black lettering, bolted to some random gate was now seen before snapping back to Meghan, "If you see an unmarked equine, call law enforcement or the CDC immediately.
"The Center for Disease Control believes these measures will protect you and your family, and will bring this pandemic under control. Tune in for future updates. Meghan Rodgers reporting, Fox 13 News, Utah."
888
"Well? What did you think of my report?" Meghan asked her friend Corrie as she returned from a brief visit to the kitchen, "Do think it will help anyone?"
Corrie sighed and nervously straighten her platinum blonde hair, "Some, I think, but there are so many crazy people Meg. I wonder if they can really bring this under control. This is really scary."
Meghan plopped back down on her sofa, next to her friend, a diet Coke in one hand and a light beer in the other. Corrie had come to watch Meghan's report on the news, as well as having a general 'girls' night out', as they often did when Meghan had a featured story. Meghan tried her best to help her friend and neighbor have a break from her hectic family life. The husband and two young children were no easy task for the stay at home mom. But tonight she could relax as Tom had the kids tonight.
Meghan gave her friend the Coke (Corrie's religion forbid alcohol) and spoke as she opened her can of weak Utah beer. She was excited, this was the story of her career, but she understood Corrie's feelings all too well, "It's terrifying but maybe if we get the word out there, people will calm down and this can be reigned in... The CDC claims it's under control for the most part."
"Maybe," Corrie said before taking a drink, "but we're right in the middle of this, and it seems to be spreading so fast. First Salt Lake, then LA, New York, St. Louis, Miami, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris, London, and that's just the confirmed outbreaks... I'm afraid to turn on the news anymore to hear what city is hit next. There are rumors of transformed people living in wild herds right here in Utah, living in the deserts and mountains. Some people are talking about apocalypse and this is punishment from god. Terrorists are threatening to purposely spread the infection."
"I wouldn't worry too much Cor, I mean we're, especially you and Tom, are very low risk," Meghan said, seeing that her sheltered friend truly was worried. Meghan didn't want to let on that she too was frightened. She had seen things at the Indianola Unit, things that civilians wasn't supposed to, things the CDC officials didn't know she had seen. She tried to remain excited for the advancement of her career, and not think about it.
"Tom's boss was infected," Corrie stated flatly, "He started changing at the office, Tom saw it happening himself, to his own friend!"
"Oh, god, Corrie, I'm... I mean is Tom alright?" Meghan was shocked, nearly spilling her beer.
"Yes thank god! He only saw him through the window in Al's office door, the CDC checked him out says he's fine, but everyone in the office was decontaminated anyway. But Tom told me about it, what he saw... Al ripping out of his clothes... the changes... his... body I can't have that happen to me or my family!" Corrie began crying.
"I'm sure it won't!" Meghan put her Coke can on the coffee table and hugged her friend close, "Tom wasn't exposed, okay! You're okay, Tom's okay, Alice is okay, Richie's okay..."
"I know, I know, " Corrie said into Meghan's shoulder, calming down, "Tom will be home for at least a week, while they decontaminate the office. Al was such a nice man... now, now he's a horse! His wife Ann is under quarantine, but Tom says the office rumor is that she is changing too."
"This is all so crazy!" Meghan said, "I mean how does this fucking happen?"
"Language, Meg," Corrie chided her friend, "You know how it happened, it was those-those damn Kelmendis! They couldn't have done a better job of destroying the world if they tried!"
Meghan was little stunned, it took quite a lot to get Corrie to swear even mildly, she was very religious and conserved. The church every Sunday type.
"Everyone's retirement plan had Kelmendi stock in it," Corrie went on, "Now that the stock price had plummeted off the face of the earth... Do you know how bad it is? Tom's retirement plan was destroyed!"
"Yes," Meghan nodded, another idea for a news story slipping into her mind, "Mine isn't much better. We're working on a story for it even. Maybe if stories like yours get out more, maybe they'll be some kind of help. I could do a segment on it!"
Beyond even the bizarre transformation of human's into equines, Kelmendi Industries had thrown the world into chaos. When word leaked about who was responsible for the creation of the virus, the Kelmendi stock portfolio collapsed into ruin. Division after division crumbled until Kelmendi Industries ceased to exist, and aftershock was profound in ways no one predicted. Military, transportation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy all had been effected. Soldiers were being called back home due to a lack of weapons and equipment. Entire fleets of airliners were grounded for lack of parts and maintenance. Farms lay dormant and food shortages affected even the most affluent countries. The lack of Kelmendi's drug producing ability left the smaller competition scrambling to keep the population healthy as well as the huge demand for a vaccine or cure for Mutagen EQ1. Rolling black outs were common as power plants shut down, and gas prices skyrocketed, currently well over 6 dollars a gallon, and expected to only go higher before other oil companies could catch up (and even then they weren't likely to want the price to go down). 401(k)s shattered as the stock market plunged, the death of KLI stock dragging many companies down with it. It was dark times in the world indeed.
