FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 2:

Richard

I woke up later. Much later if the stiffness in my joints was anything to go by. A numbing fog clouded my mind, slowing my thoughts and blocking my memories. The whole phenomena was weird and deeply unnatural. An evil thing that seemed to devour the edges of my consciousnesses and no amount of focus would push back. My feelings were the only things that fog didn't touch. Though they weren't faring any better with the conflicting twister of emotions still raging in my heart, creeping in my soul. For the first time since my capture, I felt helpless and weak. I had no plans, no control, no memories and even my feelings were betraying me. Tears ran down my face, sobs leaving my mouth. My arms hugged my knees close to my chest, looking for some measure of comfort in my prison. Darkness was my friend for what seemed like hours until rays of blue pierced it. The mage entered a few moments later, preceded by his entourage of blue orbs.

“Good evening, my king," Dax said with his squeaky voice. He gave me a gracious bow before he half-muttered half-whizzed some words. The stone shifted under him and formed a rough seat. “I hope you forgive me sitting, but these old bones are not what they used to be."

I remained silent, equal parts surprise and distrust. The mage kept a kind smile the whole time, nurturing and loving. He placed his cane on his lap, the wooden stick covered by strange wavy carvings.

“Thank you, your grace," he said with a sing song voice while he adjusted his robes. “Now, how are you faring today?"

I kept my lips closed tight and sent a glare the crow's way, giving a shake to the chains that bound me to the wall. The kind smile never left the crow's beak however, his green eyes remained trained on mine, a hint of sadness shining through.

“I see. I understand you must be angry at me, your grace." The crow's feathered hands caressed the cane's wood with slow measured strokes. “But I can only help you if you talk to me."

The silence stretched for what must have been minutes as his verdant eyes searched mine. The mage's face revealed nothing but patience and a twinge of pity, his posture firm but elegant. I could feel my anger raising as time ran by and yet, there was a stranger and more worrisome feeling that also increased with each minute we shared: nostalgia. It spread through my heart and my mind like water, no matter how many times I shook my head or tried to focus on my anger, it always won out in the end. With it came a bittersweet happiness, as if I had just reunited with an old friend only to part moments later. It ate at my heart in a way I couldn't hope to resist.

“I'm— I could be doing worse." I finally whispered, overcome by the nostalgia.

“Yes, we could all be doing worse, my liege. That's one of life's few universal truths." Dax replied with humor, caressing his cane with a far away look on his eyes. “But I meant how you are feeling physically."

“My wrists hurt, my back is stiff and sometimes, sometimes my head hurts." I answered after a few seconds, doubt creeping into me as I opened up with such ease. “It's like a nail is being driven through my head."

“Anything else, your grace?" asked the crow with a kind voice. I shook my head, unwilling to let the mage steal more words from me. His visit didn't last much longer, the crow asked only a handful of questions before he stood up again and gave me a low bow. He tapped his cane on his seat once and the stone melded into the ground without a single sound. Dax gave me one final pitying look before he left, the door closing behind him with a loud clang.

The mage soon became a fixture in my new life despite my wishes. He came every "morning" to check on me, crafting sweet lies and empty promises. From time to time, his soft voice would weave tales of his king and the outside world, a thin smile sneaking into his face. At "night", his orb would come to keep me company, its colors providing entertainment until sleep claimed me. I counted two weeks that passed in this manner. In all that time, I had learned little about my capture or my "curse". The mage was surprisingly closed about those subjects, but he was eager to share about his magic and his king. By now, the tales of his king had become so familiar to me that I could hear his voice weaving them when I remembered his visits.

On the fifteenth day, things took a different turn when the tapping of a cane echoed in the distance. The mage's soft steps joined by heavy thuds, forming a peculiar rhythm: Tap, thud, tap, tap, thud, tap. Each heavy step accompanied by the tingling of metal, igniting my curiosity. My cell's iron doors opened on their own as usual, the pale blue orbs taking their assigned places. The mage came in next, wearing a robe of deep forest green with silver linings. His presence was subdued and ethereal, even in that attire. He gifted me with a quick smile, his eyes sparkling with purpose before he beckoned someone in.

A tall bull ducked inside, his ivory horns scratching the door's frame. His coat of chain-mail jingled with every move he made. The metal covering his thick arms and wide torso almost reaching all the way down to his knees. His strong legs hugged by greaves of metallic gray chain-mail. On one side a heavy mace hung on his belt while a long sword rested on a scabbard on the opposite side. The rest of his body was covered in sable black fur that seemed to shine under the ethereal lights. He walked forward with purpose, stopping when only a single meter separated us. With a grace unexpected from someone his size, he gave me a profound bow. Then, he knelt on the stone floor, supporting most of his weight on a knee and a fist. His head bowed solemnly, the light reflecting on the pair of intricate silver capping on his horns. Once more a sense of familiarity surfaced at the sight, bringing forth a deep longing that killed any coherent thought in my mind.

