FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's Note: The following excerpt contains slightly more detail than the planned story would have at this point. This is to provide better context to readers so it is easier to follow along and both understand events and imagine characters, locations, etc.

For this chapter: Ahkin Setun, an anthropomorphic rabbit, is meeting with Agitha Argento, herself an anthropomorphic bat, at her extravagant, but gothic, mansion. Ahkin is the new owner of the famous Richie's Family Circus, a restaurant based off of the children's TV Show "Willow's Tale." The restaurant has a degree of fame due to its unique Animatrons - androids fashioned after characters from the show and built in an incredibly life-like fashion. Agitha is Ahkin's business partner, and is meeting at her mansion for the first time to discuss some important advances, namely the rather costly idea of having even more animatrons ordered and built.

Ahkin looked around at the rather large and extravagant cobblestone walkway that he was now standing in that, according to Agitha, led to the mansion's main garden that was even more so. There were plenty of exotic looking flowers, some of which he recognized as ones that were native to Wesserx such as bluebells and snowdrops, with some trees dotting the sides of the walkway. Agitha had also mentioned there was a hedge maze, to which Ahkin took a delight in, as he felt the sort of extravagant, gothic mansion that she kept would not be complete without one. The black and white rabbit straightened his red tie and made sure the rest of his sharp black suit, slacks, and shoes were in order before he continued to follow Agitha, a female brown bat who was wearing a rather large and flowing black and purple dress that extended past her feet and dragged somewhat on the floor. Her manner of walking was also curious, as it almost made the bat seem like she was floating, walking on air even.

She led him to an open area situated around a large stone fountain fashioned after flowers and brought him to one of the many tables that were situated here and there around the area. The one Ahkin was led to was a simple wooden thing made of rich black ebony wood with metallic chairs with comfortable looking cushions resting on them with all manner of stars and moons adoring them. Ahkin felt that this was clearly a woman with the interest in not just the Gothic but the magical as well - or at the very least had an affinity for cosmic imagery.

Agitha pulled out a chair and motioned for Ahkin to sit down in it. "Please, Ahkin, take a seat. I have a few matters to attend to before our meeting."

Ahkin slowly sat in the char, looking around and still taking in the sights of Agitha's garden. Before long he noticed the sounds of a flute drifting through the air. "I trust you won't be too terribly long?" asked the rabbit, who spoke in a very distinct Wesserx accent.

"No, it shouldn't take me that long. Though, my head gardener will keep you company while you wait. I think you would enjoy his company - not only that, but he also makes quite the enriched cup of tea."

One of Ahkin's always-pointed-down ears twitched slightly as if it was trying to raise itself up. "Oh? Tea you say? What sort?"

"A special blend," said Agitha as she walked back up the walkway towards the mansion. "Oh, and before you ask him don't bother. He won't relay to you what the brew consists of."

"Right...well then," Ahkin looked around the garden once again and said to himself, "Well, whoever this 'head gardener' is, he must be quite professional at what he does. This garden is in tip-top shape, with plenty of exotic plants to boot."

He looked to the fountain again, before noticing a white goat that was playing the music that was currently drifting through the air. Ahkin found the fact that he had missed the goat the first time he saw the fountain intriguing. Sure the goat could have just arrived, but the current area was open and wide - surely he would've at least seen the goat walking to the fountain. He had served in Wesserx's Royal Army and was known for his observances and sharp eye, and yet he missed this white goat playing a silver concert flute? Ahkin took a second look at the goat and found his looks interesting: he was wearing a dark green tunic with a black trim, and the belt had an elaborate golden star design on it. There were no boots, as the goat had cloven hooves while he had fingers that ended in keratin stubs, and didn't seem to wear anything else other than the tunic. There was a painted flower on his right muzzle cheek, and a stem of it wound down his cheek and around his neck, and Ahkin assumed it wound around the rest of his body as well. Curiously, a large sunflower-sized yellow flower was hanging out from the goat's right waist, peeking out from a slit in the waist of the tunic. He had leaf green eyes, short horns, and silver gray fur that grew from his head like hair.

The goat noticed Ahkin surveying him, and stood up from his fountain perch, the yellow waist-flower slightly shaking as he did. He quieted his playing and tucked the flute inside his tunic, and picked up a silver tray that had a china tea set sitting on it that was resting on the fountain's edge. He walked over to where Ahkin was sitting, and slowly set the tray on the table.

