Most folks avoid the woods. Strange things lurk there. That's probablywhy they feel like home.I never truly fit in, always felt a world apart even when among my fewfriends. I've never been able to express just why that is, but it'shaunted me my whole life. Like many misfits in this corner of the world,my differentness resulted in a career as a mercenary, adventurer andprofessional misanthrope.I don't regret my choices, or lack thereof. I saw a good portion of theworld as a soldier before returning to find the town a week's journeyfrom my home had become a bustling metropolis. It lay directly on a newtrade route opened in the aftermath of one of the wars. The village amere day's journey from my cabin had also benefitted, and its inn wasalways full of travelers. Progress marched. The world was becomingcivilized. The woods, however, were not.That week's journey can be cut to three days by passing straight throughthe forest. Most don't believe the risks are worth the time. Those thatdo hire the services of a ranger such as myself, relying on our keeneyes and brooding wisdom for safe passage. There is good money to bemade in the brisk trade between the tobacco of the village, thecraftsmen of the town, and the rest of the world. With my help amerchant's goods can reach market days before the competition.Nearly all of my clients survive, provided they follow my commands. Themost common creatures are no more dangerous than a wolf, if far moreodd. Learn their habits, study their patterns, and one can avoidconfrontation altogether. I am capable of handling the consequences whenthe situation proves otherwise.The bigger danger is those rare denizens of the woods with strangeintelligence and bizarre magic. They are to be avoided at all costs, andobeyed if that becomes impossible, no matter how insane their demandsseem. It is better to lose your goods or the third finger on your lefthand or a cherished memory than risk becoming ensnared in the forest'senchantments. Such creatures rarely kill their victims. They prefer toleave them changed, whether in mind or body. I've seen their arcanewhims alter people for the better, but I've seen plenty more instanceswhere death would have been a kinder fate. The risk is not worth thedanger.To keep my skills sharp, I sometimes patrol the shallow areas of thewoods. The worst things live in the deeps, rarely leaving their demesne,and dealing with the simpler creatures makes for good practice. This iswhy I found myself stalking the forest late one night, several hoursaway from the town. I had finished escorting a client earlier that day,and was waiting to pick up a job for the journey back. Other rangers usesuch downtime to huddle at a tavern and drink. I didn't care for thecompany.The night had been uneventful when I heard a female voice in thedistance, deeper in the forest. My first thought was of a youth from thetown. They occasionally spent the night in the woods on a dare, andnever appreciated a ranger's lecturing. That one of them would sometimesfail to return only seemed to increase the appeal. But more importantly,the sound was far away enough to have come from the deeps. Many of themore powerful beings could pass as human, if they wished. I ignored it.I was where I wished to be.A minute later the voice returned as a scream, which became louder asits source drew closer. Then guttural barking joined the frightened cry.This might warrant help, but I held steady. It was one thing to protecta client, another to go looking for someone who'd put themselves atrisk. The latter was far more dangerous, and could be a trap. I found ahiding place and tensed, preparing for whatever horror was coming myway.At first I saw a beacon of light, with a single upright shape at itscenter and four misshapen blobs trailing behind, barely more thanshadows. As the scene came nearer I could make out a young lady holdinga lantern and running for her life, with a pack of foul creatures inpursuit.Even from a distance, she was breathtaking. Her red gown was tornenticingly, exposing places all but chosen to draw the eye. Her enormousbosom heaved as she ran, threatening to burst through the tatteredfabric. One long, shapely leg was clearly visible through a large tearin the hem. Jet black hair flowed behind her as she ran, easily longenough to touch midway down her back, yet it never became tangled in thebranches of passing trees or bushes. As she drew nearer her face was aportrait of lustful innocence, somehow implying both sex and purity, butthose huge blue eyes were full of pure terror. Her full, red lips criedout, begging for help from no one in particular.I recognized the creatures in pursuit. Their forms were furry andvaguely canine, but they had long, spindly legs and neckless heads thatwere all tooth and jaw. They had no eyes or nose or ears, yet coulddetect differing intensities of light. The only reason