FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Reaver?!" I yelp as the fox falls through my doors, landing flat on his front. Looking at the door to the back of the store, I call out. “Shae! The front! Get my compendium!"

Moving past the counter, I run over to him and drop to my knees next to him. The sunlight allows me to look over his back, finding nothing to explain his state. I grab his side and try to push him onto his back, taking a second or two before managing to do so. As he turned over, his horns keep his head to the side. The scent of blood starts to fill my nose, my ears perking up as I hear a clatter of clawed paws coming down the back stairs, before the back door slams open. I can barely process the stained blood in the fox's clothes, as a mass of grey and dark brown fur comes bounding around the counter, my compendium in the maw of the dire wolf. Shae stops beside me and drops the book onto the floor.

Grabbing the hardback, I open it up and quickly sweep through the pages, trying to keep my breath and mind steady. I quickly examine the wound as I find the right page, taking a moment before placing a gloved paw just above the fox's gunshot wound. Focusing on the wound, I half whisper a couple words, focusing on the ball of metal in the fox's midsection. I grimace as I hear the ball shift inside him, clasping my paw just in time to grab the bullet as it flies out of the vulpine.

Flicking it across the floor, I move my paw back to Reaver's wound, placing my palm directly onto it. I move my free paw to the book, half whispering again, my paw pads glow, illuminating the page enough for me to read the inscriptions. Taking a moment to re-familiarise myself with the spell, once again, I half whisper the words, focusing on the bullet hole as I do so. The wound slowly closes, met by the groans of Reaver. I feel my energy drain as this happens, much more so than the other spells, more than I'm used to. Trying my best to keep my focus, seconds feel like minutes as the wound closes further and further.

My breath starts to settle as the wound closes, slumping over the fox a little as I'm finally able stop the spell. Placing my blood stained paw onto the floor to keep myself balanced, Shae moves closer to my side, pressing her nose up against my side, nudging my. Taking a second or two to recover myself, I pull myself upright, looking over to the canid.

“I'm okay, Shae." I groan out softly, petting her head softly. “Thank you, for your help."

Shae whimpers happily in response, pressing up against my paw.

“But we can't keep him here, even with the spell, it'll take him a while to recover physically." Looking back at the unconscious fox, I take a moment to think over how I'm going to get him to the spare bedroom in the back. “It might just be easier to drag the mattress to him, wouldn't it?"

Shae only lets out a small whimper again.

“You're right... it'd be hard to explain the unconscious man on the shop floor."

I move up to Reaver's upper half, bending down to move the fox's chest up. Wrapping my arms under his armpits, before I start to slowly tug the fox through the store. Shae uses her maw to tug on his shirt, and tries her best to help in getting the vulpine into the back. Reaver doesn't feel half as heavy as he aught to, which I'd rather not question right now, past; 'blame it on the dragon'.

It takes a lot longer to drag the fox through the store front than it did to heal him. But our combined efforts soon get him to the back of the shop, before getting him onto the bed. Once I get him onto the mattress, I remove his torn and blood stained shirt, before taking off his trousers. I decide better than to remove his underwear, placing his clothes to the side as Shae stays by the fox's side. With a small huff, I head upstairs to clean my paws in my bathroom, grabbing a bucket of water and a cloth on the way back.

Cleaning Reaver's wound and the fur around it, I'm finally able to give it a longer examination, just to make sure it's healed well. After a few seconds of looking it over, I pull away with a huff, moving to clean my paws. Shae moves her snout to the fox's side, sniffing close to the wound. Once my paws are clean of blood, I dry them off on the cuff of my robes, before I go to pet her head.

“Let's leave him be, okay?" I ask, looking down at the fox. “He'll be out for a while, and we'll probably need to prepare for when his dragon turns up."

Shae makes a small growling whimper in response.

“I know, I'm not looking forward to it either. But hey, let's get the store cleaned up, think my compendium is still on the floor."

---

Having the store cleaned and my compendium in the back, I take a small breath, placing my paws on the counter to try and centre myself. I know that the dragon is going to come here, if the stories about their aural tracking abilities are true. Given the condition Reaver's in, she's probably not going to be too happy. And, almost as if I manifested it, I almost feel the loud thump from outside the store. My ears perking up towards the front door, as it's slammed open, the golden scaled dragon barges into the store, her maw open in a loud growl

“What did you do!?" The dragon shouts out, her eyes blazing with fury, her teeth bared in a deep growl, smoke pouring out of her maw. “Where is my fox!?"

I run around the counter and as I draw closer to her, I raise my paws to try and calm her. “He's okay, he's in the back!"

Scarlet's tail slams into the doors, her growls only deepening as her jars open more, smoke billowing from her lips. “A single scratch! And I'll burn your world! And tear you asunder!"

“Scarlet! Read my memories! Reaver's fine!" I cry out, my heart beating heavily in my chest as she draws closer to me, rage pouring out of her as she slowly corners me. “Please, I'm begging you! Just see my mind!"

