FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The portal begins to fizzle out with several sharp cracks, shrinking in on itself as the image of Henry’s apartment grows smaller until disappearing entirely. James views the portal’s closure with a look of finality. He was far from home, farther than even his longest voyage, but this was hardly the last time he’d found himself stranded someplace foreign. He breathes in the cool new air and gives Murdy’s hut a look over.

Made of roughly carved wooden planks largely held together with ice and compacted snow, it was small in terms of floorspace but had a surprisingly tall ceiling, far taller than any human sized occupant could need. Bookshelves filled with frost covered tomes and jars with strange organic contents line the walls of the hut. In the corner a cauldron softly bubbles and next to it sits a small table covered in all shapes and sizes of potion bottles. Just like the sister’s late cabin, it didn’t take a master scryer to determine what manner of person lived here.

Speaking of the owner, James can’t help but look in awe at the ice bear herself. Murdy easily towered over him and the sisters, standing at an easy seven feet tall. Her intimidating appearance was only slightly dulled by the bright floral muumuu dress she wore, though her sturdy bare arms covered in angular tribal markings still kept some edge to the bear. He does a double take as she approaches Urmine and leans down to give her a hug, he swears Murdy looked smaller in the séance.

“Urmine! My antlered little forest bear! I hate we have to meet in such dire times.” Murdy looks around, a look of confusion coming upon her face. “Just the three of you? Where’s your furless little husband?”

“Malvina took him! Just before we came through!” Urmine cries, hugging her tightly in a mutual bear hug. “She must have figured out how to perform a targeted summonation and snatched him away from us. We’ve got to get to him before she hurts him! Or worse! That drooling ungulate is capable of foul, foul things Murdy.”

“Oh…oh no.” Murdy softly says, breaking the hug. “Urmine, if he’s truly in her grasp then confronting her would only bring more misery upon you. I hate to say this, but you need to stick to the original plan and avoid confrontation.”

“What?!” Urmine yells, backing away in shock. ”We can’t just let her keep him in her clutches! She’ll poison his mind or-or-or torture him beyond recognition or-or-or turn him into one of her cold-hearted thralls! We can’t just stand idly by and let her dig her claws into him!” She looks to Gothetta and James for support. “Right? Surely you agree with me?”

Gothetta titters on her hooves with arms held tightly to her chest, too nervous to come up with a response.

James exhales deeply, and after a moment of thought looks to her with a solemn glare.

“Assuming the chain and medallion are truly as dangerous as Murdy says, then our main priority should be ensuring Malvina can’t get her hands on them both and become even more powerful. Trying to be a hero and getting ourselves killed helps no one, Henry least of all. Freeing him can be our first priority after tossing the cursed things into the big holey. He’s a tough lad, he can holdfast in the time it takes us to get to him.”

Urmine grunts in disapproval and looks to Gothetta.

“Sister, surely you see the importance of saving our one and only love companion?” Urmine pleas.

Gothetta looks to the ground, arms held tightly to her chest.

“I-I-I don’t know. I want to free him, same as you, but I also know what terrible-awful-foul things Malvina could do if she manages to put the medallion with its chain. I want to be Henry’s witch in pointed hat but…but…but…”

“Come on sister, go with what your heart tells you, we mustn’t let Henry fall prey to Malvina’s subversions.” Urmine softly whispers.

“…but we can’t let Malvina win!” Gothetta concludes, stomping a hoof on the floor. “What James says is right, if we fail to recapture Henry then we’d be in an even worse position, one where she would far more likely to squeeze any and all information about the medallion from us.”

Urmine shakes her head in disappointment.

“I can’t believe it. After the wedding, and the escape, and my personal sacrifice!” She yells, pointing to the nub where one of her antlers once stood. “You all still want to go searching for the medallion while Henry’s being held captive! Cowards! Cowards the lot of you!”

“Simmer down, little bear.” Murdy steps towards her, a stern maternal tone in her voice. “You’re outnumbered two to one. And don’t even think about getting grand ideas regarding you singlehandedly swooping in and saving him, you’ll only get yourself killed doing so.”

“But…we can’t…” Urmine trails off, staring into her palms.

“Yes you can, and you will.” Murdy affirms. “The heroics can happen after the medallion’s been dealt with. However, it may be in our best interest to keep the chain in our possession for the time being.”