"I'm pleased to see that you've taken such an interest in my garden, Ahkin," said the goat with a pleased smile, like an architect that had received praise for his buildings.

"Hello there," greeted Ahkin as he saw the goat, and looked him up and down slowly with his red eyes in a manner that a jeweler would appraise a gemstone. "You are the head gardener, I take it?"

"I am," the goat replied with a nod. Now that the tea set was closer Ahkin was able to get a better look at it, and saw that the teapot itself was adorned with a golden sun, while the saucers had a golden crescent moon on them, with the cups having golden circles on them that the rabbit took for being planets. The goat set one cup in front of Ahkin and then another in front of himself, and proceeded to pour a cup for Ahkin. "My name is Fenadu, and I am a loyal servant to my mistress, the fair lady Agitha Argento."

Ahkin held out a black gloved hand and shook hands with the goat, regretting that he wouldn't be able to feel how a bare-handshake would feel with Fenadu's keratin-stubbed fingers. "Pleasure to meet you Fenadu. I hear that you make quite the cup of tea."

"I do," replied Fenadu as he took a seat and sipped his own cup with a smirk.

Ahkin took a sip of his own cup, and his ears nearly perked up again. "I must say! This is most exquisite!"

"I thought you would," Fenadu took another sip.

"You seem to have a great deal of confidence about your abilities, Fenadu. Confidence is good...though it's also good to make sure that one isn't too confident."

Fenadu started clacking a keratin-thumb against keratin-fingers. "Well, I haven't disappointed anyone yet with my talents or my teas...so I'm safe in being confident, correct?"

"Hm. I suppose so, but what if you encounter someone who does not like tea?"

Fenadu shrugged. "Then I would get them a drink they do like. Not so hard, right?"

Ahkin took a sip of his tea. "True, true. A people pleaser I take it?"

"You are a guest in my garden. It's only fair that I see you satisfied, is it not?"

"Very true, yes. I must say that I always adore one who takes good care of their guests. Now, a question I've been wondering..." Fenadu looked at Ahkin as the rabbit continued. "Why gardening? I mean, I can definitely see you have an interest in plants, but is there any particular reason?"

Feandu shook his head, and looked down to and caressed the peeking yellow waist-flower. "None, aside from a reverence for nature in all of its forms. It's sad, really, that a lot of creatures who espouse a respect for nature do not care for the full spectrum. They love the waterfalls and praise the flower's beauty, but they hide in fear from her storms, her earthquakes, her fires. All that destroys, they fear."

Ahkin raised a brow. "And you do not fear these disasters?"

Fenadu's ear flicked. "No, of course not. For if I love nature, I must love all of it, as it is simply immoral to pick and choose what parts to give my full love to."

"A sense of consistency. Another good trait to have."

Feandu nodded, still caressing the flower. "There is something else my love of nature helps keep at the forefront of my mind."

"And what is that?"

Fenadu looked up at Ahkin directly in the eye. "Perspective. I am a part of nature, and nature has its natural cycles, its chains and orders. Ergo, I am part of that cycle. We all are."

"You would say you know your place, then?" asked Ahkin with a smirk.

Fenadu waved a hand in the air. "I suppose you could say that, sure."

Ahkin nodded. "Perspective is definitely something that I can agree with, then. Such as with classes. All of the classes - lower, middle, and upper - have their own place, purpose, and function. The issue with a lot of these classes is the creatures belonging to them don't know their place nor act in their proper place."

Fenadu's ear flicked, though this time it seemed to be in annoyance. "So you would say that it would be an issue if a lower classman strives to make it to the middle class?"

Ahkin put a hand up. "Oh no! That's not what I'm hitting towards at all. What I mean is when the classes...well...don't act in their proper role. For instance the aristocracy I feel has a sort of...leadership, a lording over the other classes if you will. They are the ones who own businesses, who are politicians, the ones who call the shots. They are primarily responsible for providing several things to the lower classes. But ah, unfortunately we have seen a rise in short sighted upperclassmen who want to do nothing more than make themselves more affluent. It is about artificial status brought about by lavish cars, sparkling watches, and suits costing in the thousands of dollars. As for the other two classes? They pretend like they are simply there to serve them. Some even feel like they are a burden on society. Ah, but they do need them. Do they ever need the lower classes."

