Full Circe Revisited
by Tal Greywolf

-----

The soft crunching of leaves was the only sound that he made.  Sunlight filtered
through the trees, giving the land a golden tinge.  Autumn comes early to the
Rockies, with winter traveling close behind.  The air carried a sharp
crispness, a clean scent that was free of the usual smells civilization brings.
Not since...  well, not in a long time indeed had he been here, on the northern
edge of the park.  He chuckled, realizing already that there differences to this
place now, a sense that things had changed.

It had been a long arduous journey, his wanderings bringing him back to this one
particular place.  The years he'd spent in Canada and Alaska had left him ill-
prepared for the Lower 48.  Normal travel between the two countries was no
longer so simple, particularly for trying to enter through Customs.  His
identification and documents were outdated, causing him to have to wait longer
than he would have liked.  But finally he managed to get through the delays and
back into the US, traveling as he had for the last few years.  On foot.

There was something special about walking, he thought to himself.  So few folks
consider walking around the block any more, much less walking through the
countryside.  The average person never took the time to just walk, stroll
through a clump of trees, to see the beauty and the wonder of even small pieces
of nature.  Instead it was hurry up, head from point A to point B and be damned
with everything in between.

He walked because he enjoyed walking.  He felt closer to the land by going from
place to place on foot, even if it took him a while to get where he wanted to
go.  On a good day he could cover 60 miles easily, and even in bad weather he
could manage at least half that much.  Since leaving Alaska, he walked most of
the way down the Alcan into Alberta, then headed south through Edmonton and
Calgary.  Now, he was back in Montana, walking along the old I-15 towards Helena
and the Montanabahn.  And towards Yellowstone, his final destination.

---

Reaching Yellowstone would be both difficult and dangerous once he reached
Bozeman, however.  During his journey he had picked up news of some unusual
incidents in the park, incidents that caused the government to close public
access to the park.  More sinister were the military troops traveling down the
roads in caravans, weapons visible to see.  Combined with some of the darker
rumors that he had picked up in Canada, he figured that whatever was happening
in Yellowstone, the government didn't want the public to know about it and would
do anything to keep that way.

Mentally, he chuckled at that.  It sounded almost like the old conspiracy
theories he remembered from long ago, both from books and from television.  That
old show about the FBI, for instance, talking about alien abductions and
government experiments.  Truth was, he knew about one of those experiments, a
very real procedure known as the Circe Treatment.

He shivered at that thought, and sighed.  The treatment would turn a person into
an animal, and it was meant for criminal punishment and rehabilitation.  The
definition of criminal punishment had been widen to include a number of
offenses, and it seemed to be more a way to control the public.  In that
respect, the government was no different from his previous encounters.

---

People were generally friendly as he walked down the highways, offering him a
lift or at least a little something to eat or drink.  Most didn't ask where he
was headed or why he was walking, but on occasion when he was asked, he had a
ready answer.  He would smile and say that he was walking cross-country, heading
back to the East Coast.  "Just looking at the country for myself," he would
reply, and folks around would nod in acceptance.

He worked his way down I-90 from Boseman to Livingston, then paused at the exit
for US 89.  The Army had a checkpoint set up, clearing only authorized traffic
for the road south.  But that checkpoint wasn't important, not when he knew the
area from the past, along with all the little side roads that existed.  Trails
that were meant for hiking, or in the winter, snowmobiles.

A mile past the exit was an old gravel road, and there he started heading
southward.  Keeping under cover and constantly watching, he made slow but steady
progress towards Gardiner and the border to Yellowstone itself.  Caution was the
key, he knew the military would likely confine him if they found him out here.
Although confinement wouldn't be for long, he'd rather not raise any questions
that would have to be answered.

Time he had plenty of.  Sleeping in old abandoned barns and sheds, heading for
cover at the sound of helicopters or engines, he continued closing the distance
towards the park.  Once inside, he'd be a little safer, as the patrols seemed to
be more concerned with keeping things within the park boundaries than out.

Working his way just east of  Gardiner, he found one of the old paths that led
into the park.  He moved cautiously, having spotted motion sensors on some of
the roads and slipping away before they noticed him.  Nearly all of them had
been pointed towards the park, waiting.