“My king, I'm so glad to finally see you. It's most pleasing to see you well after our last encounter." He said with a gruff voice that struggled to remain even. His free hand shook as he bowed even further, the tingling of his armor echoing across the room. “Your majesty, I'm afraid I must impose upon your kindness once more. My failure our country has cost our kingdom deeply, and even more so to you, my liege. Please my liege, be merciful in your judgment. Not of me — I swear to take whatever punishment you see fit — but of those that served under me. Their failure was only brought about by mine, so please, let punishment fall solely upon my shoulders."

“What— What are you talking about? Who are you? What do you mean by punishment?" The bull raised his face, pain and shame clear in his golden eyes. His head turned towards the mage, a whine leaving his throat, and shared a quick look with the old crow. The robed bird shook his head, a grimace on his face. A curse left the bull's lips, moist golden orbs fixing on me.

“I'm Waken your grace. Your knight, friend and confidant." the bull answered, his voice thick with emotion. “We, we have been friends for a long time, ever since—"

“Your father died." The words escaped my mouth, carrying a bitter regret that was not my own with them. A foreign presence stirred at the edges of my mind, images flooding into me. A sapphire wall reflecting golden rays, their imposing sight highlighting the building. A long procession of people passing through a temple, hard faces set with resigned conviction. The heavy scent of incense and ashes thick in the air. Goodbyes and promises were given to a solemn figure laying on an altar. A sobbing calf clung to the hand of the motionless bull. The scene changed, the same calf was now alone in a forest, crying his heart out. The texture of matted fur and the warmth of a shaking body in my arms invaded my mind. Suddenly, the memories were snuffed out. Wide brilliant eyes stared at me, bovine muzzle trying and failing to form words.

“I'm sorry, I-I didn't- I don't know what came over me." I told him, terrified that I had crossed a line with my captors. His eyes widened, a huff of air was expelled from his nose. I shivered when he straightened his back, the difference in power clear in the movements of his massive bulk. Our gazes met, surprise and sorrow mixed In his golden orbs.

“It's okay, your grace," he mumbled, turning his head sharply to a side while his tail wrapped around his leg, "I was just surprised that you remembered."

“But I don't. I don't know either of you!" I yelled as my body shook with anger, blood boiling in my veins. “How many times do I have to tell you I'm not your king? I'm Richard Danson, a simple merchant. Why are you so obsessed with this king business? Why are you forcing all these memories in me? All these feelings?"

“They're yours your majesty, the curse-"

“Lies! You and your bloody curse are lies! Do you take me for a fool? You mages enjoy toying with people's lives! What have you done with my family? Where do you keep them?!"

The crow's voice chimed in calm and confident.

“I know it is all very confusing to you, your grace. I can't even begin to imagine how this all must seem to you. But I promise you, the two of us only want the best for you."

“The best for me? I'm chained in a dungeon, left alone for gods know how long. How is that the best for me?"

“An unfortunate situation I admit but a necessary one, my liege. As I told you before, your curse is a particularly nasty one. Only here, in this special chamber, were we able to stop the curse from progressing, though I'm afraid we have done little beyond that," Dax said with a sorrowful voice, “Then, there's the issue of your own safety my king. You hurt many knights during our rescue mission, quite a few of them are already back on their posts, guarding you even now but some, some will never recover. Most of them understand your plight and their sacrifice will be remembered for the rest of our lives. Their families, on the other hand, may not be so merciful. At least, not to the current you."

“What do you mean the current me? I didn't do anything. I couldn't wield a knife to save my life."

“We know your grace, but they don't," replied the knight, a frown forming on his brow, “As far as they're concerned, a human hurt the knights and a human will rot away in our dungeons. Justice has been served."

A heavy weight settled in my gut. Bile burning the back of my throat as I fought the urge to empty my stomach. Shivers wracked my body, the implications of their words gripping my heart in a cold embrace.

“I will die? Here?" I said with a sliver of voice, tears streaming down my cheeks. My body quaked with emotions as the last of my bravado crumble. Sobs and whimpers joined the tears moments later.

