[Companions Chapter 27]

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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, Anal, Oral

Chapter 27: Fred's Tall Tale

Fred McHenry opened his eyes to admire the handsome face of the Clydesdale that snoozed next to him inside his dilapidated tent. Through new rips that had developed overnight, the early morning sunshine invaded the nylon shelter, spotlighting the white blaze on the stallion's forehead. The human could not care less about the tent that this horse had destroyed, nor could he imagine ever feeling more deeply for the horse that it sheltered, for Fred was certain he was in love. He had never felt this way about anything before. It could be nothing else.

The sound of his lover's heavy breathing was a salve on the man's soul, celebrating the vitality of life, both of the Hipponaur and the Human bonding to him, and it underscored Azgard's dichotomous nature of powerful physical strength tempered by the gentlest of nurturing spirits. The thought that this wondrous feeling that warmed the man inside might last for decades, centuries, perhaps eons logically suggested one of two possible explanations: 1. Fred died and went to Heaven, or 2. Fred was still asleep.

Though he certainly felt like he was in Heaven, the young veterinarian didn't believe that the afterlife would smell so sexy. Therefore, he had to be living in a dream - a dream that, sadly, he would eventually wake from, but until then, he could enjoy to his heart's and libido's content.

The monumental equine that he would someday mate with looked even larger this morning, and that was only the roughly half of him that managed to squeeze inside the tent. If the front half was larger, then that meant that the back half... Fred smiled and licked his lips.

A morning whinny in the not-too-distant meadow told him that it was time to rise and shine, so he woke his Sleeping Beauty with a kiss, who then yawned and stretched and ripped the tent some more.

"Good morning!" chirped the early bird to the stagnant stud.

"Good morning to you, Companion," he yawned again.

"Even with a big fat old horse next to me I still slept like a log. I suppose I can thank your essence for that, too."

"You're welcome. What would you like to do today?"

"Bond."

The stallion smiled warmly. "Nothing would please me more, Companion." He leaned forward and initiated his own sexy kiss, and the two of them giggled and tangled their tongues like teenagers.

"Your tongue is huge."

"Only because yours isn't."

"There always seems to be more of you to desire," cooed Fred. "Either you're growing or I'm shrink..."

Fred pulled back to regard his large mate, then felt around for the zipper on his sleeping bag. It was zipped all the way up, but it definitely felt roomier inside than it had last night. He unzipped and sat up to examine his naked body. Everything looked fine and he felt perfectly healthy but the look on the stallion's face suggested otherwise.

"Companion," said Azgard in alarm, "what has happened to you?"

"Wh... what do you mean?"

"You are twelve inches shorter than you were yesterday."

"What? That's crazy."

Fred stood up not even coming close to hitting the tent ceiling, then turned to his mate. "It's just an illusion, Azgard. The tent's all funky." But when all of his clothes turned out to be twenty percent too large, Fred agreed that something was up. He donned a T-shirt and drawstring pants along with three layers of socks to get his boots to stay on, then crawled outside to get to the bottom of this stupid prank.

"This is Danny's doing, isn't it!" he fumed.

"I don't think so, Companion," said the frightened stallion.

"Calm down, Azgard. I feel perfectly normal. I'm sure if I were actually shrinking, I'd notice. This is just a practical joke..." Fred noted a small column of smoke through the trees. "...And since Danny doesn't actually wear clothes, I think I know who the real joker is. Follow me."

During the short trek to Jeremiah's campfire, Fred stepped out of his boots twice, forcing him to stop and grumble and tightened the laces. When he and his Clydesdale reached the man cooking breakfast, Jeremiah looked up and smiled, "What's..." then his smile dissolved to curiosity, "... up?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," said Fred.

Jeremiah stood up slowly and Fred's stomach jumped into his throat when he saw the man's head pass the altitude of his own and continue to ascend into the clouds. When the giant stopped growing, Fred found himself staring up at a large Adam's apple.

"We were hoping you might be able to explain my current predicament," said Fred nervously.

"What predicament is that, Buddy?"

"My height, or lack thereof."

"Oh," said Jeremiah uncomfortably. "I wasn't gonna say anything... Um... Explain what?"

"You didn't, perchance, swap my clothes," said Fred, already knowing the answer.

"I don't think your clothes are your problem."

"Do you know what my Companion's problem is?" asked Azgard.

"Sure do. He's shrinking."

"Thank you for that uncanny observation," spat Fred. "Now, can you please tell me why?"

"'Fraid not."

"Did you ever experience a similar phenomenon when you first bonded with Parceph?"

Jeremiah shook his head. "No, Azgard... not that I recall."

"Is it possible that you have forgotten?"

"It's possible, but I'm pretty sure I'd remember something like that. Maybe you ought to ask Rovaun over there."

Azgard called to the copper stallion who was grazing with a white mare. Both of them approached, then looked very concerned for Fred when they neared.

"Are you all right?" asked Rovaun.

"I don't know anymore," said Fred. "Did this happen to Danny when you and he first bonded?"

"If you are referring to your reduction in stature, no."

Fred's pants fell to his knees. He pulled them back up and cinched the drawstring tighter.

"Companion," said Azgard fearfully, "you are continuing to shrink."

"This is ridiculous! How can I be shrinking!?"

Azgard set down for him. "Please climb onto my back."

Fred did so, but had considerable difficulty straddling the huge stallion as he rose to his feet again.

"You weigh about one hundred and twenty pounds."

"Then I should be dead having lost a third of my weight in seven hours. Are you sure this isn't just a very elaborate hoax?"

"I don't see how it can be, Companion."

Fred glared at Rovaun as if to implicate his mate.

"I do not see how my Companion could be responsible for your situation," said Rovaun. "And since he currently feels indebted to you, this is not a stunt he would pull, even if it were possible. He is... preoccupied at the moment, but if you wish, I can seek out his advice."

"No, that's okay, Rovaun. I doubt if Danny would have any insight that you don't."

Fred looked down on the mane in front of him, then laid down and hugged the large neck it was attached to.

"I can still reach all the way around," he sighed.

"Let's return to your tent," said his mate. "Perhaps a clue is there."

