Monster March: The Centaur Lovers

Female centaur x Male centaur

I’m always picked on for one reason or another. In a herd of centaur,  I am a pony. I am the smallest member of the herd, not to mention my  vitiligo. Patches of white started growing on my brown skin when I was  young, not they’ve covered my entire torso and even down my front legs.  Luckily, it’s just my size that they pick on, but even still I sometimes  wish they would tease me for something else. I wish they would call me  patches or say it looks like I fell in the mud. I feel like, sometimes,  that would be more bearable.

Still, I like to watch the  others. Our herd tends to a sprawling orchard, and I enjoy watching the  bigger members pick fruit from the trees so easily. It usually falls on  me to go through the baskets and check the fruits for rotting, spots, or  anything that would make them unsellable. But while I wait for the  others to bring me the baskets, I watch my fellow herd members.

There is one, in particular, Éleuthère, that I always like to look at.  He’s the biggest member of the heard. His dark brown coat is always  shiny and beautiful. His legs are pure white with thick tufts of fur  around his hooves. Of course, everyone loves Éleuthère. He always has  some centauride hovering around him. He’s one of the most beautiful  members of the herd as well as the largest, so of course, everyone wants  to be his mate, even some of the other males.

I can’t help  it, but I too admire him. He’s as beautiful as he is handsome, and he’s  also so kind. More than once he’s come to my rescue when I’m being  picked on. It’s hard to not look up to him. But I  know because of my  stature I would not make a suitable mate for him. Every time I try to  imagine how it would work nothing happens. He’s so big, and I’m just a  speck. I try to forget my feelings and move on, but something will  happen that will make me fall again.

One day in the fields as  everyone is breaking for lunch, I bring out my pail and bring out the  tomatoes my mother gave me. They’re huge, almost as big as my head.  Despite my size, I do have a ravenous appetite. I could probably eat  alongside any of the bigger guys and keep up with them. As I am about to  bite into this tomato, which I have been looking forward to all day  when someone rips it from my hands.

“Don’t you eat all day from the baskets?” One centaur chuckles.

“I don’t,” I argue. “Please, just give it back!” I try to reach up  for it, but that only makes the other centaurs laugh harder.

The one who stole your tomato smirks down at me, and I feel a rage  start to bubble up inside. He starts teasing that he’s going to eat my  lunch while the others laugh and snicker at my expense. I feel between  crying and screaming, and I’m getting ready to hit him if I have to.

All of a sudden, the centaur is shoved aside, and from Éleuthère  takes my tomato his hands. He’s pushed again, and Éleuthère glares down  at him. “Get out of here,” he growls at the other centaurs. “How dare  you? Aren’t you ashamed of your behavior? You’re all adults acting like  children. Get out of here. I don’t want to see you.”

He then kneels down before me and hands me my meal. “Are you ok, Giselle?” He asks me.

Once again, I’m under his spell. My heart is pounding so hard, and I  can barely catch a breath. I sniffle and nod. “Thank you,” I whimper.

He reaches out and wipes away the tear that spills down my cheek. “I  am so sorry,” he whispers to me. “They have no right to treat you this  way.”

I smile down at the tomato. “It’s ok.”

“No, it isn’t.”

I look up at him, seeing the look on his face. He looks angry and  hurt, his dark eyes are cast out over the orchard. He then looks back at  me, and my heart stops. The smile he gives me is so beautiful and  sweet, I can’t help but fall in love with him.

“Would you like some?” I offer him a bite of my food.

He shakes his head, still smiling. “Go ahead. I’ve eaten already.”  He stays with me as I eat that beautiful smile never leaves his face.

I feel blessed to have him beside me. He usually eats alone or  returns to his home. He never seems to want to stick around the orchard  if he isn’t working. He could have anyone in the herd he wanted, why  would he want to hang around me? He was probably feeling sorry for me.

“You don’t have to stay,” I tell him. “You can go.”

“I don’t mind sitting here,” he says. “It’s quiet.”

I lick my lips. “I’ll stop talking then.”

He chuckles. “No, it’s quite alright.” His smile is crooked as he looks at me. “Why do you always eat here alone?”

“You saw what happened,” I sigh. “If I’m not getting teased, then they aren’t looking, and I get stepped on or something.”

“You’re not that small,” he scoffs. “I’ve seen the others miss  stepping on beetles in the field. Surely you are not so easily missed.”

