FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Long and Winding Roads (Tentative Title)

By Joshua "Buster Newman" Bickerdt

Chapter II: Don't Tread On Me (First Draft)

Damien wrapped his tail around himself, bookbag and all. It was a windy September, and a bit brisk for the folf's tastes.

"Brrrrr, merf....park on one side...gotta class on the other side...stupid CompSci classes...." He shivered a little and hurried into a small slightly dilapidated looking Brick building. As he walked in, he sighed in relief...at least the heaters were working...and how...it was nice and toasty in the Computer Science lab. He took in a deep breath, the smell of musky old leather, worn mortar...and the hint of sauder filled his nostrils. He sighed and smiled, he loved the smell in here...like the old mixing with the new...it was wonderful. He trotted upstairs, his tail bouncing with him as he headed to his first class: Computer Science 301: Graphic Design and Coding.

Damien was a Graphic Design and Programming major...namely...he wanted to make video games. He was a total tech-head, from his Super Mario 1-up patch on his jacket, to the twitch his tail made every time he got word of the newest I-gadget. He found his class easily enough, and smiled, it was a small class, no more than 15 people, all fairly decent looking folks...some of them more obviously geeks, sporting calculators in holsters and pocket protectors, and the hackers in their eclectic garb and fur color. He smiled and found a good seat near a window. Damien liked the feeling of air and sunshine on his fur...helped him relax and study. As he got himself arranged he noticed that the professor wasn't in yet. He looked around then at his watch. He was just on time, 8:00 AM. He smirked to himself, if the professor was 10 minutes late...class was canceled...15 minutes if the professor was a Doctor. Clicking his tongue, he decided to settle on occupying this rare lapse of free time on drawing. He thought about it, and sketched one of his favorite subjects, a random bull, very big, very muscular, and obviously...very nude. He giggled as he began to sketch, already seeing the image in his head. After five minutes, Damien had his outline...it was a bit rough...but workable. He looked up, still no professor. Some of the other students were mumbling amidst themselves, some contemplating skipping early. Damien thought about it himself...but eh...he didn't have anything to do really...not for awhile anyway...so what were a few more minutes of drawing.

He kept to his sketching, and just as he laid pencil to paper, the door flew open, a sleek tawny otter zipped into the room, his muzzle attached to an energy drink, his tattered laptop bag and briefcase bouncing off of him as he made his way to the front of the room. Damien jumped up a little and watched the otter. He gulped down the last of his power drink, and then belched quite loudly, and with a good 15 second's time behind it. The otter covered his mouth and smiled

"Hehehehe that was a keeper...Mmm...Sorry sorry, ok! Uhm...what am I?...Oh yes...My apologies for being late...I was held up at home...Gotta baby on the way...wife's very...well...Never mind that! Good morning class! I am Dr. Bates, your instructor for the semester." He looked up and out at his small class, regarding each one of the students in turn. He looked at Damien and noticed that the boy was drawing something, and noted it for later.

"Right-o...so let's get going...Roll call! Gotta make sure yer all here...where did I put it? Ahhh...here we go....hmmm...Viktor Atriedes? Good good. Bobby Drake? excellent..." He continued down the list and at the end he stopped and smiled.

"Well then, have I missed anyone?" Damien raised his paw.

"Uhmm, You missed me sir..." Dr. Bates looked over the list and nodded.

"Hmmm okie dokes...yer name?" Damien blushed a little.

"Damien Nightail sir." Dr. Bates looked up and smiled.

"Hmmmm...Oh! I'm sorry Damien...I gotcha here...bottom of the list...you were a late register...my apologies.

Hehehe...Ok...anyone else? No? Excellent! We can get started...this being the first class...I got your most favorite papers ever! Syllabi! Whooo! Ok.I'l hand the stack to the front...and they will pass them back eh? Person in the back trottle up here and set them on the desk here...I am gonna get the PP fired up."

