FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I've learned quite well over my sixty years of life, that if you hear the sounds of heavy footsteps, somebody wants you to know they're there. It's a sound that could be exhilarating to some, yet terrifying to many. I am in the former category of course, considering that I loved a good fight. However, there are quite a few different types of heavy footfalls, and they all had a different meaning. One is stomping, mostly done by somebody who wants to seem intimidating, yet is unable to be such. The second is panicked footsteps, mostly telling you that somebody is about to die in the next few seconds. However, this was a different kind. This was the type of sound that tells you that when you turn around, you're about to find behemoth. Something that invokes fear in the masses, and silences them with a hail of bullets. I loved that sound, because it always lead to something, something I always welcomed with open arms. My mouth began twist into something of a ecstatic grin. Everything was falling into place, as I glanced up at the bartender, who seemed to be slowly moving towards the door. Oh this is going to be great, I can already smell the smoke, the fire, the blood. All I had to do was wait for it to happen, the signal for everything to go haywire. What is this thing I've been rambling about you may ask? I'm glad you asked.

It's a challenge...

The sounds of heavy metallic footsteps, and the sound of metal being dragged across hard wood began to get closer. It was as if he was taking his time to get over here, to solidify that this was a fight we weren't getting out of. The poor bastard actually thinks I'm not itching for a fight, doesn't he? I could just feel his footsteps getting closer, the unheard sounds of a combat yet to come ready to ring in my ears. I could tell this guy was huge, a behemoth like I mentioned before. They were known for their rage and strength, yet not so much for their intelligence or social skills. Either way, this was going to be fun. I just waited and waited, as the sounds of his footsteps began to get slower, and slower. I wanted to turn around, I wanted to shoot the first bullet, and dammit I wanted to make sure this fight lasts a while. I guess my grin made me seem insane, but at least nobody I really cared about could see it. By the way, that number is about none. Not many people worth caring about on this planet.

I almost got lost in my thoughts again, which is a bad habit of mine, before I noticed that the sound of his footsteps came to a sudden halt. The only audible sounds I could hear were the sound of muffled breathing, and the click and clang of metallic parts of machinery. I could feel breath on my neck, signaling that he was really, really close. If that wasn't a challenge, I don't know what is. Before I could turn around however, the sound of something whipping through the air intrigued my ears. I didn't have enough time to react before an extremely heavy piece of machinery hit me in the face and chest, shattering a few scales and also causing me to lose some. I even felt some blood come out of my mouth! However, I didn't notice that I was practically dragged through the air by this object, turning me around and flinging me towards something hard. It shattered upon impact with my back, injuring my small wings and jarring my senses for a bit. However, I did notice that the world felt and smelled different. I wasn't inside, I was just flung straight out the front door! Putting my claws on the long, wet grass, I pushed up off the ground with a grunt, before looking towards the poor sod who decided this was a good idea.

What met my eyes was a character that I had seen once before, but only on a wanted poster or other such things. It was a dragon clad in scales of midnight black, who was big enough to have his spines touch the ceiling without trying. His eyes were a glowing red, probably a side effect of his inherent magic, but that wasn't the strangest thing about this massive monstrosity. Every single part of him was covered in metal. Not the kind of metal you'd see with a blacksmith, no, it was moving. It was as if his whole body was an engine block in a car, with moving pistons, billowing smoke coming from the vents upon his chest and shoulders. His chest was practically covered by the front of a damn car, coated with red paint, or maybe it's blood. It sure smelled like it anyways. Anyways, his legs were covered in a metal plates, with jointed modified car parts at his knees. His legs even had shock absorbers, surprisingly enough. Then I realized what he hit me with. There were a lot of exhaust pipes going up his spines, all the way from the tip of his tail. However, you'd figure out why when you realize that at the end of his tail a massive engine block, bigger than my torso as it were. That was what this guy hit me with, which I had to admit was kind of creative. However, his face was obscured by something odd, considering it looked like a mix between a gas mask and a hellish robot.

