FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

'Have you been feeding your spirit?' Arja's icon hovered next to the text message. Taken last time Intrigue visited the white fox, the picture depicted her grinning with jaws half-open, her eyes bright and excited behind their purple-framed glasses. Her ecstatic cheerfulness displayed right next to the nagging inquiry magnified the dragon's exasperation.

Intrigue scooped his cell phone off the smooth, wooden tabletop. A curved, black talon hovered over the small keyboard as he worded a reply.

'Getting all of that vitamin D. How goes your studies?'

The phone clacked back down on the table. Intri speared a deep-fried shrimp on a claw and popped it into his mouth. He chewed the crunchy, salty batter, mashing up the soft pink meat within. The flavors blended together on his tongue, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile.

Veet! Veet! Veet! the phone beeped.

He sighed and glanced around the small store. Tucked away against the back wall in a booth, he spied the deli counter from his seat. It took up the front of the store, a long glass display case under it showing their small selection of lunch meats. In front of it, four small aisles of chips, dried meat, and other products filled the floor and then a row of glass doors along the wall housed their cold soft drinks and frozen ice cream. The three booths and two tables in the back seemed like an afterthought, smashed against the small hall leading back to the restroom.

Nothing interesting caught his sea green eyes, so his blue snout lowered towards the phone. Long locks of messy red hair fell around his face. With a few deft button presses, he brought Arja's message thread back on screen.

'Really? Who's giving you your daily dose?'

With a roll of his eyes, Intri fired back another smart reply: 'Just some hoes from the club. Can't be bothered to learn their names.'

Veet! Veet! Veet!

The vixen must be glued to her phone, hungry for new information from the only demonic lust monster she knew. Intri had raised a complaint about being called demonic, but Arja brushed it off, saying it was a scientifically-recognized classification, adding something about her harpy-rat girlfriend, Saeby, belonging to the family of natural monsters.

'I didn't take you for the hoes and clubs kind of person,' she replied. 'Sure, you're not just sitting around scarfing junk food?'

Intrigue paused, another shrimp halfway to his mouth. His free hand tapped over the tiny keyboard, buttons clicking beneath agitated claws. 'First of all, shrimp isn't junk food. Second of all, I'm pretty sure society frowns more on the former activity than the latter.'

Munching loudly, he back arrowed through the message, fixing the mistakes his single clumsy finger had made. Fryer grease smeared over the keys. Errors corrected, message sent, shrimp nommed.

He stared at the screen, expecting another prompt reply. Not even a minute passed before it vibrated again. 'Society's approval is meaningless to science! We agreed you would boost your powers. There's nothing wrong with using sex to do that. Succubus demons do it all the time.'

No matter how hard he thought, the dragon couldn't recall accepting such a scheme. He wondered if Arja watched any sci-fi or superhero shows and if she noticed her similarity to the mad scientist archetype. Her mix of naiveté and blunt practicality was cute, but it only annoyed him tonight.

'Just because they do it, doesn't mean I should,' he replied.

'Saeby here: you're a terrible pervert and don't deserve that poor, starving spirit. Arja's got an exam she needs to study for btw. Confiscating her phone. Good night!'

Intrigue sighed, grateful to the harpy for ending that awkward ordeal. He reached for the basket of shrimp, hand pawing through the greasy wrapping paper. It rustled, no coarse fried seafood brushing his fingers. Raising his head, he found he'd finished the meal while distracted with Arja. He snorted, annoyed.

Standing, he snatched the receipt off the table and walked to the counter to pay. He left the store, unsatisfied by the small shrimp basket and financially poorer for it. Noting the deli as a poor dinner choice, he started towards home.

Winter's chill howled through the air, buffeting him in the face. He pulled up his coat hood and hunkered down inside warm, padded folds. The cold air cut right through his jeans, goosebumps shivering up his blue scales. His tail curled around his upper body for warmth, a stocking of thick fabric wrapped around it. The dull white sky stretched to the horizon, reinforcing the sense of bleakness.

He crossed the street, hurrying along as his body temperature fell. Even the serpentine spirit nestled inside him felt the chill, hissing in displeasure. They agreed the shrimp hadn't been worth enduring this weather while she buffeted him with resentment.

