The Young One
By Lonelyrider

Big James is eager to keep his promise to visit with his youthful friend Natalie Baker, & the two spend a fun afternoon together dueling at the hot springs.

Story Highlights:
Age difference
Friendship
Big brother/little sister figures
Imitation
Independent girl
Questions
Swordplay
Conversation
Reassurance
Humans
Angel
Muscle

James waited excitedly for the arrival of his dear little friend, a ten year old girl he'd met two years back when he'd rescued her from a broken leg. The two had become fast pals since then and the girl had followed in James's lead, being a tomboy who loved horsemanship and weaponry like James himself. After a rough emotional patch on her end, he'd lost touch with her and was thrilled she'd popped back into his life, though he wasn't sure for how long, to his chagrin. He heard the clopping of light hooves and Natalie hopped off her chestnut pony, which had been a gift from James, and he stood up, bending back down to hug her, lifting her clear off the ground effortlessly.
"Hi James. Why the hot spring?" Natalie wondered out loud.
"Oh, hey sweetie, how are ya? Cause I got this for ya way back, and wasn't ever able to give it to ya. Like it? It's a singlet like mine, but yours has swords." James showed Natalie the black, red and gold swimming singlet he wore and a similar design for a boy that he held over his brawny arm, but instead of a stallion's head in gold like his had, hers had three crossed swords on the front of it
"Ooh, yeah, I do like it. I'll change into it." Natalie said, taking it, James beamed big, thrilled she liked his gift.
"Oh here sweetie, I'll close my eyes and you can use my wings as a changing spot." James covered his grey eyes with his huge hands and brought his ebon wings in front of himself in a fan shape, she quickly undressed and slipped easily into the singlet, which fit her well since she didn't have much in the way of cleavage yet, and James had chosen a high-cut singlet for her.
"I like this, thanks for getting me a boy's one and not some pink yucky thing. Okay, you may look now." Natalie told her friend, he nodded and lowered his hands, admiring her in the smart swim & wrestle suit.
"You look very manly. Oh, don't worry Nat, I'd never, I know you like guy's things. So honey, how are ya?"
Natalie stuck her clothes in a wad into her grazing pony's saddlebag, beside James's enormous draft stallion, and she waded into the hot spring, kicking at the water aimlessly.
"Oh, I guess I'm okay. Been fighting a lot in the arena games. I'm in the top 3. I heard you & Lonely had a good honeymoon in Mossy City. James? Am I gonna have to get married too, when I'm older like you are?" Natalie wondered; James broke his proud arm cross and grin and squatted to speak to her, his face kind.
"Aww honey, only if you want to do that. Did someone tell you that you had to get married?" James asked gently.
"Yeah, my mom's sister, my aunt Terri. She says I'll grow out of being a warrior princess and get married and have kids. She also said when you..oh, if you and Lonely have kids, that you won't want me around anymore. That you'll be too busy and stuff." Natalie grumbled lowly, throwing a rock and skipping it with impressive skill.
"Wow, nice throw! Nat honey, even if Lonely and I do have kids, I will never, ever be too busy for you. In fact, I'd want you to meet my kids, and to teach them how to sword fight and things when they're older. I'm not gonna go away Nat, I promise." James gently patted her hands which had touched his for a moment, and she went back to fidgeting in the shallow warm spring.
"Huh. Okay, I guess I believe you. But my stupid dad promised my mom he'd never go and he did." Natalie sat down in the water, her knees to her slim chest, and James sat by her, gently arcing a friendly warm and soft wing over her.
"I know how that feels, with my own dad. My stepdad was, oh, is a good guy, he tried his best, but it just isn't quite the same, is it?" James gently stroked his hand down her back just once, not wanting to overload her.
"Yeah, it ain't. Hey. Teehee!" Natalie giggled and started to splash him, making him guffaw as she got him wet and took off, he chased her and scooped her up like she weighed nothing, tossing her carefully into the deep end of the spring where she bobbed up and swam towards shore. She shook her wet hair and went to her pony, withdrawing her sword and shield.
"Spar with me, Jamesey!" She shrieked excitedly, between giggles, he chuckled and hurried to his huge horse, withdrawing his own axe and a broad spiked shield.