The shambles that used to be Fred's tent offered no explanation, for indeed nothing could explain the inexplicable. He emptied both backpacks and found nothing that didn't belong there. Azgard scoured the land that surrounded the tent for anything remotely suspicious, but again, no clues were found. Ultimately both of them looked at each other and sighed in frustration. The stallion was more concerned for his mate than Fred was for himself, because it still didn't seem real. He felt fine. No one who shrinks would feel fine.

"I've got to take a leak," said Fred, wandering over to a bush.

"Mind if I join you, Companion?" said his much larger mate.

"Okay, but were not going to have a pissing contest," Fred kidded. Azgard pretended to be amused in order to mask his feeling of impending dread.

Behind the bush, Fred allowed his bladder to empty, but his stream was put to shame by the torrent that flowed from the equine next to him. Fred stood mesmerized by the flood from the larger-than-he-remembered horsedick.

"How am I ever going to fit you inside me, now?" he lamented.

"I don't know," was the sullen reply.

The heavy pendulum undulated and bounced as it jerked out the last few ounces. Fred couldn't resist reaching for it and sampling a few drops of that warm beer he had been offered yesterday.

"Mmmm," he moaned, savoring his stallion. "I desire you even more."

Azgard moaned himself, and responded predictably.

"And now there's more of you to desire... and now more... and more... and more..."

As the Clydesdale's cock stiffened, Fred's diminished tongue had no trouble poking around inside the intricate tip, seeking out interesting flavors hiding in unexplored crevices. Since he could not reach the base to simulate the kiss of a clitoris, Fred concentrated his efforts on the glans, squeezing, eating, and thoroughly reveling in it, while the stallion above emitted whines of unmistakable pleasure. Fred's new body size amplified the smells, flavors, and textures of his lover, and the resulting enthusiasm it wrought was not lost on Azgard. Though mating was becoming more and more unlikely, Fred didn't let that bother him, for he was having far too much fun as a puppet master, controlling and manipulating the gigantic horse from this tiny control panel at the end of his dick. The stallion squealed and whined with erotic excitement, and despite his efforts to control himself, thrust a few times at his smaller lover, occasionally knocking him over. Even with his reduced stature, Fred managed to regain his balance without ever letting up on the Clydesdale's cock.

"Companion," gasped the stallion, "you may be shrinking, but you haven't lost your touch. I shall not last more than ten seconds."

"I bet you won't last more than five," said Fred, swirling his tongue around and around deep inside the stallion's cock, triggering the firing sequence of an equine orgasm. Four point five seconds later, the incredible shrinking man was deluged with stallion seed. Remarkably, Fred managed to hold on, opening his esophagus to divert the flow directly into his stomach, which bulged like a water balloon as it filled. Until now, this was a talent that Fred had never known.

Overwhelmed by his Companion's expert handling, Azgard had difficulty dealing with his conflicting emotions. He wanted nothing more than to wallow in sexual satisfaction, but felt terribly guilty for achieving an orgasm brought on by his mate who still suffered a frightening and inexplicable affliction.

After Fred squeezed out the last of the Hipponaur's elixir, he stood up shorter than ever to kiss his stallion. Azgard nuzzled him somberly.

"Don't be sad, Companion," sighed Fred, rubbing his stallion and his own belly full of essence.

"This cannot be happening to you," cried Azgard. "It is physically impossible."

"I know," smiled Fred. "Which means it isn't really happening."

"What?"

"It's all a dream," said Fred cheerfully. "I'm having a kick-ass wet dream. You know how in dreams you can do things that are impossible, like shrink, or breathe in outer space or underwater. That's how I'm able to do this." He patted his satisfied stomach. "And the best part about this dream is that I KNOW it's a dream, which means now I can control it."

"Companion," said Azgard dourly, "Hipponaur dreams are not fantastic. I have never experienced such a dream as you describe, nor do I believe I am dreaming now."

"Of course you don't because it's not your dream. But I'm having a grand old time! I just ingested the equivalent of a quart of stallion cum without missing a drop. Is that a dream-come-true or what?"

"I am pleased that you are having a good time, but we must find the true reason for your reduction, otherwise it may end only when there is nothing left of you to reduce."

"Nonsense. Cheer up. You're ruining this for me."

"How can I cheer up when I am losing you right before my eyes?"

"Cheer up because it's my dream and I say so."

The stallion shook his head. "You do not control all of the variables."

"All right," said Fred, hugging the stallion's leg. "That makes the dream even more interesting. What would it take to cheer you up?"

"Seeing you return to normal."

"Okay," he said, stepping away from the stallion to seriously consider the request. "This dream isn't going to be fun anymore unless you're on board, and the only way to do that is to show you that I haven't really changed. So now it is my sincere wish to return to my normal size."

Miraculously, the human grew back into his full five foot eleven inch frame. Azgard whinnied with fright and stared at his beloved Companion whose outstretched arms beckoned him. The stallion nervously stepped up and accepted the hug, then returned it with a calming whicker.

"What is going on, Companion?" Azgard said, warming up to him.

"My dream, my rules."

"If this is your dream, then why am I still so frightened for you?"

"You're not supposed to be frightened anymore. I did what you asked. Please be happy for me."

"Of course I am happy that you are back to your proper size. I would be happiest if I knew what was going on."

"I'll tell you exactly what's going on," said Fred in a huff. "I'm dreaming and you won't let me enjoy it!"

"It shall never be my intent to spoil your dreams, Companion, but it isn't my fault that you can't control them," he snorted.

"I know," he said, in frustration. "It's just not fair. I can do anything I want, but it won't be any fun unless you're having fun, too."

"Doesn't that suggest that this is, in fact, not a dream at all?"

"On the contrary," he said, putting on his perfectly-fitting clothes. "I'm even more convinced this is a dream. All my life I've tried to direct dreams that had potential to be very pleasant, especially the sexy ones, but something always got in the way. I'd end up spending the entire dream fixing whatever was preventing me from having a good time, then I'd usually wake up just after removing the final hurdle. That was always a lousy way to start the day."

Poor Azgard had no way to console his mate. He didn't believe he was living in someone else's dream. He DID believe something strange, possibly terrible, possibly wonderful, was happening to his mate, something that defied all logic. Unfortunately, he was not that talented an actor to pretend to be believably happy to appease his dreamy Companion.

