FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"I don't know, man.", I said to Jacob. "What do you think?"

"I think you did what you had to do.", he told me.

"I agree.", Daniel added, guiding the horses through a thick forest fog. "You thought on you're feet and we're lucky you did."

"We'd be boned right now if you didn't do it.", Jacob assured me.

"I didn't have to go as far as killing him..", I complained. "I could have just shot his kneecap like the other."

"Look at it this way, son.", Daniel says. "If you hadn't killed him, there's a good chance he woulda killed us."

"Let alone the boss man in there.", Jacob said. "Did you see how big that motherfucker was?", he asked, turning to Daniel.

"No, and I'm glad I didn't.", Daniel answered. "Anyway, Nate, don't beat yourself up. Days like this, it pays to be a strong fighter."

"Even if it turns me into a killer?", I questioned.

Daniel took his gaze from the fog to look at me. "Whatever it takes to survive.", he said. He turned his gaze back to the blurred road. "Besides, if you hadn't come along with us in the first place, Jake and I'd still be in there."

Before Daniel could say anything more, the buggy cracked, popped and fell sideways to the ground. As Daniel halted the horses, we all got out to see what had happened.

The left wheels of the buggy snapped under pressure and fell into pieces, leaving us with only two good wheels on the other side.

"Fuck me runnin'", Daniel bitched. "Musta weakened the wood bouncing off those rocks when we were escaping."

"Awesome.", I said, crossing my arms. "What do we do?"

"Only thing we can do is finish the trip on the horses.", Daniel responded. "Get your shit.", he told us, pointing to the buggy as he walked over to the animals.

"Hell yeah, you two share the other!", Jacob said, not bothering to get his bag out of the back and jumping up on the first horse Daniel set free from the busted buggy. "I'm going cowboy on this bitch."

As I pulled our stuff out of the back and started loading mine onto the other horse,Jacob started moving and twisting the reins of his. I think he's trying to get the horse moving but it doesn't appear he knows how. I couldn't help but laugh at him as he struggled to gain control of the animal.

"Move back, boy.", Daniel told Jacob, walking up to his horse and mounting in front of him. "Who the hell doesn't know how to ride a horse?"

"Eat me, Hobo.", Jacob responded.

Great come back, Jake.

I mounted my bow and quiver on my back, handed Jacob his bag then proceeded to lift myself up onto my horse.

"We all good?", Daniel asked as my horse trotted up next to him and Jacob.

"Yeah, pretty sure.", I answered him.

"Alright then.", he said, then kicked his and Jacob's horse, making him burst into a full gallop.

I spurred mine, speeding through the fog, trying not to lose sight of the others. My brilliant steed caught up like it was nothing, bringing us all together as our horses carried us through the thick forest.

"How long is this fucking fog going to last?", Jacob asked, hollering over the turbulence.

"Wish I knew.", Daniel says, hollering as well. "It wasn't this bad when I came through a few days ago."

"This entire area has been fogged up since then?", I asked.

"Probably.", Daniel answered me. "Do you see any light showing?", he asked me pointing to the treetops above.

I looked up as our horses sped through the fog. All I saw was more fog.

"You can't see it, but the leaves above us are so thick, it blocks the sun out completely.", Daniel informs us. "It's a damn miracle the road is barely visible."

"So how long till we're out of the woods?", Jacob asked.

"Shouldn't be too long.", Daniel said. "Soon as we're out, it's clear air all the way to the city."

"Great.", Jacob said, "Let's get the fuck outta here already."

We rode the two horses, Daniel and Jacob on one and myself on the other, for what seemed like hours. At one point, the fog appeared as if it was going to lighten up, but it flooded right back in as soon as Jacob said something about it. Daniel bitched at him for jinxing our luck, which I chuckled at. Its kind of funny watching someone other than myself screw with him. Of course, Jacob tried to fight back, but didn't get very far.

Eventually the road passed over a stream so we let the horses rest for a while and get some water. Jacob and I had the last two cigarettes from my pack and we all smoked a bowl of my purple weed as we casually conversed.

