Rise

A story by Sharpfang '2005

"Stop. Stand where you are. Just stay away."

The Change has changed many things. It has changed the human mentality. It has vastly changed the economy and ecology. It has changed the science, relligions, philosophies. It didn't change the nature of animals though.

All throughout the world, over the course of fourteen years, all species have gained speech. More precisely - limited understanding and use of English. Why? "Not fully explained phenomenon" as scientists loved to call that. A theory with more holes than a swiss cheese, but most probable of all. Probably an artificial virus created by a secret organisation - what else if not virus, though nobody ever isolated it - was causing a genetic change in all new-born animals. The difference in genome was confirmed, at least that wasn't paranormal. Some changed sections of brain, some changes of the throat anatomy. Enough to use speech. Apparently the dictionary was carried through the genes, because new-born already knew the language. Moreover, the dictionary was pretty fixed, few animals ever managed to learn using any words beyond what they were born with. The use was pretty much restricted by their mind capablities too. They were able to express their feelings, will, thoughts - if they wanted, that is - but the mind of the rat has been found to be overrated, mind of a dolphin was all it was hyped to be, most birds were confirmed to be awfully dumb, dogs started gradually blending in the lower class of human society, cattle could be gentle and convincing enough to inspire total ban on animal meat worldwide, arrogance of bigcats turned many people's interest away from them, reptiles after gaining the ability to speak, hardly ever used it at all, and if ever, then it was just obscenities, fishes despite developing the brain extension, remained speechless, and anything simpler than them wasn't affected by the Change.

And horses inspired a lot of awe. Often referred to as "A beautiful mind", their shy pride, their distrustful faith, gentle strength puzzled and changed people's approach to them. They were set free, though through friendship and care you could earn right to ride them. And enough people were willing to learn the new approach, that most equestrian sports remained alive - through horses that loved competing. Horses weren't very wise, but thanks to them humans reevaluated one concept: human IQ is overrated. Many farms changed into mixed-species communes, with humans and animals working together when one recipe for success, that is for happiness of all members of a commune, was found: leaving the leadership to a horse...

But this bay filly here was totally wild. She grew up with a herd of wild horses and didn't trust humans. Animals retained their own languages and used them in communicating with each other - and use of english for interspecies communication was extremely rare. Except when communicating with humans - wild animals instinctively knew to use it.

• It's okay. I won't come any closer. I'll just sit here.

I sat on the grass. She grazed for a while but then turned and walked away, stopping good 200 meters away to continue grazing. My presence was unwelcome. I stayed there for a hour anyway, just watching her, until her herd decided to move on.

For a week I was trying to get closer, to gain some of their trust. Without much success. The alpha stallion kept a close eye on me, I heard "get out of here" and some not really self-confident threats from him as the herd moved close by once, so just out of courtesy I backed off a bit, just to show I'm not trying to stand my ground against him.

On the eight day I heard motors. Lots have changed in the human mentality since the Change, but a natural high percentage of assholes remained. Rich kids on trikes and quads invading the peace of Nature Reserve, likely looking for animals to chase. I tried to judge their location by the noise of the engines. Down the ravine. The slope of the peak was cut by several ravines. Slippery, muddy walls covered with leaves from high trees were quite hard to climb except in a few specific places. There was a place where all smaller ravines joined into a big one which ran all the way down to the valley, with a rocky brook down its middle. I guessed they would come through there.

Of course I thought of the horses. And I thought I heard far noise of hooves. I ran down the slope, near the place where the ravines join, then half-running, half-sliding I got to the bottom of the joint, near a small muddy swamp giving origin to the brook. I took my place by the entrance to the single of the upper ravines that had an easy to climb part of its walls. Soon enough I heard the hooves approaching.

I recognised my filly. Her flanks heaving, foam on her mouth, tiredly running up the brook. She saw me by the relatively clear side of the swamp and struggled to get towards the opposite side, but then I stepped aside.

• Come through here. Behind me. I'll protect you. She stood for a moment, pondering my offer.

• Come! You'll be safe with me! Hurry up, they are coming!

Finally she obeyed. In my heart I blessed the Change for letting her understand me. Stumbling and slipping on the difficult terrain she ran up the ravine behind me, and I took the high ground between the swamp and the wall, the only passage a quad could take. Then I took out my .45 and aimed at the incoming vehicles.

I just stood my ground. They came to a stop, tried to scare me with noise of the engines, but when one of them came closer, with gun aimed at his head he turned away, the others followed.

With the roars of engines vanishing in the distance, I hid the gun and ran up the ravine. The filly was nervously trotting around the dead end with steep, high, slippery slopes. I saw marks in the mud where she tried to scale them but slid down. I stood by the narrow path up across the slope near mid-way up the ravine. I called out to her.

• Here's the exit. Follow me. - I said in a gentle tone when she came tiredly and approached me fearfully. I climbed the path frequently used by deers and wildhogs until I reached the level of the forest. The sound of the motors was dying in the distance already.

• It's safe. Come.

She followed me. She stood by me. Adrenaline rush ending, fatigue taking its toll, hooves placed wide apart, legs trembling, flanks heaving with breath, head down, fur soaked with sweat..

• You'll get cold. Let me cover you. - I took off my jacket and approached her - It's safe. It will help you stay warm. You are safe now. - I was calming her down, seeing how nervously she watches me. I gently spread the jacket on her back, covering as much of it as possible.