He handed a stack to the head of the first row, and let them pass the syllabus around. Damien watched the otter work and fiddle with the PowerPoint projector, giggling as his sensitive ears picked up silent curses. When the papers got to him, he passed it behind him to the next row. He made a few observations about his teacher that he was curious about. One, the headfur...it was in a long pony tail, jet black...and with blue tips! Not something he expected from a professor...and he noticed that under the black slacks white shirt and simple tie...The professor was wearing a worn out pair of chucks. He snickered a little at that. He also couldn't help but notice that the professor, though slightly built, was muscular. He blushed at the thought, and blinked it away.

Once all the syllabi were distributed, and handed back up by a rather scantily dressed Dalmatian, Dr. Bates turned around and grinned a silly grin.

"Aha! Ok...uhm...got the syllabi passed around...everyone got one? Yes? Good...hmmm...so...I can't get the PP on right....better call maintenence about that....So! We get to do this the old fashioned way...gonna go over the syllabus by...yep...you guessed it...reading it to ya...aren't we all excited?" The half-hearted cheers and grunts made the otter laugh.

"Don't worry, I promise you will get through this...and tell ya what...since i know this is gonna take all period....I'll forgo the assignment I was gonna give ya." He smiled as more enthusiastic cheers erupted from his classroom.

"Bolly! Now then....Page one...this is the Description of the class, Comp Sci 301: Graphic Design and Coding, to put it on the rundown, we're gonna get you familiar with basic design and mapping programs, and Coding...HTML javascript etc etc. I figure that won't be too hard by the looks of some of ye...hehehe...onward!" The otter continued over the syllabus, describing his grading scale, the college rules about plagiarism and attendance, and his personal attendance rules. He went over the layout of course, the assignments and due dates were laid out on the back, as well as the list of books each student would need and the chapters they would cover in class and the days in which they would cover them. The otter stopped after finishing the course schedule and looked up.

"Now then...that covers that...I got three basic rules in this class, show up, show yer work, and show effort...if you can do that...ya got it in the bag...any questions?" All the students, Damien included, shook their heads or did nothing, and the otter nodded.

"Ahhhh, super...well now...hmmm," He looked at his watch. He still had these kids for 6 minutes.

"Well my students and studettes, we got done a bit early...so now...I ask you...which would you prefer? I let you go early? to be off and do whatever you want? or pass out that assignment I have waiting for you?" He looked around and smirked, the students were still a bit gun-shy, and before anyone could say anything he laughed.

"Bahahaha! Didn't think it was a hard question...get out of here! Go on and enjoy the day...carpe diem etc etc...Go now! Before I change me mind!" He whooped at them, and smiled as they gathered their things quickly and left, mostly out of excitement, and partly out of fear of the odd gentle fur they called professor. The last to leave was Damien, who was giggling to himself, and carefully packing his things.

Dr. Bates walked up to the procrastinating folf and smiled.

"Oi! Not much for rushing are ye lad? Or do you simply not have anywhere better to be?" He grinned. Damien looked at him and smiled back.

"Well sir...to be honest...not really my next class isn't till 2 today...and I dun have much planned otherwise...gonna meet my brother for lunch...gotta get my parking permit....but that's it really." Dr. Bates chuckled and patted Damien's shoulder.

"Ah...gotta light day of things? Lucky fer you lad. Hehehehe. Well then, glad you didn't run off in fear like the others, does a bit of damage to the old ego eh? Hehehehe...oh...and you can forget that "sir" stuff...Dr. Bates, or Dr. B is fine." Damien nodded and smiled a little more widely, and then his natural curiosity got to him.

"Sorry for asking Dr. B...but...you dun exactly come across as ya know....the Dr. type...ya know...the hair and all.." Dr. Bates laughed out loud.

"AAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...ah...heheheh...I suppose yer right...I'm not much fer the stuffed shirt and tie look...no...I keep professional...but ya never want to lose sight of who you really are...Remember that...even in yer Graphic design work...put yerself into it..That's what makes it real." He winks and taps Damien's shoulder.

"Oh wow...ok Dr. B. I'll remember that!" He smiled and slung his books over and started out the door.

"See ya Wednesday!" Dr. Bates waved after him.

"Aye that I will! and be sure ya don't boyo!" He chuckled after the folf as he left.

