FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I'm in a room. It's cold and dark. I look around. Nothing. I'm all alone. Wait. A person! I rush up to them and stop. A male. The man looks like a snake... No...Young... Me? The only difference from looking at my own reflexion and this thing, is that this has wings! Huge, webby wings. He looks at me, smiles and speaks up.

"Long time no see. How ya feelin?" His teeth form a sickly grin. I don't answer. I simply stare in fright. He steps closer and spreads his wings and arms. "Are ya deaf, or something? I asked you a question!" Both of his tails lash out at me but I manage to spin out of their way. I look up at him.

"Who are you? Where are we?"

He smiles and this time, his left arm... bursts? It doesn't look like an arm. Just a long, spiky whip. And it's headed my way! I dodge but this time, his tails manage to wrap around my legs. His tails seem to grow longer, as he lifts me up, face to face. Only my face is upside down.

"I remember being the first one to ask a question. Is my memory failing me?" His long, two-tipped tongue slides from his mouth and runs along my cheek.

"...I'm fine. You?" I answer, tired of being toyed with.

"How nice of you to ask! I'm fine, myself. Now. To answer your question. We're nowhere. Happy?" He laughs and sets me down. I rub my legs and get up on my feet.

"How can we be 'nowhere'?"

"Simple enough. But it'd take too long to explain. Let's just say..." His left arm returns to it's original state and he rubs his chin, faking thought. "We're in your head. Yes. That'd make sense!"

"What?"

"Now now. My turn to ask a question... Let's see... Ah! What did you have for lunch yesterday?" He smiles at me.

"I... What do you-" His smile turns to a warning glare. "I had soup. Happy?" I snapped, copying his remark.

"Oh I am quite happy. Believe me... Now. Your turn"

"Who are you?"

"Again! A simple, predictable, boring question! You really aren't any fun, are you? My name's Prothero. Do ya like that?"

"And wh-"

"Nope. My turn!" He laughs and dances around me for a moment, thinking. "Ooh! This is a good one!" His jolly expression turns into a serious and frightening. "Why have I been locked up for such a goddamn long time?!" He slams my face with his tail. "I mean. I'd understand a few days but five years?!" He slams again. I drop on the ground hard. He goes on ranting. "I haven't been that bad! Have I?" He looks down to me and lifts my face with his hands.

"I wouldn't know... I don't even know you..." I manage to wheeze out, coughing up some blood.

"Hah! You don't know me? That's a laugh! You tried to get rid of me for years and now you don't even KNOW me?!" He raises his foot, about to curb-stomp my face but he stops. I hear a woman's voice.

"Stop it. Why would he lie to us?"

"I don't know. I don't care. He hurt us both! He deserves no better tha-"

"You kill him, we die. You forget that we live in him" A delicate, very cold hand reaches for mine. I hold it and pull myself up, muttering a thank you.

"Hmph. I'm strong enough to sustain myself elsewhere. I couldn't give a rat's as-"

"You could. I couldn't. Would you want to separate from me?"

"...No... You win..."

"I thought so" The woman smiles and I look at her. She has long blonde hair, reaching down to her waist. She has icy blue eyes and I can barely see any emotion in her face, apart from a thin smile. She's wearing a bright white robe, covering her almost completely. Only her neck and face is bare. "My name is Celeana. I am Prothero's mate. Nice to meet you again, Ryu"

"What are you two?"

"To put it in the simplest way... We are your elements. We are both strong enough to present ourselves to you, which most mages can't. I apologize for Prothero's rude introduction" She glares at the shadowy figure and he shrinks away, looking ashamed. "Well. I know that I can't really explain it fully but you should try River. He should know more"

"You know River?"

"Only as much as you do. But he does seem to know a lot. Why else would he be in the Council? For now though, I simply cannot allow Prothero here, to take any control over you, until I know that you can handle it. So I'm going to be your dominant element, for now"

"Suits me just fine" I smile, thanking the gods for not putting that beast in control.

"But not us. Prothero is stronger, so it'd make more sense for you to use the Shadows. But we know that there would be pressure on the Council, so I won't allow it. Now. You should start heading home, should you not?"

"I guess... How?"

"Oh I can answer that" Prothero walks up to me, with the same sickening, tooth-filled grin. "It's simple, really. I only have to kill you. You up for that?"

"What? No! Celeana! Don't let hi-" I'm cut off short. I only meet Prothero's frightening grin and see a black blade sink into my chest.

*********************

I wake up, gasping. I reach for my chest and see nothing. It was a dream... But how could it feel so- Crap! It's six o'clock! I was supposed to meet River at this time, down in the training-grounds!

No matter how much I rush, I get to the grounds at half-past six, only to meet a very non-satisfied shark with a giant blade resting on his shoulder.

"Took you longer than we agreed. What kept you in bed for so long, if I may ask?"

I told him about my dream and his expression softened. For the first time so far, he actually started being nice to me!

