FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Like I was saying. Just a few more adjustments and it will be ready. I feel bad for whoever falls into that thing, wouldn’t you agree?” Azura focused on the tiny person pinched between her thumb and finger. Her snout flared while taking in a breath. “Fear spiking again? I thought you calmed down.“ The bunny’s head tilted. Her hand trembled as she mouthed—“How?”

Azura sniffed once more. Longer this time.

“You’re soaked in it. It’s like you want me to eat you. Like her.“ Azura laughed as the bunny’s ears fell. “Cute. I guess this doesn’t help.” The bunny gasped as playful fingers squeezed her. Then, with care, she released the bunny onto her chest. The little person touched their body all over before she sighed.

Azura smiled as the brewing coffee wafted to her nose.

“It’s almost time little one.” She smiled, offering a glimpse of her fangs. ”I need a test subject.“ The rabbit’s eyes bulged as she hunched over, hands placed on her knees.

“Are you about to puke on my stomach?” She shook her head no, but Azura doubted her conviction. “Better than the ones that puke in my mouth.“ The dragon roared with laughter as the bunny retched, sending her tumbling over the side of her belly. Free-falling, a hand cupped her—matched her speed—before slowing her down. “Now that fear spike was justified. That woulda hurt.” The bunny opened her mouth to speak, but Azura stopped her. “You look like Lulu. Aren’t you the lucky one.” The bunny’s ears perked up but dropped at Azura’s heavy sigh. “Unfortunately~ no. You won’t be a test subject. You don’t even get to be a snack.” Her fluffy ears rolled back up while her cottontail vibrated.

Azura gave the kitchen a sideways glance. “I turned that thing on, right?”

“You’re an adorable bunny. You really do look like her.“ Azura smiled while the bunny looked off in the distance, rising and falling with each breath.

Beeeep. Beeeep.

“About time.“ Azura left the rabbit on the floor before she sprang from the couch as a blue blur. The bunny stood still as her ears twitched, blinking over and over. “Sh—sh—she let me go? I’m free?“ Her heart beat faster as seconds added up before sprinting under the couch.

Azura inhaled the air as she grabbed the carafe. “Never enough coffee.“ She twirled about and was gone. Long golden-blond hair flowed as she ran up the stairs two at a time toward their office.

Two large ears twitched, stopping her in place. “Oh, come on. Do you hate life? You must.” She peeked her head over toward the table in the hallway. “Behind a flowerpot? That’s not hiding, that’s insulting. Why are you even up there?“ Black clawed fingers snatched the little being and tossed him into the air. “Om.“ Her lips closed as he avoided fangs and a row of razor-sharp teeth; swallowed whole instead. “Idiot.“

Her head snapped to the floor.

A tiny mouse, fox, and badger looked up at her, shocked and frozen.

“Can I help you? Was my treat your friend?” She shrugged her shoulders before lifting her foot into the air. “Would you like to see him?“ Four toes, each as big as them, wiggled once before rising. With a slam, her foot shook the floor—”Run”—sending them scurrying in a panic. Her body was ready, twitching once; instead it slumped over, choosing to exhale instead.

“Too much effort.“ Swagger in her step, she sauntered back to her chair and poured some coffee into an awaiting mug. Steam rose as she swallowed back half. “One day you will make it properly, Kiana. ‘But it’s too hot.’ No, it isn’t.” She finished her first mug with a second gulp. “Yet it always tastes better.” Twisting her body around; her finger accused an empty chair. “What are you putting in my coffee, Kiana? Don’t say some bullshit like love…” After filling her mug again, she took a sip. “This is not as good. I’m onto you.“

She avoided a slew of tools with her hand landing on a watchmaker’s screwdriver. “What do you think Lu—“ she stopped to look around. “Right. Abandoned me to sleep with her girlfriend.” She smiled. “I’m glad they’re happy. But I bet Lulu would be more fun my size… or is it obnoxious?” She added with a chuckle. “Both. Definitely both.“ Her head bobbed around her desk and room. “Why did I let Lulu number two go so quickly? Or I should have brought a snack to talk with. Am I going nuts? Gone?“ With her chin in her hand, she deliberated. “It’s not crazy if I don’t answer myself. Right?” Her voice became stoic. “You don’t have to answer that.” Heavy eyes dragged her close to sleep, and a glance at the clock confirmed it: 02:17.

She snorted. “Where did I leave that damn screw? Was this the right one?“ She peered down at the screw in her white palm before shrugging her shoulders. “I’m sure it’s right. It feels like it.“ Her eyes kept looking at the pile.

The screw found its home with her help. “Just a few more turns.“ Her hand felt resistance, but an extra quarter turn remained—Crack. “Fuck! Too long?“ She sighed before reaching for her mug. “Oh well. I’d love to say I won’t do that again.“ She shook her head; she picked it up. “But I’m not a liar. Now, how do I salvage this thing? Huh?” Two fingers pressed onto the shell. “Is this getting warm? Do I care? Nope.“ She slapped her face with restraint. “Answering yourself? Crazier than normal. Must be time for bed.“

Sound dilated. Azura’s ear twitched.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have grabbed that diutium when I visited the lab.” She scoffed. “Nooo~.”

