FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Not enough time. The man was there begging to be touched. He hefted the gift up, presenting for one to see. A warm retreat from the cold. The bite of winter came forward, inching along the ground and killing everything. Yet he stood there, calmly, relaxed, present in hand as the chill drew closer. His present for her. The present that made her know everything.

In the distance, her limbs shuffled her forward, breaking free from the grasp of death. They punctured through the ground, yanking her forward. Forward. Forward. Bring him closer. Save him from the cold. Close in on the embrace. Together.

She shrieked. An icy envelope surrounded him. The present shattered, scattering its contents on the floor. What bits of wood made it crumpled and turned blue, souring in the frost. He collapsed. She heaved, coming closer. Just enough to feel his last breath escape his lips.

Not enough time.

_

Dominic awoke to a shrill beeping. The device forced his lazy body to peel itself free from the grasp of his bed, then forced the thing shut. Quiet. Peace and quiet. "Good morning," he mumbled to himself with a laugh. The sun cast through the window, reflecting off his messy yet shimmering hair. His body was bare aside from the garment that clung to his hips. That would change. He moved to his cleaning room, followed by the hiss of water.

After that, he stumbled out into the food area, pulling out a few morsels of food and downing them instantly. Of course, he had to put on clothes as he did so, as he was a renowned multitasker. Not that it made him any quicker at any of his tasks, but he tried nonetheless.

With a fresh set of warm clothes, a clean body, and smile, he set forward out the front door. He tested it several times, making sure it was unable to be opened. Dominic had never forgotten to do that. Not once.

The man, while in a hurry, took his time to check through his front box for deliveries, stopping to read a garish paper filled with all sorts of daily happenings. Of course, he wouldn't linger on that long. Instead he'd focus on the smaller images with amusing characters before throwing the rest away in a bin.

In the distance, above the yell of insects, a bird cried out. Morning call to others. Dominic snapped out of his trance and moved to his vehicle, slipping inside it with another chuckle. The vehicle started with a roar and began moving out of the territory he called home, descending down an uneven and unfinished road. Songs of his own poured out of the machine, even causing him to rattle his fingers along the control wheel at times.

The winding path continued on through the thick of the forest, barely dodging rocks, logs, and other deterrents to Dominic's path forward. Eventually it picked up the pace as it met the smooth black path. The vehicle, delighted, sped up its pace with another howl. He would continue on this empty path for quite some time, passing by other people with obligations on this morning in similar vehicles.

After much movement through the forest, Dominic had found his stop, pulling into a lone building in the forest. While it too was lone as his home was, it was designed for another purpose other than living. It took trees, tore them to shreds, and used their innards to build more homes. Dominic had no hand in this process, instead merely overseeing that it get done.

The stream of sound coming from his vehicle stopped, and the endless drone of the forest continued around him. "Morning!" he called out as he stepped out of the quick machine. Good morning. The joyous call rang through the forest. This caught the attention of another person, his superior, a Roberta Palmore, to stop her gawking at nearby discarded logs and approach him.

"Not sure you have to do that every time you come in. You're going to scare half the animals to death," Roberta said. Unlikely.

"Isn't that a survival of the fittest kind of thing? Can't stand the morning, don't crawl out of your log," Dominic replied. He pulled out a bright orange vest from his car and put it on, along with a protective hat. Then moved to a nearby post and inserted a slip of paper into it with a loud thunk.

"I wouldn't have to crawl out of a log if we weren't working these stupid hours," Roberta replied.

"Not a morning person, right. Still didn't get my 'good morning' yet."

"Morning. Not sure about good yet. I'll get back to you when I've had something to deal with this headache."

"Didn't bring a coke with me, sorry."

"That's alright. I need to cut the caffeine in the first place." She rubbed the fetid temple on her head.

"So what's the agenda for the morning?" Dominic asked. He rounded the vehicle and sidled up to Roberta, staring at the bit of paper in her hands. "More area scoping? That kind of stuff?"

"That's all we do."

"Not true. Sometimes we eat doughnuts."

"Yeah, well, I didn't bring those either." She flipped through more papers. "Looks like you might actually get a real road in a few days." Not enough time.

"Sure, and next you'll tell me the potholes on the way here will get filled too."

"Sorry for getting your hopes up." Roberta pulled a paper loose and handed it to Dominic.

"Ooh, looks like I get some hills to contend with. Nice. You need a ride to your spot?"

"No, I've got my own vehicle. Plus, like I said, I'll be grabbing some coffee first."

Dominic held his hands up. "Sure, no problem, just radio me when you've got the urge." He pulled on the device stuck to his hips. "Enjoy your caffeine hit."

