FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Thick moss covered the ramshackle wooden walls of a single-story shack. A network of leafy tendrils shot through that soft green coating, crawling up to the roof where they formed a tangled canopy. A simple wooden sign peaked out from the greenery, precise block carved in to read, "Swamp Wood Alchemy. Below, the door to the building hung open. A pair of hulking elephantmen flanked the entrance, the sun glinting down on their plate armor. Standing at attention, they faced out onto a dirt road - shields in one hand, halberds in the other.

"Halt, priest."

Steps from a shadowed alley across from the guarded building, Yukio paused mid-stride. Hood lowered, the half-fox raised their gaze up, meeting the eyes of a taller grey-furred wolfman who now blocked their path to the hovel. Clad in leather, with the silver emblem of a wolf's head clutching a black orb prominently on display over his breast, the lupine's eyes narrowed as they regarded the dark-haired healer.

"Sister Mitsumune." He muttered, gruff. His paw hovered over the coiled whip hanging from his belt. "What are you doing here?"

"I have business with the owners of that shop." Yukio responded, inclining their head to the shack, "Are they in?" Their vulpine ears were perked, curious.

The lupine crossed their arms, "That's King's business."

The healer furrowed their brow, "Well, are they alright?" Mirroring the guard's body language, Yukio drew their arms into a loose cross. "If someone is injured, perhaps I can be of service."

The wolfman stifled a scoff within his throat. "That will not be necessary, Sister." He replied, "We have our own healers."

"Yuki!" Before the half-fox could reply, green and yellow flashed in front of them. The guardsman growled, hand snapping back to the whip at his waist. Unperturbed, Yukio lowered their gaze. Naomi's snout was buried in their robe, green braided mane clearly visible amid the white fabric.

"Aside, Sister." That was a new voice, from behind.

Exasperation concealed behind a cool expression, the healer glancing over their shoulder. A birdfolk had touched down behind them, leathers marked with another wolf's head.

"What seems to be the problem, guardsman?" Yukio replied, casually adjusting the shroud to better cover Naomi.

"No flying in the city." The hawk nodded sharply toward the imp, "That thing is a repeat offender."

"Knox told -"

"Naomi." Yukio cut in, gaze flicking down to the chimera, "You know not to argue with the guards." The green creature looked ready to press the point further, but broke their gaze away instead. Patting the hybrid's head gently, Yukio turned back to the hawk guard. "They're sorry guardsman." When that did not disturb the guard's hard expression, the half-fox sighed. "I'll pay the fine."

* * *

"They're really no fun." Naomi declared, arms crossed over the flower embroidery on their yellow dress. Face concealed within their shroud again, Yukio glanced back to the imp, but did not reply. The pair picked their way through a narrow side-street, eventually emerging onto a more populated thoroughfare. Heads turned in their direction, and Yukio whispered a few words. The shadows of their cowl deepened, further obscuring their pale features.

There was a fluttering of wings, before Naomi appeared beside the half-fox's head - keeping pace easily.

"So," Yukio murmured, "what's the message?" The eyes of beastfolk - most in threadbare clothing - followed them as they proceeded down the dirt road. The buildings that rose on either side were low and ramshackle - most fashioned from wood.

"We're not supposed to go back to the apartment." Naomi replied, uncharacteristically serious, "The guards told us to lay low and wait for things to cool off a little."

A small group of ratfolk, mostly children, bowed respectfully when they passed. Yukio raised their free hand in acknowledgement, offering a few words to them in the same crystalline language Crimson had used during the competition. The lone adult among them, an elderly white-furred rodent woman, smiled gently in response.

"Makes sense," Yukio whispered, once they were out of earshot, "we did cost a lot of people a lot of money." They turned their attention toward Naomi, "Where are we meeting, then?"

"The studium." Naomi pointed off in the southwest, "The guards gave Knox the address to a safehouse before they left. I think she said it was in the Highsnout Distinct." The imp suddenly darted close to Yukio's hooded ear, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "That's where the rich people live, right?"

Yukio smiled softly in the shadows of their hood.

