FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Small flowering plants crawled past, then dissapeared out of sight. Trees loomed dangerously in angles that must have been a sudden shift in soil and heavy wind to push it to the side. In total three felled trees and what seemed to be a common sight, more thick plants to make a thicket. An audible groan of disaproval resounded across drying lips.

Each step seemed to put more soreness in her pads. Her legs felt like they were about to cave in if she stopped for a blink of an eye, and she was about ready to rip the bark off a tree and try eating that. Her ears perked with a thick rustling sound. It was getting closer to her location, and then it moved away. More sounds came in a wave like motion, forcing her to spin so she wouldn't be caught off guard. Her hind legs locked, ready to dash forwards the small distance they would be able to in her current state. The movement continued unceasingly. She barked out, "who is that, show yourself!" The movement stopped.

Cold eyes looked at the near furless fox, body unmoving, the only motions made were the steady breathing and tilting the head it looked at the new guest. The eyes followed the movements of the new guest, noting the feather on her tail.

Speaking softly to herself, Marianna sniffed at a open hold that went under a thick aged tree. The rustling moved at her once again quick this time, only a white wave moved at her rappidly, barely two seconds before it began to wrap its way around her neck. Instinctively she shook her head, to no avail. Even using her tired rear legs did little to move the bulk that was wrapping it's long scaly body against hers.

A white snake, large enough to easily eat Marianna despite it being a large stretch. Sickly fangs were at the ready for a bite into a major artery in her neck. He spoke bitterly, his voice naturally holding s's. "Speak fox. Why do you have a feather of Selana? Have you come to disrupt the peace we hold?" It looked with thick red eyes into her right eyes, squeezing gently on her throat to let her know her situation.

Though a heavy gasp for air and a hoarse cough, she spoke bitterly. "I was told to go here by some large bird who freed me from the hawks. Why else do you think I am headin gthis direction looking for skaleon?" a tightness around her throat cut her off from speaking any further, slowly loosening.

The snake went close to her hear, tongue flicking near her ear. "Sskaleon you mean? I would prefer if you outsiders learned my name before coming here."

Marianna looked at the snake. Apparently sent to her death by the one that freed her. A soft lightening of her tone expressed a guilty happyness of arriving at her goal, sad that it was for nothing. " Sskaleon? The one who raised Volch?"

Sskaleon gave a gentle nod at her, tongue flicking out with a short audible hiss. "You catch on quick. Guess you managed to get some merit for going all that distance. It is a pain. though I have to give a proposition to all who come here I assume." He paused, loosening his grip a bit more. " this is my reffuge from well, being hunted. Any being is welcome, so long as they don't try to eat anyone else. This is a secure place. Consider this a hope in the coming war from the hawks and their allies."

A short gasp from surprise and being able to breathe easily again in short bursts. Her voice was weary, and bitter. "A haven. Sounds rather. Peaceful." She had to take a few breaths of air. "Hard to breath. With you. Skaleon."

He looked at her unmoving. "Only with an oath that you will not harm another being. You are a meat eater, and if I can live without meat, you can too. Why do you think most of us have lived this long. We are fixing this forest so there is no fear of death."

Marianna barked out a quick "I accept. I will try to eat anyone in the refuge. Now you mind getting off of me so I can breathe?" A long trail of white went along her vision, the snake easily large enough to eat her without a problem. Once the tail, or rather his body was off of her, she sank down to the ground in a soft thud. "I think I can just die right here."

Sskaleon moved close to her head., and then behind her to her tail. Using his fangs, he gently grazed her skin as he pulled the string off. "Sorry, but you must understand that this is a delecate operation I am running. I hope there is no ill feelings, but how else can I get you to speak truthfully besides a life or death scenareo?" He turned around, his scalled body running along her short fured body, the small strands of hair were a sturdy length, not yet flexible like the ones on her face.

She rolled to her left side. "I am done walking for now." Heavy movements of her chest supported her fatigue. The spine tingling sensation of scales against her side made a thick feeling of uncertanty. "If I get up will you stop bringing your scaly body against mine?"

"Works for me. " his voice rose up as he looked back at the opening under the tree. "Though we have some company that should get back under the trees." He looked with a thin smile on his lips as he watched Marianna stumble like a calf just learning to stand after leaving its mothers womb. " Near sunset, and I would advise being inside before dark. Gets a bit dangerous with the owls. Though when you go in, remember it is a refuge and all are welcome." Sskaleon's body made wide horizontal movements along the soft soil and grass.