FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I spent the week running up to Central New Year (my third) working as usual, but when I wasn't with Ryan Lewis at Woolworths, I was at Central or at the tailors getting my suit or it's add ons prepared. To look the part, moulds had been taken of my fingers, as Abigail built me a set of black gloves with claws. The gloves were flexible, but they had these claws that were connected to my fingers, and would not get knocked loose. They would hurt my fingers if I try to swipe at things, but it looked cool as hell.

My suit was also marvellous. My cat ears, which was the part of a head mask, were fitted with sound detectors, so my hearing was insanely keen at the front, but lessened at the back. My sleeves carried twenty rounds each of smoke and light capsules, and underneath the wrist was a launcher which could hurl then about twenty metres. My shoes were no longer my combat rooms, but rather almost ballet shoes. They were slightly slippery, but I had good balance, and my slides were professional. My tail did not have any function, but it completed the image.

Although I found out I was not alone in serious dress up. Silverine had reported to be doing serious metal working, and Alecto was seen carrying a set of old school scales, suggesting he was a judge or something.

Ryan Lewis was kept ignorant on our plans, although he knew about the Hunt.He spent most of his non working time in his room, or going for runs.

No one had seen me in my cat costume, let alone all it's additionals and makeup. Having watched the guy who played the role apply it, I knew how it was done.

But Saturday dawned, and cat costume, makeup and toys were smuggled into my kit bag and onto Central. Draco, Simba, Salbar, Javid, Ryan Lewis and Gareth were in my room, and I suggested a game of Talisman for the morning. It can be a very long game, and we introduced no sexual rule, reserving it for the night. The game of adventure went on until lunchtime, whereupon we had lunch.The food store would be mostly deserted, people were preparing. Kodey came over, and said that none were to visit Silverine, as he was getting all his costume together.

This caused interest as to what Silverine was, but Kodey kept his lips pursed. A glower hovered in, and looked at our unfinished game, and then left. Draco immediately asked after dinner.

"What's your new forms?"

"No Raptor. No Tripod. Instead I've got a Su-47 Sukhoi, the one with the backward wings, for improved manoeuvrability, and my Ferrari F1. Except because of my colours, it's going to be jet black."

"One better than me." Draco replied," I went with a Ariel Atom and a Z-10."

"Apache and an old school Charger." Simba said from his seat.

"Care for a test run?" Draco asked.

"I'm game." I replied. Ryan Lewis paid attention to what was his hostile predators. Draco changed into his Ariel Atom, and me into my F1. Simba's midnight black Charger was the coolest, even I would admit it. The old block engine had such a better sound revving, but the coolest at full roar was the F1 engine.

The game was packed away, and the dragon and lion went to opposite sides of the room, changing into their helicopters.

"It's Battlefield in real life." I shouted, as both hummed into life. I lay down on the table and changed into the SU-47.

"Christ it looks weird." Ryan looked at the backward plane.This did not support my F-22 ion engines, but I wouldn't be using them in Central. There were several affirmations from the others, but just because it was weird looking didn't mean it didn't work, and it was good at turning. My Raptor might be faster, but this thing out turned even that.

The helicopters hovered, surveying one another, and after ten minutes of this sort of thing, we changed back. Simba went out to hoon his car, i.e.. do some drifts, and both me and Draco wanted to try the same. We would all record one another, and Simba left the room first. As we did, we found Ryan tested his mufti police CCXR, and he flashed his police lights at us.

"I'm sorry officer."I said,"Is there a problem?"

"You're not allowed on the road if you don't have lights or a license plate."

"This isn't a road, and besides we're doing some harmless drifts." Draco argued.

"Nevertheless." the police car replied,"Unless one thing."

"What?" Simba asked.

"I can join in." the disguised tiger replied, and we burst out laughing. The charger raced off down the corridor, with the Atom in hot pursuit. I was facing Ryan, and he went by me. I did a half donut to turn around and blasted after them. Simba got to a corner, and did a full bore drift through it, leaving black streaks.

Draco followed on the same line, Ryan ignited his siren and lights, and drifted after the other two, and I took the corner at full tilt, no drift, blasted past Ryan, Draco, and Simba.

"Speed is all." I said, power steering through a right hand bend with the three in tow. White smoke plumed behind us as we childishly streaked around. Everyone took the front to lead the chain drift, and positions were varied. I also tried a daring move, a dual drift with the CCX into a wider corridor.

