FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The first thing Jared noticed was how dimly lit the area in which he had been placed was. It was a stark contrast to his last time waking in the oppressive light of the hospital. The next sense to register was smell, due to the faint hint of mold that turned his stomach. He cursed his new sensitive nose for the first time of what he assumed would be many times. He found that his back ached, due in no small part to the solid metal rack he had been placed on. The thing was chained to a solid stone wall to his left, which he felt with his hand slowly to get a feel for his surroundings. When he dared open his eyes, he couldn't help and involuntary groan of annoyance.

"I'm in a prison cell. That's just fan-fucking-tastic. Handsy doctors, weird secret agent kidnappers, and now I am locked up like a criminal, can a guy catch a break?" Jared let his left arm drape over his eyes in a rather dramatic showing of frustration and despair.

The new wolf's musings did not go unnoticed, and soon he heard the clacking of high-end dress shoes across tiled floors. He turned his head toward the barred front wall of his new bedroom and locked his eyes onto the smug face of...a pig? No, this sucker was no ordinary pig. He was more tanned, almost brown skinned, and his mouth was agape thanks to two rather wicked looking tusks. Jared wanted to think that this man, because he walked and grunted like any male would, was a warthog or wild pig, but he didn't even want to ask such a risky question when he noticed the taser pistol strapped to his belt. The cliché guard's uniform he wore came complete with a badge in the shape of a shield with an emblem of three capital letters: C, P, and D.

"Oi, you dog, get dressed so we can take you over to command. They don't want no more trouble out of you." The large pig-man grunted in what he believed was supposed to sound like English, but he could be mistaken.

Without a word, Jared found a pile of loose fitting grey clothing, complete with special boots made to fit his new feet. Despite the over sized garments, Jared was just thankful to be in more than a pair of questionable boxer shorts. He noticed while dressing that extra fasteners were in place to make room for his tail, something he knew he would be thankful for should he have been forced to dress in anything without such things. He briefly remembered a younger cousin who had been bitten rather badly by his pet dog when he had bent the poor animal's tail too far. The thought sent a shiver down his spine that even his tail could not resist as the fur stood on end momentarily. His comical appearance was mercifully unseen by the guard who had taken a moment to check a phone that he had stored in his pocket. Once he had finished getting dressed, the cell door slid open and he was brought to his feet forcefully. He snarled in slight discomfort, making the pig-man narrow his eyes, but behind that stern glare his heart was racing.

This filth is your prey. You are an Alpha. He must fear that which bites.

_ _

Jared shook his head free of the strange voice growling such odd things into his mind. His guide led him down a hall way lined with cells. He idly noticed that nearly all of the cells were inhabited by other strange creatures like himself, though none of them seemed...as complete as he was. Some were mumbling and whispering strange things in several languages. One male that appeared to be part owl sat using his talons to draw on the solid stone wall. When they passed by, his head swiveled around and he followed Jared with his large golden brown eyes. Jared felt a strange lurch in his stomach, but he ignored it in favor of the dread he felt when he was unceremoniously shoved into a dark room. A single hanging light fell from the center of the room to hover over a steel table. The four feet of said table were bolted down, something he thought strange. He took a seat in a single straight backed chair and found it to be cold and uncomfortable.

'This feels like a scene from one of those damn criminal investigation shows. How much you wanna bet there will be two guys who come in looking tough and angry. One will do the talking, and the other will start smoking and walking around observing.'

_ _

As if on cue, a door that had been hidden in the darkness around the edges of the room slammed open. Two figures walked into the room and soon enough the door had been seal once again. The first was obviously Elu, based off of the fact that he could smell her scent in the room, as well as the clear look of anger in the bright red eyes glaring holes through him. The second seemed to be a male, due to the strong musk in the air. Their heavy foot step echoed through the room and seemed to be used as a scare tactic. Jared found this show of power and strength laughable, as did his inner voice strangely enough.

This whelp thinks he is an Alpha. Alphas can be made, but true Alphas are born in the blood. Break him.

_ _

A rather heavy folder was tossed onto the table. Jared noticed several photos of himself walking the streets of his old neighborhood. One picture had been taken from one of the booths at the diner of him eating his usual bowls of soup during lunch break. Another was a picture of him waiting for the bus that would take him to the mall outside of town. Thankfully he didn't notice anything risqué, but he wouldn't exactly trust these people to respect any aspect of his privacy. He had reached out with his paw to open the folder, but a gloved paw slammed down on the folder to stop him. Elu was eyeing him angrily before sliding the folder safely to her side of the table. It was about this time that the new male entered the light. Jared saw that he was also a wolf, though this one had solid white fur coating the exposed areas of his body. He was dressed in a uniform similar to the pig-man earlier, thought this male wore it much better. There were several markings denoting his many years of service and achievements in climbing the ladder of command. The only thing the wolf wore that was unpleasant was the smug look of importance he wore.

"Let me make one thing perfectly clear, boy. We have tried to treat you well; we have done what we could to put you at ease. That is over. You are in my house now, and in my house you obey my rules. Break my rules and I will break you." The male wolf bent over the table to look down on Jared from on high.

Jared crossed his arms and let a slow sigh escape his lips. This guy was already pissing him off acting like some self important prick. All of his shiny trinkets added up to being warden of a prison that so far seemed more like a cruel crazy house. When he didn't respond for a long moment he felt a strong grip suddenly tighten around his collar. In a flash of pure speed, Jared grabbed the wrist of the man threatening him and broke it. The resounding crunch of bone and cartilage snapping under pressure was only slightly less terrifying than the girlish scream the pompous male let loose in response. Jared said nothing, because before he could taunt his fellow wolf he felt the barrel of a gun positioned at his neck. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed that Elu held a sedative gun ready to inject him with more good night juice.