the girl livedwas the beasts' enjoyment of the chase, which they found as exhilaratingas the kill. They were temperamental, however, and would quickly loseinterest in prey they couldn't track. Like so many creatures of thewoods, the things were dangerous to fight but simple to escape, if youknew their tricks.I studied the scenario. It was disturbingly perfect. A more than prettygirl and a pack of easily confounded beasts. I flourished in these woodsby trusting nothing, as illusions were just another tool of the forest.Even if this was real, it was her fault for treading where she shouldnot. I was alone and in the shadows, and the things would ignore me. Thegirl hadn't yet seen me, so I was not yet involved.But I could not abandon her. I could not convince myself that she was atrick, that she wasn't some poor girl from town who had gone too deepand become terribly lost. I liked to think myself a good person, that Iwouldn't let an innocent be slaughtered for the crime of being foolish.I refused to consider whether her looks and my loneliness had anyinfluence.I told myself I was being a hero as I stepped out of my hiding place. Ialmost believed it.I dashed towards the lady as she drew close, fell in stride, anddemanded she drop her light. Her eyes went wide at the sight of me, bigand beautiful and disarming, but I repeated my command, harshly thistime. No time for comfort. She veered away from me, still running, and Icursed. The foolish girl probably though I was another monster, tryingto trap her in the dark.Flight did her little good. She was no athlete, and I was a ranger. Ieasily kept pace, annoyed at how her bright light ruined my nightvision. I screamed at her to drop the lantern. The beasts, growing tiredand ready to end their fun, were closing in. I sense them drawingmockingly close even without looking. So could she. The girl looked atme with dread, swallowed, and finally did as I asked. The lanternbounced behind us. The creatures pounced back on it, shattering thebeacon amid growling and howling. The fire spluttered out and the worldwent black.I reached out and touched her, managing to grab a hand. We ran forseveral more minutes. The creatures wouldn't pursue, but they may lashout blindly in annoyance. We stopped once my eyes readjusted to thefeeble moonlight. My new client stared at me wide-eyed, as though Imight become a fresh monster any second, but did not say a word.I considered a plan as we caught our breath. We were only an hour or twofrom the edge of the woods, and an hour's walk more from town. I wasknown to the guards, and would be allowed inside even at whateverungodly hour in we'd arrive. We'd still be able to get several hours ofsleep at the inn where I was staying.I explained my idea. The young lady stopped looking at me and startedshaking badly, but nodded and finally spoke up to tell me that shewasn't from this area and the hospitality was appreciated. I took herhand once more and guided her at a brisk pace. This close, I could seeher wounds in the poor light. They were superficial, likely caused bypassing thorns and the beasts' taunting. As absurd as the dress was herboots were of good, tough leather, made for traveling. She could handlethe speed I set. We were in the shallowest part of the woods, but I wasnot waiting for further trouble.My companion opened up after the first hour of walking. She thanked mefor saving her, complemented my bravery, asked how I knew so much aboutthe creatures, and generally acted like any relieved young lady would.She kept babbling despite my terse responses. They probably added to herfascination with my rugged mysteriousness.At one point I pulled a small mirror from my pack and offered a look.She took it gratefully and tried to fix her hair a bit as we walked. Iwas relieved. Many creatures of the woods reacted adversely mirrors,even those that had reflections. Her eagerness was a sign that I hadmade the right decision.Eventually, we reached town, and the young lady finally quieted down.Nothing else from the woods had bothered us, and the guards seemed moreinterested in my companion than myself, quite eager to let her inside. Ibrought her to the inn where I'd been staying, not far from the gates.It was a bit run down, but quiet and not unsavory.The bouncer's eyes lit up at the sight of my companion, and his joy onlyfaded slightly when he noticed me. The inn was used to housing arrivalsat all hours of the night, and so he took my added custom withoutcomment, though he raised his eyebrows when the girl told him we didn'tneed a second room. I didn't comment, figuring I'd sleep on the floor.She was probably too scared to stay alone tonight.She surprised me after we entered the room and closed the door. I'dexpected the girl to climb into the bed and get under the covers, tohide and put an end to this horrible night. Instead she sat on one sideof it with her legs