As I stood up, he pulled out a massive pipe from his hip, definitely planning to destroy my skull with it. With a growl, I pulled out my staff from it's sheath on my back. "So, you're that Motorhead guy that everybody keeps talking about." I said, quoting his name from the wanted poster I had seen. I could make quite a bit of money if I killed him. "So, what's your real name?" I asked, twirling my staff between my fingers. It was bladed, and should definitely be able to make some marks on this guy. It was actually quite an useful and neat looking weapon, despite its simplicity. However, all he did was rear up and let out some sort of roar, which was obscured by static. It wasn't much of an answer, but I guess I would do. With a quiet growl, I quickly set off towards him with my staff in hand, sprinting without any hesitation. Luckily he wasn't expecting me to rush him so quickly, as he made his move a bit too late. His arm missed me as I used the steps on the porch to act as a springboard, launching me above his head. I swung with the intent to decapitate him, yet I only cut off a chunk of his face plate. I landed skillfully behind him, crouched as he let out a garbled roar once again. He was seemingly pissed, as he turned on me with his pipe swinging at terminal velocity at my head.

Luckily I dodge just in time, sliding to the side as he missed me, his swing continuing. He was coming back for another swing, which left him open for another hit, but I wasn't going to take it. I had a different plan in mind. When he swung back, his arm extended as he did so, I moved closer to him. I took aim like I was playing a particularly heated game of pool, and lined it up just right. Needless to say, his scream was priceless. The end of my staff had actually penetrated the joint of his arm, going straight through the damn thing. At least it still had it's old sharpness. Either way, he wasn't happy about this new development, so with a massive roar once again, he grabbed me with his other arm. I didn't have time to react, let alone do anything as he held me up to his face and gave me a headbutt. My head hurt like a bitch after that, as the clang of metal against skull was a bit much for me. Not the worst I had taken though. He threw me upwards, hitting my head on the roof of the porch, most likely giving me a concussion. He took that time to also grab me by the legs, slam my face into the ground and throw me back into the grass.

What was left of me was a bloody mess, a few chipped teeth, maybe some broken bones, and chipped spines. That wasn't enough to stop me however, as he had only given me a chance by throwing me out of there. However, my staff was still stuck in him, which made me a bit worried, but that didn't bother me much. I wanted to make sure he died by the end of the day, and dammit, I was going to kill him. Pushing myself up off the ground once again, with only a bit more effort than the last time, I let the adrenaline pump through my system a I let out a deep sigh. I wasn't going to wait for him to come to me this time, as I began to walk towards him. I didn't need to run this time, as I got an idea of his power now. I know when and where he's going to throw a punch, especially if he keeps telegraphing his attacks. As I got closer, he began to walk towards me as well, only with a bit more speed in his steps. He dropped his pipe as he took the time to take my staff out of his arm, but the way he did it was a major problem. With a grunt, he snapped it clean in half, pulling out the other side. That was MY staff, a staff I had since childhood.

I was actually kind of pissed now, especially since that damn thing was the only good thing I had as a kid, the one thing that actually helped me through life. And now it's gone, because of him. I can't fix it, especially with the limited resources I have. With a little bit more speed in my steps, and brandished claws, I began to snarl. "You better have some damn good loot on you." I growled under my breath, finally reaching him and carrying out the first order of business. Beating the shit out of him. As he reared back to the throw another punch, I went after his unarmored rib cage, an easy and lethal target. With my palm facing his side, and my sharp claws drawn, I quickly thrust it into his side, piercing his scales with ease. His surprisingly high pitched scream was enough for me to grin, as I took a hold of the flesh and pulled. I could feel the beat of his weakening heart in his flesh, as the smell of blood overpowered my nose. I had dug my claws in rather deep, surprisingly, so without any hesitation, I gripped his insides, eliciting another scream. With that, I pulled out a massive chunk of meat. It seemed as if it was pulsing, as it spilt it's bloody bounty upon my hand and arm.

As I looked curiously at it, I noticed that something strange was happening in the corner of my eye. His eyes, which I could see through his wrecked face plate, were turning a strange misty white. It was if he was using some sort of magic, yet it seemed quite otherworldly. It wasn't the typical ice magic you'd see from your average ice dragon. I legitimately felt like I was in the frozen tundra. The world was getting colder and colder as time went on, as even the plants seemed to wither from the sudden freezing temperatures. Frost began to build up on the ground, and oddly enough, I saw snow. However, before I could do anything, a bright flash of white light blinded me, yet my eyes didn't close. For some reason, I felt as if I was in an entirely different place at the moment. That thought turned out to be a fact when my vision cleared, as the world looked completely different from before. Where a bar once stood, was nothing but a big tree. Everything was coated in ice and snow, as if it were the ice age once again. I didn't understand what was going on, but once I turned around, I figured out what was causing it.

