FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Soft sunlight slid through the blinds of a student's dorm and landed directly at the head of a bed covered in open books and tomes. The covers moved and an ear poked out from underneath along with a sigh heavy with exhaustion and fatigue most likely from lack of sleep. Mara could feel the warm sun on her back as she edged her head out to look at the window to confirm, yes, that was indeed the morning sun telling her to get up. She had spent the last two or so days studying with a heavy focus on imprisoned beings, summoning and things of a similar nature. Mara recognized that somewhere down the line she should have gotten to sleep around a sensible time, but at the very least today was a weekend and she had the day off which really only meant that she could study some more. Mara slipped out of bed while doing her best to avoid disrupting the graveyard of books around her. Really, she wasn't sure how she could have fallen asleep with so many books piling on and around her. When her feet hit the floor she winced as she heard every single book that had been resting on her bed fall with a clatter of flipping pages and bending spines. She sighed and turned around with curling tail and rolling eyes before bending down to begin her morning by finally getting around to cleaning her room.

The end result of her cleaning was some sort of mess of books that she needed set in neat piles on the floor of her room rather than the shelves that were begging to be used. Now that her room was clean in her eyes, the plum furred feline moved through the usual motions of the morning and the day to keep herself healthy, though, part of her wanted to simply to get dressed and leave the academy to enact her master plan. Today she had a project in mind, a very special project that needed absolute privacy. Of course, if it were just privacy that she needed then she would be back with her books in her room, but such a ritual would require a large space as well.

Mara's excitement had her practically bouncing up and down she collected the tomes that she would need for her little project. It took all of her strength to force herself to go through the motions of the day properly instead of rushing. First, she headed to the baths to get herself clean and fresh to wake her up just that little extra bit. She took her time and made sure that her fur was dry as could be when she got out of the baths. Food was next on the list and she was careful not to eat too quickly while seated in the dining hall with bag on her lap. Still, she couldn't help but swallow more than she could chew a few times due to the simple fact that she was excited.

What she planned wouldn't have been possible without the help of her mentor and she would need to think of some way to thank him, well, hopefully not dying in the process of things would be enough of a gift. Truth be told, he had trusted her with the demon's tome with the thought that perhaps it would deter her from doing this, but he had to know that she would have tried to summon the demon again to learn his secrets. There were so many things she didn't know about the book in her pack and she figured she could learn a thing or two from a creature who had invented a forbidden magic. At the same time, she couldn't help but think as well that maybe it would be fun to dominate that demon again, but that should be an afterthought explored once she learned something.

Mara left the dining hall holding her bag under arm as she made her way to the main entrance of the student's building. Her personal project required plenty of space and she needed it to be somewhere she wouldn't be seen and so the night before she had thought to take her first trip off campus to the forest circling the academy.

There was a steady stream of students heading to the main gates and Mara did her best to integrate into that crowd for better and for worse. The voices of other people always seemed to grate on her nerves and being in a crowd certainly didn't help and so she tried to turn her attention elsewhere. Autumn was in full bloom and she could feel the chilly air whispering prophecies of snow in the near future and that made her smile. Relaxing around a crowd was difficult, but it was necessary to blend in since the staff at the gate might try fishing through her bag to see if she had anything dangerous.

When the crowd she was in reached the gates, the staff only glanced in their direction to make sure that nothing dangerous was being smuggled out of the school and to make sure that the students were safe. Mara herself had two dangerous tomes in her pack, but the staff barely looked at her as she blended in with the crowd perfectly, not because she looked natural in a crowd, but rather because she was too short to be seen over many of the other students.

Out of the main gate to the school, there was a brick path that led down to the town nearby where one could find a taste of civilization and where relaxation awaited the students who liked to spend their time lazing about. Mara wasn't exactly opposed to recreation, but it didn't suit her to just sit around chatting, especially when she didn't have anyone to chat with. There was no need for friends and no need to get to know any of her peers since all she had come here for was to study. Just as she was about to take the branching path that headed into the forest, she heard a feminine voice call for her.

"Hey...Mara was it? Yeah! You're in my class!"

Mara blinked and turned her head as she found herself standing off to the side of the crowd with a faun wearing a short dress of white that hugged her hips holding a satchel. The faun had deep peach fur and sharp green eyes that reminded her of wild vines with a frost of white dotting her muzzle. That was odd. No one ever called her name unless it was a professor or staff member asking her to not attempt something dangerous or return an artifact that she wasn't supposed to be touching. She had to admit that she could not remember the faun from any of her classes, but just turning around and acknowledging her presence had given the faun enough inspiration to continue the conversation.

