FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A week after our, exciting trip to the world of T'Rahzahr, and the consequent arrival of Orion to the Central Organization Outfit, we were informed that we were scheduled a new planet the next week. After some discussion with the glowers, we learnt that the planet was in fact a single continent like Pangaea. It was unevenly shaped, but was split into three empires. This we had gathered from scans, which showed walls along borders. The Southern Empire was in fact mostly mountainous, and naught lived there, such was the distinctly desolate and rocky landscape. But the other two were rich and green, and were populated by many towns and cities, although due to the distance in question, no proper picture of life forms had been made.

Thus completely not in the know, the five of us assembled in the main hall on the Saturday morning. Simba explained how he was going to land us in the Southern Empire, far away from any large population. Thus assured, Silverine wished us the best of luck.

"And please stop bringing back more life forms." he laughed.Fair enough, the last half dozen planets we had visited, and my own experience with Ryan, we had brought back three people, who were very capable as scouts. Silverine had been making jokes about running out of room in Central.

So we teleported. Salbar still didn't have a teleporter, neither did he want one, and he was still on my arm. Javid had attached himself to Simba, and although I had touched my teleporter, it felt like I was being slightly dragged by Simba, although by habit I had my eyes shut, so I could see nothing.

Then we arrived. It's a short sentence. As we stood straight, we were standing in a big cave, facing the exit. It was a large exit, and lead through a corridor to a circular room with a floor covered in mystical runes.I was made aware of a loud rumbling behind us, a rhythmical rumbling, like that of a small volcano or small avalanche. I turned to smile at my friends, and my smile faded, to be replaced with a look of almost terrified shock.

When I said I had seen noble dragons, I had seen nothing like this. Six of them were in this cave, and all of them bordered on seventeen metres long. The rumbles were coming from them, they were all asleep. Most lay on their front, their great wings covering them like a blanket, and as they exhaled, tiny flickers of flame escaped through the gaps in their teeth. Draco looked confused at me, and then the rest of the party turned around. There was a very quiet moment, and all four of them backed a bit.

I noticed a small river running along one side, and contemplated diving into it and letting it take me away. A large bronze bell was by the entrance, and it swayed gently in the wind. The river went into a metre square hole, and doubtless had a way out. I whispered.

"Simba, this is the last time I follow your directions."

"Why?" he whispered back.

"You said we were landing away from any large population." I hissed.

"There's only six of them." he looked confused.

"Yes, but they're all sixteen metres long." Javid interjected, his voice barely above a murmur.

"Javid, Salbar, go into the circular room, you scout over there." Draco said quietly.

"We don't have the bullet proof skin, correct?" Javid replied, equally quiet.

"Yes."

"I'm not complaining." Javid said, with a half smile, and with the lizard sidled quietly out of the room, past the big bronze bell, and into the main chamber. Opposite the entrance to the cave was a huge pair of great double doors, with a pair of Chinese dragons decorating the sides. The entire bottom of the door was carved into a series of flames, and it looked pretty good.

As Simba started very quietly recording the details of the atmosphere, the gravity and the life forms so far, I was made aware of movement. One of the dragons was not asleep, he was not breathing deeply, but instead was lying there quietly, eyes shut, and ears pricked up. I waved frantically in front of Draco's face, and pointed out the dragon. Simba started backing away. Then there was another noise, the sound of a door opening from beyond the cave entrance. Javid and Salbar disappeared from view as I heard footsteps, coming down a staircase, towards us.

Draco carefully shuffled towards the river, and hid behind a large rock. Simba came to the other side, and likewise found a boulder to fit behind. The dragon had given no indication he had known we were here, but I had a flash of knowledge, and realized the dragon was capable of telepathy, and had sent a message to what ever had opened the door. Thus whoever it was was aware someone was in the dragon's cave, and had come down to check it out.

