FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS GORE, VIOLENCE,Blood, AMPUTAION AND DEATH. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE ANY OF THE MENTIONED DO NOT READ

This is my first time making a story like this please leave any and all thoughts on how it could be improved or what you thought about it please and thank you

This is a trade story for gigren

Writen by me

Edited by jpekari

The sky-ship flew through dark wind-blasted clouds that clashed into each other as streaks of lightning flashed through the air. The fierce winds blew the rain in driving sheets as the ship passed through the callous weather high above the earth. The fabrics of the wide sails were on the very brink of tearing at the seam as the wind relentlessly blew against them; the crew aboard the vessel ran about franticly to keep what wasn't nailed down on the ship.

Furs of various species ran across the water soaked wood of the bow and stern of the ship, some almost slipping, as the captain barked out orders to the crew. The captain, a red fox, steered the ship as best he could through the dark clouds.

The vulpine wiped the water away from the fur around his eyes as a chocolate and tan doberman grasped onto the railing to keep himself from loosing his foothold on the slick wood as he stood next to the vulpine. Turning his head the dobey gave a quick glance at the one he had followed for the past year.

If the fox hadn't been wearing the elaborate red, blue and grey cloak of a captain he could have easily been mistaken as a vagabond with his meager frail looking body. Though he didn't look it he had one every fight he had been in, and what has impressed a lot of his crew, because of simply one thing. Speed.

Early on he learned that lesson the hard way when he had challenged the captain to feisty-cuffs. Thinking that, because he was stronger with his more defined body and muscles he had the upper hand, but alas he walked away with a broken arm and some missing teeth.

"Remus, sir we need to get out of this storm!" The doberman shouted gripping tighter on the wooden frame; his knuckles beginning to turn white under his fur.

"Velanto I know. If only there was a break in this damn storm I'd sail us out of it." Remus replied. As he finished what he was saying two bolts of lightning struck the ship; one bolt hitting the hull, wood splintering as a smoking black hole was left in its wake, and the second bolt striking below the captain and into an open doorway.

Sailors rushed to check the damage of the hull and what might have been hit in the room as more lightning flashed around them and thunder roared like an angry beast. Peering over the side a calico glanced at the damage; the bolt left a hole on the port side of the hull and the wind began to tear the planks away at the gap.

"Captain," A calico feline called out getting the vulpine's attention as the storm lashed at the sailors. "The bolt left some damage and its getting worse!"

"What about the runes? They weren't hit were they?" Remus shouted in an attempt to be heard among the deafening booming of the thunder. Running into the room the feline padded into the dark space; the room itself was fairly large with a small porthole on the back wall. In the middle of the room was a wide black bowl with four thin legs to keep it upright.

As the feline moved closer he saw smoke rising from the bowl. Looking inside he found it was filled with grey rock like objects; half of which were broken beyond repair. Rushing outside into the raging storm the calico turned around and looked up at the vulpine.

"The runes were hit sir, and only half were destroyed!" Hearing this, the captain cursed under his breath grinding his teeth in dismay.

The dobermen looked at the vulpine, concern painted over his face, as the captain glared at the sky in front of him. "Remus we need to find somewhere to dock. Half of the ruins are gone. If we don't land soon that means-"

"I know what that means Velanto! If we don't find somewhere to land were going to sink out of the sky and into whatever lies below!" Remus snapped back; irritation high in his voice.

"Captain I see land ahead!" Yelled a black bear pointing to a clearing of clouds revealing a huge floating island; to the captain and sailors the island resembled a breaking of hope amongst the gloom of the storm.

"Everyone," Remus called out as loud as he could so all of the crew could hear him. "To you're posts and keep this ship in the air long enough to land!"

The calico began to turn around when a loud snap caused him to look up. A large thick rope had torn from one of the masts, and flung itself towards the feline hitting him square in the stomach with such force it sent him back into the railing. As he hit the wood frame the slick wood deck caused him to loose his balance and plummet to the world below.

The only sound heard in the split second of the rope snapping was his shriek before the sound of thunder drowned out the feline's screaming. Remus, Velanto and the rest of the crew watched in near disbelief at what had happened before another bolt of lightning flashed across the bow of the ship pulling them back to reality.

