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Rosemary and Thyme

Chapter Two – Bonds that Strengthen

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

24th January, 2024

All Rights Reserved.

As days turned to weeks, the grip of autumn slowly faded as the first hints of the winter chill settled over the forest. Rosemary and Thyme, over the previous weeks, had slowly made familiarity with Sarah and Jake, much to their pleasure and surprise.

Patiently, standing side by side, the Doe and Stag watched their new acquaintances step out, carrying something in their hands, which they set down. Rosemary, ever curious, her cloven hooves clicking softly on the concrete, stepped over and tenderly nuzzled Sarah's outstretched fingers – a sign of trust, and permission, before Rosemary's nostrils flared and she dipped her head down, delicately plucking up a few small pieces of apple.

Thyme, more cautious, watched with curiosity, before he too stepped forward and gently nudged Rosemary, making her step to the side, so he could get at the treats before Sarah's quiet voice drew his attention.

“Hey, where's the manners you were taught?” Sarah playfully admonished Thyme.

With a snort, Rosemary glanced at Thyme, who flicked an ear and stepped back, circling behind Rosemary, before he stretched out his neck and lightly touched his nose to Sarah's fingers, receiving a gentle stroke of his nose in return.

“Good boy,” Sarah smiled at him. “Go on, your girlfriend will eat it all if you're not quick!”

With a flick of his ear, Thyme gently nudged Rosemary aside, the two deer wary – but more relaxed, as they ate the offered treats before them. With a gentle touch, James lightly brushed his fingers against Rosemary's neck, feeling her momentarily flinch, before she turned her eyes to look at him.

“Easy girl,” Jake whispered, placing his hand on Rosemary's neck, feeling the warm fur beneath his fingers.

Rosemary twitched again before she seemed to quiver and become more restful, allowing the surprised human a much more firmer touch.

“I still can't believe this - “ Jake's voice was quiet and contemplative. “A months ago, you'd have squealed and run – now...”

His fingers lightly ran down her shoulder, then hesitantly brushed over her chest, moving around her right leg and touching her ribs, feeling the slow, restful beat of her relaxed, calm heartbeat. Thyme, not to miss out, tenderly lipped at Sarah's fingers, making her blush and giggle nervously.

“Oh no, no!” Sara squeaked, her voice high-pitched and breaking into laughter. “No! You're not getting my fingers again, I...I don't even...”

Listening to his partner's laughter, Jake looked over from where he was petting Rosemary. “I still can't believe that happened! Like...”

A furtive glance from Sarah silenced Jake, who chuckled, resuming his gentle caresses of Rosemary's side, the fine fur beneath his touch sending a cascade of sensory signals. As Jake feathered the fur on Rosemary's flank, the texture of it offered a real, tangible link between them. He was startled when Rosemary's reaction to his touch was subtle, yet profound. Her sharp, in-drawn breath signified a momentary vulnerability in her, an instinctual reaction to the uncharted territory of human contact. Her wide-eyed stare was filled with both surprise and curiosity, as she kept her head turned back, looking over her shoulder at him, her tubular ears pricked forwards. Her furred lips were parted slightly before she exhaled and gave a nervous twitch.

Beside Jake and Rosemary, Thyme, ever-watchful over his chosen doe, sensed the subtle body language and scent from Rosemary. His own quiet twitch, and the way he stepped from one cloven hoof onto the other, showed his own growing calmness, assured his mate was in no danger.

“Careful, Jake - “ Sara whispered, as she stroked Thyme's forehead, the stag chuffing softly through his nostrils, carefully lowering his head towards Sara, visibly enjoying the gentle strokes.

Jake nodded, crouching down slightly before his fingers accidentally brushed the edge of Rosemary's udder. A soft bleat escaped Rosemary, her eyes widening in surprise. James instantly pulled his hand back, feeling a mixture of shame and guilt. Anticipating Rosemary's potential discomfort, he expected her to pull away from him, kick, or even run.

Beside Rosemary, Thyme, alerted by Rosemary's startled bleat, snorted through his nostrils and turned his head to stare at Jake. Sensing the discomfort in the buck, Jake moved away from Rosemary, giving her space.

