FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Something to note, there is a prologue. It was formerly listed as Chapter 01 here, but I figured this would be more appropriate. Anywho, if you haven't read it, you should.

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"In what now are ages past

To both you and me

Were four veins of ore

Discovered by families three

Foxes got to one

So did some rabbits

And one bear got two

As fate decided to have it

Prosperity flowed

Fortunes did spring

But 'twas more than wealth

These mines would bring

Villages grew in time

And soon found their mates

In this valley between them

A great town they create

And blossom it did

Growing faster than any

With mines feeding their fruit

To a mutual belly

To this day it continues

As you could easily attest

And it is here I sing

Because you tip the best"

"Thank you." The bard said with a modest bow. His lengthy rabbit ears, now pointed toward the crowd, took in the waves of cheering, scattered laughs and general merriment that kept the tavern from silence as his last song ended. The audience knew the story within his lyrics well; it was the story of Fruxton. It was the story of their town. By shaping it into a melodious ballad to end an already well-received evening of entertainment, he insured that his lute case - or 'loot' case, as it were - would not be left empty. Judging by the three attractive female furs that approached the stage as the bard began to repack his gear, it would seem the same could be said about the rest of his night.

'Everybody loves a musician,' thought the bard with a smirk.

"Good evening, ladies."

* * * * * * * * *

"Daddy!"

The word echoed faintly down through the cool, damp passages of the Wythe Silver Mine, interrupting a conversation between James Wythe and one of his employees. Recognizing the voice, James excused himself and looked down to see his six year old kit run up and latch tightly around one leg. Two youthful eyes stared back up at him, just above the biggest grin that the little fox's muzzle could manage.

The kit embodied many of the physical traits of the larger fox to which he clung. They were both covered in brilliant red fur with a sizable patch of white on their front, reaching from waist to chin. Their headfur, while trimmed differently, was still made up of the same mess of thick, brown strands. Even their white-tipped tails were both slightly longer than average and would almost reach the ground if left to droop. The only things that appeared to differ, if one were to look close enough, were the young fox's eyes. Those blue-green jewels were inherited from his mother.

"Hey Ethan." James said, reaching down and rubbing his hand atop the young fox's head. "What's my little kit doing down here?"

Ethan stepped away from his father's leg, paws moving frantically over his short headfur in an attempt to coax it back into place. "We brot'cha some lunch!" He excitedly proclaimed with one paw held aloft, pointing behind James toward his mother. James wheeled around to a warm smile and wave from his beautiful mate, Elizabeth. Even though they had been together for eight years, he still couldn't help but stare at her slender muzzle, smooth amber headfur and piercing turquoise eyes. Her body was no less beautiful; a shapely figure outlined in maroon colored fur, but it was always those eyes that always got him.

The faint smell of fresh bread and citrus began to fill the air from the neatly tied square of cloth that she held in one hand. "Smells delicious, Elizabeth, honey." he said with open arms to his approaching mate.

"I can't hug you, you're all dirty!" Elizabeth giggled. She stopped and took a small step back, but James persisted in walking forward, moving a little faster with each footfall.

"When have I not been?" James replied, his mouth making the subtle change from welcoming smile to mischievous smirk. "Ah... HA!" he exclaimed, lunging forward. Elizabeth narrowly avoided her husband's grasp with a small leap then began to run. James quickly gave chase, both of them now laughing and passing in and out of the mine's sparse electric lighting. It only took a few seconds for him to catch his wife and force a hug through her playful resistance.

The miner with whom James was conversing with earlier, a large hyena named Sammy, burst into a hearty laugh that startled Ethan. "Your folks sure are crazy." he chuckled. The kit continued to watch his parents, who were still carrying on noisily. They always did this, playing around like no other adults did. To suggest that they were a bit odd in that respect was like mentioning that winter followed autumn. Ethan didn't have to dwell on the statement long before giving a small nod. His affirmation only served to evoke a louder cackle from the hyena.

"Come on, Ethan, we've got some more work to do." Elizabeth eventually called out to her son, continuing with a small laugh as she brushed herself off, "It seems we both have to go clean up now." Ethan gave Sammy a quick goodbye wave and started to run over to his parents. He hugged James one more time before taking his mother's paw. "See you in a few hours, dear!" she called back to James as she began to head out.

