FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 1

Music seemed to drown out everything in the world. Even the loudest of environments can are quieted down with some simple earbuds and a phone that had access to unlimited music streaming. Miko was thankful for this during the long bus ride as it rather loud in the old shuttle, even inside. With a yawn, he stretched his arms over his head, gripping a pencil in his left paw. This eight-hour bus ride was hell on his back, yet he didn't mind the length of time he sat; as long as he was drawing. Drawing was a passion for the young otter of twenty-one, his paw moving back to the sketch he was working on. He sketched clouds and a long stretch of road was the scene, a still life of the environment outside the window. He smiled as he looked at the clouds on his sketch pad. "The shading is almost perfect" He slowly whispered to himself, pushing up his glasses that slowly started to slip off his short snout as he smiled, pulling out his eraser. Miko could sit for hours and draw, shutting out any distraction with pin sharp focus he learned with vigorous study of the fine art. And With the help of music, he could almost go into a peaceful meditative state, his paws sliding over the page naturally like an otter in water. However, his peace was shattered when he heard a muffled voice come from behind him.

Miko jumped, a little startled. The otter had forgotten that he wasn't alone on the bus. He slowly looked behind him and blinked in surprised as an opossum in a grey hoodie smiled at him, the white fur of his head very fluffed up and curly. The words "WHO DAT?" sat in white letters surrounded by a red rectangle on the front. The opossum looked to be about the same age as Miko. The otter just stared at him for a moment with a vacant expression, before the opossum gestured with his paws, moving them up to his ears as he mimed taking something out of them. Miko's face flashed read as he realized his headphones were still in, the music drowning out any outside stimulus. Quickly, he took his earphones out smiling nervously over to the stranger.

"Man, what are you listening to?" The opossum chuckled, folding over his arm across the top of Miko's seat as he leaned forward. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Uh no sorry..." Miko replied, shaking his head.

The Opossum rolled his eyes, "I said, what are you drawing there?" He said, pointing over at Miko's sketch book. "Haven't seen an otter artist before. Are you getting into the art program at Oceanus?"

"Oh uh..." Miko stumbled over his words, not expecting anyone to bother him this whole bus trip. Before he could get anything out, the Opossum popped out of his seat to join Miko. The otter quickly moved his backpack over to himself before the stranger had a chance to crush his precious art supplies within. "Yea... yea I am" He finally managed to say as he slowly brought his senses back to reality.

"No shit?" The Opossum quipped, looking a little proud of himself that he managed to guess right. "I'm going into the music program myself" He said, laying back lazily against the seat as he crossed a foot over his leg. "Gonna be the next hot DJ, making record deals and making mad stacks. Know what I mean?" Turning his head, the Opossum gave him a coy grin, flashing many pointy teeth.

Miko just stared at the unexpected Opossum for a moment, not sure if he understood his vocabulary. "That's cool um...." He started to say before the Opossum interrupted him.

"Rory." The opossum said.

"Rory...right." He nodded, not sure if was gonna get a word in edgewise at this point. Miko wasn't very used to strangers, especially ones as extroverted as Rory. It was so much easier back home when he knew everyone. "I'm Miko nice to..." The otter started to say before he was interrupted again.

"Miko huh? Miko, Miko. Has a nice ring to it! Are you Asian bud?" Rory said bluntly.

"No actually, European river otter." He chuckled, finding Rory's eccentric attitude a little endearing.

"Ah cool man, I'm just an common ol Opossum. Hundreds of Opossum back home thousands even! I do see otters around sometimes, but most I do see are of the American variety. You from Europe huh? How come you don't have an accent?" He asked as the questions seemed to fly out faster and faster.

"No, parents were born here." Miko said, hugging the sketch pad he had to his chest. Being careful not to hold it too tight so that it smeared. At that gesture Rory gaze went back to the sketchbook.

"Heh, you're like the only drawing on this bus. Everyone is so boring here, most of them have their muzzles glued to their phone, texting some millennial nonsense like hashtag schooltimes or hashtag going to college." He said in a mock girly voice before laughing, and Miko couldn't help but laugh with him as he found Rory's laugh rather infectious. Once their snickering died down he asked, "So uh, can I see?" Rory says, gingerly pointed to the sketchbook.

"Yea sure, it's just a sketch though" Miko blushed, always finding it awkward to show his art work to others.

"Wow man it's good!" Rory exclaimed as he took the pad, making Miko's ears and head lower as he felt eyes creep up on the two of them

"Nah, it's just clouds" He says, waving his paw in dismissal. "Pretty boring"

"Good clouds" Rory replied, eyes scanning the whole page. "Look at the detail"

"With an eight-hour bus ride, I had time for it." The otter said, rubbing the back of his head in slight embarrassment.

