It didn't know what had happened exactly. I presumed that I had crashed landed. They say people oftentimes forget the events right before an accident because the events don't have time to get processed into long-term memory before you get knocked out. I know that my head hurt, and I had dried blood on my head and cheek too. The top of my head was very sore. It felt like it had been split open. It was a good thing it wasn't cut more severely. I probably could have bled to death.
I didn't know where I was at first. I just knew that I was in a lot of pain. I would drift in and out of consciousness. It was probably hours or even days before I realized that I was in a forest somewhere. I finally woke up with full control of my senses. I looked back at the wreckage of my ship. It was totally mangled. The chance of having it repaired looked very dim indeed. A giant swath of burnt trees lay beyond it, obviously where my ship had come in for a less than textbook landing. I found myself now in the middle of a forest with a cut head and a sprained ankle. A sun was high up in the sky, beating down on me. Sweat dripped down my half naked, and partially burnt body. My lips were painfully cracked and dry, and my throat was begging for water, while my stomach growled for food. I tried to stand up in order to search for some nourishment, but when I did, my ankle screamed out with pain and my head throbbed. I was forced to crawl on my knees like some little child.
In one small way, I think that I was lucky. I heard what sounded like the sound of rushing water, such as a stream or small river might make. I slowly crawled my way toward the source of that sound. It was much further than I had first hoped, but the sound was definitely getting louder. My throat was harsh and raw from the lack of water. I could hardly wait to reach the edge of that stream and take a sip. I finally caught sight of the running water. I crawled faster, trying to ignore the pain in my swollen ankle. I just had to get some of that cold, clear water down my throat.
I heard a noise! It sounded like an animal. I froze in place. I desperately wanted water, but not at the price of being attacked by some wild and vicious predator. I didn't know what planet this was, or want sort of wildlife inhabited it. I was probably lucky just to have found it. I don't know what had caused the ship to crash, but I did know that planets with atmospheres suitable for humans were few and far between sometimes. I was lucky I had survived at all. It would be just my bad luck to find a inhabitable planet, survive a terrible crash like that, just to be eaten by some wild animal.
I heard the movements more clearly now. Whatever it was, it was moving through the grass along the edge of the small river. I strained to get a look at it without making too much noise. I finally got a glimpse of it's legs. It had four, brown, furred legs, and hoofed feet. It paced slowly back and forth along the river's edge. I could only see the bottom of its legs. I couldn't get a look at the upper body without exposing my position. The lower legs and hooves had the look of a horse. If I was on Earth, I would have assumed that it was a horse, and proceeded to get some water, but here, wherever this place was, I couldn't afford to take that chance.
I waited for the animal to move away from the river. I tired to remain still and quiet, but it was getting more and more difficult as the animal refused to relocate. I screamed out inside of my head. "Move, you fucking animal!" I yelled and yelled within the confines of my own mind for the darn thing to move, but it only paced slowly in the area just in front of me. I felt that I was well hidden despite my close proximity to the creature, yet I couldn't help but feel that it knew I was there, and that it was waiting for me to make a move. Perhaps it had caught my scent, but if it had, why wasn't it either attacking or fleeing? Strange that it would merely stand there. I couldn't help but feel that it knew something more than a scent could tell it.
I could wait no longer. The droplets of sweat joined and ran in small rivulets down my burning body, mixing with the dirt covering my body, rolling down and stinging my sun burnt flesh. My sore throat beseeched me for just one small taste of water. I HAD to move. I hoped that the animal in front of me was truly some kind of horse. In all likelihood it was something very similar to an Earth horse, but I had no way to know for sure without moving. For all I knew, the horses on this planet could have long, sharp fangs, and enjoy the taste of flesh. I looked around at the grass and trees and other vegetation which surrounded me. It all looked very similar, if not identical, to the vegetation found in many forests on Earth. I figured that if the plant life was the same, hopefully the wildlife would be too.
I took a deep breath, trying to muster as much courage as I could, and moved slowly forward. The leaves and bushes which encircled me, rustled. The horse creature heard it and backed away slightly from my position. I inched forward with my head throbbing in pain. I was starting to feel very dizzy. In the adrenaline rush it took to finally motivate myself to move forward, all the blood seemed to rush to my sore head. I looked over at the horse creature, trying to get a better look. It had a rider! A humanoid rider was on top of this horse creature!
The dizziness overwhelmed me. I struggled to keep consciousness, but it was a losing battle. Before I passed out again, I was able to say a these few words: "Help, please help me." I didn't expect the humanoid creature to understand my English words, but I hoped that just from the pathetic tone of my voice that the humanoid would realize I needed help and be friendly and intelligent enough to provide me with it. My eyes closed as the last ounce of conscienceness faded away from me.
The last thought that went through my head before I lost consciousness was that I might never wake up again, that I would die there. Yet, when I opened my eyes I saw not the hideous face of the Grim Reaper, but a glorious sight of a violet sky, filled with fiery orange and red clouds surrounding a setting sun. It was dusk and the temperature was comfortable. I was no longer sweating, although I was still very thirsty, but surprisingly not as much as I had been before I passed out. I moved my hand along the grass beside me, only, it wasn't grass. It was cloth. I was laying atop a blanket of some sort. In addition, a damp rag was resting near my head. I sat up. Immediately, the painful throbbing returned in my head. I looked around only to find no sign of the humanoid or the horse. Someone had given me the blanket and rag, but there was no sign of life, other than me and the plants.
