FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Jenna snapped back to focus, when a horse and wagon rushed past, just in front of her. She looked up at the driver, who stared back over his shoulder with a glare. She had to admit, she got a little too far into other worlds, when she was spared the opportunity. She had come to the main road, which she knew meant that she was only a few more minutes away from the town gates. after that, the library was only a stones throw away. She passed a few more travelers before she made it to the entrance. There were guards at the gates, but they paid her little attention, as she wandered through. The hustle and noise of the market, was always such a stark contrast to the quiet monotonous tune of her home. Between all of the activity, and the sight of the low building that she knew all too well ahead of her, her heart raced with excitement. She almost playfully skipped across the open market, dodging shoppers and merchants, until she stood under the awning of the library. It was an unusually low building, with barely enough room for an adult to stand. There were many places, where the wooden beams that supported the roof, sagged low enough to catch the top of clumsy goers heads. The man sitting at the table just inside the door smiled at her. "and what are you after young lass?" he asked with a carefree smile. She blushed lightly, hoping she had gotten the day right. "you were getting rid of some of your books, I had heard, I think." she said, hoping her embarrassment didn't show as much as she feared it did. "you heard right indeed." he said, seeming not to notice her apprehension. "got all them in baskets all about the place, take as many as you like, or can carry, he added with a chuckle." Elated, Jenna quickly disappeared into the Frey. There were a good deal of people about, picking through the shelves. Even so, she was able to make her way around the pillars of books. Some of her fascination with this old bookstore, was due to the unconventional nature of it's design. The low wooden roof was supported by large wooden pillars, that were ringed with circular shelves. She couldn't fathom why no one else used such a marvelous design. Looking about, she saw that most of the baskets were getting close to empty. She knelt down by one, to pick through it, to be all but tripped over by another shopper. She skittered away into a back corner, quite taken aback. It was starting to look like she was out of luck. She continued to poke around, disappointed with her finds. She had made her way into a back corner, where for some reason, they had placed one of the columns right up against the wall. The floor around the base, was covered in sand, and looking closely, she could see that it was coming from the cracks in the wooden wall. It was also unusually moist, and the air had a musky odor. Perhaps this beam had been added as a precaution, to deal with the deteriorating wall. There were no baskets nearby, but considering the what she had already seen, she had decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Besides, her curiosity had gotten the better of her. Looking at the books, it became apparent that many of them hadn't been moved in many years. She reached around back, and pulled one of them out. The cover was stained with dark green blotches, that upon closer inspection, were adorned with a fine felt-like growth. It saddened her to see books rotting away like this. She opened the book to find that many of the pages were also weathered, and more than a few were stuck together. She closed the book and carefully placed with back with the others. In the dim light of a lamp a few columns over, she looked through the selection for anything that caught her eye. There were books of every size and design packed into the shelves. Some were massive and ornate, others hardly bigger than a deck of cards, and no more fancy. She noticed what at first appeared to be a vacant spot between two books, and looked closer. She reached in, and discovered a small, leather bound journal, only a few inches either direction, and less than her fingers width thick. It was died black, and held closed with a rough leather strap. She very carefully unwrapped the string, and opened the little book. The pages were still in good shape, and the ink had not faded nor run. She moved closer to the nearby lamp to see what the fine writing read. "Undoubtedly, there will be rumors about his fate. My thoughts are that he shall be believed to be dead. Although incorrect, it perhaps will be to his benefit. Though I cannot say I knew the least about him personally, He did seem to be a shy creature. If this is so, its just as well that the world believe it. To betray ones master takes courage, and even more so when the master is darkness himself. I can imagine he should want to have time to think, to make sense of it all." Jenna was startled by a hand on her shoulder, and jumped aside, closing the book. She relaxed when she realized it was just the old man who welcomed her at the door. "sorry to rattle you like that... got to fill the lamp for it runs dry." he said, swinging a canister of oil in his hand. She hadn't noticed, but the flame had died to little more than a wisp atop the wick. "Hadn't noticed." she said smiling awkwardly. "not to worry...must have found something worth keeping your attention, eh?" he asked with friendly curiosity. "oh, yeah..." she said, holding the book in front of her. "it's not, er, it wasn't in a basket." she said sheepishly. He squinted slightly to get a better look. "ah, from the old shelf in the back, no?" he said looking back at her with a smile, waiting for her to confirm his inquiry. "yes, it is. What does it cost?" she asked slowly, dreading the answer she expected. "oh... you can have it, been hopping those books e'd just vanish, so I'll let you do me the favor." he said with a grin. "really?" Jenna asked, perhaps a little louder than she had intended. Several other shoppers looked over and rolled their eyes. "sure. Rather see it read than rot away." he stated. Jenna thanked him quickly, and wished him a good day, before making her way back out of the library, book in hand. Emerging g into the street was almost blinding. Even though the overcast sky showed a dreary light, it was much brighter none the less. On no account of her imagination, Jenna was promptly frightened back to the library's wall, by a sudden rush of hooves, as a cart whisked by. Once her vision had returned, she began to make her way back across the lot. Leaving the town gates, she looked at the sky, noting that the lighter patch of clouds, was well beyond the crest of mid-day. She wanted to read more. She knew this creature was property of the devil, and a traitor thereof, but neither what he was, or who wrote of him. Her fear of getting caught, outweighed her curiosity, and she tucked the little tome into her belt, and began her homeward trek at a brisk walk.