FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The tavern of Hidden Water was buzzing with excitement that night, the harvest festival held in honor of the god Wilku attracted hundreds of travelers every year. On the outskirts of the village there were dozens of stores with exotic products sold by the travelers: ingredients, weapons, tools, clothes, magic items, beasts of prey, books, etc.

All this movement in the small rural town was a real feast for the children and young people of the place, so many wonders, strange faces, and opportunities to escape from the quiet place. Most of the villagers were satisfied with a quiet and routine life, but others suffered an unbearable burning in their chest that made their hearts race and forced them to run towards adventure.

On the first night of the festival, a young rabbit moved excitedly among the travelers' tents. The boy's clothing was a simple linen tunic, rather grimy and old, shorts that exposed his knees, a rope that served as a belt, and old leather boots.

The bunny's muzzle twitched curiously in front of a table full of strange objects that had the appearance of being magical.

A tall wolf, dressed in a purple robe, looked at the boy and smiled, "What can I do for you, boy?" asked the lupine.

The rabbit startled a little at the sound of the adult's voice, "Nothing, sir, I was just looking," he hastened to reply.

The big wolf reached into the pockets of his tunic, pulled out a strange monocle, and peered at the boy through the glass," Oh! Very interesting..." muttered the canine.

"What is it?" asked the boy.

The vendor put away his monocle, cleared his throat and began pointing to the items on his table, "This blanket keeps your body warm, even in the middle of a blizzard or under the desert sun, it costs six gold coins. The gem of this staff illuminates all around inside caves and stone constructions, it is worth three gold coins. These gloves can hold extremely hot or cold objects, ideal for working in the forge, fifteen gold coins. These little pieces of paper are seals of blindness, if you put them on the wall of a house or on the fabric of your tent they prevent you from being observed by magical means, they cost ten silver coins each. This dagger dries the wood of any twig or branch you cut, as long as it is separate from the tree, it costs ten gold coins..." continued the wolf.

A lynx, also wearing violet robes, and a long mustache that hung halfway down his chest, approached the table where the wolf and rabbit were sitting, picked up a handful of paper seals and took a closer look at them, "Brother, are these seals made of northern wood?" the feline asked the vendor.

The wolf turned his attention away for a moment and replied, "No, those are oak, ten silver. In three days I will have northern wood, red, and twisted trunk," explained the lupine.

"Ah, too bad, I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. Well, I'll take twenty, worse is nothing," replied the lynx, taking one more handful of talismans and leaving two gold coins on the table before taking his leave.

After saying goodbye, the wolf looked back at the small rabbit in front of him. As the two males continued talking, a small salamander made of several patches of leather, held together with a metallic thread, emerged from one of the sleeves of the lupine's tunic, approached the coins left by the last customer, swallowed them, and re-entered through its owner's tunic.

"And lastly, I have this mongoose leather wineskin that removes poisons and diseases from any liquid you put inside, it only costs seventy gold coins," the lupine finished.

The young peasant stood gazing in wonder at all of the vendor's items, his eyes jumping between the dagger, the staff, and the gloves, the three items that looked the best, completely ignoring the function and the price the wolf had just indicated to him.

"What can I buy with three copper circles?" asked the rabbit.

"Three copper circles? Well... I might consider giving you a hug for that amount," scoffed the canine.

The leporid lowered his ears as he understood what the adult was telling him. He turned to leave but the salesman's voice caught his attention again.

"Wait! I have an offer to make you," the wolf said.

"An offer for three copper circles?" the boy asked, this time raising an eyebrow.

"No, it's not for money. I'll offer you a magic item in exchange for a favor," the seller explained.

"What favor?" the rabbit asked again.

"A good friend of mine lives here in town but, with so many customers I've had, I haven't been able to leave the store and I don't think I can. Could you take a letter to her house?" asked the lupine.

"And in return I'll get to choose one of the items on the table?" said the boy.

The wolf let out a laugh and shook his head, "No, not from the table, it will be a reward according to your work."

