FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

James

When I opened my eyes Tane and I were surrounded by a group of armored mounted soldiers. The leader stepped down and removed his helmet. She was a white and slender wolf and had a frigid air about her. She frowned, looking over the freshly decapitated body at her feet.

"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, looking at Tane and I, "I was going to question him before he died."

Tane gripped me tighter, holding me protectively.

"It's none of your concern," He replied, "Just let us be on our way."

She raised an eyebrow and snorted.

"According to King Christopher it is my concern," She continued, "Now answer me or I'll use force to get to the bottom of this."

She pulled out her sword and held it to Tane's throat. I removed myself from his grip and stood in front of her, my legs wobbling. She chuckled and sheathed her sword, bowing to me.

"My apologies your majesty," She began, "You understand I'm sure."

I shook my head.

"I w-wasn't really royalty," I replied, "My position was much more... private."

"As far as I am concerned you were royalty," She replied, "I'm Joan of Aviel, captain of the guard."

I blushed and looked away. No one had ever referred to me as royalty, my husband's servants did not even give me that courtesy. Tane growled, looking over the wolf dismissively.

"Wow Sapphire," Tane began, "I never thought I'd see a jewel thief become captain of the guard.

"King Adbar has put quite a hefty price on your head," Joan began, ignoring Tane's comment, "You must have really angered him. Is he a jealous lover of yours?"

"Not quite," I blushed, "I may have stabbed him."

The group of soldiers laughed heartily, taking off their helmets as well. They were all canines aside from a diminutive marten who rode near the back. He seemed out of his element, and did not look the part of a guard at all.

"May have stabbed him?" Joan asked with a chuckle.

I looked back to her and nodded.

"You really need to pick better company," She continued, "Is this ruffian a friend of yours?"

Tane growled and pulled me closer to him. I blushed and looked down, not sure what he was doing.

"It's none of your business," Tane replied, "Just let us be on our way."

She rolled her eyes.

"Quiet assassin," Joan began, "My question is how you came to be in his company. You aren't exactly the type to go out in the wilds with anyone."

He growled.

"It's none of your concern," Tane replied, "Now can I just get him away from Adbar, or do you have any more stupid questions."

Joan frowned.

"You are coming with us into Aviel," She began, "We have something to ask of you."

"We?" Tane scoffed, "All I see is you."

"Then I have something to ask of you," Joan snapped irritably, gesturing for the marten to advance, "Poton, take James with you."

The marten sighed and walked his chestnut colored horse in front of me. He reached a gloved paw down to me and pulled me onto the horse. I blushed and gasped, surprised at his strength. Tane bared his teeth at the marten and got onto Joan's horse. We began to ride and sped through the countryside.

"Is he your mate?" Poton asked, looking down at me.

I blushed, adjusting myself into an uncomfortable so I wasn't touching him as much.

"It's alright," He chuckled, "I'm not gonna do anything like that to you. Besides my girl would kill me."

He looked ahead at Joan and smiled. I smiled too and got back to where I was.

"Well," I began, "He's just a really good friend."

"Right," Poton scoffed, "Friends aren't that protective. He obviously cares about you."

I sighed.

"I'm sure he just wants to make up for...," I began, rubbing my arm, "Things."

"Regardless," Poton replied, "I think you should consider it. It's not every day a guy like him comes around."

I blushed and nodded, tilting my head to look at him. Tane was definitely a guy who I could be with. He was strong, smart, witty, and pretty damn handsome... well, for a wolf. Tane turned and looked back, giving me an encouraging smile.

"I think I might," I replied, smiling back.

Poton giggled.

"Oh I so love playing matchmaker," He began with a wistful sigh, "So how are you going to tell him?"

"Tell him?" I asked, "Tell him what?"

Poton laughed heartily.

"That you want to be with him," He chuckled, "Come on surely you've given it some thought."

I shook my head. I had never courted anyone or been courted by anyone. The field of romantic love was a total mystery to me. I blushed.

"I don't know how," I replied, "I've never been able to actually be with anyone."

Poton blinked.

"Oh, that makes sense," He began, "Well look, just tell him how you feel, kiss him if you're up to it, and go from there."

I blushed hard, thinking of last night and how close Tane and I had come to kissing. Norteim did say that it would be ok to be with him, even if he acted weird when it came up. As I was thinking, the white walls of Aviel came into view. The city was on the shores of the ocean, and had a large harbor filled with more boats than I had ever seen in my life.