"Let him go now and I won't put you to sleep again. We are here to talk more about what is going on. If you keep acting like a wild beast, you will have to be locked up permanently. Understand?" Elu spoke slowly and carefully, worried what may happen if she provoked Jared enough to flare his instincts again.

"Hear that princess? My lady friend here wants me to let you go on pain of imprisonment. Because I get claustrophobic I will let you go now. Get up in my face like that again and I really will break something." Jared warned harshly before letting go of the limp wrist of his new best friend.

While the warden nursed his broken pride and wrist in the corner of the room, Elu put her gun away and sat gracefully in a chair opposite of Jared, "This will all be a lot less stressful if you stop misbehaving and talk to me. I will answer any question that you have, and be as clear as I can."

"All right Beautiful, anything for you. I'll be the best student in class, if it means I get one of your gold stars." Jared replied teasingly, earning the reaction he was hoping for.

Elu twitched slightly, hear ears drooping rather cutely while her cheeks seemed to flush under her fur, "G-good, we have a lot of information to go over before I can take you to meet command. Ask away."

"Straight to business then... why are you kidnapping people and using them like some weird mad science experiment? I saw those people back in the hall, and all of them seemed like they may have been failed projects." Jared more demanded rather than inquired, his stern gaze making the vixen shiver.

"First I want to assure you that we do not often take people from the human world for such things. Often times we only do such things to humans that stumble on our home accidentally and cannot be trusted to keep our secret. Over the past few thousand years there have been many times that storms or other phenomenon would shipwreck humans on these islands. In an effort to keep our people safe, we would turn your kind over to our own to keep them here, and our secret safe. Human technology has been advancing by leaps and bounds making it difficult to maintain our secrecy. Thankfully we have been able to keep air traffic and ocean trade routes clear of us by use of-..." Elu suddenly stopped when she noticed the hand held up in front of her.

"You are evading my question and it is getting really annoying you know that? All this history stuff is very entertaining and all, but you still haven't told me why you took people at all. Why did you take me, Beautiful?" Jared asked while smoothing out the fur on the bridge of his nose. The soft fur was so short, it felt like touching a children's blanket.

"Well the explanation is rather complicated. Over the years our people have stayed unified under a single banner, putting our differences aside for the greater good of all animalian. We have a problem though... our unified people require strong leaders to keep things going smoothly. Over the past few generations we have had a problem producing offspring with the right instincts. Our current leadership is fractured, and some factions have threatened to break off. What we need are True Alphas, people who can not only lead their own kind, but can dominate over all clans to keep our people together. That is where you come in." Elu took a moment to catch her breath before she pulled several photos and papers full of data from the folder.

"My agents in the Acquisition and Acclimation department are in charge of seeking out potential candidates for our program, codenamed Leadership. It is a dangerous job, but we are in need of True Alphas. I took a very personal interest in you the moment my scouts found your medical records. They took your blood work and cross referenced it with our own cumulative data for anything of interest. Like very few candidates before you, your DNA sequence was startlingly close to that of our own species. It was an unprecedented discovery, and rumors spread quickly. Somehow our information about you circulated, and command worried that some of the more rebellious factions might try to take you before we could make our move. Things have been moving much quicker with you than normal because of the dire circumstances surrounding your potential as an Alpha. Normally you would have been informed before the procedure was done, given time to accept or decline, and then plans would have made depending on your response. Command regrets having to be so forceful with your case, but feeling bad about it won't make it right." Elu concluded her explanation with a sigh, and get eyes fell to the table sadly.

Jared sucked lightly at his teeth as he mulled over all of this in his head. So they needed someone strong enough to unify their people, and he was the unlucky dope stuck with the job. It was ironic really, considering he had always tried to avoid leadership roles. One of the reasons he had never applied himself too hard at work was to avoid the position of supervisor, though he would never have told Wong that. He wasn't one to shy away from making decisions, but he had an innate fear of disappointing someone by making the wrong choice. People say that mistakes happen, and that was all sunshine and daisies until your mistakes cost someone else, especially a loved one. Had he made the right decision and told Veronica to ditch that bastard so long ago, she might have...

"Damn this sucks. I mean, this really sucks. You know, I get that my life might have seemed shitty to you all, but I enjoyed it. My apartment was a pit, but I was warm at night and I had a place to sleep. My job sucked, but it was steady pay and I am almost positive my buddy probably had those milk drinkers changing their minds by the time I passed out on my couch. I might have only had two friends, but they were the most amazing friends a guy could have asked for. I understand that you all need help, but God damn it why me? Why did I have to give up everything that mattered to me for this? I can never go back there now; the doc gave me that good news while I was attempting to escape. By the way, those little metal hooks on those stun guns hurt like bee stings." Jared huffed indignantly as he rubbed the spot near one of his nipples that had been bitten into on that elevator.

"I chose you because I saw that you had the potential to be a great leader. I have seen your decision making skills, your confidence in the worst of situations, your cunning when outmaneuvering people. You are exactly what we want, what we need... you are our only hope to avoid war that might consume our people or worse... expose us to humanity. The pain you felt before would pale in comparison to the horrors we would face under the knives of humans. We would become commodities and tourist attractions, and our technology would be used to darken the world even worse than some of the human weapons we have seen. We have no where we can go to flee this problem, so we must make due here. I know that you are the one we have been searching for." Elu was almost pleading with her large red eyes looking directly into Jared's.

