FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Prologue:

A small town in the English countryside has a legend that dates back hundreds of years. According to the legend deep within the forest is a hidden rose garden where an Enchanted Fox is said to live. It's said that the Fox used to mingle with the townsfolk and help their crops prosper, though it is not known how she aided the town. One day a preacher moved to town and slowly, the townsfolk found their opinions about the Fox becoming tainted. The preacher's teachings pushing his own negative bias onto the people of the town. Convincing the town folk that the Fox was a heathen and all the 'help' she gave was a hoax, whereas he could lead them and teach them the proper way. Heartbroken, she left concealing her garden from the town and people she once cared about, swearing never to involve herself again. While many used to visit her garden, suddenly no one could remember where it was or how to find it. It's said that if the garden is found and the final rose is picked, the Fox shall return and bring prosperity back to the town.

Part 1:

A hooded figure watches the brightly dressed wolf excitedly chattering away with a local about the old legend. The wolf stuck out like a sore thumb in the town, all the colours were greens, browns, and some speckling of colour from the flowers around. While the wolf has bright fur and clothing, her entire left side a brilliant shade of sky blue, her right side a stunning taffy pink. Finally she had white fur all along her arms, legs, and belly. The Hooded figure shook their head as they took in the girl, if you could see under the hood you'd have seen them roll their eyes as they turn and walk away.

Faith wandered the town after talking with many of the locals, her mind still on the legend and curious about if it was even real. Looking off into the distance with unfocused eyes as she was so deep in her own thoughts, thinking about all the possibilities 'Could I find the garden? Is it real? Were the locals lying or confused by the decline of their crops in the last 200 years? That's it! I'm going to find it! I have to know.' So lost in her thoughts she nearly walks into the hooded figure that had been watching her earlier as they stopped to look at something in a shop window. Her frantic apologies filled the air as she scurries away from the figure and practically runs into the closest store.

The bell to the store chiming as she enters and approaches the Cashier a little out of breath, "Hello there, I was wondering how much food and water do you think I'd need to go out into the woods looking for the rose garden from the legend?" she inquires, giving a friendly smile to the Mouse manning the register.

"Um well I'd say at least 5-7 days worth of water and non-perishable food for the round trip, as well as a tent and maybe rope, a knife, and a campfire stove" The mouse squeaks back and tilts her head to the side. "We carry everything you'd need here but a backpack and the tent."

"Oh, um would I need the tent?" Faith asks, clearly clueless about just how cold it gets at night in the woods. "I was wondering if I could just sleep out under the stars like the adventurers of old used to? Oh also is there like a battery pack or something i could buy to keep my phone charged while I'm out in the woods?" She was quite obviously not prepared for any kind of adventure at all.

The cashier just shook her head and begins gathering all the equipment and supplies the wolf will need. "Go up the street and buy a big hiking bag. When you come back, I'll help you pack it." The mouse said, giving a slight shake of her head, at least trying to make sure the poor girl would survive.

Faith spent the day running around and buying everything she needed, not caring that she was spending nearly all of her money, after all it was certainly going to be worth it for her. In the grand scheme of things it was clear that Faith had no care if she found the garden, but just wanted to feel like she was doing something exciting.

Walking back to the hotel with her new kit, her stride long as she was nearly bouncing with excitement, her mind racing with all the thoughts of her journey to come.

It took her 7 days of directionless travel to find the garden. What should have been a 3 day journey, took her so much longer, with her getting lost and losing cell reception about half way through the first day. Her food had run out by day 5, the wolf having no concept of rationing and eating every time she got hungry. Luckily she still had one bottle of water left by the time she found the edge of the garden.

Having found herself standing in front of a large wall made of what appeared to be innumerable vines and thorns. If one were to step back and get a proper look, they might come to realise that it was in fact a wall made of hundreds and thousands of thick rose stems, complete with sharp thorns almost as thick as Faith's arm. Faith began to practically vibrate with excitement, the water bottle quickly forgotten and falling out of her paws. Rushing forward she would get as close as she could, reaching out to lightly poke the tip of one of the thorns.

"OWWWWW" She says with a short huff, her annoyance at the thorn for being sharp quickly giving way once more to her excitement "It's real? It's really, really real. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god" The wolf mutters over and over again, bouncing on the spot.