"No wonder you made it into the art program. What did you have to do to get accepted, bribe someone?" Rory said, rubbing his fingers together like he was grubbing for cash.

"Well..." Miko started to think about the lengthy process he had to go through to get accepted into the academy. "I did what all students had to do. Do the introduction essay, and a video interview. I was so nervous during the interview, first time ever doing an interview for school"

"Nah man I breezed through that, say what comes from the heart. As a musical artist, it's easy for me. Sent in a track I was working on for the summer and bam! Got my acceptance letter about a couple months after." He paused for a moment, "Though, I did need help with the essay. I don't write too good" He said in a mock southern accent. That got a chuckle out of Miko.

"Hehe yea but getting into the art program I had to jump through several hoops. Two letters of recommendation, a portfolio of various figure drawings, and a full sketchbook of whatever I thought I could show off to them." The otter sighed as he recited all the requirements he had to, looking a tad disheartened as he looked down. "I thought I was gonna die from all the stress or my mother at least. She pushed me. Managed to scrape some scholarships up too..."

Rory smile started to waver a bit as he looked over to the dejected otter, before looking down at the drawing once again, eyeing the curves and shadows of the clouds. "But, you made it right?" He said softly, seeing the otter head raise to meet his gaze, a somber expression on his brown muzzle. "You got accepted into one of the most prestigious visual and preforming art schools in the country. That's gotta say something yo?"

Miko chucked at the word "yo", his smile returning once again. "I know I know, was just the stress of it ya know. I'm glad we have at least the weekend to get settled in the dorms before classes start."

"Hell ya we do, gotta scope out some dope ass parties!" The Oposumm replied.

"Dope ass parties, huh?" He echoed, finding the words quite strange on his lips as he readjusted his glasses. "I don't think freshmen get invited to those Rory"

"Nah man it's all about imagine, gotta have the confidence of a upper classmen ya know." Rory says, moving his hands in front of him like a disc jockey.

Miko gave Rory a soft smile, sighing a bit as he lazily peered left to look out of the window. Blinking in surprise suddenly, he pushed his glasses up on his nose as the clear blue sea came into view. "Wow, the Ocean" he seemed to say aloud, soon pressing his muzzle on the bus window as he looked out to gaze at the vast ocean. Rory stopped his antics for a moment and stood up to hang on the top of the seat, looking over Miko at the blue sea, mischief sparking across his beady eyes. Several other students had noticed the new interesting new change of scenery. Pulling their faces from their screens for a moment as they started to chatter excitedly amongst themselves. The trip west on the college shuttle had been full of unending winding road of dull scenery and long stretches of freeway. Driving from the Midwest didn't always have the most exciting scenery during a 8 hour ride. The bus turned right, putting them on the pacific coast highway. It seemed like they would arrive soon.

The Otter hadn't really visited the west coast all that often, only having the chance during holidays or family vacations as a child. His heart eased a little as he saw the water. Like all aquatics, water was his natural element and just looking at the blue ocean seemed to melt the nervous otter's stress away. I'll definitely need to make some time for some swimming, He thought to himself, Maybe sketch by the ocean side. Miko couldn't help but smile, excited at the prospect of sketching a beach scene without having to look up a reference on the internet. It would be like a mini vacation whenever his heart so desired. He imagined himself at sea, sitting at the beach in his suit and sitting on a towel as he sketched the day away, imagining a drink in his paw.

"Never been to the ocean before." Rory commented, snapping Miko out of his carefree daydream. "How bout you?"

"Yeah, a few times. For vacation n stuff" He shrugged, looking over his shoulder at him for a moment.

"It's almost bikini season for all the luscious ladies out there you know." Rory snickered with a wide smile.

"Oh yea huh..." Miko replied unenthusiastically, making the Opossum let out an audible, "Tch"

"What do you mean, Oh yea huh?" Rory added, mocking the otters voice comically "Don't you just love it when girls wear hardly anything to the beach. Leaves nothing to the imagination" He said, grouping the air and seeming to drool a little.

"Uh well, I only knew a few girls back home."

"A few girls? Don't you have a girlfriend? "

"Well....well of course!" He started to say. "I mean I did at one time." The otter says with a sigh before giving a forlorn glance out to the sea, watching the palm trees pass by.

"Oh, look at chu, Mr. artist does have it in him" Rory snickered, giving a friendly punch to the arm.

Miko just shrugged with a soft hum in acknowledgment as he brooded over where the conversation topic led to.

