FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hmmm. So yeah, I would've like this to be a series but if you read my journal you'll see that won't be happening. Ah well I hop some of you like it as a single short story. Um, if anyone spots any errors could they please point them out, I'd really appreciate it. Anyway hope y'all enjoy.

Catalyst Core

(Possible Prologue)

Evo was a young lion, born 10 winters ago. Today was his tenth birthday and his family was taking him to the capital city, Pareena. As Evo walked through the gates in one of the many watch towers set in the walls that fortified the town, he was amazed by the large stone buildings, market stalls, and above all, the huge crowds. Evo and his family were from a small village about half a day's ride from the city. They had left their horses in the stables by the watch tower and Evo's father had set up a seal around their horses to prevent rogues from stealing them.

Evo and his family made their way to the crowded street towards the town centre. Right in the centre of town was a large castle. Evo's father strode up to the gate where a guard in a suit of chainmail was stood on duty. Evo and the rest of his family his mother, two uncles and his mother's parents, followed a bit behind.

"My son is here for to obtain his catalyst." His father, a tall silver wolf, declared.

"Alright sir. Go right on in. As you enter, go straight towards the central courtyard. You'll reach a large chamber where a royal mage will test your son, and if he passes, will take him to the catalyst core." Evo's father nodded. The test was a short but necessary process. It was performed to ensure the receiver had not obtained a catalyst on a previous occasion and that the child was capable of using a catalyst.

Evo saw a few other families making their way in the opposite direction. There was at least one kid of his age in each group. Most of the kids were smiling and showing off their new catalysts to their families. But Evo also noticed a gray hair and an Irish wolfhound who had dejected looks on their face. Evo started to feel nervous. Ever since he was born he felt at one with the world's magic. People in his village always saw something in him that he was too young to see. All the people in the village were expecting him to come home with either a silver, gold, or platinum catalyst; the catalysts that most people would say are the most powerful, or at least they facilitate magic to a much greater degree than most other catalysts.

When they reached the chamber an eagle in purple robes walked over to Evo.

"I presume you're here to get your catalyst right? Come over here with me and we'll just do a quick test" The eagle said smiling. He walked over to two chairs and indicated for Evo to sit down in one. The eagle took out his catalyst from his robes. It was attached to a gold chain round the eagle's neck. The eagle's catalyst was a clear crystal. He touched it lightly to Evo's forehead and it started to glow. That was to confirm Evo hadn't previously obtained a catalyst. The real test came next and it would vary from candidate to candidate depending on the examiner's mood. The eagle lit s candle with some magic and then handed his catalyst to Evo. "Now, I want you to put that candle out using my catalyst. "

Evo's father looked at his son to reassure him, but deep down he was nervous. To a magic user it was easy but to someone who had never used magic, this task was very difficult. Most children never used magic before the test because very few people in the world could use magic without a catalyst, and only crystal catalysts could be used someone other than the owner, all other catalysts were specific. Due to this unique property of crystal catalysts, the users were frequently employed as examiners for the test.

Evo took the crystal from the examiner and gasped. He could feel the power of magic flowing through him stronger than ever before. Evo looked at the flame and felt for the magic within him. Using the magic he reached out into his environment. He could feel things with the magic, the steady flow of the air currents, the moisture in the air even the heat coming from the candle. Evo concentrated on the candle. He could feel the air reacting with the wax and knew what he could do. The crystal glowed in his hand as he mover the air away from the candle creating a vacuum sphere. It was like second nature to him but the examiner and all his family looked on in surprise and awe.

"Can you relight the candle for me please?" The eagle asked. Evo did so easily enough. He moved the air back to candle and then set it on fire again. The examiner looked at Evo. Evo had already passed the test with flying colours. Most other kids would struggle to levitate a tiny pebble, but this lion was something else. So the examiner asked Evo one more thing: "Can you make this flame into the shape of a rose?"

Evo's father growled.

"That's not a reasonable request to make for any candidate. He's already passed a difficult test in a complex manner. That should be enough!"

"I know sir, don't worry, he's passed, this is out of personal curiosity."

"Don't worry dad, it shouldn't be too hard, besides, this is fun."

Evo felt with his magic once again. He diverted the air flow within the flame and with great concentration formed a rose. Everyone in the chamber was staring at Evo, including the other examiners and candidates. Evo let the flame return to its normal form and then sat back in the chair, slightly out of breath. Suddenly there was applause from all the examiners and his family. Evo looked around and blushed, it wasn't that difficult. Evo's mother, a golden lioness, ran up to him and gave him a big hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Evo. You're the bestest lion in the whole world." She purred. Evo cringed. The eagle saw this and chuckled.

"Come on" The eagle said enthusiastically. "Let's get you your catalyst." The eagle led him into the central courtyard of the castle. There was a huge glowing sphere of light with random colours darting across its surface. "There's the catalyst core. Just go up to it, reach in, and take out a catalyst."

Evo walked forward and stuck his paw into the light. It was strange, the sphere felt almost like a liquid, and something was compelling him to step into it. Evo took a step forward, and another. He felt magic course through his veins.

"No, Evo, don't walk into the light" He heard his father call out. He felt his father's magic try to pull him out but Evo batted it away like someone might bat away an irritating fly. "Shit, I can't get him out. He just pushed my magic aside and I'm a platinum catalyst user." The wolf ran up to the catalyst core but its magic forced him back. All he could do was wait and hope his son would be alright.

