"Hey, pink fairies! Cute hair!"

"Glad you like it, hun," Ribbons said in a higher-than-usual pitch, wagging his long, bushy tail at the jock wolf who had spoken. He ran his fingers through his long, pink-dyed hair and gave it a flick. "You can come and smell it if you want."

The wolf's ears drooped as his friends laughed at him, and he returned to his game of beach volley ball. Ribbons giggled and continued to walk down the beach. Beside him, his best friend was all grins.

"Wow, the way you just brushed him off!" Gummi was an ursine, quite plump yet with a round, boyish face that Ribbons found irresistibly cute. Unlike the skunk himself, who apart from his pink hair had dyed his entire pelt a light sky blue, Gummi had kept his bear brown, except of course for the neon-pink hair. "I thought he was gonna come at you, he looked so pissed."

"Nah, he already lost it with his mates. Being snubbed by a fag, you know. If he hadn't shut up they would've laughed even more at him."

"How do you know these things, Ribs?"

"You just gotta be confident, Gummi Bear. You just gotta be confident."

"That's easy for you to say."

Ribbons sighed. It was not the first time he had heard the resignation in his friend's voice. No matter how many people loved Gummi, told him he was cute, and even hit on him, the bear still lacked self-confidence. In his earlier days, Ribbons knew, he had been mercilessly teased because of his weight, and though he usually was fine with it some wounds never seemed to heal. There were times when the happy, carefree boy Ribbons had befriended turned inwards and became quiet. He was determined that today would not be such a day.

They stopped at a place where there weren't too many people, and spread out their towels. Ribbons immediately started blowing up the beach ball he had brought, making very sure to make the act look erotic. A giggle from beside him told him it worked. Already, Gummi's mood was easing up. It was always like this; the first few minutes on the beach would be tense, but as soon as the bear realised that people weren't eyeing him everything would be fine again. They took turns rubbing each other's noses with sun cream, then Gummi grabbed the ball and they ran for the water.

As the sun rose in the sky, the two of them had a great time. When they weren't playing with the ball or swimming, they usually sat at the edge of the water and talked, occasionally squealing as a wave rolled over their bellies. Every now and then, one of them would point out some cute boy who walked past, or they would lean against each other and sigh, watching the studly surfers coming in with the waves. For Ribbons, who already had a boyfriend, this was merely eye candy, but he was still determined to find the perfect guy for his friend. Gummi was a bit shy around people he didn't know, but Ribbons knew that anybody who got to know him, would love him.

At noon they returned to their towels and opened their ice bag. In the hot sun cold sodas tasted like heaven, and stomachs growling they tucked into sandwiches and cold chicken drumsticks. After the meal, Gummi handed his friend a pair of sunglasses, and they lay down purring with happiness. Ribbons knew that furries didn't tan, like humans, because of their thick fur. It was still nice to feel the warmth, though, even though he knew the sun would eventually bleach his sky blue fur. An hour passed, with no more activity than the occasional sip of soda or a snore now and then from Gummi. The bear usually fell asleep while sunbathing. But soon, Ribbons started feeling restless. He brushed sand out of his thick, fluffy skunk tail, then prodded his friend. Gummi snored loudly and turned over. Giggling, Ribbons ran his fingers through the bear's long, pink hair, up and down. Then he grabbed a couple of strands and yanked.

"Hey, lazy bones! Fire in the hole!"

"Huh?" Gummi sat up so quickly that he dropped his sunglasses, and stared around himself with a bewildered look on his face. "What? What's going on?"

"Nothing, you silly cub," Ribbons giggled. Though, at sixteen, he was a year younger than his friend, he usually liked to see the bear as a little boy. A cuddly little teddy bear. "I almost thought you were gonna sleep the afternoon away."

"I was."

"Ooh no, you're not backing out on our deal."

"Ribs, please..."

"Nope. No, no, no. We spend the morning on the regular beach, then the afternoon beyond the rock."

"But I don' wanna," Gummi whined. He often enjoyed playing out the little boy act when they were alone together. "Can't we stay here?"

"No, nope and no way, just plain no."

"I'll buy you an ice-cream."

"No bribes."

"A pink strawberry ice lolly."

"Really?" The skunk boy's ears perked. "I mean no! No way. You gotta come with me, all of the way."

"Okay," Gummi sighed. "I'll play."