"Lusius grab that rope and tie it down before another swabbie goes over board!" Remus shouted to the large black bear already tying down a cannon that had slipped free of its confines. Finishing a knot in the rope work he stood up tall and dwarfed the other remaining crew that stood by him. His chest and stomach rippled with sheer power as he breathed hard in exhaustion.

Rushing over he grabbed the rope, and tied it back around the mast it came from as best he could. The vulpine kept his course as he saw the island getting closer, and closer, bigger, and bigger.

It was easy to see the isle was covered in a lush green forest that reached from end to end. Even the huge dead volcano in the middle of the land mass had a thin green sheet of grass, and trees covering its slopes to almost its flat like top.

Finally after what seemed like eternity inside the impious storm, the ship made it to the island. Crashing onto a wet sanded beach the figurehead on the bow broke off as it smashed into the trees, the ship uprooting any vegetation it ran into, as the vessel slowed to a halt.

The sudden jolt from the impact sent the crew forwards, some almost falling onto the deck. Remus grunted as he pulled himself from the wheel, his eyes darted back and forth scanning the new surroundings around him.

Squinting as his eyes fell upon a small dark hole in the side of a cliff the fox called out to his crew as he pointed to the cavern. "Everyone to the cave! We can take shelter in there till the storm blows over."

Grabbed a rope ladder Lusius flung it over the railing. The sailors climbed down the ladder and rushed to the safety of the cave. Reaching the grotto the four remaining crew members found it was deeper than it looked; the soft steady sounds of dripping water coming from its depths was all but extinguished from the rivaling sound of the storm outside.

Stopping his run Lusius bent over, placing his paws on his knees, taking a moment to catch his breath. Standing up he looked around the temporary sanctuary and was a bit surprised to find that from the outside it didn't look as deep as it was. Darkness covered the back of the cave giving it a never ending disturbing emptiness; the echoes of dripping water only served to make it seem deeper than that.

Walking over to his left he turned around, and paused gripping the bottom of his vest and pull the soaked cloth over his head. Keeping it in front of him he twisted it to drain it of as much water as he could. Dropping his semi damp vest he pressed his back against the hard rough rock and slumped to the ground, letting out a sigh of relief.

Watching the other he saw Velanto had done the same as him and stripped of his vest and sat down across from him. To his right Remus was standing almost near the entrance watching the storm clouds begin to move over and around the island. Besides him was a slim black and white husky who was squeezing water form his curly tail. The black fur on the husky wrapped around his forearms in a spiral like fashion, while it draped across his face in strips that ended under his chin.

Kneeling down he shifted the brown pack on his waist before resting the back of his head against the cool cave wall. Minutes went by as the crew watched the storm outside in silence. After a while Remus turned and walked away from the mouth of the cave.

"So Strabo," He asked sitting down besides the husky. "Where are we?"

Reaching into his pack the husky pulled out a slightly wet piece of paper and unrolled it. "We are..." Strabo started looking over the map until he stopped and pointed at an empty space in the middle of nowhere. "There."

The fox looked confused at the map then back at Strabo. "There's nothing there though."

"Exactly, wherever we are it's not on any map I have." He said rolling the map up and putting it back into his pack.

"Are you sure you're right? I mean not even I could tell where we were going in that storm." Velanto and Lusius stared over at the two canines knowing Strabo hated it when others doubted his navigational prowess.

"Are you really suggesting that I don't know where we are? After all the years you've known me, you don't trust my expertise?"

Remus was about to say something, but stopped himself knowing the husky was right. He was the navigator for them for years now and had never failed to know just where they were at all times. He was so renowned for his navigational skills, because at a young age his had been fascinated by geography. While he was still a pup father had taken him to all of the lands that were documented, and while there could literally memorize every inch of the entire area so he wouldn't have need for a map when traveling.

Resting his head back against the wall Strabo closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "So captain what do we do now?"

"Well we can't do much till that storm calms down, and we need to patch-up the ship the best we can." The vulpine let out a deep sigh as the wind howled relentlessly outside. "That and we need to find a way to keep the ship in the air."

"Hay, if were lucky there could be someone on this island that has some air runes they can part with." Lusius spoke up butting in on the fox and husky's conversation.