Our procession slowed down as we neared the city. As we got closer, I realized just how big the city was. The walls towered above us, and seemed to stretch on forever. We soon were inside the large iron gates and began to travel up a winding cobblestone road. We finally stopped in front of a large and imposing brick building. Poton helped me off the horse and led me inside.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, "What is this place?"

"I'm sorry James," The marten replied, "But Joan wants to keep you here as collateral to convince Tane to help us."

I sighed.

"Help you with what?" I asked, "If you're throwing me in jail you might as well tell me."

Poton moved me into a spacious cell. I blinked, looking around the surprisingly nice room. Poton chuckled.

"You aren't in jail," He began, "And it's not important. I'm sure he'll tell you when he returns."

I hung my head.

"Can't it wait a day?" I asked, "It's been a hard road for the both of us and... I need to tell him some things."

Poton giggled.

"By the Gods," He began with a squeal, "On one condition though."

"Oh anything," I replied, sitting down on the soft mattress.

"Tell me everything," He said with a grin, "I really want to know how it goes."

I blushed and nodded. Poton giggled again and waved, half-skipping back outside. I sighed and rubbed my tired limbs, looking around my cell from the bed. It could have easily passed as a small and rustic cottage if the walls were not rough stone and iron bars. I looked back out into hallway and smiled at Tane as he was led in by a pair of guards.

Tane grumbled and nodded, shrugging off their paw sand getting into the cell with me. Joan stood outside with the marten watching us as the guards left. When the heavy door closed, Tane snorted.

"I don't know if it's a good thing that I am so widely known," He began, "I feel like I'm far too recognizable to be good at what I do."

"Do they want you to kill somebody?" I asked, sitting nervously on the bed.

"The king," He replied as he sat down beside me, "He married some lizard which caused a shitload of controversy and a civil war."

"Why would that cause a civil war?" I asked, "I thought lots of kings had wives of different species."

"That's true," Tane began, "But those kings are usually doing their job, and not spending every moment between their wife's thighs."

I moved closer to him and he put an arm around me. We sat like that for a few moments in silence and simply enjoyed the feeling of one another. Tane sighed and hung his head.

"I failed you James," He began, "I should have put up more of a fight."

"Tane no," I replied, taking his paw in my hand, "There was nothing you could have done. Besides you're here now and that's all that matters to me."

Tane sniffled, turning his face to hide his tears from me.

"It's my job to keep you safe," He continued, "I failed in that, and there's no way I can make that up to you. I'm so sorry James."

I rubbed his back gently.

"You don't need to do that," I began soothingly, "Just don't beat yourself up over it."

Tane began to cry, his body shaking with each sob. I turned his head to face mine and looked into his eyes, gently cupping his cheek with my palm. I gulped, took a deep breath, and kissed him on the lips. The wolf's eyes went wide and he pulled back, the inside of his ears beet red.

"I-I," He began, "W-wow."

I blushed and nodded.

"Yeah, wow," I replied, twiddling my thumbs.

The wolf leaned over to kiss me again, his paws rubbing over my shoulders and neck. I blushed and kissed back, moving up against him. As our lips sensually moved over one another, his paws began to roam over my back and sides. I blushed and pulled back to look into Tane's eyes.

"I really like you Tane," I began, "You've done more for me in a week than my husband did in ten years."

Tane's paws continued to rub over my back and sides.

"I really like you too James," He replied, "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded and gave him another quick kiss.

"How do you know it's real when you see Norteim?" He asked, nuzzling my cheek, "When I was knocked out, I saw my parents. They told me things, but I don't know whether or not to believe them."

"Well," I began, "It's real if you make it real. I'm sure they were contacting you though. I mean your brother could do it, so I'm sure you can too."

Tane nodded and got up from the bed. I blushed, watching as he took off his shirt and pants. The muscular wolf kicked them aside and pushed a button on the wall. A red veil came down in front of the bars.

"I was kept as a "prisoner" here so I know all the tricks," He began, "Really I was fucking one of his majesty's concubines, but that's not important."

I giggled and lay back on the bed.

"I hope all of that will come to an end," I replied with a smirk.

The wolf chuckled and smiled.

"If you want what I think you want it most definitely will," Tane replied, "Now I want to make sure you aren't injured."

I shook my head.

"It's not really necessary Tane," I began, "It's just some scratches and stuff."

He frowned at me, tapping his footpaw impatiently. I rolled my eyes and stood up, stripping naked in front of him. I kept my front to him, hiding the wounds on my back.

"There are you satisfied?" I asked, holding my arms out, "It's really quite cold in here and I'd like to get in bed."

