Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2019 22:22:05 +0000 (UTC)
From: Chaos Wolf <chaoswolf04@yahoo.com>
Subject: A Bullish Heart

Disclaimer: The following is a story of a homosexual nature and is sexually
explicit. Please do not read if you are a minor or if it is illegal where
you live to do so. Remember to think smart to play smart. Use
protection. In today's story, a closeted jock from our world gets lost
enters a country populated by minotaurs. There, he meets a young male whose
interest is more than simple curiosity. If this sounds like something you
wish to read, be my guest and read. If it is not, go back and look for
another story to read.

Help the Nifty Archive continue to provide a home for erotic
fiction. Consider donating by going to
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html. Thank you.

=====
A Bullish Heart

In my Senior year, as per our school's custom, I went on a two day field
trip with the rest of my class. I found field trips to be a mixed
bag. While they did get us out of the classroom and they did fulfill their
goal of being educational, some were more appealing than others. On the
opposite side, there were the boring ones and the ones I'd like to
forget. I hadn't reached a conclusion about our visit to the Bracken
Caverns, but I wasn't feeling overly optimistic.

Like most all day field trips, the day started early. My parents dropped me
off at my school's parking lot and it was already busy. There was a table
with breakfast tacos piled high, foil twinkling in the rising sun. On the
other side of the table were a variety of juice boxes. It was a quick and
easy offering to consume before they packed us onto the bus for the three
hour journey to the Caverns. From there, we would be heading to the capital
for an overnight stay. We would not be returning until late tomorrow
morning. Some minutes later, the staff called for attention so they could
pair up travel buddies.

Many wanted to be the buddy of Eduardo Castillo. I had several qualities
that others liked. My face was captivating and I had a firm athletic build
encased in warm beige skin. I was Second Baseman for the Prescott
Penguins. Good grades came my way and many said that I had an agreeable
disposition. Tell me why then did I felt like there was something missing
in my life, why sometimes I felt like I didn't belong.

A breeze came by and rubbed me the wrong way. I zipped up my black and gold
letterman jacket. I was starting to get impatient. The unmatched students
were dwindling and my name had yet to be called. I watched as the newly
formed pairs get on the bus, wondering when it would be my turn. Who would
I be paired up with? "Eduardo Castillo and Barry Stewart" was my answer and
my reply was a discreet groan.

Don't get me wrong. Barry was not a bad guy. He was an okay guy who I had
known for years because he lived two houses down from me since we were
little. He was rather shy and you wouldn't hear a peep from him unless you
spoke with him. This wasn't why I was annoyed. It was that if you mentioned
wizards or dragons or anything like that, he would talk your head off if
you let him. The stars in the sky paled in comparison to his discourses.

Our parents thought it'd be a great idea if we carpooled together since we
lived so close. When I didn't have a game or practice, a ride would be
shared. He would excitedly run up to my truck, "Hey Ed, have I got a
whopper for you!" That was the exact word he used for ideas he came up with
or dreams he had: whoppers. I had kooky dreams occasionally and liked to
talk about them and this is why Barry was so keen on sharing his. I kept
silent however on the more naughty ones. No one needed to know about the
ones with me and Shortstop Devin Nguyen. I had the hots for my teammate
which I shared with no one.

Barry's greatest desire was to become the next great fantasy writer. He
belonged to Prescott High's Creative Writing Club. When it was formed two
years ago, he blasted off as soon as he heard about it. However, his
college goals were more down to Earth. He was going to study communications
and public relations. It sounded like a contradiction for him, but at least
he had something in mind for his future.

My thoughts for my future weren't as focused. I enjoyed baseball and was
good enough that there were whispers of scholarships for me, but was that I
wanted to pursue? I didn't see myself paying college ball or even going
pro. I wasn't even sure what I wanted to study in college. I knew time was
running out.

A couple of hours later, the class exited the bus and we walked along the
trail the gift shop and into the trees. We came upon a fork in the road
where there was a sign. It told our group that the path leading to the exit
was to the left and the right led to our spelunking adventure. Barry's eyes
grew larger and larger as we approached. By then, I could practically see
the thoughts in my classmate's head. I was readily convinced that by the
time we left, Barry would have an entire saga mapped out. Whatever.

