FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1: Fracture

The Cathedral echoed with heavy footfall, its shallow notes bouncing off its cavernous halls and rooms. Dim light shone through the stain glass windows, illuminating the pews in dark reds and pastel blues. A tall Tiger walks forward his eyes scanning the Cathedral, "So, where do you think the boss is?"

A young wolf walked past him, eying the pulpit up and down, "Yeah, the event info said this is where the boss is located,"

A slightly chubby yet muscular Raccoon stepped forward, "Hmm, why did they open this area for the event? It's always closed."

A slightly shorter wolf stepped forward, his light blue eyes gleaming, "Umm, so now what do we do?

The Tiger sniffed impudently, "Did we really have to bring the noob along?"

The taller wolf grinned widely, casting a peace symbol, "Hey, everyone's gotta start somewhere,"

The Raccoon was a little blunter, "Yeah, Yuki kun, quit being such an asshole,"

The Tiger snapped impudently, "Call me an asshole again and I'll make sure my foot goes up yours!"

The Raccoon snickered, "He he, Just try it. I've already Pk'ed your ass twice in one week,"

The Young wolf moved ahead, his eyes scanning the area up and down, "This place is...strange,"

The taller wolf joked, grinning evilly, "Don't worry, if you die, I'll bring you back."

The slightly shorter wolf grinned sarcastically, "Well that's reassuring,"

Yuki growled, his fangs showing, "Miatsu san, let me go forward. I'll kick the boss's ass before this noob can even lift a finger!"

The taller wolf grinned at the admin, "You should know. You'd just data drain it."

The young wolf moved forward, his eyes scanning the open air, "Do you think the legends about this place are true?"

The raccoon leaned forward; head tilted quizzically, "You mean the story about the shadow man?"

Yuki grew puzzled, "Shadow man?"

The young wolf grinned, "Yeah, there's a legend around that says there's a man who only exists in shadow. It is said he talks to people who drop by occasionally,"

The raccoon giggled, "he he. Yugure san, you shouldn't believe everything you read on the forums,"

Miatsu chuckled, "Ha Ha, but what fun would that be Amaterasu kun. After all, it is an online game,"

The wolf stepped forward, his eyes resting upon an old book. He glanced at the words on its surface, becoming enamored instantly. The words where stated completely in German. He had a heard time translating it, but pronouncing them wasn't a problem. He stared at the book and read the poem out loud, in German,

"Der See von Alba Brodelt.

Der große Baum von Licht fiel."

Silence followed suit, then Miatsu spoke up, "Where did you learn to sing like that?"

Yugure turned around, his face registering confusion, "Singing, was I singing?"

Amaterasu chocked up a little, in real life he was probably crying. You could hear him sniffling slightly through every other word, "That *Sniff* was so *Sniff* beautiful,"

Yuki didn't say much, but glanced at the floor, "What does it mean?"

Yugure looked confused, stuttering through his words, "I, I- I'm not sure,"

The Server shuttered, sending a static wave through the system. The garbled noise sent the group in a panic. An automated voice sounded over the Intercom system, "Attention all players. This sever will be shutting down for Maintenance, please leave the server immediately. Thank you and have a nice day."

Yuki's voice came out bass and gruff, "We should get the hell out of here,"

Amaterasu began to panic, "Guys, Guys!!!"

Miatsu looked at the Raccoon, confused , "Whats wrong Amaterasu!?"

He yelled out, his clear bass voice cutting across the static interference, "I can't log off!"

Yuki's eyes went blank for a moment, and then started to fill with data. Zeros and ones could be seen reflected on his irises by some sort of invisible screen. He snapped out of his trance, his face filling with alarm, "We gotta get out of here. Now!"

Miatsu yelled, "Yuki san, what the hell is happening?!"

Yuki yelled back, "The server is crashing; we gotta get back to the chaos gate!"

The Wolf screamed, his tenor voice splicing the air. Amaterasu glanced up, horrified. Shadows started to fill the empty space above them, bubbling and sprouting tendrils of smoke. It shot its tentacles down towards the ground, hitting it with a large amount of force. From the craters appeared strange unearthly creatures with scissor like appendages.