I crawled my way over to the riverside. I cupped my hand and drew water out and up to my dry, cracked lips. The water was both painful and refreshing as it hit my sore lips and throat. I drank slowly, but greedily. As I had just about sated myself of water, I heard noise. It was the same trotting sound of a horse that I had heard earlier. It must have been the humanoid returning to check on me. I would have to thank this person for helping me, if I could communicate that is.
I caught my first glimpse as the humanoid rode up to my position. It appeared to be a female, and a quite lovely one at that. She didn't appear alien at all. As she Got closer, I could make out the white skin of a woman with a fair complexion, long wavy brown hair, and all the other normal qualities of a human woman. But as she rode up even closer, I could sense something was wrong, Something about the way she was riding the horse. How was she holding on to it? Where were her legs?! She wasn't riding the horse at all! She WAS the horse. How could I have been so blind?! My mind must have just filled in the human legs and the horse head when I got the partial view of her approaching. It was strange how the human mind could fill in the ambiguous pieces of visual stimuli in order to make it conform to something which is more familiar. She was near to me now, and there was no doubt about it. She had the body of a normal human woman, but only from the waist up. Her waist was connected to the body of a horse, where normally a horse's neck would be connected. She was like something out of ancient Earth mythology. She had the look of a centaur.
How was this possible? She approached me, and stopped a few feet in front of me, looking at me cautiously and quietly. I looked up at her, but I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I had seen strange alien lifeforms before, but they were all wildlife. I, nor anyone else from Earth that I knew, had ever seen a sentient being not from Earth. I had thought about what it would be like to make first contact with an intelligent alien race. I even thought about what such a creature might look like. I had never expected one to resemble a centaur. This creature was so strange. I had seen creatures like this before, but only in drawings and paintings. It was so different to actually see it up close in real life. The form was just so weird. Even though I was looking at it, I didn't think it possible. Yet, here she was, the body of a beautiful normal-looking woman from head to waist, and the body of a horse from waist to hooves. I had rarely seen a mammalian-like creature on any planet with more than four limbs, and certainly none with four legs and two arms with dexterous hands.
I studied this alien, centaur creature for several minutes in silent awe. It was then I realized that she was looking at my body in the same way. The look she give me was one of confusion, caution, and wonder. I guessed at that moment, she had never seen a creature like me before either. I was just as strange to her as she was to me. I slowly and carefully got to my feet, being careful to put most of my weight on my good ankle. She backed away from me. I raised my hands up in a way that wasn't at all threatening, and smiled at her. She cocked her eyebrow at me and tilled her head, in a look at displayed her confusion clearly. I widened my smile and let out a small chuckle.
She smiled back at me. It was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. Her pretty face seemed to light up with that smile. I found this alien creature to be absolutely gorgeous. Her upper body could have been that of an Earth model. She had glowing, flowing strands of shiny, lustrous hair that framed her delicate, pretty face like a work of fine art. Her eyes sparkled a luminous green that almost seemed to glow like neon. Her lips were moist and red and full of life. Yet, she wore no lipstick, or any make up at all that I could see. Her beauty was all natural. Her arms and humanoid belly were toned, but not overly muscular. Her fingers were long, and her fingernails were short. She only had one article of clothing. It was what resembled the top of a two-piece swimsuit. It covered her large, firm breasts. Her breasts were just as perfect as the rest of her human body. They were round, shapely, and supple. They were easily a D-cup I guessed, the size of large grapefruit, but looked twice as delicious. Even her lower body was superb. The lower half of her body had the look of a thoroughbred. Her coat was shiny and well groomed, lean and toned.
"Hello," I said in the friendliest voice I could. She again gave me a bewildered look. "Do you speak?" Again, she gave me nothing but silence and confused looks. "My name is Tyler." I said while point to myself. I then pointed to her. "What is yours?" I got no response from her, but the word "Miranda" came overwhelmingly to the front of my mind for no apparent reason. "Miranda?" I said, unsure of myself. In response to that, she smiled. "Your name is Miranda?" She still did not make any utterances, but I felt a strong affirmation in my mind to that question. I felt sure that was her name. Was she communicating with me? Was she speaking to me without using her voice? Once again, I felt a strong confirmation in my mind. I felt sure of it now. She was speaking directly to my mind. I looked back at her. She chuckled.
"Hello Miranda. Thank you for helping me." She acknowledged my gratitude in my mind. She was communicating with me telepathically. Somehow the answers traveled form her mind to mine, and my mind then was able to make sense of them, and translate them into ideas that I could understand. It was an amazing process of which to be a part. She needn't worry about speaking English to me. I could understand anything she wanted to tell me.
I wondered if she already knew of my feelings, my feelings of great attraction to her. Her upper body was so very beautiful, but it wasn't just that part of her body. It was all of it. I was a little frightened at the thought. The fact that I could be attracted to a woman who was part animal. Thoughts of bestiality entered my mind. I wasn't one of those people was I? Even with no Earth humans around, I was still affected by their strong moralities. This creature wasn't an animal. She was an intelligent humanoid creature who was obviously kind and gracious. Besides, she had the upper body of a model. It wasn't just the upper body though. I had to admit that fact. I found the fact that she was half animal o be wild, exotic, and sexy. If she had normal human legs, I would have been attracted to her, but not as much as I was to this centaur creature. She was better. She was more beautiful than anyone I had seen in my whole life.
