FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“So, I haven’t seen Midnight… around the school recently,” Julie thought aloud while in the shower before school about what to ask or say to the principal about Midnight's recent whereabouts.

She ran her fingers through her soapy hair. “Has Midnight been around here? Just used to seeing him– ugh, no. This is harder than I thought."

“But you have to come up with something." Julie got out of the shower, dried off, and brushed her hair in front of the mirror.

“Like any other day, except you'll willingly visit the principal's office," she said while running the brush through strands, turning her face to ensure she didn't neglect any areas. After she was done, she grabbed her outfit and black jacket folded over the shower rack behind her. It faded into gray at its midsection, then into white filling the bottom half, styled with cute white and black paw prints.

She stared at her reflection. “Have to do it, or else you'll never know." She built some courage and was off to school. The forecast predicted a rainy day this afternoon to late evening.

---

Julie didn’t say hi to a single person but gave a few half-smiles while she walked down the school's hall. She leaned toward not caring again. She may have to cut her losses and restart elsewhere after graduation.

She sat through history and talked little with Max and Jane, but that was all she did. She often fell into a daze during the lecture about what could happen in the principal's office. Class ended faster for her as a result. Julie had written notes off and on and had copied some of Jane's and Max's when she missed anything.

Ten minutes remained until her science class started; as Julie exited the room and walked to her locker, she saw Alyssa waiting by it.

“You don’t look too good. Eyes are kind of puffy."

Was it that obvious? Julie hadn't slept much last night. “I wanted to go to the office today during lunch, but I don't know if I can." She got her locker open.

“Sure you can. If you want to go today, then let’s go. What’s stopping you?”

“What am I supposed to say?” Julie shut her locker after getting her supplies.

“Go in there and ask. It's that simple. You love him more than anyone and have zero competition." Alyssa eyed her. "Julie, It couldn't be any easier. It's like asking a ninetales what five plus four is. Besides, I'm going with you.” She headed the opposite way. “So, see you soon."

Julie watched her fade into groups of other students. "She's right." She had mulled this over throughout the weekend and had convinced herself to go through with it already. Julie was willing to bet money that no more than five students even noticed Midnight wasn't present on the grounds, and they didn't care enough to seek answers. They'd be just fine if a jolteon replaced him tomorrow.

During her next class, Julie paid more attention and tucked her thoughts away for the time being. She focused on writing notes, raising her hand to answer questions, and listening to the teacher's lecture on breaking down cellular structures.

After math, like a countdown she kept track of all class, lunch arrived.

Julie rubbed her eyes while leaving the room and approached her locker with Alyssa waiting beside it. The butterfree fluttered in her stomach while she opened her locker and put her things away.

“You ready?” Alyssa asked, leaning on another student's locker.

“Nope.”

“That’s the spirit. Come on.”

While they walked to the office, Julie tried putting herself at ease. It was a simple question. Straight to the point. They arrived in front of the office's door, and she looked at Alyssa. “You stay. I need to have a clear head while I do this."

"Sure, I'll chill out here."

With a deep breath, Julie grabbed the handle and opened it. One step more, and she’d be inside the office. She saw a counter with a red-haired middle-aged female receptionist wearing large glasses behind it and metal dressers tucked into corners behind her.

Julie approached the counter. “Hi, missus Emery. I'd like to uh… speak to Mister Willam. I have a few questions." It helped that Mrs. Emery had worked here for years and had a decent relationship with Julie's mother. They used to talk whenever Julie's mother came up to the school.

“Pleasure to see you, Julie. He’ll be back in a few. You may wait for him in his office," Mrs. Emery replied warmly.

“You too." She grinned a little. "Thank you." She walked through the space at the counter's left and entered the door, sitting in one of the chairs at his desk.

‘What were you thinking, Julie? He’ll think it’s a joke or a waste of time,’ she thought and sat stiff in the chair while waiting down the time. Her anxiety only made everything worse. Half of her wanted to get up and ditch this risible idea.

The door opened behind her. “Oh, hello, Julie! Questions, right?" He went around and sat in his significantly bigger chair across from her.

“Y-Yes, just one." Julie brought her hand to twirl her jacket's drawstring; her eyes fluttered with quick blinks. “So, the umbreon I see around the school every day, Midnight— I haven't recently. I'm just curious about where he is because... yeah."

“Hm, I'm surprised anyone asked. I'm getting older; unfortunately, I cannot care for Midnight. I don't want to release him to the wild because I've owned him for years, so I'm going to attempt rehoming him. He currently stays at my place of residence, but there isn't much for him to do. My wife and I work, we have no children, and we own no pokémon.

Midnight deserves a better quality of life as a young pokémon and is currently staying with a friend of mine. We were going to make a small announcement to the students, but I don't believe they mind whether or not he's here."

Julie went stiff. Stiffer than before. "S-So... that means you're– y-you're looking for anyone to take him as long as they care for him well, right?" She squeezed her drawstring as if a lifeline. Her throat began to tighten.

