FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Basking in the warm, mid-summers' morning sun, flush green leaves hung silent and still, glistening with raindrops from the previous night's heavy rain, dropping occasional fat drops of lukewarm water onto unsuspecting travellers along the dirt path below. Two young cubs furiously pedaled their bikes up the trail, the dirt having transformed into slick, slippery mud and caking their bikes' tires in it. "Stop, in the name of the law!" called a six-year german shepherd pup, wearing a brilliant green shirt with a navy-blue collar, and black-and grey shorts as he rode his blue bicycle after his raccoon playmate, the silver training wheels clattering over numerous small tree roots and pebbles on the path. The raccoon kept riding his little red bike, pretending to have stolen the finest jewels and making his getaway into the forest. His bright blue t-shirt and brilliant orange flame shorts probably weren't the best clothes to be wearing when fleeing the law. The mud had other ideas for both the fleeing masked bandit and his law-enforcing pursuer though... no matter how hard they turned their pedals there was no escaping the fate that awaited them both, with a considerable squelch followed by their tires groaning in the deep mud as they spun and spun, unable to get any grip. "Oh, not again!" groaned the German Shepherd, as the back wheel of his bike kept slipping in the mud, his bike propped up on the training wheels. "Well... you caught me Jake..." the raccoon giggled, as his bike too struggled in the mud and he sat propped up on his black, plastic training wheels. "No, the mud's caught you, but it's caught me too Timothy" sighed Jake, "A police officer is not supposed to get stuck in the mud pursuing a criminal!" Not too far behind them, a nine-year old fox cub wearing a red and black shirt with blue sweatpants noticed their predicament and couldn't help but chuckle as he approached. "Stuck in the mud again, huh?" "Stupid bike... I'd be better off running after the robber on foot, Friendly!" Jake exclaimed, as he picked up his bike furiously, preparing to throw it." "Jake, don't!" Friendly cried, reaching for the bike and putting it back down on the ground again, out of the mud. "It's never not okay to ask for help. Don't get mad at your bike, buddy." It took a few more moments, but Jake eventually calmed down enough to sit on his bike and start riding again. Friendly gave Timothy the push he needed to join him. "Come on, that's enough cops and robbers. We're nearly back at your house now, Jake."

A little while later, the three cubs arrived back at Jake's house. Zoey was already outside, preparing to go out in the minivan. "I just remembered, Jake and I need to get some new ID photos. Would you guys like to tag along?" asked Zoey "Sure, okay." Friendly agreed. "Uh-huh!" Timothy squeaked, as he and Jake put their bikes in the garage. Friendly sat riding-shotgun in the van as Timothy and Jake clambered into the back, buckling themselves in as Zoey closed the sliding door and walked around to the driver's side. Timothy and Jake giggled as they played arm-wrestling in the back of the van. It wasn't a long drive to the store, and Zoey guided all three cubs through the parking lot and into the store. On the way to get the photos taken, she picked up a couple of necessary grocery items as well, such as toothpaste and a new toothbrush for Jake. "I think you guys should get a photo taken as well... it'll help in case you ever get lost and we need to find you." Zoey said to Timothy and Friendly, who agreed and tried hard to keep a serious expression on their faces as their pictures were taken - it didn't help that Jake kept pulling funny faces at them to make them laugh. Eventually the pictures were taken and printed, and as they headed for the checkout Zoey noticed her friend Allison, carrying her four-year old son Aito. "Oh, hi Zoey! What are you up to?" asked Allison, as she struggled with the constantly fidgeting little fox cub. "Allison! Good to see you again. I'm just getting new ID photos of Jake for our program at work, I've persuaded Friendly and Timothy to get them done too - it's handy if they ever go missing to have an up-to-date photo." "I see... maybe I'll get my boys to do that as well, but they're both particularly fussy right now." "Aww, how come?" Zoey inquired. "Well Nock