• Rest some now. I'll watch out for dangers.

She accepted the offer gratefully, her breath coming back to norm, her legs stopped trembling and she stood more firmly.

"My herd. I must get back." - she said, but after a few steps she looked back at me fearfully. The fear was still heavy on her, and I was her protector for now.

• I'll help you finding them. I'll follow you. Don't worry, your herd can't be far.

They could be many miles away by now, driven by fear, but I really didn't want to give her more worries.

"Your... 'thing' on me... Remove it?" - she referred to my jacket as we started walking down the slope.

• Let it stay for now. You're still wet from sweat.

"Will you remove it later?"

• Yes. Don't worry, it's perfectly harmless.

Save for the .45 in the pocket, I thought.

"It has your scent."

• Any problems with it?

She stopped for a moment, moving her jaw a little, what means a horse is thinking.

"No, it's fine. It's nice, warm."

• Will you vouch for me when we find your herd?

"Will you strangeword means what?" - she used one of the idioms meaning I used a word from beyond the simple vocabulary granted by the Change. I cursed myself a little for getting carried away by the ease of conversation. The Change vocabulary was pretty well mapped and I knew how to avoid strangewords. I just got carried away.

• Will you tell your herd I'm a friend?

"Are you?"

Horses were known for asking most difficult or puzzling questions and stating most important and problematic answers in an extremely straightforward manner. And I knew her empathy sense was tingling, she would learn much more about me than just the words from my answer.

• Yes, I am. - I said confidently. I put all my faith and confidence in telling that, but...

"That's sad, that you will have to leave. I will miss you."

She did feel my worry, my fear, the lie. Thing that was telling me I wasn't a true friend, because a true friend wouldn't leave.

"Don't worry. You are a friend."

We walked some more. The vegetation was getting more dense, we were getting closer to the stream in the valley.

"No, I won't leave. Sorry."

She startled me with this answer to the unasked question. I came here to convince her to come with me. To leave the forest and the herd, and to live with me. Start a new herd with me. But I knew the strength of bonds in a herd and the question was whether she would ever willingly decide to leave her herd to come with me.

It was a known fact that horses couldn't read mind, but they could learn a vast amount of feelings from the speaker's voice. So if she learned that I wanted to take her with me, she had to know the last part already. But she didn't say a word about it yet. I decided to tickle her empathy sense once more...

• So?

She was quiet a moment longer, thinking.

"I'm not sure. But not now. I'm not in season."

• I see.

"But I'll gladly give it a try then."

That was so much fun, not asking all these difficult questions. My confidence that if she gives me a chance I would be able to please her so much that she would learn to love sex and allow me to mate with her. If she only gave me a chance... and now she promised...

"Watch out for dangers" she snapped me out of my daydreaming.

The narrow path led to the rocky shore of the stream. I went first. Nothing in sight range. The filly joined me.

"There! The other side of the brook!" she whispered, deadly scared.

A large sheet of blue plastic was littering the opposite shore where she looked.

• Safe. No worries.

"Where's my herd?"

• Did you run up or down the brook while running from... the danger?

She started thinking, but kept eyeing the sheet untrustfully. Finally she turned her back on it concentrating on the answer for my question. Simple horse mind, not too good at geometry...

"I was running in this direction" - she stood heading downstream.

• Alone?

"Yes."

Then we will head upstream.

"Yes!" - she swished her tail cheerfully as she apparently understood my idea and almost prancing turned around.

She was dry by now, so I removed my jacket off her back. Before taking it on I took a sniff of its scent.

• Nice new scent.

"It's fear."

• No, it's you. - I took the jacket on, taking one sniff more.

"You're clueless about scents."

• So we have to depend on your sense of scent now. We will have to follow tracks of your herd.

"Good."

This time my empathy sense tingled. Last part of the idea clicked into place and she understood my value doesn't lie in the sense of smell. Giving a last wary look to the sheet of plastic she headed upstream, me following closely, watching her lovely back. She was swishing her tail from time to time, giving me a glimpse of her treasure.

"Nice?"

I knew. I knew she was teasing.

• Lovely.

"Now watch out. I smell danger."

• What kind of danger?

"Noisy. Smelly. Chase" - she was looking for a word. Many words in the Change vocabulary required "unlocking". They were there, but the association with item was obscured until someone revealed it. She meant the quads, but "quads" definitely weren't in the Change vocabulary.

• The Machines?

"Yes. Machines..." - she tasted the new word. - "machines..."

I felt she was somewhat disappointed that the new word she has learned from me was about a new kind of danger.

• Orgasm. - I said, giving enough empatic background for her to sense to give the meaning of this commonly locked word and unlock it.

"Oooooh." - she flicked her tail. "Nice word."

• They are far. We are safe. And you are safe with me.

"That means 'yes'"

• Err, what?

"Watch me again. Ears. Neck. Shoulder."

Slightest stretch of muscles, turn of ears, glimpse of the eye.

• Oh, I see. - I smiled. Some people claimed to learn languages of some animals, but the academic science was far behind in this domain.

• The words... They are all in you. Let me open them. This will help us later.

This time I recognised her "yes".