"Hey! I'm already miserable. I don't need your sass, Lithy!" he said aloud. Everyone sane remained tucked away indoors, huddled up in their sweaters and blankets, so no one witnessed him seemingly converse with nobody.

They still didn't know the spirit's real name, but Intri had grown tired of calling her spirit or snake and decided on an abbreviation of Lilith, the most famous lust being. The creature resembled the disappeared succubus, so a shorting of her moniker fit an imitator well enough.

Lithy didn't seem to care one way or the other, her feelings and thoughts still lurking beneath notice until something aroused her interest. Whenever that happened, Intri usually ended up running for the nearest restroom or other escape, eyes aglow and small lumps swelling from his chest. Scanning for exits the moment he entered a room was starting to become second nature. Intri wished she'd control herself better.

The dragon followed the same predictable path home, tracing steps he usually took returning from the public library. He stayed by the main streets and avoided cutting through back alleys. The small town seemed sleepy enough. He never really considered his own safety at risk, even late at night. Dragons carried a dangerous reputation, often harboring strong magic, so people usually left them alone.

As he passed by a hardware store, a furry hand reached out and caught his arm. He screamed as strong muscles yanked him into the alley next to the building. Slammed against a hard brick wall, fists gripped his coat collar, their owner, a tall, brown horse glaring at him. Intrigue didn't recognize him, wondering what he'd done to enrage the mammal. Two more stallions surrounded them, both equally furious. Pinto patterns decorated the left one, while the other was solid black. They wore thick coats and jeans.

Intrigue pressed against the wall, heart thundering in his chest. His body shook from fear rather than the cold. The urge to crush and dominate the trio rose in his gut, but he resisted Lithy's influence. The serpent relented, agreeing to see how things played out. Reminded of her presence, Intri calmed down. There might be three of them, but the dragon wasn't alone either.

"Heard you're a filthy demon," Brownie mumbled. The bitter scent of beer wafted from his mouth. The dragon's nose scrunched up in disgust. "Are you trying to ensnare our women?"

A shocked and confused expression flashed across his face, the angry drunkard's accusations half right. At a loss for how a stranger knew about his new change, despite several mishaps with an overzealous Lithy, he'd managed to avoid showing his powers in public. He certainly didn't recognize any of the three inebriated equines, their slight against him imagined as he'd kept his tentacles to himself and a few new friends.

"I don't know any of you or whatever girls you think belong to you," he said, heart pounding against his rib cage as adrenaline flooded his system with the desire to flee. Lithy meanwhile rooted for a fight.

"You think you're smart?" Brownie asked, growing even angrier. He drew one hulking arm back, clenching his fist. "You can't fucking fool me!"

Intrigue felt a slithering sensation over his shoulder blade just before the horse threw his punch. Pinned against the wall, the untrained dragon couldn't protect himself. A tendril leapt from his collar. Shooting forward, the shimmering appendage sprouted a mouth, catching the swinging fist in its jaws. Sharp, needle-like teeth sliced into the vulnerable skin as the tentacle twisted his wrist to the side. Yelling in pain, the stallion stumbled away, clutching his bleeding hand. Intri leaned away from the wall, blood pulsing with terror and excitement.

"That guy was right! He is a monster!" Blackie exclaimed.

He turned towards the second horse, wondering what guy he meant. A punch collided with his cheek, rattling his jaw. He stumbled back, the tentacle stuck through his collar thrashing in anger. The horse jumped back, afraid of getting tagged by its mouthful of glinting fangs.

Rubbing his sore jaw, the dragon straightened up. He glared at the two horses as Brownie thrashed at his feet. Lithy's rage washed through his mind, no longer resisting it, instead he reveled in it. He threw off his heavy coat, fabric stretched and ripped as more tendrils tore through his thin shirt. His eye shone bright red in the pale light, his bruised mouth and the blistering cold both grew faint.

Brownie's body shrank, muscles losing definition. His square muzzle rounded out and softened. His pained moaning became softer as pleasure tingled across his skin. His disappeared mass swelled out of his chest, two pert and round orbs filling out his jacket.

"Who's next?" Intri asked, voice distorted and shaking with rage. He panted, hissing softly with each exhale.