The Tiger reached behind his back, a scythe appearing in his grasp. He wielded it forward, eyes filled with terror, but also severity, "Guess this is the boss,"

Amaterasu pulled out his heavy sword, his hands shaking, "I don't know about this guys!"

Yugure stood enamored by the book, it seemed to glow and thrum. Miatsu called out, "YUGURE!!"

Yugure turned around, shocked expression on his face. A Shadowy creature ran towards Yugure, slashing at his open chest. He staggered back, barely dodging the blow. He materialized two wickedly curved blades, swinging them in a wide arc. His blades clashed against the shadow creatures, metal on metal.

A shadow creature ran at Miatsu, but he only smirked twistedly. He reached to his sides, and ripped two wicked blades out of thin air. He rushed at the oncoming demon, somersaulting in midair. He slashed the demons side, wounding it severely. He turned around and delivered a roundhouse kick, sending the demon flying through the air.

Another demon ran towards Amaterasu. He stood there frightened, but then his face lit up. He grinned widely, cackling; "Now you'll see why they call me the sun god!" He flicked his heavy blade and its many teeth began to saw away. He dashed forward, eyes blazing with irascible flame. He clashed with the demon, his blade sawing away at the demons scissor appendages. Sparks flew left and right, the sound of grinding metal filling the air. He pushed his blade forward, cutting through its scissor appendages.

Yuki waved his hand around, data draining the demon's left and right. But for every one he data drained, another two took its place. He began to feel boxed in, so naturally he used his scythe. He waited until he was surrounded by the black creature before using a special ability. He smashed his scythe into the ground, muttering a dark curse, "Reapers Dance!" Blades shot out from the ground, cutting the black creatures to ribbons.

Miatsu and Amaterasu where back to back, fending off the demon horde. A demon let fly a knife straight towards Amaterasu, its blade cutting through the fervent air. Miatsu noticed it, throwing a smoke bomb onto the ground. He forced the Raccoon onto the floor, pinning him down. The smoke cleared and the Raccoon stared deeply into the Adept rogues deep crimson eyes. He flushed red instantly, forcing the Wolf off him gently, "Umm, thanks for that,"

Yuki called out, his voice feverish, "Guy's, look at Yugure san!"

Their attention was drawn to the young wolf. He was successfully fending off a demon, even at level ten. He flipped and somersaulted, slashing the demon left and right. He wasn't causing much damage, but the fact that he hadn't been killed yet was stunning. He dodged left and right, getting into a crouch. He sent his blade into the demons stomach, causing it to dematerialize back into smoke. Yugure noticed a glowing ring around him, stating he went up three more levels!

Amaterasu hollered at the goofy grinning Adept rogue wolf, "Yugure san, look out!"

Yugure noticed the cloud sprouting a tentacle, wrapping around his right arm. He screamed out in agony, "SHIT! AHHH!"

Yuki's eyes widened in terror, "I, It's hurting him! Its actually hurting him!"

Miatsu began to scream out, fending off another blade appendage, "Yugure san!!!"

Yugure's right arm began to pulsate, black markings running up the side of his face and arm. His clothes began to peel off, leaving him naked on the stone cold floor. He screamed out in agony, reaching his free hand outward, "Miatsu san, help me! Please don't let me die!!!!"

Yuki yelled out, "We gotta get out of here, now Miatsu!!"

The Raccoon stared at the struggling wolf, eyes filled with tears, "Why? I, I...."

Miatsu ran forward towards Yugure's struggling form, "Yugure!!"

Miatsu screamed, his right eye become black with a red iris, "Miatsu san!!!"

Yuki grabbed the wolf, putting him in a headlock. He struggled, kicking and thrashing, "Let go of me! Yugure san! Yuki let go, stop. I have to save him!! Yugure san!!"

Yuki felt sadness overwhelm him, "I'm sorry...Miatsu sensei." He slammed his fist down on the top of the wolfs head, knocking him out instantly. He straddled the unconscious wolf and nodded at the Edge punisher, "Amaterasu, let's go!"