• North, south, east, west, left, right, one, two, three, four, five... - quickly, matter-of-factly I was speaking the words while pointing, showing or just giving emotional background to my voice. The process of unlocking is very automatic and easy, the abstractions like numbers shown by number of fingers extended are immediately fished out, it almost doesn't require attention from the animal, it just happens. And there are quite comprehensive dictionaries of unlock-associations that speed up and automate the process. True there are words difficult to unlock (colors for dogs), mostly impossible to unlock with some species (herd/pack - cats), but in most cases unlocking a number of words is trivial. And different species come with different groups of words unlocked at birth. Most animals describe the experience as rather pleasant too. And horses, due to the empathy sense, are extremely easy to "unlock".

"mmm, thanks. That felt nice" the filly thanked me, when I ended the lithany of words I remembered from the unlock-dict. Okay, I admit, I did most of it to impress and please her than from need.

"Here I entered the... river bed. Let's head to the meadow"

Yes, a some pretty obscure words made it to the list. Curious thing, most of them came unlocked. "Piezzoelectric", "byte", "centrifugal". Sometimes even replacing some quite common ones. If I asked the filly how the machines smelled like, the most likely answer would be "they smell like fossil fuel" even if she never smelled gasoline before. Using these words feels pretty awkward to the animals. Some like to use them as extra swear words. Sometimes words more rarely used were present while more common not, requiring the animals to use odd workarounds. Sometimes the workarounds made it back to mainstream. You would hardly ever hear anyone saying "I wonder" nowadays. The new dictionaries list the expression as "I'm in curiosity".

We entered the meadows. Tracks of quads were easily visible in the grass.

"I ran quite far alone."

• We'll find them.

"Yes, we will." - I felt some sadness in her voice. She did feel the unsaid "tomorrow" at the end of my sentence. She knew they were far and missed them.

"I want to run. But I know I can't run all the way. And if I run now, later I will be alone."

• We can run a bit together. Just not too fast.

I ran by her for a longer while, admiring her beauty in light gallop, later just concentrating on my breath. Finally my lungs began giving up and I slowed down to walk, gasping hard. She slowed down and walked up to me as I was catching my breath. Without a word she put her head on my shoulder. I embraced her neck with one hand, while stroking her cheek with the other. Neckhug, ancient equine gesture of friendship. She broke off first.

"That place is close. You won't leave me alone then?"

• I'm slowing you down.

"I'm scared alone"

• With me it may take longer than until tomorrow.

"But we will find them?"

• Yes. We will.

"I'm staying with you."

• Thank you. But, in that case, one thing would make it all so much easier...

"Let us try it then. Just a bit. If I can't stand it, you will stop... Promise."

So many feelings so hard to describe in words. That special relationship between a rider and a mount, bordering on abuse, requiring mutual trust and implying imposing limits on the horse's freedom. Art, by which free, wild horses like her became slaves to humans in the ancient times.

• I promise.

"So, how do we go about it?"

• uh. Would be easiest if... - I thought to ask her to kneel or lie down so I could sit on her back. But before I put it in words...

"No. You're asking too much. Try the other way."

• Then just stand still. - I hoped I expressed understanding, not disappointment. I began climbing her back, rather clumsily. After a moment I was sitting safely, holding her mane. Her quiet trust was enough for me to direct her and let her react like a trained mount. I guided her along the tracks at first, but then I got a different idea.

• I have a good chance of finding them from a high clear peak. There is one nearby.

"Then let's rest first."

It's so much easier talking with horses. The simple "nearby" implying two or three hours of travel in each direction and that we will both get awfully hungry and very tired after we're back if we go there now, and that much closer is my camp where I could drop in to pick up supplies while she could feed...

• Did I tell you I love talking with you?

"You're on my back only because we're looking for my herd. Don't get too used to that. I value my freedom."

This didn't suppress my euphory, she was with me and she trusted me enough to let me ride her back. And her mind was even more beautiful than I imagined. Not to mention the memories of the flicks of her tail and now the warmth of her body between my legs.

• I value your freedom too.

That was calculated tempting her. To stay with me. To be the alpha mare of my herd. I knew I wouldn't convince her yet, but I gave her something to ponder. She didn't answer. I didn't expect her to answer.

We crossed the stream. On the high shore, behind some bushes there was my tent. Lots of sweet, green grass. I had purposedly picked this place for a camp. Big, green glade by the forest, likely a former pasture. The filly seemed wary of my tent but I reassured her it's harmless. She sniffed it a little, then as I got off her back, she went grazing in what she considered a "safe distance".

I opened the tent, took out a gas burner, some canned food and began heating it. Then I started packing my rucksack with two days worth of supplies. A while later the soup was ready and I started eating it, while boiling water to make some coffee. I was throwing glances at the filly quite often and she apparently understood what I was looking for, turning her back on me and flicking her tail teasingly. Before I finished the meal I had a rock-hard erection.

Slowly sipping coffee and finishing packing the rucksack, I called the filly. She approached cautiously, keeping an eye on the tent.

• Try this. You'll like it. - I extended my hand with a sugar cube. She took it with her gentle lips from my hand and crushed it with her teeth.

"More, please!" - she bowed her head, pleading.

• Later. Too much at once is unhealthy.

"Just one!"

• One. And we move on. - I gave her the second cube and watched her delighted expression. - Sugar, sweet. - I unlocked the two words. - Do you have a name?

"I... have a name..."

Some animals had names. Some didn't. Some had names, but couldn't recall them.

"My name is... My name is... Risa. Yes, that's my name! Hey, I didn't know I have a name!" - she pranced around me happily.

• Let's get going, Risa.

