FSE

Furry search engine

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"Alright, alright. No need to push." Luke pulled his coat tight around himself, trying to keep what little dignity he had left. Some nights the staring really got to him. He pulled the hood up and it muffle the mutterings of the patrons at the tavern. He walked out into the rain and before he walked away he turned and lightly brushed the door handle with his paw pads. Ice crystals spread out from where he had touched until the handle and latch was frozen solid. They wouldn't be getting anymore patrons tonight that was sure. It didn't really matter, he was leaving this place anyway, but it made him feel a little better.

It was stuffy being all bundled up in the cloak but with the rain coming down like it was being a little stuffy was better than dealing with soaking wet fur on his tail. He also always seemed to kick mud up and get it matted. It would be a long night but at least he was able to finish his meal before he was compelled to leave. He touched the coins in his pocket. He had two gold and a handful of silver left. Not much to go on and certainly not enough to make it all the way back to Valkyth on. He never should have left in the first place. But a sharp smile and a silver tongue had enthralled his mother and they had moved south to King's Tier with the man who would become her second husband. That is where the staring had started.

With the sun set the rain had a chill to it and he was shivering soon after setting down the road. He was on the edge of town when someone bumped into him. They dropped the things they were holding and grunted. Luke bent over to help pick the things up. It was all parchment and sealed ink wells. A fluffy white paw appeared from under the long sleeved cloak to take the things back.

"So sorry, sorry." Luke handed the things to the polar bear, still shivering. The polar bear blinked at him. Luke nodded and then turned to go. There was recognition in the bear's eyes. No doubt he has seen the pamphlets.

"Are you literate?"

"Huh?"

"I said are you literate? If you are, I could use some help. Won't take long. Only a few hours. But it is try, and warm work. And it is paying work. If you can read and write."

"I can do those things."

"Follow me then."

"Sisco, by the way."

"Uh...Luke"

Luke followed the strange polar bear down the road and into a winding set of neighborhoods until they reached a slightly larger, less dilapidated building. It was full of books and illumination stations.

"It is somewhat of a library, we are trying to copy manuscripts so that we have more than one copy. As far as I know this place is the only one that does any books other than the holy bible." The bear used a funny voice to emphasize his thoughts on the holy bible. "Anyway, this is what I want you to work on. It is almost done just a handful more pages. Try to copy them over as neatly as possible. When you are done there are a few cushions you can lay down on. Work as much as you like, there is always more to copy. I will pay you in the morning. " The bear smiled a toothy smile at Luke and then left the lantern on the desk next to the almost finished manuscript.

Luke's paw settled down as he warmed up and the shivers stopped. The book he was finishing was some sort of history of a far away area. He wasn't particularly interested in the subject matter, but he did the work swiftly. The polar bear didn't have to offer him this opportunity. Especially since Luke was pretty sure the pamphlets were circulated all over town declaring him a shame to be avoided. So he felt compelled to do well in return for the kindness shown to him. In the morning when he awoke there was breakfast, some fresh traveling garments, and a note. If you can take the side road North, that will help you get where you need to go. He ate and then looked over the work he had done the previous night, touching up on a few things. He left a short thank you on the desk and then pulled the new cloak around himself. He headed out the Northern gate along the main road but quickly took a turn onto a smaller, less used one the first chance he got.

It wasn't a particularly warm day but the sun was relentless and it quickly worked him into a pant. He was just about to stop and rest under a tree when he saw a body lying in the road just up ahead. He hurried over. It was a green lizard with robes tied around his waist, baring his chest. Luke dropped to his knees and put a paw on the lizard's chest, checking for breathing.

"Is it not custom to first become acquainted with someone before you go and lay your hands on them?" The lizard spoke and Luke started. The lizard was very much alive.

"I uh, I am sorry, I..." he trailed off.

"No no I am quite alright. Nothing beats the warm sun on a sluggish day. This road is rarely ever traveled. It is a good spot to sunbathe." Luke's ears were flat with embarrassment, realising he still had not taken his paw off the lizard's chest. He did so then.

"Well what brings you down this road?" The redness in his cheeks deepened with the question.

"I am, um, avoiding the main road. Too crowded." The lizard's sparkled as he sat up. "Well you ought not be so trusting. Bandits don't like crowds either. You never know when one might try to trick you." Luke pulled away slightly, a little suspicious now. The lizard chuckled.

"However I do not wish to rob you, you have nothing I need and

I do not want things I do not need." Luke swallowed and nodded.

"Though you do seem in need don't you?" Luke declined to answer, he just sort of knelt there, looking at the ground. He knew he really did need some help, some money or something, but he wasn't about to ask this stranger.

