FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Oh, lost soul wandering in the depths in the underworld. You who are forever banned from knowing bliss. You who refuse to be part of the wheel of reincarnation. You who have the strength to aid me on my time of need. Do you heed my call?

Heat. The sound of wood cracking all around. The scent of blood and smoke in the air.

Kai did not remember being a place like this before. A big wooden building, colored orange by the fire licking its walls, with some boxes and paintings on its side, and, in the middle of the room, a big tree. The tree was tall and bound with rope, peppered with paper tags all around, as if there was a chance for it to get free and escape. On the floor, dirt and several wooden stakes with letters on them. A temple?

Before the shark could take a step forward, a bloodcurdling roar rumbled inside the already flimsy walls. It was that of a beast who had cornered it's prey. Kai turned around.

A big and muscled figure was looming around. Horned, with purple skin and dark patches of fur here and there. On one hand, a battleaxe almost as huge as the beast itself, if not even longer. On the other, a thin, limp body. The beast brought the body closer to its face and the sides of its mouth curled. A smile, maybe. It then opened its jaws and its tongue rolled out.

Kai put a hand over the handle of his sword and prepared to leave when he felt a weight hitting his leg.

-"Please, help me!"

The shark turned around and saw a small, cream-colored cat latching onto him. Turning back in the beast's direction, he saw its gaze had fixed now on a new prey.

With an uninterested air, the beast threw its old toy to the side and dual-wielded its weapon as it dashed towards the pair.

Kai crouched.

The cat was holding tight, so tight that his claws were almost breaking the shark's skin. His eyes were closed, and his mouth did not stop repeating the same words over and over again. Still, the shark continued trying pushing away the cat until at last he was able to pull free from his ballast, not a moment too soon since the axe landed where they had been just a second ago.

Kai looked over the axe at the cat, who was looking back at him, but they were both interrupted by the sound of wood cracking as the beast lifted its weapon.

_-"_Sorry, kid."

The cat lifted his hand and tried to reach out, but it was already too late for the shark had gotten back on his feet and was already sprinting towards the exit. He, on the other had, was now face-to-face with the beast, and it wasn't planning on letting him go.

Kai ran as fast as possible. If there was anything he hated more than dying to big, hulking creatures, it was be to do so in order to help a landling. However, before he could open the door, a big piece of flaming wood came crashing down, blocking the way out.

The sharked turned around. This was the only way out..

From afar, Kai could see that the cat, in spite of his size, was continuing the fight. He jumped from side to side easily maneuvering around the beasts attacks. It was going well, the cat was able to avoid nine out of ten attacks, but those few ones he couldn't dodge would spell his end, especially since he was not making any of his own. Moreover, it looked like that end would come soon enough.

Kai sighed and started running.

The cat continued dodging to the sides and jumping over attacks, not realizing he was moving back with almost every dodge. Not that he had a choice, what with the big piece of meat blocking his way. However, one punch to the gut later, and a short flight across the room told him all that he needed to know. There was no way out. The cat took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The beast smiled and raised its axe, but then moved slightly to the side after a sharp pain came from behind followed by someone pulling at the wound and climb on its back.

Kai put both arms around the beast's neck and started putting all his strength in them. The beast trashed around, trying to shake him off, but up to no avail. It then fell on its back, but the shark was able to get off in time. Before it could get back on its feet, the shark grabbed the cat and jumped towards the tree.

He released the cat once they were a safe distance away and looked back at the beast. Next to its feet, there were the broken pieces of his dagger. He then turned back at the cat cowering behind him. Kai grabbed the handle of his sword and loosened the strings tying it to its sheath. If they wanted to survive, this had to end here and now.

Kai took several steps forward. He got into stance and waited.

The beast came closer. Its movements were slow, though the wound on its back did not seem to have any effect on them. A deeper cut would be needed to kill it, assuming that it could be killed to begin with. The beast readied its weapon, and so did the shark.

The wind howled as the axe came crashing down. Kai put some more of his weight on one of his legs, and the hit whiffed over his head. With him between the weapon and beast, his head right below its arm, he took a step forward and drew his blade.

Another roar. The beast trashed and spun around trying t catch the shark, but Kai had already jumped away to safety. It then moved closer and started barraging him with attacks.

Kai dodged from side to side, jumped and crouched, waiting for the right moment to strike. One. Two. Three hits. Yet every attack only served to make the beast faster and more determined. Finally, the beast took him by surprise when it stroke with its axe, and while the shark was dodging, let out a big punch on his chest.

The shark flew all the way across the room and landed on his stomach. Kai tried to get back up, but his arms faltered. His lungs could barely get enough air. With his head a few inches above the ground, he looked for his sword, but it had fallen quite far.

The beast got closer and lifted the shark's limp body. Kai, with the strength he had left, took hold of one of the beast's thick fingers, and grabbed it tight. The beast smiled, and then held the shark's head tighter. It opened its jaws and let its tongue roll out.

Kai was not able to see anything besides what he could grasp from between a small gap between the beast's fingers. He could fell a wet, sticky liquid was dripping onto his feet. Then, something rough and firm enveloping his body; followed by the stench and warmth of the beast's breath washing over his body. He held the finger even tighter, until a loud explosion came and he was dropped to the floor.

He looked up at the beast. Sparks were coming from behind its back. Kai then looked between the beast's legs.

The cat had an open book and was pointing in their direction, a small trail of smoke coming from the tips of his fingers. Then, he made a small set of gestures in the air with his free hand, and the shark could feel the strength coming back to him. Kai got up and dashed towards his weapon.

The shark went back in and attacked from up close, dancing around and carving wound by wound on its body.

The cat bombarded the beast with a myriad of spells. Most only worked as a distraction, but still were a source of damage.

And the beast, it did not stand a chance.

Minutes felt like hours, all three losing their stamina little by little. Finally, the shark let a last thrust and pierced all the way through to the beast's heart. A last roar filled the room, and the beast stopped moving.

Kai drew his sword out and jumped back. He looked as the beast fell to the ground, before it started to disintegrate. It was like watching paper when exposed to a flame.

He smiled and took a last look at the beast, who had what seemed like a hand-shaped burn around one of its fingers, and then turned back to his companion.

The cat was gasping for air. He looked at the shark, smiled, and then collapsed onto the floor.