FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

_Well this Chapter took longer then I expected to get out, so my apologies there, I've been busy with school and some commissions with my art. I am planning to work on my "Guided from the Closet" series now and then I'll start up back onto this one. I'll save it for those of you just looking for yiff... there isn't any in this chapter. There's hint towards some but nothing crazy. I'll just spare you the time ahead if you're not interested in looking for a story that has some more character development/action based things. Other than that, enjoy. _

Fear and the Gloom

The Ursi Dorms were very different compared to the High Master ones, darker and more sinister, though similar in architectural structure, having the gothic design with mosaics, cathedral windows, intricate pedestals and pointed arches. The main dorm was perched on a small hill, forcing the road to have to curve upward to the actual dorms.

Keeping close to Dakota's side, Leander had realized that the moment he took the bear's paw, he hadn't let go, only gripped tighter when other large bears appeared and eyed him as he walked. In a way he felt like a little child, so much smaller than the rest and slightly nervous at the several big eyes that watched him. He tried not to stare, but couldn't help to stay alert, the mood wasn't right, it felt like everyone was watching him like he was some target to kill. Quickening his pace to keep closer to Dakota, the two entered the enormous castle like structure.

Inside was worse, as soon as the doors opened all eyes within the lobby found him, sniffing in his scent and keeping a careful eye on him. He almost froze before Dakota tugged on him to proceed casting his beatific eyes back in assurance that it was safe, temporarily making him forget his nerves. Continuing on, they walked down the center of the hall, where all eyes continued to watch him. Though what did make him feel slightly more comfortable was that he wasn't the only human, or the only species. There were tigers, wolves, boars, reptiles even certain types of birds.

"Nice new toy you've got there Dakota." A thick and deep voice called, taking Leander by the arm causing him to flinch in surprise. "Think he'll replace you're old one?"

Immediately Dakota crossed paths between him and the bear and gave a growl. "I'd be careful Glen, Astrid's got an eye on this one... might be better for you to keep your hands off him you know?" The grip on Leander's arm released and Glen snorted.

"You're such a pet." Was all the bear said.

Dakota gave a smirk and put an arm around Leander taking him forward again. "Don't mind him... it's mating season and he's without one." Leander nodded and gave a look back to the bear watching him, seeing a toothy grin. Dakota snorted and pushed him forward a paw on either shoulder. "I said don't mind him, he's not going to get near you."

"Sorry." Leander quickly spoke.

"Just keep your eyes forward till we get to my room." He did so with a nod, keeping his eyes ahead of him, trying not to look around, there wasn't much to look at anymore. From the lobby, they walked up a set of grand stairs, a mahogany colored carpet rolled down its center. Once at the top, the stairs rounded covering three or four flights of stairs before opening up to a great hallway. Still held in Dakota's grasp Leander was forced forward passing several doors reading U-400 to U-430. He figured the U stood for Ursis. After that, the hallway split up into four halls covering the rest of the rooms.

Being guided to the left, they continued to follow another row of rooms these reading a U-461 to U-499. "Here we are..." Dakota said, pulling him to a stop at the room U-469. "In you go now, time to do the whole room introduction thing." The door opened, and they entered.

The room revealed too much at once for Leander at first, but there was one thing he noticed right away and that was the amount of maroon that had been used on the decor. The floor was made of wood, a dark almost brown color, complimenting the use of the maroon and creating a welcoming affect. From where he stood, almost the entire room was revealed, a small kitchen with a bar counter on the right side followed by two sets of windows on the far back wall and then a separate room off to the left partially hidden from his point of view. Entering at Dakota's light stomach press of his back the rest of the room started to become clear. At the center was a rectangular table made out of mahogany. It had a red wine color to it, very dark but went well with the room. Surrounding it were three similar colored stools, except for their white pillows for seating. Like he had noticed before, there were several things in maroon, the curtains, table cloths, dinner napkins for the dining table next to the bar.

"Who else lives here?" Leander asked, noticing the large size of the room.

"No one... just me." He said entering the room and taking off his top outfit, exposing the thin layer of a linen shirt and a loin that wrapped half way down his thigh.

Leander's eyes couldn't help but follow down Dakota's muscular legs, he had never seen a bear this near exposed to nudity before and felt enthralled by the sexual beauty. "Y-you're the only one that lives in here?" He quickly muttered avoiding detection by lifting his eyes.

The bear nodded casting a dark glare back. "Is there something wrong with that?"

"N-No!" Leander responded shaking his head. "The room is just... large for one person."

"It was rewarded to me by the Dominus's almost like being an honor student; you take on harder challenges and have higher expectations while receiving proper reward."

