FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Journeyman: The Uncertain Path

Lucas picked Mark up in his powerful arms, “Jeremy I’m going to take Mark into the house. I know I have no authority to ask anything of you, but I’m asking you to keep a level head.” Jeremy nodded, “I’m just a simple man. I’ve lived life with a specific set of rules. I don’t like you and I don’t trust you. Your existence is wrong! With that said Mark trusts you, and like it or not he’s in charge now. If he trusts you then I’ll trust you…for now. But know this, I’ve been here a long time. You will have to kill me before I allow you to hurt Mark.” Lucas nodded, “sir the only thing I’m going to do right now is take Mark into the house so he can get some rest.” Jeremy nodded and went on about his day.

Lucas sighed as he walked into the house and carried Mark into a bedroom. The German Shepard lay the boy in bed and pulled the covers over him. He sighed softly as he walked out of the room shutting the door. Jeremy’s attitude wasn’t new to him. A lot of people saw furs as an abomination. As such they felt furs had no rights and should spend their lives in penance for their very existence. He didn’t ask to be created or born yet he was. How could something he had no choice in doom him to ask forgiveness for it for the rest of his life? This just didn’t make sense to Lucas.

His thoughts traveled back to his previous masters. Since he was a pup he had been beaten, raped, mentally and physically abused, and just about every other bad thing possible happen to him. All at the hands of humans, in fact he had grown to hate them. Then he met Mark, a human who saw him as a living breathing person. Mark had even manipulated the situation to protect Lucas from his father when the boy himself was the one who needed protecting. None of it made any sense to him. Then there was the attack, was this the start of a full scale uprising? If so what would that mean for the future? Lucas didn’t see humans letting fur’s have equal rights without a fight. However, furs outnumbered humans almost two to one. If a full scale war broke out there would be plenty of blood shed on both sides.

He sighed as the full weight of the day’s events crashed down on him. For the immediate future what was certain was an immediate retaliation from humans. More furs would be attacked and killed now. It wasn’t difficult to make a fur vanish and nobody asked questions because they were seen as property. One doesn’t prosecute someone because a watch or shoe is lost or destroyed. That’s how the furs were viewed. While he agreed that changed needed to happen, attacking the humans like this would only make the situation worse. Bloodshed can only bring bloodshed, that’s what his mother had always stressed to him. Still thought, to be able to walk down the street a free individual had its appeal.

Mark yawned as he stretched and opened his eyes. He was in the house, but how? He didn’t remember coming in. Then the memory of the day’s events crashed down upon him. He sighed as he slowly got out of bed. He opened the door and walked into the living room to find Lucas busy at work in the kitchen. The fur smiled at him, “welcome back to the land of the living. I was just about to come wake you. I’ve prepared a lunch for you.” Mark smiled, “thank you but you didn’t have to do that.” Lucas chuckled, “of course I did!”

Mark sat down in the living room as Lucas brought him a plate, “you know I don’t see you as an object right?” Lucas nodded, “yes I do. Although its strange to me you seem to see me as a person.” Mark nodded, “regardless of what the law says your not my slave or servant. I don’t expect you to wait on me hand and foot.” Lucas nodded, “I know that Mark, I just wanted to take care of you. You just lost your father after all.”

The human chuckled a bit, “if the truth was known I did that years ago. All I’ve lost is the body nothing more or less. He was never really a father to me, more of a master. If anything I was his slave.” Lucas nodded, “your right, it did seem that way. However, I’m sure deep down he did care for you.” Mark ate his food as Lucas turned the television on. The news was filled with reports of riots, more attacks, and many deaths. Lucas sighed, “Mark before I met you I would have gladly joined in the fight to free fur’s. All I’ve ever known is suffering at the hands of humans. I’ve been abused in every way possible, then I met you. You gave me a reason to reconsider a lot of things that I knew to be truth.”

Mark chuckled, “let me ask you a question. If I’m hammering in a nail and I hit my thumb is every hammer responsible or just that one?” Lucas sat thinking for a moment, “it was just the one hammer that hit you so I would say just that one.” Mark nodded, “exactly. When father told me he was buying a fur it made me sick to my stomach that he was buying another living breathing thinking being. I think its horrible what humans have done to furs, but its not every human.” Lucas nodded, “yeah your right. As difficult as it is for me to accept that I cannot argue against it. I just wish that things had gone differently. The attack will only make things worse now.”