At first, we picked on Jacob for never learning how to ride a horse. We laughed as he tried to explain himself. Apparently, Daniel and I are "dicks" according to Jacob, but he knows it's all in good fun.

Somehow, we got to the subject of our sexual experiences. Daniel told of his affair with the wife of an old boss of his. Jacob said something about a threesome that I didn't hear. Usually when he starts bragging, I sort of tune it out. When they asked me to share, I just told them about Selina. Then I rubbed it in Jacob's face. While he's barely gotten to second base, I'm getting head from a busty pot dealer. And I greatly emphasized how well she knew what she was doing. I didn't tell them I was expecting to see her in the city, I figured I'd leave that story for the next time we share our sex lives. For some reason.

Once the bowl was finished and mine and Jacob's cigarettes were burnt to the butt, we mounted our horses once more and galloped off into the fog. Another couple hours of our second day on the road past as we continued on. Eventually, the fog began the lift slightly and the sun showed enough through the leaves and what fog was left to warm up the air. At that point, we decided to take it slow, let the horses breathe and enjoy the afternoon weather that had just began to show.

"So, Nate.", Daniel says, breaking the silence in the air. "What do you got planned?"

"Come again?", I questioned, not quite sure what he was referring to.

"You know, when we get to the city.", He told me. "I already heard what your bum friend here has going on."

Oh. Duh.

"I'm not too sure, really.", I answered. "I'll have to cross that bridge when we get there."

"Not thinking ahead, Nate?", Jacob asked me. "That's not like you."

"Well I don't have a lot to go on, here.", I responded. "At the most, I can say I'm getting a damn job.", I lifted my coin bag which still hung from my belt loop. "That bit I bought from Selina really dug a hole in my wallet."

"Fuck that.", Jacob said. "Soon as I settle in, that old man of an uncle of mine is buying me a beer for every one of my birthdays he missed."

"How many is that?", Daniel asked, looking skeptical if he wanted to know.

"All of them.", Jacob answered.

"How does that work?", I asked in curiosity. "I thought you lived in the city until you were five?"

"I did, but my uncle didn't get the physician job until my dad and me moved.", he told me.

"Think you'll still know your way around?", I ask.

Jacob shrugged. "Maybe. Let's find out."

"In any case, a beer sounds good right about now.", Daniel said.

"Why don't you join us for a cold one when we get there?", Jacob asked him, nudging his arm.

"Would love to.", Daniel answered. "Hate to turn down free alcohol but I gotta get that busted buggy back there taken care of."

"Are you kidding?", Jacob asked, looking around Daniel's arm to see his face.

"You didn't think he was just going to leave it there, did you?", I question Jacob.

"Well, no, obviously.", he answered, then turned to Daniel in front of him, "But do you really got to get right on it as soon as we ride through the gates?"

"'Fraid so.", Daniel told him. "I got to take it to my superiors, write up a report, turn that report into said superiors, sit on my ass like a fat boy with cake while those superiors discuss the report in another room, answer question after question from those superiors like a cornered child, possibly pay a fee, then prepare another buggy with supplies and an extra two horses to come back and fix the fucking thing when they tell me to."

Jacob snickered in what I think was pity and Daniel just shook his head.

"Worst part is they're gonna send this kid, Cody, with me to drive the other buggy.", Daniel states, looking down. "Dumber than the worst of 'em, that boy. Tell him to so much as clean a window and he'll hit it with a rock."

Jacob laughed hard then looked at me. "And you WANT a job."

"You're damn right I do.", I responded. "I can put up with the bullshit. As long as I get paid."

"Yeah that's what I said at first, too.", Daniel says. He pointed a finger at me, "Just you wait, son, it'll become hell after a while."

"Didn't you say you asked for this job?", Jacob asked him.

"Yeah. I did. Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.", Daniel answered. "Out of all the hell I put up with, I figure its worth it. The pay is good and I see something new everyd-

Daniel was interrupted by something that my eye didn't catch. My ears caught something though.