He moved a bit closer, and a light buzzing could be heard.  This one sensor had
shorted out from the rains, giving him a place to enter safely. An odd sound
came from him, and suddenly he sprinted through the break, running faster than
was humanly possible.  One minute, two, three, he tore through the woods,
managing to end up five miles from the border before he stopped to see where he
was.  Familiar landmarks told him how far from the boundary he was now, perhaps
a day's travel to the old ranger station he remembered was on the north end of
the park.  Hitching his pack a little higher, he took off at a slow pace,
whistling softly as he recovered from his sprint.

---

He spent the night in a clearing, unbothered by any interruptions.  His morning
wake-up call consisted of the soft crunch of branches, a pair of elk walking
close to his spot.  Getting himself organized and having breakfast, he made sure
that no one could tell he had been there and took off again.

A short ways into the morning, he felt his ears twitching.  Someone, or
something was following him.  He wasn't absolutely certain what it was, although
he was fairly sure he was being watched closely.  His senses couldn't spot
anything unusual, so instead he went on his way figuring whoever it was would
appear later on.

He continued walking through the woods, taking his time and wandering on
occasion to look around him.  The forest continued to hide his shadows, but he
was now positive that they knew he was there.  Instead of being worried, he was
actually relieved that whoever they were was aware of him.

Late afternoon found him at the edge of a swiftly running stream, the water
clear and sweet.  He paused there for a while, refilling his canteen and
cleaning off in the cold water as best he could.  Then he looked around, and
stared staring into the water, watching it flowing past.

A pair of feet caught his attention after a while.  A cloven hoof as well as a
more human looking foot, to be precise.  He looked upwards, his eyes widening
only slightly at the sight before him.  On his left he stared at the equine
form, the white coloration, the golden horn spiraling out of the head.  A
unicorn, staring at him in curiosity and puzzlement.  Next to him was a male
human.  Well, mostly human if you ignore the fact that behind him a clearly
visible foxtail was slowly swishing back and forth. He gave a soft chuckle and
sat back slightly.

"Well, I was beginning to wonder when you or anyone else was going to show up."
He made his statement in a matter of fact voice, making the unicorn look more
puzzled.  "You're probably wondering why I'm not fleeing in terror from you," he
added, a tint of amusement coloring his words, "or kowtowing before you like
some living demi-beings?"

The unicorn gave off a soft nicker, suspiciously like a laugh, while the
human/fox smiled slightly.  He grinned, standing up and brushing off his knees.
"Well, don't worry, I'm not about to do either.  Run in terror or fawn all over
you, that is.  In fact, I've been looking for you.  Or anyone for that matter."

The unicorn looked at his companion, then turned back to peer curiously at him.
<Why?>

That drew a soft chuckle from him, the telepathic touch hardly raising an
eyebrow.  "Several reasons, all of them personal ones.  I figure you have a few
questions of your own.  Like who I am, what I'm doing here, why am I talking
with a unicorn and a fox morph in the middle of Yellowstone, things like that."
The way he phrased it made both chuckle again, amusement clear in his eyes.

He was about to answer but a soft mechanical sound in the air caused him to stop
and look up.  The unicorn's ears flicked and looked up as well. As if they had
practiced their actions, both quickly moved under cover and headed in opposite
directions... the unicorn and fox disappearing into deeper woods, himself under
a rocky outcropping.  Overhead a helicopter flew by, it's markings clearly
military.  It headed westward and quickly disappeared from sight...  and slowly
he came out from hiding.

"Damn, that was too close.  Should have heard that before they got almost
overhead.  You're getting old..."  He shook his head, then looked back across
the stream, seeing the pair coming out of hiding.

"You knew?" the human fox said, a sense of distrust suddenly visible in his
eyes.

He nodded slightly.  "I could hear the rotors, yeah.  Lakota-class chopper.
They've got the park surrounded, you know.  All main roads closed and a lot of
surveillance gear spread out."

