Companions Chapter 24: Elastic Collisions
#24 of Companions
[Companions Chapter 24]
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WARNING! The following text contains explicit adult subject matter. It is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, then you must stop reading now. The author has taken steps to ensure that this story does not appear in any subject-inappropriate or age-inapropriate forum. This version has been posted with the author's permission to Yiffstar.com.
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* _COMPANIONS_
* by Evoquus
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* (c) Copyright 2003, Evoquus, All rights reserved.
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* Feedback is appreciated: [email protected]
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Rating: NC-17 for explicit sex: M/M, Human-Stallion-Mare, Anal, Oral
Chapter 24: Elastic Collisions
Hidden deep in the boonies far from the prying eyes of bothersome law enforcement, the horse trailer rocked with the unmistakable rhythm of coitus. The love nest inside reeked of a skanky adult video arcade, for many a wayward seed had perished while attempting to impregnate an old mattress onto which they had the misfortune of spilling. Formed into a U-shape, the king-sized cushion fit snugly into the single-occupant trailer, providing adequate back and lateral support for the stallion lying belly up, while the man on top glided up and down his fleshy pole, riding the inverted horse like a demon on the world's most depraved merry-go-round.
"Still with me, Rovaun?"
"Yes, Companion."
"And how's the Psycho today?"
"My Primitive is enjoying the ride, too. At twenty inches of penetration, it appears to be quite satisfied."
"I'm not. I think I want to try for twenty-one."
"I do not recommend any further penetration, Companion. The resulting trauma is bound to put your more vital organs at risk."
"Aw come on, where's your sense of adventure? Just imagine how great it'll be when I can ride you from stem to stern. I know it's my destiny to some day feel your balls slapping against my own."
"That destiny would indeed be beautiful."
"Not to mention hot."
"Yes, that goes without saying."
"Apparently so, because I can feel you crowning inside me just thinking about it."
"My Primitive is thinking about it more than I am."
"Let him."
"I do not recommend it."
"What can he do? I'm in charge, here. If things get out of hand I'll just hop off the ride."
Rovaun considered the proposition, but still remained hesitant.
"Come on, Lover. Let go once in a while. You're already close to coming. Fuck me over the edge."
Daniel bounced faster on the meaty pogo stick, drawing a snort and an evil whinny from the stallion who now attempted to thrust into him but could gain no leverage in his disabling position.
"What's the matter, Psycho?" he addressed the Primitive directly. "Can't get it up?"
The insulted stallion bellowed furiously, kicking his hind legs through the air to increase his thrusts, but his inverted position still prevented him from inflicting any serious damage. Daniel looked down to note that the telltale testicle position had announced the arrival of the impending moment.
"I know what you want, Psycho," he said, increasing his pace and his travel. "You're not satisfied with twenty inches anymore."
The beast snorted in agreement.
"You want... TWENTY-ONE!"
He threw himself down on the shaft, ripping his guts open, and feeding the Psycho the blood it craved. Howling its hideous pleasure, the Primitive accepted the terms of the deal, and allowed the stallion's balls to transfer their load to the human. The injury, though severe, was not as life-threatening as it would have been had he not already been saturated on a daily basis with Hipponaur essence.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow..."
"That was more than an extra inch, Companion," said Rovaun, wallowing in the afterglow of an excellent Psycho fuck. He had yet to admit to Daniel that he found them particularly satisfying, only because he knew his reckless Companion would then insist on them more often.
"What are we up to now, ow, ow...?"
"Twenty-three."
"Woo-HOO! Ow."
"Shut up and allow yourself to heal, Human!"
"Is my agony spoiling the moment for you?"
"Yes."
"Sorry." He carefully leaned forward and laid down to rest on his favorite equine pillow. "How's this then?" he sighed, nuzzling his mate's chest.
"Much better, Companion," said the stallion in love.
"Ahem."
Rovaun opened his eyes, which then bulged at the sight of the unexpected and even more unwelcome visitor. "Companion" he squeaked, "get up!"
"No."
"We're in big trouble," he tried to say. "Varyl is outside."
"Varyl..." said the relaxed human, dreamily. "Oh shit."
Daniel pushed himself up and looked over his shoulder to see the unemotional stallion staring back at him.
"How do you do?" is all he could think of saying.
"Please come with me. Both of you."
Daniel had a couple of problems with that request.
"I, uh, can't really move right now... You see, Rovaun's still inflated... wait..." He turned back to his terrified mate who was flaccid in three seconds. "Did you spring a leak or something?"
"Get UP!" he snorted.
Easing off of the contracting horsedick, Daniel inserted his emergency butt plug that he kept on hand for cases like this, when he needed every drop of essence in order to mend. He was no longer bleeding internally, but he still felt as if Rovaun had used his stomach for a trampoline.
Daniel stepped carefully out of the trailer, holding his arms tightly around his lower abdomen in case his intestines decided to fall out, and nodded to the stoic stallion. Still on his back, Rovaun snorted and squirmed with the grace of a beached elephant seal while trying to right himself. During the raucous commotion in the trailer, Mourne stood quietly, patiently, and as intimidating as ever.
"Your Eminence," said Rovaun, bowing to him as he finally emerged.
"Rovaun. I require the assistance of you and your Companion. Please come with me."
"Can I get dressed?"
"Please do."
Daniel dressed as quickly as one who had just performed his own colostomy could, then climbed onto the back of his stallion. Silently, the two of them followed the greatest Hipponaur to a destiny that was not on anyone's map.
The prostrate human opened his eyes, shaded from the sun by the large Hipponaur next to him that guarded and protected him as a mare would protect her newborn foal - an analogy not at all unfitting, for an imperceptible part of Fred was now a young Hipponaur. He sat up and held out his arms that, to his astonishment, looked perfectly normal. The tourniquet and bandage were gone, and his wound cleaned but not dressed, for there was only a thin line across his palm where a gaping gash had been before. For his hand to have healed that much, he must have been out for days, but that did not explain why he felt so good, nor did it explain why his wristwatch claimed a time lapse of only four hours.
"I'm fine," he said to the Clydesdale, then wondered why he had said it. Perhaps it was because the gentle stallion looked so concerned for him.
He stood up to brush himself off and assess the state of the rest of his limbs and bones, then studied his palm some more.
"Boy, that's lucky," he said. "No infection." Then he smiled at the horse and said, "How are you?"
"I am fine, too, Companion," said Azgard, rising to his feet.
"Good," said Fred, wondering again why he kept answering questions that no one was asking. He scrutinized Azgard's face, then decided the stallion looked okay, which was probably why he imagined he had said so.
Azgard whickered warmly at his mate. "Am I coming through now, Companion?"
Fred could not hear him on a conscious level, but his subconscious was screaming, "THIS HORSE IS TALKING TO YOU!!!" He rubbed his temples in an attempt to deal with it, then looked startled at the stallion, once he came to grips with the impossible.