Jared cursed mentally, knowing he couldn't resist a cute girl in need. He hated to admit this to himself, and he would certainly never say it out loud, but he was feeling a bit excited about what he was hearing. Sure, he was still angry that he had been forced to accept a life he would have turned away from in a heartbeat. Still, this was a chance for him to experience something that people wrote about in story books. These people needed him to become some kind of hero. He groaned mentally at his own childish thoughts. Heroes weren't real; they were a representation of hope during times of great distress. Rain could be considered a hero to people suffering a crippling drought.

"Okay Pretty Eyes, none of this shit makes sense, and I am almost positive that this is a very vivid nightmare, but until I wake up I am stuck here. I will cooperate with your people, if only to try and understand what the hell is happening to me. But do not treat me like some messiah come to revolutionize the world. I am a realist, and I lack the confidence to see myself succeeding where others have failed. I am just another man with flaws and vices."

Elu nodded her head rapidly while wearing an expression that showed elation and relief, "Y-yes, of course! We aren't asking you to be perfect Jared, we just want you to help us the best you can. We will do everything in our power to help you in this."

"We should go and speak to this... command you keep mentioning. Also, I could eat. It feels like I haven't had a decent meal in... well, I guess I haven't really eaten in a month. Is it normal that I am craving medium rare steak?" Jared rambled on absentmindedly while Elu couldn't help a small chuckle.

"Also, warden, do not give me a reason to punish you again. As a wolf, I will most likely be leading our people. I'd rather have you by my side than under my heel." Jared added a deep growl to his voice to increase his already menacing glare that he directed to the simpering little wolf in the corner.

The warden scowled, but made no move to object. He could feel his instincts reacting to Jared in ways he had never experienced before. While he was prideful and dominant to most anyone he met, he wished to kneel before this newcomer. The expectant look Jared gave him shook him from his reverie enough for him to nod his affirmation. This seemed to sate the blood lust that Jared was directing his way. When those icy eyes turned away from him, he felt the chill in the air lift. He stood up tall and walked to the hidden door to enter a code for the electronic lock. The resounding click echoed through the room and was soon followed by the snap of a switch being thrown. Light flooded the once dark room and Jared was finally able to see the two of them clearly.

"Elu, you should probably set up meetings with your people so that I can talk to your clan. This weird transition to leadership will probably be smoother if I start with races closely related to my own." Jared rubbed the back of his neck rather sheepishly while discussing this awkward topic.

To Jared's relief Elu replied with a cheerful tone, "Oh yes, I was requested by my own clan leader to escort you to our compound in the Dens as an offer of hospitality during your Acclimation period. Our leadership is eager to formally ally with you should you have chosen to stay. They will be quite pleased to hear of your readiness to meet with them."

Jared nodded and stood to his feet, watching as his warden held the door for them, "Warden, tell me your name."

"Zacharias..." He replied shortly.

"Zack then, I didn't want to bring you pain. I am suffering very strong mood swings and urges because of the medication I was forced to endure. I hope that we can work together soon, and not have any animosity between us." Jared walked over to his counterpart and held out his paw, his tone genuine and friendly.

Zacharias looked into the icy eyes of Jared who stared right back into his own dark black eyes. He could still feel the authority and strength radiating off of the younger wolf, but there was also a sense of calm. Something told him to put his grudge aside and embrace this new potential ally, regardless of how humiliated he was by the attack on his person. With a huff of indignation, Zach took the offered paw with his good paw, shaking firmly twice before they both released and grinned like the big-bad-wolves they were. Elu had enough of their strange male bonding and pushed Jared out of the room through the open door and out into the well lit hall. The duo passed nothing of note on their way out of the building, possibly taking a side exit rather than the main entrance of the facility. Once outside, Jared gasped at the sight before him.

It was the most magnificent work of technology he had ever seen. The facility was situated on a solid white platform that had been set into the ground of an island of earth large enough for the compound they had just exited. Beyond that, he could see several other similar platforms far off in the distance all surrounding a single platform that was much larger than the rest. On the central platform they had built a thriving city with several sleek sky scrapers and what he assumed might be communication towers. Several bridges of solid energy connected each platform to the next nearby. He noticed that below the platforms were shadows of massive pillars made out of natural stone that seemed to disappear into total darkness below. Surrounding the many platforms were high walls of stone, cliffs that sloped down into the abyss; the only way in or out of this place would be by air.

"This, Jared, is Central Command City, center of power here on Clearwater Island. Down below us is the world's largest power plant, fueled by volcanic heat, and cooled by sea water pumped out of a series of tunnels that run under the high cliffs around the city. They serves two purposes, one being the cooling of our power plant, and two being the regulation of sea levels to combat the effects of global warming. Our Solar Bridges are an ancient technology ferried here by our ancestors. Constructs built today using similar design pale in comparison to the work of our more intelligent and industrious predecessors. The many smaller platforms you see house our waste disposal facilities, security stations, helipad, and farm land. The central platform you see there in the middle is the city itself. The four spires around the outside act as pulse emitters to send our power and radio signals. Yes, our power is provided through wireless networks that help spread power to the rest of the archipelago. It was a work of pure genius by our ancestors, the designs of which were lost long ago. We maintain them the best we can, but we haven't found much decay in the structures or their infrastructure outside of Clearwater."