kicking eagerly while I lit some candles. She wassmiling when I turned back to her.Now that we were safe, her relatively humble thanks became anembarrassing tirade of praise. When it was done, she talked payment. Shewas a merchant of finery, but dropped all her goods when the beastsstarted giving chase, she told me. She had nothing of value on her, noproper way to reward my kindness. She swore she would find a way tomakes amends, but for now would I accept a kiss? Just a little somethingto seal the bargain, she assured.I protested. It wasn't a strong protest, I'll admit, but I tried. Thegirl looked astonishing, even battered and worn. It didn't take her mucheffort to pull me down and plant her plump, soft lips against mine.Whatever willpower remained shattered near instantly.I'd expected a little peck. What I got was a long, lingering warmth,spreading out from our entangled mouths and through my entire body. Thesensation seemed to last forever as time ceased meaning. It was pleasureso strong it almost hurt. The feeling wasn't just sexual, it was beyondorgasmic, beyond description.Sometime during that eternal moment I realized my mistake. There isn't awoman alive who can make a man feel like that, not with a kiss oranything else, no matter how skilled or beautiful. I'd let myself getdistracted by a nice pair of legs, caught the attention of somethingnasty, and now I would pay. Though pay was the wrong word. I was in somuch ecstasy that thing could have slit my throat and I would haveenjoyed it.The creature eventually let go, and it smiled as it removed the tattereddress. The body underneath was unwounded and more perfect than I'd everimagined possible, free from the flaws of mortal flesh. The thingwhispered about the fun we were going to have, of its excitement tobestow my reward. My clothes somehow became a heap on the floor, and Ijoined it on the bed.I am not sure I'd be able to transcribe the act had I kept my wits aboutme, let alone lost in desire as I was. All I can say is it was the mostpleasurable experience that ever had or ever will have, and for that Iam grateful. The sensations were addicting, threatened to make everydaylife feel pointless and hollow by comparison. Were I given theopportunity to feel them again, I am not sure I could resist.We did things, wonderful things, but soon even my lust-addled braincould tell more than lovemaking was occurring. It started somewhatsubtly. The creature seemed to be growing larger, stronger, moreforceful. The room itself seemed to be getting a little bigger too. Iattributed it to tiredness, and let my partner pick up the slack.Then things started becoming wrong. I looked down and noticed that mynipples were big and brown, out of place on my flat, hairy chest. Wekept going, well beyond what should have brought me release, and mybones began to ache. I could swear I heard them crack and stretch. Atsome point my body hair disappeared without a trace, leaving my skinsmooth and bare.Things got worse when the gorgeous thing readjusted and started lickingmy hairless chest. The feeling of its rough tongue sent shivers down myspine, particularly when it reached those too-large nipples, and with myrenewed groaning my voice seemed off. As I readjusted my grip on itsshoulders, my hands and arms seemed different too. Smaller, and lesscalloused. I'd have been worried, if worry were possible.My partner leaned back a bit and nudged me to rearrange some more, and Ieagerly obeyed. My legs wanted to splay out further and my backside feltmore substantial, so I adjusted my posture. My chest bounced slightly asI did, and I looked down to see a pair of fleshy little cones. Withoutthe creature's head in the way I could just barely make out how my wholetorso had gone concave, and how I had substantially less equipmentbelow.A moment later the thing from the woods was back at work on my buddingbreasts, but I'd already surveyed the damage, and horror was finallymanaging to bubble up behind my ecstasy. It was making me a woman. Thethought was somehow less terrifying than it should have been, and tingedwith a bit of curiosity. Neither emotion could break through the wall ofdesire that still ruled my thoughts.By this point I was well on my way to femininity, and between the shockand continued pleasure I barely noticed the remaining changes. I was ina stupor as my partner worked on me, so burnt out on enjoyment andconfusion I barely cared anymore. My body still ached, and I could feelparts shifting and grinding and shrinking, and I squirmed and thrust andmoaned in the heat of passion, but mentally I was catatonic.I was barely surprised when thing from the woods stuck a finger in afold near where my penis should have been and started working it backand forth. The sensation was strange, slippery and faint, until itreached the tip of my groin, brushed a tiny button, and made me convulseat the