FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The blanket of darkness in the sky weighed heavily over the small city, smoke rising from the chimney of a nearby restaurant as the humans, anthros, and ferals alike carefully walked the streets. The waxing crescent of the moon rested among the flickering sparks in the sky, the distant clouds from earlier that evening having drifted over the peaks of the mountains on the horizon that surrounded the valley. It was only then as the rays of the sun disappeared from view that the nocturnal animals awoke from their slumber, going about their 'day' just like any other diurnal creature would, creating a lively atmosphere even in the dead of night.

The creatures in the city got along, for the most part, walking side-by-side as any other would. But even in a city where harmony between the many species was supposed to reign supreme, the smaller and weaker animals always kept a second eye upon, the distant yet constant threat of being consumed by a more powerful being looming in the back of their minds. Sure, there were laws to protect them, but that didn't stop the occasional disappearances despite how much they wished it would.

Yet even in a dangerous city such as this, one human wandered alone on the sidewalk, letting out a heavy sigh as he carried his guitar over the center of his back, making his way towards the forest on the outskirts of the town.

Mono grunted as he rolled his shoulders and raised a hand to try and fix the straps attached to the instrument that was pressing down on him, arranging it into a slightly more comfortable position before continuing. A cool breeze swaying through the branches of trees littering the city made a chill wash over the hairs on his arms, putting one of his hands into his pocket with his thumb resting on the outside, keeping his other hand out and ready if the guitar tried to slide off him as he walked.

The growling of a car zooming past nearby caught his attention, turning to the right as his good ear caught onto the sound, glancing backward at the green light as it passed beneath it and further into the town towards the taller buildings in the center. Despite the nocturnal life that roamed around these times, this edge of the city was fairly quiet and he relished not having to talk to anyone if he could avoid it. Still, he kept his arms close to his body, looking down an alleyway across the street, gazing over the large green trash bin that sat there before focusing on the line in the pavement in front of him. He then shook his head, fixing a strand of hair that was hanging over his eyes before pulling it over the back of his left deaf ear.

After venturing further from the city for a few minutes, the smell of cigarettes reached his nose, huffing at the repulsive smell as he turned his head to face the bar across the street. Yellow lights glowed brightly from inside the windows, the faint sound of music from inside accompanying the drunken voices that filled the area, watching as someone climbed into their vehicle and drove off. He noticed that many of the patrons were outside under the canopy tonight, sipping their drinks and talking in grumbled voices to one another in small groups. 'Busier than usual...' Mono thought to himself, taking notice of the majority of humans relaxing along with the occasional anthro that chatted among them. A black fox leaned against the wall in a skimpy outfit, a cocky expression on her face as she chatted with some other girls along with a brown tiger lounging back on a chair a few tables away, eyeing her down.

He glanced up at the neon sign hanging above the establishment, a soft red glow lighting it up: 'The Prancing Fawn'. He remembered the first time he'd come here on his twenty-first birthday to celebrate, the uneasiness in his chest at what it would be like to be around drunk people and possibly having to... socialize. He wasn't the type to go out and celebrate, especially not in public, but with his best friend at his side to celebrate and watch over him, he eventually went along with it. 'Flare...' He sighed to himself, pausing for a moment as he looked over the establishment and thought back to that day.

He pictured the green l-shaped couch in the corner of the large room, the soft glow of the bulb in the overhanging light as Flare presented him with his first beer. He remembered the cocky raise of his eyebrow, chuckling as he watched Mono take just the smallest swig before his disgust was written plain on his face. How he'd experimented with some other kinds of alcohol, eventually getting a little tipsy as he leaned on Flare for balance. How his best friend sat on his right as he always did, making him smile to know he remembered which ear he could hear from. How he'd look over and joke with him, treating him just like any other person and nothing less.

His chest tightened, letting out a soft sigh as he closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on his breathing. It hadn't been the same without him, but it was because of that loss that he was walking into the forest, promising himself he could let out his emotions more once he reached the lake. After clearing his thoughts, he opened his eyes, breathing in the crisp cool air around him, attempting to ignore the taint of smoke lingering within. He then turned his head to give a final look at the bar absentmindedly, wanting to reminisce over it for a moment longer.

