FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 4

The Price of Admission

It wasn’t long before the Skunk Kingdoms could be seen in the distance. Five rings separating the different sections of the kingdom, four ruled over by the princesses, and the center ring under the control of the king and queen, all surrounded by a massive wall. Without the queen’s seal, entry would prove difficult, if not impossible for a rat. “What do we do now that we don’t have your mother’s gem?” Gimmick asked.

“You’re not going to make me dig us all the way back so your mom can give you another rock are you?” Myra groaned.

Tek let out a sigh, contemplating his options as they neared the front gate. Guards monitored everyone who entered and exited the kingdom, and by the looks of the walls they were too high to scale. “Well, maybe we should just try walking in. Maybe we’ll get lucky. Who knows, perhaps I was wrong about the way outsiders view rats.” Tek said, trying to convince himself more than anyone.

Upon approaching the front gate, several citizens exiting the kingdom’s walls gave Tek a look that resembled a mix of confusion and disgust. Hoping this was due to Myra’s rude demeanor and strange odor rather than the presence of a rat, he ignored them. Maybe, just maybe we would be able to just walk right on in.

It would not be so easy.

“Woah now,” One of the guards said. He appeared to be some kind of canine, but the armor covering him from head to paw made it difficult to tell. “There’s no way a rat would be allowed to enter the realm of the princess of hearts.”

Something about the guard’s voice sent a chill down Tek’s spine. There was something familiar about that voice. Suddenly, Tek felt like if he were to turn around, she would be standing there, watching him while covered in blood. It’s not him, Tek thought to himself, It can’t be him. Taking in a deep breath, Tek tried to muster all of the charisma he could. “Dear sir, we are but three humble traders, we simply wish to enter for a day of exchanging goods for the better of both our kingdoms.”

“Fuck off rat, your kind isn’t welcome here. If the kobold wants to enter on her own, she may pass, but no rats are allowed within the realm of any of the four princesses. You can wait outside with...” The guard trailed off, looking over Myra, “With that.” Myra snorted, but otherwise ignored the guard’s comment.

“I’ve been sent by the vermin queen herself, the guardian of the northern mountains. You don’t have the authority to deny me access.” Tek said, dropping the charm and jabbing the guard’s chestplate with his finger.

“Prove it, vermin.” The guard snarled.

“Look at my ears, I’m from the same clan.” Tek tugged on one of his ears, showing off the black fur on his ear lobes.

“That doesn’t mean shit to me, rat. I don’t care about your disgusting clans. Besides, even if the rat guardian did send you, her authority isn’t recognized outside of your dirty little hole in the ground. So scurry home before the next crimson moon, or else the world will be down one more rat.” The guard chuckled before continuing, “Not that anyone would give a damn.”

“Come on Tek,” Gimmick said, tugging at his arm, “We’ll find another way.”

Tek leered at the guard, until Gimmick managed to drag him away. Something about that guard felt familiar. Suddenly, to Tek’s surprise, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground coughing up vomit onto the dirt. Behind him he could hear the guard chuckling at him. His vision blurred. Was it the heat?

“Come on rat boy.” Myra said, picking Tek up and carrying him off. Gimmick followed close behind with a nervous look on her face. Her claws clacking against the ground as she ran.

Tek’s vision began to fade. Then he blacked out. When he came to, a blue figure leaned over him.

“Tek?” A familiar female voice called out. “Tek, wake up.”

“Iary?” Tek groaned, his eyesight cleared to reveal Gimmick leaning over him. “Iary, I’m sorry. I-”

“You’re awake!” Gimmick shouted. Tek winced, his head pounding.

“What the hell happened?”

“Turns out holding the weight of the world on your back can actually be stressful. Looks like it finally got to you, rat boy.” Myra said, her shadow looming over them from the otherside of a campfire they must have built while he was unconscious.

“I’m surprised you haven’t run off.” Tek said.

Myra shrugged. “We have to get into the Skunk kingdoms.”

“Because you care about saving the world?” Tek asked.

