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Sam looked out over the city from the peak of a mountain. It's been five years since seeing this town. Five years of traveling, learning, hiding. Much had changed for Sam's views in religion, politics and even her own sexuality. She came to grips with the changes after a year and by the fourth year had finally accepted it. The prospect of doing anything with a man was still unnerving but she figured that would change upon meeting someone interesting.

She had been sitting there day-dreaming for long enough though as the sun was behind the horizon already. She took flight and headed for town, tracing the path she walked from the Taco Bell to Kyle's apartment that night they met. Hoping he still lived in the same place she flew low, just over the roof tops, and landed at his front door. She knocked a couple times and listened for any movement inside. The sounds she heard though didn't come from inside his apartment. Someone dropped their keys with a gasp off to her right. Turning to look at this person she had to remind herself that it's a costume and to not move anything that shouldn't.

"Ummm, hi!" Sam waited for a response but the person seemed to either be stuck in awe or fear. Maybe both. "Hello? Are you okay?"

That seemed to do the trick, "oh! So sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I've never seen such a well made costume before! Are you going to the Con tomorrow?"

Sam was shocked and amused by this revelation, thinking to herself, "oh goody! Now I'll only look like a weirdo and not a freak!" She chided herself and decided to strike up a conversation since Kyle apparently either wasn't home or was at work, "definitely! I traveled a long way to get here. Are you going?"

"Oh, yes! Though now I'm not too sure I want to wear my costume. It pales in comparison to yours! I mean, you must have spent months working on this!" The girl gingerly reached out and touched one of Sam's wings, "oh my, and so soft, too!"

Sam sighed at the bitter memories of her changes, "it didn't take as long as you would think. Name is Sam."

The girl took the offered hand with a giddy shake, "Anna. Pleasure to meet you!"

Sam smiled and remembered her plight, "I don't mean to impose but would you mind me staying with you for a bit? My friend isn't home yet and I don't want to scare the neighbors."

"Oh, not a problem at all! It is a bit chilly out here anyways. C'mon in!"

Anna waved Sam into her home before closing and locking the door behind her. Sam glanced around and realized there wasn't much to look at. The apartment was the polar opposite of Kyle's with a small TV, futon, and a few walmart decorations to take away the blandness. She really felt bad for Anna and was now curious to get to know her better. Someone this friendly who doesn't have much has usually lived an interesting life.

Sam sat down sideways on one of the kitchen chairs to let her tail hang down to the ground while they talked. Anna speaking of the life she led and her various adventures and Sam speaking of some of her own adventures and places she's visited in the past five years. She even pulled out the camera, stolen early in her endeavors, that contained photos and videos of the sights she's seen. Anna noticed in a few of the photos that bits of Sam were visible, and in costume at that. It was intriguing to her and she wanted to bring it up when Sam's attention seemed be taken suddenly.

"Well sounds like he's home! It was nice talking with you!" Sam gave Anna a brief hug before walking to the door. She hesitated right before putting her hand on the knob and Anna noticed her ears swivel. Anna finally heard some girl yell 'freak!' outside before Sam stared up at the ceiling for a second. Sam never noticed the camera still in Anna's hands as she stepped out to go talk with Kyle. Anna looked back down at the camera and opened a fly-through video of the Grand Canyon which ended in a rather clear view of Sam's wings flapping at the end of it.

Sam knocked on Kyle's door, hoping he would respond. She heard him yell through the door, "what, not done calling me names yet?" She just knocked again, this time the door opened wide with a rather pissed looking Kyle in the doorway. His expression changed rather quickly once he saw who was at the door though, "S-s-sam?"

She suddenly felt giddy at seeing Kyle again, squealing with joy before jumping into his arms. Kyle was happy she still didn't weigh much as he only stumbled back a couple feet, spinning comically in the process. He didn't know what to think seeing Sam again, let alone being practically tackled by him, or her.

"It's so good to see you again, Kyle!" Sam was practically snuggling into Kyle's chest. He finally got his wits about him and pried Sam off of him.

He held Sam at arms length and took a good look at his old friend. As awkward as he felt he couldn't help but smile. Sam had been a strong sense of joy back five years ago even though the visit was only for a couple days. Perhaps that would happen again.

"OH! I have so much to show you! I traveled the world, Kyle. I saw Paris, Berlin, Rome, Egypt. Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo. Even went to Yellow Stone, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Panama Canal. The only continent I didn't visit was Australia. So sad too, I wanted to see Ayers Rock and Sydney. I captured most of it on camera, too! Now where did I... oh." Sam looked over at the still open doorway to see Anna glancing around.

