FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

1

"Why won't you?"

"Because I don't know these people." This is the argument that ensued when Kayden told Don about the new group of people with abilities like him and Emma. His reaction though isn't the one he had hoped for.

Don sits down on his bed, Kayden remains standing, not budging at all. "Please," Kayden presses, "these people are good and it helps us because they're just like me."

"Kayden, how do you know you can trust these people?" Don asks. He holds the serious look on his face. Kayden, though, feels too strongly about this. Even though they're still strangers to him, he still wants Emma to meet them. He kneels down until he's at eye level with Don and gives him an honest answer to his question.

"Because I've known one of them for a while and he's the one that gave Emma the seizure." Don sighs, his expression reading that he's unable to argue back. Kayden knew that Don wants answers to questions as much as he does. And they only to get them is to go back to that secret society.

"Alright," Don says. "Let's go."

2

Emma was beyond excited to meet the people that Kayden discussed about. He described them as nice folks that are just like him and her. He leads them down the street Kaleb showed Kayden originally. As they pass the bar, Kayden wonders if Kaleb is currently there and drinking or at home or at that abandoned building.

Don keeps his sister within reach, despite saying that he believes Kayden's right. "It's over there," Kayden says, pointing out the old brick building that he was lead behind yesterday.

He walks around to the back and ducks around the boards around the open doorway. He helps Don and Emma go through the holes. "Guys, I'm having second thoughts about this," Don says, clearly nervous. Kayden could fix that quickly but before he can try to get a grip on Don's Aura, Emma reaches out with her own energy and mentally lifts her brother a foot off the ground.

"C'mon, big brother, I want to meet these people," Emma says, trying to keep her anxiety down.

"Put me down!" Don says. He's struggling in midair from his sister's strength.

"Emma," Kayden says, putting a paw on her shoulder and using that usual tone, "you know you shouldn't be using your telekinesis on your brother." She sighs and sets her brother down. Don looks like he still isn't used to being around people stronger than him but he'll get used to it, Kayden thinks.

He shows them the spiral staircase and they head downwards. As they do, Kayden tries to see if he can call out to Kaleb.

Kaleb, he says in his mind, you there? After a minute, they're downstairs. Kaleb's nowhere to be seen. Only Niles watching Amelia and Beatrice playing pool together.

"Hey," Kayden says. The three turn towards him and smile.

"Well, if it isn't our new recruit," Niles says. He slowly walks up to them, leaving the girls to play their game. He looks down at the little girl. "And who's this?"

"My sister," Don says, wrapping an arm around her protectively.

"I'm Emma," the little pup says, holding out a paw enthusiastically. "Who are you?"

"Niles," the husky says. He then looks up at the protective brother. "And you are?"

"Donny," he says. "But I'd prefer to be called Don."

"Nice to meet you, Don." Niles shakes paws with him. Suddenly, Kayden's head starts to hurt but then learns to calm down when he hears Kaleb's mysterious voice.

Kayden, you there?

Yes, he replies, I'm here. Where are you?

I'm coming down with Big Boot. Are you in the basement with the others?

Yes. I brought Emma.

Great. I can't wait to meet her.

Suddenly, the sound of two footsteps stomping down the stairs fills the room. Amelia and Beatrice look up from their game as Kaleb and Big Boot enter the room. Immediately, they notice the two newcomers. "Hello," Kaleb says aloud. "I'm guessing you're Emma."

"Hi," she says, her tail wagging. "What can you do?" She hugs his waist, eager to see the new powers around her. Kayden smiles. He's excited to see what her reaction to these guys are.

The older wolf looks down at her and focuses as if he's talking right to her. Don tilts his head, confused at what he's seeing. "What is he doing?" Don asks to Kayden.

"He's speaking directly into her mind," the pleased fox replies. Emma slowly steps back and her jaw drops.

"Wow," she whispers. "That's so cool!" She then turns to the bear. "What can you do?"

"Something awesome. Watch." Big Boot rolls up his sleeve and puts his arms on the Manila colored wall. His black furred arm can obviously be pointed out. When the fur slowly turns the same color as the wall, Emma looks impressed.

"Awesome!" She says.

"You think that's awesome?" Amelia's voice says from the other side of the room. The five of them turn to her. "Watch this." Amelia walks over to one of the couches and lifts it up over her head with one paw, not even breaking a sweat.

"Super strength?" Emma asks. Amelia nods. "What can she do?" She nods towards Beatrice. Kayden senses that Kaleb mentally tells her because she slowly walks up to Emma. Don is about to say something but stops when he sees her markings. Beatrice points to the back of her ears where the X and 2 lie.

"She can copy or remove someone's ability," Kaleb explains for her. Emma smiles and turns the him when he keeps speaking. "Now, we've shown you what we can do. How about you show us now?"

"Ok." Emma sits down on the couch Amelia set down. Kayden walks over to the bar and gets out a mug. Nothing too heavy, he thinks. He sets it down on the table in front of Emma and everyone watches. She rubs her temples and stares at the glass mug set before her. Slowly, it begins to rise a couple inches and then a full foot in the air.

"Nice," Kaleb says, applauding.

"Now that's something I've never seen before," Amelia says.

"Guys, can I set this down?" Emma asks. She sounds a bit strained, probably because she only recently discovered her ability.

