FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 3

Sammi pushed on the heavy office door open with her shoulder. She wore a modestly low cut light blue blouse with her suit black jacket jacket and work slacks. Her triangular ears stood tall each with a stud that had a jewel that matched each of her eyes. It was the only jewelry she hadn't set aside to pawn yet. Probably because her mom gave them to her as a kitten.

Allie slipped in beside the black cat wearing a gray pencil skirt and a dark gray button up shirt. A gray and white scarf kept the long hair modest, a couple of onyx hoops hung from her ears. Both cats had on red lipstick and some light eyeshadow to complement their colors. Allie had on some lavender perfume while Sammi had opted for a more professional dew flower scent.

The pair of cats looked around the room. It was a small office with a door leading to somewhere unknown. The off white walls seemed clean and the carpet felt vacuumed under their paws. Even though there were a few threads broken here or there in patterns that seemed familiar. A few feet away was a well used black leather couch. It had dozens of ruts dug in it by claws, hooves and even teeth. The wooden coffee table in front was in much the same state, even the carpet carpet walls were mared in similar ways.

To the right of the pair were a couple of tripods for cameras. Towards the far corner of the room was a large desk for a biped. It was just a simple cheap wooden desk one could get at any department store. Behind it sat a feral wolf in a tie. He looked up from the camera he was working and smiled. "Ah good, you're here. I got some consent forms here for you to sign before we get started."

"Nope." Sammi said grunting as she pulled the door open.

Allie nodded her head and smiled. "Yeah, thanks but no thanks." She slipped back out the door.

"Oh... uh could you send the next girl in, please?" the wolf called almost casually.

Allie and Sammi trotted down the tile hall Sammi fumed angrily the whole way. As they passed a bench with a feral hyena sitting on it, done up all in heavy makeup, eyelashes and even bangles and a couple belts Allie said. "You're up."

"You know this isn't a temp agency, right?" Sammi asked, looking over at the bigger girl with braids and beads in her mane.

"Um duh." the hyena replied as she hopped down. She wagged her tail as she headed for the office.

Once back in their little SUV Allie said, "you know we might could have made some good money with that."

"Possibly, but girls our size wouldn't last long without ending up in someone." the black cat looked over at her friend. "They have ways to get ya to agree with it." Sammi added with a shiver. "Besides, did you smell that couch, probably catch something just sitting on it."

"Maybe." Allie looked over as she drove through the snow cleared streets. "Still we got to get some cash coming in. Our savings are tapped."

"Yeah, but ugh." The black cat sighed looking out the window at the passing store fronts. No help wanted, or now hiring signs jumped out at her. Just a high end pet shop and a meat market. She didn't want to end up in either. Though one would probably be much better then the other.

Turning tricks would end them as assuredly as the butcher's knife.

"We'll find something." Allie declared finding her usual optimism. Sammi agreed, her ears slowly lifting. With a meow she sat up straight in her seat forcing a smile. Optimism filled the air both ignoring the check engine light on the dash.

Once home the cat's set about making a few calls. With the "temp agency" a bust Sammi bit the bullet and dialed her parents. The landlord told them they had till the rent was due next month giveing both cats the impression there was plenty of time. Forgetting there was little over a week left in this month and rent was due on the first.

Allie was calling mammals for help too, their friends Tamma and Sizzie were willing to help but could only give a fraction of what they needed. Same was true for Dallia but even less so, the cats couldn't blame them of course. It wasn't their debt after all. Joeanna would be the best bet however soon it became apparent that it wasn't a winning bet.

After hearing the story of what was going on Joeanna almost cried. Her voice was full of sympathy as she said. "I'm so, so sorry girls." She chitered as she thought. "Ummm I'll have to check the legal stuff but my company might be able to pay it off, but that's a lot of money I'm not even sure if I have it."

"I understand, umm, maybe we could like work for ya. That could help with giving us a loan." Allie replied

"I thought that too but again I gotta check if that's allowed." Joeanna replied. "But my company's small so well you know what I mean."

"Yah, but thank you so much, Joe." Allie purred, "at this rate we might not be on the menu." After saying goodbye they hung up, then the cream cat looked over at the removed floor boards, baseboards and even sections of drywall around the bathroom. She sighed, realizing how much she was lying. They had checked on loans, legal loans at least, and they would need at least two paychecks minimum to get anywhere near as much as they needed.

"Damn it." Sammi hissed, setting her phone down, she wanted to slam it but thought better of it. No need to possibly add another expense in their situation.

"That sounded bad."

"Mom and Dad just had to cover one of my brother's medical bills." Sammi said with a sigh, she couldn't really be mad with the reasoning. "Their savings are spent so it'll be about the same as Tam and Siz gave us."

