FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Ellie rolled over onto her belly and peered at the glowing red numbers of her alarm clock: 8:54. Had it been a weekday, Ellie would have panicked, late again for her shift at the local newspaper, the Maplesburg Press. Ellie was a political columnist specializing in civil rights issues, and lately, she'd been investigating a story about rats being denied housing for being "too predatory" in nature. Ellie herself was a white rabbit with dark brown splotches and a black spot under her nose. She lived in a highrise apartment North of downtown Maplesburg with her pet kitty Jason.

However, as it was Sunday, Ellie languidly rolled out of bed, placing her furry clawed feet on the carpeted floor and standing up. She hopped out of her bedroom and across the apartment to the bathroom where she peed before hopping back out to the living room to a metal cage on the back wall. Inside, her little kitty was curled in his plush bed, whiskers twitching occasionally as he dreamed his kitty dreams. Ellie would have liked to know what it was he dreamed about, but whenever she asked, he said he didn't remember.

Ellie unlocked the padlock that held the door on top of the cage in place. Ellie didn't think her kitty would run away, but it sometimes happened; sometimes predators disappeared from locked cages too though no one knew how. If your predator got away, you didn't get another. The click of the lock caused Jason to stir, but he didn't open his eyes. Carefully, Ellie popped open the door and reached inside to scoop up her little pet; he fit comfortably on one arm. Holding him on his back, Ellie stroked his belly, and he yawned, opening his pretty sea green eyes to regard her in his placid way.

"Good morning, silly kitty. Are you ready for breakfast?"

Ellie rarely called Jason by his proper name, preferring pet names like silly kitty, little guy, and sometimes "Stripey Pants". Jason was a brown mackerel tabby with lovely black stripes. He didn't mind the pet names; he was her pet afterall. Sixteen years ago, when she'd first gotten him on her twelfth birthday--when all prey were assigned their predator pets--he'd been more uncomfortable with the pet names. Two years younger than Ellie, he'd also been upset to leave his mother. Ellie felt sorry about that, but predators had done a lot worse to prey long ago.

Hundreds of years ago, prey had been hunted and eaten by the carnivorous predators. Only when prey had invented their shrink ray, a revolutionary piece of technology that upended the balance of power, had they put an end to violent predation. Within a number of years, the last of the predators had been successfully shrunk and subjugated, placing the power entirely in the paws of prey. Some prey had wanted to wipe the predators out, but fortunately, more compassionate voices had prevailed. Predators became the property of prey, little pets for them to tend and care for. Prey maintained predator species by selectively breeding those that took best to their new lives, and it had been declared a right for each prey to care for their own predator pet. In the modern day, there were many protections for predators to ensure kind treatment, and predators didn't even have to eat insects as they once had. Lab-grown meat had allowed them to return to their natural diets though some prey found the smell of the vat-grown flesh too intolerable. Ellie found it an acceptable sacrifice for her kitty's happiness.

"Can I have bacon this morning, Ellie?" Jason mewed.

Ellie grimaced at the mention of the pungent meat but then nodded, "I'll make you some oatmeal to go with it."

Ellie carried her kitty to the dining area and set him at one end of the two-seat table by the window. She went to the kitchen and prepared bacon for him and oatmeal for both of them. She then sat at the chair at the other end while they ate together.

"Your birthday is coming up Wednesday this week," Ellie commented. "Twenty-six. Is there anything you want for your special day? Special food maybe? A new toy?"

Jason shrugged embarrassedly, "I don't need anything special."

"You should get something special," Ellie pressed.

Jason eyed her enigmatically for several seconds, "There is one thing I'd like."

Ellie grinned and nodded, "Whatever you want, little guy. You know I'd do anything for you."

"I, I'd like to be big," Jason answered hesitantly. "As big as you."

Ellie leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and frowning, "I don't know about that, Jason."

He looked away sadly, "Alright." He went back to eating though he didn't seem to be enjoying his food much anymore.

