Much More Than Friends
#3 of Avelle's Journey
Leyelil trotted just ahead of Avelle. The paladin suspected the centaur was in front in order to keep the most distance from the gryphon-led wagon. Gryphons were notorious for hunting and eating horseflesh, and that included centaurs. Avelle wasn't sure which would offend the centaur more: a gryphon killing a horse or killing a centaur.
Avelle shook her red-brown hair, unwilling to accept the real answer. Centaur society confused the elven paladin, but she was growing to understand it even as her friendship with Leyelil became closer. Centaurs were a warrior race, though strangely, it was only the females that fought. Avelle guessed that the male centaurs were hidden away, caring for the children, since she had yet to see one.
But the most difficult thing to comprehend was their adamant worship of horses. All centaurs vow to help and aid horses in whatever way possible, catering to their wishes as if the animals were gods. At least, that was the impression Avelle had gotten. Leyelil had expressed displeasure at Avelle, Marc, and Saliendra's horses being saddled and ridden, but she had not gone further to stop them.
Avelle rode her horse, Mephaeon, with whom, as a paladin, she shared a special mental bond. She knew she should be focusing on their next destination, but that was the last thing on her mind. Riding behind Leyelil, the paladin found her eyes consistently wandering down the centaur's supple body, drifting to her blond tail.
Suddenly, Avelle felt Mephaeon thoughts. He joined her in watching Leyelil's rhythmically rising and falling rump, snorting softly. Avelle leaned forward to whisper to her steed, "She's not really a horse, you know."
But Mephaeon looked Leyelil over, and it was clear from her light-brown lower body that as far as he was concerned, she was. And he noted that her smell was quite pleasant. Avelle had never felt her mount growing amorous, but that was certainly her feeling. "Mephaeon!" she whispered shrilly. "She would never..."
But that thought gave Avelle pause. Did centaur horse-worship extend further than she thought? If Mephaeon found Leyelil's rump appealing, certainly other horses had felt the same. And Leyelil had claimed the centaur would allow horses to do whatever they pleased. Surely that didn't mean... Avelle said, "Don't you even think it. I'd rather not cause an international incident in less than a week."
Mephaeon snorted reluctantly, but allowed his mind to concentrate on the path ahead, rather than the tantalizing, muscular thighs in front of him. Avelle, however, had less luck putting Leyelil out of her mind.
Once they finally stopped traveling for the night, she positively leapt off of Mephaeon, removed his saddle, and began wiping him down. Avelle wanted to waste no time before offering to clean the sweat off of Leyelil for the third time. A pit of nerves was growing in her stomach, but she knew she could handle whatever happened, thanks to Tienvar's trick the day before.
She jumped when she heard Leyelil say, "Can I help?" Somehow the centaur had managed to sneak up behind her.
Avelle looked up at her, smiling, "No, no, I'm almost done here."
The centaur waited patiently while Avelle rushed through her chore, wiping down every inch of Mephaeon. In her haste, the paladin was doing a pretty poor job of removing all the sweat that coated her horse after a full night's ride, but Leyelil didn't object. Perhaps the centaur was as eager for Avelle to finish as she was.
Leyelil looked over at the others in the camp who were also attending to their mounts. She stepped forward to get a better angle of Marc and Saliendra. "You humans...and elves...do seem to care for your horses, despite using them." The young centaur filly looked over her shoulder and down at Avelle, scrutinizing the young woman.
"Not all do, but the good ones certainly try. But I suppose there are bad centaurs, too."
"Yes," she replied, "but even the most selfish, greedy centaurs treat horses with the utmost respect. One of the legends told to young fillies is about a near-civil war. Poyobi had many supporters, and had failed for years to convince the queen to leave the vale."
Avelle looked up, rinsing the sweaty rag as she listened. "What vale?"
Leyelil looked off in the distance as she recounted the tale, flicking her tail. "The same vale you found us in. For though Poyobi sought to send her supporters in arms against the queen, she was foiled by her devotion to horses. I know not if the tale is true, but that is the moral of the story for little foals to hear."
"What happened?"
"The queen knew that vale was our home, yet Poyobi sought new lands to conquer, new grounds to claim. She even sought to usurp the crown, claiming that if the queen truly cared for horses, she would lead their forces against the neighboring humans, freeing their animals. Yet the queen also knew that the humans were too great a foe."