"I see... Well. It's nice of your ice-element to take control for now. We can use that more than we could the Shadow anyways" He spreads his arms and leads me to an open area. "Here. Judging from your physique, I'd think that this should suit you just fine" He hands me a long blade, full of strange markings. I clutch to my own two hook-swords.

"I'd prefer to use these, if you don't mind"

"I do, in fact" He takes my swords from my hands, carefully, understanding the meaning they have to me. "But. You are not used to handling any weapons with this body, are you not?"

"No. But I-"

"No buts. I am the instructor. I call the shots"

"Fine... But could you at least give me two swords? I have never fought with just one"

"Sorry. No can do. You have two tails and I'd prefer to keep it that way. You'd only trip over yourself and end up slicing yourself up" He extends the lonely blade at me again, forcing out a smile. "Trust me. I know what I'm doing"

I sigh and take the sword in my right hand. I feel the blade and test the balance. It feels good! I swing it a few times to get a feel to how it moves, how it would slice and how I could use it.

"She is a good blade, isn't she?" He smiles. "Also. Here. You are going to need these, if you want to get used to those tails of yours" He hands me four spiked collars.

"What? How will these help me?"

"Give me a moment" He smiles at my confusion and proceeds to strap on the collars around my tails. Two on each. One near the tip and the other near the base of the tail. "This way, you'll be forced to learn to avoid your own body. Handy, isn't it?"

"I guess..." I turn a few times and scrape my legs and belly with the sharp spikes. "So. How do we start?"

"Well. Since you have experience, I'd like to test it, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all. Just tell me wh-"

He dashes at me, drawing the ridiculous blade. He slices towards me and I dodge with an inch to spare. He obviously meant that as a warning.

"You aren't too fast. If I wanted to hurt you, you would be in two pieces already" He huffs at me. "How about you try going on the offensive?" He stands up. "Then I'd know what I'm working with. So go ahead. Show me what you've got!"

I immediately drop to a lower stance and scratch my foot against the spikes on my tails. I launch myself at him and slice. I hear... Water? I'm sure I hit something! I draw my sword back and look towards where River should have been. He wasn't there. I felt a point against my back and heard a familiar voice.

"Ok. You are pretty fast. But your stance is too low for those legs and you're not drawing the sword right"

I spin and slice towards him. I miss. A tail slams against the back of my head.

"Hey. I didn't give you permission to continue"

"You never said that we stopped, either" I smile back with more mischief than intended.

"Touché. Here. Let me help you up" He offers his hand. I grab it. He draws his sword. "Don't play smart with me, boy. You are here to train. Not to crack bad jokes"

"Yes sir"

"Again!" He swings the sword at me and I duck. This time I manage to dodge the sword with a hair-length. "You're learning. Good!" Suddenly. Another sword appears behind me. I dodge that too, slamming it aside with my tail. "Even better!" Then, another sword out of nowhere! I do my best to dodge it but it slices through my calf-muscle. I drop down on the ground.

"What the hell was that? How are you using three swords?!"

"You forget that, in magic, regular rules don't apply" He smiles. He snaps his fingers and I see two swords swinging to his side but held by nothing. "I was known as the 'one man army'. This is why" He snaps again and five swords seem to melt away from the massive sword. "This sword, I hold, is known as a mass-collector. It can take any form I wish it to take but I prefer the swords" He smiles. "So. Do you still want to spar me? I obviously outnumber you in both years of practice as well as swords"

"Of course I want to spar you. This is only more fun" I smile back, trying to look cool. Inside however, I'm in complete and utter dismay. I can't fight someone, who uses more than two swords! It's insane!

"Good. Now get up. You're against eight swords now"

I get up, take a stance and ready myself for the worst. Then I get a crazy thought.

Celeana?

Yes?

Is it really you?

Who else would it be?

Good point... Can you help me out here?

Sure. What do you need?

Another blade.

Let's see what I can do about that.

My left arm suddenly feels very cold. I see ice forming around my scales, creating a second layer. I force my fist into a knife-hand and soon, the ice copies my palm. In a matter of seconds, a blade of ice, just as long as the sword in my right hand, is ready. River gives me a curious look.

"So she's already providing you with assistance?"

"Seems so" I smile back, knowing that I have some chance.

"Well. You still don't stand a chance against eight swords. So good luck" So much for that idea then.

He dashes at me and I jump over him. My spiked tails scrape his back and he lets out a silent curse. I drop behind him and slash at him with my ice-blade. He blocks it with a sword, then turns around, slamming the giant sword against my ice. I slide my left hand down and bring my sword up, towards River's chest. He dodges easily and swipes at me with two other swords, behind me. I try to jump over them but his big sword keeps me pinned down and I can't do anything, but try to withstand the pain. He brings two more blades from above me, down towards my head. I act by impulse. I slam my two tails against the two swords under me, throwing them off balance. I bend backwards, trying to avoid the other swords and do a quick hand-stand and fling myself free from River's reach. Or so I thought. He had a sword in wait and it launched at me as soon as I hit the ground. I rolled to the side, avoiding the lethal blade and stood up again. I picked a regular stance. Not too high. Not too low. I waited. A second. Two seconds. Half a minute. Eventually, River laughed.