After rummaging through the sleeves of his tunic, the canine pulled out a small letter, with a yellow wax seal bearing a different crest than the one used in the region, and offered it to the young peasant.

The rabbit took the letter and felt a slight tingle in his fingers, "Who should I take it to?"

"My friend lives past a pumpkin field, by the east end of town," the salesman explained.

"A pumpkin patch on the east side of town? That's my uncle's field, no one else lives around that area," the boy said.

"My friend likes to hide, you may see the house as a wrecked and ruined place but I assure you that as soon as you approach with my letter you will be able to see it," assured the lupine.

"And my reward?" the rabbit hastened to ask.

"I don't pay in advance, when you deliver the letter you will be paid," replied the wolf, crossing his arms.

The boy nodded and scurried away.

In his mind, the young rabbit thought about his errand: this is the first time a traveler had given him a job and it felt great. Although he was still a bit puzzled by the address of the letter's destination, what would he do if he couldn't find the house? Could he just throw the letter in the river and come back saying that his friend had already received it?

The harvest fair was full of life, the smell of food and spices flooded the night sky, some musicians strolled around the place performing popular songs with different instruments, other vendors exhibited their strange items, and they had even already prepared a small stage where later the slave sellers would be installed, a very frowned upon trade in that kingdom, that's why it was customary to display the merchandise late at night or in isolated places.

The rabbit used all his will to ignore another tent of magic goods, which looked three times bigger than the wolf's, took a small torch from a pile they had arranged at the exits of the village, lit it with another torch, and crossed an old wooden bridge built over a stream. When the light and noise of the fair was behind him, the young man's ears picked up footsteps behind him.

After taking a deep breath of air, the farmer turned sharply to discover who was following him. In front of him stood three people, wearing brown leather armor with some red symbols, and various weapons along their body: on their belts, boots, shoulders, and backs.

"Who are you?" shouted the rabbit, raising his torch.

None of the three responded. Instead, the figure in the middle approached the rabbit, grabbed him by the wrist, the hand holding the torch, and lifted him off the ground. The firelight revealed the face of a woman, a scarred leopardess.

"Give me that letter," the woman commanded.

The rabbit, very frightened by the stranger's strength, dropped the letter, which was picked up by the feline before it hit the ground. But, as soon as the paper came in contact with the woman's hand, the letter caught fire, consuming itself in blue flames.

The stranger dropped the peasant and threw the letter to the ground which, as it finished being consumed by the flames, a round pool of blue liquid was created from which emerged a huge toad that looked directly at the leopard and opened its mouth, making a guttural sound as it stood motionless.

The woman's first reaction was to step in front of the boy, draw her sword from her belt and protect herself. But the huge beast did nothing, it just stood still, with its huge mouth open.

A thick sword pierced the toad's head, killing it and causing it to sink back into the blue puddle, which then slipped into the earth. Behind where the monster had been stood another of the three strangers, an armadillo who had already put away his weapon and knelt down to investigate the ground where seconds before the bufonidae beast had been.

The third stranger walked over to her companion, "Relax, that creature only ate magic, it was made to kill mages," the mongoose explained.

The woman calmed down, put her weapon away, and turned to speak to the rabbit, "Who gave you that letter?"

"A vendor at the fair..." muttered the young man, still on the ground.

"Do you have any idea what you were carrying?" the woman asked again, this time raising her voice.

The mongoose put her hand on her companion's shoulder to reassure her, "He's a village boy, he clearly didn't know what he was doing."

The armadillo approached the rabbit, held out his hand to help him up from the ground and handed him back his torch that had fallen a few feet away, "Tell us, please, who was that letter meant for."

"He told me it was for a friend who lived around here," the rabbit confessed.

"How was that salesman dressed?" asked the feline.

"He had a violet robe, he was at one end of the fair," replied the young peasant.

"Purple robe you say?" asked the armadillo, surprised.

"That's ridiculous!" exclaimed the leopard.

"The cult would never show themselves so blatantly," added the armadillo.

"What if they were hiding with one of their invisibility pacts?" said the mongoose.