"C'mon," Meghan said, getting up, "Let's watch a stupid movie forget our troubles for a little while. There's no use in worrying, since there's not much we can do about it."
Corrie did her best to smile, "You're right, no use worrying. It's not like we'll catch the virus..."
nnn
Meghan waved to Corrie as she walked in the glow of a street lamp, across Meghan's lawn to her own home just next door. It was late, later than either had intended, but there was much to forget, or at least ignore for a little while. They watched a silly romantic comedy while eating ice cream and other fattening foods. Some were getting harder to find or at least expensive. Milk products were becoming to be considered a luxury item, as much of the county's agriculture was turned over to the care of the herds of transformed citizens. Of course, their were rumors of a similar virus in the mid-west transforming people into cows. That may fix the diary shortage. More so than the rumored dolphin virus in California, or the wolf virus in Montana. Rumors were springing up everywhere and most were nothing more than fear mongering and internet conjecture.
But over all Meghan considered the night a success despite her empty freezer. She and Corrie managed to relax and have a good time. The movie had taken their minds off their destroyed retirement accounts, and for Meghan, what she had seen at the Indianola Containment Unit.
As she clean up the empty ice cream tubs and chip bags, she found she was hungry once again. I just ate! She thought as she went to the kitchen, Must be the junk food... not very filling. Looking in the fridge, which was nearly empty anyway, the only item that looked appetizing was the bag of half wilted salad she had bought and forgotten about.
Meghan ate the salad by the handful, which tasted great despite it appearance and didn't stop until she had emptied the bag. Damn, gone, better than nothing though... She looked through the kitchen and after eating some dry cereal and a tub of rolled oat, she couldn't finding anything terribly interesting and decided to go to bed.
God, she thought as she went up the stairs, I'm as hungry as... as a fucking horse.
111
"What the fuck am I doing back here?" Meghan said out loud. She had suddenly found herself back at the Indianola Containment Unit, She closed her eyes and yelled "No! No! No, I don't want to back here! I've seen enough! I want to go home!!!"
She remembered filming her news segment with her camera man Randy. He had been ready to leave, but she didn't want to just yet,"There's so much more they aren't telling us!" She argued in the news van.
"For a good reason, I'll bet!" Randy exclaimed before sighing and looking at the floor, years of working with Meghan taught him arguing would be pointless,"Alright, if your so interested, why don't you go have a look, hmm? I'll wait here. I'm not having my ass donkeyfied. Besides, I'll bet you'll find the doors locked anyhow..."
Meghan remembered leaving in a huff and sneaking to the huge low buildings that Dr. Orme had refused to show them earlier no matter how much she insisted. Just the open fields he said, just the field with those that had completed the change. The field with the stallions and the one with the mares and their foals... The buildings were off limits.
But Meghan wanted more. She wanted to show her audience what really happened to people to the transformed people. So what if Randy wasn't here? She had her cellphone, a few quick pictures would be all she needed. It would take an already huge story over the top. It would mean national news, rather than some small market in the intermountain west. Good bye, Ski Town! Hello, Big Apple!!!
She had hid behind a large industrial green transformer box, waiting for the locked door to open. Meghan nearly squeaked with joy when it did, a man and woman clad in normal street clothes. Immediately thinking it was a safe zone, she had dashed out and just managed to get her foot in the door.
Inside, was a small room with many empty coat hooks on the wall. There were two heavy steel doors, one said EXIT ONLY while the other said, very boldly, AUTHORIZED PERSONEL ONLY. It had been obvious which one she wanted.
Now that she was here, in the room she had looked for, she no longer wanted pictures. She wanted out! She had found them, the building was built like an industrial style stable, small rooms, most of the doors open and the occupants mingling openly. The most human victims had cots and blankets, while the most equine had straw and pine shavings. The majority of the most horse-like had were inside, the door closed, as the ate hay and grain.
But that wasn't what bothered her. It was the victims. Meghan thought that she was prepared to see half changed people in person. She had seen the finished results first hand. But seeing the states these women and children were in was an entirely new experience.
Most of the stalls contained a single women, others two or even three, with a wide range of ages, all completely naked. A few were hardly altered, hoof like hands and feet, elongated faces. They saw her, some spoke to her, some asked for help, for help she could not give, but others were confused.