“Well, yes, I suppose anyone could take him as long as they tended to his needs, but I do have people inquiring about him as we speak... a lot due to his unique appearance. He would go to a loving family or a passionate trainer, maybe even be an emotional support pokémon. Why do you ask?” He drew his eyes over her tense demeanor.

Her breath caught and stuttered in her throat as if trapped, and her stomach tied into knots. Julie fought to find the right words and get her next question out, swallowing hard, but she didn't want him living with some family. She didn't want him to be a battle pokémon. None of that because Midnight was so much more. He was her soulmate, a caring, loving umbreon who no one could understand the way she did. “What if… so, wh-what if I were to take him?”

“Pardon? You would like to take Midnight?”

She nodded. Julie held her breath for the answer that'd shatter her, her weight shifting from one leg to the other.

He leaned back in his chair, eyeing Julie as if studying her. “How old are you?"

“Eighteen, sir.”

He peered. “Why don't you return on Friday after school? We may discuss this further. You should attend lunch and prepare for your next period. Thank you for stopping by, Julie. Any more questions?"

“Uh, no. Thank you for your time. I’ll be back on Friday.” She let her arm fall and grinned while exiting his office.

Alyssa had been leaning against the wall on her phone; she looked up as Julie came into the hall. “Oh, finally. How’d it go?” She slipped it in her pocket and turned to her.

Julie exhaled and leaned over, releasing pent-up emotions. She stood again. “He said to come back this Friday. I-I asked about Midnight's whereabouts, and he told me he was looking to rehome him. One thing led to another... then, like, I asked if I could take him." Julie's lips flickered to a subtle smile.

“Doesn’t sound like a no to me. See? Wasn't that hard."

“I mean, I don't have him yet, but Mister Willam said someone would only have to care for him and his needs.”

“Fingers crossed. That shouldn’t be too hard for 'ya. You could easily tend to his needs… and desires as a bonus.”

“Alyssa...” Julie pushed her arm while her cheeks warmed.

“Heh, c'mon, we still have a while before lunch is through.”

---

The rest of the day went great. Nothing was guaranteed, but there was a chance, big or small, and Julie had closure on Midnight's whereabouts. For now, she could hold onto that.

That night, she was in bed, in thought, while listening to rain patter against the pavement and streets outside. It had been raining off and on throughout the day, altering between showers and sprinkles and mizzles.

"I'd take him everywhere I went, and our nights..." Wholesome or not. Julie was warm and fuzzy all over. "Please, please let me have him... Arceus, Lugia..."

She turned onto her side and clutched the blanket. Friday would tell; however, Julie would still have to get through the rest of the week without him. It would suck, but it was doable.

Soon after she closed her eyes, they opened to daylight— a quick transition. Julie took five minutes to wake up and then got ready for school. She fixed her hair and put her clothes on quickly enough so she still had time to eat before leaving.

"Morningg, Mom," Julie said while entering the kitchen.

She turned around slightly from wiping the counter with a cloth. "Morning, sweetie. You seem more awake than usual."

"Do I?"

"You're usually a slakoth in the morning, so I'd say so." She hung the cloth on the oven's handle. "Want to help me cook again? I thought it was a nice mother-daughter bonding experience last time. I see a lot less of you these days, and I know you'll be heading off soon."

"But you know I'll always call and visit even if I'm away. I couldn't forget the best mom ever."

She wore a wide smile. "I'm glad I can be that for you, sweetie."

After cooking and eating with her mother, Julie grabbed her backpack and was out the door. She saw Alyssa waiting for her on the pavement in front of the porch, to her surprise, almost on it to avoid the sprinkler wetting the sidewalk's edges.

“Thought I’d ride with you to school through your chilly city since we don’t anymore, if that’s okay with you?” Alyssa leaned on her bike.

“Of course." Julie grabbed her bike in under a minute and rode past, turning onto the public sidewalk and signaling Alyssa to follow.

She pedaled to catch up and slowed afterward to keep beside Julie.

They turned off a driveway and rode along the road by stationary cars to let people walk past since their bikes took up the walkway.

Alyssa watched behind them for traffic. “How was last night? Any sleep?"

“I slept fine. Getting information about Midnight was terrific.”

“Okay, so, off-topic, but I meant to ask— if and when you do happen to get Midnight, what would your mom think?”

“Oh, she'll be fine, but after I graduate, I want to travel to another region, and if I have Midnight, I'll def take him with me, so we'll be away for a while."

“That’s exciting, going on your first honeymoon. Just don’t forget about me.”

Julie rolled her eyes. “After my first trip, you and I could go on one together."

"Yeah?" She looked at her. "Where're we headed?"

"Uh, I don't know... Ryme City, or Dahara. It's the biggest city in the world, so it has got to be great."

"Yeah, alright, don't start hitting me with your obscure region knowledge."

Julie grinned. "Then where? You've got to have somewhere you want to go." She looked ahead as they neared Central.

"We should hit up Alola. Everyone goes there at least once."

"I like it. Let's do it one day."