The monstrous dragon from before seemed to be much different than before, as ice seemed to cover most of his body. The machinery was still there, yet frozen and dormant. Nothing seemed to make sense to me at the moment, considering the last few moments of this little battle of ours. I don't know where I am, but I know that once I kill this frozen automotive ice box I'll figure it out! With a growl, I reach for my revolver, its metal grip feeling familiar and comforting. Without any hesitation I took aim, and shot straight towards his face. He wasn't fast enough to move, yet he wasn't weak enough to let one bullet kill him. It hit him right in his eye, causing blood to spray across the fine powdered snow, staining it red with the fluids of conflict. With a roar, he looked directly at me once again, shrugging off my bullet like it was nothing. He was blind in one eye, but that didn't mean he still couldn't see. However, in the eye I couldn't see through what was left of his face plate, there was something I couldn't quite place. Maybe it was just rage, but it seemed like I could pick up some sort of confidence?

My question was unfortunately answered, when he suddenly disappeared in the blink of an eye. There was no warning, no sound, and no sign of his departure. I looked around, seeing nothing but the white snow a tree or two. I almost thought he was gone, until I felt something hard hit me in the back, crushing my wings, and sending me flying through the air. It hurt like hell, that was one thing I would definitely admit, but now I know what he's up to. I fell face first into the snow, crashing through at least a foot of snow. My mouth was also filled with it, making me cough and hack to get it out. I pushed my head out of the snow, looking around after wiping any remnants of the frozen precipitation from my face. He was nowhere to be seen, just like before. That did give me an incentive to move, as I think I've figured out his trick. Disappear, then sneak up on me. So, with a little bit of strain, I pushed myself to the feet, and ran. At least it would give me the chance to think of what to do.

Strangely enough, as I ran there seemed to be no breeze, almost as if the air was unnaturally still. Was I even on the same world? Could this just be an illusion, or did he actually transport me somewhere else? I didn't have time to think about that, as my sprint was immediately stopped by a metallic fist to the face. I fell flat on my back, as the pain shot through my broken snout. It would heal after a few days rest, but I needed to be alive to get that rest. As I clenched my eyes shut, holding my snout as I lay upon the cold snow, I heard words. At least, they sounded like words. I wasn't sure if the guy could even talk, but I guess he learned. The words I heard were not in the least bit comforting.

"You're in my realm now." Came the sound of a raspy voice, one that sounded like he lost his voice. However, instead of nitpicking his choice of words for a quick laugh, I decided it was time to take this seriously. If what he said is in fact true, then I need a plan. As I sat up, looking around once again for the monstrosity, I realized he was playing with me. So, I decided to come up with a plan. Nothing came to mind at first, as I immediately shot the idea of melting all the snow down, but I couldn't help but feel as if there were very few options left. Every second that passed was just another second closer to him killing me. I could feel the pain coursing throughout my body, from my snout, my wings, and my broken ribs. Other dragons would have died from this kind of pain, but I guess I just wasn't the kind of guy to lay down and die. However, I seemed to be doing just that, laying on the floor holding my snout like I ran into a door or something. The cold snow was practically gripping at my scales, the cold seeping into my wounds like a bullet into my flesh. It was as if the ground was trying to pull me in, to put me into a snowy casket that could never be broken.

"You know what? Forget that. I don't plan to die today, and I'm not going to do it so easily either." I told myself, putting my claws behind my head and pushing up off the ground. I opened my eyes, which felt heavier than a block of lead. There was still nothing, no gusts of wind, and nothing but unmoving snow for as far as the eye could see. With that in mind, I brought my revolver up to my side, calming my nerves with a deep breath. I was tired, but just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't kick a bit of mechanical ass! "I don't have to see you to kill you." I mumbled to myself, my voice holding the tone of a tired old dragon, yet something else even I couldn't place. Something seemed to feel off for a few moments, as if I was feeling something, yet it wasn't a feeling I was very familiar with. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but I could feel some sort of disturbance. I turned around as quickly as I could, yet I saw nothing, as usual. However, I could still feel something! It was all wrong! I KNOW SOMETHING IS HERE DAMMIT!