I heard the whistle of the string of a bow being released, the cry of an arrowhead splitting the air as it flew straight and true, the juicy sound of meat being severed as the arrow hit a target and the thud of a body hitting the dirt.

I instantly turned my view fast enough to see Daniel grab his shoulder, cry out in shock and drop off the horse.

"Holy shit!", Jacob yelled, ducking for cover on his and Daniel's horse's back. It's a wonder the arrow completely missed Jacob.

"Danny!", I shouted, jumping off my horse and running over to him. "Clench your teeth, this is going to hurt."

"What?", he questions.

I grabbed the tail end of the arrow and pulled downed hard to break it off, to which he instantly screamed in pain. Daniel cried out as I gripped the arrowhead that barely stuck out of his shoulder on the other side and pulled the shaft out of him as quickly as I could.

When it was over, he fell on his hands and knees, grunting and yelling in the dirt.

"Jacob, time to learn how to drive.", I said, lifting Daniel up to his feet and carrying him over to their horse.

"You might as well just let them kill us!", He argued, scooting forward as I helped Daniel up behind him, "I don't know how to work this thing!"

"You're going to have to try, dammit!", I yelled, running over to my horse. As my horse trotted up next to Jacob and an injured Daniel hanging on for dear life, I grabbed the reins from Jacob's hands, snapped them and yelled, "Just follow the road!", as he held on tight while their horse took off.

I snapped my reins and sped up behind them. Another arrow flew by my head and almost struck their horse's leg. I turned my head and filled with frustration and rage when I saw the arrow's origin.

The bunny archer of the smuggler's and a few other grunts rode on horses, chasing after us. Rabbit Hood rode in front, drawing another arrow, preparing to fire.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!", I yelled.

I spurred my horse and he sprinted up next to Jacob and Daniel. As I came up on them, I kicked their horse in the ass, obscuring his direction, sending them all over to hug the wall of trees that flew by. I yanked the reins to the left to hug the other side and just barely missed catching the rabbit's arrow in my calf. That pissed me off. He's a good archer, but I'm better.

Baring my teeth, I hopped around on my horse, facing backwards, drew my bow and an arrow and let it fly.

"I'm sorry.", I whispered as my arrow struck the rabbit's horse's knee. I didn't want to hurt the poor thing but i wasn't going to kill again. They both tumble to the ground, the horse rolled over him but he got back up and screamed, "CATCH THEM!", as his goons rushed past him.

I turned back around on my horse just as we came out of the forest.

I was wondering where all the fog went.

Looking around as we scurried for freedom, I saw a wide open, hillish field. The road carried on straight for a little while, then curved hard to the right, riding the edge of an enormous ravine. My eyes followed the road almost out of sight, just not enough so to block my view of a large stone bridge in the distance. On the other side, the road continued, coming back down the opposite side of the ravine and curving off further into the field.

I rode up next to Jacob who struggled in fear to steer his steed.

"Daniel, is there another way over that ravine?", I asked him, pointing into the distance.

He raised his head off Jacob's back and looked ahead. "There's a rope bridge off to the left.", he answered. "It hasn't been used in decades, it's too rotted to go over."

"That's too bad.", I responded, smacking the right side of their horses ass. The horse neighed and sprinted off to the left.

"Have you lost your fucking mind, Nathan?!", Jacob yelled at me as I caught up behind them.

"We have no choice!", I hollered back, looking behind me to see the few smugglers still chasing after us. "The horses can only keep this up for so long!"

"Well so can theirs!", he argued, worry in his voice. "Can't we at least try to out run them? Better yet, why don't you fucking shoot them?!"

"I'm not killing again!", I yelled at Jacob. "Close your eyes and pray!"

As we quickly came up on the rickety old bridge waving in the wind, Jacob did as I told him with a little extra.

