FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Randulf opened his eyes. "Fuck," he muttered, and pushed himself up. The headache was still there, as was the nausea. He pulled a small flask from his breast pocket, and looked around. "Fuck." He repeated, taking a sip. From what he could see through his blurred vision, he was still at the Slouching Sailor, his favorite tavern. The air was stale, and the sickly sweet smell of his vomit permeated everything. Limping slightly, he hobbled towards the door.

He stumbled, but caught himself on a table as he looked down at a shard of mirror. What looked back up at him wasn't pretty. A black wolf glared up at him, with deep blue eyes that stared with a surprising intensity. His face was mostly black, although he couldn't help but notice a few gray hairs poking out among the tangle. His muzzle was long and thin, and a scar ran from the bottom of his chin, up past his nose, disappearing behind his left ear. He was tall and thin, but with a wiry look about him that implied the strength in his arms and chest.

As he stumbled into the main room of the bar, he heard a shout. "Where do you think you're going, dog?" yelled Jarel Moore, the barkeeper. A tall grey cat with a stern expression, Jarel was one of Randulf's few friends, mostly because the wolf provided a substantial part of his income. When he remembered to pay. "You still owe me for the past three nights!" he shouted.

"Not in the mood today Jarel!" Randulf said as he tried to walk past the cat.

"Well isn't that a shame," replied Jarel as he grabbed Randulf's arm, "Because today, I'm not in the mood to get screwed over by the same wolf who owes me, oh let me see," Jarel consulted a small ledger on the counter, "Ninety gold pieces!"

Randulf blinked and said weakly, ".....That much, huh?"

"After you broke three chairs and a window in a fight with that fox? Yes!"

"Wait, wait, wait, fight with who now?" Randulf asked as he yanked his arm free from the cat's grasp.

"Your fox friend who came in last night." Jarel sighed "She came in and started drinking, and you saw her then started yelling something about 'dirty damn fox whores' or something. After that, you threw yourself at her, and to be honest she kind of kicked the shit out of you."

That explains the headache thought Randulfr, and the splinters. He grimaced as he walked out of the bar, stepping into the bright sunlight outside.

"You'll pay me one way or another pup!" shouted the bartender from back inside. Randulf turned long enough to give a gesture that showed Jarel exactly what he could do to himself, then trudged along his way.

The sun was blazing down in the city, and Randulf walked out from the bar's entrance. Unfortunately, he failed to see the steps leading off the terrace.

"Damn it..." he muttered after he had gotten up and brushed himself off. He really needed to stop drinking. But every time he seemed to try, something new came up that sent him spiraling back into the pit. Randulf sighed and made his way to the rush and noise of the trade district.

He pushed his way through the throngs of furs trying their best to swindle each other. He shoved himself forward until he found himself standing in front of the shop he wanted. He glanced at the sign, wondering how that shop had gotten its own storefront, instead of an open air tent like most of the merchants. "Fragrant Flowers." the sign read, "Best Florist in the City". Randulf usually had no need for this kind of thing, he felt the concept of a store for flowers alone was wasteful. Still, it served his needs, and today was a special day. Randulf strode in, and the smell immediately struck him in the face. He wrinkled up his muzzle and pressed on.

"Ah, I see you can tell we've switched fertilizers!" exclaimed a tall pale wolf, the owner of Fragrant Flowers. "We've found a new special recipe! It makes the flowers grow very well."

"It smells like shit" said Randulf, trying to speak without breathing in.

"It is shit!" replied the florist, with a little too much enthusiasm. "We took a mixture of the droppings from the surrounding farms, the stables here in the city, and for an extra little kick," the florist leaned in with a conspiring look "We even got some dragon business from up north!" Bernard leaned back and cackled at his own genius.

"As fascinating as this is, I'm in a bit of a hurry. What do you have special?" said Randulf, clearly getting more agitated with every second that he had to breathe in the stench.

"What are we looking for my angry friend? Something for a lady perhaps? A gentleman, if that's your fancy? We don't judge here, we just sell flowers!"

"Shut up and give me something red."

"Something red? Has my friend gotten in trouble? No matter. He or she will be back in your arms without a moment's hesitation after she sees..." Bernard stooped behind his counter and rummaged for a bit "Hold on I know it's here somewhere...."

"Get on with it flower man, and if you insinuate that I like men again I am going to rip off your arms, and shove flowers in the stumps."

"Touchy touchy....." muttered the florist "A ha! Here it is!" Bernard hopped back up and held out a small bouquet of roses "Sure to send your ma..... er lady! I said lady! Sure to send your Lady back to you in a flash!" He looked the other wolf up and down. "For you my friend? Only three gold bits! Best price in the land, only because I can tell you are a wolf of discriminating tastes."

"Whatever" Randulf said as he gave the florist his money. As he walked out, he thought he could hear a faint sigh and felt the florist's eyes staring at his rump. He considered turning around to say something, but thought better of it and pressed on.