"Was that why you weren't at the ceremony?" His brow raised in question. "I... I overheard some others talking about a Dakota not attending the ceremony."

He nodded. "We were hunting a disciple."

That's it, hunting a disciple? There had to be more than that. Leander tested his friendship with Dakota. "What for?"

"For information, that's all I'm aloud to say... You should unpack your things... they brought it by earlier today while you were on tour... make it nice, I hate when my rooms dirty." He directed Leander with his snout, pointing to the empty room.

Rounding the table, Leander found the bedroom, where one large bed sat in the middle and a night stand waited on either side of the table, each having a small lamp for lighting. Without his stuff showing which side of the bed was his, it was perfectly symmetrical. From the brief rumors he had heard of Dakota, this wasn't what he expected. They had said the bear rarely talked and made him sound like a Brute. He wasn't exactly expecting a neat and organized characteristic, but then again nor was he expecting to meet him anytime soon.

Taking to his things, he quickly unpacked whatever he had brought, not much, a few clothes a journal and utensils for writing and drawing. "Hey boy!" Leander turned in almost a flinch. "Astrid says you've got a test coming up tonight, for the new recruits, you guys get to take on a few of the fleshies."

"Fleshies?" He had never heard that name before. "And why so soon?"

"Don't worry, they're not hard to beat, just annoying, and they always have training for the recruits on the first day... it's not mandatory until the second week... except for you. Astrid says you're coming with me on my next contract and I don't want anything stupid coming from you." He brought his turquoise eyes to meet Leanders. "I won't take the blame for something you could have easily avoided, nor will I get hurt for something idiotic you did, so you're going today, tomorrow and every day until I get my contract."

Leander frowned not liking the sound of being bossed around but refrained from responding. After all Dakota was almost two feet higher than him and could break one of his bones with one hand if he leaned down on him hard enough. He kept the scorning remark to himself and continued to unpack his things making sure everything was in order.

Only moments after, Dakota entered behind him, breathing deeply. "You ready yet?"

"No... you told me to keep it clean so I'm making sure everything looks fine."

He turned grumbling. "We'll hurry up, throw something on you don't mind getting cut up, I'll be waiting out here." Then his eyes looked back, the same look to them when he had been pulled into the alley way. "You've got five minutes or I'll be dressing you." Not wanting a reenactment of earlier he gave a nod and searched through his things. Pulling together an older brown shirt and a pair of jeans he quickly changed and met Dakota at the door.

"I didn't tell you this," He started. "but today's test will be the one that haunts you for several nights. It deals with fear and since you've been isolated from the real fears of the world, I don't know how you would take it, or what you see fear as. But listen to me when I say this, that you cannot let fear take you off your course you have to push on no matter what. Give into fear means giving into death, and it can happen in a split second if you're not careful. It's mad enough to control you and it will never let go of you at that point." He leaned down to Leander muzzle inches from his face. "Do not give into fear."

Leander nodded for his well being and the bear once again took him by the hand and lead him away. Dakota was a grumpy bear, but Leander was happy enough that he at least watched out for him. Especially in a time like this where it was mating season for the bears. Thankfully, Glen was nowhere to be seen while they walked to his first day of training.

Out on the campus they passed the fountain again and this time took a route he hadn't noticed before, leaving the school from the backside. Following a short path, a large arena was lit up with large braziers glowing at the tops of the stands and the entrance doors. The height of the walls surrounding the arena floor, were three stories high, not counting the extra bit that went up another story.

"Chance everything on your first test." Dakota said, letting go of his hand. "Getting over the fear will help get you through a lot faster."

Leander nodded. "What's that covered by the fog?"

"The Maze of Gloom as it's called through the campus. Mostly for you new recruits, it's main uses are for teaching you how to defend yourself when you're cornered, on your own and at the point of fear consumption."

He didn't like the sound of fear consumption; he had never been in a situation where it became that bad. Though he felt curious to wanting to experience deep inside he knew it would only end bad.

As they reached the entrance, Dakota spoke. "They're waiting for you in the center, good luck boy." He nodded seeing the bear depart up to the stands and went to meet with the others who had gathered for the test.

Leander presented himself before High Master Astrid, along with the other Dominus's who waited in the middle of the dirt field, each of them having a pair of white ear plugs. He along with several other humans stood in the center of half an arena, the other half being an enormous maze of hedges, glowing with an emerald green of the afternoon sky. The fog of D.U helped set the dark mood along with the overcast sky and small rays of sun light. An audience had flowed in to take a gander at the new trainees. Dakota was easy to spot with his large white self, there weren't very many polar bears he had noticed attending this school.