"I can't wait." James replied. He watched them until they disappeared from view then began to walk back.

Sammy was still chuckling to himself when James returned. "What? Get back to work!" he jokingly barked out to the hyena. "You too!" he added in after seeing a few other furs who were trying to get a good look at the commotion from deeper within the mine. A few scattered laughs and unintelligible chatter were heard as the miners started to walk back to their stations. James opened his mouth, about to say something else to Sammy, but stopped before any words could escape. He looked around with a worried expression. "Do you feel that?"

Seconds later, ground started to vibrate, only barely noticeable at first, but quickly building up to a series of violent shakes that rocked the entire mine with a deafening rumble. Small pieces of earth began to fall from the tunnel around James and Sammy. Light danced around them as the mine's line of electric lamps swung about and knocked into the nearby walls. A few distant cracks were heard from a number of support beams giving way to the earth's might. The noise eventually roared into a violent crescendo, playing the easily recognizable tune of a cave-in. Amid the onslaught of sound, a high-pitched shriek broke though through to James's ears. His eyes widened in horror.

The expression on Ethan's face was no different than his father's as he looked up from lying on the ground. He had been pushed just a second ago and was now staring at a torrent of stone devouring his mother right before his very eyes. She reached out to him, already knee-deep in debris before one large piece fell, crushing her downward, out of sight. The mound was quick to pile up, almost reaching to the top of the tunnel. Ethan quickly crawled backwards, terrified. As if it were satisfied with its grim deed, the quake slowed and the last few chunks of earth fell, nailing shut the lid of Elizabeth's stony casket.

"Elizabeth!" James screamed out into the flickering path in front of him just before each light snapped into a darkened state. The mine replied with an ominous silence. James dashed haphazardly toward the mine's entryway, almost tripping over the scattered debris and bumping into a few walls along the way. Light slowly began to creep through to the walls around him as he neared the entrance. The collapse before him was more severe than any he'd seen in his many years of experience. Coming from the other side of the ruined sections were Ethan's loud cries, informing him all too well that his worst fear had become reality.

An equine and wolf that were positioned just outside of the mine were already tearing away at the pile of rock. James quickly joined them, furiously moving what pieces he could from the large pile that had consumed Elizabeth. Minutes later, Sammy, along with several other members of the mining crew, emerged from within the lightless mine and began to assist.

"Everyone down in the mine is fine," Sammy said, "Is everyone here alri-"

James abruptly pulled Sammy aside, interrupting the hyena. "Take Ethan home." He sternly commanded. Sammy stared for a moment, caught off guard by his grim tone.

"Is Elizabeth-"

"Now!" James bellowed.

"Ye-s-sir!" Sammy stammered. He quickly made his way over the pile of rock, taking as much care as he could to not make things any worse. Ethan was on the other side, curled up against one wall, crying loudly. It was difficult to pick him up and carry him out of the mine. The distressed kit struggled and screamed every step of the way. As he walked toward the Wythes' home, Sammy was unable to come up with anything to say or do that could calm Ethan. After seeing James's behavior, he could only assume the worst had happened. "I'm sorry kid."

Those words and the fading view of the mine that had violently claimed his mother echoed in his head in a twisted overture; a repetitious tune for the repetitious days to follow.

"Is mama ok? Where's dad?"

For four long days it was the same questions, falling upon different ears, always answered with some evasive response. Some days it was "I don't know." Others, "They'll be back soon." The only thing that remained constant were the nightmares replaying that day in the mine, appearing on the rare occasions in which Ethan could bring himself to sleep.

When Ethan saw his father again, it was easy to see that something was dreadfully wrong. The liveliness, the playfulness, the smile, and all of the other cheerful traits embodied in his caring father had died off. He was completely cold to Ethan's sadness, offering only blank stares to his son's tear-filled hugs after explaining that his mother would not be coming back. It would seem the only things left to him in life now were his son and an undesirable hole in the ground. One had taken his wife while the other would always be there, staring back at him, with her eyes.

The funeral took place two days later. Under a mockingly bright and pleasant sky, James, Ethan, the extended Wythe family, friends, employees, acquaintances and a single casket were gathered at the Fruxton cemetery. Ethan was surprised to see one of his teachers, an older owl with faded brown feathers leading the ceremony. Memories of frequent and fairly painful discipline for "acting out of line" or "asking unnecessary questions" that had embodied his education came to mind. Ethan considered asking his father why it was him, but the kit dared not speak for fear of reprisal. Several tiny growls of frustration and dismay never reached the ears of those who surrounded him. They were too caught up in their own emotions and the continuous religious banter swirling around between the crowd, the owl, and the casket.

