FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sound of music echoed and vibrated the floor of an office that looked as if it would have been at home in some stately plantation house, not hiding above a club in the midst of one of the largest party neighborhoods in the world. The walls were finished in a rich cherry wood that had been polished until the dim lights gleamed over it. The floor was made of black marble veined with silver so that it was cold beneath bare feet. The far walls were lined with book cases that were filled with every style and shape of book imaginable. Some looked as if they were weathered by age so badly that they might fall apart if someone tried to take them off the shelf. None of them were in English, at least not the titles.

The desk was monstrous and so large that it looked as if it were two desks made into one. It was carved with intricate designs of creeping ivy and strange creatures that seemed to pass through the vine work. Wherever the eye fell on the desk, there was a new shape, a new shadow. A master had carved it and polished it so that showed light gold and deeper colors that hinted towards black. There was no scattering of papers over the desk, no mess to indicate that work was done frequently there. Only a few neatly stacked notes and a line of pens that likely cost more than the average person made in a week. It was set in front of a wall with more shelves, but these ones held a far more interesting array of artifacts. They were each carefully under glass and protected from the need of the casual observer to touch them.

The largest of the artifacts was the most striking. A helmet made of hammered metal was set in a place of honor and not even the glass could distract from the fact that it was both very old and very lovely. It was shaped to fit an equine head, but not an equine that walked on four legs. No horse ever foaled had such a delicate small head and no pony would ever have been in battle. The silver was polished and offset with gold that rimmed the empty eye sockets. The muzzle was formed of link metal and came down to a sharp point like the muzzle of a dragon. The only break in the metal was a pair of holes meant for the nostrils. Two delicate curves of metal rose up from the tops to protect the ears before the helmet turned into a thick spill of chainmail. And in the middle of the helmet, a horn was set into the metal, but it wasn't a decorative horn. It was whorled and gleamed like an opal. All except for the base. It was charred and cracked where it was set into the helmet.

It was a helmet that was obviously meant to be worn by one creature. Jared slowly forced her eyes to that creature that sat behind the desk. She forced herself to meet the red on red eyes and swallowed down the urge to tremble. The stallion that watched her didn't seem to feel the need to break the silence that had hovered over them from the moment she'd stepped into the room. She didn't want to break it either. She was terrified. Jackson had been soothing and confident that Kalan meant her no harm. The cheetah had even told her that the strange creature held no ill will towards her. At least, that's what Jackson said. This was the first time in nearly a week that she'd seen him. The club below continued business without the presence of its owner.

Jared swallowed a bit. A week. She'd been here a week in a body that she'd never possessed and been unable to leave. Jackson had been apologetic when she'd tried to leave, but firmly told her that it was best that she stayed in the club. It wasn't that she was being ill treated. Quite the opposite, she was given an array of clothing, was fed well and allowed to keep a room all to herself. At least, that's what the mule had told her. He'd been firm that she didn't have to sleep anywhere but her own room and that none of the workers would bother her. None of them had, at least, none of them had that she hadn't wanted to bother her. The thought of Jackson and her own body's reaction to him made the color creep up to her cheeks. She hadn't slept alone since she'd come here, not a single night. The cheetah kept her well occupied.

"You understand the problem that I'm facing." The voice startled her and to her embarrassment she let out a short squeaking noise. Kalan gave her an amused look as the stallion leaned back in his chair. The red eyes never left her.

"Problem?" She tried for a question, but she knew what he meant. "My brother..."

"Would you give him over to me? He has done...unspeakable things." Kalan's voice held a purr of anger beneath it. "I would promise he would not be killed."

"He's my brother." Jared stiffened slightly and gave her head a shake. "There is nothing you can do to me that will make me turn him over. He's been there all my life and I won't betray him."

Kalan let out a short snort and sighed as he rested his hands on the desk in front of him. "You have honor to you, perhaps it is ill placed, but it is honor. You understand that we will find him eventually. Your help might assure that no more were harmed."

