A Bottle of Dreams, pt 4
by Tal Greywolf

---

There are varying ways that a person wakes up.  For some, the morning is a bleak
period between crawling out of bed and that first cup of coffee.  For others,
the moment the alarm rings they're fully away and ready for the day's
activities.  Others tend to wake slowly, savoring those last few minutes of
drowsy feeling before finally slipping out from between the covers.

Andrew was feeling very much like the last, fading back to conscious thought
from the depths of sleep.  He was acutely aware of his body, more than ever
before.  The gentle rhythm of his breathing, the sound of blood rushing in his
ears as his heart beats strongly.  The light caress of an errant breeze across
him, the lazy curling of his tail behind his back.

The lazy curling of his tail behind his back.....

The lazy curling of his tail.....

Time froze for a moment as the thought echoed inside his mind. A Tail?  He
cautiously opened one eye, peering down at his nose.

A black nub greeted his vision, slightly damp.  It sat at the tip of a blunt
muzzle, orange fur covering it while long whiskers twitched with amusement.  He
opened his other eye, peering with both at the unusual image.

It definitely was a nose, his nose.  He tried to twitch it, watching it move on
command.  As if in a dream he raised up one hand, peering with wide eyes at the
sight.

His hand was fur covered as well, the same orange fur with black stripes at his
wrist.  The fingers were shorter than normal, giving the impression of a paw.
Flexing one finger, he watched a sharp claw extend outwards, retracting when he
relaxed.

The fur continued down his arm, and his gaze went down until he saw his chest.
He was totally covered in fur, the marking clearly those of a tiger.  His body
was much more muscular, his frame having expanded in size.  Glancing down his
chest, he saw a sheath there, guessing that he had expanded in size there as
well.

The door opened slowly, his ears catching the sound instantly. Turning to look,
he saw Aluria standing there in the doorway, her own form back in the tigress
shape he shifted her into back a few nights ago.  She smiled softly and walked
over to the bed, her tail swaying in rhythm with her hips.

"Good morning, dear."  She settled down on the bed, giving Andrew a detailed
gaze.  He would have blushed at her staring, but managed merely to give a smile
back.

"Morning."  He hesitated, trying to find the words to say, then gave up.  "I,
uh... it worked?"

She giggled softly and kissed his nose, making him sneeze.  "It worked.
Congratuations, you're now like me."

He raised himself up in the bed, leaning against the headboard. "What do you
mean, I'm like you?  I thought that I wished to be..."  His voice trailed off,
then let out a sigh.  "I did wish to be like you, didn't I?"

"Not in as many words, but it was the only way I could do it."  She smiled up at
him, scritching his chest with her fingers.  He rumbled softly in response,
surprising himself by the sound.

"Ah, I... guess I'm confused a bit."  He shook his head, then looked down at
Aluria.  "What happened?  I remember you against me, then things became rather
hazy."

She smiled and snuggled up against him.  "Simply?  I made you become the same as
me.  For all intents, you're a djinn now.  And bonded to me as I'm bonded to
you.  You don't have any magic yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if you developed
your own powers there."

"A djinn."  His voice trailed off into silence, then he scritched her lightly
under her muzzle.  "Does that mean you're able to do the same to me as I was
doing to you before?"

"Yes and no."  Aluria worked her paw down his chest, making him squirm slightly
from the touch.  "You can still affect me, and I can affect you.  But because
we're bonded to each other, it has to be willingly now.  I can shift myself now,
something I couldn't do before. And I'd guess you're going to be able to shift
yourself as you choose to."  She scritched lower, ignoring the batting of his
paws.  "Hey, what do you think you're doing?"

"Trying to distract you, that's what."  He growled at her, then let out a yelp
as she groped him with both paws.

"I'm the one trying to distract you."  She grinned, looking down and feeling him
stirring to life in her paws.  "And it's looking like I'm starting to succeed."