It wasn't long before an alarming piece of news began to travel through Fruxton during the following week: James was selling the mine. It came as no surprise to those who knew the young Wythe couple and how close they were. However, for the rest of the town, this was quite a shock. After all, one of the four mines that helped to bring the city into existence, owned and passed down through four generations within a single family, was being sold. As only rumors and wildfire can do, information, regardless of accuracy, spread quickly. However, it didn't take long to reach an unexpected end.

Much to everyone's surprise, the mine didn't end up going to the highest bidder or any speculated relative so much as it did the first potential buyer. Anxious to get away from the property and the memories it held, James quickly accepted a reasonable offer from a pair of relatively young white tigers who had approached him shortly after the mine became available. Theyclaimed to be brothers and had only recently moved to Fruxton. It also appeared that they had no immediate family beyond that of an infant nephew over which they shared guardianship. Apart from that, little was known. They had the money and James wasn't in any frame of mind to inquire further.

Their takeover of the mine was met with some suspicion and uneasiness, especially from the workers, but James ignored their disapproval and completed the deal. The tigers quickly settled in over the next few weeks, keeping the mine running flawlessly while maintaining the previous lineup of employees, much to everyone's amazement. They became somewhat sociable as their reputation grew, and anyone who cared to strike up a conversation with them always seemed to walk away with a good impression afterwards. Any remaining doubts about their integrity quickly faded away.

Meanwhile, James had purchased an inn near the center of Fruxton using a significant portion of the funds he accumulated during the operation and sale of the mine. The building itself was a modest two-story wood and stone structure that was built nearly four decades ago. Inside, a sizable main room contained the front desk along with another area occupied by several chairs and a large fireplace. Opposite the entrance were the eight rooms, split into two floors and joined by an ornate wooden staircase and balcony. The previous owner, an elderly badger who had once worked for James's grandfather, assured him that the inn saw its fair share of business and should keep them busy.

The change seemed to be beneficial to James at first. He maintained his composure throughout the surge of attention his tragedy had elicited from the town. Many of his acquaintances, former employees, and distant family came to offer their condolences and help after the transition, turning the inn into a nexus of activity for several weeks. Despite the appearance of a healthy demeanor of one coping with loss that everyone saw in James, he was rapidly falling apart much worse than before. The memories of Elizabeth refused to leave his mind, no matter how hard he tried to work, no matter how much he drank.

Ethan quickly began to feel the full weight of what was really hiding behind his father's façade once all of the attention had died down. In the months to come, his father would begin to keep him from school and the rest of the outside world with his demands to work the inn. Ethan would often be left alone to attend to patrons or maintain the building with his father either gone or locked in their shared room. When James would return, he often reeked of alcohol and met any shortcomings he saw in Ethan - no matter how irrational - with a clenched paw. For years, Ethan felt as if he was enslaved, working to pay off an endless debt equal to the price of his father's irreplaceable former lover.

By the time Ethan was in his mid teens, working the inn became his life. It was an uncommon feat for a teenager to be capable of so much in such a business, but Ethan had adapted quickly and surprised many a patron with his proficiencies. The faint hope of his father snapping out of depression had initially inspired his efforts, but he eventually realized it was all for naught. He was practically running the whole establishment by himself while James, no longer able to mask what was really going on, quickly lost the respect of those who knew him and began to sink further into reclusion.

Between living in the harsh environment of the inn and experiencing the infamous changes that come with maturation, Ethan's life plummeted into a living hell of fear, depression, confusion and anger. He quickly developed apathy for the world around him and struggled through each day, pressing onward only for the peaceful rest that awaited him at the end. It hadn't taken long for James to boot Ethan out of their room and up into the building's attic during this emotionally perturbed period. The new living space and the distance it put between Ethan and his father felt like the first good thing that had come to him since childhood. After a few hard days of work on top of his daily duties and some uncomfortable, dust-filled nights, Ethan was able to transform the attic into a reasonably livable space. For once, life seemed a little less miserable.

