FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Drake followed close behind the ambulance as it navigated through the town. As the flashing siren turned into the hospital Drake looked for a place to park his car. He nervously walked into the waiting room as the tears fell on his cheeks matting his fur.

As he walked into the waiting room he was greeted by the warm smile of a rabbit behind the receptionist's desk. She looked up at him and asked him "Can I help you?"

Drake stammered through his words, "I'm looking for my friend, Xello; he was just brought in here."

The rabbit looked down and sifted through her papers. "He hasn't been admitted a room yet." She paused, "But if you want to take a seat a doctor will be out shortly.

Drake nodded, and took a nearby seat. Tears were falling slowly; his eyes were red and puffy. He pulled out his cell phone and called Renee.

It rang twice before, "Hello?"

"Mom, Xello's in the hospital. He's in very bad shape, and might not make it." Drake said quickly in a single breath.

Silence. Not a word was spoken for a few minutes.

"What happened?" Renee asked over the phone.

"Ceres almost killed him."

"I'm on my way. Stay there."

"Ok." Drake closed his phone and sat quietly.

He saw several other furs going in and out of the hospital. A dragon with crutches, a boar in an arm cast, a mother horse with her baby. He couldn't take it. 'Xello might not make it,' He thought, 'and the last thing I told him was horrible.' He put his face into his paws, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Renee soon came through the door and stopped to talk with the rabbit at the receptionist's desk. The rabbit pick up a phone and called someone. A nurse came from the ER a few moments later. It was the same nurse that took care of Drake when he was here.

Renee looked over to the seating area at Drake, and singled for him to come over. He slowly got up and walked over to them. His eyes stared at the ground.

Drake's heart was racing. 'Will she blame me for everything?' He looked into Renee's worry filled eyes. 'No, but what's going to happen to Xello?' his tears were still running fast. He didn't have the nerve to talk to Xello's mother.

When Drake reached the dragon and Renee, he felt the female wolf hug him tightly. "The nurse just told me what's going on with Xello. He's still in critical condition," she said, choking back tears.

The nurse looked at Drake. She had a very serious look across her face. "Do you know why Xello was beaten like this?" she asked.

Drake gulped. His heart was racing, his paws sweating slightly. "A guy named Ceres beat him up to get at me," he said, choking back some tears. "We got into a fight, Xello and I, and I wasn't there. If I hadn't gotten into a fight with Xello, he would have been in class instead of where he was alone and Ceres could get him."

Renee stared at Drake. Her usual peaceful, shinning eyes were flat and dull. He wanted to run, terrified of what she would do. "Why did you two get into a fight?" she asked coldly.

Drake's heart dropped. He looked away from Renee. "I saw him hugging Sean, and I didn't want to let him hurt me by picking someone else."

The nurse started to walk towards the ER. "Lets go see how he is doing." The nurse said

Renee and Drake nodded and followed her. The ER felt cold, and many doctors and nurses were running around. The nurse led them to a room off to the side. They stood behind a glass window looking into a room where a black wolf was being worked on. His vital signs were very grim. His breathing was weakening.

Tears began to fill Drake's eyes. His paws were clenched. 'Xello, you better make it.'

A large panther dressed in a police uniform walked into the room. "Mrs. Wills?"

Renee turned around. "Yes sir?"

The panther cleared his throat. "I am Officer Oxidus. We caught the wolf that did this, and he is being held in custody."

Renee breathed a sigh of relief. She hugged the cop and whispered, "Thank you."

Officer Oxidus smiled at her and looked at Drake. "I need to get back on patrol. Just wanted to let you know that he was caught." He walked back out the door.

Drake turned his attention back to Xello. The black wolf's vitals seemed to be getting worse. Drake looked up the nurse and asked, "Is he going to make it?"

The nurse looked back down towards the vitals. The doctor and nurses down there were rushing around, trying to keep him from slipping any further. She turned back to Renee and Drake and said, "I don't know. Let me go down a find out what's happening."

Xello was wandering through total darkness. "Drake!" he shouted. No answer. "Drake, I'm sorry. Please help me."

He sat down. Nothing but darkness surrounded him. "What's the point of going on. I can't see. No one is here." Xello began to cry. He wanted it all to end, to be in his lovers arm.

The floor suddenly disappeared. Xello began to fall. The rush of air in his fur was cold. He creams and reached out for something. He managed to grab something. It felt like a paw. He was being pulled up.

Drake looked out as the nurse started talking with the doctor. He said a few things, and the nurse nodded. Drake tried to understand what he was saying, but couldn't. Whatever it was, the doctor had a concerned look across his face.

Drake looked at Renee. "I want to talk with Xello. I want him to know that I will never leave his side. To let him know that as long as he wants to be with me, I'll be there for him."

Renee nodded. "Xello is lucky to have a boyfriend like you. You just need to trust him a little more. Xello would never try to hurt you."

They both looked down at the nurse, who turned and left. She was soon back in the room watching over Xello. Her expression was grim. The nurse looked Renee in the eyes. "According to the doctor, it's almost like he's lost the will to live."