With Draco directly behind us, We both went into drift at the same time. Ryan purposely drifted wide, and I over steered a bit until we came onto the corridor in tandem. Then we both hit the throttle, and then the brakes. I slowed hard, and Ryan spun round 180 until he was facing me.

"Nice manoeuvre captain." I said.

Draco pulled up, he was panting with enjoyment.

"Man, this is so much fun."

Simba was half way through a burn-out, and we drove back. As we got to the door though, Javid had thoughtfully set up a ramp jump, and Simba charged forwards, determined to get there first. Ryan spun around to get a run up, as did Draco. I drove and hid behind the ramp, pointing my recorder upwards. I got there just as Simba hit the ramp.

It was true Dukes of Hazzard style. His horn wasn't the musical burst the General Lee had, but it looked awesome as he landed neatly on four wheels. Javid was watching by the door, as was Ryan Lewis,and the human certainly recognised the show moment.

Draco went next, and he went a lot further, but because of his timing, he landed on his back wheels, and rear-wheeled it for about five yards.

"If I'd know this was here, I would have gone with an old school Mini cooper." I said, thinking of the old Italian Job. Then a CCX flew over my head.

"Isn't Alduin going to have a go?" Javid asked.

"Not without risking my front wing."I replied, as Simba came back. He honked past me, and went inside. Draco drove past, and Ryan came to a halt next to me. There were scraping lines on his front bumper.

"That hurt, slightly." he said, as Draco drove one side of the Atom up the ramp, and began driving like a motorbike.

"Oh my gosh, it's an Ariel bicycle." I teased, as Draco wobbled but stayed up right. I began playing Grease Lightning, and took off to do some speed runs. Both Ryan and Draco tried to follow, but the power of the Formula 1 left them behind. I spotted Time dancer outside the Food store, and drove directly underneath Arachno outside his office. It was only when I saw Doran standing at an intersection that I hit the brakes. Doing 200 kilometres an hour, the front wing practically touched the ground as the hyper brakes slowed the car dramatically. I came to a very complete halt next to the interested wolf.

"Hey, Alduin, I trust you want to talk to me."

"I did, Doran, plan to try the same tactic as last time?"

"Last time we caught someone, of course." the wolf replied, grinning. I turned one tyre with a blush.

"I was lucky.So, see you at the Hall?"

"Yes, I know all eight, so no problem finding them."

"Eight?" I sounded surprised. Doran smiled.

"You'll see, see you."he walked off as Ryan power slided around a corner, and caught me up.

"Jeez, you go fast." he panted, as I gunned the throttle.We went at fifty kilometres an hour, talking about the advantages of the engines. His was a twin super charged V8, capable of 0-100 in about four seconds, and a top speed of 350, if you gave him enough room. My Formula 1 was a V12, it had more oomph than the newer F1 cars, so my stats were 3.2 seconds to 100 kph, top speed 352, although I had reined in the top speed for better mid range acceleration, so it was only 310, but to get there was so much faster.

The result? This thing was insane.It changed gear like a blink, and was always in the best power range, even at low revs one prod of the throttle and it would surge forwards. Doubtless Ryan would beat me in long distance drag, but...

Ryan wanted to see this super ratio acceleration first hand, and I stopped. He kept back, and then floored it, ten yards behind me. As he got to me, I floored it, and Ryan watched as I caught up, pulled level, and as we got to third and fourth gear, simply took off. True, the CCXR was no slouch at high range acceleration, but it hadn't been tuned for absolute, and I had to stop as I was running out of corridor. Ryan caught up again.

"You're testing the laws of physics." he complained,"Things shouldn't accelerate that fast."

"Back to base?" I asked.

"Well, I'm going back to my quarters, so see you at the hall." he replied, racing off. I charged back to our quarters, and changed into my human to walk in. Draco was extolling his plans to Ryan in one corner, and Ryan seemed uncomfortable at what he was hearing. Javid was cleaning his rifle, Salbar was in our room testing his footwork as he swung at invisible enemies, he never stopped perfecting the noble art of swordsmanship.