Jared listened to Elu while taking note of each thing she listed. It was interesting, and confusing, but he felt he understood most of what she was trying to describe. Up until now he had been a skeptical joker with a big mouth, but listening to the pride Elu had in her people through the way she lectured their technological achievements, he decided not to reply. He was beginning to grow fond of the vixen, even if he did harbor a certain amount of disdain for her part in his abduction and subsequent alterations. Jared noticed the fond looks that she sent his way occasionally, and had to remember that she had confessed a certain amount of interest in him during her initial investigations.

"I guess we must be headed to the large tower in the center of the city, right?" Jared asked while gesturing toward one of the larger buildings located near the direct center of the city.

"Correct Jared that is the Central Command Headquarters or CCHQ for short. You will be presented to the current Elder Council there. They are the five oldest animalian alive on Clearwater Island. They do not represent their clans anymore; rather they represent all the species related to their clans and make decisions for all who are allied under Central Command. Let's get aboard the shuttle to CC City and we can speak more while we relax." Elu offered while gesturing toward a small shuttle bus that was idling nearby.

Jared was hesitant, but nodded his consent before boarding the shuttle bus. There were two sets of seats lining the narrow walkway. Jared found the last seat favorable and was soon joined by Elu who waved to the driver. The driver, a friendly looking male who bore a striking resemblance to an otter, gave her a nod in his overhead mirror and drove off toward the city. Jared held his breath as he noticed the Solar Bridge ahead, and quickly released it in a sigh when they had driven onto the strange misty bridge. Elu had to restrain her giggles as she watched the strong male beside her shaking like some sort of child at something she had grown up with.

"Hey, Beautiful, can you explain how the chain of command works here in Clearwater? I don't want to walk into this and insult the wrong person." Jared asked while relaxing in the soft leather of their seat.

The puffed and angry cheeks of Elu did nothing to ward him away from calling her that new nickname, but she didn't have to know what.

"Well the top of the ladder is the Elder Council. No decisions are made without their express permission. They have many years of experience leading their clans to fall back on and a great deal of respect from many clan leaders. I would recommend simply being yourself around them, though do not make too many rude comments or crude jokes. The female council member is very touchy. Besides that, they are all very friendly and understanding. Should you ever need advice or wisdom, seek them out.

Beneath their command is where you will be. The Alpha Commanders are our leaders. They make the decisions that the Elder Council need not concern themselves with, as well as decisions on the field where communication with Central Command is restricted or non-existent. They do not answer to anyone else, and demand respect no matter where they tread. All animalian must obey, or be punished. To lead so many is a heavy burden, and only the best can become Alpha Commanders. Unfortunately, due to generations of inbreeding among the stronger clans, a true Alpha has not been born in many years. The last living Alpha Commander is now serving on the Elder Council due to their advanced age. His name is Leon, former Alpha Commander and Head of the Big Cat Clans of the plains. Don't make fun of his cliché name, he will have you castrated, or as he call it 'cat-strated.'

Below the Alpha Commanders are the Clan Heads. There are far too many to count, but all of them act as leaders of their people. They make financial decisions, barter with one another over land claims and hunting grounds, and act as liaisons for their people to the Elder Council. Alpha Commanders are often sent to represent the Elder Council on matters pertaining to land disputes and acts of violence. It would be best to treat these people with caution. Even my Clan Head should be watched. If you gain the favor of one clan, you may gain the ire of their rivals. Your job will be to determine who you want to consider an enemy, and who you want to consider a friend. The political game at this level is tricky, but it can be rewarding when played well.

And finally we have the people, the average Joes who work and live by the day trying to feed their kin. The people will look to you as the humans do their generals. You will be a leader with no room for error. When they fear the coming strife, they will look to you to guide them. Be kind, be generous, but be aloof. The people need to know you are focusing on all of them, not some of them. You may occasionally be invited to ceremonies among the common people. When you attend, you must be as professional as possible and have speeches prepared. You'll be provided compensation for any event that you have to attend, such as currency or favors promised." Elu was enjoying giving this lesson to Jared, something that he didn't miss.

Jared listened as closely as he could, even though much of it was a little difficult to follow. He knew who to respect, and who he could have a little fun with. The idea of making public appearances was something he wasn't looking forward to; public speaking wasn't one of his strong points. The voice in his mind grumbled and fussed as he sat and tried to focus on Elu speaking. The strange entity within him was not pleased with his self doubt, and argued against his every thought.

You are Alpha; you need not fear these whelps. When you speak, their wills will bend before your very voice. Command the masses, they are yours.

_ _

'God damn it will you just shut up already? This is going to be a long few weeks...'

_ _

...I will be silenced when you realize what you are.

_ _

'Holy fuck...did you just reply to me?!'

_ _

.....

_ _

'Right, insanity, got it, I hate you.'

_ _

The shuttle bus the two were riding had taken a route toward the central city platform via several Solar Bridges. Jared was barely aware of the facilities they had passed on each platform before crossing over into the city. Before entering the streets of the city, the vehicle had to pass through some kind of scanner. Jared idly wondered why they needed such security, but decided that question could wait when he noticed the busy streets ahead. There were so many different kinds of people walking and driving along the unrealistically clean lanes. Elders, children, couples... all walks of life with all manner of animalistic features passed by the window as they sped through town. He found it odd that none of this was strange to him though he supposed that due to the hell he had been through already this was no longer a surprise. Two motor bikes with sleek designs lined up along their flanks and acted as escorts. The riders wore similar uniforms to Zack, albeit designed for riding rather than pageantry. This spectacle was necessary to navigate the thicker traffic, but unfortunately brought attention to them like a parade float.