She doesn't seem to be able to process what I'm saying, and all I can do is back away as she continues to move forward. Making her way fully into the book store, her tail slams around the bookshelves, knocking books to the floor. I tremble as she focuses fully on me, opening her maw more, the smoke darkening as I'm backed up against the counter.

And then, I hear clacking of claws on wood, making my heart stop as the back door bangs open. I can barely process seeing a large mass of brown and grey fur barely having to jump to get onto the counter. Realising that Shae, my dire wolf, jumps from the counter, flies through the air, and lands onto the dragon's head, biting down onto her neck. Before I can even react, Scarlet shakes herself from side to side. Flinging the wolf a couple of times, before she's flung into the side of a bookcase with a shattering crack. Shae falls to the floor, and lays still, a slow groan of breath leaving her maw.

“No!" I cry out, coming out of my daze, running over to the dire wolf, falling to my knees as I bring to wolf's body up to my chest. “Shae! Oh goddess! Shae!"

Tears fall from my eyes as Shae lays limp in my arms, as seconds feel like hours, getting no sign of life from her. I bury my head against her chest, pressing my forehead down to her body, wanting to hear her breathe, to hear her heartbeat, anything to suggest she's still alive. But then, Shae's chest heaves and her body jerks as she takes in a deep breath. The moment I realise she's still with me, I cry into her chest, clinging her to me tightly, her breaths deep and primal as her limbs jerk out, seemingly trying to find purchase.

“Shae..." I whimper as my nose presses into her chest fluff, inhaling her scent for comfort. “Th-thank you..."

Heavy footsteps move up to me, and I hear a growl as I feel the dragon examine my memories, tendrils of intent moving through my mind. I shiver as she does this, but I don't say a word as she finds what she needs. She stays behind me for a moment, remaining silent before she starts to move towards the back, clambering over the counter before moving through to the back door. I remain on the floor, cradling the wolf in my arms, crying softly as Shae's body finally settles again.

Seconds turn to minutes, and I slowly collect myself. Taking a deep, slow breath. I look down at the wolf, finding her eyes locked on me, her breath coming out ragged and obviously pained. Taking a moment, I slowly move a paw across her back, thankfully finding that her vertebrae seem fine. Moving my paw to her ribs, I find a couple broken, and a few more potentially bruised. My heart races at this, just like my mind, but I re-focus myself, whispering to myself.

“It's fixable, it's fixable..." I whisper to myself, hearing the dragon come back to the store front. I turn around, watching as the dragon clambers overs the counter again.

“I'm sorry..." The dragon whispers, keeping a distance from me.

“Don't... just don't..." I respond, slowly laying Shae onto the floor, before I get up.

I move past the dragon and move to the back of the store, getting my compendium once more, before returning to my wolf. Again, I open it up, and start to heal the wolf, using a more specialised healing spell than the one I used on the fox. Shae grimaces as my ears fold back, hearing her bones shift and mend underneath her skin. Her breathing starts to clear up, and after a few moments, I take an occasional moment to examine her midsection. For a few minutes, I go between healing her ribs and midsection, and examining her, up until I make no more headway with my spells.

“I... didn't mean to..." Scarlet says softly.

“Yes, you did." I growl back, closing my compendium with a snap. “You meant every-fucking-thing you did."

“Thomas..."

I stand up, and turn towards her, growling at her as she moves a little closer to the counter. “You barge into my home, try and tear apart my store, threaten me, and damn near kill my wolf!"

“Thomas I-“

“I healed your fox! I saved his fucking life! And you try and kill Shae in return?"

Scarlet lets out a small rumble, not even saying anything this time.

“You meant it, don't even try to say otherwise. You're only trying to convince yourself." I growl deeper as I place the compendium to one side, before kneeling down beside Shae, running my paw across her back.

She's okay. I have to tell myself this a couple of times, just to make sure I process it. Despite this, I can't help but feel the pool of anger bubbling towards the dragon. I know that I would have done the same in her position, for Shae. But that does little to sooth the flame inside me. She could have looked into my mind before coming into the store, done anything else than almost tear my wolf away from me.

Moving my paw down Shae's back and side, my fingers trail her brown, grey and white fur softly. The dire wolf whimpers in return and moves up against my paw. It's a small movement, tentative and slow. But she gets a little more confident in her motions after a minute or two. She slowly moves onto her front, looking up at me, her eyes wet and glinting slightly in the candle light. I bring her into a hug, slowly picking her up, before moving towards the back of the store.

Scarlet quickly moves out of the way as I walk past her, taking Shae into the back of the store. Heading upstairs, I bring her into my room, slowly putting her onto my bed, moving my covers over her frame. She whimpers softly as I do this, still looking up at me. I slowly pet her cheek, my digits rolling through her warm fur.

“It's okay Shae, I won't let her hurt you again. I'm so sorry..." I half whisper, moving my maw down to her maw, kissing her snout softly.

As I pull back, Shae turns her maw towards me, licking her tongue across my cheek. The next lick hits my lips, making me smile softly. I blush as my ears fold back, looking towards the door for a second, before my gaze returns to her. Moving back down, I kiss her fully on the lips, feeling my heart speed up slightly, our lips rolling over the other's warmly. It only lasts a couple moments, before I pull away, reluctantly, even as I half smile.