"Do you understand everything I say?" he asked pensively.
Azgard nodded.
"Lift the hoof that is closest to Oregon."
Rear-left went up without hesitation.
"Oh, my... Can you communicate, too?"
He nodded.
"Tell me your name."
The stallion shouted it loud and often, but not a peep from the equine crossed the threshold of Fred's eardrums. Yet something pounded deep in his head, a concept so muddled it was nearly imperceptible. He covered his ears and shut his eyes to reduce all extraneous stimulus, then concentrated on deciphering the message repeating in his head. It was two syllables: Aa-Ar... Aa-Ar... As-Ar... As-Car... As-Card...
"As-Card?"
The Clydesdale whinnied and hopped joyfully, being careful not to appear threatening.
"Your name is 'As-Card'?"
He nodded and whickered, it was close enough.
"Can you spell it for me?" Fred chuckled, then gasped when Azgard did so, marking out the block letters in the dirt.
"AZGARD... oh my God, you can talk and spell. Or am I dreaming all of this?"
Fred found himself affectionately pinned under the stallion's chin again as a response. No dream ever felt more real, nor was there ever a dream he so never wanted to wake from.
"So, where ya from?" he kidded, feigning small talk with the large talker. It was Azgard's intent to show him, for the stallion needed advice and another favor to ask of a great Hipponaur. He lumbered over to Fred's backpacks and nudged them, then set down next to them.
"Get your things, Companion. You are going for a ride."
Fred didn't hear it, but he knew exactly what the stallion had requested. He strapped his packs onto either side of Azgard's neck, then held onto them for support as he swung a leg over to straddle the wide, powerful spine. Azgard rose up and the two headed for the clique.
Always fascinated by anything man-made, Parceph delighted in rummaging around in the box of souvenirs that Rovaun and I had brought back from our honeymoon. The video tapes intrigued him but were worthless without power and video equipment. However my cloaks fit him quite well, and he rejoiced in prancing around like nobility, even though in Las Vegas most would have assumed him a drag queen.
"What's this?" he asked, holding Josh's favorite leather garment in his mouth.
"Guess."
"I have no idea. I might be able to fit part of it over my nose."
"Let me see," said Jeremiah, taking it from his Companion. He turned it over a few times, poking fingers through the flexible leather tube and fiddling with the strap. Then its purpose clicked. He squatted to peek at his Companion's privates and oriented the device to match.
"Holy shit!" he laughed. "Buddy, you GOTTA try this on!"
Now comprehending its purpose, Parceph mused, "We must find a VCR, too."
Given the way things were rapidly degenerating, I was thankful that Tattoo had fallen asleep, because that encouraged Malaya to leave the boring adults and go find someone more interesting to be with. Thus, her innocence would remain pure for one more day.
"Drop for me," commanded Jeremiah, anxious to fit the anti-jockstrap onto his mate.
"No."
"Come on..." he said, massaging his mate just behind his testicles, Parceph's personal 'eject' button.
"Oh all right," the stallion relented, pretending to pop out on purpose.
Jeremiah slipped the six inch length of thin leather sheath over his stallion's flaccid penis, and slid it up to the base, pulling on the cock to make sure the sheath was as far back as possible. Then he looped the attached strap around the base of the scrotum and fastened it on the other side with the click of a tiny padlock. Parceph didn't like the sound of that.
"Hey! What are you doing!?"
His giggling mate jumped up and dangled the key in front of his nose.
"Give me that," Parceph snorted while lunging for it.
Jeremiah ducked, then took off with Parceph in close pursuit. But the new sensation on the stallion's genitals was far more tantalizing than the pointless chase, so he slowed to a canter while the device tightened around his growing erection.
"This is quite something," he said, marveling at how surprisingly erotic and virile it made him feel. He stood tall with head and tail held high, while his phallus hardened to steel and bobbed with its own powerful heartbeat. The normally loose avocado-shaped testicles were now pushed down to a tight dual-spherical contour, and they appeared as if separated from his body, dangling in mid air. This made them both more desirable, and even more foreboding. The stallion took on the authority of a dungeon master, ready to fuck any slave that was deserving of his discipline, and that slave had stopped teasing him, because he wanted that discipline so badly.
"Come here, Companion," the stud commanded.
The awe-struck human complied, approaching him with blazing eyes of his own. "Great God of Eros, you are a most magnificent sight."
"Strip."
The normally private Jeremiah publicly shed his clothes without a second thought, for there was no one else around for a million miles. Then he dropped to all fours and proceeded to personally spit-shine his master's boots. Parceph admired the ass below him that his slave intentionally jutted out while licking his front hooves. The presentation of buttocks pleased him.
"Mate with me," Parceph commanded as he bit into them.
The slave boy crawled under his stallion and positioned his anus against the cockhead that was already beginning to flare. In a single lunge the flare vanished along with an additional twelve inches. The man cried out, but held his tongue, for his role in this play demanded as such. He knew he was bleeding and he knew what that meant for Parceph, but the stallion remained in control, holding his position while the unseen end of his phallus continued to widen.
Parceph was usually more gentle than this, but like anyone, he would occasionally get into one of his moods. This was not news to Jeremiah, who also enjoyed a complementary submissive indulgence now and then. With his colon sufficiently lubed with blood and precum, Jeremiah gave his stallion the green light.
"Please fuck me, Master," he begged.
"I shall fuck you, Companion," he replied, starting up his thrusts.
The stallion pistoned fifteen crimson inches in and out of the over-stretched rectum while his mate gasped and moaned with pleasure. The sight of the blood concerned me, but there wasn't so much as to suggest severe internal damage, and the rapture on Jerry's face said it all: If he was being fucked into oblivion, he was loving every microsecond.
I had tremendous respect for Parceph, too, for he demonstrated far more control over his Primitive than Rovaun ever did. Blood was what the Beast craved to find release, but the leather strap around Parceph's balls prevented them from rising. With his climax held off, the Primitive must have been screaming bloody murder at him, yet he managed to remain cool, keeping the length of his thrusts at a survivable depth, maintaining a sensual non-life-threatening pace, that is, until he started to lose it.
"Fuck me harder, Companion," pleaded Jeremiah, "I'm almost there."
Parceph fucked harder, but it was against his waning better judgement.
"Oh sweet milk of Eros, YES!... I'm coming!... I'm coming!!... I'm... HERE!!!"
Unaware of Parceph's dilemma, Jeremiah feebly linked with him to share his climax, but the envious Primitive only felt this a rude slap in the face, and now demanded much more blood as recompense. The Primitive thrust deep into the human, but had reached a hardened boundary that two centuries of copulation helped to reinforce. This human would be more difficult than most to run through, but not impossible.
