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The Terrible Case of the Torn Swimming Trunks

Water everywhere, as expected. Patrons drifted on their tubes on the lazy river that circled the entire park. Swimmers filled the central pool to capacity, some diving in to a few angry whistles from the lifeguard, some walking up the steps as water dripped from fur or scales and swimming trunks. Around a few gorgeously aligned trees lay a hidden alcove with its collection of hot tubs. Flirtatious inhabitants hogged the tubs, the water bubbling and relaxing as the folks there mingled and laughed. On the far side of the park, a pair of body slides tested the courage and mettle of those who dared ascend the 150-foot structure. A corgi watched the slides from a distance, near the entrance to the park, a paw lifted to shield his face from the blaring early summer sun. The concrete below felt warm beneath his hind paws, and the sun radiated through the exposed fur: the fawn of his arms and shoulders and the creamy white that extended over his chest and chubby belly. The corgi's ears perked. A scream erupted through the park as some teenaged girl took the plunge down.

"I don't think you're tall enough for that slide, short stuff."

The voice gave the corgi a startle. He turned to see a shirtless wolf glaring down at him. Muscles bulged without him flexing, and a white tuft of fur between those meaty pecs offered the only contrast in color, the rest of his body blanketed with a fierce black. The wolf scratched his soft-looking belly that hung pleasantly. He then crossed his arms, almost as if to mask a flaw, the patch of white fur now buried beneath a thick pair of forearms.

"I... I wasn't gonna ride it anyway," the corgi managed.

"Why not? You chicken shit?"

The corgi stammered, attempting to formulate a response.

"Jeez, go easy on the kid, Ham-fry." A fit deer in a white tank top ambled into the picture from a concession stand and handed the wolf one of the drinks he carried, the bend straw swiveling in its lid. The deer took a sip of his own drink. The smell of fried corndogs wafted over, making the wolf flick his tail hungrily; but he seemed to frown from only receiving the drink.

"H-ham fry?" the corgi muttered dumbly.

"Hamfry... like ham-free," the wolf corrected before taking a sip. "This guy likes to butcher my name on purpose." Turning to the deer, Hamfry clutched the deer by the antlers and pulled him close. "Dude, this is fruit punch. I hate the fruity stuff."

The deer snorted and rolled his eyes as they exchanged drinks. The wolf took a cautionary sip from the deer's original cup, and his ears flattened contentedly. "Enjoying your usual?"

"You know I only like lemonade," Hamfry said. "Perfect for hot days like this."

"Such a bore!" The deer socked the wolf in the shoulder. The two of them bantered back and forth over which drinks were best, and which sucked.

The corgi glanced around at the crowd, some heading toward the water, some leaving, some entering the line to the concession stand. A young feline in a flowery bathing suit munched on a massive, pink puff of cotton candy. The corgi returned his attention to the duo. The wolf wore red swimming trunks. The deer wore blue ones. To see their faces, the corgi had to look up. Both were tall... but excluding the deer's antlers, he appeared to be taller than the wolf by a couple inches. The corgi dropped his head again. Noticed the wolf's big hind-paws and their collection of black claws. The deer's cloven feet adjusted here and there. One of the corgi's paws had snuck across his chest to the other shoulder, but he dropped both arms to adjust his own swimming trunks that were a similar shade of blue as the deer's. He noticed his small hind-paws compared to the wolf's. Wiggled his toes as if the act would cause him to grow.

"And who's your friend here?"

The corgi shot back up without offering a response.

"Dunno," the wolf said with a nonchalant shrug. "Just noticed this little dude staring at those massive slides. I don't think they'll even let him on."

"I'm tall enough!" the corgi spat, but then he felt his ears go flat and his eyes dart between their feet again: cloven hooves and thickly clawed hind-paws.

"I dunno..." the deer said with a smile and a wink. "If I remember right, you have to be at least four feet tall." A hand indicated how tall he should be in comparison to the deer.

"I'm nine inches taller than that!" the corgi insisted, his tail giving a single resolute wag.

"Nine inches, eh?" The deer winked, shooting down a quick glance to the bulge in the corgi's swimming trunks, his eyes following it down a pantleg. He gave a not-so-subtle nod of approval.

The wolf grunted. "Quit acting gay. No winking. No nodding. No funny business. You ready to hit the pool yet? I'm starting to bake under this sun." The wolf lumbered toward the central pool, other patrons clearing from his path. He slurped up the last of his lemonade and tossed the cup into the nearest garbage can. The figure of the park's mascot, a happy-go-lucky alligator, smiled from the side of the receptacle.

"You coming?" the deer offered. "I'm Hunter, by the way. Odd name, I know, being a deer and all. No offense about your height. Shorties are cute. Dated one myself." He tipped the straw towards the corgi. "Wanna sip?"

"Oh, uh, no, and... it's... fine," the corgi managed. The two started walking. He offered a paw, shaking the deer's hand and letting out a breath. "I'm Sean."

"Sean the Shorty. Perfect!"

"Y-yeah."

"So, tell me, Sean. What brings you out here? You alone?"

"Not exactly. But kinda."

"Only kind of alone?" Hunter smiled down at the corgi. "There are plenty of places where that can be accomplished. Why be kind of alone at a water park?"

"I'm with most of my graduating class," Sean added. "Free tickets. Might as well."

"Ah, that explains all the busses in the lot. Must be a school district thing. This place is crawling with you 18-year-old turds!" Hunter smiled. "Where are your friends?"

"Uh... most of 'em graduated last year, actually. I dilly-dallied one semester and failed a couple classes. Held me back a year."

"Ah, major suckage, dude." Hunter waved off the wolf who had already slipped into the pool and was calling him over. "Which school?"

"Kofa Ridge High."

"Thought so. We graduated from there three years ago. You got that whole Criminal vibe about you."

The deer gave a knowing nod, which the corgi returned, his tail giving a wag. Then, while pumping fists in the air, they chanted, "Come on and fight, fight, fight!"

