FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Emptiness. The only feeling the family of three could express after their five years of confinement. The only communication made is with a single apothecary merchant in Feros, A human based town about 10 miles away. For Maddox, Finnick, and Zephyr, living conditions are extremely tough, especially when living during a time where tension is great between the Human race and the Sothren.

Sothren are animalistic beings that have take on almost identical humanlike figures. The Humans and Sothren are incredibly similar in multiple ways, including how they eat, drink, sleep, and so on. Only such details as having fur or scales are great differences. The ability to use magic also exists within their kind. Three different kinds of Sothren exist; the Canis (dogs, wolves, etc.), the Felidis (Cats, Tigers, etc.), and the Reptilia (Snakes, Lizards, etc.)

At one point, the Sothren and Humans were at peace, but a power struggle set them apart from one another. Humans began taking Sothren as slaves trying to prove they were the dominant species. A war broke out caused thousands upon thousands of casualties and unnecessary hatred between the two species. A truce was made which says humans cannot take Sothren as slaves, yet it is still preformed secretly. Tensions still remain high though.

Maddox, Finnick, and Zephyr are the only ones of their kind. They are the Morphlings. They have the ability to change from Sothren to Human and vice versa.

Finnick, the eldest of the family, is part human and lizard. He has raised the family without parents since age 16, teaching the younger siblings how to hunt and how to survive in the wild. Maddox, the middle child, is part human and tiger. Now at the age of 17 has learned most of the basic ideas to survive. Zephyr, The last and youngest of the family, is part wolf and human. At the age of only 13 she has almost no knowledge of the outside world.

Finnick is the only one with vivid memories of their parents because they died when Maddox was barely 5 and Zephyr was 1. Maddox does remember his parents as well, but they are extremely vague and only outlines of them. Without guardians they were forced to live in an orphanage in Feros for a large portion of their lives, hiding their secret. Knowing that if somebody found out they could change their form would cause great commotion as well as them be captured. It was especially difficult with Zephyr changing forms sporadically since she didn't have control at such a young age. They survived 5 years without being caught until one unfortunate day when Maddox was angered by one of the other kids at the orphanage and he changed into his tiger form. Maddox was taken to the capitol building where he was interrogated and nearly sentenced to death because he was convicted of using an illegal "Species Switch" spell. However, when further inspection was taken place, they noticed that his eyes were his natural color, blue, rather then red, which is what color they turn when the spell is in use. The idea of Morphlings had been tossed around quite a lot, but nobody had believed one actually existed.

Maddox was scared out of his mind. He didn't know what to do so he made the first move that came to mind. Run. Luckily, his arms were only tied up not his legs so he was able to escape. His heart beat faster as he waited to be shot down by guards, yet no shots were fired. They knew that they must keep him alive for further investigation.

He burst through the door of the capitol and began to sprint down the street with at least a dozen foot soldiers catching up quickly. He began to grow tired as tears started to poor down his face, his imminent capture about to take place. When, out of nowhere, a cart full of vegetables flew out of an alley hitting at least half the soldiers, and tripping the rest.

Maddox began to run faster hoping this would buy him some time to escape. He caught a glance of Finnick, with Zephyr in his arms, sprinting out from where the cart was thrown following him. Eventually, Finnick caught up to Maddox and the group ran until the town was not visible anymore. Finnick led them deep into a forest until they hit a clearing where they found a small house. Noting the condition of the house with its hole filled roof and walls, broken windows, cobwebs everywhere, and the only food left in the house were some canned goods that looked like they expired twenty years ago, they came to the conclusion that it was abandoned.

The night was spent making fire and gathering some berries to eat. The night moved slowly as the family sat around the fire without any conversation being made. With the handful of berries that Maddox had collected to eat, their stomachs still remained empty.

The group snuggled into the large bed, settling their minds. Nobody had spoken a word the entire night. 10 minutes had passed and soft sobbing could be heard from one end of the bed.

"Zephyr?" Maddox asked. "What's wrong?"

Her words could barely be made out through her muffled voice.

"I just want to go home."

"This is home," Finnick replied.

"This is home..." Maddox repeated.