FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"It's dark...Am I dead?"

That was Desho's first thought upon awakening in a dark room. It wasn't pitch black but dark enough to have difficulty reading the posters on the walls. After a silent minute of examination, he noticed the contrasting colors of the square-tiled floor, he immediately realized he was in SAIA's clinic.

The black furred cat sniffed and groaned, his fingers and toes slowly twitched to life. It felt like his limbs were defrosting after being excavated from a block of ice, complete with the pins-and-needles feeling and aching joints. He might as well have been the waking dead. He slowly turned his throbbing head to his right to see the entire clinic. A bang of his unkempt black hair drifted in front of his eyes however his body ached too much to try to brush it aside.

He coughed and cleared his throat, "H-Hello?" asked weakly. The dark clinic merely echoed the question around it's walls and straight out the archway. There was no answer.

"...I guess I have to get up now." Desho sighed and tensed his body, painfully forcing himself upright. His back popped and his tail bristled up. He grunted and twisted his body so he sat on the side of the bed. His bare feet cringed against cold floor. He rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his paws together. Letting his head dangle, he drifted into a his thoughts. "Geez, I'm so sore...Did I get beat while I was out or something?"

He tried to remember where he was last, "....I was looking for Faye in the succubus' dorm," He muttered and his ears drooped, "...I really thought I would find her...But she was gone, just that thing....that monster." He sniffed and gritted his teeth, "That damn thing...The Wraith was it? Yes...I hate it...It was created by the Professor and Fa'lina....I hate them too...this is all their fault...."

"...Hey!" He yelled out. Yet again, there was no answer, just echoing down the hall. He clenched his fist and his head spun. He glanced around the room, no one was there, not another student looking for an excuse to skip class or even the snide Professor. The hallway beyond the arch was somewhat lighter than the room, a grey light loomed in the air, pouring in the from the bleak glass windows. "Where is everyone?"

The cat had enough. He scratched behind his ear and rose to his feet. He grimaced from his aching body and stumbling slightly but successfully stood. He saw no reason to stay in the empty clinic so he stumbled his way to the greyed out hallway, hoping to see another student. With a paw placed on the side of the doorway, he peered down the hall...

There was no one around, the academy seemed quiet and desolate. The familiar roar of chatting students was replaced by a looming silence. Strange, it seemed to Desho, that the silence felt more chaotic than roaring chatter of the students in the Cafeteria.

Desho stepped onward, though the bleak hall, frequently glancing over his shoulders, trying to spot any sign of life. He looked up, outside the upper windows. It appeared to be another cloudy day but something was strange, he thought, like everything was darker than a cloudy sky should have been.

"That monster...It didn't kill me...But I wonder what happened after that..." He figured that there would be some kind of uproar after that strange darkness that was in Ms. Kree's classroom and the Succubus Dorm.

He reached the end of the hall and leaned against the door with his paw, sighing quietly, "...Why weren't you there Faye? ....Are you really gone?" He bit his lip, "Did...Did that monster kill you?"

He sniffed and his eyes watered up, "...Where is Fa'lina in all of this? How could she let this happen to you?" He sniffed again and wiped his eyes, "...I need to talk to Fa'lina..."

The cat gripped the brass door-handle, it was ice cold and he could feel a draft drifting through the door's cracks. "Wind? The great hall is through here..."

He tilted his head and pushed his way through the doorway. What he expected was the Great Hall, dark like the hallway but hopefully, someone would be standing around. He hoped to see his friend, Rath, standing with some other students, maybe even Fa'lina, all standing under the Grand Doorway. Someplace warm and familiar.

Instead, the Great Hall was gone. The magnificent victorian structure, the huge chandelier that hung proudly over the entrance, it was destroyed. Everything was burnt down, all that remained were the burnt down walls, the ashen pillars, piles of broken glass and furniture.

The rest of the academy looked like it had been bombed out, the colors burned black by explosions and fire. Winds roared throughout the hallowed structures and the cloudy sky stormed furiously.

"What the hell!?" His heart sunk at the sight of his destroyed home, it looked like a warzone, ravaged by barbarians. "...Is everyone gone?" He muttered as he approached the top of ruined stairway.

He had planned on heading to the headmistress' office but like the rest of the wing in which it dwelled, it was nothing but rubble now. The grand doorway barely stood, it's right door burnt off it's hinges.