"Parceph, stop it!" screamed Jeremiah, but the stallion could not hear him. Only the vengeful voices in his head held his interest now. He thrust again, but Jeremiah remained nimble on hands and feet, and moved with the battering ram to prevent any further penetration.
What little there was left of Parceph's civilized psyche whimpered for help. "Get it off me!"
"Danny!" shouted Jeremiah, "The strap on his balls!!"
"LEAVE IT ALONE!" roared the Primitive, rearing up and lifting the human off of the ground, then slamming him down to knock the struggle out of him.
I ran to Parceph's side to free the quivering disembodied testicles that needed so desperately to explode, constrained by a padlock that prevented them from doing so.
"Where's the key?"
"How should I know!!"
"LEAVE IT!" commanded the Beast, rearing up and slamming him down again, like a trout fisherman stunning his catch on a rock.
"Do something!" pleaded Jeremiah.
"Jerry! Squeeze him!!"
Jeremiah knew what I meant, and almost immediately the raging stallion returned to a soft boil. While the Primitive concentrated on the pleasant rhythmic constrictions around his cock, I stealthily unlocked the simple device with a virtual key. Once the testicles tasted their freedom, they immediately went into hiding, and Jeremiah received a heavy dose of much needed Hipponaur first aid.
"Oooh, yeeaaahhh!" he said, relishing the warmth that flooded his torn guts.
Still connected to his mate, the human plopped the upper half of his body onto the ground, thankful that it was over, thankful to be alive, but most of all, thankful that there was a stallion hosing his ass full of horsecum. Nothing in life could ever hold a candle to that incredible feeling.
"Hoo-wee! What a ride!" he chuckled.
"Are you injured, Companion?" asked Parceph, recovering his sanity.
"I'm okay, Hoser. Thanks Danny."
Parceph lowered his head to me. "I suppose I owe you another debt, though none of this would have happened had you not brought that thing back with you."
"I take full responsibility, Parceph," I said.
"In that case, I forgive you," he smiled.
"Looks like we have company," grinned Jeremiah.
I turned to see Azgard carrying a man in his twenties whose face was as white as the ghost he was looking at.
"Howdy stranger!" laughed Jeremiah, fully aware of how absurd he appeared.
"Who's your friend, Azgard?" I asked uneasily.
"He did not explicitly introduce himself to me, but I believe his name is 'Fred Crump.'" Then the Clydesdale announced proudly to all, "He is my Companion!"
"Really?" I said excitedly, trying my best to hide my considerable skepticism. "How do you do, Fred." I extended a virtual hand to the rider. "I'm Danny."
Fred stared down blankly at my outstretched hand and found it difficult to pry his own hand off of his backpack to shake it.
"Are you okay?" he asked of the man whose ass remained hiked off of the ground by the large cock of a large equine.
"Does it look like I'm okay, son? Of course I ain't okay! I'm fuckin' GrrrrrRRRREAT!!"
"You'll have to excuse Jerry," I said. "He gets a little giddy after getting a lot laid."
Fred remained shell-shocked.
"So... Azgard tells me you're his Companion." That snapped him out of it.
"You can hear him?"
"Yes... can't you?"
"Not like I can hear you."
"His reception will improve once we have bonded more," said Azgard.
"You've started bonding already?"
"Are you talking to me?"
"No, him."
"Um,... technically," stammered the stallion.
"What is bonding?"
"Ta-DAAA," grinned Jeremiah, with arms outstretched. He was obviously tipsy on horsecum.
Fred freaked out and scrambled off of his mount. "THAT is bonding!?"
"What's the matter?" Jeremiah giggled. "It's not that bad. You'll get used to it in about twenty years, and nothing settles your stomach like a gallon of fresh horse piss up your backside."
"Wraith, SHUT UP!" snorted Azgard.
"Are you talking to me?"
"No, HIM."
"Look," said Fred backing away from the Looney Tunes, "I don't know what kind of weird cult you guys belong to, but I am not a recruit." He directed the next castigation to Jeremiah. "YOU are lucky you didn't get killed! In fact, I can't understand why you're even still breathing."
"His fear is not unfounded, Azgard," I said. "Parceph has more control over his Primitive than any other stallion I know, but he DID almost do in Jerry just now. How were you able to control your Primitive when you made love to him?"
"We didn't make love!" protested Fred. "He tried to drown me in semen."
"You were sucking him?"
"NO!... GAWD!!"
"Azgard?"
The stallion hung his head. "We did not make love, exactly. My Companion stroked me, but then my Primitive attacked him. However, as you can see, he has completely recovered, and my essence in his veins has enabled him to understand me... a little better."
"One exposure to essence does not necessarily bond him to you, Azgard," said Parceph. "He may be free of a cold or flu for a couple of years, but other than that, he is still human, and still very vulnerable."
"Are you trying to convince me that he is NOT my Companion?" snorted the Clydesdale.
"No Azgard," said Parceph. "I am simply reminding you that all Companions will be bonded, but not all that are bonded will be Companions."
"I understand your skepticism," he sighed, "but you were not there when he touched me. We have a connection. He said he loves Clydesdales."
"Do you love Clydesdales?" I asked Fred point blank.
"Did he tell you that?"
"He said you said it."
Fred looked at him and felt terrible for his betrayal. "It was just... you know,... I didn't know he could understand me."
A faint morose whinny escaped Azgard's nostrils as he turned away, suddenly feeling so very foolish.
"Wait, Azgard," I said. "He might simply be upset about what he witnessed just now."
"Does that horse talk, too?"
"Yes, that's Parceph. And you happened to catch him at his very worst. As you can see, he is usually as gentle as a kitten."
"Meow," said the stallion, sending Jerry into fits. I held the best straight face I could.
"He got a little rough with me," said Jerry, sobering up, "but I'm fine. Now we're just, you know, hanging out."
Fred shook his head and confided in me. "I saw the blood. His colon is ruptured. That man needs surgery."
"No, he's fine, really. Hipponaur semen has incredible healing properties."
"Hippon..." He gazed at his right hand, at the line of flesh that should have taken at least a week to heal under the most ideal of conditions. "What is today's date?"
"The fifteenth."
That was the current date on his watch, and it was also the date when his alarm clock roused him out of bed this morning. The astonished face managed a subtle grin. "No way," he said, running a finger along the perfectly-merged cleft of skin.
Jeremiah slid to the ground once Parceph's Primitive lost interest in him. He got up and brushed himself off, then put on his clothes.
"Found the key."
He removed the leather sheath from his Companion and irreverently tossed it aside. That was the last time anyone was going to wear it. Then he and his equine Companion hugged and kissed tenderly. None of this was lost on Fred.
"They sure look like they're in love."
"They aren't the only ones. My Companion is a stallion, too, and we're the most in love of anyone," I proclaimed.