The group was directed by our guide into the cave's entrance. Camera phones
were clicking away as they gazed in wonder at the stalagmites, stalactites
and other bizarre calcium creations. Barry kept stopping along the way to
get a prolonged look and I would have to go back to get him. It seemed that
we would invariably be the last to join the group when it paused to look at
a distinguished formation. I was relieved that we were nearing the end of
the tour. When we would exit, there would be a brief visit to the gift shop
and then into town for lunch before the voyage back home. I breathed a sigh
of relief and turned to Barry, but saw only emptiness. I muttered "Damn!"
and began to retrace my steps. Not again.

There was no room for errors since the path was linear. I would find him
eventually. Yet on and on, there was no Barry. It was just as he just
blinked out of existence. Did he return to the entrance? I suppose it was
possible. Our chaperones and guide would be so ticked off. It wasn't as if
he vanished off the face of the Earth. I pulled out his cell to try to call
him, but I couldn't get a signal. Blasted caverns screwing up my
connection.

I exited the cavern. No Barry greeted me, but an unwelcome predicament met
me instead. There was no signage and no trail in sight. Was it possible I
took the wrong path? No. That would have been impossible since the route in
the cave was defined. Yet here I was in an unfamiliar grove. I yelled at
the top of his lungs, but only birds answered me as they flew away.

My eyes dated to and fro, starving for any sign of familiarity. It looked
like there was a clearing ahead. Maybe if I headed that way, I would find
myself were I ought to be. What I found was just a grassy sea that
stretched on for miles. Where was I? What would I do when the sun set? I
was running out of time to decide. Time decided for me. I head the sound of
pounding hooves and yells behind me.

Startled, I turned around and shielded my eyes from the afternoon sun. I
saw seven men on horseback wearing helmets. I was wrong. As they got
closer, I saw that those were no helmets and they were men in gender
only. They were minotaurs.

----- I was a male of eighteen years, only recently so. As such, I wasn't
supposed to join the patrol. Only adults who had taken the oath
went. Father decided to assign me as a last minute substitution because one
of the men became too ill for field duty and assignments for that week's
patrols had already been decided. He weighed his options meticulously and
made his choice, unusual but not unknown.

It was evening after we had eaten. I was in the room I shared with my
brother Altair who was seven years my elder. He was getting ready for the
week's patrol when there was a knock on the door. It was our father Titus
and after a second of recognition, I recognized the face he wore at the
moment. He was not here as our father, but as Captain of the
Guard. "Quentin will not be joining you on this week's patrol. Xenophon,
you will go in his stead." Despite not being pledged, I knew the proper
response.

Captain Titus reacted accordingly and then returned back to being our
father. "Get a good night's sleep. Altair, you and the others will leave at
first light." Brother saluted and our father left the room.

I loved sharing a room with my brother. As a child, I would look at his
maturing body and wonder what I would look like at his age. At the time, my
horns were still the buds of a boy's and they brushed against my medium
brown hair. A handful of years later, they started to lengthen and thicken
and my voice deepened. I would be visited by fancies of the night and would
wake up the next morning to find dried seed in my small clothes. Little
Xenophon was no longer a boy.

I excelled at the lyre and knew all of our greatest ballads by heart even
from a young age. Most cherished of all, I was literate. My parents were
literate and my brother as well as our Lady and her counselors. However,
the ability to read and write was a rare jewel among the rest of our
people. Once summer came, I planned to take the examination to be certified
as a licensed scribe. Afterwards, I might serve at court or maybe be
assigned to the constabulary. There were plenty of opportunities for me
here and in town. Maybe one day in the far future, I might even be one of
the counselors.

As much as I adored my brother, I didn't share the same desires he had. He
knew of these differences and respected them. As soon as he was old enough
to take the cadet's pledge, he recited it in front of Father. He arduously
studied the craft of weaponry and the art of strategy. From after, I
watched Altair train on the field with the others whenever I could and when
I was old enough, I joined the cadets despite not wishing to be a
guard. Being the son of the Captain did grant me certain privileges.

A hundred years ago, I would have been a guard whether or not I wanted to
be one. I was a son of Calix and those of his Clan were expected to be
soldiers for the Republic of Asterion. There had been an increasing unease
with the caste system that bound our race. Strife with invaders was its
fatal blow and my fate would no longer be tied to my bloodline. I was free
to decide for myself what I wanted to do in life.