"Ugh, I've never been more mad at my mom and dad for letting themselves get ate than now." Allie sighed leaning back mumbling. "But it was thanksgiving annnnd uncle Ursa had just beat cancer so if you're going to do it I guess there's not much ofa better time too."

"Your inheritance did pay for your college." Sammi fanned excitement. "What about your brothers and sisters?"

"I'm the oldest, remember, a couple from my litter have some money but not enough to get us out of this." Allie flopped on the couch. "I'll give them a call later."

The black furred took a breath and sighed looking at the notes on her phone. "Wait!" her miss matched eyes widened as she realized something. "With my insurance pay out, the stuff we can pawn, the cash from our friends, my parents gave us we just might be able to pay for everything."

Allie sat up mewing. "You think?"

"yeah it's not a long shot. I'll call the insurance guys now." Sammi said standing on all four to reach for her phone on the coffee table.

"And I'll hit the pawn shop." Allie jumped over to the boxes of clothes, jewelry, movies, games and the three video game consoles. Those three were the hardest for Sammatha to give up.

While Allie pulled the boxes out the door, their ears twitching at the sound of the once waterlogged floor. "Hey... get a good price for my babies alright." Sammi pouted looking at the of box electronics.

"I'll try, Miss gamer girl." Allie replied, she looked back and smiled. "When we're on the other side I'll replace it all myself."

"Thanks." Sammi replied as she dialed her insurance company. "I'll buy ya dinner i guess."

"Wine, dine and a shopping spree."

"It's a date." The friends laughed and set their plan into motion. If only things ever went to plan.

Allie returned with an odd smile on her face. She just sold some of her favorite dresses and some nicknacks she had acquired over the years, but she had just got them much closer to surviving the end of the month so she was happy with the sacrifice. Though when she saw the look on her best friend's face she had a bad feeling. Hopping up on the couch where Sammi laid on her back wearing her comfy green sweater and nothing else Allie asked. "Ummm. how'd it go?"

"Assholes said I was a distracted driver." Sammi growled.

"Oh." Allie bit her upper lip, her tail curling around her legs. "So how... much?" she asked worried about the answer.

"Not even a third of what we need." the black cat sat up. "I'm thinking my black cat bad luck is catching up with me." She looked down, kneading the couch with her front paws. "sorry you got caught up in it."

Allie pounced onto her friend and nuzzled her like a sister. "Don't worry about it." she nuzzle the top of Sammi's head. "Through thick and thin like sisters."

Sammi's eyes water as she hugged her friend. "Yeah."

"And don't worry, in a couple days we'll get a call from Joe an- all will be set." Allie said as she got comfy in the cuddle. Their limbs loosely holding the two together, Sammi's head on Allie's soft chest as she vaguely watched the TV. "If not least we'll go together."

Sammi's tail twitched and said, "yeah... unless we take the nuclear option."

The cross breed lifted her head and mewed confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well if we have to sell the rest of what we own to pay this debt off then we'll probably just be in the same boat a few weeks down the line. Right?" Sammi slowly looked up at Allie.

"I guess?"

"And we still might not have enough sooo."

Allie rolled her head. "What are you saying?"

"Remember the mouse in the bar a while back?"

Allie nodded, unsure what her friend was getting at. "The one we ate?"

"Yeah, at the right place we can stay off the menu, pay off our dept-"

"And sign our lives away completely." Allie said, sitting up making Sammi do the same.

"Better than dying. Besides, it's the final option."

"True." Allie yawned before laying her head the soft chest of her friend and purred as she let herself drift off to a cat nap. "Joeanna will give us a call in a couple days and all will be goo."

Day and night the two cats were trying to figure out someplace to get some money. Loans were out of the question with how much they needed and having to show a steady income. As for jobs themselves, any that paid like their last job weren't hiring and those that weren't paying enough. The idea of temporary prostitution was brought up and thrown out. While hooking up in places was legal as long as it was in private, arranging payment for it beforehand was not. Plus there was the very real possibility of being eaten, by a client, a pimp or a rival, which again was what they were trying to avoid as much as jail.

With three days left in the month Allie was on the verge of pulling her fur out despite her optimism and Sammi had taken to biting her claws, a habit she thought she broke long ago. It was hard dealing with the stress, especially with most forms of stress relief beyond them. Normal food ran out a while ago. Cup-a-noodles and kibble while filling only reminded them of their troubles, no games or DVDs to watch and of course TV had nothing interesting on. They never even considered sex, with a random partner, each other, or even alone.

