by Cameron Hale
Beneath the creature's great wings, the once beautiful world writhed in smoking agony. Whirlwinds ploughed across the continents, tidal waves decimated coastlines. Towering peaks collapsed and the ensuing eruptions threatened the very stability of the planet. At length, the creature discovered the great smoldering meteor embedded off the northeastern coast of a temperate continent. Suddenly, time was very short.
Transmutation to its original life form was necessary if the creature was to escape the catastrophe. Otherwise, it would be trapped in its assumed avian form, unable to travel beyond the boundaries of the blue world. The creature flapped furiously in an attempt to reach the proper velocity, its massive wings struggling against an encroaching maelstrom consuming the western horizon. Ahead, the vortex advanced with frightening speed. Altitude became increasingly difficult for the creature to attain as murderous gale force winds buffeted it from every direction.
Despite its efforts, the creature was caught in a fierce downdraft that dragged it toward the storm's baleful eye and trapped it in a dizzying vortex. It struggled, knowing that spiraling backward and out of control meant that it could be bounced randomly into another temporal zone.
The swirling mass sucked the creature deep into its maw. Faster and faster the creature spun until it disappeared into the blinding white flash of temporal distortion and entered a channel dotted with characteristically elongated galaxies and nebulae. Ricocheted out of control, the creature anxiously scanned the disorienting horizon for a white flash that would indicate an exit.
Without warning, a flash appeared and hurled the creature into yet another churning vortex. The experience was exhausting, the primordial life form unsuitable for timespanning. To survive the drastically altered conditions of the new destination, the creature had to transmute quickly to adapt, but before it could commence the process, it was roughly ejected into a stormy, nighttime sky. The creature struggled against the onslaught, the natural forces not unlike those it had recently experienced on the young blue planet.
Only then did it realize that it had never left the primitive world. Scanning the terrain below, it observed changes that in most areas marred the landscape beyond recognition. No longer did the great beasts freely roam the unspoiled land; no more did the great forests span the globe. The soul of the creature wept as it remembered the once beautiful planet. It shuddered, recalling visits to other worlds gradually destroyed over the eons¾and eons it must have been as evidenced by the widespread devastation below.
Aware of the dangerous situation, the creature understood that it needed to transmute before the yellow star rose and betrayed its presence. The nature of the threat soon became evident when it discovered that the life forms had developed primitive airborne vessels. At all costs it had to avoid densely populated areas and the risk of tracking devices.
Cautiously, the creature homed in on a fairly remote stretch of cultivated land with few apparent dwellings. A dense forest nearby provided excellent cover as it circled the angry sky. Anxiously seeking a life form for transmutation, it probed the native wildlife but nothing was immediately suitable.
The storm exploded with renewed violence. Massive forks of electricity webbed the sky, creating a situation too dangerous for the creature to attain adequate velocity for transmutation. A solitary dwelling unexpectedly appeared amidst a forest clearing. The creature received images of nocturnal winged mammals not unlike itself but much smaller and strictly sonar-guided. It hovered above the dwelling, perceiving other images of life forms that stood erect and possessed a well-developed intelligence. As a precaution, the creature attuned itself to their mental processes to better determine suitability.
Stunned, the creature learned the nature of its precarious situation. Incredibly, the blue planet had not only survived the cataclysm but after the widespread destruction of almost every life form, had spawned intelligent beings from countless generations of mutations. However, it was also clear that the inheritors of the blue planet had not yet evolved from the baser instincts, instincts that tantalized the creature with the promise of intense sensory pleasure. Ordinarily, it would have decried its ill-timed appearance in such an undesirable period, but the possibilities awaiting, soon tempered any concerns.