She approached me slowly and raised her hands to my face, caressing my cheeks and running her fingers through my hair. She leaned toward me, and kissed me softly on my lips. The strong thoughts raised in my mind again. She knew. My feelings were known to her. She wasn't appalled by them. In fact, I quickly became aware that she had similar feelings toward me. She found me exotic in my strange two-legged form. I was a wild, strange creature to her, and she wanted me all to herself. I wrapped my arms around her human back and ran them down the arc to where it met with the fur of her equine back. I opened my lips and kissed her deeply. She did not shy away. She kissed me back lovingly. It seemed first contact between our cultures was really turning into contact indeed. I couldn't imagine alien relations going any better.
There were laws, laws which I was breaking. Strict protocols are to be followed in a case of first contact with an intelligent being. The protocols were passed with the concerns of diplomacy, defense, and health in mind. The rules are designed to avoid the possibility of bad foreign relations, the development of military engagements, the leaking of sensitive information, or a health crisis. As far as the relations were concerned, I don't think it could have gone better even if I had followed the rules. As far as leaking of sensitive defense information, I felt that I could not hide anything from this creature even if I wanted. She seemed to read most of my thoughts and feelings with the greatest of ease. Health was a different issue. It was quite possible that I was risking my life kissing this strange creature. She could be passing on some strange virus to me through her saliva which was harmless to her but deadly to me. In fact, her saliva itself could be poison to me. There was no way for me to know. All I did know was that I wanted to kiss her. I didn't care if it meant my life or not. I needed to hold her, to feel her exotic body close to mine. I had never believed in love at first sight, but I wanted this woman. I felt that, even though I didn't know her, or her planet, or her people, I could spend the rest of my life happily with her.
She picked up on this thought, and it started a panic within her. I don't know how I knew, but I did. It was like her thoughts and feelings were open to me. Was I reading her thoughts and feelings too? Was I becoming telepathic somehow? It certainly appeared that way. I concentrated on reading her mind, but the thoughts and images were obscured, as if trying to read a sign through a dense fog. I could only tell one thing. She was nervous, scared even.
"What's the matter?" I asked out loud. She revealed nothing to my mind. She was keeping something from me. I could read minds! I felt sure of it now. Maybe it was something about this planet, something in the atmosphere that allows sentient beings to reads the thoughts of other sentient beings. The fog that obscured my ability to see into Miranda's mind was placed there by her. It was just as easy to conceal the truth on this planet as it was on Earth it seemed. It was just done differently. I didn't know how to bring the fog. I didn't yet know how to conceal my thoughts or feelings. I assumed it would come to me sooner or later, but until then, all my thoughts, feelings, and whichever memories happened to surface in my conscious mind were open to Miranda. It was fine with me. I had nothing to hide from her now anyway, even the fact that I had contemplated the idea of sex, and that the idea made me very nervous. My human lower half, and her equine one were not exactly two of a kind. These sexual thoughts were embarrassing, but it didn't bother me that she knew. As I said, I had nothing that I wanted to hide from her. It bothered me a little that she had something to hide from me. I sensed it was something big too, and something that frightened her. It pained me to think of this sweet creature as being afraid. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't even know what the problem was.
She finally spoke to me for the first time, not out loud, but in my mind. She used words. They weren't English words that she was sending, but I understood them. My mind knew the meaning behind the words, and translated them for me.
"Stay here, I will return to you tomorrow. It is getting dark, I must leave now." Her words leaped to the front of my conscious mind.
"What? Why can't I go with you?" I spoke aloud.
She sighed. "My mother would not approve of you."
"Your mother?" I said surprised.
"Yes, I have but a short time to wait before I reach the age of adulthood, but until that time, my mother does not wish me to associate with any males. She would especially disapprove of a strange creature like yourself." Her words were clear in my mind, but I was shocked that she had not reached what she called "the age of adulthood." Her upper half appeared to be a woman in her mid to late 20s. I didn't know how rapidly the creatures here aged, or how long their years were, but I saw her as a comparable age to myself, being that I was 26.
"May I speak with your mother?" I asked.
"No, she would not like you. Plus, I saw in your memories, that you are not even of this planet. My people have never been visited by an alien before. You would be the subject of great scrutiny. It is best you don't enter my village." She revealed to me as she prepared herself to leave.
"Do you have spaceships here?" I asked suddenly more aware of my own situation.
"Not nearly as advanced as yours. Our most advanced ship has only gotten us to one of our own moons." She disclosed sounding a bit ashamed of their lack of space technology.
"...And my ship is totaled. It appears as though I am going to be here for a long while. Your people are most likely going to find out about me sooner or later anyway, Miranda. I think that I should return with you." I said as I started to limp behind her.
"No," She divulged to my mind with a bit of force behind it. "I know my mother very well. She will not like you. She is a woman of great power and influence. If she were to read your feelings about me, she would be furious."
"How do you know she won't like me?" I asked.
"She hates foreigners and two-leggers here on Dareth, and they aren't even aliens." She revealed with a bit of sadness in her voice.
"Dareth? Is that the name of your planet?" I inquired.
"Yes."
"What is a two-legger? Someone like me?" I asked as I limped behind her as she slowly trotted away from me, wanting to get back home.
"No," She informed with a laugh. "Not like you, I hadn't seen anything like you until I came for my lunch time picnic today. "Two-leggers" is a pejorative term for Silenites. They are of this planet too, but they are a different race. They only have two legs instead of the usual four like most Darethlings. Their legs are like my rear legs though. They only resemble yours in number, that's it. I've never seen a man with monkey legs before."