Fred smiled at me then looked at Azgard. "On the internet I've seen pictures of guys with horsedicks in them, but I never imagined I'd see it for real. And certainly never imagined that I..."
"Never?" I challenged.
"Well, not a Clydesdale's!"
"Point taken," I chuckled. "Azgard is an assful."
"You let him do that to you?"
"Uh... Once."
"How was it?"
"Well, he was a lunatic."
"WRAITH!" snorted Azgard.
"How can you deny it, Azgard?"
"That will not happen!" he insisted. "Tell him so, Wraith."
"You know I can't do that in good conscience! I've seen your Primitive. You skewered me, remember?"
"WHAT!??" cried Fred horrified.
"No, wait," I recanted. "It wasn't really like that."
"Tell him I will not harm him because I will have Varyl remove my Primitive."
"Wh...?" gasped Jeremiah, breaking away from his lover.
Parceph, too, found the idea uncomfortable. "Are you sure you want to do that, Azgard?" he cautioned.
"I am sure." He gazed warmly at his Companion. "Please tell him."
Fred was not oblivious to the fact that something bad was being discussed. "What's happening?" he said, nervously.
"Tell him," insisted Azgard.
"Azgard, you don't have to go to that extreme. When Rovaun is on his back, his Primitive practically falls asleep. I'm sure you can find ways to deal with yours, too."
"No, Wraith, I am sure of this. The danger to him is far greater than it was to you. This is the only way. Please tell him."
"Okay," I sighed. "Um... Fred, Azgard really likes you, so much so that he is intending to have a kind of lobotomy to make him less dangerous." That wasn't the best way of putting it.
The horrified look returned. "No,... I don't want him to do that because of me!" He turned to Azgard, who nodded tenderly. "NO!"
"Actually, it isn't as bad as all that," I back-pedaled. "The fact is, the Primitive isn't even supposed to be there in the first place. It's like a powerful post-hypnotic suggestion, but we know the hypnotist and we think he can remove it."
Fred reached out to caress the gentle stallion's face. Azgard closed his eyes and whickered.
"What will happen to him?" he said out of genuine concern.
"Hopefully nothing, except that he will be as gentle in bed as he is right now."
"And what are the risks?"
"I really don't know. Do you, Parceph?"
The stallion shook his head. "It has never been done."
"Azgard will be the first, I'm afraid," implying the success rate will be one hundred percent - one way or the other.
"Then I can't ask you to do that," he said to Azgard. "I'm sorry."
"Tell him it is not his decision to make," said Azgard. "I know that my eternal Companion is human. If it isn't Fred, then it will be another man. Regardless, I shall ask Varyl to remove my Primitive today."
"How do you know this, Azgard? Have you seen him in dreams like Rovaun saw me?"
"No," he admitted. "I just... know. Tell him."
I sighed, suddenly not feeling good about any of this. "He's going to do it anyway, with or without your blessing. I think it would be better for him if you were with him when it happens."
"NO! I WON'T be there with him, because it's not going to happen! Azgard, please! For MY sake, DON'T DO THIS!"
The gentle Clydesdale smiled warmly at him, for Fred was acting like a true Companion. Maybe he really was.
"How do you feel about Azgard, Fred?"
"What do you mean 'feel'? I don't feel anything about him. I only met him this morning. But unless this is the world's most elaborate and pointless hoax, I believe this horse is an intelligent being. Do you have any idea how important that is!? I cannot allow him to risk being destroyed for no reason."
"Are you sure you don't feel anything more for him than that?"
"No! He tried to kill me for crying out loud!"
"That's right. He is undeniably guilty of attempted murder. He intentionally tried to kill you. So... why are you still here?"
Fred turned red with rage. "I'm not in love with a horse," he hissed.
I raised my hands to diffuse him. "I didn't say that at all, nor did I even mean to imply it. I just don't think you're being entirely honest with yourself."
"I respectfully disagree. I can honestly say I am not in love with a horse."
"And again, you're ducking the issue. Fred, this is very serious. For Azgard's sake I want you to think long and hard about the answer to this hypothetical: If you were stranded forever on an uninhabited planet, and you could choose one being for company, who would it be?"
"I sure as hell wouldn't choose HIM!"
"That's fine, no one's suggesting that you would. But please take this question seriously and give it an honest consideration. Now that we have determined that your companion is NOT Azgard, would you mind telling me who you would prefer instead? It doesn't even have to be someone you know right now. It might simply be someone you hope to meet in the future. But if not Azgard, then who?"
He was going to blurt out Sharon, but that was patently false, and to be fair to Azgard, the question deserved to be explored. He had no significant other in his life that would qualify. He thought about several of his closest friends, but only a few could he confide in, and none could he imagine falling in love with. Ultimately, there was no one that he knew of at this time that would qualify to be on the "A" list.
So who would his ideal mate be? Not a talking Clydesdale stallion! But who? Would it be a woman? Maybe. Or a man? Wouldn't rule that out. A German Shepherd? Wouldn't rule that out either. There were lots of possibilities, but he could not picture any particular one as being THE one.
And then there was Azgard who had an unfair advantage over the imaginary mates because he was easy to picture, standing just three feet in front of him - a living, breathing, thinking, loving stallion. More than just a bird in the hand. An impossible bird in the hand. Fred had a special place in his heart for Clydesdales, and here was one that loved him back. Could he spend the rest of his life with him? It may be a very short life, but long or short, the answer was inescapable.
Wearing a terribly confused facade, Fred remained mute, for to give the answer aloud would make it sound as ridiculous as it seemed. Instead, he moved his eyes to his Clydesdale and sighed, utterly astonished that a relationship so bizarre could feel so right. Azgard nuzzled then hugged him again.
"Congratulations, Azgard," I said. "You may actually have found your soul mate."
"How can we be soul mates?" he cried. "It doesn't make a lick of sense."
"But it doesn't mean it isn't true. Jerry and I have equine soul mates, too. When you meet, you just know. There is no explanation, no yardstick to measure by. And no matter how many denials, you just know."
"Here's another clue," said Jeremiah, caressing his stallion. "Your first impression is always right."
"I don't want anything to happen to you," he cried into the stallion's shoulder.
"Fred," I said calmly. "Call it a hunch, but I think he'll be okay. I don't want anything to happen to Azgard, either, but I agree with him that he has to do this. You saw Parceph's Primitive today - Azgard's is ten times worse. Your best chance together is to have it removed."
"But he's fine now! He's not violent when I touch him. See?"
"The Primitive only awakens during sex."
"We don't have to have sex!"
"No one HAS to have sex," said Jeremiah, turning to caress his Companion. "But I can't imagine life without it."
"For Hipponaurs, sex is one of the four food groups," I said. "I know that Azgard would be perfectly willing to live a platonic life with you, but he'd be thinking about it every minute, and as his soul mate, so would you."
