FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Paul laid prone on the forest floor, his crossbow nestled firmly in his hands. His breath came in measured, controlled intervals. The tension was palpable as his finger hovered over the trigger, poised for action. The wind whispered gently against his back, carrying his scent away from his quarry, granting him precious invisibility. Each second stretched into an eternity; though he felt as if he’d been waiting for hours, only ten minutes had passed.

At last, his gaze flicked to the loaded dart’s tip in his trusty weapon. The poison, meticulously measured, was potent enough to bring down a large creature. He shuddered at the thought of its effects on a human—lethal, no doubt—but thankfully, humans hadn't seen the crossbow primed in some time.

Just then came the sound he was waiting for: Hooves on gravel, followed by a carriage. His eyes snapped back to the road before him, the carriage still blocked by a tree which was hanging in the road a little too much, providing a perfect cover. He held his breath while looking down the crossbow’s tried and tested sights, the mission’s responsibility weighing heavy on his shoulders. He shouldn’t miss; he had to reserve as many darts as possible for the official bounty he planned on claiming.

The horse came into sight first, then the black carriage, its windows blocked by curtains. He stirred a little, fixing his aim at the six-legged horse then pulled the trigger. The familiar sound of the satisfying clang hit his ears as the light dart hissed through the air with speed, penetrating the poor horse’s skin at the first hip. It stuck in just enough to release the toxin at the right rate, causing the animal to stumble and whinny in pain. It lurched forward, dragging the carriage in a wild, erratic sprint down the road.

Paul caught a glimpse of the coachman’s face: a young wolfkin, wide-eyed and alarmed. He fumbled for his own weapon, but the speeding carriage left him no chance to retaliate. Paul exhaled slowly, his heart pounding, and glanced at his pocket watch. Two minutes—that’s all it would take to incapacitate the horse. He stood, brushing off the forest debris, and began to trail the rapidly dissipating dust cloud of the carriage. He’d done his part, but the real action was just beginning.

Paul moved swiftly, but the carriage was much faster. Its contour shrunk; he had to obscure the afternoon sun with his hand to keep an eye on it. As it reached the bend in the road, the carriage slowed, the horse staggering under the poison's effects. Glancing at his watch, Paul noted it had mere seconds left to immobility, another to unconsciousness. He lost sight of it when it completed the corner, but clearly heard its clattering halt as expected.

Loading a fresh dart, Paul cautiously walked up to the bend. Once he came closer, he spotted the now motionless carriage but saw no sign of the wolfkin. Pausing at a safe distance, his eyes scanned the scene, muscles coiled for action.

The outline of the wolfkin appeared from the carriage’s side, as did a satisfied smile on his face. Now.

A rustle broke the silence. From the trees near the cart, a massive brown dragon pounced, its scales glinting in the dappled sunlight. The wolfkin let out a terrified yelp, silenced as the dragon’s jaws grabbed him, dragging him effortlessly to the ground.

Paul, panting from the chase, approached the scene with a wry smile. “Stealing carriages, are we?” he called out.

The wolfkin, trembling and wide-eyed, looked up from his perilous position beneath the dragon’s grasp, tears brimming in his eyes.

Paul knelt beside the trembling boy, the dragon’s jaws still firmly holding his torso. ”What’s your name, if I may ask?” he inquired, his tone a blend of curiosity and menace.

The wolfkin gasped, his chest rising and falling in erratic tremors as the dragon's iron grip held him fast. His ears were flattened against his skull, and his mouth opened as if to speak, but only a choked whimper emerged. Fear had rendered him mute, his golden eyes darting between Paul and the creature that pinned him to the dirt.

Paul sighed, tilting his head as he studied the young wolfkin. "Cat got your tongue? Or perhaps the dragon did?" He didn’t break eye contact with the wolf, but he got his desired reaction in the form of a snort from the beast.

The boy gave another shuddering breath, trying to push against the dragon’s hold, but it was futile. He was trapped, his limbs trembling in helpless defiance. His claws dug into the earth, but his voice remained lost, locked behind the raw panic painted across his face.

