FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Constantly checking over my shoulder, the hot dusty plain behind me never changed as the mountain range further away gradually grew smaller. The pack of supplies on my back was barely felt on my shoulders I blew a brief sigh past my lips before wiping my forehead. It was hot, and the lack of shade and cracked clay ground only made it swelter more. My quiet steps were the only constant sound I could hear. The howls and roars of the opposite side of the mountain with its vast forests was far behind physically, but I could easily hear their ominous echoes in my mind. At least the heat served as a distraction from my thoughts. I had spent two days hiking over and down the mountain before crossing the expansive dry wasteland before me, hoping for something better. Maybe there was another area I could survive in without many predators vying for territory and food.

The forested mountains behind me had been my safe haven for more than a year, but that had changed a few weeks ago. Large creatures had invaded from the direction of the abandoned cities. They were fearsome like regular wild animals, but also intelligent. Their bodies appeared mythical, somewhere between human and feral, like a werewolf. However, their forms were many. Some were feline and others canine, but there were still others. I simply couldn't compete with them and stay alive. A pair of large mountain hares were dangling from the rope that tied their legs to my backpack. They were the result of a final successful trap in the wooded mountains before I had departed. I didn't know what to expect or where I would end up in this unknown flat landscape.

The gritty sound of dirt beneath my boots continued like breathing. There were no signs of wildlife, or anything ahead. It was merely flat land. Through the hazy sunbaked terrain, something appeared before me. It wasn't a small shack, home, or ruined shelter... It was far bigger in size.

'A building?' My eyes squinted as I wiped my forehead. It was large, the size of several houses combined. Manmade structures were a common sight back in the forest lowlands, but rare in the highlands of the mountains. Before the intruders drove me out, the buildings were evidence of a world largely forgotten. There was a time when humans lived across the earth as a dominant force, but this had suddenly changed some time ago, more than a century. Shortly before the collapse of civilization, scientists had made incredible advancements in genetics. They were able to create any creature within a lab; any living species; any extinct species; and anything they could imagine. This development coincided with the appearance of monstrous, dangerous creatures. Had their hands created a catastrophic problem, or at least contributed to it? I believed so.

The manmade structure before me was a welcome sight, and I walked towards it with purpose. At the very least it would serve as a place of shelter from the hot sun. Although, if I was lucky, then I might be able to find tools and other supplies. Despite the potentially lucky find, I was still cautious. Arriving at a door along a lengthy wall, I stood still. Staring at the dusty ground I noticed no other foot prints in the sandy dirt than the ones I had just made. The place was truly deserted, until now. Pressing forward, the heavy door creaked open. Sunlight poured inside a well lit space. Inside was a large facility, many yards wide and long. Numerous desks and wide tables had computers, machinery, or other miscellaneous items. Tall filing cabinets were arranged neatly, for the most part. Some had been tipped over, and other had their drawers pulled out. Paper files were dirty and spilled onto the floor. A small stack of bricks and cinder blocks nearby confused me. Why they had ended up there was beyond my imagination. Other hallways and doors were further away alongside the back and left side walls. One exit door existed to my immediate right.

'What kind of place is this?' I wandered from desk to table. I stared at my faint reflection on a computer screen. I could see a very visible layer of dust covering the machine. I wiped a finger across and collected a noticeable amount of dust. The lack of large equipment meant that this wasn't a place where things were created, but work nonetheless was done here. This place had clearly been built before the event that wiped out most of humanity. It was one of the countless mysteries that I would likely never figure out. I poked one power button after another only to receive a blank click.

'No electricity here.' I wasn't surprised. I walked across the room, careful to avoid tripping over the numerous cords and wiring along the working desks. I kept my curiosity at bay and went down the short hall to the back exit. I definitely wanted to explore the rooms and halls along the way.

"Tch!" I squinted at the brighter sunny environment welcomed me again. The door closed behind me as I took a left. I walked around the entire back of the building's perimeter, going up to the far corner before coming back. I took in my surroundings. The building was large, but rectangular in its general shape. Oddly enough for its size, it was utterly alone in the hot environment. A paved road seemed to disappear a short distance in the hot flat expanse beyond the area. Going by one of the windows, something made me stop. I did a double take at the window. Did something inside move? I pressed my forehead to the glass and peered through the dingy, dust covered pane, but couldn't see anything clearly.

'Must've been my reflection.' I didn't like being paranoid about nothing. Resuming my walk of the perimeter, I covered the near corner and walked up to another side door. Turning the handle down, it was unlocked.

'Back here...' I was on the right side of the main workshop floor. There were signs that others had been here, but it might've been years or even decades ago. No one resided here now. The place was mine for the moment. I dawdled around the wall, wondering if I should set up a spot to sleep for the night or bother exploring until sundown. I wanted to cook and eat my final catch too, but for that I'd need to make a fire outside. Stepping back out the first door I had entered, I stretched my arms and cracked my neck. Glancing down I saw my boot prints in the dirt, but another sight made my heart stop.

