FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Decided to try and get back into writing. Don't normally do third person, may change to first later, we'll see. May change some other things later as well, depends on how I like this.

A bored eight year old boy sat in his mother's car. Swinging his leg idly back and forth not paying attention to where they were going. His mom was too distracted to pay him any mind. Pulling into the parking lot of a clubhouse.

She cut the engine and quickly got out. The boy however couldn't care less that they had reached their destination. Making no move to get out. His mom growled and pulled open his door.

"We're here, get out. Now." She said reaching over him to unbuckle his seat belt. He just snorted and slowly climbed out of the car.

"Not like it matters." He muttered under his breath.

She pretended not to hear him and spent a moment smoothing his dress shirt. Briefly making a move to mess with his hair before deciding against it. He was glaring daggers and it wasn't worth wasting time messing with his hair.

"Come on, let's get this over with. You can be grumpy at home before too long."

He trailed behind her, not wanting to get into a fight but not wanting to be here either. To him the whole thing felt like a giant waste of time. She pulled open the glass paned door, holding it open for her son. He shuffled inside before she followed after him. In front of the hallway on the other side of the door was a black curtain. Hung up to hide what was beyond from view.

His mom gripped his shoulder and half pushed him through the fabric. Just beyond sat four other children and their parents. While the boy and his mom looked fairly normal that couldn't be said for the others. Two wolves sat near a smaller one. The next family were bears. The third family appeared to be the entire family down to every last cousin, aunt and grand parent. All of which were foxes. The last was a buck and his son.

Animal like people dressed in their best clothes. As if they were a church group or attending a formal event. The human boy's mother gave him a nudge and he just rolled his eyes. Sinking into a seat far away from the others. She sighed at him before her appearance changed. Fur sprouted, a muzzle growing from her face. Ears sliding up the sides of her head.

In a matter of moments a lioness was left standing where a perfectly normal housewife had been just seconds before.

"Isaac, you need to change." She said quietly.

He glared up at her once again near the edge of what he was willing to put up with. Getting a stern look in response. He answered with a snort before his body changed. Faster than his mother had he became a skinny looking lion cub. Though with his pants he now had a problem. His tail was bunched up uncomfortably.

He was torn between standing to fish out his tail and being dead set in his anger and hostility. It was nearly painful, but if he budged she'd win in his mind. Comfort won out and he moved slightly, just sitting up enough to get the slack needed to work his tail up the waist band of his pants.

To make things worse for him however a kangaroo woman entered the room. Hopping slightly with each step she took. "If the children will just follow me into the next room we'll begin shortly."

Isaac growled softly getting a firm nudge in the arm from his mom as he stood up. A fox girl dashed into the indicated room. Followed by the wolf boy who nearly bumped into the bear. The young deer looked at Isaac, who had no intention of being anything but last. The deer dashed inside when it became clear that Isaac was happy to let him go first.

Isaac ground his sharp teeth and slowly entered the room. It was just a small little meeting room. With a single row of chairs lined against the far wall just to the side of a closed door. The kangaroo woman stepped back out into the hall with their families. Closing the door behind her. Leaving all five children alone to sit and wait.

"Isn't this exciting?" The fox girl half asked, half yelled.

Isaac clenched his fist and sat as far from the door as he could manage. Leaving six empty seats between himself and the others.

"I reckon it'll be quick." The bear said softly.

"Did you study the guide?" The girl asked, her tail wagging slightly behind her.

"Yeah, spent most of yesterday looking it over." The wolf said.

"Same, took ages to understand." Said the bear.

"I memorized it days ago" The deer said quietly.

"What about-" the fox girl had to lean forward to see down the row.

The others noticed as well that Isaac was all too happy to be far from the action.

"You?" She finished.

"No" Isaac said making it clear that he wasn't having any fun.

"You'll never get it if you don't study." She said.

"He's probably stupid." The wolf replied.

"Oh that was mean! Maybe he cant help it. My cousin's brain works differently, maybe his does too." The fox said.

"No, I just don't care." Isaac said before slumping back in his chair. Closing his eyes halfway, as if pretending to be dead would solve all of his problems.