“What are you talking about? We should throw it into the big holey along with its cursed companion!” James argues.

“No need to throw away something that may still be useful. May I?” Murdy asks Gothetta, pointing to Branwen’s hat she’s holding. The doe nods and Murdy slowly unwinds the chain from around its middle, holding it up to the light. “I seem to recall that Malvina put the entire town under her spell, is that right?”

“Yes, so?” Responds Urmine.

“Well, anyone that wears this chain has the gift of enhanced persuasion, and I can’t think of a being more susceptible to persuasion than one under mind control. The magics involved in such trickery turn the subject’s mind to mush and burns out any flame of resistance they might have. Normally they’d only be inclined to follow the commands of that who put them under their spell, but with this chain I believe they’d be more than willing to take commands from two masters.”

“All the more reason to go fight Malvina then! That chain can ensure our victory!” Urmine declares.

“No! Then if you fail you would have given her half the pieces to her terrible puzzle! Instead, I can keep the chain here in my hut, where it’s safe from prying eyes and sticky fingers. You all can go deal with the medallion, return, then I’ll give you the chain to help defeat Malvina. That way even if you were to fail she would be powerless to bring the chain to its full power, and at the same time give you the best chance at succeeding.”

“This plan is wretched. It’s in the wrong order.” Urmine huffs.

“You contacted me for my wisdom and advice, right? Well I’ve used my wisdom, I’ve given you my advice, and I'm telling you this is the best way to go about the debacle you’ve found yourself in Urmine. There’s no sense acting like a fuming cub about it, so hold your horns high and make Branwen proud. It’s what she would want.”

This seems to finally break through to the stubborn horned bear, as she slowly nods with a defeated sigh.

“Alright Murdy, we’ll go with your plan.”

“Glad you finally came to your senses. I’ll keep the chain safe here on my mantle, where it will eagerly await your return.” She walks up to her fireplace and places the chain on the mantle. “And the hat, Gothetta? Would you like me to keep it safe as well? I may be old, but my senses are as sharp as ever.”

“No, I think I’ll keep it. Should keep my ears warm in the caverns.” Gothetta replies, placing it on her own head.

“Very well. And your eggs?” Murdy says, nodding her head toward the egg filled backpack on Urmine’s shoulders.

“It would be wonderful if you could-“ Gothetta starts.

“Shhh!” Urmine cuts her off, quickly scuttering up to the doe. “We should keep them.” She whispers.

“Why?” Gothetta whispers back. “She knows a thing or two about raising little ones.”

“Her little ones didn’t hatch out of eggs like ours will. And think about it, she lives in an ice box.”

“She could sit on them to keep them warm like we do.” The doe answers with a shrug.

“Gothetta…”

Urmine trails off and they both glance towards the towering ice bear, silently estimating her considerable weight in their heads.

“Alright, have it your way.” Gothetta acquiesces.

“Thanks for the offer Murdy, but we’ll keep them with us.” Urmine finally answers.

“Understandable, no better place for a child than at their mother’s side. And if all goes to plan they won’t be in a scant bit of danger. Now, was there anything else you needed from me before leaving?”

“Yes, one final thing, could you spare a bottle of healing potion for our frog? He’s in dire need of rejuvenation.” Urmine asks, taking the limp frog out of a dress pocket.

“Certainly. My potions are over on that table, just let me-”

Urmine cuts her off.

“I’ll do it Murdy, no need to get your paws dirty. Poor Edmund’s rather slimy.”

Urmine quickly singles out a healing potion from the table and drops the frog into it, setting the bottle on the mantle next to the chain with a silent, hidden intent. Murdy continues.

“Now, I have two spare brooms out in front of the hut you’re all free to use. The weather around here’s good but be sure to dodge any squalls if you see them. And do be careful in the caverns, it’s mighty easy to get lost in their dark pathways.”

“Don’t worry Murdy, Urmine and I spent plenty of time fooling around down there as children. I know its many winding paths and dead ends like the back of my hand!” Gothetta assures her.

Murdy smiles.

“Good, your confidence dulls my worry. Now come outside everyone.”