Maybe fear had stimulated my intelligence, because I got it dead right. After ten seconds of walking, a figure stood in the door way, looking in. It was noticeably a female, much like that of a tall elf, and her ears were small and pointed. She wore a simple hunting tunic, basic trousers, a circlet around her neck embroidered with gold, and I recognised the pattern to be the same as the one on the door, except horizontal. She had a bow across her back, and a sword in a sturdy leather belt. Her long brown hair ran down her neck, and her blue eyes minutely examined me.

I was still in my human form, and I stood there, being scrutinised. Then the elf spoke. She spoke loudly, compared to our hurried whispers.

"What are you doing here?"

I tried to find an answer, and my voice was very quiet when I did." We teleported here by accident."

"By accident, that all you five suddenly found yourselves in the middle of our dragons."

"Trust me, if we knew, we wouldn't have landed here." I replied defensively."You have natural telepathy with the dragons?"

"My dragon." the elf corrected. I nodded, looking for exits.

"How tedious. Kill him." she turned. I heard an inhaling of breath, and I instantly changed into my Audi Quattro. The four wheel drive car was shockingly loud in the confined space, and the acceleration left black streaks on the stone. Out the rear view mirror as I burst forward, I saw the forty metre long dragon flame enveloping where I had just been standing. Then I zoomed past the surprised elf, straight towards the cast iron doors. I slammed on the brakes as I heard Draco shout in alarm, and then heard the engine of his boat form, and saw the plume of spray as he rocketed along the river, and into the hole. I noticed all the dragons were awake by now, not surprising.

I changed into my bionic form, and sprinted up the stairs towards a series of doors, and finally a raised platform, which was no more than that, with one metre walls assuring no one could fall off the sides. The elf cursed, and drew her bow. I got to the top of the stairs as the first arrow struck my steel shoulder, and went roof-wards.With a semi forward roll, I got behind the walls of the platform just as the second arrow struck the centre of my outstretched legs. Whatever the elf was, she was a dead shot.

"Draco, did you get away?"

"I'm in the tunnel, heading downwards at a sharp rate, Simba assures me this stream comes out at the valley." his voice replied, over the roar of his mighty engines. I nodded to myself, and drew my rifle. Loading a bullet, I rose, and aimed directly at the doors. The arrow struck my shoulder, but not before the steel bullet left the chamber, and struck the iron with a deafening clang. The elf dropped the bow, and I let go of my rifle. There was a roar of annoyance, and I heard the rumble of several large feet as the dragons were coming out of the caves. The remaining women were coming out of their chambers, and I saw the doors open, and fully armed elves come out, long swords in hand. As they came towards me, I dived off the platform, and landed directly on the back of the first dragon.

As it rolled to get me off, I jumped again, landing beside the astonished elf. Using her as a shield between me and the dragons, I headed towards the door, panic stricken. My hand went to my pistol as I backed into the door, and then there was a loud ringing noise, like that of a great bell. Everyone stopped, and looked at the door. I turned, and opened it slightly.

A very nervous male elf was standing there. He held a scroll in his hand, and was wearing light clothing and a short sword. He was obviously a messenger.

"Out with it, man, what do you want?" I demanded.

As he took in my appearance, I noticed I was overlooking a deep and sharp valley, and we were on a ten metre ledge, a mountain pass. Then the elf spoke.

"I have a message for the dragon riders of the Southern kingdom!" he said, physically backing away from my steel form. He thrust out a hand, the scroll in it, and I took it.

"Now good bye." I replied firmly, and shut the door. It took surprisingly little strength, obviously the door was very well balanced. As I turned, I waved the scroll.

"I don't want to fight here."

The elf who had first been there came up to me. As she did, Javid and Salbar came out from behind pillars. Salbar was in fact half way up one, and the way he clung to that pillar made it look like his life depended on it.

Both of them looked exceptionally nervous. The six dragons were on one side of the cavern, their riders standing in front of them, looking very angry and well armed. My hand was on my pistol as she came up.

"So what are you?" she demanded.

