Aboard the Minotaur

Story by GabrielClyde on SoFurry

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#1 of The Minotaur

This is the first chapter of a short series. Ranley the young stallion is the cabin boy and Captain's servant on board the Minotaur. What drove him to this life, and what adventures will he face? The first chapter will introduce our cast, but the answers will wait for later installments. For the moment, enjoy a taste of shipboard life, and other things.


Ranley woke gradually, the gentle rocking motion of this ship trying to lull him back to sleep with its soothing regularity. He was about to give in to the temptation of a few more minutes blissful slumber when a particularly large wave caused the frigate to fall off the crest with a heavy thud that jolted the cabin and the young stallion, clearing his head of the remains of sleep.

He felt the bulk of his sleeping partner still wedged behind him, a warm mass under the scant covers gently cradling him. Loud snores and snuffles told him the captain was still firmly asleep. He could feel the warm flow of air from the big bull's muzzle on the hairs of his mane, the sensation soothing and comforting the stallion as he enjoyed one last cuddle.

The heavy breaths weren't the only warm sensation he could feel; as Ranley edged in closer to the big body behind him, he could feel his companion's heavy cock still extended and resting in the cleft of his ass. A warm burning sensation filled his tailhole, ghostly echo of an evening's hard rutting. The captain had been voracious as always, and yet gentle and loving in his heat. It was one of the things Ranley liked about the bull. As masters went, he could have done a lot worse.

The young stallion gently edged out from under the bull's grasp, lifting first one powerful arm to the side then sliding out and off the edge of the small bed. Hooves rested on the planks of the captain's cabin, and he rose as much as he could, as always mentally reminding himself to duck. He had spent the first month in a permanent state of concussion it seemed until he learned to deal with the low overhead below decks. His frequent thudding failures brought good natured ribbing from the crew as they remembered their own transitions from landlubber to seamen. Few were as tall as the graceful equine though, and his struggles had been especially pained as a result.

Putting on his simple pants and shirt, Ranley shuffled from the cabin, closing the door again quietly so as not to wake the captain. He would need to be roused from his sleep soon enough, but the stallion wanted him to have as long as he could before the needs of the ship forced him to wake him.

Ranley paused a moment, taking in the motion of the ship and the wind, hearing the chime of two bells giving the time in the morning watch. Five am, not too long before the dawn. He scaled the ladder to the quarterdeck, saluting the officer of the watch as he asked permission to join him there. The lieutenant, a silver wolf named Taylor, grinned at his formality before airily waving at him to join them, sharing a sly grin with the sailing master. The heavy set bear was engaged in getting a star fix to determine their position, his big hands handling the instrument with incredible dexterity. He was still grinning as he lined up the sights.

"Always a good morning to see you on the quarterdeck Ranley. How goes the captain?"

"He is well Mr Weymiss. I left him sleeping as I thought the ship felt quiet enough for him to get some rest. He needs more rest as always."

This brought a slight chuckle from the two officers on the deck, and a failed attempt at keeping a straight face from the tiger manning the ship's wheel. The helmsman finally gave up his useless struggle, almost doubling over in a wheezing laugh. The stallion just stood, a little embarrassed but silent until the lieutenant relented.

"I daresay he does Ranley. After all, you do tend to wear him out a lot. Just last night for example, I wager the two of you could be heard from the tiller flat to the chain locker for most of the middle watch."

The three furs on the quarterdeck broke into deep laughter then, the poor young stallion too mortified to say anything as he merely shuffled his hooves and stared at the deck, face turning a deep red in embarrassment. The laughter was not mocking however, and the good natured sailors soon took pity on his misery.

"Don't worry yourself lad, we mean no harm. Besides, I don't think I have seen the captain as happy as he has been the last months with you here, and a happy captain definitely makes for a happy ship right enough."

The helmsman grinned his toothy feline grin at the stallion and got a shy smile from the young equine in response.

"Besides...hearing the two of you going at it has inspired the lower decks so to speak. I've not had this much action on a voyage since we took that floating brothel off the coast of Port Denley."

The two officers now broke up again, slapping the helmsman on the back as he grinned like a mad cat. Ranley looked mortified again, his embarrassment returning until he gave in and joined the laughter. In the end, he did not care if they heard him. At least he was being looked after, and since being on this ship he had never been ashamed again about who he was. He only wished his father could have seen this ship; the thought saddened him and made him chuckle at the same time. His father would probably die of horror at the "goings on" as he put it. Wild, loving, pleasuring "goings on" every night without shame or fear.

There were some things to be said for being on a pirate ship. Societal conventions tended not to mean a damn.