doesn't have any pull-ups left, so I've put him in one of Aito's diapers. As for Aito, well he's just feeling silly." As the adults conversed, a burly German Shepherd with luminescent green eyes, nose, ear-fur with thick, jet-black headfur underneath a two-tone green baseball cap was hiding behind the video game stand, pouting over his usual Lion-Guard pull-ups having been substituted by a particularly thick diaper. Of course his baggy beige shorts were having no trouble concealing the bulky padding underneath, but the waistband was still peeking out and crinkling loudly every time he moved. As Nock saw his friends were nearby he couldn't help wagging his tail, though he winced as he heard the loud crinkling and tried to keep his tail as still as possible despite how happy he was to see them. "Hi guys!" he announced, as he approached Jake, Friendly and Timothy. "Hi Nock." smiled Timothy. "Hey buddy boy." answered Friendly, sensing that Nock was trying to hide something. Jake seemed a little less pleased to see Nock, he folded his arms across his chest and pouted slightly. "Hey, what's up Jake?" Friendly asked. "Whenever Nock's around, I end up in trouble for something." huffed Jake. "Don't you just hate it when you're dragged out shopping? It's so boring!" Nock interjected. "My mom always lets me get something when we go out..." Timothy began. At that moment, Nock had set his eyes on a particularly large lollipop and pulled it from its stand, taking it up to Allison at the checkout. "Don't even think about it, Nock" Allison frowns, "Put it back." "Aww" Nock whined, trying on a puppy-eyes look to try and persuade her otherwise. "Nope, I'm not paying for it. Put it back now." Nock turned away and dejectedly put the lollipop back with a whimper, his diaper crinkling beneath his shorts and lending him a considerable waddle to his normally confident pace. Friendly had noticed the particularly thick diaper peeking out of Nock's beige shorts and couldn't help chuckling. "Aww, poor guy" he thought, as he cleared his throat to try to stop himself from chuckling. "We should totally meet up and play at Funplex again, that was so much fun last time." Friendly suggested, as Nock passed by him on the way back to the checkout. "Uh-huh!" Nock smiled, momentarily forgetting about his surrendered lollipop as he remembered the last time they played at the indoor playground. "I gotta go, see you later Friendly! Keep Jake in trouble for me" he chuckled, but winced again as he heard the loud crinkling sound as he waddled away. Meanwhile, Jake had picked out a new video game and some candy he wanted his mom to get for him - but like Allison, Zoey was having none of it. "I'm not buying those Jake, put them back." "Aww, why?" Jake whined. "Put them back, now." Jake whined again, slightly louder this time. "Don't whine Jake. It doesn't suit you." Zoey responded. Like Nock - Jake pouted and whimpered as he dejectedly took the items back where they came from as his mom paid for the photos and only the essential items she had picked out to buy. "Why can't I ever get anything I want?" Jake sniffled, wiping his muzzle with his paw as he reached to put the game and candy back. Friendly stopped him though. "I've got some money, I'll get them for you buddy." "You will?! Thank you! Thank you so much Friendly!" Jake grinned, almost bouncing up and down with glee. As Zoey walked out of the store, holding Timothy's paw - Friendly reached up and put Jake's items on the counter. "Are you sure you wanna buy these? Your mom didn't seem to like the idea..." began the cashier. "I'm paying for them." Friendly answered. "Well... okay then." As Friendly handed over the cash and received his change from the cashier, Zoey came back into the store - wondering why Jake and Friendly hadn't come out yet. "Come on boys, time to go!" called Zoey. "Just had to buy something..." Friendly answered, as he put the candy and video game into his backpack. After dropping Timothy and Friendly off, Zoey took Jake back home. Jake was holding the plastic bag containing his new video game and candy, as well as the bag containing the ID photos and other groceries his mom had bought. "I'm sorry I didn't buy those things for you Jake, but whining and showing up in the store isn't the way to get what you want." Zoey said to her son, as she drove the minivan back home. "Sorry, mom." Jake answered.