Ellie continued to watch him until she couldn't take his gloominess anymore. She huffed exasperatedly, "Don't give me that, Jason. You know why predators have to be small!"

The cat looked up, his sea green eyes staring into hers intently, staring into her soul. The earnestness of his gaze made Ellie a little uncomfortable.

"I'd never hurt you, Ellie," he said after a moment. "Never ever."

Ellie let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, "I know that, kitty," she conceded. "But it's against the rules; you know that. You wouldn't want them to take you away, would you?"

Jason shook his head, "No, but I'd be careful. I wouldn't let anyone see me. Just for one day, Ellie, please?"

Ellie frowned again, "I'll think about it," she allowed.

"Thank you, Ellie." He went back to eating, happier again.

The rest of the day, Ellie kept rolling the idea over in her mind. Her apartment was on the fifth floor, so no one would be likely to see the cat through the window. However, I could cover the windows just to be sure. She'd lock the door, and they could just hang out together. Ellie wasn't sure why Jason thought being her size would make a difference; he'd still be her pet. But she couldn't deny that she was intrigued by the idea. What would it be like to cuddle her kitty if he was as big as her?

* * *

The next day at work, Ellie was still distracted by the idea. She'd collected testimonies from over two dozen rats and was trying to consolidate them and pick the best few stories for examples, but she couldn't focus. She was reading the same sentence for the sixth time when the robin at the desk next to hers chirped at her.

"Is something on your mind today, Ellie?"

Ellie turned to regard the bird conflictedly. Should she tell her? She'd worked with Matilda for over five years and thought of her as a friend though she sometimes had trouble reading the bird. I have to tell someone, Ellie decided. Ellie made sure no one else was within ear-shot and leaned toward the bird whispering vaguely, "I'm having some trouble with my predator."

"Oh?" Matilda chirped in surprise.

"Shh!" Ellie warned.

Matilda chirped softly, "What kind of trouble?"

"His birthday is coming up-"

"And you can't think of a present." Matilda finished. She laughed, a rapid peeping chuckle. "Just buy him something nice to eat; they like that."

"No! Listen!" Ellie hissed. "He knows what he wants. He wants to be big for the day, my size!"

The robin stared at her in disbelief for a few seconds before hissing back, "And you're considering it?!"

"He really wants it," Ellie defended herself. "Besides I know he'd never hurt me."

"It's illegal, Ellie!" Matilda chirped. "You know why! We're only allowed to change their size for breeding, to make them a compatible size, and even that's risky! Do you know how many mice have been attacked when they made their predators bigger to breed with those of larger prey?!"

"They made their predators bigger than them. I'll only make him my size."

"They still have fangs and claws and-"

"Jason's claws are trimmed."

"Still! It's too risky! I'm sure he'll understand. Buy him a new feather wand."

"Maybe you're right," Ellie conceded.

"Of course I am! You're usually so sensible, Ellie. I can't believe I had to tell you this was dumb."

Ellie went back to working, less conflicted than before. Matilda was right: it was too risky, even for the illegality of it. Jason would understand.

* * *

Ellie bought Jason some nice steaks and a new feather wand on her way home. She put them away before getting him out of his cage so that they'd be a surprise. She carried him to the couch and sat with him on his back on her lap. He nudged his head against her belly affectionately, and she stroked his soft cheek. She continued to pet him, and soon he began to purr contentedly.

"You do like living with me, don't you, kitty?" she murmured worriedly.

He stopped purring and looked up in surprise, "Of course I do, Ellie. You take good care of me."

She stroked him again before admitting, "I've thought about your request, and I just don't think it's feasible, kitty. We'll still have your special day--I'm taking the day off--but you'll have to stay your current size."

Jason looked up at her with sad sea green eyes, "I understand, Ellie."

"I'm sorry, Stripey Pants. I know it's what you wanted, but it's illegal. And that's that."

"Of course it's illegal," Jason grumbled. "Prey's laws are never fair."