"My lord..." - she knelt before me, inviting me to get on her back. No, she wasn't serious about considering me her lord, but horses do have a sense of humor and since our friendship grew a little, she considered this gesture of faith which allowed me to avoid struggling with my clumsiness funny in the circumstances: I was her lord only because she allowed me to. Otherwise I'd just be a clumsy human.

I didn't need to guide her. She knew the way to the bare peak better than I did and took some shortcuts I didn't know about. After all, it was her country. We heard the quad motors in the distance again, but my presence reassured Risa of our safety. Up the steep hill I asked if she preferred me walking and she accepted gladly. She was still somewhat tired from the escape, and now, burdened with the rucksack, I was heavier than before. I hoped she could at least carry my rucksack, but I had no idea how to attach it to her back, so I didn't even ask. We didn't talk, saving our breath. Finally we got to the clearing near the top.

"I really don't understand how is this place going to help."

• Oh, it is. I can see very far from here. There's my camp! - I pointed at the far dot.

"I don't see it."

• What do you see?

"The grass. Then the trees. The horizon and the sky."

• And between the trees and the horizon?

"Nothing. The horizon is pretty thick though. All the way between the trees and the sky."

• And that yellow dot in "the horizon"? - I understood how she abused the expression.

"You can read the horizon?" - she looked at me with awe. - "What does the horizon show?"

• Things that are far. They just appear way smaller.

Risa watched the mountains around for a while.

"I believe you, but... I see shapes... but I don't understand them."

• Feel free to start grazing. If they are in a forest, I won't see them. We will have to wait for them to get out in the open.

I took binoculars from the rucksack, and started scanning the area. Adjusting zoom to maximum and resting the binoculars against the rucksack to reduce shaking, I finally found the herd, far away, barely visible on a slope of a far hill. Soon they vanished behind the crest of a nearer hill though.

• I've seen them. They are very far, but heading in our direction.

"Let's go meet them!"

• They are so far, that if we go now, we are likely to miss them. Best if we wait for them to get closer. I'll be able to watch their movement from here and we will join them when they are in the near the valley.

"You are nasty. You speak one thing and you mean something completely different."

• But you know I told the truth. This will be the surest, safest way to meet them.

"But it will take longer..."

• Yes. If you're willing to take the risk, I won't oppose.

"But it would make you unhappy. Why?"

• I really want to spend some time with you, without running from place to place, chasing some far goal. Just us, together.

"You still hope to convince me to leave my herd?"

• To show you enough beautiful things, to give you enough happiness that you'd prefer to stay with me.

"You're unsure of your motives. Why?"

• By binding you to me, I'm going to hurt you. If you choose the herd, you'll miss me. If you choose me, you'll miss your herd.

"Stay with the herd."

• I wish it was that easy.

"It is."

• No, it isn't. I'm a human. Living here would be very difficult for me. I can't just eat grass, sleep in the snow...

"Be brave. Be strong. You can live here, you know it, you're just too afraid to try.

Becoming one of The Wilds? "stray humans", these who have chosen living in the wild, leaving the civilisation? Dirty, hairy savages, feared, often hunted because they got dangerous, dying from sickness two or three winters later? How to explain her?

I hoped for the easy approach to work.

• The wilds.

"No! Not them! The rangers!"

Oh. Smart filly.

• But getting a job of a ranger won't be easy.

"Try. The herd will help."

• If the herd agrees with you about trusting me.

"You're nice. I will convince them."

• It's worth trying.

"You don't sound very confident."

• I just doubt you, wild horses, will be respected enough by humans to help me any.

"Trust me."

• I will.

We were silent for a longer while. The filly started grazing. I started looking for a place for a camp. Some bushes and trees formed a niche where I would be protected from cold wind. I gathered some rocks to form a circle for a campfire, then went to find some dry wood in the forest.

I just found some broken dry branches and started picking ones I could carry, when I heard panicked whickers and rustle in the bushes. Before I could react, the filly appeared from the thickest tangle of bushes, covered with dry leaves, cobwebs, small sticks and such.

"Here you are! What are you doing!? Don't you leave me like that again! Something could have attacked you! Stupid uncautious human!" - she didn't stop to take a breath, scolding me for leaving her alone. Fear was apparent in her voice. I walked up to her and silenced her with a hug to her head. I gently scritched her mane, ears, embraced her neck and heard her breath calming down, her fear melting in overwhelming bliss of physical contact. She rested her heavy head on my shoulder and I stood there, letting her doze and relax. Her warmth, soft fur, calm breath... and depth of faith in me, this all made for such a pleasant feeling that I wanted this moment to last forever.

And it lasted, maybe not forever but nearly half a hour, until she woke up and stepped back. My legs were aching a bit from standing in one place for so long...

• I was just picking sticks. For campfire. Don't worry so much.

"I'll help."

• Just go grazing, I'll manage myself. - I reminded myself that horses need to spend a few hours every day grazing, and she certainly didn't today.

She headed back somewhat reluctantly. Then she took such a place that she could hear me well when I was picking the sticks. After some time I had supply of wood to last a night. A blanket, a sleeping bag and my camp was ready. I took the binoculars and went to the top to look for the herd again, but the horses were nowhere to be seen. Risa kept grazing but she kept a close eye on me. I sat down and started watching her. I tried asessing her as a horse in professional terms - breed, markings, build - but I kept losing focus of thought and my attention was way too often concentrating on her hindquarters. I tried reminding myself she's out of season, but all in vain. She was just incredibly hot. At one moment she was urinating and her winks afterward just gave me a hard-on. The fresh memories of her touch didn't make things any easier. She didn't seem to notice my attention, and I was afraid to open my mouth. Finally I gathered some courage.