I frown down at my tiny hands. The white-pink splotches there make  me think I would stand out, but no. I huff and shake my head. “One time  they picked me up and they put me high in the tree, and I couldn’t get  down. So I stopped going to eat with the others.”

He frowns again. “That sort of behavior is disgusting to me.”

I  glance at him, seeing he looks hurt again. “The elders are nice,” you  murmur. “They’ve always been so kind when they visit my family and me.”

“Still,  that doesn’t excuse them.” he motions out to the orchard where the  others have started their work again. “You work hard here,” he huffs.  “You work so fast and so diligently. You’re just as important here as  the rest of us.”

My face is burning. I can’t believe he’s complimenting me. “No, really I’m-”

He  laughs. “I mean it. I really do. A bad apple can spoil the bunch after  all.” He stands up and my eyes following his lovely body. “Take care,  Giselle,” he says with a smile. “Also, if you ever need anything, just  come ask me.” He walks off the hill to the orchard, returning to his  post at the peach trees.

My heart is going to fast! I can’t  believe what just happened. I go back to my work, sorting all the  fruits. I pay particular attention to the peaches, knowing those are  Éleuthère’s pride and joy. He’s tended to those peach trees since he was  a foal and learning from his father.

That evening as everything  is carted away and stored. I notice Éleuthère off to the side with the  centaurs who had been harassing me. They walk away from him, and he  turns, spotting me. He waves and gallops over to me.

“How are you?” He asks.

I flinch, not expecting him to talk to me again. “Oh, I’m fine,” I gasp. My hearts starts back up again.

He smiles. “Can I walk you home?”

“What?” My voice squeaks.

He  holds his hand down to me, and I stare at it. His arm and the back of  his hand are dark brown, but his palm is candy pink. It looks cute. I  reach out, shakily taking it. He’s so warm, and he smells like peaches.  He holds my hand back and walks beside me. I notice he walks slow,  probably trying to keep pace with me. I feel ashamed, and I pull my hand  back. I hold it close to my chest, still feeling his warmth.

Éleuthère glances down at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Why are you doing this?” I ask.

He furrows his brow. “What do you mean?”

I look up at him. “If you’re teasing me then stop it right now! You can tell your friends you made me cry!” I whimper.

“Giselle,” he kneels down before me, coming to my level. “I am not trying to tease you. I would never want to hurt you.”

I glare at him. “Then why are you being so nice?” I snap at him. “What do you want?”

He  sighs and wipes my cheeks. His eyes are gentle, and he looks sad. “I  don’t want anything, but if there were something, I would like to be  your friend.”

I sniffle and push his hands away.

“Don’t cry,” he smiles sweetly. “You are cute though.”

I snap him a dirty look.

He chuckles. “It’s true.” He takes from his belt and handkerchief and hands it to me. “I do think you’re cute anyway.”

I make sure to blow my nose extra hard into his handkerchief. “Stop it,” I grumble.

“You really don’t believe me, do you?” He asks.

“Why  would I?” I sniffle. “You’re Éleuthère the amazing, the handsome, the  tall, the beautiful, the perfect.” I scoff and twitch my ear. “You could  have anyone you wanted. Not some stubby pony,” I grumble.

“You  have no idea what I want.” He’s smiling when I look back at him. “I’m  sorry,” he murmurs. “That you feel like I want to hurt you. I don’t. I  would never want that. I don’t like knowing you’ve been so picked on.  All I want is to make sure you’re ok.”

I sniffle again. “I’ll wash this for you,” I say about his handkerchief.

“It’s ok. You can keep it.” He retakes my hand and walks me home.

“Can I eat with you again tomorrow?” He asks before he lets go of my hand.

I shrug. “If you want.”

He  smiles, and my heart starts up again, going so fast I’m sure it’ll fall  out of place. “I do,” he says. “Have a good night, Giselle.”

Part  of me still wants to believe this is a joke. Éleuthère could have  anybody he wanted. He was so beautiful, and he smells like fresh  peaches. I blush when I imagine what it must be like to kiss him. I  wonder if he tastes like peaches too. I shake my head, trying to get  those thoughts from my mind. I have to remember that I am not worthy of  being mate. But being his friend would be great too.

The next  day, Éleuthère joins me for lunch as he said. He has a mix of greens in  his bucket as well as a bunch of carrots. I have a tomato again, and it  takes both my hands to hold it.