"Yea, if we're unbelievably luck!" Velanto snorted at the ursine's remark.

"What? Think about it Velanto, if this place hasn't been discovered yet then, it is possible this island could have some sort of civilization on it; primitive or otherwise."

The doberman shook his head chuckling lightly to himself. "Don't you think you're being a bit too optimistic about that idea?"

"Hay a little optimism in a time like this can go a long way."

"Yea whatever, you can keep you're optimism, and when you run into those "civilized" people don't come to me when they start trying to eat you." lifting his arms up Velanto let out a grunt as he stretched briefly.

"Anyways we all had a long day, and personally I'm tired." He yawned tiredly as he lay down on his side, his back facing the bear. "So if you guys don't mind I'm going to get some shut eye."

Feeling a fatigue from days without rest grab hold of his body the red fox nodded wearily. "I'll agree with you there Velanto. Everyone lets get some sleep, and figure out what we're going to do tomorrow."

Following their captain's actions Strabo and Lusius laid on the ground. The storm outside had died down some since their landing as the husky heard the sounds of soft steady breathing from the others as he drifted off to sleep.

***

Waking up from his sleep Strabo rubbed his eyes groggily; wiping the crust from his tear-ducts as he slowly sat up and blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the area around him. Looking around he saw Remus, Velanto and Lusius were soundly asleep. The husky exhaled a long low yawn. Groaning as he lifted himself up off the ground he took a moment to loosen his stiff muscles.

After shaking his legs, one at a time, to wake them up he lifted his arms over his head, and pushed his arms back, arching his back to stretch it out. Feeling pops run down his shoulder blades and mid way down his spine he stopped and looked outside.

The trees and plants swayed gently with the soft breeze. Walking out from the cave he stood and took in a deep breath of the crisp earthy air. The ground was still damp from the rain and a thin layer of mud covered the husky's foot paws.

Looking up he scowled seeing the sky was filled with large grey storm clouds drifting lazily with the wind. The husky's ears swiveled quickly, hearing the snap of a branch to his right. Turning his head in the direction of the sound Strabo looked curiously at the underbrush.

"Hello is anyone there?" He asked quietly as so not to wake the males in the cave. Moving close he tried to look beyond the green hedge. Squinting he could swear he could make out the outline of a tall thin person against the trees and leafs of the forest. Walking to the edge of the tree line he spread the plants apart he only had a moment to see the tip of a tail disappear and the scurry of feet into the forest.

"Hay hold on! Come back here!" Strabo cried out pushing aside the plants as he went after the being.

'Hell, Lusius looks like you were right about others on this island!'

The husky torn threw the forest chasing after the figure in front of him; thorns grasped at his pant legs tugging and ripping them the further he ran. Panting hard cold air filled his lungs, his mouth and throat dry from the constant breathing, as he ran further and further into the dense woods.

"H-hay, can you s-slow down! I'm not going to hurt you! I o-only want to talk!" Strabo bellowed watching the person he was pursuing nimbly dodging the trees with ease. Feeling fatigue set in the husky slowed his run to a halt. Placing his right paw on a near by tree he hunched over catching his breath seeing the last glimpse of the foreign being's tail slip away into the darkness of the forest.

"Come back! I just wanted to talk..." Strabo wheezed out as he caught his breath. After a minute Strabo stood up straight and heaved a heavy sigh. "Balls."

Turning around he stopped mid-way and looked back at the direction the person he was chasing disappeared and pondered for a moment whether or not he should keep going, or to go back to the cave. Deciding that who he was going after was faster than him, it would be best if he didn't continue to give chase.

Taking his time to go back the way he came he let his eyes wonder taking in the environment. The smallest and most common size of the trees was long as his arm from shoulder to finger tips. The tops of the tall trees were filled with leaves that almost made it impossible to see the sky above. Down below at the trees base undergrowth grew as high as the hips all around him.

Pushing past the bushes he made his way back; stopping from time to time to pull out a small light brown note book, and jotting down scribbles of objects and writing down information on particular areas.

Several minutes of walking had passed by before an unsettling feeling crept up the huskies spine. Despite the weather the air was slightly warm, but the sensation Strabo felt made his blood run cold in his veins causing him to shiver. Stopping once more he wrote down the odd shape of a large rock in front of him.