"Yeh don' care?" The bear asked sounding surprised.

"Not one bit." Isaac answered before going back to being dead.

"Well I hope I can get it. Been telling all my friends that I'd be going to a special school soon." The fox said trying to sound important.

Isaac snorted, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be playing dead.

The wolf leaned forward and glared at Isaac. "This is important stupid. Don't ruin it for us."

Isaac rolled his eyes, oh no, he's ruining it for them. The door next to the fox girl swung open.

"The first may now enter." Called a deep voice from beyond.

The girl wasted no time. Jumping from her chair and dashing into the room. The door closing behind her.

"Wonder what they'll have her do." The deer said quietly.

"Whatever it is I'll ace it." The wolf said puffing his chest out.

Isaac snorted to himself, sure you will, he thought, sure you will.

The door swung open again and the fox girl slowly shuffled out. Her ears flat against her head and tail tucked low under her white dress.

"One down." Isaac said under his breath.

The others all looked at each other stunned. In the amount of time it took to have that short conversation it was over.

"Next!" Called the voice.

The wolf got up from his seat and entered the room. Once again the door closed behind him.

"Reckon he'll last longer?" The bear asked with his eyes locked on the door just feet away from where he sat.

"If he doesn't then he's out." Isaac said clearly. Too tired at this point to go on with his feigned death.

"They studied though." The bear said.

Sure enough the door swung open again and the wolf walked out. His ears and tail both low. He crossed the room, pulled open the door they had all entered from just minutes ago and vanished from view. The door shutting behind him.

"Next!" The voice called out once more.

The bear looked nervous, casting a glance at the deer then leaning to peer down at Isaac. The lion cub just waved his hand towards the open door. Saying nothing to calm the other boy's nerves. He slowly got up and shuffled into the other room.

Once the door was closed the deer stood up and walked over to Isaac.

"So uh, why aren't you nervous?"

Isaac just shrugged.

"Didn't your parents talk to you about all this?"

Again Isaac simply shrugged. Yeah his mom had, nonstop for weeks.

The door opened again before the deer could ask any further questions. A sullen looking bear cub stepped out. Crossing the room in silence before returning to his parents in the hall.

"Next!" Called the voice. The deer gave Isaac a panicked look before shakily heading into the room. This time when the door closed Isaac was left alone. There was no one there to speak hopefully. No one to pester him with dumb questions. No one to lend silent hopeful thoughts to the child in the next room.

The door once more opened and out stepped the deer. He looked over at Isaac, giving a weak smile. Isaac sighed and got up. Giving the other boy a firm hug. He didn't know why he did it. Only that he felt the need to give a small amount of comfort.

The hug was brief and the deer left the room. Isaac was alone now.

"Next!" Called the voice causing Isaac to growl.

His anger had returned in full. He wanted to just follow the deer out. To simply shrug at his mom. Tell her that he wasn't picked, oh well, that was that. But he knew she'd know he skipped out. So he stepped into the next room. Looking at it for the first time.

It was another meeting room. There was a plastic folding table near the far wall. Behind which sat three people. A jaguar who wore a dark green robe. A matching poofy hat sat on his head. Next to him sat a stern looking lizard wearing a purple robe and matching hat. The final person was an elderly looking coyote who wore a tan robe and hat.

His eyes were closed and he looked like he really was dead. The door closed behind Isaac. He looked back and saw a tall jackal had been standing just out of sight. The jackal motioned toward the chair that sat in front of the table.

"You will sit." He said in a deep voice that Isaac recognized as the one that had called them all into the chamber.

Isaac looked over the jackal, he was wearing a black suit and red neck tie. Pausing briefly before walking up to the table and taking his seat across the three adults.

The lizard pulled a small plastic bin from under her chair and placed it on the table just in front of Isaac.

"I take it you studied the pamphlet?" She asked sounding more bored than anything.

"No." Isaac said flatly.

"What?" The lizard woman asked. Leaning forward slightly as if she misheard him.

"I said no." Isaac answered.

"Impertinent child." She hissed.

"Now now Janice, we cant expect every child to spend months reading over three small pages." The jaguar said almost amused.

She huffed slightly and adjusted her poofy hat even though it was still squarely in place.