“There’s going to be music at the  main barn tonight,” he says. “Since it will be the full moon. I was  wondering if you’d like to go?”

I usually don’t attend such  events. Anything with dancing scares me. I’m afraid of being kicked or  stepped on. “I think I have to help my mom with something tonight.” I  know I shouldn’t lie, but I didn’t want to tell him the truth.

He  nods softly. “I don’t like such things,” he admits. “The crowds and all  the noise, it gets to me sometimes.” He then sighs heavily. “Especially  when the others start grabbing at me.”

“Huh?” I turn and look up at him.

“I  don’t like it when I’m grabbed at or pulled around. I don’t like it  when the others crowd me and all shout at me for something or another.  It gets uncomfortable.” He picks at his food and then moves his bucket  aside.

“Everyone likes you,” I tell him. “So of course they want to be around you.”

He frowns and his ears flick back and forth. “I feel like a slab of meat sometimes.”

“You’re not a slab.” I touch his hand, and his fingers twitch. “They just want you to look at them,” I murmur. “Even once.”

He  takes my hand and holds it. “I don’t want to look at them when they  treat me that way. It doesn’t make me feel like they like me.” He lifts  my hand, and to my shock, he kisses my knuckles. I know that my heart  will never stop throbbing then. “I like it when you look at me.”

I’m  frozen with shock. Luckily, the work bell rings, and he turns to look  out at the orchard. I take my hand back while he isn’t paying attention  and I put my lunch pail away. I look at him as he stands, he seems  tired. I sigh.

I tap his leg, and he looks down at me. “If you’d  like to avoid the dance tonight, you can come have dinner with my  family. You may have to help my mom, and I string beans, but other than  that, you won’t have to do anything.”

His smile is so bright I  feel I shouldn’t look directly at it. “Thank you. I would like that.” he  returns to the orchard and his peach trees, looking like a star.

After  work is over, I wait for him near the barn. Today is the last day  before break, so everything is being put up correctly in the storage  barn. It’s a little dark by the time he finishes, but he rushes to me  and takes my hand. I know my mother is going to be so shocked when she  sees I’ve brought Éleuthère over for dinner. I’ve rarely ever invited  anyone over at all.

My house is rather small compared to the rest.  So I am worried how Éleuthère will fit. I get him a trough filled with  water so he can wash up. Meanwhile, I go inside and alert my mother to  what’s happening.

My mother rushes to the window and gasps. “It  really is!” She grins at me. “I’ll put on some extra food! Why don’t you  go out back and have your father start a fire! We can eat at the table  out there. We don’t want him to feel self-conscious in our tiny doorway  do we?” She shoos me away to go get my father as she goes to take him  clean towels.

I help my father start a bonfire and right as it  gets roaring Éleuthère walks around the side of the house. He greets my  father, shaking his hand and thanking him for having him in our home. He  then comes to me.

“Your parents are lovely people. Your mother is  so sweet.“ He kneels down before the fire. He’s washed, and his skin  looks shiny again, but he still smells so strongly of peaches. I sit  down beside him, enjoying the thought that, even though there was a  dance that evening, I had beautiful Éleuthère all to myself.

Mom  takes a little longer with dinner, I know she’s trying to show off to  Éleuthère. She’s made fried green tomatoes and as grilled carrots and  corn on the cob. She’s made a massive pot of her famous stout coffee,  and she has an apple tart in the oven.

After dinner and dessert,  mom and dad leave us alone. The cup of stout coffee is warm in my hands,  and I can feel his warmth at my side. It feels nice.

“I’m so full,” he yawns and stretches. “I could go to sleep right here,” he chuckles.

“Mama is a good cook,” I say. “That’s what made my dad fall for her?”

He grins down at me. “What about you? Can you cook like that?”

I shrug. “Kind of. Not anywhere as good as Mama though. I think she’s the best cook in the whole herd.”

“I  might have to agree with that.” He picks up his cup and finishes it. He  huffs, “I should probably head home soon. I don’t want to keep you.”

“You’re not keeping me from anything,” I assure him. “Stay as long as you’d like. It’s fine with me.”

His smile is serene. He looks up at the sky and sighs. “It is a beautiful night isn’t it.”

I  follow his gaze, staring up at the fat moon in the sky. It’s so full  and lovely. I still can’t believe I get to share it with Éleuthère. “It  really is,” I murmur. I lean against him, resting my head on his side.