Less than a month after his move to the attic, Ethan was awakened one night by a pair of guests making an odd-sounding racket in one of the rooms below. He silently crawled over toward the light and sound that escaped into the attic through a small gap in the wooden ceiling. Peeking down into the room below, he was met with an eyeful of two furs mating. Though he had heard only a few details about it here and there, Ethan never fully understood what it all entailed until he saw the two felines below. It was a little hard to make anything out in the dimly lit room, but as both Ethan and the scene below shifted around, details began to emerge. He was quickly able to discern that the figures below were both fairly attractive white tigers... and male.

Ethan gasped as he instantly remembered checking them in only a few hours ago. They both looked remarkably similar with only hairfur, the placement of their stripes, and a few inches in height differentiating between them. He found it strange when they asked if he had remembered them, the two that had bought his father's mine. Only half paying attention, Ethan mumbled that he could not recall.

"It's alright, you were young then. "Is Mr. Wythe around?" one asked.

"Not really. Your room is up the stairs and the second door on your right. Here's your key." Ethan gloomily muttered as he pushed the room key across the counter.

Both tigers looked at the other with a mildly shocked expression before one slowly reached out to take the key. They began to walk up the stairs, glancing back toward Ethan, who was simply staring out through a window to his immediate left without expression. "Wow. I guess it's as bad as they say." the taller one said in a hushed voice.

"It's pretty disheartening, I'll admit, but it's none of our business. At least we should be able to enjoy our stay uninterrupted." the shorter one replied, placing his arm around the other's waist as the two left Ethan's view, unnoticed.

Now one was behind the other on the bed, trusting slowly and stroking his mate's back. Between the constant stream of purrs and groans flowing from the two below, Ethan was barely able to catch the two names that he had not cared to remember only hours ago. It sounded like the shorter one went by Matthew or Matt, and the taller one, Alex. The reality of two males mating right in front of his eyes suddenly struck Ethan, but he couldn't bring himself to move. From what he could remember of his sporadic education over the past few years, such an act was to be considered a grievous sin. However, what he saw before him couldn't have appeared any further from what that nigh-forgotten indoctrination had shown him.

The two tigers were both gentile, graceful, and almost fluid in their motions. They both exchanged positions frequently, each putting a fair amount of effort toward the enjoyment of the other. Ethan wished he could be down there, experiencing the bliss that was surely being felt in that room, laws be damned. The desire alone promptly coerced Ethan's penis into stiffening fully. It took him a moment to realize it, but something felt different this time. Sure, it happened a few times in the past, but never before did he experience this desire to do something with it.

Ethan began to lightly stroke his cock, feeling a wondrous sensation rush through the entirety of his body. It didn't take long before he was trying to simulate what he saw Alex doing to his own shaft while Matthew slid in and out of his tailhole. For several more minutes, Ethan continued to watch and paw off. The sensation intensified as his pace gradually increased, and all the while he began to notice a new pleasurable pressure start to build up within his member. Ethan saw no reason to stop, wanting to go faster than his paws could move, wanting more of the ecstasy, and quickly getting the inexplicable sense that something fantastic was about to happen. This all changed as soon as his body suddenly tensed up. Almost immediately, the first surge of cum brought out a loud moan from Ethan. Realizing what had just happened, both of his paws flew up to muffle himself, leaving the rest of his body to the throes of his first climax.

"Mmmmwait. Wait! Did you hear that?" a hushed voice sounded from the room below.

"Hear what?"

"I think it came from the ceiling."

All fell silent for what felt like an eternity to Ethan as he regained his composure and waited with his muzzle still held shut. His eyes slowly surveyed the small mess before him while the frightening thoughts of getting caught began to plague his mind. The fox held his breath.

"Must just be the wind having its way with that old wooden roof."

"Yeah, must be. Oh, and speaking of..."

The voice trailed off into a creak of the bed and a resumed series of rhythmic noises. Ethan breathed a sigh of relief and began to clean up the sticky spots on his fur and the floor around him. Shortly after he had finished, he heard the tigers softly roar out, one after the other, in what he suspected to be their night coming to an end as well. Ethan continued to watch the thin slit of light from his bedroll with ambivalence until it disappeared a few minutes later. Left alone in the darkness of the attic once again, his thoughts spiraled around what he had just seen and done, but fatigue that had been building all day gradually won him over, bringing the last body in the inn to rest.