Fred stood up and turned completely around for his mate to show him that everything fit, just as it had yesterday. Then he sighed angrily when the stallion failed to lighten up.

"What will it take, Azgard?"

"I don't know, Companion... This never happening again, I suppose."

"I wish I could make that promise, but without knowing how or why, I can't, obviously, since you refuse to accept the only logical explanation."

"I agree that to you, this must all seem like a dream... probably ever since yesterday morning when we first met. But from what I understand of human dreams, they are usually from a first person perspective. Your dream should not involve my feelings at all, yet I have feelings. I know this is happening. It is not a dream to me. However, I concede that there is no way to prove it to you, since perception is reality, even to the least insane. My reality tells me that what is happening to you is simply impossible."

"Impossible?! Let me tell you about impossible. Impossible is stepping through a stallion into a parallel dimension. Impossible is Hipponaur essence that makes a person immortal. Impossible is me finding and falling in love with my soul mate in half a day. Resizing myself is nothing."

"Perhaps it wouldn't seem so startling if there existed some history of similar occurrences, but I know of no one, Hipponaur or Human, who can change their physical size and weight on a whim."

Fred rummaged around in his backpack for some breakfast. "Is it okay if I gain some weight the old fashioned way? I suddenly find myself hungry again now that my stomach isn't quite so full."

He opened a small box and then cursed angrily. "God damn it, Sharon."

"Now what?"

He tossed the empty box in the corner. "I'm out of matches."

"Perhaps Jerry's campfire is still burning."

The two of them wandered back over to Jeremiah's campsite just in time to see him dousing the embers in a cloud of steam.

"You're lookin' better," said Jeremiah in his usual understated fashion.

"Thanks for noticing," said Fred. "I was hoping to borrow your campfire."

"Help yourself. I'm pretty much done here."

"Yeah, I gathered that... Um, could I bum a few matches?"

"Sorry, Buddy. Fresh out."

Fred looked at him incredulously, not sure if he was being truthful or just stingy. "Did you just run out?"

"No, I've been out of matches for quite a while now."

"Then how did you start that fire?"

"The old fashioned way."

"What - by banging two rocks together!?"

"You make it sound so primitive."

Fred stepped back with a smirk, then donned his skeptic's uniform. "Now you're just shittin' me."

"I shit you not."

"Oh come on! It's the twenty-first century. We use laser guns to start campfires, now."

"You got one? My flint's startin' to crack somethin' awful."

Fred shook his head. "Unbelievable."

"Why?"

"Because it must take you an hour to light a simple fire."

"Nah, it's easy." He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a couple of stones. "Here, try it."

Fred rolled the pebbles around in his hand, then smiled uncomfortably.

"Go on. Here's some starter grass that'll light right up for ya. You'll see."

Fred stooped down to light the small ball of dry grass on the ground. He had no idea what he was doing but he did it anyway, slapping one rock against the other. After four tries, he managed to produce a single spark that lasted for a tenth of a second before it died in the dirt.

"Well shit, city boy, it'll be the twenty-second century before you get anything smolderin'. Lemme show ya how it's done."

Jeremiah squatted in front of the grass ball and then took a deep breath and held it. Sitting upright with his eyes closed, he remained still for several seconds as if deep in meditation. Fred snickered for a moment thinking he was just being silly, but the young old-timer opened a single eyeball to glare at him which put a stop to it. He resumed his meditation, then opened his eyes, leaned forward and slowly brought the two stones together. Then with the speed of a kung fu master, he rapidly fired one stone off the other creating a shower of sparks that rained onto the grass. And at the final moment, he blew a steady gentle stream of air which instantly ignited the grass with a brilliant white flame. Then the fire god leaned back and grinned, "Ta-DAAA!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Yeah, you said that already."

"Where did you learn to do that?"

"It's just a technique I developed over the centuries." He held the stones out to Fred. "You can borrow 'em if you need 'em."

"You keep them. I'll just borrow you, if that's all right."

"Any time, Buddy, unless I'm preoccupied with equestrian activities, which is pretty much whenever I'm not cookin'."

"Don't let me keep you, then. And thanks for restarting the fire."

"Sure thing," he said, and wandered off.

Fred struggled to keep the flame alive but managed to heat up a little water to make some instant oatmeal. After his meager breakfast, he took his bowl and utensils to the creek to wash them off. Azgard carefully walked into a shallow pool and sat down, rubbing his rear on the submerged rocks.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleansing myself. I do not wish to so 'permeate the atmosphere,' as you put it, yesterday."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Companion," said Fred. "I didn't mean anything by that. I told you I like the smell of horses."

"No, you are right. I need to pay more attention to my hygiene. I assure you, I will still smell like a horse afterward. Perhaps a little like algae as well."

"When I have a place, I promise you a daily grooming. Maybe hourly," Fred grinned.

"Sounds like fun," said Azgard, standing up and shaking off.

"It sure does," drooled Fred. "I have a small towel if you need help drying off."

"That is not necessary, Companion. A few minutes grazing in the sun is all I need. Would you like to go for a ride?"

"You bet!"

Fred climbed onto Azgard and the two of them headed for his humble meadow where they first met.

"You're a smooth ride," complimented Fred.

"Thank you. I'm sure you are, too."

"Heh-heh, someday, my friend."

Fred hopped off his mount once they reached the open meadow. Azgard strolled into the sun to warm up and dry off while he grazed. From the shade, Fred admired the simple equine beauty of his mate: a perfect specimen. In the serene meadow it was easy to forget that the Clydesdale was sentient, and for some reason, that made him all the more attractive.

Angry buzzing snapped Fred out of his daydreaming funk when he realized he was standing on a nest of yellow jackets. Several of the irate wasps had planted stings in his boots and were searching for fleshier parts to inflict damage. Fred yelped and dashed to the protective umbrella of his mate, then witnessed with fascination all of the little nasties fly off of him and swarm outside the invisible insect shield that enshrouded the stallion.

"Are you okay?" asked Azgard.

"Yeah," he said, recovering from his brief panic. "I'm allergic to bee stings."

"Not likely."

Fred smiled and patted him. "Everyone needs one of you around."