Finally after half a day's worth of searching for something and making some cash doing some under the table cleaning for a store owner they knew. Sadly they had just earned enough to grab some fast food for lunch and pay for some gas. The cats flopped on their couch with a couple burgers and some fries to share ready to relax and watch some TV before going back on the job hunt when Sammi's phone rang.

"It's Joeanne." Sammi exclaimed hopeful.

"It's the call we've been praying for." Allie cheered, loosening the fry she had been munching on.

Sammi answered with a cheerful meow. "Hello Joeanne, you're the speaker."

"Tell us the good word girl." Allie purred on all fours her tail up.

Joeanna was silent on the line for a moment before saying. "Wish I could girls. But going through the rules and laws, It would be considered embezzlement and I could be fined and your payments seized."

Allie flopped on the couch with a meow while Sammi cussed. "Damn it. Well." The black cat sighed as her racoon friend apologized again. "It's okay, it's just time for the nuclear option." Allie sat up with a questioning look, to which Sammi nodded.

"Nuclear option?" Joeanna asked her sorrow momentarily, giving way to curiosity.

"I'll explain later." Sammi replied. "We're not getting eaten just yet."

"That's good." Joeanne giggled nervously. "Still wish I could have helped."

"Don't worry about it." Both cats replied.

After hanging up and punching the couch a few times Allie asked. "So you got a place right?"

Sammi nodded as she glanced at her chewed claws. "Yeah." She looked up at her friend and smiled. "I'm glad you are with me through this. But I wouldn't blame you for-"

Allie stopped her friend with a finger on her lips. "How many times I gotta remind you I'm with ya through thick and thin."

Sammi smiled. "Just the once, but I like hearing it though." She giggled as she looked at her phone then sighed. "Guess I got to tell my parents."

"I'll text every one."

Telling their families was surprisingly easy. Allie just group texted everyone in her family, some wished her well, others expressed sadness with the turn of events, one uncle mentioned thinking she was already dead and another texted. "New phone who dis."

Sammi's call to her parents was a little more emotional. She and her mother reminisced about when she was a kitten. Her father did much the same but before emotions got out of control Sammi said. "I'm not dying Y'all. And you have 8 other successful kittens. And who knows, maybe I'll be like a champion show pet, or something." Irony of the double standard was lost on them as the graying short hairs agreed and told her to call when she could.

With that out of the way Sammi and Allie packed up what little left they owned, as the pet shop Sammi called suggested. They talked to the landlord who only cared that the money was coming. Allie did ask if that meant he wouldn't have feed them to their neighbors. The bidel wolverine snorted. "No just means I won't go buy you."

The pair of cats left the office with their tails low. They headed out to the packed up jeep, they were quite the whole ride. The mood wasn't all that celebratory.

The girls met Sammi and Allie at the pet shop, Big Momma House of Darling Companions. In the window of the well maintained storefront among the other signs telling of the products and services provided it announced that only the highest standard of pets were sold here.

Joeanna Ringtail pulled both her feline friends into a hug saying. "I'm so so sorry girls. I feel like this is my fault."

"It's not anyone's fault." Sammi said smiling as Tamma and Sizzie joined the hug. "Just my rotten luck."

"And my litter box timing." Allie tried to joke.

Dallia meowed as she waited to hug Allie and Sammi separately. "You too are tougher than me, you know."

"Guy's we're not dying." Sammi said with a forced laugh.

"Yes and we'll call and visit whenever we can." Allie added only half believing it herself. "Well you'll have to do the visiting." Each of their friends swore they would.

With that the group walked into the store. It was a strange experience. Not because of the size of the space. They were used to buildings being sized for mammals nearly twice their size, no it was the number of pets around and in great variety.

Bunnies, guinea pigs and chinchillas of both feral and demi verity hung around in a large sectioned display. They were separate by size for their comfort and safety but could mingle easily. As if to demonstrate a bunny returned with replacement water bottles for the guinea pigs section and just walked right in. Across from them were mice, rats and hamsters with much the same set up.

Bird cages sat here and there with different types of birds. Like the fishtanks that lined the far walls these animals were no more intelligent than their ancestors so their cages were enclosed and they were separated.

Past some shelves of supplies ranging from toys for kittens and puppies as well as ones intended to occupy older mammals to harness and leashes, there was a small fake field. Even with a dozen pillow beds it had plenty of space for the demi and feral dogs to play. Currently it appeared to be a game of what the visitors guessed was rugby. Half a dozen smaller dogs cheered on the game from outside of the mass of canines. It was getting rambunctious but they weren't as loud as they could be.