Altair could barely contain his excitement. Once certain that Father was
out of earshot, he became very animated. He was thrilled that I would be
joining him and his comrades. Although he and my father knew that I
traveled a different path, they knew that I was a capable
fighter. Otherwise, Father would not have asked. Although my competency
with bladed weapons could use improvement, I received high marks with the
staff and polearm, and excelled at unarmed combat. We spent the rest of the
evening going over our belongings to make sure that we had everything we
needed. Once we left, there would be no returning until our mission was
over.

Once certain that we were ready, we knelt before our family altar and
prayed. It was a hymn I heard my brother recite every night before
patrolling the countryside, but never came out of my mouth until tonight. I
got up and climbed into bed and my brother blew out the lamp. He climbed
into bed and sleep visited us.

Dawn came and we saddled our horses. We headed out of the inner wall of the
castle that was our home and into the town. There was little
activity. Those about steps aside and they greeted use warmly.

The days that followed were mostly uneventful. We would wake up, eat, and
then journey through the countryside to help maintain the peace whether
that meant helping those in need or responding to threats.

Most nights we rested beneath the heavens, but there was a night that we
were able spend the night at an inn to enjoy a warm meal and a soft
bed. This was not the only comforts to be enjoyed. Those among our troop
who were unattached cherished the company of the equally unattached
women. There were a few times that I was approached by females my own age.
Once I knew what type of attention they wanted from me, I politely declined
the companionship they offered.  Back in my hometown of Simeon, it was well
known that Xenophon yios Calix was attracted to only other males. Physical
attraction to those of the same gender was uncommon, but acceptable. Were
we not all children of the Primordial Flame? Once the females picked up on
this, they turned their attention elsewhere. I was the only one that I knew
of that was attracted to other men. I felt so lonely.

A few days later, were on the return journey. Brother estimated that we
would return home sometime tomorrow. A wayward mosquito got in my face and
after I swatted it away, my eyes spotted a lone figure among the
grasses. It couldn't be what it was, but it had to be. Although I had never
seen one in the flesh before, I knew that it was a human. It was a human in
minotaur lands. Not good.

"Look out!" I motioned to my brother and the others who all stopped. Altair
tugged his horse around and asked, "What is it brother?" I gestured to the
west and said, "I see a human." My brother and the others looked in the
direction I indicated. The longer they looked, the clearer my warning
was. A cloud of uneasiness formed over us. We knew about humans. They were
intolerable invaders. They thought us as monsters and endeavored to
dominate us. All those years ago, they came close to accomplishing their
dream, but our people stood united and drove them from our lands and back
across the sea. Our coastal outposts kept watch and waited for
reprisal. Nothing. Not even a whisper. Not for a hundred years. How then
did one get so far into our homeland?

Altair became all business. We turned the horses to intercept the
human. "You there human. Stop!" The human turned around and looked right at
us with fear in his eyes. My brother motioned to the others to get ready to
fire. Bows were drawn. He got off his horse and told the others to fire if
the human resisted. Having no bow myself, I watched the area in case he had
allies hiding among the nearby trees. I felt a surge of emotion. If there
were hostiles, I was ready to fight back.

Altair was in the human's face. "Who are you? How did you come here?" The
human said nothing. Too scared to speak? Was he a mute? No. His mouth
opened and strange words poured out. Although my brother was normally
levelheaded, I could see the irritation building inside. What saved the
stranger so far was that he had made no aggressive move so far. The human
got on the ground and placed his hands behind his head. Altair called for
the men to lower their bows. Was it a ruse? I didn't know, but even if it
was, I was confident that my brother would be able to subdue the human
before he changed his mind.

Altair bound the human's hands, stood him upright and searched his strange
clothes for weapons. There were none but the items that he pulled out were
oddities: small keys, a folding pouch made of leather, and something
else. This last item was the most confusing. At first I thought it was a
psalm book because it was the same size of one. When he hoped it up, our
eyes grew wide. It was no book. It was covered in a strange material,
gleaming like glass. My brother starred at this artifact the longest and
threw them all into a pouch which he kept on his person.