"I see..." Fenadu looked back to a large tree before looking back to Ahkin. "Tell me, Ahkin, would you consider yourself a predator, or a prey type?"

"I would consider myself a predator." Ahkin replied almost immediately without giving any second thoughts to the question. "Despite being a race that, in a more primitive form, would be considered a prey. But I do not allow myself be dominated. Like Wesserx's Royal Army taught me: resist, adapt, overcome, conquer. Rise above and defeat those that try to control and oppress you. Does that sound like a prey type to you?"

Fenadu smirked and caressed the waist-flower again. "Heh. I would definitely say that it isn't qualities of a prey. I can show you a rather interesting case of a prey who thought he was a predator, though."

Ahkin raised a brow. "Oh, really? I was not aware that Agitha kept prisoners."

Fenadu rose from his seat and waved for Ahkin to follow. "Not a prisoner. A...sculpture. Come with me."

Ahkin decided to see what this "sculpture" was and rose from his seat, following after Fenadu. As the rabbit followed the clacking footsteps of the goat he observed the waist-flower closer, noticing that it gently shook with each step - but what was strange to Ahkin was that the pedals of this flower seemed to be moving on their own, as if it was taking in the surrounding environments.

"Her name is Rosebud," said Fenadu suddenly. "She is a longtime companion of mine."

"She?" Ahkin replied with a sense of incredulity. "It has a gender?"

Fenadu's tail twitched, and he looked back at Ahkin as they passed a large bush that had several growing orange bulbous plants on it. "_She _has a gender, my friend. Rosebud is an intelligent plant. She is capable of so much more than you think, Ahkin. There is much to this world that you still don't understand. She would greatly appreciate if you treated her in the same respect that you treat me."

Ahkin was about to voice another comment at the plant's expense, but decided to hold his tongue - the last thing he wanted to do was anger Agitha's head gardener, and as strange as this creature was, Ahkin desired not to risk his good standing with Agitha.

"Right, apologies. I will be sure to make a mental note of her gender," replied Ahkin as he eyed Rosebud, and for a second felt like she was pointing a pedal directly at him.

Bloody plant. Ahkin thought to himself. I've never heard of something so obtuse. How could something like this..."Rosebud"...be capable of complex thoughts and emotions? I'll purchase any day the prospect of robots achieving that sort of sentience. After all, it was through the ingenious and unrelenting pursuit of Zero Mark that the animatrons were created in the first place. But a plant? It is a simple beast. No, it is not even a beast, it is nothing more than a basic _thing_responding to stimuli at the most basic, chemical level.

Finally, Fenadu stopped in front of a rather life-sized statue of a nude male mouse statue that was standing atop a stone pedestal that was some few feet high. The mouse was rather frail, and weak looking, and had his hands raised to the air and the look of fear on his face. Almost as if he were trying to fruitlessly ward off an inevitable doom.

"This is 'The Prey Who Thought To Be A Predator,'" explained Fenadu, who looked over to Ahkin with a curious grin.

"This is quite the statue - and an appropriate one, might I add. I cannot tell you how many mice I've seen double-cross those they claimed loyalty to. Rats, mice, all of them we were suspicious of when I used to be part of the Recon Unit over in Turjina. They'd been our near downfall at least two times."

"So, predators that thought they were prey, then?" asked Fenadu, that grin still on his face.

"I wouldn't say so. They snuck around, and operated from the shadows. Even if a predator utilizes stealth, they would stand and fight when confronted, would they not? I cannot tell often I've heard stories of mice grovelling for their life just as this statue is."

"Ah, but I trust you're an educated creature Ahkin. Predators in this day and age aren't just aggressive organisms that eat others. Exploitative creatures would also fall under being a predator, I would feel. Especially when they aim to hurt someone else," Fenadu began caressing Rosebud again.

The way in which he pets that flower is just...unsettling. You'd think they were joined at the hip. Ahkin thought, and then said aloud, "Hm, I take it there is some sort of story behind this statute?" The rabbit took another look at the frozen expression of the statue and found it unsettling. As if its stone cold eyes were alive and pleading. Ahkin attempted to suppress his fur shivering at the thought.

Fenadu placed a hand on the foot of the mouse statue. "This mouse used to serve Agitha. Like me, he was one of her closest confidants."