"You are quite the talented one, aren't you?"

I only manage to cough out an answer. "Only doing my best to learn..."

"You're doing quite well. Two more hours though. Then I can let you go" He smiles and launches at me again.

Two hours later

I'm beat. I'm bleeding everywhere but I've managed to dodge around most of his attacks. He comes up to me. I do my best to lift my sword and ice-blade against him but I slump down on the ground.

"You did well. For a newbie" He smiles, picks me up and heads back to the tower. I can't tell how long he walks but eventually he enters a clean-white room. "Here's a new one for you"

I hear Shay-Lee's voice.

"Ryu! Oh god!" I feel her hands against my wounds and wince. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to... River! How could you? You were told to go easy on him!"

"I did, at first. But he came for more. He insisted on going faster"

"How many swords did you pin against him?"

"Eight to begin with. But in the end, he was handling ten blades quite well. Only after I sent out the fifteenth-"

"Fifteen?!" She sighs, horrified of River's actions. "Get out. We don't need monsters in the sickbay"

"Sure. Hey Ryu! Same time next week, okay?"

"Okay" I smile and fall unconscious. I hear people yelling for a moment but I really don't care...

I wake up an hour later, I think. Can't tell for sure. Forgot to check the time when River halled me in here. Shay, Raven and Iris are sitting near to me.

"He's up!" I hear Raven yelling out and see him dash towards me. "Hey man! How're you holding up? Heard that you fought River with twenty-"

"Fifteen" Shay interrupts.

"Fifteen swords! Amazing!"

"I don't feel amazing..."

"You don't look amazing either. But we've all been blessed with something else. You just missed the good-looking bit" He smiles at me reassuringly. I let out a laugh. It hurts but I manage to laugh a little.

"I guess. Shouldn't you be in class?"

"Nope. We got the whole day off. Council had some important stuff to do. Don't understand why they'd need the whole tower though"

Iris walks up to me. She places a hand on my fore-head.

"Are you sure that you're ok?"

"I am"

"That's good..." She gets up and walks towards Shay. They whisper for a moment and Shay comes up to me.

"How exactly did you fend off ten swords with one, without any trouble?"

"I had two swords... Kinda..." I extend my left arm and instinctively shake it and the ice-blade appears again.

"That's second year stuff! Body-altering! Awesome!" Raven yells out excitedly. "You can't pull that off with electricity... Such a shame..."

I draw the blade back into my arm. Shay sits down next to me.

"You shouldn't do that too often. It's using the water in your body, to form that. You should learn to freeze air first. It takes a while longer but it's worth it, in the long run. I wouldn't want to be patching you up, every time you decide to show off with a wicked arm-blade" She laughs.

"I'll remember that..."

I doubt he will. The dark voice of Prothero retorted sarcastically in the back of my head.

Put some faith in him.

You guys know that I can hear you, right?

Why shouldn't you?

I don't know...

That's right! You don't know but we do! So you sh-

Prothero. Shut up. Or no candy tonight.

...Candy?

Shutup Ryu!... Yes dear... Prothero's voice turned into an almost loving one.

That's my boy. Now. Ryu. Are you listening?

Yes.

I want you to tell your friends to leave you alone. Can you do that?

Just a second...

"Guys. I think that I'm going to need a moment alone..."

Raven looks at me for a moment, then shoves the rest out of the room. "Sure thing Ryu! Talk to ya later!"

Gone.

I see what you see. No need to report to me.

Sorry.

No need. Is there a mirror anywhere near?

I look around for a while, spot a mirror right next to me, on the night-stand. I pick it up.

Got one. Now what?

What do you normally do with a mirror?

I don't- Duh...

I hold the mirror in front of my face and see a scaly, snake-faced me.

Nothing new.

Are you sure? Look again.

I huff frustratedly and study my reflexion again. Nothing. Wait. My scales! They're peeling off!

What's this?!

Relax. You're just shedding your skin. It's normal for you. You just need to get used to it.

What do I do?

Nothing. Just let it happen. But for now, you should just sleep. We will wake you up, if need be.

Hah. You can wake him up. I'll-

_Don't forget the candy._She responds almost playfully.

Hmph... Fine. We_will wake you up._

Then I'm alone. I'm no longer speaking to the voices inside my- Voices?! I'm going crazy!

Nope. Wish you would be though.

After that, nothing. No comments. No witty remarks and more importantly, no Prothero. I press my head on the pillow and sigh deeply. I start falling asleep. I think back to the training with River and cringe at the thought of repeating that next week. I roll over, noticing that my tails are still holding the spikes. I don't care. I'm too tired to care. I fall asleep, tired of being annoyed by every single little thing in the world. I let the darkness embrace me. And that it did.