Closing his journal he went to put it in his pack when a bush behind him. Startled, his book dropping from his hands, he turned to see who or what was near him.

"Who's there?" Strabo spoke with a quiver in his voice. He kept his eyes fixated on the bush that had moved as he bent over to pick up his pencil and note book. Grabbing his belongings he stuffed them in his pack quickly while moving at a snails pace to the bush.

"Hello?" He asked nearing the hedge ever more closely. "Are you the same person from earlier?"

The wind shifted and blew almost unnaturally as it howled eerily in the night. It felt like there was a knot in his stomach as he placed his paws on the bush and began to part the shrub. For a brief moment he saw a flash of white, and then a twinge on pain in his neck before the world around him went dark as a dry croak let his mouth.

***

"Come on guys its time to get up. We have a long day a head of us." Remus said wearily giving a satisfying grunt as he popped his back. Looking over at the two males, Remus shook his head as he walked over to each one, and forced them awake.

"Hay, captain you know its bad luck to wake someone when their asleep!" Velanto complained as he rubbed what remained of his tiredness from his eyes.

"Yea I'll take my chances on that," the fox snorted as the ursine and the dobey slowly woke their bodies up for the day head.

"Hay Remus, where is Strabo?" Lusius asked noticing the husky's absence.

"Don't know. He was gone when I woke up."

Standing up Velanto chuckled to himself softly. "He's probably out taking notes about this place. I mean what else would he be doing?" Lusius and Remus both nodded in agreement knowing that, that was the most likely thing that Strabo would have done.

"So captain, what are we going to do today?" The doberman asked as the vulpine began walking outside.

Stopping the red fox turned around and faced the sailors following him. "Well the first thing we need to do is find someway to replace the ruins we lost, then we need to patch up the ship." Remus sighed and rubbed his chin with a disgruntled look on his face. After a long silence fell upon the group the bear was the first to speak.

"Well, we could always look for any kind of signs of civilized life."

The fox thought for a moment before he gave a quick shrug. "Eh why not, we are going to be stuck here so we might as well see if anyone is living on this floating rock."

"Wait you-" Velanto started to object, but was interrupted by the captain.

"Velanto if you don't want to help, then you can go and patch up the ship all by yourself." Folding his ears back the doberman shut his muzzle as he looked from the ship to the forest and back again.

"Fine." He said; a hint of discontent could be heard in his voice. "Alright then," Remus said patting the side of Velanto's muzzle before he turned and began walking to the woods. "Let's get a move on then."

Velanto sighed as Lusius walked up next to him grinning. "What the big bad dobey afraid of some leaves?" The bear joked putting a paw on Velanto's left shoulder.

"I'm not afraid anything!" Velanto snapped back as he pulled away form the touch.

"Oohh, touchy are we?" The ursine chuckled softly as the three vanished inside the woods. *** High in the sky, two figures watched the trio tentatively. The beings bodies seemed like they were made from the clouds themselves as they shifted with the breeze; sparks of lightning traveled across their forms with each breath they took in. Cold ghost-like whispers were carried on the winds as if to serve as a dialect for the creatures, while they tracked the canines on the ground; hiding behind clouds from the gaze of the russet colored doberman who had taken to the back of the group as he warily watched the sky.

***

The trio trudged steadily further into the jungle for what seemed like hours. As the time passed Lusius had caught glimpse of Velanto's behavior, behavior which caused him to recall recent memories that he began pondering on.

"Hay Remus, do you think Velanto is acting...I dunno a little strange?" Lusius asked as he caught up to the vulpine.

"What do you mean?" The fox questioned looking over his shoulder, slowing his pace down as he kept moving forwards.

"Well I mean while we've been out here he's been staring at the clouds like something's there, and when we were leaving the village he seemed like he was in a rush to leave. And I hate to bring it up, but do you remember how he acted around that statue of their deity?"

Grabbing the fox's shoulder Lusius spun Remus around. "What if he stole it? That could be the reason why all this is happening."

***

Seeing the others halt Velanto quickened his pace, "Hay guys why'd you stop?" Getting closer he noticed them talking about something and when he got close they cut their discussion short.