I pulled my horse back enough to cross after they made it over, but found myself dangerously close to the smugglers. One caught up to my left. As I looked, the ape unshealthed an axe and swung at me with mighty strength. I leaned back and turned my head just soon enough for the sharp edge of his weapon to slice a few of my whiskers. Rising back up, I socked him in the face and pulled him off his horse. I heard the others coming up behind me. I turned around with and arrow drawn to my bow and pointed towards the closest smuggler to me. He looked me dead in the eye when he realized he was that close to death.

"BACK OFF!", I screamed at him.

He quickly pulled on his reins and took off in the other direction but the rest continued to follow. My horse quickly flew over the bridge as I drew a second arrow, alined the tips of both to my targets as best I could and released the string. As my horse safely made it across, the two arrows simultaneously struck a single post on the other side, cutting the ropes tied to both the top and bottom, releasing the bridge's support and causing it to hang, lopsided, from the remaining three posts still holding it in the air.

I felt relief as the smugglers came to a halt at the damaged bridge. We took off down the road. Even if they attempted to go around and continue the chase, there's no chance in hell they'd catch up before we got away. I'm sure they knew it, too.

I watched them as we rode out of sight. Just before they disappeared from my view, I saw the rabbit archer walk up to the edge of the ravine and stare right at me with his arms crossed.

We kept up the pace just to be sure. After ten minutes or so, the road strayed off from the field into a large valley. Eventually we stopped to give the horses a rest.

"What the hell was that, Nathan?", Jacob asked, climbing down from his and Daniel's horse.

"What was that?", I repeated, jumping down from horse as well. "That was us barely getting away with our lives, Jake."

"Why didn't you just shoot them?", he continued. "You never miss so why didn't you take them down? Why'd we have to do the one thing that gave us a fifty-fifty chance to survive when there was a much easier way?"

"The easy way isn't always the best way, Jacob.", I argue. "I didn't take them down because I'm not like them. I may have spent my entire life killing animals for food and personal gain, but I will NOT kill again. A person or animal, it doesn't matter.", I got right in Jacobs face and stuck a finger in it. "I will not kill. Not again."

"You forced us over a bridge that had 'curtain death' written all over it!", he yelled at me, "And that's what you were worried about?"

"I was worried about those assholes with the big fucking blades that had 'curtain death' written all over them!", I argued, pointing a finger behind us, "Which would you have preferred? I made the only reasonable choice that had a slight chance of us getting away and look, it worked."

"What if it didn't, Nate?", Jacob questions me. "What if that bridge snapped and sent me and The Hobo free falling to our grave?"

"That didn't happen, did it?", I asked, rhetorically.

"Why is that always your excuse for every life threatening choice you make?", Jacob pressed on. "It went as you planned so that makes everything okay? News flash, Nate, one day, shit is gonna rain on your head. It's gonna bathe you with stank and get in your mouth. So what then? What happens when your choices put you or someone else in an even more dangerous situation than we started with? What happens when you make the wrong decision?"

I looked at him while he stood in front of me, filled with fear and frustration.

"Then I'll make it right.", I answered, staring Jacob down.

"Hey fellas?", Daniel squeaked from atop the horse. "I don't mean to barge in where I'm not needed, but I'm still very hurt, here. A little sympathy would be greatly appreciated."

"Shit.", I said, rushing over to Daniel.

I helped him down from the horse and sat him against a large rock wall sprouting out of the earth only a few feet away.

"Move your hand.", I told him.

He did as I asked, moving his hand off his shoulder, revealing the arrow wound.

"At least it stopped bleeding.", I state, putting his hand back over it. "Keep the pressure on it. Don't want it to start up again."

I stood up and stripped my black tee-shirt off. I put the cloth between my fangs and ripped the shirt into the longest possible strip I could manage. I threw the remains in the dirt and knelt back down next to Daniel. As I proceed to wrap up his shoulder, then his arm to create a homemade sling, I notice Jacob rummaging around in my travel bag hanging off my horse.

"What are you doing?", I asked him, tying off the loose ends of Daniel's makeshift bandages.