But like a ghost, where there was once an empty chair now sat a dark gray wolf, his ragged fur standing out as if to make himself look bigger. He wore a black t-shirt with the name of some metal band scrawled in sharp letters, an expensive jean jacket covering his arms and back, matching the material on his legs. The piercings covering his face seemed to only heighten the unease within Mono, black rings sticking out from the edges of his ears, a matching one hanging from the center of his nose. But in the end, while the dark jewelry certainly gave off the sinister look, what stood out the most to him was his dark amber eyes. As Mono recognized him, their gazes met, the canine glaring directly back at him with a sinister grin on his muzzle that sent shivers through the human's spine. Even from his position sitting down, the anthro was measured taller than him. The wolf raised a claw to pick his teeth, lips drawing back as he cleaned them, the aura that seemed to always surround him causing the other patrons to keep their distance.

At the sight of him, Mono quickly averted his gaze to his feet, gulping as he continued walking once more. 'Yup, he's there again. Why does he have to fucking look at me like that?'

After initially visiting the bar on his 21st birthday, he would occasionally come back every few weeks with Flare to hang out and drink as he enjoyed chatting over alcohol, but what started as some harmless fun slowly began to grow more and more unsettling after he'd first shown up. The wolf was from out of town, catching wind from the bartender as Flare questioned if she knew who he was. She mentioned that he just... started showing up one day, but instead of coming to drink and chat with others, he spent most of his time just sitting in one of the chairs at the back, observing the environment rather than actually bothering to be a part of it. At first, it didn't bother the two of them very much, going about their night as usual as they relaxed at one of the couches that were open, but by the time they were leaving and Mono glanced over at the wolf, his face went cold.

The creature was glaring directly at him, his deep breaths coming out in a low growl, licking his chops at the sight of him. Flare quickly took notice, the two deciding it would be safer to head home. Mono stuck close to his side as they left, unable to help his curiosity from glancing back in hopes that maybe he was seeing things. But once again, the canine eagerly stared back, looking him up and down before they disappeared out of view. He couldn't have been happier to have Flare by his side at that moment, knowing that as long as someone else was there the likelihood of an animal jumping him and trying to eat him would be greatly decreased, not to account for the other creatures in the establishment that could bear witness if he tried anything.

That was part of the risk of coexisting with animals, whether feral or anthro. Vore had become a common occurrence that took place in every corner of the earth, hypothesized to have originated from their more primal instincts that had stuck with them to this very day. But just because there were urges didn't make those urges right. Laws were laid down to try and protect others who were at risk and to promote safe communities between all species. But even with these legislations, many predators treated them as suggestions rather than rules to abide by, making it much harder to enforce such laws when more than twenty percent of the population partook in vore in one aspect or another when behind closed curtains. There were exceptions to the rules of course, where a prey giving consent to be eaten may be devoured alive, as long as signatures were signed to prove the agreement. But for the most part, no one cared to follow the law, at least not where he lived.

To this very day, the city Mono lived in was known as one of the most unruly places in terms of rules regarding the consumption of others. The officials still upheld the legal laws as any city must, but when push came to shove and an innocent was eaten by another, the anthros and ferals running it all would often downplay the incident and instead shift the focus onto other matters rather than the disappearances that would commonly occur. It wasn't a safe place to live but he'd grown up here all his life and as long as he stayed around others or close to home he knew he wouldn't have much to worry about. Still, the wolf's eyes had instilled a fear in him at that moment that he never had felt before, the presence of the predator making him feel vulnerable as he stepped outside of the bar with his friend.

Ever since then they began to plan out their trips to the bar more sparingly, slowly noticing a pattern that he wouldn't show up on Saturdays. But on nights like today, here he was, even now noticing as Mono walked by, not bothering to hide the look in his eyes as he watched him walk down the sidewalk. 'Just ignore it.' Trying to focus on the task at hand, he fixed the guitar once more over his shoulders and trudged on, keeping his eyes on the sidewalk ahead.

