FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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"Well, shit..."

Lena slammed the hood of her truck and hopped in for the dozenth failed attempt at the ignition. With a huff, she sat back and closed her eyes. The breeze and fading afternoon light urged her to give in to slumber, but were ignored.

She had hoped to find a stop for a snack and coffee before finishing the trip to her grandparents' house, where the family's Thanksgiving would take place; a smile formed as she fantasized of the treats she would indulge in, including her grandfather's wondrous spiced pumpkin cider. Her eyelids rose as she was dragged back to her predicament - if she was going to reach the sanctuary of food and family, then she would need a plan. Glancing up at her mirror, she adjusted it to look at herself.

Her fur was a chocolate-spotted vanilla, like her brothers and sisters. Brown hair reached the collar of her plaid button-up, left open to expose the T-shirt and belly underneath. A pair of jeans were supported by a belt and buckle of a heart and reticle.

A flick of her wrist told her it was minutes to seven, but her flip phone indicated that it still had no signal: the drive through the forested mountains had been easier on the eyes than telecommunications. The receding orange sky was giving way to the scattered stars of the blue background above. Maybe the rabbit still had some luck in her foot, and a fellow traveler would come by and offer help.

Just as she categorized that under "unlikely", something in the mirror caught her eye; it was the growing twinkle of headlights up the road. Her heart quickened as she sat up and scrambled to activate her hazard lights - this could be her only chance in a long time. Thankfully, the black convertible slowed as it approached, pulling to the roadside ahead.

The car's lights died and a collie woman emerged from the vehicle, kicking the door closed and making her way over. For a moment, it looked like the woman's black-furred visage had no eyes. Shock had Lena paralyzed, until she remembered that the area had simply grown darker with the sun's departure.

She struggled to relax lest she embarrass herself, though the woman's fur didn't look anything but black. Her white tank top and the frays in her ebon jeans were the only things preventing the shapely woman from blending in to her surroundings.

Lena cleared her throat and gathered her confidence. She hadn't spoken to anyone in so long that she feared she may have forgotten how.

"Uh...hi."

The woman was quiet, and leaned against the window as their eyes locked into an awkward staring contest. Lena sat back, anything to put distance between them - this was strange behavior, maybe a local thing?

The closer look allowed definition of the woman's eyes: irises of black diamond with the palest of blue, like a moon's ripple on water. Small silver penetrated her ears, and wrapped around her neck were a pair of tags resting against her bosom that Lena dared not stare to. Medium hair had silver visible now - likely from dye since she looked to be in her late twenties, maybe a few years older than Lena.

She forced herself to continue.

"Apologies, but I was passing through the area and I'm having a bit of trouble..." She checked her phone again and frowned. "I don't know any numbers for towing out here, but I suppose it wouldn't help anyway", she chuckled.

The woman only nodded as she listened, sharp stare studying the rabbit hard enough to leave marks. Lena began to worry about her credibility. If the woman was mistrustful, then Lena would do anything to prove that she was being genuine.

Shrugging at Lena, the woman gazed down the road. Lena mirrored the action, but saw nothing worth noting. She looked back to the canine and thought she noticed an emerging smirk, but it faded as she turned back to Lena and spoke.

"Not very wise to camp out here unprepared, you don't know what you could run into. Tell you what: since it looks like you and I were heading in the same direction, maybe I can give you a ride?"

Lena's spirit lifted. "Oh yes, please! I'm actually surprised you showed up when you did...not that it's a problem."

The woman paused for a moment, in thought. "Though, you'd have to leave your truck behind for a bit, and I'm sure you wouldn't want that." She pushed off and started toward her vehicle. "Maybe you'll find someone who can hitch your truck up. Best of luck", she said over a shoulder.

Paralyzation returned; Lena couldn't risk waiting for another chance.

"Wait!" she blurted, startling herself.

The woman stopped mid stride. "Hm?"

"It's ok, I'll ride with you. I can call a tow truck later on, but it's ok." She shuddered at the thought of shivering in the dark on her own.

"Alright, sounds fair. Get your shit and let's go."

Lena rushed to collect her keys and phone, not daring to give the woman a reason to change her mind. Trotting to catch up, she gave a last look at her truck - hopefully she would be in it again, and in a better condition.