"Here, the sun is warm and the magic is flowing well with me today and you are a gentle soul." The lizard flicked his fingers and hands in the air, drawing a series of sigils with both hands and when he was finished he rubbed them together and then held them out to Luke. A plump drawstring sack appeared in one hand and a shiny silver dagger in the other.

"One is to help you get where you need to go, the other is for when you get there." Luke looked at him puzzled and slowly took them. He opened the sack to peer inside. It was full of nothing but gold coins. He looked at the dagger, it was nice, the lizard must be a metal mage to be able to do all this. The lizard put both of his hands on Luke's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye.

"Travel is hard, journeying is harder. Stay your course and have faith. You will overcome this." He moved his hands again drawing a smaller, more intricate sigil. He then plucked a pendant out of the air and handed it to Luke.

"And this will keep you safe when you may fear a fatal encounter." Luke looked down at the trinket in his hand, it was made of a shiny green metal and was of a lizard. He clasped it on his cloak and looked up, the lizard was gone now, leaving Luke kneeling in the middle of the sunny, abandoned road. He stood up and pocketed the pouch and the dagger, and continued on his way.

It was nearing the day's end when he heard the sound of a carriage behind him. He stepped off the road to allow it to pass, know anyone who rode in a carriage would trample him without a moment's thought. He waited for it to pass but got nervous when it started to slow. When it had pulled up alongside him a little curtain opened to reveal a rather plump badger. He had taken some fur on his upper lip and curled it to look like a mustache. Luke looked around as the badger just smiled at him.

"Well good day to you, sir!" the badger said, still beaming. It was unnerving.

"Uh, hello."

"Are you travelling alone, good fellow?" Luke looked around again, sadly there wasn't much he could say other than the truth.

"Um, yes."

"Well, it is nearing nighttime! Quite unsafe for a single fellow to be sleeping alone. Why don't you stay with us at least for the night. There are guards here travelling with me that will protect us while we sleep." Luke took a small step backwards.

"Uh, I'm okay, thank you." He wasn't sure what was going on, but this guy clearly was in a position of privilege, there was no reason for him to be concerned with someone walking alone on the side of a road.

"No, no I insist. Come on in. Jaquine! Help this poor guy in." Suddenly

Luke was gripped by paws that were unaccustomed to being gentle and was placed into the carriage. The door shut quickly after him and it was a lot more cramped that he would have thought. The walls were cushioned in velvet and the seats were satin. The badger had on loose vestments. He was dressed more for comfort than for show, meaning this was not his first or his last day of travel, he did not expect to meet anyone of importance. He handed Luke what appeared to be a turkey leg. Luke did not want to eat it but the badger watched him closely. He hesitantly brought it to his lips. It was warm and juicy and his stomach was reminded of what it was like to eat. He ate the turkey leg and when he was finished the badger took the bone from him and threw it out the window and then clasped his hands across his belly and spoke.

"So, tell me about yourself lad, what is your name? Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Why do you travel this lonely road?" Luke's ears were flat against his head and he swallowed, he was not a claustrophobic person but he did not like it in here.

"Uh I am just traveling around." He did not want to tell this badger details. He did not like the way his mustache twitched when he smiled at the answer Luke gave him.

"Seems to me that you look a little familiar." Luke felt his heart rate spike. "Is your face perhaps, on a pamphlet somewhere? Perhaps it was in King's Tier where I saw it." The badger put a paw to his chin, pretending to be lost in thought. This badger knew exactly where he recognized Luke from.

"You know, I think that is it. I think you are in the Church circulation. Fleeing from the judging eyes of everyone are we?" Luke nervously nodded and the badger laughed. Not a full laugh of someone who was jolly, but a sharp laugh of someone who was amused by the misfortune of another.

"You see, my dear little fox, those judging eyes were what was keeping you safe. Do you not know what could happen if you leave the safety of that judgement?" Luke started weighing his options. The carriage door was latched from the inside to prevent it from swinging open during travel. He absolutely did not want to attack the badger, there were too many outside who would come to his aid. But he did not want to stay here.

"Out here, on this lonely road, where no one is looking, where no one knows who your kind are colluding with, there is no fear of judgement from being associated with you." The badger's paw was on Luke's leg. "You see, when everyone knows what you are, no one wants to associate with you for fear of being branded as the same." The badger's smile showed his small pointy teeth. He was leaning forward and Luke pressed his back into the cushion of the carriage just as it came to a sudden halt. There were loud, short barks of confusion and then a clear voice rang out over everyone else.