'Paws!' There was no mistaking the claw tipped canine prints alongside my own; and they were very large. Fear seeped through my body as panic set in. My head jerked from side to side. There was nothing to see, only still silence from one end of the building to the other. I ran back inside and pulled the one item out of my backpack that would have a chance at saving my life, a small handgun. It was a lucky find several years go in an abandoned tool shed, and became my final line of defense. 'I need to find a room to hide in!' Outside, I would be defenseless. Detecting movement in the far corner of my eye, I skidded to a stop. My brain didn't fully register the figure standing in a far off doorway to my left. It looked human.

"Don't mo-!" My voice faded but the echo carried through the air for a full second. I wasn't staring at another human, but something monstrous by comparison. There was a muzzle, dark fur, a tail, and large ears. I raised my gun with a right grip. Adrenaline flooded my body as it charged me. In the blink of an eye it covered half the distance between us. Bang! Bang! I fired twice, and the creature dove into the tables of electronics with a deafening crash. It was slow to rise again. It had become tangled in numerous wires attached to several computers and equipment. My legs made a split second decision before my brain.

"AAHH!" I yelled as I finally managed to retreat. Dashing around the rows of tables, I headed for the nearest door. I half spun around and prepared to fire again at the momentarily immobilized werewolf.

Click. The quiet sound echoed for what felt like ten seconds between my ears. I was out of ammo. Sensing a new vulnerability from me, the large animal slashed with its claws and tore itself free. The ghostly figure leapt over the tables, crashing like thunder through the old computers and hardware. Screens were shattered and wires tore violently as she aimed for me. The werewolf was a blur of dark fur as it jumped over the next table. I leapt to the door. In a blur I flung the door open and slammed it shut. I twisted the simple lock, sealing the only barrier between us. I blinked, ready to keep running, but I found myself in a room without any alternate exits.

'Dead end-!' A violent slam made me scream and jump forward. Spinning around, I backed up until I hit the wall behind me. Glowing eyes glaring at me through the small square of glass before a loud slam made me blink. I watched the door handle as the beast continued ramming and clawing at the only barrier between us. A nauseating sense of doom descended into my stomach as all of my muscles tensed.

'I am going to die.' I felt petrified at how my life was about to end. With nothing but a knife on my person, I had no chance of fighting the werewolf. The door was finally rammed open, breaking the locking mechanism with a loud metallic pinging sound. I stared at the towering figure standing in the doorway. The furry creature limped a single step before falling to the ground as if it were a felled tree.

"Hhuuugngghggh." A horrid moan of pain and despair escaped its throat. I could see tears in its eyes. What happened? I was going to die, but she had fallen instead? I couldn't believe my luck, even though it shouldn't have happened. Staring at the fallen wolf, I saw myself in the beast's pained eyes, trying to survive in a place far from home. I frowned as pity coursed through me for the creature that had moments ago nearly succeeded in ending my life. I wasn't as heartless as I had thought I was.

'Move!' I told myself. Adrenaline still coursing through my veins, my body trembled and shook uncontrollably. An eternity must have passed before I began reaching up and grabbing onto the closest counter. I had to get up. There was only one exit, the door where my pursuer laid. My legs felt heavy and weak, but I managed to steady myself against the countertop. Claws scraped against the floor with resentment and hatred as I approached. A snarling muzzle full of teeth revealed a potential bite far worse than any bark. Every instinct told me to run away, to flee with all my energy. It was the most basic urge of survival. However, I paused despite the hair on my neck standing up. The stain of crimson blood on her arm and leg were first to catch my attention, but only briefly.

"What are you?" I was completely baffled by what I was looking at. Her body was strikingly similar to my own. Her torso, arm, and upper legs were identically human with the exception of being covered with fur. Her head was that of a wolf though. Her paws were like that of a wolf's, digitigrade, but only up to the knees. She was strong and muscular like a wolf, but also human and feminine. It was an odd combination. She had long grey-brown hair extending from the nape of her neck, and plenty of thick fluff at the back of her head. It was as if a human and wolf had been smashed together down to the atom.

My eyes returned to the stain of blood on her leg, the source of her excruciating pain. A nasty wound just above her odd canine-humanoid ankle was a bloody mess. Glancing to the left, there was a small trail of red droplets leading from one of the tables of equipment that she crashed over. She had likely cut herself back there. I decided to do something other than run away. I wasn't evil like I believed she was, or any of the monsters out there. Slipping off my pack, I dug through and retrieved a roll of gauze, clean cloth, antiseptic, and tape. There were no other major fresh wounds visible on her body. Not a single bullet of mine had managed to hit her from what I could tell. I went to work and carefully dabbed the bloody mess clean while she groaned in pain. Her leg trembled briefly as I did my best to clean the fresh wound. I quickly finished and wrapped her leg with the bandaging.

"Are you one of those things the scientists created?" I thought aloud. Her ears turned towards me as I talked. The wolf stared at me without a sound. Hearing a gurgling growl from her stomach made me jump. Glancing to my pack, an obvious realization hit me.

"I suppose you were after these?" I held up the hares. She eyes the morsels and licked her lips. I managed a grin, feeling a small sense of humor.