• Risa?

She looked at me, then walked up to me.

• I think I need your help.

"But I'm out of season." she watched me for a while "Oh, okay, try it but stop if I don't like it."

I stood up and hugged her head again, whispering quiet thanks in her ear. For a while I was cuddling her mane, then with my hand on her flank I walked to her hindquarters. Crouching, I rubbed her thigh and reached for her nipples. For a while I was caressing them with my hands, then I sucked on the nipples a little and caressed them with my tongue. I felt her breath in my hair - she was watching me.

"Silly human foal" she said, nuzzling my head. "That's not arousing. Pleasant, yes, but not erotic. Nip my back."

I stood up and embraced her back. My mouth managed to find enough skin to nip it. I did so, gently.

"Stronger. Make it hurt."

I closed my teeth harder. She jumped with a loud squeal, kicking the air.

"Nip my buttock."

I rubbed her tail base. She raised her tail high. I gave a long, fast lick to her vulva, then bit her buttock, hard. The kick was rapid and strong, I barely avoided it.

"Neck. Grip my neck. Bite hard! Force me to submit!"

My teeth sank in her mane, I felt gripping her spine. Torn between arousal and fear of hurting her, I held, while she was fighting back, flailing her hind hooves in my direction, trying to turn her head to bite me, dragging my body like a rag doll, stepping towards or away from me, all the time screaming "Yes, oh, yes!" between enraged squeals. Still holding her neck, I pushed hard. She stumbled and collapsed, pulling me on top of her. She tried to stand up, but I held. A moment of panic, terror in her eyes, then I released her neck from my teeth, and bit it again, just a bit lower, roar of her pain and voice: "Take me! Do it!", her eyes again full of fire, but now warmer, calmer. I won her, her submission, she accepted me as her alpha stallion. I crouched behind her, and leaning on her back, bit into her skin on her spine, held her while unzipping my trousers, pulling them down, gasping through my nose. And I was hearing her winks, audible sounds of her vagina stretching invitingly.

"In, in, I want you inside!" she squealed, and I pushed. Not comparable with a stallion, I still made her squeal loudly, holding her back in my teeth, keeping her on the ground, my penis entering her violently, pushing hard, in long, fast strokes, my groin slapping hard against her back, muffled groans through my teeth, and waves running through her body with each my violent push. Her grunts speeding up and gaining strength as I pushed harder and faster, announcing her cllimax nearing, and I felt myself near the top as well. My hand found its way to her clitoris and rubbed it hard, her grunts connected into one loud roar, her body stretching and trembling, my own orgasm connecting with hers, her liquids mixing with mine, taste of her blood in my mouth, then releasing her back, gasping hard for air while stil shooting in her, milked by her walls, caressed and pulled inside.

Numbly, I fell on the grass. She struggled to stand up, managed it only after a few tries. Finally, I stood up and walked up to her, to thank her and embrace her. At first she stepped back, then allowed me to embrace her head, but was stiff and nervous as if afraid of me. Only my gentle touch, soft caress of her fur calmed her down, and I was feeling the stiff muscles melting in my arms, her tension getting replaced by relax.

"Let's not talk about it. It was wrong. You shouldn't have asked. I shouldn't have agreed. I shouldn't have guided you that way. Let us forget."

But we couldn't forget. Things weren't the same anymore. As I walked to the wood prepared for campfire, Risa followed me closely. As I turned to her, she stepped back submissively, then only after gentle invitation came closer again. Before, she would nuzzle me friendly; now I had to ask her. Only my gentle touch would remove the apprehension, the fearful obedience, but it helped only when it lasted, her quiet submission returning as soon as the touch stopped. She wouldn't speak unless asked anymore, she tried to remain in the background.

The sun was setting. I put the binoculars strap around my neck.

• Let's see where's your herd again. Come with me, please.

She didn't lead the way nor walk by me. She remained three paces behind, following quietly. I reached the top of the hill and scanned the vicinity of where I had seen them before. They were there, on the meadows of a nearer range of hills.

• I see them. Tomorrow in the afternoon they should be close enough that we could try to meet them.

I felt it. She really wanted to put her neck on my shoulder, to feel my touch, but she was afraid. I raised my hand invitingly, to scratch her cheek when she finally puts her head on my shoulder - but I was waiting in vain. I knelt down, still heading away from her, lowered my head. I felt tears in my eyes.

• I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please, please let it be like it was before. I love you so much.

She walked closer, standing nearly over me. But she was still afraid to nuzzle me, to touch me without explicit permission. I was feeling her breath on my neck. Her hesitation. I waited. I hoped.

She turned and walked away. She tried to nibble some grass, but she was too nervous.

• What happened? Tell me, what happened? Please. Let me know so I could fix it. Please. - I walked up to her, in rapid pace. She stepped off my way, so I changed pace, gently, slowly walked up and embraced her. She still loved my touch, but she was afraid to ask.

"I'm yours. You claimed me, by the rights of new stallion of the herd. You're the lead stallion. But I'm not a lead mare. I'm lost. I'm without a herd. I'm in your herd, but your herd... is none. Just you. I'm lonely, just me, and... and you, but not you. The lead stallion that is not... because it's you."

