The Centaur's Mate [Open]

Stone paced outside the village, a tad bit reluctant to go in. He hated the thought of just ripping someone away from their home against their will. But the birth of females among the centaurs were rare-they needed to claim mates from outside their own village to continue the herd. It was a rite of passage for every male-at least, every male who hadn't been lucky enough to view a female already in the herd-to go and claim his mate. The humans and elves-especially the males-hated them for stealing them away

It seemed only natural that Stone's hooves had lead him to this village in particular. He had snuck off there often as a youth, even made friends with a girl around his age. But when their friendship had been discovered, he'd been driven off, still bearing the scar from where an arrow had pierced the flesh of his arm. The elders had barred him from returning there-until tonight, when he could roam as freely as he pleased.

He was about to continue into the village-when someone came running out. A girl, around his age, sobbing. He followed her quietly, stepping up behind her as silently as possible, wondering what had happened to make her risk running out of the safety of her home on a night like this.

Aleu ran out of her village sobbing profusly. She just couldn't take her family anymore. Ever since her oldersister was taken by a centaur they have been pushing her to marry. Aleu was so tired of it. Why couldn't they let her make her own decisions in her life. As she ran farther and farther away from her village, she didn't even notice how far she had gone until she arrived at her secret place.

It was a simple pond that glowed slightly in the moonlight. She hadn't been here in ages, mostly because it reminded her too much of her old friend. Yet another atempt by her parents to rule her life. She sighed softly before wipping the tears from her eyes. 'Why did my life have to be so complicated? I wish my life could just go back to the way it was when I was younger,' She thought sadly still wipping her tears away. She sighs softly, and looks down at her reflection in the water. She pushes her long, dark brown hair from her face. She stares into her own dark brown eyes that were red and puffy from crying so much. She ran her hand across her rosy cheek before sighing again.

Stone edged towards the girl, keeping his distance, at least for now, watching as she stared down at her reflection in the water. "Aleu," He breathed, barely audible enough for the girl to hear. But it had to be her. He may not have seen her in ages, and they had both grown quite a bit since they were children, but he knew her in a heartbeat.

He stepped closer, until she would be able to see his reflection in the still water of the pool. "It isn't safe to be out tonight," He warned softly. He knew it would be easy, to simply grab her, to carry her off and claim her as his own mate. But he couldn't do it, not to her.

<a href="http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/81/00/40300081/photos/characters-3/Anime_black%20hair_2.jpg">Aleu</a> jumped slightly when she heard a male voice behind her. She jumped slightly when she saw a male centaur in the reflection of the pond. He looked so familiar, but it couldn't be Stone. Luck was never on her side, so why would it be now. Her eyes widend, when she realized what he said. She glanced up at the moon, and realized what night it was. She silently cursed herself for her luck.
"You're right," she replied softly looking down at her reflection again. "But I can't go back to my village," she whispered sadly before pulling her knees to her chest, and feeling the tears well up in her eyes again. She refused to let them fall this time though.

She didn't seem to recognize him, and he let out a quiet sigh. Perhaps she wasn't his Aleu after all. But still, he found himself curious to why she didnt seem frightened of him, even now that he was practically besides her, even now that she knew what night it was. "Why not?" He asked softly, wondering what had put her in such a state.

"My parents are pressuring me to marry, but I want to marry for love not because my parets don't want me to be taken away. I'm sorry, you probably don't want to hear about my problems." Aleu wondered why she told him that much. She was usually very shy around new people, but for some reason she felt so comfortable in his presence. 'Maybe it's because he's been kind to me, or maybe it's because he reminds me of Stone,' she contemplated glancing over her shoulder at him, and realizing how close he actually was to her, but she just smiled softly up at him.

"Its no trouble," He said, returning the soft smile she offered up with one of his own. "Of course, your parents are probably right to worry over you. Out in the middle of the night, speaking so casually with a centaur on the night they're out hunting their brides," He told her with a teasing tone. Stone was usually rather serious, but someting about this girl made him relax, made him let his guard down. Even if she wasn't Aleu, there was no reason for him not to enjoy her company, for the time being.

Aleu giggled softly at his teasing tone, "You're probably right, but I wish they wouldn't push me so hard sometimes. " She looked back at the pond for a little while not really looking at anything in particular. "I don't know why I'm so comfortable with you, but I guess it's because you remind me of an old friend of mine. My parents found out, and he was driven out. I guess I miss him a lot even after all these years." She sighed softly, and walked over to stand next to him, " What's your name?" she asked him putting her hand on his forarm softly. 'Why am I doing this? He may take me away from my home, but would that be so bad? He seemed really nice, and he made me feel so comfortable,' she thought.