***

The flames of a small fire illuminated the darkness. Sitting outside in the dirt, I watched the flames dance and listened to the little crackles of tinder burning. I had managed to find enough dry brush around the building, but not without difficulty. I wasn't used to running out of firewood in the mountains. That was a luxury I would sorely miss, but I didn't have the energy to worry about it. I was completely exhausted, and so was the wolf creature. Glancing to my left, the door to the building complex was kept open on purpose. I could see the outline of the female wolf creature inside, laying on her side. Her half lidded eyes were watching me. She was a lot calmer and content after I gave her one of the hares to eat. Without the impending threat of death looming over me, I had a moment to breathe and think abut what had happened.

'Why is a wolf here?' The question bothered me. Wolves traveled in packs, but she was no mere wolf. She had tracked me down for sure, but all the way from the mountains and into a desert plain all for a pair of hares? That didn't make too much sense to me. Maybe she was a loner like me, trying to survive in this unpredictable world. Would I have done the same? When it came down to survival, were we really just animals?

"No." I quietly spoke to myself, answering my own question. If that were true, then one of us would've already been dead. No mercy would've occurred. I felt empathy for her suffering, but was there a chance she felt the same for me? My eyes slowly blinked as I tried thinking through the dense fog of exhaustion. With a sigh, I laid down facing the open doorway. I had to get some sleep or I wouldn't make any good decisions after sunrise.

I spent much of the night restlessly awake. I didn't sleep very well for obvious reasons regarding my new unexpected company. I didn't know who she was, her background, or if she would try to kill me again. I was betting a lot on showing her kindness and mercy on the chance that it might be reciprocated. If not, I would pay dearly for it. Even though that was a great risk, if she and I could manage to not kill each other, or even possibly become allies then both of our chances of survival would be greatly increased. Either way, without any bullets for my handgun, I was at her mercy even if she didn't realize it yet. My knife wasn't going to do much to her, since she could easily overpower me.

Standing up, I felt a distinct soreness in my muscles, but the ache was light. After dusting myself off, I grabbed my pack and walked inside the building. The werewolf creature had remained in the same spot throughout the night, sprawled out on the floor. My quiet footsteps alerted her as a pair of furry ears turned towards me. Her head rose and stared at me. I stayed several steps back from her. I didn't want to risk getting too close to her. The dark claws on her paws and fingers, not to mention her muzzle full of teeth, were a great deterrence despite her current immobilized state.

"I'm going to look around." I finally spoke up. 'If you can even understand anything I say.' I thought to myself. The wolf didn't communicate back to me in any way as I turned and left. Walking to the far side of the main work room, I completely avoided the little room I had been trapped in. My body shuddered from simply thinking about it. I entered a short, but wide hallway at the opposite side. The walls were a little wider than my arm span, and the space was dimly lit without a direct source of light. Sidestepping a cobweb, the walkway split in two directions, a left and a right.

I took a left and found myself connected to several entryways, illuminated by sunlight through a dingy window. Every few steps led me past small rooms. The sound of crunching beneath my boots made me pause.

'Glass?' I could see pieces on the floor. Glancing around, the walls by each room had large panes that used to hold glass but they were empty. The glass once held in place had been shattered long ago. The rooms themselves were silent of a forgotten past. Peering inside one of the small spaces I noticed an overturned bookcase with dozens of old books strewn across the carpeted floor. Approaching a wide desk, the length of the wall, there were papers scattered about. An old computer with a cracked screen rested in the middle. There were old files resting nearby, and a lonely chair remained empty. It looked like an office space for a single person.

'Hmm?' I noticed a light switch on the wall. I eagerly flipped it up and down, but no lights came on. It would've been a miracle if this place had electricity. The centuries of accumulating enough technology to create a building of this size in an arid environment was impressive, and I wondered how they accomplished it. Exiting the room, I followed the hallway's sharp turns. Walking around, I felt an odd fascination with the old abandoned building. Humans like me had built it some time long ago, and then abandoned it for one reason or another.

"I wonder what this place used to be..." My voice murmured quietly. It was a facility of some sort, but way out here? Maybe there was an abandoned town nearby, or possibly the entire area looked very different a long time ago. The halls branched again, continuing straight, but a short wide section split left to a door. The painted letters on the door had long since chipped away, only leaving faint evidence of a long lost word. I grasped the doorknob, but it barely budged.

"Locked?" My brow furrowed. Was something important behind the door? My curiosity was not going to be satisfied by wondering to myself. Taking a few steps back, I lowered my shoulder and rammed the old door.

"Nnf!" After several attempts, I managed to break the rusty lock with brute force. Peeking around, the area was a modest size, and brightly lit from several windows. I could see the mountains along the distant horizon. The bright sunshine outside made me thankful that I was inside the cooler shaded building. However, it was fairly empty. Like the lonely office spaces back in the halls, there was a large desk with a computer resting on top. Dozens of coiled yellow wires rested underneath it. Binders and boxes full of papers on the desk piqued my curiosity. A stack of CDs crashed to the floor as I pulled a binder from a box.

'Medical records... 2027.' I dropped the binder and waved my hands as dust flew into the air. A large book was likewise covered in dust. "Tort law..." I carefully read the faded text and moved on. Opening the desk's drawer, I found a large amount of napkins, rusty paper clips, and staples. Moving away from the desk, I approached a long countertop held over a dozen drawers and cabinets overhead.