Coming up on their right, a pair of shirtless horsefolk paused, arms full of bags. In the doorway of a building - one of the better constructed ones - beside them, a green skinned woman in a flour-coated apron followed their gaze, before starting. The three stared, eyes wide in shock.

Even the initiates are rare here. Yukio reflected, raising a hand in acknowledgement. The sun glinted off the bronze detailing at their robe's edge.

"Yes." The healer returned their attention to the road, as the trio shock themselves - and returned to their labour. "But, Highsnout is what the commoners call it." Yukio paused, eyes straying into the distance, beyond the low ramshackle buildings, to the high grey walls that dominated the southern skyline.

"The nobles call it Arbund."

* * *

Chin raised skyward, the statue of an elven woman faced out onto a cobblestone street. Carved in the likeness of plain robes, the statue's chest was thrust out, with a tome clutched to her breast. Below, upon the heavy stone pedestal on which it stood, lines of text were engraved in several scripts. Second from the top, the block letters of Common read, "Rischil Arbund Studium."

A grand stairway began at the statute's base, leading up to an imposing building of grey stone. The heavy doors at their peak swung open, and a tawny furred catwoman clad in black robes emerged. She raised a hand in a purred farewell to the burly, robed, orc standing guard beside the entrance, and received a nod of acknowledgement in reply. Moving with a sinuous grace, she began to descend the stairs.

"Knox!" Halfway down, the feline was met my a blur of green and yellow. Naomi's equine snout opened in a smile as they hovered in front of the robed woman's face. "You're _finally_finished?"

The feline returned the smile with a toothy grin, "Good to see you too." She replied, voice deeper and vowels drawn out with a perpetual purr, "Did you find Yukio like I asked?"

"Yeah!" The hybrid bounced with excitement, "They were where you thought they'd be!" The feline's purr grew, but Naomi's expression turned irritated. "They're over there," the chimera pointed toward the eastern side of the studium, "being weird about angel statues again." They crossed their arms, pouting.

The cat-Knox's purr faded, and she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Well come on, let's get them before they start talking to it again."

* * *

Motionless, Yukio stood at the outer edge of the cobblestone road encircling the studium. Hood lowered again, their long black hair cascaded down past their shoulder blades, stark against their white robe. Before them the smooth stone of an apartment block rose, several stories above the ground. Grey and plain, the building was identical to the others that lined the street, broken only by the alleys and avenues leading out into the city.

"Yukio!" Fox ears flicking, the healer turned. Knox, still a catwoman, approached - and cursed, as a comet of green and yellow whipped past her. The wizard's paw snapped to the bulging leather satchel at her side, shielding the papers within from the wind.

Giggling, Naomi halted at eye level with Yukio. They clasped their clawed hands behind their back, looking self-satisfied. A mild smile appeared on the robed healer's face, as Knox made up the last few steps.

Behind the half-fox, visible now that they had half-turned from it, was another statue. Much smaller than towering elf near the studium entrance, it faced the street, almost blending into the hue of the stone behind it. A shift-like dress was carved about its slight and androgynous form, as it knelt on an unadorned pedestal. Wings, detailed in the likeness of feathers, extended from its back - curving protectively around it. Frozen in a moment of grief, the sculpture's face was buried in its hands, seemingly wrecked with sobs.

"Is this one any more talkative than the last?" Knox asked, a wry look curling their muzzle.

"...I'm not sure it isn't the same one," Yukio replied, gaze returning to the sculpture. "Whenever one appears, the last one disappears from where it was." They murmured, black tail low and expression troubled.

"I don't like it." Naomi squinted at it, before snapping their muzzle away. They grumbled, rubbing their eyes, "It hurts to look at it."

A soft smile returned to Yukio's face, as they regarded the flying creature.

Knox withdrew her wand from her sleeve, "Should I test this one as well?" She tapped the slender length against her palm, regarding the statue thoughtfully.

Yukio shook their head, "That's not necessary." They murmured, "It'll just be like all the others, I'm sure." The healer's expression grew distant, "I just wish..." They trailed off, arms crossing loosely over their midsection, eyes on the angel again.

Knox and Naomi exchanged an awkward glance.