Looking over at Velanto, Remus spoke with a bit of an irked tone not meant for him. "It's not going to be for long." Standing back the doberman crossed his arms as he leaned against a nearby tree a bit away from the bear and fox. Minutes flew by as he watched them impatiently tapping his foot as he looked around him. Out of the corner of his eye something caught his attention. It was a large strange plant with jaw like feeler. Walking over to it he noted that the outside of the "jaws" was a bright yellow with a dark purple inside, and a small bundle of vines in the center. Moving his paw forwards he inched his fingers closer and closer to further investigate what it was.

Just as his fingers got centimeters from the entanglement his short fur brushed against the purple insides causing the bundle to unravel and small tentacle-like arms shoot out gasping for his hand as the jaws snapped themselves shut. The sudden movement caused him to jump back with a yelp as his hand barely escaped from being trapped inside the plant.

"What was that?" Remus called out as he and Lusius looked over at the doberman hearing the yelp and commotion.

"T-this thing just tried to take my hand off!" Velanto shouted pointing at the plant as it slowly began to go back to what it did look like before the canine disturbed it.

"Well don't touch anything. We don't know what kind of plant life might be here." Nodding he placed a foot paw on the ground carefully making sure it didn't touch something else that could eat him. Firmly putting his right foot down, he heard a dull snap. Looking down he moved his foot and saw something out of the ordinary for where he, and the others were.

"What's this?" Crouching he picked up the slightly mud covered object up and wiped the muck away. Rolling it in his paw he squinted his eyes recognized it as one of Strabo's pencils that he always carries around.

"Hay guys Strabo went by here. I found one of his pencils!" Velanto said holding up the broken writing tool for the vulpine and ursine to see.

"Hay that's good, maybe he's not far away then." Lusius said a bit cheerfully as Velanto went back to looking it over. Dropping it he got back up and let out a soft sigh as he noticed a strange sent lingering in the air. Familiarity scratched at the back of his mind as the small buried itself deep within his nostrils. Sniffing he followed the aroma to a bush almost directly behind him.

A feeling deep within him knew what caused the stench and warned him to stay away, but a curiosity to know what caused it willed him to move to the undergrowth. Peering closer he swore there where small red droplets on the plant leaves around it. Padding over the smell rose slightly in strength the closer he got to it. Reaching out he parted the bush making the reeking odor swell taking his breath away, as he froze seeing what was on the other side.

"Hay Velanto, we're going," Remus called out to the dobey, but paused seeing his head slowly turn with a distressed look of shock on his face as if carved by a skillful engraver.

"I-I found him..." Velanto uttered; dread filling his voice. Looking at each other briefly the pair made their way over to the doberman. Reaching him they had to cover their noses from the smell of decay in the air.

"Good gods," is all that escaped Lusius's mouth as he glimpsed at the mangled remains of the husky. The ground was coated in blood surrounding the corpse. Strabo's face was half covered in the dried crimson liquid matting his fur. Half his throat looked as if it had been bitten and removed leaving an opening showing the bone, veins and muscle for the world to see. His chest and stomach were ripped open and pieces scattered the ground; his torso empty of all organs to speak of.

"W-what do you think could have done this to him?" Velanto stuttered stepping back from the butchered husky.

Remus moved closer as he slid his jacket off and draped it over the body. "I don't know," letting out a sigh he reached out, and carefully pulled down the husky's eyelids shutting the dull lifeless eyes that stared blankly at the sky. "May your end have been quick, Strabo."

Getting back up he looked over to Lusius and Velanto. The bear nodded, the dobey a bit hesitant nodded as well, as they all stood in silence. A silence to remember one they had known for so long now lost forever.

After a while Remus was the first to break the silence. "Come on. We can't stay and morn the dead forever," turning his back to the others he marched slowly forwards. "Strabo maybe dead, but we aren't. We need to find a way off this rock."

"Remus-" Lusius started, but was quickly quieted by his captain.

"Whatever killed Strabo might come after us, and its best we move now instead of standing around. This is foreign land; we don't know what or who is here, but we have to find a way off or we're going to need to adapt."

"How can we do that if we have no way to defend ourselves? Because of that storm our weapons are rusted up! And where are we going to live, in the cave?" Velanto exclaimed; the trivial fear he felt covered up for the moment.