'All of these are empty...' I quickly checked the drawers along the counter space. My next target was a modest little closet. Pulling open the door, my eyes widened at what was inside. Folded neatly into squares was a small stack of light blue fabric.

'Sheets!' I felt the clean fabric between my fingers. They were a good find. I rummaged through everything else. I opened a dark colored bottle, but the contents smelled sour. It could've been hydrogen peroxide, but the lack of a label only made me wonder. Not taking a chance, I set it back. Other items didn't interest me as much: toothpicks, an empty box, rusted metal bits, and other miscellaneous things. I rummaged through the rest of the cabinets only to come up empty handed as well. I doubted that I would find any bullets for my handgun. They were an extremely rare find, and this place didn't seem likely to have any. Although, I didn't like having my knife as my last line of defense. Looking over my shoulder, I half expected the wolf to still be stalking me; but no one was there.

'Calm down. She can't even walk.' I reminded myself and paced around the rest of the area. At the other end of the room was an entryway into another smaller room.

"It's a shower." I stepped inside and realized that I was standing in an odd bathroom of sorts. The entire floor was concrete, but there was a drain in the center. An overhanging shower head had a simple handle and dial for water. I hadn't seen running water in two days and walked inside. Hope stirred in my mind as I reached for the handle. I pulled with a swift tug. A faint sound made my brow furrow, but in a second cold wetness sprayed onto my face.

"I can't believe it..." A wave of relief washed over me as the water wet my skin and shirt.

***

Returning to the large workshop room, I found the wolf sitting upright with her injured leg sticking straight out. It didn't appear that she had moved much since I was gone. Her eyes carefully watched me approach, but she didn't show any signs of aggression towards me yet. My steps slowed as I reached the edge of her paw, just enough room to jump back if she wanted to take a swipe at me.

"Let's see how your wound is doing." I knelt down by her paws. She growled as soon as I touched the bandaged section of her leg. To her surprise, I let go. For a moment I was frustrated.

"I need you to cooperate." I reached up and pet her leg above the bandaged wound. She briefly revealed her fangs only to hide them. She relaxed somewhat while I retrieved a knife from my pack. I continued petting the uninjured part of her leg while carefully cutting the bottom of the bandage. I unraveled the bandage and set the blood stained pieces aside. To my surprise, I discovered that her leg had nearly healed on its own!

'How's this possible?' I was amazed and bewildered simultaneously. I know I hadn't imagined yesterday's incident, especially the blood from her cut. But the evidence of a wound from yesterday was clearly visible. Fresh scarring was visible beneath her fur. I noticed something else odd, a fainter healed wound on her leg crossing the fresh one. She was already injured from something before. The wolf lived a rough life, but what explained her quick recovery? It definitely wasn't the supplies I had.

Combing through her dark fur, one thing was evident... the wolf's coat was clearly dirty and matted. Old blood had crusted onto her fur from yesterday, not to mention dust and dirt. I remembered about the working shower I had found.

"Hey, you need to be cleaned up." I mentioned. 'It is a miracle that there's no infection.' I thought to myself. "There's a working shower her where you can rinse off. Come on." I waved with a hand. Several obvious questions dawned on me.

'How will I get her to the water?' I paused and wondered. 'How will she even understand-?' I looked over only to see her begin to rise. The dark furred canine carefully rose onto her paws, and held onto one of the tables. The wolf was nearly a head taller than me, and that was with her leaning over on a weak leg! She took a few slow steps, putting weight on the injured leg, before walking on her own.

'I can't believe she is walking so soon again.' I felt a little worried about her quick recovery. Her ability to endure and survive was superhuman. Her claws softly clicked against the cement floor until she stopped before me. Her canine eyes looked at me intently, as if waiting for me to speak.

"Okay... You can follow me." I managed to say. She seemed to understand and slowly walked behind me. Leading her slowly through the halls, I found myself constantly checking over my shoulder. Every sound and step that behind me caused my muscles to tense or twitch. That would be a tough habit to break. We entered the brighter back room, but the wolf behind me lingered. She touched one of the barren walls. The canine scanned the area like I had earlier. Was she fascinated about the building as well?

"This way." I led her into the side room with the shower, but she didn't seem to like the small confined space of the shower. Her ears fell back, and her muzzle started to wrinkle. The sharp ends of pearly white teeth made my stomach tense.

"Don't worry. Water will come out." I motioned with my hand. "Stand here." I held her arm and pointed. She didn't budge. I shook my head and let go of her. 'Hard headed...' I oddly felt frustrated that she couldn't understand I was trying to help her.

"Fine." Turning away, I shucked my clothes and tossed them aside. I would take a much needed shower with or without her! The canine curiously watched me step inside, and turn the knobs. There was a brief sound before water sprayed out. Her ears instantly perked up at the sight. I began rinsing off only to feel fur brush up against me as she joined me. The wolf's front pressed against my side and back, but we had just enough room to shower together. From the corner of my eye, I watched her with intrigue. She cupped her hands and stared up at the shower head with a gaping jaw. The wolf looked just as surprised as I had earlier. Bringing her hands closer, her snout lowered to the water collected in her palms. Her tongue lapped it up thirstily. Then she simply stood in her spot. Her eyes closed as she breathed an audible sigh while the water soaked through her fur.