"I've seen you around, but never actually seen you hanging outside of the school! Heading out for your first time hm? Got a big date?" Mara opened her mouth, but on the faun continued, "Or maybe you're out here to do some field research. Judgin' from how I've seen you acting in class, I figure it would be that yah?"

Mara blinked and then cleared her throat, "Y-yes. I'm going out to do a bit of field research in the forest. I have a personal project to take care of."

The faun chuckled, "That so? Y'have someone coming with you or you maybe need someone coming with you to y'know, help?"

"Um, no. I'll be fine by myself I believe."

The faun sighed and shook her head, "Seriously? You're goin' it alone? You could trip over a root and get yourself hurt and then what would happen! So, mind if I tag along?"

Mara coughed at the sudden brazen self-invitation, "Excuse me?!"

The faun giggled and stepped next to Mara to plant an arm around her, "C'mon, two is better than one, besides, Ridel has been telling me to keep an eye on you. Says that you're not getting along with other students and y'need a positive influence. Figured I'd be a good match because I head a few clubs on campus."

Mara blinked, "Please no."

"Please yes! But I figure how you are, so I'll make you a deal, if you know my name then I'll let you go scott free."

Mara opened her mouth to answer but then stopped as her ears drew back and her tail twitched. She didn't know the faun's name and for once she cursed her lack of social interaction, but still, she pressed on, "I might not know your name, but I can tell you and I can tell that old man that I don't need anyone following me around."

"Ana," Said the faun as she started walking into the forest.

Mara frowned and raised a brow, "Ana?"

The faun turned to her with a grin and crossed arms, "That's the name! Remember it well because we'll be good friends someday I'm sure. Now don't mind me, I'm just going to take a walk through the forest here. The Autumn breeze feels nice don't it?"

Mara felt the pinpricks of a rude remark at the back of her throat, but she didn't say it, instead, she sighed, "Can you keep a secret?"

Ana's grin turned into a small smirk she raised a brow, "Yup."

With that said, Mara sighed and started walking, the faun taking her by the paw to pull her forward. What fresh torture was this? A partner forced upon her by her mentor? She couldn't believe Ridel would betray her like this. Mara had intended to find herself a good spot, but now it seemed she had to account for this deer. She wasn't happy about it, but if she could be trusted then perhaps at the very least this Ana could help her, or maybe her new tagalong would ruin everything.

They walked through the forest at a steady pace paw in split-hoof hand. It felt awkward enough having company, but the contact made her feel as sorts of strange as she found herself getting the occasional glance at the peach underwear the dear was wearing beneath the short dress. After a few flashes, she made it a habit to observe her surrounding environment rather than look ahead. It hadn't taken long for the sounds of nature to blot out the crowds that were heading down to the town. The leaves were rustling in the wind and she could see orange mixing with the green of the leaves. Perhaps tomorrow or the next day she assumed that all the leaves in the forest would be orange and red. Ana had taken her off the beaten path and Mara found herself growing curious at the confidence that the deer seemed to have in leading her through the forest.

"Say...Ana was it? Where are you taking me?"

Ana answered with a quip, "On a date."

Mara found her cheeks flustered and she asked again, "Where are you taking me?"

Ana giggled, "That obvious of a lie? Though, I guess you out here wearing that was the first clue, wasn't it? Yer out of campus Mara, you should be wearing something that suits you better."

"What? These robes suit me just fine!"

Ana sighed, "Sure, I guess! But you could be looking so much better in something a bit more fashionable and less traditional. Even some of the professors forgo robes."

Mara found herself getting caught in the conversation and she stopped herself and returned to the original question, "So...Where are you taking me?"

The faun paused and Mara stopped next to her with a quirked brow as Ana smiled, "If you're so eager to know, I'm taking you to my ritual site. I took a clearing in the trees and made it my own little place complete cut grass and all."

Silence stuck between the two as Mara looked at the faun with narrowed eyes and scrunched nose as she tried to figure out if that was a lie or not. She didn't have a chance to ask as Ana began to walk without her. Mara moved to follow along choosing to believe that at the very least wherever she was being led would be interesting.

Thirty minutes, an hour or some odd amount of time passed and Mara felt herself growing exhausted. Off of the path she had to step over large roots and through brush that seemed eager to trap her. The terrain itself was unsteady and occasionally they had to dip down over small hills until they finally found their destination.