Both the corgi and deer chuckled amongst themselves. Sean followed Hunter to a vacant poolside chair as he went on about how he didn't understand their old high school's choice of mascot--made them all sound like a school full of delinquents. Sean watched as the deer took a sip of his drink, set it down by the seat, then tugged off his tank top. The corgi got a good look of the deer's pert nipples, firm abs, and lean build. Hunter's antlers snagged his shirt, so his face was covered--Sean's chance. The deer's fur pattern was similar to the corgi's: white fur gracing the chest and stomach region, dark-brown fur over his arms and back. A few white spots, however, dotted Hunter's shoulders, and a treasure trail of fawn-colored fur led from his belly button to his crotch safely veiled behind those swimming shorts. The corgi felt his face flush as his eyes roamed over the taut rump and the flicking two-toned tail. He averted his gaze when the deer finally untangled himself.

"Goodness," the deer said with a laugh. He tossed the shirt onto the chair, claiming it. "Sucks being a deer sometimes."

"Tell me about it," Sean empathized. "Sometimes I question the value of being born to this... breed."

"Your height bothers you."

"S-sometimes," Sean said, glancing back up. The deer looked down at him with kind eyes a similar shade of blue as the trunks he wore. "Sometimes I wished I had the height like you do. I grew up being overlooked... both physically and... everything else."

"Aww... now I feel bad for teasing."

The corgi smiled, revealing a few friendly, white canines. "Ah, sorry. Don't worry about it. No one likes a whinger. Especially since..."

The deer cocked his head. "Especially since what?"

"Uh..."

The wolf trumpeted from the pool. "If you don't get in the pool with me, Hunter, you're gonna be Hunt_ed_ instead!"

Hunter chuckled. "Heading in with us?"

Sean offered a coy smile, his ears flattening. But his tail offered a small wag. "Sure!"

The crocodile lifeguard blew his whistle after the deer took off and splashed nearby swimmers with a cannonball. The wolf high-fived him when he emerged from the water. The two of them ignored the lifeguard's berating shouts as he pointed to the NO DIVING sign. The deer gestured for Sean to join in. The corgi glanced at the crocodile from his post who shot a scrutinizing glare. The corgi sat at the edge of the pool and slipped in carefully. The taste of the chlorinated water seeped into his mouth as his body briefly submerged. He paddled over to the wolf and deer.

"Not one to make waves, eh?" Hunter said with a grin.

"I try not to," Sean said, "at least not anymore...." Then more quietly: "Although sometimes just existing is enough."

The deer nodded. "Even the smallest stones cause ripples."

"Can we save the proverbs for later?" the wolf scoffed with an eyeroll. "When there's a pool, you swim. Simple as that."

Hunter laughed and splashed the wolf. He offered a fake apology for talking too deeply and suggested that he join the young'uns at the kiddie pool. "Figuratively speaking, of course. Don't go there literally. But Fortnite discussions and the danger of cooties may be more your thing."

"I'm gonna pound you."

"Mmm... please do!"

The wolf growled, muttered an insult regarding the deer's sexuality, and splashed water back. He then launched into a succession of breaststrokes across the water, splashing past people busy tossing beach balls or participating in underwater handstand contests towards the shallow end. The deer followed close by although more slowly, his hooved feet not designed for swimming. The corgi hesitated momentarily, watching the pair weave through the noisy pool. Then he paddled after them. Just as he reached the far end, the wolf launched himself diagonally through the pool, avoiding the deer and heading back to the deep end where they had started. The deer laughed and redoubled his efforts to catch up. The corgi emerged in the shallow end, wiping water from his eyes. His head darted around in search of the pair and he hesitated when he found them heading back to the deep end. He followed. For several minutes the trio played this little game, the wolf swimming through and around the crowds and doing his best to avoid the deer and, at times, the corgi. Desperation made him risky and clumsy as he fatigued. Swam too close and bumped into people who laughed or swore at him. Dove deep and slunk beneath kicking feet.

The deer didn't let up.

The corgi, though, grew tired and lifted himself onto the edge where he had first entered the pool. He brushed water off his face. Looking for the deer and wolf, instead he made eye contact with a fellow schoolmate, some female Maine coon from his algebra class who sat up front. Sean waved with a polite smile. She turned back to her friends, a posse of tomcats, with a laugh. Glanced back over and tittered again. Sean's hand tightened into a ball and fell to his side. Sean averted his attention back to the deer who, seeing the wolf dive deep, headed him off. The wolf emerged from the water, inhaling deeply before glancing around for his friend, and released a startled growl.

"Gotcha!" the deer cried from behind, wrapping his arms around the wolf with a laugh. He hugged tightly, which seemed to release the smell of wet wolf and chlorinated water from Hamfry's fur. He gave the protesting wolf a kiss to the cheek but didn't release him until Hamfry snarled and shrugged him off.

"Go bother your new friend with that shit!" Hamfry spat. A broad paw smacked the surface of the pool. Water splashed against Hunter's arms shielding his face. The deer splashed back with a laugh and turned towards the corgi. He waved him over.

Sean glanced around with concern, then slipped back into the water and doggy paddled over. The deer and wolf were both an arm's length from the Maine coon girl and her friends. Sean did his best to avoid looking their direction.

"Who's your friend?" Hunter asked. His blue eyes were wide with a friendliness that warned of mischief.

Sean swallowed. "Friend?"

"This fine feline right over here!" Hunter pointed without discretion. Sean's ears slunk back as the Maine coon looked over with a look of confusion. "Don't think I didn't notice that coy little wave, Sean!"

"Excuse me?" the Maine coon said. Long, white whiskers twitched curiously.

"Oh, not again," the wolf muttered. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"By golly!" began the deer. "Our height-challenged friend here doth offer the lady a wave. Be it not courteous to offer a wave back?"

"It's not a big deal..." the corgi muttered.

