Surf "Surf trainin'? Whut's that?"
Dik Dik frowned.
"Salt water is terribly bad for my hide…"
Terry blinked at the non sequitur, then ruffled the underside of the buck's tail, making him gasp and wriggle.
"Vanity y'r name is Dik Dik…"
Jaeger chuckled over Dik Dik's indignant rebuttal, then grew serious.
"But I haf not surfed before. Is it difficult?"
"How d'yew expect me t'know? We don' get many waves in Texas."
"Nor in Tanzania."
"Can ve all svim?"
"Weel Ah kin, an' so kin Dik Dik, an' Wally o' course… Don't think Kid kin."
"Given his dislike of submersion in water it seems unlikely."
"Vhat about the others?"
Terry shrugged.
"Guess we'll find out…"
"And in the meantime -" Jaeger smirked and tweaked Dik Dik's erection, "- ve haf a little time to... play…"They were late getting to the training session on the beach - partly due to the problem they had 'persuading' Dik Dik into something suitable for wearing in the water, and then through being thoroughly distracted by the sight of him in very tight, very skimpy, shiny black swimming trunks…
Meat hadn't been impressed. Kid - pleased at not being the object of his manager's wrath for once - had sniggered and jumped around, pointing at the trio and pulling faces, until the diminutive trainer sent him flying with a well-aimed lobster.
Checkmate, resplendent in brief royal blue shorts, helmet and crown replaced by a vaguely tiara-shaped headband holding back sleek silver-grey hair, leaned sideways to murmur quietly,
"Thou hast not missed anything of great import."
Terry glanced up at the wrestler, unconsciously noting how beautifully the silvery locks contrasted with the turquoise eyes.
"Has he said what we gotta do yet?"
"Indeed, 'tis but a matter of swimming 'gainst the tide. Meat hath decreed that such an exercise will strengthen both body and mind together."
Dik Dik frowned pensively.
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that…"
"Master Van Dik, I am sure the strength of thine shoulders is equal to the task."
"It's not my shoulders I'm worried about." the buck muttered, heart sinking at the thought of having to wash the salt out of his pelt. Then he brightened. Perhaps he could get Jaeger to help. Or Terry. Or both…
Terry stuck his hands in the pockets of the loose cut-off jeans he'd worn and inclined his head.
"That don't sound too bad."
"Ja." Jaeger - in jade green skin-tight thigh-length Spodums ("Serious swimwear for the competitive hunk" TM), his mop of yellow hair shoved into a tight swimcap - adjusted his goggles. "Ve can do this, no problem."
Dik Dik was staring at the ocean in horror.
"Would you say that comes under the heading of 'famous last words'?"Minutes ago the sea had been calm. Now…
Rollers. People on surfboards riding in to the shore. Big big waves…
Terry swallowed, eyes wide.
"We gotta swim against them?"
Checkmate nodded.
"Mayhap I misspoke. 'Tis a more challenging task than first appeared."
Jaeger squared his shoulders determinedly, though even he looked anxious.
"But it is gut for the training, ja..."
The gazelle-man looked at him askance.
"If you say so…"
Kid Muscle was racing up the beach away from the ocean, hotly pursued by Meat. Terry took a deep breath and smiled mirthlessly at his comrades.
"OK then… s' crazier n' a cat on a cactus, but let's git in there..."
Almost as one, they raced into the frothing, surging surf.This ain't good… Terry was gasping, struggling against the undertow, struggling to keep his face above water. Determination and stamina weren't helping here: he was cold, and faltering, arms and legs cramping with the effort of staying afloat. He risked a quick glance over his shoulder, half-blinded by spray: the shore seemed to be miles away… Some distance behind him a patch of red-gold, white horns glinting in the sun, showed where Dik Dik was floundering, his head disappearing under the water rather more often than could possibly be healthy… Terry turned, worried about the buck, only to be dragged under a massive wave, sucked under and down, the current ripping his cut-offs from his body and tumbling both him and them out to sea. Not that he had time, air or energy to be worried about nakedness right now…
Scything doggedly through the waves, Jaeger had been doing his best to keep an eye on Dik Dik, noting with considerable worry the buck's struggles to stay above water. Gazelle were not naturally water-loving creatures, it would appear, and certainly theirs seemed to be having problems… He increased his speed, slowly but inexorably catching up.
Dik Dik was so cold… His pelt was saturated, he felt water-logged, and dragging air into his lungs was proving to be an increasingly painful effort. And he was close to panicking: he was so far from the shore, now, his ability to make it back was doubtful at best.