Mark nodded, “your safe here with me. I will protect you to my last breath!” Lucas sat stunned. While he had come to expect this from Mark, hearing it was another thing entirely. He smiled, “and I actually believe you mean that.” Mark nodded, “I do mean it. You had nothing to do with that attack. Now if you were involved I would expect you to face the consequences of your actions as any thinking being would have to. However, your innocent.” Lucas chuckled, “Mark I’m far from innocent. I’ve done my share of wrong to humans. I won’t lie to you and tell you there is no blood on my paws.”

Mark chuckled, “Lucas your body shows signs of suffering that I could never imagine. In my book your hands are clean. Any wrong you did is water under the bridge as far as I’m concerned.” Lucas nodded, “your wise beyond your years.” The human chuckled, “when you grow up like I have you learn life’s lessons quickly if you want to live to see tomorrow. It would have been very easy to give into the hate I felt for my father and let it poison me. However, I chose a different path. When someone does you wrong you have two options in my book, fight back or accept it and move on. Sometimes moving on is all you can do. It’s all I’ve ever done. When an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object both are destroyed. However, if your willing to be flexible and move just a bit then you have a chance to continue on to tomorrow and the next day.”

Lucas nodded, “the question is what do we do now?” Mark chuckled, “well I now inherit the farm and all my father’s possessions. We have land and cattle, enough food to last for a very long time, and all the resources we need. I’ve seen enough in my life to know things will get bad very quickly. The only thing we can do is hope we are flexible enough to survive it.”

Lucas nodded as Jeremy ran into the house, “Mark we have a problem!” The human sighed, “Jeremy on a day like this your going to have to be a lot more specific. We have many problems right now which one are you referring to.” Jeremy walked over to the human, “Mark there is a group of furs coming this way. I was out in the back field when I spotted them, I ran back here to warn you.”

Lucas sighed as he stood up, “I will deal with this.” Mark turned to the German Shepard, “I will go with you.” Lucas shook his head, “no I will go alone. Jeremy will you stay here and protect Mark until I return?” Jeremy nodded as he went to the weapons room. Mark shook his head, “Lucas you don’t have to face things alone anymore. I want to go with you!” Lucas shook his head, “Mark you don’t understand furs like I do. With everything going on they could kill you on sight. I have been expecting this since I heard of the attack. They could just be running trying to escape slaughter, or they could be here to do the slaughtering. I need to talk to them and find out their intentions before they see you. I will not allow them to harm you, you are under MY protection as much as I am under yours.”

Mark nodded, “please just be careful.” Lucas smiled as he turned and walked out of the house. He walked past the barn towards the back field where Jeremy saw the furs coming from. As he neared the group he could make out five furs in total. In the lead was a black cheetah with orange markings. He could also make out a wolf and three fox’s. As he approached them they stopped and eyed him, the cheetah was first to speak. “Fellow fur, my name is Sebastian, we are here to free you brother. The uprising has began!” Lucas laughed, “I do not need to be given a status I already have. I am free.”

The cheetah laughed, “were you not bought and paid for with money? You are a possession no different than a rake or plow.” Lucas shook his head, “I was purchased but my owner has freed me. He is not my owner any longer he is my friend and is under my protection. If you intend harm then be on your way.” The cheetah eyed the German Shepard. “No human frees a fur, is he controlling you somehow?” Lucas shook his head, “I am under no control or threat. I came to meet you of my own free will.” The cheetah laughed, “you poor delusional human lover.”

Lucas growled loudly, “your god damn right I’m a human lover. This boy protected me from his father when he couldn’t even protect himself. He has showed me kindness and compassion. He see’s me as a person not a possession! I will NOT allow you to harm him, not while I’m breathing.” The cheetah eyed the German Shepard and sighed, “very well. Would it be to much to ask to meet this human of yours. I’m very curious to see him. Any human who can gain the protection of a fur is a special human indeed.” Lucas eyed the group, “how do I know he will be safe?”