After a few minutes, the road came to an end with a few broken-down buildings and a warning sign at the end marking the edge of the city limits. He maneuvered around it with a final look back at the street, treading into the dense forest as he followed the familiar beaten path into The Wilds beyond. Even when entering the forest, he never ventured far out from the city, knowing that the dangers out there were sometimes even riskier than the ones within the town. But for the most part, the majority of feral creatures tended to keep far away from the anthros and noise, leaving the forest skirting the outside of everything to be relatively harmless. Still, the woods felt as empty as ever walking out here by himself, the hoot of an owl nearby causing him to cross his arms together as he glanced up cautiously through the leaves and to the stars.

He could smell the scent of the trees and wet grass beneath his sneakers as he walked, the humming of the city slowly fading away, replaced with the sounds of the wilderness. He could hear the chirping of crickets in the undergrowth, singing softly to one another as he steered clear of a large root from a tree jutting out of the dirt, wondering just how far the limbs grew underground.

After a few minutes of walking, he eventually broke out from the trees, sighing happily at the sight of the lake, the surface standing still. Across the face of the water and around him fluttered somber fireflies, buzzing softly with their calm yellow lights, wandering on their own paths as Mono made his way to the water's edge. He picked a spot higher up from the lake where he could look down at it from higher up, pulling the guitar over his arms and setting it carefully beside himself on the grass before sitting down. His legs dangled over the end of the water, shoes nearly touching the ice-like liquid below as he took a moment to admire the sight.

The lake mirrored the world around it, like a portal to another world lying just beneath him, reflecting the moon and lights above. From this side of the lake he could barely make out a few buildings cresting over the top of the trees, reminding him that even as relaxing as this was to be in nature, he was never truly free from the burdens of life that barraged him on what felt like a daily basis. He exhaled thoughtfully, gazing down at his feet as he reminisced about his times with Flare once more, placing his hands on his thighs as he squeezed them softly.

Every time he came to visit this place, the times they spent together would flash through his memories, how he'd originally first been brought here by him floating in his mind as he sat there. He remembered that one particular day when work had stressed him out beyond comparison, leaving him frustrated and worn out as he drove back to his apartment and called up Flare to try and calm him down. Of course, Mono just wanted to go home, play some games and eat ice cream, but after talking to him, he was eventually persuaded to get out and spend some time together outside the house.

He mentioned that he had a secret getaway spot he liked to relax at whenever he felt overwhelmed at times like he was, showing him the way. He remembered the setting of the sun behind the trees as he'd first seen the lake, a squirrel scuttering away from his feet as the two sat down and chatted. They rambled on about what was going on in their lives, sharing more of his worries and regrets, and before he knew it the moon was already cresting over the tip of the sky. After it was all said and done, he couldn't deny that he felt better afterward to get some fresh air (and hot steam) out, finding an odd sense of freedom in nature that he hadn't expected to find.

It was after that day that every week they took some time out together and headed to the lake to chat, talking about whatever was on their minds regarding work, hopes for the future, and encouraging one another. He had never been aware of how many worries were constantly floating through his head until the words seemed to just come out whenever they were out here together at the water. He hadn't realized it at first, but he cherished those moments now, every image of him lying next to him on the blades of grass, pointing up at the stars, seeming to plague his mind in a way he wasn't sure if he wanted or not. And now, coming here alone was different. Instead of joking and talking about life, he sat there and stared back at himself without a person in the world that seemed to want to listen.

He groaned as he looked over to the right where they used to lie down, a small slope leading down to the lake's edge, knowing that the dip was the perfect spot to gaze at the stars. But no matter how much he thought of the past, how close it had been at the time and how real it had felt, those moments he took for granted were now ripped away from him and there was nothing he could ever do to get it back.

He then lay down on his back, feeling the moist dirt beneath his jean jacket, his legs still dangling over the lake as he searched the sky for an answer. With those thoughts fluttering in his mind, he reached his hand to the necklace on his chest, curling his fingers around the metal wings with his thumb over the blue gem in the middle. He circled around it for a moment, feeling the edges of the cobalt stone press back on his finger before tracing over the golden arches of the feathers on each side of the pendant, laying over his chest. As he held the necklace in his embrace, the tightness in his chest strengthened, holding him captive as water began forming in the corner of his eyes. His wings felt so... cold. So distant and lifeless, so unlike the person the very object was supposed to make him feel closer to. Yet even though the pain of losing him was embodied in the charm, it also reminded him of how much Flare believed in him. That even now he knew he'd be cheering him on and would want him to move forward in life even though Mono felt he'd stumble without him at his side.