Jacob walked over to me with my blue sweater with the black stripe and held it out to me. "Unless you plan on riding into town half naked.", he said.

"Thanks.", I respond, taking the sweatshirt from him.

"I was going to get your hoody but I can't find it.", he informed me.

"Yeah", I reply, slipping my head through the neck of the sweatshirt and pulling the sleeves up my arms, "I think one of the smugglers held onto it for himself. It's fine, this thing breathes better anyway."

"So, now what?", Jacob asks, crossing his arms.

"I'd rather not risk more of those douchebags catching up to us.", I point out. "Again."

"Best we get movin' while there's still daylight.", Daniel adds. "The city's just on the other side of this valley."

"How far does this go on?", I asked, raising my arms to the mountains at our sides.

"A couple miles.", Daniel answers.

"Will the horses make it that far?", Jacob questions. "They've hardly had five minutes to rest."

"Shit.", Daniel responds, limping over to his and Jacob's horse. "These two belong to me, not the city. They'll make it."

"You're limping.", Jacob said, pointing at Daniel's leg.

"Yeah, asshole, I fell off a horse!", Daniel reminded him. "Now get over here and help me up."

I laughed at the two of them as Jacob walked over to lift Daniel to the saddle. I climbed up to my horse and we rode off again.

That was too close. I'm surprised those idiots had the audacity to chase after us after the ass kicking Shaun and the others took. Then again, they are smugglers.

I have no doubt that grizzly boss developed a grudge. We'll have our hands full if one of us ever runs into those dicks again. Now that I think about it, that puts Daniel at the top of the list seeing as he spends most of his time on the road. That worries me. I don't want to be responsible for another death...

I can't stop thinking about the man I struck down. For no good reason. I keep playing the arrow flying through his neck and the blood gushing out as he collapsed in my head. I didn't have to kill him. I wish I hadn't. Its one thing to hunt for food. Even if I did it to keep the three of us alive, I didn't have to go that far. I killed enough living in the mountains and I'm sick of it. I don't want to be a killer anymore.

I think I might visit a church once Jacob and I settle in. Our village never had one although there was constant talk of building one. I feel horrible about taking someone's life. I've never felt more remorse than I do now. It won't undo the damage I've done, but "repenting for my sins", as they say, might give me some peace of mind. I could really use that.

After about an hour or so of riding, when the sun began to set in the distance and bestow its seemingly ever lasting beauty on everything in view, the mountains receeded, the valley faded and another hillish field came into view. It was much larger and might be one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Among the long, glowing green grass and flush, puffy bushes and trees, hundreds, thousands, even millions of different colored flowers and plants flooded the area. The road continued on into the distance and combined with the yellow rays from the setting sun, causing the sand and dirt to sparkle like midnight stars. The mixture of colors of the dusk sky never looked more gorgeous. It fit in well with the summer scenery.

Standing atop the horizon was an enormous castle, large enough to spot nearly every detail from where we were. The main door appeared to be composed of several different types of wood and towered over all. On each side are three wide stained glass windows that stretches to the first roof of the castle. Half of it was cut off from view by the countless number of buildings in the city below, but its structure rose so high, it makes me wonder if you can even see the top half from the door. Above the stained glass were smaller, clear windows with candle light clearly visible. What i found above the door made me fall in love.

Another stained glass window hung under the main tower, but its much different. Instead of the random assortment of every color known to man, the biggest pot leaf I have ever seen in my life sat in the center, surrounded by red, yellow and black stripes. A large Roman numeral clock sat in the center of the main tower surrounded by a golden and silver detail that covered every inch of the mighty house. Several smaller towers that stood almost as high circled around the main one. The workmanship was astounding. I'd love to live in that thing.

"I can't tell you how long it's been since I've seen that pot leaf.", Jacob says, looking over Daniel's shoulder.

"Nineteen years. Easy math, Jake.", I picked on him. My horse only a few feet away from theirs, I placed my hand on Jacob's shoulder. "Welcome home, buddy."