The unicorn nodded, looking a touch uncomfortable at that.  <You managed to get
in.>

"Found a hole.  Can't expect them to be able to cover something that's over a
few million acres without a few of them."  He winked slyly, then grabbed his
pack.  "Come on, let's get going.  Before they decide to double-check things
around here.  And believe me, this is one person who wouldn't care to get caught
right now."

---

They walked together through the woods, heading deeper into the park, the sounds
of the wind rustling the trees the occasional interruption. Finally, the unicorn
paused, looking at him closely.  <Why?>

He sighed softly, finding a log to sit on, and motioned for his companions to do
the same.  "Why am I here?  Because in some strange, synchronistic way, this is
my home.  It's where I was born, you might say."

The unicorn nodded, listening closely.  His companion settled down close by,
also listening intently to the unusual visitor to their realm.

"Sometimes you get a feeling deep inside, a need to go back to where things
started.  A homing instinct, you could say.  Mine brings me here, to this place.
This is where I came from, where I'll always be a part of.  My spirit lives
here, a part of me that I can't deny.

"I've been wanting to come back to visit, but I never had a chance to. Not until
now.  I've been making my way here for the last year and a half, leaving what
was my home in Alaska to wander down.  The closer I came to this place, the more
I heard of what had been happening here, the more important it was for me to
return."

He sighed again, glancing up at the clouds passing overhead.  "Now that I'm back
here, I'm realizing I should have been here sooner.  Things are changing in this
world, changes that aren't the happiest visions to someone like myself.  This is
the only place I know of where I can feel truly safe. No matter what, this place
remains for me...  it's beauty, it's magic. Always reassuring."

The mention of magic made them raise their heads in surprise.  "What, you don't
think I believe in magic?" he chuckled softly.  "Truth is, I know quite a bit
about magic, my friends.  Of magic and dreams, of things seen and unseen.  I'm
not quite as young as I look."

< I know.  I can sense that from you. >  The unicorn paused, then nickered again.
<Much about you that you've left unspoken.>

The human fox nodded.  "There's also things about you that we don't understand.
Things we wouldn't expect from a normal human."

A laugh came from him.  "There's much I've left unspoken for now for reasons, my
fine furred friends."  He laughed again, a softer sound that filled the air.
"And I haven't been called normal in any respect in years. But no doubt we'll
touch those later on.  For now, though, I think we need to find a place to
settle down for the night.  If I remember right, there's a nice little camp
space about an hour walk ahead, near a waterfall."

The unicorn nodded.  <There is.  It's quite lovely, I and my mate enjoy the
spot.>  He started to trot off with his companion, then turned around. <Yes, I
do have a mate.  Are you surprised?>

A soft chuckle.  "No, actually I'm not."  He hefted his pack again, then caught
up with the pair.  "But I'm glad you're willing to talk and stay with me."

"Well, you have to admit you're quite an interesting puzzle."  The human fox
grinned slightly.  "And one thing I enjoy are puzzles."

The unicorn nickered in agreement.  <You need to talk.  And I need to know.> He
paused, then winked.  <By the way, my name is Bob.>

"And I'm called Fox."

"Bob?  Fox?"  There was a soft chuckle.  "Bob the unicorn and Fox the fox.
Well, it's better than Frank the Unicorn.  Otherwise I would have thought I was
in a Phil Yeh comic."  He chuckled again, enjoying another look of puzzlement on
their faces.  "Sorry, very old comic.  I'm showing my age again."  He shook his
head in amusement and grinned.  "Most folks generally call me trouble.  But you
can call me Tal."

---

Sunset arrived as they were settling down for the night at the spot. It was
indeed quite a lovely place, with the water cascading down a cliff creating a
soft roar in the air.  The ground was warm, making for a comfortable resting
place for them all.

They talked a little longer, more like friends chatting about the weather
instead of as strangers who had just met hours before.  Bob was put at ease by
the fact that Tal never took himself seriously, and Fox found Tal both
interesting and amusing.  A sense of humor and of acceptance that he's rarely
encountered.