Paul crouched down, resting his crossbow on his knee. "Now, don't make this more difficult than necessary. If you can’t speak, nod. Are you alone?" He watched for any hint of response, but the wolfkin merely trembled harder.

Paul rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his dust-matted hair. "Look, if I wanted you dead, you wouldn’t be breathing anymore. The fact that you aren’t dragon food means that I’m in a talking mood, something you should yearn for."

Still no answer. The wolfkin's breathing hitched, his tail curled close to his body in a protective reflex. He was young—perhaps too young to be tangled up in this mess. His clothes were plain but travel-worn, and there was no visible insignia to tie him to any known groups. Just who was he?

Paul tapped his fingers against his crossbow impatiently. He had other business to attend to, and dragging this out wasn’t helping. "Alright, fine. Blink twice if you can understand me."

A long, painful pause followed. Then, hesitantly, the wolfkin blinked once. Then, again.

"Good," Paul muttered. "Now we’re getting somewhere."

The dragon shifted slightly, its grip loosening just enough to allow the wolfkin to breathe easier but not enough for escape. "Now, let me repeat my question." Paul pressed. "Got a name?”

Finally, the wolfkin replied with a whisper, “Rolf… Rolf Mirdan.”

“Well, Rolf,” Paul said, his eyes narrowing, “It seems you’re in quite a predicament. You see, you fucked up two times. One, you stole something in front of its owner, and two, that owner is a friend of mine. That gray fur worked hard for his things.”

Rolf's eyes darted to the dragon towering over him, its maw wrapped around him with a low growl rumbling deep within its throat. Still, his breath came in short, panicked bursts, and his mind raced, searching for a way out of tall, clearly signaling that he wasn’t the dire kind of his species.

Paul watched him closely, his stern expression softening slightly as he saw the genuine fear and desperation in Rolf's eyes. He took a deep breath, the hard edge in his voice easing. "Now say, what made you hop behind the horse?" he asked, his tone more curious than accusatory by now.

“I… I didn’t know!” Rolf stammered, his voice cracking with fear. “I was just…”

”Kid, stop. There’s no reason for this kind of stealing. Unless you got tangled with the mafia, of course. Are you?” Paul crossed his hands in front of his chest.

Rolf shook his head violently, tears streaming down his muzzle. "No! No, I swear! I just needed the money, sir..." His voice broke completely, his breaths quickening.

“So, no mafia. Good,” he replied, brushing sweat from his forehead. “Better if it stays that way.”

Despite his efforts, a stray drop of sweat found its way into his eye. He quickly brushed it away with an annoyed grunt. ”Damned heatwaves. Even that won’t give me a break this week.” After some excessive blinking, he turned back to the thief. “Anyway, you thought stealing would be the best option? A carriage parked on the main square, no less?” Paul's eyes returned to the wolf, sensing an obviously deeper story. “I ask again, why did you need the money so desperately?”

Rolf hesitated, his muzzle tightening, lips drawing back slightly as if tasting the bitterness of his memories. He gasped, holding in a small breath before speaking. “My sister... she became very sick. We can’t afford the medicine she needs. I thought...”

”We’ll see if you speak the truth.” Paul's gaze shifted to the massive brown dragon, its nostrils flaring as it caught Paul's scent. The dragon's presence was a powerful deterrent to the eye of the unknowing, its fierce eyes gleaming with intelligence and hunger. ”Good job, by the way.”

”I ih onein wh yu oona ay a.” The dragon’s maw moved, but didn’t release its grip on Rolf.

Paul frowned. ”What now?”

The dragon rolled its eyes before finally releasing the terrified wolfkin. “I said; I was wondering when you’d say that,” she repeated, a bit of drool still clinging to Rolf’s fur. Her voice was deep, but there was some feminine undertone to it.

Now it was Paul’s turn to roll his eyes. ”Sorry, you know I was occupied with being intimidating, Thali.”

