FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"...o...ooww...My...head." I slowly began to come to? My sight blurry and my ears ringing a loud buzzing noise that started to drift. I slowly rose from the hard ground and looked around the area. It was so dark that I couldn't tell where I was, but I smelled moisture. I was so confused by it all.

"Where...am I?" I then heard a soft chuckle erupt from what seemed to be all around me.

I looked around to find the source, but it was in vain.

"Isn't it obvious by now? Or are you still waking up little one?" I finally recognized who the condescending voice belonged to.

"Umbra? Umbra, no games. Tell me where I am." I demanded

"A boat."

"Wait what?!" I was taken back with how quickly he answered, and what his answer was.

"If you don't believe me, there's a circle cut out right next to you. Push it out and look for yourself."

I looked to my left to see the cut out that Umbra was talking about. Daylight was seeping through, making the outline of the circle very clear. I took a deep breath, then began to slowly get onto my feet. My legs began to shake as I tried to stand up straight, but I was able to pull through the moment of instability. I then placed my hands on the outline and gave it a strong push, which with no fight, gave way, letting in a blinding ray of light. The light hit my face so suddenly, that I fell back onto the ground covering my eyes. I slowly let my eyes adjust to the intensity of the light, then grabbed hold of the new opening that was formed. I pulled myself up to my feet, then finally peeked out of the circle. As I looked out, my jaw dropped and my breath was stolen at the sight of the ocean. After many moments of complete silence, I began to finally speak again.

"Umbra."

"Yes little one?"

"I'm on a boat."

"As I've already stated."

"Why. Am I on a boat?"

"Because you snuck onboard."

"WHAT!?" He started to chuckle again at my reaction. I turned and looked around the room to see if I could find Umbra, but all I saw was boxes. I was in a cargo hold of some sort.

"I misspoke. I SNUCK you on!" He then began to actually laugh, which made me furious.

"Stop laughing! This isn't funny, and where are you!? This ship doesn't look like it can handle a hundred and something foot dragon on it." I began walking around the room, looking for the dragon being."

"A master sorcerer does not give out his secrets to the common folk little one." I stopped looking around and let out a huff of disapproval.

"Fine, but stop calling me little one, my name is Leon."

"As you wish little one." He snickered, making me blush a little.

"Now little one, listen and understand this." I perked my ears softly and stood still, nervous of what was about to be said.

"I am not anywhere near at this moment in time, but you and only you can hear me, as if I never left you." I frown a bit and look at the ground in confusion.

"...How is that possible?"

"I've intertwined your soul with my own." I then felt everything stop, as if the world stopped breathing to take this all in. I was rendered speechless.

"I can see and hear everything you do, and communicate with you as I wish." I swallowed nervously, shocked about the whole situation and unable to believe that Umbra was a part of me, or rather, I was a part of him. I worked up enough courage and asked,

"...Why did you do this?" He laughed softly.

"As you said? This boat, it can't handle a hundred and something foot dragon, that goes for everywhere else." I huffed at the answer, then felt the entire boat shift forward with a jolt which caused me to fall forward. I looked around nervously, trying to figure out what had happened.

"You've stopped little one. The crew will be down there to take out their load, as they do? Make your escape. Do you understand me?" I gulped nervously, but gave a slow nod. Before I could say anymore I had a large door open at the other side of the bay, then a bright light bleed into the room. People were coming in, I heard 4 different, yet loud voices, sounding like men much older than I was. I crouched down and started to crawl behind the boxes in the opposite row. I heard their voices pass as I made my way out, then quickly jumped and climbed up to the top deck. As I reached the top deck, the sun's early afternoon light blinded me once more, but I quickly adjusted to its intensity, only to be greeted by a sight that stole my very breath away. The people? Humans and others alike were dressed as if it were the 1800's? The women wore nice or work beaten dresses, then men were wearing suits that only those in my old history would wear. I couldn't believe what I had seen, which only made me wonder more, where was I.

"Stowaway!" My wonder was broken and I returned to reality. I looked over to see a female wolf pointing at me, calling me the stroll away. I looked to see three men? Two wolves, and a human, that looked like they were officers of some sort, look at me, then started to run towards me. I then looked around me to see many of the crew? Wolves, bears, and humans come close to capture me for the officers to grab. I started to breath quickly in terror as I became surrounded, a ringing started to assault my ears as they got closer, I was too scared to think, so I closed my eyes and covered my ears, when suddenly.

"Run little one." Everything became quiet to me as I opened my eyes, as I did I saw a gap between two of the men. This was my chance. I took a deep breath, then jumped towards the gap, quickly passing by the men. It worked, but now? It was time for my true escape. I ran down the bow of the boat that lead to the pier, which the officers surrounded at the end to catch me. I put my head, realizing what I must do. As I reached the halfway of the bow, I jumped, just I had done when Umbra had chased me. I passed over the guards, and got some distance between them and I. I landed with a roll within one of the alleys of the town, and looked back at the officers

"GET HIM!" The human officer cried. I then down the alley as fast as I could. I quickly turned left, only to run into an older male tiger. We both hit the ground.

"Watch where you're going you wretch!" He yelled. I got up off the ground and was ready to run once more, but as I stood up, I looked around to examine the area. I was in the very center of this town, which was so alive with people? Most were walking by, others were talking to some that were their friends, and some were looking at me. I looked around, scared, and unsure of where to go.

"Head right little one." I looked over to my right? There was a small alley way, but past its walls, looked to be a forest of some sort. I gave a small chuckle.

"For a red dragon, you really like the forest."

"Freeze Stowaway!" I turned around to see the officers once more. I looked back towards the alley, then gave a small nod. I started to run towards it, pushing through the crowds of people. As I entered the alley, there stood another officer? A bear that stood at 7 foot.

He grinned at me as I made my approach. I stared at him in fear, but then growled softly.

"You won't stop me." As I reached half way through the alley, I started to run up the wall next to me, which caused him to lose his smile, and attempt to run towards me. As He made his advance, I jumped off the wall, and gave everything I had. I made it over the officer, then landed at the entrance of the forest. I stood up and stared at this strange town, then gave a nod. I turned towards the forest, disappearing into its darkness.

I continued to run with all my might, and when the bright afternoon sun died down to its evening light, I collapsed to my hands and knees, breathing heavily, out of breath, and my body in pain. As I kneeled there, I heard a deep, yet familiar chuckle.

"Come closer little one." Without looking up, I crawled slowly towards the voice, but then stopped. My hand was in water, cold water. I looked to see a river, as well as the giant red foot of Umbra. I looked up at slowly, and was met with a soft smile.

"Drink little one. You did amazing today." I then stuck my head into the river, drinking as much as I could. I then pulled my head out to take a deep breath, then softly collapsed next to it. Umbra would then chuckle softly at my action. Before he could say anything, I finally asked.

"Umbra...where are we?" He moved softly and placed a giant hand next to my little, feeble body.

"That will be answered tomorrow. For now. Come. You must rest." I looked at the hand, then back at him to be answered with an encouraging nod. I then climbed into his hand and laid in his palm. He then slowly lifted me up, and laid me down on his thigh. He smiled down on me, but I was close to passing out from the running. I started to close my eyes, not being able to fight off my fatigue anymore, but as I was drifting off, I heard Umbra say.

"Good night my little one. Sleep well."