However, to Jake's astonishment, after a few short breaths, Rosemary blinked and settled, before she cautiously approached him and gave him a gentle nuzzle, as if asking for his forgiveness for startling him.

“Uh...” Jake stammered, blinking and confused. “No, please, you misunderstand – I didn't mean...”

Rosemary blinked, before she gently nuzzled him, giving a playful lick to his forehead, her tail raised up over her back. As Jake hesitated, Rosemary gave a quiet grunt, then took a few graceful steps forward, her cloven hooves clicking quietly on the patio. Her large, expressive eyes held a curious, inquisitive glint, and her tail held high over her back, gave a subtle sway. Rosemary lowered her head, presenting the side of her neck to Jake. With a quiet bleat, she seemed to encourage him, her eyes shining with the trust she held for him.

Sunlight played over her glossy coat as she stood there, patiently awaiting his touch, the gentle rise and fall of her chest revealing a calm, almost serene anticipation. It was as if she understood his touch of her udder was not the intention – but not entirely unwanted either. With another gentle nuzzle, Rosemary glanced at her flank, then back at Jake, her tail resuming its slow, methodical sway.

“You...you want...” Jake whispered, wide-eyed as a flush crept up his cheeks. “you're lovely and all but...”

Rosemary blinked, then bleated and nuzzled him again, slipping her head under his hand, her nose playfully bunting under his forearm.

“Okay, okay!” Jake chuckled, finally getting the message.

“Jake...” Sarah asked, her hands wrapped around Thyme's ears, using her thumbs to lightly massage them, and by the expression in his half-closed eyes and head tilt, he was very much enjoying it.

“I...think... they're not wild deer after all – they're very... curious and seem to actually enjoy our touch.”

Rosemary, growing frustrated, moved to stand side on to Jake, nudging his arm in an insistent manner, her tail still swaying as she struggled to make herself understood.

“Alright, easy girl!” Jake smiled, as he stroked Rosemary gently, carefully moving his hand down towards her flank.

Rosemary's tail swishing, and quiet, thoughtful bleats encouraged him, as he slipped a hand under her belly – then to his surprise, Rosemary stretched out her hind legs, almost like how she would when a fawn was nursing from her. Jake tenderly cupped her udder, feeling the small, barely felt teats pressed against his fingers and palm, as Rosemary grunted and rocked back and forth, an unmistakable look of pleasure in her body language and the way her eyes were half closed. It was like an itch she could not scratch, had finally, been eased.

Thyme glanced over at Rosemary, before he gave a quiet, thoughtful flick of both ears, tickling Sarah's fingers that enfolded them.

“It's alright,” Sarah murmured, resuming the gentle caress and massage on Thyme's ears. “I promise, he won't hurt her.”

Thyme twitched, before he carefully pulled his head up and away, seemingly pleased by the attention, before he moved a half-step closer and playfully nuzzled her shoulder, then leaned against Sarah, rubbing his neck against hers.

“You...want...what?” Sarah asked him. “More petting? Scratches?”

With a quiet grunt, Thyme leaned more heavily against her, once more seeming to use her like how he'd scratch against a tree. Tentatively, Sarah laughed and reached up, using her long nails to dig into his furred throat and strong neck muscles, raking her fingers downwards. Thyme twitched and lifted his antlered head up, exposing his vulnerable throat to her forceful scratching.

“Oh, that's what you want – your neck's itchy?”

Sarah smiled, pushing her fingers through the buck's fur to get down to the skin, enthusiastically scratching it in stronger and stronger movements. Thyme grunted and twitched, twisting his neck this way and that, trying to guide her fingers toward where he desired her sharp nails.

Thyme grunted, coughed, and twitched in the delightful scratches from Sara, continuing to express his contentment with his quiet vocalizations and even the occasional curling of his lips, when she found a particularly itchy spot. As Sarah worked her fingers from the base of his skull down to his shoulders, then up his throat, Thyme stepped from one front hoof to the other. As the bond truly began to form between stag and woman, each stroke of her fingers, bringing Thyme and Sarah closer together – his trust in her increasingly evident.