"Yes they do," he said immodestly, then returned to his meal.

The angry insects seemed even angrier that they couldn't exact their revenge on the trespasser. Fred decided to take advantage of the situation and removed his clothing.

"Mind if I work on my tan?"

"Be my guest."

The naked man climbed on top of the large back of his mate, and laid down facing his tail while allowing the sun's rays to bathe his back and buttocks. Azgard was consciously aware of the erection pressing into the middle of his back and didn't say anything so as not to scare it away. Instead, he whickered and sighed as the most contented Hipponaur in Hipponaur.

Fred pulled himself closer to Azgard's backside, which was already dry from its cleansing in Mother Nature's bidet. Resting his head on his chin, he swirled his open hands in slow, wide circles over either side of the rump, feeling the texture of the grain against his palms and fingers. He resembled a swimmer, lazily breast-stroking across a pool. He turned his face down to feel the soft fur on his nose and cheeks and then planted a kiss there, evoking a another contented whicker.

Resting his head on its right side, the daydreamer closed his left eye to view the equine landscape that now appeared to stretch to the horizon.

"One day, lad, all this will be yours," he mused, quoting Monty Python.

"Hmm?" said the stallion raising up.

"He's beautiful, he's rich, he's got HUGE tracts of land."

"What are you babbling about?"

"Oh, nothing... everything... you."

"I see," he snorted, resuming his mowing.

From his perspective, Fred turned the stallion into a planet. He walked his fingers over the equine surface like a small Neil Armstrong exploring the Moon. Fred noticed some large flies that had joined the other insects hovering in the distance. He turned the little astronaut to the buzzing aliens and taunted, "Jealous." Then, as if to tease them more, he pushed his thumb through the legs of his index and middle fingers and dropped the well-hung little man to the furry ground where it lustfully humped its planetary host.

Azgard couldn't see nor did he care what his Companion was doing with his fingers. What his Companion was doing with his groin, however, pleased him immensely, until he felt the man begin to shrink.

"Companion!" he shouted, raising up in alarm.

Instantly, Fred returned to normal, but was very much aware that something unnatural had just happened to him again. He sat up as Azgard set down to let him off. Then the stallion stood up and stared at him intently.

"It happened again!"

"Just for a couple of seconds, Azgard."

"I don't care if it happened for only a billionth of a nanosecond. It should not have happened AT ALL!"

"Why are you yelling at me?" cried Fred. Azgard could see that his mate was just as upset as he was, and offered a consoling hug.

"I'm sorry, Companion," he whickered. "I just wish I knew what was happening."

"You and me both."

"What were you doing immediately before you started shrinking?"

"Nothing... Just screwing around."

"Screwing around how?"

Fred started to blush. "I, uh, made a little man out of my fingers and pretended to get... intimate with you."

"That's what you were doing with your fingers? But you were also doing it yourself."

"I was?" he said, nervously.

Azgard set down again to consider a thought and also to become less intimidating to his mate.

"Do you WANT to become smaller?"

"Of course not."

"The fantasy you played with your fingers suggests otherwise."

"Oh come on. It was just a stupid little game."

"A little game..." He stared silently for a moment. "What if you were as small as your finger man. What would you do?"

"Panic."

"No, no, no. Suppose it was your normal size to be six inches tall. Would you find me more desirable?"

"NO!"

Azgard stared at him patiently awaiting his mate to seriously consider the question. Fred stared back stubbornly refusing to do so, but then his brow slowly unfurled and he brought his hands to his mouth.

"I would desire you more," he whispered in astonishment, "because there would be more of you to desire..."

Azgard lifted his chin. "I believe we have a breakthrough, Companion. I submit that you are shrinking because it is your subconscious desire to do so."

Fred sat down with the stallion to snuggle under his chin. "But that's absurd," he said, beginning to believe it, nevertheless.

"It would seem so," whickered the stallion calmly, "but Human/Hipponaur bonding is an infant science. There is very little long-term data with respect to the effects of Hipponaur essence on the human condition. Jeremiah is the only example that I am aware of. Unfortunately, he doesn't shrink."

"Maybe he doesn't desire to."

"You didn't think so either, at first."

"But I believe it now," said Fred, walking his little man up the bridge of Azgard's nose. "To me, you are the epitome of gorgeous! I think I'd love to explore you as a human fly climbing all over Mount Everest. If anything, this little two-fingered fellow is a hundred times too big!"

"I must admit that I find the thought of you doing so extremely erotic."

"Then are we having fun yet?" asked Fred hopefully.

"I would feel better about it if there was an explanation of your paranormal ability, especially if there are consequences to consider. I think we know WHY. We now need to find out HOW."

Fred and Azgard sat together, and thought together, but neither realistically expected to stumble upon the answer.

"Why do I shrink?" whispered Fred, rhetorically. "Because I want to."

Azgard sighed.

"How do I shrink?" he continued. "Because I want..."

Suddenly Fred sat up and stared at his mate with a look of revelation. "... to."

Azgard stared back and cocked his head at the man who grinned all-knowingly to him.

"The answer to 'how' is nearly the same as the answer to 'why,'" he said excitedly. "It's DESIRE. Hipponaur essence fulfills desire. The evidence is everywhere!"

"That might be a little TOO simplistic, Companion."

"We know essence prolongs life, but did you ever wonder why?"

Azgard thought about it, then shook his head.

"Because a long healthy life is a fundamental desire. It's the one desire we all have in common, but then our desires differ on an individual basis. Why am I not covered in yellow jackets right now?"

"Because my bug barrier is protecting you."

"How does it work? Why is it protecting me?"

The stallion cracked a grin and admitted the absurdly mundane, "Because I want it to."

"Exactly! Why can Danny make himself human? Because he wants to. Why do I shrink?"

"But what about Jeremiah? He has no paranormal abilities."

"Ahem. Weren't you there yesterday when he and Parceph were going at it?"

"Yes, but aside from his near indestructibility, he shows no other paranormal behavior."

"I heartily disagree. What about that fire that he breathed life into this morning?"

"There was nothing paranormal about that. It was a show of skill and dexterity."

"Azgard, didn't you see that flame? It was white! Do you know what that implies?"

