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Naughty Paws

A Series of Romantic Encounters

©2012 CarLOS Penguin

Preface

OMG.... a gay story from CarLOS? >,>

Nothing to see here, move along......

(edit 1-25-12: Thanks for the suggestion, Gruffy!)

Uncovering New Things

At only 22 years of age, Jaden seemed to be at the top of his league. He had blasted through his Bachelors and his Masters in xenogeology and was currently working on his thesis for his doctorate.

While most in his field were studying off world places for rocks that were of economical value, Jaden had a love for studying the history of earth-like worlds. Did they form as ours did? How do they differ? What makes such carbon based life holding worlds so special? Those were questions whose answers were valued by the scientific and archaeological community, but pretty much guaranteed a life of living from scientific grants to peddling rocks to being dust covered like an 18th century miner and zero romantic life. But, it was what he wanted to do.

When he chose his thesis for his doctorate, one of his professors raised his eyebrow when he said he wanted to write it on Equuleus.

"You do realize boy, that we know a great deal about that world through theirs and Pegasiian database, don't you?" the professor asked him one evening over a beer.

"Absolutely!" Jaden replied, wiping the foam off his lips. "But none of the studies have been approached from the viewpoint of a human."

The professor conceded the point. He gave him his blessing and looked forward to his thesis on his return.

That was two months ago.

He had been hosted by an Equuleusian family, the House of Nahro.

The Equuleusian's were gracious hosts to visitors. Rather than having guests to their world stay at accommodations suited to alien visitors in the capitol city, they preferred to bring them in to their homes and learn. Mostly out of curiosity of these strange looking, odd smelling off worlders, but it was also their culture. Of all the known habited worlds, the Equuleusians were the only ones to not have any streak of malice. War had never been known on their world and the last physical confrontation between two Equuleusian's was over a millennia ago.

---

Personal Diary, June 19, 2224 Terran Date

The House of Nahro is unique to what I expected. They appear to be dwarfs of a kind. Diminutive in size compared to other Equuleusians, who can tower over 2.5 metres on the extreme, Nahro is slightly shorter than me, his wife and children coming to my ribcage. I swear they'd compare to a Shetland pony back home; rather stubby, plumper than the rest of the population, luxurious mane and tails. A Terran geneticist will likely be most entertained.

I thought that was a typo in the information packet. Now I understand my colleagues jibes that I wanted to work in the galaxies largest nudist colony! The combination of heat, humidity and their fur, they totally forego clothing other than in the capitol city where off worlders congregate.

Regrettably by their law, their first mating is a legally binding marriage! The ladies here are quite beautiful.

---

"Been enjoying your time here, Jaden?" Nahro asked as his family relaxed by a smoky fire after dinner. It seemed a tradition after evening meals to go outside and light a small fire that produced plenty of smoke to keep insects away. It was a bonding time for the family. It brought back fond memories of camping for Jaden.

"Yes! I am, despite the workload I have to accomplish."

Nodding and smiling, "That's good to hear. One thing we have noticed in off worlders is they never, how you say, 'stop to smell the flowers'?"

Jaden chuckled, "Yes, that is the saying." Truth was, he could not help himself. The heat and humidity was exhausting and frequent rest breaks made him look about and realize there was something special here. Something he could not quantify, or explain logically or scientifically. It was the same things he had read about by tourists to Tahiti, or Hawaii and dismissed as delusional rubbish. Yet here he was, experiencing it for himself.

Nahro and his wife, Unaah, had two children; a daughter named Tenna that was still completing her final studies and a son, Nahron. Nahron was finished his youth studies and enjoying his first few weeks since graduation, being accepted as an adult on their world. As typical with many youth on any world, he was taking time off to contemplate his future.

Nahron seemed fascinated with their guest. Shy at first, but always keeping an eye on whatever Jaden was doing. "Maybe he'll like to get dusty and dig holes." Jaden mused to Nahro.

It was late, the wee hours of the morning. Nahro and Unaah were long asleep, Tenna was lying on a bench studying and looking very tired. Jaden was at the table, studying maps and planning the shortest and safest route up a nearby, ancient mountain that held prospects for some of the oldest rocks on that world. Nahron was leaning his head against Jaden's upper arm, watching everything he was doing.