The darkness descended, everyone finally drifting off to sleep.  The soft sounds
and gentle breezes felt comforting to all, letting them relax without fear.  Fox
had shifted into what he called his morphic form, looking like a humanoid fox
with the result of Tal making a series of bad puns and jokes.  So bad in fact
that Bob threatened to skewer him on the spot.  Of course Tal ran with that one
as well, commenting that it wouldn't be the first time he'd be a shishka-Bob.
But after a while the night's rhythms lulled them all to sleep.

Something stirring brought Fox to wakefulness.  He looked around, then spied Tal
sitting on the ledge looking up at the stars and the moon, nearly full tonight.
Standing up, he walked quietly over to where he was, hearing him softly singing
to himself.  The song was unfamiliar but the words struck a chord in Fox.

"And your day is long
And the night
The night is yours alone

And you're sure you've had enough
Of this life
Hang on

Don't let yourself go
Because everybody cries
And everybody hurts Sometimes...

Fox coughed softly, causing Tal to turn around.  "Hi, Fox," he said softly, a
sigh escaping his lips.  "Did I wake you up?"

"Not really," Fox replied, coming closer.  "But it was a little of what I was
feeling from you."

"Sorry about that, then," Tal said softly.  He turned back to look at the water,
taking a small stone and throwing it into the falling drops.

"What's wrong, Tal?"  Fox looked worried, feeling the dark emotions coming from
Tal.  Tal sighed and patted the ground next to him.  "I couldn't quite get to
sleep.  Nights like this, well...  it was on a night like this that I became was
I am now."

Fox nodded softly and settled down next to Tal.  "Want to talk about it with
me?"  His question made Tal sigh again, this time softer.

"No reason for you not to know, you've already sensed a lot of it." Tal shifted
his position, leaning against a rock.  "It was on a night much like this one
that I became was I am now.  Some seventy years ago."

His statement made Fox blink in surprise.  "Seventy?"

Tal merely nodded.  "Yes.  About seventy years ago.  Back in 1996, when I was a
much younger person, I was living just outside of Yellowstone working on a
project to monitor the return of wolves to the park.  I was going to be living
there about a year, so I invited friends on the 'net who wanted to visit to come
on by.

"Two of them did.  A young couple from out east, doing a cross-country trip.
Mike and Suze, fun folks to be with.  Suze was special, though.  I could tell it
almost at once, there was something really unique about her. "They stayed with
me for two days then went off into the park to camp.  And it was on a night like
this that I found out how unique Suze really was, and how it was going to change
my life."  Tal sighed again, and took a swig from his canteen.

"They were camped out in a spot like this, enjoying each other's pleasures, and
not noticing what was nearby.  A cougar, hungry, somewhat mad proceeded to
attack them, clawing them both pretty badly.  Suze managed to kill it, then get
Mike in the car and drove back to my place.  And that's when I found out what
Suze really was.

"See, she showed up back at my place looking like a fox.  Kinda like what you
look light right now.  A full-sized vixen combining the best of fox and human
shapes.  She was hurt, but Mike was much worse off.  I got him in bed and
bandaged up, then went back to where Suze was waiting to hear about what
happened.  As well as explain to me what she was, which was a shapeshifter."

Fox was taken by surprise at that.  "A shapeshifter?  But that couldn't have
been possible back then.  The Circe Treatment..."

Tal shook his head.  "It wasn't the Circe Treatment, Fox.  I didn't know then
and I still don't quite know now, but Suze was able to alter her form at will.
She just could.

"It also turned out that her blood ended up mingling with Mike's, causing him to
start healing quickly.  I realized that because when I checked on him a short
time later, his injuries were less severe than before.  So I made a pretty good
guess that there was something in her blood that caused her to be able to shift
forms and that same something was now in Mike's blood.  And to test it I had
Suze give me a transfusion of her blood."

Tal sighed again, this time deeper.  "It's one thing to dream the dream but when
the dream becomes reality, the reality can become a nightmare. And living the
reality can be troubling and dangerous to one's sanity."

Fox nodded, understanding that feeling Tal was having.  "Did it?"

"Not really, no.  There were times when I thought it might, when I thought that
maybe it was a mistake to have done what I did.  Sometimes I'd lay outside and
stare at the stars, asking myself if I had made the right choice.  I'd never
gotten an answer but then I never expected to." He chuckled softly, then winked.
"I doubt that the gods would have given me an answer to begin with.  Other than
'You tell us.'"