"Monkey legs?" I questioned, somewhat offended. I read from her thoughts that they had a creature here very similar to monkeys on Earth, and that she thought my legs resembled a less hairy version of their legs.
"Yes, that is what it looks like to me. Sorry, I mean no offense. In fact, I really like it. It is so unusual. It looks really grand. Not to mention the fact that you don't even have a tail. You don't even have the stub of a tail. It looks most unusual, and yet, very erotic somehow." She revealed, smiling warmly at me.
I returned her smile. "Uh... thanks. I find you to be exotic and alluring too."
"I know," She communicated. "Your attraction is a bit of a problem. Everyone else will know too. You are like a small child, who reveals every and all thoughts, to anyone who would listen. You must learn to cloud your thoughts before you are introduced to my society. Since you are an adult, hopefully, it won't take you nearly as long to learn how to obscure your mind as it takes most children. I will help you tomorrow. But for now, please, just promise me you will stay right here."
"I promise" I sat back down next to the river.
"Be careful, and don't sleep too close to the river, someone might see you." She warned. "I love you, my exotic alien friend."
"I love you too, my dear. I will be counting the hours till your return." She smiled brightly at my words, and then turned to gallop home.
I had a great urge to follow the same path that she was following, but I resisted that urge. It probably was better that I learned to cloud my thoughts before I went waltzing into an alien village. Besides, my ankle still had some healing to do. I felt sad being alone now though. I had so loved that short time I had been with her. I had fallen in love with her. I didn't think it possible to fall in love with someone so quickly, but it had happened. I wanted so much to be with her. I would just have to wait until tomorrow. I settled down a short distance away from the river, but hidden from plain view. I lay down on the blanket provided by Miranda, and tried to go back to sleep. I had trouble falling asleep though. I had slept most of the past few days, and I couldn't wait for Miranda to return.
I lay there, looking up at the strange alien sky, with it's different alignment of stars and two moons. Even though I had plenty about which to think, considering that I had been newly introduced to a new planet filled with a before unknown races of sentient beings, and being stuck on this planet with no apparent way to get back home anytime soon. Yet, the only thoughts that I had were of Miranda. I thought of her beautiful body, her warm smile, and her cute laugh. I was deeply in love alright, and it was to a creature that I could have hardly even imagined before a few hours ago.
I awoke the next morning to the feel of Miranda's fingers through my hair. She was lying next to me on the grass, smiling down at me. I repositioned myself, placing my head against the bent legs of her reclined equine body. I rubbed my cheek lovingly up against the soft fur of her horse chest as she continued to run her human fingers through my hair. I could tell just by her touch and her smile that she was just as enamored with me as I was with her. If there is destiny in love, then I had traveled a very long way indeed to find my soul mate.
I didn't know what her daily responsibilities were, but if she had any, she was shirking them to be with me. She spent the whole day with me, teaching me how to conceal my thoughts and how to better read the thoughts of others. It was difficult at first, but once I got the hang of it, it came to me quickly. Eventually, I stopped speaking aloud when I asked Miranda a question. Whenever I thought of a question, I revealed it if I wanted it answered, or kept it hidden if I didn't. Communication had never been so easy for me as it was at the end of that wonderful day.
Shortly after dusk that night, Miranda once again wanted to leave me to return home to her mother. I again wanted to go with her. She still refused. She made me promise that I would not follow her, and that I would not attempt to go into town until she was ready. I didn't want to make that promise, but I could deny this sweet woman nothing. I begged her to stay by the riverside with me for a bit longer, but she would not. I wanted so much to experience some sort of sex with this exquisite alien woman, but I did not want to push things, nor could I convince her to stay with me. She galloped home, and once again all of my thoughts were of her.
I had new considerations when I woke that next morning however. Instead of being awakened by the soft touch of Miranda, I was greeted with the rough hands of two Darethlings! Two strong male Darethlings with the upper body of muscular men and the lower body of horses. Both men wore no clothing, were tan in complexion, and very rough-looking. One of them had of lower body of a white horse, and the other had the lower body of a black horse. Each of them forcefully grabbed one of my arms and pulled me roughly along with them on the path that Miranda had followed into town.
"What are you doing with me?!" My mind cried out.
"Just don't resist, and stay calm, and you will be treated graciously once we determine whether or not you are a risk to public safety, Monkey Legs." One of the centaur-like men notified me.
"My name is not Monkey Legs, it is Tyler." I informed them.
"Very well, Tyler." They responded
I felt them searching my mind for clues about who I really was, why I was here, where I was from, what I wanted from this planet, if I was hostile, what my people were like. I revealed some information freely, other information, I concealed, and still other information, I tired to conceal, but was unsuccessful at doing so. One piece of information I was not able to successfully conceal was my love for Miranda. I felt bad about revealing that, but one of the aliens divulged that they already knew. It was how they found out about my location.
"Thoughts of love and missed loved ones are hard to conceal." One of the aliens reveled to me. "Young Miranda's mother is the mayor of our city. She ordered us to find you and bring you back." The taur continued. "Word of your arrival on our planet has spread fast. I think we may find several government officials and UFO nuts descending on our town soon. You're our first confirmed alien visitor. You are not what I imagined an outer space alien would look like, Monkey Le... uh, Tyler. You look normal from the waist up, but your legs are weird."
"I could say the same about you." I noted.