Pinto and Blackie stared at their friend, watching as she panted on the ground, hands digging at her jeans as her transformed body buzzed with new sensations. Red rings shone around her eyes as her tongue lolled out, she neighed with need.

The pair glanced back at Intrigue, eyes glowing furiously, jawed tentacles thrashing wildly around him. He took a step forward and they stumbled back. He leaned in and a snake-like limb whipped towards them. The equines turned and ran as Intri's tentacle cracked against the air. They vaulted over the chain-link fence at the alley's end. Somehow they avoided hanging themselves on it in their drunken stupor and dropped down on the other side to stumble away to safety.

Panting hard, the dragon clenched and unclenched his claws, shoulders heaving. Lithy's squishy limbs ceased thrashing and wrapped around his body, gently hugging him in their smooth coils. Intri sighed, leaning against the cool tentacle head near his cheek. The hot adrenaline faded, cold air seeping into his exposed skin.

A sharp tug at his pants leg pulled his attention downward. Brownie had crawled over and clung onto his jeans, her eyes stared up at him, burning with lust. Intri resisted the urge to jam her knee into the former stallion's face. He pressed a hand against her forehead, pushing her away like one might an insistent pet.

The spirit suggested they punish the little mare, but Intri ignored her, still trying to dislodge Brownie from his leg. She hugged him now, breasts sandwiched around his knee. "Go away!"

Another set of hooves clopped against the sidewalk; Intri turned his head towards the street. The tentacles wrapped around her upper body melted into a thick black sweater as his eyes faded to their natural sea green. He continued shoving at the insatiable mare, cheeks flush with embarrassment.

The sound neared the entrance and a black goat stepped into view. Intrigue hoped he'd continue on without noticing the sordid scene to his right. Of course, he stopped and turned his head directly towards them. An eyebrow quirked up as the small horse pawed at the male's fly and he swatted her hands away, cringing in embarrassment.

"What's going on here?" he asked in a soft voice. His back slouched, giving him a frail, elderly appearance. The top of his curved horns ended just under the dragon's chin. A heavy cloak covered his spindly limbs. His curly black beard swayed in the breeze. "Is that boy bothering you?"

"No, I'm not doing anything!"

"I know that," the goat replied, a dark twinkle in his eyes. He pointed a finger at the mare plastered against his leg and lost in another world. "I was talking about him."

Intri flinched as it if struck. The mammal smiled knowingly, his brown eyes flashing yellow briefly. A ball of orange and black mist built just beyond his fingertip, the magic humming quietly. It reached the size of a baseball before launching forward. The dragon raised a protective arm, but the projectile arced towards Brownie, smacking into her head. Her limbs went slack and she dropped onto the pavement. Gasping, Intrigue knelt to check on her, large ears picking up the sounds of her soft breathing.

"Was that necessary?" he asked, glaring.

"He was pretty eager to knock you around earlier," the goat replied. "It seemed an appropriate response."

"How do you know about that?" he growled, standing up. His pupils flashed crimson. He recalled the horses acting as if they learned of him secondhand.

"I know plenty," he replied, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. He stepped into the alleyway. "I keep my ears to ground. There's danger all over the world for our kind, even in this backwater town, maybe especially here."

"Thanks for the help then," Intrigue remarked sarcastically as he rubbed his stinging jaw. A purple and black bruise swelled up around his cheek.

"You handled it admirably, if a little too gently," he said, continuing to advance slowly.

The dragon took an uneasy step back. "Who are you?"

"My name is Derriger. I am... a shepherd of young, dark souls looking for guidance."

"I'm all stocked up on guidance," he said. Something about the goat creeped him out and caused him to miss Arja's harmless nagging. Lithy echoed this sentiment, surprising him. He decided to ponder the spirit's distrust of her demonic brethren later. "Excuse me, I have places to be."

Stepping to the right, he tried to dash around the goat. A bony hand shot out and caught his shoulder, exerting a surprising amount of force for someone so boney. Intri grunted, shrugging his shoulder in a vain effort to dislodge him. From this close, he noticed the mammal's skin clung tight to the bones underneath, giving his face an unnatural, skeletal appearance. His nervousness grew.

"You would be wise to accept my offer," he said, the friendliness vanished from his voice. He spoke clearly and threateningly, leaving no room to doubt his intentions.