'Better calm than angry.' I told myself as the water poured onto us. Although, the canine didn't seem to care about bathing. She was preoccupied with the cooling sensation on her body. I couldn't exactly blame her for enjoying the escape from the heat outside. I reached over and touched her side. The wolf made a brief glance at me, but made no move against me. With a little encouragement I went to work rinsing through her fur. Standing before her, the water poured down my back while I worked. My hands gently rubbed through the wet fur coat.

'Wow.' I could feel the strength of her core while I washed over her torso. There was no doubt in my mind that she had the strength to kill me. Thankfully she had no desire to use it on me anymore. She glanced down at me curiously.

"Honestly, I just don't want you to kill me." I spoke up, reasoning through my own kindness. The wolf lightly huffed a pleased sound and straightened her stature for me. "Your fur is thick." I ruffled my hands further up to her lower chest, but I hadn't even come close to her fluffy neck yet. Continuing along, something soft on her chest piqued my interest. Soft fatty mounds moved to my touch beneath her fur, and I finally realized what I was staring at. She had breasts like a woman, and I was touching them. The realization made my jaw drop. I hastily withdrew my hands even though she didn't seem to care in the slightest. The sudden awkwardness made me unsure of what I should do next.

'She's a wolf... Lady? Don't feel nervous.' I told myself. I should've been more nervous about the fact that I was with a wolf that had just tried to kill me, not the fact that she was ladylike! I crouched down and cleaned over her legs next. The muscles underneath her fur were impressive. There was no doubt in my mind that she could run down anything large or fast. Washing over her paws, I could see dirt and dust washing down the center drain.

"You should be clean now." I stood up before turning my back to her and rinsing myself once more. Plenty of her fur had ended up on me. I quickly wiped my skin free of fur only to feel something velvety and warm touched my shoulders.

"Huh?" I looked at the dark furred hands on my shoulders. Her furry fingertips harboring lengthy claws were mere inches from my face. My head turned and my gaze traveled up to her own. The wolf's head looming over me didn't bare fangs this time. Instead, the corners of her mouth were curled up into a friendly expression.

'She's smiling!?' I found the softness in her facial expression uncanny. The wolf shifted her steps and lightly pressed her front against my back. I could feel the wet fur mingled with body heat on my skin. She didn't say or do anything else while she "watched over me." We simply stood there in the shower together as water poured over us. I wasn't sure if it was a sign of trust or not, but having a peaceful moment with someone else was great thing in itself. Then her hands left my shoulders and she began rinsing herself once more on her own. She raised her nose in the air while she ruffled through her hair and head fur. The act was eerily human. The wolf backed away from the water, and I took the cue that we were both finished. I turned the knobs off, concluding our shower. Stepping outside the room, the warm air felt mild against my wet skin.

"That was nice." I liked the cold sensation of water on my skin. It was the perfect reprieve from the heat outside. Without anything to dry ourselves with, we stood around the room. The air would have little trouble drying us. The wolf sat down in a sunny section of the floor, stretching her legs out. Her wet fur glistened like obsidian in the direct sunlight. She had never once covered herself in front of me. Her fur did a very good job of doing that. My eyes glimpsed a glimmer of red above her canine ankle.

'Her leg.' I remembered the fast healing wound. I crouched down by the wolf's paws, careful not to block the sunlight for her. I carefully lifted her leg and parted the fur where her wound was located. The wolf's large paw curled as I touched the area, but she tolerated any slight pain for me.

"It looks fine." I combed through her unkempt leg fur, noting any scars or marks that I hadn't seen before. There were surprisingly few, but the ones I found were very faint. Did she avoid fighting, or was her ability to heal masking something more savage? There was another, albeit different, question nagging at my mind.

"Can I... Can I check your front again?" I hesitated as I asked. Placing a hand on her side, I dared to move and touch her tummy. The wolf moved her arms and eased back for me. She allowed me to continue touching her, but her eyes kept watch over me. I slowly ruffled through the downy fur, softer than anything I had felt in a very long time. I imagined that it was softer than the clouds in the sky. But my curiosity was nagging. My gaze lifted up to her chest. The subtle roundness of both breasts was more evident since her fur was still wet. Unable to help myself, I reached over and touched the bottom curve of a breast. It was very warm and soft, subtly yielding to my fingertips. I gently rubbed the spot before trailing up, searching for something else. I parted the fur covering a noticeable bump the center, and found a light skinned nipple poking freely from the dark fur.

There was no mistaking what my eyes saw before me. The fact that I was staring at a woman, or at least the a wolf version of a woman, baffled me. I had always thought of women as dainty, soft, and pretty. Yet, the wolf seated before me didn't possess those qualities like a human would've. She was technically a female, despite having sharp teeth, claws, and a body much stronger than my own. Brushing against the peak of flesh, my touch to the sensitive place had roused her attention. A black nose suddenly lowered into my view. A pink tongue darted out and licked my hand. The wet warmth of her tongue was slimy and smooth.