"Nice pad! Looking for this, Sam?" Anna held up the camera with a smirk, "I thought it seemed strange for you to be walking around in costume at this time when the con is tomorrow. Then there was the photos that were from impossible angles and that video of the grand canyon that looked like you were flying right through it. I think you forgot to stop it since it gave a pretty good view of your wings as you landed right at the end. Very impressive!"

Sam just sighed with a sheepish nod, taking the camera from Anna's outstretched hand, "well. At least I don't have to try keeping it hidden around you now." She stretched her wings a bit and flicked her tail a couple times, "always did hate trying to not move. Anyways... Kyle, this is Anna. Anna, Kyle."

Sam watched as they shook hands and eyed each other up and down. Kyle took Anna's hand and kissed her fingers before she had a chance to pull away from the shake. She blushed while Sam just smiled to herself. Before they could get more into each other she stole their attention to show Kyle the stuff on her camera. Kyle one upped her as he hooked it up to his computer and started displaying the photos and videos on his fifty inch flat screen. Sam was even surprised at the quality of some of the photos and videos she took on that huge screen. Eventually they came to a video that showed Sam in a curry colored robe, setting down the camera to overlook a cot. She immediately blushed before scrambling to shut off that video.

"Sorry. That one is kindof personal." At both Kyle's and Anna's questioning glance she figured it'd be a good idea to at least explain it, "I had visited some Tantric monks at the recommendation of the Abbot and a few masters of the Shaolin whom I had been staying and training with for two years at this point. I told them of my predicament and concerns and they offered to help me for some assistance as payment. Kyle knows what predicament I'm talking about." Kyle just nodded and whispered 'I'll tell you after' to Anna. "Anyways, I guess you could say that video was my 'graduating ceremony'. I went back to the Shaolin afterward and continued my training with them for close to a full year before bidding them goodbye and coming back here."

Anna raised her hand and felt silly the moment she did it, "umm, one question. What is a Tantric monk? I've heard of Shaolin but not those."

Sam just shook her head, "Kyle, you know what they are right?" Kyle gave a nod, "good, you can explain to her later. For now, I need to go through this thing and sort and collate things. You mind if I use your computer for that, Kyle?"

"Yeah, go right ahead. Save them on there if you want, too. I'd love to look at some of them a little deeper."

Sam sat down at the computer and started sorting out the videos and pictures. What she didn't realize was that Kyle's computer automatically saved everything on there the moment it was connected. Including her personal video.

Some time later Sam got up and stepped into the doorway to Kyle's room, "Okay. Done! You guys tired yet or should I just... make myself... yeah I'm closing your door now and sleeping on the couch." Kyle and Anna had their shirts off and were staring at her shocked. Sam figured she was interrupting and stepped out again. She had more important things to think of for the coming day, anyways. Sam wasn't tired but she had a big day ahead of her, falling asleep to the thoughts of being amidst modern humanity again if just for a few days.

Sam woke up to the sounds of birds chirping and the first rays of the sun streaming into the dark sky outside. No one had left the apartment last night so she got up to check on Kyle. She saw him curled up with Anna in the same state of dress she left them in the night before. Those two had hit it off so fast that all Sam could do was just watch. Sam played with her ring while thinking of them with a few pains of jealousy; one of these days she'd find her Kyle or Anna.

That was one of the things that Sam laughed about from time to time. In high school and college 'he' always thought herself as a lesbian as a joke and here she was still having an aversion to men and in a feminine body. The irony of the joke turned reality wasn't lost on Sam. That was old news though with more important things to worry about now.

Sam took inventory on the satchel she had with her to make sure nothing was lost. Her final trip before arriving in town had been longer and harder than what she had put her bag through before and she never stopped to check it. In her bag she found her robes, a few articles of clothing, camera, dried meat, small satchel of gemstones, a few souvenirs, a collection of spices and herbs, and a small bag with ancient coins. The coins were extremely old as far as she could tell and she figured she could get a few bucks for them but assumed the gem stones would be worth more. Satisfied that her belongings were intact she tested the material of her bag before packing everything back away except for one set of clothes to change into.

Sam silently walked through Kyle's room to head to the shower. Bathing in hot springs and cold waterfalls was fun but nothing quite compared to the feeling of a hot shower and she had missed it greatly. The sensation of the hot water flowing through her fur was a wonderful feeling and was by far the best way to get the dirt and grit out. The hiss of the shower starting even got her to let out an excited squeak before she got herself mostly under control. She still had a manic grin plastered on her face as she took the two steps into the shower and into the steaming hot water. She had learned long ago that she could handle temperatures ranging from -50 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit so a little scalding water was no problem at all and worked wonders for cleaning everything from her fur.

