(A Mother Nature Story)

by grapehyacinth 

The teacher's lounge at Fifth Avenue School was abuzz with conversation. The fourth-grade teacher, Sally Flint, was leading a movement to stop an open hunting season on deer as population control, and it was a big event in the local news.

“She wants them to use contraceptive darts so they don't have to kill them,” said Miss Murphy. “That's a much better idea.”

“Yes, they're doing that in other places and it's working out well. I can't stand knowing that those sweet animals are killed for sport. It should be outlawed. Especially in this day and age,” added Mrs. Carlson. “You can be sure I'll be at that rally.”

“Me, too, and I never go to stuff like that,” blushed Miss Murphy.

“Let's try to get a whole busload of faculty over there to show Sally our support,” said Principal Josephs. “I'll get us a bus.”

The rally was a big hit. It was held in a state park, where, far off, some deer could be seen peacefully grazing in a field. “Perfect,” Sally had commented at this sight. It was almost as if they had been instructed to be there.

Reporters and big-name government officials all were in attendance. Sally made her speech, then presented a check for the funds she had raised. This would go to help pay for the animal inoculations so the taxpayers would not have to fund them completely.

“How can we say no? Everyone wins,” said the governor of the state, coming back up to the podium as Sally went to sit down.

“The hunters don't,” one scruffy man said gruffly.

“And you hunt, I assume, Mr...?”

The man stood up. He had the requisite plaid shirt and jeans, and one could see him just waiting to attack Sally's every word. “Bart's my name. I don't know why you silly women have to go screw with my life. I'm sick of the animal-rights crap. Animals were put on earth for us to eat!”

The governor coughed. “Um, do you eat them after you hunt them?”

“No, I hate venison.”

Enough animal-rights people were there to start an uproar, and several officers had to lead Bart away for fear of him being attacked. The law was as good as passed.

Sally stood watching the deer proudly as people left the park. She sensed rather than saw the goddess-like woman appear to her side. “Hello, Mother Nature,” she said, keeping her voice low and her eyes front.

“They're a lovely animal to be, you know.” The woman's purring voice spoke volumes.

“I can imagine. It kills me to know people enjoy hurting them... Did you hear that hunter?”

The woman nodded. “Yes. I'm watching him. Oh, boy, am I watching him.”

The teacher shuddered. She almost felt sorry for the man, but not quite.

“You saved many innocent lives today, Sally. You also spared a great many animals from pain.”

Sally shrugged, finally turning to the woman. “You know I couldn't live with myself if I didn't at least try to help.”

“I'll be happy to let you join the deer whenever you'd like.”

“You know I could never resist that kind of offer. How about over the spring break?”

“Give me a call. Or just text me. Or message me on Facebook. Your choice.”

“You want fast or slow?”

Sally shook her head in amazement. What could this woman not do? She had her choice of transformation speeds? “You mean, I'm suddenly a deer fast?”

“I could turn you into a deer instantaneously. Meaning first you're a person–” a great flash of light left a beautiful doe in Mother Nature's place, “–then you're a deer!” said the animal, its eyes sparkling with glee.

Sally thought back to the first time she had been thanked by Mother Nature. She had always rescued creatures whenever possible, and, after saving a praying mantis from being mangled by her fourth-graders, Mother Nature had given her the chance to be one herself. And she had loved every minute of it. She then had the chance to become a turtle after saving one from the clutches of her students.

But her transformations had not been instantaneous. She had been able to experience her body metamorphose from human to animal, and every intermediate inbetween.

She wanted that again.

“Yes, I hear your thoughts. You liked the way I did the other times. I do admit, I enjoy watching you transform. Okay, so... let's just put us into a nice grassy meadow so we have plenty of food,” they suddenly stood in a verdant clearing in the woods, “and then I'll start on you.”

Looking slightly green, Sally tottered closer to the deer.

“Oh, you've never been teleported before. Yes, it can give one a jolt. Don't worry, once you start transforming, you'll feel much better. Okay. Deep breath, Sally.”

Before she could obey, Sally's body was already electrified with Mother Nature's power. It filled her with pleasure, changing and shaping her from head to toe. Spotted light fur burst from her skin, covering her with a soft coat. Her hands and feet became hooves, and Sally made a purr of delight.

“You enjoying, Sally? Good speed?”