"...Hello!!" Desho yelled. His voice echoed endlessly, he desperately wished someone would respond. No one did.

The was a light in the distance. Over the darkened trees, a white glow nestled in the horizon.

Desho was alone, he felt lost and a chill traveled down his spine, ruffling the feathers on his wings. "...Maybe...I'll find Faye there." He looked back to the ruined spires and the burnt buildings. He couldn't find a reason to stay at the academy. "I promise...I'll save you...I promise..." He shook his head and carefully proceeded down the ruined stairs.

He tiptoed over the ashes of the grand door and stepped on the cold cobblestone of the courtyard. The dormant cherry blossom trees had become completely black and dead. The Heroic Statue that once stood tall was destroyed, fallen on it's side and crumbled to pieces.

It felt like he was in a nightmare, the only home he had was now destroyed, everyone was gone. He forced himself to move onward.

"Desho!" A strong voice sounded from behind the forlorn cat.

"...Was that...Rath?" Desho turned around slowly.

From behind some rubble, a red lizard with glowing green eyes and light red wings approached the black cat. Rath stood against one of the decaying trees, leaning with his scaly hand, "Brother...I was afraid that you had died..." The lizard droned contemplatively.

"Rath? You're okay!" Desho felt an uplifting hope. He noticed his friend's ragged clothes and his various scrapes and burns. He tilted his head and sniffed, "What's going on? What the hell happened to the academy?"

Rath glanced to his side, "...You've been out for a few days now. Remember that strange explosion in the Succubus Dorm and you ran in to find Faye?"

"Yeah," He nodded and frowned, "...She wasn't there after all...Just a...monster..."

"A monster, eh?" Rath made eye contact, "For what appeared afterwards, that sounds about right." He said with a slight tremble.

The cat took a step closer to the lizard, "What do you mean?"

The lizard rested on his shoulder against the tree and sighed, "After you ran in the Dorm, that darkness we saw in Ms. Kree's classroom began to sprout from the windows." He pointed to the collapsed Succubus Dorm, "I ran in after you. It was almost pitch black and that darkness...it felt like it was draining me of my energy, like I was in a tar pit. I found you unconscious in the hallway..." He crossed his arms, "When I dragged you out of the dorm, everything was already going to hell..."

"...You're saying that the darkness destroyed the academy?"

"I don't know if it was the darkness itself but there were monsters. If anything, they looked like...Dragons." Rath raised his hands in front of himself like he was shaping something, "They were all black, like shadows and they blowing fire and destroying the buildings. Everyone was freaking out."

Desho gasped, "The others were being killed?"

"I dunno, I didn't stick around to find out. I rushed you inside, to someplace safe. Nothing was happening near the clinic so I figured it would be safe there." Rath frowned, "But Desho...On the way, I saw something you should know about." He stepped away from the tree and stood beside the cat. He looked to his side and grimaced "I...I saw Faye. In the Grand hall."

"You did? She was here?" Desho held Rath's shoulder, "Do you know where she is now?"

"Brother...Listen," Rath lightly brushed away Desho's hand, "...Don't go looking for her...I think..." Rath looked away and grinned wryly, "I think she's the one who cause all this..."

Desho was silent, he hastily looked over Rath's face and took a step back. "...What do you mean?"

"When I saw her...A dark aura surrounded her and those monsters. Some of them were with her, like, protecting her. She was walking through the great hall, I'm not sure where she was going. I called out to her and she looked back. Hey eyes, Desho..." He rubbed his scaly forehead, "...Pale, empty, lost...She looked, I dunno...dead. Like she was truly empty inside."

"...Did she say anything?"

Rath shook his head, "No...She saw me carrying you, so did the monsters. I didn't know what the hell to think, I thought we were gonna die or something. But no, she just looked away and moved on with her monsters." He stepped around in a loose circle and sighed, "After I left you in the Clinic, she was gone. She must have wandered off into the academy...It looks like the professor was right..." he muttered.

Desho ears slowly flattened back and glared at the lizard, "Right about what?" He took a wary step closer to Rath, "...Did you know something about Faye?"

There was an silent moment. Rath snorted, "Yes Desho. I did know something..." He glared back at Desho, "...And I was going to tell you before you ran off like an idiot to that Dorm."