White light shone from within the device. “How is the room getting hotter? Or is it colder? Something… else?“

Azura’s head tilted before the light saturated the room.

It mixed every sense, yet none. In an instance, the light disappeared without a trace. What remained wasn’t darkness. Wasn’t black. But altogether different.

Nothing.

⁂

“What the hell was that?”

Her arms were frantic, touching her body, face, and feet.

Azura stood and paced around the room. ”Diutium can’t do whatever that was. No way that was because of me. ” Azura inhaled. “Everything looks fine. So that was just—weird. Temperature is normal too.”

Her body jolted as if electricity ran through her. “KIANA!“ She jumped, running to her best friend’s room.

Still asleep.

Another burst of speed.

Oh good. Selia is still asleep. Lulu must be beside her. Pippa. They are all fine.

Azura slumped six inches in relief.

“What about the house?“ Off again, this time she took her time as she walked. She yawned as her hand found the front door. “I should have gone to bed.“

Click.

“Whaa? Twilight? How long did I ramble to that bunny? I mean, she was still awake.“ She rubbed her eyes before she looked again. “Kiana was sleeping. Same with Lulu. Most peculiar.“ Her chuckle was laced with an awkwardness she was unable to conceal.

She squinted, leaned forward, and cupped both hands over her forehead.

“Where are we?“

Her toes curled as her gaze swept the horizon. Azura remained still, each breath growing more rapid. Her feet took her to the road where she kneeled, grazed the edge of the asphalt and followed it to the grass. “It’s a perfect circle and the asphalt’s rounded?“ Something caught her eye as her legs straightened. She tilted her head. “There shouldn’t be a city there.” An unsteady hand wiped her eyes. “What’s up with that perspective? It’s off.“

Her entire arm shook next as she glared at the city. Her body jittered before bursting into hysterical laughter that projected throughout the peaceful land. It permeated through glass, wood, and even cement; right into the ears of the sleeping population.

She rubbed her face, shook her body like a wet dog, and stepped forward.

Squeak.

The ground compressed like snow that was too cold. Her foot brushed the earth, snapping trees like brittle pieces of glass before their structures collapsed.

“Fascinating.“

She glanced back toward home, then departed.

Squeak. Squeak. Squeak.

Her steps followed her laughter, echoing throughout the landscape.

”This is kinda fun.” She observed her footprints. “But no chance I’ll be able to hide where I go. Not in this grass… Meh. Whoever can come find me. If they dare.” Snickering as she kneeled, her hand prodded the strange plants. “Do these—splinter?“ Her fingers wrapped around one.

Crack.

It snapped without resistance. “I guess so. Is everything this brittle? I don’t know if that’s boring or fun.“

“It’s—not blue?”

Her long strides slowed as the sun crested the horizon—golden rays glistened over waist-high fog, blanketing the land after a frosty night. “…It’s beautiful.”

Both ears twitched as they turned. *Is that screeching metal and of mass scale movement?* Her snout sniffed the air. “Absolutely is.“ Fog churned as her gust of air pushed it away, revealing a large invasion military force.

”This welcome party is too convenient.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Might as well say hello.“

She waved. They replied with a barrage from their armour and a volley from the artillery. It exploded into balls of fire covering her body and the surrounding area. Two more volleys landed in succession. They didn’t hear her breath when they fired the fourth. The fifth was reloading when they reached the limit of her patience.

Something that glowed closest to ultraviolet light illuminated the back of her throat. An energy that resembled plasma crackled while it roared from her as she arced over the entire battalion.

Nothing remained.

Obliterated.

In a second, the entire force ceased to exist. A scar in the earth that stretched as far as it needed replaced thousands of lives.

“That did feel nice. I have to admit my overworked muscles enjoyed it. But that was not your intention. You greet my wave with an attempt to kill me? Really? Try harder.“ She stomped through a log cabin before kicking dozens of trees into the distance. “Remember what happens when you don’t play nice.“

“Idiots.” She stomped off before slowing to a casual pace. “You should have kept on moving.“ Her foot stopped in the air. “They are tiny.“ It landed with a thud, sending more animals skittering through the woods. “And they build pathetic toys.“

She stomped off, muttering to herself.

Something cracked, compressed, and shattered. Synchronously.

She froze.

Her eyes shot downward. One hard exhale pushed the fog away. The remaining wall had collapsed on her foot. She lifted her leg. “Was that a toy? House? In a field?” She went in for a closer look, her finger prodding the rubble. “Insulated walls. Plumbing that worked.” Her nail split the floor in half trying to lift it. “Is that a kitchen underneath? I see a fridge and stove. Pictures.“ Air whooshed, sending things fluttering as she stood. “Somebody lived there. And one step from me—oops.“

A glance search showed a car and a narrow gravel road for a driveway. She hovered her foot over the car before pressing her sole into it. Windows popped as the body groaned under increasing weight, then stomped out like a cigarette. Looking at what remained, nothing was salvageable. Just a flat, mangled mess of metal. Scrap.