Andrew laughed despite the situation.  "You keep that up, and you might have
more than a handful to deal with."

She grinned back evilly at his words.  "I hope so."  She kept up her attention,
stroking him firmly until he let out a soft moan, becoming aroused.  When she
felt that it was time, she straddled his hips, slipping him inside of her before
he could twist away.

He shuddered underneath her, looking at her sitting on top of him. She slowly
rose up and down on him, using her entire body as enticement, coaxing him to let
go.  A low growl came from him, his senses inflamed now as she drove him without
mercy.

It wasn't long before he responded in kind, his paws reaching up to rub her
breasts, hips pushing upwards to meet hers.  Growls and moans filled the air
along with the scent of their lovemaking, becoming lost in a frenzy of need for
each other.  Their bodies shuddered, then cried out as they each exploded in
powerful climaxes, the bond between them echoing their pleasure in the other's
minds.

---

A long time later Andrew managed to speak again, exhausted from their
lovemaking.  "Urrrr, that was incredible."

Aluria smiled, nuzzling him as she lay there next to him.  They both were sweaty
and worn out, their bodies finally drained of animal passion.  "Goddess, it was
wonderful.  You were wonderful."

He smiled and licked her muzzle, still amazed at himself and his reactions.  "I
still feel funny about this.  Like it's natural but not quite real to me."

"You'll adjust," she replied.  "You're flexible, lover.  And you're already
feeling comfortable with the changes."

Andrew realized that he was comfortable with the fact that he was a tiger, and
that she felt perfectly normal to her.  "You're right," he said, rumbling gently
as she scritched his side.  "It does feel comfortable.  Somehow.  Like it's
always been a part of me, like my dreams were."

She nodded, sitting up in bed.  "I think," she said gently, "that your dreams
might be a reason why you're adapting.  You really did want to be like me so
much in the past, you already knew what it was going to be like."

Andrew mulled her words, then kissed her nose.  "I don't know if you're right or
not, but I do know one thing.  I'm getting hungry."

Her stomach growled at his words, making her tickle him.  "You had to remind me
of that!"

He grinned, and suddenly rolled her over onto her back, pinning her down.  "Hah.
Gotcha."

"Whatcha going to do about it, Mister Tiger?"  She giggled and gave him a sly
wink which he returned.

"I'll tell you.  After breakfast."  He hopped up off of the bed, then helped her
up.  "There's a Shoney's down the road a bit, they have an all you can eat
breakfast bar.  That'll be perfect for me."

"Hey, I need to eat, too.  All that shifting takes a lot out of a girl."  She
giggled, then shimmered as she returned to human form.  "I don't think you'll
want to wander out this way, would you?"

"Maybe if I'm going to an LSU football game.  Hey, maybe I can be the mascot
now?"  He stepped out of the way of her slap, then grinned. "All right, what do
I do?"

"Just visualize yourself."

Andrew closed his eyes, trying to remember what he looked like before.  There
was an odd feeling of fluidity, his body flowing and reshaping itself, then
solid again.  When he opened his eyes, he saw that he was human, back in his
normal form now.  "Weird," he commented. "Very strange, I feel... naked."

"You are naked, lover."  Aluria giggled, then slipped into the bathroom.  "First
call for the shower."

---

The Shoney's wasn't so crowded as Andrew expected.  10am, and the place was only
half full.  The result being that he and Aluria easily found a table, managed to
make a serious dent on the breakfast, and leave before the Antioch Baptist
Church ended the day's sermons and everyone descended on the place.

They decided to take a while and drive, the scenery on the North Shore being
colorful enough with fall in the air.  Aluria watched as they went past forests
and farmland, passing through the small towns and ending up in Abita Springs.
Andrew took time to explain things to her, from oil rigs to hiking trails,
puzzled somewhat at the idea of fast food and giggling as he showed her the
small brewery in Abita Springs. Just for fun he bought a pack of Purple Haze
beer, watching her laugh at the bottles.