"Believe me, I will. See ya." Roberta swiveled on the spot and retreated into the squat building. Dominic's gaze lingered on her for far longer than what it should have. Attraction was a fickle thing. Sometimes it was incorrectly doled out to the wrong people with little value. But Dominic still stared for what time there was before shaking his head and returning to his vehicle.

The next trip was a more arduous one. Indeed, the incline of the poorly trodden path was a large set of hills that only worsened as Dominic drove inward. At certain points it almost felt as though his machinery would not make it up the rigorous trials, yet it passed through every time.

At the end, he was rewarded with a small clearing. An empty ground littered with insects and other small morsels. This still pleased him, and he exited his vehicle while the scratchy serenades echoed from his machine. The ritual of closing off the area to other travelers began with large orange blockades and small cones.

Dominic moved quickly and effectively. Despite his more ridiculous and pompous nature, his demeanor toward effort was one to be admired, desired. He knew it as well, as one could tell with the effortless movements to and fro from place to place.

A wayward observer would likely be unaware of what Dominic did as a job, but with a keen eye one could note that he took care in cataloging the foliage, the creatures that skittered about, and the underlying ground itself. The expeditioner, the frontiersman, clearing the way for more of his kind to take their place on this world.

One could approach him at this very moment, but that would be interrupting fine work. No, this was a solo job that he would indulge and thrive in. And thrive he did. With his odd array of tools, he was capable of marking all that he needed. From the mighty oak to the minuscule beetle writhing in the dirt, he surveyed it all.

While his robust hat hid most of his hair, it did not stop it from being picked up by the wind and shining in the sunlight that peered through the trees. His work had also made him muscular, which burst out at every opportunity they could with every motion. Perhaps a trick of the eye, one could say. Perhaps an exaggeration of the mind.

The forest itself was as active as ever. A sea of green muddled by brown. The chill of winter was on the air, and caused Dominic himself to react with a huff to every breeze. A masculine sense of duty, however, meant that he was dressed in regular clothing.

Before long, Dominic had finished his perimeter and began his march through the forest. His footfalls echoed through the trees, rousing up some distant creatures. Occasionally he would whistle out, trying to mimic what cries carried through the foliage. Birds would mistakenly reply back, answering his misguided call. It still brought him some amusement.

"Hey, Dom," Roberta said, bleeding through his radio.

Dominic pulled up his radio. "Yeah? What is it, Roberta? Over."

"You don't need to say 'over,' alright?"

"Yes I do. Over."

"Any animals get into storage?"

"Not that I know of. Over."

"Well, OK, I'm looking at it now and it's like a raccoon or something messed the place up looking for food."

"Did it find any? Over."

Roberta sighed. "No. I guess I didn't lock it up last night like I thought. Unless you went in?"

"I don't need replacements for anything. Always got what I need on me. Over." Dominic marched on.

"Lucky you. Anyways, I can't find the padlock anywhere. I don't know what the hell happened to it. I don't want this pulled out of my paycheck."

"Well, if nothing is missing, that's fine. Don't worry about it. I'll drop by the Depot and grab a lock for like, ten bucks. You just tidy the place up." Dominic paused. "Over."

"I'll let that one slide if you do actually get a lock."

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Complimentary doughnuts ring a bell? Coffee machine too?" Roberta replied.

"Alright, but that was hard to pass up. Over, over."

"You don't need to make up for those 'overs.' Just let me know when you replace the lock."

"You got it." Dominic placed his radio back on his belt. "Over!" he yelled over the forest, clearly hoping that would carry over to Roberta. Doubtful, as she only had ears for the mundane. Out of her element, as it were. The forest was a prison and every creature was a watchful warden. Dominic had once asked what brought her out here to this place she would consider cursed. Her answer was a confusing one, laden with many excuses that Dominic simply accepted. Foolish, yet smart for the sake of his own desires.

Dominic didn't immediately swivel on the spot to retrieve another lock, instead continuing on his own trail throughout the forest. Occasionally he would stop to watch a scurrying pest bolt out of plants and out of sight. "Damn, you're quick, huh?" he mumbled to himself. Quick, but not quick enough. "Could speed up my work with that, but oh well." He trudged on.

_

True to his word, Dominic did eventually head off from the protection of the forest to replace a rightfully broken lock. Twilight had taken the sky and night was slithering in, leaving their small building to be bathed in the glaring artificial lights they had set up. Roberta stood outside, nursing a cup of some sort of chocolate drink, shivering.

"You need another jacket?" Dominic called out from his vehicle as he pulled up.

"I'll take your whole shirt if you're willing," Roberta replied. She took a sip. "Hurry up and replace the lock already."

"Take it easy." Dominic turned off his vehicle and stepped out. "You're in a rush to get home?"

"Yeah, I'm kind of not a fan of driving in the pitch black." Another weakness.