He had thought several times that Nahron had fallen asleep against him, but whenever he looked over, Nahron's attention was wrapped to the data pads Jaden was working with.

"Aren't you bored?" Jaden asked.

Nahron looked up and shook his head, "Uh-uh."

Jaden smiled. He found it interesting this young alien took an interest in his work. Jaden also didn't mind the closeness of another person. It made him realize how good such a connection could feel, even if it was just from a curious pony.

"But I think you have the wrong route planned for the mountain." Nahron added.

Jaden looked at the pad, "How so? Topographically, it appears the safest route. It's not as short, but a shallow ascent. I won't need rope, just strong legs and lots of water."

Nahron took the pad and redrew a route about 25% shorter.

Jaden smiled, "That would work, except for this point here." he pointed to an area where the topography lines narrowed considerably. "It's about 200 metres at a sharp Incline! I'll need rope."

Nahron shrugged, "There's steps."

"Steps?" Jaden asked puzzled. "I thought this was an ancient area, basically unexplored by your people, as it's disastrous on hooves."

"I've been there." Nahron said with a smile. He got an excited look on his face, "I can guide you up there!"

"Like dad would agree to that!" Tenna said mockingly from across the room.

"Dad didn't know when I went up there. I came back safe." Nahron snapped back at his sister.

"Your sister's right, young fellow. I don't want to endanger anyone." Jaden said in agreement with Tenna.

Nahron sighed. "Fine, take an extra day going up." He got up dejected and went to bed.

Jaden poured over more information on the route Nahron suggested. "There's little data on that route. Crags and overhangs make the satellite photos useless and there's no ground survey up that high. Hmm.... I dunno."

Tenna put down her material and rolled over on her side, looking at him. "I doubt Nahron would offer a less than optimal suggestion to you."

"Boys take off and explore trails. I did it too. But when I return with a less adventurous eye, I sometimes look and say, 'Did I go there? I must have been crazy!'"

"He likes you." She said.

"I like him too. He's a neat kid." Jaden replied, not looking up from his material.

Tenna shook her head, "Are all humans as slow as you?" She said with a sarcastic grin, "I mean.... he's attracted to you."

Jaden dropped his pad on the table, "I... huh? What?" He looked at her dumbfounded. "I've been here not a few days total. And he's.. well... a guy."

Tenna chuckled, "And you.... are different!" She sat up and gave a stretch, "My brother is curious. Curious about everything. He wants to do things and experience what other Equuleusian's don't often consider. That's why he runs up mountains, hooves be damned. It's why he can't settle on a decision for one occupation. He wants to do it all."

Jaden nodded, "The writings of the adventures of the children of Marr have permeated his mind, have they?" Thinking of his own research into the Equuleusian's, he read many out-of-culture-character adventures by the children of the House of Marr, an elder on that world. His son was an off world pilot. One daughter married a human, the other married to a Canisian - a race feared by the Equuleusian people. Traditions broken and precedents set that shook up much of the youth of that day. "Well, I hate to break his heart, but I have no interest in becoming married to a guy from another planet."

Tenna got up and gathered her material and headed to her room. She paused, "It's not bonding, or 'married', as you people call it, as long as you don't consummate. Good night."

"Good night!" Jaden replied, realizing he should get some sleep too. He gave a dismissive chuckle about being the focus of an infatuation by the young fellow, but was flattered at the same time. The thought of romance with another male was definitely not something he had ever considered. Mind you his romantic experiences were practically nil. "Maybe it's and undocumented declaration of friendship between these people, like dolphins?" he thought to himself as he made his way to a guest room prepared for him.

But Nahron wasn't 'another guy' like his colleagues. He was alien, furry, small and.... cute.

"Cute? Did I just think that about him?" Jaden said, thinking out loud quietly. "Why am I even having this conversation with myself?" With a scoff, he rolled over and fell asleep.

Breakfast came around all too soon. Jaden felt as if he had just got to sleep when Unaah was jostling him awake. He opened his eyes to see her endearing, smiling face looking back and motioning him to follow.

Unaah didn't speak english, just Equuleusian and could hold her own in Pegasiian. Equuleusian was a language physically impossible for humans to speak. Those families who applied to host off world visitors had at least one head member that spoke Terran english and/or Pegasiian, a language also becoming popular among humans.