I  wake up in the morning, smelling the ash and smoke from the fire. I rub  my eyes and sit up. I look up, realizing I had fallen asleep with  Éleuthère. I had fallen asleep on him, but then he had leaned over and  fallen asleep on my back. I’m shocked more shocked than I have ever  been. Éleuthère had fallen asleep on me!

His cheek is pressed  against my back, and his long hair is draped all over my body. He’s so  warm, and his skin is soft. I fidget slightly, wanting to escape but not  wanting to wake him. He grumbles then and starts to rise.

He rubs his eyes and looks at me. “Good morning.”

“Sorry!” I gasp. “Did I wake you?”

He yawns and stretches, and I get warm all over as I watch him.

“No,”  he smiles at me. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” he looks around  and then back at me. “I guess I did overstay my welcome.”

“No, no,” I gasp. “I must have fallen asleep on you! I didn’t mean to trap you. I’m so sorry.”

“It was my pleasure really,” he says, and my heart stops.

“Oh  good! You’re both awake now.” My mom trots out with coffee for us.  “Breakfast should be ready soon. You are staying, aren’t you Éleuthère,  dear?”

“I suppose I could stay for a quick bite, but then I really should head home,” he chuckles.

“Oh, stay as long as you like, dear!” My mom winks at me and then goes back inside.

Éleuthère sips his coffee then smiles at me. “I should pay you back  for your hospitality,” he says. He then brushes my hair away from my  face.

“No, really!” I gasp. “That’s the reason for hospitality right? To not expect payment in return?”

Éleuthère’s smile is blinding again. “Still, I’d like to. I may not  be as good as a cook as your mother, but I would still like to try.”

My mother brings out breakfast for us, and after we’re done eating  Éleuthère tells me he’ll come back by that evening to fetch me. My  mother, I think, I more excited than I am.

“We’re just friends, Mama,” I tell her. “That’s all. We can’t be anything more than that,” I sigh.

“Why?” She scoffs. “Because you’re a pony?”

I frown. “It won’t work, Mama. So we’re just friends.” I am not sure who I am trying to convince more, my mother or myself.

After spending so much time with Éleuthère, I can’t deny that my  feelings for him have grown. He’s so sweet and beautiful, and he doesn’t  treat me like I am something strange or weird. He looks at me, and when  he does, he actually sees me. Sometimes, that is enough to make someone  fall in love. I know I am in trouble because I have fallen in love with  Éleuthère. And it is so much more than I expected. I am not sure I want  it.

That evening, Éleuthère comes and fetches me just like he  promised. He takes hold of my hand, and as much as I want to hold it, I  can’t help but want to pull away. He doesn’t know my feelings, and I  don’t want to force them upon him.

“I hope you like what I’ve  made,” he says. “As I said, I’m not too great of a cook,” he chuckles  and smiles. “So, sorry if it isn’t any good.”

“I’m sure it will be fine,” I answer with a smile. “The effort will show!”

He grins at me and squeezes my hand more. He takes me past his  house, and I’m stunned. He leads me down a little path by his home. I  can hear the river, and then I see lights. On the bank of the river, I  see a picnic set up. Candles are lit and hanging from the trees in  lanterns.

“How do you like it?” He asks.

“It’s so pretty,” I gasp, but I have forgotten how to breathe.

He leads me to the idyllic scene, and he kneels before me. “I wanted  to do something extraordinary,” he murmurs. He takes my hand and opens  it. He then kisses the inside of my palm. My heart has stopped  altogether, and I am sure I’m dead. He looks up at me, and his eyes are  so beautiful and soft.

“I wanted to tell you something,” he  says. “I wanted to last night, but your parents were around, and then  you fell asleep. I didn’t want to wake you.”

I knew I was the one who fell asleep! “Wha-what is it?” My voice trembles.

He touches my cheek. “I love you, Giselle.”

I whimper, and tears start to flow down my cheeks. His eyes widen in shock, and I cup my hands around my face.

“Giselle,” he holds me in his arms. “I’ve always admired you,” he  whispers to me. “You’re so beautiful and brave,” he kisses the top of my  head. “I’ve never met someone so kind before.”

I sniffle and blubber, trying not to get his chest wet.

“I’ve always wanted to get close to you, but I always go so nervous and scared.” He kisses the top of my head again.