"I am a creature that heralds from beyond the most distant stars, I am an explorer." I said, stuttering. It's strange how one elf, who was in fact shorter than me, could be so much more menacing than Silverine. It must be the rage she contained, although I have seen Silverine in an angry mood.

I delicately extended my hand, the one holding the scroll, and she took it from me.

"Now, I realise I have teleported directly into your sleeping quarters, and I know all about dragons and their fierce territorial behaviour, but if we could sort of not try and kill me? Soot is hard to get off clothes."I said, very quickly, and somewhat much more high pitched. The elf scowled. The only way I could back more away was if I climbed the door.

"So why here?"

"I'm afraid our teleport expert, Simba, said we would arrive away from anyone, and promptly landed us in the middle of a cavern. We meant to arrive in secret."

"What is your purpose?" she demanded. I looked to Javid, and then spoke a bit more calmly.

"We seek knowledge of planets, what life forms abound on these planets, history, as much as we can collect. I presume from your nature and quite remarkable display of weapon prowess you are dragon riders, correct?"

The elf laughed, tossing her hair back, ignoring my attempted compliment.

"You could say that. We are a group that live separate from the rest of the world, and anyone who comes up here had better have a good reason.What proof do you have of your mission?" she smiled.

"Simba, can I have that sphere back?"

My reply was a small metallic ball which arced over the dragons and rolled to a halt against the door. I picked it up, and pressed the button, while the dragon riders looked for the lion who threw the ball. As the known universe unfolded in front of us, I explained where we came from,and where they were in comparison to us.

"Light displays are all very well. Anything else?" she replied coldly.

I changed into my Lightning form, and ignited my hover engine. I rose slowly, until I was level with her face, and we stayed that way for about ten seconds, her looking defiantly into the blast of hot air and cold steel in front of her.

Then I changed back, and as my hearing returned to normal, she looked a little less cold.

"I see. So what do you want to know of us?"

"Nothing in particular." I acknowledged." Guys, can we form together, just so they know who we're looking at. That includes Simba, and Draco if he's out of the river."

Salbar shinnied down the pillar, and stood beside me, immediately talking to Javid. Simba very sheepishly walked up between the dragons and the dragon riders, and then turned to look at the elf leader. There was a loud knock at the door, and Salbar opened it. Draco strolled in, looking very wet.

"I came out over a waterfall, if that explains my looks." he smiled at me as I turned.

"You do look somewhat damp." I chuckled. I noticed the dragon women were looking somewhat less cold, and one or two were even looking at Draco with admiration.I turned to Salbar and Javid.

"Ten hours, any advance?"

"Eight." Salbar replied.

"Six." the wolf interjected, laughing.

"Five." I topped.

"Four and a half." Salbar replied, still keeping a very straight face, which couldn't be said for me, Javid or Simba, while Draco merely looked amused, and the dragon riders couldn't understand it.

We settled at four hours fifteen, and left it at that. This in house joke finished, the dragon rider spoke.

"So you explore the galaxy, and you stumbled across us?"

I slapped Simba gently across the back." Here's the guy who said we'd be landing away from everyone." Simba rolled his eyes." So is it just you six, or are there more?"

"This is only one house among many." she replied. The dragons turned and headed back to the sleeping quarters, and there was more than one exhalation of breath from us.The remaining dragon riders came forward, and the six of them look at the five of us. There was no longer anger, rather curiosity.

"My name is Alduin, my lady."

"Mine is Seriphe." the lady replied." Meera, Alarei, Siren (one who carried a horn), Veronica and Juliet."

"Nice to meet you all. Simba, Salbar, Javid and Draco."I pointed at each one as I said their names, and the men shook hands with the girls. Now they were very warm to us, and Draco, Salbar and Javid all headed upstairs with three of the elves. Siren was going with Salbar, Juliet with Draco, and Javid with Alarei, who carried a long bow and crossbow together. The comparison between his sniper rifle and her bows almost made me smile, but Simba and myself stood in front of Seriphe, Veronica and Meera. They took us up to a seventh room, in which there were chairs and tables, it looked like a rather Spartan living room. Comforts were few and far between.