The stallion stopped to consider the physics of chemistry. "A white flame suggests a vigorous reaction."

"That's right. Jerry blew on the sparks and instantly ignited ordinary grass with a white flame."

Azgard raised his head in awe. "He exhaled oxygen."

"PURE oxygen," confirmed Fred. "I don't think Jerry realizes that when he's holding his breath and meditating like that, his lungs are temporarily absorbing all of the nitrogen and carbon dioxide out of the air, leaving only oxygen to exhale. A spark in the presence of pure oxygen will ignite anything that is remotely combustible."

"But how did he attain this ability?"

"Simple! He ran out of matches. It's the only thing he desires other than Parceph. Humans have to have fire to survive and Jerry found a way. Other than that, he's the happiest man on Earth. He doesn't do anything else because he doesn't need or want to. As for consequences, I don't see anybody suffering them, do you?"

Azgard shook his head. "My bug barrier has been completely trouble-free. And you seem to be fine after your episodes."

"And even better during! Azgard, you were never more delicious to me."

The stallion nickered affectionately. "If it gives you pleasure, Companion, how can I deny you?"

"And draining essence out of your balls is all I desire to do."

"Then it seems that we both win." His tongue peeked out and waved hello, and was quickly attacked by Fred's.

Then Fred began to shrink again.

"Are you doing that intentionally," asked Azgard as he bent down to maintain intimate contact.

"Mm-hmm," mumbled Fred joyfully.

The man stopped at about eight inches, but continued to grasp and kiss the huge muzzle of his mate.

"Oh Companion," sighed the animated Ken doll. "This is so incredible. All of my senses are heightened. I can see your every sexy nuance under a microscope. There's so much more of you to desire, and I desire ALL of it."

"Then by all means," whickered the stallion, "sate yourself." Azgard carefully laid down on his side, making the ground shake with a sizeable temblor under Fred's feet. "But be careful. I cannot always keep an eye on you."

"That's the idea, Companion," grinned the miniature man to the huge sideways equine nose that threatened to blow him over. "You just lie here and relax, and let's see if big things can cum in small packages."

The stallion smiled and closed his eyes. The little package that the stallion suspected he would be cumming in very soon, kissed him on the nose then scrambled away like a rat up to no good. And this rat wasted no time getting down and dirty. Azgard felt the pressure of circular motion at the opening of his sheath, and imagined it could be nothing else but his Companion's head pushing it's way inside.

"Silly little man," he thought. "You can't possibly win that battle. It's far too erotic."

Fred's head was immediately pushed out as the turned-on stallion let his turned-on status be known. While his cock grew, Azgard felt a warm spot travel along the sensitive underside, which then rapidly cooled as the thin line of saliva evaporated.

"Nasty boy," sighed the horny stallion. "Be careful, or I'll be cumming sooner than you expect."

He felt something struggling to squeeze between the mighty legs that gravity held closed. Azgard gently rolled onto his back so that his legs naturally fell open, and then felt the little fellow sit down and straddle the base of his cock while hugging the stallion's scrotum.

What he felt next made him whine with carnal delight. A tiny ass rubbed back and forth on his magic winking spot while a tiny face buried itself in stallion balls. Azgard crowned immediately, then precum soaked his chest.

Fred was amazed at how comfortable he felt, hugging his lover's balls like two big fuzzy bean bag chairs. They smelled intense, they tasted intense, and if it were up to him, he'd never let them go. But it wasn't up to him, for the excited stallion called them home, and Fred couldn't hold on to them. So he let them slip through his arms and then turned to shimmy along the fallen palm tree that pulsed with sexual energy. When he reached the heavy treetop lying in a thin puddle on the chest of the beast, he realized that the urethra poking out of the end was now the perfect size to lose his virginity. Slathering precum into his ass, he backed into the hard nozzle, and felt it slide all the way into his one inch colon.

The stallion squealed, not comprehending this feeling at all, a tight warm ring around the innermost tip of his cock. He didn't care anymore about imagining what his Companion might be doing and how he was doing it. It felt good. That's all that mattered now.

Hearing that his mate was close to climaxing, Fred pushed his buttocks into the crater of the fossa glandis, and swiveled around inside to stimulate the hidden nerves that opened the flood gates. The stallion couldn't help lustfully bucking on his back, but Fred managed to hold onto the rim of the crown with his hands and ankles, just long enough to finish the job. The stallion let out a final cry of warning and pleasure, and then the essence of desire blasted the tiny colon.

Fred's miniscule form was far too small to absorb the entire amount of ejaculate. He was able to hold on for a couple of seconds until the backward force of his overflowing lower intestinal tract propelled him into Azgard's chin. Unharmed, he turned to wallow in the warm thick spray of the continuing eruption of his volcanic whoopee cushion.

Floating in sexual bliss, the stallion opened his eyes and brought his nose down to his chest finding it difficult to focus on the little man who was hugging and kissing his muzzle.

"That was superb, Companion."

"They say you always remember your first time. I'll never forget mine," sighed Fred.

"I was inserted in you?"

"All the way in. By body weight, I must be fifty percent Hipponaur essence right now."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fuckin' grrrrRRREAT!!"

Fred returned to normal size, then began recovering the essence that didn't make it into his ass.

"Help yourself," whickered Azgard. "It's all yours."

"What is?"

"The essence you're licking up."

"There's essence here? I hadn't noticed. This is how I normally groom horses."

"Self-taught, no doubt," chuckled the stallion.

When Fred was done, Azgard reciprocated by offering the sticky human a soothing tongue bath of his own.

"That was quite a ride," sighed Fred. "Too bad I couldn't hold on."

"You would have exploded."

"Probably, but what a way to go!"

"There is no need to go so soon."

"Not to worry, Companion. I just feel really good right now, and now I know why Jerry was acting so goofy yesterday after Parceph filled him up."

"I am pleased that I make you feel good. Your companionship has the same effect on me."

"You know what, Companion? I bet I can grow just as easily as shrink. If I quadruple my size I could easily fit you inside of me."

"Perhaps another day."

Fred rolled over to look his mate in the eye. "Are you a little intimidated by the thought of me being bigger than you?"

"Just a little."