Damien skipped out of the building, a fresh smile on his face. "So far so good" He thought to himself,

"Got through the first class, teacher seems cool...and we got out early! Whoooo!" He bounced a little to that, and made for the Public Safety Building. It looked more like a house, pointed roof, big shutters, and a wraparound porch. On the outside...it looked warm and inviting...but on the inside...blech...it was like the college's own little BMV, boring, humorless, and agitating. The lady that ran it there...simply called Bea...she was a tough old broad, a wolverine, she was gruff, headfur in a short and tight buzz, her bifocals dangled on the edge of her nose, the purple and gold chain around the earpieces jingling. Damien walked in, careful not to let the loose screen door slam behind him, and walked up to the Desk. Bea was busy barking orders at the Public Safety officers, namely Law enforcement and ROTC majors who took up the job. After calling for one young furre to "Get his tail back here before she tied knots in it". She turned to Damien.

"Mmmm...Can I help you son?" She said in a throaty voice." Damien gulped and smiled a little

"Uhmmm...yeah...I'm...here to get my parking pass..." She sighed and looked at him, slightly annoyed.

"Ya know...you coulda got that before the semester started...what if one of the PS boys fined you hmm? Wouldn't be happy about that eh?" Damien stuttered for and answer, but she stopped him with a raised paw.

"Eh...yer not the only one... S'why we give slackers like you a week...Here...fill this out....it costs 40 dollars..." Damien Blinked at the price.

"What...but...last year...it was only 25... "He cracked out, taking the form. The wolverine looked at him hard again.

"Yeah well...that was then...this is now...new parking garage costs money...and yer using it...40 dollars please...and dun forget to put yer license plate number AND sign at the bottom.." She looked away and filed some other forms as Damien filled out the sheet. After Damien finished, he slid it forward, along with the forty dollars. The wolverine looked over the form, and as she stashed the money, she took out a green sticker with a bunch of numbers on it.

"Put that in your front windshield, and DON'T lose it...we ain't givin' out extras this year. Too many punks gettin'em fer free..." she pushed the sticker in Damien's paw and turned away as one of the walkie talkies buzzed at her. Damien quietly said thank you, and quickly made his way out.

Damien sighed and walked off the Public Safety porch, and across the street, heading to the Main. IT was a big open area, split by a tree-lined walkway, leading from the thruway to the Student Center, it was like the quad, but not officially called that, since it was more open than that. It had the SC (which was also the campus Post office and Book store, it also had a rec room in the basement, and a buffet style cafeteria on the second floor) on one side, Shaaf Hall to the right, Cotterman Hall to the left, and Yochum Administration building, where, Damien assumed, Buster still might be, straightening his schedule out and getting all the financial paperwork done. He chuckled, remembering how much Buster acted like a father figure to him more than a brother...watching over him, taking care of him...checking out his boyfriends for him. That last thought made him laugh out loud. He took a seat on a nearby bench and chuckled remembering his last ex.

"Boy oh boy.....Buster was gonna skin Bunnyman....probly would have too..." He giggled to himself and shook the thought away. He decided he would enjoy the pretty, and thankfully warming day, while listening to music and sketching. He dug around his bookbag, and found his prized I-dood, full of cutesy stickers, and in a fashionable pink casing. He shuffled about his impressive collection and found a favorite song, and after tucking in the earbuds, hit play. He bobbed to the beat for awhile, digging out his pencils and pad.

Love Train, by the O'jays, something Buster snuck on his I-dood, but something Damien rather enjoyed, started playing, when a trio walked up to him. He didn't notice at first, engrossed in finishing his Bull sketch. It wasn't until they cast a shadow over his pad that he looked up and saw them. One was a black wolf, his headfur greased back, almost comically cliche in his torn jeans and leather jacket; on his left was quite possibly the fattest bulldog Damien had ever seen, sweating, panting laboriously, his width practically balancing his height. Damien almost giggled at the thought of him rolling down a hill. On the wolf's right was a sleek and lithe Persian blue shorthair, his fur was immaculate, his clothes were immaculate, his piercing blue eyes...you guessed it...immaculate. He had a wry grin, almost constantly. The wolf spoke first.