Thali snorted. ”Oh, I thought that was long gone with your weather report.”

Paul shook his head, letting a dry sigh escape his lips. “Can’t blame me,” he said as he readjusted his armor to allow some fresh air in. His eyes shifted to Rolf, shakily rising to his feet. He was already a head taller than Paul, all wolfkin were with those long legs. ”So, do you think he’s sincere?”

”I dunno,” Thali chirped, ”But I can smell his fear, aside from your human sweat.”

Paul ignored her teasing and eyed Rolf carefully, weighing his words and the intentions behind them. The wolfkin’s trembling figure and desperate eyes told a tale of hardship, but Paul knew better than to trust appearances alone. He looked back at Thali, who was settling back on her haunches, her scales catching the light in a mesmerizing pattern of browns and golds, then returned his attention to the boy.

Rolf swallowed hard, his voice a rasping whisper. “I’m not lying, sir. I swear on my sister’s life.”

Paul’s eyes narrowed, assessing the wolfkin. ”Listen, kid. Whom did you learn that this is a good idea?”

”My… Probably my father.” The thief’s canine nose was shining from wetness as he spoke with flattened ears.

Paul sighed as he dedocked his crossbow, then attached it to his backpack. ”That changes some things,” he said while turning back to the poor horse in front of the carriage. Retrieving his dart, he noticed some poison still remaining on its tip and wiped it off on the saddle. He had shot the six-legged creature in the flesh, where it could do the least damage. ”It will recover after an hour. You will return both the car and the horse to Ghar, and you will offer your services to him. Understand?”

The boy hesitantly nodded, seeing no other option. “Yes, sir,” he murmured, his ears straightening with a little hope.

”If you run off, I’ll hunt you down.” Thali bared her fangs, immediately extinguishing the look from the wolfkin’s face again. He tucked his fluffy tail between his legs, and he whined quietly.

”Thali, we’ve been over this.” Paul glared at the dragon as he cleaned the arrowhead and tucked it away in the carrier on his hip. ”You know the rules.”

”And so do I. C’mon, you are just jealous!” Thali pouted, her wings flapping lazily.

Paul rolled his eyes with a dramatic flair. “No, I’m not jealous. But seriously, you can’t just eat people when they annoy you. Basic public relations. Also—jealous of what, exactly?”

Thali huffed but reluctantly lowered her head, giving poor Rolf a break from her very toothy glare. “Ugh, fine. But if he so much as sneezes suspiciously, I’m making a sandwich.”

“I—yes! Understood!” Rolf stammered, his voice trembling with real, unfiltered fear. He dared a fleeting glance between the dragon and the crossbowman, before fixing on the carriage like it might offer sanctuary if he stared hard enough. The tremor in his shoulders suggested he wasn’t optimistic.

Paul crossed his arms and gave the kid a long look. This was not how he'd intended to assert authority—he’d been aiming for “cool, intimidating bounty hunter,” not “guy with unhinged pet dragon.” Still, fear was fear, and fear got results. “She’s not kidding,” Paul said casually, gesturing toward Thali like she was part of the scenery. “Hasn’t eaten all week. You’re basically walking jerky at this point. And yes, she could swallow that horse in one bite. She’s done worse.”

Thali raised her head and looked at Paul, the same glint of hope in her eyes that were in Rolf’s moments ago.

”Absolutely not.” He said with a stern voice.

Thali directed her gaze at the ground in defeat.

Rolf nodded fervently, his tail still tucked between his legs. “I won’t, I promise. I'll return the carriage and horse right away.”

"Speaking of the horse," Paul muttered, turning his attention to the creature. The six-legged mare stirred weakly, lifting its head to survey its surroundings. Upon spotting Thali, it let out a feeble whinny and collapsed back to the ground, unconscious once more. Paul shook his head. "The new batch of poison doesn't hold out as long. Noted." He glanced at the sky, the sight of the sun urged him to check the time. "It's getting late in the afternoon, Thali. We should be looking for that orc from our bounty if we want some money."

