FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are of legal and consenting age, likewise if you are reading this story you should be of legal age in your respective country.

All characters are my own creation, any resemblance to existing characters is purely coincidental and not intentional, please do not use them without permission. If you would like to use them in a story, please feel free to send me a PM either as Inja on SoFurry or TheRealInja on FA. As always I am open to new story ideas or situations with existing characters as well.

As dusk faded into the calm darkness of knight, the brown mare idly stirred at the carrot stew she had cooking over their fire. The white patch on her snout glowing a soft amber under the flickering of the fire as she tended to their meal. Making a mental note to add in the left over rabbit to her companion's portion before serving her. Looking up from the pot she watched the large white she wolf almost religiously sharpening her Claymore, a look of almost adoration on the lupines face as she tended to her weapon. Her left eye a pale blue while the right was covered by a white patch of leather, an injury from times long past. Her soft white furred face leading to light grey around her cheeks and ears, the mare had always admired the darker coloring around her friend's eyes that left them with a permanent smoky look. Well the one eye did at least, the other almost permanently hidden behind the eye patch.

"You know, if you treated a man half as well as you treated that sword, you'd have a bunch of grumpy little white wolves of your own running around by now" the mare teased with a smile, resisting the urge to laugh as the she wolf shot her a glare that could freeze water. "I'm just saying, Lorelei, you'd make an excellent mother...to any kids that survived" she continued, yelping as the wolfess tossed a dirty rag at the mare and hit her square in the face.

"I told you not to call me that, it's Fury" the she wolf grumbled as she set her sword aside and stared hard at the still giggling mare.

"I beg your forgiveness, Lady Fury. Please accept this humble meal as amends for my transgressions" she offered with a grin, bowing her head low as she held aloft the bowl of delicious smelling rabbit and carrot stew to the wolfess.

Fury wanted to remain angry at the mare, but her stomach had other ideas. As the tempting scent of the meal caught her nose, it gave an unhappy grumble and groan to voice its opinion. "Joy, you really are the worst...but luckily your cooking is a very redeeming factor" Fury said with a sigh but still gratefully accepted the bowl to begin scoffing the stew down. Grabbing a hunk of bread from her pack and breaking it in two before tossing one lump over and hitting the still bowing Joy on the top of the head with it.

"Ow, hey! That felt more than a day old!" Joy laughed and rubbed the top of her head before picking up her bread from the grass and sitting back down to begin eating. No more than a spoon or two in, she stopped when she saw Fury glaring at something behind her.

"Greetings Fury, Chosen of Buruk the Bear God. I have a message from Valeria, she requests aid for a village under her protection. You are to travel to Havensbrooke and quell a demon uprising" a multitude of voices suddenly said aloud behind Joy, whom squawked and fell off her perch, dropping her stew on the ground.

"Why does Valeria want me to have dealings with a Kingdom that prays to Ccoa? That's her pitiful excuse for a Deity, not mine!" Fury growled low as she tried to bite back her anger. The white robed figure stood silent for a moment, Fury unable to read its gaze due to the heavy bandages wrapped about their eyes beneath the raised hood. The only discernible features she could make out was a twitching nose and a bit of buck teeth, possibly a rabbit beneath the robe. But regardless of the physical form before her, Fury knew there was no such thing as an individual when it came to the Sightless Sisters. The haunting multitude of voices they spoke with, all coming from the collective mind back at the Unseen Monastery.

"Valeria humbly requests you assist as she is "currently knee deep in troll guts and entrails" further up North" the sister persisted with her multitude of voices. "There is a dark presence growing at Havensbrooke, she requests you stomp it out before it grows and spreads to threaten neighboring towns."

"Fucks sake, fine. I'll go clean up Valeria's mess then" Fury reluctantly agreed, sitting back and scooping up another mouthful of her meal before continuing "While you're here, I'd like to send a message as well. Tell Asher she owes me some money, I beat her mark on Scavv kills. Also tell Dance to stop pilfering my stuff, next time I catch her, I will chop her sticky little hands off!"

The sister nodded once in confirmation of the message, but remained standing motionless on the spot for a long uncomfortable moment. Even though their eyes were covered, Fury could feel their gaze on her, watching expectantly.

"Aww hell, you mean we have to leave right this instant?" Fury growled, tossing her bowl of soup to the ground when the sister nodded in confirmation again. "Fine, we'll get going. Don't trip on your way out..." she grumbled as she began packing up their things and prepared to hit the road.

Joy looked back at Fury as she muttered and grumbled to herself before sitting upright and facing the sister, or at least the spot where she had been only a moment before. "Fucking creeps me out how they just appear and disappear like that, almost as much as their damned voices..." Joy said with a shiver before sniffling at the sight of her spilled carrot soup.

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The trip to Havensbrooke was uneventful, almost boringly so, to the point even the usually chipper Joy groaned in frustration. The thick and lush forests were alive with the pleasant chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects, usually something Joy appreciated, but knowing what they were heading into, she couldn't help but feel it was all just one big façade and something was lurking in wait for an opportunity to strike. But nothing did, the gates to the walled village of Havensbrooke coming into view further up the path and beyond the edge of the forest. The soft gurgling of the river flowing beneath the stone bridge leading to the large gates with curiously no guards posted. Fury began to wonder if Valeria had sent her here as a joke, there didn't seem to be anything amiss in this village so far. They certainly did not appear to be concerned for their own safety if they didn't even post guards at the entrance to the village.

