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Afternoon - A few weeks Later

Gillian walks through the woods with Delia, feeling her heart beating in her chest, the goat-faun is still nervous about this whole thing.

With no other transformations since the pool incident, and slowly building her confidence back up after having her panic attack about the shower, the past few weeks seemed to go by almost mundanely, as she managed to get back to work and her routine. She was almost able to pretend nothing weird had happened, as long as she didn't dwell on the small patches of fish-like scales that lingered after the transformation.

And then she'd started getting antsy. She'd tried to ignore it at first, but Delia had made a few hints, and when she froze up outside the shower again this morning, she relented. Something in her needed the water, and Delia was right, fighting it would only cause her grief and pain she didn't have to deal with. And so, here they were, walking out in the woods towards some destination that Delia had promised her 'would be perfect', while she nervously tried not to think about it.

Delia is walking next to Gillian, the werecorgi having opted to go on all fours soon as the pair were out of sight of other people outdoors. On her back is a modified backpack, the small dog carrying her change of clothes, wallet, keys and phone (in a waterproof pouch of course) and other stuff. She is quite a bit stronger in this form than one would think at a glance.

The corgi looks up to her girlfriend as she plods onward. She can't really smile when this much feral, but Gillian can hear it in her voice anyway.

"I think we picked a perfect day. Overcast enough that out here we'll probably get to be alone, but not like, storm storm. Er, probably. Hopefully."

Gillian looks up at the sky, trying not to let her worries overwhelm her. "Hopefully... not that we really got to pick a day..." She could have delayed, but it didn't feel right. She looks back down to Delia and smiles softly, "...sorry. I'm just... a bit in my head about this. It's not as scary as not knowing if I'll change or not, but going out to deliberately do this? I feel like I'm crazy for doing this..."

Delia hmm's as she bounces over a root: "The thing is, with a lot of shapeshifting, your options often narrow down to 'do something a bit crazy to sate your inner critter'... Or not do that and end up doing something a lot crazier, often unwillingly." She thinks back to the time where she was, for weeks, just a dog with no higher thought between her ears - and shudders.

Gillian takes a deep breath as she walks, "I know. You've told me about some of that, and... I definitely want to avoid it if I can. I'm just... afraid."

She lets the breath out and nods, "Y-yeah... I mean, that's really it isn't it? It's really hard to keep all the 'what ifs' out of my head."

Delia would shrug if she could. "Yeah... but fear means you're alive, and in your head, thinking about said 'what if's. The you is still home up there, and in control." She pauses in her walking to look at her girlfriend again, flicking an ear. "It sounds a bit crazy, but it just means that whatever the water-living part of you is, it's not calling the shots just yet."

Gillian slumps slightly, "...not just yet..." She shakes her head, "But I can feel it... just... in the back of my head. I mean, it's not like another voice or another person, but like... intrusive thoughts."

Delia nods, then climbs over a rock. "Yeah, I can understand that. My inner voice mostly tells me to do dog things I find disgusting." She is quiet for several seconds as she takes a sniff at a tree trunk, then lowers down for a second to pee. The dog sounds a touch embarrassed. "... And sometimes it's not worth the effort to fight it. Ahem."

Gillian turns her head to give Delia a moment of privacy, then turns back to continue their walk. "I've been trying not to listen. I guess I just keep fighting it. Or it's been really quiet... until now, anyways. It's like, it wants to swim. It wants me to slide into the water and let myself sink."

Delia hums: "But is it really sinking if you're swimming?" Her tail gives a single wag, her equivalent of a smirk.

That manages to get a laugh out of Gillian, the goat giggling despite herself. "Oh, maybe not. But I guess there's only one way to find out, and that's to just let it happen..."

Delia giggles as she bounds forward, sniffing to make sure she's on track, not that the path is all that hard to follow. "Yup. Should be good, just letting go."

Gillian does her best to keep up, her legs quite suited for hopping and leaping through the woods, "It's funny... I feel something similar about being out in the wild. i mean, we're just in a park, but... I've never been so far out in the wilderness that I can't even see a building or street. There's a similar sense to being here that part of me recognizes being out here as right."