Coughing around an unanticipated mouthful of cold salt water, he flailed leaden arms wearily, for perhaps the first time realising that he was really and truly in danger here. And not the sort of danger he could evade by fighting.Checkmate saw the Texan dragged under…
"Master Terry!"
But his cry went unheeded: the Texan was beyond hearing. Taking a long deep breath, the chessmaster dived after the cowboy.Jaeger grabbed a horn before it disappeared under the surface and hauled the shivering, choking gazelle-man back up into the air and into his arms.
"Leibchen? You are OK? Say something, ja…"
"J… Jaeger…"
"That vill do."
The German twisted, settling the buck into a life-saver's hold, and struck out for the shore. Dik Dik struggled weakly.
"… Terry…"
"I can only save vun of you. You are nearest."
"Then get to Terry… leave me…"
Jaeger scowled. Edel idiot! Bad enough he had to make the choice without his gazelle making it more difficult for him. But he'd seen Checkmate disappear under the water…
"Nein, leibchen. Is for Herr Checkmate to save our leibhaber." If he can, Jaeger added to himself, desperately worried as he continued swimming for the beach, Dik Dik a limp cold weight against him.… it was dark down here…Checkmate peered through the gloom, seeking the pale, yellow-haired form of his… friend? Yes, his friend. Terry Kenyon.
There.
Being swept out to sea.
Checkmate dived after him."… Dik Dik…? Bitte, speak to me!"
Dark golden-brown eyes fluttered open, gazed blearily up into the German's worried face.
"…Jaeger… Terry…?"
Jaeger lowered his head, eyes closing. Terry - and Checkmate - were missing…Something bright was shining in his eyes, irritating him even through his closed eyelids. He dragged an arm up and over his face, blocking the light, and sighed with relief…
Then paused.
… he remembered swimming…
… he remembered going under…
… he very, very vaguely remembered strong arms grabbing hold of him…
He very carefully rolled onto his side, feeling ridiculously weak, and squinted through scrunched up eyes. There was a blurrily familiar figure lying beside him…
He rubbed gently at his eyelids, then looked again. Checkmate, sprawled - on sand? - at his side. He looked… he looked exhausted. Terry touched his arm feebly.
"Checkmate? Buddy? Yew OK?"
The chessmaster stirred, groaning, and peered at Terry, managing a small smile.
"Master Terry. Thou art well?"
Terry pushed himself into a seated position, trying to ignore his various aches and pains. It felt like he'd been dragged across sharp stones - which was actually what had happened, though he wouldn't find that out until later.
"Ah'm fine. Nuthin' that a good night's sleep won' put right. How're yew?"
Checkmate slowly, wincingly, eased himself to his knees, flexing his shoulders and stretching minutely. Good. Nothing hurt too much.
"I also." He glanced around, frowning. They were on a pristine stretch of beautiful white beach. Except for themselves, a beautiful deserted white beach. Which, given that Terry was naked, was probably a good thing. He eyed his companion.
"Prithee, Master Terry, knowest thou where we are?"
Terry blinked bemusedly.
"Nope."
"… wast afraid of that." Checkmate pulled himself upright and gazed up and down the shore. Logically, they couldn't have come too far from the original beach, which was, if his calculations were correct, off to the east. Too far for the exhausted Texan to walk, however. It would be quite an effort for himself - at least in this form…
"Master Terry, thou hast ridden horses, hast thou not?"
"Well heck, yeah!"
"Good." Checkmate raised his hand to his shoulder. "Knight to king four."
Terry watched warily as the transformation took place: the last two times this had happened he'd ended up in considerable pain. But… Hazy memories were emerging. He'd been close to drowning…
Checkmate had saved him. It seemed pretty unlikely the chessmaster would now want to cause him harm.
Seconds later a blue unicorn stood before him, a unicorn with an upper torso that was human, and with somewhat more than human intelligence. Checkmate's knight form dropped to its fore-knees and glanced at the Texan.
"Prithee mount."
Terry frowned.
"Yew want me to ride yew?"
"It is by far the fastest way for us to return. And thou art cold and in need of succour, Master Terry."
Nodding somewhat reluctantly, the Texan climbed onto the stallion's back…"You should come back to the room and varm up, leibchen. You are still cold."
Dik Dik was pacing, a towel across his shoulders and his arms wrapped around his chest, shivering. He shook his head.
"Not until I know what has happened to Terry."