* * *

"Again, thanks for this. I'd probably still be back there right now." Lena peered through the window, wondering if its tint was causing the darkness in the passing forest. "Heck, I was afraid that I'd have to start walking..."

The collie nodded her hundredth welcome, eyes on the road. If Lena had learned two things about her, they were her quiet nature and habit of glancing at the rabbit. Maybe she thought Lena had fallen asleep? Its urges had been catching up over the hours, and the toasty heating didn't help.

With the radio muted, the engine's hum was the only source of entertainment, discouraging her idea to discuss music. Still, they hadn't yet exchanged names and she was looking to fix that.

She was interrupted before she could begin.

"You drink coffee? I'll buy."

"Yes! I mean, if you're offering, that is...I don't want to be a huge burden, you know?" She smiled at the thought. "But I do love my coffee..."

"Nah, you won't be much of a burden", the driver mumbled. Lena didn't quite hear it, but was mannered enough to dismiss the comment. Hopefully they could have a better chat over coffee.

Pulling into the empty lot of a convenience store, Lena wondered if she would have stopped there on her own.

"It's so bright in there..." she remarked at its flawless lighting and polished floors. "Do you think travelers are the biggest source of business around here?" Genuinely curious, she also wanted a reason to speak.

The woman halfheartedly shrugged. "Could be. I'll be back, stay there." She paused halfway out of the car. "How do you like your coffee?"

For a moment, Lena's eyes lit up. "Uh...you know what? Surprise me!" She didn't want to take advantage with a detailed list, but also wanted relief from that unsettling gaze.

"I will", the driver replied, shutting the door behind her.

Alone now, Lena considered her options. Maybe have the truck towed to a shop, have the woman drop her off at her grandparents' place, and get a ride back to that shop later on? Hopefully she could afford it.

A check of her phone told her that she wouldn't be making any calls from that area: no reception. She scoffed and looked up to notice the woman approaching, a drink in each hand. Lena hopped out as an idea struck her.

"Where are you going?" the woman asked.

"My phone isn't getting a signal and they might have a wired line in there I could use. I'll be quick." She hurried inside while the woman shook her head.

A blast of warmth greeted her upon entry. She ignored the rows tasty distractions and made her way to the counter, where an elderly beagle sat reading comics in the weekly paper. He didn't notice her, and after a minute she spoke.

"Excuse me. Sir?"

He looked up and searched a bit before finding her.

"Hmm? Did you forget someth- oh, hello!"

"Hi. Weird question, but is there a phone in here I can use? I was just passing through the area with a friend, and my cell isn't getting a signal."

"Of course! Give me a sec, this isn't easy anymore." He reached under the counter and with grunts and popped joints, lifted a bulky rotary phone onto the surface top. "Sorry young lady, this is all I have. But you know, this was all anyone had when I was sprouting." he laughed.

She laughed with him, more as stress relief than genuine. "Thanks." Lifting the phone to dial, her finger froze as she looked to the cashier. "...Do you know any towing services out here?"

"I'm afraid I don't. Sorry, young lady." He gazed thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

"However, I think my brother-in-law once ran a towing service some decades ago. That, or it was a plumbing company. Reminds me of the favor he still owes me after that mess with his wife. Wonder if she ever mailed that list... Maybe not, since it was a Monday..."

"Well thanks anyway, mister. Have a nice ni-"

"...though that didn't matter a whole lot to a woman like her. A reckless one, she was..." he chuckled to himself.

The rambling beagle didn't notice her leave.

The warmth of coffee greeted Lena when she stepped from the frigid air into the car. "It was worth a try, but I couldn't get a number to dial. That smells wonderful, though!"

The driver sipped from her drink, gesturing to Lena's in the cup holder. "Enjoy."

"Sorry if I've said it before, but thank you again for all of this. I'm Lena." A late start was better than nothing.

The collie finished another sip, starting the vehicle and pulling out. "Enika."

Lena sampled her drink: hot and delicious! "This is great, Enika! Might even be better than mine."

She drank more as they turned onto the road, and were on their way.

* * *

Lena leaned against the window and watched the blending trees rush by, darker than ever. With little success at conversation, her drink and the forest had been better companions than Enika. She turned to her cup and dumped back its remaining contents.