"...you have the address to the safehouse?" The healer asked, after several moments of silence.

"Oh!" Knox's ears perked. The feline's attention snapped to the satchel at her waist, "Yeah, and the papers to get into the Highsnout District." Papers rustling, she began to dig into the overfull pack. "It's here somewhere -"

There was a grunt of pain, followed by a pair of impacts. "Watch where - !" Knox cut off with a frustrated growl, drawing Yukio's gaze from the statue.

The wizard was picking herself up from the cobbles. A second catfolk, this one spotted, cheetah-like, and wearing dingy-looking browns, was laid out facedown beside her. The scent of liquor was thick in the air now, a mostly empty bottom gripped tight in the newcomer's hand. Yukio pulled the top of their shroud over their nose, expression tightening.

"Hey!" Naomi darted over, as Knox pulled the other feline to his feet. "Are you okay?" The chimera fluttered up in front of the cheetahkin's face, who jerked back with a cry of surprise. Knox cursed as she lost hold, and the drunk fell back, landing on his back.

"Well that was rude." Knox muttered, kneeling, "They were asking if you were okay."

The cheetah blinked upward, bleary-eyed. "Chotski is..." He hiccupped, "...drunk." The spotted feline wiped his mouth against the leather band around his wrist, before grinning skyward.

Yukio cocked their head, as Knox sighed. The wizard began to help the man to his feet again, Naomi still fliting around them. This time, the wizard was able to get the man upright, and other feline stood - albeit on unsteady legs.

He turned his drunken smile to the three, "Chotski is sorry." He looked from one to the other, before offering a sloppy wave that made his whole body sway. Still smiling, he began to stagger off along the apartment block's wall, using the grey stone for support now and again.

Silently, Yukio moved over to Knox.

"Do you still have your coin purse?" They whispered.

The cheetah stiffened, as Knox's hand jumped to their belt. In a blur, the other feline was gone, racing off down the cobbles.

"Naomi!" Yukio snapped.

"I got him!" The imp was off, vanishing after the thief.

* * *

With a plaintive cry, Chotski fell through a stack of wooden barrels. In a clatter of wood on stone, the cheetahkin tucked and rolled, ending on his feet in a crouch. Shaded by a stretch of an apartment block, the feline sprang off and into a panicked sprint.

"Stop running!"

A lash of plant life burst out of the dirt between the cobbles and snapped around the thief's spotted ankle. It pulled taunt and Chotski yelped, toppling to the pavement. A hand went to the slender belt at his hip, and steel flashed. Severed cleanly, the vine fell from his leg, withering rapidly. The thief was up again, dagger in hand.

"I said stop!" Voice dropped to the same demonic roar from the talent show, Naomi swooped in from above to block the catfolk's path. Flame burst from the equine's claws, and Chotski's grip on their dagger tightened. He sprang -

White light flashed behind him. A grey-blue cast spread rapidly over the cheetah's fur, and the thief halted precariously - impossibly - balanced in mid-leap. Behind him, a few steps past the entrance to the street, Knox was bent at the knees, panting. Her wand was pressed against her leg, light rapidly fading from its tip.

As Chotski's blue eyes moved frantically, the fire on Naomi's claws extinguished. The imp landed lightly in front him, snickering through the smirk on their snout. "I told you I'd get you." The equine beamed, striking a victorious pose, wings fluffed out behind them.

Breathing laboured, Knox arrived at the thief's back. Her brow was matted, tawny fur darkened with sweat. The wizard nodded to the imp, "Good..." the words were a choked half gasp, "...work." Panting still, she turned to the frozen thief, and began to dig into the man's clothing - an open-chested leather vest and loose pair of dusty cloth shorts.

After a few moments, her gold eyes widened. "Wow." Breathing slowing, Knox made her way around to the cheetah's front, meeting his eyes. "You've...been busy, huh?" She drew out dozens of pouches - many of pristine leather, decorated with gold and gems - from the man's clothing.

Chotski's eyes bulged out of his skull.

"What are you gonna do with all that?" Naomi peaked in, snout slipping between them from below.