Fox laughed as well, then looked closely at Tal.  "So what happened to you?  And
to the others?"

Tal sighed softly again, remembering those days again with fondness and sadness.
"We talked a while, Suze and I.  Mostly about her and Mike, their relationship
and their love for each other.  After a while I could feel something different
inside of me, and decided that it was time.  That's when I shifted my form into
a wolf for the first time.  Not just a morphic wolf, but a full wolf form.

"It was strange, but I didn't notice the pain at first.  Just the incredible
feel of being able to shift blotted everything else out in my mind.  Later on I
found out the hard way why Suze shifted so little.  It hurt a lot to change from
one form to another.  The body isn't as flexible as one might think, so the pain
is there to remind you.

"I tried a variety of shapes after they left, learning how to block most of the
pain as well as learning what the physical limits were.  Then months later I got
a frantic call from Mike telling me Suze had been kidnapped.

"I left as quickly as I could to get to him, but by the time I had gotten to
where they were it was too late.  She was dying and there wasn't anything we
could do about it.  But in dying Suze gave Mike a legacy, and we both went off
into the wilderness of Alaska to learn to live again."

Tal fell quiet, only the sound of the waterfall filling the air.  Just when Fox
was about to ask, Tal answered his silent question.  "Mike died two years ago.
He said he had grown tired of living, and so he decided to leave this world.
One night he fell asleep and never woke up.  And he and Suze both left, going
off into the unknown."

Fox was now confused.  "Mike and Suze?  You just said she was dead."

"She was, physically.  But her spirit still lived with us.  Or rather, with me."
Tal shuffled his feet, then looked out towards the stars again. "See, when she
died, her spirit was set free.  And since I was actually closer to her
spiritually, she 'lived' inside of me, sharing Mike and myself.  And
sometimes... sometimes I'd let her share my body, reshaping myself into female
form to please Mike."

Again, Fox blinked in surprise from the revelation.  "You became female?  Fully
female?"

Tal looked flushed, then shook his head.  Getting to his feet he started back
towards the camp.  "It's late, I'm tired, and I babble on too long.  And we both
need to rest, tomorrow's another long hike." He gave Fox a slight smile,  almost
unconsciously doing so.  "We can talk again in the morning.

---

Morning brought Bob and Fox awake to the sounds of humming and splashing of
water.  Quickly rising up, he walked over to the stream to find Tal taking a
rather cold shower under the waterfall.  He stood under the cascading water,
then saw them  at the bank and waded back.

"Good morning.  I hope you both slept well."  Tal reached for a towel, rubbing
vigorously his head to dry his hair.  "I'm sorry for last night's interlude, but
my occasional bouts of depression gets the better of me."

<It was no distraction.  I did hear you and Fox talking last night.  As I've
known your thoughts since we saw you a few days ago.> Bob stared at him,
noticing the thin lattice of scars across his body.  For his part, Tal merely
grinned and finished drying himself off, unconcerned that he was being stared at
by the two of them.

"Ah, that explains why you already knew so much about me.  I don't mind it at
all.  In fact, I might get you to explain to me how I manage to think at times."
Tal grinned, listening to their chuckles.  "The marks of my shapeshifting, I'm
afraid," nodding down at himself as he read the unicorn's thoughts.
"Particularly in changing the entire body, it leaves some markings to remind me
of the cost."  He flung the towel over his shoulder and walked up to where they
waited.  "And a reminder of the price I pay every time I do shift forms."

"Then why did you do it?"  Fox walked alongside Tal, learning more about how
unusual and unique he really was.  His ability to understand shapeshifting, for
example, was extremely rare.  He discovered he wanted Tal to stay with them,
already having reached that conclusion to himself.