"My son tells me that you are heading to the mountains in a couple of days?" Nahro asked Jaden at breakfast.

"Yes!" he answered, "There may be things up there that are interesting."

"Hmm..." Nahro nodded and shot a reproving look at Nahron. "My son tells me now that he has been up there and can guide you more safely than if you went alone."

Jaden shrugged, "Forgive me, but I understand hooves were less suited to rocky terrain than human feet. Don't you think it would be dangerous for him to accompany me?"

"Perhaps...." Nahro agreed, "But I would be an irresponsible host to allow you to venture such a journey without a guide. As much as I disapprove sometimes of his adventurous spirit, Nahron always comes back in one piece." he waved his hand dismissively, "That and to get an equipped a guide from the archaeological institute would likely take weeks. Time you don't have with us."

They left a day ahead of schedule. Nahro approving of his son's assistance, there was less planning to do. They packed light, because if it couldn't be carried, it couldn't come along. Nahron insisted on carrying the heavier packs, "Equuleusian's being stronger and all..." was his reasoning. Staring up at the trail that led up only a few hundred metres before they had to 'bushwhack it', Jaden wasn't about to argue.

It was a walk in paradise and the first day went by without the sense of any time passing at all. A gentle incline with increasingly panoramic views of the tropical valley below from the infrequent outcrops.

After setting up camp and before tying into the rations, they had proceeded to refresh at a nearby waterfall.

---

Personal Diary, June 22, 2224 Terran Date

The stories of Equuleusian's obsession with hygiene definitely appear to be true. I have never seen anyone stand so long in a waterfall and enjoy it like a dog in a sprinkler on a hot day. Nahron shaking his head, grunting, rubbing on the rocks, It was entirely amusing.

---

"Hey!" Jaden shouted, dropping his data pad. Nahron shook himself off sending no small quantity of water flying from his mane. His wet, blonde mane looked as if he had a mop on his head. His normally full bodied tail was rat-like and his brown body fur nearly black. Jaden burst out laughing.

"What?" Nahron asked innocently and blew a few wet strands of his mane off his nose, which added to the irony.

"You..." Jaden said still laughing, "Look like a drowned meuskat."

Nahron started laughing as well. Jaden stood and removed his shirt and shoes to head in the waterfall next. Nahron gave him a gentle shove while he was off balance on one foot and fell pants-on into the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.

Jaden stood up and shook the water out of his hair and wiped his face, "You... are a total brat!" He shouted, shocked at being dunked.

Nahron brought his muzzle nearly touching Jaden's nose, mischievously grinning said, "And now you look like a big, wet, monkey." He turned and chuckled, looking sideways at Jaden with an almost feminine glance.

Immediately Jaden's memory that he had dismissed of what Tenna had told him returned. "Maybe she was right?" he whispered to himself as he removed his soaked pants and continued under the waterfall.

The evening had gone uneventful, with them discussing what life was like on their worlds. Like Tenna had said, Nahron wasn't sure what he wanted to accomplish yet. He had so many questions on so many topics, Jaden could only give his thoughts on half. The kid wasn't flaky, but definitely unfocused. Jaden dismissed the events earlier as simple youth mischievousness.

The second day's climb was far steeper. Nahron patiently accepted the many breaks Jaden had to take due to the heat, but the higher they got, the cooler and drier it got and the less frequently he had to stop. Then he saw it... the steps Nahron spoke of.

"See, I wasn't telling a falsehood - steps!" Nahron said with a smile.

Jaden was amazed. He thought perhaps the young fellow was referring to a natural formation of rocks, like basalt columns on earth. But no, these were definitely carved and carefully placed steps. Very ancient and in disarray from tectonic shifts, but artificial nonetheless.

Jaden pulled out some equipment and examined them for some time as Nahron looked around. He was rubbing his arms with his hands. "Jaden, are we going to have a fire at our stop tonight?"

"Probably, why?" He replied, still analysing the results his instruments gave.

"I'm getting cold."

Jaden never thought of it. The more comfortable he was getting with the altitude and dryness, Nahron would be getting equally uncomfortable.

"Didn't you bring a sweater or something?" Jaden asked.

"What's a sweater?" Nahron responded.