Knox pulled a plain black leather pouch out from the spoils. There was a flicker of red in her yellow irises, as she regarded the trove remaining. "Well..." She squeezed her eyes shut. When she reopened them, the hue now stabilized to gold again, and nodded in the direction they'd come from. "The heroic thing to do would be to give them to the guards," Chotski's eyes went larger still, "but I'm pretty sure they're all from snotty Highsnouters."

The wizard turned away from the thief, "They won't miss them." Naomi's muzzle broke into a smirk, as Knox began to stuff them into her robes, "Let's get out of here before the guards catch up." The wizard added, "Yukio won't be able to stall them forever."

"Right!" Naomi waved cheerfully at the still-ensorcelled thief, who was glaring daggers at them now. "Hope you get away in time!"

* * *

Coins fell into a bulging pouch of leather, clinking softly. With a deft tug, Yukio drew it closed. An underhand toss lofted the pouch through the dim air, sending it passing over dusty wooden floorboards.

It struck an open palm with a soft clank.

"Thanks." The voice was raspy, and the purse vanished past the edge of a trapdoor in the wooden floor. Firelight crackled up from below, casting shadows over the narrow face of a long-haired man. A pair of gold eyes pierced the gloom obscuring his face, unnatural pricks of light in the dark chamber.

"Just what we agreed." Yukio replied, their shroud pooled on the floor below. They extended an open hand to their right, where Knox stood. Once more pale and humanoid, with a shock of pink hair over one eye, the wizard counted out a handful of gold coins from their black purse and dropped them into the half-fox's waiting hand.

They brought the gold to their left, where another pouch of bulging leather now waited. As coins clinked again, Yukio's eyes slid to the left where a hulking figure loomed. The distant fire from the trapdoor reflected off the edges of the overlapping plate metal that covered the being, at least seven feet in height. A massive sword, almost as long as the figure was tall, was balanced in its hands, point down, against the wooden floor. Slits of blue luminescence, where eyes should be, were directed toward the pair of black-clad casters.

Gaze returning to the man in the floor, Yukio jerked their head toward the armored being, "Still handle his money?"

"Yep." The man croaked.

The half-fox repeated their underhand toss. Again, the long-haired man caught it, before dropping it below the floorboards. "Two-fifths of the prize," Yukio affirmed. The dark-haired man crossed their arms over their black dress, "We good?"

"Yeah." The glowing eyed man paused, "How'd you know Crimson was going to withdraw?"

I didn't.

"You hear things." Yukio shrugged, exhaling to feign ease.

"Well," the man's glowing eyes shifted toward the hulking figure in the corner, "if you hear anything else, let us know."

Yukio nodded in reply, affecting a smile.

There was a beat, before the long-haired man inclined his head. He dropped down below, out of sight, before tugging the trapdoor shut behind him.

"Merger," Yukio turned toward the hulking figure on the left, "is there a reason you haven't lit candles?"

"Light is inefficient." A monotone voice, synthetic in quality, responded, "Sealed windows provide greater anonymity."

Valid point, Yukio frowned, but...

The healer produced a black length of wood from within their sleeve. "...only Grizwald and I can see in the dark," they replied, "we can probably afford some light." When the figure did not react, Yukio began to whisper softly. Petals of soft lavender began to shimmer into existence, glowing faintly as they spread throughout the interior.

The healer looked to Knox, who nodded, drawing her wand to hand. Whispers echoing strangely, a ball of white light formed at the dark wood's tip, gradually fading to a soft grey as Knox chanted. Holding their wand out before herself, Vulpecula moved deeper into the dimly lit space. The sound of drawers and doors opening and shutting began to filter out after her, from the rooms beyond.

"...so," Yukio returned their attention to Merger, "What happened down at your shop?"

"The Wolfengard informed us that we had an infestation of rats." The armored being reported in monotone, stance unchanged. "We were ordered to move to this safehouse until they have resolved it."

Rats? Yukio quirked an eyebrow. They nodded to the automaton's sword, "I've seen you use that." Their tone was matter of fact, "Even if they were of unusual size, I can't see how rats would threaten either of you."