"Is this the carriage of the Baron of Sheiford?" The expression on the badger's face told Luke that it was. Sheiford was Southeast of King's Tier and was prosperous farmland but all the stories in King's Tier were that the farmers were not prosperous at all.

"Who is asking? State your business or we will continue over you and your party." There was a laugh that rang out. It was the laugh of an amused horse.

"That is of no consequence, what does matter is if the Baron is present. If so I would like to speak to him." The Baron suddenly looked frightened. The gears in his head were turning over and over, trying to find a way out of the situation. He must have found one because he looked sternly at Luke and gestured for him to get out.

"You're the Baron now heathen." And he unlatched the carriage door and pushed Luke outside. He stood awkwardly as everyone just looked at him. Not the judgemental stares he had become used to but these were ones of confusion, and then amusement as the large horse laughed. He was tall and wore the leather armor of a warrior. He had a large double axe strapped to his back.

"Did the Baron pick you up along the way? Oh Baron, do come out." Luke stepped to the side of the road, hoping to get out of the center of attention. A weak voice from inside the carriage said something but it was muffled by all the velvet inside.

"Oh, Baron, Baron, Baron, we cannot hear you out here, you are going to have to come out to speak to me." The horse was grinning a large toothy grin. The carriage door opened slowly and the badger stepped out. The carriage lifted a few inches once he was onto the ground.

"There we go. Lord Baron of Sheiford, I am Equusaz. It was nice to make your acquaintance." There was a thrum and then a loud thud as a steel bolt buried itself in the badger's chest. Red started spreading over his loose, comfortable clothing and he had time to look down at his blossoming chest before he fell over. The guards all around him were in shock. The horse then addressed them.

"You men are free to do as you will. I was hired only for him; however I suggest allowing me and my men to leave without a complaint." He peered at Luke for a minute and, as if he found something he was looking for, he said "And the blue fox, too."

"You can come with us. We make pretty good coin if you have any skill." Luke let frost dance across his paw and sprinkled some snow onto the ground. The horse laughed again and then waved to his men for them to start departing. They all started to move off into the forest. Luke followed them but not too closely. They were about an hour into the forest when the horse called out to him.

"Frost fox!" Luke looked up at him. "About half an hour that direction you will meet another magic user. He will help you far better than we can. And don't let anyone else lure you into their carriage, no telling what kind of creature they are." Luke nodded and veered off in the direction he had been pointing. The forest was getting noticeably more lush the farther he walked and he was beginning to wonder if it was some sort of trick, if he had been tricked into going deeper into the forest when he heard pan pipes. His ears flicked to where the noise was coming from and through all the vibrant growth he saw a bare chested red panda sitting on the ground playing with birds circling around his head. He had his eyes closed and was swaying in time with melody. Luke felt like he was intruding on a private moment but he could not stop watching the birds flit and dance around the air. It almost seemed as if the flowers were dancing as well. When the melody came to an end the birds flew off to the branches chirping happily and the red panda opened his eyes and looked up directly at Luke and smiled warmly.

He stood and started walking towards Luke, it was as if all the trees, the flowers, every blade of grass was drawn to him. He spoke softly and his voice had a musicality to it.

"You are on a journey." He gently brushed the pendant pinned to Luke's cloak and then put his hand on Luke's shoulder and it seemed as if his clothes became a little lighter. "Equusaz sent you to me, but I fear I have little to offer you. The warrior does not understand the magics. The gift you possess is not like mine. However I can give you this blessing." He lightly touched Luke's forehead and whispered so softly it was almost as if he wasn't speaking at all "pro tac un aus eth par'a Bendarr".

"Stay in the forest and stay respectful and you will not go hungry or cold." Then he embraced Luke and for a moment the soft fur around him cushioned him and turned all the stones in the world soft. Then he let go and turned to started walking away. Luke called out to him.

"But I don't know which way to go from here. I was following the road."

"The North is that direction," the red panda pointed and Luke's eyes followed his long arm. "you will get where you are going if you just stay strong. The forest does not reward the weak, but it will aid those who wish to aid themselves." Luke looked for the fluffy ringed tail but the druid was gone. He set off in the direction he had been pointed and found that the undergrowth did not seem to snah his cloak or fur and the earth was soft under his paws. He walked until it began to grow dark and then finding a relatively comfortable looking tree to prop himself against he took off his cloak and sat down. He pulled it up over him like a blanket. He dozed off like that and when he woke he felt surprisingly rested. It seemed as if the tree and the ground around him was softer than it was when he had first sat down. He stood and stretched. The air was cool and he shivered at first contact. His cloak had kept him very warm through the night. There was also a dead rabbit about two feet away from where he had slept. It was freshly dead, hunted and killed by the looks of it. He remembered what the druid told him and accepted the gift. He awkwardly thanked the rabbit and the forest out loud and then started a small fire to cook what he had been given. He used the dagger he had to skin and cut the rabbit, and also to whittle a spit to cook it on.