Delia hums: "Perhaps there's a point to that. I mean, we both spend a lot of time indoors, far from anything green." She glances at Gillian. "Well, anything green that's not about to be chopped up to be eaten, anyway."

Gillian nods, "I spent my whole life in my... my former family's Manor. Then moved to Ad-Hoc, then with you. I mean, I've never really questioned it." She sighs, "I have no plans to leave you or our life, but... it just makes me wonder. What would things be like if I had been raised where I was supposed to be?"

Delia hums: "Lot less wagging dog tail in your life, probably." She lets out a little giggle: "Probably entirely different in all kinds of ways."

Gillian stretches her arm out, flexing her fingers. Unlike a human hand, the fingers have larger, thicker nails more like the hardened material that forms her hooves. "I prefer having you in my life to any kind of hypothetical. I just never spend much time questioning what I am... even before these changes." She lets out a sigh. "Okay, that's a lie. I think about it a lot. I just never do anything about those thoughts."

Delia gives a short, barking laugh. "Fair enough. Come on, let's get you to the spot where the stream is fairly calm. See how you feel about the water - and how it feels about you." She leads the way forward, to an opening that leads to a small, almost beachy plot where part of the river seems to almost meander 'inland'. Surrounded by trees on all sides except the river, it's harder to think of a calmer spot to try something new to do with getting wet.

Gillian follows Delia to the point where the grass gives way to sand, looking out at the river with a bit of trepidation, she still lets out a breath in amazement, "It is beautiful..."

Delia nods, then glancing around one more time, shapeshifts back to her short anthro form. "Mmrph. Better. I just figured I'd satisfy my own inner need on the walk over."

Gillian chuckles, stepping closer to put a hand against Delia after she changes, "Leading by example, hm? It... does make me feel a bit silly, being afraid. For anything I could be afraid of, you've already been through it all."

The corgi steps closer to give Gillian a nuzzle, as usual not caring at all that she's lacking clothes when it's just the two of them. "Well, I've never grown scales. But you do have a point, and it's good if I can use my experience for something positive."

Gillian leans down to give Delia a somewhat tight hug, betraying just how worried she really is. "I'm thankful for it... I'm thankful for you!" She tears up, "I couldn't do this by myself."

Delia hugs tightly, giggling at the height difference as usual. "Me too for you, love. And I wouldn't be anywhere else, you know that."

Gillian laughs, "I do know that, that's why I'm thanking you. I love you, Delia." She looks down at herself and sighs, guess I should undress before I give this a try, hm?"

Delia giggles and sneaks in a bounce for a kiss. "Maybe! Not that you will have me objecting to you undressing~."

Gillian blushes, "Well, I don't want another ruined swimsuit, so skinny dipping is a better option." She dressed pretty lightly for the walk, knowing this was likely what would be happening, a light camisole and miniskirt.

Delia winks, her tail wagging: "I could use a swimsuit, but... I'm not going to~."

Gillian pulls off her top, and starts to unbutton her skirt, giggling, "So your plan is to give me something to distract myself with, hm? Your pretty self~?"

Delia grins with a bit of a blush under her fur: "Maybe. Or it's impractical when shapeshifting. Take your pick~."

Gillian giggles, finishing undressing and carefully folding her clothes up, slipping them into the previously empty backpack which she had brought. "I pick... that you were thinking about me. It's the sweeter answer. And probably true even if the rest is true as well."

Delia giggles: "Guilty as charged." She then steps towards the water, smiling: "Shall we?"

Gillian nods, setting her backpack aside, and talking towards the edge of the water alongside her girlfriend. She takes a deep breath. "Wh-whenever you're ready..."

Delia wades couple of steps into the water before turning around and offering a hand to the Satyr: "I believe it is, when you are ready."

Gillian nods, shaking a little as she lifts her hand and takes Delia's, then steps into the water. "Ah! It's cold! Cooler than the pool water at least. Feels... more right as well. Less cloudy?"