Amaterasu was still in shock, but his legs ran as if on their own accord. They ran towards the main doors, Yuki slamming them open with an open paw. They busted open, letting clean air fill the space. Yuki turned back around, seeing the Wolf's eyes. They shone with hatred, spite, and fear. He mouthed a word, "Why?..." the eerie black swallowed him up whole, the wolf no longer in sight. The Tiger ran towards the chaos gate, his vision becoming blurred by the static interference. He turned back around one last time, watching the eerie black slip towards them at ridiculous speed. He panicked, forgetting the words to transport. He looked at Amaterasu with terrified eyes, "I forgot!"

Amaterasu launched into hasty speech, "Aqua Capital Mac Anu!"

The Area swirled in dark hues before coming back into focus. They had made it out...but to what cost. Amaterasu collapsed, his knees hitting the ground hard, "W...We let him die. We let Yugure kun die!"

Yuki remained stone faced, he contemplated reason, "He's probably fine. He's back in the real world taking a hot shower."

Amaterasu got up; he walked over to the admin and punched him in the face. The effects of physical damage must have still been in effect, because he felt its weight slam firmly into his jaw. He looked at amaterasu, dazed. Amaterasu cursed, "BASTARD!!" Then logged off, immediately after.

The Tiger stood still for a moment, taking in the severity of the situation.

***

The young wolf threw off his headset, his whole body aching. He ran down the wooden steps barefoot, feeling its cold surface slap against his pawpads. He reached the bottom of the stairs and slid across the floor, stumbling slightly. He ran over the carpet and into the living room, snatching up the home phone. His head throbbed as he quickly tried to remember Yugure's phone number. His finger fumbled over the keys clumsily, making the mixed dial tone whirr. He messed up the first time, "Shit! C'mon, c'mon! Work Dammit!!

He punched the numbers in again. His fingers blurring with speed, He felt sweat start to drip from his forehead, his boxers wet with urine. The site of Yugure's mangled form was just too much. The dial tone purred once, twice, three times, he yelled out, "Pick up dammit!"

A tenor voice answered the phone, answering in a slow and steady speech, "Moshi moshi,"

The young wolf launched into hasty speech, "Toruko Kun, is Aokouen there?!"

The wolf on the other end chuckled, "Ha ha. Last time I checked, he was playing THE WORLD with you."

The young wolf began again into hasty speech, cold chills running down his back, "Check on him, NOW!"

The wolf on the other end's voice became stifled and stuttering, "Miatsu. W-whats wrong. What happened?"

Miatsu cursed into the phone, "Don't ask why dumbass, just do it!!"

The sound of shuffling came from the other end, "Alright, alright! I'll go check, geez what's wrong with you?" Miatsu waited, listening intensely. A loud knocking could be heard through the phone, "Aokuen, phone for you!"

There's no further noise. Then there is a soft click and a creaking noise. He hears his voice come through the phone, "He's sleeping,"

Miatsu yells out, his voice fervent, "So?! Wake him up!"

Toruko's voice comes out warn, "Okay! God, what the hell is your problem today?!" the sound of shuffling echoed out the phone "Aokouen? C'mon Miatsu kun is on the phone."

Miatsu waited, listening to the fervent speech, "Aokouen, wake up!" he heard a loud slap noise and another; he soon heard more shuffling, "AOKOUEN WAKE UP!" There was more slaping, one after another after another. He heard sobbing and screaming, "Aokuen kun, stop bullshiting!!" He heard more shaking, more shuffling. He heard more sobbing as he heard a rumbled voice come out of the phone, "What the hell where you guys doing?!" He heard more shuffling, and a loud grunt. He heard a voice rumble through the phone. He heard more sobbing and panicked speech, "We, we gotta go to the hospital!.. Miastu chan? MIATSU CHAN!?"

The phone slid out of the wolf's paw. He felt his legs shake, his eyes widened in terror. A fresh new stream of urine ran down his leg. This was primal fear. Regardless of who's fault it was, the fact still remained... Yugure was no longer conscious, in game or out.

Miatsu collapsed to the floor, sobbing. He bawled up, muttering over and over, "Gomen'nasai, g-gomenasai, gomen'nasai......"