The creature acted. It had to transmute immediately, before the imbalance of its present form became critical. It ascended sluggishly into the storm. Every wing beat was a struggle against the planet's gravitational pull, the creature’s last reserve of strength finally dwindling away. Unable to continue, it realized grimly that it would not reach the necessary velocity in such a powerful storm. Desperately, it tried to transmute. Brutal winds battered it, shards of lightning stabbed within a wingspan. Distorted images whirled in its mind. A bolt of lightning exploded and sent numbing shockwaves throughout its body. It plummeted like a stone to a flurry of frantically beating wings, its avian form waxing and waning. Striking the wet, mossy ground hard, it lay motionless until the storm spent itself and gradually cleared.
* * *
Uttering an agonized cry, a twisted shape crawled from the undergrowth. Above, the storm-cleansed sky revealed the first tentative blush of dawn. The creature cringed and concentrated at stabilizing its crude transmutation before it was discovered a half-winged, half-human freak. Dull pain coursed through its weakened, battered body from the intensity of its effort. Legs¾it had to create legs…
Slowly, cognizance returned, the ordeal of transmutation finally over. Curled up on the damp cushion of moss, it breathed deeply of the cool, clean air and felt the efficient pulse of strange organs within. Rising unsteadily to a sitting position, it curiously surveyed its new body. Despite the chaotic process it had endured, the human form was flawless. Perfectly proportioned limbs set off fine musculature and smooth, milky skin. The texture of the hair draping its slender shoulders was thick and a pleasing dark shade. Yet most intriguing of all were the prominent female attributes.
Though the creature had assumed many sexually equipped forms in its extensive journeys, none had such an innate appeal. Running its hands along the attractive curvature of hips and breasts elicited a pleasurable sensation. After a moment, the sensation increased, culminating in an acute response centered in the groin. Curious, the creature raised its thighs and gently probed the delta of coarse black hair. Fleshy pink lips engorged beneath its touch and opened like a mysterious blossom. Beads of moisture dotted the area, drawing the creature’s fingers into hot, yielding wetness.
By now, the pleasurable sensation had become more intense. A button of flesh hardened, eliciting a gasp from the creature. Lying back onto the moss, it discovered that by rubbing…
Brilliant light from the nearby dwelling flooded the surrounding area, startling the creature from its explorations. It quickly ducked to shield its dazzled eyes. In response, a human female emerged from the doorway and stood on the porch. Though she scanned the immediate area for quite some time, she did not notice the subtle shifting in the undergrowth.
“Hello,” she said uncertainly. “Is anyone there?”
A husky male voice called out. “What's wrong, Denise?”
The woman peered suspiciously into the woods, the tense body language displayed by her slender, petite form betraying her fear. Panting with effort, the creature watched while struggling to assimilate the alien language. The woman was no immediate threat, her delicate features and wavy, shoulder length swathe of ruddy hair indicating relative youth. Yet a different image emerged from the depths of her mind. Navigating the currents of her subconscious, the creature encountered a cache of suppressed desires, of emotions that pointed to the woman’s carnal nature. Encouraged, the creature watched and waited.
“I'm not sure,” the woman finally answered. “I thought I heard an animal or something.”
A human male appeared at the door carrying a discharge-type weapon. Tall and well built, he bore a lean, sun-cured demeanor that implied strength and agility. From the odor of the pheromones he produced, it was clear the
man presented a definite threat.
“Stay here,” he said, peering into the shadows beyond the range of the powerful light. “I'll check it out.”
A moment alter, the man frantically waved from a clearing. “Denise, over here, quick!”
The woman rushed toward him and gasped when she spotted a naked young girl no more than twenty doubled up beneath some gnarled undergrowth.
“My God, Eric!” she cried, kneeling down. “Is she alive?”
* * *
Time seemed to suspend as they knelt beside the young woman. Gingerly, Eric pressed his fingers against the young woman’s neck. Though her pulse was erratic, the touch of her silken skin elicited an illicit thrill of arousal akin to a spark of static electricity. “Yes, thank God,” he said, his eyes unwittingly snared by the ripe curves of her ass and the swell of her full breasts. Though her knees were drawn up, they did not quite conceal the inky slash of pubic hair peeking between. He swallowed to ease the tightness in his throat. Despite the proximity of his wife, he could not quell a sudden, inexplicable urge to spread the young woman’s legs. His irrational desire appalled yet fired him as he imagined the situation that had brought her here. Had he been alone, he might have further explored the terrain of her body that may have already been used or abused by others.