I helped the other men redistribute our provisions and saw my brother place
the human on a newly unburdened horse. He tied his feet to the horse's
stirrups and the hands to the saddle. "Xen, I'm going to tie the human's
horse to yours." I turned around and answered, "Yes brother."

For this mission, my brother had assigned me the task of parceling out
rations and providing entertainment. I welcomed this new task. Ready to
move on, we continued on our journey home. Every now and then, I would look
back at the human. How did he get here? We scouted the nearby area and
found no sign of other humans. It was like he fell from the sky. "Xen, he's
not going anywhere. Do you doubt me?" I shook my head, "No. It's just that
I've not seen a human before." Altair replied, "Stop staring at him then."
I obeyed.

The sun descended lower and lower. My brother studied the encroaching dusk
and signaled us to stop. "We will stop here for the night." We dismounted
our horses and led them to the spot that Altair selected. It provided good
coverage and was easily defensible if needed. We tethered our animals to a
tree and a fire was started.

My brother took charge of our captive. He took the human male off the horse
we put him on and tied him to a tree separate from the horses. With the
camp set up and the fire started, we started to relax. I sorted out the
rations and doled out the biscuits and jerky. I took out the flagon of
water to provide them cool water. I passed the human and asked my brother,
"Him too?" Altair said, "Last and only if there is enough." I continued to
parcel out the food and water and then I turned my attention to the human.

I approached him and knelt in front of the human. His hands were bound in a
way that made feeding himself problematic. I broke pieces of the biscuit
and placed them in the human's hands and waited for him to finish before I
moved to the jerky. I then uncapped the canteen and tipped it into the
human's mouth. The human then mouthed something, his eyes heartfelt. I
looked into them and saw my reflection. What was to happen to him? A voice
inside me asked why I cared. I was afraid to answer.

With everyone fed and watered, I sat down and took out my lyre. I played
melodies of my own composition while the others chatted among
themselves. Everyone ignored the human except for occasional glances. He
seemed sad. Yes, he was our prisoner, but there was something more to
it. The human would look at me and then quickly look away once I
noticed. Once night came and the stars appeared, he began to look at
them. It was getting late. Altair would be assigning watches soon.

The human started to fidget, his movements getting more desperate. He
opened his mouth. What he said, none of us knew. I stopped playing and we
asked ourselves what the male wanted. He then blurted again, more
distressed, before making a curious sound and holding his hands in front of
his crotch. We looked at each other more confused and then recognition set
in. Marcus said, "The human wants to make water." A couple of the others
smirked which became infectious mirth. I didn't think the human's
discomfort was a source of amusement. Altair asserted himself and called
for order. The laughter halted. "Xenophon, play some more. I'll deal with
this." I picked up my instrument again and after a moment of thought, I
started to play "Barzan's Shield".

Barzan's Shield was one of a favorite ballad among the guards. An outsider
might think the song was about a favorite shield. It was not. It was a song
composed in remembrance of Barzan, one of our celebrated heroes. He said
that unity was stronger than the strongest shield. We sang it every day
while doing our morning exercises. I hoped that by playing, I could get
their minds away from the human's private needs.

Altair untied the human from the tree, put him on his feet and led him into
the trees. We looked in that direction, alert, just in case. Sometime
later, he came back with the human who sat down on the ground. He didn't
tie him as severely as before, but he did give the stranger with a stern
glance. It was risky because he might fee himself and flee, but I'm sure he
had his reasons. The hands were left free but the rope around his left leg
was tied up in an intricately well. If he attempted to undo it, we would
catch him long before he succeeded.

Altair called for our attention and spoke with us to assign
watches. Telamon and I would take first watch, Cyrus and Gideon would take
the next watch, then my brother and Septimus for last watch. Once
understood, we settled in and soon the others were asleep.

I had never taken a watch before, but knew what my obligation was. Keep
awake and alert until it was time to pass the duty to the next pair. They
paired me up with Telamon who was a veteran soldier with more years of
service than brother. With Altair blissfully asleep, I approached him
because I was curious what might happen to the human.

"That lad is an odd one. Strange garments, no armaments, and no manner of
speech I've ever heard of. I've been all over the Republic and have sailed
to our farthest colonies. I have never seen or heard of one like him. I
doubt we would take him into the city like that. Most likely, we would send
for a carriage from the constabulary office. After that, that will be the
Lady's decision with your father's recommendation. Poor boy. I look at his
eyes and I see no malice, just confusion."