"I'm sorry... I didn't realize I was under any such obligation to respond to anyone."

"No, of course not, fair lady." The deer bowed, but then he waded over and bent in as if to whisper. "But cut a guy a break and at least wave back."

She gave a look of disgust. The three guys in her group began to protest, demanding he back off and leave them alone.

"I barely know him," she explained, gesturing at her friends to ease up. "I only recognized him because he almost pissed himself standing in front of class to write the quadratic equation on the board."

"Hold up..." Hunter clutched at his chest as if his heart had been crushed from a break up. "Did you... did you just say... quadratic equations?" The deer wailed dramatically, his hands smacking into the water and splashing everyone around.

"Okay... you've had enough," Hamfry butt in when the Maine coon and her friends began to shout angrily from being splashed. "Apologies, apologies..." he added. He hooked his arms under the deer's arms and dragged him through the water towards the shallow end. Hunter wailed all the while with his eyes closed, tossing his head back and forth in a dramatic display of despair. The other pool inhabitants all looked on at this spectacle. The corgi hesitated to join the deer and wolf, but when the Maine coon and her crew shot daggers at him, he gulped and waded after his two new... acquaintances.

"I swear to the great wolf gods that you've been sent as my friend to punish me..." The wolf prodded the deer up the steps and out of the pool. Hamfry shook his head as he lifted himself up the steps, water dripping from his black fur and erect tail. "Believe me, the irony of our little... relationship doesn't elude me."

The corgi chanced offering his observation: "Seems like the wolf has fallen prey to a deer, in a sense."

"See that?" the wolf scoffed. "Even short stuff here gets it--the embarrassing dynamic of our relationship."

"But what I don't get is why you didn't go after that girl?" Hunter wondered. He watched as the corgi stepped out of the pool, water dripping from his swimming trunks that clung to his form. The weight of the water had slipped his shorts down, revealing a hint of backside. Sean adjusted. Hunter added: "You like her, right?"

"I was just waving a friendly hello." Sean wiped water from his face. "I just wanted to be nice."

"Want to ask her out?" Hunter pressed. The corgi's face began to flush. Cue the burn of embarrassment. The deer continued: "Want a _girl_friend?"

"No... I mean... She's just a girl I recognized from class. I just wanted to acknowledge her. It was just a wave."

The wolf lifted an eyebrow. Crossed his arms. His muscles looked even more bulgy from being wet.

The corgi gulped again, but his mouth was dry despite having just emerged from the water.

"Well, you're certainly getting all flustered over 'just a girl.'" Hunter winked and strolled back to the chair to collect his shirt and drink. "Where to next?"

The wolf glanced back to the clowder in the pool. The group was still glaring back at them with sharp, feline eyes, some shaking their heads. The corgi chanced a look and caught the glare of the Maine coon. Without hesitation, she shot up a middle finger. Seeing all this, the deer smiled and sipped from his drink until it finally gurgled without averting his gaze. He tossed the cup into the nearest trashcan. The alligator mascot continued to grin.

"How about the slides?" the wolf offered. "You're coming with us, short stuff."

"W-what? Why?" the corgi's fur stood on end, and he refused to look towards the Maine coon and her friends. His fur stood on end as they glared. "Actually, good idea."

As they hustled towards the slides, feeling the heat radiating from the pavement and the uncomfortable closeness of the crowds, the corgi would offer up some glances to the occasional classmate he recognized before returning his gaze to the space before his feet. The deer noticed this.

"You know... girls like that?" Hunter said, draping his tank top over a shoulder. "Avoid those ones. The movies play up how awesome these hard-to-get types are, but you should settle for the nice ones. Believe me."

Without looking up: "Sounds like you have a lot of experience in that arena."

The wolf scoffed, inviting an elbow jab from the deer.

"Just one," Hunter clarified. "And that's all I needed to know."

"To know?"

Hunter smiled. "To know that this, my new, young friend"--he grabbed Sean by the shoulders and turned him to the water slides--"is all that matters right now. The biggest water slide within a thousand miles! Think you can handle it?"

"They might not let him on," the wolf said. "Don't get his hopes up."

"I don't want to even if I could." Worry made his eyes dart at the tower before him. A rider went screaming down one of the slides, water splashing from the sides and splattering onto the concrete below, before sliding to a stop at the bottom. Water cascaded off the edges. The rider hopped to his feet with a laugh and a holler and jogged to the stairs again, the lifeguard on duty berating him with the blow of his whistle. "Not for me."

"Have you tried it?" Hunter asked. When the corgi shook his head, the deer riposted: "Well, how do you know if you like it or not?"

The corgi glanced at the wolf whose expression did not change. His feet fidgeted in discomfort. Sean glanced back at the pool, although it was hidden behind a crowd of people going this way and that. Sean glanced back at his feet. "Sometimes you just know you won't like something."

"Well that's mighty presumptuous," the wolf said, releasing his arms and padding to the stairs that led up, up, up to the top of the slides. "Suit yourself."

"Coming?" Hunter offered as he turned to follow.

"I think I'll pass."

"Come on, it'll be fun."

"No thanks."

The deer glanced back to see Hamfry climbing the steps without looking back. Hunter returned to the corgi with a sigh. "Why even come to some waterpark? Surely you could have just stayed home. Hang out with some friends or something?"

"You... wouldn't understand."

The deer watched as the corgi just stared down at his feet. The wolf called out to him and he shot a look before regarding the corgi again with a soft expression. The white tip of the corgi's tail painted the concrete between his feet with wet lines as it dangled limply.

"Perhaps I wouldn't," the deer finally responded. "Well, enjoy the rest of your time here. Hamfry and I shouldn't keep you. Was nice meeting you."

"Yeah," the corgi said. He didn't look up. "Same."

* * *

About halfway up the stairs, Hamfry's advancement to the top was halted by a line of teens. Some stood around quietly and patiently. Others shivered with excitement and exclaimed to each other their disbelief that they were doing something like this--first timers. Every several seconds Hamfry advanced a step. His ears swiveled when he heard hooved steps behind him. He glanced back: Hunter.