• And your herd? Your old herd?

"I miss them so much. I want to go back. But you won't let me, now that I'm in your herd."

• Why wouldn't I let you? I want you to be happy. You are free.

"You... you are not him. He doesn't want me to be free."

• What "him"?

"The other you. When you don't hold me."

I released her neck and stepped away. I looked at her from a distance, seeing how she shrinks under my stare, how she tries to blend into background, out of my focus.

• Risa, listen to me. It's important. - I got her attention, though fear in her eyes was strong. - I want you to be free. I want you to be strong. To be happy. I want you to return to your herd.

She was still a shade of her former self.

• Risa! Rise your head. Neck higher. Look at me. No, don't just glance. Look at the silly human foal. You are strong. You are beautiful. Neck. Stand firmly, feel it. Harder, feel the soil under your hooves. Look at me! - she tried to follow my orders while still escaping into fear. - Look! You are the lead mare! You are strong and brave. Proud and beautiful. Show it to me! I love you, Risa! I want you to be my lead mare! Be free!

Amazed I watched as fear falls off her, how she fights the dark veil binding her, how she looks proud and beautiful, strong and brave in the light of sunset, in deep, dry grass, with her mane flowing in the wind, young shy filly changing into a bold lead mare. I had no illusions: Things would never be again as they used to be. But they would be good.

Risa walked up to me boldly, stopping so close our foreheads were almost touching.

"Tomorrow we will find my herd." - she said confidently, half-statement, half-order. And the "my" didn't mean what it used to, either. "And you will come with me... my stallion." - she put her neck on my shoulder and I embraced her, filled with pride and joy.

When the darkness fell, we were still standing there together. Finally we broke the embrace, understanding each other's needs. Campfire, food, Risa snorting at bubbles from mineral water, me drinking coffee, a few sugar cubes, one of them in my lips, then some playful kissing. And some mare milk for my coffee in exchange for the sugar, more as a joke than for taste. Finally after putting some thick logs in the fire to keep it burning until morning, I packed myself into the sleeping bag, Risa nuzzled me goodnight and I fell asleep.

Yow! The awakening was rude - a bite to my buttock. Dawn was still early, stars still visible on the western sky.

• What are you laughing at? - I asked, looking at Risa standing above me with what looked like a mischevious grin. - It's still dark, let me sleep.

"No. We go to the valley. The river. And then to a clearing nearer the herd. Now." - she pulled the sleeping bag with her teeth, shaking me out.

• Okay, I'll just pack up.

I rolled the dew-covered sleeping bag, attached it to the rucksack, made sure the campfire is completely extinguished, then sleepily followed Risa.

• Risa, we're going downhill. You can let me ride your back.

"No."

• But why?

"I lead. You follow."

• You certainly enjoy yourself in the role of a lead mare.

She didn't answer but from her looks I could tell she did. For well over a hour we were walking through the forest paths and meadows, almost without a word, her checking if "her herd" follows and waiting some for me to catch up if she gained some distance. Before we got to the bottom of the valley, I was covered with sweat and gasping hard. But when I stopped to catch a breath, Risa came and pushed me with her back, to make me walk. So I followed until we reached the stream. Earlier, when she woke me up, I was planning to go back to sleep when we reach the stream, but now we were drinking the cold water together.

• Risa, we can't go so fast. I can't follow you like that. I'm just a human.

"I'll go grazing now. Rest if you want. When the Sun is up, we go."

Just what did I get myself into? She was so unlike that gentle, caring filly from yesterday. Such a changable mood... Why? I was resting on the grass, eating some dry food for breakfast. Then the idea loomed on me. What makes women's mood so unstable? Seems I knocked Risa into heat... Is that good news or bad news? But I had a different problem at hand: She wanted me to cross the near hill, almost a mountain, and keep the speed.

• Risa, if you won't let me ride your back, would you at least try carrying my rucksack for me?

"I can do that."

Getting it strapped to her back was a challenge, and her impatience wasn't making things easier, but after good 15 minutes of struggling with the straps and belts I managed to attach it in what looked a secure manner. Then Risa grazed some and I tried to get some rest, laying on my back and gazing at the sky. I was nearly falling asleep in the first rays of the sun, when Risa walked up to me and nibbled on my trousers some.

• Okay, okay, I know. We go now. - I stood up and followed her. I asked her to take me across the stream, so I wouldn't get my boots wet, and she agreed, but as soon as we were on the other side she requested me to get off her back and follow. Despite her carrying my rucksack, I was covered with sweat, trying to keep up, moments later.

• I'm happy that you're enjoying yourself so much, but could we slow down a little?

She stopped, letting me catch up with her and we walked side by side, her no further than two steps before me, but never behind. After a steeper slope she let me stop for a while and lean on her flank, catching my breath.

"Okay, you big foal. You can ride my back."

But she wouldn't kneel to help me on her back, and I was way too exhausted to jump. Only with help of an old tree trunk I managed to get on her back, removing the backpack from her and wearing it myself first. But even then she was leading the way and didn't obey the rider's orders the least bit. Not that I'd try to enforce them on her. Not that I'd stay on her back if I tried, too.

In another hour we were past the crest of the hills and walking down a gentle slope towards meadows on the other side. Then some gallop up the hill on the meadows and Risa told me to look for the herd from there. It wasn't hard. The herd was just two or three kilometers away, down in the valley in front of us, and they were slowly heading our way.