"Could spend the night here."

"Not happening. The cot in there sucks."

"Hey, I've had a good fair share of naps on that thing," Dominic said. He opened up the storage shed and peered inside. "You did a good job of tidying up in there. I might've done better, though."

"Well, next time I'll let you tend to the mess. Now can you hurry up?"

"Hold on just a second. I want to make sure whatever caused the mess can't come back in."

"I guess that's fair." Roberta shook her head. "I should probably help." Unnecessary. The woman slipped into the little shack as well. Tree bark crunched. Dirt plumed. "You hear that? Did a branch just fall? Damn, I don't want that hitting the road."

"You'll be fine," Dominic replied. "Now look around for anything small, fuzzy, and has cookie crumbs around its mouth."

"I don't think anything small lives here. Except owls. I saw a barn owl up in the trees the other day. Almost made me happy to work here." There was some shuffling. "Not like I could see the whole thing, though, just its face before it split."

"Huh, I thought I saw one too. Wonder if it's the same guy." Boxes could be heard pushed about.

"Or gal. I don't know what they're doing without a barn. Heh." Insipid response. Bang. Roberta gasped. "Christ! What was that?"

"Easy, now. Must've been another tree branch. Let me take a look." Dominic dared to step out of the shack, brave man that he was, and looked about the place. "You know, I really thought about screaming, but I don't want to drag you to the hospital with another heart attack."

"Don't even joke. I do not need that right now. I'm tired and annoyed. Let's get back to this."

"Just a second. Need to make sure there wasn't any outside damage." Dominic circled around the building. "No idea what made the sound, though," he whispered, scratching his head. "Yep, all good!" He returned to the comfort of the shack next to his female. Finish your task.

It wasn't long before the two emerged from the building yet again, fortunately. Roberta still clung to her drink. "I'm willing to drive you back if you want," Dominic said. "I know how you get about tree falling."

"Eh, no, thanks. I need the car for tomorrow and I don't want to bother you to pick me up again."

"Alright, have a good night. Don't let anything snatch you up."

"Well, I've already denied you. The rest shouldn't be too hard."

"You do know how to sting," Dominic replied with a laugh. "Have a good night."

"Good night," Roberta said. She moved into her smaller vehicle, painted in a ghastly orange that somehow seemed to annoy even in the low levels of light. Before Dominic could even close his door, Roberta was on her way, peeling out of the area with abandon. A reasonable gesture. She might've gotten hurt by twigs.

Her home was not much farther from this site. It was no doubt she would be back home in little time to roll about in a lonely existence. The residence wasn't a particularly protected one, but she would likely feel safe in it nonetheless.

Dominic stayed behind a little longer to fiddle with the controls on his music machine before heading out. Fear was not something that lingered in him for very long. An admirable if perhaps unwise factor. Then, he sped out, deftly moving in the night. His vehicle was like a beacon slicing through the brush of the cold forest. And it only became colder and colder.

_

Back at his abode, Dominic quickly left his car and moved into his home. The lights turned on. Their call was tempting in the dark of the wild. But it was too early. His gift was hardly deposited. Dominic moved on to his kitchen area with its array of different ingredients and whole meals. He wasn't necessarily a chef, but he continued all the same, working his tools into a frenzy.

A cut, a slice, a cook, a simmer. It was a wonder his small patch of land was not invaded by every living thing in the woods. A blessing, in a way. The scraps were left to the side, piling up in a gift. A mouth watering offering to the wilds. Waiting would be the hardest part.

Not content with simply being, Dominic had also turned on his television to hear the drone of noise. It was comforting, surely, to have another person there. Humans were rare in the shroud. Other companionship was available. It was so easy to receive. Would he not take it? Likely. So likely. Tree bark snapped. Dominic perked from his duties and froze. Hearts raced. He returned to his duties.

Sadness. Pure sadness. Loneliness. So far from anyone else aside from that Roberta. What did he see in her, he would ask himself, no doubt. A fleshy thing to hold onto? To cherish? And what reason? Love was impossible between the two. Their personalities clashed as harshly as the sun did against the night sky.

Dominic finished his cooking and sat down, alone, on his couch, where he watched his television, alone. Soon he would be done and walk back to his den, alone, where he would rest, alone. Was it so difficult to reach out and touch another? The forest was empty. No one would hear a call. It was silence, crushed by the cacophony of arrogant screeches of happy souls.

Torture. It was torture to be this way, to be trapped in this unique state. It didn't have to be like that. It didn't. Nothing was forcing Dominic to be so solitary. He would reach out. He would have to, and not with his work partner, who hardly strung up the effort to be alive. This was existence and it was so easily grasped. A forceful push was needed.