"No shorty?"

"He wimped out."

"Not surprised."

"Of course you're not," the deer said, rolling his eyes. "You could be a little friendlier, you know."

"I am friendly," he said, then offered a toothy grin for the briefest of moments before relaxing his expression back into neutral.

"No, no... you were being aggressive." The deer swatted the wolf with his shirt. "Uncool, dude."

Another scoff. "The only thing uncool was how much you embarrassed him in front of the feline gal he knew. And that goes double for me."

The deer opened his mouth to counterattack, but then he just shook his head with a sigh instead, leaned against the railing, and peered out amongst the park. People everywhere. The park was packed. The pool, the hot tubs, the lazy river full of folks relaxing on tubes and drifting aimlessly around the park. But no corgi in sight.

"Look, sorry." The wolf offered a sympathetic sigh. A paw found its way to the deer's back. "We've known the kid for like two seconds. He doesn't go way back like us two."

"I know," the deer said. "And I was just gonna have us leave him alone after the swim... but when I saw him get ignored like that. Back at the pool..."

"It reminded you of her."

A person behind them gave a polite ahem. The line had moved, but the wolf and deer hadn't caught up. As they climbed a few more steps, Hunter continued: "Yeah, something like that."

"Your old girl must've really done a number on you," the wolf said quietly. "You've never gotten over your first... and only. When are you gonna let her go and find a new one? Scared of round two?"

Hunter raised a finger to his lips to indicate this was neither the time nor place to discuss this. But then his gaze sunk to the steps that were wet with dripping patrons ready for another round of the slides. Hunter sighed. "You wouldn't understand either."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hamfry exclaimed. Despite his size and musclebound stature, his ears flattened, and his tail slipped between his legs. His voice went soft. "I'm your best friend, right?"

Their ears perked to the sound of someone excusing himself up the steps. Hunter and Hamfry turned. Sean appeared from behind the next person, a lanky canine, and asked if he could pass by. The person raised a finger in protest as the corgi cut ahead of him but glancing up at the glaring wolf in the group the corgi was joining made him retract his finger and stare off onto the park down below.

The corgi offered a soft apology to the lanky canine then turned back and said, "Hey guys."

"Changed your mind?" Hunter's expression of surprise transformed into a smile. "Looking to brave this beast of a slide after all? One hundred and fifty feet of pure bravery."

"Yeah..." Sean said with a coy smile. "Bravery..."

Earlier the corgi had found himself padding to the entrance of the lazy river where patrons floated down on their inflatable tubes. Between him and the entrance was the central pool. And out of the central pool came the Maine coon and her friends. His small frame immediately swiveled on a heel and booked it for the two water slides to join the wolf and deer.

"I wouldn't worry about appearing brave..." Hunter offered. "This big lug nearly pissed himself the first time I dragged him here back when we were kids."

"Knowing the type of guy you turned out to be, Hunter," the wolf began, pulling him in with a big arm and whispering so only the three of them could hear, "I bet you would've loved my pissing all over the place. And on you for that matter, am I right?"

"Oh, yes, daddy!" Hunter announced before resting his head on the wolf's shoulder. Offered a look of longing, trying to look cute. "Can I have your pee-pees in my mouthies?"

Hamfry clamped a paw over the deer's muzzle. Muffled jokes forced their way out. A couple teens ahead of them raised an eyebrow, giving a look. The wolf grinned sheepishly. "Ignore this guy."

"You asked me if I was chicken shit," Sean finally accused, seeing his chance as Hamfry released the deer. "And you didn't even want to do this yourself?"

"That was more than a decade ago. I'm here now." The wolf sneered. "Besides, I never said that I wasn't scared originally."

The deer patted the wolf on the gut. "He may be a big, scary dude, but he has a big, not-so-scary heart underneath his tough exterior."

Hunter and Sean chuckled amongst themselves while Hamfry only offered a small grin. The tension within the group relaxed as they ascended slowly up the stairs. The corgi opened up about his classes and how he was happy to be done with high school. The plan was to take a year off, continue his job cashiering at a bookstore, before hopping into a teaching program and help be a solution to the growing trend of illiteracy rates in their state. The corgi discovered the wolf and deer were both three years older than him, both twenty-one, and already juniors in their college programs.

"Perhaps you could have helped tutor this guy," Hunter offered, jabbing a thumb to the wolf. "Barely squeaked by his writing composition course with a C."

"I know how to read and write," Hamfry defended. "For some reason, I prefer spending more time getting my dick wet than writing endless papers. No way I'm passing up T and A just for an A"--he nudged Sean--"am I right, short stuff?"

Sean offered a polite laugh and rubbed his shoulder where the wolf had nudged him. "Yeah..."

Reaching the top platform, the alligator mascot on the height requirement sign indicated patrons must reach at least the bottom of the gator's extended paw. Hunter had Sean stand straight along the sign, just in case. The wolf conceded that the corgi was, indeed, tall enough. The operator called them up after the two teens ahead of them went screaming down both slides simultaneously. Fear suddenly took hold of Sean.

"Wanna do this together with me?" Hunter offered. "Will be fun!"

"No, no... you two go ahead. I think I'll pass on this after all."

The attendant's voice went stern as he directed them to take their positions. Water gushed from the two slides. Sean gulped as he followed the path of the water to the sudden drop only a few yards ahead.

"Come on, Sean, it's easier than it looks," the deer urged. "Sometimes the scariest things are what's best for us. Doing them shows us how capable we are."

"Again with the deep talk?" Hamfry scoffed from behind. "Will you two move it?"

Sean's ears flattened. His heart was racing. He glanced up at the wolf who glared down at him. Then he turned to the lanky canine he had cut in front of earlier. The canine had a look of concern tinged with impatience. "Sorry... you go ahead. I shouldn't have cut in front of you anyway...."