The four of them move to the entrance of the hut, passing through its door composed of hanging beads and onto the perimeter of snow-covered ice that surrounds the hut. The bears have no trouble on the ice courtesy of their rough padded feet tipped with claws, and James’ rubber soles save him from any slips, but Gothetta loses her grip on the ground mere moments after stepping outside. Her smooth hooves slide across the ice as her sense of balance rapidly deteriorates. She teeters forward with a few high-pitched shouts, eventually falling on her butt and sliding across the ice as if it were grease, coming to rest where snow ended and sand began. She sits up and crosses her arms with an embarrassed huff.

“You’re not hurt, are you?” James asks.

“My body is fine but my doeish pride has taken a hit. Unshoed hooves were never meant for such icy ground.”

He offers her a hand which she accepts, getting back on her hooves.

“Sorry about that dear, it isn’t often I get hooved visitors.” Murdy apologizes.

“It’s fine Murdy. Now where were those brooms at?”

”Just over here.”

They walk under a large palm tree to find two brooms resting against its trunk. Urmine takes one and Gothetta the other.

“Alright then, we’re off. Thanks for the help Murdy, I’ll have to find some way to repay you when this is all over.” Says Urmine.

“No need, your smiling faces will be repayment enough. And when you get your Henry back feel free to stop by for some shaved ice treats, we can throw a little party when your family is all back together again.”

“A family gathering at your island sounds wonderful.”

“Hop on dad! We’ve got places to go!” Gothetta urges, raising a broom between her legs and patting the area behind her.

He cautiously straddles the broom.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been on one of these things. Not sure if I’ll remember how to balance myself.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a smooth flyer. You could practically fall asleep and not fall off!”

“I’ll…have to take your word for it.”

He grips the broom and the three of them wave to the ice bear. She begins to wave back before putting her hands up.

“Wait! One last thing before you leave!” She hurries into her hut and soon reemerges, a potion bottle in each paw. “I can’t bear to send you off without a little help. I’m no battle-witch, but these potions may come in handy.” She brings one up, the glowing blue liquid within sloshing around. “This one creates an ice pillar wherever it hits! All you have to do is throw it! Useful for creating a makeshift bridge, or maybe stopping a cave in.” She throws it to Gothetta who puts it in her dress. Murdy brings up the other potion. “And this one covers anything it touches in a thick layer of ice! Useful in a pitched battle, or if you need to cross a raging river. So be sure to keep it away from Gothetta!” Murdy laughs, tossing it to Urmine.

Urmine catches it and starts ascending into the air, soon followed by Gothetta and James.

“I’m sure these will come in handy! Thanks Murdy! We’ll see you again soon! I know it!” Urmine shouts below.

“Stay safe! And whatever you do, stick together!” Murdy shouts back.

They wave goodbye and the fliers disappear into the cloudless tropical sky.

**************************************************

A wild cackle fills the town square.

“Ha-ha-ha! Griselda I’ve done it! Pulled their human thing from the ether and right into our clutches! Now we’ll-“

She’s cut off by Henry’s sudden war cry, the human rushing forth out of the purple smoke towards the sound of the moose’s voice. With a pan held high over his head he brings it down on Malvina’s muzzle, the moose failing to bring up a hand up to block it in time. With pain screaming up her face she tries to bring an arm up only for it to be swatted down with a loud crash from the pan. Henry continues his rapid onslaught, Malvina too shocked and concussed to do much more than back away from the flurry of metal. Eventually she stumbles and falls to the muddy ground, a single loud plea escaping her bloody mouth.

“Griseldaaa! Get him off me you spineless cow!”

Henry is too focused on the moose in front of him to hear the loud hoofbeats to his rear. A large hand grips neck and throws him rearward. He lands on his back, the air knocked out of his lungs as he tries to regain his bearings. Griselda wastes no time and immediately stomps up to the human, prying the pan from his hand with little effort. She throws it off to the side only to be met with a haymaker to the face when she turns back to him. Feeling the coppery taste of blood coat her tongue, she raises a leg and kicks Henry in the chest, sending him flying backwards once more. He lands hard, and this time fails to recover. He squirms on the ground, groaning in pain, hands held to his chest as he nurses an internal wound.

Griselda steps beside him and places a hoof right in the center of his chest, slowly increasing the downward pressure in threat of totally collapsing his ribcage.