Jaden rolled his eyes and threw up his hands, "Of course? Who has sweater's on a planet with an average temperature of 29C."

He packed up his gear out of consideration for him and began to move on.

"I'll go up first." Nahron offered. "Last time I was here, some of these were loose."

That suited Jaden, he felt more comfortable going behind in case Nahron's hoof slipped and he could steady him.

The climb was slow, but steady. With Nahron's help carrying the heaviest gear, they made good time.

Jaden kept an eye on Nahron's steps and as tired as he was, he was ready to steady his young friend. But he was also unnerved with his own thoughts. The slightly hunched posture Nahron had to carry the heavier packs and balance himself going up the steps, gave his rear a somewhat feminine swagger. Those motions distracted him and he sometimes got lost in thoughts of "What if...?".

But Nahron's swagger wasn't unattractive. He was snapped back that this was a male he was following behind the times Nahron took a larger step up, exposing from behind a swinging pair of testicles under his flowing tail. A thought that surprised him that those were also not unattractive...

"What the hell are you thinking?" he said to himself louder than he expected.

Nahron stopped and looked back with concern. "Are... you all right... back there?" he asked with heavy breaths that showed in the now much cooler air.

"Ummm, yeah." Jaden thought quickly. "I... just had an odd thought, that's all."

Nahron nodded and they continued.

Reaching the plateau at dusk, they were both exhausted and soaked in sweat. Nahron slid the bags off his shoulder and collapsed on them, panting. With a groan, Jaden sat down beside him and caught his breath for a few minutes.

Jaden patted Nahron's knee, "I'll get you warm, little guy." Forcing himself to his feet, he gathered some wood and began a larger than normal fire, mindful of his friend's lesser ability to cope with the cooler, thinner air. A warm crackling fire was going in no time.

He returned from gathering more firewood to find Nahron huddled in a blanket, close to the fire, shivering. Jaden grabbed a towel from his bag, went over to him and pulled the blanket off.

"Hey, I'm rather cold, if you don't mind." Nahron snapped.

"Yes, but you're soaked in sweat. We have to get you dried off, or you'll develop pneumonia." Jaden said as he began rubbing his sweat soaked fur with the towel. He dried his back and mane for him quicker than Nahron could himself.

Nahron was enjoying the touch from he human. The rubbing motion made his skin tingle. He had hoped he would continue from head to hoof when Jaden draped the towel over his shoulder and said, "Dry the rest of yourself off and I'll get us some rations."

He returned and handed his friend some greens that seemed his favourite (it was all he packed). Given his calculated caloric expenditures, Jaden chose for himself good old 'meat and potatoes'. Not his usual fare (a typical submarine sandwich, cappuccino sipping University undergrad), but it was calculated reasonable.

"Oh, good goddess! That stinks!" Nahron objected, leaning away from Jaden and placing the towel over his nose.

Jaden gave a chuckle and nearly choked on a piece, "No more than that bowl of weeds you got. Smells like your farts!"

They both laughed and finished their meals.

There was no sleeping under the stars that night. Though Jaden could have just with his sleeping bag, all Nahron brought was his blanket. They fit in the tent and left the screen open to receive the heat of the last few embers glowing in the fire pit.

Nahron rolled in his blanket and Jaden snuggled in his sleeping bag. He lay there thinking of the steps and the marvellous find of them earlier that day. Geologically, they weren't spectacular. Archaeologically, they were phenomenal. He would have to forward his findings to several colleagues in xenoarchaeology.

While it was only chilly to his exposed arms, his hands behind his head, Jaden did figure it was likely to be below freezing that night. That explained the shivering he felt beside him.

Jaden sighed, released the seal on the side of his bag, "Uncurl that blanket and share the warmth."

Within ten minutes, Nahron stopped shivering. "Feel better?" Jaden asked.

Nahron gave a relieved sigh, "Much, thank you."

They both lay on their back. Jaden asked jokingly, "You don't snore, do you?"

Nahron turned his head, "No more than you do." They both laughed.

A few minutes later, Nahron asked, "There is a saying on my world... 'Let the day not end with pain between friends'. "

Jaden pondered for a moment, "We have a similar saying. What's on your mind?"