Drake panicked. He needed to talk to Xello right then. "Maybe someone's voice who he cares about can keep him together," he blurted out. To him, even if it didn't work, at least he could talk to him one last time.

The nurse looked at Drake intently, and then looked back down at Xello. "Anything is worth a try I suppose," she said skeptically. "So, will it be you or will it be his mother?"

Renee answered quickly, "It should be Drake. He is the person Xello loves the most."

Nurse nodded. "Follow me Drake."

Drake gulped. He wasn't sure this would work. He followed the nurse out the room and down to the next room. Inside the doctors and nurses were watching Xello. The Panda doctor in charge looked up and frowned. "He can't be in here, nurse."

The nurse smiled and said, "Doctor Ling, he just wants to at least try to reach Xello with his voice. It's worth a shot if he has truly lost the will to live."

Dr. Ling sighed heavily. "5 minutes, then he has to get out."

Drake walked over to Xello and took his paw into his own. "Xello, I'm sorry for everything I said to you. I'm sorry for not trusting you. I love you. Please Xello, please hold on."

Xello lay in a dark cave. He thought he heard Drake's voice. "Drake!" he shouted. "Drake, please help me. I'm scared."

He stood up and felt something take his paw. It felt familiar, but he couldn't see what it was. He heard the voice again saying, "I love you."

"Drake!" he shouted. "Please Drake, please save me." He saw a light. He started to walk towards it. His heart was racing. "Drake, are you over there?"

Drake heard Xello start to mutter. "Xello, I'm right here with you. You have to come back to us. I promise I'll never doubt you again. Xello, I love you with every fiber of my being."

Xello walked closer to the light. He was sure he heard Drake say, "I love you with every fiber of my being."

"Drake, I love you." He said as he made his last steps into the light.

Xello's eyes slowly opened. He muttered, "Drake?"

Drake almost leapt for joy. He kissed him softly of the cheek. "Xello, you gave us quite a scare. We all thought you weren't going to make it."

Xello looked around. He didn't recognize the room. "Where am I?" he strained to ask.

"Shhh, you need to rest. Ceres almost killed you," Drake whispered in his ear.

Dr. Ling stared at the two in shock. "I didn't think that would work." He rubbed his eyes and turned to the nurse. "Go get a room ready Ness."

The blue dragon nurse nodded and walked out. Drake kissed Xello on the head, and said, "I'm going to have to get out of here. Mom and I will visit you in your room in a little bit."

Xello stared off into space. He only vaguely remembered what happened. He held on tight to Drake's paw. "Please don't leave me alone Drake."

Drake rubbed Xello's headfur. "Don't worry, I'll be right outside."

Xello reluctantly let go of Drake's paw. He didn't want to be alone. His emerald eyes seemed to have lost their luster.

Drake felt a horrible feeling in his stomach, a feeling like a bottomless pit. He slowly walked out of the room. Renee was standing there, with tears in her eyes. He hugged her tightly. "Xello is going to live," was all he could say.

Xello was slowly brought out of the room on a bed. They didn't want to risk hurting him further by using a wheelchair. Drake and Renee walked right next to him all the way to the elevators, and rode with him up to where his room was going to be.

Drake's phone began to vibrate. 'That's odd, nobody ever calls me till much later on.' It then registered that he took off from school without permission. He didn't care. He knew he would be in serious trouble.

The elevator doors opened and Drake said to Xello, "I'll be right behind you, I need to check something."

Xello nodded as he was brought down the hall and into a room with Renee. The door closed quietly behind them.

Drake pulled out his phone and his heart lightened a bit. It was his father who called. He slowly dialed the number. It rang once before, "Mr. Leer speaking."

"Dad, you called?" Drake said hesitantly.

"Yes, I want you and your..." Richard paused, "your lover to come to dinner tonight."

Drake sighed. "We would love to, but we can't."

"And why not?" Richard asked angrily.

"Because," he said, "Xello was nearly beaten to death today by Ceres, and he's not going to be able to make it there tonight."

There was a long pause. Neither spoke a word for several minutes. Finally, Drake said, "Listen, my boyfriend needs me, so I'm going to let you go."

Richard growled, "Fine. But your mother and I want you home for dinner tonight."

Drake sighed, "I can't. I'm going to be here with Xello. When he able to leave and come over to your house with me, we'll come. Until then, farewell father." He hung up the phone and almost threw it.

Xello lay in the room with Renee and a nurse. He wanted to get some sleep, but he had to talk with Drake alone beforehand. He had something he wanted to ask him. Something important.

Drake slowly walked over to the room and opened the door. He smiled and Xello and said, "Odd how just a few days ago, I was the injured one." They all chuckled.

"Mom, can a please talk with Drake alone for a minute?" Xello said.

Renee nodded and slowly walked out the room. She placed her paw on Drake's shoulder and smiled. Ness followed closely behind her, and turned to the boys, "No yiffing, please."

Drake and Xello laughed softly as the nurse closed the door. Drake walked over and kneeled next to the injured wolf. "What do you want to talk about, hun?"