Myra let out a sound that seemed to be a cross between a laugh and a snort, slapping her thigh in amusement. “Because I could smell their food from outside the wall. Save the world, ha! You crack me up, rat boy.”

Tek sat upright, ignoring Myra as she continued to chuckle to herself.

“My feet hurt.” Gimmick pouted.

“I’m sorry Gimmick. I was hoping we’d be staying in an inn right about now.”

“What if a crimson moon rises while we’re out here?”

“Then we’ll find a place to hide and I will protect you until morning.” Tek said. The rat felt as if his head was spinning. Something about that guard made his skin crawl.

Pulling out the scroll he had stolen from the dragon, Tek began practicing etching it into the dirt, trying to memorize the length, curve, and angle of every line. Anything to prevent his mind from thinking about the day he lost Iary. Gimmick watched with intrigue, scooting closer every few minutes to get a better look.

“What does it do?” Gimmick asked.

“I don’t know yet. runic magic is the most difficult to learn. There aren’t many who can conjure them. There’s more than just learning and perfecting how to draw the rune itself. You have to learn to understand what the rune means. Only then will it react to your touch. I can practice drawing this rune every night for the next decade and still not be able to conjure it. It took me my entire childhood to learn to soul split.” Tek paused, that sickening feeling was rising up in his gut again.

“Can you teach me how to soul split?” Gimmick asked.

Tek chuckled to himself, which Gimmick did not find amusing as she shot him a rather disgruntled look. For a moment the sickening feeling in his gut seemed to pass. “Alright, alright.” Tek said, raising his hands defensively, “But I’m warning you, it’s not easy. Like I said, you may never get it.” Tek drew the symbol for soul splitting into the dirt. “Try copying that.”

Gimmick squinted at the symbol, then started scribbling in the dirt with her claw. Her tongue stuck out of her mouth in focus. When she finished she smiled, looking up at Tek proudly.

“Not bad. Myra, would you care to join us?” Tek asked.

“I don’t see what’s so fancy about your little drawings.” Myra snapped. Something seemed off. Myra had been standoffish, but Tek’s question seemed to set her off more than usual.

Tek decided not to press the matter, instead continuing to instruct Gimmick. “Place your hand on the rune and try activating it.” Tek said.

“That doesn’t seem so hard.” Gimmick said, placing her hand on the rune. She frowned when nothing happened. “It’s broken.”

“No, your lines are off.” Tek said, picking up his spear and pointing the butt of it at several of the markings Gimmick had made in the dirt. “That line is too long. That one is too short. That one is supposed to have a sharper angle, while that one is too curved, and that one is about a half centimeter too short.”

Gimmick’s jaw dropped as Tek continued to list off all the minute errors she had made. Tek scooted over, making room for Gimmick to sit besides him. “Here, try it again with mine.” Taking in a deep breath, Gimmick placed her hand gently on Tek’s rune. He could see the disappointment in her eyes when it didn’t glow immediately.

“Don’t focus on the rune. Focus on yourself. Focus on your passions, your goals, your struggles, and your pain. Focus on the things that make you who you are. Only when you have a full understanding of self can you activate-”

To Tek’s complete shock, the rune began to glow. Silver light erupted from the rune and Gimmick’s eyes glowed in kind. A second copy of the kobold appeared in front of her, looking just as surprised as she was. Gimmick reached out and placed her hand against her copies, then both looked over at Tek, fear clearly written on their faces. Even Myra got to her feet, apparently sensing what had just happened.

“Gimmick,” Tek said, getting to his feet. “This is amazing. It normally takes years to-” The runes on Gimmick’s horns and forearms began to glow. She looked down at her arms, then back at Tek. He could tell she was looking for some kind of reassurance that this was normal, but Tek didn’t know what to make of it. Then the runic light vanished from her eyes, horns, and arms. Gimmick’s soul converged into a single being, and the rune went out. Finally Gimmick collapsed to the ground.

“Gimmick!” Tek shouted, rushing to her side, and holding her head in his arms. “Wake up. Wake up!” The kobold let out a weak moan, before opening her eyes.

“What time is it?” Gimmick asked.

