Their curiosity sated, the other cougars lay down nearby, closing their eyes. She could feel the warmth of their bodies, hear the beating of their powerful hearts. The low hum of purring filled the air.
* * * *
Morning arrived, announced by birdsong. Dewdrops clung to the leaves and grass, sparkling in the sunlight, and the sky was a pure, cloudless blue.
Maggie rolled over, rubbing her eyes, and yawned, feeling full and drowsy. It occurred to her that she was naked, and that she could feel cool grass beneath her. She sat up quickly, eyes wide.
“Good morning,” said Justin. He lay beside her, just as naked as she, his head propped up on one hand as he smiled lazily at her. His dark hair spilled over his shoulders.
Maggie looked around, disoriented. Her memories of the previous night were foggy and blurred, like something from a dream, but she remembered running through the forest, chasing something with a sense of savage elation. Her stomach felt heavy and tight. She looked at Justin. “We transformed last night,” she said.
“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Congratulations. You’ve just been through your first full-moon transformation.”
“Did we really eat a deer?” she asked, aghast.
“That’s what cougars do,” said Justin, eyes sparkling. “Don’t worry, it won’t make us sick. Even in human form, our bodies are able to digest raw meat.”
“It’s still weird.”
He laughed. “There’s nothing normal about being a lycanthrope.”
She looked around. “Where are the others? There were other were-cats here last night, weren’t there?”
He nodded. “They’ve gone back to their own homes,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll see them again, though.”
Maggie crossed her arms over her naked breasts, partly out of modesty, partly from cold. Goosebumps rose on her bare skin as a cool breeze sighed through the woods. “Where are we?”
“Don’t worry, we’re close to the cabin. But there’s no one around. You don’t have to worry about being seen.” He sat up and pulled her close. At his touch, her body awoke, skin tingling with sensitivity, and her breath caught in her throat. His lips grazed her neck.
“Oh no,” she said sternly, pushing him away, “not out here in the woods.”
“Why not?” he asked, his voice teasing. “Like I said, there’s no one around.” His hand settled on her thigh, warm and possessive.
“It’s cold out here,” said Maggie, “and we’re both naked. We’re going to catch a chill.”
“I’ll warm you up.” She felt his thumb brush the moist cleft of her pussy.
Maggie surrendered with a soft moan, melting into his touch. She rubbed her cheek lightly against his chest. “You win,” she murmured, and sighed softly. She felt a vibration building in her throat as he stroked her wet folds.
“You’re purring,” he said.
She smiled. “Well, that’s what cats do when they’re happy.”
He pushed her gently to the grass. Leaning close, he whispered into her ear, “Then let’s see how loud I can make you purr.”
* * * *
Later, in the cabin, Maggie stood in front of the fireplace, watching the flames dance. Justin stood behind her, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist.
“We can’t ever go back,” she whispered, “can we?”
“Go back to what?”
“To the normal world. The human world. Even if we live among them, we’re not ever going to be a part of their reality. Not really.”
He paused. “No,” he said. “You’re right. We live in a different world.” He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry. I know it’s difficult to accept....”
“No,” she said. “I accept it. I’ve lost some things, yes ... but I’ve gained so much.” She looked up, into his eyes. “I experience things differently now. I see and hear and smell so much more. The whole world seems so alive. I never would have guessed how much I was missing. I feel like my whole being has been transformed. But I don’t feel like I’ve really lost the person I was. It’s more like something inside me was awakened, and now, for the first time, I’m complete.”
Holding her gaze, he whispered, “I feel the same.”
His lips touched hers. She felt the heat of his breath, his tongue, felt his arms pulling her closer, as if their bodies--their minds--were fusing together, transforming them into a single being, something greater than either one of them. Maggie’s heart trembled with joy.
She was alive and whole and strong. She was herself at last.
The End
Transformation Page 8