FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Geocaching. It's kinda of like hide and seek, but different. Essentially, one fur hides the cache and posts the coordinates online for other furs to find. There is no real winner or loser - no real prize; just fun.

Most people put small things in their caches; cheap whistles, toy cars, little party favors. That and a notebook to sign and date when you find it.

With my pen and signature rubber duck in my pocket, I was looking for my three-hundredth cache. I was about thirty-two miles or so from home. Yes, I went that far for just a cache; I have that much fun with this. Part of the reason was that I had found all the caches around where I live. I had even found all the caches around where my friends live - and dragged them along once or twice. For this milestone, I wanted an adventure. According to this post, the cache was titled "View from on top of the World," and this was a tougher find that had yet to be found since its posting five months ago. This cache sounded real exciting to find, so here I was.

And I knew I was close. My black fur was getting hotter and hotter as I explored the nature preserve around me. The forest had encompassed me at least two hours ago and while the trees provided some cover, they lined the path enough to let some sunlight through. With the sun heating me up, I had been trying to find a path that would get me closer to the cache, but for the last hour, I had been walking in a circle around my mark. I was starting to think one didn't exist.

Damn.

With my smartphone in paw, I turned directly toward my mark and went bushwhacking. What must have been months - if not years' worth of undisturbed forest debris crunched and snapped under my boots. "Glad I wore these today," I chuckle to myself.

For at least ten minutes, I trekked through the wooded area. While there weren't many trees, the shrubbery pulled at my clothes and hampered easy movement. Initially, I could just take a step to the left and avoid a bush, but after a little hiking, I had to start pushing through bush after bush. Then the trees started to come closer together, making it harder to see ahead. One bush was so stubborn, I had to use an adjacent tree and my claws to hop over.

As I hiked on, the earth started to incline. Gradually at first, but as I got closer to my mark it started to get some real elevation. With each step closer I got, the climb got slowly steeper and steeper. I checked my phone and saw I was about five hundred feet or so away and started to get excited. My pace quickened and my breathing deepened.

As the amount of trees grew, the sunlight was having trouble getting to me, darkening my surroundings. While I could still see fine, my adjusted eyes could not see past a sunlit tree line ahead of me. Once I broke through, the sunlight assaulted my eyes, forcing them shut. I used my paws to cover them, and a minute later they adjusted. When I removed my paws, I gasped at the amazing view before me: the hill came to a point with a massive tree that must have been at least one hundred years old. Around the base of the tree was just grass growing right to where I was standing, encircling the tree almost perfectly.

I checked my phone and noticed the tree was close to my mark. "The 'View from on top of the world'?" With a big grin, I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket and ran up to the tree, roughly sitting down in the cooling shade to catch my breath. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths, enjoying all the sounds and smells around me. I could hear distant birds chirp as they flew around the forest and I could smell the grass growing in so green.

"This... is an amazing place," I muttered to myself. My eyes opened sleepily as I looked around and I sighed. "Need to finish first."

I stood up and started to look for the cache. The site said it was a larger cache, the size of a shoe box. I slowly walked around the tree and, when it wasn't obviously there, I started to scratch in the dirt at the base of the tree. Seeing there was no disturbed earth, I figured it must have not been there. "It should be around here..." I started to expand my search; walking in a spiral out from the tree, I searched the ground. Once I hit the tree line, I intensified my search. The first time I passed them, I gave a quick look; digging under the really deep places where a shoebox could fit. When noting was found, I took a second pass at the tree line, going about five feet in; this time I started to dig around the brush and the branches, still to no avail. With an intense inner concentration, I returned to the tree and rested under its shade.

I looked at my phone again; I was supposedly ten feet from where the cache should be. Knowing I was close enough, I shut my phone off and leaned against the tree as I scratched my head confusedly.

My silver hair fell in front of my eyes. With a sigh I pushed it back with my paw, looking up to use gravity to aid in the adjustment. Then I saw it.

"Ah ha!" I shouted with a point. About fifty feet above me, I saw a green box resting on a thick branch. "There you are you rascal!"

