Last Holiday on Terra

17

"You look like you want to go for a ride,"

"I would if I could," I replied.

Pocusa grinned and I very nearly laughed because in my head, I still see her human face super-imposed over her completely alien features...it was still the same. And, it made my heart sing.

We arrived to a set of doors I looked up at her and took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this."

I had no idea what to expect but was completely flabbergasted by what was presented to me...I was standing in my paddock...it was my farm...only without the horse poo...

Pocusa drew a deep breath a called out to her. A second later, I heard my horse respond causing my breath to catch into my throat. She trotted through the woods and stopped in her tracks, then took off, galloping across the pasture toward us, her mane flying and her tail flagged behind her; going on autopilot, my arms shot into the air. She jumped the fencing halted to a stop almost immediately upon her hooves and then trotted up to us. Then, she nickered happily. Then she reared up but remained silent and I was instantly reminded of a time log past when she did that very thing because I was venturing too close to a den of fox cubs.

"Easy girl," I whispered. I reached out to her, letting her smell my fingers and she lifted her head and pulled my body toward her, tucking her chin down...a bonafide equine embrace.

I felt Pocusa quietly move away.

"I guess we have to get to know each other again, huh?"

I moved away looked at her face as I felt her fur with my fingers and noticed that her blind eye was no longer the blue gray that I was accustomed to seeing, but instead,  the prettiest chocolate brown matching her good eye. I wondered if she still ate, being a clone, I honestly had no idea? She nodded her head as if she was cognizant of my thoughts...then she began to dance in place. I realized then that that Amira could hear my thoughts!

Apple!

"Holy shit!"

She nickered again and nodded her head. I would really like an apple please...

All of this was so much to take in and she approached toward me again so slowly and embraced me again. She lifted her head, alerting me to someone approaching behind us.

"Hello 'Mira," she said quietly. A moment later, I saw my bestie by my side. "Isn't she magnificent!"

I nodded as I turned toward her. "How you doin'?"

"Great! How are you?"

"I'm okay."

She shuffled her feet uncomfortably. "I need to apologize..."

"No you don't have to that."

"Yes I do. I know your triggers. All of them."

I closed my eyes and realized my fears were actually true: The meditation was meant to violate. And I realized then that I hadn't heard from Azreal. I could only imagine how he was feeling.

"How did you get Az to agree to it?"

"Well, that's kind of why he was a feline. He feels horrible. You just don't know Jay! He's been in a self-imposed exile. He hasn't seen anyone and only responds to communications if it's of an official nature.