Leyelil flicked her tail again, attracting Mephaeon's attention. The young centaur was standing only a few feet in front of the stallion, and he snorted in interest. Avelle whispered sharply to her horse, "None of that, now!"
The centaur said, "What was that?"
Blushing, Avelle quickly said, "Uh, what happened then? How did a horse stop Poyobi?"
"Just as Poyobi was about to lead her troops against the outflanked, outmaneuvered queen, a stallion happened to wander across the battlefield. Though victory was assured for Poyobi should she strike then, despite her greed and ambition, her devotion to horses came first."
Avelle put the finishing touches on her task of wiping down Mephaeon, only to notice that something was stirring between the stallions legs. He was still watching the centaur's rump! Avelle quickly glanced up at Leyelil, but the centaur was looking elsewhere. "Stop it!" she whispered into Mephaeon's ear. Avelle didn't know whether Leyelil would be offended by, embarrassed by, or (perhaps worst of all) accommodating to Mephaeon's 'growing' interest, but the paladin wasn't eager to find out. She stood, stepping between her horse and Leyelil's nearby rump. "Oh?" she asked, hoping to distract the story-teller.
"Instead of attacking, Poyobi attended to whatever the stallion wanted, losing her chance to strike. When the battle was over, Poyobi and her supporters were defeated, and the queen had no choice but to banish Poyobi forever from the vale."
"That's...very interesting," Avelle said, as Leyelil finally turned to face the paladin and her eager white horse. "All done!" she said, trying to usher Leyelil away from Mephaeon.
The centaur said, "Then I must ask if you would do me the pleasure of rubbing me down, as well. It was a long, hot night."
"It would be my pleasure," Avelle said with a smile. She grabbed a fresh cloth, and pointed to the woods. The young paladin certainly didn't feel comfortable running her hands and cloth along Leyelil's sweaty body in front of the other members of the camp. Leyelil nodded gratefully, and began to move, raising her eyebrows as Avelle skillfully maneuvered so she was blocking any view of Mephaeon's obvious interest in Leyelil. To Avelle's immense relief, the centaur did not notice.
Avelle breathed a heavy sigh when they finally made it into the forest, out of view of the camp. Suddenly she processed the whole story that Leyelil had just recited. What did she mean by "Poyobi attended to whatever the stallion wanted"? Surely, that simply meant that she had to...feed or wash the horse, right?
Avelle put it out of her mind, smiling again at Leyelil and saying, "Ready?"
Leyelil paused, then nodded and walked up beside the paladin. "I...am."
Avelle's hands shook as she took the rag and moved it toward Leyelil's front leg. She had done this twice before, yet she still couldn't help but feel awkward. But her desire to please the centaur won out, in the end. She began wiping down Leyelil's front legs.
For her part, Leyelil stood perfectly still, her eyes closed. Perhaps the sensation was much like when Avelle went to get her hair cut. The elf had always enjoyed the pressure against her hair, and the forceful touch of the barber. She always deigned to remain silent, choosing hairdressers who weren't as talkative. Leyelil's only motion was slow, heavy breathing, and the occasional flick of her tail.
Avelle gasped, suddenly realizing she had been holding her breath. And this was the easy part! She ran her fingers and the cloth through the short tan fur on Leyelil's legs. Once finished there, she began to work her way back, covering every inch of her sleek barrel.
"How's that feel?" the paladin asked.
Taking a deep breath, the centaur replied, "...Much better."
Avelle averted her eyes away from Leyelil's twin teats. Just the thought of seeing them made her nauseated. She'd have to get to them eventually, but first, she decided to work the outside of Leyelil's hind legs. When Avelle looked up, the centaur had her arms crossed underneath her sizable breasts, almost panting as her breath quickened.
"You like that?"
"...Yes," she gasped.
The thrill of pleasing Leyelil relieved some of Avelle's nervousness. Finished with the Leyelil's left flank, she began to work her way up the inside of her left hind leg. The centaur shivered at Avelle's touch, especially when the young woman reached Leyelil's inner thigh. Avelle inched her way closer and closer to her udder, finally stealing a glance.
Her teats were lightly-furred, brown nubs dangling between her legs. They looked soft and supple, and Avelle fought an urge to reach out and touch them. She had almost finished wiping down Leyelil's inner thigh, getting closer and closer. The centaur trembled as she anticipated Avelle's gentle touch. Then the paladin realized what she was considering and looked away. She coughed and said, "Alright, the other side now."