It was three o'clock, and I still had two hours until changing. It was much the same as usual, the ball started at seven, feast at eight, finish at nine, chat til ten to ten, and then the Hunt started at ten exactly, ran til midnight. Simple as that. I was playing the waiting game.

Sunrise, Hinori and Runo turned up.

"Where the devil are we?" they asked aloud. They were in fact a good ten minutes from their quarters, and lost. Draco looked like he intended to intimidate the two dragons and the human, but I stood up first.

"I'll take you." I walked down the corridor, taking the scenic route. This meant it took twenty minutes, and allowed me to make them nervous.

"So, prepared for the Hunt, Runo?"

"Of course." the dragon enthused, clapping his hands.

"Water bottle, energy bar?"

"No energy bar, but yeah I get the drift."

"Comfy ropes? Chains that won't dig too deep into the skin?" I suggested, and Runo stopped walking.

"Now what is that supposed to mean?"

"Trust me, I was bondaged by Draco and Devlin, I didn't really enjoy it immensely. I should have asked for less coarse ropes." I looked at my fingernails, feeling the stares on the back of my neck."

"What are the rules about catching a Hunted?"

"If you catch one, you're allowed to do practically whatever you like within the limit. That includes whatever fetish takes your fancy. I know Time Dancer has a whip somewhere."

This was true, but she certainly hadn't used it during sex.

"Whip?" Hinori sounded scared.

"Could be worse for Hinori of course. Keep away from Propani. I'd hate to think how much that would hurt you."

Sunrise spoke quietly." Um, Alduin, has anyone gone the distance?"

"No. I got to 1:50,but then Silverine, Draco and Devlin cornered me."

"No one?" Runo sounded doubtful.

"The record was three minutes longer than me." I looked at my fingers again.

"Do you think we might get past?"

"Nope, not with Draco head hunting Runo." I smiled.

"Why me?"

"Your little altercation in your living room hasn't finished, Draco swears he will bondage you, I hope you either have a will or a submissive spirit."

Runo shivered, and Hinori looked at me.

"Who's going for me?"

"No names, no pack drill, Hinori. We go for anyone, standard rule. Except with Draco, who wants to prove he is the most dominant here. Any male who thinks himself better is heading for a fall."

"Could I sort of say he's better than me?" Runo suggested hopefully.

"No." I said. Sunrise looked at the Lava dragon.

"Face it, Runo, you've got a bruising coming to your ass tonight."

"I will not." Runo said defiantly.

"Runo, I was blessed with brains, Draco will get you." Sunrise replied.

"He will not,and if he catches me I will break free."

"God loves an optimist." I said.

"Really?" Runo said, hopefully. I smiled.

"God likes everyone. It's the real world that will come crashing around your pointy ears and prove you wrong. I'll bet a round with you that you'll get caught."

"You're on!" Runo snarled, and Hinori put his hand over his eyes, the ice dragon clearly not wanting to be involved.

"My dearest brother, I think that lava has burnt your brain cells out."

I further demoralised them all the way to their quarters, and then flew back to my quarters as my Sukhoi, after having shut their door.

It turned nicely, though I was at low speed now.I was still busy thinking who was the eighth? There was Sunrise Eclipse, Runo, Hinori, that made three. The doppelganger was a capable scout, and fourth. Orion, obviously, Kodey, sixth, Ryan Lewis was the seventh, but I couldn't think who the last was.

I landed neatly, still thinking on this riddle, and went back into my quarters. Simba was busy playing a game of snap with Javid.

I was so struggling with my forms. I had so many options, and the tripod form, while strong in many ways, it was not fast. I was debating going back to a rally car, or whether I could try something on the water. The advantages of this form thing was I could make modifications to existing ideas, hence my Raptor's VTO ability, and I was thinking if there was a better car than the Audi or a Lancer that I could have as a rally car. Perhaps turn a hyper or super car into an off road car. Maybe go one better for one of the G'zara, choose a Rage off roader, he could sit in the cockpit.

I bounced this idea off Simba.

"That's a good idea, if Zac could indeed fit in there, then there could be some very helpful things there.Except knowing Zac he'd probably put on a mounted blaster like one of those Dune buggys on your Battlefield 2 game."

"And a TOW missile or two." Draco added."Of course, being one of those, you'd best have your own method of defence."

"Yeah, what about having a mechanism that fires your .303 rounds?" Simba added.