He then glanced over to the guitar he'd set on the grass, the black casing around the object within laying there patiently for him. He let out a soft, pained moan, holding the necklace closer to him for a moment, wishing that he could just cry out his heart despite how much his body refused to let him. Instead, he did the only thing he knew best to let out his emotions, sitting up straight and reaching over to pull the musical instrument closer. He slowly unlatched the metal clamps on the sides, hoping no bugs would crawl inside the case while it was laying there before opening it up, his wooden guitar resting within the soft fabric inside. His hand gripped around the back of the neck of the object, the other around the bottom as he pulled it out before pushing the case behind him so he had some room to play. His fingers traced over the smooth wood, bringing it into his lap as he reached his fingers into his pocket to pull out the guitar pick he'd brought along for the occasion.

Just holding the object brought back so many memories, instances of the past constantly rummaging around in his head. He could feel the air in his lungs catching on his heartstrings, echoing the strums calling out within his soul as he brought his digits to the neck of the instrument. The initial thought crossed his mind as to what he should play, but instead, he sat there, unable to find it in himself to move.

His hand refused to play, simply touching the thin metal lengths, staring down at his legs as he took in a deep breath, his throat tightening as he remembered the drumming his friend used to play alongside him. He knew it was good for him to get his thoughts out like this, to try and cope with his emotions... But he felt so... conflicted. 'Why did I have to scare him away?' He closed his eyes tightly, wrapping his fingers around the strings of the neck of the guitar, clenching them between his palm and constricting them for a moment before releasing them.

After a moment he placed the guitar to his right in the grass, a firefly whizzing past his nose as he waved it away before slouching over once more, gazing at the lake. He took the moment to focus on the sounds around him, a soft caress of the night air brushing through his hair as the chirping of crickets called out in mourning. He wondered if there was a god looking down on him, taking notice of him despite how small and insignificant he felt. 'No... The world sucks and the only one who cares about me is me... But even now I'm not sure if I can even believe that...' Another drip trailed down his cheek before he lifted a hand to wipe it.

He then took the moment to stabilize his breathing before speaking aloud, gazing at the grass by his sneakers. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry I hurt you, Flare. I'm... You... You didn't deserve this." He choked for a moment, breathing deeply once more as his eyes seemed to grow warmer, his stomach squeezing. "I can't stop thinking about you. You... You were my only friend. I... I can't replace someone like you." He clamped his jaw together, baring his teeth with closed eyes as he put one hand over the other, folding them together. "I don't know what to do anymore... I need you..." He paused, taking a stuttered breath, "...so bad. I really do. Please..." Mono then raised his clasped hands up to his mouth, resting his face against them as he regretfully felt another tear marking his face with a salty trail.

"I... I know you wanted me to be strong, but I don't see the point anymore... I never have. I just... I just miss you. So much." He nodded to himself, raising his arm to dry his face with his sleeve, sniffling as he tried to regain his composure. He found his hands quivering slightly as he steadied his breath, relishing the cool breeze that seemed to awaken him to the world around him, moving his legs on the edge of the lake, getting into a more comfortable position again as he looked over to his guitar in thought.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, something changed. A mysterious glow he hadn't seen before was now glowing bright, turning back to look at the lake only to find in shock that something else now lay above it. The sight caused him to scoot back from the ledge he was sitting on, heart-stopping for a moment at the unexpected appearance that was so out of the ordinary.

Hovering a few feet out from the edge of the lake was a small light blue crystal, an enchanting aura emanating around it as it slowly took shape before him, seeming to form out of thin air right before his very eyes. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from the brightness, looking through the cracks of his fingers as the thin gem finally took shape before him, floating above the water calmly. Once it had fully formed before him, he wiped his face once more, sniffling before lowering his hand, gazing out in careful curiosity. Then, before he had time to think about what was happening, the object that seemed to float for the moment from some sort of magic quickly plummeted downwards into the mirror, sending it splashing as the reflection swayed in reaction.

