Aaron placed his foot carefully upon the next step in the narrow trail up the side of the mesa. It was night, a time that most in their right mind donât go hiking up the side of a butte. But the spring stars shown down brightly in the night sky and allowing Aaron to see his way up the trail. Aaron was a new archeologist, just graduated from the University of Missouri. His specialty in the Southwest Amerindians had led him here, to Arizonaâs Painted Desert where he worked under Dr. Livingstone, one of Europeâs foremost archeologists. Aaron felt honored and he loved the desert. But the time the arid wilderness really came alive for him was at night. And tonight Aaron just couldnât take the dumb jokes of Robert or the infantile flirting of Jessica back at base camp. So with Dr. Livingstoneâs permission, Aaron had gathered some supplies, his backpack, and a sleeping bag and headed up to the mesa. He had planned to be there in time for the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. However, if he didnât pick up the pace he wouldnât make it.
Aaron was a tall blonde boy, just 25. His hair was pulled back into a flat ponytail and his blue eyes had be the downfall of many a coed back in Missouri. He didnât consider himself that attractive, but others disagreed. Aaron kept himself in shape and there was very little fat on his body. His nose was aquiline and when he wanted to, Aaron could intimidate his students with little more than a glare.
Finally, Aaron reached up and the pulled himself to the top of the mesa. From up here, Aaron could look out and see the fires of the archeological camp far below. But more worthwhile was the beautiful starscape that waited. To the north Ursa Major, the Great Bear, prowled around the North Star and her child, the Little Bear. Leo was up there, almost overhead, and that was what Aaron came to see. The meteor shower would come from there.
Aaron quickly threw down his stuff, unrolled his sleeping bag, and got comfortable. He took out a notebook and a small penlight and began to write:
Sunday, April 21st.
Finally got away from everyone down at the site. Donât get me wrong, itâs just they arenât what I want, or need, right now. Itâs been three weeks since Janice sent me that âDear Johnâ letter.
Aaron paused; Janice had been a girl that Aaron had honestly considered settling down with. She was sweet, fun, sexy as hell, and was interested in the same sorts of things as he was. Except for football. Janice apparently liked football a whole lot more than him since she had dumped him for Jake Sidel, Missouriâs newest fullback. Jake shook his head and chuckled ruefully to himself. At least he wasnât stuck with her. That didnât alleviate the pain though, he still felt hurt and betrayed when Janice had told him in her letter that she didnât think it was working out and she needed to be on her own. Brad, his roommate back at Missouri, had told him that Janice and Jake were an âitemâ now.
Anyhow, the meteor shower is tonight and tomorrow in Earth Day. And being out here in the desert makes all that drift away. It seems like another life, another time and place. And I think I like this one much better.
âWhoâs Janice?â a soft voice asked.
Aaron jumped, dropping the penlight. It rolled across the stone, coming to rest against a triangular shape rock. In the dim light, Aaron saw a young girl, no a woman, he mentally corrected as his eyes took in the large swell beneath her shirt. She was smiling at him. Aaronâs brain stopped working as he took in her details. She had long straight dark hair, a narrow, an oval-shaped face, eyes that wee a bit different than what he expected. Indian, obviously, he thought. She was crouched on her feet about 10 feet away. She wore a sleeveless shirt and a skirt. Her feel were covered with moccasins. She had several short beaded necklaces at her throat.
âMan,â Aaron said recovering his composure even though he could feel his rapid heartbeat, âI didnât hear you. Donât you know you should sneak up on people?â He smiled slightly to take the edge of his question.
She softly laughed, âIâm sorry, but you were so intent on your writing I donât think you would have noticed me if I had come banging two rocks together.â
âMaybe,â Aaron conceded. âBut what are you doing up here?â
She shook her head, moving her long hair back out of her eyes, âWatching the skies, same as you I expect. Tomorrow is a holy day and I like to meditate and watch the stars before the day starts.â
âA holy day?â Aaron asked as he reached for the penlight. He clicked it off and his eyes started to adjust to the starlight once again.
âWell, not a true holy day,â she answered, âbut more of a day that I consider holy. After all Earth Day is a celebration ofâŚ,â she paused, âEarth and all the bounty that it gives despite everything that humans do.â
Aaron smiled, âI can see that. Yeah, Earth Day is one of my favorite days as well.â
She stood up and then said to him, âMind if I share your bag? The stone is pretty hard.â
Aaron colored and then said, âOh. Sorry. Sure, please.â He moved to the side allowing her to sit beside him.
She settled in and her movements drew Aaronâs eyes to her shirt. It gaped open slightly revealing the curve of soft brown flesh unhampered by a bra. Aaron quickly glanced away but his cock had other ideas. It had stiffened noticeably. As he settled down, Aaron tried to unobtrusively rearrange himself. Then he realized that her shirt and skirt were doeskin, or some other animal hide. Definitely unusual Aaron thought to himself.
âMy nameâs Gaea,â she said as she say cross-legged beside him.
âIâm Aaron,â the young archeologist answered, âpleased to meet you. Gaea is an unusual name.â
She glanced at him sidewise as she pulled her hair back behind her. Aaron noticed that it fell to below her ass. Gaea said, âWell, my parents thought it was a pretty name and Mom always said it âfitâ me.â She shook here head, âIt is unusual though, but I like it.
âSo, whoâs Janice?â
Aaron took a moment and then said, âShe was my girlfriend. Sheâs in another world now.â