Sarah, recognizing the effect of her scratches on Thyme, decided to explore carefully. Moving her hands down to his powerful shoulders, she massaged the muscular contours beneath his fur. Thyme grunted and shifted his weight, subtly giving his consent for this attention. Sara chuckled and moved around to his chest – taking a chance and trusting him, sinking to her knees before him as she dug her fingertips into his furred chest.

“I'm going to trust you...okay?” Sarah murmured, placing a hand lightly on his chest, feeling his slow, deep breaths. “Now, stand easy please - “

With a twitch, Thyme twisted his head and looked down at Sarah, who smiled and began to rub and scratch his chest. With a soft grunt, Thyme slightly bent his front legs, quivering at each stroke and caress.

“Oh, that feels good, does it?” Sarah's voice trailed up to Thyme's ears.

With a grunt, more a gurgle, Thyme quivered from ears to tail, before he reached down with his neck, gently reciprocating the grooming, using his lips and tongue against Sarah's lower back.

Meanwhile, as Thyme enjoyed Sarah's attentive care, Rosemary stood gracefully nearby, observing the interaction between her mate and the human. Her large, expressive eyes held a mixture of curiosity, wondering if she too would...

With a weak gasp, Rosemary's eyes widened and she snapped her head around, staring at Jake whose curious, gentle fingers touched a little further back than Rosemary was prepared to accept.

“Sorry - “ Jake flushed, moving his hand back under her udder, tenderly caressing the warm, sensitive skin.

Rosemary's eyes narrowed slightly, before she nudged his shoulder with her leathery nose pad, drawing deeply into her lungs, his scent...and something else – that made her pause, flicking an ear. Jake swallowed and smiled weakly, before he moved his fingers from her teats and udder, back up her flanks as he stood up. With a nervous bleat, Rosemary watched him, her expressionate ears pricked forwards as to her surprise, he moved behind her – then lightly placed his hands on her front shoulders.

Giving an inquisitive grunt, Rosemary watched as he splayed his fingers out, his two thumbs touching, before he firmly ran them on either side of her spine. Tight muscles twitched beneath his touch, but she stood her ground, showing a level of trust that left Jake both amazed and prideful. Looking back over her shoulder, Rosemary bleated and once more swished her tail from side to side, her muzzle slightly open, and by the slow, restful breaths, her ribs moving in and out, she was surprisingly comfortable with this unusual creature's presence, being right behind her.

“Your coat is so...soft,” Jake whispered, leaning forward slightly as he adjusted the caress, feeling each vertebra in her back.

Continuing to watch him, her expression curious and contemplative, Rosemary stood at least - but the nervousness never quite left her, as every so often, she'd twitch an ear or a shiver would ripple through her.

“It's okay - “ Jake soothingly whispered, holding his eyes on Rosemary's, as he carefully stroked down her back, his fingers growing closer and closer to her tail.

Rosemary glanced at her tail, then back up at him, as she flicked it again – almost inviting him to touch its bristle-like hairs. Jake blinked, then with extreme care, he trailed his fingers from root to tip with one hand, then the other, letting the tail flutter through his fingers.

Jake, lost in the tactile touch of Rosemary's body, barely noticed as Rosemary's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, her ears moving even less perceptibly. Her body eased back against his, her tail swaying quicker and quicker, her head lowered and her breathing coming a little more quickly.

Not far away, Thyme visibly twitched, minutely turning his head to glance at Rosemary, who, head lowered, let her tongue poke out from her furred lips as she breathed in and out.

“That feels good, does it?” Jake's weak voice reached Rosemary's twitching ears, his fingers tenderly stroking, feeling the sleek, yet surprisingly dense fur, before he suddenly trembled and Rosemary braced her forelegs instinctively.

Jake's fingers skittered across Rosemary's hips, and Rosemary's surprised bleat rang out, as he accidentally pushed against her hindquarters. Rosemary snorted, locking her forelegs, her head lifting up to look back at Jake, her eyes wide. As his face went white, like the underside of her upraised tail, he began panting and sweat suddenly beading over his exposed flesh, his hairs standing up, and goosebumps prickling his skin.