Bob nodded at Fox, his thoughts quite private.  <He is indeed unique. And he
lives in pain even as we speak.  He won't admit it, but he is torn between
wanting to live and wanting to die.  There is so much he could teach us.>

:Can we find a way to keep him with us?:

<Perhaps.  But he'll have to admit what's deep inside of him first. Then we can
find a way to make him a part of our family.>

"Because."  Tal sighed softly, not noticing the brief mental conversation.  He
rummaged around for some clean clothing,  dressing for the day.  "It was always
my dream to be able to shapeshift, and it's still one of the few pleasures I
have.  Not that I can use it for much else, more like for surviving in this
world.  There have been times when folks came too close to learning what I was,
and I had to escape."

Bob nodded slowly in response.  <Yet you still accept the pain inside yourself
in shifting your form?>

"Pain, joy, it's all a part of life.  It's something you learn to live with.
Otherwise, there is really no point."  Tal let out a soft sigh, then shook his
head again.

<Then why?>

Tal stared at Bob, peering deep into his eyes.  "Because it reminds me of who
and what I am, always.  The pain reminds me that I'm still quite human, that
there's always a price to pay for your dreams.  And the joy reminds me that
there is always something more to look forward to."  He broke the stare, and
shook his head.  "And it reminds me that I have to keep dreaming.  That maybe...
maybe one day I'll find something more. Something that'll keep me believing in
myself."

Neither Fox or Bob had an answer for that.  They both looked down at the ground,
taken from the words that came from Tal.  Tal managed to give them both a soft
smile, then surprised them by giving them a light snug. They didn't pull away,
but were taken in by his show of affection.  "It's too good a day to be
depressing the two of you.  So how about we get back on the trail?"

For a while they walked along in silence, Tal munching on trail mix and offering
Fox some while Bob nibbled on grasses.  Finally Bob broke the silence as they
walked through an open meadow.

<Did you like being female?>

Tal blinked for a moment, then chuckled softly.  "Forgot you said you read my
mind there.  And I kinda thought you might have forgotten that." He gave Bob a
smile, nodding slightly.  "At first it was odd, being female but not really
being in control of your own body.  Suze was in 'front' during those first few
times, and I was merely along for the ride.  But I could feel every bit of what
was happening, and it was very different.  Odd, but not at all really
uncomfortable.

"After a while it became habit with us, Suze sharing herself between Mike and
myself.  Sometimes Mike would be female, and I'd give myself to her, but usually
I was the one who became female.  Suze claimed privately that it was because I
could understand being female better, whatever that meant.  All I did know was
that it was enjoyable.  I still liked being male, but I could appreciate being
female as well."

Fox listened closely, his thoughts swirling at Tal's confessions.  "But when
Mike died?"

A soft sigh came from Tal.  "When Mike died, Suze went with him.  They both said
it wasn't my time, gave me their love and left.  Since then I drifted about
aimlessly until I felt the need to come here.  Long before you were even who you
are now."

<How could you have known we were going to be here?>  Bob swished his tail
again, the gentle pace of walking lulling everyone into a sense of security.

"I don't know."  Tal shrugged his shoulders.  "How does a bird know to fly south
for the winter?  All I know was that I 'needed' to be here.  As I said, I was
born here in a sense.  It's my home as well as yours now.  And you're one of the
few who have ever welcomed me."

Fox and Bob both nodded in agreement.  "We were curious and wary about you at
first, Tal.  But since we've been traveling, we both have decided that you're
more than welcomed to stay with us.  You've been true and honest with us, and
that's a rare quality to find.  And Bob thinks you have more to offer."

Tal smiled at that.  "Thank you.  I just hope..."

A sound made everyone suddenly stop, looking around.  There was a stillness in
the air, with Fox and Bob vanishing into the woods like mists. Tal blinked at
the sudden feeling of 'alone' when a shot rang out, glancing off a tree.
"SHIT!"  He took off at a hard sprint, heading into deeper woods as gunfire
erupted behind him.  :: Damned helicopter must have spotted us, :: Tal thought to
himself.

He swerved through the brush and trees, hearing the shouts of men behind him
along with the roar of a jeep.  Swearing steadily, he kept up the run, hoping
that Fox and Bob both managed to escape.

His own survival was now essential.  Blood roared in his ears as he jumped
fallen trees, dove through bushes and tried to shake his pursuers. Just when he
thought he might have succeeded in escaping, another shot rang out, combined
with a lancing pain in his leg.  He crumpled down to the ground, clutching at
the calf where a bullet hole was now visible.

