William
William wrestled with Butch in the long grass along the edges of the lake. The Borca wrapped it’s massive jaws around his arm, and tossed him side to side as gently as the giant beast could. The large sharp teeth were soft against his skin as Butch felt the bare skin and controlled himself before breaking or scratching the skin. Even as large as the Borca was, Butch was a gentle creature that liked nothing more than time with William.
William pulled his arm free from the grasp of the giant jaw, and wrapped it around Butch’s long furry neck. The Borca dropped low, and he felt himself pulled down to the grass. The two rolled in the long grass until William let out a series of laughs as Butch’s tongue found the tip of his nose, and licked it.
“You gross fuck,” William said as he laughed and let go to push the tongue away from him, and wipe the wetness from the tongue.
Butch dashed around William in a large circle lightning fast before getting in close again and tackling him to the ground. He let out another laugh as he tried to push the beast off him as it continued to flick its tongue, making contact with his face again and again.
William turned his head as the stink of the Butch’s mouth hit him. Even with the daily care from the Borca handlers at Lakehall, their breath was a fearsome thing. He pushed the massive head away from him as the tongue continued to flick outside it’s mouth but no longer made contact with him.
“Enough,” William said with a final laugh as Butch proved himself to strong for William to fight off. He fell back to the ground, and felt Butch drop down next to him and round onto his back and wiggle in close to William. He reached out and rubbed the smooth almost bare fur on the Borca chest as the two of them caught his breath.
William looked off towards the lake where his brothers and sister played, swimming and jumping from the rope swing which hung from a massive tree. The rope had been there since before he could remember. His father would say that he and his siblings would play under that tree, jump from it’s branches and swing into the lake. He wondered if that rope was the same or if a new one had to be put there as the years of weather hit them.
The shade from the trees had long since departed the small dock that the kids and their own Borca used to jump off further into the lake. Any water brought onto the old wooden planks from the kids as they climbed quickly dried in the heat of the morning.
William pulled out his datapad from his pocket as Butch wiggled back and forth next to him. He looked at the time, it was getting close to mid day. It felt like it as well, and he wondered if he should not have been out there in the cool waters of the lake. He knew that he didn’t have time now though, that he had better be on his way.
William stood, and raised his hands to his mouth and shouted. “Randell, Kevin, Kori, let's go!” He didn’t wait for an answer, and turned to grab the saddle before turning back to Butch who already stood on all four of his feet.
Butch stood still as William threw the large saddle on his long back, and rubbed his neck as he began to fix and secure the saddle, and the Butch flicked it’s long tongue anytime he could in reach of his head on it’s long neck.
“Come on,” William shouted again as the kids climbed onto the dock and ran to the shore to their waiting towels. He swung his feet into the stirrup, and pulled himself into the saddle.
“Come on Will, let's stay a little longer,” Kevin said as he ran through the low wild grass to where William and the other Borca had gathered.
“I told you I didn’t have much time,” William reminded his younger brother. “I have practice in an hour, and I can’t be late. Not again. Coach will kill me.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” his sister Kori said as she wrapped her head and hair with her own towel. “It’s nice having you around. You spend too much time in Greendowns.”
“I’ll be back be dinner,” William replied as he scratched the big floppy ears of Butch. “I spend time in Greendowns because that's where the college is. If I’m not in school you know father will make me work, and then you will never see me.”
“I know,” Kori replied sadly. “I’ll just miss you when you are gone. We don’t get to hang out like when we were little.”
“I’ll miss you as well shorty, but I’ll be back before long. Father returns to Karthmere today. Should be back on planetside by dinner time, mother says. We can have dinner with the whole family, and you think mother would let me miss that? How does that sound?” William asked.
“Sounds good to me,” Kevin replied, and Kori gave a quick nod as they fixed the saddles on their own Borcas, and climbed onto their backs.
William rubbed Butch’s long neck as he waited for Randall to finish putting his gear in the saddle bags, and climbed into his own saddle. He did miss spending time at home, the large estate was peaceful, and the lake was like a heaven in the summer days of Karthmere.
“First one back to the stable can have the last of grandma’s fresh cake if mom didn’t eat it,” William said urged Butch to take off into a forward rush, and run.
“No fair,” Randell shouted from behind as Kori and Kevin laughed and followed William.
William looked back before they reached the tree line of the forest that stood between them and home. Randall was trailing between as Kori began to pull away from Kevin, and she let out a loud laugh.
They made it into the forest, and the large path was wide enough for four or five Borca to run side by side. He looked back again, knew he should keep his eyes in front of him but trusted Butch. Kevin had fallen further behind, and Randall was doing all he could to keep up. Kori was gaining on him. She was a daredevil with no fear, and that fearlessness was working in her favor.
William looked back and ducked quickly at a low branch. Butch moved quickly at the last moment, and the branch disappeared before he would have hit it. The Giant Borcas leap as their four legs moved together. Pulling and pushing themselves as their large paws dug in.
They cleared the forest, and Lakehall came into view across the field. Kori was beside him now, and William could feel Butch push himself and gain more speed. He loved to run. Slowly he began to pull away from Kori.
The stables were close, and William rubbed Butch’s neck, and the giant Borca slowed it’s pace. Kori overtook him, and William saw the grin on her face as she passed him.
“Good boy,” William said softly as Kori raised her hands in victory and her own Borca slowed down as they entered the stable grounds. “Your getting old buddy, but you still got it,” he said and could hear the huff and puff of Butch as it’s great big tongue hung out.
William brought Butch into the stable with Kori as they laughed. Kevin was quickly behind them, but Randall took a few moments to catch up.
“Cheaters,” Randall grumbled as he finally reached them, and brought his own Borca into the stable.
“Always have to be ready,” William said with a grin.
“Whatever,” Randall responded as he handed his Borca off to one of the stable Bots that aided the Borca handler.
“Don’t be a sore loser,” Kori said with the wave of her hand, but Randall waved her off and left.
William gave Butch one last pet before he handed him over to another waiting Bot. “I’ll see you guys tonight. I have to craft my aircraft and get to practice,” he said and looked at Kori and Kevin. “I want a rematch though,” he told them with a wink before he left to make his way to the house hanger bay.
