FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER 6

Gravity vanishes as the endless blue engulfs the young avian. The sun's light dances intimately across his pearl plumage as the sky breathes for him. He gasps in recognition as memories of the ethereal realm flood his senses. He looks below in time to see the earth melt away into a strange collage of shape and color. Then he notices something. The shapes become static as images slowly come into focus. Recognition seizes him once more as the images leap into motion. He sees a beautiful young she wolf, her silken fur as black as midnight. 'Harvy' he realizes. She stands before the all too familiar form of a ghost white raven, her ears flattened in obvious distress as her cheeks are stained by endless tears. The image quickly changes. The white raven is flying off into the distance as the young she wolf watches on, tears flowing unabated...the sorrow pierces his heart and all too suddenly he finds himself drowning within the depths of the Sky Ocean...

Gar bolted upright in bed with a sharp gasp as he struggled to catch his labored breath. Again. The dream came again...but why? Why did he see Harvy? Why was she so sad? Gar gazed intently at his trembling talons pondering the cryptic meaning of such a disturbing dream... He was startled out of his reverie by the ancient black telephone on his night stand. Gulping audibly he tried to force the disturbing vision from his mind as he answered. "Hello?" He heard a light feminine giggle on the other end that he recognized right away. "Harvy? May I ask what is humorous?" Harvy giggled again. "You sound so different on the phone! Your voice is all deep and raspy like some old man's!" She started giggling again, eliciting a slight chuckle from Gar as well. "I mean in real life your voice is so smooth and sexy an-" Harvy froze as she realized what she'd just said.

Gar froze too but more out of confusion than mortification. CRAP! Why the hell did I just say that?! Harvy thought frantically. She decided to ignore her blunder and quickly changed the subject. "So umm...it's going on elleven forty now so uh...I was wondering if you were ready to come over?" Gar blinked, shaking his head and forgetting her earlier words. "Oh...yes of course..." Harvy sighed in relief, glad he didn't mention her little slip up. "Ok great. Oh! let me give you my address..." Gar cut her off. "That won't be necessary, I already know it." Harvy blinked in confusion. Before she could ask, Gar answered her unspoken question. "It is a rather small town and your house had been empty for some time. News of newcomers spreads quickly." Harvy blinked again. "Oh...yeah...duh. Okay then so I'll see you in a few?" Gar smiled to himself. "Yes. I shall arrive shortly." Harvy giggled again, her excitement getting the best of her. "Okay great! Oh and don't eat anything. My mom's making lunch! See you soon bye!"

Gar heard the line go dead and hung up the phone. He briefly pondered the dream once more before shaking his head and quickly hopping out of bed. A quick glance down the hall confirmed his father was still slumbering on the couch. Nodding in relief he made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. Pondering his wardrobe he settled on a pair of cut off black shorts and a black cloth vest which he wore unbuttoned exposing his bare torso, taking into account the blistering heat. To this he added his black "socks" his fingerless leather gloves and his assorted leather bracelets. He eyed his blood red flight goggles briefly before deciding he would walk. He didn't need to get another ticket and a scolding for illegal flying when he'd promised to show Harvy around town. Deciding he was ready, he quickly scribbled a note for his father and taped it to the front door on his way out.

Harvy was fully aware she was giggling like a total idiot. She just couldn't seem to help herself. She was really excited about today. She honestly could not recall ever getting along with ANYONE as well as she did with Gar. She froze in momentary panic as she recalled what she'd told him earlier. Damn! Why did I have to tell him his voice was sexy?! Well it IS but why did I SAY it?! Ugghh! This is so embarassing! I just pray to Gaea he doesn't mention it! Her mother's voice broke her reverie. "Lunch is almost ready honey! Will your friend be here soon?" Harvy quickly shook her head in an effort to forget her embarassment. "Yeah mom! He said he'd get here quickly!" Harvy sighed as her feelings of embarassment faded only to be replaced by new feelings of intense nervousness. "Umm...mom? Try not to embarass me okay?" The older wolf stopped cooking and peaked at her daughter from the kitchen. "Oh honey. Would I EVER do that?" Harvy gulped. Please Gaea be with me...

Gar made his way down the sidewalk of the quiet neighborhood that engulfed Harvy's house. He contemplated his new friend with great joy and indeed a sweet smile graced his features as memories of the last few days flooded his mind. His eyes locked onto the shape of Harvy's house just several yards ahead and he sighed deeply. He had little doubt Harvy's mother would be a kind wolf. She must be to have raised such a sweet and considerate daughter. Yet he still felt a twinge of nervousness which he tried desperately to quell as he made his way up the path and lightly rapped at the door.

Harvy froze when she heard the gentle knocking before grinning in nervous excitement. "That must be him mom! I'll let him in!" The older wolf beamed. "Alright sweety! Lunch is ready!" Harvy breathed deeply and slowly turned the handle. Before her stood Gar with his usual stoic expression, though a small smile indicated his joy at seeing Harvy. She froze in place however as she took in his wardrobe, a blush spreading in record time as her ears lay flat against her head and her cheeks felt as if they would burst into flames. Her gaze lowered as she took in the sight of Gar's familiar well toned chest and stomach. The same chest she had felt first hand yesterday at school during her botched prank. She blushed even more at the memory as her heart rate quickened.