Jared faltered slightly and licked her lips. She didn't know what Jake had done. She had no idea what Jake had been doing, but she had ideas. She knew that he wasn't the most stable person in the world. She wasn't blind. Even as a boy he had a bit of a mean streak to him, but he normally kept it contained. She could imagine that he'd started hiring some of the furries as prostitutes and perhaps got too rough with them. It wouldn't be the first time he'd had complaints from pimps and the like, but Kalan seemed more determined to keep his people safe instead of just making money. Had he been misbehaving that badly? She licked her lips nervously and glanced down to the ground before looking back up again. She couldn't give him away. Not for that.

"I will not betray him." She spoke the words firmly and looked up at the stallion's eyes. "Even if I'm never myself again, I won't turn my back on him. I owe him too much."

"Ahh.." The strange equine leaned back and blew out a sigh through his broad nostrils. "That.. is what I thought you would say. Honor is a strange thing. Perhaps at your age you might think it a useless word, but to one who has been around as long as I, it is important. Loyalty is something else that must be treasured. I have stained my own honor by punishing you unjustly, I will not add to that sin by forcing the information from you. I will let the matter drop, but we still have to discuss what I am to do with you."

"You.. can't turn me back? Change me back?" Jared knew he couldn't, but she still forced the words out with a hopeful lilt to her voice.

"My magic is not... like what you see in the movies. A change, once made, cannot be reversed." The creature sighed and leaned forward over the massive desk. "A body isn't meant to be changed in the first place, reversing the effects are more likely to kill a person then give them what they wish. I would not wish to wrong you more then I have."

"What am I going to do?" Jared winced at her lost sounding voice. It was high pitched and breathy, not her own. "I can't.. I mean.. I can't go home."

"No, you can't." Kalan gave his head a shake so the blue-black mane spilled down along his face. "You hold one of our great secrets in that slender lovely body. The world outside of here sees our people as lesser. As wrong and different. We allow this because most do not wish to have a war. If they knew our strength they would exterminate us simply because of what we are."

"I wouldn't tell anyone.." She faltered a bit and flushed. She didn't want to leave, at least, not alone. That thought made a confusing tumble of emotions run through her.

The stallion tossed his head and whickered. That was the only word for it, but the whicker held laughter to it as he stood up with a boneless grace that almost looked cat like. He moved out from behind the desk and walked around it until he was standing in front of her. Her cheeks burned a bit more as she realized two things. One, he wasn't wearing any clothing at all; instead he was completely and comfortably nude. And two, he was holding a note that she recognized immediately. It was the note that Jackson had been writing out last night and slipped to the mule to be taken up to the office. At the time, Jared had assumed it was something to do with business, but she had her doubts now.

"I asked Jackson to report to me how you were doing in the club, sadly, he has been neglecting his duties on stage and saw fit to send me it in writing." The stallion leaned back so that his rump rested against the edge of the desk. "Tell me, do you love him?"

"I.. don't know." She faltered a little as her stomach did a slight unsettling roll. "I think I might."

"Do you want him? Enjoy him? Share his bed?" The stallion persisted as she kept her eyes focused on the ground. She did not want to look up at the naked creature.

"I.. yes. Yes I do." Jared flushed hotly and tried not to squirm as she admitted it. "I don't know why. I just... it feels so good."

"Ahh yes," A thick nailed finger dropped down to catch beneath her chin so that it was risen. "I have done you a great wrong. I have taken the life you used to have away from you and that cannot be undone. But I would offer you another one if you would like to take it."

"Another life?" Her words came out a bit breathy as the mad looking eyes focused on her own. She licked her lips nervously. "What sort of life?"

The stallion smiled and flashed sharp white teeth that would have been the envy of any predator. "One where you would be among those of your own kind. I cannot turn back the change, but I can take it the next step."

"The next step..." She trailed off as the thick nailed thumb brushed up against her cheek. Her mouth felt dry at that gentle touch.