Some of the bolder women came forward and spoke with her. Where is your suit? They asked, there faces a strange mix of human and horse, but still revealing concern. Where is your HAZMAT suit? Meghan felt the realization as a sinking pit in her stomach. She now knew what the empty coat hooks were for. It was the end of the day, all the available suits had been used and had been thrown in the incinerator.
The women she spoke to continued to slowly change before her eyes, there lips getting thicker, or hair advancing across their skin. Others were further along, unable to speak, quadruped humans almost, almost hairless but for tails and manes, there faces and throats too equine to speak. Still others had almost entirely lost their humanity, the only signs lingers fingers or toes, a too short muzzle or a half grown tail. All appeared to becoming one of a huge variety of breeds of horses, others various breeds of donkeys, and the of course the zebra women.
She was already terrified at this point, watching these "humans" behave as animals, defecating and urinating like the mares and jennies they were becoming. Grooming one another, even having small fights, biting and kicking.
Some of them had children, boys as well as girls, below reproductive age and able to be kept together. They were with their mothers, some looked like tiny new born foals, others looked like they had been 13,14,15 years old in their former human life, but had reverted to nursing their mothers' teats or breasts, which, by some miraculous feat of the virus, had filled with mare's milk. They played, laughed and neighed, hardly seeming to care.
"NO!"Meghan couldn't take it anymore. She ran, but the room just went on and on, the door just out of reach, the mare-women and their children seemed to surround her, watching her expectantly,"NO!!! NO, not me! Leave me alone!!! I don't want to be like you! I'm not one of you!"
Megan tripped and threw her hands out to catch herself. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, Meghan found herself in the middle of a large mountain meadow, alone. No, not alone, her herdmates were here, grazing with her, or sleeping, or nursing their foals. Some of the foals played, jumping and kicking in the air. It was quiet and peaceful, but Meghan was restless. She was in heat.
She made sure the herd stallion was aware of that. She trotted in front of him, her tail lifted high. Meghan than squatted and urinated near him, signaling her readiness. He got the signal loud and clear. He sniffed her snatch while her clit winked in and out, she lifted her tail higher before squealing and charging off, her tail flagged high. He chased after her with a frustrated snort. All part of the foreplay, teasing and testing the stallion.
Once again she held still and lifted her tail. This time she allowed the stallion to savor her scents, her heat too strong to play more games. She groaned with pleasure as he nibbled her elbows and withers. She nearly kicked him with impatience before he reared up, clutching her flanks with his forelegs as he swung into position.. She felt his eager cock against her rump before stepping back and feeling his length plunge into her, her wet walls squeezing him...
ttt
"Hmmm... Mmmm... oh oh oh OH!" Meghan gasped as she achieved orgasm in a half dream state, "Yes, yes yeeeeehhh SNORT!!!"
"What the fuck!" Meghan swore into the darkness when she fully awoke. She panted as she regained her breath and wits. Did I... Did I just neigh? No, just a wet dream...
She lay in her dark room, the covers of the bed thrown to one side and her right hand in her panties, beneath her soft pajama bottoms. Her t-shirt was hiked up to her armpits, her breasts exposed. She began to feel the chill as her sweat covered skin cooled. Pulling out her jizm covered hand she grimaced as she saw them glistening in the weak, early morning light.
"Ah jeez, did I really just do that?" Wiping her hand on her pajama bottoms, Meghan decided it may be best to take a shower, as the sun was just beginning to rise. Easing herself from bed, she noted sharp pain just above her buttocks, "Oof, too much time sitting in front of the TV..."
Haven't had a dream like that since high-school... She wondered as she removed her pajama bottoms and wet panties in the dark. She pulled off her wrinkled t-shirt before shuffling into the bathroom, what was it about? I can hardly remember, so hot though. Horse cock... She felt a warmth in her groin when she thought about the faint details she could still remember.
"Damn," She chided herself, "Definitely too much time watching TV."
And too much time around those damn horses... She had seen plenty of horse cock while at the CU, just not erect like that... She shook her head to chase the thought away.
With the click of the light switch, she was momentarily blinded, but continued into the familiar bathroom anyway. When her eyes finally adjusted to the bright light, Meghan was not expecting the image in the mirror looking back at her.
"WHAT THE FUCK!!!" She screeched when she saw her ears, "No, no, no, no, no... no, no, no..."
Bringing her hand up to her, long, furred, pointed ears, revealed, that they too, had changed. The middle and ring finger seemed to have merged, the single nail large and dark, its color and texture all too familiar. A hoof!!!
"NO! Fuck NO!!! This can't be happening! NO!" She screamed at the mirror.