At first, he sat there, watching the glow from the object fall down a few feet until it rested against the wet soil at the bottom of the lake, glancing around in hesitancy at the forest as the sudden feeling of being watched passed over his form like a rush of fear through his veins. Regardless, he stood up a moment after, blinking, 'What the fuck... Is there... a Caster nearby?'

Mono knew about the magic that resided in certain creatures and could be harnessed by those qualified to learn them, but to see something like this appear out of thin air, especially in the state he was in startled him. There wasn't a single creature to be seen in the opening around the edges of the lake, only the chatter of bugs whispering to one another. Just the lake sending faint ripples away from where the crystal had fallen within, waiting as it seemed to call to him.

After taking a deep breath, looking around once more, he pulled off the jacket on his arms, grumbling slightly as he knew he'd be getting his clothes wet before kicking off his shoes and socks as he walked down the grassy slope to the lake. The water filled in between his toes, tickling them slightly, washing around his ankles as he stepped in, feeling the slop of the wet dirt along with some smooth rocks press around the soles of his feet. He grimaced at the feeling, a sudden pang of regret forming in his chest as he hated getting dirty. Eventually, he sucked it up though, walking a few feet deeper to where the liquid was at his knees, seeping into the fabric of his jeans, soaking them thoroughly.

Not wanting to linger in the water longer than was needed, he made his way a few feet deeper till the water was at his waist, bending over to stare down at the faint glow beneath the surface. He gave his body a shake, exhaling verbally before reaching his hand down for the object. He could feel the lake lapping at his shoulder and armpit, his shirt quickly drinking up the liquid despite his dislike, ignoring it as he promised to get himself some new clothes and shower once he got home. After a moment of moving his fingers around the mud, the unnatural bump of the hard gem against his hand caught his attention, grasping it carefully in his palm.

He took in a deep breath before touching it, his muscles tensing up in preparation for some sort of repercussion, but let out a deep breath after a moment as the magic that seemed to course within didn't seem to have any sort of spell to prevent one from taking it. It just lay there in his hand, as if waiting for something. He tried to think of what any of the mythical creatures or Casters would use crystals like this for as he waded back to shore, another breath of relief passing his lips that it wasn't the color of Dark Magic as he took note of the color. 'What are you...' He had never been able or wanted to learn magic in the past, not that he had the privilege anyways, but it was moments like these that he couldn't help but wish he had some idea what was going on and why it showed up here of all places.

After climbing back up the hill and onto the grass beside his guitar, he continued staring at the crystal, trying to ignore how his clothes stuck uncomfortably close to his body as if it was plastered against him. Now that he was looking at it more closely, he did notice that the aura around it pulsed ever-so-softly, causing him to blink curiously as he turned it around in his hand. The object was just a little bigger than the size of his hand, the dull edges brushing over his digits as he examined it before looking over to his guitar. "I should head back..." He nodded, glancing back at the crystal once more and over his wet clothes.

He then let out a thoughtful hum, pushing the crystal into his back pocket before leaning over and placing the guitar into the soft case, closing it and the latches on the side to secure it. He usually would spend an hour or so thinking to himself at the water's edge, but with the mysterious and seemingly magical object in his possession, he knew he wouldn't be able to get his mind off of it. He wondered for a moment if perhaps his words from a moment ago were heard by Flare, rewarded with whatever gift this was, but he quickly shook away the thought, reaching over to grab the jacket he'd left beside the case.

His action was interrupted by the snapping of a twig nearby, his body freezing as he looked back into the forest where he'd come from, his heart twisting as he took a big gulp and scanned his surroundings. 'It's just a mouse or something... stop overreacting.' He mumbled in his head, heart quickening at the noise as he scanned the area. The only activity remaining was the constant buzz of the wildlife and ripples on the lake from where he'd entered earlier, taking a deep breath to try and calm down.

Then, with a loud growl, a creature with glowing amber eyes lept out from the bushes and crashed into Mono's chest, causing him to tumble onto his back with a yell before a loud thud against the back of his head caused his vision to swirl. He could feel the weight of the animal bearing down on him, his heart racing as the hairs on his skin stood on end. His focus wavered for the moment, recovering from the fall as the canine above him slowly began to grow clearer.