"Well well well, what've we here....an artiste...and on MY bench of all places..." The black wolf looked down at Damien's drawing and snorted.

"What the hell? Whassis? You drawing a nekkid bull...what are you...some kinda faggot or sumthin?" Damien closed the pad quickly, unable to help his face from flushing, both with embarrassment, and anger. He was openly gay...and didn't mind telling anyone...but he didn't like people barging in on his art...even less so dickweeds like this guy. The wolf laughed catching Damien's actions.

"Whoa whoa whoa! You are ain't ya?! Yer a goddamned faggot! Oh my god...." He turned to laugh some more, and that's when Damien let loose.

"Hey you slant-headed dickweed, what the fuck is your problem? Yeah...I'm gay...what's yer problem hmm? Oooooh...I'm gay...shit...I probably seen more pussy than you, you dumb ugly shithead. So what? You gonna say something? Jesus, what are you...some kind of bad Fonzie impersonator? Damn hunny...you coulda dressed better at the homeless shelter..." The wolf was aghast...he'd never been talked to like that. That's when the fat bulldog tried to intercede.

"Yo queer boy no one talks to Gregor..." Damien stopped him mid-sentence, his lilac eyes darkened.

"What the butterball's got something to say? Goddess above yer a fat piece of shit...I bet ten dollars you can't find your prick with a flashlight and three other sets of paws...jesus...I bet you gotta clear out an entire section of the metro just to fit yer tubby ass...Fuck, do you just chug lard?" The folf took a step back, waving his paw in front of his face.

"Mother of night! You smell like a garbage heap....Goddamn...how many firemen does it take to wash your lard ass? Because hunny...you need to get at least two more...specially to clean up that 100 pound sack of chewed bubble gum you call an ass..." He hissed at the two of them, and then looked at the Persian blue, who looked back, smiling ever so, and remained silent. Damien sneered at the group, Gathering his things, and stormed off into the Student center. The two who were attacked were about to step after the folf, but the Persian stopped them, He shook his head, and led them off another way.

Damien huffed and found a seat in the lounge, he threw his bag down and shuddered, those three idiots ruined his good mood. He lifted his tail and started to comb it down, working the bristled fur down to a more natural state. He took deep breaths to get his heart rate down, and tried to clear his mind.

"Ugh...first day...and I got homophobe dip-shits hassling me...oy vey..." He thought, and shook his head. He closed his eyes, and did what Buster showed him. Just...Focus on breathing, good in through the nose, bad out through the mouth...just breathe. He did that for a few minutes, and began to feel better. He opened his eyes and sighed again, now he was just kinda...Blah. The douche-bags killed his high. He shrugged and looked at his watch, he still had 45 minutes until he was gonna meet Buster for lunch, so he laid back in the large plush sofa, and closed his eyes. Nothing a nap couldn't solve eh?

Damien was shaken gently awake. He merfed sleepily and opened his eyes to a rather large pair of black jeans, namely the crotch, staring back at him.

"Merf?" He blinked as he straightened himself, his ears perking. That's when a large bear paw caught him under the chin.

"Hehehehe, glad you approve...but I'm up here" Buster said with a grin.

"Caught ya napping...time to eat Fuffy." Damien smiled at the familiar face, and grabbed his bag.

"Ahhhh, good, I'm sooooo hungry...man...I hope they got cinnamon buns today....Nomnomnom...." The folf murred happily at the thought and bounced next to Buster.

"Hehehehe, I am sure they do...I just hope the pizza selections ain't weird today...like that one day...ooog...calamari and caviar pizza...bleeeerg..." Damien bleched and shivered, bopping Buster's arm

"Ugh...don't be gross...c'mon...move yer big butt...I'm hungry and you still got my school pass!" Damien bounded up the rest of the stairs, waiting for his slower friend. When Buster got there, he reached into his wallet and handed Damien his School pass, taking his own in paw. They each scanned their card, lunch credit taken, and found a good seat in the middle of the quickly filling room. It was an open area, with 5 or six different food stations, each with its specialty. There was a Pizzeria, a grill...with hamburgers and so on, a Mongolian BBQ type deal, a "main dish" section, which served stuff like, Stroganoff, and other dinner type foods, a Deli-like joint, a soup and salad bar, The ever popular dessert tray, attached to the cereals, The waffle making station, and a few soft frink fountains, with all the popular drinks, and a few healthier choices for the more self-conscious students. Damien and Buster set their stuff in their seats, and trotted off to find nourishment.