“Stop! Please!” He cries, coughing.

Griselda pauses, then removes the hoof from his chest. Malvina walks up to the groaning human, staring into him with a vicious hate.

“Furless little bastard.” She curses, kicking his shoulder. “You were only able to do that because you had the element of surprise. It won’t happen again. And don’t even think of trying to stand up and continue your pointless struggle.” She turns to Griselda. “I know witch hunters carry healing potions on them. Give me one.” She snarls.

“My potions are sanctioned and monitored. You’ll have to make me a new one since this isn’t an official operation.” Griselda flatly replies.

“Yes-yes-yes, whatever. Now give me one before my black eyes have a chance to swell.”

Griselda sighs, reluctantly reaching into her cloak and retrieving a small bottle of red liquid. Malvina eagerly receives it and downs the whole bottle in one gulp, throwing the empty vessel behind her. Pain residing, she then leers over the prone human, studying him.

“Humans, not the most durable of species. Thin skin, no fur, weak nose, blunt teeth, only truly dangerous when cornered as that’s when their adrenaline kicks in. They can be troublesome in groups as well, but thankfully little Henry here is all by his lonesome. There won’t be any horned bitches or fanged harlots coming to your aid this time, Henry.”

“F-fuck you.” He groans.

“Tut-tut-tut, antagonizing me won’t make what remains of your life any easier, I promise it. Do you have any idea what I had to sacrifice to even bring you here? I can’t let an investment like you go to waste. Oh no, you’ll be satisfying my whims soon enough.”

Henry looks up to the moose and sees something odd, something he didn’t have the time to notice when he was swinging his pan around. Malvina’s lost one of her antlers, a bony nub now standing where it once connected to her head. Henry manages a pained chuckle, speaking through gritted teeth.

“You…lost…an antler.”

Malvina cocks her head.

“Yes. Very observant. I had no choice but to follow the instructions left by the sisters and a horn from a magical beast is rare to come by these days. Thankfully one of my own sufficed. And speaking of antlers…” She trails off and turns to Griselda, rubbing a hand over her remaining antler. “How does my other one look? He gave it quite a beating. Any chips? Cracks? Broken tips? Did I lose any charms?”

Griselda rolls her eyes at the sudden display of vanity.

“Looks fine to me, sister. Then again, I don’t have antlers of my own to compare it to.”

“Of course you don’t, you don’t have any charms to tie to them even if you did. Now pick up Henry and bring him to the courthouse. It’s time to proceed with the next step of our plan.” She says, starting to walk to the courthouse.

Griselda doesn’t join her, instead running her eyes over the squirming man.

“He has a broken rib. I felt it give when I kicked him.”

“So? A broken rib is hardly a fatal wound.”

“If he’s jostled enough it can pierce a lung, then we have a very dead hostage on our hands.”

Malvina sighs, and looks to Griselda with an annoyed expression.

“If you want to waste a healing potion on him then so be it. But I’m telling you he won’t be around long enough for it to matter.”

Malvina continues to walk to the courthouse leaving Griselda and Henry outside. Griselda reaches into her cloak and retrieves another healing potion, opening it and bringing it up to Henry’s lips. Henry turns away from it at first, but she then grabs his head and forces his lips to the bottle, pouring it down his throat. As the potion begins to mend his shattered bones Griselda grabs him by the collar and drags him to the courthouse.

The inside of the courthouse is filled with row upon row of townsfolk seated in front of a large judge’s podium. Malvina sits at the judge’s position, wooden gavel held in hand as she watches the defendant get dragged up the aisle. Griselda places him on a wooden chair and ties his limbs together with rope, then takes her place behind Malvina.

Henry looks around. All of the townsfolk are blankly staring upward at Malvina, their eyes faintly glowing with a green hue. His feet and hands bound by rope, surrounded by Malvina’s mind-controlled lackeys, and to top it all off her enforcer would make sure any escape attempts would end in a sharp pain and a sudden fall. He feels his mouth go dry. He has no choice but to see this faux trial through.

Malvina leans up in her position of power, a giddy smile on her face.

“Court is in session!” She proclaims with a smack of her gavel. “The prosecution of Henry the human will now commence! Everyone take your seats and refrain from throwing any rotten fruit or horse dung at the guilty until after the trial is over, please.”