Isaac looked at the coyote, unsure if the man was even breathing. He wanted to say something but decided to just keep it to himself.

"May as well get this time waster out quickly. Take the envelope from the bin and read the note inside to us." The lizard woman instructed.

Isaac raised a brow. This was it? The others sent away because they couldn't read a note? Easy enough, just open it up, stare blankly and pretend he cant read. Then his mom would leave him alone and he could go home. With a quick shrug Isaac reached into the shallow bin and removed the envelope. It wasn't sealed. The top end was just folded inside so with a quick flick it was open.

He pulled the folded page from the paper envelope. The paper felt cold to the touch. Isaac unfolded it and stared blankly as the seemingly blank page began to change before his eyes. A single word, boldly written appeared.

"Congra-too-lah-tee-ons?" Isaac asked unsure of what just happened.

"It says congratulations." The lizard woman said sounding entirely annoyed at the outcome.

"Wait, what?" Isaac asked looking from the page to the three adults in front of him.

"Idiot boy! Why couldn't one of the others gotten it?" She asked before sliding her chair back.

Deciding it best to just leave the room and leave the other two to deal with what was clearly a mistake. The jaguar just ignored her, waiting until she was gone before proceeding.

"Pay her no mind, she didn't pass either. Quite bitter about it when I did too. Now on to business. As you're aware by now you possess some amount of magical energy. Could just be minor psychic abilities. Or it could be something else. Your name will be submitted to Andromeda Academy."

Isaac's hand clenched at that. He didn't want to go. Didn't want his mother to know. He hated this whole situation.

"I don't want to." He half growled catching the jaguar off guard.

"Pardon?" The older male asked.

"I don't want to go." Isaac repeated.

"Why not?"

"My mom has bugged me for weeks about it. I just want to stay."

The coyote slowly opened his eyes. Catching Isaac by surprise. He spent so long swearing the old guy was dead that he pretty much forgot about him.

"Did they pass? Is it over? Wheel of Fortune is on soon." The old coyote adjusted his hat, causing it to lean heavily to the side.

"Yes he passed, first one in a long while for us. Though he seems rather upset by it." The jaguar informed him.

"Upset? Wheel of Fortune, Wheel of Fortune. Now see here little lady. You have promise and the Academy is the best place to realize that promise."

"I'm a boy!" Isaac yelled. Crossing his arms and pulling his legs up against his chest. Huffing loudly at the old guy.

"Not a very good one I'd say. But a good mage, yes yes, I see it in you. Talent, real talent. Now I must be going. The Wheel waits for no one I'm afraid." The old canine shakily stood and shuffled unsteadily out of the room. Leaving Isaac alone with the jaguar.

"Stupid old mutt." Isaac grumbled to himself.

"That 'stupid old mutt' as you called him is Magus Josiah. Strange man, but he is revered for a reason. It is rare for one of us to have the ability. Do this for yourself kid, not your mom. You wont be going to the Academy until high school. Plenty of time to think things over. I can tell her you failed if that will make you feel better."

Isaac's ears perked at that last statement.

"Really? You'd say I failed?"

"Yes, and you can still go to the Academy later."

"Deal!" Isaac said smiling for the first time all day.

The jaguar stood and led Isaac back to the front hall. Where everyone else was waiting. The fox girl's family was trying to comfort her but she was crying too heavily for anyone to even get a word in. Isaac caught the eye of the wolf boy and his smile faltered. They glared at each other.

"He was back there for a long while." The deer boy said louder than Isaac would have liked.

"Like that moron could have passed." The wolf boy said sticking his tongue out at Isaac.

Isaac stopped short of his mom. He was almost home free. The nice jaguar was going to tell her he failed, she'd be upset and he could go back to the way things were. But right now he hated the others more than he hated her. Just as the older male was about to introduce himself and explain that Isaac had failed the boy snapped.

"I passed." I said through grit teeth staring straight into the eyes of his enemy.

The whole room stopped. Every sound faded away and all eyes were now on the small lion cub.

"I passed, it was easy. No studying, no practice. I just walked in and did it."