Fury and Joy stopped at the Inn not far from the gate, hitching their horses to a railing before heading inside to speak with the Inn Keep. As was custom, Fury made her way over to an empty table at the back of the Inn as Joy went in search of the Keep to organize lodging for the duration of their stay, though Fury doubted that would be very long looking around the place and all the seemingly oblivious folk around.

"Well what do we have here, judging by that suit of armor and the symbol at your shoulder, I'm willing to bet you're one of the Chosen..." a sniveling little voice called out from one of the tables. A slender tan feline with scruffy red hair dressed in shining silver chainmail and a tunic that bore his Kingdoms symbol on the chest identified him as one of the local knights. The gold trim on his sleeves and collar denoted his rank, along with the six men sitting around the table beside him. "Coming to stick your nose where it doesn't belong? What's the matter, your fat bear God in hibernation and not available to make use of you in his bed?" the feline persisted to a round of laughter from his men.

Fury remained silent, glaring at the smaller feline with unbridled contempt. Her fingers tightening about the hilt of her sword as she ground her teeth. Thankfully just then Joy arrived and took up a seat beside Fury, firmly elbowing the she wolf in the side to get her attention and nodding over at a large bear scowling unseen at the feline captain. The bear poured two tankards of ale and set them on a precarious looking tray, holding them aloft over his shoulder as he waddled in a wide arc around the room, making it appear as if he were heading toward Fury and Joy, but just so happened to pass right behind the captain. As soon as the tray was over the captain's head, the bear stumbled and the tankards tipped sideways, emptying their contents over the smug looking feline. Only he wasn't so smug looking with his hair soaked in ale and dripping foam.

"Watch what you're doing you clumsy oaf! I swear, there's always a big lumbering idiot in every damned town, from coast to coast and you just happen to be this village's idiot!" The captain snarled up at the bear.

"Oh dear me, I'm terribly sorry 'bout that Captain! I'm getting clumsy in my old age, let me get you a fresh pint to make up for it" the bear said in his most sincere voice possible, though it was clearly a ruse as he winked at Fury the moment the captains back was turned. Fury almost cracked a grin at the bear's antics, though she did relax her grip on her sword hilt at least.

"Lorelei, this is Ormund, he owns and runs this lovely Inn we'll be staying at for the foreseeable future. He's arranged two rooms for us upstairs and will stable our horses in the barn outside" Joy smiled up at the large bear as he returned with two fresh pints of ale that he magically managed not to drop this time.

"A pleasure to meet you Lorelei, as your delightful companion mentioned, I am Ormund" the old bear smiled and offered a hand, to which Fury reached out to shake with surprising strength and making him wince under her strong grip.

"Thank you, Ormund. I believe I shall retire for now, it's been a long trip. If you require anything further, Joy will be able to assist" Fury stated flatly before leaving the table and heading back outside to collect her belongings from her horse, leaving the stunned bear and Joy alone for a moment.

"Aye, she's a tough one, ain't she?" Ormund commented as he rubbed at his aching hand.

"Perhaps, but be glad she likes you" Joy smiled at the old bear.

"How can you tell?" he asked with surprise, raising his brows at the mare now making eyes with a young leopard soldier sitting beside his ale soaked captain.

"You used her name and you still have all your teeth" Joy replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "If you'd like to keep it that way, I suggest you just call her Fury from now on though. I'd hate for her to ruin your wonderful smile."

"Noted...and thanks for the warning" Ormund replied, looking back and forth between the mare and leopard, taking an exaggerated step back and out of their way. By the time Fury had retrieved her pack from her saddle and made her way back inside, Joy was seated beside the leopard knight and in deep conversation with him. The she wolf sighed and rolled her eyes, listening to Joy laugh and touch his shoulder before she stomped upstairs to find her room and settle in for the evening.

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Fury's nose twitched as the delectable scent of something cooking wafted up from the kitchen downstairs, rubbing her eye and sitting up in bed with a yawn, she noticed it was still dark outside the window. Frowning in confusion, she slipped into her leathers and made her way down, following her nose to the door of the kitchen where Ormund was whistling as he cooked up a storm.

"Bit early to be cooking, cocks aren't even up yet" Fury said around another yawn as she leaned against the doorframe.

Ormund turned about and spotted the she wolf in her form fitting leathers, giving a little whistle and raising his eyebrows at her "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Lor...err...Fury" he managed to barely catch himself before quickly turning back around.

Fury again frowned at the bear as he quickly looked away, an obvious blush on his cheeks. Tilting her muzzle southward she noticed in her bleary eyed state she hadn't quite done up the front of her vest and was displaying a less than civil amount of cleavage. "Yes, well...I'll leave you to it then" she mumbled before turning to make a hasty retreat.

"Don't be going too far, it's almost done if you'd like a nice hot breakfast" Ormund called after the retreating wolfess.