"That's cool," he said, returning to his stomach. "All your life you've towered over everyone else. Me towering over you is bound to make you uncomfortable. Nothing wrong with that."

"Thanks for understanding."

Fred smiled and sighed contentedly as the stallion bathed him. "My career's going straight down the toilet, you know."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because all I'm ever going to want to do from now on is be with you."

"Perhaps you could make me your assistant."

"Oh, that's a peachy idea! Then not only will I never get anything done, but all my clients will know why."

"Then I am afraid you will leave me no choice but to withhold sex to keep you in line and focussed on your job."

"Oh... don't even joke about that!"

"I am sure it will not come to that. You are a responsible individual. And you can always come home at lunchtime for a nooner to tide you over."

"Maybe if it's a three-hour lunch."

"At least."

Fred rolled over to allow Azgard to continue.

"Speaking of lunch..." he whickered.

Fred sighed blissfully as the stallion thoroughly cleaned his cock, and then cleaned it some more, and then took it in and vacuumed the epidermis off. Azgard sucked and slurped and whickered and nickered, and Fred joined in with his own chorus of "oooh"s and "aaah"s and "I love you"s and a "take it all, Bitch." At the moment of truth, Fred reached down and pulled his lover's sensitive muzzle hard into his groin. Normally this would have irritated the stallion, except that it was his favorite groin to have his nose bruised in, not to mention that his mouth now teemed with human essence. He'd gladly accept a kick in the jaw to do it all over again.

"You're very good at that," glowed Fred.

"Thank you."

"No, thank YOU! I wonder what paranormal effect human essence has on Hipponaurs."

"Hmm," thought the stallion as he continued to bathe his mate. "Speaking from personal experience, I'd have to say that human essence is a highly addictive narcotic, inducing brief moments of euphoria which will require more and more subsequent doses to achieve a similar high. In a day or two, I expect to spend every waking moment coaxing climaxes out of you."

"Mmmm, sounds good to me."

Despite the threat of never-ending sexual escapades, Fred and Azgard spent the rest of the day simply enjoying each other's company in the wilderness as horse and rider. Fred found it not difficult at all to remain his normal size, and Azgard was quietly appreciative of it, for it alleviated the concerns he had for his mate.

Their wanderlust brought them to a series of gently rolling hills dotted with California poppies. Fred hopped off to stretch his legs while his mate bent down to enjoy the bright yellow and orange delicacies.

"According to state ordinance, each one of those you eat is a five hundred dollar fine," warned Fred.

"So sue me."

"Maybe I'll join you as your partner in crime instead." Fred plucked a poppy and nibbled on a petal. It's flavor was neither unpleasant nor overwhelming, and the subtle way it danced with his senses encouraged him to lie down and relax on the hillside in order to enjoy it more.

"I need to slow down."

"Companion?"

"You guys have it all figured out. Just take it easy and eat some wildflowers. No wonder you live forever."

"That's only part of it, but you are correct, Companion. As a race, we don't ask for much. The most elusive of Hipponaur desires is companionship. Now that I have found mine, my heart's desire is only to protect and nurture it."

"And my heart's desire, evidently, is to lose weight."

"I'm sure that isn't the only thing your heart desires."

"That's just it, Azgard. Humans don't know what their hearts desire. I never would have guessed that the top two on my list were finding my talking Clydesdale soul mate, and discovering a way to be crushed by a Chihuahua."

Smiling impishly, Azgard strolled over to his mate, carefully stepped over him, looked him straight in the eyes, and then dropped to the ground.

"Oooph!!"

"You should not be worrying about Chihuahuas," leered the sexy stallion.

"I would much rather be crushed by a Clydesdale any day."

"While choking on his tongue?"

"Oh please! Do you HAVE to ask?"

The evening found Azgard's front half spending the night with Fred in his tent again. After more gagging on tongues, the two took a break to nuzzle foreheads.

"I know what you're thinking," said the stallion.

"You can read my mind when our heads touch?"

"I can read your mind because you are my Companion. You're wondering what else your heart desires."

"I guess it's pretty obvious."

"You shouldn't worry about such things. You should celebrate them."

"I'm just worried that I might wake up tomorrow with wings and a six foot dick."

"I doubt that that is a true desire of yours. However, don't be surprised if you wake up with a very deep and elastic colon."

"Wait a minute! That would be YOUR heart's desire."

"I do not deny it," smirked the stallion. "I'm just warning you that it is likely that you have another fundamental desire to please your mate."

Seeing right through him, Fred asked sarcastically, "Is there anything else that I fundamentally desire on your behalf?"

Azgard thought for a moment. "I do believe you desire to give me another lesson right now."

The man chuckled at his mate, knowing he could never refuse such an offer. "You know me so well."

Fred stroked Azgard's mane while the horse fellated him again. Azgard was fairly certain that, although it smelled and tasted the same, the penis in his mouth was bigger than the one he suckled several hours ago.

That night Fred had trouble falling asleep, despite the soothing rhythm of the stallion's lungs next to him. He could not get comfortable in his sleeping bag, because he knew there was a more comfortable place to sleep just a few feet away. So he reduced himself down to an inch and stole out of the tent to climb into a much more inviting locale. The fold's of the stallion's prepuce were warm and cozy, soft and slightly moist. He snuggled inside the living sleeping bag, leaning his tiny head against the pillow of his mate's flaccid glans. It would have been a perfect place to snooze for several hours except that Fred was far too aroused to sleep. Finally, he was living in a dream he could control. And though his partner was asleep, he wouldn't disapprove. So Fred did whatever his heart desired, which was to bury his nose into every square micron of the stallion's genitals.

Azgard's intimate odors and flavors were everywhere, and from this vantage point the hundreds of varieties could be sampled individually. A normal-sized human had no choice but to sample them all at once, but Fred discovered that one spot tasted nothing at all like another spot just a millimeter away. Some flavors were more pleasant than others, but none were intolerable, and many sent him into sexual bliss. The most intense aromas emanated from the closed-up tip which seemed to beckon him, but he held off to sample other areas first, for he suspected that once he ventured in there, then he'd have no desire to explore anywhere else.

Instead he returned to the stallion's mighty testicles which now towered over him since his previous visit, and as he had suspected, they tasted nothing like they did that morning. Every time Fred changed to a new size, Azgard became a whole new world. The discoveries would be endless.