Seriphe looked at the scroll for the first time. She read through it, and handed it to Veronica.

"One thousand gold for each of us that turn up, but they have no more than twenty thousand to give."

Veronica laughed."Must be pretty important then."

I looked between the two of them, and then twigged.

"The dragon riders are mercenaries?"

Seriphe smiled."Oh, don't put it like that. We are merely women of fortune, we are exceptionally well trained, and we ride dragons to war. Naturally as they have their petty little battles against one another, if they want to make certain of victory, they send for us."

"Do you mind if we come and watch this battle then? I have never seen a draconic assault before." I suggested. Veronica smiled.

"You want to watch? Want us to show you how good we are?"

"Oh, there's no doubt you are good." I replied, fast," It's just I am aware of my tactics as an aerial vehicle, and Simba can fly. Draco was born with wings, but I've never seen a noble dragon fight."

"Not from the other side, at least." Meera laughed.

"Although, in my defence, I can move faster than anything on this planet." I replied.

"In that flying form, correct?" Veronica raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Yes, I have broken the speed of sound itself in that form." I replied modestly.

"Well, you are certainly an asset, or at least of interest. Have you ever considered hiring yourself out to people?"

"At one planet we visited, he massacred an entire army of orcs." Simba smiled at me.

"With help." I reminded."To do it all myself would have taken too long."

"So your aerial form has weapons?"

"Yes. There are three he can use,"Simba replied," there are his guns, which fire small metal rounds very fast. There are his missiles, which can target aerial things and lock on to smaller ground objects, and there are his bombs, which obliterate anything they land on, and everything around.He's quite the dangerous berserker."

"Simba, is this retaliation for my cracks on your teleporting ability?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. Leave off." I said, rubbing a hand through my hair. Meera was looking at me.

"Well, how about this battle, we show each other our tricks?"

"Sounds fine.When is it?" Simba answered for me. Seriphe consulted the scroll over Veronica's shoulder.

"Tomorrow.A large army is massing to deliver a strike on one of the Eastern kingdom's main trade route cities, and they, in return, want us to stop them. Fairly simple."

"Right, then how about this, you tell us the history of the planet, or that of you know, and we lend a hand during the battle. We need no payment." Simba said.

"Before we go any further, I refuse to get involved in negotiations." I said, rising from my seat.

"You are a man of action, fighting only?"

"No, I'm just bloody useless at it." I said, and got the laughter I was expecting. I left the room, and as I passed the first room on the left, I heard the sounds of a female, it was as if in sexual excitement. I checked my watch, and went back to the main room.

"Simba, barely twenty minutes."

"You're kidding."

"No, I can hear as I went past."

Seriphe laughed."Are you telling me that Juliet is having sex with Draco?"

"Indeed. She is a dragon rider after all." I said, smiling at my own private joke.

"Very clever, Master Alduin. We do not often enjoy sex, but occasionally if one of us finds a suitable young man, we may deliver his children, because there are always more dragons, and more potential riders."

"How do you choose?"

"There are many hopeful initiates, which are trained in the south. Then the dragons come down in the spring, and the young dragons will pair up with a young girl. They are unerringly right in finding the right rider for them, and such is our bond it is beyond strength."

"You could mentally communicate, I know that much." I nodded, and left the room again. I went through the main doors, and then shut them, feeling the wind rush against me, and then, unaware that Veronica had silently followed, dived off the edge of the valley. I was only aware she had done so when I was falling, she could move like a cat. I changed into my Lightning form, and ignited my engines, pulling out of the dive a good eighty metres from the churning chasm and boiling river that surged below. I followed the river for a kilometre, and then headed back towards the large cave. Directly underneath it, about halfway down an almost sheer rock face, was the waterfall that Draco had run into. Veronica was watching me as I banked around the valley, and I slowed down to a gentle hover beside her.