I pushed off the tree and spun around. With a wriggle of my spotted tail and a feline growl, I jumped at the tree. My claws easily gripped the bark of the tree, but my shoes gave me no traction at all. I tried to put one paw above me, but my feet kept slipping down. With a growl of frustration I stopped.

I looked up at the box and shouted, "I will get to you!"

I put a clawed paw to my chin and started to think. As my mind worked, I started pacing as well. "I just need more grip," I mumbled.

"I got it!" I quickly plop down and started to remove my boots. As they came off, I noticed my socks had holes all along the front. "My instincts knew what to do..." I chuckled.

I quickly ripped my socks off and stuffed them into my boots. I hop back up and, with another wriggle of my feline rump, I jumped at the tree a second time. Again, my paws were securely affixed to the tree, but this time the claws on my feet dug into the tree as well. Once I knew I was securely sprawled against the tree, I slowly started to climb. Foot, foot, paw, paw. Foot, foot, paw, paw.

I made my way up the tree purring all the while. Paw over paw, inch by inch. I reached the branch closest to me and pulled myself up. I looked above me and saw the cache was still another ten feet or so away.

With a wide, excited grin, I stood up and slowly made my way to the cache. There were about three branches between me and that cache, I noticed, and they weren't too far apart. The first branch was within easy reach. I extended my paws and had the branch in my grasp. With a small jump I was able to lift myself up the branch.

As I straddled the first branch I saw that, to reach the next one, I'd have to walk out a few feet. Using the trunk to help me balance, I slowly stood up. Taking a deep breath, I removed my paw and took my first step. I could feel my tail lashing about, helping me keep balance. I quietly thanked my ancestors for the tail and took another step.

As I was about to take my third step, I heard the branch strain against my weight. "Hey, I only weigh one-fifty. Give me a break!"

Almost as if in reply, I heard a small crack and felt the branch give way a bit more. My entire body crouched down, lowering my center of gravity. "Okay, bad choice of words." My breath stopped as I waited for something else to happen.

After a few seconds, nothing did.

I made a quick jump for the last branch I needed to reach. As my paws met it, I heard the branch below me shake loudly. I took a closer look at the center of the tree and saw the branch I was on sagging with my weight, but didn't hear any objection from this branch. Sighing in relief of not falling, I shimmied closer to the trunk of the tree. Using my feet, I walked up the trunk of the tree, secured my legs, and finished pulling myself up.

"That was exhilarating," I panted sarcastically. I sat there with my eyes closed, resting against the trunk of the tree as I caught my breath. I smiled triumphantly and opened my eyes and saw the cache in arms reach.

This was one of the most fun caches I had found yet. I looked back at my phone and thought about the title again. I raised my head to see if it deserved said title.

My jaw fell. "Oh... my... God..."

The tree, which still rose another one-hundred forty feet, was in the dead center of the forest; the grass and tree line surrounded the base of the tree, then the forest exploded for what looked to be a good five miles at least. I could barely see the paths and trails that ran through the forest, but it was just a sea of green. And while I was in the tallest tree in the forest, I could still see almost a dozen other trees standing proudly like ancient guardians of the forest. Far off in the distance, it was possible to see the city skyscrapers, contrasting dimly to the green. This was an awe inspiring view that absolutely no picture could capture.

My grin quickly returned as I took in the view. "Totally earned it," I said to myself. I reached for the cache and placed the plastic box in my lap. As I opened it, I found a small, porcelain cat with one paw raised. It made me grin more as I pulled the rubber duck out of my pocket and placed him next to it, then I removed the journal.

I opened the small spiral-bound notebook and saw I was the first to enter my name. I put a quickly signature and date next to it with a small note: Best view EVER!

I closed the book and returned it to the cache, then the cache to its place on the branch, but I didn't get down. I had to be here longer; it was like I knew if I left, I would never get the chance to see such a sight again - and that would have been a shame. I resigned to sit here and mediate for a while; just relax after that climb. Then, I told myself, I will post the found cache online and head home.

But for that moment, I sat and absorbed this amazing view from on top of the world.