Or was it? Drastic changes might discourage Dominic entirely. He removed his clothing and settled into bed. The lights turned off. Loneliness wouldn't last forever, would it?

_

Roberta's home was a silent box. Its relatively new construction made it stick out sorely among the trees. It was as out of place as she was. Pristine as well. Unfortunately that didn't extend to her. She was currently in her room, asleep, dreaming frivolous dreams. The house was dead silent.

Observation was a fickle thing. Even with all the eyes in the world, it was difficult at times to ascertain what it was that drove creatures to their destination. Roberta's appearance was by no means repulsive, but the emotions that lie underneath that visage were unpleasant, to say the least.

Perhaps an exaggeration. Perhaps an acquired distaste. And what was this world without distaste? Understanding competition and removing it was for the best. This competition was behind a warm glass, a sad reminder of the warmer seasons that came and went. There wasn't enough time. Winter was soon to come.

Dominic would be distraught if something were to happen to Roberta, correct? That could lead to a pained state. An exploitable state? Puppetry of the heart. That was how society functioned between people. Pushing and pulling on invisible strings to pluck the right tune. Then it was only natural to see something befall Roberta.

The glass hissed under a sharpened claw.

No. That wasn't how their competitions worked. It was a choice of the best. The best was not Roberta. She would not hunt down Dominic and take him for her own. Her interest waned. Stupidity, perhaps? The few choices she maintained were evaporating farther into nonexistence than she realized. Age was fickle.

Aside from the small fence that caged her home in, Roberta was essentially naked to the dangers of the wild. It was a wonder she managed to stay alive for this long without a bear trouncing through. And that, would not exactly be a strange occurrence.

That dainty little fence gate whined as the wind picked it up and rattled it about. Damage might be stressful, yet fear can drive away gently. It was a funny thing, to be so different, to watch the others flee. It hurt. Their calls did not match and they knew it. An approach only scared them, and why not? An alien form inspires fear.

The metal fence whined in agony as it was crushed under one appendage.

The only way to move was to inspire fear. Not in those you cherished, but in those you sought to outdo.

The wires that made up the barrier snapped easily, and before long it was merely a discarded hunk of scrap.

If there was one thing that drove the world, it was the threat of that which you feared ensnaring you and that which you desired disappearing.

_

Winter is coming. Winter is coming. Winter is coming. The sun blared down on the forest, blanketed by the clouds yet still agonizingly bright to disturb its inhabitants. A few leaves picked up in the wind and were carried gently down to the forest floor, burying their dead siblings.

"Getting a bit nippy, huh?" Dominic said. His vehicle pulled into that little slice of civilization. The marks on the ground fit perfectly to where it stood, marking it as his spot.

Roberta looked about, then walked up to him from her safe spot next to the building. "You mind if we talk for a second? I got a question," she said.

"Well, sure, I'm in no hurry. The weather isn't either." Dominic glanced up at an ever greying sky.

"Do you think a bear could like, break a fence?" Roberta looked at the forest. Her tone was hushed, as if every living thing in a mile hadn't heard her uneasy breathing.

"Well, sure, but I don't think it would go out of its way to do that unless it was in a panic." Dominic shrugged. "Something happen to you? Hope a bear didn't wake you up this morning."

Roberta held up her phone.

"Shoot, what the hell did you do to that thing?" Dominic asked.

"I didn't do it!" Roberta paused. "I woke up and it was just like that."

"A bear wouldn't go out of its way to do that. At least, I don't think so. You didn't leave out anything it might've wanted to eat, did you?"

"No. I don't do that. I spray down my trash cans anyways."

"We are supposed to have storms. I guess some harsh wind could've picked it up." Dominic stared at the phone. His usual smile lessened. The severity was dawning on him. It was clear. "What're those little bits around it?"

"Bits?" Roberta looked at the screen. "I don't know, feathers? Did a bird get caught in it?"

"That makes sense to me. Some of those suckers can be huge. Poor fella musta slammed into it and gotten stuck." Dominic nodded, easing back into a sunnier expression. "By the way, you have your coffee yet?"

"I do not need to be jumpier than I am, right now, OK?" Roberta pocketed the device.

"Yeah, but I know you, you're going to have a killer headache."

"I already do." The woman massaged her temple. "I'm going to be inside for a bit. Just make sure you don't get killed out there. Radio in like you're supposed to."

"Should be fine, right? I mean, those things only happen at night."

"I do not need your jokes either." She frowned. "Sorry, I'm just freaked out. Stuff like this doesn't just happen."

"Sometimes it does. We're in the middle of nowhere, remember?" Dominic pointed up and mimed a circle.

"Nowhere doesn't have to be terrifying, though."

_

The sky's disposition further slid into darkness. A dark grey now made up the heavens and what little light that crept through was dour. Dominic, however, continued on as if nothing were standing in his way. His attitude toward the world was ridiculous and yet it rewarded him at every step.