"You could be one of us. You could become like us. I can change you into one of our kind so that you will never be alone again." Another hand moved and cupped her other cheek. The palms were covered in smooth warm fur while the thick nails just barely brushed along her upper cheeks. "You could become whatever you wished to be. I do not control that, only you do. You could be a powerful wolf or a proud eagle or a sweet graceful cat. There is no limit on what you might become."

"And.." Jared licked her lips nervously as her eyes remained locked on the large males. There was a strange power behind them that drew her closer. ".. it would be permanent."

"Yes, you could never be human again, but you would never be alone." The large black form stood up and she found herself almost touching him. It made her stiffen a little and become very aware of the fact he was nude. "You would never have to leave this club if you did not wish to. You would be welcome here as all of my people are. It is the only gift I can offer you, but know that it is a great gift. I can change others, but it is very rare that I ever allow a human to join our ranks as one of us in truth."

"I don't know.." She spoke in a soft trembling breath, not quite able to speak firmly. The stallion's mobile lips twitched slightly. "I don't even know what I'd be changed into.."

"You could become a cheetah. You could become like Jackson." Kalan whispered the words and they made her stomach tighten slightly.

"I.." She swallowed and she felt her heart hammering against her chest. It was hard to think, hard to understand anything. "I.. would like that."

The moment she said it she felt a rush of fear and anticipation run through her. It was impossible for her to think of anything but the feel of the stallion's fingers against her cheeks and what he offered her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be female, but there was no changing it. But she had a chance to become else entirely. She could shed her old life away like an old set of clothes and become something new. She could become a new person entirely. Her thoughts shifted towards Jackson naturally and she let out a soft shivering breath. The hands on her cheeks tilted her head up until she was nearly touching the soft velvety muzzle.

"Then accept my apology and my gift." The lips brushed her own lightly, a heartbeat before Kalan leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

Jared's eyes snapped open wide as the equine lips meshed with her own and not only that, but the thick soft tongue pushed into her mouth. She didn't yank backwards, the hold on her cheeks kept her steady without gripping harder. The kiss was just a pleasant feel of thick lips against her own, but it changed with a sudden spill of heat that flooded her mouth. She let out a muted cry as the warmth flowed over her tongue and plunged down her throat. The magic made her suck in a breath and she tried to jerk backwards, but Kalan held her more firmly and spread the magic down her throat to flow deep into her stomach.

It was thick, almost like she could taste it on her tongue. She couldn't deny it, she couldn't fight it. She could only swallow it down as it spread through her veins like liquid fire. It spread through her stomach and reached towards her fingers. It made her gasp out as the stallion kissed her thoroughly and deeply. The tongue curled and rolled along her own, helping to push it until she felt as if she were going to light on fire. She felt overly full with the energy, it was spilling through her mind and making it impossible to think. Impossible to act. Just as she felt that it would be too much, that it was going to tear her apart the stallion pulled back and she was left stumbling backwards. Only his dark hand catching against her wrist stopped her.

"Welcome home, Jasmine. Welcome home.." The deep voice echoed through her as darkness reared up and dragged her down.

~ ~ * ~ ~

Six Months Later

~ ~ * ~ ~

The bar was crowded, but it always was when it hit the weekend. Humans and anthro's alike shifted through the club and spread to the newly opened second floor if they could afford it. The richer crowd could be served by their own personal dancers and spend a small fortune on elegantly prepared meals and drinks. The first floor was filled mostly with those who didn't care to spend that much or who came out of curiosity to see the dancers and the exotics that prowled about. There was always an edge of violence and danger in the Mirage. The humans thought it was because of them. That they made the half animal-half human hybrids nervous, but Jasmine knew the truth. The danger wasn't found in the human crowd, but the creature that ran this place.