"So much for a low profile, eh Beautiful?" Jared commented lightly, chuckling nervously after.

"This is nothing compared to the fanfare you will encounter once your identity has been announced. Some will fear you while others will worship your every step. Don't let it go to your head though, or I will kick your tail off." Elu replied in an all too sweet tone, accompanied by a dazzling fake smile.

"I'll keep that in mind pooky." He shot back in a teasing manner to hide how uncomfortable her comment had made him.

'I'll have to watch out for this one...'

_ _

Jared felt a soft swat of a paw graze the back of his head, and he mockingly held his head in terrible pain, causing the vixen to laugh at him. He let a small smile spread across his own muzzle, enjoying the casual banter that they had begun to develop. It made him think of home and how he and Wong had always found time to joke around when out of work. The two of them would hang out every Friday night until the diner closed so that they could spend time around Veronica. Those days were behind him now, if he were to believe that all of the things surrounding him now were real. It still all felt like some sort of sick joke or ridiculous dream. Whatever the case, he would make the best of what he had, and should it truly be real then he would accept it someday. For the moment, he was content to regard this new reality as a very long and vivid dream.

Jared saw the looming tower of CCHQ growing until it towered high above them. When the shuttle finally finished its course, they had parked near the curb outside what could only be the main entrance. The foot paths of the normal street curves outward to follow the long stretch of garden that lined the courtyard. The gardens contained flora of all kinds, as well as fountains that marked the midway point of the paths. Lining the two identical foot paths leading towards the entryway were over a dozen comfortable looking benches made of some kind of red-stained wood. Scattered throughout the gardens were several sculptures of various animalian people, each floating above the ground without suspension or ground braces. As Jared reluctantly disembarked from their ride, he saw some of the people around had stopped to gawk at them. Unlike the many dozens of people out in the city, these people wore various sets of elegant robes each emblazoned with unique symbols on their left breasts.

"Elu, I feel like I just stepped out of the frying pan and into the fire here. Are people all ready aware of my status?" Jared asked tentatively while maintaining a casual demeanor.

"You've been here a month recovering, so it is reasonable to assume that information may have been leaked about you. Most of these animalian are Clan Heads, so I do not think anyone will approach you directly just yet. To be on the safe side though, I would like to hurry along and get you inside to see the Elders." Elu replied, noticing his use of her name rather than one of his teasing nicknames. She appreciated that he took into account their surroundings after only hearing about etiquette once.

"After you then." He said simply.

Elu proudly strutted by all of the onlookers while being followed by the new animalian that she was responsible for bringing to Clearwater. Jared felt like he was being shown off, not only because of how Elu was presenting herself, but also because of the looks of curiosity and envy that were being sent their way. He wasn't used to such looks, and felt utterly confused by the whole thing. When the two had reached the lobby of the building he assumed the worst was over, and oh how wrong he was. Standing inside the lobby were even more of these smartly dressed animalian Clan Heads, all suddenly going silent as each small cluster caught sight of them. On the outside Jared wore a neutral expression, while inside he felt on edge. Some of the species present among the delegates were rather large and one in particular had to be the fattest of the people he had ever seen. A path quickly formed through the crowd as Elu guided him toward a set of rather fancy looking elevators. Whispers and hushed conversations erupted in their wake, most of it unintelligible to the untrained ear. One particular whisper caught his ear, and had him stop dead in his tracks. The silence that followed could be something of legend for years to come.

"I'm sorry... but what was that I heard?" Jared's tone was icy, and sent shivers down several spines.

Elu had stopped when she heard his footsteps cease, and grew concerned by the sudden hostility.

"Someone said something a moment ago... something rude and ignorant. I was under the impression that everyone here got along. Now who said it?" Jared stalked slowly toward his left, taking each step deliberately slowly.

The tension seemed to thicken as people scurried back to make room for his approach. Instincts were suddenly flaring up in even the most disciplined of these leaders. Jared could smell their fear; taste its wretched flavor in the air. For reasons he was unaware of, he found these people sickened him. When he found the one who spoke those words that were running through his head, he would break them. He stopped when he heard rapid breathing to his right. Standing there was a very flabby looking female with snow white fur and rabbit ears. Her pink nose twitched rapidly while she eyed the predatory Alpha in front of her. How could he know she had been the one to speak? How could he know what she said?!

"It was you; I can faintly hear your voice every time you try to breathe through that fat neck of yours. Each puff of air you choke on strums at your vocal chords like claws on guitar strings. I don't care what quarrel you have with the Fox Clans of the Dens, you keep your bigoted comments to yourself, rabbit. I am here on behalf of all of you people, and I will not endure a single moment of hatred, angst, ignorance or bigotry. I hear you utter that word again around me, and we will have words in private."

Jared kept his voice level and his words civil, but there was an undeniable undertone that sent every one of the elders inside the lobby to quivering. Elu watched quietly, her head down as she felt the instinct to submit to the Alpha overtake her again. She was aware of herself and her actions, but knew better than to resist. There was something rather thrilling about the whole experience, and underneath her complex thoughts she was elated that Jared's ire was directed toward someone else. For many of the Clan Heads around her, this was a clear sign of his position even if they had their doubts at first. For others, this was a terrible revelation that times were about to change against their favor. Still there were a few who fought valiantly against the presence that Jared exuded during his speech trying to deny their own instincts.

"I did not come here to cause trouble, and I apologize for my intrusion on all of your activities. Now that I have dealt with this, I will leave you to your work." Jared didn't wait for any response from the rabbit who he had been cross with, and instead hurried toward his guide by the elevators.

