FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Noticing the date written on the last chapter of this series, I found it staggering that it has been this long. I already planned to finish this series a few months ago, but somehow it stuck on chapter 5 and it's only about a third way. Either i'm beginning to slow down or I'm just being lazy...

And to add another problem, the internet connection has became very limited. I don't know when I'll be posting another chapter.

But on the bright side, the next chapter is almost finished from all this wating. Just need a little tweaking...

~~~

Three years ago, close to the end of autumn... Golden colored grass covered the hills of the windy day. Red and yellow leaves were soon shed one by one by the majestic trees. The cold winter days were slowly coming.

A wooden cabin stood in the vast plain. The building was full of memories, both the good and the bad. Tears of joy and sorrow were shed through the years. To the lone wolf living in it, the house was irreplaceable. The memories of his parents lingered in the halls of the brown building. The kitchen was the black lupine's favorite room of all. The teen wolf had spent so many joyful memories within the walls of the room. It was also the same place where Jennifer Ashten, a young fennec and old friend of the lupine, also confessed her attraction to the wolf. The two became lovers in an instant and Jeremiah, Dean's friend who was introduced to the fennec, was glad that his friends had found their happiness.

But on that cold day, the atmosphere of the room had changed for the worse.

Two foxes padded through the dry field with sorrow lingering in the air. The younger of the two foxes, Jeremiah, wore a light green cloak over his orange body. Beneath it, brown wool shirt and leather pants covered his torso and limbs. His right arm was swung over the other vulpine. The golden furred fennec was on her favorite white dress with frills on the collar and sleeves. Her teary yellow eyes gazed down on the dying grass. The two stopped and looked up. The warm and comforting house they used to go to now seemed to become a sanity house.

"Are you okay?" Jeremiah asked as he rubbed the fennec's back.

"I think I'm going to be sick..." Jennifer mumbled.

"You want me to tell him for you?"

"I'll tell him myself..." Jenny replied. "Thank you for coming with me. And... sorry for dragging you along."

"I'm your friend," Jeremiah gave a comforting smile. "I always want to help the two of you, including this situation. Just remember: whatever happens today, you can always count on me, whether it's to talk to or other things."

"Thank you, Stone," the fennec finally smiled. "If I wasn't with Dean, I think I might fall for you."

"I guess I could take that as a compliment..." the orange fox nodded. The male vulpine had known his attraction towards males for some time. Even though he had confirmed the fact that he was gay, he never came out to other people besides John, his guardian and godfather. The white lupine didn't really care about it and said that as long as the vulpine was happy, so was he.

After building up enough courage, the fennec held out her paw and began to rap on the wooden door. Footsteps were heard, and the door swung open. Dean, in his woolen brown sleeveless and black leather pants, stood there with a smile on his face.

"Jenny! Jer!" He said. "So good to have you here! Come on in!"

The two vulpines nodded and silently walked towards the dining table. Noticing their glum expressions, Dean's smile was shot down into a million pieces.

"H-hey... What's going on?" He asked as he sat to the right of the golden furred fennec. A slight touch on the vulpine's back, caused her to burst into tears.

"I can't say it..." she said. She started sobbing and clung to the black furred wolf as if her life depended on it.

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" the lupine stared down on his lover. Rubbing her back, Dean stared at his friend who had the same sullen look on his face.

"What happened?" he asked the orange vulpine. "What is it that she wanted to say that causes her to be devastated?"

"Well..." Jeremiah mumbled as he rubbed his left arm. "I don't know the full story, but I'll tell you from what I know..."

"Wait for a moment. I'll get something to drink," the wolf said as he stood up. In just a few seconds, sweet honey water was served for the three of them. The light golden liquid was Jennifer's favorite drink. It helped her calm down in times of trouble. This time, however, the liquid didn't help her much. She was still sobbing and hiccupping even though she had sipped on the warm amber liquid. The black lupine knew this news was really bad.

"So tell me..." Dean said as he sat back down. "What's wrong?"

The orange vulpine looked at the fennec for approval. Jenny nodded, indicating him to begin telling him the whole story.

"Three days ago, after we went to Grandma Hillary," Jeremiah started. "We went to our homes, right? Well the next morning..."

~~~

The kitchen of the white manor was filled with delicious aroma. On the small counter, a plate of roast pork with a squeeze of lemon juice was being cut slightly on the end. The white lupine stood beside the lion, spoon-feeding the bigger male with the savory meat.

"How is it?" John stared.

"Juicy, just the way I like it," Terrance smiled.

"I'm glad," the lupine smiled.