Ellie looked at the cat in shock, "Jason! What do you mean? I know they used to be unfair, but there are so many protections now! Predators live good lives, even if they're small."

"We could live together without us being small," Jason rejoined. "You'd see that if you allowed it. We could be equals."

"Predators and prey have never been equals," Ellie returned. "You ate us forever, and then we invented the shrink ray and took control. What makes you think we'd be equal if we let you be big again?"

"We have lab-grown meat now," Jason answered. "We wouldn't have to choose between peace and eating bugs. Every predator I know just wants to be equal. We understand why prey did what they did, but it's not fair anymore."

"Is that why you want to be big?" Ellie probed. "You're trying to prove a point? Even if you proved it to me, there's not much I could do. And I'd have to shrink you again, or they'd take you away."

"I know, Ellie, but if I convinced you, you could write about it, try to convince other prey. It has to start somewhere."

Ellie frowned, once again full of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Was how prey treated predators really unfair? Could they really live in peace if predators were their proper size? What if it's a trick?! Before, Ellie had been sure Jason wouldn't hurt her, but now she worried he might just want to escape. If it is unfair, could I make a difference? Ellie didn't think other prey would be receptive to the idea; they liked having their predator pets. So do I. Was that why she was so reluctant to entertain the idea? Maybe she just liked owning Jason. It was an uncomfortable thought. She'd always thought of herself as a kind guardian. She'd tried to make her kitty happy. Did she care more about her power over him than his happiness?

They had dinner, and then Ellie put Jason to bed. However, she was unable to sleep herself, tossing and turning, tortured by conflict and indecision.

* * *

Matilda noticed Ellie's state the next day at work, "You look like Tartarus!" she chirped. "Is your predator still giving you trouble? Maybe you should send him to a kennel for a few days."

"I'm not going to do that on his birthday!" Ellie snapped. "Or ever. If I can't treat him fairly, I don't deserve to have a pet!"

Matilda held up her gray wings in surrender, "Alright, I see it's a touchy subject. I just hope you're not considering making him big again."

"I'm not," Ellie lied.

Matilda left her alone the rest of the day, as did everyone else at the office. They could see she was in a foul mood.

That evening, Ellie tromped into the apartment, and roughly grabbed Jason out of his cage. He yowled in surprise and possibly pain. Ellie glared at him.

"Zeus blast you, Jason!" she shouted. "I've been miserable all day because of you!"

"I-I'm sorry," he whimpered.

"Are you? I assume you're pleased I've felt so guilty about being prey. That's what you wanted, isn't it?!"

Jason shook his head vigorously, "I-I don't want you to feel bad. You've treated me as well as you possibly could. I just want to be able to show you how it could be!"

Ellie eyed him suspiciously, "That's it?"

"That's it. I promise, Ellie. I wouldn't ever hurt you, and I want you to be happy too."

Ellie sighed resignedly, "Alright, kitty."

"Huh?"

"You can have what you want, a day to convince me we should let predators be big again."

He blinked in surprise, "I can?" Apparently, he hadn't expected to convince her.

"Yes, just make sure I don't regret it. I want you to be happy, Jason, but don't think that convincing me will mean predators will be equal anytime soon. If you're right, I'll do what I can, but it will be long after we're both dead before anything changes. Prey like having their pets."

"I understand. Thank you, Ellie," he said gratefully.

Ellie let Jason have one of the steaks she'd bought him for dinner that night and then played with him with his new feather wand. He was so adorable jumping and batting at the toy that the remainder of Ellie's frustration with the cat melted away. He'll see it's better this way. I'll let him see being big is just an inconvenience. Ellie put Jason away and went to bed, sleeping well for the first time since Sunday.

* * *

Ellie was awakened by the sound of jazz, her alarm clock switching on the radio. She'd set it despite not going to work today so that Jason could have the full day to try out being her size. She peed and then went to collect him from his cage. Setting him on the couch, Ellie went to the back closet and removed the shrink ray gun from its safe. She switched it from shrink to grow and hopped back over to the couch.