The radio at his hips hissed. "Dom? You still out there?" Roberta asked.

"Sure am. Just got this little more to go and I'll head back, over."

"I got another question for you."

"Not more broken fences?"

"No. Something else." There was a click and a pause. "Why'd you take this job?"

"Well, I do like walking around in the outdoors, and I like the forests. Win win, right?"

"Yeah, but you know. We're cutting them all down."

Dominic's gait slowed. "True. Yeah, I know we're just the markers for the loggers, but at the same time, I wouldn't want anyone else doing it. I know for sure I can at least lessen the damage."

"That's not the worst way to look at it."

"Plus, they're going down either way. I'd at least like a glance before it goes."

Roberta did not respond. Likely preoccupied with some other inane going on.

"So why'd you ask?" Dominic said.

"I just wanted to talk. Plus make sure you didn't die in a flood."

"I appreciate the gesture. Let me just mark down this area and I'll be right back. Weather willing. Save me a cup of coffee, will you?"

"Will do. Oh, and Dominic?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for not saying 'over' every time."

"You know, I knew I was forgetting something."

If one were to examine this back and forth, the exchange of mindless dribble with substance, one could ascertain that this was a simple way of attracting one another. Talk was easy. A simple way to woo over another simply from a management of words and not actions. To show love was not a matter of vocalizing. It was a matter of actions. Survival showed that those with the strongest bodies deserved the best mates.

_

The weather was not willing. It was downright angry. A storm that chilled to the bone and further reminded one of the pain of the wild. Of the harshness that was to come. The trees swayed and buckled, threatening to topple at any moment. Dominic remained in his car, safe as one could be in a situation so far away from home.

Roberta, on the other hand, was sitting comfortably in the confines of her building as the outside storm smashed against the structure. So unwilling to even lift a finger in times like this. So unwanting to assist others. What she could do was irrelevant. Her plan was to sit and wait for Dominic.

Mud squished underfoot. A disgrace to be so free from the treeline, yet necessary in weather such as this. The rain was hard enough to obscure even objects not far away. That didn't matter, however, as the low hum of the building was still vibrating through the roar of rainfall.

It was cold. So cold. The warmth of the building was so alluring, but that wasn't the reason for being there. Fear was needed. Fear to be stirred. It was right. It was just. This was how it should have gone. Fierce. Direct. Pain would drive off any creature from these stomping grounds.

Then the prize would be claimed.

Roberta was one thing above all. A creature of habit. The exits closed and locked. The windows sealed. Being fierce was necessary. Drastic measures. Pain shot through as the glass shattered. The warmth of agony replaced chill's grasp, reinvigorating the body. So close to ending this.

The floor was warm. The air was warm. The room was still, save for the spattering of rainfall on the shards below. Roberta was near. Her scent of artificiality was strong on the stale air, seeping through the synthetic cleaners.

Slowly, carefully. There wasn't much need to rush. Adrenaline had its place. It was now. This would be clean. The victor proclaimed. Swiftness was only necessary in its final moments.

The complex was small, yet still alien. Outside observations had failed to properly portray how many rooms and hallways snaked within. Two floors stood in the way. And they would be gone before long. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, fear was not on the air. That overwhelming scent was nowhere to be found, but it had meant a silent, unknown entrance.

Wings had given way to powerful arms. Their ability to manipulate, limited, but not entirely useless. A door creaked. An empty room. Not here. And another. And another. Up the stairs. Slow the ascent. Now there was less ground to cover.

This building was very much lived in. Personalized to the humans that lived there. Their trinkets sat in closets, at the ready to be claimed. Roberta's was untouched. Understandable. What was the fragility of her form if not unwilling?

Speakers crackled. She was nearby. There. Head swiveled. There you are. I see you. I see you. I see you.

Roberta sat. Alone. In a room dedicated for food, staring at her little device. I see you. One step. I see you. This was now. Another step. Claws flexed. Your flesh is mine. Her head shifted. Your end is the only way. This was my survival. It would be so sweet. Winter would be at its knees.

"Roberta?" No. "Roberta, can you still pick up my signal?" the radio crackled.

"Oh, Dom? You still good?" Roberta replied. No.

"Yeah, heading back now. Just wanted to make sure the rain was treating you alright. It's eased up here and I don't see any road blockages."

"Hasn't given me much trouble other than stirring my headache. Hope you did well out there."

This wasn't how it was to unfold. One step back. Flee.

"I did fine. Just glad to hear you're alright," Dominic replied.

The agony of his outlook. Dominic was too good for others. But that was fine. The rain stung again. That just made claiming him all the better. This was a test. A test for the sake of a suitable mate. There would be no victory without tribulation.