The wolf tugged on the deer's arm. Hunter resisted and pulled his arm back. The deer said, "Go on ahead. I'll meet you down at the bottom."

"Hunter..."

"You were like this too the first time, remember? I'll meet you at the bottom."

Hamfry sighed but gave a nod and entered the slide. The lanky canine from the line joined him on the other slide.

The deer leaned down and rested a comforting hand on the corgi's shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah... just feeling panicky, I guess." Sean watched as the canine and wolf grabbed hold of the peripheral grab bars and launched themselves forward with a shout before plummeting down. Sean sealed his eyes shut, listening to their screams quickly fade. "I don't think I can do this."

"That's fair," the deer affirmed. "What's the worst that could happen, though?"

"I... I don't know.... I could fall off the slide or something? Get hurt. Die. I don't know."

"How many people have been down this slide today, you think?"

The corgi sucked in a deep breath. Two more people skipped ahead of them, settled into the slide, and launched forward with a scream. "A lot. Dozens. Hundreds."

"Have any of them fallen off today or gotten hurt? Has anyone died?"

"No... but it's possible."

"Yes," the deer said, nodding. "Lots of things are possible. But is it probable?"

The corgi looked up, his breathing slowing down. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It isn't, no...."

The deer smiled. "You don't know how bad... or how good something really is until you try it. I know we're so up high here. It's scary. You're a dog and I'm a deer and we're not meant to be on a tower like this. But that's the fun part, isn't it? Doing things sometimes that we're not meant to be doing. Pushing the limits a bit. Getting out of our comfort zones and seeing what joy we can get out of the strange opportunities life can present us."

"Jeez... all of this just to get me down a water slide?" the corgi finally said with a grin. "I can see why Hamfry has a problem with you."

"Eh." The deer brushed the comment off with a handwave. "He's a grumpy wolf. Ignore him."

"You two finally gonna go down the slide?" the attendant asked. "Or do you need me to call someone to help you off this thing?"

The corgi looked up at the deer.

"Whatcha think, short stuff? Gonna give this big, scary thing a try with me?"

Sean's heart began to pound again. He gulped as he looked down the slide again. But he turned back to the deer, to the warmth found in those cool, blue eyes. He nodded.

The attendant had them step on and went through the rules: keep legs crossed at the ankles and arms crossed over the chest after launching yourself. Sean nodded at it all and looked over at the deer on the other slide. Hunter gave a thumbs up with the hand that clutched his tank top and asked if Sean was ready. The corgi nodded and clutched the two grab bars on either side of him. He took a deep breath. The attendant gave the go ahead. Sean hesitated. But from his periphery, he saw Hunter had launched himself.

Without thinking, Sean sucked in a breath and launched himself down the flume, eyes squeezed tightly shut. As his body drifted towards the big drop, he didn't realize he forgot to cross his ankles.

* * *

Breaths came in gulps. Sean sat up from the bottom of the pool. He shook his head, flicking water from his eyes. The descent down the slide had made his stomach drop. Despite the fact his heart was still pounding, the corgi smiled. A thrill had surged through his body. Sean gave an excited shout like one of the previous riders he had observed earlier then hopped off.

He saw the wolf laughing from the end of the slide and the surprised look of the deer as he stepped off his own slide.

The wolf called out, "Hey, short stuff! This is a waterpark, not a water_hole_. Stow your bait and tackle. This ain't the place for fishing!"

"What?" the corgi muttered, looking around. The deer pointed. The corgi looked down. A fissure had formed down the middle of his swimming trunks. His large malehood and two hefty balls were all flopped out for them to see. For _everyone_to see. The attending lifeguard looked away politely. A few onlookers glanced, did their double takes, tittered or tapped the shoulder of a friend to look. And the wolf and deer, being the closest, stared at it all. The corgi swore and did his best to conceal his genitals with the two flaps of his torn trunks, which was still miraculously held together with the waistband.

"Damn, Sean," Hunter said with an impressed nod. "For a shorty, you're certainly hung like one of these guys!" He jabbed a thumb at a towering Clydesdale whose bulge was evident in his brief swimwear.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Sean said as he covered himself. His face was on fire. His heart pounded worse now than it did on the slides.

The wolf chuckled as he walked over. "I can see where all your height went. Seems like that beast of yours took all the nutrients you needed to grow any taller."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Sean repeated, closing his eyes. His paws clutched at the tear, doing his best to seal it closed. He breathed in. Breathed out. Breathed in again.

"It's okay, Sean," the deer said. "A few people saw your impressive junk. No biggie. Well... poor choice of words there. Let's just get you to the locker room and--holy shit!"

Sean bit his lower lip. But out through the tear of his trunks, his dick pulsed and protruded. Grew thicker and longer, the head bulging from his foreskin. In a few seconds the corgi was rock solid, his dick jutting out and pointing upward. Thick, hard, and completely erect. Nine inches of corgi shaft that began to bring in a few jeers and cheers from the few that saw.

Hamfry chuckled. "Such a show off."

"No!" the corgi said. "This is embarrassing!"

Hunter offered him his wet shirt. Sean snatched it up and covered himself, then carefully began making his way from the slides, from the crowds of people staring at him, from the two guys with whom he agreed to go down the water slide in the first place.

"Hold up, Sean," the deer called. "We could start a new ride with that thing--the _log_flume!"

"Leave me alone!" the corgi spat before booking it, his small legs carrying him through the crowds. The entrance was around the corner, across from the central pool. The locker room was located there, close to the concession stand. He whispered to himself how he just needed to make it to the lockers... just needed to make it there... get his clothes on. Wait by the bus for another couple hours. Leave. Never show his face here again.

Despite running, despite feeling so embarrassed, his dick still ached from its hardness. His heavy balls joggled from his movements. He avoided the looks of everyone. He clutched the deer's shirt to his crotch harder.