By the time he'd finished cooking and preparing the plates, Fury had gotten fully dressed in her suit of armor and awoken an even more bleary eyed Joy. The mare only perking up once Ormund placed a steaming mug of strong coffee before her.

"If you're planning on feeding us like this the entire time we're here, I'm going to need a bigger suit of armor" Fury commented as she bit off a chunk of delightfully salted meat from her fork.

"I'm sure you'd look just as fetching even in horse armor" the bear responded cheerfully as he set down another mug of hot coffee before Fury whom tried not to choke on her bite of food.

Joy grinned behind her mug at the she wolf whom just gave a confused look back. With the start of a blush touching her cheeks and ears, Fury swallowed the last of her meal then downed the hot coffee, pretending like she hadn't just burned her mouth as she made a hasty retreat out the front door while mumbling something about patrols. The sound of laughter erupting behind her as Joy whispered something to Ormund as soon as she stepped through the doorway.

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"Just stay out of our way, Chosen. It's nothing but a few Scavvs, we don't need the likes of you getting underfoot" Captain Paey spat at Fury as she suited up and got ready to head out to scout the area for signs of the alleged darkness the sister had warned her about. Unfortunately she had encountered the Captain and his men as they too were about to head out on patrol around the village; he seemed to be in even more of a foul mood this time than their last encounter despite no longer being soaked in ale.

"Scavvs are one thing, but if the Sisters are correct, there might be things far more dangerous out there..." Fury tried to remain calm and not let the snotty captain get under her skin as she tried to reason with him. It would be for the best if they worked together instead of against each other.

"Considering whom they tasked with this errand, I wouldn't put much stock in what the sisters say. They could've at least sent Valeria, at least then we'd have something worth looking at instead of a mangy one eyed mongrel" the feline cut her off with a smirk.

Fury's hackles raised, her knuckles turning white beneath her fur as she gripped the hilt of her sword so tight, fighting the rapidly growing urge to separate his head from his neck. With her teeth grinding the wolfess mounted up and spurred her horse into a fast trot to get as far away from the captain as possible before he said something else that would lead to a shorter than expected life for himself.

A few hours of riding in silence did wonders for Fury's temper, while she no longer had the burning desire to cleave the captain in twain, she wouldn't exactly be sorry to see him impaled on his own sword...completely by accident of course. The thought alone almost bringing a smile to her lips as she fantasized of various ways the annoying little feline could meet his untimely end.

"So...Ormund seems nice" Joy pulled up alongside Fury, speaking with a sly smile about her lips as she watched the she wolfs reaction.

"What of it?" Fury asked, doing her best not to recall the big ursine's friendly smile. Though despite her best efforts she couldn't control the slight wag of her tail behind her.

"I knew it! You do like him!" Joy exclaimed with a laugh.

"Joy..." Fury groaned, rolling her eyes and looking skyward "You know what the scriptures say."

"Oh I know, but you're not looking to marry him, just...you know, blow off a little steam?" The mare pressed on.

"That's none of your business...wait...what's that sound?" Fury replied with a slight growl at Joy before her ears perked at the sounds of shouting and metal clanging in the distance. Digging her heels into her steed's flanks, she set off at a gallop in the direction of the noise.

Cresting an outcropping they saw below the Captain and his men facing off against a large group of Scavvs. By the look of it, there were already more injuries on the Captains side than the Scavvs. The captain and five of his men had formed a defensive wall around the sixth that lay on the ground writhing in agony as he clutched at the stump where his sword hand used to be. The remaining men were in various degrees of injured but still standing and preparing for a fight they couldn't possibly hope to win with the odds stacked against them.

"I'll try draw them off so you can get out of here!" The young leopard that Joy had been flirting with shouted to his Captain, making a dash through the Scavvs before his captain could reply. Only a couple of the small horse sized scaled rat like creatures turned to pursue the escaping feline. Chittering and screeching as they gave pursuit, sharp fangs gnashing eagerly at their prospective meal trying to escape. For the moment the leopard was outrunning them, but dressed in full armor he wouldn't be able to maintain his current pace for very long.

"Joy, go save that idiot before he gets his tail chewed off" Fury huffed as she calmly climbed from her horse and made her way down the embankment and stood a few feet from the backs of the amassed Scavvs, unnoticed for the moment.

Joy galloped down the bank and after the leopard, quickly pacing alongside and then ahead of him through the trees before turning around and racing straight back at him. Slipping her feet from the stirrups, Joy climbed up to stand on her saddle, grabbing her bow staff and pulling back hard on the reins just before her horse crashed into the leopard, bringing it to a skidding halt. Joy knelt low and kicked off from her seat, tumbling feet over head in a graceful arc over the felines head. Gripping her staff by one end and slamming down the far end right against the center of the three pursuing Scavvs head. With a loud crack sound it slumped to the ground and after a few last twitches of its limbs, it went motionless. The leopard turned about and drew his sword, grinning at the mare as they advanced on the remaining two Scavvs to make quick work of them, the beasts not knowing better than to continue their attack.

