The Tortoiseshell Mirror Ch. 03
Keywords: 03, Mirror, Ch., The, Tortoiseshell,
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"This story is a romance but it also contains fantastical elements including a character's transformation into a non-human, feline humanoid which may not appeal to some readers. There is some sex but it only comes at the end of Chapter Five."
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It was already well into the afternoon when Marianne awoke. She felt snug and refreshed in her bed and lay there just gazing at the pattern branches outside as the made shadows on the white-washed walls of her room. Finally she pulled herself from the bed and went to the bathroom. A good soak soon cleaned her. It was only when she was dry again that she felt she was truly back in the world of the humans. She returned to her bedroom to get dressed and realised it must be close to a day since she had worn clothes. With just a small sense of guilt she sneaked a look at herself in the mirror, admiring her fine tortoiseshell fur, now so clean after her bath. A little voice in her head told her that soon it would be dark and it could be so nice just to slip back into that beautiful feylin form and run and find Paurr, that he would be surprised and pleased to see her. Feeling a little naughty Marianne sat on the bed and slowly began gathering her thoughts into the shape that she trusted would transform her.
Marianne then stopped. What had she been thinking? For a start she had not eaten a thing since the previous afternoon and secondly it was far too early to change, the sun had not yet set but, with so little of the afternoon left, she would be wasting a chance. Paurr might not thank her for turning up tonight. She had to prove to him that what she said went and that meant being patient until the agreed time. Then another thought came, reminding her of the worries she had had the night before. What if being a feylin was addictive? Surely for the sake of retaining her human identity she needed to resist the siren calls to change form again so soon. Marianne picked up her dressing gown and as it brushed against her body she could not help imagining it was Paurr running his paws softly over her. That was enough, now she quickly pulled on layers of the least sensuous clothes she had and went downstairs.
A quick survey of the kitchen showed she was going to have to find somewhere to get fresh milk and bread or be short by the next day's dinner. She recognised that having a mission for the next day would be good, if nothing to else, to distract her from the coming rendezvous with Paurr. For now she grabbed some snacks and the sequel to the novel she had enjoyed and retreated to her bed. Lost in her reading the rest of the day passed quickly and she found she could again get to sleep promptly.
Marianne rose early and, after breakfast, with her map in her bag, she set off for the village. As she got close to it, her mobile phone bleeped from her bag telling her she had come back into signal range. She checked the 'phone and found that there were a handful of text and voice messages waiting for her. She ran through them as she walked. The first one was from Helena wishing her all the best on her break. Then a couple from her friend Lisa, at first jolly, but then the tone changed to one of exasperation. It was familiar story, their mutual friend Amanda was going through a crisis and insisting on seeing the pair of them immediately. The final one was from Amanda herself, almost demanding Marianne came back from 'wherever on Earth' she was and sort out the situation regarding Justin, her latest ex, who not only had run off but seemed to have stripped her well-appointed flat too.
Marianne tried to dismiss all thought of these calls, but guessed her break was going to be cut short. She envisaged Lisa and even Amanda making an appearance in the next day or two. She guessed she had to enjoy the tranquillity here to the full for as long as it lasted. For now she focused on her shopping trip. The walk took her an hour each way. Fortunately the village had both a newsagent and a petrol station and she was able to get bread, milk and various tinned foods from either. She also grabbed treats like chocolate and tasty biscuits, feeling that she had earned them by doing the walk. She came back by a different route, following a ridge which she guessed equated to where she and Paurr had looked out in his world. Though the area was rural, it was divided geometrically into packets of land and marked with roads and a whole assortment of farm buildings. Back at the cottage Marianne made a light lunch and decided to head into the garden. It was rather overgrown, looking like no-one had attended to it since high summer, but Marianne followed the brick paved path to a wooden seat and enjoyed sitting there scenting the various herb bushes around her and watching the activities of birds and squirrels that entered the garden.