"This can't be happening! I can't have the virus! I-I wasn't there long enough, ha ha, wasn't close enough, ha ha. This is just another dream!" She tried telling herself but knew her denial wasn't true, "C'mon Meghan! Wake up! This is just another stupid horse dream! Wake UP!!!"
She smacked herself in the face, the only result being the welt on her cheek where the tiny primordial hoof had struck her, "Oh my god... oh my god... it's not going away... It's-it's not going away!"
Trembling she looked down, hoping against hope that nothing else had changed. To her horror, her body had indeed changed. Her feet were in similar state as her hands, the middle toe huge and capped off with hard hoof like nails, but beyond that, her feet, even the soles, ankles and calves were covered in fur, white fur socks fading to a chestnut brown.
Meghan leaned against the sink, looking into her own tearful eyes before letting her chin hit her chest. What was she going to do? What could she do? She thought of the line the CDC officials had preached and she had touted in her report.
~Call the CDC immediately!~
Did she really want to do that? Have herself hauled off to the containment unit? For what? There was no cure. The CDC couldn't even slow it down. No... not yet, she would not go. Perhaps when... when she was further along, it might be easier then. She could hole up in her house for a few days, heck, she could even... even graze in the backyard. She'd be at no risk spreading it to others, she'd be sure of that, she couldn't live with with herself if she did that.
Others... How would she tell her family, friends, and coworkers? Her mother in California would likely panic, losing her only daughter would likely destroy her. Meghan decided that could wait. What about Corrie? Telling her could wait too, she would likely have a breakdown of some sort. She would have to call the station in the morning, of course, to turn in her resignation.
She thought of the phone on her nightstand and other ideas began creeping into her mind. She hadn't been able to get the pictures she wanted at the Containment Unit, but perhaps she could leave some sort of legacy by documenting her own change? It was a way for others to know what had happened to her, and she just might be famous. She may not be able to fully appreciate it, but it was better than nothing.
She dashed into her bedroom, the awareness of her changed feet making her feeling more clumsy and awkward. She knew it would only get harder as her feet became entirely equine, but Meghan didn't want to think about that right now. She had found a mission for herself, something that would take her mind off of what was happening to her. Ironically, the very thing that was happening to her, but the documentation of events was her specialty.
Back in the bathroom, with the morning sun rising in the window, Meghan stood back from the mirror, already noticing slight differences in her body. Her hips looked wider, more muscular and was her nose a little wider? It was difficult to tell. She twisted, wanting see more of herself...
"Ah, fuck!!! My ass!" She snapped when she saw her buttocks. She was further along than she had originally thought. Her butt was indeed larger but firmer, and both cheeks had a layer of short chestnut fur. Worst of all, at least to her mind, was the fuzzy little tail stub. Nothing marked the loss your humanity more than growing a tail, as far as she knew. Humans didn't have tails, animals did.
With a sigh she lifted her cellphone and snapped the first photo.
uuu
Meghan was in her backyard, awkwardly standing on all fours, her arms were still far too short to be proper forelimbs so her rump was high in the air and her head low to the ground, perfect for her current activity. She was cropping down a delicious stand of dandelions and grass, her dexterous lips and larger teeth making quick work of it. She had resisted at first, stubbornly pulling off the leaves and flowers with her long, increasingly stiff, uncoordinated fingers. She had finally given up after her hard lump of a thumb was no longer able to clamp against any other digit properly and her stomach growled with hungry protest.
It had only been two days since she discovered her infection, but already grazing had came easily, second nature, as one might suspect, though Meghan wished she hadn't taken to it quite so easily. In fact, it was even enjoyable, relaxing, refreshing and satisfying. The only thing she wished for was some company, others to graze and run with, not that there was much room in her backyard. She was convinced these feelings were her herd instincts coming to fruition, the knowledge of which made them no easier to ignore.
Meghan felt normal human loneliness as well. She had effectively been cut off from the world when she discovered her illness two days ago. Her case was progressing far too fast to keep up, she had only begun getting her affairs in order before her hoof-hands became useless for computer keyboards or cellphones. She didn't answer a flurry of phone calls from Corrie or the news station or even answer the door. She had procrastinated in calling friends and family, and now she never had the chance to tell her mother or Corrie goodbye, or her coworkers or that cute guy at the gym she liked to flirt with. She wouldn't have the chance to to many things she had wanted to. Go to Europe. Get married. Or even have a real glass of Champagne, she couldn't even hold a can of beer!