"Alright, kitty, this isn't supposed to hurt," she stated.

With that, she turned the ray on him and pulled the trigger until he was as tall as her. Releasing the trigger, she watched the cat cautiously. He stretched and looked around the room before turning back to her, a joyful smile spreading over his face.

"Thank you, Ellie! Can I give you a hug?"

Ellie hesitated but only a moment. Grinning, she nodded, and the cat sprang up from the couch. A couple strides and his arms were around her, hugging her tight. Still holding the gun in one hand, she hugged him back. Okay, this is one thing that's better.

Ellie pulled away, "Let me put this away, and then we'll spend the day together," Ellie said, lifting the gun.

She turned and hopped back toward the safe, but suddenly, Jason collided with her like a ton of bricks, knocking her to the floor and the gun from her grasp. Ellie screamed in shock, but one of his hands quickly went over her mouth, the other arm wrapping around her neck, choking her.

"I'm sorry, Ellie," he meowed contritely. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

It was quite a thing to say with your arm around someone's neck! Ellie struggled, but she couldn't get away. The edges of her vision started to get dark, and then she passed out.

When Ellie woke up, Jason was standing over her looking worried. He was even bigger, head and shoulders taller than her and probably three times her weight, given his stockier body. Shit. Immediately, Ellie realized her error: she should have put him on the scale and gone by weight, not height. She'd made him too big, and now he'd made himself even bigger. Then she noticed he was holding the shrink ray and whimpered.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. Don't be afraid," Jason mewled pleadingly. "I'm glad you're okay. I was afraid I hurt you."

"W-what do you want?" Ellie whimpered.

"Freedom," he stated bluntly. "To be my own person, not someone's property. We aren't going to wait until prey decide we're allowed to have that."

Ellie felt a sinking feeling in her gut. What had she done?! He's only one cat, she reminded herself. He won't get far. "Don't do this, Jason," she pleaded. "They'll take you away from me. There's nothing you can do on your own."

Jason looked down at her sadly, "I'm sorry, Ellie. This has been coming for a while. It would have happened no matter what you did."

Does he mean there are more escaped predators? Do they also have shrink rays? What are they planning?! Despite all of these questions, what she asked was, "W-why did you trick me then?" If it hadn't mattered, why had he betrayed her?

"I wanted to be able to protect you," Jason stated. "We don't want anyone to get hurt, but we can't be sure it won't happen. I couldn't protect you while I was small."

Ellie stared at the cat, unsure how to feel. Protect me? You betrayed me! She was going to tell him what she thought of his protection, when he turned the ray gun on her. "N-no," she whimpered.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I'll make you the right size again when this is over," he apologized.

The beam hit her in the chest, causing a warm sensation but no pain. Ellie watched her apartment grow up around her until everything was enormous. Jason stepped toward her as the beam cut out. Ellie leapt up and tried to make a dash for she-didn't-know-what, but Jason pounced and caught her, scooping her up in one arm.

"Shh, you never hurt me, and I'll never hurt you," he soothed.

Jason went to her hall closet and found a coat with a hood. It was a magenta raincoat, but apparently that didn't bother him. He used the ray to adjust the size so that it was a bit too large for him. Ellie was impressed by his ingenuity; she hadn't even been aware the beam worked on synthetic material. Tenderly holding Ellie in his teeth by the scruff, he donned the baggy coat, transforming into a nondescript hooded figure. Then he dug a backpack out of the closet and filled the main compartment with supplies. He slipped the ray gun into one pocket of his coat and then slipped Ellie into the one on the other side, zipping it shut. Ellie squirmed nervously inside the mesh and plastic magenta prison. Where was he going to take her? She heard the door of her apartment creak open, and then the lock being thrown.

"Don't worry. It'll all be here when this is over," Jason murmured.

With that, Ellie felt him quickly walk away; to where, she did not know.