Afterwards Marianne took her sketch pad and headed out. She was hesitant about entering the woods for a variety of reasons, so she skirted it and instead followed footpaths over neighbouring fields until she reached the top of a small hill that gave her a nice view. She started sketching some of the wild flowers around her and then tried a landscape. Ultimately she turned to forms of people, distinguishing between male and female outlines. Before long she was sketching Paurr. She had his shape, the nature of his face, embedded in her mind, so it was easy. There was an elegance, almost a chivalry about his posture that Marianne found very appealing. His face had shown her happiness, a serious side and concern and she liked the fact that whilst they were so alien his features could express so much she understood.
She really got into a sketch of him lounging against an oak tree that she knew and stood close to the pool. Of course it did not exist in this world, but it was in his. He was lounging and soon another form appeared between his legs and without thinking Marianne was producing a sketch of two feylin lovers, the male embracing the female as they sat relaxed in that beautiful location.
Eventually a breeze sent a leaf skittering across her page and Marianne looked up to see that the shadows were lengthening. It would not be long to sunset. With a determination she walked briskly back to the house, following the road rather than again skirting the woods. By the time she had had a quick snack, it was almost dark. Marianne had not really thought through her strategy. She quickly stripped from her clothes, wondering how to trigger the change; worried she would not be able to pull it off this time. Should she set herself up in the living room again? She had left the front door on the latch so she knew she could get out whatever form she assumed. She picked up the mirror, this had to be a key element. As she looked into it she was glad to see her feylin face looking back. Yet, as she gazed at it the cat-like features began to fade and within a minute, it showed her as a human. For an instant Marianne felt concerned. Had the magic gone? Then she glanced at her hand and saw it was fur covered. She let the mirror fall on to the bed and jumped up, transformed. For the fun of it she swished her tail across the counterpane. Then she ran down the stairs, her strong leg muscles making her speed easy. She lifted the latch and having gone through the door let it bang closed behind her as she ran towards the wood. There no car in this world to block her path and only grass, not gravel, to cross before she circled the house to reach the trees.
In minutes Marianne was approaching the clearing. She had been so pleased that she had been able to change again that she had not thought much about what it was going to be like to be reunited with Paurr. The clearing was empty and for a moment Marianne was worried that she had been stood up. She laughed a little to think that she might be the only woman to be deserted by males from two species. Then again, she knew that in this world time was looser; she imagined there were no clocks and that meant people had to be patient. She lent over the pool and had a quick drink. As she straightened up to stand she felt a warm grasp. She was delighted as she looked up to see that it was Paurr with his arms wrapped around her. She pressed a quick kiss on his lips, hoping it did not seem too much.
"Mouryann, I am so glad to see you. It seems like weeks since we last met."
"For me too. I so wanted to see you, I almost came here last night and then again today. I had to hold back from changing."
"You did?"
"Yes. It might be strange in the shape of a feylin, we're effectively quadrapeds standing on our back legs, but these sleek lines, this soft fur, well, they're special."
"You're what makes them special. You are beautiful among feylins."
"Thank you." Marianne went quiet, recognising a heartfelt compliment. She aimed to shift the mood a little. "And you're the handsomest male feylin I know." She smiled.
"You've not met any others."
"No, but I'm certain what I say is true. Well, we have all night, show me more of this world."
"As promised. Keep close."
"I will."
As before, the pair broke into a run and sprinted down slender woodland paths. The route was unfamiliar to Marianne and she made sure to keep up with Paurr. Eventually they came to a vast clearing, almost a break in the woods. A large circular hut with stone walls and a pitched and thatched roof sat in the middle. Around it were pens holding sheep and cattle, between were sleeping hens. Small gardens with neat rows of vegetables radiated out from the roundhouse.
"This is my village. Quiet, most will be asleep."
As directed, Marianne followed Paurr with gentle steps, neither disturbing the livestock nor the residents. Paur opened a small door away from the main double doors to the roundhouse. Marianne followed Paurr as he ducked inside. The roundhouse was divided into sections separated by varnished wood. Curtains hung from most making them private from the large central area where a low fire burnt in a pit.
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Keywords: 03, Mirror, Ch., The, Tortoiseshell,