Sean found his way back to the locker room, into its muskiness. The lockers were right around the corner, past the urinals and stalls. As he turned the corner, he sucked in a breath. The three tomcats from earlier were all digging through their lockers, complaining about the Maine coon demanding that they leave the park because she was no longer in the mood for swimming. One regretted having offered to drive them here. Sean continued past the lockers into the room full of rows of shower stalls. He bolted for the closest unoccupied stall and drew the curtain behind him. He folded down the seat and plopped down. He glanced at the torn trunks, and the shirt--Hunter's tank top--that covered up his sex. He slowly removed the shirt, dumping it onto the floor over the drain.

His cock, still fully erect, pointed back at him. His watering eyes traced the thick thing: the bulbous head, the few faint veins that fed the whole thing, the thick fluff of pubic fur, the big loose-hanging balls underneath. Then he sighed deeply.

"Not again."

* * *

The deer followed the commotion, people commenting about some kid with technical difficulties or a serious wardrobe malfunction. One guy mentioned how the waterpark wanted to spice things up a bit by including a giant sea serpent. Another wondered if they should post new warnings all over the park--someone could lose an eye now.

The wolf, following closely behind the deer, chuckled lowly and said, "Some of these comments are worse than your jokes. Log flume? Seriously?"

"I thought it would diffuse the situation... you know--make light of it."

"Seems like it had the opposite effect." The wolf shook his head. "The kid's probably scarred for life."

"Thanks," the deer said, turning the corner to the entrance. "I'm feeling _so_much better now."

"Why do you care so much? Let him go home and deal with whatever issues he has. Not that big a deal. People saw his dick. Big whoop. Let's hit the slides some more, dude."

"Go off and hit the slides without me, then!" Hunter spat. "It's not gonna kill you to check on him and make sure he's okay. It'll only take a sec."

"Then check on him, jeez..." The wolf rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "I'm getting myself a corndog. You want one too for when you get out? Oh, wait. You're probably gonna go fill yourself up with his."

Every muscle tensed in the deer's body. The deer spun around and glared at the wolf, letting out a huff. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Hamfry?"

Hamfry rolled his eyes and walked to the back of the line to the concession stand. "Nothing."

A feline thanked the cashier and turned with fluffy pink cotton candy on a stick. She took a chunk of it with her clawed fingers and tossed it into her mouth and purred. She then said, "You lookin' for your little corgi friend?" She got the attention of Hamfry and Hunter. It was the Maine coon from earlier except fully dressed in a high school uniform. "He's in the locker room. Looking a little distressed from the looks of it. I probably shouldn't have laughed earlier."

"Why did you?" the deer asked.

The Maine coon tossed another chunk of cotton candy into her mouth. Long white whiskers twitched curiously. She chewed, swallowed, licked her fingers. Then she smiled.

* * *

Breathed in. Breathed out.

Breathed in. Breathed out.

The corgi looked down at his dick. Fully flaccid again, it hung heavily but limply towards the floor.

"Finally."

He stood and kicked off his trunks, then flipped on the shower, feeling a blast of coldness that made him yip until the hot water ran and evened out the temperature. But his ears perked up just as he felt himself relax. Footsteps. The clopping of hooves on tile. He looked at the curtain in horror when the shadow of two legs spilled beneath it. Despite this, Sean felt his dick twitch.

Hunter slipped in and patiently ensured the curtain slid completely shut. He offered a smile, which grew when the corgi instinctively covered up his privates with his paws. The water pattered the floor and against Sean. The corgi glanced up through the falling water and said, "What are you doing?" The corgi then bit his lower lip and snatched up the white tank top from the floor to cover his crotch. "God... please just leave."

"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," the deer said.

"You made fun of me!" the corgi spat. "How the hell was that okay?"

"I get you. I hear you. That was a weird way to go about trying to comfort you."

"Comfort me?"

"Tried to make light of the situation."

"You were making fun of me."

"No... just the situation." The deer paused. Then he closed his eyes. "Honestly, I started boning up when I saw you."

The sound of the shower replaced what should have been awkward silence.

"You liked what you saw?" the corgi managed, starting to blush. "Last time someone saw this... it didn't go well."

"I heard, actually. I guess you had a reputation back at your school. Popping a boner in the boy's locker room when you admitted to one of your friends that you liked him. Ring a bell? They all abandoned you after that...."

Alarm smeared across the corgi's face. "How did you... how did you know?"

"Your little cat-girl buddy we met at the pool. She clued us in on why she laughed at you. Half your class knew about that little debacle."

"God, it was my fault. I lost all my friends as a result--those so-called friends I said graduated last year. That part was true. But they weren't my friends anymore by the time they walked. My feelings came out at the wrong place and the wrong time... and to the wrong person. I got nervous and excited and got hard. He freaked out. Told everybody." The corgi looked away. "Sucks being so small and so big simultaneously. I couldn't hide"--he gestured towards his crotch--"it."

"Nor should you need to," the deer said, his smile radiating such warmth and understanding. He kneeled until he was eye-level with the corgi. "Can I have my shirt back?"

The corgi bit his lower lip before offering a small nod. The deer pinched the tip of his shirt and slowly tugged away, revealing a bit of shaft until the whole shirt slipped off, the corgi's semi-erection springing into full view. The shirt fell to the floor in a wet lump.

"Goodness... you are big. How did a little guy get a dick like this?"

The corgi felt himself burning up. His heart raced as he watched the deer's eyes go wide, his pupils darting this way and that as he looked his malehood over. Seeing the deer look at him, so exposed... his dick hardened completely, the plump head stretching out his foreskin until it was fully exposed. The deer reached over and touched him. Sean bit his own lower lip again.

"And so thick..." the deer continued. His hand slipped down and eventually clutched both furry testicles dripping with water. "And damn--huge balls to match. Your height really did go to your genitals, didn't it?"

"Yeah..." the corgi managed, offering up a small laugh.

