FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

John seemed surprised to see me, and even more surprised at hearing my voice. The big man Hudson raised his rifle at me, but John stopped him.

"I'm sorry about your friend", I said, "I recently lost someone close to me as well."

He just looked at me. I suspected he was too stunned to answer.

"Your name is John", I said, "and your in charge of the other four, am I correct?"

"I am", John said, "who are you stranger?"

"Emelia", I answered.

He once again didn't answer me. I looked him dead in the eyes.

"I know how it feels", I told him, "I've been down that road, more times than I care to mention. Losing someone you care about is never an easy thing to deal with. I wish I could say it gets easier, but it doesn't."

John sighed and then turned to the others.

"Gather up weapons and supplies", he said, "Hudson you come with Emelia and I to give Jack a proper send off,Issac,see if you can find a radio and a map and Frank you handle the scavenging."

They nodded to him and vanished into the bunker. John and Hudson carefully lifted Jackson's body onto my shoulders and then started down the hallway. I followed behind them until we came to a room that had a wooden door blocking off a hole to the outside world sitting up on a ledge. Hudson boosted John up and then John helped him up. Together they broke down the door and stepped outside. While they weren't looking, I pulled out the box of cards and pulled the thin piece of Obsidian which had gone from having The Fool engraved on it, to a picture of what looked like Jackson with his rifle. It floated up into the air and vanished in a dim flash of white light.

"Rest in piece Jackson", I whispered at myself, "John, is it safe to come up?"

"Yeah", he answered, "come on out."

I didn't have much trouble hauling my long body up and out of the hole. Once I was out, we walked for a fe minutes before we found a large clearing surrounded by bamboo trees. I set Jackson down in the grass and helped John and Hudson to dig a relatively deep hole. They then took the time to cut down Bamboo trees and split them in half, lining the bottom and sides of the hole with them and making their friend somewhat of a casket. They carefully set him in the hole and then filled it in. While they were doing that, I slunk off and managed to find a large, smooth brown rock for a headstone. I dragged it back and set it at the head of the grave, placing my paw on it.

"I don't know where you going kid", I said to myself, "I only hope that your going someplace better. I promise you that I'm going to do my best to make sure none of your friends join you for a long time."

I took my paw off the rock as John pulled out a silver cross necklace. It looked old and weathered, like it had seen more than it's share of battles and explosions.

"Rest in peace brother", John said, tears hinging on his voice, "none of us will ever forget you, see ya on the otherside."

I saw Hudson wipe his eyes out of the corner of my own as John turned to us.

"Lets get moving", he said, "we have a job to do."

As we turned around, I heard him mutter, "god this fucking hurts."

"I couldn't find a radio",Issac said,"but as far as supplies go we hit the mother load."

"And a map?",I asked,pretty much holding my breath for his answer.

"I found one",Issac said.

John and I both breathed a relived sigh.

"From 1961",Issac said.

Damn, he had to be kidding.

"Your kidding right?",John asked.

"I wish",Issac replied,"but it was all I could find.

Issac took a RPK that was leaning against the table and handed it to his brother.

"RPK-44",he said,"right up your alley little bro."

The others had collected a variety of guns and explosives and had also filled their packs with whatever food and water supplies there was to be had. Once everything was said and done and everything was loaded down,there was still a pack, a few cans of food and bottles of water on the table.

"Think you can carry some of this?", John asked looking at me.

I nodded, "sure."

John stuffed the food and water, as well as another gun and some ammo into the pack and then fitted it to my shoulders.

"Fit okay?", he asked tightening the straps.

I nodded, "yep."

"Good then",John replied standing up,"Issac,lemme see that fossil of a map."

Issac spread the map on the table and I peered over John's shoulder to look it over. From what I could gather,we were in the middle of the Macon Jungle,with the nearest village being what I guessed was ten to twelve miles away. I didn't know how many VC were in the area,if our food and water would last for the trip,nor did I know if there were anymore Russian Special Forces in the area. The map was from 1961,so I had no idea if any villages were closer in a different direction. There was so much I didn't know,and that scared me.

"I wish we had a more accurate map", John said looking it over,"but it is what it is, looks like the nearest village is twelve miles away,which means we have some walking to do."

"We should get going then",Frank said.

John folded up the map, placed it in his vest and grabbed his guns. We followed him out of the bunker and into the Macon. There was no turning back now.