"I'll be pulling up soon," the man said. "Hope you didn't lie about that coffee."

Winter edged closer. There was not enough time. The end was near.

_

The pair had huddled into the building. The broken window blamed on a fallen branch and covered. Existence was merely paved over by a discarded wooden branch. That was for the best, wasn't it? It was. The less they knew, the better. Or not. There would be little time for Dominic to adjust to the true face of survival once the display was finished.

The storm had stewed, but the sizzle stopped. It was now merely dark. No rain. Silence had eaten the forest yet again. The chill of the wind on wet feathers kept one awake. That was good. There was no time for rest now.

"You really want to spend the night here?" Dominic asked.

"No, I don't want to. I think I have to." Roberta motioned over to the shattered window. "You think the road is anywhere near clear? I'm not trying it only to get my clunker stuck." She horked some water.

"Hey, fair enough. Just wondering since I wanted to check if I locked my door."

"Probably crowded with bears by now." She laughed dryly. "That fence is still bugging me."

"I'd be bugged too if a bird smashed into my entrance." Dominic shrugged.

"You'd think there'd be blood or something, right? Did you see that thing?"

"So what, it wasn't a bear, and it wasn't a bird, but there were feathers?"

"I don't know. It's stupid but my gut- Yeah, I get gut feelings too."

"I didn't say anything," Dominic replied.

"I know what you were thinking." Roberta smiled and then flattened her expression. "I'm just losing it out here I guess. Wish I could steal some of your love for this place. I just look out there and see nothingness waiting to kill me."

Dominic tilted his head. "I guess it is, in a way, but you have to realize the wild is so hostile because it's afraid."

"Christ, you would think a scrawny girl slinking into her thirties would be the least of their worries."

Dominic chuckled. "Problem is, they don't know that. To them, everything and everyone is a viable threat just waiting to happen. Unless you're in an environment with nothing looking to kill you."

"That's definitely not the forest." The woman sighed. "I should have just gone with being a realtor agent."

"New houses going up when the trees get removed. That's something."

"So what're you doing after all this, then?"

"I haven't planned that far ahead. It's still going to be a few months before everything is called and done for. I know I'm just planning to stay home through winter and order stuff online. Those delivery guys needs the exercise."

"I'd do the same but now I'm just worried a bird is going to smash through my window next."

"Hey, free meal." Dominic laughed.

"I don't even want to think about how many diseases I'd get from that." Weak.

"Well, if you do ever find out what smashed your fence, maybe it'll be some kinda cryptid. Could get a lot of cash for finding that. Like the Flatwoods monster or something."

"The Flatwoods monster was just an owl scaring some kids."

"That's no fun."

"Life usually isn't. Just look at this weather. Is this fun?"

"I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"That is the cheesiest line," Roberta replied with a chuckle.

Unwanted. Unneeded. Silence. A claw pierced through the tree, shredding through its innards without effort. Why did she continue to persist? What stayed her soul to this place? The weak, the aimless. She had no purpose here and yet she remained. It hurt.

The wood splintered and cracked, the sudden noise causing a deer to bolt by in fear. There. You.

A forest floor was no place to stalk around. Above, in the trees, that was where safety lie. And yet, it didn't matter. Arms pulled forward. Legs pushed into a sprint. That brown figure continued to speed off, only exciting the need to capture it. Forward. Faster.

The creature drew nearer and nearer, its panicked breathing becoming clearer. Its heart was racing. Its legs were burning. I see you. You will be the replacement in the heart for this pain. A gorging of the emotions to satiate the burn. I see you. Your heart will be tender.

One stab sent the deer tumbling to the ground. It stumbled, trying to reorient itself right up again, but another claw through the throat ended its attempts.

I screamed.

Another stab. Another. Another. Another. The ground was a mess of red viscera that dribbled away in the uneasy mud. Thank you. Slicing into its tender neck was a much needed treat. How long since last sustenance? Since his treats. Since his gifts. All wasted on another.

The deer's glassy eyes stared back. Silent, perhaps judging. It was so easy to die and disappear. Had it survived long enough to bear offspring? Was its life not in vain? Its flesh was sweet. It was not in vain. It should feel happy to have gone through the cycle of life. The bugs and trees and dirt would tend to it.

That taste was enough to spur another bite, tearing into its torso. The ribcage was crushed aside to give way to its supple innards that sagged out into the dirt. As another bite came, the flutter of wings interrupted the feast.

There, in the trees, a pair. A happy pair. They stared back. Silent and judging. Their form was mocking. The proper way to exist. A small, diminutive body with tiny wings to give them the gift of flight. That was stolen from one such as this. They were thieves of the real form. They did not deserve any part of this gift of flesh.

One other, however, did deserve it.