"Sorry..." I retracted my hand after receiving a second lick. I wasn't the only one who had been staring. Her eyes were keenly looking me over. I blinked feeling her nose exhale on my cheek. She smelled my damp hair, blowing warm breaths onto my head. I wanted to push her back, but I froze feeling a clawed hand touch my back. My body tensed and I breathed deeply, expecting a cut. Instead of sharp claws, a palm smoothly traced over my naked skin. There was warmth instead of coldness. But at the same time and other hand curiously touched my leg. The warmth of her hands made the hair on my neck stand. At the moment, I was just as naked as her!

"Uhh..." I backed off and hastily rose to my feet. The funny sense of intimacy and close contact made me nervous, but in a different way. She looked up at me but didn't say anything. I turned away.

'I was touching her...' I suddenly felt stupid. If I had poked her wrong or looked threatening then she could've snapped her teeth around me! 'I shouldn't attach myself so close to her! She is a wolf!' I had to remind myself of the situation I was in the day before. I rubbed my hands, as if I could wash away the sudden fascination I had towards her. A touch on my bare shoulder shook me from my thoughts. Looking over, I found a familiar hand on my shoulder once again. She was standing behind me, looking at me with a calm gaze.

"I'm fine..." My head shook as I spoke. I didn't want to openly admit it, even if she couldn't understand me. I stared at the wolf's hand resting on my shoulder. I really liked her gentle touch.

***

Once I dressed again, I felt clean and had peace of mind. The female wolf looked a lot nicer now as well, I would dare to say, almost human. Her fur was well groomed and had a sheen of radiance that made her black fur appear like silky obsidian. We roamed around the the rest of the facility together. I looked for anything valuable that might come in handy later; and the wolf followed me. I searched through small rooms, closets, and anywhere else only to come up mostly empty handed. The building's constant silence throughout it all was eerie. I was accustomed to the cheerful sounds of birds chirping or cawing; the calming sounds of a running stream; or subtle rustling of leaves in a breeze. There wasn't even a sound of a buzzing insect. As fascinating as ancient humanity had become to me, it was a force that could make me uneasy. The sudden sound of metal falling onto the ground made me spin around. Behind me the wolf had accidentally knocked something off a table.

"Careful! You scared me..." I blew a hasty sigh. Maybe I should've enjoyed the silence while I could. Entering into another room, we found the door off its hinges and resting against the wall.

'A bathroom.' There was a commode that I didn't want to venture near, but a pair of sinks had my interest. Walking over, I reached out and turned both nobs. Nothing happened. I tried the next one, but received the same result.

'None of these faucets work.' I realized. The shower was the only piping that seemed to function in the entire building, which was odd. A place way out here in a hot environment should have control to its own water supply. We exited through the door on the other side.

"We're back." I spoke and left the door open. We had returned to the main work floor of multiple desks and computers. I wandered through the main floor for a minute with the wolf nearby. There was no need to waste any energy, but the working shower and broken faucets were on my mind. The facility had a source of water, and part of it was shut off. I wanted to find it.

"There has to be some blueprints of this building somewhere." I searched the dusty desks one by one. I found everything from old files and discs to pens and notebooks; but no layout plans of the facility. I stood still and paused to think. I had checked through just about every space inside the large building; the desks, office spaces, back room, halls, closets, and even the shower. 'Where else have I not looked?' I stared at a listless ceiling fan above my head. My gaze wandered around the large workshop only to rest on a certain room. I frowned with disdain. I didn't want to go back to that room, but the chance of having fresh water to every faucet was worth it in my mind. Walking around all of the desks and equipment, I approached the open room. I stared at the line of destruction the wolf had carved through the last rows of tables by jumping across them. Computers were smashed, tables overturned, and other items tossed around or broken. Wires still plugged into their electronic components were twisted together everywhere like a giant spiderweb.

'She charged at me really fast.' I remembered. My head felt funny as I entered the silent room. The terrifying memories were still very fresh in my mind. The door itself had numerous claw marks on its surface, and one of its hinges had been broken from the werewolf's forceful entry. I could see where the door knob had been firmly lodged into the wall. Images of her glaring eyes in the tiny window pane flashed in my head. On the floor, old stains of blood droplets were still visible. I could even see the boot prints where I had originally cowered, waiting to die. I broke into a sweat and felt dizzy. My heart raced as I stumbled forward, tripping over myself. A pair of arms swiftly caught me, but it was too late. I flailed, but the strong wolf held onto me. My body went limp in her arms.

The next minute could've lasted over an hour. I felt like I was riding an ocean wave, rising and falling with darkness in my vision. My hands were holding onto fur when I came out of my panic. A tongue was licking my face as well.

"Yuck..." I groaned and covered my face from the slippery assault. I took deep breaths and relaxed. A damp nose brushed over my hands, and lightly snorted. Peeking through my fingers, I could see the wolf's face staring worriedly at me. Did her eyes appear worried? Behind her furry face I could see the ceiling. I realized that I was laying down with my head in her lap. I pulled my hands away from my face. One of her large clawed hands was underneath my shirt, resting atop my heart. I paused and felt myself breathing. I could feel her palm touching my heartbeat. Her face lowered over my own and began licking me again.