"Can I have something more juicy?" the lion slyly smirked as he grabbed the wolf's package, causing John to gasp in surprise.

"Maybe... later when no one's up," the wolf blushed.

"Can't wait..." Ter whispered in his ear, causing him to shudder. Their moment was soon disrupted by a series of knocking on the door. The lion sighed and shook his head.

"I'll get it," he told the cooking wolf.

"Thanks, hun," John smiled as he continued to prepare the meal. The feline padded down the hall and opened the door. In front of him stood a young fennec in a light blue dress. Her eyes looked at the big lion with confusion and distress.

"Oh, hello Jennifer," Terrance smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Lionheart," the vulpine nodded. "Is Jeremiah here?"

"Yes, but I believe he's still asleep now," he answered. "Do you want to come in and have breakfast with us?"

"That would be nice. Thank you sir," she answered. The two stepped into the dining room and saw Christian sitting on the end of the table, nose in a book in his paws. The red fox noticed their presences and looked up to them.

"Oh, good morning," he smiled. "I didn't know we are going to have a guest for breakfast."

"Good morning, Mr. Styler," Jennifer smiled back. "And I apologize for dropping in so suddenly."

"It was no trouble. Though, John might want to be told that you'll be joining us this morning."

"Don't worry," Terrance said as he walked closer to the kitchen doors. "I'll tell him now."

The lion stepped out, leaving the two sitting alone in the table.

"So what brings you here this morning?" the adult vulpine asked, closing the book.

"I wanted to discuss something with Jeremiah," she said.

"I see... And what as it about?"

"Well..." Jenny stared down on her lap. "I actually needed an advice. But I can't ask it to my parents since they're the ones that started this."

"Oh dear..." John's voice appeared on the kitchen door. The two vuplines looked to see the wolf pushing a silver cart of food and drink towards them. "Are they doing what I think they're doing?"

"Well, that depends. What do you think they're doing?" Jenny asked.

"If it has to do with the Coustars, then I think I'm certain it's about your arranged marriage," the lupine answered as he set the plates on their respective places. Following closely behind, Terrance entered with another cart, this time, with stacks of empty plates, cups, and silverware.

"It is..." the fennec stared down on the plate of meat.

"So it's true then..." John said as he stood behind the fox. "You're going to get married with the Coustars' youngest."

"What?" Another voice rang from the hallway. They turned to see the young orange fox on the doorway, paralyzed in shock.

"Jer..."Jennifer stared sullenly at the other vulpine.

"You're getting married? With another person?" Jeremiah stepped closer to the fennec.

"I don't want to," Jenny said, staring back at the ham. "I'm in love with Dean. But if I don't obey my parents' order, they'll kick me out of the manor and strip me from my nobility."

"And if they somehow find out that Dean is the one causing you not to marry the Coustars' youngest, they can send the army to kill him," Chris thought out loud. "The Ashten have access to a hundred foot soldiers since Ignus is a general."

"So you're stuck between the boy you love and your parents who have connections with the army and are able to kill your lover," John sighed and shook his head. "I say your parents are getting reckless every year."

"So hun, how did you know about the arranged marriage?" Terrance asked.

"When I was walking back from the market three weeks ago, I saw the Coustars' carriage sitting close to the Asthens' manor," the lupine said, sitting down on the chair next to the lion. "The Coustars had political and military power as well, but they don't have any connections to the Ashtens in either of them. The only purpose that made sense to me was either introducing themselves to the Ashtens or planning an arranged marriage with their child."

"That does seem probable..." Chris nodded.

"But enough about that," John said before turning his eyes to the golden fennec. "So you're here for an advice to face Dean and your parents?"

"And a suggestion of what I must do..." Jennifer continues to stare down. "I love Dean, but I don't want to put him in any danger. I don't want to disobey my parents, but I don't want to get married with anyone else but Dean."

"So... risk being killed with the one you love or save your love by leaving him..." Terrance bluntly said the options. "If I were you, I would go with the second option. I don't know what life would be without John, but I'm willing to save his life in any way I can, even if it means not to be with him."

"But if you do that, Dean would be devastated to see you go far away," John said. "I would be heart broken to see my lover I love marry someone else, even if it's only to protect him."

"Dying in each others' arms is the one thing any lovers would want," Jeremiah quoted his opinion.

"But even if dying together is a romantic way to approach it, you two still have a long life to live for," Chris said.

"She can run away with him and get married somewhere else, right?" Jer asked.

"The Coustars and Ashtens would be furious and send all their troops to find them," Chris pointed out.

"Why not let them stay here?" John asked. "Or at the castle? We can protect them, right?"

