The Satyr Lover: Chapter Two

As night fell, Charoúmenos and Helios set about collecting kindling. Once they had enough, the satyr cleared an area in the brush, creating a stone circle, and rubbed two sticks together over a bit of dried grass, blowing steadily until a small flame erupted. When the spark had bloomed into a roaring fire, he left Helios to tend it, running off into the woods to gather supper.

After their meal of nuts and roots, they sat across from one another, sharing stories. Charoúmenos spoke fondly of his youth, recounting afternoons he'd spent racing deer to see who had the fastest stride, and evenings spent learning astronomy from his mentor, Chiron. At this, the boy sadly remarked,

"You've had such a peaceful life out here. It almost makes me wish I'd been born a satyr instead of a human."

Charoúmenos shrugged his shoulders and replied,

"Well, sometimes it's a little difficult. My kind have the occasional quarrel with the centaurs. Most of them are rather brutish, taking our stores of berries and honey whenever it pleases them, or, just for the fun of it, trampling all over our makeshift shelters in the middle of rain storms."

The satyr sighed, adding,

"Chiron truly was unique among his kind."

Helios frowned and said,

"My father had many debts. He sold me to Krateros when I was twelve, so I have few fond memories of growing up, save for one..."

Charoúmenos gazed at him, eyes filled with curiosity. The youth continued,

"In my fifteenth year, Master had me accompany him to the port city of Piraeus so he could deal with his personal fleet of ships. At the end of a rather long meeting, he retired for the afternoon to an all-male brothel, ordering me to wait outside. In a moment of rebellion, I chose to take the opportunity to slip away.

"With a lackadaisical stride, I walked down the street, bolting as soon as I'd turned the corner. I decided at that moment I would try to steal a boat from the nearby harbor, so I followed the sounds of the seagulls until I managed to find the docks. How fortunate, the place was so jam-packed with merchants and sailors it was easy for me to hide within the crowd.

Before long, I came across a small, weather-worn fishing boat and climbed aboard, intent on stealing the vessel. However, after spending several minutes puzzling over a dozen different ropes and pulleys, I was horrified to realize I had no idea how to set sail, let alone navigate my way to freedom."

Charoúmenos stoked the fire with a long, thick branch and asked,

"What happened next?"

Helios bit his lip and pressed on,

"Her owner, an old, grey-whiskered angler, showed up, catching me in the act. I was so afraid he'd report me to the city guards I almost jumped overboard, but instead of calling out for my arrest, he only gazed at me curiously and, in a most mirthful fashion, laughingly exclaimed,

Do my eyes deceive me, or has a young merman found his way onto my ship?

Unsure of what else to do, I told him the truth, adding that I'd only tried to take his boat to escape a life of slavery."

The satyr, who was busy chewing the last of the roasted hazelnuts, motioned for Helios to continue. The boy nodded as he recalled,

"For a moment he stood there silently, studying my face, and mentioned he'd once been a slave as well, only gaining his freedom when his master formally sold him to the god of a local sanctuary. After that, he could no longer be considered anyone’s property, now that he was under... I believe, Neptune's protection.

The fisherman then offered to buy me some honey-glazed seed cakes. I hadn't had any in years, so I eagerly took him up on the offer. After we'd eaten our fill, he turned to me and said,

I will dedicate an offering to the lord of the sea in your name, and pray that you might also one day be adopted by a god.

I'd been gone too long, so I thanked him for his kindness and ran back to the brothel, arriving mere moments before my Master emerged."

Charoúmenos sat quietly in thought, then ventured,

"Perhaps Prince Dionysus might be persuaded to claim you as his own."

Helios shook his head and replied,

"Surely not. The Lord of the Vine is the same god worshipped by my Master. Who knows what that deity might try to do with me?"

The satyr threw a few twigs on the fire and, satisfied with the crackle of sparks, noted,

"Dionysus cannot help who chooses to worship him, but he is not like Krateros. Nobody in his care is bound to him except by choice."

The youth considered this and queried,

"How might I find him so such an arrangement can be made?"

Charoúmenos scratched his head, answering,

"You don't really find him. Dionysus finds you."

Helios nodded even as the first waves of exhaustion began overtaking him. The food and warmth were finally having an effect, causing his eyelids to droop. Seeing this, Charoúmenos stood and began spreading handfuls of dry leaves near the fire. The youth watched him curiously, wondering aloud,

"Are you making your bed?"

The wild man smiled happily and said,

"No, yours."

The boy, puzzled, asked,

"Where will you sleep, then?"

Charoúmenos pointed off into the darkness and replied,

"I will rest outside the stone circle. That way, if anyone approaches us in the dark, they shall stumble across me first."

It was a simple gesture, but warmed Helios's heart nonetheless. Grateful, the boy whispered,

"Thank you, dear satyr."

Charoúmenos grinned as he stretched out his arms, let out a loud yawn, and wandered over to his chosen swathe of grass to sleep for the night.

Helios lay down on his bed. Before long, both he and his new companion were fast asleep.

***

As Charoúmenos traveled through the realm of dreams, a memory from many years earlier began to play:

Chiron had been wandering through the forest, placing medicinal herbs into the baskets slung over the horse-like lower half of his body, when the fledgling satyr saw fit to sneak up on him. It was merely a game, of course. Charoúmenos loved engaging in a bit of mischief when it suited him, and thought it might be good fun to give the centaur's tail a tug.

Chiron, hearing a twig snap behind him, responded in a fully equine fashion, landing a swift kick to Charoúmenos's gut with his powerful hind legs, the force of which sent the satyr flying back several feet.

The centaur quickly turned around, and on seeing the gasping, hairy figure sprawled out across the forest floor, started laughing, so thoroughly was he amused by the look of surprise in his would-be tormentor's eyes.

Chiron then reached down, offering a hand, and said,

"Thought you'd mount me, little satyr? Was my back end that enticing?"

In spite of the pain, Charoúmenos grinned as he took the centaur's hand, eased himself onto his wobbly legs, and replied,

"My only intent was to tease, but as far as horse men go, your backside is quite shapely."

At this, Chiron raised a silver eyebrow and asked,

"Do you really think so? Or are you only saying that because the impact of my hooves taught you to respect your elders?"

The satyr laughed, allowing his eyes to wander down Chiron's well-muscled haunches. Charoúmenos had never enjoyed pleasure with another man before, but there was something about the powerfully built centaur that lit an unfamiliar flame within the goat-man's loins.

As if reading his mind, Chiron smiled wryly and said,

"I have been a teacher of many a young man in my day. Perhaps you're seeking a more physical form of tutelage?"

Charoúmenos's pulse quickened as he recognized the nature of the centaur's invitation. Chiron studied him intently, concluding,

"I can see I piqued your curiosity."

The wild man looked down, saw that his phallus was rising of it's own accord, and answered,

"I find my pole does this very often, but it is true; if you're willing to take me on as a student, I am more than eager to learn whatever lessons you have to offer."

The centaur, expression softening, stated,

"Before we begin, I must assess your level of experience. First of all, have you ever kissed anyone?"

The satyr, confused, asked,

"What is a kiss? Is that a carnal position?"

Chiron laughed, and upon describing the act, Charoúmenos replied,

"But why kiss if it doesn't satiate one's organ?"

The centaur shook his head and explained,

"Our nature as demi-humans often dull the instincts of passion, but there is more to sharing pleasure than gratifying a velvet opening or heated scepter."

Chiron shifted his powerful body, lowering himself onto his forelegs until the pair were looking directly into each other's eyes. He reached out, gently cupping Charoúmenos's cheeks in his strong hands, and murmured,

"Let me show you a new form of delight."