"Want me to suck you off, Sean?" The corgi looked back blankly. "You've been a single guy all this time, right? Never had anyone pleasure you before?"

"No..." he said. "Never. But I thought you had a girlfriend?"

"I did," the deer said. "And that's when I found out I had no interest in women. It was a scary revelation for me, honestly. She tried sucking me off and I couldn't get hard. We tried fucking--the real deal. Couldn't even get it in. I was pushing rope. Talk about embarrassing... and a quick boot to the curb." Hunter shook his head with a grin. "But look what seeing you has made me do!"

The corgi peeked where the deer was indicating. His other hand was clutching the erection in his trunks. He gave the bulge in his pants a few strokes before clutching it at the base, revealing the outline of his cock. Sean felt his own dick twitch with excitement.

"Here, let's get you into a better position," the deer said before hoisting the corgi onto the seat. Sean's dick bounced up and down, and he felt himself blush all the harder because of it. The deer smiled and gave the corgi's stiffy a gentle tap so that it bounced again. "Nice and hard. But it looks like I'm a little overdressed myself... wanna watch me take this off?"

The corgi nodded shyly.

The deer slipped his hands to his firm stomach, sliding over the soft musculature there and to the knot, undoing it to loosen his trunks. Then he tugged his shorts down slowly, revealing thick pubic fur and the beginning of his shaft. The corgi's heart pounded faster. He licked at his lips. The deer's hard dick bulged at his trunks. More and more of his fleshy pink shaft slipped into view as he pulled his trunks down ever so slowly, smiling all the while. Then finally the corgi's heart leapt to his throat as the deer's cock sprung loose, bobbing a few times before lifting mightily up towards the corgi. Six inches of thick deer meat.

The deer let his trunks fall to the floor and he stepped out of them. The corgi couldn't tear his eyes away from the sight of the deer's erection or his soft, furry white balls, and how the water was hitting him and cascading down his abs and legs.

The deer brought a hand to the back of Sean's head, his fingers sifting through thick, wet fur. Hunter gave a little smile, then kissed the corgi on the tip of his nose. The deer's other hand reached down to stroke Sean's nine-inch erection. The corgi let out a breath and reached a paw to the deer's face, looking back softly and yearningly before pulling him in for a kiss. The seat Sean stood on creaked from his movements. Their tongues were rough and wet, and the kiss was passionate. The deer maintained stroking the corgi off, feeling that thick, long member twitch softly. Some pre-cum beaded at the tip as they kissed, but the water from the shower washed it away.

Suddenly the corgi broke the kiss. His face grew solemn. "I don't think I can do this."

The patience found in the deer's face did not waver. Instead, he nodded. "That's fair. What's the worst that could happen, though?"

The corgi couldn't help but grin, giving a knowing nod. He glanced down at the floor. "I could fall off the seat. Get hurt. Die."

"Is that probable?"

They both chuckled, Sean indicating that it wasn't. But then the corgi's face went solemn again. He said, "It's just, I haven't done this before. I'm scared. I don't want to get hurt again. I don't want this to be a one-time thing."

"It doesn't need to be."

"But I don't want to come between you and your friend. I get the feeling he doesn't like me much."

"He's a grumpy wolf. Don't worry about him. He'll come around once he gets comfortable with you... and with me."

Sympathy and concern made the corgi's face go soft. "He doesn't know, does he?"

"I... think he suspects," the deer said. His face went solemn too.

"He's made a few... jokes or whatever that questioned your sexuality. Do you think he'd end the friendship if he finds out?"

"Hamfry can be incredibly hard to read," Hunter admitted. "We grew up together. Been through a lot. As kids, he'd get teased for his weight. He was so chubby! And I'd get picked on for being so skinny. As my antlers grew, people would tell me they couldn't tell the difference between them and me." Hunter chuckled softly. "But we found solace and protection with each other. You wouldn't believe this, but he used to be a cheerful and upbeat guy! But he grew a little, I guess, cold and distant once we hit middle school. Helped him cope with the world. He eventually started working out and kept to himself. Got big and buff and grumpy so that people would leave him alone. I'm still his only friend." The deer offered a small smile. "Anyway... this probably isn't the best place to orate my autobiography." Another soft, almost sad chuckle escaped his muzzle. "Don't worry about Hamfry. I think it's time he knew, no matter the consequence. He stuck with me then. He'll stick with me now."

"But--" The deer placed a finger on the corgi's lips and told him it'll be okay. He kissed him gently. The kiss led to another. Then a third, which the corgi returned. Then a few more with tongue. They released and touched foreheads. Then finally the corgi said, "When there's a pool, you swim, right? Or, in this case, when there's dick..."

The deer chuckled warmly. "I think I get it."

They kissed again as the shower blanketed both with its pattering warmth. Hunter eventually moved to the corgi's neck. A kiss there. Then to his chest. Another kiss. A nipple. A kiss there... some tongue, too, which elicited a moan. Then down the corgi's soft belly as Hunter transitioned into a kneeling position. More kisses. Then the deer reached the coarser pubic fur to kiss there, carefully inhaling the scent. He snorted to clear the water cascading over his nose. Sean turned the shower off. Hunter moaned as he brushed his face against the corgi's malehood and inhaled, took in the scents now that the water had ceased. He glanced up lovingly, locking eyes. Blue upon blue. A tongue reached out, touching the base of the corgi's cock before traveling upward. The deer took in the bulbous head. Sucked there. Licked the slit on the tip. Tasted the leaking pre-fluid.

The corgi moaned... tapping a foot against the seat on which he stood, the sensations starting to overwhelm him already. He gasped as Hunter took in more of his length, and the corgi could feel his dick prodding the roof of Hunter's mouth, the back of his throat. Felt the wet, rough tongue send zips of sensation along the bottom of his shaft. Sean's paws found their way to Hunter's antlers, and he squeezed and clutched at them, braced himself as the deer serviced him.