"Sure," Kayden says. He snatches the mug out of the air and Emma let's go of her energy, slumping down on the couch. He returns the mug to the bar.

"What about you?" Niles asks Don. "You got any powers?"

"No." Don shakes his head. "I'm just a normal person."

"Oh. How come you don't have an ability?"

"I don't know."

"I think I do," Kaleb asks. "In fact, I have an idea of why anyone gets an ability."

3

Kayden eagerly follows Kaleb up three flights of stairs to the third floor. Everyone else follows. After sixteen years of having a mysterious power and asking himself why, he's about to get an answer. "So, you think you know why we all posses something that doesn't really belong in this world?" Kayden asks.

"Of course I do," Kaleb says, sure of himself. "I've been trying to find the answer since I first discovered mine when I was Emma's age." He stops in front of a door and opens it, revealing what appears to be some sort of study. Books are open, papers everywhere, words highlighted. "Most of this work isn't mine. This stuff in the corner is."

He points at a small desk in the corner. The only things on there are papers. Kayden picks one up and looks closer. A name towards the bottom startles him. Amelia Jenson. Her name is circled. Another paper has Kaleb's name on it.

"These are family trees," Don says. "What does that have to do with this?"

"Well, I wondered that myself," Kaleb says. "But, these family trees don't show siblings, just parents. So, I did some research on my own family and found out my dad had two other brothers and I didn't even know." Kayden keeps looking at the trees.

"Ok, and do you mind continuing your elaboration?" Big Boot asks.

"Of course. Sorry if I'm rambling. Anyways, I found out my dad had two brothers and I didn't even know. My dad, Jerry, was the youngest of the three. Kayden, how many brothers do you think I have?" Kayden shrugs his shoulders. "I have two brothers. Older brothers, which makes me the third son of a third son. Amelia, didn't you mention you have an older sister?"

"I did say that," she replies.

"And how many sisters did your mother have?" Amelia raises her ears and her eyes widen, seeming to catch onto the pattern.

"She had an older sister." Amelia breathes the words out as if in shock.

"Exactly!" Kaleb says. "You're the second daughter of a second daughter."

"So, people are given abilities based on the order they were born and from who?" Kayden asks. He just wants to make sure he understands.

"Yes," Kaleb says. "And let me guess, you're the first son of a first son?" Kayden nods, unsure what to say if words even found his muzzle.

"So, I'm the first daughter of a first daughter?" Emma asks. The wilder wolf smiles and nods.

"I guess that means I have no power," Don says. "Because my dad was the middle child of three and I'm the only son." Kayden puts an arm around him, feeling sympathetic.

"I'm sorry, Don." Kaleb pats him on the shoulder. "But think of it this way, if you ever get a brother, he'll end up getting a power." Don shakes his head no.

"Mom and dad aren't talking about having another kid. I think that stopped when the quintuplets were born."

4

The group headed back downstairs. Instantly, it was like the library scene never happened. Except Don seemed pretty upset. Probably because he doesn't have an ability, Kayden thinks. The look the golden pup is giving off made Kayden want to change him fast, but his ears would glow and he'd know something would be going on.

"Niles, stop making wind, it's already cold enough over here," Amelia complains. The rest of the group, minus Kaleb, is already back over to the pool table, arguing just like usual.

Niles takes the cue ball and rolls is around his palm. "No, I think it's too warm."

"It's sixty-eight degrees in here!" Big Boot shouts.

"I feel that most rooms should be at most sixty. Besides, it's not like I'm making it snow in here."

"Duh, you need water for that."

Niles sets the ball down on the table and gently walks over to the bar where he's normally found. He reaches under the desk and pulls up a pitcher of water. "Oh no, this can't end good," Kaleb mutters. Niles sets the pitcher down and focuses hard on it and soon, the water begins to drain, replacing itself with vapor. A cloud begins to form a couple feet above the counter. It gets bigger and bigger until all the water from the pitcher is gone. Well, it isn't gone, Kayden thinks. It's just in a different form.

The room gets a lot colder. The cloud, which has grown to an intense size, starts to condense a little. "I'll show you what I can do," Niles rants. After focusing a little more, the mini storm begins to precipitate little white flakes.

Despite shivering, Emma's face lights up when she sees that it's snowing. In the middle of September. "Wow!" Her tail wags and she gets a closer look. She catches some snow in her paw and it melts at her warm touch. "This is awesome! I wish this could happen over the whole city!" Kayden already knew what she was getting at: snowing so heavy it cancels school.

"For that I'd need a whole lake," Niles jokes. No one laughs. But Kayden's impressed by what he can do. He wonders if this guy can conjure up hurricanes if he focuses enough.

Kaleb's smiles soon goes away as he rubs his temples. "Guys. I'm hearing someone."

"Who?" Kayden asks.

"Not one of us." Kaleb turns to the door way and the rest slowly follow suit when they see his shocked/scared expression. When Kayden sees what he's talking about, he widens his eyes.

A small figure in a brown cloak stands there, watching them. Kayden looks a little closer. Specifically at this stranger's tail. It's grey and striped, almost like someone he knows. Someone who mysteriously came to his school after graduating; just to torment him. Kayden goes up to him with an annoyed expression. The figure backs up and falls on the spiral steps. The fox then pulled his hood back then gasps at what he sees.

"What're you doing here, Vinny?"