* * *

Jason crept through the tunnel to the secret Maplesburg predator base. Ironically, these same tunnels had once been used by merchant prey who wished to trade with the murderous predators, but all of that was long ago. It had been hundreds of years since the last prey had been killed and eaten, and now predators were the ones who were subjugated. But not for long. All was almost ready for their rebellion. They'd freed enough of their kind and collected enough of the shrink rays. In cities all over the world, predators were preparing to liberate themselves but not to return to their former position of dominance. Jason had been honest with Ellie to the extent that he could be: the predators didn't want war, which would have been needed to subjugate the prey. They only wanted to force the prey to set the rest of them free, to return them to their proper sizes so that they could live as equals. If they shrank enough prey and took them hostage, the other prey would be forced to agree to their terms. Then everyone could be returned to proper size, and they could begin the healing required to live in peace as equals. Jason knew that would take work, that trust wouldn't be immediate, but the predators were willing to try if the prey would.

As Jason approached the underground base, he put a gentle hand on his most precious cargo, still safely zipped in his pocket, his former owner Ellie. Jason knew many predators resented their owners and wouldn't have brought them with them. In fact, it would have been dangerous early on as the prey would have certainly investigated missing prey more thoroughly than missing predators. But the rebellion was only days away; Ellie's absence would hardly be noticed. Besides, he hadn't wanted to leave her on her own. He cared for the rabbit, who had always been kind to him. He wouldn't let anything happen to her, and when this was over, perhaps they could still live together. If that was alright with her, Jason thought he might like it too. The hug he'd given her hadn't been a cynical ploy, at least not entirely. Jason had wanted to make sure he got one hug in before he had to scare her. He wanted her to remember that moment of happiness because that's what he wanted for everyone, predators and prey alike. Jason patted Ellie through the coat again and then strode into the predator base, toward freedom.

* * *

Jason rolled over onto his side and wrapped an arm over his former owner. He hugged the rabbit, now returned to her proper size, close to his chest. Ellie sighed contentedly in his loving embrace.

The rebellion had gone even better than planned. The prey had been caught completely off guard, and millions had been captured throughout Lapineva alone. Convinced that the vicious predators would devour their comrades, the remaining prey had been anxious to negotiate. The predators had bargained not only for their freedom, but also for reparations, money they would need to begin their lives independent from their former owners. In return for the right to join prey society as equals, predators had agreed to complete extensive training to control their deadly instincts. Only after negotiations had ended, everyone had been returned to their proper sizes, and reparations had been paid had the predators revealed that they'd never had any intention of harming their captives, let alone eating them. Many prey were dubious, but the fact that the only people hurt in the rebellion had been predators shot with conventional weapons--something the predators themselves hadn't even used--lent credibility to this claim.

While many predators had parted with their former owners on amicable terms, a very few decided not to leave at all. It was no longer legal to shrink someone, except in self-defense, or to own another person, but some predators considered their former owners more like their family than their oppressors. For many predators, they were indeed the only family they really remembered. Some prey had been wary about allowing them to stay now that they couldn't shrink them and keep them as pets. Some prey refused to have anything to do with their former pets, feeling betrayed by the predators they'd cared for. However, others, who had truly loved their predators, were glad to make room in their homes for the full-sized carnivores.

Thus, it was a fraction of a fraction of a fraction that returned to their former owners' homes, but Jason was one of them for one special reason: both he and Ellie had experienced caring for the other from both sides of the equation. Each had been owner and pet. Although Jason had never referred to Ellie as his pet, during the rebellion, there had been little functional difference between how she'd treated him as her pet and how he'd treated her. Therefore, both knew the other truly cared for them and wanted them to be happy, and nothing made Jason happier than holding the rabbit securely in his arms, equals at last in law and in love.

For Ellie's part, she said she must have been blessed to have received the world's sweetest kitty all those years ago. She wrote columns in the Maplesburg Press describing the love and unity predator and prey could share in this brave new world. And if Jason still let her pet him or tease him with a laser pointer or call him "Stripey Pants", well, that was nice too.