Thankfully, grazing made forgetting all too easy. She could graze in her little backyard for hours, but she needed to be careful. Living next door to Corrie, Tom, and their two kids, 14 year old Alice and 10 year old Richie, she didn't want any of them seeing her like this. She had never been more thankful for the 6 foot high wood fence between her and her neighbors, particularly today, when she had begun doing her "business" outside, her last attempt at using a toilet a messy and painful experience. She never thought she would miss the ability to wipe her own ass, but her droppings were clean and dry, just as a healthy horse, so all was well back there. It was while she was urinating that she discovered that she could now move her clitoris when it began winking in and out of her, flicking away the last drops of piss, a useful feature that she latter learned could be beneficial in other ways.
She wore her bath robe for now, open and dangling along her flanks but even that was becoming uncomfortable and her forelimbs were sticking out the sleeves by at least a good foot. It did a decent job of protecting her skin, and her lingering sense of modesty, but of course it did nothing to hide her changed face, with it's short muzzle and spots of fur. Meghan had to resort to running back indoors, through the sliding glass door she now kept open at all times, to escape even the hint of her neighbors entering their backyards.
But things were surprisingly quiet at the Edwards' household. In the past, Meghan could often hear Corrie, her husband, or kids over the fence, playing and barbecuing but only rarely in the two days since she had come out to graze had she heard a peep. At least she didn't have to worry about Mrs. Marcosi on the other side, she never left her house, she had cloistered herself with her cats years ago.
Meghan wondered over to her one and only tree, a strong, healthy maple. She had discovered a special purpose for it yesterday, almost by accident while while scratching a hard to reach itch. Backing up to the tree, she pushed her rump against it and began rubbing back and forth and up and down, winking her sensitive clit. She groaned as she felt the relief wash over her almost immediately. Rubbing her pussy against the tree was hardly satisfying, but her hoof-hands provided little more, they were too thick and stiff to provide much pleasure. She knew what really needed, her instincts made that clear. She had felt a growing horniness since the start of this ordeal. She needed a stallion, she was in heat, though she hated calling it that. Estrus seemed a better, less demeaning word.
"Ahhh! Moooooommm! I'm hungry!" Meghan nearly fell over in surprise, her masturbation broken by the loud whining coming from Corrie's backyard. In a panic, Meghan began her dash back into her house. It was Alice, Corrie's daughter! The girl was like a neice to Meghan, she easily recognized her voice. The teen whined again before Meghan made back to the door, "Pleeeeease! There's so much to eat out here!!!"
Meghan slipped inside, but was able to listen with her enhanced ears, "ALICE!" Corrie snapped angrily, "Get back in this house this instant, young lady!"
"Mom... I'm... I'm..."
"Alice..."
"I'm not a 'young lady' anymore!!!" Alice screeched and Meghan heard a stomped hoof on their wooden deck, "I'm a horse! Or I'm going to be! A horse! A filly! Let me eat the fucking grass!!! I'm starving!"
Meghan gasped. Alice was infected?! But how?!?! No! It couldn't be!!!
"DON'T YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT AND GET IN THIS HOUSE NOW!!!" Corrie roared, clearly enraged, "Before someone sees you!!! You can eat out here after dark, like your father and I!"
"Meghan eats outside all the time! Whhhiiinnnny!!!" Alice argued with the sound of small hooves on the turf, Alice was running around the yard defiantly, whinnying and neighing.
"I-I don't care what-what Meghan does!" Corrie snapped again, and gave a loud snort and what sounded like stamped hoof, sounding truly upset. This time Alice seemed to listen, as her dainty galloping stopped with sound of tiny hooves on the deck and finally Meghan heard the door slam shut.
Meghan felt as if she had been punched in the gut. They had seen her! She felt as if she had come to terms with her own infection, but now dear Alice? A 14 year old girl? Of course, if she were infected... The entire Edwards household was too, even poor little Richie! Meghan felt sick to her stomach.
Is it my fault? Did I infect them?The thought went through Meghan's mind and wouldn't go away no matter how much she wanted it to. No, not necessarily, perhaps Tom's boss? There was any number of ways... Still... Should she go over there or would that only make matters worse?
Meghan shook her head as she went up the stairs on all fours, she desperately wanted to talk with Corrie, but was terrified to do so. What if she blamed Meghan for infecting her family? Corrie may even hate her... And Meghan couldn't blame her.
zzz
"Fehnahly," Meghan slurred when she finally heard the fake clicking sound coming from her phone. She had spent the good part of an hour setting both it and the tripod up in her bedroom. She had wanted to take more pictures for her mini documentary, but she hadn't considered the effects of having hooves. She was now certain this would be the last one, it was just too much bother now, when she could be doing better things, like grazing or sleeping.