Waving to the watch, Ranley headed below decks to get the Captain's breakfast going in the small galley. The cook was just stoking the galley fire and mumbling to himself as he always did, the greying ferret never seemed happy at sea. Rumour had it he had been a chef in a proper restaurant in Duke's Harbour before some disagreement forced him into this life. If so, there was scant evidence of culinary skill in his shipboard offerings. He grizzled and moaned as the big stallion worked to get his master's food ready for the oven, indicating by every possible means that his presence was both unwelcome and unnecessary.

Succumbing to the death stares from the harassed ferret, Ranley decided to give the cook some space to get the crew's breakfast going, and he headed to the gundeck to see who was awake.

The gundeck was quiet, but by no means dead. The helmsman had been right, and several crew members were taking advantage of the early morning calm to get some quality time together.

Marin, the only other stallion aboard, a big shire brute with brown coat and white feathering, was with his best friend, a gunner's mate called Watkin. Marin had the ram laid back on one of the ship's thirty-two pounder cannon, the ram's own pride and joy, and was giving him a long slow fuck in leisurely time with the ship's gentle rolling. Several crew were watching, their hammocks rocking as they used their paws to take their own pleasure from the scene. Deep sighs and groans from near the foremast told of another couple in the midst of their own pleasure.

Marin turned at the sound of Ranley's excited nicker, giving his fellow equine a wink and blowing a kiss before bending down to bite the back of the ram's neck, excited baas getting louder and faster as the action hotted up.

The young stallion had just absentmindedly reached for his own sheath through his pants, stroking the building bulge when a pair of paws grabbed him from behind. He recognised the scent immediately; his friend the grey wolf Balantyre. As he heard the wolf giggling softly behind him, one obvious bulge grinding into his ass, he let out a soft smile. Where one went.....

Another set of paws rose miraculously from the side to grip his groin, dextrous fingers manipulating his sheath and his balls through the fabric until he let out a shuddering groan and allowed the end of his swelling cock extend from its safe hiding place. Farlie, Balantyre's twin was always the more direct of the two, the wolf twins an inseparable pair either below decks or on the shrouds shortening sail.

"Nice to see you grace us with your presence oh horse lord."

"Give it a rest Farlie, you know I come down here when I can. The Captain keeps me busy."

Both wolves started chuckling at that.

"So we heard. Pity he doesn't give you more free time, isn't it brother?"

"Definitely brother. A poor young stallion, worked so hard so often. It isn't right is it?"

"I think we need to give him some relaxation."

"Hey, you two, I have to get back to the galley and unghhhh..."

Not taking no for an answer, the mischievous wolves had decided to take things into their own paws. Farlie slid inside the young stallion's trousers, stroking the growing length from sheath to flare, while Balantyre knelt behind the horse. Pulling his pants below Ranley's ample ass, the wolf lent in to sample his favourite treat; stallion tailhole, fresh with bull seed.

Ranley could only stand and try not to fall over, eventually raising his hands to brace himself against the overhead deck beams as the twin wolves attended to their shipmate. The feel of wolf tongue on his rear was too much to pass up, and he wantonly spread his legs to open up his crevice as Bal became more aggressive. The wolf was starting to deliver long rasping licks, nuzzling the back of the stallion's bulging scrotum then lapping across his taint to circle the sore donut of his tailhole. As he became bolder, the wolf concentrated more on that puffy red rosebud, so deliciously musky.

A loud nicker from Ranley drew more giggles, this time from other shipmates as well, and he felt his pucker spread as Bal began eating out his ass, the taste of bull and stallion a delicious combination he was eager to devour. The nicker turned into a whinny as Farlie added his contribution, opening his muzzle wide and sliding down the thick horse cock until his lips wrapped around Ranley's broad medial ring. He slurped up a load of stallion excitement and began greedily bobbing on the length, one paw teasing the underside of Ranley's balls as he drew his own breakfast from the young stallion.

The aroused horse couldn't last long with this combined stimulation, and his whinnies became louder and louder as his whole body tensed like an anchor cable in a gale. Eventually his orgasm overcame him and he unloaded a thick torrent into the grateful muzzle of Farlie, the wolf squeezing his balls gently to milk the last drops of precious seed, while Bal suckled his clenching tailhole until the final wave of pleasure subsided.

Both wolves held their friend and shipmate between them, enjoying an intimate moment of simple joy in togetherness before they sent the stallion on his way with a playful slap on his ass. As Ranley headed for the galley, he heard the sounds of his shipmates receding , the many cries sighs and groans making him smile. He had wondered if this sort of life could exist. Now he knew, too late for past pains, but not too late in all.

Returning to the galley, he managed to work around the slightly less flustered ferret successfully, the tray set with his master's favourite bowl and cutlery, the simple meal of porridge and toasted ship's bread at least graced with elegant accompaniments. He would choose the blackberry jam today, the bull always was in a better mood when he started with blackberries.