Intrigue twisted free of his grip, the living shirt over his shoulder turning wet and slippery to slough free of Derriger's hand. Despite his easy triumph over the three horses, he held no hopes of taking on a full-fledged, experienced demon. His muscles tensed, preparing to launch into a run.

Air whooshed, an open hand chopped against the back of his neck, staggering the dragon. He dropped onto one knee, pain shooting through his spine.

Derriger grabbed his long, messy mane; another hand dug steel fingers into his shoulder. They pulled in opposite directions, forcing his neck bare. Eyes aglow with yellow light, the goat licked his lips, sharp canines extending from his mouth. Intrigue's muscles strained, trying to pull away. His free arm punched the goat's leg, but he hardly flinched. Sharp needles sank into Intri's neck, blood splashed out around the deadly points, dripping over his shoulder. Derriger shuddered, savoring the rich copper taste. The dragon screamed, pain spreading through his whole body, muscles seizing up as something paralyzed him. The reserves of energy Lithy stored somewhere near his stomach began draining away along with the rest of his strength. He gasped, just breathing suddenly a struggle. His arms fell to his side, tail lying limp on the concrete. His eyelids closed as Derriger sank another greedy bite into his shoulder, slurping noisily. The dragon slumped forward, Derriger's strong grip keeping him upright.

Consciousness drifted away, the gray winter light fading and the messy, slurping sounds quieting. Lithy's frantically cried out to him, her presence weakening as they both succumbed to the slow drain.

Veet! Veet! Veet!

The irritating beep of his cell phone roused the dazed dragon. He didn't know if Arja had gotten her phone back or his family was trying to get ahold of him, but it reminded him of the monster's claimed knowledge. Would he be satisfied with just the dragon or would he chase after his friends and family? His fists clenched, muscles fighting against the dark power as a fierce growl rumbled in his throat.

Lithy seized on that determination, their eyes glowing bright red. A tentacle burst from their back, stabbing straight through Derriger's chest and out the other side. He gasped, hacking up black, syrupy blood. A second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and finally seventh spike tore into and through his lanky body as Intri slowly recovered. The goat stood a few inches behind him, shoved back by the force of the violent attack. Blood dripped from each of his limbs as well as three wounds in his torso. Lithy's serpentine head emerged from between Intri's shoulders. Derriger stared at her, yellow orbs widening in alarm. The snake lunged forward and bit into his neck. The dragon stood up as the stolen energy flowed back into his body.

Breasts pushed out from the dragon's chest, her muscles growing. She grew taller, black, rubbery wings emerging from her back. Shimmering ebon material wrapped over her scales, her normal clothing melting away into the air as the thick tide enveloped her lithe form. Gloves formed over her hands, claws pushing through the ends as they sharpened and extended. A small coat formed over her shoulders, while a corset wrapped around her waist. A short, red skirt blossomed above her legs as red markings glowed across the fabric. Black stockings and spiked, red heels completed the outfit.

Lithy ripped her fangs from Derriger's throat, tearing open a large, bleeding gap. The goat gasped, trying to raise a hand to stem the tide of blood, but his muscles spasmed in protest, still speared by Intri's tentacles. With a wet slink, the spikes ripped back out of his flesh. He gasped, collapsing onto his knees.

Wings, tentacles, and the snake's body swirled together, curling into a dark mass. It formed into a clawed fist roughly the size of Derriger's torso and slammed into the demon. He hurled through the air, droplets of blood trailing after him. The chain-link fence rattled loudly as his body impacted its center. He dropped onto the concrete, lying still in a growing puddle.

Intrigue turned, gasping from the sudden rush of power filling her. Lithy felt warm against her scales, the soft fabric hugged comfortably tight. Her face turned green at the sight of the crumpled, old goat and the wet, black trail leading to his body.

She paused, wondering if in her zeal to protect herself, she'd killed him. Her legs suddenly felt weak. Sure, Derriger probably deserved it, but she didn't want this on her conscious. She hesitated, afraid of getting close enough to check. Despite his gruesome injuries, the demon could still be dangerous.

"Heh-heh."