“What’s even the point of this? We all already know the verdict of whatever you charge me with.”

“True, true, but when you have as much power as I do…and so many loyal subjects…” Malvina brings a hand up and twirls it around as strands of magical light bend around her fingers. “…it feels like such a waste not to use them.”

“You’re an egomaniac and a fraud. Can’t win over anyone the honorable way so you have to twist their minds around with magic.”

Malvina leans forward and points a crooked finger at him.

“There will be order in my courtroom! I hereby hold you in contempt of court! What says the jury?”

The townsfolk point an accusatory finger at Henry and speak their verdict in unison.

“Guilty.”

“And his fraternization with two criminally minded chimeras?”

“Guilty.”

“And his ruthless assault on the judge herself?”

“Guilty.”

“And his disobeyance of my lawfully given commands?”

“Guilty.”

“And his interference in my perfectly legal smuggling operation?”

“Guilty.”

“Yes! Guilty on all charges!” She agrees, smacking the gavel against the podium. Malvina sits back with a smug smile. “The court has spoken. An outlaw like you ought to punished, severely. Tell you what though, I’ll make your death a quick one if you answer a few simple questions for me.”

“I’m not answering any of your questions.”

“Where is the location of the chain of command?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where are the sisters?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where is the medallion? You know the one I’m talking about.”

“No idea.”

Malvina grumbles, then gets out of her seat, walking up to Henry.

“I’ll get my answers one way or another. Rip them out of your head if I must.” Her eyes glance downward, towards his hands. She notices the large wedding ring on his finger, pulling it off with a curious stare. “Oh, what’s this?”

“A ring, nothing more.”

She brings it up to her eye, sensing an unseen power.

“This ring is enchanted. You really thought you could hide this from me? Enchantments are my specialty, now what is it enchanted with…” She puts the ring in the center of her palm and closes her eyes. Answer found, she suddenly opens them. “Oh, oh yes. This will be most useful. Griselda! Get over here and ensure he doesn’t try to escape. I’ve got to retrieve something from my wagon.”

Malvina stomps out of the courthouse and her sister takes her place, resting her back against the judge’s podium.

“So, you’re the witch hunter that tried to put a bolt through my head back at the cabin.”

“I was aiming for the bear, actually.”

“I'm guessing you and her are related?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Sisters?”

“She’s the younger one.”

“And what compels you to do her bidding? I thought witch hunters were above outright murder?”

Griselda pauses and exhales, chewing over her answer.

“She has something that I need. This is just an off the books elimination job, nothing more.”

“What’s she paying you? A dozen gold bars? A chest of jewels? Whatever it is it won’t be worth it. You’ll both be caught by the authorities and suffer a shared fate.”

“We made a little deal. Gold and enchanted weaponry.”

“More enchanted bolts for your crossbow I'm guessing. But why the gold? Had a big purchase in mind? A mansion? Boat? Land?”

Griselda chuffs, amused at his theory.

“Nothing so grandiose. Unpaid gambling debts.”

“Oh.” His brow furrows, puzzled at her answer. “All this because you’ve lost one too many bets?”

She shrugs.

“We all have our vices. My sister likes to use her magic for nefarious purposes, I like to bet on horse races. My luck isn’t what it once was, and my debts are…considerable.”

“You’re still just as screwed as she is. The authorities have surely been alerted to what you’ve done with the town by now.”

“Believe me, I’m well aware of what the governmental response will be to our actions. An inquisitorial team will come strolling through here in a day or two and then comes the frontier militias, then the local army garrison, then the king’s eagles, then a redactor team from the grand college of mages if all else fails. Malvina crossed a line when she put the whole town under her spell, and every second that goes by without releasing them she digs her own grave just a little deeper.”

“Then why follow her?”

“Like you said, our fates will be the same. If she fails, I fail with her, but if she succeeds and pairs the medallion with its chain then I can slip away with her help.”

“And the townsfolk? What are you going to do with them? Use them as a ransom? Force them to fight for you?”

Griselda stares across the unblinking crowd, slowly shaking her head.