"...Huh?" the centaur said, releasing a heavy breath she had been holding in.
Avelle's face burned as she moved to Leyelil's right flank, but she said nothing as she began to work the centaur's front right leg.
Leyelil said, "That feels good, Avelle."
It seemed like only seconds, but must have been over two minutes when Avelle finished the right flank. Swallowing, she began to work Leyelil's inner right thigh. Leyelil's breathing increased in pace again. As Avelle rubbed the centaur's muscular leg, Leyelil gasped, and said, "...Yes, just like that...and...Avelle?"
"Yes?" she said, her voice almost cracking.
"...Make sure you don't miss a spot."
Avelle tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. This time, as her hands neared Leyelil's teats, she knew there was no way to delay any further. Leyelil was panting, and had clearly given the paladin every permission. Her hands shook as she reached out, but to Avelle's amazement, she managed to gently grasp the young centaur's dangling glands.
The centaur held her breath as Avelle began rubbing and stroking her teats. Avelle blushed fiercely, but she kept it up. She'd promised to wipe down every part of the centaur, and she didn't break her promises. Soon, Leyelil could hold her breath no longer, and she began panting. "Unnh..."
Avelle began to start working her way up between her legs, but as soon as her fingers left, Leyelil cried out, "Could you...stay there a bit longer?"
Avelle smiled, returning her grip to her twin teats. "You like that?"
"You...know I do..." she panted.
Avelle tugged on Leyelil's mammories, and the centaur gave a low moan. Looking up, Avelle realized that at the same time the paladin was fondling Leyelil's teats, the centaur was fondling her own, large breasts. One hand cupped each orb. Avelle was speechless.
Finally, the centaur pleaded, "...Move on...now...up!"
Avelle moved behind the panting centaur, discarding the sweaty cloth and just running her hands slowly up between Leyelil's legs, getting closer and closer to her dark, tear-drop shaped mound. Leyelil's virgin entrance was massive none-the-less, in traditional equine fashion. Avelle didn't hesitate to cup her hand over it, causing the centaur to cry, "Oh! Ohhhh...!"
All nervousness had left Avelle's body by now, just thrilling in her ability to put Leyelil into shuddering spasms. She ran her fingers gently across the filly's folds. Leyelil spread her hinds legs apart, lifting her tail as she fondled herself and moaned, "Avelle...!"
Avelle rubbed Leyelil's glistening slit, which was getting moister by the second. She spread her dark folds apart, pushing two fingers in. She paused to ask the centaur, "What would you like from me?"
Without hesitation, Leyelil cried, "Deeper!"
Her tail held rigidly away, Avelle had easy access, but she hesitated. Was she really doing this? She realized that yes, she was. With that, the paladin began to push four fingers into Leyelil's pristine entrance.
Immediately, Leyelil's internal walls clenched down around the paladin's hand, eagerly pulling her in. She was wet and warm, and surprisingly powerful. With a slurp, Avelle's entire fist was sucked inside. That's when Leyelil began to thrust her hips, wildly, screaming.
"Oh...oh gods!" the centaur cried, shuddering as she rocked her hind legs back and forth.
Avelle stood, fist-deep inside the centaur she had met only a week before. She felt dirty and ashamed, yet she knew immediately that given another chance, she would not have done anything differently. She began to push her fist a few inches deeper, until her hand had penetrated the centaur's untested chamber six full inches. Then the paladin began thrusting her hand back and forth, even as Leyelil's internal walls pulled powerful inward.
"Deeper!" Leyelil demanded.
Avelle was already in just beyond her wrist - how much further could she go? Still, if that's what Leyelil wanted... With resolve, the blushing young woman pushed deeper, halfway to her elbow.
"Gods...deeper!"
Incredulous, the paladin kept pushing. With a loud squelch, she slid elbow deep into the humping centaur. It took all of Avelle's effort just to keep her footing as Leyelil moaned and thrust around her arm.
"Don't stop, Avelle! More!" she moaned, squeezing her breasts together.
Avelle's eyes widened. Was this even possible? Leaning forward, Avelle pushed her arm deeper and deeper, until she was up to her shoulder. She gaped in amazement, while Leyelil bucked back against her. If Avelle weren't careful, the centaur might break her arm!