"Not a machine gun, they use up ammo too fast." I hazarded," But something like one every second, perhaps."

With idle conversations and games taking place, five o'clock finally ticked over, and Draco clapped his hands for attention.

"O.K., shotgun bathroom."

"Shotgun broken."I replied,"I need a mirror for my make up."

"So do I." Draco retaliated.

"Oh well, we're both go in the bathroom, and no one else."

I grabbed my kit bag as everyone started off to dress up. Draco pulled a kit bag of his own, and walked into the bathroom after me, and we locked the door. I stripped naked, as did Draco.

"So what's your costume?" Draco asked me. I smiled at him.

"You're about to see, Draco." I replied, drawing out an antiperspirant spray. The disadvantage about the suit was it could get immensely hot, due to it's close fit and soft material. It had a single zipper from just above the bottom and went up to the back of the neck. But because it had been fitted to me, it was socks, leggings and long sleeved shirt all in one.

I sprayed myself liberally, and Draco purred.

"That smells nice, what is it?" I told him and then drew out my suit.

"That's as black as midnight, except for the sparkles."

Oops, didn't I mention? This was the magical suit, it was inlaid with little bits of light reflective bits, and they were spread randomly across the chest and back, thicker there, but on the arms and legs less. Draco looked approvingly as I got into the suit. It fitted perfectly, or rather purrrfectly.

"Nice, it suits you, what is it?" he asked me again.

"I said when it's finished." I said, as I began to fix my launchers underneath my wrist, they were strapped on by metal bands that were strapped both to my middle finger and my wrist. Both had wires running through my suit to my glasses. The mike was a tiny one underneath the side of my head mask, and I placed the head mask on my head loosely. I still had to plug everything in.

This took ten minutes, and I wasn't looking at Draco for as long as possible. Also, the term mask was a misnomer, because it didn't cover my face at all, just my forehead, ears and the back of my head. It was held in place by a couple of black straps, and by the time I had finished attaching everything, there was naught of my own skin showing except my face. Draco did up the zipper at the back, and I worked on my make up.

As I turned to do this, Draco was still naked. He was busy applying camouflage paint to himself!

"I'm going as a jungle native, I've got a blowgun, and shorts, and a head band, and that's it."

"Run fast, travel light, sensible."I nodded, I then spent the next hour applying make up. My face was whitened, and then came the difficult part. Four whiskers either side, and the eyelashes. Complete the image with a black diamond on my forehead, underneath the crown of the head gear, and done.

I turned back, and Draco had finished covering himself with camo paint. He could have hidden in a bush, we'd never have spotted him. He was quite thorough, making sure there was no patch of him that was predominantly one colour, and his stripes looked excellent. He also gave me an appraising look.

"Looking good, my feline friend."

"Wrong colour for Central, but you could be next to the path in a jungle, I would have no idea." I complimented back.

Soon we added the finishing touches. Draco put on a very ragged pair of shorts that were also equally camo, and I put on my ballet shoes. I then slipped on my gloves, strapping them on so each claws was practically fused into the end of finger. To test they were all tight, I clawed ten little white lines down the wall, to an agonizingly awful black board screech. Draco winced, and I examined the razor sharp claws in reflection. Yep, they were all fine. Trust Abigail to make them that sharp.

He drew his blow gun, and blew into it. A small bolt of energy shot out the other end, and earthed into the wall. I was impressed.

"An air powered C.E.O blaster? Interesting."

"Basically if you blow reasonably hard into it, it fires a bolt. Nothing lethal, but scary and definitely capable of knocking out someone." Draco said.

I wasn't using my sleeve tricks, while I had forty rounds, I wanted to keep them.They ignited whenever they came into contact with the ground after being fired.

My sensory apparatus was working well. Draco was cursing to himself, whispering, and I could hear exactly what he was saying when I was facing him, my ears catching the whispers and boosting the sound.

"Stop swearing Draco, you look fine." he looked up, and I pointed at my cat ears. He smiled.

"Clever, audio equipment."

"Yes, and it did hear that last rude word."

"Then turn it off, I think I missed a part on my back."

"Turn around." I commanded, and was confronted with a perfectly camouflaged back. He had not missed a spot, and I told him so. He sounded relieved.