Gar's look of awkward confusion pushed her to say something. "U-uum h-hi Gar! Uh...good to s-see you..." As she trailed off nervously Gar followed her gaze and realized the reason for her strange behavior. He gave her an apologetic yet unfazed smile. "It is rather hot today. I hope I haven't made you uncomfortable. This form of dress is somewhat common in the desert." Harvy blushed even more as Gar casually pointed out her distress. "O-oh n-no! Don't w-worry! It's fine! Uh why don't you come inside?" Gar smiled gratefully as he shifted uncomfortably in the direct sunlight. "Thank you kindly." As Harvy nervously led Gar into the family room, Mrs. Sellow entered swiftly, wiping her paws off on her apron. As her eyes fell upon Gar she froze in place, an unreadable expression masking her features. Harvy realized she hadn't told her mother about Gar's unusual appearence. CRAP.

Harvy glanced back and forth between her mother and Gar nervously, praying her mother wouldn't say or do something embarassing. Deciding to break the tense silence she spoke. "Umm...mom? This is Gar..." She turned to Gar and gestured to her mother. "...Gar...mom..." Mrs. Sellow remained silent for a moment longer before breaking out into a truly monumental smile. "Oh my GOODNESS! My dear you are simply GORGEOUS!" Harvy could have sworn her heart stopped beating for a second. CRAP. Yeah mom...not embarassing AT ALL!! Gar merely let out a sweet smile that made Mrs. Sellow beam even brighter as he swiftly approached her. He bowed like a true gentleman and tenderly took her paw in his talon and touched his beak to it in a polite 'kiss' before rising to his feet once more. "Truly a pleasure to meet you mam." He said with the utmost eloquence and sincerity.

Poor Harvy's heart was getting quite the workout. Just when she thought she couldn't get ANY more flustered, she gasped as she realized her MOTHER was BLUSHING! Her ears quickly flattened against her head as she GIGGLED like a schoolgirl! "O-oh my...You certainly are quite a charming young man aren't you? You flatter me dear!" Harvy let out a shaky breath she'd been holding. "Harvy honey! You didn't tell me your friend was such a charmer!" Harvy laughed nervously but could offer no answer. Gar noticed Mrs. Sellow's eyes gliding across his white plumage and could see her curiosity. He decided to answer her silent question. "I was hatched an albino. As far as I know I am the olnly white raven ever hatched within the state." Mrs. Sellow gasped in a mixture of fascination and adoration. "My goodness! Well you are certainly a stunning sight dear!" Harvy rubbed the back of her neck nervously and shot her mom a pleading look.

Mrs. Sellow silently 'oh'd' in understanding and gestured to the dining room. "Shall we have lunch then? We can eat as we get to know each other. Gar honey I hope you like burgers!" Gar nodded politely. "That sounds delightful mam." Mrs. Sellow beamed and blushed slightly once more before leading the two teens to the dining table. As Harvy took her seat she quickly glanced over at Gar to see if her mother's antics had made him uncomfortable. On the contrary he had a very warm and content smile on his face as he carefully took his seat, gracefully folding his wings over the back of the chair. She noticed her mother observing this action with obvious fascination and admiration, no doubt still in awe over the boy's striking plumage. Harvy shot her mom a look and she just flashed an impish grin like a child caught doing something naughty. Harvy rolled her eyes and began eating.

After a few minutes, Mrs. Sellow smiled brightly and looked up. "So Gar...what are your interests sweetey?" Gar set down the burger he'd obviously been enjoying a great deal and smiled politely. "I have a rather deep fascination with literature. I spend most days reading ancient texts from earth that was, or contemplating philosophy and depositing many a poetic prose within the book of With." Mrs. Sellow was seemingly stunned by the boy's eloquence and nodded in fascination before a look of puzzlement crossed her features. "The book of With?" Harvy grinned knowingly and allowed Gar to answer. "Yes mam. A journal started by my late mother. A book of philisophical musings and poetry which aims to understand and preserve the beauty of life, but ultimately a guide to knowing one's self." Mrs. Sellow and her daughter BOTH stared in awe of Gar's unexpected and deeply philisophical description of his journal. Gar chuckled quietly and nervously bit into his burger again.

Mrs. Sellow beamed once more. "You are certainly a gifted boy aren't you dear? I'm so glad Harvy could meet such a sweet young man!" Harvy blushed and cleared her throat, giving her mother another pleading look. Mrs. Sellow smiled apologetically but continued speaking. "You must be quite the popular young man!" Gar looked down with an uneasy look on his face and Harvy shot her mom a look that told her she'd just made a mistake. Mrs. Sellow was silent as Gar spoke up. "Not exactly mam. I am greatly flattered that you think so highly of me. Unfortunately you would be among only a handful in the town who share that sentiment..." Mrs. Sellow frowned, a look of sadness coming over her. "Oh? What ever do you mean dear?" Gar looked up with a sad smile that made Mrs. Sellow's heart ache. "My biological parents left me in the care of an orphanage...likely due to my color morph...for that very same reason no one wished to adopt me. The With's were a very kind and loving crow couple who wanted another baby after seeing their second son off to college and they were taken with me. It seemed that the other citizens of this fair town did not share their opinion. I am ignored by most..."

Gar drifted off with a sad expression and Mrs. Sellow instantly felt guilty for bringing up the tender subject. "Oh my...I'm so sorry sweety...such heartless people! If they judge others so easily you don't need their friendship. You are far too good for any of them." Harvy gave her mother a warm and thankful smile as Gar looked up to meet her gaze with a smile of his own. "Thank you mam." The meal continued comfortably, with Gar sharing information about the town and discussing what he and Harvy would be doing that day. Mrs. Sellow wore a bright smile throughout and Harvy was truly greatful her mother seemed so fond of Gar already. She realized that Gar had a magnetic quality to him. He seemed to bring out the best in those who knew him. She smiled tenderly at the thought. He really was a great guy.