On the far side of the field stood a tall plump bipedal zebra. She was of advanced age but still active for someone with three grandchildren. She currently wore a simple purple dress with a large gold belt made of interlocked large rings that matched her gold hoops earrings and dangling bracelets. Her long curled mane had streaks of gray among the black and white that she somehow made work. While she had the air of business about her, her crystal blue eyes were full of kindness.

Sammi and Allie didn't notice the Zebra or even hazard a guess that she was the store owner. Their eyes were locked on the large false tree behind the zebra. Like the dog's field this tree had a low wall around it. In the tree were probably two dozen cats both demi and feral. Some looked to be from the same litter others were single purebreds of various breeds. All of them looked younger than both Sammi and Allie.

Before they could dispar the elegant warm voice of the zebra pulled them to the present. "Hello, darlings, I am Kyla, the proprietor of this fine establishment. How may I be of assistance?" She smiled, gesturing elegantly. "Looking for supplies? Perhaps a fish...a snake... I have many companions available to meet any life style." She giggled, her voice sounding like she might break into song any second.

Allie had her ears down while Sammi said. "We would like to... uh... we're here to cover our debts." The black cat mewed, unable to maintain eye contact from embarrassment. "We're here to be sold as pets."

The zebra's expression changed at that moment. While she was still just as warm her smile fell and her eyes grew sympathetic. Kyla knelt as gracefully as can be. She places a hand on Allie and Sizzie's shoulder. "I understand this is a big decision and you don't make it easily."

The wolverine laughed nervously before correcting the larger mammal. "It's not all of us."

Holding her wife's paw Tamma added. "We're here for moral support."

"Oh oh apologies I didn't mean to assume." The zebra replied. Looking at the group her eyes finally settling on Sammi and Allie. "So why don't all of you come to my office and we can get this whole affair sorted out in private." With an agied but somehow elegant grunt the biped stood again. She then led the way to her office.

"I'm sure you have many questions, but I have to ask, are you sure this is what you want to do?" Kyla asked opened the door for her guest.

"It's our last resort." Sammi replied with a deep breath.

Allie was looking at the zebra's tail idly. "It's either this or get eaten."

Kyla frowned as she sat at her large oak desk and motioned for the girls to take seats. Allie and Sammi climbed up into the seat across from the equine. The others doubled up in the flanking seats. The zebra sighed. "I must tell you that, that fate may still fall on you, it is up to your owners. I do have clauses in my contracts that keep a buyer from eating their pet for a year, but they are not legally binding. They really just keep my store from being a meat market."

Allie's ear shot up while Sammi said. "As long as you don't sell us as meat in six months we'll take our chances."

Kyla shook her head. "Heavens no. Per government order, if a pet remains unsold for five years I have too." She noticed Allie holding Sammi's paw tighter so the Zebra added. "Don't worry, I have never had to do such a thing. The few pets that have gotten close have chosen their fate or were bought by employees, I even gave a few away as gifts. So do not worry, I will never force anything on my darlings if I can help it."

"That's a relief." Allie said with a forced but growing smile.

Sammi pured saying. "Thank you ma'am."

"Do they have visitistation rights?" Sizzie asked curiously.

"And phone time?" Dallia added.

"I'm curious about the price." Joeanna asked, having an idea.

Kyla smiled, "I can not stop you, nor would I stop you from visiting your friends if I could. Though I would suggest not to get in the way of potential owners. Phone privileges are up to their owner, we don't have enough phones for the pets to use so sadly no." The zebra looked at the raccoon with a neutral expression. "Their price will be determined by their examination but I do have to warn you, if you have a financial tie to someone who has declared article 23 you can not legally purchase them, and all parties involved will be punished." The store owner had nothing but sympathy on her face despite her stern voice.

"Damn, worth a shot."

"You tried Joe." Tamma commented.

Kyla nodded and tapped on the computer. The girl's ear twitched at the device's clicking as it booted up. The Zebra paused and looked at Sammi and Allie. "So. I must ask again, are you sure you want to do this? It can't be taken back...ever. Your owner will decide everything for you, even the fate of your offspring. Your contract will explain more, but once you sign it, it can not be taken back." The warm demeanor of the zebra did not belie the gravity of the situation, especially when she repeated herself.

Sammi nodded. "Yes."

Allie paused for a moment longer before agreeing. "Yes."

Kyla nodded, smiling comfortingly. "Very well my little darlings. Do you have your papers and belongings in your car." Sammi nodded. "Run along and bring them in, the contract will take a moment to print."

As the girls climbing down Kyla picked up the phone and dialed someone. They heard the printer in the corner kick on as the Zebra greeted someone she called doctor before saying. "I have two small feline demis coming in for a price exam. Can you be a dear and pencil them in please."

One step closer to survival one step father from freedom.