sudden intensity. Then that finger traveled down a bit andslipped inside my new sex.That sensation broke through my numbness, made me sit up and gasp,allowed me to feel the heft of my fully formed breasts and to hear thelightness of my voice. The finger slid in and out of my vagina whileanother worked my clit. For the first time all night I was allowed toapproach orgasm, but when I was on the cusp I felt the fingers slideback out.I was disappointed. I didn't care that I shouldn't want it, I neededrelease. If that meant being taken as a woman, so be it. As if hearingmy thoughts, the creature dropped its head to my groin, and I felt adifferent wetness against my own, accompanied by a familiar roughness.My partner licked with gusto for some time more, and an explosion ofphysical bliss and spiritual elation followed.My pleasure came to a head, a cacophony of desire and warmth and colorand need and feelings for which I lack words. I yelled out in ecstasy,high-pitched and female, uncaring. My body shivered, my knees went weak,and I rode the feeling as long as I could.When I came down from the high and opened my eyes, I was alone. Thecreature from the woods had disappeared. For a moment I felt relievedand thankful. Then, as the night's slight chill pricked my skin andclarity returned, understanding hit home. I touched an unfamiliar facewith a tentative hand as my heart started pounding.I lie on the bed, now shivering for a different reason, and feltviolated to the point of nausea. The thing had taken my body. Not onlythat, it had used my new one, and I'd been complicit. Enthralled,perhaps, but the pleasure I'd felt was real. I lifted my breasts in myhands. They felt so heavy for how small they looked. I rubbed a thumbover a nipple, and the wonderful sensation put me over the edge. I triedfighting them with heavy breaths, but it wasn't long before I gave in tothe tears of hopelessness.I curled up in a ball as I sobbed. I felt my breasts against my knees,the lack of a penis between my thighs. That I was a veteran warrior whowas bawling like a child only drove home my despair. I didn't even knowwhat I looked like, only that my body was completely alien andincredibly vulnerable. I was a freak of nature now more than ever, and Iknew everyone who saw me would know I'd been a man. I consideredgrabbing my knife and ending it all.Whether from sheer willpower or lack thereof, I didn't go through withit. I didn't even move for a long, long time. I lay there, naked andfetal, as the tears dried up, as the crying subsided, as the shiversslowed and I eventually remembered how to think straight. I'm not surehow long it took, but the first rays of dawn had started streaming inwhen I finally unfolded myself.As I did so, terror and hopelessness gave way to a deadly, emotionlesscalm. Had I been less exhausted I might have felt satisfaction, as thatcalm was familiar. It had seen me through bloody battles and horribledecisions. It was the determination that had let me thrive in the worldeven when I felt I didn't belong. I sat up, and the sway of my bosomdidn't matter, nor did the view of my slim arms. I was still me in mysoul, where it really mattered.Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself up and took a step. I immediatelystumbled and caught myself against a wall. Carefully, I tried again. Ifew aborted attempts later I was walking the length of the room easily,if shakily. My new body's gait seemed unwieldy, but it was consistent.It would take some concentration at first, like walking again afterspending weeks recovering from a wound, but it wouldn't be long before Iwas used to it. For better or worse.Hesitatingly, I bent down and reached for my pack. It had been of nointerest to the thing from the woods. I pulled out a piece of dried meatand ate as I dug through my other supplies, then found the mirror andpulled it out. I needed to know my face before moving forward.A strange combination of sadness and elation pierced through the calm asI looked at myself. I was pretty. Too much nose, perhaps, and my facewas just as hard as when I'd been a man, but my cheeks were prominent,my lips were full and even that outsized beak could be consideredattractive, in its own way. My eyes were still a fighter's cold blueorbs, betraying years of hardship, but they were larger and topped byarching brows, giving them a certain harsh yet undeniably feminineappeal. I was somewhat surprised that my hair hadn't noticeably changed,and was still blonde and short. Perhaps it was a bit thicker, but thatwas just as likely my mind filling in false details.I spent the next minute taking further inventory. I decided I lookedsomething like my sister, had she become a warrior. There wassatisfaction to be had there, even if I couldn't quite understand why.Part of me wanted to perform a more thorough examination, but I hadneither the tools nor the patience. My