He could immediately feel the gray fur from the beast brushing over his arms as his claws wrapped around them to keep them pinned, wiggling his body beneath the predator as he let out a cry for help, eyes going wide as he blinked. The glint in his captor's eyes bore down on him, making him feel so much smaller before the anthro, the smell of cigarettes covering his body and filling Mono's nostrils as the horrible truth began to grow clearer. But sure enough, despite how much he wanted to ignore it, the piercings on his black-tipped ears and nose ring gave it all away, the wolf letting out a pleased rumble as his prey's vision widened in realization. "Sh-shade..."

His grip tightened, lips pulling back to show his sharp fangs, a long pink tongue licking over his chops as he eyed down Mono. "Mmm, finally. I've been craving to see that look on your face since the first day I saw you." The gruffness in his voice mixed with a crazed smirk struck fear into his very bones, pressing and pulling at his limbs to try and break from his paws. Shade chuckled at the sight, leaning down closer to him, towering over the human, more than half his size. The smell of alcohol lingered in his breath, wafting against his face along with the slap of saliva as his salivating maw showed its eagerness. "That's it, struggle all you want, little human. You're already mine."

It had all come so fast that Mono could barely formulate a plan. Instead, he started crying out, water forming in the corners of his eyes as the existential dread began to overwhelm him. Shade made quick work to shut him up, moving a paw to his chest, the jagged claws pushing outwards, pressing sharply at the skin beneath his shirt. Mono gasped, his wail cut off as he seized up, glancing down at the wolf, meeting his eyes. The anthro leaned close once more, his snout mere inches from his, pressing dangerously into his body with his talons, "You cry out for help and I won't hesitate to kill you before swallowing your worthless body..."

Mono could feel his heart beating out of his chest, shivering from head to toe as the cold ground beneath him seemed to seep into his body, causing his blood to run cold. The dark red gaze glinted in amusement as his prey fell silent, a thick glob of drool dripping down his panting tongue and falling right onto his nose, dripping down one cheek. "Good prey. You're nothing but food now and I can't bother to wait any longer. Oooo, your struggles are... enticing.~"

Then, before he knew it, the jaws of the beast slowly yawned before him, a hot breath wafting over his slobber-covered face, revealing his doom. Strands of thick saliva coated his jaws, his tongue coated in the excitement of relishing another meal. The fleshy entrance to the back of his throat pulsed, gulping down some of his slobber as he prepared to eat him. He felt a horrible lurch in his stomach at the wretched stench, letting out a soft whimper as a tear rolled down his cheek.

He couldn't imagine why some people craved this kind of thing, why this horrible pit in his chest was desired among so many. Or perhaps they felt something different, some euphoria from this? It didn't matter. He'd spent his whole life trying to protect himself from the possibility of being eaten, living in a Human-Only community as his family had "raised" him in, but just like most of the people in this town, all he had to do was slip up once to be at the mercy of a creature's hunger. And now, here he was, staring down into the throat of the very wolf he'd been trying to avoid at the bar for so long, bested so easily like the prey they were treated as.

The animal wasted no time in delaying its meal, using a paw to wrap around the back of Mono's head before descending his jaws down and over him! He was instantly coated in the thick goop, the wet tongue of his predator pressing right into his face as his head was tilted upwards in his. He let out a whimper and a pleading cry, those teeth grazing over the back of his head and nose before softly holding him at the base of his neck, locking him inside. He could feel the appendage lick at him over his closed eyes and jaw, tasting him, even sucking softly as they enjoyed the taste of their live prey. Mono couldn't help but shake his body from the outside, his primal survival instincts kicking in as he knew he couldn't just give up without a fight!

But even in his terror the clamp of the jaws on his windpipe pressing just enough to warn him caused him to submit unwillingly, the furred paws of the wolf gripping his upper arms as he slowly stretched his jaws wider to take in his shoulders. With a heave, his face was pressed against the back of Shade's throat, the passage before him opening and closing with his breaths as they rushed past his cheeks, the dark abyss below ready to swallow him alive. He had nightmares of things like this happening, the thought of Flare crossing his mind momentarily before shoving that away as the pain only made his terror heighten. Instead, his hands raised out in the open world, gripping the furred muzzle that was closed over his head.