"Can I help you?"

"Oh no, I was just observing your skills.You travel very fast indeed."

"Thank you." I acknowledged, continuing my gentle hover.

"So are all of you the same as your friend Draco, sexually active?"

I laughed." Draco is the most dominant creature on Central, he loves sex when and where he could get it. We all enjoy sex, but he just, well I'm sure I don't need to explain."

"Not at all.I get the picture."

"Do your dragons mind?"

"Not at all. They are understanding about our needs, although sometimes they like to be serviced by their riders. Not only that, if they wish, they will have it off with prisoners we take in our raids, it's their sort of payment."

"I'm a prisoner." I said, hurriedly. Veronica laughed again.

"So you do enjoy sex."

"Just not as frequently as Draco. Within half an hour on my planet for the first time, he had had sex with me."

With this conversation, Veronica said she would watch me fly, and I went for some rather boring stunts, loops, barrel rolls, sharp turns, to impress her. After half an hour of this, I landed, and Veronica, still leaning comfortably against the rock, spoke.

"I'll place a bet against you, Alduin."

"Fire ahead."

"If you score more kills than me, you have full permission to fuck me. If you lose, you are my slave for the night, and I dare say my dragon."

"Can I win and lose?" I smiled. Veronica laughed.

"You have not seen a dragon rider in full attack, you will learn just how hard that will be."

I took off, and went to a great height. Aiming at a small plateau of rock, I dived hard at it, and dropped one bomb and some machine gun fire at it. Veronica watched the results from a good hundred metres away, and as I came back and killed the engine again, she smiled.

"That might even it up."

I laughed.

"A bit." she added.

"Simba, how boring is it?" I said into my mike.

"It's a mine of information. Meera is quite well versed in the histories."

"So that's a very boring is it?" I teased."Salbar, sorry to interrupt musical notation, are you aware of tomorrow's battle?"

"No, but I'll sharpen my swords after my musical practice."

"Are you trying to learn Siren's horn?"

"She's giving me some pointers, yes."

"Javid, you are likewise aware?"

"I am now. How are we getting there?"

"Well, ask your dragon rider if she can give you a lift. By the way, we were all off by miles."

"How long did it take for Draco?"

"About quarter of an hour, probably."

"Young love, you can't beat it." Simba smiled.

"I am not that young." the reptile replied sharply into our conversation." She likes me, I like her, how hard can it be?"

"Yes, Alduin made the reference to dragon rider."

"Rather ambiguous, isn't it?" Salbar said.

"That's the point, it's an intentional pun.The slang term to ride someone if your having sex with them on top, although I'm just using it in the term having sex. I'm expecting low scores for it, because I had to explain."

"Oh no, I'm just not fast with the sexual jokes." Salbar replied,"I'll give it a seven."

"We do everything by numbers, don't we?" Javid laughed," Six."

"Four, and not all the whining in the world will make it higher." Draco said firmly, reminding me of my attempted song at Dul'Ihanri.

Veronica looked at me, and then worked it out.

"You have a communication device."

"Yes, I can talk to any of the party instantly. Alright, Draco, I want to hear Juliet enjoyed it, I'm signing off." I switched off my mike, and went inside. Veronica wanted to know how I came by this ability to fly, and I told her the story of the Transformer planet.We walked into the chamber where the dragons were lying, all of them were awake, and looking at us, and I spoke.

"Do you all have names for your dragons?"

"Each dragon rider learns their dragon's name, and will never reveal it to anyone. The name is sacred, and it shall stay that way."

"Good answer."I nodded, respecting their custom," Besides, they are stronger and more wise than any of us, and I'm not prepared to argue."

Veronica turned to her dragon, and then laughed.

"He says that there would be no argument, unless you counted being incinerated as an argument."

"Slight problem there, my skin is a steel alloy, it can't be melted by flame. I know this because it has happened before.But are all dragons males?"