tiny hand mirror would take agesto get every angle, and the sooner I was out of this room the better. Iwanted to get a move on before despair returned.The thing from the woods had not taken my clothes or its dress in itsdisappearing act. I weighed my options before picking up the dress witha sigh. Near as I could tell I was now several inches shorter andsignificantly skinnier, and wearing my ill-fitting old clothes wouldseem odd. Potential trouble, since my old self was well known if notexactly popular, and I was now the last person to be seen with him.Besides, scandalous as it was, the gown was a better disguise for what Ihad in mind.It was too short for me, and obviously meant for a woman with far moresubstantial curves, but it was so torn and tattered that I doubted itwould be a problem. Any man who saw wouldn't be paying attention to howit fit as much as how it didn't. The thought brought up a feeling ofdread, but I forced it back. My cold calm couldn't break, not yet. I'ddone more degrading things than wear skimpy clothing in the name ofsurvival. At least the boots fit, more or less.I put my old clothes in my pack, finished my meal with a swig from mywaterskin, and steeled myself. I spent more several minutes breathingdeeply and making sure my head was completely clear before I headeddownstairs. I didn't want to cause a scene. Run down or no, this innsurvived on its reputation, and the owner would investigate any signs offoul play. The last thing I needed was for the first few people who sawmy new face considering me a murderess.My plan was to convince the bouncer that I was the woman who I'd broughthere last night, and that I'd been abandoned. He'd barely seen thecreature, and was likely completely focused on its body, so he probablydidn't remember the face of the girl wearing it. The hair was a biggerproblem, but nothing I could do there. I planned on being out of townbefore he thought to question it.Even through the calm I was tired and worried. I was no actor. But as itturned out, I didn't need to pretend. I really was a frightened andbetrayed woman who wanted nothing more than to go home and pretend allthis never happened. The fact that I hadn't slept and spent half thenight crying drove that home. The bouncer smiled wickedly as Iapproached him, but it melted into sympathy as I drew closer.Sympathetic or no, he was still a man, and a crude one. The way helooked me up and down filled me with disgust, which only enhanced myact. I could feel his eyes on my body, and the harsh yet nervous tone ofmy voice was genuine. I asked if he knew where the man who'd come inwith me went. He told me that he was a shifty bastard even for a ranger,supposedly lived in the haunted woods, and it was no surprise he'd snuckout. He added that if I needed an escort home he'd keep me safe, thenlaughed.I wasn't in the mood for either come-ons or assaults against mycharacter, let alone both, and my glare wiped the grin right off hisface. It was incredibly satisfying. It felt even better when hecountered with his own a nasty look, and that also withered under mygaze. As the bouncer looked away, muttering under his breath, I feltsomething like myself again.The sun was just rising as I left the inn, and the streets were all butdeserted. It was something of a relief as, more upbeat or not, I wasstill alone in an unfamiliar form. I made it to the gates all butunnoticed. I saw the strange looks the guards shot me out of the cornerof my eye, but I strode forward, bursting with faked confidence, andthey didn't stop me. Then I chanced a look behind and saw their eyes onmy backside, and realized that perhaps it wasn't just my self-assuredbravado that let me pass in this ridiculous outfit.From there I made the long journey home. I was still getting used to myfemale body and didn't dare cutting through the woods, so I took theroad. The trade season was young, so it was easy enough to hide in thebrush when the occasional traveler passed. Perhaps I was paranoid, but Iwas aware of my current body and its current clothing. To a certain typeof man, they screamed target.I made good time, but I could not outrun the despair, and I broke downat several points during the trip. The worst was the first time Istopped to relieve myself. I'd been feeling almost normal, and squattingbehind a tree was an enormous reminder of how much everything hadchanged. I ended up losing the rest of the day to self-pity. The otheroccasions were all late at night, when I was unable to sleep. It wasimpossible to ignore how different everything felt as I tossed andturned and tried to get comfortable. I kept expecting the thing from thewoods to return as I prayed for dawn.The thing did not return, and my trip was otherwise unremarkable. When Ifinally made it back to my cabin, I almost started crying again. It wasbeautiful. It was a sanctuary. It was home. I locked the door