Thali gave a sigh of disappointment but stood up, stretching her wings. "Fine," she grumbled. ”I’ll have a quick lookaround to see if he is somewhere close.” She walked to the road, and with a flex of her thick hind legs, she jumped towards the sky. She flapped her wings several times to gain altitude, and within seconds her otherwise sleek body disappeared above the trees.

Rolf watched her, jaw dropped, unable to hide his awe at the dragon's impressive flight. Paul couldn't help but smile at the young wolfkin's reaction. "She's something, isn't she?" he remarked, adjusting his gear and preparing to move out.

Rolf nodded, still wide-eyed. "I've never seen a dragon up close before," he admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and admiration. "She's... incredible."

"Yeah, she is," Paul agreed, a hint of pride in his voice. "But you don’t want to deal with her after she ate something."

As the sun lowered in the sky, not yet dripping down the horizon, Paul turned to Rolf with a serious expression. "Remember what I said. Return the carriage and the horse, and offer your services to Ghar. Prove that you're more than just a thief. He’s got a golden heart and a few golds to spare, so if you play your cards right, he will even help your sister."

Rolf swallowed hard, nodding with renewed determination. "I will. Thank you, sir," he said, his voice steadying.

Paul studied the young wolfkin for a moment, then nodded in approval. "Good."

He leaned against a tree, glancing up at the darkening sky. "Considering it already opened its eyes, I think we got ten minutes for the horse to recover now and for Thali to come back. Anything you want to add?"

The wolfkin closed his eyes. "I... I just really want to thank you, sir. For the offer. And... thank you for not... killing me." The wolf's ears now stood normally, making him seem even taller. "Me and my sister will reward you. We don't really have anything, so if you want, you can... get familiar with her after she recovers. She'd be honored, I'm sure."

Paul raised an eyebrow at his offer, caught wholly off guard by the question. He remembered Keln’s words from today about going into the villages more often to have social interactions, building relationships and maybe finding the one. But not like this, both his father and Keln had taught him better. And then, there was Thali… "I'll have to decline. This kind of arranged relationship is not my cup of tea. I know you're serious, but what would your father say to this?"

There was a sorrow look on the young man's face. "He's jailed for good, and my mother died years ago. There's just me and my sister.”

Paul’s heart sank at Rolf’s confession. Despite the tough exterior he had developed over years of mercenary work, the plight of family always hit him hard. He took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said quietly. "Family's everything. I really hope you won’t steal anymore, for the sake of your sister."

The wolfkin’s ears perked up slightly at Paul's words, a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes. Paul looked back at the six-legged horse, still unconscious but starting to stir. "Let's focus on getting this horse and carriage back to Ghar. You'll figure out the rest afterward."

Rolf gave a determined nod, clearly eager to make amends. Paul’s gaze shifted back to the road, watching for Thali’s return. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden hue over the forest. The shadows grew longer, and the forest took on a serene yet eerie atmosphere while Paul adjusted his crossbow, preparing for the next phase of their journey.

Just then, a gust of wind signaled Thali’s arrival. Spreading her wings out, she landed gracefully, then folded them neatly against her sides to step closer to them. “No sign of the orc,” she reported, her voice carrying a note of frustration as she looked down on the two. “He’s probably moved on.”

Paul sighed, the promise of a hefty bounty slipping away further. “Figures,” he muttered. “We’ll have to pick up his trail later. Maybe even ask around for some roumors.”

Thali nodded, her gaze shifting to Rolf. “What about him?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

When noticing some of the distress returning in the gaze of the boy, Paul decided that it was best to give him some time. "Just like you heard before."

Thali’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded in agreement. “Alright.”

Rolf nodded fervently, his eyes darting nervously between Paul and Thali. “I promise,” he said earnestly. “I won’t let you down.”

With that, Paul turned his attention back to the horse. The creature was slowly regaining consciousness, its movements tentative and unsteady.

Before he could approach, he glanced over his shoulder at Thali, standing nearby, her large form impossible to miss. “Thali,” he hissed under his breath, waving a hand toward the trees. “Get out of sight before it sees you.”