"Let us seek Varyl," said Azgard, kneeling down for his Companion.
"Be there for him," I said. "We'll talk to Varyl first. He'll know what the true dangers are. Nothing has to be decided now."
Reluctantly, Fred climbed aboard his Companion.
"Wraiths," said Azgard to Jeremiah and me, "I would appreciate it if you would accompany us. It might lend credibility to my claim."
"Sure," said Jeremiah.
"I would like to witness this, too, if you don't mind," said Parceph.
"I'll catch up with you," I said, thinking it best not to overwhelm the new guy with too many bizarre revelations today. When he wasn't looking, I merged into my body, then all of us went in search of Varyl.
Despite living a nomadic existence nearly his entire life, Varyl had chosen to take up a semi-permanent residence with our clique. Perhaps it was because he so enjoyed the little ones, of which there would be several within a year. Or perhaps it was a special favor to me, making himself available as my own personal Sentinel, not that I had any place I would much rather be. He had made the lousiest of first impressions with me, but once unburdened by the chains of politics, his true gentle and caring nature flourished, and like a kindly old grandfather, his wisdom and his company were always welcome.
"Who have we here, Azgard?" asked the pleasant and proud black stallion. His tone was anything but intimidating, yet the larger Clydesdale was always humbled in the stately Hipponaur's presence.
"Your Eminence, allow me to present my Companion, Fred," he supplicated.
"Azgard, we are all friends, here. Stuffy titles are unnecessary. Please call me Varyl. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fred."
"I... don't think he can hear you," said Azgard, uncomfortably.
"In that case..." Varyl approached the human on Azgard's back. Once eye contact had been firmly established, he bowed to him.
Fred slid down and returned it. "How do you do."
"He has manners. Good choice, Azgard. You have my blessing."
"That was easy," I said.
Fred turned around to see me sneaking up behind him. "What was easy?"
"Varyl approves of you. I, on the other hand, had to go through a trial by fire to win his approval."
"The world has changed a lot since then, Wraith," winked Varyl.
"Your Em... I mean, Varyl," said Azgard, "I respectfully request that you remove my Primitive."
"I see..." Varyl compared the huge and tiny partners and nodded. "That perhaps would be prudent."
"What are the potential risks to Azgard?" I asked.
"I don't want Azgard harmed!" demanded Fred.
Varyl smiled at Fred. "Your Companion will not be harmed. The Primitive was designed to be excisable."
"He'll be fine," I told him.
"Okay," sighed Fred nervously, but was glad to hear it.
"Perhaps it would be best to unburden him," suggested Varyl. Fred and I removed the backpacks.
"If you are ready, Azgard, it should take only a few moments."
"I am ready, Varyl."
The two stallion's brought their eyes together while everyone else held their breath, but then Varyl broke contact and looked away, obviously very troubled.
"Not you too..." he muttered sadly.
I recognized his expression. It was one of profound regret for having caused so much pain and grief for his race. Destiny continued to punish him for every wrong he tried to right, and nothing brought his misery more into painful focus than having to deal with it on a one-on-one basis.
"Is that it? Is it done?" asked Fred, to which no one responded.
"There is a problem," said Varyl finally. "Azgard, your Primitive has progressed far beyond the boundaries that were supposed to have contained it. It has grown tendrils that reach into every corner of your psyche. I cannot be sure it can be removed safely."
"You must try, Varyl" he insisted.
"What's happening!?" demanded Fred.
"Don't tell him!" demanded Azgard.
"I don't know yet, Fred." I could see that he didn't believe me.
"My son, your Primitive is now a very significant part of your existence. Removing it could alter your behavior in ways I cannot predict."
"But he is one of the gentlest Hipponaurs I know," I said. "He doesn't act like his Primitive is influencing him."
"I agree," said Varyl, "which is a very good sign that removing it might not cause irreparable harm."
"What is the worst case scenario?"
"The worst case," he sighed, "is that Azgard may become a different individual. He may no longer desire his Companion. The Primitive has insatiable lust for human blood when awakened. Parts of it are awake within Azgard right now, which may explain his attraction to his Companion. It may be an attraction that is not truly his own, but artificial."
"I WANT to desire my Companion," said Azgard, now doubting the procedure.
"Will SOMEBODY please tell me what's going on!"
"We're in a catch-22, Fred. There's a possibility that if Azgard's Primitive is removed, then he might not desire you as a Companion anymore."
"That's not a catch-22, that's a slam dunk! Azgard, don't do it! We'll find a way to work it out together." He placed a tender hand on the stallion's cheek. "I don't know whether or not we are meant to be together, but I have already warmed up to the idea. Please give us a chance. I have no one else but you."
Azgard closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against the hand that caressed it. There was no doubt in his mind that he, his Companion, and his Primitive could live happily ever after as-is, but with a surprising spark of clarity, the stallion came to understand an eternal truth.
"Companion," he said tenderly, "if you are my soul mate, then we are meant to be. Removing my Primitive will not change that. But I must know who I am, and you must know who I am. While my Primitive lives, neither of us will know."
Comprehending the stallion, Fred lowered his hand. "You're still going through with it, aren't you."
With a sullen smile, Azgard nodded. Then his Companion surprised him with a warm and powerful hug.
"My instinct is to leave right now and pray that you would then find this procedure irrelevant. But I won't, because I know you must want this terribly. I am STRONGLY opposed to it, but I will stand by you."
"Thank you, Companion," he whickered, returning the hug and then raising his head to Varyl. "You may proceed."
"This procedure will be delicate, and possibly not without discomfort," warned Varyl. "I must resect the tendrils before removing the mass. Your Primitive will know it is under attack."
Fred let go of his Companion, but continued to caress his neck and mane while Varyl readied himself. With unblinking intensity, the ancient Hipponaur's mind penetrated deep into Azgard's psyche. Then his mental scalpel began slicing. The severing of each psychotic tentacle evoked a wince and a spasm from the Clydesdale. While the surgery progressed, the reactions became more violent as the Primitive fought for self-preservation. Holding firmly onto Azgard's mane, Fred talked softly to him, keeping him focussed, telling him how lucky he felt to have found such a beautiful stallion, how he believed him to be his soul mate, and how he looked forward to the two of them spending their lives together. The powerful Clydesdale jerked and whinnied with each cut, but Fred remained calm and soothing, telling him the story of how he came to be in the woods this day, how his friend had spotted a large horse in the wild, and how desperately Fred wanted to find him.
"Stay with me, Azgard," he pleaded, as the stallion bucked in confusion, fighting conflicting battles on two fronts: Primitive vs. Varyl, and Soul vs. Beast. The Primitive's desire was to attack the attacker or flee to safety. It was Azgard's duty to hold it back and make it stay put, but as the Primitive lost control over the sections that Varyl severed, it concentrated all remaining control over whatever was within its reach. The Beast reared up and connected a massive hoof to Varyl's head.