Barely stifling a gasp, he quickly removed his heavy plaid jacket and covered the young woman as best he could. Yet even as he sidled away, he noticed Denise reach out and caress the silken mass of raven hair spilling from the unresponsive form.
“What beautiful hair,” she said, trailing her fingers to the young woman’s flawless porcelain complexion. “She’s like a doll, so perfect. What on earth is she doing out here? But what happened to her clothes…” She hesitated. “Do you think she was¾attacked and dumped out here?”
“You mean did some sick fuck rape her and leave her out here to die? Yes, I think that’s probably a reasonable assumption.” Immediately he regretted his words as his fevered imagination conjured images of such an assault, only it was his hands eagerly spreading her ass and ramming his cock…
Shaking his head to banish the lurid image, he scrambled to his feet and studiously avoided his wife’s eyes. “Babe, I never promised the world wouldn’t catch up to us sooner or later. The animals in this world we have to worry about aren’t the four legged kind.”
Stiffly, Denise reached for the young woman’s arms. “Help me carry her back to the house. I'll call Dr. Barkley and then you can call the police. Her family’s probably sick with worry.”
* * *
Feigning unconsciousness, the creature allowed itself to be ministered by the hands that swabbed its forehead with a damp cloth. The enjoyable sensation offered an appropriate opportunity for revival. Strange background noises teased its ears¾a repetitive ticking the culminated in a series of chimes, a high-pitched whistling, the clattering of unidentifiable objects. Opening its eyes, it gazed into the man’s face and noticed a treasure of intriguing detail. Fine lines etched the skin around his mouth and eyes, the color a pleasing gray-green. The eyebrows were thick yet attractive, offsetting a mouth that tightened slightly at her perusal.
“Are you okay?” he asked with a pleasing baritone voice. “We found you outside in the woods. We’ve called a doctor. Can you tell us anything about what happened?”
Staring down at its newly transmuted body, the creature was briefly surprised to find itself clad in a baggy blue sweater and leggings. The fabric was comfortable and hugged its flesh in a way that teased the nerve endings of its skin. From the corner of its eye, it noticed the man watching the steady rise and fall of its breasts.
The sound of an opening door distracted them both. Abruptly looking away from the creature, the man rose almost awkwardly at the sight of the woman carrying a tray of tea. The creature focused on their body language and discerned a curious mix of pheromonal signals.
“Did you reach him, Denise?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I got his answering service. He was called out on an emergency. They couldn’t tell me how long he’d be.” Setting the tray on a nearby table, she perched on the edge of the couch. Though she heard Eric’s voice, her attention was focused on the young woman’s casually provocative pose.
“What did you say?”
“I said maybe I should call the police. We need to let someone know about her.”
Denise hesitated, her gaze drawn to the young woman’s shell blue eyes. As deep as a winter sky on crisp, clear morning, they seemed to draw her inward, inward to the memory of the young woman naked on the couch, her unconscious body soft and pliant as Denise attempted to dress her. Somehow her hands had brushed a rosy nipple, had strayed to the warmth between her thighs. She had noticed a scent on her flesh, something indefinable yet alluring, one that invited further exploration by her hands…
“Why don’t we let you decide?” she blurted to the young woman, feeling a sudden flush infuse her body. “What’s your name? Do you want to talk? If you don’t want us to call the police, we won’t.”
The creature’s gaze shifted to Denise’s nipples hardening beneath the thin fabric of her t-shirt. Warmed by a cheerfully crackling fire, the atmosphere in the house felt almost soporific. Sensing that the timing was right, the creature attempted to move its lips in a parody of speech. “Caallla,” it mumbled, the obtrusive human tongue and teeth in the way. “Caarlaa…”
“Carla?” Denise asked. “Is your name Carla?”
“Yes.”
The affirmation brought a smile to Denise’s face. “Would you like some tea? If you’re hungry, I can fix you something.”
