FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Baylor smelled of the stables. The cool evening air provided little relief, as the sun had baked the odors of the day's labor on to her. A bit of horse hair made into her wavy redhead. There at least six different animals on her. She spent her day brushing them, showing them, cleaning them, and keeping them fed and healthy for the men who intended to purchase them and for the old man who intended to sell them. She didn't mind the ten hours of drudgery when it meant spending quality time with the magnificent creatures she adored.

She stepped out from the stable and into the clearing. There were only five buildings or so in view. There wasn't even a road in the village, only places where the grace was beaten down just a bit more than the others. There was a bit of commerce just beyond the trees, where farmers would go to sell their crops and travelers would seek refuge from the night. And it looked like the old horse seller was making his way through that same line of trees, heading out for a drink before the sun went down.

Baylor knew this meant that he'd probably be staying at the Inn, or more likely, that he'd be sleeping in the dirt and claiming he was sleeping in the inn. So she decided that there was no harm in taking one of her beloved horses out for a ride. The moment he crossed the tree line she ran to the stables, saddled up the large brown thoroughbred, and took off riding towards the forest.

She rode beneath treetops so thick that she couldn't tell when the sun was going down until it became dark all around her. It was a reckless ride for her, but the worst possible situation had her building a fire and spending the night under the stars, and riding like hell before the man who employed her made it back to the stables. Besides, it was just a straight shot through the wood to her favorite camping spot. The darker it got, the more she tried to convince herself that this was her plan all along.

The moon was full overhead as trees became thinner, opening up to a small clearing with a wide pond. She slowed the animal down, slipping off while it was still partially in motion. She patted him just below the neck bring him to a full stop. Then it was just a matter of searching for the materials to make a fire.

There were plenty of dry logs about, not to mention little twigs for kindling. She carried with her a small pouch that she hid around her neck and under the faded green tunic she called a dress. In it was a metal horse comb, though it could be used to start a fire if she could find a flat enough stone. She was able to find exactly what she needed by the pond. It was just a matter of wiping it dry on the bottom of her shirt before she could get her fire started.

The process of building the fire and setting the kindling aflame took about fifteen minutes for her. She didn't even think about what she was doing while she was doing it. At this point, it was second nature to her. She spent many years running out on her family to go on her own adventures. Necessity drove her to learn skills that helped her survive on her own in the woods while lost. More commonly, though, they were used for a pleasant night away from the rest of human society.

With the fire going and the moon and stars reflecting against the lake, she slipped out of her dress and hung it over a tree branch. Even with the late-summer breeze cooling the night air it was still warm enough for a night time swim, even if just to get the sweat and smells of a hard day's labor out of her pale flesh. She had done this many times before. She waded in until it was waist deep, then slid to her knees and submerged herself to her shoulders.

Baylor heard the worried neighs of her stallion. A few moments later she heard what the horse did, and that was the crackling of sticks under the feet of an approaching stranger. She slid her legs and submerged everything up to her nose. Her eyes were fixated on the trail on the other side of the pond. It sounded like less like a human and more like a horse or deer. It seemed to be coming right down the trail, something that was uncharacteristic of a wild animal.

A thin-haired blonde came into view. The first thing Baylor always noticed on a pretty woman was the hair. She loved the diverse array of colors and styles that were on display on the heads of men and women alike, though she had a particular fondness for women in general. The hair was short and a bit of a mess and just about blended into her body. Baylor's fondness for the aesthetic kept her fixated on the head and not the bare chest below the neck.

The blonde studied the fire for a moment but didn't see the dress hanging nearby. The horse was fading into the trees. She assumed that whoever was there had abandon camp, at least for the time being. Baylor was about to greet the newcomer but stopped herself upon realizing that underneath the small chest, bare belly, and navel was the fur and hooves of a horse. She entered the pond cautiously, testing the temperature with her hooves. Baylor didn't see the complete equine back half until her body was half submerged.