“It’s… night time.” Tek said, unsure of what to make about what had just occurred.

“Shouldn’t we get some rest? We will be leaving for the Skunk Kingdoms tomorrow won’t we?”

“I… um… Gimmick, can you tell me what we did today?” Tek asked.

“Walked mostly. You said hopefully we’d be staying in an inn tomorrow and you would show me some rune tapping.” Gimmick said, recalling the previous day.

“Gimmick, that was yesterday. We reached the Skunk Kingdoms earlier this afternoon. Don’t you remember? I spoke with the guard. You just soul split. It was incredible.” Tek gestured to the runes they had drawn in the dirt. Gimmick tilted her head, giving them a quizzical look.

“I don’t remember any of that.” Gimmick said, fear filling her voice as it began to dawn on her what was happening. “Tek, it’s just like the night of the crimson moon all over again. I don’t remember anything. What does this mean?”

“Calm down, you’re alright now. We’re going to figure out all of this when we get inside the kingdom.” Tek said. His words did little to comfort the kobold as she still was breathing heavily in a panic, her hands trembling.

“And why aren’t we in the kingdom? What happened?” Gimmick grabbed at her horns anxiously.

“It’s fine, I just have to…” Tek trailed off, trying to think of a way to get them into the kingdom. Then he saw his armor and spear packed near the fire and sighed. “I just have to make a trade to get us inside since we don’t have the queen’s seal. Get some sleep, Gimmick. I don’t think we should have you rune tapping until we find out why you keep having lapses in your memory.”

Gimmick nodded, then laid down beside Tek. She looked exhausted and afraid, but within minutes she was snoring loud enough to wake a slumbering dragon. Normally Tek would find this amusing, but there was something terribly off about those runes on Gimmick’s body. From what he could tell, she couldn’t recall where or when she got them. He only hoped he could undo whatever had been done to her, before it was too late.

There was a sound like crinkling paper and Tek turned to see Myra holding the scroll containing the mysterious rune. “Careful with that!” Tek shouted, running over and snatching the scroll from her hands.

Myra scoffed. “Stupid thing. If it’s only good for looking at, then I don’t want anything to do with it anyway.”

Tek frowned, realizing he may have struck a nerve with the mole. “Rune tapping is more than just drawing the runes. Not everyone can be a rune tapper, which is why I was so surprised that Gimmick was able to tap into them so easily. You need to be broken and often brought to the brink of death to learn a single rune. If it were up to me. I’d never even have this power…” Tek said, his voice trailing off, “It was never supposed to be me.”

“I won’t ask.” Myra said, lying down.

“I appreciate it.” Tek sat beside her and began to draw out the mysterious rune in the dirt. Then he took Myra’s hand and gently placed it over the etched rune. She took a moment to study the feeling of the strange symbol.

“Just squiggles in the dirt.” Myra said, rolling over. Tek frowned, but got up and moved to the otherside of the fire. There he fell asleep.

The next morning, Tek couldn’t help but notice several new runes etched in the dirt not far from where he had drawn his own. To his surprise each rune was drawn to near perfection. Myra wouldn’t be able to tap into their power of course, but she had been paying attention. Perhaps the mole wasn’t so uncaring afterall.

*****

When Myra and Gimmick awoke it was time to make for the same entrance to the kingdom as the day prior. Only this time, Tek kept his armor tied up, carrying it on his back. To his dismay, the same canine guard was monitoring the entrance. “Don’t know when to quit, do you rat?” The guard laughed.

“Here,” Tek said, tossing the guard the full set of armor, “The metals in this armor are worth more than you’ll make in a month. If you let us enter, they’re yours.”

The canine took his time carefully inspecting the armor. He must have been impressed, because he didn’t send them away immediately. “You realize that even if I let you into the kingdom, there’s no guarantee another guard won’t just kick you out? Then you won’t have any bribe to get you back inside.”

“I suppose that will be my problem then, won’t it?” Tek said, glaring at the canine. They locked eyes for a long moment, before the guard finally made a small gesture for them to pass. Quickly, Tek took Gimmick by the hand, and entered the kingdom with Myra trailing behind them.