Xello gulped. He wanted to know how Drake really felt about him. "Drake, do you love me?"

Drake almost fell over. He couldn't believe what he was asked. "Of course I love you Xello. And I promise I'll never treat you like I did again."

Xello looked away. "I'm sorry, but I really needed to hear that." He said whimpering as he did.

Drake flattened his ears and his tail drooped. He couldn't blame him, after all the horrible things he said. He kissed Xello softly on the cheek, "Get yourself some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up." He walked to the door and let Renee back in.

Xello fell asleep before Renee even made it back into the room. His dreamed of a life with Drake. He slept peacefully and happily. He even murred softly.

Drake sat right next to Xello. His eyes stared lovingly at the sleeping wolf. He giggled softly and turned to Renee. "He seems to be at peace."

Renee nodded. "He's dreaming of a certain fox I bet. Listen Drake, I know you're scared of getting hurt. Xello won't hurt you. He loves you, and I want you two to be together."

Drake had a tear roll down his cheek. He smiled at Renee. "I'll always be there for Xello. He is, and will always be, my only love." He yawned softly and slowly joined Xello in his slumber.

Renee left the two lovers in the room, and asked the nurse if it was ok for Drake to stay here overnight with Xello. The nurse nodded and said, "Just have to go sign him in.

Drake and Xello slept peacefully in the room. Both dreamed of spending the rest of their days together. Drake awoke a few hours later. He looked over at Xello who was murring softly in his slumber.

Drake looked at his watch. It was 6:23 and the sun was setting. He stepped outside the room and saw Renee on the phone. He smiled at her and waited for her conversation to finish.

"Ok, I'll give you a call later," Renee said as she hung up the phone. "You sleep well Drake?" she asked

Drake nodded and stretched his body some. "When are visiting hours over?" he asked.

Renee looked at him, "They are over with at 8, but you're going to be allowed to stay here tonight," she said as she smiled back at him. "I think Xello will be thrilled."

Drake giggled. "Good thing we don't have school tomorrow. Did the doctor say when Xello will be able to leave?"

Renee stood still, "Doctor Ling wants Xello to remain here at least a week, maybe more."

Drake sighed. "You'll need to talk to the band director to make sure he knows. Morning practice starts next week, and he is very strict when it comes to students being there."

Renee nodded. "I'll call him tomorrow."

Drake's tail wagged softly behind him as he heard Xello stir in his room. "We better get in there before he fully wakes up and notices we aren't in there."

Renee nodded. They both walked into the room, and saw Xello was rubbing his eyes. "Good morning sleepy head," Drake said.

Xello yawned and tried to sit up. He whimpered as he did, and fell back down. Drake and Renee ran over to him. "I'm fine," he said as he smiled at them trying to make them feel reassured.

Drake kissed Xello softly on the forehead. "Just don't strain yourself."

Xello nodded. "So, I'm going to be stuck here by myself tonight, aren't I?" he asked grimly.

Drake shook his head. "I'm being allowed to stay here with you" he said as his tail wagged wildly. "You won't be alone Hun."

Xello's face filled with joy at the news. His tag wagged softly.

They sat and talked for a while, and before long, 8 rolled around. "I have to get going boys. You two behave." Renee said and kissed both on the cheek. "Have a good night. I'll be back in the morning."

After Renee left, Xello grabbed onto Drake's paw. He slowly sat up, whimpering softly as he did. He stared into Drake's eyes. "Drake," he said. "Can you cuddle with me?"

Drake smiled and nodded. "Just let me know if you start to hurt." He said. He carefully crawled into the small bed with Xello and wrapped his paws around him gently. He kissed him on the lips softly.

Xello felt a sharp pain, but chose to ignore it as his paws wrapped around Drake's waist. He returned the kiss, closing his eyes. He began to murr softly, the warmth of his fox lover made him feel at peace.

Drake closed his eyes and gently rubbed Xello's back, who whimpered and broke the kiss. "I'm sorry," Drake whispered.

Xello shook his head. "It's ok." He licked Drake on the muzzle and smiled. "Drake, I love you. If I can't forgive you, then I never really loved you."

Drake kissed Xello softly on the lips. They closed their eyes, lost in the other embrace. For a brief moment, they felt like they were one. Their love could no longer be broken.

Xello slowly cried, but not in sadness or in pain, but in joy. He whispered in Drake's ear, "I want you."

Drake kissed Xello softly on the cheek. "Your body is too injured. If we made love it would make things worse." Xello let out a low whimper and flattened his ears. "But I promise I'll make it up too you," Drake said. As he gently nuzzled Xello's chest, his ears perked up.

Xello yawned and smiled at Drake. "You're right, Drake. Let us get some sleep. Will you hold me?"

Drake snuggled up close the wolf, being careful not to cause him any further pain. "Good night, my wolf prince."

Xello had already fallen asleep; the day took its toll on the wolf. Drake smiled and kissed Xello's chest. 'I'm going to ask mom for it tomorrow.' He thought as he drifted off into a blissful sleep next to his wolf lover.