Three troopers came running out of the bush, weapons loaded and aimed at him.
"There he is," one trooper growled.  "About time we managed to get one of those
escapees."

"Grab him," one the other trooper shot back.  "Major's going to want to have a
word with this one."  They reached down to grab Tal's arm, when he suddenly
lashed out, long claws raking one trooper across the face.  He dropped his gun
screaming in pain, making the others suddenly take aim at Tal.

"You're dead meat now, whatever you are," the second trooper shouted. He started
to pull the trigger when Fox suddenly appeared out of nowhere, knocking the
trooper off balance.  Bob materialized in front of the troopers, a dark glint in
his eyes.  His horn glowed for a moment. Suddenly the troopers groaned, their
bodies quickly reshaping into a trio of deer that disappeared into the woods.

Tal got to his feet, groaning in pain.  "Damn, I'm getting too old for this."
He looked over at Bob, then at the tails of the disappearing deer. "Was that the
troopers?"

<Yes.>  Bob nickered softly, then looked down at Tal's leg.  Already the wound
was starting to heal, but it would take a few minutes longer. <You able to
walk?>

"Yeah."  Tal got to his feet, the 'claws' slowly vanishing into his fingers.
"We'd better get out of here before someone sends the rest after us."

Fox chuckled softly.  "Don't think you'll have to worry about that." He looked
at Tal's wound, then stood up.  "Let me give you a hand at least partially."
Tal grunted, and placed one arm around Fox's shoulder.  They headed off slowly
at first as the frantic shouts behind them faded, Bob's magic reaching them and
turning them into deer and elk.  The sounds of the forest returned, covering the
trio's slow walk into the deepening gloom.

---

Two evenings later found them at the edge of a small valley, where Bob said that
they had set up their own place.  <Home,> Bob said quietly.  Tal nodded, looking
at the valley in the bright moonlight.  "Reminds me of my old place years ago."
He sighed softly, looking at Bob and Fox again. "Where all of this began."

"It doesn't have to end, Tal."  Fox crouched down to stare at him, fearing that
Tal had reached a decision.

Tal shook his head slowly.  "Fox, what else is there for me?  I'm old, and I
have little to contribute.  I'm living a nightmare, not a dream.  I can't keep
going on this way."

His companions both snorted loudly.  <That's not true at all,> Bob shot at him,
and Fox nodded in agreement.  "For one thing, you know more about shapeshifting,
and that's something I need to learn more about.  Look at me, Tal!" he nearly
shouted, making Tal's head jerk in surprise.  His form blurred, becoming a full
fox morphic with his tails fanning behind him. "I'm a nine-tail and I have no
idea what that means!  But you do!"

<Fox is right, Tal.>  Bob moved closer, bumping his muzzle against his side.
<You have much more to offer to us, and to others who will come along.  You're
special, and we don't want to lose you.  Stay with us.>

Tal shook his head again.  "I came here looking for release, Bob.  I'm realizing
that."  He sighed deeply, closing his eyes.  "I don't know if I can keep going."

<You can.  You know deep inside that you need this.  Your dreams made real.  I
know what you wish most of all, and I can make it real for you.>

Tal sat there silently, digesting Bob's words.  Fox looked over at Bob, and
raised a questioning eyebrow.  :What is it he wants?:

<What you also have wished for.  Someone to show you what it's like.  A guide.
A teacher.  A companion.>

Fox looked suspiciously at Bob, then shook his head.  :You know what's best for
him.:

<What's best for us all.>  Bob nodded, then nudged Tal again.  <Tal?>

There was a soft sigh, then Tal opened his eyes again.  They were moist with
tears, tears of mingled sadness and joy.  "I'll...  I'll be ok.  I just haven't
felt needed in... well, in a very long time now.  It's just a little hard for me
to accept it."

Both Fox and Bob settled down next to him, waiting patiently.  "Tal, I would
welcome you here however you wanted to be.  And you know Bob can make you into
that, make you into whatever you wished most in your heart."