"Turn around," Tane replied, "I need to make sure."

I hung my head and turned around, inwardly recoiling at the wolf's gasp. I got into bed, laying on my front and hiding my face in the pillows. Tane whined and got in bed beside me. He started to heal my wounds with a paw making me groan quietly in pain. When he finished, he kissed my back and rolled me over.

"Do you really want this?" He asked, "I'm not sure how good I'll be at this relationship stuff."

I nodded and held his paw tightly.

"I do want this," I began, "I want to be with you."

The wolf smiled and kissed my cheek.

"I'm gonna get some food," He replied, "Do you want anything?"

I shook my head and rolled back over. Tane chuckled and kissed my cheek as he got dressed. I stretched and waved goodbye to him, and then moved to get comfortable in the bed. The second my head hit the pillows I fell into a deep and much needed sleep.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Norteim

I was dimly aware of James's voice from a great distance away. I growled and started to walk towards it. My ears dropped as I saw the smile on his face. I knew what it was that made him so happy.

"You called me?" I asked, sitting down on the bed beside him.

He giggled and nodded. I frowned and stretched.

"You in trouble or something?" I asked, "Or do you need something?"

James looked over at me.

"I wasn't aware I needed to need something to want to talk to you," James replied, "I just wanted to let you know that Tane and I are, well you know."

I didn't reply, but looked away and sighed.

"What?" He began, "You said it was ok if I did."

"I didn't think you'd actually do it," I snapped, whirling on the human, "I thought I meant more to you than that."

"I don't understand," He replied, "You told me I couldn't be with you."

I growled and stood up, starting to pace angrily around the room. At this point I didn't care that I couldn't be with him until the human's death. I thought I meant something to the human.

"That doesn't mean I want you to throw me away," I began, "I mean what happened to all the promises we made."

James frowned and rubbed his arm.

"I'm not dead yet am I," He replied, "I'm not going to die for a while either. Why should I be alone until I do die?"

"If only you knew," I began, immediately gulping and plastering a paw over my mouth.

The color left James's face, and he sat on the bed, looking at me wordlessly. I sighed, holding my paw to my head and looking away. I was definitely going to get in trouble for this.

"H-how long do I have?" James asked, shaking.

"A long while," I replied, with a straight face, "What seems like seconds to me can be a lifetime to you."

James shook his head and began to cry.

"You're lying," He began, "Just tell me the truth."

I shook my head and sat back down beside him. I took a deep breath and hugged the human to me, soothingly rubbing his back. He continued to cry, his body racked with sobs.

"I was just angry at you," I began, "I only said it to hurt you."

James sniffled and looked up at me, his face streaked with tears. I chuckled and wiped his eyes before bending down and kissing him gently. He recoiled slightly, but kissed back. I pulled back and smiled, hiding how bad I really felt.

"Why would you say that?" He asked, "Especially after all that's happened to me."

I sighed and lowered my ears.

"Because I'm selfish," I replied, "You're right James, it's perfectly fine. I'm just scared that when the time comes, you won't pick me."

James sighed and lowered his head.

"I think I almost have to pick you," I began, "I mean, we've been together for years."

I smiled in spite of myself, my tail starting to wag. James wrapped his arms around me and sniffled.

"Is Suori in a better place?" He asked, looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Yes," I began, "I personally guided him exactly where he needed to go."

James smiled and kissed my cheek. My tail wagged harder as I kissed him back on the lips. He recoiled again, shuddering as I laid him down and got between his legs. I deepened the kiss, lifting his hips up into mine. James pulled away and took a couple of deep breaths.

"What?" I asked, "What's wrong?"

James looked at me, clearly hurt.

"I was just raped Norteim," He began, looking up at me, "Did you forget already?"

I immediately felt horrible. My ears drooped and I let him up, putting my head into my paws. James sniffled and got up.

"I'd like you to leave please," He said, "I need to be alone right now."

"James-," I began imploringly, cut off as he violently pointed to the door.

"Just get out Norteim," James began, "Please, just leave."

I hung my head and got up. James continued to point at the door, his finger quivering. I sighed and started to walk out

"I'm sorry," I began, stopping before I left the room. "I just got carried away."

James sniffled and got back into bed. I nodded and continued to walk, biting my lip as I heard the human begin to cry again. I sighed and continued to walk until James's cries were lost in the vast space of the afterlife.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tane

"So let me get this straight," I began, setting down the large platter of food I had just collected, "You want the king dead, and somehow his death will lure Adbar here."