When I was dragged forcefully into town, large crowds of onlookers had already gathered to get a look at the strange alien creature. They all looked at me with a mixture of shock and extreme curiosity. I did the same with them. I saw several more centaur-like creatures like Miranda and the security men who had hold of me. I also saw a few Silenites too. They looked like normal human men and women from the waist up, but had the hind legs, tail, hooves, and genitalia of a horse from the waist down. They were much like the other Darethlings, except they only had two horse legs instead of the four. The Silenites looked more like a mythological satyr than a centaur, except they had the rear legs of a horse rather than the rear legs of a goat. The Silenites seemed to be a minority here, and what appeared to be a oppressed minority at that.
I also saw a third group of creatures. This group was almost as numerous as the centaur-type Darethlings. They also had a centaur body, but theirs was a little more complex. They had the normal horse body from the waist down, but the human parts of their bodies were different. Instead of just two human arms, they had four. A second pair of arms were positioned just below the regular pair, and appeared to be just as dexterous as the normal ones. Next, instead of two breasts on the females, they had three. Their breasts were covered with that swimsuit top type clothing, but instead of two cups, there were three. They all had a third breast in-between the normal two. Most bizarre, they had two heads! They had one centaur-type body, but two human heads perched upon one set of shoulders. The heads weren't similar either, like you might find on a Siamese twin. They were different heads, sharing the same body. It was very weird. They seemed to share control too. One head controlled it's side of the body, and the other controlled its side. They both controlled two of the four hands, but as far as I could tell by observation, the right head controlled the two right hands, and the left head controlled the two left hands. In addition, the right head controlled the right side of the human and horse body, while the left head controlled the left side of the human and equine body. This planet was a very strange place filled with very strange creatures indeed. Something else about the two-headed centaur creatures was strange, but I couldn't quite place what it was.
I wondered if other creatures like these existed on other planets. Miranda said that this planet's space travel capabilities were limited, but I wondered if other centaur-like space aliens ever traveled through space and maybe even visited the Earth long ago. It could have been the inspiration for the ancient Earth mythologies of centaurs and satyrs, then again, maybe not. It could just as easily be a coincidence. I couldn't help but wonder what sort of strange evolution must have taken place on this planet in order to create creatures such as these. I couldn't hardly imagine.
I was taken up a large ramp and into a very large and impressive building. I was taken to the center of a large room, filled with a group of about twenty Darethlings, mostly the two-headed variety. It appeared to be a building dedicated to government administration, and the Darethlings present had the impressive look of government officials. It was revealed to my mind by one of the Darethlings in attendance that I was correct in my assumptions about it being a government building. It was some sort of city hall.
Another door opened in the large room. Someone was being escorted into the room. It was Miranda! I started to run over to her, but was stopped by one of the security men who brought me here. The government officials scanned my mind, looking for clues. I again revealed some information and hid other facts. My love for Miranda was still too powerful to hide. Miranda spoke to my mind, begging my forgiveness in her inability to conceal our love. I, of course, forgave her. She revealed to me that the Darethling at the head of the room was her mother.
It scarcely could believe it. The alien which she indicated as her mother was one of the two-headed ones. I found it strange that a two-headed mother could give birth to a single-headed child. Miranda read some of these thoughts in my mind, and responded with absolute bewilderment. She didn't understand my confusion in the slightest. I didn't dwell on it. I assumed that head and arm number was as capricious here as eye color was on my planet.
The various aliens in the room extended me a gracious welcome, after they finished their staring at what to them was a very strange figure indeed. Miranda's mother was the only one not to offer a warm welcome to the planet. I sensed nothing from her but anger, anger at me. She requested to see me in private. I agreed. But first, other members of this city government requested that I submit to a medical examination by their doctors. They wanted to learn more about my anatomy, as well as make sure that I was not some kind of public health risk to their species. I agreed to be examined so long as it wasn't too invasive.
The examination by what I amusedly thought of as "horse doctors," was not invasive or painful, but very long. They had me running back and forth between different lab rooms all day, administering all sort of strange tests. By the time I got out of their clinic, it was already well past dark. I had forgotten all about my appointment with my Miranda's mother. All I wanted to do was see Miranda again and fall asleep in her arms, but I followed the security people to the mayor's office, hounded by crowds of curious Darethlings and reporters all the way. I must of had my picture taken a hundred times by the time I got to the office. Small blobs of flickering lights kept flashing in my eyes, the afterimages of all the flash photography. It was sort of reassuring to know that with all our differences, the press was just as numerous and story-hungry here as they were back home.
I was led into the office of the mayor. She, or they, or whatever pronoun was best for a two-headed centaur creature, was standing there waiting for me with her two pair of arms each crossed impatiently. Miranda was there too. She stood quietly on her four legs, feeling nervous about how this first true meeting between me and her mother would proceed. I tried to communicate with Miranda, but was instead bombarded with questions from the mayor.
"Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want? Are you part of a military invasion fleet? Did you really have a accident or did you land here on purpose and make it appear like and accident? Are you here to enslave us in part of your empire? What do you want from us?" These questions and many others where flying into my brain, while she also tired to break through the protective wall I had set up around some of my memories. But it wasn't a "she." "They" had been a more accurate pronoun. I felt two conscious minds emanating from Miranda's mother, or mothers. I only heard one voice in my mind when they asked their questions, but it was from the combined thoughts of two people. As I stretched out my mind to read theirs, I read the thoughts of two distinct individuals. They were two people in one! They were like some Siamese twins, except there weren't freaks, they seemed to be normal here. Almost as many two-headed Darethlings could be found here as one-headed ones.