The great black stallion fell to the ground as blood flowed from a gash on his fractured jaw. I ran to him to help, but the Beast came down on me, driving the same hoof into my virtual chest.
"DANNY!" cried Fred.
"Stay back, Fred!" shouted Jeremiah, pushing the frailest of us out of harm's way.
Parceph broadsided the raging Clydesdale, knocking him onto his side and holding him down. I crawled into my one-ton body and joined him just as Varyl staggered to his feet.
"STOP THIS!" shouted Fred.
"I must finish what I have started," winced Varyl. "Otherwise his Primitive will grow back twice as strong as before, and it will never let me near him again."
"He has to finish!" translated Jeremiah.
Varyl knelt down on Azgard's neck, pinning his head to the ground to continued the exorcism. The Primitive's ear-stabbing scream made plain it's knowledge of its own impending death, and it begged its attackers for mercy. My heart felt for the Beast, for I imagined my own Companion had suffered a similar fate by my own hand in another life in another world. The fight in the Beast was gone. All it could do now was plead for its life, but all we would permit it to do was perish.
With the Primitive effectively isolated, Varyl erased the malignancy from existence, then released the stallion to deal with his own painful injuries. Azgard's confused brain, unsure of what to do with this sudden void, sent the frightened stallion into convulsions. Fred rushed to him clamping the Clydesdale's nose under his arm to prevent him from biting his tongue until the spasms passed.
"Stay with me Azgard," he spoke into the twitching ears. "I'm here for you. I AM your Companion. I need you to be mine."
The convulsions receded. Azgard's flailing tail fluttered to the ground, occasionally whipping up briefly as the stallion slowly recovered. Fred released his head and cradled him in his lap. That sight, too, was reminiscent of another life in another world.
"You're going to be okay, Companion," he whispered to his stallion.
Azgard opened fearful eyes that darted around at the onlookers who wished him well. Then they fell on his mate, and fears softened to tears.
"Companion..."
"Yes Azgard. It's Fred, your Companion. I'm here."
"I... desire you," he whinnied joyfully. "Praise Destiny, I still desire you, Companion!"
"I desire you too!" choked Fred, burying his head in his stallion's neck.
"Can you hear me, Companion?"
"If that's you talking in my head, then YES!"
The stallion sat up. "If you can really hear me, then kiss me on the mouth."
"I'm not going to kiss you in front of everybody," he laughed through his tears. "Oh what the hell."
He mashed his lips into Azgard's to the cheers and applause of the onlookers. What the stallion lacked in puckering ability, Fred compensated with his own slobbering enthusiasm.
"Wow," I said. "I didn't see that coming. Azgard does seem to be easier to understand."
"Yes," pondered Varyl. "The procedure has evidently cleared his head. Have you noticed what a beautiful day it is, Wraith."
"God has made it a beautiful day, indeed."
Varyl snorted in modesty.
"How's your jaw?"
"I shall be swollen for a couple of weeks. Every stallion on this planet deserves to kick me in the jaw. You will hear no complaints from me. Good day."
"Beautiful day."
Varyl smiled painfully then departed, leaving the two lovebirds alone with only all of the rest of Hipponaur to watch them make out.
"Am I the first equine you have kissed like this?" asked Azgard.
"You are the first Hipponaur," replied Fred evasively.
"That explains why you are so good at it," whickered the stallion. "Varyl could not have been more mistaken about my Primitive. It was not creating an artificial desire for you. It was suppressing it. I desire you now more than ever."
"Are you sure it isn't just the gay, festive mood of the moment?" grinned his Companion.
"Positive. The only thing my Primitive wanted to do was fuck you to death in ten seconds. Now all I want to do is make sure it takes eons."
"I'll assume that didn't come out quite as intended."
"I didn't say you wouldn't be enjoying it."
"Hmm... eons of sexual pleasure? I might just desire you more than ever, too."
"Uh oh," cooed the love-smitten stallion. "I desire you more now than I did five seconds ago."
Fred dropped a hand down to massage his mate's chest. The stallion gazed amorously at him, whickering with pleasure.
"Your touch feels wonderful, Companion."
"And I love touching you," said Fred. "If this keeps up, we're going to be on each other like flies on a horse... no wait... that definitely didn't come out as intended."
"Why not? Flies know where all of the best parts are."
"How romantic."
"Don't worry, Companion," he said warmly. "You may rest assured that wherever you go exploring, no parasite has gone before."
"I must admit, there is a lot of you I would like to explore," he nuzzled.
"I wish to explore you as well, particularly your intimate odors."
"My intimate odors?" chuckled Fred. "Okay, you're more than welcome to them. I'm fond of your odors, too, though my sense of smell may not be nearly as refined. Fortunately, there's enough of you permeating the atmosphere that it doesn't have to be."
"I hope you do not find me overwhelming."
"Not at all, Azgard. This human fly loves the sweet smell of equine. Speaking of which, on a hot summer day like this, how come you're not buzzing with my competition?"
"The flies are around, they just can't get any closer than fourteen feet. I have developed a simple barrier that keeps lower life forms away."
Thoroughly intrigued, Fred stepped back to verify that other Hipponaurs occasionally swatted the pests with their tails, whereas Azgard was completely free of them. "What barrier? Is it sonic or chemically-based?"
"It is a mental barrier. Perhaps my only noteworthy talent. I don't even have to think about it anymore, not even when I sleep."
"That's incredible! How do you do it?"
"Force of will, I suppose. I used to be plagued by flies more than any other Hipponaur. Then one day I just decided to do something about it. We all have the ability to repel higher life forms, but that requires intense focussed concentration, depending on the level of intelligence of the creature being dealt with. My barrier doesn't require much because it is short range, isn't focussed in any particular direction, and is only effective on bugs."
"That's good enough for me. So your bug barrier must be protecting me too right now."
"That is correct."
"Including ticks and mosquitoes?"
"Yes."
"Man, if we could just figure out how to bottle it..."
Azgard glared at the profiteer. Fred knew the idea was impractical, anyway.
"Who needs to be a millionaire," he shrugged, hugging his stallion. "Tell me about bonding."
"So that you can profit from it?"
"No Azgard," said Fred sincerely. "I just want to know how...uh, Jerry survived that thrashing he received from Parceph."
The stallion's glare warmed up. Although his mate wouldn't admit to it yet, it was plain that his curiosity was more of his own bonding than Jeremiah's, so that was the issue he addressed.
"The more we make love, Companion, the more my seed will bond you to me, making us one, philosophically speaking. It will extend your life indefinitely, and you will be much less vulnerable to injury and disease."
"Less vulnerable, maybe, but not IN-vulnerable. Jerry still could have been killed."
"Yes, because Parceph still has his Primitive. I do not. I shall never attack you, for that is not who I am anymore."
