FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Kali! Lunch will be ready soon!" A stern, motherly voice sounded up from the stairs. The sound rousing the napping figure from their slumber as a whirlwind of limbs and blanket clashed. Untangling herself from the nice warm cover, the panda-morph girl sat on the edge of her bed. Letting out a deep yawn that would get her a scolding from her mother for not showing manners, Kali shuffled her feet across the wooden floor towards her room's doorway.

Standing around 5 feet and 6 inches of height, Kali was average for her race. Her parentage had been that of the red panda breed, and she bared all of the obvious signs of such. The typically orange-red fur dominated the most of her back, shoulders, and striped her tail. But the black fur covered from legs, crotch, lower arms, and chest all the way til it ended at her neck. As a whole, Kali was pretty darn cute.. in her opinion anyway. She was sure both the boys and girls thought so too as she had been a late bloomer but when it finally hit, it hit hard.

Kali was going to be 20 this year, though even when she was in her teens people mistook her for someone more mature. Wide hips that she'd heard some of the elderly matrons plainly call "built for child birthing", and a bust big enough that might even suggest she was nursing young as well, Kali had become quite a pleasure on the eyes for the other folks in her village. Over the years she'd received more than a fair share of potential suitors trying to court her into romance or at the very least their beds. Kali however had turned down each one that came to her.

Some of her earliest memories had been of her father, though she couldn't remember his face or features now. Instead, she could recall almost perfectly when he would tell her bedtime stories. They were often tales about heroic deeds of heroes and champions, fighting terrifying creatures. Those ones always ended up making Kali ask her father to check there weren't any monster beneath her bed once the story was over. He'd smile when she'd call him her hero for chasing away the beasts each time. Raised on those stories as she'd been though, Kali never really dreamed of just becoming housewife to some guy in her village. She wanted to be an adventurer too, a fact that had caused her mother to go silent every time it was brought up.

Sometime around Kali's 4th or 5th birthday her father had gone missing, and had been ever since. There were plenty of whispers going around the village, and still some yet. Rumors aside, there were no hard facts however. Had he run off or had something happened to him instead? Kali's mother was forced to raise her daughter in shame from the point with the thought of her mate possibly having just run out on them. Conversation on the subject ceased after the first night, and hadn't been brought up again since.

===

Another yawn escaped her as she scratched her hip, another action that would have earned her a scolding for 'unlady like behavior'. Descending the staircase completely nude and not even giving a care, Kali walked through the house and slumped down in her usual spot at the table they ate off of.

"Sit up straight, you're already going to have enough back problems as is." Kali's mother chided her as the elder panda-morph walked in with bowls brimming in steaming white rice.

Chuckling softly Kali sat up in her seat. "And just what is that suppose to mean?" It was a game they played often, as her mother loved to brag to everyone about her daughters fine 'assests', Kali herself included in that. She licked her lips at sight of the bowl.

Her mother returned to the kitchen before stepping back into the dining room with a plate full of fish to add to the meal. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. Though you'd look better with a kit or two suckling.. When are you going to get on that?" She smiled jokingly at her daughter, but a glint in her eyes told Kali that it was more than just an idle comment.

Kali sighed, picking up two fish and laying them over her bowl of rice. Letting the juices combine into one flavor was her favorite. "You know that's not what I want though. Besides I haven't found the right guy. All the males around here are brawn with no brain, or just plain no in general." She let a sinister idea play through mind this time for their exchange. "Though.. if you're that eager for grandchildren I could probably get started on that. I just have to go out traveling first, also there's no guarantee it'll be a panda-morph father either.."

The look on her mothers face was priceless. The slow disappointment building on her face at the prospect of not being a grandmother, followed by the deeper feeling of her not even being married. The speed at which she rebounded at the mention of children though was only topped by the crushing look of disbelief. "You..you wouldn't dare. That's even more reason to NOT let you go now!"

Dinner having gone almost forgotten with that comment, Kali's mood soured as she frowned at her mother. "Why? Why are you so set on me having to follow traditions? Why can't I just try things my way for once? I'm not some little girl anymore.." She looked down at her bowl of untouched food and no longer felt hungry. "Maybe I'm destined to be outside the valley, you know I'm not happy here." Kali looked right into her mother's eyes.

"No more discussion on this. I've told you no already, and my feelings haven't changed on the matter." Her mother said nothing more on the issue, turning attention to the meal instead. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Sitting up from the table, Kali was already a few steps towards the staircase. "I'm not hungry.."

Watching her leave, Kali's mother winced almost in pain as she heard the door to her daughters room slam shut.

