FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Look man I know that you wanted to change the location of range day but why indoors? You know Chelsea won't like that." Noah's voice came out scratchy and lacking bass from Max's phone speaker as he worked on resoldering a set of split cables for a solar panel.

“Remember that girl that I took to the clinic?" A confused 'yeah?' passed the tinny speaker before Max continued. “She'll be joining us and since she's cold blooded I wanted to make sure the place was heated." With a sigh Max looks over to the phone with his best friend's face taking up the screen. “I know Chel will want to kick my ass since she won't be able to, and this is a direct quote, “Work up her man by going in the buff." Seriously man, how'd you find a woman crazier than you?"

“No idea but she's been able to keep me away from South Carolina. Damn guilting me with those big- Ow! Babe I was going to say eye- OW!" Shouting could be heard over the speaker as no doubt Chelsea was poking him with her nails. “The talons on that woman. She says hello and give the girls big kisses from her."

“Consider it done. Actually, could you put me on speaker?" After a few taps and a 'you're on' tinged the speaker before Max set down his soldering iron. “Hey Chelsea quick question, is there a fur only part of town?"

She gave an audible sigh over the speaker as she probably pinched the bridge of her muzzle. She had a sing-songy voice that sometimes got a bit much Max but that tone was wholly absent when she began speaking. “Christ you met Gray didn't you?" The lack of a reply from Max told her that she was correct in her assumptions. “What did you do?"

Max's brow furrowed at the insinuation that he would be the instigator of any confrontation. “Wha- Nothing! I was having breakfast with Eli and-"

He was interrupted by Chelsea's sudden squeal over the speaker. “Pin in the Gray thing, you've got a girl?" Her gossipy smile could be heard over the phone along with her beaming smile.

“It was one date."

“With her joining us this weekend, which counts as a second date."

“A double date?" Max scratched the back of his head as thought about the situation. “I guess? If anything it's just a meeting with friends that'll probably embarrass me in front of a girl I like. God it'll be just like with my mom and sisters."

There was a hearty laugh from Noah on the speaker with a quick 'ow!' before Chel started speaking again. “Oh it won't be that bad! I'll talk you up, don't worry! What species is she!? Please tell me she's a canine!"

“That makes me worry more and as for species she's a hognose snake, eastern base I think since she's a really dark black." He leaned back as he thought of those onyx scales, bringing a smile to his face. “It's like she's made out of space the way her scales catch the light."

“Little poet over here." Her voice reassured him that the romantic that hadn't been seen in many years was still alive and kicking as she audibly swooned over his words. “Really we won't embarrass you Saturday, I promise. But back to Gray, what happened?"

Max scratched at the cuts on his shoulder from where the taller wolf had grabbed him the day prior. “As I was saying earlier I was just trying to ignore him and he yanked me from my seat. Gave me a few good cuts on my shoulder too but that's the worst of it."

“That's the worst of it?" Noah jumped back into the conversation, curious on how his best friend came out of a situation like that almost unscathed. “Were you off the ground?"

“Yeah full on feet dangling from the ground. As for the minimal wear he's just as scared of getting shot as anyone else. Barrel under the chin did the trick." Max said in a 'matter of fact' tone as he focused on the phone.

“Oh Max, you shouldn't have done that." Chel's voice was dower, downright deflated sounding as she spoke to him like his sister. “He wont take that sitting down."

“The guy's a prick! What was I supposed to do let him threaten me? Hell, even Eli was so terrified of him she had to run into the bathroom to hide!" Max dropped his fist onto his working table, causing his phone and various other tools to jump and startle his sleeping dogs. With a quick pat he apologized to them. “Sorry girls, didn't mean to scare you. Seriously the guy needed a reality check, that not everyone is gonna be pushed around and eventually he'll meet someone willing to push back twice as hard."

“What, like you?" Chel sounded skeptical as she questioned him. Only ever knowing the caring man that would occasionally babysit their infant twins.

“Like us. Hopefully Eli will be there soon too. Even if…whatever we have doesn't work I don't want her to live in fear of some asshole." leaning back in the simple wooden chair he looks around his small home. “I doubt she'll want to live like me."

Noah groaned as he leaned closer to his phone. “Hey don't talk like that, if she's giving you a chance after seeing your…range time then I'm sure she'll be open to your tiny fucking house."

Max looked around to his humble abode again. A small wood stove provided enough heat to the small space along with an on demand water heater for the small bathroom beyond one of the two doors. A loft held his bed and stayed warm in its elevated position with his computer underneath. His kitchenette was enough to cook his meals for himself and a few others if any friends visited. His room was spartan to say the least but he kept it clean and orderly to make not only himself but any that visited comfortable. “Somehow I doubt that. This place really isn't conducive to a 'healthy' relationship."

“Relax, nothing says you can't expand, hell she may even really like it!" Chel had her chipper attitude back as she continued. “So far she's into you so stop worrying. We need to focus on the Gray situation. Max I need you to listen to me, don't go on the east side past East Pearl after sunset. Just trust me on this one."