Invigorated and thoroughly pleased from the shower she shook the water from her fur. She contemplated doing it out of the shower but didn't want to leave a wet mess in the bathroom for Kyle to clean up when he hadn't even made any jokes at her yet. She figured a couple would be coming eventually and would do it as payback the next day. Having an oily coat was very beneficial for drying off when a quick shake took most of it off and was among the many things that helped Sam look on the bright side of her transformation. She slipped on some clean clothes and stepped back out into Kyle's room to find the two of them waking up. Technically she didn't even have to wear clothing but did it more out of habit and modesty than anything else.

"Good morning, Kyle, Anna. How did you sleep?" Sam sat down on the corner of the bed to smile at the two. Kyle smiled back and stretched but Anna grumbled and pulled the blankets back over her head.

"Pretty good, actually. I haven't been that comfortable in years. Was the couch still good to you?"

"Wonderful, actually. All things considered, though, I haven't slept on anything softer than a canvas cot in four years." Sam grimaced, remembering some of the bumpy rock caves she's slept in over the years.

Kyle nodded in understanding, "I hear you there. The few times I'd gone camping and had nothing more than a thin sleeping bag to keep me comfortable was miserable enough. I can't imagine doing that for more than a few days, let alone a few years."

"True that. I'm hoping to be back in civilization for a while to spoil myself a bit. On that note, do you know where I can find a pawn shop nearby?" Sam poked a wing out to run her longest feather across Anna's exposed ear.

"I don't know of any around here but there is one across from the convention. It's pretty big too so you should be able to sell or buy just about anything you would want there."

"Awww darn. Well I guess that'll have to do then. I was hoping to run in while you two got up and ready so I could pay my way. I should be able to get at least a few hundred for what I have collected." Anna was trying to swat at Sam's feather but she wasn't fast enough, "well get up you two. I'll make some breakfast but we need to get to that convention!"

Sam cooked up a couple sausage, bacon, and cheese omelets. She made Kyle and Anna share one while Sam kept one to herself. Anna's mouth dropped open at how fast Sam could put it away. Kyle distracted her with a small bite he fed into her open mouth and was rewarded with a mirthful grin. Anna and Sam even got into an argument over wearing a costume to the con, finally agreeing on assessing the competition for the contest before coming back tomorrow with a costume.

Eventually they shuffled into Kyle's car to drive down to the con. Sam insisted they get there early to get tickets and so she can visit the pawn shop and get some money. The ticket lines had already gained a decent line by the time they got there and were just starting to admit patrons. Sam smiled and quickly ran off to the pawn shop to sell some wares. They were just getting close to the front of the line when they noticed Sam bouncing back towards them. Many people were staring at Sam but only the person behind them decided to be a grump about her cutting.

"Well this isn't very fair! You should go to the end of the line with everyone else!"

Sam's hackles raised as she recognized the voice and the scent now that she was close, "why, Markhnah? Are you going to assault me again?" She turned and looked him straight in the eyes and noticed his face pale a little, "I guarantee you it will not have the same results as last time. Besides, I got here at the same time as my friends. They just held my place while I ran off to the pawn shop. It's not like I just got here."

He just recomposed himself but Sam noticed he was sweating a little, "I thought you looked familiar. Children like you should learn some respect for your elders."

Sam just scoffed at the man who was dressed as a dragon five years earlier, "elders? You can't be serious man. What are you, 23? 25? I'm 32. Just because I look young doesn't mean I am. Just get over yourself and wait the thirty seconds extra it will take to get your tickets. No one else in the line cares but you."

He looked back at the crowd behind him and a good chunk of them were glaring at him for causing a scene. Finally a couple motioned for him to turn around before he finally did and kept quiet. Kyle and Anna just grinned at Sam and before they noticed they were buying their tickets.

Once inside, Sam got a wicked idea, "hey guys. How bad do you think it would be for me to not act like I'm wearing a costume? I really don't want to try staying stiff the whole time."

Kyle and Anna both looked at each other and gave it some thought. Kyle voiced his opinion first, "well, I know I wouldn't mind. I can't say the same for everyone though. Yeah sure, 95% of the people who are here would be accepting if not welcoming of someone like yourself but there is always that minority that would cause problems. I would say be discreet and limit but don't restrict. Just don't go flapping your wings or flying and you should be fine."

Anna nodded, "I agree. Maybe on the last day you can let loose and be free since you are probably going to be leaving again, right? I can't imagine someone of your... physique... staying in one area for any prolonged length of time, no?"

Sam smiled at Anna, "I like the way you think, Anna. Yeah it's true, I will be leaving again. So Monday it is! I'll still refrain from flying though. I'm pretty sure no one will be able to handle that very well."

Kyle just grinned at the thought, "sounds good! Let's go have some fun then! How much did you pick up at the pawn shop anyways?" Sam didn't respond, only smiled before skipping off into the crowds for Kyle and Anna to catch back up to her.