"I'm glad to hear that," he said anxiously.
"One other thing, Companion. When we have become one, if you so desire, you and I can have children."
"Now you're just yanking my chain."
"No, it is true. But we can discuss that later."
Fred looked away to mull over what his beautiful stallion had revealed to him. If there was a downside to any of this, it was beyond him. "Wow," he said shaking his head, "this voice inside my noggin has just described paradise."
"I have lived for millennia, Companion. For me, my life has become a paradise only this morning."
Everything Azgard said made Fred want to believe it even more. He was convinced it was not a hoax, that these horses truly were sentient, but that did not necessarily make the words they spoke true. A con artist duped his victims by telling them what they wanted to hear, but the thought of Azgard being a shill was more bizarre than him being the real thing. Fred had seen things today that simply could not be explained any other way. Though he kept a healthy dose of skepticism in his back pocket, he was ready to open his mind and his heart.
The stallion stood up in his usual fully-erect glory evoking a whistle from his mate at the sight of his anaconda. "You look even bigger than I remember," ogled Fred. "Not only do I desire you more, but there is more of you to desire."
"And this is not all of me," winked Azgard.
Fred knew what he meant. The stallion's cockhead could grow much wider than what was currently on display. Fred bit his lip. The longer he looked at it, the more implausible the whole idea seemed.
"Azgard, are you saying that the only way to become bonded is to somehow fit that monster inside of me?"
"No, Companion. It is not necessarily the sex act itself, but the essence of my seed that will bond us. The mechanism of delivery is secondary. Essence is most effective in the bloodstream. It is not quite as effective when ingested."
"It seemed pretty damn effective when I ingested it."
"That went into your lungs, and I apologize again for attacking you that way."
"I don't know, Azgard," said Fred uneasily. "I desire you, but to be honest, I am still scared to death of you. If your Primitive is still lingering about..."
"I do not blame you at all, Companion. I fully expect to have to earn your trust. All I ask is that you let me."
"If I may make a suggestion, Azgard," I literally butted in, "why don't we put your Primitive to a virtual test."
Fred gave me a quizzical glance.
"That is a generous offer, Wraith, but would that not be a violation of your marriage oath?"
"Not at all. It will only be virtual, and it is strictly a venture of goodwill. Rovaun, with my blessing, is off right now basically doing the same thing for Shianna. I know he would reciprocate without giving it a second thought."
"As Rovaun's Best Stallion," said Parceph. "I hereby give consent on his behalf."
"Thank you, Parceph. I agree that a virtual test would be prudent and it might calm the fears of my Companion. Shall we proceed to the bonding rock?"
"What's going on, now?"
"If it's okay with you, Fred, I think we should let Azgard do me first. If there's any sign of his Primitive, we'll know, and since I'm already bonded, Azgard can't harm me. Azgard, I need to prepare a little, first, so how about if you take Fred on the scenic route and I'll meet you there."
"Understood, Wraith."
When Azgard and Fred reached the bonding site, I was already virtually tied naked to the rock while a docile black mare watched nearby.
"What the hell is this?" asked Fred.
"Mostly ceremony," replied Azgard. "No offense, Wraith, but the sight of you does nothing for me anymore. Now if it were my Companion tied to the rock, that would be a different matter."
"Offense not taken, Azgard. I'm really quite happy to hear that. Perhaps your Companion can keep your interest level up while we do this."
"An excellent suggestion. Companion, please stand on the other side of the rock for me."
"Are you sure this is safe?" Fred asked me.
"Perfectly," I replied.
Azgard's front hooves straddled my head on the rock, then his phallus pushed in through my back door, easing itself six inches into my colon. The stallion held his position proudly. I dropped onto my elbows to applaud by clapping my bound palms on the rock.
"During our First Time, Companion," Azgard spoke with confidence, "I shall not penetrate you any deeper than what you see here."
"How are you doing, Danny?" Fred asked.
"Fine," I shrugged. "Piece of cake."
"And if you so, desire, I may thrust gently into you, thusly."
He cycled about three inches in and out, and my own virtual erection reflected what my Hipponaur brain told me: When Azgard was in control, he felt really good.
"How are YOU doing, Azgard?" I asked.
"I am doing well, Wraith. I feel no desire for your blood."
"How about now?" I said, rupturing my colon.
"Oh!" he gasped, holding his position. "Are you injured?"
"Virtually, but you passed. Remember that feeling, okay?"
"Understood," he said. "Shall I just continue like this?"
"Yeah, why not. Let's see how long you can keep your cool."
"You're bleeding pretty bad, Danny," warned Fred.
"Don't worry about me, Fred. I'm a million times tougher than Jerry."
Azgard resumed his controlled bloody thrusts. There were a couple more things I wanted to try out. The first was the ol' colon squeeze, which immediately evoked one whinny, one snort, and one very large full-blown flare up, yet Azgard was a trooper. His Primitive was dead, but it was nice to know the rest of him was still alive. With his crown assaulting my virtual prostate, my own climax now loomed.
"Pick up the pace a little," I requested. He complied, thrusting a little harder, a little deeper, and a little faster, and that was enough for me. I linked with him as the final test to see if my virtual orgasm could revive the Primitive's corpse, but it remained dead and buried.
"I am flattered, Wraith, that you find me so desirable," he grinned, rubbing it in, "but you and I are not meant to be."
"I'm impressed, Azgard. Your Primitive has definitely moved on to greener pastures. Fred, you've got yourself a big lovable harmless and sexy stallion."
"Oh, I'd hardly call him 'harmless,'" cooed Fred to him, "and 'sexy' is an understatement."
"Would you like to trade places with the Wraith?" he whickered.
"Not quite yet," he said. "There's still one more test. I want to see you come."
"All right, but I will need your help."
"Okay," he said, climbing up on the rock with Azgard. "Pretend it's me you're doing. Show me how you'd make love."
Fred kissed him tenderly which got his motor running. He thrust slow and deep into me, imagining me as Fred, and his passion changed almost instantly. It wasn't the Primitive, though; it was Azgard in love. His heart raced along with his thrusting, and both he and Fred were so involved with each other that they completely discounted the fact that I was getting pummeled.
"Um... Azgard..."
"Can this really be happening?" moaned Fred, with his tongue darting in and out of his lover. "Please God, don't let me wake up."
"This is no dream, Companion," he moaned back. "I am making love to you."
"Athgard!"
"I believe it," sighed the human, passionately kissing his stallion. "I truly believe you and I can do this. Danny was right, I AM thinking about it more and more. I can't wait to do it for real."
"Our intimacy will be beautiful, Companion," he replied with equal passion. "We will love and make love forever!"
"Ohhh... Aaaaff... Aaarrrrr..."