"I'm okay. I'm okay!" I grumbled and nudged her muzzle away. Wiping my face, I started to sit up. The wolf shifted and let me move, but kept a secure arm around me. I leaned on her to regain my bearings before I could stand again. I closed my eyes feeling her chin rest atop my head. I wasn't afraid of her anymore.

She helped me gradually stand up when I was ready. Her hands loosely held my sides as I steadied myself on a countertop.

"Sorry about that." I whispered. She didn't say anything as usual, but her expression appeared reassuring. Looking around, the room was a type of office space, but different from the others in the halls beyond the workshop floor. A large machine rested on the center table in the small room. Stacks of paper were in each tray. I thumbed through them, but they were only copies of something I didn't understand. A large map was plastered against the back wall, however, the bright sunlight had overtime faded much of the colors. Only a vague whitewashed layout of lines and names remained. I opened a metal box hanging on the wall, and found two dozen labeled keys hanging inside.

"I think we've broken every door or lock in this place that's left." I admitted as I looked over them. There was: office room 1, office room 2, main floor, closet, and so on but one name had my attention. 'Maintenance?' I grabbed the golden bronze colored key. We never found a maintenance room throughout the entire building. I looked around the four walls in confusion. The back wall had something out of place. A table and ladder were shoved up against one spot; but behind them I could see a certain fixture. It was a door!

'How did I miss that?' I grasped the door knob only to feel that it was locked. Pushing aside the table and ladder, I retrieved the key labeled "maintenance." 'Please work.' I shoved the key in. To my surprise, it turned successfully. Opening the door revealed a dark room. The wolf curiously peeked above my head to look inside. Retrieving one of the emergency flashlights from my pack, I shined light into the mysterious maintenance room. A few chairs were stacked in the corner alongside buckets, a ladder, cables, a mop, and several boxes. Breakers and switches lined a large panel. A large but odd water pump caught my attention.

"Is this it?" I walked up to the large drum. Thick pipes behind it disappeared into the walls. A large metal wheel was attached to the center. The words "release valve" were visible atop it. I set the flashlight down and tugged on the wheel, but it wouldn't budge. After several tries I wasn't able to turn the wheel an inch.

"I can't open it!" I blew a frustrated sigh. Stepping away from the sealed valve, I stared at the ground and wondered what I could do next. 'There has to be another way...'

The wolf stepped forward with her gaze set on the control valve. Her hands grabbed onto the old metal wheel. She snarled and with all her might and tried turning it. The muscles of her powerful body revealed themselves. I clenched my fists excitedly as she brandished all her strength. After several tense seconds we heard a rusty squeak. The wheel slowly turned. There was a soft rumbling that made some of the pipes appear to rattle, but then a hiss emitted. My brow furrowed until I heard the soft rushing sound of water. The wolf let go and stepped back. We exchanged looks.

"We did it!" The excitement was exhilarating. My teeth flashed in a bright smile as she huffed. I patted her arms, the source of incredible strength. The wolf's tail began to wag excitedly in return. "Let's find out if it worked!" We hastily returned to the small bathroom with two sinks.

"This should work..." I slowly turned the faucet's knob. For a moment nothing happened, but after a few seconds water suddenly poured out. I felt a huge relief wash over me as I watched it pour down to the drain. Now we had water in more than one source, but I would have to boil it to make sure it was drinkable...

The day stretched into the evening, and we retired to the back room with the shower for the night. I was worn out from the lack of a full night's sleep, and she was still technically recovering from her injury. I laid out the clean sheets that I had found in the morning, layering them to have a makeshift bed of sorts for the night. It would be better than laying directly on the concrete floor or dusty ground outside.

"This will be a better spot for us to sleep tonight." I spoke. "It's cleaner and a little more protected than the other room." It was smaller with only one entrance and a few windows to see outside. I planned on sleeping there, but the wolf made a move before I could. She smelled the area before stepping onto the sheets. Whatever her instincts were, they proved to be the same as mine. The wolf peacefully laid down in the center, resting her head on an arm. It was a stark contrast from our initial "greeting." For a moment I could've mistaken her for another person.

'What if she's too smart?' The thought suddenly struck me. 'Will she try to kill me? Is she like those other monsters out there?' I wondered what her motives were. Simply a day ago I believed that she was no different than a wild animal. Since then, I came to realize how little truth there was in my original assumptions. The vague idea of her becoming an ally seemed very plausible now. Had a world of loneliness turned my heart cold?

I double checked over my things before deciding what to do. I glanced at her clawed fingertips. Would my clothes provide a very thin layer of protection against her claws, or merely get in the way and become shredded by accident? I felt justified in taking everything except my boxers off. She watched me approach with an unwavering gaze.

'She isn't looking away...' I didn't know what to make of the canine's simple expression, but I put my fears aside. I joined her in the makeshift bed of sheets. Laying beside her, I kept to myself, but I should've known better. Within moments, the large canine lady beside me stirred. That cool damp black nose of hers brushed against my shoulder causing my skin to tingle. She smelled under my chin before licking my neck and jaw in a single swipe.

"Woah. Uh..." I didn't know what to say about the affectionate show, but it was definitely better than biting! Hands began touching my front. Nothing was poking or prodding, but gentle and intimate. I could distinctly feel the velveteen heat of her padded palm on my skin. The odd sensation of intimacy made me uncomfortable, and my first inclination was to flee the confusing emotions. I sat up wanting to make sense of it all only to be pulled back down.