“You were nervous?” I blurt.

He chuckles and tilts my head up. “Since you were so independent and  strong, I felt that the only thing I could do for you was be tall.”

“That’s not true,” I sniffle.

He wipes my tears away. I grab his face and pull him down, kissing  him as hard as I can. As I pull back to gaze at his face, I notice how  dark his cheeks have gotten. “You are so much more than tall to me.” I  wipe his cheek, seeing a tear has escaped. “You’re everything to me.”

He kisses me again, this time soft and sweet and far too short.

“I love you too,” I whisper to him. “But-” I hesitate.

“No buts,” he murmurs.

I nod. “There is a big but!” I huff. “Look at us!” I whimper. “I can’t be a mate for you, Éleuthère.”

He frowns and nuzzles to my cheek.

“I am too small! How could I ever be your mate?” I wrap my arms  around his neck, holding fast to him while I still could. “How could we  ever make love? How could I ever carry your foals?” I sob into his  shoulder, and he rubs my back. He holds me tenderly and soothes me.

“There are ways we can learn to make love,” he murmurs to me.  “Surely, my fingers and mouth could be enough to pleasure you.”

My whole body goes hot, and I squeak. “But what about you?”

“We have time to learn all that and discover one another.” He eases  me back, and he cups my cheek. “As for foals, there are orphans who need  homes.” He reassuringly smiles at me. “Do not worry about the things  that you can’t do. Think about all the things you can do.”

I sniffle and rub my eyes. “Like what?”

“You make me happy,” he kisses my cheek. “You’re smart, and you’re  cute.” He kisses my forehead. “You love me back.” He looks at me and  smooths his thumb across my bottom lip. “And so much more.”

I smile at him. “You won’t be ashamed of me?”

He glares at me then captures my cheeks between both his palms and  squishes me. “I would be honored every day if you chose to be my mate. I  would do everything in my power to make you just as happy as you make  me.” He releases my face and kisses me again. “All I want is to hold  your hand and fall asleep with you at night.”

I take his hand and squeeze it. “And you’re sure?”

“More than anything. Giselle, you’ve been my dream girl since we were little.” he then chuckles. “Sorry, I mean-”

“It’s alright. I know I’ve always been little.” I kiss his cheek. “Go on, what were you saying?”

He sighs and kisses my palm. “You have always been my dream girl. I  wish I had half the nerve that you do. I see you walking through the  crowds, and I think how amazing you are. You can do so much and don’t  even realize it.”

“You make me feel so big,” I whisper to him. “You make me feel like I could conquer the world.”

He chuckles. “You can.”

I kiss him again, smelling peach all around me. “I love you,” I whisper to him. “Please, be my mate.”

He picks me up and spins me, hollering in jubilation before he  kisses me again. “I should be asking you that!” he’s grinning from ear  to ear, but then again, so am I.

I snuggle up close to him as  we eat. He feeds me from his hand, and I enjoy nipping at his fingers  when he does. He kisses me often, on my lips, my cheeks, my forehead. I  have never seen Éleuthère act this happy before; it was lovely.

After dinner, he takes me home, and he bows before my parents. He lays  himself on the ground and stretches out his arms as he offers himself  to my family. My mom screams with joy and nearly shakes my father to  death. Of course, they accept him. He then makes his oath, placing his  hand over his chest.

“If I should ever disappoint her or hurt her, she may cut out my heart,” Éleuthère vows to my parents and me.

It’s a shock to the rest of the herd. I hear whispers and rumors,  but I pay them no mind. I know what is true, and Éleuthère is most truth  I have ever known.

When I move in with him, he has made  accommodations to his home. He has made stairs in the kitchen so that I  can reach the counter. He’s built little stools that I can easily push  around when I need to reach things. He’s also bought a new mattress that  is big enough to fit us both comfortably.

“Perhaps one day we will need something bigger,” he beams at me. “But for now I think our little love nest will work.”

“Love nest,” I giggle. “Please, don’t call it that. It’s a home!”

He dips down and kisses me. “But there is a lot of love here.”

I pop his cheek playfully. “Stop saying that. It sounds so corny.”

“But it’s true.” he picks me up and sets me on the counter where I  am the same height as Éleuthère. He kisses me and holds my hands. “I  will love you forever, my little hero,” he whispers to me.

I smile at him and kiss him again. “I love you too, my gentle one.”