As Captain Paey prepared himself mentally for his inevitable end at the claws of the foul beasts before him, a bolt of red lighting struck down somewhere just behind the horde. The creatures stopped advancing and turned about to face the new threat. Behind them Fury stood out in the open, her eye closed as she held her left hand up high, her index and forefinger pointed to the sky with a faint glow emanating from them. Captain Paey thought she must be crazy as she had sheathed her sword and stood there with her eye closed before enemies whose attention was now solely focused on her. With an excited screech the Scavvs charged, clawed feet kicking up dirt and stones as they rushed at the seemingly unaware wolfess. The captain watched in horror as the foremost Scavvs leapt up at her face intent on rending flesh from bone, but just before their sharp gnashing teeth would find her flesh to bite down on, Fury dropped low and slammed her palm flat against the ground with a thunderous boom.

The ground shook as a fiery red circle with swirling archaic symbols flared up around her and in an instant the Scavvs began screeching in agony. Fury opened her eye to reveal a fiery red glow where once a pale blue pupil was, gritting her teeth as the light of the circle intensified to a brilliant blinding white light. The captain and his men having to shield their eyes, but when the light faded and the looked back at the wolfess, nothing but small piles of ash surrounded her. Fury stood up from the ground and dusted herself off while walking over towards the captain.

"We best get you and your men back to town so we may tend to their wounds..." Fury said evenly, still not quite having forgotten the captain's words from earlier.

To his credit however, this time the feline knew better than to say anything untoward about the she wolf. Fury knelt down beside the writhing soldier now missing a hand, looking around and spotting the severed appendage not too far away. Leaving the solder for a moment to inspect the hand she noted it appeared to be a clean cut, probably a direct bite from a Scavvs razor sharp teeth. There didn't look to be any other damage to it thankfully. Picking up the severed hand, Fury made her way back to the writhing and groaning soldier.

"Bite down on something soldier..." Fury told the man before roughly jamming his hand back against the stump he was holding, causing the soldier to wail out loud. Closing her eye Fury began to whisper a chant as she clasped the stump and severed hand between her palms, a bright red glow and a soft sizzling sound filled the air, along with even louder pained cries from the soldier until he passed out.

"What're you doing, you stupid bitch? You're killing him!" Captain Paey yelled, storming over towards Fury. Before he reached her, she gently lowered the unconscious solders now reattached hand to the ground, standing up and turning to face the stunned looking feline.

"Next time, stow your ego before you get your men killed" She growled, pushing past the smaller feline and making him grunt as she bumped her shoulder against his.

Back at the Inn Fury began tending to the soldiers, setting her Claymore down atop the table behind her as she began working on a rather nasty looking gash across a much too young looking Calico furred feline. The boy couldn't be barely into his teens she thought, wondering why he'd opted to put himself on such a dangerous path.

Behind her a large bull with his broad shoulders inspected her sword curiously, looking over the intricate Celtic knot design at the tips of the cross-guard. The pale brown leather tightly bound around the hilt, leading to the deep crimson gem in the pommel with the ever swirling fire at its very center. Ancient runes appeared to be etched down the center of the blade in the fuller, but most curiously the sword was far heavier than he had expected it to be, even though it was a solid fifty-five inches of steel. Even gripping the hilt in both his large hands, muscles straining hard, he could barely lift it more than a couple of inches from the table. The soldiers around him began laughing, commenting how such a big brawny bull could barely lift the sword when Fury was able to swing it about like it weighed nothing. Their chatter catching her attention as her ears perked and swiveled back to listen to them talk and jest.

"You best put him down, Hatima doesn't like anyone but me touching him" Fury muttered over her shoulder as she tended to the wounded, sighing and shaking her head as she heard the large bull laugh at her words.

The hilt of the heavy sword began to feel immensely hot, scalding the bull's fingers before bursting into flame. With a startled yelp the large bovine dropped the sword with a heavy thump back onto the table and jumped back. Quickly flicking and waving his singed fingers in the air while looking over at Fury with an almost frightened stare.

"I warned you..." She sighed, standing and turning about to grab his wrists roughly. Turning his palms up she uttered a few soft words and her hands began to glow, much to the bulls relief the pain in his fingers and palms subsided as she healed his burns. "His name is Hatima Mbaya, he is a grumpy old bastard that is exceptionally picky about whom he allows to wield him" she continued with a nod back over her shoulder at her sword, as if it were a living thing.

"Aye, that sword is almost as impressive as the pretty lass that wields him" Ormund chimed in from across the room. Joy smiled as she caught the brief pause in Fury's movements, along with a faint hint of a blush beneath her fur. Likewise Ormund noticed the slightest of tail wags as well, just the briefest of twitches before the one eyed lupine caught herself.

The jovial moment was short lived, laughter stopping immediately as the by now night air outside was pierced by a terrifying scream. Everyone froze in place as if time had stopped, unsure if they'd heard what they thought they'd heard, or perhaps just hoping they hadn't. It was not to be however as another scream sounded, this time closer.

"A Ravenous..." Joy looked at Fury with a deadly serious expression on her usually smiling face. Fury nodded once and grabbed her sword as she headed out the door at a sprint. Stopping outside the Inn door, standing in the middle of the road and facing toward the gate she could see a disfigured form standing just outside the village gates. Its slender arms twitching and jerking in unnatural angles as it shambled closer and finally into the dim light.