Things didn't look hopeful then. Titus yios Calix would tell his sons of
our history, of the wars, and of the cruel arrogance of the human. They
gave me nightmares as a small boy. I was afraid that stunted-face humans
would come in the night and snatch me away from my family and take me back
to their own country. My brother, in the dawn of adolescence, declared that
he would fight the human to his last breath. He unfurled his training
sword, one of wood, and slashed open air "and if he should disarm me, I
shall gore him with my horns." He then lowered his head and jabbed into the
air. At the time, he was only twelve years. His horns had grown a little,
but still quite stubby. I doubt they could have done any real damage.

The present returned to my eyes and I looked at the human. He was
struggling, not to get free, but to stay awake. He head would bob and then
snap up, but it was useless and he drifted away. Telamon stood up and
whispered, "I doubt he will wake up until morning unless provoked. You keep
an eye on him while I stand over there." I nodded and crept towards the
human as Telamon patrolled the vicinity. I was close enough to study him,
but far enough to defend myself in case he woke up and attacked. It was
unlikely, but I had to be ready.

Those clothes. What did they signify? I kept an eye out for my comrade. If
caught, I would be in big trouble. I gingerly felt the blue cloth of his
pants. The texture was unfamiliar to me, not that I had much experience
with pants. Males of our race, especially the male soldiers, rarely wore
pants except for formal occasions or when it was chilly. My eyes roamed all
over his slumbering form. His musculature suggested some type of fighter or
athlete. I was just guessing because his build was somewhere between my own
and my brother's.

I looked at the colors and the markings of his jacket. Maybe they would
provide answers yet they did not. The black and gold coloring perplexed me
as well as the patches he wore. Were they badges of distinction? Could they
be the insignias of his clan? Who would choose a silly looking bird for
their emblem? I reclined against a tree, my mind full of questions. I wish
I could ask him, but until we understood his words, he would remain a
mystery. I reached into my bag and took out parchment and pen. Dipping it
in ink, I chronicled the day's events.

I devoted an entire paragraph to the human. I notated the day and time when
he was found. I described his clothing and his mannerisms, his voice. I
ended the chronicle by indicating the assigned watches. I rolled up the
parchment and secured it in my bag. Tomorrow, I would present it to Father.

I looked at the moon and knew that it would be time to pass on my duty to
the next shift soon. I discreetly whispered good night to him and then met
up with Telamon. We woke up the next pair of men and began to sleep.

There was a body, male next to me. I smiled with delight as a hand caressed
my chest and arms. The other hand rested on my thigh and traveled closer
and closer to my crotch. Already it was stirring. I had never been touched
by anyone like this and had long dreamed of this moment. Hand disappeared
underneath my tunic and began toying with the bulge my small clothes made
until my shaft became as steel. Lips kissed my neck and then my shoulders
before he climbed on top of me. I grunted as pleasing attention was
lavished upon me. My unseen lover began to grind his body against my
own. It was very wonderful and yet something very wrong.

As we frolicked on the grass, my hands combed through his hair. No horns
did they touch. My hands caressed his body, but his skin was bare. Where
were the hairs of a minotaur's hide. His snout was blunted to the point of
nonexistence. My hands clutched the globes of his butt as he grinded into
me, but he lacked a tail and the cloth covering his rear felt unlike any I
had touched before. His head descended and as his lips approaching mine, I
saw his face clearly. It was the human.

My eyes burst open. It was not the shock of the disturbing sensual dream
that woke me, it was the ghostly song.

----- I heard my phone's alarm sound off. "Where is the life that I
recognize?" Just another minute of shuteye, please? I felt the truthful
ground beneath me and knew where I was, but the irrational part of my mind
told me that as long as I had my eyes closed, I was safe back in my own
world. My eyes were forced open by agitated bellows. I found the lead
minotaur and a comrade desperately searching for the unseen music. "And as
I try to make my way to the ordinary world I will learn to survive." The
others woke up dazed and equally startled by Ordinary World by Duran Duran.