“Pleasure doing business with you, rat.” The guard snarled as Tek passed. Something about the way he spoke made the rodent feel sick to his stomach. Why was that guard so familiar?

Left with only a hood and loin cloth, Tek made sure to keep his head covered as best he could, pulling up his hood. At first he was concerned about getting mugged without his spear, but then he realized he had given everything to the guard, except for a small pouch he had handed off to Gimmick containing the apple he had stolen from The Forbidden Valley.

“What do we do now?” Gimmick asked quietly, as they made their way through the crowd.

“That fountain looks like a good place to sit and search for an inn. If we keep our voices down, the running water may make it hard for anyone around to eavesdrop.” Tek said, making a subtle gesture towards a rather large fountain. He had to admit it was rather impressive looking. He had only seen pictures of fountains. Never before had he actually beheld one with his own eyes. Never did he imagine they could get so big.

So much clean water, and it’s just for decoration? Tek thought to himself. He had to restrain himself from leaning in and drinking from it. That would surely get him more than a few looks. The rat could practically feel the elemental magic powerful the fountain as he grew near it. A mix of magic and technology. It fascinated him.

Sitting on the white stone of the fountain, Tek began to scan his surroundings for any sign of an inn. He cursed to himself quietly. “What’s wrong?” Gimmick whispered.

“This is my first time in a town.” Tek whispered back.

“So?”

“So, I don’t know what any of these buildings are for,” Tek admitted. Gimmick groaned, dropping her face in her hands.

“I can help!” A cheerful voice called from behind them. Both Tek and Gimmick jumped in surprise, getting to their feet and spinning around to see a frog girl staring up at them from the fountain. “Hi, I’m Penny!”

“Uh, hi.” Tek said, surprised to see someone so cheerful about seeing a rat in the kingdom.

“Give me a coin and I can grant you a wish.” Penny said, gesturing to the fountain floor. It was littered with coins of all metals. Tek’s jaw dropped.

“People just throw coins into the fountain?” Tek asked in disbelief. The wealthiest rats in The Burrow would have only a fraction of what lay before him in the fountain.

Penny nodded eagerly. “Mhm! Because I grant them wishes. They throw coins in, and then wish for things.”

“You can grant wishes!?” Gimmick said, jumping in place excitedly.

“I sure can. Just toss a coin in and I can grant any wish you want.” Penny said, kicking her legs in the fountain.

“Sorry Penny, but we don’t actually have any coins.” Tek said.

“That’s okay, take one of mine! I’ve got plenty of them.” Penny said, plucking a coin out of the fountain and tossing it to him. “I never caught your names, strangers. You know it’s rude to make wishes without telling the mystical frog of the fountain your names.”

Tek opened his mouth to speak, but Gimmick beat him to it. “I’m Gimmick, that’s Myra, and this is Tek, he’s a prince!” She said excitedly. Tek groaned, pinching the brim of his snout.

“It’s a matriarchy, and I have a ton of sisters, so the title really doesn’t mean any-”

“Wow!” Penny interrupted, “I’ve never met a prince before. Princess Lita would have a field day with you. She’s been looking all over for a prince.”

“So cool, right?” Gimmick asked. Penny nodded, leaning on one arm and staring up at Tek.

Myra groaned. “Oh for the love of-” Before she could finish, Tek jabbed her in the side with his elbow.

Tek let out a sigh before flipping the coin into the fountain. “I wish we-”

Penny made a gesture, cutting off his wish. “No no no, you’re going to waste it! You have to say it like this. Repeat after me. ‘Oh mystical frog of the fountain.’”

“Oh mystical frog of the fountain.” Tek and Gimmick repeated, while Myra shook her head at them. Gimmick showing far more enthusiasm than Tek.

“I wish, then finish with whatever it is you wish for.” Penny said.

“I wish we could find an inn in this town.” Tek and Gimmick said. Penny lifted one of her arms straight up out of the water, then pointed at one of the buildings without even looking at it.

“That’s an easy one. Check out the Lop Inn. I hear the food is pretty spectacular.” Penny suggested.