A soft sigh escaped Tal's throat.  "What I want?  All I want is the pain to end.
I want to be able to dream again.  To know that there is someone who cares."

<We care.>  Bob looked up into Tal's eyes, still waiting patiently.  <I care.  I
also know that there is more you want, Tal.  I know what you truly desire most,
and I can grant that to you.  As long as you want it in your heart.>

Tal sighed again, but this one was deeper, more a sound of release.  He closed
his eyes again, murmuring softly to himself, then opened them once more.  An odd
clarity was visible in them, as if the doubts and fears were suddenly gone.  "Do
it," he said softly, almost too softly to be heard.

Lightly Bob touched his horn to Tal's chest.  There was a shimmering, then Tal
let out a soft moan as the magic took hold of him, his body reshaping.  His
face became fox-like, ears moving up and taking on points, a thin muzzle pushing
out from his face.  A light red fur covered his body quickly, and behind him a
tail formed, followed by another and another until nine tails twitched in the
air.  His voice changed, becoming softer, his body becoming sleek and sensual.
Across his chest a pair of breasts formed, while deeper changes occurred within.

Bob and Fox both stepped back, looking at the female kitsune sitting before him.
Fox in particular wore an expression of surprise and... interest.  He didn't
know what Bob had planned, and looked back at the unicorn.  :This was his
choice?:

<Yes.  Wait.>  They both turned back to look at Tal, hearing a soft sigh
escaping.

Tal blinked in surprise, thoughts swirling around in confusion from the sudden
changes in feeling.  Finally they cleared, and a soft giggle came out sounding
quite feminine.  The new kitsune looked slowly at herself in the moonlight,
exploring the changes that had occurred.  She raised her head and stared at Bob
in surprise and delight.  "How did...  why?"

Bob shook his head.  <This is the form you wanted most.  You wanted to remain a
shapechanger, so you will always be one.  But also you wished to be female, so I
made you that way as well.>  There was a hint of pride in Bob's thoughts, so
much that it made Tal giggle again.  Then Tal turned to Fox, catching the
expression on his face.  "What's wrong?"

"I didn't expect. . ."  Fox gave a slow grin, looking up and down at Tal.  For
her part, Tal grinned back, striking a foxy pose for him.  "I have to admit I
didn't expect Bob to do that to you."

Bob nickered softly in amusement.  <You wanted a teacher, Fox.  But you also
wanted a companion as well, perhaps even a mate.  Tal wished to remain what she
was.  She can teach you more as she is now than any other way.>

"Still, you could have warned me."  Fox growled at Bob, then shook his head.
"Ah, who am I kidding?  I've wanted someone like myself just as much as anyone
else."  He laughed, then grinned at the vixen.  "Bob sure does a good job when
he wants to, though."

Tal winked at Fox, then shook her body.  She transformed effortlessly into a
morphic vixen with nine tails behind her, amazed at the ease with which she
changed.  She crouched down to the ground, then let out a soft sigh as a glow
surrounded her form, instinctively letting herself join with the land.

"Whoa... that was a rush."  She stood back up, her eyes bright with emotion.
"This feels so... wonderful.  It's the only words I can use for it right now."
She let out a peal of laughter, then hugged Bob around the neck before wrapping
her arms around Fox and planting a rather warm kiss on his lips.

Fox looked quite surprised at first, then his own arms surrounded Tal, holding
her close against him.  There was a momentary glow about their forms, then Fox
grinned.  "Aren't you rushing things a little?"

Tal laughed softly, looking very much the coy vixen now.  "Ah, perhaps I am.  I
do need to get used to this first."  She fluffed her tails, then sighed in
delight.  "Although I can't complain any more."

"You think I'm going to complain?"  Fox snickered softly, then both looked over
at Bob.  "Thank you," they said simultaneously.

Bob nickered softly, then winked.  <You're welcome.  Now, shall we go? My mate
is waiting, and I need to teach the foal.>

With that, the trio slowly headed down the trail, the two kitsune managing to
twine a tail together as they headed into the valley... and into the future.

---

Copyright 1996, 2015 by Tal Greywolf
all rights reserved</i>