The wolf noticed that his vixen companion was rather subdued now, with her head down and her ears flattened against her thick head fur. He decided not to ask her anything until they were free of the crowded lobby. Thankfully their elevator came swiftly, and soon the two were mercifully alone again. It was at this moment that he found Elu peeking out of the corner of her eye at him expectantly. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but the voice in his head spoke sagely to him.

Your little vixen did well to allow you free reign against the filthy prey. Reward her.

_ _

Jared grimaced at the possessive tone the voice seemed to take on, and even more so when he thought about the wording it had used. The funny thing was though... he knew that the damned voice in his head was right. Elu seemed to be awaiting some sort of praise if her hopeful glances were any indication, and he felt eager to give it. He wondered if she too were feeling her instincts as strongly as he was whenever she was around him. That thought made certain things seem less confusing, and he wasn't sure how to feel about the revelation. Deciding to take his doctor's advice on how the instincts were supposed to work, Jared let himself go. His paw found the top of Elu's head soon enough, and he found her luxuriously soft fur very appealing between his fingers.

"Well done, Beautiful." Jared spoke softly to the vixen beside him. He felt a tenseness in her suddenly relax under his praise and gentle touch. If he had paid attention, he might have heard Elu let out a soft, content moan of approval.

"W-what caused you to suddenly go after Lady Mona? And why did it sound like you were defending my clan?" Elu asked shyly after finding enough wherewithals to be curious.

"While we were walking I could hear the Heads whispering different things. That woman didn't lower her voice enough, and I heard her speak an atrocity that I will not allow. She said, 'Look at that mongrel's whore daughter strutting around with the new Alpha.' I couldn't let that kind of comment lie. When I found the bitch, I couldn't be sure if it was a personal grudge or one between clans, so I remembered what you said about not allowing the people to see me showing favoritism. I embarrassed her in front of her peers, and made sure I seemed concerned about clan relations to avoid political backlash so early in the game. Just between you and me though, it was mostly because she was talking shit about my friend and her folks."

Jared's casual tone near the end was the only thing to shake Elu from her shock. She hadn't thought he would listen so closely to her advice and the lesson on hierarchy. He was such a mystery to her. His biology had been what caught her attention before, but it seemed there was much more to Jared than she had first thought. He was thoughtful, and attentive, and charming in his own way. And then there was the way he talked when he let his instincts flare. The way he made her body shiver and obey with every word he spoke caused her no end of delight. She would have to be careful around him or she would lose sight of what was important.

"T-thank you, Jared. You have taken to the lesson earlier quite well. I hope you continue to do so, because I would hate to have to take away your gold star." Elu teased playfully, trying to shake off her own flare of instincts that were still telling her how to behave.

"Not my gold star! How will I get to sleep at night without my precious teacher's gift?" Jared declared dramatically while falling backward against the wall of the elevator, paw held against his forehead in mock despair.

Elu shook her head in a resigned way, though Jared was pleased to see the flush of her cheeks. For really loved messing with this one. Perhaps his grudge against her for kidnapping him was simply his own way of trying to hold onto his past. Elu seemed to genuinely approve of him, despite his many acts of protest and his escape attempt. Could he ever truly forgive her for what she did to him? Had he already forgiven her and was he in denial? His thoughts were interrupted by the soft giggling from Elu who had been watching his face contort.

'I can forgive her if she keeps being so god damn adorable...'

_ _

Yes, she is yours, forgive her and then claim her.

_ _

'You can just shut the fuck up in there or I will ram my skull into the nearest steel beam.'

_ _

The pair laughed together at some untold joke as the elevator stopped and opened up into a very plain looking hallway. The floor was carpeted in a nice shade of burgundy and the walls were paneled with a warm dark brown wood. A cozy little desk was stationed midway along the right wall with a receptionist seated at its computer. She was clearly a mouse, brown in color, and dressed smartly in a lovely blouse and matching skirt. Her head fur was cut short and framed her face nicely. A pair of casual glasses and conservative heels finished off her outfit to give her a very subdued, business casual ensemble. When she regarded them she let out a small squeak of surprise that was almost comical, but recomposed herself quickly as the two of them approached her desk.

"Hello Miss Elu, how are you doing today?" The mousy woman asked pleasantly while eyeing Jared subtly.

"I'm doing quite well Jessica, I'm glad to be back in the city. I'll be even happier when I get back to the Dens tonight. I haven't had a decent meal in weeks, thanks to this jerk." Elu shoved her thumb over her shoulder.

Jared took a moment to look extremely affronted before relaxing quickly afterward, "No one asked you to watch me sleep. That's what stalkers do. And my name is Jared, not jerk. Pleasure to meet you Jessica."

Jessica watched Elu swat Jared's arm playfully for his stalker remark and the two of them shared another chuckle. Jessica had never seen Elu behaving like this before. In fact, before they had stumbled on Jared during their recon missions, Elu had always been regarded as a bit of a workaholic. When Elu wasn't working on an assignment she was studying something to help with future missions. Jessica wondered what the Elders would do if they saw the positive influence this new comer was on the reclusive vixen. Not even being paired with the ever friendly cobra Nyoka had helped her social issue, and many in Command had worried she might be forced to leave the service. Thinking of the charming snake seemed to have summoned him, as the elevator opened up a moment later to reveal the handsome serpent strolling into the hall with his arm in a sling.

"There you both are. I was worried you might have gone in without me. This was my mission as well as yours, partner." Nyoka remarked with a toothy grin.

