Authors: J.D. Moon
“Shifters?” she asked, and straightened up in her chair. She had pulled her hair from her bun and was combing through it with her long, slender fingers.
“Yes,” said Diego, nodding his head and leaning forward slightly. “In Peru, far from the villagers, and mostly only in the woodland groves, we have a community of dwellers that we call the shifters,” he started to explain. “But, before I try and explain them to you, why don’t you just wait until our healing meditation night this weekend? You can see for yourself, and that will be all the explanation you might need,” he stated.
Asha decided that she would definitely have to make it to the workshop and meditation. “Thank-you,” she said. “I’m going to come, for sure,” she said, and then they all continued to watch the twinkling of the stars. When the air had grown even cooler, Asha decided that she should head back to the cottage and retire for the night. She thanked Diego and Penelope, and then began her short walk home. On the path that led back to the cottage, she contemplated her decision to travel to Peru, and confirmed that this was one of the best choices she’d made in her life. Her soul was beginning to feel like it was finally finding some peace.
Inside her room Asha got ready for bed. She slipped on a pair of red satin pajamas, and climbed into the twin bed that lied beneath the window. She pulled back the sheer curtains to let in some of the moonlight, put her head on the pillow, and drifted off to sleep. In her dream, she traveled to a land that existed under a canopy of trees. She saw large expanses of coastal desert, surrounded by a variety of giant trees and boulders. A herd of alpacas grazed off in the distance, and the sound of birds whistling could be heard overhead. Asha followed the sound of the birds and eventually rested on a large boulder that overlooked the valley below. She saw a man standing near the herd, and noticed that he was dressed in a brightly colored robe. He carried a large staff, and sounded like he was speaking Spanish.
Asha climbed down from her perch on the boulder, and descended toward the man. As if she were being called to him, she moved closer, until she could see the back of his head. His hair was dark and thick, and his shoulders were square and firm. He stood in silence, and turned around slowly to face Asha. He said nothing, but handed her a ceramic bowl. “Sip,” he said, and nodded his head. Asha sipped from the bowl, not questioning what it could be, and then handed it back to the man. He breathed deeply through his nostrils, and then returned his gaze to the alpacas.
Asha began to feel slightly woozy, and reached for the man’s arm to steady her. He remained motionless, but allowed her to maintain her balance by leaning in on him. Then she slowly sat down on the earth, pulled her knees up to her chest, and watched the alpacas. Their bodies looked as if they were gently expanding in rippling waves of fur, and then they seemed to blend into the mountainous landscape. The sound of the birds grew louder, and Asha closed her eyes until bright circular rings appeared before her mind’s eye. The circles shifted into diamonds, then morphed into large, silken butterflies.
Asha remained still as the visions continued to replicate in her mind. She breathed deeply and felt a hand on her shoulder. “Let me take you to the water,” the voice said, and Asha realized it was the man in the brightly colored clothes. She took his hand without saying a word, and he pulled her up off the ground. Asha felt like this man was her protector, like she knew him from somewhere, even though she had never laid eyes on him before. She held his dark, rough hand, and they walked together along the path leading to the bubbling stream at the end of the path.
The sun was beaming and Asha squinted, steadying herself by the edge of the pebble-covered water bank. A large, multi-colored butterfly landed on her arm, and she admired its iridescent design. It sat for another moment, then spread its wings and flitted across the stream. Asha looked at the man, still holding his hand, and he nodded his head. “The butterflies see your soul,” he said, staring into the distance. Just then, Asha saw a man come out of the forest. He was dark-skinned and tall, and wore a purple woolen poncho. He knelt into the water, and splashed some water on his weathered cheeks.
“You must be special,” the man holding Asha’s hand said. “The butterflies only come out when the shifters are near.” With that, he waved at the man in the water. Asha was mesmerized by the man who stood before her. After he had rinsed his face, he removed his purple poncho, and reached for Ashas’s hand. As soon as Asha touched him, a wind blew from the west, and she rustled in her sheets. As if she were in a cocoon of a dream, it was almost impossible for her to move her eyes, but slowly, she woke from her sleep.