Limbs that appeared to have been sewn onto a mismatched torso, its teeth permanently bared as the ragged flesh around its mouth appeared to have been eaten or ripped away. Its maw opened again to let loose another gurgling scream, revealing a lack of a tongue as well, blood dripping from the open wound where it should have been. Its mismatched ears flicking and swiveling as it listened for sounds, a jagged piece of metal nailed across its eyes gave the impression it was blind, but as the large bull stepped forward and drew his sword it looked directly at him.

"Stand back ladies, I've got this" the bovine stated smugly, sword raised as he charged at the beast.

"No, wait you fool! You don't know what you're..." Fury tried to warn him, her fingers just missing his cloak twisting in the night air behind him to try stop him. But it was too late, the large bull closed in on the Ravenous within a few strides and swung his sword down in a heavy arc. With a sickening crunch the bull lodged his blade along the top of the creatures head, but the beast did not go down as expected. It barely even flinched at the blow, or at the rough tugs at the sword to try dislodge it from the panicked bull. Instead the creature lunged forward and tackled the bull to the ground with unholy strength, its jaw unhinging like a snake about to devour prey before it bit down on his neck, through the chainmail and guard alike. The bull's startled scream cut to a quick gurgling end as the creature yanked its head back, tossing a chunk of the bull up into the air and snatching it up like a trained dog.

"Goddamit!" Fury cursed as she rushed after the bull, swinging her sword at the creatures head just before it lunged for the bull's throat, but it just raised an arm and sacrificed a limb to deflect the blow in order to have at its meal. The severed arm spinning and sailing off into the gloom as blood spouted from the creatures now stump. Fury watched on helplessly as the creature began to bite and rip chunks out of the bull, teeth piercing his armor as if it were wet paper.

Only when the faint red glow was cast over it did the creature pause and look up at Fury, her eye ablaze with crimson fire, matching the runes down the center of her blade and the gemstone in its pommel. With a frustrated cry the she wolf began to hack and slash at the creature, ignoring its pained wails and cries as bits and pieces of it began to decorate the landscape until nothing but a bloodied mess remained as evidence of it ever having existed. Fury dropped to her knees beside the corpse of the bull now staring unseeing at the night sky, gritting her teeth as she silently cursed his stupidity, the crimson glow slowly ebbing from her eye and blade alike.

"You...did what you could" Captain Peay stammered as he walked over to stand a few paces away from Fury. "We'll...we'll take care of this. You've done enough, you should go back inside."

"I fear things are only going to get worse from here..." the she wolf replied with a growl, getting to her feet and heading back inside. "Ravenous are not autonomous, something or someone sent it here."

Fury halted just as she approached the gate, seeing Ormund standing watching with awe on his face. Thinking he would be afraid of her now, after seeing what she truly was, she was surprised when the bear began to laugh and clap his hands in amusement, despite the gruesome scene ahead. Fury frowned at him in confusion, thinking he had gone mad.

"For a lady of impressive stature, you move with the grace of a gazelle. It's a pity about the bull, but you did try warn him. I know you'd have saved the lad if'n you could have" Ormund smiled at the shocked wolfess, walking over to rest his hand at the small of her back before ushering her back inside. "I think you need something to cheer you up, I'll pour you a pint, how does that sound?"

"Good..." she didn't know what else to say, the bears good nature and smile seemed a good soothing balm for any pain and anguish she'd been feeling over the most recent events of the evening.

Any lingering self-pity and doubts began to fade as Ormund sat beside Fury and regaled her with tales of his youth. Joy watched on with interest as she noticed the subtle shift in her friends body language, the she wolf was sitting right beside the large bear and only seemed to have eyes for him. It was the first time in a long time that she could remember ever seeing Fury smile and actually laugh, it made her heart happy to see. When Ormund's gaze met hers briefly, he actually blushed when Joy winked at him with a slight nod at the wolfess. The old bear just smiled and raised his tankard to Joy before returning to his conversation with Fury and let the rest of the world fade away.

Seeing her friend would be busy and did not require her assistance with anything for the near future, Joy turned to grin at the leopard sitting beside her. His hand on her thigh giving a subtle squeeze when she leaned in close to whisper something into his ear that brought a grin to his lips. Like a pair of conspiring teenagers they looked around the room to make sure they weren't being watched before making a hasty getaway, joy giggling all the way to the loft of the barn where they collapsed onto a pile of hay. The handsome feline leaning over her, fingers brushing at her cheek before he leaned down to catch her lips in a soft lingering kiss.

She didn't know how long they had been talking, but when Fury eventually looked over to where Joy had been sitting she was met with an empty chair. Her cheeks flushing with color when she noted the seat beside Joy's, where the leopard she'd been flirting with ever since they'd arrived, was also empty. A large hand came to rest at her far shoulder, turning to look back up at Ormund as he smiled down at her, pulling her against his chest in a soft hug. In slow motion he leaned forward, toward her and suddenly his lips were on hers. She was a warrior, a fighter that had faced the very forces of hell, but that kiss scared her more than anything she'd been through so far. Her heart pounding like a drum in her chest as she was frozen in place, unsure what to do or how to react. All she knew was that she didn't want to turn away, didn't want it to end. Even when it did end and Ormund leaned back with an apologetic look in his eyes, she chased after his lips and took a kiss of her own from the startled bear.