“Does that count before dawn as well? The best butcher is there and they open at five am." His tone was serious as he spoke.

“Max please." He could hear her pinching the bridge of her muzzle in frustration. “I'm being serious here."

“So am I. I was thinking about picking up some fresh cuts to treat Eli on saturday." A smile crosses his face as he thinks about him trying to be a romantic again. “She's the first woman to show interest in me in…God knows how long so I really want to put forth the effort, you know?"

“Max, there was that elk girl a little while ago right?" Noah cut into the conversation forcing Max to pinch the bridge of his nose. “She showed some interest in you."

“Yeah and she was a vegetarian that wanted to ban guns. We didn't even go on a date before she cursed me out for lifestyle." Smoke rose from the soldering of cables as Max continued to work. “Eli is special. I can feel it…I think she's holding back the truth though."

Chel was the first to inquire about his simple thought. “What do you mean? No offense Max but reading people isn't really your strong suit."

“I know, you can blame my sisters for that. It just feels like she's not telling me everything." Setting down the hot end of the soldering iron before continuing. “She's a cold blooded reptile fighting against sub-zero temps daily to stave off hibernation. Her family is in Florida to wait out the cold but she stayed since they 'didn't see eye to eye', whatever that means. Not to mention with Gray she was the only one legitimately scared of him, everyone else just ignored the bastard. There's more here but I don't think she's ready to tell me just yet. Not a bad thing but I just hope she'll open up sooner rather than later."

“Well buddy, I'm sure everything will work out. Just don't pressure her and be yourself. You've succeeded in tougher problems so this should be a breeze for you." Noah whispered something to his wife on the other end that Max couldn't quite make out. It didn't matter to him as long as the couple were happy he didn't care what they spoke about behind closed doors. “Hey we've got to get going but take care!"

“Remember the eastside after sundown is a no-go!" Chel shouted from somewhere else in their home with the faint babbling of a child in the background.

“Sure thing, say hi to the kiddos for me too alright?" A smile was plastered across his face as he thought back to a few weeks ago to when he spent time during the first snowfall. They were walking already and decided that their father and 'uncle' were public enemy number one. A great snow war was fought but the small human boy and his husky anthro sister had prevailed against the adults of the group as their mother rewarded them with hot chocolate and smores. Whilst the adults received nothing but jeers from the children and Noah received a chaste kiss as a consolation.

Max smiled as he remembered their joyful faces and running noses. “Of course man, take care and see you in two days." With that the phone call with Noah ended leaving Max with the warm memories and a soft crackling fire in his small heater keeping him warm.

“Well girls, think we should get some chores done before we turn-" The ring of his phone cut off the rest of his question as the image of a dark gray feral hognose snake playing dead took up the screen. “Oh she'd kill me if she knew I switched it to that." With a light chuckle he thumbed the answer indicator and spoke into his phone. “This is a pleasant surprise, I didn't expect to hear from you so soon."

“I know, it's bad manners to call the same day as a date but I just wanted to thank you again for dealing with Trevor. Not sure how you got him to leave but I know you did something and I'm dying to know how. How's the shoulder by the way?"

Max absentmindedly rubbed the bandages covering the five long claw marks left in his shoulder where he had been grabbed and hoisted. “Cuts are a bit itchy but that just means it's healing. Nothing, a little alcohol and bandages can't fix. As for I got him to leave, let's just say I have a silver tongue I don't utilize too often."

“You threatened him didn't you?" Her tone wasn't accusatory but simply a statement of fact as she no doubtably was pinching the bridge of her wide snout.

Max looked directly at the phone sitting on his work table, not out of confusion but of surprise. “Yes and no? More just trying to get him to talk like a civilized being and not picking people up and spouting slurs willy nilly. I don't think I got through though, more skull than brain on that one. Enough about him, did you get home alright?"

Eli's light chuckle rang in his ears even from the reduced clarity of the tinny speaker of his phone. “Yes I did, boss let me have the next couple days off too to recover from my little stint in the snow. So now I'm just kicking back with heated blankets and terminator. Don't really know how you could have intimidated him though, you're like a full foot shorter than him."

“Well…a cold barrel of a pistol can be very persuasive. Yes it was after he lifted me off the ground so don't worry I'm safe with the whole self defense thing." Eli gave a defeated 'Mhm' across the line.

“But a gun? Max, why did you escalate it to that level?"

“Because I did nothing and he raised me off the ground after I ignored him. I really don't know what I did wrong here." Max continued working on the frayed cable as he spoke. Ready for another verbal beration just like with his close friends previously.

“You were off the ground? I thought he kept you in your seat." Eli shifted on her end of the call as the new information was revealed to her. “Christ almighty he really is becoming more unhinged. I'm just glad you got out of that with only scratches. Lord knows it could have gotten way worse."

Max was confused as the concerned hognose snake spoke on the other end. If he would have told his mother she would have gone ballistic on him along with his sisters. “Wait I'm confused, you're not mad?"