Meghan looked at the nude photo on her phone with a critical eye, "Ahhh fuhhh..." Her face was certainly the most dramatic change from the first photo, with her short muzzle and fully equine ears, but it wasn't the only one. She could hardly talk anymore. She now stood at least a foot taller now, after her feet had lengthened and formed her new hooves. More fur was evident everywhere, covering a great deal of her legs, rump and belly. Her face was now covered in the stuff, revealing more of just what she would look like as a horse. She sported a white blaze running down to her nose, contrasting against her chestnut coloring. She rather liked effect, given the circumstances. Fur now appeared over her arms, which were now well on their way to being mare's forelimbs, having grown longer and loosing digits. And her breasts, of course there were her breasts.
Shuffling on two legs over to her bed, she collapsed and laid on her side, legs out, much like the horse she was becoming. Meghan sighed and burrowed her head into the pillow, resting her tired transforming body, or at least she wanted to. It was times like this she hated the most. Everything was quiet and she had nothing to really do but get the rest she desperately needed. But that was when she could actually feel her body changing.
It seemed to be happening quickly today, judging from the soft cracks and pops she felt throughout her body or sometimes it felt like worms under her skin, her own muscles contracting and writhing as they grew. She was thankful that her change hadn't been terribly painful so far, nothing more than a few cramps, and the pains associated with falling on one's face multiple times a day as she continually relearned how to walk each time her legs and feet made a major shift. Or the time she struck her head against the top of the doorway thanks to her added height.
But to feel one's neck growing or your face lengthening was difficult to describe. It was horrible, of course, knowing that this was all signs of your slow loss of humanity, but at the same time, Meghan felt a regrettable sense of exhilaration. She actually felt eager to discover her new body, to see what she would look like, to trot, gallop, and eat like a normal horse.
Mate like a normal horse... The though had been creeping though her more and more as the evening wore on, becoming harder to ignore with each passing hour. She had been grazing just before sunset when she had caught his scent, a stallion's scent, wafting over the fence. It had sent her loins afire, it nearly sent her crashing through the fence. She could feel her clit winking and her tail lift. Her instincts demanded that she meet him, and present to him, to be mounted by him, and bear his foal.
Meghan had felt sick with guilt since the previous afternoon when she had hear Corrie and Alice arguing, and the stallion's scent had only made it worse. She was certain the stallion was Tom, her neighbor and best friend's husband, it had to be. Meghan had always liked Corrie's husband, he was friendly, kind, a good father and very handsome, but she had never considered sleeping with the man! She would never do that to her best friend in first place and he would have never gone for it, he was just as religiously pious and loyal as Corrie was. Meghan often found their obedience and devotion to the prominent local faith grating, but tolerable.
But could either of them resist with pheromones, hormones, and new instincts coming into play? She wanted to believe they could, but if his new desires were anything like her own, she very much doubted they could resist. And catching his scent seemed to have accelerated her own changes somehow. It wouldn't be long now before... before they were mindless horses, eager to... to propagate the species. It was a difficult and unpleasant thought to process.
Meghan rolled onto her back, and slid her little hooves down her torso feeling her changes and across her re-positioned breasts, almost startling herself. Her boobs had been moving down her body all day in what was perhaps her strangest change yet. She had never thought of her breasts as being the same as some animal's teats, but her's were looking more equine by the hour, or perhaps, the minute. She tugged at them with the remnants of her thumbs, imagining a foal nursing from them. Her lovers had suckled at them, kissed and caressed them, would it feel the same? Or would she care at that point? Try as she might to remember her previous sex partners, her mind kept refocusing on the stallion next door, mounting her and giving her a precious foal.
Meghan felt her arousal build, and her proto-hooves went to the dark, velvety skin of her vulva, which she felt contract and felt clitoris push outwards against her hooves fetlocks, "Ohhhh fuck! Ahhee hhheeee!!!"
She groaned as massaged her wet pussy with the dark lumps of keratin that had replaced her hands and inserted them into her widened passage. "Uhhhhnnn," she pushed in deeper, feeling but ignoring feeling of bones growing, joints popping, and her neck and limbs lengthening. Her longer neck helped, but it was getting more difficult to see what she was doing as her muzzle grew out, forcing her eyes to the sides of her head and slowly changing her vision. Meghan was forced to turn her head and observe her self stimulation with one eye.
"Ooooohhheeeee! Heee!! Heeeeee!!!" Meghan gasped as she tugged and pulled at her pussy, providing pleasure but not the amount she yearned for, she had reached the point where only a stallion's erect member could supply enough. In the back of her mind she knew her changes were accelerating, fueled by her actions, but that fact could not make it's way to the forefront of her mind, only the desire for carnal pleasure, to fuck, to mate!