When the kiss broke for a second time, Fury was met by a look of amusement and affection. Ormund's warm inviting hazel gaze stared back into her singular sapphire eye, showing no signs of any ill intent or ulterior motives. His hand at her cheek cupping and cradling while his thumb brushed against her fur gently. A strange almost alien feeling began to well up within Fury the longer she sat staring at Ormund, staring into one another's eyes until their lips met in another kiss, this time with more than just mere affection, with a growing need for one another.

The next moments were a jumble of rushed images, Fury and Ormund stumbling out of the main room and down the little passage to his room. Hands all over one another as their lips constantly met and separated in a multitude of kisses with growing desire. Her armor being undone and clattering noisily to the floor until they both were bare as they day they were born beneath the covers of the bears bed. Ormund despite his size was soft and gentle, bringing untold pleasure and comfort to the she wolf and making her feel attractive and loved for the first time in her life despite the many wounds and scars she bore on her hide. Eventually sleep would find them, a deep restful sleep, one not consumed with worry and regret as she'd gotten used to. A profound and deep sleep she so desperately needed and craved, laying curled up in Ormund's arms with his gentle breathing rocking her soothingly against his chest.

The peaceful and pleasant dream Fury was having begun to turn dark, the sound of someone screaming in the distance began to pervade her sunny world. Her brow furrowed and ears twitched as the screaming remained persistent, until finally she awoke with a grumble. Yawning and rubbing at her eye, smiling over at Ormund still sleeping soundly beside her.

But there it was again, the blood curdling scream, coming from outside. Fury leapt from the bed and began dressing as fast as she possibly could, Ormund yawning and commenting "Such a pity to cover up a derriere so fine" before noticing the worried look on her face. He sat up and watched her dash from the room while fastening the last of her armor into place before he got out of bed and began looking for his pants to join her.

Fury darted from the Inn and out into the main road, seeing a small gathering beside the barn, she made her way over and began pushing people aside to see what the commotion was about. A young girl sat kneeling on the floor, hands covering her eyes as she blabbered incoherently, pointing back up into the barn. Gritting her teeth and drawing her sword, Fury entered the barn and made her way up the steps to the loft, ready to block any attacks, but once she got to the top of the stairs she couldn't see anyone inside.

Then she saw them, a pair of boots poking out from behind a pile of hay, making her way around to get a better look, she was met with the sight of the young leopard Joy had been with. His arms bent and broken to unnatural angles, his head twisted the wrong way around. Fury very nearly threw up when she rolled him over to find his tail had been ripped off and crammed into his open mouth, but her revulsion at the scene before her quickly dwindled when she saw Joy's bow staff laying broken in two in the corner. Whatever had killed the leopard had taken her, the more Fury looked around the more signs of a struggle she found.

"What's going on up there?" Ormund called from below, only to be met by Fury leaping down over his head, hitting the ground running as she exited the barn. Nose twitching and ears perked as she followed the trail of what ever had taken Joy. Her heart beating with growing anxiety, not knowing if her companion was even still alive, or if she'd met a similar fate to the poor mangled leopard.

The trail led Fury a fair ways away from the village, stopping at a rusted wrought iron gate with a crumbling stone wall surrounding what appeared to be a graveyard. Up on the hill was a large marble structure, what appeared to be a mausoleum that led down into a structure beneath the hill. Smaller graves dotted the side of the hill leading down to the flatter ground where more common or even unmarked graves were laid out in concentric circles.

As Fury reached for the rusted gate, a hand reached out and grasped her wrist to halt her. The wolfess raising her sword ready to attack when she saw the hand belonged to Captain Peay, a finger raised to his lips as he shook his head before pointing further into the graveyard. That was when she finally noticed them, shambling and groaning figures. Their rotting flesh hanging from their limbs and torsos, or in some instances no longer even existent at all. Whatever was here had reanimated the dead as protection from intruders. Fury cursed, knowing she didn't have time to formulate a plan and deal with these undead, she needed to get to Joy.

Almost as one the undead stopped their shuffling and turned to stare at Fury and Peay standing at the graveyard gate. "Fuck" cursed the she wolf as she took a few steps back drawing her sword as did the Captain. The undead slammed against the rusted gate, causing it to creak and buckle. Their arms reaching through the gate to try grasp at the living beings just out of reach, so desperate to get at them that what remaining flesh on their bodies began to rip and tear, exposing bone and spilling their foul decaying entrails to the ground. The air quickly filling with the stench of death and decay as the horde frantically rammed themselves against the gate and crumbling stone wall.