“Thank you magic, mystical frog.” Gimmick said, bouncing up and down, still excited by the ordeal.

Tek turned to head towards the inn, then paused. “Penny, do you sleep in that fountain?”

“Mhm, I don’t really have a house, but I’m waiting for my parents to come back for me.” Penny said.

“How long have you been waiting for them?” Tek asked.

Penny pondered the question for a moment before answering. “I lost track after about fourteen years of counting, and that was a few years ago. They dropped me off here when I still had my tail. I don’t miss that thing.” Penny said, laughing awkwardly. Tek’s heart sank at the thought of Penny spending her entire childhood in such a small place. “You know, if you need any good luck, I hear it’s good luck for princes to kiss frogs.” Penny added, dragging her finger up and down the stone side of the fountain.

“I don’t think that’s how that myth goes.” Tek said. He felt a sharp pain in his sides as both Gimmick and Myra gave him a hard elbow to the ribs. Apparently even Myra felt bad for the abandoned frog.

“Do it Tek, we need all the luck we can get. She’s magic.” Gimmick whispered.

Tek sighed, not wanting to break the illusion that Penny had created for herself and Gimmick. Then he puckered his lips and kissed Penny on the cheek. When he pulled away, Penny’s throat and cheeks expanded as she let out a giddy croaking sound, before flushing and retreating back into her fountain.

“Yes!” Gimmick shouted, “Frog luck!” Then she grabbed Tek by the hand, and ran towards the Lop Inn.

*****

Inside the inn Tek was met by numerous confused and even several panicked faces. A rather short chestnut-colored rabbit looked up at Tek, his eyes darting between Myra, Gimmick, and him before speaking. “I think you’re in the wrong inn.”

“I’d like to speak with whomever is in charge.” Tek insisted. The rabbit raised his eyebrows, then hopped into a back room, leaving them standing awkwardly in the entrance.

“This is going wonderfully.” Myra said. Sniffing the air, she licked her lips before wandering towards some food that had been left out on an empty table.

A pink rabbit, much taller than the previous one, hopped out to meet them. “Don’t mind Dexter, he’s a little bashful around new faces,” He started. “I’m Chou Chou, owner of the Lop Inn. Your money is as good as anyone else's as far as I’m concerned - and these are trying times with crimson moons rising seemingly at random. I can give you a room with two beds, unless you’d prefer a room with one?” Chou Chou asked, looking at Gimmick and giving the two of them a wink.

Gimmick gave Tek a confused look, before he spoke up. “Two beds would be preferable, our third companion doesn’t mind sleeping on the floor. However, I wanted to talk to you about your payment.”

“Go on.” Chou Chou said, raising an eyebrow as he looked past them at Myra who was scarfing down what looked like her third plate of dinner.

“We don’t exactly have any money.” Tek said.

“The door’s right over there, thanks for stopping by cutie.” Chou Chou said, this time giving Tek a wink. Then he turned and made for the backroom.

“Hey, Chou Chou, where’s my dessert?” One of the patrons in the inn called out.

“I’m going to cook it now.” Chou Chou shouted back, before disappearing into the back room.

“Tek, do you think Penny will let us stay in her fountain with her?” Gimmick asked.

“Gimmick, hand me the pouch I gave you.” Tek said quickly. She handed it to him and Tek ran after the pink rabbit.

The back room had apparently been a kitchen and Tek nearly trampled Dexter in his search for Chou Chou. A mixture of smells bombarded his senses as Tek took in wafts of various baked goods. His stomach gurgled audibly. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d last eaten a hardy meal. The pink rabbit was pulling a massive cake out of an oven when Tek found him. Chou Chou turned, and frowned upon seeing him. “You shouldn’t be causing trouble in this town, friend,” Chou Chou warned, “Rats don’t have the best reputation.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Tek said, opening his pouch and pulling the apple from The Forbidden Valley out to present to Chou Chou. “I will give you this for a night at your inn.”

“Well that’s certainly a very… red apple.” Chou Chou said, “But I have a lot of apples and I don’t think-”

“It’s from The Forbidden Valley.” Tek added.

