FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Author's Note: First furry story. Also first story I'm writing without an outline. I have literally no idea where this will go, but generally it's going to be more mystery, might dip into horror

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Prologue

You've never seeeeen what-

With a wave of her paw the music cut off with a high-pitched click. She rubbed her eyes a few times, contemplating staying in bed for a few more minutes. The lighting in the room then started to change from a dark blue to a bright green.

'Uuuuuugh never trusting Drizi with the programming again. Ever. Whyyyyyy.'

She rolled out of bed, nearly tangling up in her own wings, and stumbled her way to the bathroom. The shower was already waiting for her and within moments her fur was washed and blown dry. Still, she was barely awake. Even after all these years, she still wasn't used to the speed with which technology allowed people to get ready in the early dusk. Breakfast 'pinged' at her from the cooking area. She somehow got herself to the studio's only table and grabbed a ripe mango from the bowl, just in time for the viewer to turn itself on to the news channel.

"- got moisture-carrying winds directed into the Mouth, so expect higher humidity and heavier condensation all along the Central Line down to High Peak so wear those jackets folks. If you're in Deep Lake, Kramnit, Toothridge, or Dijkam Low you'll do fine today, but the Starpools are going to continue to be very hot and dry so please stay indoors if you're there. This has been Krati with the wea-"

Downing the last of a second mango, she grabbed her worn red jacket and headed out. The city was bustling as usual, bats filling the air with the sounds of flight and screeching. Rats, mice, the occasional gopher, were running along the streets below. The morning commute was hellish anywhere on the Central Line but especially so here, in Keeshmount, the commercial center for the near-surface region. She swooped several levels down, swerving between sleepy and rushing bats alike, before turning right and following the flow towards Zzigi, the complex where she worked. It was one of many built into the huge stalagmites rising from the cave floor, powered by the Keesh - a huge glowing stone situated just off center. While no one has to date quite figured out what kind of energy the Keesh and other stones like it were exuding, or how, the founding bats had harnessed its electricity-like abilities to power what has become an empire-sized metropolis.

She diverted from the living river of fur up to a small balcony, landing there along with about five other bats.

"Good dusk Thia! Dreadful weather today!"

"Dusk Visaj," Thia smiled at the older nurse, "I'll be enjoying it thoroughly!"

"Pthhhh. You would," Visaj stuck he tongue out playfully, "Try not to get cold anyway, sweetbug!"

"I'm wearing my jacket aren't I? I'll see you later!"

Thia made her way down into the belly of the complex, down sloping hallways and curling corridors. She never saw Visaj outside the morning commute, which was perhaps a blessing in disguise - though the bat was exceedingly friendly, Thia had trouble listening to the native echo-accent, so common to most kinds of bats living here, for longer than fifteen minutes at a time. She was thankful most of her colleagues were vampire bats for this same reason. Finally reaching the door of the clinic she raked her claws on the door twice. The door opened and stout fluffy bat immediately shoved a steaming cup into her paws.

"Good dusk Thia. You've got a kit in twenty," he groused, before scampering away

"Great..."

Kits were always too fussy and they came with....ugh, mothers. She looked down at the cup - fern tea, from the smell. She made her way to her cluttered desk. The morning's messages popped up as soon as she sat down, glowing a pale blue above in front of her face. Sipping the tea, she waved through them lazily. Most were useless anyway. All too soon the tea was gone and the patient was in. Pulling on her coat and gloves, she met the kit and mother in the waiting room.

"Good dusk...?"

"Joi. Good dusk."

"Good dusk Joi. I am called Thia. Let me lead you to the examination room."

The kit stayed huddled close to her mother's wing. Probably her first flying injury.

"Place her on the counter, please."

"Him,"

"Oh! Big for a boy, isn't he? Show me where it's torn."

The kit lowered his yellow eyes and lifted a wing for Thia to inspect. There was a medium-sized nick between the 4th and 5thdigit, at the bottom, where most young bats sustain wing injuries.

"Nothing to worry about little one. We can fix that so quick, you won't even remember you had it."

Joi frowned. Thia opened a fresh package of threads and activated her gloves. They sparked to life, brimming with energy harvested from the Keesh. They would allow the threads to pass through the kit's wing bloodlessly.

"This will sting."

Carefully manipulating the threads, Thia painstakingly closed the tear. The kit flinched every so often, but surprisingly did not yell 'ouch' at every opportunity. Now if only all of her patients were that quiet.

"There you go. And you didn't yelp once. Good job!"

The kit, now on the mend, stared at her wide-eyed before jumping off the counter and clinging to his mother's leg. Joi, in turn, stood regarding Thia with suspicion but said nothing. Thia cleared her throat.

"I apologize. Your kit will be fully healthy in three to five days. Please do not let him fly before then."

"Thank you, Thia."

Both mother and kit hurried out of the examination room. Thia rested her forehead against the wall and sighed. Just then, unhappy patients and frowning employers were the sum of her worries, but soon...