Finally the old wall around the wrought iron gave way and the gate collapsed with a loud clang and clatter on the rocky ground. The horde was free and rushing at Fury, seeming to be drawn to her and ignoring the surprised feline captain. Thankfully he was quick to capitalize on their indifference to his presence and began hacking away at limbs and torsos from behind as Fury swung her Claymore in wide arcs, cutting through the first row with ease and bisecting the corpses. The undead would not be deterred so easily by the mere loss of their legs however, crawling and grasping at Fury's legs and causing her to stumble, ultimately falling back and beneath a wave of rotting flesh.

Captain Peay cursed and began hacking at the pile of zombies harder than ever, his arms already beginning to burn with exhaustion. Just as it seemed like Fury was a goner, crimson light began to shine through the gaps between the bodies piled atop the she wolf. "Get back!" he barely heard in time before diving away to one side, a moment before a loud explosion erupted beneath the pile, sending bits and pieces of tattered corpses scattering around the graveyard. Getting to his feet quickly and rushing over to kneel beside a sizzling and smoking Fury, hissing as his fingers felt the heat of her armor when he reached down to gently touch her shoulder and see if she was still alive. With a groan she opened her good eye and stared up at the night sky.

"Help me up, that took a lot out of me..." Fury painfully said through clenched teeth.

Peay quickly did as told, slipping under an arm to help Fury to her feet while looking around to make sure there were no undead left to deal with. "Whatever you just did...really did the trick..." the feline said with unrestrained awe in his voice as they made their way up the winding path to the mausoleum. By the time they reached the door, Fury was able to stand on her own again.

"I'll understand if you wish to go no further" she halted briefly to say to the Captain.

"And let you get all the glory?" Captain Peay teased with a smile at Fury, reaching over to push the door open when she nodded for him to do so. The entrance was bare, save for a few alcoves where various urns were stored and empty places for future patrons to join their relatives when the time came. A stairway at the back of the room lead down and around to whatever lay below, the lights of the sconces on the entry way only reaching so far and leaving the passage beyond cast in darkness. Even Captain Peay's naturally good night vision was useless in the absolute pitch black beyond as they descended down the stairs and into the inky blackness of the passage.

Making their forward in the oppressing darkness, their journey was slower than either would have liked. Up ahead a small flame flickered from a candle perched atop an altar, something lay on the floor before the alter in the dancing light, motionless. Fury felt her chest tighten, she recognized the brown coat of the person she now could partially make out from the distance. Her pace quickened as she could make out the floor of the passage, seeing there were no hidden obstructions that lay before them. Almost starting to run the last few feet to get to Joy when she saw the mare open her not so bruised eye, weakly raising a hand to point at something while shaking her head in warning.

Fury saw it too late, a massive fist swung out from behind the doorway, hitting her square in the chest and sending the wolfess flying back down the passage into darkness. Pain flared within her chest as she gasped for air, finding it suddenly hard to breathe. With her head spinning she reached down and touched against the center of her breastplate to find what ever had hit her had done so with enough force to buckle the metal, which was now pressing in against her chest. Awkwardly Fury undid the straps of her armor to get it off and make it easier to breath, pain flaring anew as she tried to get up on her feet. Clutching at her chest the wolfess winced as she felt her broken ribs every time she moved, but that would have to wait. Up ahead the large beast had captured the Captain and had him pinned to the ground with its vicious sword raising for the killing blow.

Captain Peay cried out in surprise as the large she wolf was sent flying back past him down the passage. Turning around just in time to see a large quadrapedal creature reaching out with a massive hand to grip around his head. Its grip tight enough to make his helmet groan in protest as it attempted to protect the good Captain's skull within. Effortlessly it raised him up off his feet, only to slam him down on the mausoleum floor with enough force it felt like his spine had been shattered. It stomped a heavy foot down against his chest to pin him in place as it grabbed for its large hooked sword, arm raising up high as it prepared to cleave the felines head in two.

Captain Peay could do nothing but watch in horror as the beasts arm began to descend down towards him. His ears flicked at an odd whooshing sound coming from the dark passage, his eyes briefly flicking to the side and catching sight of a red glowing object spiraling and hurtling towards the beast before passing straight through its descending arm. A fountain of thick black blood spurted from the beasts stump as its sword fell to the floor with a heavy metallic clang, it's now severed hand still gripping at the handle.

His attention now fully drawn to the dark passage, the feline watched in awe as first a glowing red eye appeared, soon followed by a pair of glowing red angelic wings. The wings soft crimson glow illuminated Fury as she stood snarling, fists clenched, while feathers dripped from her like blood drops, only to turn into cinders behind as she began sprinting straight for the beast.

Leaping into the air as she entered the room, Fury swung and punched the creature square in the face, cracking its nose and bringing forth another spurt of thick black inky blood. The beast roared in pain and anger, swiping at Fury with its sword hand but missing as the stump swung past her nose and spattered her face with its blood instead. Fury smirked and ducked down low before bursting up with all her strength, her fist connecting against the beasts jaw with a loud crack followed by an agonized wail. The large creature stumbled back a step, its jaw now broken hanging limp as it gurgled and snarled at the wolfess who'd taken a step back to ready for its counter attack.