"Let's get going. I can't wait for the challenge for leadership. You better prepare for your part of the challenge too. Against the stallion."

• Wait, Risa. If we go now, and then meet them, we will be tired. You may lose. Let's wait for them here. They will probably climb this hill to reach our place, they will be tired then. And we can take our time to prepare here.

She pondered my suggestion for a while, then agreed. Horses weren't great tactical minds, but what made them great leaders was that they were able to get advices from advisors and tell whether they really meant what they said, if they had some hidden motives, or if they'd just lie. Cheating a horse was nearly impossible, and moreover, they knew when their friends needed help and wouldn't give up until the problem was resolved.

I suggested we try to train the challenge against each other - being less sure about my abilities than Risa's. At first it was a total failure, our first "battle" ending in friendly nuzzling and hugging, both of us being totally unable to appear angry at each other. But try after try, we both were getting better and better. At first, I was winning, when Risa completely unvoluntarily would give her ground under my stare, firm steps directed at her. But gradually it was getting harder. Her front hooves flying in front of my face efficiently stopped me in my tracks, and only sidestepping and pushing her flank would grant me victory after a few more tries. But then, she attacked by herself, charging at me, madness in her eyes. I turned back to run and wouldn't stop until she called me. "Come back, you coward!" - she cheered after me, making me laugh. Next time I tried to stand my ground. But she just bucked my chest with her head and I landed on my butt on the grass.

• So what should I do? I'm smaller, I'm not that strong!

"Charge!"

So I tried charging. It was a tie, we both stopped in our tracks, glaring at each other, gasping, trying to intimidate each other. None of us would give up... It had to end with a friendly hug and some cuddles. After that we couldn't get convincing anymore, each knowing the other's tricks and not afraid of confrontation. We got to push each other some, as the other wouldn't yield to the attacker's scary poses anymore, and once when we charged each other, Risa took a tight turn, slipped on the grass, fell over, I straddled her chest and held her on her back, all hooves up in the air.

"I surrender" - she half-whinnied. "You win."

• Kiss me now and I'll let you go.

She bent her neck up and we kissed long and tenderly. She didn't mind her defenseless position and me holding her there, trusting and knowing I love her.

"I love you, my stallion." she said. "Tomorrow... Tomorrow I'll be all the way in heat. Mate me then."

I let her roll to her side, lying by her, gently kissing her velvety nose.

"Let's go, meet them. They are near."

It was a strange feeling, because I was already anticipating my love for my new family, making friends with the rest of the herd, and yet what I intended was a kind of conquest, war, assault. Attacking the peaceful, unsuspecting... friends.

We met them near the end of the gently sloping meadows, where the slope of the hill ran steeply down to the valley. The herd consisted of six mares, three foals and the stallion. The mares gathered around the foals. The stallion stepped forward to defend them. I didn't even charge, just walking firmly, making him step back, lose his ground. Soon I had him over the edge of the steep slope. He tried charging, but three fast steps from my side made him turn and run. He kept his distance until I told him to come closer and not be afraid of me. He came with his head down, low, fearful and ashamed of his easy defeat. But the real show was yet to come - the stallion was fearful, but the lead mare was strong and charismatic. Her foal was left between other mares, and she approached Risa. There was no happy greeting of returning filly - the challenge was heavy in the air. She was bigger and stronger than Risa, but Risa seemed more determined.

With a loud snort, Risa charged - just in a walk, but firm and confident. The lead mare stood still. Risa attacked her with her front hooves, then , when she raised her own front hooves to strike back, Risa pushed her with her chest, knocking her over. With a loud snort she charged and the mare barely got to her feet and fled to a safe distance. But the battle was not over yet. Risa charged again, while the lead mare was turning away from her. And then a sudden loud thud and Risa stumbled a bit. She stood stunned a bit, then yielded under the lead mare's stare. Only now I noticed a bloody mark of a hoof on her cheek bone. She stumbled to me. The lead mare tried to chase her away, but I stood between them.

• Leave her alone. Please - I asked the lead mare.

"You're mine, yes?" - she half-asked, half-stated.

• Yes, I'm yours. Please...

"Your filly grew brave under your care, but she still has a lot to learn." - there was no anger in her voice. "You're brave too. You'd be a good stallion. Follow the herd when you want. With her."

I turned to Risa. The other mares passed by, the foals curiously examined me, then followed their mothers. Risa was silent.

• I love you, Risa. Never doubt it. No matter what, you're my only love. Believe me.

I embraced her neck. She was silent, her shock, pain, disappointment slowly soaking like tears, faith returning, hope..

"I believe. Stay with me. Let's... I... I still miss my herd but I want you to be mine. Not hers. Let's run together. I'll follow you wherever you want."

• Are you absolutely, completely sure? She wanted us to follow. You can return to your herd.

"You don't know scents and you can't listen".

My mind was racing as the words, the wisdom of the lead mare was getting to me. "Follow the herd when you want." WHEN would I want to follow the herd? Not in half a hour, when I cheer Risa up. Not anytime soon, when I'd have to take responsiblities of the lead stallion. Not before Risa can win the challenge and be the lead mare of the herd. Will it be in a few years? Maybe longer. The horses' way of giving most important and problematic answers in too straightforward manner was sometimes unnerving.