Evo continued walking, he felt things brush up against him and saw they were catalyst, but none of them felt right to him. Evo got to the centre of the catalyst core where there was a smaller sphere of pure white light. Evo moved up to it, but there seemed to be a barrier blocking him. He placed his hands against the invisible barrier and poured out the magic within him. The barrier faded away and he stepped inside. It was simply white. Evo was about to turn round when a small object started forming in front of him. He could tell what it was. It was his catalyst. It was a dark grey metal. It wasn't platinum. He wasn't sure what it was. He thought it was a weak catalyst but it felt right for some reason.

He grabbed the catalyst and immediately felt the sphere around him change. He felt its magic pushing against him, like it no longer wanted him there, like he was an intruder or a pathogen. Evo felt his own magic protecting him, but it was weakening, and weakening very quickly. The lion ran. He passed out of the white sphere and into the multi coloured sphere. He kept running but couldn't get out, and he kept getting weaker. Evo fell to the ground; the weight of the sphere was down on him. No, I won't let it end like this. I've been given a power. Time to use it.

Evo concentrated, and using all his magical energy lifted himself into the air. He continued to rise faster and faster, higher and higher and suddenly he cleared the catalyst core. The air felt good on his skin again but he felt himself growing feint. He could feel his magic running out. He flew in the direction of his father. His magic ran out completely and he plummeted. The eagle was the first to see Evo. He signalled to the family and together they lowered Evo to the ground slowly.

Evo was still clutching his catalyst tightly.

"EVO!" His father barked. "Don't you ever do something like that again, y'hear me!" Evo nodded and unclenched his fist revealing his catalyst to his family and the eagle. Everybody stared in shock.

"It can't be..." The examiner said lost for words.

"It's useless isn't it?" Evo asked. Evo's father took a close look at the catalyst. And hugged Evo tightly

"Evo. There is no father who could be more proud of his son right now. People weren't sure if that catalyst existed. It was only spoken of in legends. It's said that only one in fifty million people will acquire that catalyst, the catalyst of unlimited potential; the fabled Haematite catalyst." Evo was stunned. He looked at his catalyst again. He did have to admit, it felt powerful; he felt powerful.

"Here let me get you a chain for that" The eagle reached into his pocket and took out a gold chain which had a slot to hold onto the catalyst. The eagle took the catalyst from Evo put it on the chain and then gave it back. Evo marvelled at his catalyst briefly before placing the chain round his neck.

"Thanks very much Mr....?"

"Call me Blair" The eagle said smiling.

"Cool thanks Blair. I'm Evo by the way". The lion smiled back at the eagle as they all made their way out.

"Well it was a pleasure meeting you. And congratulations Evo; I'll remember your name in the future." The eagle gave him a wink as he parted from the family at the chamber.

As they came out of the castle, the guard on duty, a sturdy brown Doberman, asked Evo how the test went and was left gobsmacked when he heard the lion had got a haematite catalyst.

As they got to the stables Evo's father went to remove the seal but then stopped and turned to his son.

"You wanna have a try at breaking the seal?" He said jokingly. Even this would be beyond his son's capability. Evo nodded enthusiastically. He tried reach out with his magic but came up against a wall. He felt around a bit more and managed to find a tiny crack. He poked his magic into the crack and expanded. He continued to put pressure on this tiny crack and at the same time managed to find two more cracks to which he did the same. The cracks increased in size until the seal suddenly shattered. "Shit, I didn't think it was possible" the wolf said. Evo's uncles gave him a pat on the back as they mounted their horses.

The family arrived home later that night. They'd had lunch in one of the towns near the capital and dinner was now ready for them. There was a celebration when they found out that Evo had got himself a legendary catalyst.

7 years later

"Evo, wake up." Evo felt himself being shaken awake by his mother. "Evo people are attacking the village, their burning the houses." Evo jumped out of bed, he wasn't wearing any clothes but he didn't have time to worry about that.

He opened the door to see a group of armed soldiers on horses burning down the huts and attacking his fellow villagers.

"Where is the haematite catalyst user?" The leader called out to the villagers.

Evo yawned and stood there naked in all his furry glory.

"Hey assholes I'm over here! And put those fires out!" All the fires in the village suddenly went outgas vacuum spheres formed around them. A shower of crossbow bolts flew towards Evo but was stopped by a wall of ice. Evo yawned again and split into two. One of the naked lions ran to the injured villagers and healed their wounds. The other naked lion walked out in front of all the soldiers.

He could feel them rectify magic shields. Evo shook his head.

"That won't do you any good." Evo focused his energy through his catalyst and the air around him became saturated with magic. Evo looked at the soldiers and snarled. "Nobody hurts my people." The lion roared and unleashed his magic on his enemies.

10 seconds later

Every soldier was impaled on spikes of earth. Evo nodded and clicked his fingers, the spikes retracted into the ground and the dead soldiers fell to the floor.

"Sorry everyone, I didn't mean for you all to see my junk but y'know I didn't have much choice. Anyway, see y'all later imma go back to bed." The two lion's joined together into one and Evo turned round, scratched his arse and then walked back into his hut to sleep. Little did he know; the soldiers would only be the start of his problems.