“Not at all, I'm just happy no one was seriously hurt." She let out a sigh of relief as she continued to retroactively look after “Are you sure your shoulder is alright?"

“Yeah like I said it was fairly surface level. If anything it'll be a cool scar." Rubbing that spot again he was now fully focused on her again. The possibility of their relationship falling apart before it began seemingly in the past.

“As long as it doesn't need urgent medical care I'm happy." She giggled into the microphone on her end as a thought crossed her mind. “Been pretty happy that you fell into my life so far. Let's keep the streak going, yeah?"

“Absolutely, Hopefully I don't mess it up." His laughter joined hers as they fell into a short comfortable silence. “So Terminator huh? One of your favorites or do you just like Sarah 'constriction' Connor?" Max's sarcastic tone had Eli give off a 'har har har' in response to Linda Hamilton's species being that of a boa constrictor. “Sorry but it was right there!"

“Bet you like it for Kyle 'human' Reese you little nerd." Her snickering laughter cut Max's retort off in his throat as her little hisses intermixed with chuckling made him melt. The smile that was on his face felt genuine, one that felt forgien from how long it had been since the last. Since…her.

Those memories were pushed back the moment they came up. Pushing them into that deep hole they always seemed to crawl out of. Clearing his throat he continued the conversation. “I'm not little, I'm perfectly above average. I can't help that you're taller than me because of your legs and neck. Besides, they chose a good actor for a good movie."

“Is something wrong?" She sounded concerned, clearly picking up on the change in tone as he tried to move the conversation along. “You seem off. Like you're distracted."

Rubbing his eyes he kicked himself as he let his emotions speak for him. “Only two days and you're already picking up on my tells." Staring at the picture of the dark hognose playing dead he felt warm. Warm enough to maybe open up just a little.

“Do you want to talk about it?" She spoke softly, her voice full of concern. “I know that we're not very close just yet but-"

“No, it's alright." Leaning into the work table he felt Sig's snout pressing into his side. Rubbing the concerned pet he relaxed her in a nonverbal affirmation of him being fine. “Bad relationship in the past. Well…only relationship. It wasn't good for me, I didn't even know it until she started getting violent."

“Oh my god." After her exclamation she stayed silent for a moment before she continued. “I don't know what to say. That's awful that it happened to you. How long ago was it?"

With a heavy sigh he let the memories flow back in that he held at bay for years. “Over a decade now. Been long enough that it doesn't affect me until there happens to be any hint of affection. Reason I'm reminded about it is because you make me feel…better than back then." The weight off of his shoulders he let a breath he didn't know he was holding go. “Been a while since I last smiled like this. Not to mention how often it's happening."

“Good to know that I have that effect on you." She dropped her voice lower as she seemed to try and swoon him over the phone. “I'll hold back my 'womanly charms' for now. Can't have you falling too hard too quickly handsome."

Max coughed into his hand as he tried to calm his suddenly rapid heartbeat. “H-hey, warn a guy when you're just gonna belt out the moves like that." As he took a few breaths he turned off the soldering iron, deciding to leave the soldering and repairs for later on. “Especially with a guy that hasn't had that kind of attention before."

She was silent for a moment before she just sounded confused. “Wait, you've never been hit on? Like…Ever?"

Max thought for a moment tapping his chin. “Uhm…yeah never. Not even in the last relationship. To be honest the only time I've been called handsome is by my mom and grandma."

“Even while you were in the army? You'd think that the uniform would attract all kinds of girls." Max dragged her along with him as he moved through his small home. Checking over batteries, spare parts storage and other small miscellaneous tasks to include adding another log to the wood stove.

“Well I did get attention but it was always along looking for a paycheck or saying I got them pregnant." Max rubbed his eyes as he remembered the worst instance of that as she stalked him down in texas. “Yeah, never had someone be attracted to me for me."

“What do you think I'm attracted to?" That made him pause for a moment. Never truly considering what she might be interested in him. He knew what attracted him to her, her tenacity, generosity and sweetness. But her to him? “Honestly I couldn't tell you. All I see in the mirror is a crazy guy that lives out in the woods."

From the speaker came a full belly laugh as she rolled around in her warm heated sheets. “No you dingus! You're smart, resourceful and selfless. Really, for every moment I've known you you've been nothing but kind and caring. Only recently have I seen how cute you can be and I like that too."

Max scratched the back of his neck due to his embarrassment and bashfulness overtaking his overall feelings. “Maybe I'll be able to get you back for this. Bet you can hear me blushing through the phone."

“Indeed I can, I'm going to make it my mission to see you blushed and embarrassed in person." Her voice was wistful and sultry. It dragged his mind back to her slender yet stacked form he saw for the first time earlier today, the way her hip swayed as she walked and the sinfully thick tail.

Max coughed into his hand as he pushed those mental images back into the recesses of his mind and decided to think about her ruby eyes, furrowed brow and onyx scales. That wasn't helping his swooning either. “I doubt you'll have to try too hard."