"Tch...Whatever man...I don't even care about that asshole Professor has to say, just more crap..." Desho looked to the forest and pointed to the light in the distance, "You see that light Rath? I didn't see anyone in the academy, Faye has gotta be there..." The cat looked back at Rath, "I'll find her there, I just know it..."

"Damn it, Desho! Will you just listen to me you idiot!" Rath snarled, "She's dead, Desho! Faye is dead! That thing I saw, that thing you think you keep seeing, it's not Faye! It's monster and it's gonna kill you if it finds you."

Desho clenched his fists, "You're wrong, Rath. Faye wouldn't do that, she didn't do this!" He looked at the ground and shook his head, "...Faye isn't a monster...she wouldn't do that...She still alive...I need to save her..."

"Desho....She's not real...She's never been real, brother..."

The cat furiously approached Rath, "Bullshit," He pointed a finger accusingly at the lizard, "You know her! She's our friend, how can you say such a thing?"

Rath crossed his arms, "Just a friend? Yeah, Faye was one of my closest friends but for you, she was more than that, right Desho?" A scowl cracked on his lips, "You're letting your feelings for her blind you from what's really going on."

"Shut up." Desho snarled as pushed past Rath. He stood, facing the forest, his back turned to the lizard. "She's not a monster and you know it...I thought I could trust you Rath...But if you won't do anything, then I will. I'm going to save her."

Rath's green eyes shined brightly as his blood boiled and he clenched his fists. "She's gonna destroy you!!"

"Shut up!!" Desho screamed as he trembled and gritted his teeth.

"Desho...You're been the closest friend I've ever had..." Rath growled. His wings slowly spread and his Incubus tentacles sprouted to view, "I'm not going to let you throw your life away...I'm not letting you leave, I'll stop you even if I have to break your wings and legs!"

"...I'm not going to fight you...Just stay out of my way..." Without looking back, Desho began walking away into the forest.

Rapid footsteps immediately approached the cat. Rath's hand grabbed his neck from behind with crushing force and he was flung from his feet across the courtyard. He slammed the ground and tumbled roughly to a stop under one of the dead trees.

Rath rolled his shoulders and slowly approached Desho, "I'm sorry I had to do that Desho but I'm not losing you. Just stay down!"

Desho's head was spinning and his shoulder ached. He groaned and slowly pushed himself to his feet. He gritted his teeth and stumbled towards the forests, not making much attempt to avoid Rath.

"Desho!" The lizard yelled. The cat continued onward with no response. He took a step forward, hesitated, then ran after his target. Within a second, he reached the cat and swung his fist into the feline's gut.

Desho's breath escaped him, he was blinded by a white flash of pain and a string of saliva flung from his jaw. Before he could regain his breath, another powerful blow landed on his side and another on his chest. He heard a distinct crack and broke over. The barrage of blows was topped off with Rath's boot kicked against his face. His body flew back like a rag doll and he tumbled head over heel in the dirt.

"...Damn it..." Desho weakly mumbled. The side of his face rested against the dirt while his head spun and his body flared up in an aching pain. He huffed, a cloud of dirt drifted in the away in the southbound wind. A warm liquid dripped from his nose, blood was leaking from his stinging nose. He remember the crack he heard and wondered if a rib was broken. He slowly squirmed and a sharp ache shot through his side.

His eyes watered from the pain and he panted, "I...won't let him stop me...Faye..." His fingers clawed into the dirt beside him.

"Desho?" Rath asked. He stood over the cat, watching with a morose glare.

In what felt like a reflex, Desho clawed some dirt within his paw and he quickly rose to his knees. Without a second thought, the cat threw a good handful of dirt in the lizards face. He then immediately darted for the forest, running through the jolting pain in his side, running as fast as he could without even thinking about looking back. The musky smell of his blood and the metallic taste of few drips that slipped past his lips were meaningless to him, as meaningless as the pain in his side compared to getting away.

Unfortunately, running as fast he could still wasn't enough to outrun the more athletic Rath. A fact that become painfully apparent to Desho when powerful hands latched onto his foot and brought him crashing to the dirt again. The cat furiously clawed at the grass and dirt, praying for anything strong to grab ahold of. Before he could find anything, he was already being pulled back and lifted into the air. Rath flung him about helplessly until letting the cat be flung violently across the courtyard and crash into the collapsing wall of a ruined building.