Three bells chimed just as Ranley returned to the cabin, the bull stirring groggily but not yet fully awake. As the bosun piped all hands to breakfast, Ranley set the Captain's breakfast down on the small table, fussing over the napkin and the sugar bowl. His last masterpiece, a pot of freshly brewed coffee, steamed beside the rest.

"Smells good as always lad. How is the ship?"

"Just gone three bells sir. Steady Nor Wester at 10 knots, nothing unusual. Mr Weymiss's ears were at right angles to each other so everything was well."

The bull gave an amused snort, appreciating the way his cabin boy had worked out how to read the sailing master. The old bear now went by the nickname of "semaphore ears" thanks to the stallion, but the signs proved reliable. He had only seen them both out flat once, and it was not a day he wanted to repeat.

As the heavy bull sat up on the bed, he watched the stallion bustling his way about the cabin with assured skill. Breakfast set, he allowed Ranley to wrap a robe around his bulk before walking to the table. He couldn't resist though, and he wrapped the young horse in a big hug before Ranley could respond, the lithe stallion held in a firm but loving embrace as the Captain licked his neck.

The bull wrinkled his nostrils, sensing something unusual. Wolf; two of them. His eyes crinkled into a grin as he put two and two together.

"Good to see my crew still enjoy your company Ranley. Let me guess; the terrible twins eh?"

"Sir! I..eh.."

The bull ruffled Ranley's mane, chuckling under his breath.

"Don't worry lad, I've told you enough times all is well. As long as you finish the day in my bed I don't mind."

The Captain sat heavily on the dainty chair, mentally deciding once again to replace the fashionable brocaded monstrosity with something more practical once they took a suitable prize. As he nibbled at the porridge, he watched his cabin boy preparing his grooming set, large bovine eyes following the stallion's assured movements. Ranley remained silent, still embarrassed at being caught out.

Captain Denning reflected on the changes time had wrought on his servant while he watched him go about his chores. The stallion had been more of a colt when he joined, and the Captain had been reluctant to take him on board. Something had told him the rather young and harmless looking horse would suit him well though, and he had reluctantly agreed to his request to join the crew in Port Denley.

When told that the only position available was as a cabin boy, the youngster hadn't even flinched, even when the amused bull asked him if he knew that his duties involved not just making the Captain's bed but sleeping in it. He had dropped his eyes then, had the young stallion, but when he lifted them again something blazed inside and he had curtly informed the bull that he would prove a more than adequate bed mate.

So he had proved, though the bull still harboured misgivings, first brought to light on their first night together in this very cabin. As he prepared for bed, the bull discarding his clothes as casually as the stallion carefully picked them up again, he had feasted his eyes on the young horse, standing quite still on the other side of the cabin and eyeing the bull's massive naked form without flinching.

His look of equanimity had not lasted beyond the peremptory command to strip though, and the bull had been surprised at the look of genuine terror on the horse. Wondering at this sudden change, he waited patiently, Ranley's ears flat behind him and his tail swishing fast before the stallion began to obey with slow and reluctant fingers.

The stallion had dropped his trousers first, kicking them off absently and standing with fingers clenching and unclenching by his side. The Captain had gazed at his new servant, drinking in the details of his body, first noticing the plump spheres of his testicles, looking invitingly lickable to the Captain's eyes. A heavy black sheath above it, and obvious muscled thighs and tapering calves, the coat a beautiful dappled silver down to black feathering at his fetlocks. The youngster was beautiful, exquisitely so, and he was clearly no stranger to male sex. The mystery of his reluctance intrigued him.

With an impatient gesture, the bull demanded he complete the show, and the stallion looked with hollow eyes at him before complying. As his shirt rose over his shoulders, the Captain's eyes widened and he let out an involuntary gasp. The mystery was solved, or at least explained while revealing another even larger one.

The bull could make out distinct lines all over the stallion's torso, the familiar lines of whip marks deep enough to tear skin and scar. They criss-crossed his chest, the dappled grey coat and perfect pectorals marred by this horrific decoration. As Ranley had turned full circle under the increasingly appalled bull's gaze, he had revealed a broad muscled back covered in the same markings, the markings of pain. The bull had gulped down a flagon of wine as he had sought to recover his senses.

"Whoever in the world did that to you lad?"

The stallion had merely stared at him, tears forming at the corners of his eyes begging him not to ask any more.

"Are you...are you going to send me away?"

"No lad. I can see though why you might have wanted to join a pirate ship. Is this what you are fleeing?"

A brief nod had been the only response, the young stallion biting his lip to stem the tears.

The Captain had trotted slowly over to him, drawing him into an embrace and just holding him for long minutes as the stallion shook.

"You have nothing to fear here lad. We aren't the King's navy, that's why we beat them all the time. There are no floggings on my ship, and no one need fear if he does his job. You have a new family now lad and we protect our own."