The cheetah chuckled, “well I suppose you don’t. However, I give my word to you as a fellow fur that no harm will come to him from us.” Lucas nodded, “come with me then. You will need to wait outside the house while I go and let him know you wish to see him. The last thing I want is his trigger-happy farmhand blasting us all into the afterlife upon seeing you all.” The cheetah nodded and followed as he had been instructed to. Lucas walked into the house, Mark was still sitting where he had left him and Jeremy once again had the shotgun in hand with lots of extra amo around him. Mark stood as Lucas entered, “They were here to free me but I told them I didn’t need freeing because I already was. They want to meet you, if your willing to meet them that is.”

Mark nodded, “alright will they hurt me?” Lucas chuckled, “no they have sworn to me that they only want to meet you. I will be there with you and will protect you if the need arises.” Mark nodded as Jeremy cleared his throat, “I know nobody asked for my opinion, but I think this is a stupid idea.” Mark sighed, “Jeremy I know your views on furs, but we live in a new world now. From the time they were created this was unavoidable. You cannot shackle a living thinking being and not expect them to resent it. They are just like you and I, they think therefore they are. They laugh, cry, hurt, love, and so much more. I called Lucas a pet to my father but only because I would have been punished had I said friend. Now if they try to harm me then you have my full permission to deal with them as you see fit, however if they are peaceful then they are most welcomed here is that understood!” Jeremy nodded as Mark walked out the back door with Lucas to find the group sitting and waiting.

Mark was taken aback by how beautiful each of them were. He smiled as he walked upto Sebastian, “hello I’m Mark.” The cheetah smiled and offered a paw to the human. Mark accepted it and shook his hand. Sebastian smiled, “may I ask a question of you?” Mark nodded, “did you really mean what you said in there?” Mark blushed slightly, “I do apologize it wasn’t my intention to spy on you. However, I have very sensitive hearing and I couldn’t help myself.” Mark chuckled, “let me show you something if I may.” Mark took a pocket knife out and opened it. He very carefully sliced his thumb causing a little blood to bubble up. “What color is my blood?” The cheetah stood curious, “well its red.” Mark nodded, “and if I sliced your thumb what color would your blood be?” The cheetah stood looking curiously at the human, “it would be red as well.” Mark nodded, “If I kicked you in your shin would it not hurt? If I kissed, you would you not feel it?” Sebastian nodded, “indeed I would. You are a very unique human. I can see why Lucas thinks so highly of you. I apologize for any trouble we cause you. I’ve never met anyone quite like you before Mark.”

The human chuckled, “I only see you as you are not as society dictates. You are most welcome here so long as your intentions are peaceful.” Sebastian nodded, “well to be honest they weren’t when we got here. However, I believe we were wrong. We got word that a fur had been delivered here. We came to free him by any means possible.” Mark nodded, “Lucas is not a prisoner here. He is free to come and go as he pleases now that my father is dead.” Sebastian nodded, “you lost your father recently?” Mark chuckled, “when I actually lost him is up for debate, however he died in the recent attack.”

The cheetah nodded, “I’m very sorry to hear that. I am with an underground group that has been seeking to liberate furs for some time now. However, we had nothing to do with the attack nor do we condone it. Bloodshed can only bring more bloodshed. However, with how bad things have gotten we decided we needed to save as many furs as we can.” Lucas nodded, “how bad has it gotten?” The cheetah laughed, “well that’s up for some debate. The news is only reporting the human death tole. However, retaliations are high we believe the number of furs killed has now reached thousands and grows each day.”

Mark nodded, “I’m very sorry to hear that. Would you be interested in staying for dinner tonight? We have more than enough food to go around and there’s nothing around here for miles, you have to be tired.” The cheetah nodded, “I think we would like that very much. That’s kind of you to offer.” Mark nodded, “Lucas would you mind taking some stakes out of the freezer. We can have a cookout tonight and get to know our new friends here.” Lucas nodded, “alright, will you be alright here while I go do that.”