Nahron rolled on his side to face Jaden, his head propped on his hand. "Why did you say a falsehood to me earlier? Is it something I should be concerned about? Or is this a human idiosyncrasy that doesn't concern me?"

Jaden was trying to think of what he was referring to, "I'm sorry, to what do you refer? I'm sorry if I offended you."

"When we were climbing and you shouted out, "What the hell are you thinking?", were you referring to me?"

Jaden was confused, how could Nahron know? And he remembered the information package on the Equuleusian people, that they were practically impossible to be deceived and held no deceit themselves.

"No! I mean... yes. I mean.... it was personal." Jaden tried to avoid answering directly.

"I see." Nahron replied with a tone he wasn't convinced. "Good night then." He rolled back over.

Immediately, Jaden felt guilty. "I'm sorry. I... am facing something on this trip I haven't had to face before."

"Like what?" Nahron asked, curiously.

Jaden paused before asking, "Can I ask you a question first?"

"Of course!"

Jaden gave a sigh. For a human, this could end a friendship. He had much to loose here and little to gain. But, truth had to be told. "I heard.... from someone.... that you may.... possibly.... be.... kind of.... attracted.... to.... me." He barely said the last two words above a whisper.

Nahron rolled over on his side again, "That would be from my sister and yes, yes... I do... find you... attractive." He said with slight hesitation.

Jaden was impressed, perhaps a bit unnerved with his open, blunt honesty and before he could think, he blurted out another question, "Why?"

"Why?" Nahron thought for a moment how to explain. He rubbed his face and said,. "When I first saw you, you were the strangest creature I had ever layed eyes on. Not only that, you walked and talked and were intelligent. To top off the proverbial dessert, you weren't from this world. Oh.. my.. goddess! Here was a being, a strange primate, developed on a world over sixty light years away."

The look of amazement on his face, he continued, "Imagine a science fiction novel coming to life, right before your eyes! That would be cerebral overload for any young dreamer. Then to add..." he gave a giggle that reminded Jaden of a teenage girl, "Your smell."

Jaden was amused, "My smell? Everything I've read says Equuleusian's are somewhat offended by the scent of humans. Or of any omnivore or carnivore in general."

Nahron looked at him with a grin, "One being's revulsion is another's fetish. I smell an untameable, wild alien in my home. A creature as dangerous as he is handsome. It gives me shivers. It makes me feel... overpowered. I feel.... like prey."

Nahron paused, "Now, your turn. What in your comment concerned me?"

"Your... ummm.... ass." Jaden said hesitantly. "It's round and.... well.... big.... and, cute actually." He pondered a deeper explanation, "The way you were heading up those steps, your walk, your movements were very attractive. I got so involved that I well... had an image of groping you."

Nahron laughed, "And the thought offended you?"

Jaden shrugged, "I think I kind of scared myself."

Nahron sighed and rolled his eyes, "For all human flamboyance... your strip clubs, sex clubs, sex for sale, countless varieties of pornography showing things with creatures that would get you incarcerated even on Pegasi, your own private thoughts scared you?"

Jaden pondered the words, "surprisingly, they do rather often." He gave an awkward chuckle.

Nahron rested his chin on Jaden's chest. Smiling, he whispered, "Are you frightened of your thoughts, now?"

Jaden looked at the outline of Nahron's face in the dim light of the glowing embers. His eyes shining, looking at him gently. He ran his fingers through his long mane hairs draped down the side of his face and up the back of one of his equine ears and whispered back, "No.... I'm not."

Nahron pressed his muzzle against Jaden's face, then rubbed the side of his face along his cheek. Jaden ran his hand through Nahron's mane on the back of his neck and began kissing his cheek and down the side of his face toward his mouth.

Nahron became still as Jaden kissed around his mouth. He realized from his friends reaction (or lack thereof) that perhaps kissing was an unknown pleasure to these people. He gently kissed along Nahron's lips. They were amazingly soft on his. Nahron wrapped his arm around Jaden and gently stroked along his side, as approving of the sensation.

Jaden placed his hand gently under Nahron's chin and locked lips. Nahron gave a deep breath and opened his mouth, their tongues touching. Jaden felt the ponies erection flap against his belly and grow hard quickly. The kiss was something that his friend found exciting.