After eating he covered the fire in dirt and spread it around, trying to erase whatever presence he may have made and then continued in the direction he had been heading the previous night. It took him three more days to reach the end of the forest and by that time he didn't want to. He had grown to love it, he had taken comfort under its canopy, in the sound of swaying leaves and in the little gifts it always left him in the morning and at dusk. But he knew he had at least another 5 or 6 days til he got to Valkyth. He had grown up there and knew there was nothing but hills and fields for days around the area.

Now that he had no choice but to leave the solace of the forest he longed for a road to follow. He didn't have to walk along it, that had just brought him trouble, but he could at least orient himself that way. Instead, not knowing exactly where he was, he just started walking in a straight north from the forest line, hoping that would take him where he needed to go. By the end of the second day he was swaying. Without the food the forest had been gifting him he hadn't eaten anything since he left nor had any water. The wind on the moors was cold and piercing and the field rats would scurry over him and try picking at his paws or nose or clothes so he did not sleep well. He did not know where he was and was just trying to keep moving forward, step by step. As he fell over and closed his eyes he thought he heard the sound of huge beating wings.

He woke up to water splashing his face. It was brisk and he sat up quickly, shaking his head. He was sitting next to a river and there was a large creature standing by the water. It is what had splashed him. There was a large husky pawing at the water. It had splashed him to wake him up. And was swinging its head towards the water now.

"Oh." Luke moved slowly over to the water's edge and began to drink. He drank pawfuls of water, feeling it slide down his parched throat and revitalize his body. When he had a belly full of water and his paw fur was soaked through he sat back and sighed. He had a rough idea where he was, the river at least he was pretty sure was the Vynell, but where on the Vynell he wasn't sure. If they were north of the ford then he wasn't far from home, but he couldn't see anything that looked like a ford near them, so had no way of knowing.

He stood and looked around. The husky, who had laid down as he drank, also rose to his feet and watched Luke. Having decided which way was North, Luke started walking. The husky barked quietly. Luke looked at him. He turned and started walking a different direction, turning to look at Luke, wagging his tail slightly.

"What? You...want me to follow you?" The husky nodded and his tail wagged more. Luke walked over slowly and places a paw on the husky's head. His fur was soft and warm. His tail wagged and Luke pet him some more. Then the husky trotted off and Luke followed him. He would sometimes get distracted by a bug flying by or a noise he heard off in the distance, but he always looked back to make sure Luke was following him and when it was getting dark, the husky led him over to a patch of grass that seemed thicker than the others and laid down. Luke sat, and then laid down on his back looking up at the stars. The husky padded over and laid down right next to Luke, putting his head on Luke's chest, and draping his fluffy tail over Luke's legs. They slept like that and woke to the sun rising in the morning.

That day the husky managed to catch some jack rabbits that Luke skinned with his dagger and cooked for them. The husky nosed the pendant on Luke's cloak and then licked Luke's face. Soon the city was within sight and Luke felt tinges of relief flowing in his body. When they neared the gate the husky stopped. Luke kept walking and the husky barked softly. Luke turned to look at him, he was still, looking at Luke. Luke walked over and the husky stood up on its hind legs, almost hugging Luke and then licking his muzzle with kisses. Luke gave the husky a kiss on his forehead and ruffled his ears and then turned to look at the city again. He felt a kinship with the dog like he had with the forest and was suddenly apprehensive about leaving him. But he felt soft pressure on the back of his legs. The husky was nudging him forward. He started walking.

When he passed through the gates he felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He made it. He knew there was no way he would have been able to get this far if he had not received the help he had been given throughout his journey. Silently he thanked them all, the kind polar bear, the peculiar lizard, the strong horse, the warm red panda, and the husky that had guided him through the moors. Each and every one of them gave him something he had needed to make it this far. He smiled and it felt odd on his muzzle, he hadn't done it in so long and he walked into town.

Months later Luke walked out of the city gates again. He had realised that this city that was once his destination, was really only another step of his journey. He rubbed a pad over the pendant pinned to his cloak and felt his hip for the familiar weight of his dagger. And started walking south. Soon into his journey he heard a soft bark and the padding of paws next to him and he started to make his way back south. He had some friends he needed to thank.