Set up camp

With a focus back on your search, you and Tori came upon the spot that she suspected the horses may have traveled to. The pond and its surrounding sparsely wooded area was devoid of any such creatures, but you did come upon some a few indications that Tango might be on the right track.

"Look over here, the way this grass is tamped down," Tango said, pointing at a spot by the lake. "This is pretty recent, and it could only be horses or deer or something."

Walking over, you spotted something in the grass, reaching down to pick up a horseshoe. "I think this narrows things down a bit. How long could they have been here?"

Tori wandered the area briefly, looking at the disturbances in the grass like a seasoned tracker. "Probably a while, it's pretty safe here, but these divots in the ground over here? Something spooked 'em again, they went off running east this time. That would take them right to the canyon, I think, they'll be stopped by the river from going too much further. That's pretty far from any roads or anything, so we have a good shot of reaching 'em, but I don't know that we'll get them today if they kept moving. We might have to set up camp, we can pick a spot that we'd see them if they back track."

"Alright, well, we've got the gear, and I'll just say I had some car trouble and was stranded if anyone at work asks what happened to me."

Tori looked back, smiling at you. "Thanks for doin' this, darlin'. I know it's a bigger commitment than you probably expected today, but it means a lot to both sides of me. Camp will be nice though, just you and me under the stars! It can be magical out here. We'll just pick some place with some high ground so we can get a good view of the path near the canyon."

You rode your centaur friend for a while longer, listening to Tango's stories of her racing days about how she was the 'most consistent runner-up', never winning a race but setting a record with her number of second place finishes. You found it interesting how much of a horse's memory could translate to human story, thinking that channeling could advance various fields of study for animals by leaps and bounds, if people would know and accept this sort of magic. You had this chill run over you as you thought that though--some silent **** urged you to keep those thoughts to yourself. You didn't think much of it, letting the idea drop, returning to enjoying Tori's company while she took you all around the area.

Eventually, as the sun became low in the sky, Tori hurried up a hill to find a good vantage point of the canyon in the far distance, which you couldn't reach before nightfall even at Tori's fastest pace. She was looking a bit tired, needing to recharge after such serious searching anyway. "Phew, what a day. This looks like a good spot, nice and flat, some rocks to protect us from western wind, and there's some wood nearby for fire. You remember all your survival techniques from when your mom made you do cub scouts?" Tori asked with a giggle.

"I do, in fact. I didn't enjoy it much running around with a dozen other little monsters." You frowned a little, dismounting the saddle. "Mostly I was sad that they wouldn't let you come along."

"Aww," Tori said, holding her hands to her heart. "Even when I asked about joining the girl scouts so I could have a cute little uniform like you, my parents were too paranoid about me building those sorts of attachments in a group when I'd grow up to be a channeler. I'm not sure why you were the exception, but I'm glad you were."

You laughed as you removed the gear bags and sleeping pads, setting them down where you felt was the best spot for camp. The sky looked clear, so even if it would be chilly, you didn't expect any rain. "Well, uniform or not, I think I like you better in a cowboy hat anyway." Tori beamed at the compliment.

Once you'd unloaded everything and set up the basics, you and Tori traveled down the hill a bit to chop enough wood for a good fire that night from a couple small fallen trees. You didn't need much, but being able to put everything on Tori's equine back was a huge help! With a good bundle of sticks and logs and starter material, you headed back up to camp. It didn't take long before you had a decent size fire. Had you known about the campout, you'd have brought something to roast over the fire, but all the packs had were some pre-packaged emergency rations and water.

"One last thing, can you help with the saddle and, uh, grab me some pants?" Tori asked. She'd been wise enough to grab the clothes that fell off her in the channeling process earlier that day to put in one of the gear bags, so you fished them out and put them in her hands before assisting with the saddle. "Okay, so I'm getting better about quick-channeling, but it still takes me about a minute before my magic's ready to channel again, so just keep an eye on me--I mean, Tango--until I'm ready to go again, alright? Not a lot startles me, but just let's be on the safe side."

Without another word, Tori ended the channeling, with you standing on one side of Tango while she stood on the other, quickly dressing again before she stepped around to your side, patting Tango's neck. "She's a fun one, don't you think? I've channeled a lot of creatures voluntarily, but Tsunami Tango's one of my favorites. She doesn't get out much, I think the Laredos have a lot of younger racing horses to focus on, but she loves a wilderness adventure more than most. If they ever decide to sell her or something, I kind of want to be first in line. It might be a little tricky, there's a lot to learn about actually taking care of a horse long-term, but if I just channel her a lot then that really simplifies my situation!"

"As in, you would want to keep Tango at the house? I mean, I've got a big backyard but I don't know that it's--"

You were interrupted as Tori's hand glowed purple. Uh oh, was some other creature around who needed help? Was your night about to be ruined by some other nearby intruder to your peaceful evening? Tori looked down, slightly worried as well, but when her eyes glassed over, she immediately placed her hand on Tango's side. Since Bella had technically been a willful channeling that day, as did Tango, she had been **** to being overcome by need, but you were surprised that it was Tango that needed something!

In a flash, Tango had disappeared into Tori, thankfully keeping the two legs this time. Though, as with her slightly enlarged chest, those hips and legs looked longer and sturdier, with a rounder ass that strained the pants only slightly obscured by the horse tail that had grown from the small of her back, gaining a couple inches of height in the process to where you and she could almost look eye to eye. Her hair had grown somewhat longer, a little wilder, looking much like a mane flowing down which matched Tango's own lighter blonde mane coloration.

"Tango, what is it? We'd been going around all day, what sort of need do you have all of a sudden?"

Tango took the hat off her head, holding it to her chest as she glanced away to the fire, blushing a little as her hidden horse ears twitched a little. "I, uh... I wish it weren't so embarrassing but... earlier today. You'd been commanding me with your assertive words, and it was surprising that you could so easily move me with a simple phrase, but it sent chills up my spine, Pete. Real good ones! Tori seemed a little surprised by it all, but I just want you to do it again. And more. You make me feel wanted again, Pete, so could you want me some more? I will follow your instructions and requests to the letter, I can promise you that."

Tango looked at you with pleading eyes. This was a little different from what you expected earlier, you thought you might get some fun out of giving Tori and Tango some commands anyway--but now, it seemed like you were being given a free pass to have Tango do whatever you wanted with Tori's body! Those words from earlier that she spoke to you, those most have come entirely from Tango's side, and the need to explore this submissive side of her as a human had just been too great to ignore, apparently...