On his way through the trade district, he felt something shift in his pocket. Immediately, he clamped down on the would be pickpockets' wrist.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" growled the wolf as he looked down "Aw damn it." He relented, as he realized who the pickpocket was.

"Pwease mister, it's just that.....I'm so....so hungwy" said the little fox girl, as she looked up at Randulf with big brown eyes.

"Oh come off it you little bastard. I know it's you Jangles." Randulf tore off the girls wig, revealing a runt of a fox.

"Can't blame a guy for trying?" said Jangles with a weak grin.

"Yes, yes I think I can. You know, I've been wanting to try fox kebabs for a while." Randulf lifted the fox by the scruff of his neck until they were eye to eye. "Cough it up runt."

"Fine, fine, whatever you say bossman." The fox gave Randulf a too wide grin as he began to unload his pockets and tossed the spoils onto the ground. The pile grew larger and larger until finally the wolf saw what he was looking for.

"THAT, is mine you little prick. Give it to me." Randulf dropped the fox, hard, and the fox scrambled to pick the object up.

"What's so important about one stinking copper ring anyway?" Jangles asked confused.

"Call it stinking again and I will rip out your arms and shove these flowers into the stumps!" _note to self, come up with more threats_Randulfr thought. "The ring is mine, and that's all that matters!"

"Okay, okay, I don't want any trouble." The fox raised his hands and shot the wolf another toothy grin, then pulled out his pockets to show they were empty. "See? Nothing else."

"The day you stop stealing is the day I stop drinking. Now get out of here." Randulfr gave Jangles a little kick to help him on his way, and the fox nabbed his wig before melting into the crowd, rubbing his backside.

After making two more stops at a restaurant and a candle maker, Randulfr was ready. He walked out the main gates of the city, wincing slightly every once in a while. Damn that fox he thought every time his bruised body cried out in pain. He looked up at the mountain to the southeast of the city. Damn it he thought as he started up the small path.

Breathing hard, and in a great deal of pain, Randulf eventually reached his destination. He was on an overhang, nearly at the peak of the mountain. A small tree had sunk its roots in, and its green leaves gave a spot of shade over the stream that babbled past it. The sun was nearly set as he made the last few steps of his journey.

Randulf sat down heavily, and began unpacking what he brought. A small picnic basket, filled with bread and meats was the first to be put down. Randulf made sure the basket was perfectly arranged, and then pulled out the two candles and lit them. Finally, he reached into his shirt and removed the small bouquet of flowers and placed them down between him and what he was facing.

"Can you believe it's been almost two years?" Randulf said to the small tombstone under the tree. "I brought you your favorite meal. Bread and meat. You never did have much taste eh? Two years without you....." He took a bite of the bread. "This was always your favorite spot to rest, remember? You would drag me up here whenever we had the time." Randulf sighed. "I used to hate it here, and dread the hike up."

Randulf finished the bread and wiped his face. "I know you hated my drinking," he said to the stone as he got up and looked out over the city. "I was clean for a while, remember? You convinced me to stop and I was completely dry for almost a year. Then you......" A single tear ran down the wolf's cheek. "I miss you so much brother."

Randulf composed himself and continued, "I've been doing pretty well for myself, I guess. A fight here and there, but nothing too major. I'm thinking about going and seeing if the army still needs archers. I don't think I've lost my touch yet, hell if you believe the bartender, apparently last night I assaulted someone. I don't think I remember doing that, but then again last night was pretty rough. The bartender says she got me pretty good, so I think I need to start training again." Randulf pulled out a small ring and looked at it with a sad grin.

"I found your lucky ring! It was in an old shirt of mine." Randulf chuckled to himself "I must have nicked it to buy some alcohol. I guess it didn't sell very well, I still have it." He patted the slab of meat in front of the stone. "Venison, with a dry rub. Your favorite. We used to eat this after mom and dad fought, remember? We would go out into the woods, I would shoot a deer, and you would get the spices for the rub. Those were the days huh?"

Randulf sighed and stood up. "I'm sorry, but I need to go now." He placed the ring on the tombstone. "There's your ring back, I promised to return it someday. I think I'm gonna go down to the recruiters tomorrow. Wish me luck eh?"

Randulf knelt down and placed one hand on the tombstone. "Happy birthday big bro. I promised I'd never forget." Wracking sobs convulsed the wolf's body. "I miss you so much. Everything would be ok if you were still here." Randulf pulled himself together and stood up.

"I think I'm gonna enlist. Oh wait, I already said that didn't I? Oh well. Must be the liquor." Randulf giggled to himself. "Even though I'm sober...." He turned away from the stone. "Time for the hike back down I guess. You had to be a bastard and ask to be buried way the fuck far away."

Randulf started to walk away and turned back, looking once more on the little tree with its grave. "If this whole army thing doesn't work out...." He shrugged. "See you soon brother."