The wolf mumbled and grinned at the delicious reluctance the prey showed, taking enjoyment in such an easy meal as he slowly began taking in the widest part of his food. The jaws were sharp against his body, scraping slightly as they widened to take in his frame. But within moments the wolf managed to slip them in, holding the human's arms to their body to more easily consume them. He could feel his wet shirt now mixing with the saliva dripping down his chest, the water from earlier no doubt making this even easier for the wolf. He was so helpless, just sitting there now as they quickly consumed them whole, whimpering out as his head was gulped down into that fleshy tunnel.

The walls immediately began squishing around him, holding him tightly like a snake as he was ushered forward with each hungry lurch of Shade's jowls. The buzz of the crickets and beetles now replaced with the faint heartbeat resonating from deeper within, horrible squelches taunting his ears as he was degraded into just a piece of meat for him. The anthro gave no care to the prey after he had made his way over their chest, arching their body to make sure their large prey inside them didn't hurt them internally in any way. It was a huge meal after all, big enough that Mono thought maybe he'd have to spit him out. But after a few more wet swallows, his mouth closed around his waist, teeth clamping softly over it for a good grip. The passage followed suit, pulling him further into the soaking confines, squeezing him, and massaging his body closer to his final destination.

He then let out a muffled cry as the wolf then pulled his body up and off the ground, a terrifying weightless feeling passing through his form like a blizzard. He could feel the gravity shift, his blood rushing to his head as his body was lurched downwards, forced to hang upside down, the animal straightening himself to take in the rest of his meal. It was only then that Mono's head broke into a tight sphincter of flesh, splaying with a thick layer of bile over his face, gluing his hair to his head as he was pressed into a tight and grotesque chamber within. He knew exactly what this was, the pain and fear inside him becoming real as the smell of previous meals and the alcohol the creature had eaten filled the air of the small room.

Then, as if to humiliate him, the wolf slowly maneuvered his tongue to the hem of his pants, licking along the edges before plunging down the front and into his underwear for a taste. Mono kicked and whimpered at the touch to his groin, that sloppy tongue coating his flaccid member, tracing against the sensitive underside as he lapped at every inch before moving to his balls. He could feel a pleasurable shiver rush through him, but he let out a pained groan, trying to ignore the horrible feeling that others had come to love. The wolf seemed to take notice of this, letting out a displeased grunt at the disdain shown from the refusal of his cock to erect, pulling back his tongue from under his clothes.

Without any more reason to waste time, he gave a few more deep swallows, his body swaying as he stood up, the human's waist swallowed up and into his throat as easily as the rest of him, the crystal in his back pocket pressing uncomfortably against his rear as it too was squeezed along with him. The cold air from the lake outside wafted over his exposed ankles as a soft breeze washed by, the peace of the world outside becoming so blatantly real and agonizing as the rest of his body was clenched tightly within like a sleeping bag, the drenching warm fluids slickening his descent until only his feet remained outside the jaws.

As his whole being was crammed into the tight storage area of the creature, he was forced to contort his body, curling up into a fetal position, expanding the stomach beyond its normal capabilities despite how full it already felt from the constrictions around him. To make it worse, the walls had already started massaging his body, contracting and rubbing every inch of his upper body as the wolf took his time on the last swallow.

He could feel the anthro slipping off his shoes and socks with his paws, throwing those to the side with a dull thud, exposing his feet to the outside world. He prayed that maybe someone would see him, that someone would come to his rescue, but even if they did, who would be mad enough to fight a towering, hungry wolf who had already claimed their prey? No, this was it. There was no happy ending. It seemed it was his destiny, just like all other humans were, to fall prey to the larger species and now it was his turn to follow in their footsteps, whether he liked it or not.

Then, with the last slurp of his tongue over his toes, the wolf snapped his jaws shut with a loud CLACK, the throat squelching over his feet before closing with only a wet strand of saliva left behind. As he was finished off, his body quickly fell into the stomach, gravity aiding to bring him down as the wolf rumbled happily around his meal, a soft thud over Mono's head signaling the animal's paw pressing onto him teasingly. Everything was way too tight, his face forced into his crotch as the air in the small pocket slowly diminished with each choked breath from the human.

