FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Virgil wore a determined face as he marched down the cobblestone street. The clattering noise of the market district of Rome surrounded him, but he ignored all of it. He was supposed to be buying leather for his father's shop, but Virgil didn't care- Well, actually he did care a great deal, but only because his father's temper terrified him. At this moment, however, he was focused on one thing as he walked. Today, he would make his family proud. Today, he would join the Roman Army. It had taken him nearly all morning to gather the courage to go to the barracks, weighing the threat of his sire's anger over the possibility that the old man would be too proud of him to get angry. At any rate, Virgil was positive that the military would take him if he put on a tough face. Surely his father would be pleased if Virgil came home with proof of his initiative. Anything was better than working diligently in the shop all day only to be ignored in favor of his older brother, Antonius. It seemed that nothing he did for his father ever pleased the old man; Virgil's efforts were always brushed to the side as if they meant nothing. His long ears stood up straight on his head and his nose twitched nervously as his destination grew nearer. His brown eyes looked first at one canine guard and then the other that flanked the barracks door, standing proud and tall like twin statues of Adonis. He couldn't even hope to measure up to their physiques, and the realization made Virgil feel like an ant by comparison. Each wore a glimmering suit of bronze armor that had so few blemishes that Virgil wondered if either guard had ever seen combat. He smoothed the unruly, brown fur on his head and tried to do the same to his woolen chiton before stepping inside.

The room he found himself in was smaller than he had pictured. He could hear shouting and the clank of metal against metal from beyond a wooden door in the far stone wall of the room. Several stone benches were lined up in front of a wooden desk, behind which sat a stunningly handsome lion who was the only other being in the room. The feline was scribbling something on a length of parchment that sat on the desk, and the writing absorbed all of his attention. He made no sign to show that he was aware of Virgil's presence, so the hare took the time to examine the recruiter more closely. Lines trailed across his face, betraying the large cat's age even though he had the physique of a younger male. The feline's reddish mane fell about his rugged face in long locks, some of it tied into a tail behind his head. The portion under the lion's chin had been neatly trimmed. It was customary for Roman soldiers to trim their chin fur short even if they were of a long-haired species. The broad muscles on the feline's arms, shoulders, and chest drew Virgil's eye, highlighted as they were by the lion's, tawny fur. Virgil guessed he was a high ranking officer by the laurel decoration on his clean, white robe. It was difficult for the young hare to pull his eyes from the lion. His own thin and barely toned body felt terribly inadequate in the presence of the large feline soldier. Virgil envied him. The lion would have had little trouble getting what he wanted in life. He looked like the kind of person that others simply listened to and obeyed. No one listened to what Virgil wanted.

As the young hare looked down in shame, he realized just how empty the room was. Why were there so few recruits? Were the scrolls that Virgil had seen posted around the city due to a shortage of new soldiers? The lion behind the desk was still writing swiftly when Virgil realized that he must have been standing there for several minutes.

The young hare cleared his throat and spoke up. "Um... excuse me..." he squeaked.

His voice was more timid than he had intended, but his nervousness would not let him produce more noise. The lion held up a single finger as he finished writing on the parchment. The feline's emerald eyes lifted from the page long enough to give Virgil a lengthy and uncomfortable once over. The hare felt his fur standing up on end and butterflies assaulted his stomach as the large cat analyzed him.

"Are you lost, boy?" The lion asked in a deep and soothing baritone voice.

"No, sir," Virgil said, attempting his best Roman military salute. "I am here to sign up for the army."

There was a long silence as the lion tried to decide whether or not the young hare in front of him was serious. Virgil's short tail twitched under his robe and he tried to get his nerves under control. He didn't want to reek of fear in front of the imposing recruiter. The lion tapped his chin with a thick finger as his tail swayed lazily behind him.

"Sorry, lad. We don't recruit youths." the lion said, referring to the skinny hare's looks.

"I'm nineteen, sir," Virgil said desperately. "Are you sure you cannot take just one more recruit? I might not look tough, but I am a swift learner!"

The lion let out a long sigh. "What's your name?" He asked.

"Virgil Flaccus, sir!"

"Hello, Virgil. My name is Quintus Marcus Galeo. Do you have any idea what goes on behind that door there?"

The large feline pointed with one of his fingers for emphasis. As if it had been planned, a bloodcurdling shriek erupted from the other side of the door, making the fur on Virgil's neck bristle. It sounded like someone had been stabbed. For all he knew, that may have been exactly what had happened.

"Th-that's the training ground, sir," Virgil replied, trying in vain not to stammer.

"Correct. However, if you go through that door, it means you cannot leave until you are broken and then rebuilt as a proper Roman soldier. We do not tolerate weakness..." The lion inhaled deeply through his nose and Virgil knew in an instant that the feline could smell his fear. "...or cowardice in our ranks," the lion continued.

"I understand, sir," Virgil said, giving the big cat another salute.

"You do not understand..." Marcus replied, shaking his head. "I cannot recruit someone like you."

Virgil was crestfallen. "But... I've been dreaming of joining the military for my whole life," he said.

"Dream of helping Rome in a different way. The military is not for you."

"What if..."