“No...” Jake's strangled gurgle was barely heard, even by Rosemary's hearing.

He held her, firmly, but not painfully, her eyes wide and ears slicked back slightly, a quiver rippling through her as she inhaled a new scent...

Sensing something was off, Thyme grunted and looked at Rosemary, who made a strange vocalization, then remained where she was, still staring back at Jake, whose white face slowly turned a bright red as shame and guilt built within him.

“Jake – you okay?” Sarah called out, looking towards him, but Thyme moved to subtly obstruct her view, nudging her gently. As Sarah began scratching him again, Thyme shot a brief, sidelong glance at Rosemary, who, in turn, averted her gaze.

Jake took several deep breaths, trying to recover from the unexpected situation. Rosemary, too, seemed to regain her composure, her large eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and something else that Jake couldn't decipher. Her tail swished, perhaps a bit more nervously, as she broke eye contact with Jake and lowered her head.

Sarah, unaware of what had happened, called out again. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, just...” Jake quivered, trying to even out his rapid breathing. “Just a... a little misunderstanding, you know? I got a little friendly and this gentle doe – in her own way – told me off for it.”

Meanwhile, Thyme maintained his protective stance, his antlered head lowered as he continued to keep a watchful eye on the doe and human. His nostrils flared and he too caught the scent from Jake, before his eyelid slid down into a half-lidded glance. Suddenly, he shuddered and twitched violently, as Sarah found another intensely itchy spot, just in front of his left foreleg.

“Woah, easy, easy!” Sarah laughed nervously, as Thyme's off hoof clapped down with a loud clop sound as he shifted his weight.

“I need to go to the bathroom - “ Jake grunted, as he stepped from behind Rosemary, who blinked and turned to face him, nuzzling his chest gently. As he ruffled her ears, ensuring he kept his back to Sarah, he stepped backward and Rosemary followed, her gaze flicking from Thyme and Sarah, back to Jake, her tail slowly rising and beginning to flick back and forth.

“No, no - “ Jake playfully and tenderly placed a hand on her nose. “You're a deer, you can't come inside...”

Rosemary blinked, then flicked her ears, her tail drooping slightly, before she glanced out at the grass, then back at Jake, indecision and confusion written largely in her eyes. Nervously, she stepped towards Jake again, almost beseeching him with her expression, to be allowed inside.

“No, you're a – a beautiful creature, you are - “ Jake protested. “You belong out there – in your home, not in mine....”

Sara rose, much to Thyme's personal annoyance, but he obediently stepped back and stood protectively next to the inquisitive Rosemary.

“Oh, let them at least look inside - “ Sarah laughed. “It's not like they'll actually come inside – will you?”

Looking a the two deer, they looked back at her, confused and not understanding a word she said. Whilst she was distracted, Jake opened the back sliding door and disappeared inside, leaving Sarah with the two deer. Holding out her hands, palms forwards, Rosemary and Thyme both blinked, then gently touched their nose pads against her fingers, Thyme grunting softly and playfully lipping at her fingers again.

“Ooo – no, bad deer!” Sarah giggled, snatching her fingers away. “What you... you did, you know that was wrong, don't you?”

Thyme merely gazed back at her, no semblance of recognition or memory showing in his body posture.

“When you...you and I – my fingers and...” Sarah's blush grew worse.

Thyme gave a gentle huff at her, stepping closer, then nuzzling her shoulder, before he stepped back and looked down, then back up into her eyes, his expression strange, as he looked down again, then with remarkable care, playfully poked at the skirt with one antler.

“Hey!” Sarah squeaked, then nervously laughed. “Stop that!”

Thyme, curious, resumed playfully rocking his head from side to side, fluttering Sarah's skirt, before, with a startled grunt, it snagged on his antlers, and with one toss of his head, he ripped it away – almost knocking Sara over.

With startled grunts and head thrashing, Thyme found his head covered, startling and frightening him as he backed away, shaking his head and uttering loud, frightened cries.