"Silly mortal, your mind is not made for such abilities." A voice said, as cold and uncaring as a winter breeze. It was as if it was taunting me, yet it wasn't doing so without being right. "Your mind is made to comprehend only what your eyes can see. Anything beyond that is physically impossible for you to understand, or resist." It was there again, that feeling that came with every second. It was as if my every nerve was telling to lash out, to give into every reflex I have at this very moment. Every instinct was lighting my body on fire, every muscle was straining with power. My legs seemed to be forced into a stance, one I knew all too well. I was going to run, yet I didn't know which direction it would take me. If anything, I wasn't sure if I could trust my own body anymore! If anything, I was about to do something stupid, yet every thought was cut off when I heard a voice. I had never heard this voice before, and it definitely wasn't the voice of the monstrosity of a dragon I was currently trapped by. It sounded innocent, so childlike yet held the tone of an adult. Most of all, it sounded so hopeful.

"Come on Zennix, you know you can trust me!"

It was at that single sentence that I gave into to every urge my body had at that very moment, going into a full on sprint in a certain direction. I took his advice, to trust my instincts and watch what happened. How the voice knew my name, I had no idea. However, I was going to go with any idea as of now. Whatever that hallucination said is probably my best bet at the moment. Every step of my clawed feet upon the cold snowy ground made my legs tense up, as the cold seeped through my form even faster than before. If only I knew what would happen next, as my body seemed to go into a full "Kill Everything" mode, as I like to call it. I pivoted to the side, dodging something I couldn't even see as my right claw threw my pistol into the air, which then lead to me raising my left claw and catching it without an issue. There was no thought, hesitation, or remorse when I brought it downwards, the bottom of the gun hitting something hard. I heard a growl reverberate through the air, which lead to me dropping to crouched position, supposedly dodging something as I moved downward toward the snow. Then, I aimed and shot three bullets in quick succession. They hit something, if the sudden flash of light and the sudden yell was anything to go by.

Blood seemed to pour from the air, no, it poured from the very mechanical abomination of a dragon that put me here! It gave me an idea of where he was, but I didn't seem to stop relying on my instincts just yet. Surprising myself, I rolled to the left, kicking up a fine film of snow as I did. My sore wings ached in pain from the sudden contact they had with the ground, but that could be ignored for now. I was standing on one knee, pulling up my gun as I aimed with on claw. With every bullet I fired, time seemed to slow down. I didn't know just where I was shooting, but If the sounds were anything to go by, he was about to me littered with holes with every pull of my trigger. I grinned with mirth as I heard his constant screams, liking the sudden change in power. I could see that his shroud was dying, as I could see a slight silhouette of his massive mechanical form. "For a silly mortal, I seem to be killing you just fine!" I shouted, my voice reflecting my crazed bloodlust, as I grit my teeth and snarled.

I didn't even let him get a word in, as I unloaded every bullet I could into him. If I was paying attention, I probably would have noticed that it felt less like my instincts were dragging me by the neck, but I was too distracted by my urge to kill than such a petty thing. However, all good things must come to an end, as I heard the distinct click of an empty clip. "Shit!" I growled under my breath, throwing my gun to the side as I brandished my claws once more. I almost screamed when I began to hear the sound of a low chuckle, as small sparks of light seemed to come from the silhouette before me. He was at least ten feet away from me, but I could have sworn he was getting closer with each second.

"One lesson that has been passed down through the ages, was the fact that once you start something, you must always finish." Said that eerie voice once again, one that sounded almost completely artificial, yet completely organic. "Yet here we are. You with an empty clip, and not enough guts to reload. Such a tale of failure will not go untold." It kept coming, one step closer and I would probably be dead.

However, he didn't seem to think of one other thing. He was right on top of me, the bleeding barely visible form flickering in front of me. Now was the time to act. Without giving him a chance to say anymore of his ramblings, I pulled out my trusty automatic rifle without a second thought. I aimed it toward where I thought, no, where I knew his face was, and pulled the trigger slowly. I just wanted to get at least some kind of one liner in before I killed him! "Two guns, kid!"

And then, the dragon could do nothing but burn...