"So why'd you break it off? Was it the long distance? It was a long distance huh?" The Opossum prodded with interest.

Miko's ear flattened to his head as he recalled the unsavory event. Not wanting to speak about it yet, Rory's persistence quickly made him cave in. "No Rory it wasn't because of long distance, we broke up two years ago when I was in junior college getting my associates in fine art." Placing a paw on his lap, it balled up into a fist before looking back at Rory with a somber gaze.

"No shit? Why?" Rory replied, seeming to settle down a bit as he listened with unwavering interest.

"Well uh..." He started to say, throat started to grow dry. "I kind of lost interest."

"What do you mean lost interest? Was she hot?"

Miko's ears didn't rise as he frowned at the opossum. "Lisa was pretty for an otter yea, I kind of lost interest during my studies."

"Hey, don't art major's like draw lots of naked models? Naked drawing class or whatever?"

"Figure drawing" Miko corrected, scratching the side of his head as he blushed a little at the statement Rory made.

"Ah man, that's probably what happened. You're too busy drawing boobs all day, you probably got bored of her. Admit it, you had the hots for those models"

"Rory that's not what I meant" Miko seemed to frown even more, his brow furrowing. Soon Rory got the hint and smiled apologetically.

"Eh, I just joshin with you man." He chuckled, giving Miko a big cheesy grin.

"I just..." Miko had a hard time putting this into words. "I simply lost interest Rory. My parents pushing me to go for scholarships, the stress of finishing my prerequisites" Taking off his glasses, he put his face into his paw, petting over his forehead and through his head fur. "It was too much..."

Rory chuckled "Yea but you had your lady to give you release in times of stress, right?"

Miko looked at Rory confused "Release?"

"You know, release!" Rory gave Miko a sexual gesture, holding out one paw making a ring with his thumb and index finger, while the pointer finger on his other paw moved in and out of it.

With wide eyes, he looked at the opossum understanding immediately. "N...No we didn't do anything like that" Miko said, looking down into his lap

Rory looks at the otter with disappointment shaking his "Are you serious! no?! Lame sauce man!"

"Rory keep your voice down please" The otter pleaded as a brown bear looked towards the two for a moment. "W....we kissed and stuffed, she stayed over a couple of times when my parents weren't home." He whispered.

"Please tell me you tried to do something with her?!" The Opossum seemed to be disenchanted on the results of the story, shoulders slumping.

"Maybe I'll tell you some other time Rory." Miko wasn't sure he wasn't comfortable going on with the story.

As he remembered the few nights Lisa had stayed the night, he was always too nervous to take initiative in bed. There were a few times while the two otters were making out in his room, that they would feel and grope each other. Miko seemed into it until he found himself unable to "preform" for Lisa, even as she held him between his legs. " Overthinking it too much" was always Lisa's answer to the problem, though that didn't make Miko preform any better, even as she played with him in her paws. He didn't have problem preforming when he was alone with his computer. He did watch porn from time to time, like all young furs were prone to. However, nothing seemed to work more then when the video focused on the male actor when they were with a girl. Miko told himself he liked the guys because they showed the most interest in the activity, just watching them seemed to set his body on edge. Additionally, he did prefer male models in his drawing class. Too many female models, he thought; bored of the same female form he drew over and over again. To him it was all art, not an form of attraction. That is at least what he told himself.

The two otters met when they were both 16, sophomore year in high school. The two met during a normal fire drill outside their classrooms; becoming good friends for a bit until Lisa decided to ask him out. She grew to like Miko's introverted charm, finding his interest in art very sweet, especially when he would draw pictures of her or for her. They had gone to homecoming and prom together, and while their friends were all out doing the sinful tango, Miko took Lisa home, gave her a quick kiss and went on his way. Lisa's family absolutely adored Miko, taking a shine to his art work, asking for still life's in pencil and many other medium. He was sure her parents framed and hung several of his pieces, which always embarrassed him when he visited. They saw the raw talent Miko naturally had, yet he felt never satisfied with his work; just like he was never satisfied with his relationship with Lisa. He loved her, he really did. However, it seemed like it was a love more akin to a friendship. Miko loved her cheerful personality and fact that he was into everything he was into, art, books, tv shows, and even movies. Even with so much in common, and even with so many kisses and gropes exchanged between him, the relationship never went anywhere.