The bed groaned under her increasing weight as muscle grew and her torso deepened, further shifting her breasts downward, their skin darkening into soft, supple teats. She snorted with frustration, her fore hooves were becoming more and more useless masturbation, loosing any sort of resemblance to a human hand.
Her crude attempts at self-pleasure crashed to an end when the bed frame collapsed beneath her and she landed with a grunt and a perturbed snort. She rolled over, shook her head and breathed heavily. She felt exhausted, in the three days since her symptoms appeared, Meghan had never transformed to rapidly, and she never got much sleep. She didn't like it in here, it was stuffy and tight, she craved freer air. Her own bedroom felt unfamiliar, foreign, she had a strong feeling she didn't belong here. Humans belonged here, and she wasn't human, as much as her struggling mind disliked that thought and others. Meghan wanted to find other horses, her own kind, perhaps find a stallion... her heat still ran strong.
Despite her fatigue, Meghan stood, nearly falling on the torn and battered mattress, tripping over the protruding springs and finally made her way down the stairs, a tight and frightening place as she had ever seen. The stairs were steep and weren't spaced properly for a quadruped, let alone one of her size. They creaked and groaned under her still growing weight. Eyes wide with fear, the mare made it down the stairs and to the front door.
She could see the lush, overgrown lawn through the sidelights and the small windows in the door. Meghan stamped and huffed in frustration, not only did she not have the appendages to open the door, she couldn't understand how to get the door open. She just knew that this was a door, and she wanted out! She needed out! And the stupid thing was preventing that! Nervous, she paced, hardly noticing her body and mind continuing to slowly change. She whinnied and reared, and still no easy solution presented itself. She knew how to do this once! Why couldn't she think how to do it again?! It was simply too complicated for a mind more oriented for complex herd dynamics and avoiding predators. Meghan realized she didn't feel mindless or stupid, just different.
Meghan again huffed at the door, furious at its stupidity and looked through the small window panes. Horses! There were other horses out there! Now she desperately wanted out! There were others like her out there! A palomino and a steel gray grazed outside one what had once been her lawn.
Putting her shoulder against the door, Meghan leaned and heard the wood creak. A little more, and she felt the joints and panels give. A little more and them crack and she felt herself lurch forward as the wood gave way to her greatly enhanced strength and substantial weight.
Both the palomino and gray were startled by her sudden intrusion, shying away, but their curiosity holding them near. Stumbling past the shattered wood and glass, Meghan caught sight of a young copper colored colt, perhaps 3 or 4 months old, stood tightly next the palomino, his mother, and a black filly, no older than 2 years. A sense of recognition came over Meghan, the human names for this band came popping into her head. Corrie, the palomino, the gray, Tom, the filly was Alice, and the colt was Richie!
Meghan held her distance, unsure of how accepting this new band would be. She felt some semblance of guilt, as if she were responsible for their current condition, but the feeling seemed foreign in this body. The mare and stallion also held back, one emitting an angry vibe while the other was... arousal and interest. Meghan felt her own arousal towards him but still held back.
The filly was the first to come forward, despite a protesting snort from her mother. She and Meghan touched noses, sharing breath each recognizing the other from a previous life. The filly nuzzled the older mare, and cautiously, Meghan returned the affection. It felt wonderful! Finally, she didn't feel alone.
With a squeal, Alice jumped away and bucked, kicking her rear high in the air and spooking Meghan, who reared in surprise. What was wrong?! Did she change her mind? Fortunately, Meghan's new instincts were clicking into place, and she quickly recognized the filly's behavior.
She wants to play!
Megan dashed off after the young horse, sod flying from her hooves as they crossed the road and lawns of their neighborhood. The fears and worries of the past three days and even the previous 6 months melted away as she dashed after the filly she considered her niece. Once in awhile she would catch up and nip Alice in the rump, and the game of tag would reverse. Eventually, Richie the little colt joined in and the play continued, though at a much gentler pace.
Meghan's fatigue eventually caught up with her, however, and found herself content to watch the brother and sister play as she grazed. Her nervousness returned as Corrie came near, her ears laid back. Meghan held her ground, too tired to run. She snorted as the palomino mare drew closer, then, with a loud HEEEEE! Corrie bit painfully into Meghan's withers. Meghan squealed as she stumbled back terrified. She prepared herself to run again, this time in fear, all she wanted to do was rest.
Corrie came onward again and Meghan fell back stumbling, wishing only to be left alone. Meghan winced as the strong palomino lunged at her again, but this time no bite came, only the nuzzling of Corrie's chin over Meghan's still smarting withers and actually drawing the chestnut mare closer. Bewildered, Meghan looked back at her friend, seeing her golden head on her back, her eyes closed and weeping.