They packed up their things and started walking again. A bit further along the beach was a small rock, protruding out into the ocean. This marked the invisible border of the safe, fun, family-friendly beach and the thrilling and equally fun nude beach. On the safe side of the rock were, as always, a group of voyeurs. Pervs, Ribbons liked to call them, though he didn't mind their stares at all. He knew that he was cute, very cute in fact, and he kind of liked it when people watched him. Just beyond the rock, he stopped and slipped out of his swimsuit. Holding his tail high to give everybody a nice view of his butt, he swayed his hips as he walked on. There were several moans to be heard from behind him. Gummi kept his suit on, including his tight top, and held his gaze low. He had always, Ribbons knew, kind of wanted to go to the nude beach, but was really quite scared. Ribbons, however, liked being naked and didn't mind showing his stuff. Neither did anyone else, he realised with a low whistle as he looked around. There were naked bodies to be seen everywhere. Some young, some old, some plain and some quite beautiful. Most were male, but there were plenty of females as well. He checked out a vixen who was chasing a frisbee a few feet away, and sighed deeply. Part of him wanted to look just like her, with a nicely curved body, wide hips and large boobs. But then again, he had a gay boyfriend now, and Sean liked him as a boy.

"Wow."

The soft whisper told Ribbons that Gummi was beginning to lift his eyes from the sand. He grinned to himself. Sometimes his bear friend was such a virgin. Following his gaze, Ribbons saw what had caught his eyes. Two young horse boys were lying on towels, sunbathing. Nice taste, Ribbons thought, eyeing their crotches. Very nice taste. Deciding not to join the crowds further in on the nude section of the beach, he pulled Gummi aside and they placed their towels at a pretty secluded area. Slowly, and with a heavy sigh, the bear boy removed his bathing suit. Blushing furiously, he sat down with his hands in his lap. Ribbons smiled and shook his head. It was a start. A slow one, but still a start.

"Wanna go swimming?" Gummi shook his head, still blushing. "No? I a while, maybe?"

"Maybe." The bear looked around, pouting. His voice was little more than a whisper. "They're all so pretty."

"No, they're not! Look at that old guy over there. Is he pretty?"

"Well, not exactly. But at least he's thin..."

"Oh, come on, there's lots of people here who are bigger than you. You're the only one who makes an issue of it." He rummaged through his discarded waist bag and got up a pair of sunglasses. "Here, put these on."

"What for?" Gummi asked, but obeyed. "The sun's not as strong now."

"No, but now carefully look to your left. See those two girls? I bet you anything that lion girl is checking you out." Ribbons watched as his friend obeyed, then blushed again. The lion girl was, indeed, eyeing him. "Play your cards well, and..."

"Ribs!" Gummi hissed angrily. "You know I'm gay!"

"So? I'm not asking you to marry her. It's just a good opportunity to dip your wick."

"No!"

"Well, how about the fox boy she's with? He's cute." Gummi looked again, this time at a skinny fox about their age, who was wearing nothing but his glasses and looked thoroughly miserable. "He looks no more happy to be here than you are. Though I bet you anything that guy sitting next to him is his boyfriend."

"Maybe." Just then, a black-furred dog girl walked up from the water and sat down next to the fox, kissing him deeply. Gummi giggled. "Hehe, you owe me anything."

"And you know I'd be happy to give it to you, hun," Ribbons quipped, batting his eyelashes. "No, wait, look!"

"Oh wow..." Gummi muttered. As the black dog girl returned to the water, the canine boy Ribbons had meant earlier leaned in towards the fox, and he too stole a deep kiss. "Looks like you were right. And wrong."

"I owe myself anything." They both laughed. "Maybe that's the way to go, huh? Both a boyfriend and a girlfriend."

"I don't really want no girls."

"Don't be so picky, Gummi Bear. I know I wouldn't mind a girl."

"You're such a femboi, she would have to be a lesbian."

With a snarl, Ribbons pounced his giggling friend, and they rolled around wrestling for a little while. As usual, Gummi's weight was to his advantage, and Ribbons found himself pinned down. Their play had cured Gummi of some of his shyness, though, and after some coaxing Ribbons led him down to the ocean. Once there, the bear boy seemed happy to discover that he was much less naked in the water. They swam and played with their beach ball for a while, or lay floating on their backs, rocking in the waves. Here, too, there were surfers to watch, with the added bonus that they showed off everything as they rode in on their boards. Ribbons was happy that the water was slightly chilly, which helped keeping him soft. After about an hour, he spotted somebody a bit further down the beach, and he poked Gummi's side.