_

Dragging flesh back in the black of night was an arduous task, yet a worthy one. What better way to show the appreciation for all the morsels of delight that were cast out for consumption? The deer was mostly intact. Its organs held steady, clutched by what bones remained in its chest. Its head caught several times, twisting it in awkward directions.

The claw released from its body. The arm was stained in blood. Some dried brown, other parts still a bright, wet red. Dominic would not mind the taking of this liquid. Humans did not consume blood. The gift was placed near the entrance to his home, in clear view.

Was this enough to understand? Perhaps he would see it as random chance. Death having chosen to bring this carcass here. No, there would have to be something else. A clear sign that this was a blessing from another who sought to impress.

Back to the wild. Farther past Dominic's abode. Near the gentle stream. Under the cover of a large jutting rock. There, in a small pocket underneath the imposing stone. The feeder. The gift. My gift. A small box formed expertly into the image of a little abode that dispensed delectable seeds. Every one a new treat to indulge in.

Now, the feeder was nearly empty. It was a pain to keep away from consuming the rest, but that kept the gift alive, instead of a hollow shell. And now, it would be given back as a sign that it was enjoyed, and as a deliberate message. A gift given and a gift returned.

The deer was left near the entrance for when he returned. That would remind him what would truly provide for him. Not the weak. Not the aimless. Here, now, I. The feeder was placed nearby, unstained by the blood that flaked off of the corpse. It would be simple to cut it apart so delicately and in slices. Funny how they would select only the best. It was a wonder they had gotten so far and created so much with their specific tastes, but that only speaks volumes to their intelligence and perseverance.

It would likely be a long while until Dominic would return, and thus, sleep was the best option. Were it so simple to tear him from the clutches of another. To take him tightly. To feel his digits caress one's hide. So very closely.

Claws dug into the tree's bark, holding tight. Eyes closed.

_

Those fingers trailed over every part. Brushing past feathers, tracing down muscles, and ending on the claws that adorned longer arms. Longer than he had ever seen. Dominic was only familiar with his own kind, of course he would find fascination in an alien form. Appreciate it, even come to love it.

The trees had crowded themselves, making the sky impossible to see and letting in only a flitter of light dance below. It was serene, with only the small chirps of distant insects a reminder that they were still on a mortal plane.

Serenity had its lapses. The wind picked up, pushing aside the trees. Winter. Winter was here. Time had always been draining away. But Dominic, he was- Gone. There was no one. It hurt. The goal had slipped from an iron grasp. Swept away by the tides of freezing winds.

In every direction there was only a hollow husk of life. The trees had died. The animals had hidden. There was nothing except the howl of wind to remind one that they were alive. A mockery that they were still alive.

_

The revving of a car shattered another morbid nightmare. Dominic steered his vehicle back into the residence. Alone, without a sign of his damned compatriot anywhere. He stepped out and immediately froze, clearly noticing the corpse, the sacrifice, given unto him.

There was a long drawn out silence. Go near. Inspect the gift. See to it that it fits your expectations. And he did. Dominic took a few steps forward and examined it, crouching low to get a better look at it. His attention then drew over to the feeder, that delightful gift, the spur of an attraction. Gently, he picked it up and turned it over in his hand before looking out into the wild.

Good? Was it good? Can it possibly live up to his expectations? If only one could pluck the thoughts from his mind, to see within and devour every word that crossed his mind. That barrier, that silence, shattered forever. Instead, there were only vague gestures. Kills. What else was one good for? The calls that could be weaved were uneasy and unnerving, stopping everything in its tracks.

Dominic stared for a moment longer before quickly absconding into his home with the feeder. Was it not good enough? Not fresh enough? That was the fault. It was not a fresh kill. Nature had claimed it first. What was a mate if not moving, active? Seeking out the best for their other half in all waking moments?

He seemed pleased with the return of his gift, however. That kept the fire burning. It was alive, the hope, the chance. The test was still on. I only required more fresh meat. More sacrifices from the forest. All types of prey to provide was this final hurdle to overcome. Death was the path to life, as was in the cycle of life. Of course. How could one be so blind to the final truth of it all? Death was the attractant of all things.

I moved. The trees blurred past me. I did not care what caught my eye. It was mine. Ours. Our shared feast. The final proof to a pained life. Tree bark crunched. Bushes rattled. Animals quivered. I could hear all of them at all moments. Their heightened breaths, the crunch of vegetation underfoot. All of it. They would not get far.

_

Grouse, pheasant, fox. The rest of the scuttling creatures. All of them were crushed swiftly. Battered bones did not slice the flesh as a puncture would, keeping the kill intact. The bushes bearing fruit as well. The palate of the human was not an entirely fickle one, and it would add to this sacrifice.