"Irrelevant." Merger stated flatly, "Conflict with the Wolfengard was inadvisable."

Yukio regarded the construct for a long moment, then bent to retrieve their shawl. "Very well." The half-fox patted the fabric to brush the dust and dirt from it, "I'm going to pick a room."

* * *

Steaming green liquid poured from the spout of a white enamel tea pot, filling a pair of like-coloured cups, one after another. The scent of lavender filled the air, as Yukio laid the kettle to rest upon a wooden surface. Evening light poured through a window behind them, its heavy black curtains thrown wide.

The chamber around them was sparse, with only a small bed, made with military precision, nestled into one corner. At the centre of the room, Yukio knelt before a low table. The half-fox's black dress was arranged artfully around them, as they delicately raised one of the cups to their lips. Across from them, Knox - still pale skinned - regarded their colleague skeptically.

"There," Yukio smiled softly, lowering the cup, "now we can have a civilized conversation." The half-fox returned the cup to the table with a faint tap, before raising their eyes to the wizard. "So?"

A faint look of incredulity still on their face, Knox nodded slowly. "...Grizwald invited Naomi and me to do some mercenary work," she gestured outwardly, to the room, "while we're struck here together."

Yukio nodded, raising their tea again.

"I think you should join us." Knox continued, business-like.

The half-fox's hand stilled, cup tilted before their lips. They regarded Knox over its rim, meeting the wizard's neon pink eyes evenly.

"...I don't think that's wise." Yukio replied, after studying the woman across from them for a long moment. Gold eyes shut, as the healer tilted their tea the last few centimetres to let the warmth past their lips.

Knox settled back on her haunches, heaving a sigh. "They're not so bad you know," a vague gesture, "they did pay for our act."

Expression unchanged, Yukio sipped tea.

Knox exhaled, exasperated, "Alright, let's try it this way." The wizard crossed her arms, "You're going to help them, or I'll tell them you never planned to repay them."

Yukio stopped, regarding Knox over the rim again.

"...I have no idea what you mean." They replied, after a moment.

Knox slammed her hand to the table, "Don't give me that!" Beneath her palm, the wood shimmered translucent. Reverberating out, the table, kettle and cups - even the one in Yukio's hand - became ghostly and see-through.

Unperturbed, Yukio continued to sip from their now insubstantial mug. The level of translucent liquid within remained unchanged, despite the gesture. Exhaling a frustrated growl, Knox fell back into a cross-legged position - gaze breaking away from the dark-haired healer across the table.

After the silence stretched for a time, Yukio lowered their tea to the illusory wood between them. "...are you finished?" Knox shot them a defiant look. Yukio ignored it, folded their hands in their lap instead, "Have you asked if they want my help?" They continued, mildly.

"What if I want your help?" Knox made to grab the ghostly teacup in front of her, but her hand passed through. "Really?" She asked, incredulous.

Yukio shrugged, "I didn't dispel it." When Knox rolled her eyes, the healer drew their wand. They whispered softly, the language reminiscent of the wind rustling through leaves, before waving it over the table. The lavender scent in the air intensified, as the wood and porcelain upon it regained substance.

"Thanks." Knox lifted the cup and sipped. As the tightness in her expression eased, Yukio smiled.

"...I think you should help." Knox continued, lowering the tea.

"Knox..."

"I know you don't like to owe people," the wizard pressed on, raising her index finger, "and I won't tell them anything, but you still owe them."

Yukio's gaze shifted away from the wizard, settling instead on a corner of the room. Eventually, "...they would have made it back." The half-fox muttered.

"How soon?" Knox prompted.

"..."

Not that fast. Yukio collected their cup from the table, inspecting the illusory contents. A few months, at least. They were listed as our sponsors, I knew we'd do well enough to place, but...

Several long moments past. Knox sat, sipping her drink, at ease, as Yukio studied their tea intently.

"...fine." The half-fox eventually said, drawing a pleased smile from the wizard. "Do they have any jobs lined up yet?"

"Well," Knox set her tea down on the table with a sharp tap, "Naomi found a flier from a dryad. She's looking for her dog..."