Monstergirl Challenge (Day 2)

Woman: Swift Creek Photos
Horse: Chunga Stock 

Chloe was glad that they lived on an acreage instead of in town. Having been changed into a harpy, even for a few hours, was bad enough; it would have been much worse had it taken place where people could see. Stefan, being an archaeologist, had no explanation. The coincidence between his translation and mumbled reading of the copper scroll and Chloe’s transformation was something his scientific mind simply didn’t allow for.

A few days later, around noon, Chloe decided to take her mare Stardancer out for a run. She was still a bit shaken by her previous transformation and felt going for a ride would help. At least it would get her mind off the strange transformation and how the transformation felt and how it felt to be a bird … she dismissed that line of thinking.

Stefan, of course, now that Chloe was back to normal, had returned to his research. He could be very single-minded about his work. It was hard to wean him away from his basement lab even for necessities like food.

As Chloe entered the paddock and called for Stardancer, Stefan began his mumbled reading of another translation. Once again, the strangely frigid wind swirled about Chloe and, this time, it enclosed Stardancer as well. When her head cleared, she found herself apparently already mounted. She couldn’t remember getting on Stardancer nor even putting on her tackle. Looking at the ground from her mounted position, she discovered the tackle and saddle were dropped in a heap beside her. It was then she caught sight of her shadow. It wasn’t that of a horse and rider. Her body was now attached to the horse’s neck and Stardancer’s head was nowhere to be seen. Her hips and legs had similarly vanished. Reaching up she felt long pointed ears where a few scant seconds earlier her much rounder and smaller ears had been. Once again, she felt the knowledge of her horse’s body and how to use it flood her mind.

Galloping across the paddock, she expertly jumped the low fence (Why had Stardancer never jumped the fence in all the years she’d been Chloe’s horse if it was this easy?) and headed for the back of the house. She kicked a pebble or two at the window above her husband’s work area. When he looked up, his eyes went wide and he dashed for the stairs.

“Your a - a -“ was all he managed.

“A centauress?” finished Chloe.

“Uh, yeah,” he shook his head in wonder. “Uh how?”

“Same cold wind when I was touching Stardancer,” supplied Chloe.

“Impossible,” he stated lamely.

“Wanna go for a horse ride?” Chloe asked. “The tackle and saddle are out in the field.”

“Uh …” he stammered.

Fortunately, this transformation faded at sunset as well. Chloe enjoyed her day, though. She felt the power of Stardancer far more keenly than she ever had as a mere rider. If they could ever figure out how to summon the wind, she decided she’d not mind being a centaur again.