"We still have weapons left. I always have a dagger or two in my cabin, and I always have one on me. As for where we'll stay...there's the ship." Reaching a paw behind his back Remus grasped the handle to a blade concealed by the back of his murky light brown shirt.

"Here if you want a weapon now take this." Holding his arm out, he offered a small stiletto to the doberman. Accepting the offer Velanto took the dagger in his hand and studied it. The hilt was small but holding it, it felt comfortable against his paw pads and was an elegant sky blue with a gold trim spiral that ended at the guard. Removing the ivory sheath Velanto was taken back at how well polished the blade was, almost as if the fox had never used the dagger before.

"Are you sure you won't need this?"

"I'm fine. If we run into trouble I still am the fastest person alive. Still though....we should go back to the ship and arm ourselves with what we've got," the fox poignant glance at the bushes that hid the husky.

"I don't want to loose another sailor and we should grab a spare spade too, so can give Strabo a proper burial."

Stepping forwards Lusius gestured a paw to their ship. "We should get going then shouldn't we?" Turning Remus began walking back in the direction they came; Velanto and Lusius soon following suit.

***

Time passed as they walked back to where they landed, Lusius and the others taking in the scenery of both familiar and unfamiliar plant life and insects. Almost, or at least what seemed to be, half way to the boat a strange sensation like someone was watching them crawled up his spine making his shiver.

As they went further to their ship the feeling only grew and grew until finally, he turned around to find nothing there. Nothing except the feeling that remained clinging to him refusing to let go. Staring for a moment Lusius watched for any sign of movement, any indication that that someone or something wasn't stalking them before reluctantly catching up with the others.

"Hay Remus," Velanto called out rushing threw a mass of flies to get next to the vulpine.

"Hay have you noticed there hasn't any sign of any wildlife except whatever got Strabo? I mean don't you think we would have run into something aside from these... bugs." Velanto said swatting at the insects swarming around his muzzle.

"Yea, I've noticed that too. Hay Lusius what do you think that is?" Remus asked turning his head to see the bear carefully watching the forest behind him.

"Hay what wrong?"

"N-nothing...I think."

"You think or you know Lusius. Which is it?"

"Nothing, it was nothing..." The ursine began to turn but in that split second, in that moment of turning his body he saw Remus moving towards him yelling and turning his head back he felt a inhuman grip on his throat and pain sweep threw his neck.

"LUSIUS!" Remus screamed rushing towards the bear to help as another arm shot from the undergrowth traveled heading towards the fox; Remus caught off guard was hit in the chest and sent back, stopping as he hit a tree with enough force to shake the leaves. Remus felt his lungs empty of air as he gasped out in pain from the hand crushing his rib cage into his body and nails immediately dug themselves into his skin.

Time slowed to a near halt for the doberman as he watched the events before him unfold. To his right, Remus pinned to a tree by a grey furred arm; his shirt ripping by the claws curling inwards. To his left, Lusius choking for air as his windpipe was being crushed and nails sunk into his neck.

"V-Velanto...s-save him," the vulpine wheezed to the dobey as he tried desperately to pull the limb off his chest.

The Doberman's body acted on its own hearing the fox speak as a paw reached for Remus's dagger; adrenaline pumped through his veins making him think his movements were faster than anything that lived.

Velanto's senses seemed heightened as he could almost hear the bears paws wrap and squeeze themselves around the arm in front of him. He could hear the pounding of his own heart as clearly as if it were outside his body, right next to his ear as he pulled the sheath off the blade and tossed it to the ground.

*thump* Velanto raced towards Lusius as fast as he could raising the dagger up over his head with both hands on the hilt.

*thump* His body reacted by instinct before he even commanded his own arms to go down as they brought the dagger along with them cutting through the air, reaching the intended target.

Velanto could feel the resistance as the blade hit the furred skin before it cut threw drawing blood instantaneously as it rushed, and flowed around the dagger and down the arm. Their was a slight snag as the dobey hit the creature's bone, but that didn't stop the strength and energy put into the blow as the stiletto continued its decent threw the limb.

The moment after that their was a unnatural ghastly wail as both arms retracted back into the forest, a thick heavy blood trail following the newly amputated arm, as plants parted from the beast rushing away. Gaining back control of his body the doberman glanced over at the bear watching him firmly grip the severed hand on his throat, peel it off and tossed it to the side.