Heartbroken, Meghan did what came naturally to her reorganized mind. She began grooming the other mare's hide, gently nibbling her flank and withers. Meghan felt herself relax and could feel Corrie's muscles easing. It wasn't long before the palomino returned the favor, nibbling and nuzzling the chestnut. The pair finally felt bonded again, and began grazing side by side, this time on Mrs. Marcosi's weedy lawn. Little Richie, tired, covered in sweat and ravenously hungry, came running to his mother and jammed his muzzle between her hind legs and began suckling vigorously. His sister joined the group grazing, leaving only Tom unaccounted for.
Meghan found him while grazing with with her new family, or rather, the big stallion found her. He had held himself distant from his band, knowing full well that his wife's or mate's friend... He had a growing difficulty in telling the difference. He needed a harem, his instincts told him, it would be best for both him and Corrie. The mare's scent carried easily in the wind, filling his nostrils with her intoxicating scent and that's what led him back to the mare in her estrus, burying his nose under her tail.
Megan squealed and jumped away when she felt the unexpected warm nose under tail, but that tail was lifted high, offering a very pleasant view for the stallion. NO, Meghan chided herself, It's wrong! She tried willing her tail back down over her increasingly moist vulva, but her body resisted. It was all she could do to jog a few steps away from him. Looking back, Tom had his nose lifted high into the air, his lips curled back, sucking in her scent. No! I can't! Her human conscious screamed, but other instincts also screamed. Why? Why not mate? It's for the herd! It will bring us together...
She shook her head, trying to clear it. Her loins where throbbing now, eager to fulfill what nature demanded. The big gray stallion took the opportunity to sidle up to her, rubbing and nibbling her. Meghan groaned, her will fading and her tail rising. Succumbing to her instincts, Meghan raised her tail high, squatted and urinated in full display for Tom, his nose and erection raging.
Looking over at Corrie, she fully expected another reprisal from her friend but instead found the mare nursing her colt and peacefully grazing, though she must have been aware of Meghan's and Tom's actions. She barely glanced up, almost nodded at Meghan and went back to her grazing. And why should she protest? We are a herd...
Meghan steadied herself as the stallion planted himself on her back. With short, gentle thrusts, and with experience gained from repeatedly mounting his wife over and over in the previous three days, Tom quickly found her sweet spot and pushed his shaft past the wet, eager lips and Meghan shivered as her equine virginity was taken. Meghan grunted as Tom bottomed out against her cervix, apparently a delightfully pleasant spot for a mare. Tom's penis fully engaged her cervix before filling Meghan's womb with his seed, her impregnation almost entirely certain, but he would cover her many more times in the coming days. Their coupling lasted only moments but to Meghan's mind it was blissful eternity.
After Tom slid from her back, sticky cum dripping onto Mrs. Marcosi's lawn, they both resumed grazing, two mares, a stallion, and a filly, with the little colt now napping near his protective mother. It wasn't too long before Meghan joined the little one, the adrenaline of sex fading away and her exhaustion catching up with her.
yty
Over the first week the little band made their way east, towards the mountains, avoiding humans and humans avoiding them for the most part. Only once were they chased by men in frighting suits, but they managed to escape with speed and cunning not naturally found in horses. They fed on the local gardens and lawns, always moving towards the tall mountains, knowing instinctively they would find solitude.
On the seventh day, they were in the foot hills and the houses thinned in numbers but grew in size. They slowed, enjoying the larger lawns and lusher gardens. A new mare joined the band, freshly changed and frightened. She found them near the outskirts of town, tentatively watching from afar. Tom noticed her first and charged after her, leading to a short chase. The big stallion was faster, and the mare not as unwilling as she played, and he chased her back to his other mares, snaking after her like any wild stallion.
The now larger group went deeper into the mountains, seeking wider pastures and less people. The collapse of the economy left many of the high-dollar cabins and developments abandoned, many only in various states of construction, so that wasn't difficult. And the small band began finding evidence of the other bands, their dropping and scents were everywhere in the large valleys higher in the mountains. They began seeing other herds at the watering holes, leading to fights breaking out between stallions. Tom's size proved the advantage, and more mares were added to the band, either by aggression or by wandering in.
The months winded away, and Meghan rarely thought of her human life, when she did seemed just, vague, distant memory. She was happy here, she had healthy strong family now, and more were coming. She was visibly pregnant, as was the first newcomer, the mare they had met in the foothills. Their udders were beginning fill after a difficult winter, verifying the promise of the future.