As soon as they arrived at home, Jake disembarked from the van and took the bags inside. "Good boy." Zoey smiled, kissing Jake's muzzle as she went to secure the van. Jake took the grocery bags inside, he took his new game and candy out and put it on the living room table, to play a little later on. He then went upstairs to fetch some more candy eggs that he'd saved from easter. As Zoey was on her way into the kitchen to turn on the coffee-maker, she caught sight of something sitting on the living room table. "Jacob Zebedee Meadows! Come down here, now!" barked Zoey. Jake heard his mother's call and gasped, he'd left his new game and candy on the coffee table! He whimpered and cautiously made his way downstairs, not knowing what to expect. "Jake, what are these?!" demanded Zoey, holding up the game and candy as Jake entered the living room. "Well... I-" "I'm not a fool, Jake. I recognize these. You brought them up to me in the store and I said you couldn't have them." "I didn't-" "Jake, when I say that - I mean it! Now you've taken them from the store without paying - that is a very, very bad thing to do!" "But Mom!" Jake protested "No buts, young pup! Stealing is very, very wrong! I've told you over and over again not to steal." "Mom!" Jake cried, tears welling up in his eyes, "I didn't steal them! Friendly paid for them!" Zoey was somewhat taken aback... had she got it wrong? She thought about it for a moment and sighed as Jake struggled to hold back his tears, sobbing noticeably. "Jake, is that true?" she asked, "Did Friendly actually pay for them?" "Yes, mom" Jake sniffled, wiping his muzzle as a single tear fell down his cheek and onto the carpeted floor below. Zoey saw that she had upset Jake and her nurturing instincts wanted to just give him a cuddle and apologise, but she held off and decided to call Friendly to confirm that Jake was in fact telling the truth. "Hold on Jake, I'll be back in a minute. It's okay buddy." she tried to reassure him, as she phoned Friendly's house. Friendly answered the phone, "Hello?" "Hey Friendly, it's Zoey. I'd just like you to head on over when you can. Can you bring the receipt with you?" Friendly suddenly understood what was going on and he agreed, "Okay, I'll be over as soon as I can."

Soon, Friendly arrived at Jake's house. Jake was still sitting on the living room sofa as Friendly came in, whimpering softly and sobbing noticeably as he reminisced his mom's outburst at him just a half-hour ago. "Hey, are you okay buddy?" Friendly asked, "What's happened?" "Friendly... I just need to know - did you buy these items for Jake from the store we were at earlier?" Friendly nodded, and reached into his pocket, showing Zoey the receipt for the items. Zoey looked the receipt over and smiled. "Jake, I'm sorry I doubted you. I didn't mean to yell at you like that. Would you like a hug?" Jake sobbed and walked slowly over to his mom, who embraced him in a bear hug and kissed his muzzle. "Should I take them back to the store?" inquired Friendly, as Zoey put Jake down again. "No sweetie, you don't have to take them back. I would like to talk with you though, okay?" Jake smiled at Friendly, as it was now the fox's turn to be slightly nervous. Zoey beckoned Friendly to join her in the kitchen, as Jake set up his new video game. "Friendly... you know I'm not a terrible person. I know you meant well by buying those items for Jake, but you didn't need to." "Well... he was quite upset and I just couldn't bear to see him so sad. I just wanted him to be happy." Friendly answered. "I know sweetie, I'm not upset with you. The reason I didn't buy those today was because I wanted to surprise him for his birthday next week. Now he already has that gift from you and... well now I'm not sure what to get him." "Oh... I see." Friendly nodded, his ears folded down slightly in shame. Then his ears perked up and he whispered to Zoey so Jake wouldn't hear. "I'd really like to think Jake is one of my best friends, and I have picked up that asides from video games and candy he really likes riding his bike with us, but he's so frustrated about his little bike and his training wheels. Maybe you could get him a new bike instead?" Zoey pondered this - a new bike would be expensive, but it was a step in the right direction away from candy and video games. She nodded in agreement and gently rubbed Friendly's headfur. "That's a good idea Friendly, I think that's what we'll get him. Thank you, buddy." "How are we going to get him off his training wheels though?" asked Friendly. "Sam -Jake's Dad and I will see to that, we were thinking it's time for Jake to learn without them anyway." Zoey answered.