Fred also had a new appreciation for Azgard's attention to his hygiene. In the past the veterinarian had had several encounters with owners who neglected to keep their horses' genitals clean. It pissed him off that people could be such jerks about it, that they'd rather pump their horses full of antibiotics to treat the inevitable infections rather than do what people who own horses have a responsibility to do - keep their animals clean and healthy. Azgard made that easy, almost too easy. Still, Fred was sure his stallion wouldn't mind some extra grooming, even if it wasn't all that necessary.

Fred crawled up the stallion's backside to his anus which Azgard had rinsed again, just after dinner. Remarkably, it didn't smell offensive at all. The giant velvet ring radiated heat and quivered with his touch, resembling a gigantic mouth pursing its trembling lips in anticipation of a kiss. So Fred gave it one, big and wet, pressing his face in and rotating his mouth around the circle. To his delight, the sphincter relaxed and opened up, and Fred dared to venture a little further, sticking his head inside the lion's mouth. As long as he kept massaging the ring, it remained open for him, and he considered climbing all the way in, but then decided to save that adventure for another day. After backing out, the iris closed and continued to quiver. He gave it a final kiss goodnight, then went to tackle the only thing he had yet to conquer.

He returned to the stallion's cockhead which had closed up like a tulip for the night. The tiny human invader wriggled inside the hollow tip and curled up around the urethra. The stallion twitched in his sleep in response to the stimulation, causing the horsedick to emerge several inches, but Fred held tight and still, and the waking serpent fell asleep again.

Shrouded in a cocoon of flesh, Fred had never been more comfortable in his life, and though it was his original intent, there was no way he was going to fall asleep here. The smells inside his bedroom were the most intense of any that the stallion had to offer, and as long as they continued to swirl around his nose, the amphetamines of arousal kept him wide awake and alert and hornier than a herd of buffalo. So he wallowed in the pungent atmosphere instead, squirming and writhing in his sexual paradise, sometimes briefly rumbling the horsedick awake.

And yet, he still had one more mountain to conquer. He sat up and peaked into the pipe that led into the stallion. He could not tell whether or not it was his imagination, but he thought he detected a faint glow from within. Fred realized now that he had reached the definitive moment of his life. The action he considered might change him forever, but he believed he was here for a reason, so he charged on ahead. Reducing himself down to a millimeter in length, Fred entered the penis.

There was plenty of air to support his tiny life as he navigated through the urethra in search of the light. The tunnel stretched for miles as it meandered around the stallion's innards, yet Fred did not feel claustrophobic at all. On the contrary, he never felt so free.

He wondered how it was that he was able to breathe, being so deep inside the urogenital tract of his mate. Then he considered that he might simply have brought his air with him, like some swimming spiders exist in a bubble of air underwater. And what was the faint light that illuminated his way? It taunted him, for no matter how far he trekked, the light never seemed to get nearer, except when he was just about to give up. Then it brightened like a lighthouse beacon guiding his way. But guiding him where? To a safe harbor? Or to a deadly reef of shipwrecks?

Not believing Azgard would lay a trap for him, he pressed on, and he could tell he was nearing his destination, for the light was not only brighter, but more defined as it bounced off the walls around him. It flickered with the blue tint of discharging electricity, and Fred imagined that he might be walking into a nuclear reactor in the midst of a meltdown.

As he rounded the final turn, he discovered the light's source: a small quivering sphincter, like it's larger anal brother, that occasionally opened in brief spasms passing the bright blue light from within. Fred had already learned the secret of unlocking the portal. He pressed his face into it and nuzzled it open. It opened to allow him passage, then closed behind him to keep him safe.

Fred stared bedazzled at the sea of bright blue sparks before him. He knew where he was and what this sea of life contained, and the only way to truly appreciate them was to sink to their level. Fred reduced himself to the size of a gamete and beheld the blue life aura of fifty billion tiny Clydesdales. The stallions and mares all stopped their milling about inside their large corral and turned to him, making him feel very uncomfortable at first, until they all greeted him with the warmest of welcoming whinnies. He climbed into the enclosure to join them, thoroughly flattered at the polite comments, overt swoons, and even crass innuendo that told him he had his pick of any and all of them.

Each equine being flickered with a blue halo, some much brighter than others. Coincidentally or not, the brightest among them also seemed to take the most interest in Fred. As he wandered through the paddock, the mares winked at him from both ends while the stallions displayed themselves proud and erect.

"Now I'm in Heaven," said Fred as he wandered through the multitude of horseflesh. It didn't smell like a room packed full of horses, but it did smell like a room packed full of sex, and Fred strolled through it unabashedly naked and fully aroused.

A particularly bright mare caught his eye. She held her tail aloft and winked her clitoris enticingly.

"Hello," she said seductively. "Do you like what you see?"

"Yes Ma'am," said Fred, mesmerized by her pulsating twat. He pressed his nose into it and opened his mouth to taste, and like the sphincters he had penetrated earlier, it opened up to him and beckoned him inside. With only the slightest effort, he pushed his head all the way in, and then the mare took over, opening herself wider to gently engulf the rest of him. His shoulders slid in, then his upper chest. He was being devoured, and it was wonderful. He realized this was his final destiny, to become one with this mare. He was in up to his elbows, and then suddenly fell into a panic. Something didn't feel right. This was happening too fast.

He bent his arms out to prevent the mare from sucking him in deeper, then struggled violently to free himself.

"What are you doing?" she asked in alarm.

"Let me go!" demanded Fred.

"No," she said in a tone not of defiance, but of bitter disappointment.

"Please!" struggled Fred, feeling himself slowly winning the battle.

"No..." lamented the mare who stopped her end of the struggle and reluctantly allowed him to slip free.

He landed on the ground, but his heart sank for her, for she looked terribly devastated by his spurning.

"Stay with me," she pleaded tearfully.

He stood up and hugged her tenderly.

"I wish I could, my darling," he whispered. "But there's only one of me. Maybe I'll come back for you."

Sadly, she allowed him to go, knowing she would never see him again.