"Hey, look. Look! Isn't that..."

"It's Oran!" Gummi gasped, recognising their friend from school. "But who's that guy he's with?"

"I don't know, but he's a real cutie! C'mon, let's go and say hi."

"Are you insane!? No way!"

"What? But you already know Oran."

"That's the point." Gummi was blushing wildly, and had sunk in the water up to his chin. "I don't wanna meet anyone I know, not the first time I'm here."

"Oh, okay," Ribbons sighed. "But if he comes over you gotta talk to him."

"Fine, but don't you dare wave at him!"

"I won't. Let's go eat."

After finishing the last of their food, they sat down to let in rest before swimming again. While they chatted on about nothing in particular, they kept looking around at the people. Oran had vanished along with his friend, which made Gummi a little less shy. The lion girl and her friends kept getting in and out of the water, and Ribbons noticed that she seemed more and more interested in Gummi. That was good, he thought, since it might show his friend that others really did find him attractive. It was a shame, though, because she would inevitably get disappointed. Gummi, on the other hand, seemed not to notice her. He was preoccupied with staring more or less openly at the boys around him. Every now and then someone would notice, and wink or wave at him, at which the response was always the same; a shy giggle and a heavy blush. The whole scene was affecting him, though, Ribbons noticed, and this time it was he who blushed. He tried to keep it hidden, but up close it was obvious that he had grown an erection. Seeing this, Ribbons couldn't help but reacting as well. Gummi noticed, and pretty soon an awkward silence fell over them. Trying to play it off as a joke, Ribbons leaned back at let his spring free, slapping against his stomach. Someone wolf-whistled, and Ribbons waved at them flirtatiously. Gummi seemed to grow distressed, though.

"It's nothing wrong," Ribbons said, keeping his voice low. "Happens to everyone in a place like this. Look at that wolf boy over there."

"Where?" Gummi turned, and spotted the one Ribbons had seen. It was a young brown-furred boy, no more than twelve or thirteen, who was running alongside an older, jet black wolf, his pride and joy standing at full attention. Neither seemed to care, nor did anyone else. "That's different, he's just a kid."

"So you didn't see the surfer guys who walked past a while ago?"

"No."

"They were hard as rocks, man. And big. We're talking big here, whoo, big like..."

"Ribs, you're not helping me. Not. At. All."

"Oh, sorry. Do you wanna go into the water?"

"In front of everybody?" He shook his head. "No way."

"What about up there?" Ribbons pointed away from the ocean. About twenty metres away from where they sat, the beach ended and a small patch of forest took over. "Hide among the trees and... well, take care of it."

"What about you?"

"I'll get in the water. I don't mind people seeing it."

"Come with me, Ribs, please," Gummi whined. "Walk in front of me."

"Oh, all right." They waited until nobody was looking their way, then stood up. Gummi pressed in behind Ribbons, who wrapped his bushy tail around his friend. He giggled. "Don't walk too close, now. Or you might..."

"Ribbons, please!"

Chuckling quietly, Ribbons led the way towards the forest. He noticed that some heads turned, and there were even some whispers. No wonder, he thought. Two guys walking pressed close together, the first one with an obvious hardon and the other obviously trying to hide one. Who knew what went through the minds of people watching them. Luckily Gummi was staring at the ground again, and didn't notice. Soon, they were in among the trees, and Ribbons felt his friend relax slightly. They found a small clearing, where they stopped. Gummi was breathing hard, his lips snarled with discomfort. Poor thing must have blue balls, Ribbons thought. Before he could stop himself, he reached around his friend and grabbed his erection. Gummi gasped loudly, and Ribbons sent a thought to his boyfriend. Sorry, Sean, but this isn't cheating. Just helping my friend out.

"Oh, Ribs..." Gummi whispered. "Oh, wow..."