Rolling on to his side, Jaden ran his hand down Nahron's back and over his ass, giving a groping squeeze like had wanted so much earlier that day to do. Nahron giving a gasp as he received the grope and responded likewise to Jaden.

Jaden ran his hand under Nahron's tail, gently stroking up and down from his thigh upwards. Nahron pressed his face against his, looking into his eyes with a loving look and whispered, "Yes." as his hand stroked higher and higher. Nahron gave a small gasp, snapping his tail upwards and pulled Jaden closer as his fingers gently crossed over the slightly protruding rim.

The rim was soft. Jaden massaged gently, bringing a sigh of pleasure from Nahron, who now embraced him fully, head pressed to his shoulder beside him.

Nahron wrapped one leg around Jaden's side and pressed his pelvis against him. Nahron was definitely a submissive in the sexual arts. Jaden reached lower, again running his fingers down Nahron's rear, a little more forceful this time, which brought shivers and a moan to the young pony.

Reaching between his legs from behind, Jaden felt Nahron's soft scrotum and fondled his comparatively large testicles. This brought Nahron to panting squeaks of, "Yes! Yes!" as he rolled on his back, pulling Jaden on top of him.

Nahron kissed Jaden passionately and wrapped his legs around him, giving small thrusts with his hips. Jaden felt Nahron's penis against his body, rubbing up and down his belly with the thrusts.

He could feel Nahron's heart pounding with passion. Getting on his knees, Nahron gently released his embrace of both arms and legs. Jaden knelt and before him was his equine friend, legs spread, a penis surprisingly not much longer or thicker than his was bobbing with his pulse, dripping pre-cum on his furred belly.

Jaden ran his hand along it to the small, equinesque head, getting a palm full of thick, slippery and very warm pre-cum and ran his hand back down the hard, equine shaft. He gripped the base of it, wanting to relieve his friend of the tension he obviously held, when Nahron leaned slowly forward.

Nahron began licking the tip of his own penis, to which Jaden felt envious that the Equuleusian could do so. As Nahron did this, he was looking up at Jaden, softness in his eyes. He moved his mouth onto Jaden's own throbbing shaft and gave a gentle suckle.

The sensation was incredible! Jaden had never experienced oral sex before. He had only, like many of his university buddies, lost his virginity in more of a drunken 'quickie' with one of the female students. Nahron's tongue was incredibly soft, smooth and the warmth of his mouth was far warmer than when he penetrated the university girl!

Nahron slid his mouth back and forth on Jaden's penis as Jaden began his own thrusts. He didn't realize how turned on he was as in just a couple minutes, he held Nahron's face by his cheeks and with a few quick thrusts, his orgasm exploded in the Equuleusian's mouth.

His body quivered as he felt the gentle sucking on his steams, right up until he went soft and fell out from between the ponies soft lips. Panting, he bent over and kissed Nahron's head and ears.

"That... that felt incredible!" Jaden whispered to his friend, panting in the thinner air of the altitude, not even noticing the cold any more.

Nahron responded with a passionate kiss. It was clear his alien lover had swallowed his load, but the faint taste of his own sperm remained on the young stallion's tongue. He knew he had to, no, he wanted to return the favour.

Jaden broke from their kiss and leaning over further, he took Nahron's penis in his hand, bringing it up to his mouth and placed his lips over it. This brought an immediate moan of approval from his friend, who placed his hands on Jaden's side and leaned his head on his back, breathing heavily.

Nahron's pre-cum was slippery, salty, similar to what he had tasted from his own private experimentation. He moved his mouth up and down over the soft skinned shaft of his alien lover, sucking, running his tongue over his head and gripping the base.

For an extra sensation for his friend, he cupped his large balls with his other hand. This was the trigger for Nahron, as Jaden immediately felt those big testicles tighten against the ponies body and his shaft thicken as an intense, hot stream of his release filled his mouth.

The volume of his friends passion was greater than he expected. Though he only gave five streams of ejaculation, Jaden swallowed three mouthfuls of the lightly sweet and salty tasting fluid. With each stream, he could hear Nahron giving a heavy, unvoiced gasp, the last one almost being like a 'whinny'.

They held still together for a moment. Nahron's tension giving away to relaxation. His head laying on Jaden's back, panting. He felt him going soft, retracting back out of his mouth, still giving small pulses of 'aftershocks' as it did.