Clutching his neck Lusius coughed profusely gasping for air; the blood trickling from his neck slowly beginning to spread down to the neck of his shirt staining the fabric. "Hey, big guy you alright?" Velanto asked with concern.

"N-no," Lusius croaked shaking his head Lusius tilted his paw showing Velanto the gashes he had received.

Remus had gotten up and made his way to the others to check on the bear. "How is he?"

"Not good. Looks like whatever that, got him pretty good."

"Lusius, think you can make it to the ship?" Lusius nodded as he stood up.

"Hay we'll get up patched up in no time when we get back alright buddy?" Briefly Remus glared down at the separated hand; a mangy grey with matted fur made it look like it was riddled with disease. As he was about to look away the vulpine saw a glimpse of a silver like object lodged in the side poking out of the forearm.

Reaching to pick the hand up the he jumped back as it began to suddenly move own its own squirming and thrashing about, struggling to flip over. Watching shocked at such an aberrant act the three sailors stared on as the hand finally successfully flipped, and crawled in pursuit of its owner.

"W-what the hell just happened?" Velanto stuttered still in a state of shock.

"I don't know, but I don't want to stay here and find out."

"Agreed," Velanto said as he started to turn as a deep growl emanated from where the hand disappeared into. Lusius smiled softly to Remus and Velanto before facing the sound bravely.

"No, wait Lusius you can't be serious. You're injured for gods sake!" Remus cried out latching onto the ursine's arm. "Come on don't do this Lusius."

Lusius placed a paw on the vulpine's shoulder. "Go." Is what he managed to say as he pushed the fox backwards. Another growl, louder than before, caught their attention and made the bear turn his back on the Vulpine and doberman. Peering back over his shoulder he softly smiled at the ones he had befriended for so long. Remus solemnly nodded and with Velanto turned and ran. Hearing the plants rustle even closer Lusius's smile faded as he extended his claws.

***

Running the canines didn't look back. Not even when a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach, did he look back. No they kept moving ahead and did what they could to stay on the path to the ship, but due to the surrounding area looking so similar to them it was to no avail. Feeling that they had made a good amount of distance both to catch their breath and rest for a short time.

"Are you sure t-this is the right way?" Velanto panted heavily sitting down on a large boulder.

Remus hunched himself over as he took in deep gasps of air before he looked at the dobey. "I'm not sure. I don't remember any of this." Leaning his back against the closest tree near him he looked over at the dobey.

"So we're lost then? We'll that's just great!"

"Velanto quiet down will you." Remus said in a hushed voice glowering at the doberman.

"We don't want that...thing knowing where we are, especially after what Lusius did for us." Both canines were silent for a moment after the vulpine said that.

During their short rest the fox's ears swiveled as he caught an almost muted noise. Getting off the tree he gestured to Velanto to stay silent and to lower himself closer to the ground. Both crouched low they waited and waited to hear the nose again.

When the sound was heard again it took both by surprise that it came from below them. Picking up and handful of leaves Remus was surprised to discover that sand also was picked up. Pushing a bushel of leaves out of where they lay Remus found there was quite a large amount of the loose sand.

The noise came again and this time the fox had an idea of what he and the dobey were standing on. "Velanto move now!" Remus yelled. Standing up quickly he went to run out from where he was, but found it was the wrong thing to do as his foot went into the ground as if it had been sucked up by the earth and most of his body with it. Velanto only watched as Remus's body was swallowed up to the hip in the sandy earth and greedily sucking more of the fox down.

*** The commotion carried through the trees until it finally fell upon a pair of ears that, without delay, pointed in the direction of its source. The blood soaked figure pulled itself away from the ursine corpse, and let out a petrifying howl before it darted into the forest charging in the direction of the upheaval.

***

Hearing the echo of the howl Remus began franticly grabbing handful after handful of sand and leaves in his struggle to get free; his movements only quickening his decent into his entrapment of sand.

"Velanto help me! Get me out of here!" the fox pleaded as inches of his torso sank down; the weight of the sand on his chest made it harder to breath by the second, from his ribcage not being able to expand like it should have.