"Ready for punishment? Oh my! Aren't you a little tiger!" James play growled and chuckled with her as the two took turns stabbing at one another, careful to aim at each other's shields and block their respective blows, as usual, she was very good, and he didn't need to hold back his own skill but was able to spar with her like he would a grown man. Natalie giggled as James blocked another of her sword thrusts with his wide shield and he chased after her playfully, she laughed and outran him, tossing her weapon and armor onto her towel and he did the same, she yelped and leapt onto his burly back, clearly wanting a piggyback ride, and he was happy to indulge her with one, and waded into the deep end of the pool till he was up to his pecs and took them both around in circles, his huge size keeping him above the water. She laughed happily, very hyper from all the fun, and pulled hard at his hair, despite the pain he let her use it as a handle as he gave her a ride.
"Come here Nat." He urged, trying to get ahold of her, she giggled, slippery and slick, and let him pick her up and toss her high with his mighty strength, then landed with a splash and he watched carefully to make sure she was safe, she came up right away and swam up to him, leaning her elbows on his chest as James bounced them around in circles in the warm spring together.
James lay on his back with his wings spread out, Natalie using him as a flotation device sat on his chest & playing with her model horses as he lounged and kept them afloat, he was enjoying the sight of the warm pink snowy sky and the steam as the spring kept them warm and the sight of his friend playing on him. She made her horse nuzzle him and he smiled, reaching up and giving her horse a pet.
"Have I met this one, honey?" He asked her fondly.
"No, this is Coal; & his sister, Snowy."
"Hello there, Coal & Snowy." James greeted, Natalie made the toys nuzzle him again and he chuckled and flushed, finding it sweet. "I'm thinking of getting some ink done Nat. I was almost being a little facetious when I mentioned it to Lonely in Mossy City, but I actually like the idea, the more I think about it."
"What tattoos will you get?" Natalie asked, making her horses play gallop across James's broad hairy chest.
"I think I'll definitely get a heart with "mom" on it, maybe some swords and a shield, a horse or two, and a rose, to symbolize my beautiful flower." James looked down with a fond grin at Natalie, who kept playing, knowing he meant his new wife Lonely at the last part of his statement.
"Yeah, that'd be good. Plus get some barbed wire around your legs and arms too. It'll make you look tough." Natalie remarked.
James felt his groomed bearded chin, thinking.
"Actually, I like that." He said happily.
"Natalie! Oh thank goodness, you stayed here with James. I'm sorry to cut your time short guys, but it's getting late. Nat, come home, dinner's almost ready." Natalie's mother rode up on her Gypsy Vanner mare and announced, James stood up in the warm spring and picked Natalie up gently, carrying her to her towel and gently setting her down, where she shook and dried off, going to put away her sword and shield on their sheaths on her saddle, as did he.
"Thanks for stopping by Mrs B, I would have lost all track of time and stayed here all night! Sorry to cut into your supper hour." James apologized politely, drying his thick short hair and shaking off his wet wings.
"No, that's alright, I know you two haven't seen each other in a long time. Did you have fun with James, honey?" Natalie's mother asked her daughter, who was now mounted on her pony and rode up to her mother.
"Look what James got me." Natalie pointed to her singlet, and her mother nodded, pleased that they'd clearly had a good time.
"Tell him goodbye Natalie, you can come and play sometime soon again." Mrs Baker urged, turning her mare about. Natalie hugged James, who still towered over her despite her being on her pony, getting a kiss on her head & a hug so tight her bones cracked, he stroked her cheek briefly with his finger, smiling at her with doting fondness.
"Okay, bye big Jamesey. Bye Thunder! See you soon!"
"Bye Nat, honey! I had so much fun today! Oh, bye for now! Bye bye!" James called after them and waved heartily, Thunder coming up beside him and whinnying a loud greeting as the girl and her mother trotted away down the path towards their modest home in the distance. James laid a friendly arm on Thunder's braided mane and watched Natalie and her mother fade into the cloudy horizon as the flurries fell all around, already missing her, and he chuckled and hugged his steed as Thunder nuzzled him hard in comfort.






A big ty & credit to the photographer 📸
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-woman.....ch-zypNu8vEKcw