_Good thing I held my tongue in regards to that damn flower, then. _Thought Ahkin.

"Being a confidant of Agitha is a high honor. She has connections, as you surely know. It was her string pulling that got the Lunarian Bank to lower the price of Richie's, after all. Her string pulling that got you those awfully helpful deals that lowered the price of getting the animatrons all fixed up and prettied for their new venture."

Ahkin nodded. "Yes, she told me. I mean, I wasn't made aware of _exact _details, but...I am very grateful for her contributions."

"Good. She is kind, but not without her wrathful side. You see...this mouse...we'll call him _natorre..._was told secrets. Dark secrets. Secrets that us confidants need to do our jobs properly. But Natorre was a foolish creature, blinded by his own ambitions. Simple, basic ambitions," Fenadu sighed, then continued. "Why is it that so many creatures are blinded by monetary gain?"

"Perhaps because of the extreme value creatures place on it?" Ahkin answered. "We don't just see it as a way to perform transactions to get what we want, but also a symbol of status and power. Perhaps this...Natorre...was seeking such things?"

Fenadu shrugged. "Whatever they were, they led him to sell these secrets. Secrets sold to creatures whom he saw as superior to the powers of Agitha. And oh, she found very quickly. He thought he was the only one. He did not know of the others:Firoe, Sussurro, Fantasma, C_rescere_. She keeps us four to keep each other in check. None can betray, for the traitor shall surely be revealed by those loyal."

Ahkin looked to Fenadu. "If this is true, why didn't she simply tell Natorre that there were others? You know of these other confidants, and I'm certain they know of you."

Fenadu looked back to Ahkin, and kept his hand on Natorre's foot. "Who knows why Agitha does what she does? Perhaps this was how she preferred to test Natorre? But that doesn't matter now, does it? What matters is he failed, and was caught. Tell me Ahkin, what does Wesserx do it its traitors?"

Ahkin sighed. "Exile..._if _you are lucky. Though that may be for posessing enemy flags or taking an extreme dislike of the government. Anything more severe that's seen as direct treason towards the state, however? Death. If you were actively serving? Death by firing squad. I take it she had Natorre murdered then?"

Fenadu scowled. "No, it is not murder. It is death. Murder indicates an unjust killing. Natorre betrayed a life oath that he had taken. His death would have been completely justified."

Ahkin raised a hand. "_Would _have been? What do you mean?"

Fenadu chuckled. "For Agitha killing a traitor wasn't good enough. No, he needed a more...hellish punishment. A confidant tortured him before Agitha made him this very statue."

Ahkin took a step backwards, and his fur shuddered again. "N-no, you're kidding, right? A nice little ghost tail for the gothic mansion is all this is."

Fenadu let go of Natorre's foot and looked Ahkin directly in one of his red eyes. "I wish I were. It's painful to see such a young soul be trapped. I'd rather he be lost. But he is trapped in his endless inferno from which he can never escape. Such is the fate of those that betray my dear loving Agitha."

Meanwhile, Agitha was still inside her mansion office, talking on the phone with someone. Her office was on the mansion's third floor and was rather large and roomy, with books scattered everywhere, a few bookshelves here and there, a table with a sofa in the center, and he personal desk situated by a window that had smokey gray curtains. On one of the walls was a painting of a jackelope in a black suit, a glass of red wine in his hand, and a demented smile curved on his muzzle.

"Yes, yes I'm well aware of this," said Agitha as she peered out the window to see Fenadu talking to Ahkin.

Oh good, he's shown Ahkin the Natorre statue. _Agitha thought, her lips curling into a cruel smile. _That silly rabbit is more than likely scared stiff now. I still remember when Fenadu took Kizan to see the statue. He wouldn't look me in the eye for a good month.

"You'd better be," came a voice from the other side of the line. "We can't afford to take any risks. I hope you know what you're doing with Richie's."

"If you have a problem with my plans, take it up with Flamel," said Agitha as she watched Fenadu approach Ahkin. I wonder if he'll show him what Rosebud really is?

"Fl-Flamel? What does he have to do with this operation?"

"Don't you know? Oh, I suppose you don't. Flamel is personally involved with this. If all goes according to plan we can use this to begin our grand plan to finally bring East Coast down and under the heel of our organization."