===

Hours passed as the red panda-morph sat on her bed, hugging both her knees and tail. If no one else was going to help her, Kali would just have to do it herself. Sitting up, she pulled on whatever clothes were closest on hand before heading for the door. She could hear her mother in the kitchen but there weren't any words to be shared between them right now.

It wasn't quite night yet, but it definitely wasn't the bright of day anymore. Most of the houses had lights showing through the windows, most importantly the villages brewery and tavern. The Zan house had raised generations of famous brewers, drawing attention the world over. This was obvious as Kali approached and noticed an unusual wagon and horses secured nearby. Her tail puffed slightly in excitement as the feeling ran up her spine, she loved meeting travelers!

With a bounce in her step, along with quite a few other areas, Kali strode through the taverns doors. Plenty of eyes turned her way from the patrons. Mostly familiar faces all smiling as they raised mugs of ale in salute like Mr. Winterwoods the old black and white panda-morph that ran the peach orchard or Alma the giant, who was a red breed like Kali but topped out around six foot seven in height alone. Giving a polite smile and wave back to the usual locals, she set her eyes on scanning for the unusuals instead.

Sitting towards the back corner they were spotted, a group of gruff and armored figures crammed into the booth almost comedically. Speaking quietly to themselves, their voices lowered even more as they noticed the red panda girl looking at them. The sudden shyness that swept over her felt strange, forcing Kali to instead take a seat at Alma's table. "Eh? Oh hey kiddo. What's the news today?" The larger panda rubbed Kali's head like she was still a child.

Batting the hand away, Kali readjusted her messed hair as she frowned back at Alma. "Are you going to do that every time?" She sighed. "No news aside from the usual, but I'm more curious about the group in the corner." Kali motioned subtely towards the mixed group of humans and elves drinking.

In typical Alma fashion, the larger panda turned around in her seat and glanced head on at the group. "Eh? Oh them.. Well a few days ago I spotted a number of nasty looking beasties in the woods while I was out cutting down lumber, so I came back and informed the elders. They sent out for a group to exterminate the creatures and came back with that bunch over there."

"If you're that interested in us, come on over and take a seat." The voice of one of the elven men called to her, a grin riding openly on his face. The group regarded her more like a piece of meat more than a person, though a few figures seemed more subdued than their compatriots.

Putting on a brave face, Kali approached the group. Her tail was puffed slightly and not out of excitement this time as she slid into the end spot in the booth. Having a better look at the group now she noticed though most of them were armored, there was no symmetry to the group. Each person seemed like an individual more than a cohesive unit. "So..where are you all from then?" Kali steeled herself as each of them stared her down.

The elven man from before sat at the middle of the group, seemed to be the speaker as he tossed back another sip from his mug. "Our little group is from Malas, we're part of the Adventurer's Guild there. It's just a fancy name for folks who are stupid enough to handle tasks that the soldiers won't or making gambits on excavating treasures from long since abandoned places." This brought a laugh throughout the group.

Kali's eyes practically lit up with excitement though at the mere mention of adventure though. "You mean there's a whole guild for that?! What are the requirements, are you taking new members, can I join?" Her mouth was running at a mile a minute as a hope was building in the back of her mind.

Smirking from behind his mug, the elf laughed. "Well someone's eager, sorry to say though you're not quite up to standards though." At this he made a motion at her like he was squeezing an invisible pair of breasts that were attached to his own chest. She blushed beneath the fur, her tail coming up to hide her body in embarrassment causing the group to laugh again.

The human sitting next to the elf did not laugh however, instead he elbowed his companion in the chest. "Don't be an ass Taeln." Turning his gaze to Kali, he looked her over. "It's pretty physically demanding though even without the hostile creatures, so unfortunately he might be correct. The city can also be a bit rough too for non-humans."

The red panda-morph took a moment to study the human. A bit rough around the edges, sword worn at his side, a mohawk too. Kali liked him. She gave him a shy smile. "Ah, heh.. thanks for the information. It's still something I'm interested in though, but I'm not much of a fighter. So I guess joining the guild might be out of the question then." She sighed, shoulders sagging as she slumped back against the booth.

"Sorry.." The human offered the simple consolation with a shrug of his shoulders before bringing the mug to his lips. "Can I buy you a drink at least?" A small smile crept into the corners of his face.

Kali shook her head, finding herself surprisingly coy towards the human. "Mm, I could but I've a few things to consider now, thanks for taking time for me though." She sat up from the booth and gave a polite bow. Turning to leave she could hear the group laughing again, then the elf's voice 'Didn't know you liked em with fur Enek.' Her heartbeat hastened in her chest at this, and footsteps along with it as Kali left the tavern. It had seemed like only minutes inside but the night had taken over the area as she made for home.

The adventuring group as likely to be here for at least another day while they finished the job, and this time Kali was going to be ready.