The stallion geysered his climax hitting his Companion square in the groin. Fred felt the hot and heavy continuous spurts warming him and thought nothing of it, still too enraptured by his soul mate to stop kissing him.
"I came," smiled Azgard, also not wanting to stop.
"I know," smiled Fred back. Then his smile dissolved. He let go of Azgard, and recoiled in horror when he saw four inches of dribbling stallion dick sticking out of my mouth.
"OH MY GOD! HE'S..."
[Oh shit.]
Fred stumbled off of the rock.
"What is the matter, Companion?"
Whimpering like a madman, the traumatized human scrambled to his feet and bolted.
"Companion!... Damn you, Wraith!!" snorted the Clydesdale as he yanked his entire dick out of my virtual body.
"Ow!"
"You did that on purpose!"
"Azgard..."
"Why do you keep doing this to me!?"
"HEY! This isn't about me! It's about YOU showing some self-control!"
"But that wasn't a fair test!"
"Maybe not, but I don't think you can blame it on your Primitive."
"I would never kill my Companion!"
"Azgard, I don't believe for one second that you would intentionally harm him, but the fact is, one wrong move and he's dead. You've GOT to be in control all the time, especially this early in the game."
"You think I don't know that!?"
"I think you know NOW."
"What fucking good does that do me now? He's terrified of me."
"Azgard," I said calmly. "How do you think I felt when I first met Rovaun?"
His anger softened. "Wh... what should I do?"
"Go get him. He's your Companion."
The stallion took off, then came back. "But what should I say?"
"Soul mates don't need to say anything. He's yours - just remind him of that... Though it might help if you tell him I'm okay. Tell him it was a lousy practical joke on my part, that I put a fake dick in my mouth."
"Okay!" he said, loving that idea.
Azgard caught up to Fred but did not immediately try to stop him. Instead, he listened to the man's ramblings.
"He's a Clydesdale. He's a Clydesdale. You can't fuck a Clydesdale. What the fuck was I thinking? What the fuck was he thinking? And now he's fucking dead."
"Companion..."
"Stay away from me!"
"The Wraith has not been harmed, Companion."
"H'yah, tell that to him."
"He will tell you himself. It was all... an elaborate hoax."
"What are you talking about!" he said, coming to a halt.
"Companion," he said, looking around, then down. "I shall not lie to you. The Wraith was not harmed, because he was never really there. It was not a hoax, but it WAS an illusion."
"Are you telling me that all of this is an illusion? Because that I can believe."
"No, Companion. You and I are real. The human image of the Wraith is not."
"Then what was the point of all of that back there?"
"A simulation to test my Primitive. The illusion is real to it. The last time I mated with the Wraith on that rock, my Primitive ran him through on the first thrust. Today that didn't happen, and despite how it ended, it won't ever happen with you."
"Azgard, I don't know what to believe."
"Believe him," I said, stepping out of my body. "I do."
"What the..."
"Fred, I'm fine. Azgard is cured. Everybody wins, and you win the biggest prize of all."
He looked down, shaking his head. "This is all completely nuts."
"I must have said the same thing a dozen times. It is terribly disorienting at first, but it isn't 'nuts.' I guarantee you will never be happier than when you are with your soul mate."
"Look, you guys are all messing with my head. I hate people telling me how to live my life! You freaks are just as bad as Sharon! I just need everyone to leave me alone and let me sort things out in peace, okay?"
"Messing with your head was unintentional," I said, "but I know where it's at, because I've been there. We'll leave you alone, but I have only one small favor to ask. Please give Azgard one last hug."
"Fair enough," he said.
Azgard raised his head to allow Fred to press his chest against his own. With face turned outward and arms down at his side, it was perhaps not the most heartfelt hug that Fred had to offer, but when the gigantic Clydesdale brought his tremendous head down to hold the smaller human with the tenderness of a butterfly, Fred rediscovered his soul mate. His arms crept up to interlace their fingers through his Companion's mane, and then his face turned in to nuzzle the sleek fur.
"Ohhh myyy," he sighed. "You're still messing with me."
"Just saving you some unnecessary heartache," I said. "Tell me that doesn't feel right."
He took his time, sighing blissfully into his stallion who whickered his own contented response.
"It doesn't feel right," he said, finally. "It feels SOOOO right."
"There's no explanation for it," I said. "You just know."
"Companion," said Azgard with the smoothness of Rovaun, "let us live our lives together. We do not have to mate to do that. I would be happy just to hold you like this every day, forever. And with my Primitive gone, I know that if we ever decide to become intimate, it will only be beautiful."
"Do this every day forever?" he sighed. "I can live with that."
"I will leave you now to think it over."
I merged back into my body and followed Azgard back to where the backpacks had been dumped.
"One question, Azgard," he called after us.
"Yes, Companion?"
"Is there a man inside of you, too?"
"Not at the moment."
It was too early in their courtship for Fred to know if Azgard had a sense of humor, but he overheard the mare next to him whinnying hysterically, and that brought a smile to his face.
"Congrats again, Azgard," I said, as we strolled back together.
"Thank you, Wraith, though congratulations may be premature. I had expected him to decide in my favor immediately."
"Nah, you've got him. He's just saving face - doesn't want to seem like a pushover. Give him an hour to himself, then he'll come around."
"I hope you are right."
"How are you feeling? Any aftereffects from your exorcism?"
"None that I am aware of."
"You don't feel any different?"
"I don't think so," he said, not having really thought about it. "Why do you ask?"
"Because you've changed."
"I have found my Companion. I am sure Rovaun changed as well when he found you."
"I think there may be a little more to it than that. You seem more... confident. And for such a majestic breed as yourself, that really suits you."
"Do you think my Primitive was holding me back?"
"Could be."
We strolled a little further in silence as I worked up the courage to ask the next question.
"Azgard, could I ask a small favor?"
"Certainly, Wraith."
"Could you pretend I was Fred again, just for a minute."
He stopped, not quite sure what I was getting at. I stepped out and explained.
"Just one hug?"
"Just one," he smiled. And it was long, warm, and wonderful.
"Fred is a lucky guy," I sighed.
"As am I. Thank you for helping me back there."
"What are friends for. Now if we could just figure out what to do about Shianna..."
"Hmm. I agree that she needs a companion other than your husband."
"Anyone come to mind?"
"No, but take my advice. If a candidate for Shianna does come up, stay out of it. Shianna is very intimidated by you. I could have had a shot at her myself until you screwed it all to hell by trying to fix us up."
"I didn't know you were interested in her."
"Well, I was. I'm not now, of course, so in retrospect, I'm glad you were such an ass."
"What are friends for."
"Good friends are for life, Wraith. You may count me as one of them. And as my friend you are entitled to one free hug every day."
"Did that last one count?"
"Yes."
"Damn."
[End of _COMPANIONS_ Chapter 24: Elastic Collisions]
[Next in series: Chapter 25: Showdown]