The jaguar raised a brow and shrugged. This battle wasn't his. He was just there to test the children for magical potential as was tradition. Though usually when one was found to have the ability they were happy. Isaac had been far too angry. Had he not been the older male would have told him he was impressed.

The pamphlet was a guide on energy manipulation. Meant to build a child's energy levels to a point that could be tested for. Isaac having noticeable levels without even trying was something he hadn't seen before. The old ways dictated that all children were to be taught and tested. Even low amounts of magic was something special.

"Yes he did indeed pass. Magus Josiah said he had promise." The jaguar informed them.

If the room wasn't already silent that would have brought it to a standstill for sure. Isaac was hating himself. If he just kept quiet for a bit longer he could have just gone home in silence. Now he'd never hear the end of it. He didn't know who Magus Josiah was but from the room's reaction he knew it was someone important.

The little deer rushed over and hugged him tightly. No, no, no, this was not what Isaac wanted. He felt stupid, defeated, small and alone in a world he wanted nothing to do with. He longed for his video games and cartoons. With a sigh he returned the hug while his mom cheerfully talked to the jaguar. Magus Roberts was his name Isaac learned.

When the deer finally released him from the friendly hug Isaac sulked off to the first corner he could find. He spent all his time growing up in the human world. He felt happy and safe there. His new friend, Teddy, just knelt next to him. Unsure why Isaac wasn't happy.

The fox girl's family left shortly after. She decided that if she wasn't going to be the center of attention then no one would. Sobbing hysterically, loud, convincing hardly anyone that she was actually upset. Isaac lowered his ears and growled. He knew she was faking, horribly too. But there was nothing he could do about it.

Her family just changed back into their human forms and slipped back out the curtain. The bear family left right after them. The wolf boy's parents hung around listening to Magus Roberts. Teddy's dad wasn't going to leave without his son and Teddy was far too busy trying to solve the puzzle that was Isaac.

It was then Magus Josiah entered the room. Half shuffling, half dancing. Singing "Wheel of Fortune" over and over again. His tail swaying happily behind him. In that moment Isaac felt like a teenage girl who experienced something truly dreadful while at prom.

Expectations, high ones, are hard for children to deal with. Isaac had dealt with building expectations from his mother for weeks. The emotional build up was more than what he was capable of handling. He would have gladly given his life to be anywhere else. Even if that anywhere else was dead.

Teddy felt as lost as he did. The boy just couldn't understand why he wasn't happy. Isaac looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The yellow eyes of Magus Roberts looked down into his own. A sense of understanding in the smile he gave the small cub. The evening was called to an end in an effort to save Isaac from breaking down further.

His whole life was being threatened and at long last the jaguar took notice. So everyone retreated back into the human world for the time being. Isaac could feel that his mother wanted to say something the whole ride home. He wasted no time retreating to his room. Shutting himself away once more into his own world.

That's the way it was as weeks became months and months turned into years. Isaac refused to talk about it for an instant. His mother just shrugged and left him to it. What was couldn't be undone. She'd boast about him when he wasn't around. Looking forward to the day he turned fifteen and would begin the journey he was given a ticket to all those years ago.

The only one Isaac would even talk to about it was Magus Roberts. The man turned up from time to time to check in on him. It wasn't common for a Magus to do so. But Isaac wasn't like most. From a young age he'd always wanted to live his life his way.

When the day arrived nearly seven years later to the day Isaac looked as defeated as ever. With the date of his departure his mother gave up letting him have his space on the issue. Talking about it excitedly as often as she could. Reminding Isaac constantly that he was the first in their family to display magical abilities since an ancestor dead centuries ago.

Magus Roberts arrived as promised to personally escort Isaac. He pulled up in a black sports car. Isaac didn't know what kind, only that it was older, fifties or sixties. Isaac had made friends in school as all kids did. Here he was about to leave them behind. About to leave behind the life he had known since birth.

With a final wave goodbye, after far too many kisses for Isaac's taste, he was in the front seat of the car. He said nothing until they were down the street and around the first corner. Out of sight of his house and away from his mother.

"I don't have to go back do I?" Isaac asked breaking the silence.

"No, you can stay on campus during holidays and breaks. Though most want to get away after being stuck at the school."