"I don't think so, this child could see them..." replied the feline to her companions.

"Unless..." the armadillo began to speak but fell silent.

The three strangers stood watching the young rabbit in front of them, who seemed to be the only one who didn't understand the situation he was in.

The leopard rushed to pull out a knife but the mongoose stopped her, "Wait, let's not rush. Clo, test him," the man said, turning his gaze to the armadillo.

The armadillo nodded at his companion's command, pulled out a necklace with a blue gem and offered it to the rabbit, "Hold this stone against your skin."

Hesitantly, the peasant accepted the necklace and put it around his neck. The four of them stared at the gem for several seconds but nothing happened.

The mongoose sighed in relief, smiled and said, "It must be an innate ability of the boy."

"Can I keep it?" the rabbit hastened to ask.

"Of course not, it's a work tool!" the feline exclaimed.

The rabbit grumbled as he took off the necklace and handed it back to the armadillo.

"Look!" said the mongoose in surprise, pointing to a small green fire that had been lit in the distance, amidst the darkness of the field.

"Boy, what's in that direction?" asked the armadillo.

The rabbit lighted to the side of the road and caught a glimpse of his uncle's pumpkins, then turned to look toward the strange green fire, "It's a farm abandoned for many years," replied the bunny.

"Could it be a trap?" muttered the mongoose.

"It's the place where the seller told me his friend was living," explained the farmer.

"Let's investigate, it may be a cult hideout," the feline ordered her companions.

"If that's where the recipient of that letter lives then I doubt she's part of the cult," said the mongoose.

"The terrain is very uneven, we'll have to go carefully," the armadillo added.

"Then let's take the boy," advised the mongoose.

"We're not going to take him, it could be dangerous," the woman replied.

"Garf is right, we should take him as a guide. Besides, he was heading that way before we stopped him," Clo said.

The feline looked back at the young rabbit holding the torch in front of her, he was nothing more than a scrawny specimen of a man, possibly not even a man yet.

"Boy, don't you want to earn some silver coins?" asked Garf.

The rabbit's ears perked up immediately, "Sure I do!"

The mongoose reached into one of his pockets and handed the peasant a couple of silver coins, "Two now, two more when we get back to town."

With a huge grin, the young man took the coins, turned in the direction of the green fire and advanced into the darkness.

The four of them walked along the path that led out of the village and stretched all the way to the mountains to the east. When they reached the green fire, which levitated at the edge of the path, the flame went out for a moment and then reappeared several yards away, this time inside a secondary road that connected an abandoned farmhouse to the main road. The walk became difficult, being an uninhabited property for so long, the weeds formed bushes that prevented straight ahead.

A few meters away from the ghostly fire, a house and stable were in ruins, only two walls remained standing. Again, the flames were extinguished and reappeared in the distance at a high point, inland.

Leaving the destroyed house behind, the journey became strangely easier. Despite the rocks, tall grasses, animal bones, and abandoned farm tools, the path to the green fire could be seen more easily, as if someone had been tending it.

The walk was slow and silent from the moment they reached the first ghost fire. Every certain distance, the whole group would stop and, by means of signs and Garf's keen senses, make sure that no one was stalking them or of any possible ambush.

As they reached the last flame, instead of fading, the fire began to move slowly, climbing a hill and disappearing into the distance. The feline beckoned the young rabbit to continue, and the whole group advanced behind the torch.

When the four reached the top of the hill, a few yards away they could see an old scarecrow in whose hand was the green fire. At that moment, the leopard took the torch from the rabbit, motioned to the armadillo to assist her while Garf and the boy stayed behind.

With their weapons drawn, the warriors approached the scarecrow, and a low voice echoed inside their heads, "Thank you for taking care of that monstrosity."

The feline looked everywhere trying to find the source of that voice but they were alone, on that hill there were only the four of them. Their companions were also surprised by that invisible presence that was communicating.

" You seem to be in a complicated situation. I could help you with that problem you are having with those unwanted guests at the fair. After all, my mistress is also in dispute with that cult of wretches," the strange voice spoke again.