Eyes closed, she embraced the warmth of her seat. Falling asleep wouldn't be too big a deal after all; Enika was driving, and rest would be good to pass the time. Above all, she was grateful that she wasn't freezing in her truck with little progress. She cleared her mind, welcoming her dreams...

Relaxation set in, as well as its odd falling sensation. It barely reached velocity before a harsh jolt knocked her back into consciousness. Did they crash? She opened her eyes, but the disorientation was blinding. Faded texture all around, and the bold scent of coffee - it must have spilled in the accident.

She couldn't point left from right when shadow filled the space from above, and a sharp tremor tumbled her into a wall. Almost ready to vomit, her being was tugged by both fatigue and horror. What wasn't seen was heard: the ordinary sounds of keys and doors, but she couldn't trust these senses in her mental state. There was nothing to do but to endure.

The swaying room toppled her attempts to stand. Too weary to manage anything but a flat position, she gazed up to ribbons of light filtering through the black canopy at the opening. She had seen this place before, but always from the outside - she wouldn't place faith in her eyes.

Laying as still as the room would allow, she heard repeating footfalls nearby. The container jolted to a halt and sent her rolling, and the shadow above receded to expose a distant ceiling. Creaky cabinet hinges and the clunking of plastic reached her ears.

Her rising heart rate ripped the last of the sleepy haze from her mind, but she couldn't make much sense of the events. She was in a huge cup - but how? What happened to the vehicle, or the road, or Enika?

Escape dominated her thoughts; getting out would give her greater perspective, at least on where to run. Before those plans developed, the cup was lifted and tilted until she slid out through the mouth of a transparent jar.

Physical grace had long left her, making for a hard landing. She looked up to see a wooden horizon stretch out to meet an ordinary kitchen - adjustment to her surroundings was interrupted by a chair grating on tile. She turned to its source and yelped at the sight.

Enika.

Her huge form waited at the table's edge, watching motionlessly. The unnerving gaze had fixated on the bunny again, and to a greater effect amidst her confusion. Black ears perked when Lena reacted.

"Enika! W-what's..." A jittering jaw and shaken mind wouldn't let her speak with order. "What happened? What's going on?!" She may have screamed had she seen a stranger, but the instinct was still strong.

Enika took a deep breath and stood up, moving to a nearby drawer to bring papers and a pen. Lena, though stricken, had an easier time settling now that her environment wasn't being ravaged by quakes.

Enika aligned the stack and placed it flat, looking it over with pen at the ready. Her tiny audience peeked at the papers, but couldn't care much of their purpose with larger issues in front of her.

"Enika..." The collie either didn't hear her, or didn't care.

The pen's scratching was the only sound in the room for a long while. Enika would pause to observe Lena before making marks, or flip through the pages for reference. Lena couldn't get an answer, and waited to find out what was next for her.

Enika set her pen aside and leaned in to get a closer look at her captive. Her wet nose nearly pushed the jar, which was more than a jump scare for the bunny.

Through her surprise, Lena looked up expectantly; her friend looked ready to give an explanation. Enika didn't say a word aloud, but instead her mouth moved silently, outlining mental notes. Eventually, she sat back in her seat.

There was no surprise present on Enika's face, so she could have known sometime earlier. Maybe her shock had worn off before Lena had woken up? Maybe she was filling out documents to help find out what had happened to her, or how she would get back to normal? Maybe those thoughts were just desperate rationalizations.

Why hadn't Enika said anything? She wasn't speaking to her, and had handled her a little roughly. Just as Lena hoped that Enika was working on a solution, she began to envision some horrific possibilities.

What if Enika was responsible for this? What would stop her from harming the helpless rabbit or performing other sadistic activities? No, that couldn't be likely, Lena hadn't done anything to draw her ire. The threat was still possible, however...

Lena looked Enika in the eyes, silently pleading that she take pity and and tell her something. The collie's head made a curious tilt as she met Lena's gaze, and a mournful expression formed on her face. She stood up again, this time collecting her supplies before turning to the kitchen's exit.

"Enika, please!" Lena could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

The collie paused, turning to Lena.

"Sorry, girl."

• - -To be continued- - -