They came back, each with a plate (or three in Buster's case) full of food and drink. They sat down, and with a kind of quiet savagery, began to eat. They looked around, noshing steadily and relentlessly on their lunch, people watching and otherwise enjoying the company. After the initial frenzy, they slowed down enough to catch their breath, and obviously, go up for more food. Buster returned with his traditional bowl of Corn flakes, Damien bouncing and squeeing back with his fair share of fresh Cinnamon rolls. He nommed on one happily, but. Just as before, a recurring thought harshed his cinnamon induced mellow, his mind turned back to the trio of dumb-bells he had encountered earlier. He dropped his cinnamon roll, and sighed, resting his head on a paw. Buster finished his mouthful of cereal and looked at Damien.

"What's this? Damien not obliterating a plate of Cinnamon rolls? Alert the media...I think the folfy is broken..." He chuckled softly, and the folf next to him even cracked a smile, though demurely. Buster wiped his muzzle and got closer to Damien.

"Hmmmm, lest my senses deceive me...and they never do...Fuffy is distressed....what's on your mind love?" Damien looked up at Buster and sighed.

"Eh...it's nothing...just...nothing..." Buster snorted at him and gently nipped an ear.

"Good folfs know better than to lie...Damien...what's the matter?" He looked at Damien with sure and sincere eyes, as if searching the folf's very soul for the answer to his question. Damien whined softly at the nip, and looked at Buster.

"Ehhh, I ran into a couple of bastards while I was waiting for you...Three to be exact...one greaser wannabe goofus...think his name is Gregor...his stay-puft buddy, and..." Damien almost said hawt...but he held himself.

"And some silent type Persian blue..." Buster listened intently, his catlike ears perked forward as Damien continued.

"The greasy started shit, didn't like me being gay...so I ripped him a new asshole...did the same to his chunk lovin' bulldog buddy...That Persian though..He was just quiet..." Damien sighed, and he closed his eyes. He tried to keep his mind from racing back and forth between the idiots, and the interesting feelings he had for the Persian. Buster's ears naturally flattened at the sound of his folfy being harassed, and bared his teeth a little. He knew there was nothing he could do now, and Damien was quite capable of fighting his own battles. So, Buster quietly cursed them, and relaxed, reaching over to give Damien a big hug. Damien nuzzled Buster and hugged back. Buster held Damien for a moment, and as he sat back, He smirked.

"I bet those asshats didn't know their own asses from a hole in the ground after you were done with them..." Damien giggled softly and nodded.

"I gave them a good taste of folfy wrath" Buster chuckled and winked.

"You always know how to make me laugh when I am down Busty..." Damien smiled at his food. Buster chuckled and smiled.

"Ahh...you know me...I try."

They continued eating, talking about nothing in particular when a high, strong voice called.

"Well slap my ass and call my Mama! It's Fuffy and Big'un!" They both looked up and instantly grinned. A handsome Dingo was walking towards them, his arms raised in the air. He was groomed to perfection, not a hair out of place, his blue-black shades glistening, his silver rayon shirt with Bright graffiti, and tight black corduroys were pressed and fabulous. Damien jumped right out of his seat and hugglepounced the Dingo

"Khris! Eeeeeeee!" He squeed and glomped the poor lad. Buster laughed at the sight, and when Damien let the dingo recover, he waved.

"Hehehehe, Hey handsome...we were wondering if we were gonna get a chance to see you today." Khris giggled, carefully pulling himself free of Damien, and took a seat with them.

"Hehe, well yeah, you know how it is...this one's gotta keep up appearances, especially now that I'm a big senior...graduating son!" He whooped pumping his fist in the air.