The knight removed his gauntlets with practiced ease, the heavy metal ringing when they hit the floor. Warm fur caressed my skin, staunching the trail of tears with a gentle motion. His face morphed into a strained smile, golden eyes glistening with unshed tears. New images emerged from my memory: Knights covered in red gore, charging down at me. Screams of mercy filled the air, weapons bringing then to an abrupt end moments later. The scent of blood and burned flesh assaulted my nose. A huge monster, with twisted horns looked down at me with fire-like eyes. An expression laden with pleasure never leaving his demonic face while his band of faceless minions harried innocents to their fate. Then, the images became a blurry mess, colors and sounds blending together in a twister of information that made my head hurt. When it finally settled, the scenes had suffered a complete change. The red gore was gone from the knights' steel armor, the cries of mercy morphed into gut twisting curses. The demonic minions became nervous knights, struggling to hold their ground against feral attackers; the large monster was replaced by a bovine figure clad in a mantle of steel rings. The shriek of steel running over steel pierced the air as a large axe met the horned knight's shield. The bull knight was pushed back, his hooves scratching the stone ground; he called to me in a broken voice as angry bellows came from his ursine adversary. Pools of gold filled with desperation and impotence.

The memories fought against each other. Each crash evoking more of the alien presence into me, taking away my control. A fire spread through my body, pouring vitality and strength into my muscles while it filled me with boundless energy. Powerful arms brought me closer to the bovine, his overpowering musk assaulting my senses. The warmth of his titanic arms around me caused dread to take root in my heart. He could end me with a single squeeze, my bones would break like twigs under his strength. Yet, tranquility and safety poured from the foreign presence while I breathed in the bull's scent, His will maneuvering my arms to return the hug. A contented sigh left my mouth as the presence nuzzled the bull's neck.

“Waken, my knight," spoke a deep baritone voice, carrying the easy confidence of one used to command, “Listen to me well, we don't have much time."

“Your majesty," replied the bull with a broken voice, soft tremors wracking his body, his hold turning desperate.

“I'm sorry it all came to this. I never meant to place this burden on you. I failed you once more," said the voice. Regret and pain came from him in waves, battering me in our shared mindscape.

“I was too naive, I didn't think it would happen so soon and we paid the price. You shouldn't have gone through it alone. Please, forgive me."

“There's nothing to forgive," the knight mumbled; drops of warm liquid fell on my head, Waken clinging to me like a kid clutching his teddy bear. The quiet whines and rumbles that escaped his throat betrayed his pain.

“The same goes for you my Waken. You did your best and there's nothing else I could ask of you," the king said with a sorrowful voice. Kind hands sneaked out of the hug to caress the bull's face with soft strokes.

“But it wasn't enough. I am your shield and I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't there for you," cried the bovine, “And now, you're like this."

“There's only so much we can do. The Gods have been kind to us but we're still mortals. No matter how many lives we get, we still have limits Waken." The presence nuzzled the bull one last time, before turning towards the mage, the bird's eyes set on the far side of the room. “Dax, I'll leave the rest up to you. I'm sorry to put so much on your shoulders at your age, my friend."

“Think nothing of it your grace. I'm glad these old bones still hold some fire in them. Hoh, hoh, hoh," replied the crow, a subdued smile appearing on his beak.

“Darrien." Whispered Waken, one humongous hand brushing my hair, a strained smile on his muzzle.

“We'll meet again Waken. One day. We always do."

As those words ran through the room, a creeping darkness invaded my vision. My body grew numb while the strength that had moved my body evaporated. I could hear the cries of the bull, his arms shaking me like a rag doll. But it didn't last long, the darkness conquered more and more of my sight, sensations became more and more distant with each second until there was nothing.

The next thing I knew, I was floating on an endless sea of black. The viscous fluid cradling me, its touch dry and soft. There was no sound in this place and a fuzziness spread through my body. Small golden orbs gathered around me, moving through the liquid with ease. A soft light warding away the darkness. Countless spheres danced around me, their lights pulsing and growing in time with a tuneless music. A sudden pull sent me falling into the depths of the ocean. The orbs whirled around me, their revolutions growing in speed as I sank further into the sea.

Fear gripped my heart when an orb broke away from the others to hover in front of me. A rainbow of colors sliding over its surface, the orb steadily coming closer to me. When it touched my nose, a dizzying light blinded my eyes. Mere moments after, the sea of white vanished. The dance of light and dark replaced by a sinister forest. Giant trees twisted and shifted in eerie shapes. Cold wind blew through the trees followed by a desperate wailing; a crushing terror weighted down on my heart. I was standing there at the edge of the forest, alone and unarmed save for a deep sense of purpose burning in my heart. My body lurched forwards, pushing through the bushes with fierce determination, shredding my clothes. Thorns and twigs bit into my skin, spikes of pain shooting from all over my body. But a deep seated passion kept me moving forward; my teeth gritted in pain.