"She'll just drive me nuts. Asking about the school and how I'm doing. Then drone on and on about how she told her friends things about me. You should have came sooner."

"You know the rules. We wait so you have time to mature. Even small magical abilities can be greatly abused by children. In rare cases we have to seal someone's abilities away until they reach your age. That is rare though, most are lucky to manage any amount of magic even after leaving the Academy."

"Yeah, but she was getting really bad towards the end. Couldn't wait to get me away from my friends. Rush me out to magic school so I can graduate and become a very impressive stock broker or whatever. Doubt she even knows beyond me going to a flashy and exclusive school."

"Do you want to be a stock broker?"

"Not really, what do you do when you're not checking up on me?"

"Teach mostly, though I have been known to tell fortunes in a dark tent."

"Oh? Sounds very mysterious. Do you wear a veil when you do it and talk with a heavy Romanian accent?"

"Naturally, the heaviest accents get me the biggest tips. Madam Samuel Roberts knows and sees all."

Magus Roberts turned and grinned at Isaac briefly as he drove. Isaac just shook his head returning the smile.

"Do any of us actually do that?" Isaac asked relaxing into the seat.

"Some do, some give real fortunes. Others put on a good show. The rest are just humans peddling for what coin they can get. Though on rare occasion some of them actually have limited psychic abilities. It's rarer for them than it is for our kind."

"So there isn't much of a market for teaching magic to humans then?" Isaac asked with a grin.

"Afraid not, give it a few years and maybe I'll need an assistant."

Isaac sat up straight at that. Looking over at the older male.

"Really? I wouldn't mind." He said getting a soft chuckle from Magus Roberts.

"Bit young to be needing full time help. Wouldn't you rather be around people your own age?"

"I like you though. Besides all my friends are back there. In our world I don't know too many people."

"Just the hormones talking, when they mellow out a bit you wont want me. As for friends you fought against knowing anyone who wasn't human. Kind of dug that hole for yourself."

"Try having my mom and get back to me about non human friends. Woman is a menace. If she wasn't so interested in my life I wouldn't care so much. But it's my life, not hers. She should try living her own life for a change. Ya know?"

"Single mother with a gifted child. You're not the only one in the world who felt pressures like that. To always be perfect, always bragging about you. Though most in that situation just cave to the pressure and do what they can to appease their overbearing parents. You fought against it, rebelling every single step of the way."

"Never thought about other kids like that. Kind of feel bad for them. Perfect grades, parents deciding what activities they do outside of school. Every moment of every day decided for them. Then they graduate and are told how every moment beyond has already been planned out for them. I'd kill myself, no way to live."

"Maybe I should call you Madam Isaac, getting all dramatic like that. Woe is you, the child whose life has streets paved in solid gold."

Isaac smiled and leaned against Magus Roberts best he could while secured with a lap belt. The older male just sighed and gently nudged him back onto his side of the car.

"Keep it to your side lover boy. Last thing we need is to wreck while I'm fending you off."

"Fine then older kitty cat, I'll just wait for you then. Cant say no to this face when I'm of age."

"I'm sure your mom would love that. Her eighteen year old son coming home with his then thirty-two year old boyfriend. I could just about be your dad you know."

"Ew, don't say it like that. I wouldn't mind you being that old. No daddy stuff though, totally weird. It's a fetish you know. Age play and what not. Just weird, who would want to shag their dad?"

"Someone out there I'm sure. You've been on the internet, you must know all about it."

"Well yeah but I like normal stuff. Just two guys doing their thing. Very plain and simple."

"How 1950s of you." Magus Roberts said with a chuckle.

"You saying you like leather and whips or something? Grab the paddle and show your naughty boy who the real man is?"

"Oh yeah totally, and instead of a safe word I use a complex series of hand signs and whistles."

"Someone is freaky." Isaac said with a grin.

"Not even, just figured I'd finish what you started is all."

The rest of the drive seemed to fly by as they talked their time away. Joking and making conversation. The road snaked it's way through a dense forest and up a mountain. Taking them further and further away from civilization.

Next bit will be a time jump forward. Not sure when I'll get it posted so no promises.