Joan and Poton looked down at the ground, clearly not sure how to respond. I scoffed and sat down in front of them.

"Ok," I began, rubbing my forehead, "What's your plan then?"

Joan cleared her throat.

"Well," She replied, "We thought we could just collect a troll or an ogre and let it loose in the palace."

Poton nodded.

"That way it would look like an accident," He added, rubbing Joan's paw.

I rolled my eyes and snorted.

"That is one of the dumbest ideas that I have ever heard," I began, "Is that seriously the best you two can do?"

They didn't answer me.

"Look," I began, "How about this? We use James as bait and lure Adbar here. When he gets here, we jump out, kill whoever you want to kill, and then call it good."

Poton looked over at Joan.

"Well my love," He began, holding her paw, "That's a good plan right?"

She frowned.

"I don't like it," She replied, "If we're caught we'll be executed for sure."

Poton nodded.

"Yeah she's right," Poton said, "I think we should do her plan. She knows what she's doing."

"This murder cannot be traced back to me," Joan began, "This way it can look like a complete accident."

"And that's what's important," Poton replied, "Right hon?"

I snorted as Joan nodded.

"How do you plan to control a troll or an ogre?" I asked, "How in the hell are you going to make sure the king actually dies?"

Poton stuttered, looking over to Joan. She smirked and chuckled.

"You're right again Tane," She began, "What do you think we should do?"

"Y-yeah," Poton replied, "You are the expert, could you maybe help us out?"

"Fair enough," I replied, "I'll take care of it then. Just get me whatever I need and let me and James leave when it's all over."

Joan nodded.

"Fair enough," She began, "Now I'll let you go."

Poton got up and left the table, leaving me and Joan alone.

"I never thought you'd become a guard," I began, "You were a good thief, even if your name was corny and horrible.

Joan scoffed.

"That was a dead end," She began, "Besides our lines of work never meshed well anyway. It's hard to sell a rich woman's ring when she's lying with her throat cut in the gutter."

I laughed, slapping the table.

"That happened one time," I replied with a wink, "Besides you were complaining when I made it up to you that night."

"That was the worst mistake of my life," Joan sighed, "I still wonder how it would have been if the child had survived."

"I'm sorry to hear that," I replied, putting a paw on her shoulder, "I'm also sorry that I got you pregnant."

"My life has order now," Joan began, "Even if I can't have another child, I still have Poton."

"What happened to you Sapphire?" I asked, "The girl I knew would have never settled down with a limp guy like that marten. Besides I thought you liked knots, you certainly loved mine."

Joan chuckled.

"I don't care what you think," She replied, "I'm not going to rediscover my wild side with you."

"I didn't say that I wanted to," I began, "That ship has sailed little lady."

She snorted.

"I'm glad to see you haven't changed," She said as she got up from the table, "I'm sorry that the life of an outlaw wasn't for me."

She stormed out from the room, the fur on the back of her neck bristling. I scoffed and got up from the table, picking up the platter as I did. My ears perked up as the sound of crying began to emanate throughout the hall. I sighed and walked into my room, setting the platter down as I went.

"James?" I began, getting into bed beside him, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

He crawled into my arms.

"I-It's just Norteim," He replied, "He just said some things that scared me."

"What kind of things?" I asked, holding the human tightly.

"About death," He began, "I'm scared cause I might die soon."

I chuckled.

"Why are you taking someone's predictions and prophecies to heart?" I asked, "You make your own destiny James."

James sniffled and nodded.

"If it really makes you feel better," I began, "You could go and see an oracle at the temple with me."

"An oracle?" He asked, "Wouldn't that just make me feel worse?"

"Getting some guidance from the gods can't hurt," I replied, "Besides it'll help us find out what our next move is."

"Why do we have to have a next move?" James began, "I mean, why can't just make a home for ourselves."

I sighed and sat up from the bed to get a small bunch of grapes off of the platter. I popped one into my mouth and stretched again before taking off my shirt.

"We always need to have a next move," I began, "Especially if we go through with what Joan and Poton want us to do."

"Us?" He asked, sitting up and resting his head on my shoulder, "What do they want from me?"

"They want me to kill the king," I began, "I have an idea that would give us a chance to kill Adbar as well."

James frowned.

"So why do they need me?" He asked, "I really don't think I'm the right person for the job Tane."

"Do you trust me James?" I asked, turning to look into the human's eyes.

He nodded.

"I need you to be the bait," I continued, "I need you to draw Adbar in."

James nodded.

"One condition," He began, looking at me determinedly.

"Anything," I replied.

"Let me kill him."