A full-week later, it was the day of Jake's birthday party. Bright balloons of red, yellow, green, blue, purple and white decorated the front porch of Jake's house. Friendly and Timothy were the first to arrive - both astride their bikes. Timothy's training wheels clattered noisily along the pavement, announcing their arrival. When they arrived though, they could hardly believe their eyes. Astride a large black bike - nearly as big as Friendly's, was Jake - riding so confidently that one wouldn't even think that just last week he had been astride a much smaller bike with training wheels. "Wow..." Friendly commented, "They sure do grow up fast." "Hey guys! Look! Look! No training wheels!" Jake yipped, as he stopped next to his two friends. "Well done Jake! Nice bike!" answered Friendly. Soon, another young cyclist arrived at the party too - it was Nock, astride his yellow bike obnoxiously ringing his bell. "Oh, Nock." sighed Jake. "Nice bike, cousin!" Nock grinned, "Now you can get in even bigger trouble." "I think Jake's been in enough trouble for a while, Nock." Friendly answered. "Hey, we're cousins. I gotta tease him sometimes." Nock giggled. "Jake could tease you too, he is older than you." "Not by much!" Nock grinned. Allison arrived, carrying Aito. "Here we are boys, now play nice." Jake and Nock raced around the backyard on their bikes, Friendly acted as the race regulator, using Timothy's bike and the outdoor patio table to mark the start and finish line. Timothy wanted to join in too, but with his training wheels the back wheel of his bike just spun and spun, sitting in a rut. He sighed and just watched Nock and Jake. Zoey saw Timothy's struggles and went over to him. "Shall we take your training wheels off so you can join Jake and Nock?" "No... no thanks." Timothy sighed, "I don't think I could ride without them." "Okay, let me know if you change your mind, okay? I can help you." Zoey reassured him. Timothy was quite clear though, he didn't want to try and ride without them - at least not yet.

Soon, it was time for the birthdy cake and candles. Jake and Nock had worn themselves out after racing after each other around the playground, they rested on the patio panting and heaving with exhaustion. "You did well Nock." Jake acknowleged. "I know... but your bike really is awesome." Nock smiled. As the chocolate bone-shaped birthday cake came out, with Jake's name inscribed in the icing - Everybody began to sing. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Jake! Happy birthday to you!" As Jake blew out all seven candles in two attempts, everybody gave him a round of applause. Friendly gave him a tickle behind the ear and rubbed his headfur. "Happy birthday, buddy boy." "Happy birthday Jake!" squeaked Timothy. "Happy birthday, cousin!" Nock agreed, playfully shoving his older cousin and making his green collar and tag tingle.

A little while later, as the cubs took turns playing on the slide and swings at Jake's house, Friendly had an idea. "Hey, we should all have a sleepover!" Friendly suggested. "Yeah!" Jake yipped, wagging his tail. "How about it, guys?" "Uh-huh!" Timothy agreed. "Yeah! Awesome!" Nock beamed. Allison was a little concerned though, she whispered her concerns to Zoey. "Well... it seems like a nice idea. I have no problem with the boys all sleeping over for the night." answered Zoey. "Nock and Aito both have some specific bedtime issues... are you sure you can handle them?" "Sure I can. Friendly is probably the most mature cub I know, he can help with all sorts of things that can otherwise ruin a sleepover." came Zoey's response. "Well... okay then. If they want to come home though, let me know." "I will." "I'll go home and fetch Aito's and Nock's diapers. Also make sure Nock doesn't wear his collar to bed, please" Zoey nodded and went to watch over the dinner she was preparing for Jake and all of his friends. The smell of the oven-roasted chicken with assorted sweet vegetables and savoury sauces were soon wafting all through the air ducts of the house, and all of the cubs soon found their mouths watering as they took turns playing Jake's newest video game. Zoey listened to their mirthful antics, occasional giggles and good-hearted conversations as she prepared the dinner neatly for all of her young guests. "Suppertime!" she called, removing the still-clean white apron and hanging it over the pantry door as the boys came in to enjoy their meal, their tummies rumbling in anticipation of the savoury dinner Zoey had prepared for them.