Delia nods with a smile as she looks over the river: "Cleaner. Natural. Flowing." She turns to Gillian: "How are you feeling?"

Gillian looks out over the water with Delia, "...good? Like I've had an itch I couldn't scratch all week, and it's suddenly gone... I didn't even realize how badly it had gotten until now, when I can't feel it anymore."

Delia smiles: "Atta girl. Let's see if that means anything for this skinny dipping~". She blinks. "... Stupid saying when we both have fur, but I digress."

Gillian giggles again, then starts to step deeper into the water, until she's up to her waist. "The coolness is nice, now that I'm pass the first hoof in the water. I... I have no idea how to just make the change happen."

Delia mm's: "If it's anything like mine was... Just calm down and let it happen. Focus on the nature around you and just... Let go of control for a bit. It's scary, but happens faster and hurts less if you let the change go its' course."

Gillian nods, "Alright, that... make sense." She leans back into the water, letting her body go buoyant and float on the surface and closes her eyes. She reaches out to squeeze Delia's hand, "I... Just keep h-holding my hand, Delia, alright?"

Delia smiles, taking Gillian's hand with a strong grip. "I won't go anywhere." She has to paddle a bit to stay afloat herself, but manages.

Gillian floats, trying some breathing exercises and mediation until she starts to feel something wash over. Delia feels it in her hand as it subtlety shifts, but Gillian gasps out in pain, kicking her legs at the sensation starting to run through them, "Ahhh! I-it hurts!"

Delia's demeanor changes instantly at Gillian being in pain. She swims to steady the Satyr best as she is able: "B-breathe! Breathe! Gillian, beautiful, love, you gotta get a grip!"

Gillian flails in the water, but her hand squeezes Delia's as the canine supports her (physically and verbally). She starts breathing in and out somewhat quickly, but at least is focusing on her breathing. Her panicked movements slow, but her face is still pained, "G-get a grip... g-gotta get a grip... Mmrrrggh!"

Delia kicks in the water hard enough to keep Gillian afloat no matter what, pulling into her canine side's sheer strenght and stubborness. "You can do this, love, you can do this. It's just water. It's just what's in you. You can do this."

Gillian gasps again as the changes begin, squirming in the water as the scales begin to emerge more and more along her legs and up along the sides of her belly. Her webbing on her hands returns, and as Gillian keeps her eyes closed tight, focused on nothing but her breathing and her vice grip on Delia's hand, the changes seem to accelerate.

Delia holds Gillian with both hands, just paddling to keep Gillian afloat for the likely few moments she needs to. She glances at the scales spreading and smiles but doesn't say anything of it, just repeats. "You can do it", a few more times.

Gillian slowly starts to relax, the pain on her face fading as the transformation draws to completion. She's still breathing heavily, trying to keep a pattern, five seconds in, hold for five, breath out. Over and over again until she slowly realizes the sensations have stopped, and she is rather effortlessly floating again, "It's... it's so hard not to fight that..."

Delia nods, although the movement is kinda lost in her paddling. "Y-yeah, it is. You want to resist your body doing impossible things... though r-really, what even counts as impossible anymore?"

Gillian turns in the water, her tail splashing up and then reorienting beneath her as she gets her bearings. There's more room for her to fully extend herself than in the pool, even the deep end. She does reach out to hug Delia in the water, though, "I don't even know anymore... this feels so... wrong. But right, at the same time. My body and my mind feel like they're arguing about what to do, but now that I'm changed and in the water... b-body is winning."

Delia giggles, the wet dog genuinely being happy to be here in every regard of that expression. "Isn't there a saying, that you should listen to your body? Probably not said with this sort of thing in mind, but works anyway." She hugs back as tightly as she is able, the physical power parity even bigger between the two now that Gillian is in her element, so to say.

Gillian laughs along, unable to hold it in when this close to Delia, hearing her laugh, "I don't know! I've heard 'listen to your heart'? Is that the same...? I mean, I'm doing that! But you know... my head does sort of get in the way a lot."

