FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Other than a couple of groups of bats that fluttered by ominously, nothing attacked them within and no traps were apparent. Nevertheless, Slutcat and Sworddog approached cautiously.

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As she neared the raised platform that was obviously the center of attention in the wide open room, Slutcat was attracted by an inscription upon the wall towards the back that seemed to glow with an inner light.

"Slutcat? Slutcat be careful. That looks... odd," Sworddog warned behind her, but she found she couldn't help herself anyway. Something flowed out of the word inscribed there in odd letters and seemed to flow right into her mind directly.

"Slutcat? Are you alright?" Sworddog asked, growing alarmed at her lack of response.

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The world grew blurry for her and Sworddog's voice was almost inaudible as she approached the wall. She could not understand what was happening, but she did sense that, whatever it was, it was not doing her any harm. She was learning... something.

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And then it was over. She had learned a Word of Power - whatever that meant. Sworddog was barking at her.

"Calm down Sworddog. I'm alright. I learned something. A Word of Power," Slutcat said, calming the dog.

"You sure you're alright? Everything went dark for a second and I saw something sort of flow into you."

Slutcat nodded, "Yeah. Something. I know something now that I didn't know before. But what it is, I can't say. A word. Sort of a word anyway."

Sworddog looked at her worriedly. "You know that makes no sense, right?"

"It does to me! Oh well, whatever it was, it's passed now. At least there was no Level Boss. Now let's get the goodies and get out of here!"

As if on cue, a stone moved aside from a sarcophagus on the platform and something began to climb out.

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"Come on Sworddog. Let's see what we're in for," she said and stopped at the foot of the steps leading up to where the thing was climbing out of its coffin.

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The battle itself, though extended, was really rather routine. Slutcat would throw her sparks at the thing, then back away before it could get too close with it's huge two-handed sword. As it tried to close with her again, Sworddog would race by behind it and nip at it's legs, but she was off again before it could pivot and bring the sword to bear on the canine. During that time Slutcat would again resume her spark attack. It took a while, but the thing was dumb and didn't change it's tactics.

Had her magic not ran out, there would have been no problem at all. But briefly she was unable to summon her sparks. She tried the Flame spell but it too failed.

"Try the blue potion!" Sworddog suggested, attracting the monster's attention away from her.

She downed the potion and felt her magic restored partially. She had two more and she downed them as well. That brought her nearly back to full potential and she lit into the dead thing once again. Finally they finished it off. Other than being tired, neither was physically harmed.

Slutcat collapsed into a heap. "Whew! That was a workout!" she said between breaths.

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"I'll say, though I think we did pretty well. That thing was stronger than the rest, but no smarter," Sworddog agreed.

Slutcat clambered back to her feet and looked through the monster's inventory, but found only a weird tablet stone, but she stored it in her inventory anyway. Then she opened the big treasure chest. Inside she found some unusual weapons, gold and an interesting staff, but she was somewhat disappointed that none was going to make them rich.

"I suspect that 'word' you learned was the real treasure," Sworddog suggested.

Slutcat sat atop the treasure chest, dejected. "Sure! And I have no idea what to do with it. Dammit this wasn't worth the effort."

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"Well, let's head back and get that claw back to Riverwood. That'll get us some more money."

"Yeah, I guess. Let's see what's up these stairs and then we'll go," Slutcat said as she climbed off the chest and headed up the stairs to the left of the main dais.

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At the top of the stairs was a weird handle that Slutcat turned, which opened a secret door and the tunnel beyond.

"This will be the fast way out, so we don't get bored backtracking all the way," Sworddog said, turning to the camera, but Slutcat wasn't in the mood for talking.

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Finally the tunnel brightened and they saw that the exit out of the Barrow finally lay just ahead, and with the light Slutcat's spirits rose.

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They emerged into full daylight, near a prominence and the view was unequivocally gorgeous.

"Oh Sworddog," Slutcat said, spreading her arms out wide and enjoying the sunlight. "It's good to be alive! Isn't this a glorious view?!"

"Slutcat, I may be a bitch, but I too appreciate the beauty of this place. And, I suppose, in a purely monkey sort of way, you are pretty too."

Slutcat laughed. "Why yes. Yes I am. Good of you to notice!"

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"And now... I really have to pee and this looks like a wonderful place for a waterfall!"

The dog laughed, "Sometimes you act more like a male dog than a female Khajiit, Slutcat!"

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Author's note - I PROMISE I don't have a urine obsession! But whenever I put Slutcat in a scene, I think, "what would Slutcat do here?". And this was so obvious, that I had to do it. And no, I didn't do any post processing here, so no need to try and zoom in. Nothing to see here. Move along... Tsk Tsk Tsk.

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