The scattering of corpses around the forest were beginning to attract the less savory types. The scavengers, the decomposers. Faster. They had to be moved faster. The sun was beginning its descent and the trial had only just barely begun. This would be the end.

Crushing, battering, snapping. Animals were felled. Their sacrifice was not in vain. Whatever selfish desires lead to their death would only bring them back into the circle of life. This was an expedition of the process.

Then came the movement, carrying back every corpse to its proper resting place back at Dominic's abode to be judged. Yes. This display was the penultimate. Body by body they were placed nearby. Not close enough to catch his attention. Not yet. That would dampen the results if he knew too soon.

Through all the work, it was still an addicting moment to watch Dominic move. After all he had done, he had kept active in the home. Cooking his meals. Watching his television. Indulging in all the pleasures that his life allowed him to.

However, enjoying that would come soon. Closer. After his acceptance. After his judgment. To reach out and touch him without fear of rejection. Feeling a gentle embrace. Those thoughts only sped up the collecting and gathering. Whatever caught a decisive eye was brought along and settled into its spot. Not in a pile. Spread out so as to be able to inspect every part of it. A whole was nothing without its parts.

The last piece was another sizable deer. Not an impressive male by any means. Adolescent and dead sooner than what it had planned, yet that was alright. Its head was propped upright with its antlers and left near the edge of the sacrifice.

A small pheasant would be the enticing beast. Left closest to Dominic's home, and at just the exact time for the moon to rear its head and bathe everything in a pale white. The sky was clear. This was the hour of the end, and it would be delectable. Every part would be as expected.

Now what? How to catch Dominic's attention? He stared at his television, perhaps expecting to gain some true companionship from it. No, out here. This was where you belonged. In a loving embrace.

I called out to my mate. I sang. The last song that I would ever need.

Dominic perked up from his position, head swiveling to the outdoors. This way. I cried in delight again. This way, beloved. You are close. My offering to your body was within your grasp, and truly you would see. You would feel. You would touch. Winter would melt and all that would remain is us.

The man stood up and dressed himself in his garments. He stepped outside. My heart raced. Would he see the first of our beginning? The flowering of a relationship that was beyond any dream he could have with the weak world he was forced to plod around in?

I called out again. I kept hidden, but once accepted that would not longer be needed. My voice drew him near. My heart pounded. His feet came upon the first offering. The plump pheasant. Its neck snapped easily. The body pristine and edible.

Dominic produced a light from one of his many tools. His weaknesses were made up for in every way. And soon, that would be my duty. He crouched low to examine it. See? The plumage still shined brightly under the light. It was healthy. In the prime of its existence. Not a spatter of blood ruined its magnificent hide.

Excitement coursed through me. All was not in vain. I called out once more. Dominic followed my cry again by looking up. My face was showered in his searchlight.

He saw me.

His eyes went wide."Hey there, fella! Hope I didn't disturb your meal. Almost gave me a scare there." Nothing to fear. Nothing to hide. "Don't worry, I didn't touch it." Touch it. Devour it. It is yours to claim. "Good work, owl. You're a big one..." Good. Yes. Tend to its flesh.

His light drew lower to the gifts and his expression mixed, clearly awash with a variety of emotions. It was all yours. I was yours. This was all for you. Dominic took a step forward. I drew closer from the trees. Tend to it all. Your survival, our survival, it was so close.

I drew closer. My body could not contain itself. My mate was before me.

A claw touched solid ground, crossing into his light. His breathing hitched. I crawled into view. Touch you. See you. You're mine. I'm yours. Dominic. Claimed as mine. I cried out. He took a step back. Was this all for naught?

Dominic ran.

The chase.

This was the chase.

I had to catch him.

Then he would be mine.

Speed. I was fast. I ran after him. He was so close. In my grasp. I could taste him.

The door slammed behind Dominic but that would not be enough.

Strength. I was strong. The door was ripped in two as I smashed through it, scattering the pathetic thing along the ground.

Dominic raised something. A knife. A glint of metal.

Deft. I was agile. One swift hit sent the implement flying into the wall.

He retreated behind another door. There would be little recourse now. His trials were failing. I was supreme. I cried out.

The next door cracked but did not falter. Precision. I was precise. I punctured the flimsy thing and looked through. There you are. I see you. I see you. I see you.

I clawed the hole open and scrambled through, breaking through the fragile wood with wild abandon.

Being inside was a dream. To experience this small world with him. The hardships were worth it.

Dominic scrambled to a corner, shrinking. He surrendered.

"Don't kill me."

And why would I do that?

I drew closer. My reward was sweet. His body was soft yet firm. My claws danced along his skin. My beak caressed his neck. My Dominic. My mate. My life. Winter had lost its chill. Time was up.

Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.

I love you.