Asha was sure she had just had a dream, but couldn’t shake how connected to reality it felt. Perhaps she had entered a parallel life, like the one she learned about on a paranormal WHYY show back in California years ago. She shook her head. Whatever it was, she had never before experienced anything like it. What time was it? She guessed it was afternoon, but when she checked the time, it was only seven a.m. Asha stood in the bathroom and looked at her face in the mirror. She felt like she was being transformed into a new person.
After getting dressed in her favorite sundress and a pair of sandals, she headed outside and wandered in the direction opposite of Diego’s house. When she got about a quarter of a mile down the road, she stopped in her tracks. A tall man wearing a bright purple poncho was walking toward her. When they were about a foot away from each other, they both stopped, and the man smiled at her. “And you must be the woman of my dreams,” he said. Asha didn’t know what to say.
“My name is Asha,” she said, and extended her hand.
“My name is Barnaby,” he said.
“I’m visiting from California,” Asha pulled her hair away from her face, revealing her soft, silky cheeks.
“Welcome to Peru. Do you have a guide?” he asked.
“No, actually, I’ve only been here for a day, and I met someone last night named Diego who invited me to a workshop this weekend. Other than that, I’m on my own,” she said, nodding her head and finding herself strongly attracted to this man.
“Diego is a good friend of mine. I’ll be there for the workshop, as well. Let me take you on a tour,” he offered.
“Sounds great. I would love to see the places that you recommend,” Asha smiled, her eyes glistening in the bright sunlight. Barnaby pulled his poncho over his head, and stuffed it into his brown knapsack. Then he stretched, and in doing so, the bottom of his shirt revealed his dark, toned stomach. Asha didn’t want to stare, but she thought him one of the most attractive men she’d ever laid eyes on. Furthermore, she was still in disbelief over the fact that this man was the exact same person she’d dreamt of only hours earlier.
Asha and Barnaby headed south, walking side by side, admiring the Peruvian landscape as they ambled along. Barnaby had lost his wife several years ago in a farming accident. He had two children that were now grown, and he tended a herd of llamas on the other side of the village. Asha found herself recounting her own stories of lost love, and even told him about her brief but damaging relationship with Devon. Barnaby didn’t look old to Asha, yet he appeared so very wise. He listened to her stories with interest, and when they reached a local coffee shop, he stopped and asked her if he could buy her a drink.
Asha and Barnaby sat for hours, laughing and drinking strong, rich coffee inside the thatched roof coffee house. At one point, Barnaby looked somewhat serious, and then said “Asha. I have only known you for a day, but I feel like I have known you my whole life.” He smiled, and when he did, his large brown eyes lit up. “I feel the same way about you,” Asha said coyly, and wondered if it was truly fate that had bound them together. They left the coffee house and wandered the rest of the afternoon, stopping to chat with locals, and then resting beside a large lake with a magnificent mountain view.
Once they were situated within a large grove of trees, Barnaby put his arm around Asha. She smiled, welcoming his gesture. “I would love to know you better,” he said, and then leaned in to kiss her. Asha moved forward, and their lips met with a spark. They both jumped back and then looked at each other with astonishment.
“It feels like electricity being generated,” Asha looked amazed.
“It does. Ours must be a special connection,” Barnaby continued and then placed his arm around Asha’s. She pulled him closer and they kissed again, the feeling of electricity coursing through their bodies. Asha rolled her tongue along Barnaby’s lips as he played with her tresses. “Your hair smells like strawberries,” he smiled and gently placed a large hand on her breast. Asha sighed and then unhooked her bra so that Barnaby could feel her skin. Slowly, he moved his fingers across her nipple and Asha sighed with pleasure. They kissed for a few more moments, and then Asha backed off.
“I’m afraid,” she said. “I haven’t had great experiences in the past with many men” she looked own, ashamed. “I don’t know if I should trust you.”
Barnaby told her that he would never hurt her, that if his wife were still alive she would tell Asha what a kind and gentle man he really was. After some deliberation, Asha decided to take his word, and made a suggestion. “Lets’ go up toward the boulder field,” she gestured north, and Barnaby honored her request. They headed off, hand in hand, until they reached the huge expanse of rocks that lined the landscape before them. Asha thought it would be exciting to explore each other from atop one of the giant rocks, where they could view the entire village. Barnaby smiled when she pointed to a huge granite slab that jutted toward the sky. Then they both used their choicest footwork and climbed carefully to the top of the massive stone.