It was early evening when they finally drove back to the cabin, their talk
turning to silence and Aluria leaning against him as he drove down the highway.
Their thoughts had drifted back to the morning, sensing that the other was
wanting the privacy again.  Andrew guided the car down the dirt road, then
stopped as they reached their home for now.

Before she could head inside, Andrew held her arm.  "Not yet, lover. There's
something I want to do before.  While there's still some light outside."

"Oh?"  Aluria looked a bit puzzled.  "What's that?"

"Well, you said that we could shift ourselves.  I want to try something before
we head inside.  Something I've always dreamed of doing, even before you gave me
this ability.  Fly.  I want to fly with you a while."

A soft smile appeared on her lips.  "I think I'd like that," she replied back,
following him into the yard.  "What do you think you'd like to be?"

"Much as I'd like to be a dragon, we can't try it.  Too many people around, and
something that large would appear on radar once we got too high.  But a raptor,
say an eagle or hawk, that'd be perfect."

She nodded in agreement.  "You first?  Or me?"

"You go first, love.  I want to watch you change."

She smiled warmly, then her form shimmered and blurred, shrinking in size.  Her
features changed, feet thinning and becoming talons, while her face shrank, nose
and mouth turning into a yellow beak.  Her arms stretched out, feathers
appearing to replace hair, long shafts to hold her on updrafts.  She let out a
screech and lifted into the air, wings rapidly beating to send her skyward.

Andrew watched in admiration, then his own form blurred and changed about.  He
watched his perspective change, dropping in size while his body became smaller,
lighter.  His skin tickled as feathers grew outwards, his arms and legs shifting
with his posture.  He hopped slightly, spying Aluria soaring overhead, then
instinctively began flapping his wings, heading into the sky to join her.

The land dropped beneath him, moving away as he gained altitude.  He felt giddy,
the sensation of air blowing through his feather tickling him.  Moving with
powerful wingstrokes he soared upwards, flying past Aluria then tucking to dive
down, pulling out at the last moment level to her.  She screeched in surprise, a
cry that he echoed back.

They flew higher still, drifting over the countryside and looking down from
their vantage point.  Andrew was surprised at how crisp his vision was, able to
focus on little things even high up.  The sounds below reached him faintly, cars
driving along US 190, the scent of the lake off a short ways away.  Aluria flew
along with him, her eagle eyes bright with wonder.

The setting sun reminded them that it would be dark soon.  Gazing down, Andrew
was surprised as how far they had flown, passing over the Interstate near
Covington.  He sent his thoughts to Aluria, pointing out the aerial signs.

By the time darkness was beginning to cover the land they flew down into the
yard, shifting at the very last moment to land on human feet. Aluria ran over to
him, hugging and kissing him warmly with tears in her eyes.  "Lover, that was so
amazing.  I felt like I wanted to stay that way."

He kissed her back, his own tears mingling with hers.  "I was tempted.  Gods, I
was tempted.  Flying was so... wonderful.  That's the only word I can find for
it."

She nodded, still hugging him tightly.  "Thank you," she said, laying her head
on his chest.  "Thank you for being so willing."

To her surprise, he sighed and nuzzled her head.  "Thank you, love. For giving
me this gift to share with you."

Together they walked back into the house, murmuring to each other.

---

They sat together in the living room, quietly talking as the evening passed.
For Andrew, today had been a day of revelation, both at what he had become as
well as who he had become.  Reflecting back, he was still amazed at how fast
things had happened since wandering into that magic shop.  He knew, though, he
wouldn't trade what's happened for anything else.

Aluria was also amazed at Andrew, and herself.  No one before had made her feel
the way he was, feelings of care, of love.  She was willing to go as far as she
did, making him a djinn so that she wouldn't lose him.  Rash, certainly.  Djinni
generally didn't make rash actions, but she was certain he'd accept her reasons.