How could they stand to live like that?! I would go crazy, having to share with someone all the time. I'm not all that selfish, but I need to be alone sometimes, and I need things to myself sometimes as well. I could hardly imagine living like they did. I guess they had never know life any other way. I suppose for them it had to be natural. I suppose it would have been just as strange for them to think of life without being conjoined. The mayor heard some of these thoughts within me, and responded with utter confusion. Once again, I must have been questioning aspects of their planet that were, and always had been, completely natural to them. It was strange to think about how some things are so completely natural to one person, so much so that they go beyond even being questioned until someone from a completely different background comes along.
I started to reveal some more of myself to the mayors. I was not part of an invasion fleet. I didn't work for the military. I didn't want anything from them except for some food, shelter, and hospitality. Yet, that wasn't quite true. I did want something from them. I wanted the love of one woman, Miranda. The mayors knew of this desire and were disturbed by it. I could tell. I moved away from that subject and back to foreign relations. I communicated that I came in peace and that I was friendly.
The mayors asked more questions. "Do your people want to add us to some empire they are building? Do they wish to steal our natural resources?"
"No to each question." I responded. "My people would most likely be interested in diplomatic relations. They have no empire, but would enjoy having you as an ally I'm sure. As for your natural resources, I think they would want to start a market of exchange, but I don't think they would steal from you." I tired to be as convincing with these thoughts as I could. I really had no idea how the people of Earth would actually react once they discovered the existence of this planet and these people. "Consider me the first good-will ambassador to your planet." I proclaimed with a smile.
The mayors considered my statements for a moment. I tired to remain polite and amicable, but my feet were killing me. My ankle was still sore, and I had been on my feet all day. Hardly any chairs could be found on this planet. The only people who seemed to sit on this planet were the Silenites, and their comforts were not top priority it seemed. I had seen some places were the four-legged members of this planet could lie down comfortably on soft mattress-type objects, but they obviously weren't standard issue in the more dignified places like the city hall here. Standing all day didn't seem to affect four legs too much, but it was a pain on two legs, especially when one was sore.
"I know you are attracted to our daughter." The mayors thoughts continued. "You might as well get those thoughts out of your head. You will not be staying here. State officials will be here soon to escort you to the capital. You shall be leaving to meet with higher government officials, and our daughter shall stay here."
"I don't want to leave her!" My mind screamed, like some schoolboy who had just had someone threaten to take his favorite toy away. "I love her, and I will not leave her!"
The mothers tired to remain clam, even though I could tell they did not like me. "Even if you weren't leaving, my daughter could not see you. Four-leggers do not get involved romantically with two-leggers. It is simply not done."
I felt like screaming at them. I didn't care if they were her mothers, nor did I care that I only had two legs. I only knew that I loved Miranda, and she loved me. I calmed myself, in order to keep from yelling. Instead of demanding or begging them to let me see their daughter, I decided on a different approach.
"It's really too bad. It could have been such a great opportunity for you." I revealed.
The mayors gave me a confused but interested look. "What opportunity?"
They were taking the bait. "I mean, the first goodwill ambassador to a whole new planet. When my people come to look for me and discover your planet, my opinion will be the first one they hear. I will undoubtedly be asked to report to the highest levels. Once the people of my planet discover the people of yours, it will be the dawn of a whole new world of trade agreements, political and military alliances, and a huge new market economy. All those things translate into power and money. Just think what that would mean for some fortunate politician who gets in good with the original ambassador." I informed.
The mayors both grinned. "Your saying this to get on our good side, aren't you?"
I considered for a moment. "Uh... yes." I revealed, with a grin of my own.
The mayors both laughed. "Good," They disclosed. "You are an honest man. Honesty is a good trait in a husband."
"Husband?" I inquired.
"Of course, being connected to a brief and illicit affair of the first ambassador would do more harm than good. If you wish to be with our daughter, it is only under the condition that you marry her." The mayors revealed, waiting eagerly for my response.
Marriage? I thought to myself. I hadn't expected them to make that request. I had played to the power-hungry nature of politicians. It was a stereotype of course. Not all politicians were necessarily power-hungry to the extend that other matters, like the happiness of their children for example was overlooked, but in this case the stereotype seemed to fit perfectly. The mothers cared very little about their daughter's happiness. They didn't want their daughter to marry a two-legger, because to the inferior social status imposed on the Silenites here. They were afraid it would hurt their political aspirations. Yet, even the hint of political power from a two-legger, invites the idea of marriage.
I hadn't wanted marriage. I had just wanted to be with Miranda, but if marriage was the only way, then I was prepared to do it. I had only know Miranda briefly, but in that short time, I had felt more love for her then I had for anyone ever before. I revealed my feelings to Miranda. The idea of marriage made her nervous, especially since we had known each other for only such a short time. She had concerns, the same concerns that I did. Yet, she too was willing. I ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"We will get married." I disclosed with a true happiness like I had never before felt as I held my beloved in my arms.
"Good," Her mothers communicated. "We shall arrange a large ceremony for tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?! So soon?" I asked.
"Yes," The mothers revealed as both the their heads nodded. "Don't think we will allow you the opportunity to defile our daughter just to leave us. Besides, you are at the height of your popularity and mystery right now. A wedding now will be huge, and a great boost to our campaign." I could hardly believe the level of greedy ambition Miranda's mothers had. But, as long as it worked to the advantage of Miranda and me, I was willing to accept it.