Sally could only nod as her very face changed, her nose growing black, her eyes becoming dark and round. Her clothes had vanished, as they had last time, but it didn't seem important in the least. “Get down on all fours so you don't fall,” the woman-turned-doe instructed, and Sally's changing spine prompted her to listen.

A short fluffy tail popped from her back end, and she was finished.

Carefully, she tested her new, spindly legs. She tried to walk, but tumbled to the ground. The doe nosed her back up. “Walking on all fours takes practice. You'll get it soon enough.”

Walking through the meadow followed by her companion, the teacher reveled in her new body. Being a deer was quite different than being a praying mantis or turtle, that was for sure. This body felt completely warm and soft, unlike having an exoskeleton or shell. She did wish she could fly like she had as a bug, however.

Once she got the hang of the four legs, she began to buck and romp through the grass.

Mother Nature laughed at the display. “I made you a young one, so you feel the vigor and beauty of life.”

The new deer felt like she would burst from the excitement and pent-up energy in her newly-young body. She darted around the meadow, bouncing and jumping happily. Oh, this is so lovely! she exclaimed in her mind.  

“Yes, I thought you'd enjoy it. And you deserve it. Everyone thanks you.” Deer were approaching them from the woods, more and more of them, until a whole flock surrounded Sally and Mother Nature. Each animal came to her and nosed her lovingly, and Sally could only stand in amazement.

“See, they're grateful,” Mother Nature commented, watching her flock with a keen eye.

When all had paid their respects, Mother Nature invited Sally to join them. “Come, eat some of this grass with us. I feel like staying in deer form for a bit, anyway. I'll keep you and your new friends company.”

The long, lazy afternoon was a memorable one for the teacher-turned-deer. It wasn't that so much was going on, but the sheer relaxation of simply grazing in the warm sun was sorely needed for the tired woman.

Suddenly there was a loud bang, and the other deer fled in a great hurry. Sally pricked her ears up. What was that?

Mother Nature lifted her head. “Hunters. Always the damned hunters. I thought you stopped that with your rally.”

It didn't go into effect yet, Sally said gloomily.

Another bang came then, and Sally yelped in pain. A rush of blood burst from her back leg, and she staggered to the ground.

“Got her!” a male voice cried triumphantly from the bushes. The leaves parted to reveal Bart, the very hunter that had complained at the rally.

“How dare you? You can't hurt Sally!” Ignoring the shocked man completely, the doe grew back into human form, and the man screamed, now somehow rooted to the ground. Mother Nature bent down over the suffering deer and passed her hand over the wound, healing it immediately.

The deer flicked its ears, then rose back up. Thank you, Mother Nature. Thank you so much.

Too angry to respond, Mother Nature rose, swinging to face the man. “That's against Sally's law, you stupid man!” She walked towards him, keeping him frozen. He tried to pick up his legs to run, but was helpless.

“That law hasn't taken effect yet,” he said defiantly. “I don't know what you are, lady, but I can tell you, I'm not doing anything wrong. Right now it's still legal to kill.”

“It's not legal to kill Sally!” she screamed, and suddenly the man shrank to the ground, his head sprouting long ears, a cotton tail exploding from his backside. He tried to grab at it, but his small body seized and simply became a rabbit's.

What....what... the confused bunny stuttered.

Mother Nature grabbed him up by the ears. “My normal way of doing things is to make you a deer and put you in the line of fire. But, since there's no more hunting deer, we'll have to find something else for you to do. Now, I do know a magician who could really use you in his show...”

Oh, please, no...

“Don't worry. The kids will love you.”

Mother Nature went to drop off the rabbit with his new boss. She came back to find Sally munching sadly at the grass, her eyes on the woods warily.

“He's good to go,” said Mother Nature, wiping her hands.

You won't leave him like that forever, will you?

“Oh, you know me. If he's a good little bunny, I'll consider a reprieve. As long as he's learned his lesson.”

Sally was quiet.

“Want some company?”

Could you change me back? I love how I feel like this, and it was lovely, but after the hunter...

“I understand. We'll have to try something else at another point. You want to change right now, or would you like to take one quick romp with me in the woods?”

Well...

“A few miles in, there's a beautiful waterfall with crystal clear water to drink from. Drinking from it as a deer is quite lovely, you know.”

How could she refuse an invitation like that from none other than Nature herself?

One more romp, she said, and they galloped off.