“I'm not entirely without morals, you know. We came to a humane agreement regarding their fate. Empowered by the medallion and chain she’ll erase their memories and replace them with ones crafted herself. The inquisitorial team will come by and find nothing out of the ordinary, the townsfolk thinking the last few days were filled with nothing but mundane toil. And I’ll become nothing but a simple traveler in their minds, on my way out just as the inquisitors arrive.”

“And then what? Just what is your sister planning to do with all that power afterwards?”

“Whatever it is, it’s not my problem. After we part ways I couldn’t care less what she does with her new jewelry.”

“The chain and medallion are evil Griselda! You can’t just let her go free!” Henry desperately pleads, struggling against his restraints. “She’ll turn on you! They’ll darken her mind, make her drunk with power! You don’t know what you’re doing!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now quiet down, she’s almost back.”

The door to the courthouse opens and Malvina enters, carrying a silver tray holding a pitcher of glowing green liquid and an empty cup. She bids one of the townsfolk to follow her and a cat woman wordlessly complies. Upon reaching Henry, Malvina hands her the tray and pours a glass of the glowing liquid.

“What is that?” Henry asks, eyes wide at the sight of the strange liquid.

“A popular new drink that’s going around town. Everyone’s had a sip and their opinions are unanimous, it’s just the best. Isn’t that right everyone?” Malvina shouts towards the townsfolk.

“It’s just the best.” They all agree.

“So open wide Henry, you’ll be drinking glass after glass until you agree too. Heh…heh…heh…”

****************************************************

Two brooms fly in formation, Urmine slightly behind Gothetta and James as they cut through the warm air. A thin green line on the horizon turns into the towering trees of a verdant forest as they fly closer, Gothetta excitedly pointing downward.

“James! It’s starting to look like home down there!” The doe yells rearward.

“How much longer until we’re at the crystal caverns?”

“Maybe an hour, the caverns aren’t too far from the cabin. Then maybe another hour from there to the big holey.”

“This’ll all be over before sundown then. Just keep ‘er steady Gothetta, we’re making good time.”

Behind them, Urmine observes the same approaching forest. With the sight of land it was now time for her to make her move. She stealthily pulls the chain of command from a pocket and wraps it around her neck, then pulls forward so she was right next to the other broom.

“James! I need you to take the eggs!” She yells, sliding the backpack straps from her shoulders.

“What? Why?”

“Just do it dad, please. They’ll be safer with you.”

She presents the backpack to him and he has no choice but to accept it, the sight of it dangling between the brooms causing his heart to race.

“Sister! Where are you going? Murdy told us to stay together!” Gothetta reminds her.

“I know.”

“Is that the chain of command around your neck? Did you seriously steal it from her?”

“It wasn’t hers to begin with. Now I’m off to try and save Henry before Malvina sinks her claws into him. Even if I fail, you and James can still retrieve the medallion and throw it into the big holey. And if I succeed, then we’ll all have a big family gathering back on Murdy’s island when this is over.”

“Even with the chain your chances of winning are slim at best. Don’t do this.” James reasons. “We can still rescue Henry after dealing with the medallion, we’ll still have time!”

Urmine shakes her head.

“I don’t share in your optimism. It’s either now or never. Remember, whatever happens you’ve got to get rid of the medallion so Malvina can’t combine it with the chain. What happens after that is up to you. Know that I love you both, and if I die in battle it was with bared teeth and bloody claw!”

The bear then descends under them, turning in a hard right towards the town.

“Urmine come back!” James shouts.

“Sister wait!” Gothetta cries, pointing her broom towards Urmine.

She’s stopped by James’ hand on her shoulder.

“No! She has her mind made up about this, we’ve got to stick with the plan and get rid of the medallion.”

“But we can’t let Urmine fight Malvina alone!”

“She has a chance with the chain of command on her side. A slim one, but a chance nonetheless. As much as it pains me to say it we need to stay the course.”

“We can’t just let her go it alone!”

“Gothetta, when you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place sometimes you’ve just got to pick the softest one and make your peace with it. Keep flying to the caverns so we can do our part, and we’ll just have to hope that Urmine’s fighting spirit sees her through until we can back her up.”

“I don’t like this at all dad…”

“I don’t like it either Gothetta, but right now we’ve got to grit our teeth and deal with it. So keep the wind at our backs and the broom pointed true. Urmine’s and Henry’s fate may depend on it!”