"Unnnnhhhh," Leyelil shuddered. "That's it! Oh gods...Avelle!"
Leyelil clenched around Avelle's entire arm, which was warm and drenched in fluids now. To steady herself, Avelle put her free hand on Leyelil's rump, allowing the paladin to move in concert with the centaur's rapid gyrations. With a grin, Avelle began pumping her arm sharply back and forth, clenching and unclenching her fist, deep inside. Leyelil's moans and screams grew louder, enough that Avelle wondered if the others could hear. If they came to investigate, there was little Avelle could do. Her arm was all but trapped by Leyelil's pulling, squeezing passage.
Sweat now covered the centaur's body, and she squeezed her large breasts, massaging them roughly in circles. Her thrusts increased in pace, and her moans only became louder.
"A...Avelle!" she managed to shriek, in between quick gasps for air. "I'm...almost...!"
When Avelle opened her fist, pressing up against her walls, Leyelil's entire body began to shudder, and she cried wordlessly into the early morning sky. The paladin held on for dear life as the centaur humped mindlessly against the arm inside her. Warm, sticky fluid ran down Avelle's arm, coating her upper chest and shoulder. She would definitely need to wash her blouse after this.
Leyelil moaned in bliss for what seemed like minutes before her vigorous thrusts began to slow. Avelle took her free hand and moved it underneath the centaur, gently fondling her teats. Leyelil took deep, ragged gasps, saying, "Oh...gods...Avelle. That was...more than I ever expected..."
Avelle kept her arm firmly embedded within her new friend, still feeling the centaur clenching down strongly around her. The paladin wasn't certain she could have pulled out if she had tried. With a small chuckle, Avelle said, "After that, it seems like you'll need another rub down..."
Leyelil laughed and said, "Thank you, Avelle."
Finally, Avelle withdrew her arm, sliding it slowly out of her virgin entrance with a wet squelch. Leyelil watched over her shoulder, her face glowing red. Avelle's entire arm was dripping onto the ground. Sheepishly, the blond filly said, "Sorry."
"It was my pleasure," Avelle said, thrilled that she had been able to so thoroughly please her friend. None of the awkward, stand-offish behavior remained from the centaur she had met days before.
"I sincerely doubt that," Leyelil said.
Avelle said, "There's a river nearby, we should...wash up."
Leyelil nodded, and knelt in front of the paladin.
"You...want me to ride you?"
"I would be honored."
Avelle positively beamed as she climbed onto Leyelil's back, holding the centaur's human waist for stability. Warm fluids dripped off her arm onto the centaur's stomach, but she didn't mind.
When they reached the stream, Avelle jumped off. Her blouse was positively soaked, but she hesitated to take it off.
Leyelil said, "Take it off, Avelle. It's not like I care what you do and do not wear." Avelle looked up at Leyelil's large, bare breasts, and nodded, taking the wet blouse off. Still, she blushed, feeling the centaur's eyes on her firm breasts. Now all the paladin wore was a knee-length skirt, and her leather boots.
Leyelil stepped out into the water, half-way submerging herself to wash away the sweat of a long, hot night's travel, and a glorious, hot morning's rub down. Avelle dipped her arm in the stream. Then she doused the blouse as well, still conscious of Leyelil's eyes.
The centaur said, "You are a beautiful woman."
Avelle looked away, not sure how to take that.
Leyelil continued, rising from the stream and shaking herself off. "Thank you again for helping me. I really...needed that." She lay down on the ground, crossing her forelegs to the side. "Ready to ride back to camp?"
Avelle looked away. "My blouse is not yet dry..."
"So what? Carry it with you."
Her jaw dropped at the mere thought of riding into camp on Leyelil's back, Avelle's breasts exposed to Marc, Saliendra, and even to her lover, Tienvar. She felt awkward enough, half-naked in front of Leyelil, even now. The paladin blushed and said, "I couldn't! I have to wear something..."
"Why? Your companions know you have breasts, no? And it is certainly warm enough. It's not as if I have a problem with it."
"You...you aren't me. Humanoids don't go running around naked."
The centaur scoffed, "They don't, but for no reason? Why?"
Avelle hesitated, pondering why. "Shame, I guess."
"Well, I am not ashamed," Leyelil replied, hefting her breasts in her palms to demonstrate. "And you have nothing to be ashamed of either."