I swiped at the plants for what felt like an eternity, twisting and turning to push through. Every swipe would reveal new branch, a new bush. Every step brought the whip of the branch I had just let go. An abrupt end came to the routine when one of my swipes met air, the lack of resistance catching me off guard. The extra momentum put me out of balance, sending me over the last bush and into an open field. My arms shot forward, stopping me before my muzzle was about to kiss the earth. Sobs and cries brought my ears forward; the metallic scent of blood slipping into my nose. Ahead, in the middle of the clearing sitting next to a musty and fallen tree trunk, was a portly calf. His coat of ebony fur reflected the fading sunlight while his tattered clothes barely held to his body. Relief and worry surged from my heart, I yanked my feet out of the bushes in a hurry and ran toward the injured bull, every step marked by the crunch of twigs.

His head turned towards me, his ears flicking at the sound of the broken twigs; his brow set in a frown while his boulder like body went rigid. Gold orbs widened a few moments later, my name leaving his lips in a whisper I could barely catch with my lupine ears. He scrambled to get up, but fell back on his butt halfway through; a grimace showing on his face. It didn't take me long to be by his side, panting for breath and my body protesting from the exertion. I gave him the best smile I could, but his snort told me I looked more tired than I wanted to let on. His hands shot to my sides, his reassuring strength steadying me. His left hand spreading a viscous wetness across my fur while the smell of ferrous smell of blood reached my nose.

“Why are you here?" the calf said with a defensive tone, the frown growing deeper when his eyes grasped the sorry state of my clothes.

“I was looking for you. You looked miserable at the funeral." I replied between pants, my voice but a whisper. “Like all the light in the world had died out. I, I couldn't bear to leave you like that. So, here I am."

A huff came out of him, his ears pressed to his skull. A sliver of defiance came to his eyes, before his lips opened again.

“How did you find me?" he asked me with a high pitched voice, wary and worried eyes meeting mine.

“Would you believe me if I said it was a hunch? Ha, ha, ha. You don't have to glare at me. I searched the castle top to bottom first, with as much luck as you expect. And when I was about to give up I felt a sort of pull, I don't know how to explain it. It was like a spark was born in my chest, brimming with energy. It made my heart flutter whenever I came closer to the forest. And here I am," I replied, tenderly placing a hand on his forearm, “Are you hurt?"

Silence hung for a few moments between us, the bull averting his gaze. His hands took hold of one of mine, placing tender caresses on the back of my hand.

“Yes. I was stupid," he admitted at last, guiding my hand to a nasty gash on the side of his thigh. A clump of cloth was pressed against the wound, but even then trickles of red flowed towards the grounds, tinting the remains of his pants.

“You aren't stupid, just reckless. I have seen you in the yard, practicing with the other squires. Always charging ahead." I tore away part of my ruined shirt, using the fabric to tie the clump tight to the leg. A hiss came from the calf, a stream of curses following soon after. The flow of blood was mostly staunched, red dots spreading around the cloth.

“But, I like that about you. It makes me want to keep moving forward, to see how far I can get."

He stared at me dumbfounded, one hand stroking the base of his horns.

“I don't want to go back."

“I guessed as much. It's too dark already anyway. We would just get lost. We'll have to sleep here."

“We?" he said with an incredulous tone, the frown returning to his face. The set of his shoulders betrayed his discomfort.

“Someone has to make sure some wild creature doesn't eat you," I replied with a grin, taking a seat next to him.

“You can't wield a blade to save your life, how are you going to save mine?"

“I'll howl, maybe growl. You know, let out the wild beast our ancestors had."

A soft chuckle came from him; his arm sneaked behind me to take hold of my shoulder, bringing me closer to him. The warmth of his body driving away the cold of the rising night.

“Don't, really, don't. I was at the yard too and I have seen kids fight better than you." he told me, a sparkle of mirth in his eyes.

“Hey, I resent that!" I replied with mock offense, a smile coming to my face.

“It's the truth, you can ask little Tien to teach you how to fight when we return." A genuine laugh shook his body, deep and honest.

“Is that how you speak to your prince?"

“Sorry, is there a prince here? I just see a foolish wolf with half his clothes torn to shreds," Waken said, playing with a string of my tattered pants.

“And what is your excuse beef? Did you lose a fight with a tree?"

The smile that he gave me, a mix of shyness and shame brought new life to our laughs. A part of me knew that there would be so much trouble ahead of us; our chances of avoiding the rage of the king as fleeting as the last rays of sunlight. But, the other part of me could only think of how lucky I had been to follow that pull. The intimacy of this moment, the sense of belonging I had just by being next to this bull that was at best an acquaintance, it surpassed anything I had ever felt before. Somehow, in this forest, under this sky, I had found a treasure the likes of which the palace didn't hold, and I never wanted to let it go.

That was the last though I had before the world faded away. The same pull from before yanked me away from the foreign memory, bringing me back to the embrace of the orbs of light. A symphony of chimes came from the spheres, their color changing to in time with the music, lulling me into a peaceful slumber.