“I love you, Shae."

Shae lets out a small woof back at me, which only makes me smile wider.

I don't want to leave her, even as I know she's safer where she is. Closing the door behind me quietly, I head back down to the store. I'm met by Scarlet still being where I left her, my anger still underlying my mind. Taking some time away from her definitely helped, but I still take a moment, breathing in deeply, before breathing out slowly. I take a moment to think of something to say as I rest my back against a wall, looking over to the dragon. But it's her who breaks the silence.

“I didn't... know you had a dire wolf..."

“Shae... she's from my family, the Bailmort's."

Scarlet gives me a questioning look.

“They raise dire wolves to guard their estate, just north of the city."

“You're family has an estate?"

“Yes, my family's old money."

“So, your family's noble then?"

“Of sorts, yes."

“If... you don't mind me asking. Why are you here? In the bookshop, I mean." Scarlet responds, shifting slightly. “Nobles don't usually go from city-known traders to an out of the way book seller."

“The Bailmort's don't want to know that their last born son is Albino. The city isn't exactly prejudice, but townsfolk are always a little superstitious, some think I cast spells on their livestock in the night. May not like it, but it at least keeps them from trying to harm me. My family brought me this store, let me sell and trade books. And in return I have, all but legally, relinquished my family name. Even though, on paper I'm still a Bailmort."

“And they gave you Shae to protect you?"

“She was the runt of her litter, kinda... like I was. They fobbed her off to me, expecting her to die in my care." I fold my arms around my midsection while I speak. “But she lived, and she's been with me for years."

Scarlet smiles softly for a moment, before her face drops a little, looking away as silence falls upon us.

“I... didn't know your fox was a mage..." I say after a minute, shifting slightly against the wall.

“A mage?"

“He had scorch marks on a couple of his paw pads."

“O-oh, that. It was probably a basic fire spell. His horns are artificially made with my magic, and they passively generate a mild amount of magic." She explains, looking over at me. “Like dragons generate and hold magic, his horns do the same"

“And the fire spell?"

“An extension of my own magic, in a way. Non-dragons need to know specific spells, precision in their words. For us dragons; magical creatures, we just need intent, focusing on what we want to happen. The more focus we have, the more power our spells have."

“So, he just thought 'fire'? And he casted fire? No runes, no spell?"

“Well, I taught him a small trick. Relate the spell to a physical act, with elemental magic, he clicks his fingers. It creates an elemental spark. Fire, ice, electricity."

“That explains the scorch marks."

Scarlet takes a moment, as if thinking, before speaking again. “What... was he shot with? I've never seen a wound like that. It wasn't a bolt or an arrow, and it smelt like smoke."

“It was a gun, you know? A flintlock most likely, there didn't seem to be any modifications to it from what I can tell."

“A... gun?"

“Yeah?" I turn towards her. “You know what a gun is right?"

“No, dragon remember? We aren't known for mingling with society, or what other species create."

“Didn't your fox know? Guns aren't exactly a recent technology."

“He grew up in a farming town, in the centre of an island that was only settled a few hundred years ago."

“What island?"

“Torse."

“Torse, the Ghoson Archipelago?" I ask, getting up. “Shit, no wonder you're behind on shit."

“Excuse me?" Scarlet can't help but bare her teeth at me a little.

“I wouldn't even call the island settled. A small fleet from Locke tried to settle the island, with a second fleet expected not long after, built a couple small settlements on the coast and a few more inland. But then the Civet War broke out, and the settlement was officially halted."

“Why didn't the fleet just return to the kingdom?"

“Well, it had almost been a decade, the towns were already pretty much built. The crew had families and homes, expecting to stay. Not that they wanted to return home, just to be sent to war." I explain, doing my best to recollect the history. “So, officially they kind of became their own thing. But hasn't had a further settlement attempted, the second fleet was mostly supplies and more people. Being a trading island, it wasn't really needed after a while."

“So, the island just left behind?"

“Not left behind, just... on the outer edge of current knowledge from the sounds of it." I rub the back of my head.

This moves us to an uncomfortable silence, neither one of us seemingly wanting to speak, at least for a time.

“I... hope your wolf is okay..." Scarlet says, her voice a low rumble.

I take a moment, breathing in deep, before letting it out slow. “She'll be okay, she just needs some rest... like your fox."

Bringing up Reaver makes Scarlet withdraw a little, looking away.

“Look," I say, before the dragon can speak. “I... know you were only protecting your fox. I can't say I wouldn't do the same... for Shae. But... it might be best if you find something to do for the rest of the day, at least. There's a small sheltered area in the back, that you can use for the night."

“I uh... thank you." She says, taking a moment before she starts to walk to the front, before she stops as I speak again.

“I'm not saying you can't stay with him in the room, but... at least for tonight..."

“I know, you need space..."

With this, the dragon exits my store, leaving me alone with my thoughts.