At 19, Miko had been heavily dedicated to his college art classes as university neared, starting to see Lisa less and less. One night she had come over and sat Miko down in his bedroom upstairs before bursting into tears, saying that he didn't love her. While trying to calm her down, Lisa said all kinds of hurtful things. Like Miko didn't pay attention to her anymore now that he was in college, accusing him that he found her ugly and that's the main reason why they never had sex. She cursed at him, blaming Miko for all the time wasted when she could be having a real relationship. Lisa was tired of waiting for nothing and that Miko had to make a decision right then and there or she would leave him. The otter was in such a state of shock he just stared blankly at her as his stomach tied itself into knots. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, to hurt his dear friend he spent so much time with. He had to at last surrender to her hurtful remarks and be honest with himself. In reality, this wasn't a real relationship at all. Lisa was tired of waiting for anything to happen, and Miko finally saw that as he saw the pain in her eyes. With reluctance, he agreed that this wasn't going anywhere; reaching out for Lisa to comfort her. Instead, she slapped his paw away in anger and trotted down the stairs; apologizing to Miko's parents for making such a scene, and leaving Miko in his room where he sat alone until his mother went into his room to check on him and make sure he was ok. He nodded with tears in his eyes as he shut the door before they could come in, excusing himself for the rest of the night.

Looking at the ocean right outside the window, it seemed like that event in his life was just a far-off memory. A mere blip in his consciousness. Here in university he could start again, start fresh and met new people. In a weird twist of fate, it seemed like he already made his first friend before making it to the campus, however eccentric and out of place the Opossum might be.

"C'mon man don't leave me hangin, this bus trip is so boring!" Rory groaned, lightly shaking the otter.

"Cut it out man!" The otter replied with a chuckle, pushing playfully back. He was surprised he was on such friendly terms with the white Opossum so quickly as they pushed each other like children.

"Don't tell me you're a..." Looking around to make sure no one else was listening, Rory cupped a paw over his muzzle and whispered. "Virgin?"

This comment made the otters fur prickle and face flush red immediately, his eyes as wide as dinner plates as he stared at Rory with bewilderment, thick tail thumping the seat with annoyance. However, his face told the Opossum the truth.

Rory was snickering to himself, pointing directly at the otter "What the fuck man! Virgins our age still exist? How old are you?"

"Rory please! Keep your voice down." Miko ducked down under the back of the chair, hoping no one else heard their outburst. However, his fellow students still found amusement in the view than anything else. "I'm 21...." He replied, gazing at the Opossum with annoyance.

"Hey same as me!" The Opossum cheers. "Don't worry Miko! I'll be your wingman! College is meant for getting out there and trying new things. We'll make a man out of you yet."

"Thanks Rory..." The otter replied, rolling his eyes.

"Hey... please tell me you've at least drink alcohol?"

"Of course I do, I'm not that pathetic." Miko replied with a soft growl under his voice. Yet, he withheld information about how the otter was quite the lightweight given his small lithe frame.

"Tell me then, since you're such an adult and all. What's ur poison?"

"Whiskey" Miko said plainly

"Whiskey? For real? But, you're such a little thing."

"Yea, it's good! I like it on the rocks or mixed with cola"

"You not talking about the sweet stuff, right? Like the hot whiskey that has cinnamon in it? That shit tastes like Santa's asshole"

"Santa's asshole?" Miko chuckled at the comment. "Where the hell did you get that analogy Rory?"

"Experience" Rory replied, giving the otter a wry smile.

"For your information I like honey whiskey, that stuff can run up to fifty dollars a handle. You can drink it over ice no problem" Miko replied, looking rather proud of himself.

The two of them laughed with each other for a while as they continued with the conversation. Miko and Rory seemed to have a lot in common, they both commented on what video games they liked and what tv shows they watched. Rory even told him if being a DJ didn't work out he would like to produce music for movies. They exchanged phone numbers eventually, wanting to stay in touch on the occasion they would be able to meet up at the campus as it wasn't a given that their dorms would be close by each other. The two continued to converse with each other and Miko was rather happy for the change of pace compared to the quiet bus ride for the first part of the trip. He did get a lot of sketching done on the trip. Finally, after the last half hour of Rory boasting of all the conquests he achieved before leaving town he at last shut up for about ten seconds as the University came into view.

"Finally, we made it...." The Opossum sighed happily as Miko lifted his arms over his head to stretch.

Miko's back and butt hurt from sitting for so long, happy at least when the bus did stop at times so he could stretch his legs. He hoped that when he visited his parents they would fly him back. The otter didn't want to think of another long bus ride. With a nervous heart, the otter looked out to the massive campus the stood only a block away from the beach. He noticed the large clock tower that adored the right side of the University and marveled at the sheer size. It was finally time for Miko to start his next four years at Oceanus Academy.