"Oh, there are dragon females, but they are very likely to explode in anger, and are fiercely territorial. Most of the Southern empire is just mountains, and the female dragons live in most of it. The males don't mind so much."

"What about reproduction?"

"Once every six months, the dragoness comes into heat. They tend to do it together, it's a sort of seasonal thing, and the males all search for a receptive female."

"Interesting."

"Very. Except dragon riders don't come along, so I have never seen the spectacle. Apparently the females give birth to clutches of about eight."

"You've seen a dragon nest?"

"We are allowed to see anything, except the sex itself. I have even seen the eggs hatch."

"Serious cute factor."I interrupted."I would love to see a baby dragon."

"Not easy, if you're not a dragon, or rider.But they are adorable, and very friendly to everyone."

"Changing the topic, where does the water come from?" I said, indicating the fountain. Veronica shrugged.

"There is a hard section of volcanic rock underneath, and the water bubbled up into this cave. We made use of our dragon's flame, and a few other tricks, and carved a path to a smaller cave, which, as you saw, came out over the valley."

"Yes, Draco dived into that when the dragons awoke the first time. He and Simba went to that planet as well, and he can change into a boat with a special propulsion means."

"He floated down there?I did not think something as big as him could get down there." Veronica looked moderately surprised.

"Weight transfer in the change. A full sized version of my plane is at least ten times bigger, so they only weigh how much we weigh. Thus Draco's boat is small and narrow.And just so you know, we expend energy using our weapons, like when I did when I dropped my bomb." I realised that I was feeling slightly drained, and drunk one of the bottles of Lift I had in my pack. I now carried a six pack of bottles, due to my frequent use of the Lightning. The Audi did very reasonable mileage, I could drive for four hours before needing to drink a bottle, where as a shortish period in the Lightning or using my weapons drained me completely.

And yes, the Reventon was a bigger gas guzzler than the Audi. After replacing my empty bottle in my bag, we left the dragon's cavern, and headed upstairs again. As we climbed the stairs, Veronica asked me about my rocket launcher, and I explained briefly.

"It fires a special type of explosive, I'll show you what it does tomorrow, probably."

"Depends on how big the army is. We might finish them all before you even get involved." Veronica taunted. I rose.

"Judging by the amount you're being offered, and Seriphe's comment, I reckon it's fairly large. I will beat your score."

"Optimistic, aren't you?" she teased.

"I am a realist." I said, suddenly thinking about a special weapon I had once seen. It was used in Command and Conquer, a game I had had an addiction to for some time, and remembered the joy I had got unlocking the five star weapon I could command, and the subsequent use on ground troops. Thus in thought, we walked into the living room and talked about various things to Simba, Seriphe and Meera.

We spent the day there, although we saw no sign of Draco or Juliet for most of it, and we found out a great many things about the world. The dragon riders knew everything about everyone, because they had, at some point or other, been asked to fight against everything and everyone. Their casualties were few.

"Even in a large scale battle, the worst that could happen is a few dragons could be hurt badly. But even so, a dragon on the ground is still a dangerous foe. We all get the occasional injury, due to the number of spears flying towards us."

"Speaking from personal experience,"I said, smiling,"I have got in an argument with a noble dragon before, and it's not something I would wish on anyone else.He had a sword tipped tail, which he could put through a building when he was really angry."

"Ah, we have heard of such uses of the tail. Some of ours have a small knobbly 'club' which they use to great effect, others just use the tail as a whip." Meera nodded.

"And no one has been killed by such?"

"Of course a few sisters have been killed, as have a few dragons, but it only makes us really angry, due to the relationship we share. Our enemies don't know which is worse, killing one, and getting our wrath, or letting us live, and getting defeated." Seriphe smiled.

That evening we ate together. We had a fairly comprehensive knowledge about the planet now, and tomorrow we would take part in an aerial battle. I made a small journey back to Central, and came back with twenty litres of what you would call rocket fuel.We slept well, and woke in morning reasonably refreshed.