FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I have met many different types of creatures in my journeys through both the forests of the Wildlands and the alleyways of the City of Anteronia. I have learned about cultures and species that I could scarcely imagine, but in recent encounters, I have found that the most fascinating beings are the ones who are like me--the ones who go against the trends of greater society find their own identity.

Eshere and I met one such being after leaving the safety of Sis behind. The old Mimic house had been a perfect means to hide out while the Judicators searched for me. However, we both agreed that we needed to leave the safety behind to fulfill both of our goals. What we didn't expect was to find our next subject in a bakery.

Back in small outposts like Bergburg, there were small baking shops, where bread rose in large brick ovens. Bread exists as a staple of the traveler. It is just a filling food with hardly any taste--just like most foods available back in the caverns of the Dragon's Heir tribe: nutritious, economical, bland.

The shop nestled between two other businesses on the street, with large glass windows that offered a brightness that would certainly be inviting to diurnal races. Luckily, I already had the hood up over my head to keep the headache-inducing sun from my eyes as we both passed through the doorway.

Yet, there was none of that here. Once we passed through the threshold, the light within was not overbearing at all. The walls were of a smooth material--not of brick nor stone nor wood. The color of the paint gave the space an earthy feel, which provided a strange sense of nostalgia.

The floor was soft and warm beneath my feet, nothing like the cold stone of the cobbled streets outside, and seats wrapped around the corner, showing off a much broader array of styles of comfort than any tavern I had encountered in my travels.

What was most remarkable, however, was the display right in front. Cakes and pastries lined up behind a glass case, each of them looking more like a work of art than food, yet the scents that wafted up from the display and from the back gave away the edible nature of these confections.

I pressed my face up against the glass, wondering just what these treats were, but even as I admired them, I noticed the design of this room was quite the deceptive trap, and I had fallen right for it. Whoever designed this space wanted me enraptured by delights I could not afford.

I had been staring for longer than I probably should have because it took Eshere nudging me from her hidden perch behind my hood to tell me I had been caught. With a quick refocus, I immediately saw the expressionless face behind the glass staring right at me.

I yelped and fell back, squshing the slime hiding within my outfit.

The construct stood up from behind the counter, and, I must admit, of all the creations in t his place, he was the most fascinating, indeed.

Whoever designed the mannequin had an eye for quality in both mechanics and aesthetics. Because, despite having no discernable features, the wooden creation was made with so many articulated joints that he could show off his emotion only by his posture. This articulation became quite evident when he reached down to hold out his hand, rolling out each finger individually, a joint for each joint in a similar human body. I grabbed onto it, running my fingers along with the balls and sockets, my tail wagging like an apprentice seeing a master trap for the first time.

"My, my, darling, do you like what you see?" he asked me, though he had no mouth from which to speak.

"Yep yep!" I shouted excitedly, scrambling to my feet, yet I didn't let go. "Who you, what you? How you? Why you?"

The mannequin brought his other hand up to where his lips would have been and actually stifled a giggle. "You know, I get that quite often, little darling. My name's Baker, and I am at your service. What sort of sweet treat may I interest you in?"

"Tik Tik no know," I admitted. "From far away. Never see food like this."

"Well, well, then. You're just the perfect subject for me to try out some of my newest confections. Have a seat over there, and I'll whip you up something nice and tasty. How's that sound?"

Eshere coughed into my ear, which reminded me of our purpose. "Oh, wait, Mister Baker! Tik Tik looking to learn things. Look for girl. Pink hair, frilly dress. You know?"

"I might," the mannequin said, tapping his fingers on his hip. He scratched his chin, glancing upwards. "Hm... yes, I might, indeed. But, I' can't just give away secrets for free, now can I?"

"We really need know! Please, Eshere and Tik Tik will trade!"

"Eshere?" Baker asked, tilting his head and crossing his hands over his chest.

From underneath my clothes, green slime oozed out, plopping onto the floor and forming into Eshere's humanoid form. In her hand, she held her notebook, and she gave Baker a quick bow. "How do you do? I am Eshere. I am Tik Tik's scribe."

"Oooh, are you writers!?" He clapped his hands together. "How wonderful! I require some press, darlings!"

"Tik Tik can help Baker many ways. Baker help Tik Tik many ways?"

Baker placed his hand upon his apron-covered chest, shivering from head to toe. "Oh, my, well, if you can hold up to your end of things, I'd be happy to just gab away for you. Now, let's begin."