“I love the view,” Asha looked sensual and adventurous, standing in her sundress, bra-less and vibrant. She smoothed her hair back and ran her hands over her breasts in a tempting gesture to Barnaby, who smiled in admiration. He inched next close to Asha, and then pulled her body close to his. Asha thought he smelled like pine and cedar-wood, and she buried her face in his chest, then stepped back, and in a moment of spontaneity, pulled her dress over hear head and revealed herself to Barnanby. She wore only a pair of peach panties, and her hairy pussy was visible through the lace.
“You are a beautiful woman, and I think we might be destined for each other,” he ran a finger along Ashas’s shoulder, and then kissed her face, her ears, and her neck. Asha leaned into him, and then rubbed his big thighs with her long, thin hands. Barnanby smiled and then turned his head so that he could kiss one of Asha’s breasts. Her nipple was pink and firm and she arched her back so that Barnaby could easily place it in his mouth, which he did with much enjoyment.
Asha leaned on the boulder, resting her back on the straight, gray protrusion. Her long legs were tanned slightly and her toes were painted in bright red polish. She opened her legs wide so that Barnaby could see the bounty that lied within. He breathed deeply, and then moved beside her until his hand was sliding on top of her warm pussy. He played with her hair and then gently slid a finger inside her wet tunnel of womanhood. Asha moaned softly, and pulled Barnaby’s head to her chest. Then she looked at him, and noticed his eyes looked different.
“I want you to see who I really am,” said Barnanby, his black pupils growing larger, his irises becoming more yellow. “I am unlike the others in this village,” he sighed. “And you are safe with me,” he said. Just then, his arms began to grow darker, and dark hairs sprouted his shoulders, then on his forearms, and on his palms. His chest looked larger, and his back was rounded. Asha said nothing, but watched with an amazed curiosity. Barnanby still had a hand inside her pussy, and he wanted to pleasure her as he completed a full bear-shift.
“I am one of the bear-shifters,” Barnaby said, his ears now rounded, covered in fur, and about three inches larger than before. Asha was enthralled with such a surreal experience, and although a part of her wanted to scream in terror, she knew that she had nothing to fear. A sense of serenity soon engulfed her, and she calmed herself down, allowing Barnanby to continue fingering her pussy.
“How do you do that?” asked Asha, placing her arms around Barnaby, who was now covered in a thick, brown fur. “I’ve never seen anything like this. I should be scared, but I’m not,” she said, in between moans. Asha was in a state of ecstasy, her pussy wet and her nipples rock-hard. She knew that if Barnanby continued to finger her like this, she would orgasm any minute. Before she could think further, the rippling started inside her, and she held onto Barnaby’s hairy back, pulling him closer, moaning and sighing. “I’m coming,” she said, and Barnaby looked at her, his eyes aglow and his body in full bear-shifter presence.
“Come, baby,” he said. “You are meant to be here. You are one of the sacred souls, like the butterfly. Come on my hand with your pretty pussy. I want you to feel a pleasure like no other,” said Barnaby.
Asha had several orgasms, one right after the other. She had never felt anything like this before. Even when she and Devon had gotten into some hot and heavy encounters, it had never had the intensity like this. Asha wondered how she had gotten so lucky to be in Peru, and to have met Barnanby. She looked at him and rubbed his head. Then she reached for his cock, hard and rising under his thick khaki colored pants. “I can’t wait for us to make love,” she said, and then drifted off to sleep under the warm rays of the sun.
When Asha awoke, Barnaby was down in the valley, practicing Tai Chi. Asha watched him from her post on the rock, and observed how graceful he looked. His arms flowed like a ribbon, dancing in the wind, and bending with each movement. He bent his knees, and Asha noticed how flexible he was. His brown bear body had shifted back to rest, and his human form was bending with the shadows and the sun began to set. Asha could see beautiful Mach Picchu in the distance, and she joined him below. After a few minutes, they decided to head back to her cottage, where Barnanby had been invited to spend the night.