Jaeger grabbed the buck from behind, holding him close to try to warm him up a little; Dik Dik made a half-hearted effort to pull away, but the German tightened his grip, and the gazelle-man leaned back into the embrace, wordlessly accepting the offered comfort. Both of them were tense with worry.Young Master Kenyon rides most excellently, thought Checkmate as he cantered through the surf, Terry effortlessly rocking with the smooth motion.
Terry was enjoying himself. He'd ridden bareback before, but never bare bareback, and was finding it - intriguing. Checkmate's coat was softer than a real horse's, almost silky against the skin of his groin, and the movement of the broad powerful body between his legs was arousing. Alarmingly so, he thought as his cock swelled and rose to rub deliciously against Checkmate's withers. He rested one hand in the small of the knight's back and the other on a muscular flank, stroking the soft coat as powerful legs ate up the distance and kicked up a fine cooling spray against the heat of the setting sun…Evening was drawing on, the beach was deserted, and Dik Dik and Jaeger were approaching panic-status: despite what was - they were assured - an extensive search, there was no sign of their missing comrades.
Dik Dik was bewailing their bedmate's fate when Jaeger blinked, then pointed.
"Look!"
Dik Dik followed the German's outstretched hand, eyes widening.
It was a… striking sight, the naked and erect Texan astride Checkmate's magnificent knight form, cantering towards them along the water's edge, blazing red sun limning them in fire as it sank below the horizon. Jaeger gasped, his grip on Dik Dik unconsciously tightening as he watched in awe.
Checkmate came to a halt close to the pair, waiting for Terry to slide from his back then transforming to king. The Texan grinned at his partners, then slapped his rescuer's back.
"Thanks buddy! Yew saved ma life."
"Indeed, 'tis so. And thou art welcome." Checkmate's eyes lowered to Terry's groin: the Texan blushed and covered his erection with his hands.
"Aww, heck - Ah'm sorry 'bout that."
"Think nothing of it."
Terry blinked - then noticed the bulge at Checkmate's own groin. Startled but suddenly even more aroused, he touched the chessmaster's forearm.
"But… kin Ah do anythin' fer yew? T'say thanks, Ah mean."
Checkmate regarded the Texan for a moment or two, then smiled.
"At the present, no. But might I avail myself of thine offer, should such an occasion present itself?"
"Weel sure! Ah'd be honoured."
"My thanks, Master Terry."
"Will y'at least come back to the hotel? Let me buy y'dinner?"
Checkmate hesitated, then shook his head.
"I must take my leave of thee." He glanced at Dik Dik and Jaeger, a twinkle in turquoise eyes and a slight, affectionately amused quirk to his mouth. "But I wish thee pleasant… dreams."Jaeger and Dik Dik hugged Terry hard as Checkmate walked away.
"Ah, mein freund! Ve vere so vorried…"
"Heck, yeah - me too fer a minute there. But Ah'm OK, thanks to Checkmate there." He ran a warm hand down the buck's back and into the tight black trunks, fondling the tail and earning himself a burgeoning erection. "Aww, yew missed me!"
Jaeger pulled the towel from the quivering gazelle-man's shoulders and wrapped it around Terry's waist, grinning.
"Is very interesting reaction. You find Herr Checkmate - attractive?"
Terry blushed.
"Weel - Ah dunno…"
"But you like his horse shape?"
Terry lowered his eyes and mumbled,
"It was good t'ride again…"
Jaeger raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, you enjoy… riding. Ve know this…"
Terry bristled.
"Yew suggestin' somethin'?"
Jaeger smirked.
"Now vhat might I be suggesting, liebling?"
"Ah dunno, but yew kin jest stop it right there…"
Dik Dik was watching the pair, a look of utter incomprehension on his face.
"Might I suggest we continue this discussion - if that's what it is - somewhere warmer?"
Jaeger leered and tweaked the buck's half-erect cock through his trunks.
"Like in bed?"
Dik Dik groaned faintly, eyes closing, his voice unsteady.
"Well, I was going to suggest over dinner - but bed sounds good… After a shower, of course." He flexed his shoulders, grimacing as salt-encrusted, stickily snarled pelt tugged at the skin underneath.
Terry laid a hand over his suddenly-rumbling abdomen.
"Food! Yeah! Let's eat in bed." He stroked the buck's ear, earning himself a whimper, and grinned at the German. "Yew got any more o' that there whippy stuff?"
Jaeger leered.
"Ja, I alvays haf it handy." He gazed after the chessmaster's distant, retreating form, now almost invisible in the twilight. "I vonder if Herr Checkmate likes cream…?"
© 2003 December 28th Joules Taylor
© 2001-2004 WordWrights
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