The deer worked more confidently, his small tail swishing back and forth happily. He snuck a hand down to his own incredibly hard erection to pleasure himself as he worked. Their stall filled with their noises... low moaning, the sucking sounds as Hunter worked, the deer beating himself off... then the sounds of talking outside their stall as two people walked in mid-conversation. The corgi tensed up, his fur standing on end as his ears perked. He placed a paw onto the side of the deer's face to encourage him to stop, but Hunter kept sucking on his knob, kept sending zips of pleasure throughout his body, and the corgi did all he could to stifle a moan. The two patrons broke the conversation and occupied the stalls on either side.

"God, Hunter..." Sean whispered. "Please... we'll get caught."

But the deer kept sucking, kept beating himself off as white noise spilled into the room from the adjacent showers, masking their sounds. This seemed to ease the corgi, and he resumed clutching onto Hunter's antlers, whimpering with pleasure, and looking down with amazement as the deer swallowed his cock in its entirety. Hunter snuck a hand to fondle the corgi's heavy balls, and the corgi jumped when that hand decided to move back to squeeze his rump. Then the deer sucked a little faster... a little harder... and the corgi stifled a grunt, his hips bucking in slightly. The pleasure of it... it was getting too good.

"Hunter..." the corgi whined between nonstop panting. One paw slipped to his thigh, giving it a few taps. Tap, tap, tap... Kept tapping. "I'm gonna cum...."

This triggered the deer to beat himself off faster as he took as much of the corgi's length as he could, giving quick pulses of his head over and over. The bulbous glans prodded the back of Hunter's throat, but he managed to stifle his gag reflex. The corgi's paw tapped away furiously. The other paw clutched the deer's antlers. Sean lifted himself onto his toes. Eyes winced shut. He cried out, pushing his hips in. His tapping paw returned to the antlers and he pulled the deer in. Bucked his hips again. Bit his lower lip and let out a pleasurable, teeth-bearing growl...

His dick pulsed and pulsed and pulsed. The deer stopped sucking as shot after shot of hot corgi cum filled the back of his throat and seeped down his gullet. Hunter moaned in approval. He swallowed, getting the full taste and texture of Sean's spunk. The corgi's tongue lolled out as he panted and panted, his dick still spasming. His knees went weak from all the pleasure. The deer released him, getting a couple shots over his muzzle, the corgi's huge cock still twitching. Still beating himself off quickly, the pleasure the deer felt intensified. Hunter gave quick, short breaths. His dick was leaking so much pre-fluid. He stood up so fast the world spun.

"Finish me off, Sean," the deer instructed. The corgi hopped down, and both of his paws immediately wrapped around the deer's thick member. Hunter slammed his hands onto the wall behind Sean who stroked and stroked and stroked. It was only a matter of seconds before the deer grunted, his dick pulsing. The corgi opened wide. Thick strings of Hunter's cum plastered Sean across his muzzle, over his tongue. Hunter grunted with abandon. His muscles tensed as Sean continued to jerk off his shaft while avoiding the sensitive head. Hunter looked down just as another jet of cum landed in a large string over the dog's muzzle, nose, and mouth. Hunter let out a few breaths... gasped for air. He reached down and stroked the final thick globs out of his member and onto Sean's waiting tongue.

Then, without hesitation, he leaned down and pulled the corgi into a kiss. The taste and texture of each other's cum and saliva intermingled between the kiss. They both paused after a moment to swallow and offer each other small smiles. They kissed again. Sean closed his eyes and slipped in more tongue, pausing intermittently for a breath or to smile at Hunter when he reached down to grope Sean's flaccid member and commented on its size even when soft. The showers from the adjacent stalls ceased as they kissed, and both released the other reluctantly as the other occupants stepped out to dry off by the lockers. Hunter chuckled and mentioned that Sean was a mess and tapped at some of his cum that had seeped into the corgi's fur. The corgi mentioned that the deer had suffered the same fate and suggested they both do another rinse. But when Hunter smiled and turned on the water again, the two became lost in the moment as they embraced, exchanged more affectionate kisses, and rubbed each other tenderly beneath the water that never seemed to end.

* * *

"So, what now?" Sean finally asked, all smiles. He looked up at the handsome buck from where he stood. His heart was aflutter. Hunter had shut off the water, and both were dripping wet.

Hunter sat himself down on the seat and stroked the side of Sean's face. "I show you my place. I still live close to the high school. Hamfry and I share an apartment together."

Worry replaced his smiling. "Think he'll be okay with... us?" The corgi's ears flattened.

"Like I said, it's... time I tell him about me," Hunter said. "It's up to him whether he still wants to swim in this pool." Hunter's free hand went for his chest. "Honestly, my heart is pounding at the thought of him rejecting me... rejecting this." He squeezed Sean's paw. "I want to explore what this means, but I also don't want to lose my best friend."

The corgi nodded and said, "Is that probable?"

The deer smiled back softly. "Guess we'll see."

After they had wrung out their swimwear and made sure the coast was clear, Hunter and Sean returned to their lockers to dry off and change into fresh clothes. The two dressed quietly, but the deer made sure to steal a glance before the corgi slipped on his briefs and shorts: the wagging tail, his plump cheeks, the loose-hanging balls and some shaft. But what made him smile wide was the corgi finally looking back, his face beaming. They ambled out with their stuff, side to side. The corgi snuck his hand up to hold the deer's. And they found the big wolf, still in his swimming trunks, alone on a table in the shade. Hamfry's broad, muscular back was turned towards them. His bushy tail hung lifelessly. The remnants of his meal sat on the table: balled up napkins, a paper food try with nothing but grease and fry crumbs, a few empty mustard packets, a couple corndog sticks.

Hunter and Sean glanced at each other. Both nodded. They approached the table to give the wolf the news, to tell him about the new pool that had opened up between the deer and corgi... and how both of them decided to seize the day, to take a dive into its revitalizing waters as deep and blue as their eyes that had opened, like a lover's arms, to each other.