behind meas I stepped inside, stripped off the filthy dress and boots, andcollapsed on my bed. I felt safe for the first time since in almost aweek. I lay there for hours, coming to terms with everything that hadhappened.I'd been barely hanging on since my transformation, hiding behind thecalm, but now I could focus on where I would go from here. I was asurvivor. My body was still all but completely unfamiliar, and my wholelife was going to be different, but I'd been through worse, in manyways. At least no one was trying to kill me.My first course of action was to make full acquaintance with my newform. Alienated as I'd lived my life, I'd at least taken comfort inknowing who I was, and I needed to rebuild that base. One of my fewamenities was a gilded, full-length mirror I'd taken as payment forsaving a particularly wealthy merchant from a rather nasty beast. Risingfrom the bed, I hesitatingly stepped toward it.I was a woman. I'd been one for days, so it wasn't exactly a revelation,but seeing my entire body at once was a fresh shock. I looked as tiredand unwashed as I felt, yet even through the grime I was obviously well-formed. Not the shapeliest woman I'd seen, but appealing. I'd never bemistaken for a man.I still seemed to have some muscle, though I was less wiry and moretoned. My breasts still looked small against my torso, and confirmingthat was honestly disappointing, absurd as it sounds. On the other hand,my legs were rather nice, and by my estimate I would still be consideredtall, even with the height I'd lost. I thought about how I would betreated now, being called miss or ma'am and treated with a certaindegree of politeness, if not respect. Of course, that same politenessmeant many people would see me as weak or lesser, and I needed to workall the harder to prove my worth. It was a strange dichotomy, and drovehome just how different my life would be.And yet, the positives seemed to outweigh the downsides, deep downinside. There was undeniable satisfaction at the thought of being seenand treated as a woman, a certain sense of fulfillment I'd never beforeconsidered. The social repercussions were strangely comforting.I hadn't given it much thought during my flight from the inn, but I'dbeen planning on recovering my old identity. I doubted I would get myold body back, but I could conceivably convince people about what hadhappened somehow, some way. Yet, now that I had spent some time as awoman, the urge to be recognized for my time as a man was fading. Thiswas an opportunity for a new life, a new me, and for the first time Icould remember I felt something like optimism.It was those thoughts that motivated me, prevented another week ofsimply moping around my cabin. I was scared, but on some level I waslooking forward to being seen and earning fresh recognition as a woman.I was working with a blank slate, but it wasn't like the old me wasparticularly loved.I learned how true that was in the coming weeks and months, as no onequestioned my disappearance. It was somewhat angering, but notunexpected. That people simply assumed I'd been killed in the woodsactually made my life easier. It also let them assume the woman who'dmoved into the reclusive ranger's cabin was a relative or an apprentice,not a squatter. No one respectable had any interest in my home anyway.I helped the apprentice rumors along. It took a good chunk of my savingsand several trips to town, but my first priority was putting together anew wardrobe. I had no desire for dresses or pretty things. My shorthair and the loose, earth toned tunics I purchased marked me as awarrior, not a homemaker. Perhaps the leather armor I had made was a bitform-fitting, but I liked it. I was quickly becoming proud of who I was,and unafraid to put it on display.It wasn't long before I began roaming woods once more. Getting my firstfew customers was difficult, but I started with merchants I'd known forbeing egalitarian, impatient or both. I was no less capable as a womanthan as a man, and once word of my skill spread my reputation quicklygrew. Eventually men who balked at following a female ranger were openlymocked as the promise of money and safety overcame any perceivedweakness in my sex.Perhaps the most surprising change in my life was personal: I've becomesomething less of an introvert. I'll never be gregarious, exactly, butthese days I find myself spending more time in town, drinking andenjoying the companionship if not exactly carousing. As I became used tothe new me it became easier to be myself. There was no titanic shift inperspective, not sudden revelation, but these days I feel subtly lessestranged than before.Even so, I retain my kinship with the woods as I draw closer to the restof the world. I will not forgive that place for what it did to me, but Ihave become content with it. I braved its adversity and made it mybenefit. Through that, I am triumphant.