Intrigue froze, unable to believe her ears. The goat laughed again, the sound weak. Slowly, the puddle of blood around Derriger shrank, flowing back into the tears in his flesh. He rose to his feet, swaying like a puppet on strings. A crazed smile spread across his muzzle. His eyes blazed pale yellow as he slipped off his cloak. The wounds in his chest and limbs sealed shut, flesh and fur back in place. The shreds of his throat knit back together. He straightened up, chest exploding outward, his spindly arms burst into trunks of muscle, his pants stretched as his lower body strengthened. He grew upwards, doubling in stature.

The yellow glow in his eyes burned, wisps of pale light flickering from his sockets. His horns grew outwards, spiraling into a curled crown. Flesh stretched and tore as something pushed out of his bare back. With a sickening rip, a pair of demonic wings sliced out of his skin. They unfurled on either side of him, massive compared to Intri's small rubber limbs. Derriger raised an open hand, showing the dragoness his fingertips as they elongated into claws under his grinning mouthful of fangs.

"Seems I underestimated how gentle you are," he chuckled, voice deep and booming after his transformation. "That won't happen again."

Intri gasped and swept an arm to the side. Her wings split into six tentacles and shot down the alleyway, speeding towards the massive demon. They snapped to a stop, only reaching halfway. Her eyes widened, growling in frustration. The limbs wiggled, powerless to extend any further.

Derriger laughed again, wiggling a chiding finger.

"When I tasted you earlier, I got a pretty good estimate of your energy. Your effective range is limited to a radius of about ten feet," his palm opened, a ball of wavering black smoke and orange fire growing within it. "Want to hazard a guess as to mine?"

He lobbed the beach ball-sized projectile at the dragon. It shot towards her, much faster than the gentle toss should've propelled it. Intri blinked and it zipped past her extended tendrils, zooming closer. Her arms crossed over her chest. The spell hit, exploding outwards. The herm flew backwards, smoke trailing her forearms. Strands of rubber shot out of her outfit, sticking to the ground and walls, they stretched, but slowed her, letting her feet reconnect with the ground. She skidded to a stop.

Intrigue quickly drew her tentacles back in, reforming her small wings and settling the bulk of her magical capabilities close. Her arms hurt from the impact, but Lithy's hide had prevented any serious damage. The black wings settled over her shoulders, Intri counting on it to resist the goat's next attack.

"No more child's play!" Derriger thrust his arms forward, hands cupped together. His wings spread wide as the air around him shimmered. Smoke and fire ignited in front of him, lancing out as fast moving orbs.

With too many to count in the limited space before they reached her, Lithy stepped to the plate, her black skin unraveling into a multitude of slimy limbs. The writhing mass of tentacles swatted down each fireball that neared them. Most bounced into the concrete, bursting loudly against the hard surface. The spirit took care to avoid hitting the unconscious mare. Dust and smoke exploded into the air, creating a thick, concealing screen between them.

"You can't escape me!" Derriger shouted through the cloud. He lowered his arms, waiting for the mist to clear. "I know who you are! I paid good money to find you!"

"Why?" Intrigue growled back. Her fists clenched, anger coursing through her. Her tendrils ached now along with her forearms. The fireballs would eventually wear Lithy down. Keeping the demon talking bought time for a plan.

"Power," he replied, seeing her silhouette appear through the thinning smoke. The hulking demon swept closer, movements deft and quiet. "Plenty of my kind just accepted the loss of a hundred years ago, but I'll not roll over for the pathetic, magicless creatures. I got my first taste of my own kind when a foolish buck tried to save his doe from my grasp. The rush felt incredible! Like nothing I'd ever had before and I've been weeding out the weak and complacent ever since to add to my power. Whether your spirit's the famous Lilith or some low rank imitator doesn't matter, I'll still grow from devouring it and you!"

Gathering his stolen power, Derriger formed another fireball and tossed it straight at the silhouette's head. It struck the black outline dead on, tearing its target clean off its shoulders. The goat gasped. He couldn't eat the spirit if its host died! Judging from his taste of their power, the attack should've been crippling and life-threatening, but not enough to kill.

A wet slink sound pierced his ears as pain filled his chest. Groaning, he lowered his gaze, finding a black spike shoved between his ribs. Winter's gale picked up, blowing away the smoke, revealing Intrigue lying on the ground a few feet away, arm extended with the blade impaling Derriger emerging from her glove. Her wings stretched backwards, curled into a sculpture of the dragoness' body minus the head his fireball had removed.