Huffing she shrugs her pack off and drops it to the ground near where her water bottle landed moments ago. Much more carefully she explores and finds a small opening near the ground that animals must have used in the past to get in and out. It looks a little un-cared for and probably too small for her to make it through completely uninjured.

Figuring if she stays nice and low to the ground and goes slowly she would make it through in one piece, she drops down to the ground, getting as low as she possibly can before starting to slowly inch forwards. After a few minutes of careful movement, accompanied by the occasional whimper and yelp, she had most of her upper body under the wall. If any people were to pass by, they would be treated to the sight of her butt poking out from under the wall, and her tail unable to remain still with her rampant excitement. It takes her a few minutes more, but faith finally gets free of the hole and tumbles forward, her clothes having caught on a thorn at the last moment.

Rolling over and taking a minute to catch her breath as she stared up at the sky, her energy renewing when she sees a robin fly overhead. Faith took one last look back at the hole she crawled through, a pout appearing on her face as she noticed clumps of her tail fur caught on some of the thorns 'Well, that's just rude,' She thought. 'I spent ages brushing that before I left.' Springing back up onto her feet she set off again even more determined to find the centre of the garden. Looking back over her shoulder one last time to try and memorize the spot of her hole, she nearly walks right into a tree. Stopping with her nose barely an inch from the tree she gave it a comforting pat on the tree's trunk. "Sorry mister tree, I didn't see you there."

So focused on her task what she fails to see was the slight bending of the tree, almost as if it was bowing to her. If one were to pay attention, one would notice that the garden seems to take on a lighter air, the very plants themselves welcoming this new visitor into their midst, hopeful that Faith may just be the one to bring some happiness back into this place. Unknown to faith, one of the vines had even stuck out of the garden, grabbing the forgetful wolf's discarded backpack and water bottle from where she had left them in her hurry to enter the garden.

Making her way through the maze of a garden, the overgrown flowers left her very few paths to take. The thorn walls that had once been too small for anyone, left her just enough room to move without leaving too much of her fur behind. All her enthusiasm left her as she reached a huge pit in the ground, this part of the maze, was covered in many more thorns than the rest, preventing anyone from using them to get across. Peering down into the hole Faith groaned in frustration, the pit itself was filled with massive spikes the size of her leg, the walls almost completely smooth. It was obvious to her that someone really didn't want anyone getting across.

Slumping down onto her knees Faith was struggling not to cry. "I just wanna reach the centre of the maze. I mean, I've heard the story, I don't even wanna do anything bad. I just wanna see if it's even real. I mean, the garden is, so maybe the rest is too" Looking around her, faith bit her bottom lip before letting out a sigh "Pleeease, if someone is listening, I don't wanna hurt anyone. I just have to know"

To her surprise a vine fell near her and another near the other end of the pit. All she'd have to do is swing across and she would finally be at the centre of the garden. Standing up, her excitement back in full force as she jumps up and down a few times to get her excitement out. Taking a few steps back she grins and runs at the vine, leaping for it and slipping down it slightly at first. Her grip tightening as she swung closer to the other one, and with zero hesitation, leapt for the other vine. Nearly missing, she grabs the bottom of the vine and lets out a loud howl in fear, nearly letting go in the process.

Taking a few minutes she manages to climb up the vine and swing onto the other side of the hole. As soon as her paws hit the solid ground she collapsed to her knees and just sat there shaking for a moment. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned back toward the hole and clapped her hands excitedly for her accomplishment.

"Thank you for the help! I really appreciate it." Gently she touched the thorn wall nearest to her and blew it a kiss to thank the entire garden for its help.

Turning and walking deeper she finally faces the final obstacle, another thorn-lined hole. Sighing, she dropped down onto all fours and crawled through, having very little difficulty reaching the other side this time. When she stood on the other side she looked around, it was a beautiful sanctuary full of roses and butterflies. One side had a running waterfall over a cliff that the garden was nestled against, leading into a pool of clear water that led into a small stream that went under the wall. Finally looking to the centre of the garden for the rose of legend, only to find it empty with nothing there but a table and an empty pot sat on top.