He felt numb. His head felt like it was going to split open as a trail of blood trailed past his left eye to dripping off the matted fur of his chin. His whole body ached, his tail felt like they were broken and his wings were battered and bruised. He rested on a pile of burnt wood and stone and he gasped for a breath. He silently watched the clouded skies and the white light in the distance. He wished he could be there...with Faye...

Rath tugged at the collar of his shirt, his dirtied face watching into Desho's beaten eyes. "Damn it...I'm trying to save your life...We can still make it...Just listen to me, it's for your own good...Are you going to listen to me now? Desho!?"

"...I..." Desho continued to gaze silently at the distant light and murmured, "...What the hell do you know?"

"What!?"

"...I had nothing before I came to SAIA and met you and Faye...I was nothing..." He lamented quietly, "You two are everything to me....Now here I am...I'm separated from the first person I ever fell in love with and my best friend, who actually has something to live for, is beating me down in some misguided idea of what's good for me..."

The cat slowly turned his head to stare into Rath's glowing green eyes. Desho's eyes began to water up and burn while he tightened his fist, a magical aura forming around it. He suddenly yelled, "So what the hell do you know!? Huh!?"

Rath silently frowned and watched the bloody and bruised cat under him.

"Nothing!! You know nothing!!" Desho yowled furiously at his best friend. "You still have a family loves you! I don't! I don't have home to go back to! I have no one! I'm nothing!!" A magical flame burned around his hand, "I'm not your god-damn brother! What the hell do you know!? Get off me!!" He raised his flaming hand and shoved Rath away.

Desho painfully rose to his feet and held out his flaming hand before Rath like a weapon. Tears streamed from his eyes, leaving trails on his dust-covered fur along with the smears of blood. "I have to save her!!" He screamed at Rath as his voice started to grow hoarse, "I'll kill you if you take this away from me! Just stay the hell out of my way!!"

A minute passed by. The wind raged in the skies and thunder roared in the distant mountains. The two Incubi faced each other silently. Desho's clan symbol shined brightly in his eyes while the magical flame roared around his hand. Rath's glowing eyes slowly faded as he watched the cat with forlorn gaze.

Desho slowly stepped past Rath and backed towards the forest. Rath didn't move at all, he stood still, staring at the destroyed wall he had thrown Desho through. Desho was ready to leave.

"...I used to have a brother who was like you, Desho."

Desho froze and listened what Rath had to say, still wary of any action the lizard might take.

"...Yeah...I still have a family...my parents and my sisters." He sighed, "...But I used to have brother too...He was a lot like you Desho; quiet, kinda whiny, but determined."

"You keep saying 'used to'. What happened, Rath?"

Rath grinned wryly and shook his head, "He died...He was killed by some adventurers. He tried to fight them. He was doing it because he wanted to save some girl. Just a normal being girl they were keeping as a prisoner, a slave I guess. He didn't win." Rath crossed his arms, "I'm the oldest of my siblings so i keep an eye on all of them. He was my only brother...I love all my sisters but he and I, we were the closest."

Desho huffed and looked at the ground.

"I try to protect my family and all my friends, it's the belief I was raised on...and I couldn't protect him." He turned to look at Desho, "You just remind me so much of him. I guess that's why I was so eager to start calling you 'brother' so soon...I just don't wanna lose you, Desho..."

"..."

"...If you really think you can save her...Then go for it..." Rath turned away and approached the nearest dead tree. He sat down and rested against it. "...Just....Promise me you won't die or anything stupid like that."

Desho had never really thought about it, that he could die from this ordeal. He wasn't even sure how much it mattered to him. All he wanted to be with Faye again and he would just deal the consequences afterwards. How could he have forgotten about Rath, he wondered. Was he really that ignorant and selfish?

He grimaced, "...I promise...I'll be back...I'll be back with Faye...and things can go back to normal."

Rath raised his hand and gave a brief wave without looking back. He remained sitting under the dead tree.

Desho let his flames die and slowly backed away to the forest. "I'm sorry, Rath..." He muttered to himself as he turned around. He looked up to the sky, watching the distant light. His destination in this madness...

"I know you'll be there Faye...I honestly don't know what to expect but I know I'll find the answers with you...I'm coming Faye, it's time to put an end to all of this..."