"Show yourself so we can talk," cried the feline, standing back to back with the armadillo.

"I'm not there, huntress. I am only projecting my voice, my body is thousands of miles away from where you are," the entity replied.

"Are you not part of the Shar'ajak cult?" the mongoose asked, slowly approaching her other two companions.

"My mistress is an archmage of The Third Moon, she would never be on the same side as someone who uses the magic of this world to obey beings from other planes. And we take our mistress' position, whatever it may be," the voice stated flatly.

The armadillo brought its snout close to the leopard's ear and whispered, "How are our relations with The Moons?"

"Idiot!" growled the woman, and flicked her companion's ear.

"All right, then we accept your help," Garf confirmed.

The ghostly fire covered the entire scarecrow, turning it into a sort of emerald bonfire, "Good, then you can come in. Touch the scarecrow to enter, and bring the boy, we're going to need him to catch the cultists."

"Clo, you go first. Boy, you come with me, we'll cross together," the mongoose ordered.

The armadillo nodded, put away his weapons and touched both hands to the scarecrow. The green fire covered the hunter without harm and, after a few seconds, a muffled sucking sound made the man disappear.

"Cross together?" groaned the rabbit, rejecting the mongoose's hand that tried to grab him.

"Yes! Easy, it's safe and it'll be fun," assured Garf.

"Will you pay me more to go there?" asked the farmer.

The mongoose grimaced, "Six silver coins when we get back!"

"Done!" nodded the rabbit, took the hunter's hand and together they came into contact with the emerald flame.

"Najthe, you stay here standing guard," ordered the mongoose to the leopard before disappearing.

The woman nodded to her superior, watched him be consumed by the ghostly fire, and then all was silent on that hill.

***

Garf and the rabbit had to close their eyes because of the intense light from the fire, when they opened them again the place was completely different.

The place they had been transported to was a valley surrounded by high mountains that barely let in a few rays of moonlight. Giant mushrooms and strange fruit-bearing vines grew on the sides of a cobblestone path that every few feet was illuminated by emerald fire lanterns. At the end of the path, a tall stone tower rose, imposingly occupying the center of the valley.

"Garf, I can't get my weapons out," the armadillo whispered in fright.

The mongoose was relieved to see his companion intact then, upon hearing what Clo had just told him, reached his hand to his belt and tried to pull out his sword without success. The weapon seemed to be stuck to its sheath.

As the hunters continued to try to use their weapons, a huge stone feral snake approached them, coiling in on itself like a spring, "The whole valley is protected by an armistice spell for visitors," the beast explained.

Garf laid down his weapons and spoke to the elemental, "Are you the one who brought us here?"

"No, Lord Ramas is the guardian of this valley, he is the only one who can allow you to enter," the serpent added.

"Good, then take us to your lord, we have important things to discuss," said the mongoose, then turned to the armadillo and the rabbit, and beckoned them closer.

The elemental uncoiled again and began meandering down the cobblestone path, leading the visitors.

As they made their way towards the tower, the rabbit paid attention to the strange creatures that inhabited the valley: all feral animals made of stone, with green runes drawn on their bodies, there were wolves, birds, rodents, and so on. These elementals worked in numerous mushroom gardens smaller than the huge specimens that covered the walls of the place.

When they reached the entrance of the tower, a colossal statue of a dragon embraced the building, the huge creature was lifeless and only seemed to be a detailed and beautiful work of art to adorn the place.

"Come in, behind that door Lord Ramas awaits you. Good luck," the snake waved goodbye before disappearing through a crack in the tower.

Garf rested his hand on the thick wooden door, pushed, and the door opened easily, "Come on," the mongoose ordered his companions.

The three men entered the tower, a spiral staircase ascended the walls of the building, several shelves full of strange tools occupied the place, there were no chairs or tables. In the center of the floor, a huge, flat-faced humanoid creature, without the characteristics of any known species, rested kneeling and immobile.

"Lord Ramas?" the mongoose asked aloud, trying to make out its host.