Mara stepped into the clearing while panting and she looked up to see that it had been just as described, clear of grass. There was also something strange about the clearing, something that she could only feel flowing through the air if she really paid attention. The taste and feel of magic flowed by and through the air. It was almost thick enough to reach out and touch if she really tried and when she looked to Ana, the faun was smiling with her eyes closed while taking in a deep breath.

"Is...Is this your ritual site?" Mara asked quietly.

The faun nodded, "Most certainly is. I feel best in nature and the best stuff I do is with the earth, so I figure I might as well have one out here."

Earth magic? If this partnership continued Mara would have to ask about that since she found that element of magic to be a troublesome subject, but for now she needed to work on this right now. Setting her bag against a tree she fished through it for her wand and the demon's tome she had taken with her. She held the tome aloft and slowly unsealed it with a big smile and bright eyes.

"Say, what are we doin' out here Mara?"

Mara blinked and looked over her shoulder to see the faun standing right there, "Oh uh...Summoning a trapped demon imprisoned for creating forbidden magic."

Ana grinned, "Sounds absolutely illegal. Let's do it."

"I wouldn't say it is illegal, I...I have permission to do this since I am the one responsible for the book."

The faun crossed her arms and nodding, "Yup! Old man told me you had that book, and the trouble you got into. I also know that you're not supposed to bring those pretty little books out of campus because they're considered dangerous and well, I've conducted a few dangerous things outside of the walls too so not like I care. Walls are mainly there to keep us from blowing up the town over so nothing should go wrong so long as we don't set this forest on fire or something right?"

Mara blinked, "I...I don't know if this is the direction that Ridel wanted you to guide me in."

A laugh echoed out into the forest, a loud and powerful one full of life that Mara felt shivering down her spine. When the cervine finished with her tittering she grinned and leaned in close so Mara's nose was touching the faun's snout, "Listen here. Ridel told me to make friendly because he figured that we'd be good friends. I like risks. I think that only by risk can we learn something and I am absolutely serious in my pursuit of the magic arts." She then touched Mara's chin with one digit and planted a gentle peck on her cheek before backing away, "At the end of the day, we're here to learn. So let's get learning, right?"

A thumping began to build in Mara's chest as she watched the cervine saunter to the center of the clearing. Mara found herself staring at her and she wondered if she had perhaps found a kindred spirit and an unexpected way. The pursuit of arcane knowledge was why she was here and Ana wanted the same exact thing. Together they would learn more than apart surely, or at least that is was what both her mentor and Ana seemed to suggest.

"Hey! Mara!" She heard the cervine call, "Are we gonna do this or what?"

A gust of wind moved through the clearing and Mara looked down at the green bound tome in her paw before cracking it open and answering, "Yes! I'll just need some help making the circles."

Things progressed faster than Mara thought they would. Ana was a quick study and required very little instruction when it came to drawing and closing the circles. Soon, there were there distinct spots covered in runes and sigils surrounded by a circle and each were glowing with the faint light of magic. Mara had only summoned the demon within the tome to this world and she had not trapped him properly allowing him enough control to attempt to take her, but this time would be different.

Mara stepped to the circle and closed the book with both paws. She hadn't spent all of her energy cracking open a seal and what had been spent on the circles had mostly belonged to her partner. With a small sigh she closed her eyes and began to whisper the incantation.

The air around the clearing stopped entirely. Ana stood at the edge of the clearing against one of the many trees, watching with curious green eyes focused on the circles that began to glow violently while Mara continued to whisper the words of power that would complete the circles and call forth the demon. At the exact center of the circle, a rift in space tore open gleaming a red light. From the tear in the dimension, an arm thrust out covered in crimson and black fur and slowly the body of the demon emerged.

The once trapped being stood taller than both the feline and the cervine and he had four red glowing eyes that shimmered against his dark fur. The lips of his long canine maw were pulled back to reveal shaking fangs as he spat the words, "You have called me again you little minx! And I see you've done it properly this time instead of actually setting me free...So, I wonder, what is your game? Back to toy with my mind again and use me like a sex toy once more?"

From off in the distance Mara heard Ana giggling and she felt her own cheeks burn, but she spoke clearly and plainly, "No. I have asked you here to learn of your secrets and to uh...Apologize for the abrupt calling before."

The demon rolled his eyes and reclined on the air as if he were sitting on a chair with one leg over the other, "Really now? You want to learn my secrets when I've written everything down there in that forbidden book hm?"

Mara blinked, "You wrote this tome?"