I was taken to a hotel room, and inhospitably locked in my room under guard, at the personal order of the mayors. It seemed my last night as a bachelor was going to be spent alone, locked in a hotel room on an alien planet. It was not exactly for what I had been hoping in a bachelor party, but it would have to do, and besides, tomorrow, I would know such happiness as I had never known. I couldn't wait. I considered how much my life had changed in just the past few days, but as I had done the previous nights, I fell asleep thinking of my beautiful centaur alien.
I was awakened late the next morning by a security officer, of the four leg and single head variety. He informed me of the wedding plans, and what I needed to do to prepare. The instructions were fairly simple. Basically, I just had to show up and respond to the words of the legal official present to perform the ceremony. I was accompanied to a large town square. It was filled to capacity and beyond with hoards of centaur creatures, many of whom were reporters and security people. Cameras were set up all over. Even though it had only been a day, news about the interalien marriage had traveled fast. I hoped for her sake that Miranda would be able to handle all this attention. I was having a hard enough time with it myself. I was extremely nervous about the whole thing. I wanted to back out. Only my love for Miranda pushed me forward. I was nervous about the wedding, about married life, about pubic reaction, about being the only alien, and even about the honeymoon. It sounded silly, but I had a legitimate concern. I mean, it wasn't like I was hung like a horse.
I was brought up to the front of the square, under heavy security protection as everyone pushed and shoved to get a better look at me, to where the official who would marry us was standing. I tried to wait patiently among a sea of centaur-like aliens who were all screaming and shouting, but only in their minds. It was actually very quiet, considering all the people who were gathered, but in my mind, it was just like being in a loud stadium. The rumbling of thousands of jumbled voices sounded just the same in my mind's ear as it would to my real ears in an Earth stadium.
Everything was so different here, yet so much the same. The crowd cheered as the bride made her appearance. The only clothing on this planet that I had seen was the bikini-type tops worn over the female's breasts. I wondered if the ceremonial bikini top of a bride was white on this planet. I started to giggle at this thought, only to receive a harsh look from the official who was going to marry us. I quieted and tried to look respectful. I momentarily lost my distinguished posture though, when I turned to see that Miranda was wearing no top whatsoever. She was topless! I observed the faces of many of the people in attendance. None of them looked shocked by the bride's lack of a top. I thus assumed it was tradition for the bride to go topless on the day of her wedding. I couldn't help but to stare for a moment at my fiancee's breasts. They were beautiful. They were perfectly shaped, firm, and quite large, bouncing liberally as she trotted down the isle. Miranda was being escorted down the isle to the front of the town square by her mothers. I had expected it to be her father. I mean, the fact that the bride is escorted up an isle is the same as it was on Earth, so why was it the mothers and not the father or fathers as the case may be? I guessed it was just another example of how so many traditions here were the same, yet different. I knew nothing of Miranda's father. I wondered if he was in attendance. Surely, he would be, that is, if her father was even still alive.
I really knew very little of my future bride's personal life. I knew that I loved her. I knew that she had not quite yet reached the age of adulthood, and thus she needed her parents permission to marry. She obviously had her mothers' permission after my speech about power and money. She must have gotten her father's permission too, assuming he was still around to give it. I searched Miranda's thoughts for some information about her family as she approached me. I found no thoughts or memories of it open to me. All of her thoughts were focused on the wedding, and that was all I could read.
She trotted up next to me and came to a stop. I grasped one of her hands in mine lovingly and waited for the ceremony to begin. The official revealed the words to us and had us respond them mentally. It was the usual words. "Do you wish to take this woman as your lawfully wedded wife... Do you promise to love her always.... Do you wish to be with her for the rest of your life..." I, of course, responded affirmatively to all the questions asked of me, and Miranda did the same.
The official continued. "I now pronounce you married and expecting." The crowd cheered merrily.
"Expecting?" I thought. What does that mean?
"The bride and groom will now drink the toast to a happy life together and for a happy life for their children." The official concluded by handing each of us a large glass of some purple liquid. I assumed it was some kind of wine.
"Children," I mused. We weren't likely to have any of those, not with me being human, and her being a Darethling.
Miranda picked up on my doubts. "Don't be silly, dear. Of course we will have children."
"I don't see how. We are different species. Different species can't have a child together. It is genetically impossible, my love." I explained. "No matter how many times we have sex, I can't give you a child. It is unfortunate, but it is just the way it is. I'm sorry, dear."
Miranda was very confused by my comments. "Sex? What does sex have to do with having a child?" Now, I was confused. She didn't understand my confusion, but tried to explain anyway. "Sex is a bond shared between unmarried people, nothing more."
Surely she wasn't suggesting we spend our whole marriage without having sex. I was still confused, but I could see that the crowd was getting impatient, waiting for us to toast each other. I touched my glass to hers, making the typical clinking sound of a toast. I tipped the glass and drank the wine greedily, and Miranda did the same.
It hadn't tasted nearly as good as I had hoped. In fact, it was quite disgusting. I heard the crowd of aliens start to cheer, but the sound in my mind quickly faded. I was suddenly feeling dizzy. I felt sick and weak. What was that stuff I drank? Suddenly, I became panicked. What if their wine is poisonous to humans? I felt very weak, and I was losing feeling in my limbs. I couldn't believe it, I was dying. I hadn't been married more than a couple minutes, and I was about ready to die right in front of my beloved. My shoulder, it was burning. The flesh was starting to melt off! I tried to scream, but didn't have the energy. I looked at my wife in terror, and saw that her shoulder was melting too! No, it wasn't melting. It was melding! Our shoulders were melding together!