The other side was silent for a few moments before it continued. "He's going to get us all murdered, just you watch. His risky play here will out the organization to the rest of the world, just as Laous did centuries ago."

"Relax, please. Flamel knows what he is doing. You know how we operate: under deception, and manipulation. We will command from the shadows while puppet organizations move forward like chess pawns, succeeding, dominating, and being destroyed in our name. And when the time comes we will emerge from the back of the board, striking, capturing, and setting up our positions for the end game," Agitha nodded.

"Where would you say we are now?" asked the voice.

Agitha smiled. "Well, I haven't begun moving my pawns out at all. Then again, I haven't even really selected all of them yet. But in due time, in due time."

"Would you say you have any pawns at all?"

Agitha looked out the window and down at Ahkin. "I have one good potential. I'm still surveying him though, so I'll have to let you know if he and his business is a good little pawn or not later."

Silence on the other side. And then. "Right. Hm...looks like I need to get going. I've a meeting to attend to. Mongurai wanted to see what security software I could offer his company."

Agitha let out a soft cackle. "Oh-ho-ho-ho. Security software. You sneaky little devil. I always liked the way you think. Alright then, good luck with your own pawns. Until our paths cross again."

Agitha hung up the phone and peered out the window once again.

Yes, he'll make a fine pawn indeed.

A good ten minutes had passed, with Fenadu and Ahkin still having back-and-fourth exchanges with each other

"Do you not believe the words that I am saying?" Fenadu asked Ahkin, who had taken an additional step back. "You don't really believe that there are forces at work that control us and bind us?"

"I prefer the philosophy that we are all in control of our lives." Ahkin said, defiantly. "Celestial powers be damned."

"Fenadu darling, are you scaring my guests again?" Ahkin quickly turned his head behind him to see Agitha walking up to the two as they were embroiled in their conversation. As before, she had that odd way of walking that almost made her look like she was walking on air.

"Oh, Agitha, you do know how I love to entertain the guests while you're away," said Fenadu, who did a slight bow and moved to the left, allowing Agitha to come in between himself and Ahkin.

"Now, now, now Fenadu, it's not entertaining if it scares them stiff. Look at poor little Ahkin..." Agitha looked to Ahkin, and despite the rabbit's attempts to keep a stuff upper lip she could tell that Fenadu had said something that unnerved him. Though, given that Fenadu had done this before, she knew exactly what that something was.

"I am fine, thank you. I am just...taken aback is all...by your head gardener's rather eccentric behavior. I must ask, where did you acquire such a servant?"

Agitha chuckled. "He-he. 'Acquired.' Isn't the language these Wesserans use curious?" The bat looked over to Fenadu, who nodded.

"Yes. Quite. He is an interesting organism."

Agitha nodded. "I would suggest you save such wordings for your animatrons, Ahkin. Saying it in regards to an organic...why it makes you sound like a slave trader."

Ahkin suddenly felt the urge to stamp his foot on the ground. _Suppress the instinct, suppress the instinct! _He thought viciously to himself. Once he was calmed, he spoke though not without a noticeable tinge of irritability. "Please do _not _refer to me as a slave driver. They are despicable, loathsome creatures out to exploit other creatures for little more than their own profits. I'll have you know that I do not even treat my animatrons as such. They are complex mechanical organisms, and deserving of such treatment."

"Then don't use the language of a slave driver, silly," Agitha winked playfully at Ahkin. The rabbit didn't know what, but something about Agitha's sudden playful mood offset him, just as Fenadu's sudden veer into the story about Natorre and his caressing of Rosebud made him eerily uncomfortable.

"Regardless, please don't mind Fenadu," Agitha gave Ahkin a reassuring smile. "He loves to come up with all kinds of intriguing ghost and otherwise spooky stories about the statues and other pieces I keep around my house. He claims it helps give the place a sense of mythos and intrigue. I say it just leads to unproven rumors."

"But what is a Gothic castle without some supernatural mishappenings?" Fenadu interjected.

Agitha closed her eyes and thought for a few moments. "Hm. I suppose you're right. What _is _a spooky mansion without spooky stories?" She turned to Ahkin, and looked the rabbit straight in one of his red eyes just as Fenadu did.

"What about you, Mr. Setun? What kind of playful, cheery stories will you fill Richie's Family Circus with? I am awfully looking forward to hearing them; oh goodness knows there's been too much dreariness around Lunaria lately."