"Of course I did! It was my personal grimoire. Magi deemed too dangerous for this world or who have committed some crime are trapped in their own personal works. Isn't that poetic?"

Ana called out, "A bit stupid and blustery for me."

The demon quirked a brow before returning his attention to Mara, "Your new friend is nice, but not nice enough to get me to tell you all my secrets." Before the feline could open her mouth to air out her next question, the demon continued, "But I will tell you this before I see myself out and return to my slumber. I am a master of illusions and the magic of the mind. You are asking me to be direct about my methods when my expertise is quite the opposite of that. Everything you need to know is already in this book...And perhaps in my other journals."

Mara blinked and leaned forward, "And those journals are where?"

The demon chuckled, "Will you set me free?"

"No." She said flatly.

A light appeared in the circle and Mara felt a sudden pressure pushing against the seal she had put up, "Ah, then good luck. If anything, I should have fun watching you from the book."

With those last words said, the demon slipped into the light and suddenly; he was gone. The wind continued to blow and the pressure that had been gathering in the air fell down to the ground and dispersed. Mara chewed over the words that the demon had told her. Everything that she needed was in the book she had in her paws, and in his journals. She hadn't unlocked the secrets of the tome she held, not just yet, but what had she missed?

While her mind was stuck in thought, she didn't notice Ana approaching from her side until she heard the whispering question, "So...Did you really fuck him?"

A heat pressed against Mara's cheeks and she looked away, "I don't think that's any of your business now."

Ana giggled, "Maybe it isn't, but he did say you used him like a toy. Ridel didn't tell me anything about that." The faun then leaned in close until their cheeks were together and she hooked an arm around Mara's side to keep the feline trapped as she continued, "Come on, you can tell me. I helped you out with your little project didn't I? Throw me a bone here."

Mara thought about telling her to shove her curiosities up her rump, but decided that might incite her rather than deter her. With a cross look she leaned away as best as she could and muttered, "So, he had me trapped and wanted to use me, but I tricked him and used his own spell against him to ride him."

"Ohhhh, was that your first time you were giving away there?"

Mara felt the pinprick of annoyance rising up the back of her neck, "If I answer, will you let me go?"

Ana smiled and pressed that extra bit closer to whisper, "If I stop bugging you can I get a kiss?"

One ear twitched along with her tail and her heart began to thump out a quick rhythm again as she muttered, "I guess."

Mara hadn't taken time to consider the possibility that Ana might have been attracted to her and it felt strange to think that someone that she had just met would want to do anything with her. Really, she had been resigned that her love life was only going to involve summoned creatures and romance novels, but here she was in the middle of the woods with a cute deer flirting with her. It felt odd and she felt the sensation of the unusual affection twist against her gut.

The feline watched as Ana pulled away from her, the spot where the deer's arm had been growing oddly cold. Mara wasn't sure what to expect but she watched with big eyes as Ana leaned in for a brief peck of the lips, just long enough to make Mara shiver, and short enough to make her want more.

When Ana pulled away she had her hands behind her back and she asked a simple question, "Wanna go out tomorrow? On a date? No magic stuff."

Mara blinked, "What?"

"Oh come on, your ears aren't just for show are they? A date!"

Ana began to toy around with Mara's ears, tapping each one at the tip gently and watching them flick as the feline remained frozen in thought. Mara had come here to study, she hadn't come here to meet and greet with other people around her age, but there was something very attractive about the thought of spending time with Ana again and she found herself gravitating towards a positive response even though doubt still swirled around her chest.

The deer continued to make her case as well, "We can take a trip through the deeper portions of the forest if you'd like. I know I just said no magic, but I figure you might prefer a guided tour through the precious herbs and flowers this place has to provide."

Mara felt embarrassment color her cheeks and she looked down at the dirt near her feet as she mumbled, "We could just go out on the town...If you'd like. I wouldn't really know where to go."

A soft digit touched Mara's chin and brought her gaze up to meet the cervine's, "The forest tomorrow it is. Meet me at the front gates tomorrow morning? Around the same time we met today." Mara nodded with a small gulp and watched as Ana began to walk away, "Well then Mara, it's a date."

With that said, the cervine walked away and Mara found herself wondering about a thousand things at once, but before she lost herself she took a deep breath and focused on the fact that today had been successful. Today she had completed her project and she had more than a few mysteries to crack. Tomorrow would be a nice break to rest her mind and to get to know her new partner just a bit better. With that in mind, she began to follow Ana to head back to the school together.