“Woah!” Sarah yelped in growing alarm and fright.

Slashing his head, Thyme fought to free himself, before Sarah's voice froze him – his heavy breathing and trembling breaking her heart.

“It's alright, shhh - “ Sarah murmured, keeping well back, her voice low and as comforting as she could make it. “Please, I know you're scared – it's okay! I won't hurt you – you trust me...don't you?”

Thyme, blinded by the skirt over his eyes, turned his head from side to side, his nostrils scenting the air, until he took a timid step forward, using his sense of Sarah's scent as a beacon.

“Good boy, good - “ Sarah told him, offering reassurance, as she reached out and when he bunted his nose against her palm, he stopped, but his body still quivered in fright. “Easy now, I'll take it off, you're okay...now...steady - “

Thyme grunted, then shuddered, feeling rather than seeing as Sarah reached out, and with a few moments of difficulty, untangled her skirt from Thyme's antlers. He blinked and shook his head, his eyes wide, before he coughed and lowered his head, almost as if trying to apologize. Sarah smiled, looking at him, then lightly caressing one ear – before she looked at the torn skirt and sighed quietly.

With her attention elsewhere, Thyme's head moved slightly, and he looked at her strange clothing and milk-white skin. With a few gentle breaths, he inhaled a scent that made him surprised – a scent he'd smelt from her before, just not as strongly. Sarah, suddenly noticing where the buck's nose was in relation to her semi-naked self, gasped and the skirt fell from her fingers as she felt his hot, moist breath tickle her thighs.

“No, naughty!” Sarah hissed, her face flushing as she glanced over her shoulder, then back at Thyme, who grunted and looked up but didn't move his head.

As Rosemary abruptly sidestepped, coming into visual range of Sarah, her entire body tensed up a sudden burst of disapproval echoed through the air in the form of a loud, sharp snort emanating from her delicate nostrils. Thyme, attuned to Rosemary's signals, responded by stepping backward, his head raised in acknowledgment, a low grunt escaping his throat.

'What the...”

Sarah gasped, the moment between her and Thyme shattered by the starting, loud snort from the doe, who stared at Thyme for a moment, then turned a more gentle, expressionate gaze on Sarah, touching her nose to Sarah's belly gently, before she too stepped back and then, the moment broken, both deer fled back towards the forest once more.

Draping her torn skirt around her hips and holding it with one hand, Sarah mused on the strangeness of this encounter. She couldn't deny, the buck's hot, wet breath against her thighs and panties – well – it did things for her – that Sarah wasn't entirely comfortable with admitting to herself.

Twenty minutes later, Jake came back out, drying his hair with a towel, and Sarah glanced at him, then back at the forest, before slowly turning her head to stare at him, both eyebrows raising slowly.

“Just why did you feel the need for a shower?” Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly.

Jake looked around, then feeling sad he'd missed saying farewell to the two deer, he shuddered, a blush creeping up his cheeks.

“Same reason you did the other time...” Jake nervously laughed. “Oh, come on my love – you really think I didn't catch that? Really? He...just by...”

Sarah blushed herself before she shuddered at the memory. “I... can't explain it...”

Jake nodded, his own little accident – not so easily explained. “I know it's...wrong – but her body warmth and... it wasn't anything intentional – you understand, it just – I -”

“I won't pretend to understand, the same as you wouldn't pretend to understand my own...embarrassing moment. Still, I got to ask and wonder -”

Jake glanced at Sarah, her blush deepening, before he laughed nervously, then grew serious and thoughtful. “They're...Sarah, they're wild – they'd never...you know...”

Sarah blushed, waving a hand in an offhand way. “You don't know the half of it – come on, it's getting chilly out here, winter will be here before we know it...”

Slipping a hand around his lover's waist, Jake smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Tell me about the buck, and I'll tell you about the doe – deal?”

Sarah's cheeks flushed worse, as she let the torn skirt fall and raised an eyebrow, kissing Jake on the cheek. “I don't think you could do what he did...but I wouldn't mind you trying to emulate him...”

TO BE CONTINUED...