Jaden righted himself, still kneeling between Nahron's legs. They embraced in one more kiss, Nahron now exploring deeply in Jaden's mouth with his tongue as if enjoying the flavour of his own release.

Without another word, they lay down together, both breathing heavily and cuddling together in the warm sleeping bag for the cold night. The last fire ember having gone out.

Morning arrived. Sunlight shone through the tent, the calls of strange birds filled Jaden's ears. He hadn't opened his eyes. He was on his back and felt soft hair on his face, a head laying across his chest, and arm around his mid section. He himself had his arm around someone... soft... furry... he was on Equuleus... this was Nahron beside him. His eyes snapped open.

He saw him still asleep, head on his chest, mane hairs tickling his nose. Memories of the night before came flooding back to him. "Oh gawd! Did I... I mean did we... I can't believe that happened!?" he thought to himself in a bit of a panic. Did he just do some faux pas that would haunt him for the rest of his life? His heart filled with helplessness like he had never felt before.

Nahron stirred. He rubbed the side his head on Jaden's chest, then looked up at him and smiled, "Good morning!" he whispered.

Looking into Nahron's sparkling eyes, Jaden couldn't help but realize whatever 'mistake' he made to his career, he didn't regret the encounter with this wonderful being. His fears melted as Nahron pressed his lips against his and gave him several kisses and nuzzles.

"Your fears are back?" Nahron asked gently with concern.

"I... this is new." Jaden said, knowing he couldn't, nor should he lie to these people. "I don't know if bad will come of this, for me.... for you."

Nahron gave a smile, then a moan as he stretched. He leaned on his elbow, ran his hand through his mane and looked down at Jaden with a reassuring smile. "We aren't bonded after last night. You haven't become a Son of Equuleus and I haven't become a Son of Earth. What happened between us, is our private business. No one else's concern but ours."

Jaden looked surprised, "I thought there was only sexual encounters between the mated with your people? Didn't we break a law or something?"

Nahron laughed. "No, no law was broken. Young Equuleusian's sometimes entertain each other like this. Even many older ones who are single, or whose bond mate has passed into the hereafter." He shrugged, "We just don't discuss it, as it's private."

Jaden looked at Nahron with realization, "I had no idea!" He sat up and smiled, "Better not let too many humans know that."

Nahron shrugged, "It would likely make little difference to most of my people. Most of us view your species sexuality as very depraved and repugnant."

"Oh?" Jaden said, feeling a sharpness.

Nahron looked tenderly at him and placing his hand on Jaden's face, kissed him, "I said 'most' of my people."

They worked happily together, flirting and teasing throughout the rest of Jaden's expedition to Equuleus. Time flew by for the both of them. Jaden would have his name known with a previously unknown mineral find for Terran science. Nahron's assistance was invaluable as it was his curiosity and Equuleusian strength that made Jaden's discovery possible amongst the heavy stones.

Their last camp on the way back down, by the waterfall, they would enjoy each other's intimate company once more before a return to normal life. This time there was no fears from Jaden, no hesitation from Nahron. It was a most memorable night under the stars for them both.

Jaden had returned to earth. The two week trip home gave him much to think about, personally as well as professionally. He contacted Nahron on his return.

Real-time communications were impossible across that distance. But he wrote a glowing recommendation for the House of Nahro as a host, a personal letter of thanks to Nahro Unaah and a personal letter to Nahron. Nahro and Unaah considered the letter marked "private" as perhaps a personal thank you, or maybe even career advice. They handed it to their son without a second thought.

Later that night, Tenna had bid her brother good night when she stopped in the doorway to his room. "You've been in here all day since you read that letter. Are you all right?"

Nahron was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, holding the data pad with the letter on his chest and bore an unreadable expression. "My name will appear as well on the scientific paper Jaden's writing. Cool, huh?"

Tenna smiled and bounced happily, "Congratulations! Mom and dad will be so proud!" She stopped and looked a little more serious with concern, "And?"

He looked over at her and gave a beaming grin, "Yes.... and!" He winked at her and rolled over, back to her.

"BROTHERS!" Tenna shouted, her hooves clopping loudly as she stamped to her room.