“That was… interesting.“

Her heart fluttered as she turned toward the city on the horizon. “So this is why the perspective is wrong? Is that city actually this size of that military?” Her expression hardened as she walked toward it. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Azura.” A few deep breaths. She turned. Her pupils dilated. “...What the fuck.“ Her arms vibrated. “They actually tried to kill me. This might be their world. But I don’t care anymore. What if I had Selia with me? Or Pippa. I’ll eat every last one of them if they even look at my friends the wrong way.“

While her rant stomped on, she didn’t even consider who was home.

⁂

“I still can’t believe they would actually use something that pathetic?“ She took a few deep breaths before her rant continued. “I wonder what those morons were doing. “You don’t dispatch that kinda force in five minutes. So… was that defence—or invasion?” Stopping, she burst into laughter. ”Either way, it’s gone now. It was the principle. ”

“Mmmm? What the hell did I step in? It’s warm.“ Her leg shifted. “Who. Who the hell was that—oh? Too many clothes. I wonder how big the group was.” Her head snapped. “Wait—what?“ Her jaw dropped. “This is not Dranova.“

The sun, now above the horizon, burned away the morning fog, revealing her playground, the suburbs of a city, complete with a trail of erratic footprints.

Screams and sirens flooded her ears. Fear rolled from the city like a tsunami, the intensity washing over her senses, her primal urges taking control.

A trail of footprints preceded her; right through a trail of houses. She even stomped through larger buildings. Buildings, cars, advertising, noises, and smells in enough volume to overwhelm anybody.

“This is what they would build if we let them be.“ She looked down at an LED billboard. “Computers. Fun!” she read the ads as they scrolled. Lyra Starlane, live in concert this Saturday! Garret A. Fowler Field. LLN - Lakeland News, your only local trusted source of news for Stromponous. Rydia Tsuki…

“Don’t mind if I do.”

With another glance downward, she let out a soft laugh and left. “Guess I already have.“ People scurried around, all going different directions. A group was trying to clear rubble from a doorway. Another cried as they looked into one of her footprints. Her head jerked left—two cars collided. Flashing lights from an ambulance a couple of blocks away pulled her attention. ”Looks like you guys have a busy day ahead of you.”

The medics froze. People everywhere realized they were being watched. “Keep doing what you’re doing. I’m just watching.“ Her thumb pointed behind her. “I’m going that way next, unless you all bore me.“ Panic erupted; a medic threw up before trying to continue.

“Did they understand me? How?“ She looked back at the LED billboard then the sun and back at the billboard. “It’s Dranovian?“

A woman was plucked from the crowd. “What are you?“ Azura’s finger prodded her. “The furry ones I know but I’ve never seen one of you before” Azura laughed.

”A human.” The woman trembled in her hand.

“You’re squishy.” A quick sniff. ”Smell tasty. But I can’t get distracted by food.” Azura was oblivious to the woman’s panic as she released her. “I don’t watch my step. Stay here to avoid my sole if you want to stay whole.“

“How can they understand me?” Her eyes shut tight before her entire face contorted. Her fingers ran through her hair. Sombrely, she spoke. “I don’t get it. I’m not about to, either.” Her exasperated voice rose an octave. ”And those assholes tried to kill me!“

Her foot swept to the right, through a knee-high building’s first floor. After the collapse, she stomped down hard, leaving a perfect footprint.

Feeling relaxed, she continued to explore, downtown growing closer. Each casual stride ended lives and changed more forever—but her feet didn’t notice. They wouldn’t have cared.

The morning was calm and clear. As she approached the river, only the frantic movement of boats disturbed the water. “Cute. They’re so tiny.”

Industry and a large harbour lined the shore, churning out products and trade. The metropolis’ core inhabited the opposite side. “Those buildings are taller than I am. Looks as if I’m getting wet.“

Her eyes shifted to a large suspension bridge. “It couldn’t… could it?“ A green at her feet pointed towards the highway. “Decimus Vellumar Parkway South.“ Traffic was still braving the bridge.

Cars flattened like aluminum foil as she treaded up the highway. “I love this sound. Smash. Crunch. Squeak. Smash. Crunch. Squeak.“ A hop left into a parking lot. Dozens of cars fell under her feet—stamp, stamp, stamp. Smiling, she hopped back onto the highway and approached the bridge. Azura chuckled as she watched three separate accidents happen on the bridge. “Good looks always turn heads.“ One sent a car through the guardrails. “Ahhhhh. Splaaash. Heh. Cars don’t float here either.“

She walked up, placing her foot at the bridge’s base. Fractures spread through the foundation; motion rocked the deck, sending vehicles smashing together or into the river. “Not a chance this thing holds me.“ With care, she applied weight. The supports screamed as the deck collapsed, followed by two more sections. “I wanted to be incorrect. Oh, well.“ Grabbing hold of a support, she yanked, watching as it reverberated through the bridge, sending a cascade of cars and the bridge itself into the river.

She turned towards the crowd of gawking people who lined the shore . With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Azura waved. ”I hope you can swim.”

Her knees bent low, paused, before leaping forward.

Splash.