FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The young warrior looked at the courier's note he had received but a week earlier. He had been asked to come kill a demon which had been attacking a village, and today he arrived. The village was a small farming community which kept mostly to itself, and was inhabited solely by humans. Normally the wolf was hesitant to be around humans, but he had heard that the people of this village held no hatred for beast-folk as many others did.

"O! Today is a blessed day! Heed my words, the blade of the gods has been sent to our aid!" An old sage was preaching to the villagers, Kota had been called many things by humans before, pup, beast, lowborn, never had he been given an honorable name. "This young... erm... man, shall slay the demon plaguing so once again our fields may grow heavy with the blessings of the harvest!"

"I make no promises sage, only that I will try" Kota said eliciting a roar of praise from the people, they pointed him in the direction in which the demon had last been seen and he set off to find it. He came to the clearing in which it had been said to live, the sight before him caused him to jump into action, not only was the demon here, but clasped n it's hand was a young human, Kota could tell the human was still alive, he knew he had to save him. "Demon! Release him or taste my blade!"

"Begone Pack-born... I have no quarrel with your kind..." The demon spoke in a deep booming tone, returning his attention to the human clasped in his hand.

"Any who harm the weak..." Kota drew his sword and directed it toward the demon, "Have made a quarrel with me."

"So be it wolf," the demon sat the human on a boulder near by and turned to the wolf.

The demon swiped it's claws toward Kota, he dodged, but a claw caught is shoulder. Kota slashed at the demon's wrist severing it's hand, a guttural scream emanating from the demon's maw. Kota ran to the demon's back while it was distracted, jumped high and sank his sword deep into it's shoulders, it let out a low grumble as it fell over, paralyzed. "Goodbye demon," Kota said as he brought his blade down upon it's neck, silencing the beast forever. Kota ran to the side of the young human he had hoped to save. Kota had to admit, the human was, for lack of a better word, beautiful, for a male anyway. he had a slender, almost curved frame, and his hair was near shoulder length and raven black, it contrasted deeply with his pale skin, the color of moonlight, the wolf found it nearly enthralling. The human opened his eyes and gazed deeply at the wolf, Kota looked in the humans eyes, a shade of blue so light it was nearly white.

"You saved me?" the small creature asked.

"Yes, it was nothing... though I do wonder why a hate demon would be keeping one such as yourself.... tell me... who do you hold such strong hate for?" Kota asked.

"Why do you care? I am just a human, nothing to a beast-man such as yourself."

"Because, perhaps if they deserve such hatred, I could cut them into pieces for you."

"Good," the human stood in front of him "I hate only myself, now do it, cut me down where I stand."

"What... no!" The wolf protested "Surely you jest! I could not harm someone without reason!"

"I have given you reason wolf! I am deserving of death! I am worth nothing, my life is a burden on others! I beg you... Take it..." the human fell to his knees, tears forming in his eyes.

"Please, tell me why you feel this way." Kota asked, a strange feeling of care forming for the human.

"I am weak, I cannot work the fields... I am no merchant, as I hate to see someone go hungry... I cannot wield a blade to save my life... I am worthless..." the human said, the wolf taking a long look at him.

"Here," the wolf dug into his pack retrieving a black leather book, "See if you can read this..."

"As you say..." The human opened the book and was greeted with a burst of light, as runes left the book and ran up his arms and into his head. "What have you done to me wolf?!"

"The reason you had not found your place," The wolf helped the human to stand "Is because your place was as a mage... if you wish it, tomorrow when I leave the village you may accompany me, I could use a mage in my line of work!" the wolf said with gusto.

"Truly? You would have me?" asked the human.

"Of course!" The wolf joyously cried, "I'll need to know your name though! I'm Kota!"

"My name is Cuervus..." said the human

"A fine name! We set out for the capital city tomorrow, but tonight we'll celebrate in the village."

the two returned to a hero's welcome, Cuervus slipped away briefly to pack his things and lock his home as Kota discussed his plan with the sage.

"Yes, I agree, it would be good for our young friend to see more of the world... but you say he is a sorcerer?"

"Yes sir... the book is blank now, he absorbed the magic from it completely!" Kota said to the elderly man.

"Then I wish you luck... as for your payment... we haven't much to give, but our smith is the finest around, we have arranged for him to repair and upgrade your sword tonight, and I suppose I could spare an old staff for Cuervus to use until you can find something better."

"I thank you, and in honestly Cuervus himself is payment enough, it's been too long since I had a companion to travel with..."

The two left the following morning without a word, their wagon carrying what few supplies they have, Cuervus quite nervous about this change in his life, Kota excited to have his new friend along, hoping to create a brilliant new friendship.

To Be Continued...