She flicked her tail, clearly amused. “Oh yes, because nothing soothes an injured horse like waking up to a dragon looming over it.”

“Exactly,” Paul muttered, gesturing more urgently.

With an exaggerated sigh, Thali slunk back into the trees, her brown scales blending into the shadows. “If it faints again, I’m not taking the blame,” she called softly before disappearing from view.

Paul rolled his eyes and turned back to the horse. He approached cautiously, offering soothing words as he checked the wound. “You’ll be alright,” he murmured, stroking the horse’s neck gently. “Just need to get you back to your owner.”

Paul's gentle words seemed to have a calming effect on the six-legged horse. It let out a soft, confused hurr, its ears flicking back and forth as it began to shake off the effects of the poison. Rolf, still trembling but with a newfound determination, moved closer to help steady the animal.

As the horse regained its strength, Paul helped Rolf attach it back to the carriage. The young wolfkin’s hands shook slightly, but he managed to secure the harness with a firm tug. Paul stepped back, inspecting their work with a critical eye. “Good,” he said, giving a nod of approval. “Let’s get you moving.”

Rolf climbed onto the driver’s seat, clutching the reins tightly. His tail twitched nervously, but there was a newfound resolve in his eyes. "Thank you again," he said, his voice firmer. "I won’t forget this."

Paul smiled up at him, a reassuring glint in his eye. “Stay out of trouble, kid.”

As Rolf urged the horse forward, the carriage creaked into motion, heading back down the road. Paul watched it go, a mixture of satisfaction and concern etched on his face. He hoped the young wolfkin would find a better path.

Thali emerged from the trees, her mocking grin caught his eye. “What?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You call him a kid!” Thali’s tone was dripping with amusement.

Paul snorted, forming a cone with his hands and yelling after Rolf, "Hey! How old are you?"

Rolf paused, glancing over his shoulder with a sheepish smile. “Twenty!” he called back, his voice echoing down the road.

Paul blinked in mild disbelief. “Twenty? Thought he was fifteen at most.” He shook his head as Rolf disappeared around the bend, Thali’s laughter rumbling across the clearing.

“Twenty,” Paul muttered, shaking his head. “Guess I’ve been out here too long if I can’t even tell someone’s age anymore. He’s just four years younger than me.”

Thali nudged him gently with her snout, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Or you’re just getting old,” she teased. “Maybe it’s time you settled down somewhere, found a nice village to protect.”

Paul sighed. There it is again. “You know me better than that. There’s too much out here that needs to be done. Besides,” he added, glancing at Thali with a smirk, “who would keep you afloat?”

Thali huffed, her tail swishing behind her. “I manage just fine,” she retorted, but the warmth in her eyes betrayed her affection. “I could really live without your over-complicated plans. I still don’t understand why I couldn’t just simply catch the moving wagon.”

“Hey, don’t mock my plans. Especially when they work wonders. If that horse saw your attack, we would have had to write it off. Now that carriage can be returned on its own, saving us time.” Paul said with a satisfied grin. Clearly, nothing made him feel better that his plans turning out great.

Thali rolled her eyes, her wings fluttering slightly in exasperation. “You and your plans,” she muttered. “Sometimes I think you like them more than tarri.”

Paul chuckled, “Not more than tarri, but they’ve kept us alive this long. You can’t argue with results.”

She let out a noncommittal grunt, the tone of it clearly dismissive. “Now, where to next?”

Paul turned, facing the setting sun, a smile still tugging at his lips. “Yeah, sure, change the topic.” He checked the time on his watch. “Anything interesting you saw while you were in the air?”

Thali’s wings unfurled slightly as she pointed with one. “There’s a human trade caravan settled near the road that way,” she said. “A goblin cave a little farther, and a clearing near a lake we could set camp in not too far from here.”

Paul nodded, his gaze following her directions. “Let’s head to the clearing. A campfire sounds good right about now.”