The creatures eyes darted down for a brief second, seeing it was standing over its severed hand and the sword it still clutched. With frightening speed it lunged and gripped at its detached hand to begin violently swinging the sword at Fury, but the wolfess was ready. She'd seen its intent and drew her flintlock pistol, aiming straight for the beasts head she fired the small round metal bullet square into its forehead. The beast stopped for a brief moment in confusion, it had felt the bullet enter the front of its head, but there was nothing after that. Its lips curled into a sneer, again raising its sword as it charged at Fury in a final victory dash.

"Kulipuka" Fury said softly before the creatures head exploded in a shower of blood and gore. Its large corpse collapsing and crumpling into a heap at the she wolfs feet. "Probably should've started with that..." she sighed before reaching down to tend to Joy, her good eye still glowing crimson as her palms began to glow. Joy winced at first, but soon breathed a sigh of relief as she felt her wounds starting to mend, the pain beginning to subside.

"What was that, what you just did?" Peay asked as he knelt down beside Fury, helping her lift Joy up to her feet before the trio began to make their way out of the mausoleum.

"I told the bullet to explode..." Fury replied simply.

"Is that right? Well I guess now is good a time as any for me to apologize and hopefully get out of your bad books?" the feline offered with a hopeful smile, after all they'd been through even Fury had to smile at him, giving a slight nod of affirmation.

The going was slow as Captain Peay the only one of the trio able to walk comfortably under his own strength, he was also unfortunately smaller than Fury whom was battling to breathe let alone walk with her cracked ribs.

"What's that smell, like smoke?" Joy asked as she sniffed the night air.

As the trees cleared and the path wound around the last bend they could see Havensbrooke engulfed in flames, though there was no shouting or screaming. Captain Peay slipped out from under Joy's arm and ran through the open gates down the center road of the village, finding an odd tall figure of a woman standing amidst the fire and destruction. Every time she raised her hand and snapped her fingers another building would burst into flames, the flickering orange light illuminating her soft porcelain features and a face that looked heavy with sorrow.

"You bitch, what did you do!? I'll kill you!" Captain Peay yelled, drawing his sword and starting to run at the figure. The tall slender woman did not flinch, did not attempt to flee and didn't even appear to notice the feline clad in armor storming up at her. Almost in slow motion she raised a hand and extended her index finger, lightly tapping it to Captain Peay's forehead once he got close enough, the feline stopping dead in his tracks and began screaming. His arms going slack, his sword dropping to the ground with a clatter as he turned around to face Fury and Joy, his features rapidly becoming sunken and hollow. All color graining from his fur as his screaming began to gurgle and splutter until with a final wheeze the Captain collapsed to the ground, a mere husk of his former self. The corpse of the Captain continued to decay and crumble, until a soft breeze carried his ashes away into crimson sky.

Fury and Joy watched in horror as the Captain ceased to exist in a matter of seconds, the she wolf stepping in front of the injured mare and drawing her sword defensively to protect her. The figure smiled a pitiful smile down at where the Captain had fallen before she looked up at the sword wielding Knight.

"Do not take what I do as a personal attack against yourself or your loved ones, Chosen. I take no joy in the suffering my mere existence causes these mortals, I simply exist to fulfill the natural order of the world" the being said, barely above a whisper, but every syllable was painfully clear.

"You killed them...you killed them all!" Fury shouted through a growl, raising her sword accusingly at the being.

"It was a necessity, to prevent further bloodshed down the line. If this place had been allowed to grow and prosper, it would eventually lead to a power struggle in this region, causing untold wars and death." The being replied solemnly.

"I don't believe you..." Fury's gaze narrowed at the being, for once uncertain of their true intentions.

"Regardless of your belief in me, I know my hands are not clean, but then your Gods are not as innocent as you think, they have blood on their hands too" By the last few words the figure simply faded from sight, leaving behind a disembodied voice and nothing for Fury to vent her frustrations on.

Fury slowly turned from the spot where the being had been standing, dreading to look and see what she knew to be there. The Inn was in flames, the roof already starting to cave in. Just beyond the doorway was a large form burned beyond recognition, its hand outstretched for the door as if trying to escape. A sharp pain stabbed within Fury's chest, she knew, oh how she knew but didn't want to accept it.

The last few hours suddenly came crashing down on her, her legs feeling weak and crumbling beneath the wolfess. Slumping to the floor, unable to look away from the burning figure or Ormund before her, tears began to cascade down her cheeks, staining her white fur and leaving dark trails in their wake.

Thoughts and memories of Ormund came flooding back, their last few moments together as they lay together in his bed. Bodies pressed close together, Fury felt both totally exposed but also the safest and most comfortable she had ever felt in all her life, wrapped up in the big bear's arms.

"So what's it like being, you know...Chosen?" Ormund had asked out of curiosity.

"Lonely..." Fury had replied honestly.

"Can't be that bad, Joy seems like a right delight to have around"

"Chosen were never meant to find true happiness. Love turns to cinders in our hearts, an inescapable all-consuming blaze as happiness forever turns to ashes in our hands" Lorelei had recited from scriptures warning Chosen about trying to form bonds with common folk.

"Guess you'll just have to take what little you get then" He'd smiled at her, gently rolling her over towards himself to press his lips to hers in a tender kiss. His hands exploring her body again as their desires stirred anew.