Risa was already kneeling, inviting me to get on her back. I left my rucksack on the grass. I wouldn't need it. While getting on Risa's back, I was dialing a number on the cellular phone.

• Bob? Send in the trailer, as arranged. We'll be there in four hours. Bye.

And Risa took off, in mad gallop towards the new home.

* * * (Readers: so much reading and only one short "scene"? What is that?) (Author: Okay, okay. Here you are.)

"So many new things. But tell me again, do you really, really have to leave to work every day?"

• I do. Not every day, just five days a week. And you can call me anytime. I've shown you how to use the equinet.

"But who will protect me when you're away?"

• You're safe here. And Bob looks over the farm. And Max, and other dogs are good guards too.

She still wasn't convinced. I was her stallion, only I could protect her...

• If you want to be the alpha mare, you should learn to protect yourself. Not to depend on the stallion in everything.

This seemed to appeal to her more but she still wasn't convinced.

• In a few weeks I'll be able to move with all my work home. Then I'll be within your reach almost all the time. Can't you wait until then?

"I guess I can..." - she agreed meekly.

• Oh, cheer up. There's a lot of fun we can have together when I'm not at work.

I leaned on her flank, scritching her mane gently. Then I firmly bit the skin on her neck.

"Ow! Hey, don't bite me! I'm in heat already! No need to bite me!"

• So let's make love now.

"I'm not in mood."

• But you're in heat!

"But I'm not in mood."

I pondered for a while.

• Risa, take me on your back. I'll show you one nice place.

She didn't need to kneel, I just used a small stool to get on her back. I guided her out from the paddock, along the fences of the pastures of the farm and down the sandy road along the forest. Short gallop through a forest path took us to the beach of a lake. At first Risa was startled, but I encouraged her to walk up to the water.

• You don't have these in the mountains, do you?

"It's water, isn't it?" she drank a little. "Not as good as from the stream."

I jumped off her back and quickly took all my clothes off. Rested and light, I had no problems jumping back on her back.

"What are you doing?"

• Walk into the water.

She cautiously put her front hooves in the shallow water just by the shore.

• All the way in.

"There's no other side."

• There is. And we will turn back soon.

"So why?"

• Just try it.

She cautiously walked further, tense and scared. Soon her belly reached the water surface, but as I leaned on her neck and stroked it gently, she trusted me and walked further.

• If it's cold, let me know.

"It's pleasant".

The water was warm, I was feeling it with my feet. Risa walked slowly, getting deeper until her whole back was immersed.

"I'm... so light?"

• Stay calm and find the memory... the movement...

A moment further, and I slipped off her back, and swam by her, just holding her mane.

"I... I remember. The word. Tell me the word."

• Swim.

"Yes! I know how to swim!"

Risa was fascinated with the newly discovered ability. She made a wide circle, just for a test she approached the shore and tried that the bottom is there and she can go back, then she swam along the shore, slowly. She got to a bit more shallow water, where she could walk on the bottom, just barely touching it with her hooves.

• Are you in mood now?

"Yes!"

I released her mane, and moment later caught her tail base. I gripped her flanks with my feet and pulled myself deeper down by her tail. Her fur so smooth under water, between my thighs. Her long tail tickled my chest as I pulled myself closer, rubbing my penis along her crack. I released her tail and held her flanks. My tip was pressed against her lips, but I couldn't use my hands to guide it in, and aiming up, it wouldn't enter, just slide up when pushed. And then the invitation came, the wink opening her up for me, my hardness straightening and entering the slit, a gentle pull of my thighs driving it deeper, and by gently rocking my hips I was sliding my length in and out, the gentle slow rhythm interrupted by her rapid winks from time to time, squeezing and milking me. I felt this slow, sleepy, gentle movement was driving Risa crazy, the pleasure rising so slowly but constantly, her pulse faster, her eyes closed, her hooves still moving along the bottom in dream-slow dance, and her arousal was giving me more kick than physical stimulus. And it was so strong... her steps so slow, yet kicking the bottom with strength capable of killing. Her breath slow, but whistling loudly in her nostrils. Eyelids just closed but shivering. Ears in relaxed position, but painfully tensed. Her mouth closed an lips relaxed, but muscles of her jaws bulging in pressure. Winks of her vulva rare, but so rapid that jets of water were flowing around my groin. And I kept my infuriatingly slow pace, despite feeling my top there, first clutching my prostate, then spreading like fire along my length. But before I came, I felt it. Just a wink that wouldn't end. Soft grasp, just slightly firmer than the relaxed state, my soft, slow push not just along her soft tunnel, but rubbing the tensed muscles, stretching them a bit, acting against them.

I didn't even realise when the first jet of cum entered her, but the following ones came in a rapid succession, my inside pumping all its worth into her as fast as it could. And her vulva, open in the solid never-ending wink just momentarily got obscured with a milky-yellow cloud, as she ejected her juices. The soft lips closed on my length, as I gasped hard, my maleness getting soft fast, then slipping out, pulling a thin white rope between its tip and her... I slowly pulled myself to her mane and Risa walked nearer the shore, where I could lie and rest on her back, just half-immersed in water.

"Learn to listen, learn to speak. When you taught me that word, it sounded 'orgasm'. The right way to pronounce it..."

And the way she pronounced it...

• Risa? You just gave me erection gain. Are you still in mood?

. . . . . . by Sharpfang Wed Oct 19 00:26:10 CEST 2005