"I - I know, but it just isn't done. Trust me. It won't be long to dry."
Leyelil says, "If you say so."
The two women waited in silence for a while, until Leyelil finally spoke again, "Avelle, is there anything I can do to thank you for what you've done?"
With a kind smile, the paladin honestly replied, "No, no, your thanks is more than enough."
Leyelil pondered this a moment, and then said, "Very well, but let me thank you properly."
"What do you mean?" Avelle asked. What was improper about the many times she had already said 'thanks'?
Leyelil says, "When centaurs offer thanks or request aid, they hold crossed hands as a sign of respect."
Avelle beamed. "Of course, Leyelil, that sounds like a lovely tradition."
The paladin walked up to the prone centaur. With Leyelil crouched on the ground, the two were almost eye-to-eye. Avelle stood in front of Leyelil, looking down into her eyes and offering her hands. Clasping them, Leyelil leaned forward until their foreheads touched, and she whispered, "Thank you, Avelle. You honor me."
Leyelil squeezed her grip on the paladin's hands. Avelle felt wonderful. "Is there something I should say?" she began to ask, but only reached the word 'there' before Leyelil tilted her head up and kissed her.
Shocked, Avelle's jaw dropped, and Leyelil didn't hesitate to lock her lips with Avelle and push her tongue inside. A second later, the paladin could hold herself back no longer, wrapping her arms around the centaur and kissing her fiercely back.
With their warm embrace, Avelle's breasts squeezed up against Leyelil's larger orbs. The women took turns probing each other's mouths, muffled moans escaping. Avelle kept her arms over Leyelil's shoulders, pulling tightly. Faintly, Avelle wondered how she could be doing this. She was with Tienvar! Leyelil was a woman...and more so, half-horse! But she couldn't pull herself away, eagerly returning Leyelil's wet kisses.
Suddenly, she felt hands beneath her. One hand gripped each buttock, and suddenly the paladin was hoisted up. Leyelil's upper-body strength was impressive. Avelle accommodated this welcome turn of events by wrapping her legs around Leyelil's human waist. Leyelil was soft and warm.
Needing air, Leyelil broke the kiss to gasp, "Oh, Avelle...!"
Avelle arched her head back, moaning loudly into the air. Leyelil took the opportunity to run her tongue up one of Avelle's breasts all the way to her collar bone. Avelle leaned back to offer Leyelil her breasts.
The centaur immediately went to Avelle's nipples, each in turn, suckling gently as the paladin moaned. As Leyelil switched to licking right between Avelle's breasts, the paladin cried out, "Leyelil! Oh, please...!"
Avelle's eyes popped open as she felt something new. The firm hands holding her up began to move, Leyelil's fingers working until Avelle's skirt no longer blocked access. Four fingers reached out for the auburn-haired elf's panties, gripping and pulling them aside. "No, don't...!" Avelle managed, her loyalty to Tienvar working its way into her fevered mind.
With Avelle's panties out of the way, Leyelil ignored the paladin's protests. Eight fingers reached up between Avelle's legs to touch her bare, hairless folds. Gently, the centaur pulled, spreading the paladin open. Trembling, Avelle said, "...don't...stop!"
With a grin, Leyelil began to push four fingers from one hand up, between her friend's spread lips. Avelle gave a shuddering moan as she felt them enter her, rubbing roughly up against her clitoris. With abandon, she fully embraced Leyelil, bringing her mouth to hers for another passionate kiss.
Leyelil's probing fingers moved in and out, causing Avelle to begin humping instinctively, clenching down powerfully around the four digits. Sweat coated the two women's bodies as Avelle began sliding up and down against her, breasts bouncing and pressing against each other. It was all too much for the young elf. With a sudden, wild cry, she began to shudder and scream, her wet fluids running down over Leyelil's hands, soaking her panties.
When her wild orgasm finally subsided, Leyelil firmly embraced her. Panting, Avelle smiled, feeling warm and secure. As Avelle was still catching her breath, she gasped, "Well, Mephaeon certainly has good taste..."
Leyelil's embrace loosened, and she looked in surprise at Avelle. "What...what do you mean by that?"
Avelle's face blanched. Oh gods, why had she said that? "I...I mean..."
But it was too late to take back what she had said. By the centaur's expression, Avelle could clearly tell that Leyelil now knew full well about Mephaeon's interest. The only question that remained was what Leyelil would do about it.