The cheetah chuckled, “you have no need to worry for his safety. I have no reason not to believe he means what he says about us. He is as safe with us as he is you.” Lucas nodded and headed back into the house to take the food out. Mark blushed when he realized he had been eyeing the fox’s. The cheetah laughed, “your quite alright hun. I am slightly empathic which is why I know we can trust you. Also there’s no harm in being curious about us in any way.” Mark chuckled, “well I do find you all attractive. I had never met a fur before Lucas, I was amazed at how human he is. Mind you please don’t take that as an insult.” The cheetah chuckled, “I would never take insult when none is intended. I understand what you mean, how close have you two gotten if you don’t mind me asking.”

Mark blushed even more, “well we did share a shower together among other things.” Sebastian chuckled, “there’s no need to be modest around us. So you fucked him?” Mark shook his head, “no he fucked me and by god it was amazing….and I have no idea why I just said that.” Sabastian laughed, “quite alright as I said no need for modesty. Sex is a need just like food and water.” Mark nodded, “its odd but I’m just so comfortable around you.” The cheetah nodded, “perhaps you are comfortable around us because we accept you as you are?”

Mark nodded, “I have never had love or acceptance in my life. My father was a cruel man.” Mark took his shirt off to reveal may cuts and bruises covering his chest and back. Sabastian shook his head, “I don’t understand why a man would do that to his own blood.” Mark shrugged, “I stopped trying to understand it a long time ago. I just learned to do what I was told, don’t ask questions, and avoid him as much as possible.” The cheetah nodded, “if the truth was told, you were treated more like a fur than a human.” Mark chuckled, “perhaps your right. I didn’t get the rest of your names though.”

The wolf chuckled, “I’m afraid we don’t have names. Fur’s aren’t generally allowed to have names. We are called by what species we are.” Mark nodded, “that’s very sad, I think everyone should have a name. Why does Lucas and Sabastian have names then?” The wolf chuckled, “officially they don’t. They chose their names, they aren’t official or anything.” Mark nodded, “then what would the rest of you like to be called?” The fox’s and wolf just sat looking blankly at the human, one of the foxes was first to speak up. “To be honest we have never given it any thought.” Mark nodded, “well its upto you. I will call you whatever you wish to be called.”

Sabastian nodded, “would you mind if I went in the house and spoke with Lucas for a moment.” Mark shook his head, “not at all. You all are more than welcome to make yourselves at home here.” He nodded and headed into the house as Mark turned his attention to the wolf. The wolf smiled, “I think I wouldn’t mind just being called Wolf. It’s all I’ve ever heard, and I’ve grown to like it.” Mark nodded, “what about you three.” The fox’s shook their head as Mark examined them. They were all orange but with subtle differences. One of them had a hint of silver mixed in with his orange fur. Another had one blue eye and one green, the last looked like a traditional fox. The silver tinted fox chuckled as he shook his head, “well I suppose I would go by Silver or Sil for short. I think it’s a fitting name.” Mark nodded, alright Sil it is then! What about you two?” The fox with the different colored eyes chuckled, “well staying on that theme why not call me Blue?” Mark nodded, “alright what about you?” The last one blushed slightly, “well… what about just Foxy?” Mark nodded, “I like that I think its cute.” Foxy blushed as wolf laughed loudly, “Mark don’t mind him. He’s just horny!” Foxy blushed as Blue shook his head and Sil rolled his eyes. Sil sighed, “unfortunately Foxy here embodies every stigma about fox’s. He’s always horny and lustful and takes every opportunity he can to get something in his tailhole.”

Mark blushes, “well I think your all attractive. Anyone would be lucky to play with any of you.” They all chuckled as Mark turned three shades of red. Foxy sighed softly, “its not my fault I was a sex slave? Can I help it if I learned to like it?” Wolf chuckled as he teased the fox, “hun there’s worlds of difference between liking it and becoming addicted to it!” Foxy blushed as Sil sighed softly and shook his head, “most foxes are sex slaves. Blue and myself were lucky to have a master who treated us well. Yes he had sex with us frequently, but I wouldn’t really classify it as rape or say I was a sex slave.”

Mark nodded, “may I ask why your no longer with your master?” Sil nodded, “its alright to ask, I don’t mind. He was good to us but at the end of the day we were nothing more than his possessions. He got into financial trouble and sold us. During the transfer Blue and myself found an opportunity to escape and took it. Wolf found us hiding in an abandoned warehouse starving and filthy. He took us into the underground and we worked with them ever since.”