"No way. He hates you, remember?" Jer reminded. "He blames you for releasing fiends to this place."

"But it wasn't my fault in the first place," the lupine whined.

"And being in a castle with escorts every day doesn't seem very comfortable to me," Jenny said.

"And their troops could call mutiny," Chris added.

The five of them sighed in confusion and stared at their meal. Hearing the rumbling of Jeremiah's stomach, everyone turned to the embarrassed orange vulpine.

"Well... we can't think in an empty stomach..." John said.

"Agreed..." Jeremiah nodded.

Soon, the five of them began to eat in silence. The atmosphere of the room felt thick to everyone. John lifted his head towards his houseguest and saw her staring at her meal.

"You're not going to eat?" he asked.

"How can I eat when something like this happens?" the fennec sighed.

"True..." the lupine sighed as well. Turning his head towards the lion, he pinned his ears back and whispered. "Sorry, Ter. I won't be in the mood."

"Don't worry," the feline whispered back. "I won't either."

The five of them finished their meals and cleaned up. They sat on the sofas of the living room with Jennifer between the two other foxes. John and Terrance sat on the other one, leaning closely to the foxes.

"Have you decided yet?" John asked.

"I might have..." she mumbled.

"Whatever it is, just don't let it become your mistake," the lupine said. "I know it's too early for you to choose life altering decisions, but now that you do, make sure you choose it wisely. Don't let it become your downfall."

"What if I can't say my decision correctly? What if I became scared and unable to say anything?"

"Being scared is normal," Terrance said. "It is a very difficult decision to make. But remember that having friends to support you will give you enough courage and bravery to face anything."

"Alright..." Jenny nodded. She turned her head to the orange vulpine. "Jer, can you help me to face him?"

~~~

The lupine stared silently on the orange fox before looking down on the golden fennec. Words were stuck in his throat, unable to be released. Thoughts began to wander in the wolf's mind. His senses told him what would happen next, but his heart couldn't believe its truth.

"J-Jenny?" Dean stammered as the fennec regains her breath.

"Dean..." Jennifer sobbed. "I-I'm sorry..."

The lupine's heart plummeted. He felt his body shaking. Air was knocked away from his lungs. His eyes began to tear up.

"W-why...?" he mumbled softly.

"I don't want to put you in any danger," Jenny sobbed. "I love you, Dean, but I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I'm not doing this for me, I'm doing it for you."

"No!" Dean barked. "If you want to do something for me, stay with me! I will always protect you! Nothing will harm us, I swear!"

"But how can you face two battalions of footmen? Let alone a group of rouges?"

The three of them sat in silence as the couple began to cry. Finally, Jennifer stood up with head hung, ears folded back, and tail drooped.

"I'm sorry..." she mumbled.

The black lupine quickly grabbed the fennec's hand and stared at her with teary eyes.

"Don't go..." he whimpered. The fennec stared back at him with the same sorrow in her eyes.

"Don't make me regret this, Dean," she said as she pulled away and left the front door, never to be seen again. The lupine dropped from his chair to the cold wooden floor, holding his knees as he sobbed. Jeremiah, who began to tear up as well, knelt beside him and held him close. In an instant, Dean began to bawl to the vulpine's chest as the pain began to fill his entire being.

"Why!?" he yelled on his chest. "Why is everyone leaving me behind!? I'm always left alone!"

The fox sobbed slightly before rubbing the wolf's black head-fur.

"Don't worry," he mumbled. "I will never leave you. Because..."

He whispered so silently that it wasn't heard by the crying lupine. The two of them held each other as the last of the room's comfort soon faded away in the windy autumn air.

~~~

"Three years already..." Dean stared down on his lap. "I wonder how she's doing now..."

"I'm sure she's doing fine," Jeremiah sat next to the lupine. "She's a strong girl."

"She is..." the lupine smiled sadly. He turned his head towards the vulpine. "And you still keep your promise..."

"Hm?" the vulpine tilted his head to his side.

"You promised never to leave me," Dean said. "You stuck by me in every situation. Even when I was angry with John, you were there to calm me down."

"Oh... yeah..." Jeremiah smiled. "I always keep my promise to you."

"By the way, something came up," Dean said. "I know it's been three years already, but what did you whisper to me that time?

Jeremiah's eyes were shot open for a moment. He began to panic and was about to asphyxiate. Remembering how Jennifer faced her situation, he knew he had to be as strong, or even stronger than her now. He took a deep breath and whispered.

"What?" Dean asked, perking his ears up. "I didn't catch that."

Jeremiah stared directly to the lupine's golden eyes.

"I love you..."