FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

There are a great many mysteries to be had throughout the world. People keep many secrets in the hopes that they shall be hidden by time; others are simply the natural oblivion that comes from the inexorable march of progress.

It has yet to be discovered which one the Sky Palace is. The hanging gardens and ever-flowing fountains of the magnificent construction speak of a world far removed from modern innovations. It rides the clouds in an unguided path, its pyramidal architecture carved with sun symbols, bringing its warmth to the world.

Despite its mystery, it is known for one particular thing, the magnificent Queleticanda, the great serpent of a dragon who weaves through the clouds and coils around the floating island, entering one opening and exiting another until she wraps around large swaths of the building and holds it tight to her embrace while she sleeps. And only the most tenacious and the most foolhardy would dare to interrupt her in her rest.

A chopping buzz fills the air, and the dragon stirs, grumbling but not waking. Something lands upon her palace. It bothers her no more than a gnat would bother a sleeping child.

The clopping of hooves echoes throughout the temple's corridors, yet her sleeping mind pays no heed.

But when mechanical fingers grope at a small idol, that's when the massive serpent's eye opens and dilates.

With a mighty roar, the dragon flies through the corridors and the tunnels of the palace, her massive body fitting in the paths as if they were built directly for her. Her head pops out from the darkness of one hallway, only to emerge in the treasure room to face those who dare to intrude upon her home.

Two tiny deer adventurers stop and whirl around, their eyes wide and sorrowful when confronted face-to-face with the dragon. The female of the two drops the small golden idol and raises her gloved hands. The male steps between her and the dragon, eyes furrowed in determination.

The dragon pauses her advance, blinking when she sees the two tiny creatures in this treasure chamber. "What... are you?" she rumbles.

"We're adventurers and scholars," says the male deer, his cloven hooves clicking together.

"And artisans!" chirps the female.

"We didn't wish to wake you, oh great Queleticanda," says the male, though he still stands tense and ready. "We simply sought out your knowledge."

"My knowledge?" the grand scaled and feathered creature says

The two hold their ground against her, their hands inching closer toward one another, where they grasp each other and stand in solidarity against the might of the wyrm.

The dragon stares between the two, one after another. Her face and neck slowly stretch out from the hallway towards them, Queleticanda's form shrinking and shifting downward until the massive serpentine keeper changes.

For the most part, she retains her serpentine shape. She rests upon her tail upright, her body morphing to a more humanoid form as it reaches above her waist. Some scales fleck over her body and feathers protrude from her golden hair and back. Her tanned skin contrasts the bright light whiteness of her scales and wings, and her fiery eyes play between the two trespassers.

. She slithers around the two, getting between them and their prize. "You two are most interesting indeed. I would like to learn more about you. What you are. Your skills and your desires for my treasure," she slithers up to the idol and lifts it from its space. "I haven't looked upon this in a long, long time, not in any way other than mild amusement. It is an abstract piece that has since lost all meaning to the world below." She turns toward them, petting the small statue. "And yet, it was the first of my pieces that the two of you have touched. Surely, you have some knowledge of its true nature?"

The two adventurers look at each other, sharing among one another little squeaking chirps.

"How cute," she says, placing the idol behind her. "Either you don't know what this is and wish to extract information from me, or you do know, and you don't want to tell me because you fear I do not know its true value to you and will part with it under less-than-favorable terms."

She brings the artifact to her lips, whispering an ancient dragon rite. The statue glows, and she cradles it, handing it down to the male of the two. "I trust you know what will happen if you lose possession of this now, hm?"

He takes the statue, cradling it in his hooves, swallowing a lump in his throat. "You'll know right away if someone else takes possession of it. Where and when it happens, and under what circumstances."

"That's right," she says, patting his head between his antlers. "Be a good boy and girl, and make sure you take care of it. When you're done, I want it back, and I want it back unharmed."

The two adventurers leave in their whirling copter machine, disappearing beneath the clouds and leaving Queleticanda alone to watch them, reminiscing on how long it's been since anyone had come to her palace to take her treasures.

"With all the changes in the world now," she opines, "It will be interesting to see what people do with that forgotten arcana."