Ribbons started rubbing the erect penis up and down, while his free hand went about to satisfy his own needs. They were both soon lost in the good feelings, and Ribbons barely even noticed when the leaves in front of them parted. It was the lion girl. She took one look at them, then smiled as her eyes met his. Gummi had his closed, and was unaware of their audience. Ribbons couldn't help looking her over just as she kept glancing down at what he was doing. She was pretty, in a boyish kind of way. Tall, slim, and with a short tuft of light blond hair in top of her head. And she's blond down there as well, he thought, blushing as he tore his eyes off her sex. She must have noticed, because she smiled. It was not a humourless smile, but nevertheless it had a predatory quality that made Ribbons shiver. As if to dare him to look again, she spread her legs and slipped a hand in between them. Out of the corners of his eyes, he got a glimpse of pink, just as Gummi twitched in his hand. Jets of white flew out onto the ground in front of them, and the feeling of his friend's orgasm made Ribbons come as well. Both boys groaned, then there was a loud gasp as Gummi discovered the intruder. The lion girl had leaned back, and was spreading her labia for them to see. Gummi seemed frozen on the spot. Ribbons could tell he wanted to run, but was unable to move. The girl walked across the clearing towards them, and this time her smile was a warmer one.

"Sorry if I startled you." Her voice was surprisingly deep. "I just wondered where you went."

"Just a... bit of a problem," Ribbons said. He was acutely aware of her small, naked breasts right in front of his face. Gummi was still not moving, except to cover his wilting erection. "It's been taken care of."

"So I saw." She purred. "Are you boyfriends?"

"No, just best friends. I've got a boyfriend."

"That means your friend is single?" She moved closer to Gummi and slipped a hand behind his back. As it moved lower, the bear let out a tiny squeal. "He's very cute, but shy, right?"

"A bit," Ribbon said. "It's his first time beyond the rock."

"Oh. Well, don't worry, sweetie. This is a friendly place." She leaned in and whispered into his ear. "What's your name?"

"His name is Marshall," Ribbons said once it was clear that the bear was too petrified to speak. "Though he prefers to be called Gummi."

"Nice name."

"I'm Romeo, but everybody calls me Ribbons."

"Nice to meet you guys." She gave Gummi a hug, almost rubbing her nipples against his muzzle. "My name is Katti."

"Nice meeting you too," Gummi said in what was barely a whisper. "Don't you have a nickname?"

"Oh no, I'm just plain old Katti." She laughed softly. "But you, honey, can call me anything you want."

Her hand slid down to cup Gummi's buttocks, and he squealed again. His hands flew up, almost touching her chest, leaving him open for her hungry eyes. Ribbons felt a protective urge come over him. A while ago, he had egged Gummi on, telling him to get it on with this girl, but now that she had made her move he just wanted to slap her away. But Gummi seemed to be starting to enjoy himself. He giggled as she rubbed his butt, and even dared to let the back of his hand brush against her breast. She whispered something into his ear, and he blushed so deeply the red was visible through his face fur. Shaking his head, he whispered something back, then shrieked as her fingers must have found their way in between his buttocks. Both of them laughed, and Ribbons felt more awkward than ever before.

"Not even with..." Katti muttered, and reached around to touch the bear boy's penis. "Persuasion?"

"No. I'm sorry, but I really am gay. Totally and completely. If not, then... well. I sure wouldn't mind."

"That's sweet of you, Gummi. Maybe we can hang out, anyway? You don't mind me staring, do you?"

"Not at all." He turned around and wriggled his butt at her. "I kind of like it."

"That's good." She took his hand, and then turned to Ribbons, who wasn't very used to being ignored. It must have shown, because Katti smiled at him. "Aw, don't pout, honey. I'm not gonna rape your friend. Maybe tease him a bit."

"Hey, stop it!" Gummi giggled as his butt got another squeeze. He tried half-heartedly to push her off, but she hugged him tight, pressing her breasts to his face. Blushing, he laughed again. "Stop it, I swear I'll scream."

"All right, no more rough play!" Ribbons intervened, sounding harsher than he had meant. "Let's get back before someone steals of stuff."

The other two laughed at the face he was making, but trotted along. Katti picked up her towel and joined the boys, and soon she and Gummi were getting along like old friends. It took Ribbons some time to warm up to her, but in the end he just couldn't pass up on the opportunity to make yet another friend. By the end of the day she had introduced them to half the beach, it seemed, and they had even joined in on a beach party filled with food, soft drinks and games. In no time at all, Gummi's shyness seemed as if gone with the wind. Ribbons was very happy for his friend.

Later, on the bus ride home, Gummi just couldn't stop talking about how much fun he'd had. He made Ribbons promise that they would go back to the beach again, as soon as possible, and that they would be sure to go beyond the rock. Katti, it seemed, knew many cute boys, and had promised to introduce Gummi to them. Maybe it would lead somewhere, maybe not, but the bubbling bear boy felt certain it would be fun. Ribbons agreed. Come what may, they were sure to have fun.