The gate that isolated the maze from the school was all that held the thin line of the dangers that could be lurking within. All Leander could think about was the word Fleshie the name Dakota had used for some kind of creature. Inside he felt nervous, his hands mildly shaking not sure what to expect. Taking on something he hadn't seen before would be difficult; he didn't know how to kill it or what it even looked like...

"You are weaponless." Astrid began, starting a slow paced walk from the line of students. "All of you attending tonight's first round of training will be put unconscious awakening in separate spots of the Gloom. Finding your way back will be your task today. Flesh walkers are sluggish, but have no fear to harass you, nor do they have half a brain to care." A soft laugh came from the audience. "They cannot die unless burned to ashes, but there is no fire within the Gloom. Also, a decapitation of the head serves well to give you a distance, but they will reunite, the further the head rolls, the longer you have... You will each wander the maze and search for its exit. A half an hour is all that will be given to you while inside, avoid the flesh walkers at all cost. Anyone pinned down by the walkers receive a fail for the training day, in relation to the real world it is death. However I personally have my watchers within the maze to aid any student who has been pinned. Expect minor injuries if you're taken down but nothing more. With your vulnerability, I do not advise fighting off the horde nor corning yourself." He presented the maze and the gates slowly opened. "One more thing students, cutting through the maze will not only result in cheating, but the hedges have a unique taste of keeping whatever touches them."

A soft foggy wind blew toward Leander, and a faint whisper wandered his ears. Its music played softly, leisurely loosening his body. He felt himself relax and his movements became slow. His eyes wandered the arena around him, seeing the other students in the same trance and before falling backward, the white figure of Dakota's body brightened in the stands and everything went black.

Innocent child of the world,

Falling before the silent serenade of the Gloom.

Falling before me.

Awakening with a sense of confusion

and loneliness.

_ From the dirt you will rise with a task,_

To figure out my riddle

Most will be defective by the fear.

But know that fear is not something to be afraid of,

Fore it is within all of us.

Fear... is simply a complication.

Leander's heavy brown eyes lifted, seeing the dark green of the hedges and the thin fog that skipped across the cobblestone. Only the wind was heard, sweeping amongst all that remained in the gloom. Shaking him free of the Gloom's lullaby he got to his feet wobbling slightly. The fog thickened with distance, creating the illusion of an endless path.

He started forward, knowing only half an hour was given to complete the task, but he couldn't tell if he was even going in the right direction. He couldn't hear the movement of anyone else who had entered with him. Moving forward was the only thing he could do toward success, at this rate it seemed more of a luck game, guessing with directions hoping it would lead to the exit. His feet became quicker as he wandered deeper and in the back of his mind he could feel a panic. The feeling of being alone continued to climb higher to meet him and he tried to run now. Things were starting to replicate, déjà vu happened frequently.

The illusion of fear. He tried to tell himself recalling the Gloom's lullaby. It's only an illusion of fear. His feet skittered across the dirt turning down another hedge and following the endless fog toward a dead end. Retracing his steps he found another hall and took it finding himself within a fork. I went left last time... so let's try right. He darted down the right side and once again found another fork. Left this time. Pushing left, the game became more and more guess involved. Countless dead ends met his path and he grumbled turning back trying to remember the path he had just taken.

He felt a restlessness building in him, eagerness to freedom; the maze was building too much pressure. The fog felt like it was pressing on his mind clouding his judgment. His movements were starting to stagger and he swayed with hope that the corner would reveal freedom though always plundering him with another long illusion.

A whine of something threw him off, and his head shot around. Stuttering back, he fell against the hedge. In the distance was a hunched over figure, one side leaning down as if its spine had been crippled leaving it with a deranged stance. Whatever it was, it moved towards him, slow, but with each step its details became clearer and clearer. A wicked groan spilled from its mumbling jaw and the movements of its torso jerked around, mostly in the arms and hands. Leander cursed when its head cracked up and spat out gibberish and muffles of hungering words. Without second guess Leander turned and ran not knowing if it pursued him. This thing was definitely the flesh walker Astrid spoke about at the start.

He gasped as he ran into another and was given the glory of a full view of the horrifying creature. From the sheared looking features of its face and the torn clothes of its body it was left without a nose, only the ivory rotting bone. Dried and cracked blood stained his face giving the skin tone a pale red. Its lips were cut back and curled up to show the malformed gums and rotting teeth stained with ruby. The stench brought forth tears and burned the nose with lifeless corpse. The exposed skin along its arms and legs had gouges of claws and exposed raw skin as well as bone. The hands were armed with long sharp nails and also covered in a red and bile yellow. Beneath the grotesque features, Leander was close enough to make out the masculine and human details of the body, no fur or tail and at first; it just stood. Then as the long second passed, it rotated fully and forced its attention. It gave a strange toned growl in its throat and stumbled toward Leander in a hurry. This one was faster than the other and reached out its hands to grab him. Backing off quickly he retreated down another path hoping to not run into a dead end.