Carla shook her head, not quite ready to ingest foreign substances. “I’d like to talk, if you don’t mind. I need to get it out. I can have something to eat later.”
Denise nodded understandingly. “If that’s what you want.”
“I¾I was going to visit a friend,” Carla continued, rapidly mastering the cumbersome speech. “My car broke down on the highway. I¾ forgot my phone, so I had to try and find a call box…”
Denise squeezed her hand reassuringly, her fingers lingering. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? It must have been quite an ordeal…”
“No, I want to remember,” Carla said, sensing a subtle, rising tension in the couple that clearly indicated they wanted to know what happened. She glanced from one to the other, mentally composing the details of her ordeal, her understanding of human physiology feeding her with appropriate information. “There were two of them. I don’t know where they came from. Suddenly they were following me. Before I realized it they grabbed me and dragged me into the woods. They were young, stocky backwoods type. I screamed, but no one was around to hear me. They held me down, tore my clothes off and threw them into a nearby creek.”
She paused, gauging the effect of her words. Both were snared by the suggestiveness of her words, their increased respiration and heightened pheromonal excretion an unmistakable signal. She cleared her throat for effect.
“They¾they made me do things. One of them held my legs apart while the other found a smooth stone and fucked me with it. Then they made me get on my hands and knees and slid the stone up my ass while they fingered me.” She pretended to shudder and looked away, but not before noticing their rapt expressions. “After that, they told me to squat in a shallow part of the stream and piss in the water. By then, they were really off. They fucked me in the stream at the same time, one underneath me, the other behind me. The younger of the two couldn’t get enough even after his brother was finished. He wanted my ass and made me bend over in the stream so he could tongue me…”
Denise abruptly rose. Brushing against the edge of the tea tray, it clattered dangerously. “I think we’ve heard enough, Carla. We really should call the police and give them a description. These animals need to be caught. And let me give Dr. Barkley another call. Who knows what those vermin might have done to you.”
Clumsily, she poured three mugs of tea an
d handed one to Carla. The other she gave to Eric, who sipped uncomfortably at the steaming brew.
“Maybe Carla would like to get some sleep?” he suggested.
Leaden silence ensued. Denise stared at him as though he had slapped her, her mug suspended halfway to her mouth. She turned to the young woman quietly holding her untouched mug of tea.
“Maybe we can call the police later,” she said. “After you’ve gotten some rest.”
Carla nodded and rose to her feet in a single, sinuous motion. Setting the mug on the tray, she glanced at both and smiled. “I’d like to take a shower first if that’s okay?”
* * *
Standing outside the fogged shower door, Denise clutched a bath towel and tried unsuccessfully not to stare at Carla. Slick from the water, her coal black hair formed a solid curtain down her finely tapered back. Her hands vigorously worked a rose scented shower gel around her breasts until the nipples peaked rigidly through the white foam. Rivulets dripped invitingly into the glistening mound of her pubic hair. Denise almost gasped as she bent over and slipped her fingers into the folds of her cunt before straying to the smooth crevice of her ass. A solitary finger strayed to the roseate tightness of her anus, stroking, massaging and finally slipping inside.
Frozen by the sight, Denise did not even notice the towel falling from her hands. The shower door clicked open, emitted a whiff of fragrant steam. A hand reached out and seized her by the wrist, pulling her into the humid embrace of the shower. Speechless, her mind numb, Denise felt only the burning touch of the Carla’s lips at her throat, and the heat of hands pulling off her sodden clothes.
Uttering an incoherent cry, Denise allowed herself to be pushed on her hands and knees to the tile floor, her face resting in the vortex of soapy water spiraling down the drain. Without preamble, a tongue slithered in between her parted ass and sought entry into the turgid wetness of her cunt. Gel-slicked fingers massaged her painfully swollen clit and slipped into to her anus. So intense was the dual penetration that she came almost immediately, her body rocking to the silent rhythm of her climax, her hands uselessly clutching the slick tile.
