. now..." She stared at her toes, wiggling them."What?" her expression changed, she stopped biting her lip."Um... Krissy I guess. Yes. Yes, of course,... she glanced aroundagain. "Don't you want proof? Don't you at least need to see meto believe me? No, no of course I trust you. I guess it would bekind of... strange... to stay the night in this state. No, I'msure the Hutchins wouldn't mind a girl staying when she used tobe a boy!!! No, of course he doesn't think I'm a hussy. No! Pickme up. I was hoping that this barren plateau would give up its story to me.Around me, everyone began to fall silent as they circled behind me.“Michael,” Rachael said. “I think that when they get back with the...”“Shhhh!” Anna told her. “He’s doing it. He’s doing something important so don’t bother him now!”Finally, I stood and looked south towards the sea. It was maybe two hundred yards to the edge of the Marae, and then fifty feet straight down. Turning to my left, I started walking towards the. It was still a bit chilly in the Great Hall, but at the top of a long row of stairs and to the left there seemed to be a warm flickering light. Kristen hurried towards it, following the light down the hall and into a room. The moment she stepped inside it was as though she was awash in heat, and she sighed happily as the roaring fireplace filled the room with warmth. The goose bumps on her skin faded, although her nipples were still hard, and she practically fell onto the huge fuzzy carpet on. The next morning we all went back to our normal monogamous lives. Gram died later that year and we all wondered when Mom sent out the invites for the next Retreat what would happen. When we got here, she said to honor Gram, we should take a vote whether to continue the Saturday love and freedom celebration. We all voted yes, and this is the sixth yea anniversary!” I looked out the window. The sky was blue, the grass was green and birds were flying normally. I was not dreaming nor had I fallen.