Mark nodded, “what does the underground do?” Wolf chuckled, “well really anything and everything. We are financially supported by several large corporations. While I know that sounds bad, it really isn’t.” Mark nodded, “why do they support you?” Wolf chuckled, “simply put its good for business. Think of it this way, if the fur’s were freed then the companies would instantly triple their customer base. More customers means more money and opportunity.” Mark nodded, “so they have an agenda just like everyone else.” Wolf nodded, “of course they do. However, it takes a lot of money to arrange and operate a secret organization like ours. It helps to have powerful allies even if they aren’t openly allied with us.” Mark nodded, “I can understand that.”

Sil cleared his throat, “Wolf should we really be talking about this in the open? Someone might overhear us.” Mark chuckled, “you have no reason to fear that. This land is rich with a mineral ore that makes surveillance impossible. It even scrambles satellite, its why father had to pay for cable to be ran to the house so we could have internet and television. Drones won’t even work here. I never really understood why though I just know it has something to do with the ore.” Wolf nodded, “well that’s good at least we can talk openly here. Though thank you Sil I hadn’t thought about it.”

Mark chuckled, “why don’t we go into the barn, it will be cooler in there and we can all be more comfortable.” They all nodded as they walked into the barn following the human. Mark smiled as he walked into a stall that had been converted into a small kitchen area. “Would any of you like anything to drink or eat?” They all happily accepted a soda, wolf eyed the stall and turned to Mark. “Do you live in the barn?” Mark nodded, “I do, well did when father was alive. The house just wasn’t safe so I make myself a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom out here. The barn is huge and we never have enough horses to fill all the stalls anyway.” Wolf nodded as the fox’s took a look around. Wolf sighed, “I’m used to seeing stuff like this with furs. Its just so…different to see a human treated like this.”

Mark nodded, “Lucas said the same thing. To me it was just normal. Now I own all this, and I still have trouble staying in the house.” Wolf nodded as Mark reached up and ran his hand through the wolf’s chest fur, Mark blushed bright as he took a step back. “I’m so very sorry I don’t know why I just did that.” Wolf chuckled, “its quite alright I really don’t mind.” Mark nodded, “its just…with Lucas the other day I felt so… I don’t even know the word for it.” Wolf nodded, “what you felt was love and affection.” Mark nodded, “he showed me a desire I never knew I had. I was so used to living without it that I never even thought about it.” Wolf nodded, “I see that a lot with furs that are abused. They never know they need something until its given to them. Then they crave it.” Mark nodded as Wolf continued, “do you mind me asking…are you gay?”

Mark chuckled, “yeah I am. Never told my father though, he hated “fags” more than he hated anything else.” Wolf nodded, “there’s nothing wrong with gay. Mind you sexual orientation isn’t a luxury most fur’s have.” Mark nodded, “so you aren’t even free to chose your bed partners?” Wolf shook his head, “most are not. If there is more than one fur in a home then chances are they will group together to take care of everyone’s needs. Usually the human masters end up using fur’s a sex toys more often than not.” Mark nodded, “while I would be interested in any of you. I would never use you in that way.”

Wolf nodded, “yes I believe you mean that. Well all you would have to do is ask, any of us would be more than willing to have sex with you. However, not until Lucas gives his permission.” Mark nodded, “why?” Wolf chuckled, “you see there are certain codes that all fur’s follow. For example you are under his protection. For me to do anything with you without his permission would violate that code. All we have is each other, so we try to stick to the code when we can.” Mark nodded, “so it’s sort of like unwritten laws that you govern yourselves with.”

Wolf nodded, “yeah each pup is brought up with those codes from a young age.” Mark nodded, “so despite everything you have managed to form your own governing rule and a culture.” Wolf thought about it for a moment, “yeah I suppose your right. I never really thought about it that way though.” Wolf stood admiring the young boy, he was defiantly different from any other human he had ever met. He decided it was important to get to know Mark better. Perhaps if Mark exited, more like him existed. Maybe just maybe there was hope for the future after all.