The mammal's voice caused the great golem to react, from which a mysterious green glow took hold, causing the statue to come to life and stand up, revealing its splendorous five-meter tall body.

"Welcome, hunters. It is a pleasure to welcome you to my tower in this particular situation," the golem issued, clear and gentle words that resonated directly into the minds of the visitors.

"Are you an elemental servant?" asked Garf, surprised.

"No, I am a transplanted soul. Seven hundred years ago, I suffered a mortal wound and my mistress offered me to live on in this body," Lord Ramas explained.

"And where is your mistress?" the mongoose asked again.

"My mistress is busy right now, but she has given me orders to help anyone who is against the cult of Shar'ajak," said the golem.

"How can you help us?" asked Clo.

"The young man who held the letter can help us reveal the wizard who tried to kill my mistress," explained Ramas.

"What do I have to do?" asked the rabbit.

The golem pointed to a large urn filled with sand and said, "You must put the hand with which you held the letter the longest into the sand."

"Is it safe?" hesitated the peasant.

"Sure, you won't come to any harm," affirmed the construct.

With quite a few doubts still hovering in his head, the rabbit plunged his left hand into the urn, feeling a gentle tingle. A few seconds later, the young man withdrew his hand, seeing that it was completely covered with sand. Lord Ramas indicated him to come closer, the rabbit obeyed and, moving his huge hand in the direction of the visitor, the golem attracted all the grains of sand, forming a sphere of dust in the palm of his hand which he then closed, crushing the sand. When the golem opened his hand again, in his palm was a small figurine in the shape of a wolf in a tunic, which he offered to the mongoose.

Garf accepted the small craft and asked, "What should I do with this?"

"When I return you to the village, the statue will begin to shed small particles of sand that will travel to the culprit and stick to his body, glowing and making him visible if he is protected by a concealment spell," Lord Ramas detailed.

"Good, then we have nothing more to do here. Send us back, Lord Ramas," said the mongoose, curtly.

The golem tapped one of the tool racks endowing it with the same green fire as the scarecrow that had brought the hunters to the valley, "Good luck with your hunt," muttered Lord Ramas.

"Thanks for everything!" shouted the rabbit before touching the furniture and disappearing.

The armadillo followed the young peasant and was also transported.

"I hope the next time we meet your mistress will also be present, so we take care of two at the same time," Garf threatened before disappearing into the green fire.

Lord Ramas ignored the mongoose's words, knelt back down on the ground, becoming immobile and lifeless, like a statue.

***

When the three men reappeared on the hill in the middle of the field, they were met with a horrible scene. Najthe lay dead, illuminated by the faint light of the torch, and beside her were two other corpses, both dressed in violet robes.

The young rabbit covered his mouth and hid behind the mongoose, horrified by all the blood on the ground.

The armadillo knelt down next to the woman, removed some things from the corpse, picked up the torch and got up again.

Garf pulled the sand statuette from his bag, lifting it into the air. A breeze carried away the first grains of sand, which glowed in the night darkness traveling in the direction of the village.

The mongoose took out a few silver coins and handed them to the rabbit, then looked at Clo and said, "Mark this spot, then we'll come back for the body."

The armadillo nodded, pulled a small map, quill and inkwell with green ink from his bag. Clo dipped the tip of the quill in the ink and let a drop fall on the dirt of the hill, producing a delicate sheen on the map and creating a mark on the parchment.

The rabbit accepted the coins, counted them and tucked them into a pouch he had tied to his belt.

Garf approached the woman's corpse, looked at her for a moment and whispered, "Good work, Lieutenant."

The three men walked down the country lane until they reached the road coming from town without any mishap. As they reached the wooden bridge, the mongoose turned to the rabbit and stopped him.

"Boy, go home and stay away from the fair. You did a great service today," the mongoose ordered.

The rabbit nodded and stood watching as the two hunters slowly made their way into the fair, guided by the statue that disarmed faster and faster.

Strange figures writhed in the shadows created by the fairground torches, a sinister atmosphere becoming more and more palpable in the place.