He had been gentle that first time, gentle and patient. Long minutes of kissing, gentle caresses to put the stallion at ease and draw the first sighs of pleasure from him. He had feasted on the youngster's body, touching and licking until the shaking stopped and the lad's movements turned to writhing responses to the pleasures of another male. As his meaty hand closed around Ranley's cock for the first time, he had determined to make it a night to remember for his new servant, one dedicated to healing the wounds of his troubled past.

He had drawn two shuddering climaxes from the horse before he finally could not resist any more and he took him, mounting him slowly from behind with Ranley on his side, left leg drawn up to his chest and right straight out behind him. The big bull had taken him slow and easy, coaxing cries of pleasure from the stallion as he inched warily into his tailhole, after long and patient licking and stretching had made him ready for the ride.

When finally the bull had spent inside his new lover, he felt the rhythmic clenching around his cock that told him his partner had gone as well, the sharp scent of fresh stallion seed filling his nostrils as he lay panting against the youngster. As he held Ranley in the afterglow of their first coupling, the Captain had made himself a vow; that whoever had done this to the horse would pay for it a thousand fold.

Over the months that followed, the stallion had grown, physically but in other ways too. His smile had come to the fore, and he wore that same smile now as he busied himself around the cabin. His good nature had infected the crew, and over time he had become more confident and assured, enjoying the company of his shipmates as they did his. Their lovemaking had become more uninhibited, and the bull had discovered a genuine hunger for sex in his servant, one he had been happy to satisfy

Still the worm of unease remained, as permanent as the scars he could still trace on the young stallion's body. There were other worries too for the bull, new ones in his experience. He found himself falling in love with the horse, something he had never expected. This would not have been a problem with someone like his previous cabin boy, a rather slight panther. Valis at least knew well enough to stay out of danger.

This horse was an altogether different specimen. As he had shown the warmth of his nature, the crew had warmed to him in return but still treated him as an oddity, not quite one of them. "The Captain's good little pony" had been the stock term.

Then they had gotten into a tight spot taking a sloop, one that turned out to have been transporting a platoon of royal troops to the Five Islands. Just as things looked to be getting grim for the Captain, pressed against the side with two lions closing in, a loud whinny sounded from the shrouds as "The Captain's good little pony" swung across and into the fray, musket in one hand and knife between his teeth. Then, and for the next few minutes of hard fighting, the wild eyed stallion showed them another side; he showed them how he could kill.

After that they called him Ranley.

The wild anger he saw that day was what troubled the bull the most. He knew it didn't bode well for Ranley's chances of survival. And that was why he fretted, even more than the thought of the hell his young love had fled to come here. He was afraid to lose him; and that was never a good thing for a Captain of a pirate ship to be worrying about.

All this occupied the bull's mind as he ate his breakfast without really tasting it. He didn't even notice the thick coating of blackberry jam on his toast, brain elsewhere while Ranley finished his preparations. Finally he gave a slight start as he felt the stallion behind him, the skilled fingers tending to the bull's long plaits, trimming and leaving them freshly tied and bound with silver cord as he liked, then applying a fresh coat of red colouring to his horns. The Captain liked these little details, the trappings of his past life. Once he had been a noble. Now his nobility was all in the small details.

"Ranley my lad, we will need the good uniforms today. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes Sir. I think I do. Do you mean we will be likely to encounter a ship today?"

"Yes Ranley. There was word in that last sloop we took of a transport heading for the Five Islands with a very tasty cargo. One under the flag of the King's inshore squadron, with apparently a wealthy and important passenger. We have been tracking it, and today we should catch it. I intend to use our usual method to get in close. You will need your midshipman's uniform today lad."

The stallion nodded, the prospect of impending danger seeming not to worry him. The bull sighed, brow furrowing, troubled eyes following the horse as he opened the gun box and began preparing the muskets. One day soon. One day soon and he would have to put him off the ship for his own sake, even if it would break his heart.

The bull shook his head and finished his breakfast, finally tasting the blackberries as he gave a long moo of contentment. Not today though; and if they did it right, there should be little danger.

For today, a miraculous transformation would occur, before the forenoon watch was over. His ship, the majestic pirate frigate Minotaur, would become the King's frigate Revenge, sent to escort the transport safely to Port Ellis, and before the transport's captain knew what had hit him, his ship would no longer be his own.

There are old pirates, and bold pirates, but very few old bold pirates. Captain Denning was determined to become an old pirate one day, and sometimes that meant less fighting and more thinking. The bull hadn't become the most successful pirate captain in the Golden sea without using his brain, and behind the placid bovine façade lurked a calculating mind he had become adept at using to good effect.

Even if he had to forego the pleasures of his mysterious young stallion love to keep his own mind on the job.