It was hard to tell how much time passed in the forest. The centaur's lithe movements were hypnotic, and Kelly was sure that she fell asleep more than once. Maybe it was twice. Or maybe ten times.
It was surely hours before Kelly and the centaurs reached what must be, Kelly thought, the deepest heart of the forest. She realized that she had been expecting a temporary encampment of tents or rough structures. She could not have been more wrong. The centaur town was expansive, with beautiful structures, elaborate carvings (including high totem poles), and comfortable-looking homes with wisps of smoke emerging from their chimneys.
The centaurs, yock in tow, trotted into the town center. Curious centaur foals rushed out to marvel at the massive prize, and one centaur — the town butcher, Kelly imagined — emerged with tools to dress the town's feast.
The voice in her head again: "Welcome, child. Hop down. And then you might wish to look behind you."
Kelly dismounted, sliding down the centaur's smooth side, and spun at once.
And there was Michael, even more beautiful than she had remembered him. He stood, muscular and bronzed, in a striped leather vest, loincloth, and wood-and-leather sandals. He smiled broadly. She rushed to him, and they embraced. As Michael stroked her hair, he said "I never thought I would see you here. I never thought you would find me here."
"Why weren't you where we had planned to meet?" asked Kelly.
"That is a long and harrowing story. And one I will tell soon enough. You must be exhausted, and you look dehydrated. That one is my home," said Michael, gesturing. "The yock will not be ready for hours. Come and sleep for a while, and then I will tell you everything."
It was surely hours before Kelly and the centaurs reached what must be, Kelly thought, the deepest heart of the forest. She realized that she had been expecting a temporary encampment of tents or rough structures. She could not have been more wrong. The centaur town was expansive, with beautiful structures, elaborate carvings (including high totem poles), and comfortable-looking homes with wisps of smoke emerging from their chimneys.
The centaurs, yock in tow, trotted into the town center. Curious centaur foals rushed out to marvel at the massive prize, and one centaur — the town butcher, Kelly imagined — emerged with tools to dress the town's feast.
The voice in her head again: "Welcome, child. Hop down. And then you might wish to look behind you."
Kelly dismounted, sliding down the centaur's smooth side, and spun at once.
And there was Michael, even more beautiful than she had remembered him. He stood, muscular and bronzed, in a striped leather vest, loincloth, and wood-and-leather sandals. He smiled broadly. She rushed to him, and they embraced. As Michael stroked her hair, he said "I never thought I would see you here. I never thought you would find me here."
"Why weren't you where we had planned to meet?" asked Kelly.
"That is a long and harrowing story. And one I will tell soon enough. You must be exhausted, and you look dehydrated. That one is my home," said Michael, gesturing. "The yock will not be ready for hours. Come and sleep for a while, and then I will tell you everything."
The story continues…
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