Turning away the doberman began walking then running away leaving from the sand pit leaving the vulpine to his fate. "Velanto come back! VELANTO!!!!"

***

Running Velanto blocked out the desperate cries for help, the cries of resentment from the fox out of his mind. He just thought of one thing and that was to survive; to get away from that thing, from this place and to survive. His mind was in auto pilot as he watched his legs, and arms move in front of him carrying him farther, and farther with every step that seemed to not be his own.

He didn't know how long he had been running nor did he care when he broke through the trees and found one of its edges that the plant life didn't cover. Looking out he saw the storm that had brought them to this place; the winds picked up at his presents and rain began to come down in heavy wet droplets.

Clenching his fists tightly into a ball he growled with loathing as lightning rolled across the sky in brilliant flashes of light. "YOU WANT YOUR DAMNED IDOL BACK?!?"

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a gold statuette and held it to the sky. "IF YOU WANT IT SO BAD TAKE IT! TAKE IT AND THE BEAST YOU PUT ON THIS ISLAND!" Velanto yelled at the top of his lungs. Bringing his arm back he mustard all the strength he could into one mighty throw sending the golden idol flying outwards. As it reached its peak and started to drop two grey cloud-like beings snatched it out of the air, and flew away from the island; the storm disappeared as if it had never been while the canine was left standing there.

His snarled up face relaxed and became normal seeing the weather clear up and what seemed to be the cause of his troubles gone. Letting out a sigh he turned and became frozen with fear.

***

Remus struggled and pushed against the enveloping sands is it inched up his chest little by little. Panting harder than he ever has before he had to stop to try and get some air into his lungs.

'Damn you Velanto. Damn you to hell.' He thought as he looked up at the sky; rain beginning to fall again around and on him. Closing his eyes he accepted his fate and tried to enjoy the feel of the heavy rain, but alas as soon as it came it vanished along with the storm itself.

Feeling the rain stop his eyes shot open in disappointment and confusion at the sudden disbandment of the weather.

"What the hell?" Not even a full minute went by before a blood hurtling scream rang through the forest. In that moment instinct overrode his body. Summoning new reserves of strength he twisted and thrashed as much as he could for what felt like minutes with little success. Pausing to catch his breath he cocked his head side to side looking for something, anything that could help in his endeavor.

To his right there were thin branched bushes, twigs and rocks and to the left was the same. Growling lowly he wriggled his body and got it to turn just slightly, and he noticed something new. On his left just out of eye sight was a thick tree root that was sticking out of the ground and was in arms distance away.

Not letting go of the chance to escape he thrust his arms forwards and managed to grasp the root in his paws and began pulling himself out. Grunts and groans escaped the fox's maw as he used his last reserves of strength as he pulled himself free. Crawling up to dry safer ground he laid down exhausted as he tried to catch his breath.

He didn't stay for long, knowing that someone out there that thing was going to come to get him, and he didn't want it to have the chance to do so. Wearily getting up he makes a break for the direction he thought the ship was at while he still can. His muscles were still sore and ached with every movement as the ripples coursed through his legs with each step, up his thighs and lower back.

The world around him became a blur as colors melded with one another; the bright sun shine giving golden fuzzed streaks of color to green, until everything became one. His heart beat harder than he could remember it beating in his chest to the point that each *thump* sent blood that felt like it was throbbing in his limbs. His mouth and throat filled with air to the point that saliva wouldn't help moisten it. Remus couldn't remember when he had ran this fast last, but his instincts drove him forwards.

As if he was the wind itself he broke out of the tree line followed by leaves as he rushed to his ship. Slowing down he looked upon his vessel one more time before going on. The large ship still intact as much as it was yesterday; grinning he began walking to it nonchalantly admiring its beauty until he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down he saw five red spots on his shirt that grew and grew.

Blinking he looked around for a moment realizing where he was; next to the sand pit he had just escaped. Looking down at his chest again he saw a grey paw knuckle deep in him. The paw pulled out of him, lines of crimson red blood following the claw tips, and vanished into the forest undergrowth. Gripping his chest he staggered back and tripped on his own foot sending him to the ground. He laid there trying to sort out what had happened. Hearing movement he raised his head and looked upon the beast that had been stalking him and his crew, walk out of its hiding place.