He couldn't help but smile at what she said next. So it was his Aleu after all. "Must've been lucky," He said with a playful smirk, "To have such a pretty human as a friend." As she placed her hand on his forearm, he lifted up his other hand, placing it gently over hers. "Isn't it obvious, Aleu?" He asked, his tone still teasingly playful, though there was warmth and affection in his eyes as he met her gaze.

She blushed deeply when he called her pretty. She gasped softly when he called her name. It was Stone, her best friend. "Stone, it's really you," she squealed throwing her arms around his torso and hugging him tightly. "I've missed you so much," she stated softly still hugging him tightly. "You've grown since I last saw you, and you've gotten a lot cuter since then," she stated softly blushing brightly, but hiding her face into his chest, so he wouldn't see it.

He blushed as she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. He slid his arms around her, amazed by how good it felt, to have her so close to him. "So have you, Aleu," He said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Its been too long since I saw you last," He said. I don't want to part with you again, He though. She was beautiful now, more so than he'd ever imagine she'd be. He'd love to have her as his mate, but he didn't know if she'd want him t carry her off.

"I don't want to be away from you anymore. I would miss you too much," she stated pulling away from his slightly, so she could look into his eyes. She looked down at the ground sadly as she thought about what would happen if he didn't want to take her with him. 'I hope he will take me with him,' she thought still looking at the ground.

As she stepped away, looking down sadly, he gently guided her chin up to look at him. "Come with me then," He said gently, "Please, come back to my herd with me." He stroke her cheek, looking into her eyes. "Be my mate," He added quietly, hoping she'd say yes to him.

Her eyes widened slightly when he gently pulled her chin up, so he could see her face. She gave him a dazzling smile when he asked her to come to back to his herd with him, and to be his mate. "I would love to," she stated hugging him tightly, and giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek in thanks.

He smiled as she kissed her cheek, hugging her back. He kissed her lips chastely, before lifting her up, setting her on his back. "Hold on tight," He warned, before he took off at a gallop through the forest. As they made their way close to the centaur's settlement, other centaurs were easy to see running along side them, carrying women in their arms or on their backs.

Aleu blushed brightly when Stone kissed her, and mewled when he picked her up and set her on his back. She nodded before wrapping her arms around his waist and holding on tightly as he took off into the forest. She glanced around as she saw other centaurs carrying their mates, some were crying. But others seemed to accept their fate with pride. She buried her head in Stone's lower back waiting for the ride to be over because she was starting to get dizzy.

He slowed to a canter as they reached the village. The streets were empty, most of the other residents sleeping. There would be a grand celebration the following day, to welcome the newest members of the herd. He set her down gently, as they reached his own home - or their home, as it was now. "Welcome home," He said gently, leading her inside. It was a simple enough house, with a main chamber and a bedroom.

She looked up as he slowed down, and got a look at the village she would be calling home now with Stone. She looked up at him when he placed her on the ground in front of his home, well their home now. "I like it, it feels really homey," she stated softly looking up at him sweetly.

"I'm glad," Stone said, smiling at her. "I want you to be happy here, after all." He kissed her again, more deeply than he had before. When he broke the kiss, he smiled at her. "We could rest now, if you'd like," He told her, "Or we can do something more fun..."

She smiled softly at his words and gasped when he kissed again. This time though, it was deeper and held more passion in it than the first one. She was a little dazed when he pulled away. She bite her lip softly when he hinted at them having sex. 'Am I ready for this? Yes, I am. I love Stone and I trust him comepletely,' she thought before standing on her tip toes, and kissing him again, and wrapping her armsaround him. "What kind of fun?" she asked kissing down his jawline.

He held her close as she kissed down his jawline, more than pleased with her reaction. "I think you already know," He whispered playfully in her ear, "But I'll make it a bit clearer. We are mates, now, you and I...I think we should make things official,"

She giggled softly at his words before tightening her hold on his waist. She bit her bottom lip softly. "And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked him coyly before licking the shell of his ear, she smashing her lips to his in a deep passionate kiss.

He shuddered a little as she licked his ear, returning her passionate kiss eagerly. "I'm going to make love to you until we're both too tired to go on," He told her, "And I'm going to show you how much pleasure your stallion can give you."

She felt a shiver of pleasure run through her body at his words. "Oh, you are?" she said pulling away from the kiss and gasping for breath. She began to run her hands down his body slowly and teasingly. She soon started to placed open mouth kisses down his chest.