I realized it now. What had bothered me about the two-headed centaur creatures on this planet. I had seen several, and I knew something, besides the fact that they were half horse, two-headed, four-armed, and three-breasted, was strange about them. The other strange thing was that they were all female! I had seen thousands of two-headed centaur creatures during my short time here, but never a male one. I couldn't believe I hadn't noticed it before! I had just made the assumption. I assumed there had to be male ones if their were female ones, but I had never actually seen a two-headed centaur male here.
My right arm was disappearing, and so was Miranda's left arm. We were melding into each other! We were becoming conjoined! My legs started to shrink as my chest started to become one with hers. I screamed out in horror with what little energy I had. Miranda was shocked by my fear. I tried to pull away from Miranda, but I couldn't. I only got closer to her. I became a part of her. My legs were now only stumps, and no longer came close to touching the ground. My waist melted into Miranda's. My human legs disappeared completely, and my waist, now completely conjoined to Miranda, connected to the furry body of a horse.
Our two chests became one. My head now shared the same shoulders as her head did. I looked down in terror at my side of our chest. The hair on my chest and belly was rapidly disappearing, and being replaced with new breasts. What used to be the flat flesh surrounding my left nipple, began to swell, as did the area right beside it. I saw and felt a new nipple erupt from the center of our chest. Two new breasts expanded to the size of Miranda's right breast. We now shared three breasts, each of which was about the size of cantaloupe.
I felt the muscle control start to return to me. I lifted my left hand up to my face. I felt changes there. My face was different now. The old rough stubble of the beard was gone, replaced by the soft, smooth skin of a woman. My features were changing too. They were becoming more delicate, like that of a woman. I had no mirror, but I knew just from the touch that my face now had the appearance of a woman's face.
I felt a strange burning under my left arm. It must be the new arm starting to develop, I thought. I was right. A large lump emerged from the area below my original left arm. It expanded quickly and began to take of the from of a hand and fingers. The lumps elongated to the same length as my regular arm. It finished forming, taking on the exact look of my upper, now feminine, arm. I looked over to Miranda's side of our body. She had grown an extra arm as well.
Full bodily control and feeling returned to me. I raised my new left arm, and manipulated it. It worked perfectly, just like the original. It was very strange. I felt every sensation from both sides of my new large body, but I could only control the left half. It was also very strange to feel the great weight of a horse's body behind me and under my control, or at least half under my control. I reached over with my upper hand and caressed my three new breasts. They were soft to the touch, sensitive, and erotic. I used the other hand to reach down to the area where my genitals used to be. Now, all that was there was the furry chest of a horse that connected perfectly to the human skin of my, er... our, lower belly.
I turned my head and looked at the woman I loved, the woman who was now a part of me. I was frightened, frightened of this new form in which I found myself. She felt my fear and leaned over to kiss me lightly and lovingly on my feminine cheek. Her love reassured me, and made me feel so much happier. I leaned over and kissed her on her lips. She parted her lips and allowed me to let my tongue explore her warm and inviting mouth. I kissed her deeply and passionately with the thousands of onlookers watching us. I was no longer a true foreigner. I was still alien to their world, but I looked like them now.
It was not what I had expected nor what I wanted, but somehow I didn't mind it so much. It felt so nice. It felt good to be so close to the one I loved. We now shared a closeness that I had never before known. I was happy being with her. I loved her, and now we could live together always. This transformation was indeed a marriage, It made the closeness and commitment of an Earth marriage seem small in comparison. I loved Miranda's exotic body, and it somehow seemed fitting that I now shared it with her. I had given up everything that I once knew in order to be with her. I could never go back to being a regular human now. Unlike on Earth, there were no divorces here, and certainly no separations. We were married till death do us part, but death couldn't separate us either really. Once one of us dies, the other dies too. We would live together, and die together. We would love either other, because loving each other would be like loving yourself.
It was strange not to have my genitalia below my waist anymore. My sexual organs were way back in the rear. Not to mention, they were now female sexual organs. But, "sexual organs" wasn't really the right word. They would never be used for sex. There just was no longer any need. I had spent much of my life thinking of the joys of sexual intercourse, but it was no longer important at all. the bond created through sex was so insignificant compared to the bond I now shared with my wife and lover.
We started to trot back down the isle, taking it very slowly. We had trouble, but the rhythm came quickly. Our horse body was large, but graceful too. We both seemed to control the long flowing tail behind us. We swished it. I loved the feel of it against my hindquarters. We began to trot faster. I reveled in the feel of our three large breasts bouncing generously with each step of our hooves.
I sensed a little regret in Miranda. It wasn't regret at being married. She loved me, and was happy to spend her life with me. Her regret was from the loss of my monkey legs. She had found them erotic and attractive. She had loved those legs, but that was not all she loved. She loved me too. She had sacrificed the legs in order to be with me forever. I was humbled and moved by her sacrifice. She had let the legs she loved so much on me go, in order to marry me. Her sacrifice and love brought a tear streaming down my soft cheek. She brought one of her right hands over and brushed it away, and then kissed me ever so lightly on my lips. I only sensed one emotion from her at that moment. It was love, pure and beautiful.
My old life was over, and my new life had just begun. Miranda explained to me more about Dareth sex. It was truly only a bond here. Sex cannot impregnate. The conjoinment of marriage causes pregnancy here. So, not only was I a centaur female, but I was also a pregnant one. I was married and expecting. But most of all, I was sharing a closeness and a love unknown to any other Earthling.