As the boys finished off the last of their supper, the sun was starting to get low in the sky. Zoey helped all of the cubs prepare themselves for bed. Zoey helped Aito and Nock into their nighttime diapers as Friendly helped Timothy with his shorts and shirt, so he was just wearing his cars Pull-Ups. Nock reached into his backpack for his pyjamas, but Zoey stopped him. "It's kinda warm tonight buddy, I don't think you'll even need the duvet." Nock was a little concerned over wearing just his diaper to bed, but seeing Aito and Timothy wearing only theirs, he nodded and got into bed with his little brother. "Hold on little buddy, we gotta take this off too." Zoey smiled, as she gently undid the collar around Nock's neck and hung it by the door. "Aww" Nock sighed unhappily, the nametag tingling softly as Zoey carried it away. Aito fidgeted to get comfortable on the far side of the lower berth as Nock reached for the sheet, covering both himself and Aito with it as Timothy and Jake made their way up the ladder to the upper berth, Friendly holding Timothy steady as the raccoon struggled to climb. Once Timothy was up on the bunk with Jake, Friendly prepared to sleep on the floor on top of the sleeping bag, with his own blanket and pillow - changing out of his shirt and sweatpants into blue and red patchwork pyjamas bottoms. "Goodnight boys." Zoey said soothingly, as she turned out the light - leaving only the nightlight on to provide its' comforting luminescent glow to all of the young cubs inside. Soon, Aito, Jake and Timothy were all snoring peacefully, but Nock couldn't help himself from whimpering. He tried his hardest to fall asleep, but he just didn't feel right. He fidgeted a little and whimpered again as Aito unconsciously pulled the sheet away from him, his diaper crinkling noticeably as he tried to go to sleep. Friendly heard Nock's whimpering and knelt down besides the lower bunk, resting his paw on Nock's shoulder. "Hey, what's wrong little buddy?" he asked. "N...nothing.." Nock mumbled dismissively. "Are you sure? You can tell me, it's okay." Friendly smiled, gently rubbing behind Nock's ear and massaging his headfur with his paw. "Are you missing something? Maybe feeling homesick?" "I... I have nightmares..." Nock confessed. "Awww." Friendly sympathised. "I also like my collar... but I'm never allowed to sleep with it. I usually sleep with a p... a p..." "A what?" Friendly inquired, listening as Nock confessed under his breath. "A pacifier" Nock whimpered. "Did you forget it?" Friendly asked, quietly. "Yeah... it's in my backpack." Friendly went and fetched Nock's backpack and had a little rummage inside. He soon found it, resting between a pull-up and one of the thicker diapers. Friendly also retrieved Nock's collar from the hanger by the door, making the nametag a tingle gently as he sensed that it helped to comfort Nock. "Here you go buddy. Sweet dreams." Friendly smiled, giving the puppy his pacifier and continuing to tingle Nock's nametag. "Thanks Friendly." Nock smiled, his tail wagging as he began to suck contently on his pacifier and listening to the tingling sound coming from his collar and nametag. As soon as Friendly heard Nock snoring, he put the collar back and tucked himself up in his blanket, smiling happily as he heard all of his friends sleeping peacefully.

-- The End --