Delia giggles as she starts swimming: "In that regard, we're very much the same. Overthinking is a noble pursuit and all that."

Gillian releases Delia from the hug as the corgi starts to swim. she paddles back slightly, trying to figure out the motions of swimming again, this being only the second time she's ever been in the water like this. Yet, she seems to be a natural, letting instinct move her when she's not thinking about it, her focus on Delia, "Hah... I don't know about noble, but... we are certainly both guilty of it."

Delia smiles as she paddles in a small circle, her tail wetly swishing. "Guilty or not. Or does this count as a guilty pleasure?" The corgi is clearly enjoying being in the water again.

Gillian shrugs "Can something you enjoy be a guilty pleasure? If so... we're guilty of much worse than a bit of skinny dipping."

She takes a breath and ducks her head under the water, diving down to swim below Delia and back up on the other side of her, "I still don't know what I'm doing but I guess my body does. Feels good. And you look good from below too~"

Delia giggles, swatting a bit with her paw: "Ooh, naughty girl peeking on my vulnerable underside like that." She smirks: "I don't mind~."

Gillian blushes guiltily, "I couldn't resist~. Just... listening to my body~"

Delia laughs, a genuinely amused pearly bark in the water clearing. "Hah! You got me there!"

Gillian swims closer to Delia again, moving her fins and tail quite naturally. "You make this easy... focusing on you makes the rest of my worries fade away... I love you, Delia."

Delia smiles: "A perfectly acceptable use for my average dog body, I'll take it." She paddles close enough to kiss the now-finned Satyr: "Love you too~"

Gillian kisses back, "More than average to me. Spectacular." She relaxes in the water, laying back to float once more. "I want to dive a bit... to really swim fast and deep. But not just yet. It feels really good to just be at your side like this."

Delia laughs again, then starts swimming a bit faster, just feeling the movement. "We got time."

Gillian giggles, "We do. And you're right about this... the water is so much cleaner. It feels so good." She hums a moment, enjoying the sun on her body a moment before she leans her head back under the water, her tail flipping up to push her down into a dive.

Delia just watches Gillian dive, smiling warmly.

Gillian surfaces nearby a moment later, and paddles towards Delia again, "Did you see me dive!" She asks like an excited child, clearly feeling a lot less nervous about the whole thing.

Delia smiles wide: "I did! You're pretty natural at this, it seems."

Gillian laughs aloud, "I... this isn't so bad... I mean... if I have to come out to the park to swim with you every so often, that's hardly the worst fate. Maybe it'll be harder in the winter but... I... I was worried this would push us apart somehow. Like, I'd have to go live in the ocean? That... I know that's not very rational. But I can do this."

Delia giggles: "Honey, if me being a dog half the time doesn't stop us, nothing will." She starts eventually have a bit of difficulty keeping up with the aquatic goat and makes her way to the shallow: "S-sorry, gotta take a break."

Gillian nods and follows along, though obviously can't leave the water like this. The small hitch in her thoughts is that she really doesn't know how to change back beyond waiting it out. "It's... alright. Honestly I don't know how I have so much energy to keep going."

Delia stands up once she's in shallow enough water. She turns to smile at Gillian: "Take your time, anyway. We got all day."

Gillian rests her hands on the shallow sand while her fin treads the water behind her, "You don't mind if I explore the water a little bit without you?" She sounds unsure just how much she wants that, eventually laughing guiltily again, "I... think my body wants that. My heart wants to stay close to you, but for the moment..."

Delia waves a paw: "Go ahead, love. Trust me when I say, I understand the desire that you can't quite explain." She starts making her way towards the shore: "I'll be right here."

Gillian hesitates a moment longer, smiling. "Alright. Enjoy the sun. I love you!" She pushes back from the shore, and waves back.

Delia looks at Gillian go with a bright grin, then vigorously shakes herself dry before locating one of their towels and sitting down on it.

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