The world around him began to shift as the wolf moved, the pain in his heart at having been eaten only degrading him further as he heard the familiar pluck of one of his guitar strings, resounding numbly from outside. It felt so unreal, so impossible that he pinched himself in hopes that he was having a nightmare. But the squeezes and rubs over his body and the mild pain that slowly began to rise reminded him this was really happening. All he could do was lay there, listening to the very instrument he had brought with him, the canine casually enjoying their night at the lake while his new meal slowly digested inside him with none the wiser as to what his dinner really was.

It didn't take long for the oxygen within to slowly deplete, Shade's bodily fluids slowly seeping in and pooling around his legs and waist, the warm mixture sloshing around as the wolf let out a loud burp, expelling the small amount of air left. Compacted even tighter, Mono whimpered, feeling another tear roll down his cheek as he tried to take solace in the fact that he'd be leaving this world the same way Flare had. He wondered if he had thought of him when he was eaten. If he regretted leaving... But in the end, it didn't matter, nothing mattered now. So, with a pained gasp, his vision slowly began to grow dimmer.

But then, out of the corner of his eye, like a bright light coming to take him away, the darkness in the stomach was slowly filled with a blue glow. He could barely focus on what was happening to make sense of it, his eyes glazing over as the light grew brighter until another color stood out among it all.

Like strands of hair, a golden tendril of magic slowly took shape, the cord or radiance reaching out and around him, the bright strings swaying with the energy as he barely had time to take it all in. 'Fl... Flare?' His mind spun, letting go of his worries as another tight squeeze pushed the air out from him, his sight leaving him as he slowly found himself falling into an eternal slumber.

.................................................

Everything was dark, his thoughts floating in empty space as he awaited the end, thinking of his best friend and regretting the past. Life had gone so fast, he'd never done anything he was truly proud of, nothing that seemed to hold any real value. But living life on his own, away from his parents... It was the only real option and yet finding the strength to push on without a friend to lean on... it truly made every day feel less valuable than the last. 'Maybe this is okay... Maybe mom and dad were right... Maybe I am a-'

He couldn't be sure how much time had passed, his mind spinning as an unexpected rush of fresh air poured into his lungs, taking pained breaths as he found himself slowly recovering. His pulse began to race, blinking his eyes to try and focus on what was happening. 'What... Am I...' Sure enough, he could feel the blades of grass beneath his body, laying on his back as his vision slowly returned.

The night sky above him slowly took shape once more, twinkling in relief, the chirping of the forest both welcoming him and causing his mind to go into overdrive, trying to understand what was going on. He turned his head with a grumble, looking out at the lake, his guitar laying a few feet away. Within time he began to realize how soaking wet he was, rubbing a hand over his pants only to feel a thick coat of bile covering it. "W-what..."

He couldn't understand how he'd ended up here again, how he'd escaped from the wolf's stomach, and yet, here he was, lying in the grass with only the remnants of his digestive fluids and saliva to mark the demise that had nearly overcome him. There was no explanation he could initially think of, trying to remember exactly what happened in those last moments.

It was only then that the glowing blue light he'd faintly seen in his last moments seeped into his memory, quickly sitting up and looking over himself, reaching a hand back to take out the crystal from his back pocket. But to both his horror and curiosity, the object was gone. He patted it a few times, checking the other pocket, knowing that the light had to have come from that. He then looked up and around him, rubbing his hand on the ground to clear some of the salivae from it before rubbing his eyes to try and see more clearly.

But as his gaze cleared, an unfamiliar female voice spoke up beside him, "Good, he's alive." His head spun around to the forest, expecting to find some sort of human or perhaps a friend of the wolves watching him from there.

Instead, he was immediately met face-to-face with the glowing blue body of what looked like to be a spirit, her wings pulled to her sides, her long tail swaying behind her in quick flicks. Her calculated gaze stood out among the translucent scales covering her form, causing him to let out a yell! In response she jumped back, letting out her own yell, ears pulling back and tail lashing as they both yelled in shock, backing up from him until the two of them fell silent, staring at one another. In the moment that seemed to drag on for hours, his thoughts only became more cluttered, one thought rising above the chaos as he stared down the unfamiliar dragon, 'What is going on?'