Chou Chou froze, looking back at the apple. He drummed his finger together in an apparent attempt to restrain his excitement.

“The Forbidden Valley… that’s forbidden,” Chou Chou said. Tek rolled his eyes, but Chou Chou’s were still locked on the apple. “I could make a mean dessert with that. If I brought it to Princess Lita, she might even make me one of her personal chefs.” Chou Chou took the apple from Tek and began sniffing it.

“Do we have a deal?” Tek asked.

“I’ve been told my whole life not to trust rats, but I have a good eye for people. You don’t catch me as a bad guy. What brings you to the Skunk Kingdoms, anyway?”

“I’ve been sent by the vermin queen to speak with royalty here. I was one of the rats in charge of guarding The Iron Door. There’s been some… complications.” Tek said carefully as to not panic the rabbit. It didn’t work, as the shock in Chou Chou’s face was very clear.

“If what you’re saying is true, and this is from The Forbidden Valley, then you can stay in my inn as long as you want. Give me time to make this into a dessert for the princess and I may even be able to grant you an audience with her.” Chou Chou said, examining the apple closely.

“Wait, really?” Tek asked.

“Mhm.” Chou Chou reassured him, “Dexter, take my rat friend and his girlfriend to one of the suites upstairs and give them anything they need.”

“Gimmick isn’t my girlfriend.” Tek quickly added, his face flushing.

“Ooo lucky me, open season. Stop by my room later and I may treat you to some cake of my own.” Chou Chou teased. “I never did catch your name, friend.”

“Tek.” The rat flushed.

“Enjoy your stay here, Tek, and take my advice: avoid spending more time outside of your room than you need to. Otherwise your stay here may be a short one. And try to control your mole friend. We have other patrons to care for.”

Tek nodded, then allowed Dexter to bring them to their suite after Tek dragged Myra away from a table of terrified civilians who had been forced to watch Myra eat almost all of their food. It was unlike anything Tek had ever seen before. Two massive beds and a luxury bathroom. He was royalty and he had never been treated to such finery before.

Gimmick flopped onto her bed face first. “I don’t think I could leave this bed if I wanted to.” Her voice was muffled, her face buried in her pillow. Myra fell onto her back and was snoring within seconds.

Tek looked out the window, then let out a long sigh. He could see Penny in her fountain. She was still looking at every passerby, hoping to find her parents in the crowd. “Penny should be in a room like this.” Tek said.

“She can just wish for a room like this, Tek. She’s magic.” Gimmick said, her face still buried in the pillows.

Tek reached out the window, grabbing a sizable branch off of a tree within arm’s reach, then using a knife he’d stolen from the kitchen, began making himself a new spear. Once his admittedly crudely fashioned spear was complete, the rat crawled into bed. Gimmick began snoring loudly, and between her and Myra, it would be a miracle if anyone in the inn got any sleep. Despite laying on the softest thing Tek had ever felt in his entire life, he had too much on his mind to sleep. The world might be ending, Gimmick was mysteriously losing her memory, and now there was a frog living in the fountain outside who had been abandoned by her parents since she was a small child. He closed his eyes for a moment. The world was full of so many problems and he was only one rat. He knew he couldn’t fix everything, but that ate him up inside. His thoughts were disturbed by a distant scream.

Not that memory again! Tek thought. But the scream wasn’t from a memory, it was coming from outside of his window.

It was Penny.

Sitting up, Tek saw the room was bathed in crimson light. Rushing to the window and throwing it open, Tek looked outside to see the crimson moon rising over the kingdom. Penny looked frightened in her fountain, as panicked civilians rushed indoors to safety as guards flooded the streets. Yet Penny had nowhere to hide. Chou Chou’s warning played in the back of his mind, reminding him that he shouldn’t leave his bedroom if possible, lest he risk being thrown out of the kingdom and fail in his duties. Yet there in the alleyway was a demon wielding a massive scythe. The very same demon that had killed him the night The Iron Doors were damaged.

Tek took in a deep breath, then leapt out of the window.