"You... bitch!" he choked out, thick blood clogging his throat. A sneer spread across his face. "I'll just heal from this like the rest!"

"I don't think so," the herm replied coldly. Her eyes narrowed scarlet light shining from her pupils. "I've seen your fantasies and now you're going to live them as the weak form you use to gain trust. My only regret is I can't conjure a beast to eat you, but pulling out your fangs will have to do!"

Derriger's eyes widened. He raised an arm, gathering energy for a fireball. The blade lodged in his body twisted, breaking his concentration. The fire and smoke fizzled away as he shrieked.

"Lithy!" the spirit's wings unfurled, forming a swarm of serpentine coils. Multiple heads hissed in anger before descending upon the goat. Fangs repeatedly struck Derriger's exposed skin, burning venom surging into his veins.

Intrigue remembered the same bite producing a dazed, dream-like state in her, but the effect on Derriger seemed very different as he screamed and cried out in agony. Her fist clenched and Lithy's mouths squeezed tight as well.

An orange glow outlined the goat's body. The dragoness gasped, shielding her face as heat buffeted her skin. The tentacles pulled away, melting under the flames. Shouting, the demon launched the power outwards, a concussive burst of heat knocked Intri into the air.

Landing on her back, she groaned, a soft sizzling noise rose from her clothing, Lithy's flesh. White light filled her vision, momentarily rendered blind by the flash.

A hoof stomped on her stomach. Intri roared in pain, the sensation vibrating up her spine as the blow slammed her body against the concrete. Her vision remained hazy, but the massive shadow towering over her could only be one person.

"Your venom can't affect me," Derriger spoke softly. He sounded exhausted, but still determined to finish things. "I'm magnitudes stronger than you."

His foot lifted and then slammed back down, right onto her throat. The blow crushed the air from her esophagus and turned her roar of pain into a pathetic shriek. The cloven hoof kicked her snout. Her head lashed to the right with the blow, a red shower spraying from her nostrils across the grey cement.

Derriger paused, standing over her, panting for breath. Snake bites dotted his skin, no magic left to expend on healing them. The dragoness lay at his feet, bruised and bleeding. She blinked, but didn't rise. Seeing her broken, his lips curled away from his fangs in a satisfied sneer.

Legs wobbling, the goat collapsed onto his knees. He scowled, impressed she'd hurt him so. A glance down revealed something worse and more unbelievable than the blood-spurting wounds. His muscles shriveled up, toned skin turning wrinkly as his lustrous black fur faded. He screamed, watching his claws melt away. His leathery wings turned soft and liquid, rotting off his back. He clawed at his shoulder blades, bones falling from the wet mass. They, too, dissolved into a black puddle in a few moments.

Groaning, he clenched his fists, trying to summon up his power. The stolen energy of demons, wizards, and spirits remained in his gullet, but they refused to aid him. The yellow glow in his eyes died at last. He gasped, mouth hang open in shock.

"Gotcha."

Blood pouring from her nostrils, Intri smirked up at him. Derriger growled and raised his arms, interlocking his fingers to cave her skull in. The dragon rolled up, swinging a fist at him. The blow collided with his snout. Drained and wounded the punch lacked power, but still knocked the frail goat onto his back.

Derriger's head bounced off the concrete, rattling his skull. He groaned and rolled over. A hasty glance over his shoulder revealed Intrigue shakily rising to all fours. Whimpering, he clambered to his feet, body shaking from weakness and the cold. The once-proud demon ran from the alley, not stopping to collect his cloak.

As he disappeared around the corner, Intrigue's limbs gave out and she collapsed belly-first onto the cold ground. Rolling over, the exhausted dragon slumped against the sidewalk. A hand rose to pinch her nostrils shut and stem the tide of blood.

"He... he... ha!" laughter bubbled up in her throat, her bruised muscles choked the sound and tears filled her eyes. She sobbed from the pain and terror and chuckled giddily at surviving, her emotions flooding out of control, overwhelming the exhausted reptile. Intrigue curled up, whimpering softly to herself, regretting she'd ever encountered Lithy.