"Hey!" I laughed as she held onto me while rubbing her face against mine. The wolf's strength was like steel, yet she gently held me in her arms. Her warm furry front pressed against my side as a leg hooked over my own, convincing me to stay with her for the night. I gradually relaxed and adjusted to the her physical presence.

"You are warm." I hugged her neck, ruffling the thick fur. Her mane of fur was fluffy and soft, like a pillow. It was beyond weird to have someone else touching me, especially years after living in solitude. There was something special that came with it. Trust. Having that sense made everything I had been through bearable. During all of this the wolf had gradually moved until she was laying directly on top of me. Then she suddenly laid still.

"You're like a blanket..." I spoke only to pause. I was pinned underneath her, unable to flee, but I felt something hot pressed against my thinly covered groin. Blinking in confusion, I looked up only to touch noses with her. The wolf's eyes stared deeply at me through the fading light. Like a hidden light, there was a soul behind them, not a monster.

A weird feeling of giddiness made my heart beat anxiously. Holding onto her sides, I nervously swallowed. This was something I hadn't felt since I was a teenager. She could feel my excitement, and continued guiding me with it. The fuzziness of her short furred lips brushed across my own. They barely parted as her large smooth tongue washed directly over my mouth. I breathed deeply and held onto her as I parted my lips. She dipped inside several times, caressing our tongues together. Moving lower, a light nibble on my chin made me softly gasp. I felt her hips very gently press against mine, in a subtle heated grind. There was no mistaking it. The tender loving ceased as she rose up and turned her attention to the only clothed portion of my body. Claws touched my skin before she grasped the hem of my tented boxers. Processing all of the sensations, I watched her without saying a word. The garment was easily pulled down, allowing my prominent arousal to rise freely.

Our eyes locked once again for a moment, reflecting inner passions. We both wanted the same thing. We quickly switched places. She rolled off me and onto her back while I loomed over her, positioning myself. Her legs parted, revealing the dark tuft of thick downy fur guarding her most intimate place. Fully aroused, I pressed forward into her warm womanhood causing us both to grunt with satisfaction. Even though we inhabited a messed up world, we were both going to make love in it.

My dreams through the night had been pleasant. I hadn't slept so well in ages, maybe in my entire adult life. There was no worry about watching my back, or listening for a sudden noise in the darkness. The warm furry body I was intertwined with was unbelievably soft and warm. I would never need another fire at night for warmth as long as we were together. I peacefully sighed and gently ran my hand up her soft furred chest until I came into contact with her breast. After a moment's hesitation, I let my fingers comb over the soft mass. The wolf lady stirred awake. A tongue flicked over my ear, and then my neck.

"Good morning to you too." I mumbled and rubbed her back. She nuzzled up to me, tucking her snout under my chin and wrapping an arm around my front. I closed my eyes, expecting to fall back asleep. I could've been floating on a cloud for all I knew, but a noise from inside the building halted our little romantic morning. The wolf's ears perked up and her gaze immediately shifted to the open door before us. The dim shadows of the interior hall appeared to move. My eyes widened at what stood in the doorway.

'Another wolf!' I found myself staring at a wolf just like the female laying in my arms. The sturdy canine's fur was a mottled grey pattern with a snowy white front. A fluffy grey mane of fur was accompanied by long dark grey hair descending down its back. A broader masculine chest and visible male genitals revealed that he was distinctly male. The powerfully built canine stepped through the doorway, but the wolf wasn't alone. Two other figures entered behind him. One was a male white and cream wolf and the other a reddish-brown female wolf. Their steps were silent except for the soft clicking of their rugged claws. All pairs of eyes stared at us.

My mind was blank, at a complete loss for words or even thoughts. I had no idea what was going on or what we could do. The female wolf laying with me placed a protective arm around my front. Her fluffy cheek pressed against mine. She briefly bared her teeth only to lower her ears. I held onto her as the grizzled male dropped onto all fours. The lead male dipped his head and smelled me. I held my breath and laid motionless while his nose hovered over my naked front. When he smelled my groin he snorted and stepped back. His head shook before hand gestures were given to the other two. Something was handed over before the lead grey wolf approached us again.

'My backpack!' I recognized the item on the other male's hand. He dropped it at my feet. Stepping back, the male waved with a hand towards the door. "What?" I was baffled as the new wolves stood by the doorway. He wanted me to come with them? The werewolf laying beside me nudged me to stand. She stood up and pulled me to my feet. She held my side and pointed to the pack and then to us. I still wasn't sure what was going on, but I wanted to be prepared. I hastily gathered everything, including the sheets I had found. The wolves impatiently watched me dress. When I was ready, we filed into the dark halls. There were so many questions that I wanted to ask! Had they been watching us from the start? How did they know of this place? After quickly walking through the halls, we emerged outside and gathered close to the doorway. The older male looked over the two of us quizzically before looking ahead at the distant forested mountains. With the wave of a hand, all of us walked behind the alpha male. Was I part of their pack? Were they more human like me than I truly knew? I was going to find out...