Foiled at the first turn he faced the large wall of nightmarish hedges that appeared to stretch over him. Behind the sound of their gurgles and moans of death could be heard. There were more this time, at least three more had joined the two he encountered stepping out of the fog in their repulsive manner. Leander knew the only way to get past them, was to try and rush through them. There movements were slow enough and their reactions were awful. They were the type of creatures to simply be in the way or to slow down, like a distraction, or minutemen. Breath tensing and inhales quickening he took his first opportunity and dashed forward. The unholy hands reached for him, taking only the cloth of his right shoulder. He collapsed to the death grip and throw of balance but scrambled to his feet quickly and ran off into the Glooms fog.

Falling to a knee he huffed warm breathe. His heart was racing, and he could feel the pounding in his ears, he felt like giving up and waiting out the half an hour. The fear was finally eating at him. Subconscious voices were wandering in his head, seeding ideas to give up and to accept failure. His breathing became faster and his lungs panicked with each intake of breathe.

He saw his arms wobbling to just let go and lie face down in the dirt for the time. Or maybe just rest for a few moments and try and let the fear pass. Fear felt so comforting, to simply just lie there and not have to deal with anything, like resting. Just for a moment. He thought. Resting was good wasn't it? Getting your energy back, to continue on? The idea was beginning to sound better and better, his body slowly falling to defeat. He felt his eyes closing and the lullaby of the Gloom was wandering from the hedges again, he could hear her song singing in his head. 'Innocent child of the world... Falling before the silent serenade of The Gloom...'

"Fifteen minutes!" Astrid's voice echoed over the maze. Only fifteen minutes left. Leander thought to himself a small smile at the corner of his face. I only have to wait fifteen minutes before this nightmare is over...

Leander... get up! His eyes peaked open for a moment thinking he heard something around him and closed to rest again. I said get up!

_ _ Leander breathed opening his eyes. "D...Dakota?"

Get up Leander! Leander looked around confused. "I... I can't." Don't give into fear! His head rose and he looked around. "Where... are you?"

Just get up; this is all I can do for you! _ I'll explain later!_

"No... no I can't do it Dakota... I'm... I'm scared." The wind blended some of his words.

...Then you can suffer through the first round.

_ _ Leander lifted his head now. "Wait... Dakota wait!" No answer. "Dakota no, I'll listen!" Nothing again. Then the murderous muffles of the undead approached and Leander's eyes widened. "Dakota, come back I'll listen!" Closer they came. "Dakota!"

It was far too late, the crippled hands tore for his face, forcing Leander to fall back as they neared. Upon him before he had a chance to get to his feet, they pinned him down. Their teeth sank into his skin and hands tore for his flesh. Leander's scream stretched for the heavens, every fiery bite of the flesh eaters intensifying his cry. He thought Astrids men were watching, his eyes lurched from side to side and he arched his back trying to escape. Thrashing to wretch himself free, blood dripped down his arms and pooled his stomach; its metallic scent finding Leanders nose. Hands desperate in crawling for freedom they overtook him with their sinister shadow. His legs were gripped tight and yanked back into the horde, being feasted on by the flesh hungry zombies. The pain became unbearable and his screams turned to shrieks of agony, feeling hands tear into his flesh and feel the innards and vital insides. Then teeth plunged into his neck spewing blood and knocking Leander to the floor. His brain felt heavy and eyes followed, everything slowed down and wetness touched his cheek as the red puddle quickly drenched his dying body.

Suddenly he flew forward yelling, breathe heavy and sweat dripping from his brow. A large wolf paw slapped him on the shoulder. "Easy boy... You're safe now." Leander reached up to touch the back of his neck, searching for the bite then tears of relief accompanied him as he realized the episode was all in his mind. After a moment of slowing breath recovery, his eyes wandered the floor, he had been the first to awake. I... I Fail-

_ "Failure." Astrid's voice called coldly while patrolling the group. "Ten minutes remaining!" He shouted next darting his old eyes to Leander. Leanders own eyes were filled with grief at the disappointment the old man gave him. Not to mention the thought of what the bear was thinking right now. Picking up his head he found Dakota with a stern look of disgust. _I... I failed. The words echoed in his head and brought along a trail of stupidity feeling as if he weren't worthy. "Success!" Astrid called a cheer coming from the crowd. One of the boys slowly rose across from him, sweat over his forehead but calm. Smiling to himself he looked around stopping at the only other one awake: Leander. With a brief raise of his eye brows Leander took the question and slowly mouthed: "Failure..."