"Ah there you are Snake, I was wondering if I would see you again. I would like to apologize for the damage I caused you. I had no intention of hurting anyone, but when I saw you reaching for your weapon my instincts kicked in and I acted without thought. I know it's not much of a consolation, but I do regret it." Jared spoke solemnly as he gestured to Nyoka's healing arm.

The snake waved his good hand dismissively in the air as he continued to wear his charming smile, "Think nothing of it that was very exciting. This job can be boring sometimes when we keep finding weak recruits. The pain did suck, but how many others can tell a story like that one to their kin? My Clan Head mentioned how you scared the piss out of the Rabbit Clan Head. I have never heard father laugh so hard before, so I will consider your debt paid."

"Your father is a Clan Head? That broken arm couldn't have gone over very well then with your people..." Jared mumbled sheepishly as he rubbed his neck scruff.

"He was honestly pretty impressed with it. I am regarded as one of the strongest members of my clan you see. In a way it proved your worth to him, as well as mine for standing against a stronger foe with so few injuries. We of the Cobra Clan believe in strength and cunning above all else. You can imagine that tales of your escape attempt are circulating quickly among my people." Nyoka smirked in amusement after seeing the horror on Jared's face.

"If you two are done comparing tails I think it is about time we head in to see the Elders. They have been waiting all morning for us." Elu quipped saucily toward the boys before walking off.

Jared followed behind her with Nyoka bringing up the rear. The snake gave Jessica a look while pointing to Elu and the mouse smiled and shrugged her shoulders. It seemed even Nyoka was surprised by the change in Elu's personality. Weeks ago she would never have been seen saying something so playful or casual to anyone, even him. His golden eyes locked onto the thick black furred wolf in front of him and he couldn't resist a small smirk and nod of approval. Regardless of whether or not this wolf became the Alpha the people needed, he was the friend that Elu needed and that was well worth the trouble of a broken arm. Who knows, maybe he would even end up winning the office betting pool on whether or not Elu would end up finding a special someone. Oh god if the vixen only knew how many people were involved in betting on her social life, she would have a fit to end all fits.

Elu waited by the door for them to regroup. When she was sure they were all ready to enter she gave a gentle push to open the large double doors. The room within was very warm and comfortably lit. There was a table set in the center of the room surrounded by five occupied chairs. A large monitor was set into the back wall with two waterfalls built into recessed fountains on either side. The two remaining walls were made of plate glass, cleaned to crystal clear quality to overlook the vast city below. Besides five touch screens built into the surface of the table, the rest of it was made of solid oak and its surface was covered with various dishes of dry food and piles of neatly sorted paperwork.

Besides Jared, Elu and Nyoka, the five other animalian were locked in fierce conversation. Jared got the impression that these old codgers were dealing with petty squabbles of their own while waiting for their guests. It amused him when he realized what exactly they were talking about.

"I'm telling you, this human Tramp is not going to do well for the North American Continent as a whole!"

"His name is Trump you idiot, and they didn't seem to be doing all that well with those silly blue people either. Give the wind bag human time."

"I still wish they had elected that sweet old human male with that charming first name. Who doesn't love the name Bernie?"

"Pipe down you horny old cow, we all know you have the shimmy shakes for old human males!"

"Enough damn you, it seems we have visitors."

Jared took a moment to observe the five Elder Council members closely while they assembled themselves. The closest Elder to the group was a very old looking tortoise wearing an orange robe to contrast his natural colors. His shell seemed polished and well maintained with no signs of age. To his left sat a female avian that looked like a snowy owl. Her old feathers had begun to grey, but the fire and spirit in her bright big eyes spoke volumes of her inner youth. Her robes were a solid black to oppose her natural bright coloration. Seated directly in the center of the room at the back of the table was the unmistakable form of Leon the former Alpha Commander in his blood red robes. The elder lion gave off an aura of strength and authority that even gave Jared pause to consider submitting, though his body stood strong in defiance to his peer. The approving grin Leon suddenly sported showed he had noticed Jared's resolve. Leon sat beside a rather large, yet gentle looking orca. This large sea mammal was beautiful in her own way, with smooth skin and kind eyes. She had been the one fawning over the elder human moments before, and wore an angry glare that seemed misplaced on her round face. She had clearly not taken kindly to the insult on her person, but her natural gentle spirit seemed to water down her glare. She wore a beautiful ocean blue robe to honor her home. As if to contrast her in an almost comical way, the final councilman was a very short mole wearing a bronze hardhat on his head with sunglasses on the bridge of his long snout. His brown robes matched his fur color closely, but Jared suspected he wore brown because any other color would make the stains of dirt and soot much more noticeable.

"Excuse our intrusion Elders; we were informed that we were to come in immediately after arriving. I hope we didn't interrupt anything private." Elu spoke respectfully as she bowed toward them slightly.

"Do not worry; we were just having a heated political discussion is all. No harm done and you did as we ordered." Leon spoke with authority and a hint of amusement that helped to calm Elu tremendously.

Jaden held back a scoff when he heard the lame excuse give. He didn't want to embarrass Elu in front of her superiors by misbehaving. He did find their topic of discussion rather hilarious though, despite his need to remain professional. Nyoka wore a neutral expression, though if one looked close enough they might see the corners of his mouth curved ever so slightly. Jared was broken out of his musings by a rather loud and obnoxious voice calling for the attention of the room. He noticed that the tortoise had spoken and regarded him.