The young minotaur who fed me last night looked around and zeroed in on the
horse where his commander had stowed away my belongings. He dug into the
bag and took out my phone. He held it against an ear and discovering that
the music was coming from it, his hands let it go as if he was touching a
hot stove. The males looked at the device uncertain what do to or how to
react. The young one took the initiative. He approached carefully and took
out a dagger. I expected him to destroy the unfamiliar relic. He bent
downward and poked at the phone with the blade. I cupped my hands asking
him to give it to me. He picked it up carefully with thumb and index
finger. He bent his head upward at me and he walked over. He dropped it in
my hands and looked with intense curiosity as I turned off the alarm and
the entire phone itself. The Leader snatched the phone out of my hand and
threw it back in his bag. He talked with his fellows and they nodded.

The Youth disappeared into the trees and the Leader took me along. Was this
it? I was led into a clearing. My heart beat hard in my chest. What were
they going to do to me? The Leader pointed at my crotch and made the
pissing sound with this mouth. His young ally undid the binding underneath
his tunic, took out his dick and started to relieve himself. I understood
now. I unzipped my jeans and emptied my bladder also. The Leader did
likewise.

I looked at the two while they chatted. I knew nothing about these two, but
they interacted gave me the impression that they were related
somehow. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Inevitably, I got curious and
looked downward without looking too obvious. A minotaur male's equipment
was like the rest of him: a harmonious blend of the human and the
bovine. The goods were bovine in shape, but they were the size of a human's
and hung from the body like mine. My discretion failed and their eyes
locked onto mine and followed my gaze back to their tubes of flesh and the
precious orbs that accompanied them.

The older male gave me a puzzled look and he turned his lower half
away. The Young One reacted differently. He looked as his dick and then at
mine. He looked at my face, studied it. I grimaced with embarrassment and
turned around. He did likewise.

The sound of panic broke our streams. It was coming from the camp. The
minotaurs stuffed themselves back inside. They glanced at me for a brief
second and ran off in that direction. Whatever was happening, it appeared
that the disturbance merited stronger interest.

This was my chance. I might be able to get away from their
clutches. However, reality set in. Where would I go? Who I could turn to?
Despite being my captors, being with them was more sensible than facing a
series of unknowns. I ran after them and found the emergency that had
caught their attention.

One of the males was clutching his throat, choking. I ran past the two I
went on break with and towards the victim. The leather armor prevented me
from helping him. I didn't know how they put the armor on and yet my hands
knew what to do. I slipped it off him and began performing the
Heimlich. "Come on, come on."

Pop! A slimy piece of apple came out and fell on the ground. The rescued
male wheezed trying to catch his breath. He looked at me and smiled before
he clasped my back uttering cries of what could only be gratitude. He let
go and after the Leader spoke with him sternly, they dismantled the camp
and prepared to head out. Their behavior towards me had changed
some. Specifically, I wasn't tied up. I also got to help them a bit. It was
the Young One that guided me with the approval of his commanding
officer. He pantomimed an action and pointed at me. After a couple of
times, I understood enough as to what he wanted me to do.

With mild help, I got on the horse they assigned me. I wasn't tied to the
animal this time. They did modify their formation so that I was in the
middle. I had never ridden a horse before my arrival. In fact, I never had
any exposure to the outdoors. Although unfamiliar, I was starting to feel
at ease with them. On and on we journeyed until there was sign of
civilization as we came upon farmland. I nearly burst laughing as I saw
minotaur farmers tending to their animals which included cattle.

The Lead Minotaur looked around and called our caravan to stop. What now?
He motioned to two of the scouts and they rode on ahead. I was confused why
we stopped? Did they live here? The Youth motioned that we were to wait. I
looked at my watch and he looked at me doing so. About thirty minutes past
before they showed up again. They were accompanied by two new minotaurs who
were driving a carriage that had bars. For the first time, I was looking at
females of their kind. Besides their feminine shape, their horns were less
than half the size of the males. The men helped me off the horse and the
women looked at me with fierce curiosity as they prodded me into the cage.

The expanded convoy continued onward past the farmlands and towards the
great stone wall that loomed larger and larger as we got close and closer.
The busyness of a brook entered my ears and we soon we crossed over the
drawbridge. What new experiences awaited me?

=====

I would appreciate any comments you may have, but please keep insults or
flames to a minimum. I'll try to respond to everyone, but no promises.
Please mention the title of the story so I know what you are referring
to. You can email me at: chaoswolf04@yahoo.com