"Mmmmhmm, Got me an internship with JCN, big company...and they close to home...Gonna set me up in a nice suite...Hoo boy...gonna get some Mad money crunching code up in there." Damien and Buster laughed softly, and Khris continued.

"What's so funny? Gonna have me a sweet pad...and hunny...you KNOW I'm gonna have a hell of a housewarming party...Busty, you bringing the drinks?" Buster laughed.

"You know me Khris; The honoured son of Dionysus will make sure you and all yours will be thoroughly soused...I'll make up some Jack and coke...just like you like it!" Khris smiled brightly.

"Ooooh damn, you know it baby." He laughed and looked back at Damien, who was back to being uncharacteristically quiet. They looked at the folf, noticing him staring off, his ears flattened and his hair bristling on his tail. They looked over, and saw why. The three furs that had bothered him earlier had come in for lunch. Thankfully, only the Persian cared to glance over at them, but he did nothing more than pass a look. The others were playing a punching game, the entertainment of the feeble minded. Khris looked at Buster then to Damien, and cocked an eyebrow.

"What about them's got Fuffy worked up?" Damien simply growled, and Buster sighed.

"Well...if I know my folfy...those would be the three idiots he ran into today...that gave him a hard time." The dingo sat straight up and snapped his finger.

"Oh NO they didn't! You ain't just tellin me those three sad excuses were harming my Damien...Bitch please...I'mma go hog wild all over their ugly asses..." Khris moved to stand, but Buster placed a paw on his arm.

"Nah...Let it go...Damien already opened a can on them...no need to get into trouble..." Damien looked back over at them, relaxing visibly since the group moved away.

"Yeah...I gave them a taste of folfy Bitch today." Khris laughed.

"Oooh I know that...but hunny...if anyone's the bitch here...it's me...I'm the Queen bitch...mmhmm." They all laughed and nodded, talking, teasing and catching up a while longer before they cleaned up their trays and started out back downstairs.

They all stopped at the mail lounge and Khris turned and hugged them both.

"Mmmm, good to see you again...I gotta split...I have intern duties to fill...I'll catch ya over the weekend maybe!" Then with a tip of his shades he ran off. Damien and Buster walked along the path together, humming each to his own tune. They stopped by the Central fountain, a beautifully gaudy piece of architecture, with the statue if a Great Crusader, the college's mascot, riding on a noble steed, the four winds carrying them, and out of vases, pouring water endlessly.

"Okies, I gotta get to my math class...I'll see you after that, and unless you got other plans...I think going straight home is a good idea." Damien said turning to look at Buster.

"Sounds like a winner to me, I got two classes...so I'll meet you by the library ok?" They nodded and turned to head to their respective classes.

Neither of them had much of an afternoon, Damien's math teacher was a very forgettable Norse rat by the name of Professor Doddery. Remedial algebra was soooooooo boring...the folfy loved math...but damn, this was almost criminal. His professor's almost mechanical droning didn't help matters, but he survived, and again...no homework the first day! He sat on the edge of one of the potted trees in front of the library, waiting for Buster. He kicked his legs around humming to some music he was listening to, when he caught the looming shape of Buster strutting up towards him.

"Ahhhh...my extra-large package is en route." Buster smiled and grabbed his crotch.

"Yeah...it's pretty hefty, but i consider it carry on." Damien smirked.

"Oh no hunny...if I was talking about that...I would have said petite." Buster bopped Damien's nose and smirked back.

"Smartass lil fuffy..." Damien giggled and bounced up to kiss Buster's cheek.

"I luvvers you Busty" He smiled with his best innocent face. Buster reached and squeezed Damien's bum.

"Yeah yeah yeah...I love you too squirt." He laughed as they walked up the parking garage and into the car, once they got settled, and Buster finagled himself into the tiny Beetle. They both sighed.

"Ahhhh, one day down...only...like a couple hundred to go.." Damien sighed and started the ignition. Buster smiled and nodded.

"Indeed, well then....if you will...home Jeeves." Damien nudged Buster and they pulled out of the parking spot, and off towards home.