The lion lifted a brow curiously as the young hare stopped his mouth to think. Marcus's physique was certainly to Virgil's liking, but he wondered if the lion actually shared his tastes... no. That would be too much good luck for the hare. There was no way Marcus would trade recruitment for Virgil's body. Besides, Virgil wasn't sure he wanted to stoop that low anyway. Was he really that desperate?

"N-never mind..." he said sheepishly.

"I'm saving your life, Virgil," Marcus said. "Go home."

The young hare looked up at the lion and frowned. Maybe he was right. But it seemed like every endeavor he undertook ended in disappointment. "Thank you for your time..." Virgil said as he turned away.

"Take care."

The hare stepped back over the doorway of the barracks, fighting back the urge to punch something. He was mostly angry at himself for thinking he would be recruited. Why would they want an inept Roman like him? Out in the street, Virgil bit his lower lip to prevent his sadness and anger from overwhelming him as he started to walk away from the barracks.

"Get a look at this weakling, Gaius," one of the guards said behind him.

"Heh, Marcus probably turned him down because of his huge feet!" The other replied.

"Or maybe he was so afraid that he pissed himself on his way through the atrium!"

Both guards nearly fell to the ground from laughing, each leaning on their spears for support. Virgil tried to ignore them. He really did. The hare felt his lower lip starting to shake as his throat tightened of its own accord and water filled his eyes.

"The cowards always run," one of the canines said in a jeering, singsong voice, probably a bit louder than he should have.

"That is enough!" Marcus's voice was like a searing brand, marking the guards with white hot shame from the door of the office. "If you would be proper Roman soldiers, then act accordingly or I will throw you out onto the street with my bare hands."

Virgil stared back at the entrance behind him, too shocked to cry. The guards fumbled back into their posts with tails tucked firmly between their legs, but Marcus was not finished.

"Apologize to the lad," he said and when the guards did not immediately do so, he added: "Now," in that same, intimidating tone.

"Sorry," one of the guards said.

"Please forgive our behavior," said the other.

Virgil managed to break out of his shocked stupor enough to nod before he turned on his tail and jogged out of sight. As soon as he was around the next street corner, the surprise wore off and self-loathing struck him full on in the face. The tears returned and streamed down his cheeks as he quickened his feet to a run. He couldn't blame anyone but himself for his rejection and thoughts of his failure filled Virgil's mind, blocking out all else, even the noise of the marketplace that surrounded him. Some of the merchants watched him curiously as he dashed past, but he couldn't notice. By the time the young hare reached his home district, his chest ached and the sun was already starting to set. The fading light bathed everything in a hazy, orange glow that turned to creeping shadows in the narrow alleys. These were the slums of Rome. The Roman lower class tried to make a living here, but Rome was a competitive city and few ever made it beyond the tiny apartment rooms on these cluttered streets. It was in one of those apartments that Virgil's family lived. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his robe and tried to slow his breathing by walking the rest of the way home. As he stepped onto the stoop of their building, he remembered his forgotten errand.

"The leather!" He whimpered.

Virgil hung his head as he climbed the stairs and entered the apartment room. It was about the same size as the barracks atrium. His mother had a pot of food stewing over the fire. His father and two brothers sat on the edge of their beds, awaiting dinner. The beds took up most of the floor space in the room and Virgil would have to walk around all of them to get to his.

Upon seeing that the young hare was empty handed, his father's eyes narrowed. "And where in Jupiter's name have you been?" His father asked.

"I... was out," Virgil said meekly. He had not thought up a proper excuse. He hadn't had the time.

"Clearly, but I asked you where," his father said, frowning. "Did I not send Virgil to buy leather to fashion new sandals?"

The question was directed at Antonius, who knew better than to do anything besides nodding solemnly.

"And where has that money gone I wonder?" This time, his father turned toward Maximilian, the youngest. Max shrugged.

"I have it still..." Virgil said, handing his father the coins he had been given.

"At least you have that much respect for your father's requests," the older hare said as he snatched the money from Virgil's hand.

"Father, please let me explain. I went to the barracks today-"

"You did what!? Tell me you weren't recruited, boy!" His father's face was livid.

Virgil hadn't ever seen his father so upset. His mother looked horrified as she poured the sparse meal into clay bowls.

"No... the recruiter wouldn't let me join..."

"Thank the gods for that!" His mother said, sighing in relief.

"I didn't watch friends go off to die in Trajan's senseless wars to see a son of mine do the same in one of Emperor Hadrian's!" His father angrily said. "Furthermore, since you have wasted my time today, tomorrow you will be passing out scrolls in the markets. I want one in every hand by sundown or you will be punished. Is that understood?"

"Yes father," Virgil said, defeated. "I just... wanted to make you proud..."

"Do that by obeying my wishes from now on," was his father's stern reply.

It was clear that the military wanted nothing to do with Virgil and his parents were actually glad that he was too small and frail to join. Dinner was silent and tension filled the room, but at least his mother gave him two helpings of stew. As each member of the family retired to bed, Virgil's mind drifted back to the two canine guards mocking him. Tightness in his throat and water in his eyes threatened to betray his weakness to his family. He didn't want to be useless. He only wanted recognition for his efforts. The young hare covered his shameful sobs with his small pillow before sleep eventually took him.