the expert bush lover

Dark, frozen, the woods were full of sounds, but it was meaningless chatter. The cold seeped into my body, ripping into what little warmth remained. Sticks broke, branches creaked, the natural absence of silence. Stars pierced the canopy to provide little light. It was an embodiment of loneliness.

Deeper inside the Forest my eyes were pulled to the only thing of note, a massive tree stretching impossible far, It felt comforting to see, like an old friend. Its twisted bark pulled me closer. I wanted to touch it, to feel its roughness against my hand. In its hard exterior I saw it, some kind of symbol carved into the ancient wood. It was a star inside a circle, specifically a pentagram with strange symbols inside each open space. Words were written above it.

OFFER YOURSELF AND BE CHANGED

I laughed, what kind of cringe ass cult line was this? Did I need to offer blood next? A sacrificial lamb? But still, the second part pulled my attention. Why not? It's not like it'll work. “I offer myself……..ya right im just cra-”

Suddenly the ambient noises were drowned out by the creaking of wood unnaturally moving, the bottom lifted and shaped into an ornate gateway before my eyes. Out of shock I fell backward. A light shined from the passage now revealed by the opening. “Well, that was not normal” despite the obvious insanity of going down I couldn't stop myself, I wanted to know, I needed to know what the change mentioned was. I pulled myself off the ground.

The passage was much shorter than I thought, dirt and roots covered its walls and floor. At the end of the tunnel was a well lit room. A wooden desk separated me and the bagworm standing behind it. The lights gave them an ethereal look. They were cleaning out a glass using a rag, wearing a bartender's outfit, and a blindfold with an upside down black triangle in the center covered their eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off them. They gestured to sit down in the chair. As I sat they spoke, it was a rumbly and high pitched voice, he sounded male but that barely registered to me.

“Here's your contract, go and read it over” I was staring as he spoke, he was beautiful, I wanted to be beautiful, I wanted to look beautiful like he does.

“Could I look like you?” I froze after the sentence left my mouth, oh god, why did I say that. Then he laughed, I couldn't breathe, even his laugh.

“Yes, and you'll get food, and water, and shelter, and all for free! Only blind obedien-” I signed the contract immediately, I couldn't wait and didn't care about the details.

“Done” he paused, tapping his fingers on the table before speaking again.

“How….eager, well don't mind any pain that comes!” he came around the table and leaned against me, his grin exposing his sharp teeth. I felt my heartbeat, the thumping and pumping of blood, oh god this was embarrassing. His body pressed against me like a warm blanket. His hand grabbed my chin and lifted my face towards him. My cheeks were burning, I was certain they were red. Then he kissed me, oh god, his tongue, it wrapped around my own and then down my throat. I didn't feel like I was suffocating, strangely I felt like I could breathe better. I couldn't help but lean into it. I felt something thick and hot starting to pour into my throat, it was sweet upon my tongue, like a viscid honey. I happily drank it, I wanted more, no, I needed more.

Then he stopped, he pulled back and wiped something off his mouth. I couldn't bring myself to move, I felt warm, incredibly hot, it hurt, it hurt so bad. I felt him grabbing my face and forcing me to look at him.

“I know it hurts but bare with me! you're doing decent for a mortal!” My skin felt hot, something was growing all over my body. My body felt so weak I couldn't even stand. I felt him picking me up as I started to fall from the chair. He softly set me down against the wall, holding my face so I was looking at him. I could barely think. I could barely understand his words. “You're doing well! And keep focusing on my voice!” My head hurt, something was growing out of it. My vision was blurring.

“Im just gonna take your clothes off, and don't worry, it's just to make it easier, ya big baby” I didn't even feel my clothes were being taken off before he said it “ya ya I know it hurts quite a bit, but it's almost over!” My butt started to hurt, something was growing out of it. “Shuush, you're almost done growing!” I felt him put a robe on me, the cloth felt heavenly to my body. “and don't try to stand! Your new legs are still weak” I felt him picking me up, one hand under my legs, the other around my back.

“There! Now you're done, now let's get you home” he was holding me so gently, almost as if he was carrying a bride. Even as I felt myself blushing at the thought, I could only grip onto him. I noticed my body. It was fluffy, leaves covered me like fur, my fingers and hands were covered in a hard wooden texture. I only noticed my new tail wrapped around him when he giggled. “I see you're into me!” I blushed harder but couldn't bring myself to let go. I felt so fuzzy, is that how he feels? I could get used to it.

“Could……could we kiss again?” I felt embarrassed asking it, why would he? We just me- I was interrupted by his laugh.