Fred was much more careful to keep his hands to himself as he continued his travels. He passed by thousands of voluptuous vulvae and thousands more tumultuous tumescences. He wanted nothing more than to mate with all of them, but instead could have none. The pain of abstinence made him doubt this place was the paradise it initially seemed, but that doubt faded when he encountered an astoundingly brilliant aura in the distance that was fighting the hordes and heading his way.

Fred held his ground as the blinding blue flame neared, then it parted the herd in front of him and emerged as the beautiful stallion he knew so well.

"Welcome, Companion," the Clydesdale greeted.

"Azgard, is that you?"

"Of course it is. Where do you think you are?"

Fred hugged his stallion blissfully. "I know EXACTLY where I am and I can't believe I'm truly here. This is the sexiest place on Earth. I want to stay here forever."

"Since you know where we are, then you also know that we cannot stay for long, but we can be together here for a while."

The two of them hugged and kissed as if nothing had changed, except that there were countless other very attractive Clydesdales who wanted some of the same action. Azgard made it abundantly clear to them that they could look but not touch.

"I feel sorry for them," said Fred. "They all want me so badly. I wish I could clone myself for each of them."

"It is not their destiny to be with you, Companion. They have destinies of their own that are just as vital if not as beautiful."

Suddenly, the walls closed in all around them and several horses whinnied in terror.

"Companion! On my back! Hurry!!"

"What's happening Azgard?" asked Fred as he climbed on.

"We're leaving."

"WHAT!?"

A large gate flew open, and the stampede began. Several horses were nearly trampled as the wave of equines pushed through the long dark corridor. Azgard skillfully maneuvered through the gauntlet while his rider clung tightly to his back. Fred had the weird sensation of traveling through a Sentinel's portal, for the light at the end of this tunnel was as bright as Mourne's silhouette. When they broke through the other side, the infinite herd continued to stampede and scatter on a wide open virgin prairie. The sun shown down brightly from a cloudless blue sky onto Fred and Azgard who continued to gallop as free spirits. In the distance a homestead appeared, and Azgard instinctively headed for it.

"Where are we?" asked Fred, noting the approaching domicile.

"Home."

The stallion slowed to a trot when he was within fifty yards of the cottage, then stopped at the picket fence in the front. Fred dismounted and opened the front gate, and Azgard followed him through.

"Hello?" said Fred pushing the front door open. There was no response.

"No one's here."

"Someone's here," smiled Azgard as he stepped inside.

The door closed behind them and made a suspicious "ka-chunking" sound of a locking deadbolt. It didn't bother Azgard, so it didn't bother Fred.

"This is our home?"

"Until we find someplace better."

Fred wrapped his arms around his mate. "You're here. There is no place better."

He kissed the stallion and the stallion kissed back. Then the mighty equine reared up slowly, impossibly, raising his lover up with him as if the two were nearly weightless. The human held on effortlessly as the stallion stood vertically upright on his hind legs. Then he lowered his head, lowering the human that held onto it, lowering him onto his vertical phallus. It penetrated the man painlessly, and he welcomed the stallion inside. He felt it push through him, far beyond the normal limits of his large intestine, and the deeper the equine penetrated, the stronger the bond became. When the man was pushed down all the way and there was nothing left of the stallion to insert, there was another "ka-chunk," and the two would forever exist as one.

They held each other and made love to each other for hours on end, growing closer, growing together. Hours became days became weeks became months. Then the front door unlatched and swung open to reveal a new dawn. The two that had become one ventured outside to meet their destiny. And Fred and Azgard sang Happy Birthday to their newborn son.

"And they all lived happily ever after."

For a few seconds, the air fell silent save for the gentle crackling of flames.

"That's it?" asked Jeremiah, scratching his head.

"Hmm?"

"That's how it ends?"

"What's wrong with the ending?"

"Well, it's kinda anticlimactic, ain't it?"

"What are you talking about, Jerry?" said Daniel. "It's a perfect ending. Great story, Fred."

"Thanks, Danny."

The other Hipponaurs around the campfire all stared at Fred, thoroughly enraptured by his tale. Azgard beamed at him with eyes that flickered with reflected firelight.

"What?" chuckled Fred in response.

"I thought you wanted to pursue your career rather than start a family so soon."

"Oh, don't read so much into it, Azgard. It's just a story."

"Nevertheless," nuzzled his mate. "Such an intimate tale can only have been borne of desire." The stallion regarded him again with a smile and a twinkle. "You look an inch shorter than I remember."

"Heh-heh, I wish."

"I kind of like the idea of becoming a human fly," said Daniel. "Husband, how would you like me virtually buzzing your backside?"

"Be careful you don't get swatted," said his mate.

"Hey, Danny, could I borrow you for a minute? I need a flashlight."

"Sure thing, Jerry."

Daniel conjured up a flashlight for Jerry, then wandered off with him in order to keep it virtually powered up. As they left the campsite, the two continued to argue over the merits of what makes for good campfire lore.

Parceph shook his head, embarrassed for his Companion. "There he goes..."

Everyone turned to him, dying to know but too uncomfortable to ask.

"Oh, he'll be back," assured Parceph, "with his props."

"What props?" asked Fred.

"You'll see. He seems to think it makes a difference. Please just humor him and don't tell him he looks like an idiot. I liked your story, Fred, particularly without any props."

Fred nodded and smiled modestly, then put his arm around his own mate. "Cut him some slack, Parceph. He's an old man of two hundred plus years, probably set in his ways a century ago."

"No he was like this TWO centuries ago. I do believe he feels threatened by you, Fred. Heaven forbid there should be someone else in the clique who can spin a better yarn than He."

Jeremiah returned with an old duffel bag that he plopped on the dusty ground. Sitting down on his log, he reached into it and pulled out a ragged sailor's cap and an old tobacco pipe.

"Okay, it's my turn," he said, lighting the pipe with a cheap plastic butane lighter. He took a deep draw then opened his mouth to allow the smoke to drift out like imprisoned souls fleeing damnation. Suddenly becoming deadly serious, he addressed the others around the fire with a frightful scowl.

"It was a dark and stormy night..."

#

[End of _COMPANIONS_ Chapter 27: Fred's Tall Tale]

[This concludes Part 9 of the series. Take a break.]

[Next in series: Chapter 28: Dark Horse]