Andrew learned more from her about what being a djinn meant.  About the history
of the djinn, their lore, why they are the way they are. Human companionship was
important to them, almost necessary.

"There have always been legends," she was saying, "about djinni. How we helped
Aladdin and Sinbad, how we twisted wishes about for those who deserved them.
That's quite true, but for reasons.

"Djinni feel that for each djinn there is a person who's meant for them.  A
companion or mate, so to speak.  It's every djinn's wish that they find that
person, for it fulfills their reason for being. Suleymann never meant for djinn
to be separate from humanity, but to eventually be a part of humankind."

Andrew nodded softly in understanding.  "So in a way being with me fulfills your
wish?"

"I think so, yes.  You're what every djinn would wish for, a loving, caring
individual who's willing to share their life."  Aluria smiled warmly at him,
making him blush.  He blushed easily, she noticed.

Coughing softly, Andrew managed to cover it.  "I do love you," he said softly,
whispering it.  "Gods, if I've been willing to let you make me into a copy of
yourself, I must love you."

She leaned close and kissed him warmly.  "I know," she replied.  "I love you,
too.  The bonding makes that love even more powerful now."

"The bond makes a lot of things more powerful," he commented.  She laughed, and
when she managed to stifle it, he continued on.  "We're able to sense each other
much more, can't we?"

"Sense, hear, feel."  She paused, then smiled.  "Think of it as maybe two
spirits inhabiting one body.  Or one personality sharing two forms."

Andrew reflected on her words, then looked at her from an angle. "We were one
body last night, weren't we?"

This time she blushed, looking rather embarrassed.  "It was the only way," she
said in reply.

He smiled, and kissed her gently.  "It's ok.  Really.  Funny thing is, I've
sometimes had ideas like that in the past."

She blinked, slightly startled.  "Like what?"

"Like being liquid and merging together with a lover," he said, shrugging his
shoulders.  "Guess it's just the idea that made it so fascinating to me.  And
erotic."

Aluria looked carefully at him, then in a slow, measured tone said, "Would you
like to?"

Andrew cocked his head to the side, sensing her question.  "I think I would,
yeah.  It'd be different from anything else we've tried together, so far.  If
you don't want to, just say so."

She shook her head.  "Love, I'd want to be with you any way you think would be
pleasurable for us together.  Just tell me if you want to do it."

He sat back for a moment, thinking over what he had said.  Then, he stood up,
reaching down and bringing her to her feet.  Wordlessly he kissed her, hugging
her tightly against him.  She sighed softly and settled against him, already
knowing his answer.

They stood there, together for a long time, holding each other and basking in
their closeness.  Without a sound or a signal, they both shimmered golden and
turned liquid, flowing down to the floor to become a puddle that rippled and
quivered from within.

Together they moved towards each other, feeling themselves merging and sharing,
their desire for the other strong.  The liquid form responded to their thoughts,
undulating and flowing about as an amoeba, occasionally taking shape as they
took their pleasures.

From the liquid they rose up, Andrew behind Aluria, both shimmering golden.  He
leaned up against her, his arms wrapped about her waist while caressing her
breasts, she lifting her head up and letting out a strange moan.  Their bodies
were visible from the waist up, the golden fluid spread out around them being
the rest of their form.  A shimmering of forms, melting back into the fluid,
then again they rose, only this time face to face, kissing each other
passionately.

Repeatedly they formed and reformed into shape, melting back into liquid shape.
Time had no meaning to them, lost completely in their pleasure until in one,
overwhelming climax they fell into unconscious sleep.

The liquid body fell still, laying upon the floor.  Slowly it took shape,
remaining fluid but taking on the image of Andrew and Aluria, their appearance
blended together into one form that was both male and female.  They lay there
for the rest of the night, dreams twined in their thoughts as tightly as their
bodies were.

-----

copyright 1996, 2015
by Tal Greywolf
all rights reserved