"Is this the boy you brought for us? He seems skinny, and he is a mammal. How can we be sure he is capable of Alpha Command status?" He asked rather heatedly, his jaw snapping open and shut with a slight popping and cracking of bones. Elu seemed to flinch as if struck, and Jared knew that her pride had taken a blow.

"Oh Barty settle down, give him a chance. You always rush to judge anyone not of the reptilian or amphibian races harshly. Do you remember when you said the same thing about Leon?" The kindly orca spoke softly, but with a stern tone.

Barty the tortoise snapped his gaze to the orca with a fierce glare, "How many times do I have to remind you that my name is not Barty, it is Bartholomew! You're as dense as my shell sometimes Aarlu. I do not trust you mammals, land or sea, as far as my old bones can throw you. Damn ocean cow..."

"You're asking for it Barty. One of these days Aarlu is going to pick you up and throw you out the window." The owl commented while ignoring the fuming tortoise and his exaggerated glaring.

"Don't feed the fire Snowe; it is hot enough in here as it is. Anyway, you have brought him to us. I am glad to see you alive and well young wolf. The reports we kept receiving were mixed and confusing." Leon spoke in a friendly tone as he tried to diffuse the situation his fellow elders were creating.

"Well you know how it is. When you wake up after a month and find out your body has been mutilated and mutated into a huge wolf that can walk on two legs and speak, you don't take it well. I would say that you're lucky I am not still in the happy hug me hut with the rest of the failures you have collected there. Guess I can chalk that up to good breeding." Jared replied with a casual tone. Elu looked horrified by his blunt and straightforward confession.

"I understand your position. Things moved far too fast with your case, and it is mostly our fault. In our eagerness to procure a new Alpha Commander to help stabilize the Alliance we ignored some of our most important rules. We will be doing everything in our power to make it up to you, but for now we must focus on our mission. Have you chosen to stay and serve, or will you continue to fight us?" Leon spoke with a sense of finality that left Jared feeling like he had to choose, and yet he had no choice.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Jared gave his own toothy grin while eyeing his predecessor, "I've decided to make the best of a bad situation and aid your people. It is the sad and sobering truth that I cannot return home, and even if I had that choice I don't think that I would be able to live well with the guilt of leaving your people to fall apart. And if I bear this burden, no other human had to suffer a fate chosen by others... at least for now I hope."

"You are correct. As of the time of your arrival all Acquisition and Acclimation teams were brought back home to end their mission. So long as you are here we have no need for such unsavory recruitment techniques. We have repurposed them to other departments in our security forces." Leon replied with a serious tone to emphasize his sincerity that their abduction days were over, something Jared gave an appreciative nod for.

"Excuse my intrusion sir, but did you say repurposed? As in disbanded? I am afraid that I don't quite understand." Elu spoke with a slight quiver to her voice, obviously concerned about her position.

"My dear girl, please calm yourself. I understand your concern, but we would never allow one of our best to fade into obscurity. We've an offer for you and your partner, Nyoka." Aarlu smiled softly while trying to reassure the panicked vixen.

"Yes, my colleague is correct. We have a new assignment for the both of you now that your department had been temporarily disbanded. You may decline of course, but I do not think that either of you will object to this proposal. As of now, young Jared here is our new Alpha Commander. His responsibilities will begin to pile up as more and more of our citizens are made aware of him. He is not of our people originally and will no doubt have trouble adjusting. Rather than give him a rushed and improper Acclimation like we had originally planned, we have decided he needs aids. Due to your initial enthusiasm for Jared's case file, we have agreed that you would make perfect candidate to serve directly under him with Nyoka.

Of the clans we have allied under Command, the Foxes of the Dens, Cobras of the Canopy, and Wolves of the Caves have the friendliest interaction with each other. This will be an order from our council, so the political backlash of such a grouping will be buffered. We've taken the liberty of preparing your new Identification badges to provide access to our top security facilities should you accept." Leon sounded very proud as he spoke, and his notable smile was proof that he truly was a prideful lion.

"Elu, Nyoka, I know we've had a few differences since our initial meeting in the hospital, but I would be pleased if you both accepted these positions. I have been around you both only a short time, but my instincts are telling me that I can trust you. This is all a lot to handle and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared of being in charge of so many people. I think if I have a good team on my side, it won't be as much of a pain." Jared spoke slowly while eyeing the floor near his feet, his hands in his pockets in an attempt to hide his shaking.

Elu exchanged a look with Nyoka and their unspoken conversation lasted only a moment. The two had been teamed up for this mission to 'take' Jared only a short time ago. In that time they had become good friends with many similar traits. They both had a drive to succeed and push beyond what others expected of them. Now, they were expected to decline this position. They could see the looks given to them by the council. Councilwoman Snowe and Councilman Bartholomew were practically sneering at them, waiting for them to cower away from the challenge. Aarlu seemed worried, her doubt in their willingness to aid the new Alpha Commander evident all over her face. Leon seemed to be analyzing their expressions, watching for something, whatever that was they couldn't tell. The only councilman to not speak at all was the only one not scrutinizing them. The elderly mole had been very calm and quiet, only ever moving to straighten one of his crooked whiskers when it seemed to irritate him. Elu let her gaze fall to the stoic little creature, a fellow citizen of the Dens. Feeling her eyes on him, he turned ever so slightly to gaze at her and her snake companion. And then, he gave them a very subtle thumbs up, his lips curling to reveal his aged old teeth.

"Sir, we accept."

Leon allowed his heavy brow to soften and his large gleaming teeth to shine through his broad smile.

"Excellent!"