We walked out at half past six, and there were wolf whistles. The jungle native and the magical cat walked into the rest of the party. Ryan Lewis was as usual, no costume, but he was wearing sporting gear. Javid was in impeccable army medic uniform, Salbar was dressed in the full uniform of a warrior lizard on his planet.

Gareth had laid off the chains, and instead was dressed like a football player, with brightly coloured emerald green and yellow, suggesting he was playing for Brazil.And yes, he had a football as well, a strictly legal white and black ball that was completely regulation. Alecto had kept with the God theme, except he was dressed in a long caftan, it's colour black with silver runes, and a tiara. His fur had black and brown streaks running through it, and he carried the old scales in one hand. I thought so, he had dressed up as a fox like version of Hades, the god of the underworld, and judgment day upon all mortals.

And as for Simba, well, he had gone for understatement, dressing up as a shepherd, with a crook and reasonably casual clothes, and combat boots. He had gone for a perfect blend of speed and comfort, without looking out of place in the middle of a muddy field and half a dozen sheep, even if they would run away if they really did see him.

We walked outside, and met a sorceror.Oh wait, it was Winslo.That meant a wizard, except he had gone dark for the evening. Billy Carlson had kept his greatcoat, but was now Rambo, or at least armed to the teeth.This included the tradition sash across his front made out of bullets. They were leading Sunrise, Runo and Hinori, all of which hadn't dressed up, and all looking somewhat nervous. Ryan walked with them, as Gareth, me, Simba and Draco played soccer. Alecto would have, but he was carrying the scales, and that might have been difficult, although amusing to watch.

This is possibly the only game in the history of soccer in which a lion shepherd, a human cat, a jungle dragon and a foxy footballer had ever played together. Only on Central, I thought as I gently passed it to Gareth, who professionally ran past me down the corridor towards Central. I was maintaining a gentle touch with my ballet shoes, I didn't want to ruin them, not now of all times.

We met another Hunted, and two Hunters. Orion, resplendid in his martial clothes, was being led by Doran in a full druid's robe and wooden staff, not to mention a six inch dagger and sandals and Time Dancer, who was dressed like a racing car driver in her black and silver leathers, open face helmet, and her motorbike, which seemed a strange thing, but I guessed she was going to use it in the Hunt. Lara Croft, try this one. Instead of a garage, try the corridors of Central.

Doran and Winslo bowed to one another.

"Greetings, tree dwelling scum." the bunny said.

"Greetings, you evil necro-bastard." the wolf replied formally, and then both burst out laughing. Winslo knew how to act evil, and Doran knew enough about magic to know what Winslo was being. There was a herb pouch on Doran's plain belt, and a voodoo doll and a bone or two on Winslo's.

"I see my familiar has turned up." Doran looked at me, and instantly I slid on two feet over to him, before dropping to all fours and rubbing against his cloak.

"Nice kitty." Winslo suggested.

"Miaow." I replied, and everyone laughed. I got back onto two legs, and leaving the Hunted to very bemusedly follow, we headed towards the Great Hall. Time Dancer and Doran were added into the passing of the football, which meant the earlier four now made six with a wolven druid and a canine racing driver.

But soon enough we came to the great doors of the Central Hall, and we found a very strange message on the front.

"These doors are charmed by a great spell, they will not open unless the riddle is solved."

"This has never happened before." Draco commented.

The message continued."Ask to hear the riddle."

"Ah, an intelligence test." Simba smiled." Nice addition."

"What is the riddle?" Draco commanded. Immediately a voice spoke.

"I can weigh little, yet I weigh lots.

I am stored within jars, and also in pots.

I can be hard, I can run free around.

Or in the air I can abound.

To some I am home, to others not so

I come sometimes small, or in a large go."

"But of all this, you can guess

To get past me, you need success

So what am I, that keeps you alive

and allows many things to survive

I often rise, and oftener fall

And am currently filling most of the hall?"

There was a long pause as everyone ran this overly long riddle through their heads, and I realised what the answer was. It sounded ridiculous, given the last two lines, but this was Central after all, we got some fairly strange things. Time Dancer smiled immediately after I did, she had worked it out,and before long everyone had worked out the answer. It was a very easy riddle after all.

Draco stepped forwards.

"We have an answer to the riddle?"

Now I came to think of it, the voice sounded like Kodey's.

"What is the answer?"it said, and Draco smiled.