The cheetah watched the crowd as she leaned back against the wall and crossed her arms over the soft swell of her breasts. She stared down at her own rich gold paw-hand and the spots along it before a fierce smile spread over her lips. It had been months since she'd awoken as a cheetah. It had been months since she came into a new life that she had never imagined and she was even a bit frightened of it. She had woken up with Jackson curled around her so close that his neck had been buried against her neck. The warm sweet musk of him filled her nose in a rich spill that she could almost roll on her tongue. The male scent had been more pronounced to her sensitive feline nose and his arms had tightened around her as she stirred. The moment she'd looked into his yellow-green eyes she had been lost.

I should be angry, I should be outraged.. Jasmine watched the dancer on stage with narrowed eyes. _I should try to run or tell the world, but... _

_ _

The cheetah flicked her eyes towards the back stage and the familiar spotted pattern of her lover. Jackson moved with liquid grace to the beat of the music. The beat of the song had him twisting and dropping down to all fours so he looked more animalistic then he ever did when they were alone. His tail lashed and his ears flick back before he curled his lips backwards with a snarl at his audience. He was beautiful and deadly looking. She knew if she went into the crowd that surrounded the stage she'd be able to smell arousal and fear on the air from those that edged close to the stage. The women, and even a few men, moved close to the stage and offered money to try and lure him towards him. There was a reason he was able to draw in more money than most, he knew how to play the game. He prowled and stalked them, teased and fled them, he made them want him.

Jackson was her world. It was unsettling to know that she craved his touch more than anything she could imagine. From the moment she opened her eyes into her new life, he had been there beside her. She had been half afraid that Kalan would take an interest in her, but he treated her with the same aloof kindness that he treated the rest of his staff. She rarely saw the large black stallion in the club, she only saw him now and then after hours. There was something about him, a contained violence, a strange savagery that made Jasmine feel ill at ease. Jackson was the one that took care of her, educated her and had even placed her in a position that was invaluable to the club. The female cheetah twitched her whiskers in a grin as she swept her eyes over the room and the customers.

"Jasmine.." Snow gave a sharp whistle and the cheetah flicked her ears up as she peered towards the white wolf behind the bar.

She pushed away from the wall and padded over with a graceful shifting of her body that allowed her to escape even the most drunken grope. The men peered at her, likely enjoying the rich gold and black fur that came so close to their hands, but most turned away. Her stomach had started to show with her pregnancy. Her paw moved to brush over her stomach protectively and the confusing rush of pride, embarrassment and anticipation mingled together.

"What's up, Snow?" She chirped as she slipped behind the bar. The white wolf looked a bit worn as she polished a crystal glass.

"Emmie said that she was stiffed." The wolf tipped her muzzle towards the first stage. "Man in a blue shirt and white tie."

"How much?" Jasmine flicked her eyes out over the crowd to try and pick out the right person. "He still here?"

"At least a twenty mark, but he's done it before. Rio would probably prefer a heavy penalty." Snow snorted a little bit, "It's starting to get harder and harder to keep an eye on all of them."

"True that." Jasmine moved a hand to pat the white wolf's paw. "I'll go take care of it. I hope that they open up the basement soon. Then I can train someone else."

The bartender gave her a tired smile before she went back to filling orders. Snow had given birth a few weeks back, she was mostly recovered, but it was obvious that she was starting to get less and less sleep with the cub underpaw. Jasmine flicked her ears back and made a mental note to take a day to watch the little critter, it was the least she could do. Eventually she'd need the favor in turn. With a lash of her long thick tail she slipped back into the ground as soundlessly as she could. She felt Jackson watching her, he knew the signs that she was on the hunt. He's the one that had come up with the idea for her to have a job that didn't involve her stripping.

Rio liked to tease her and refer to her as his Justice when he spotted her. And that's what she did. She had always been adept as a pick pocket, but a cheetah had increased her speed and ability. It was an enjoyable challenge to find the men that stiffed their workers and pulled the money from their pockets. Sometimes she only took enough to cover the tip they should have left, other times she took far more when they had continuously done it. She'd always taken money from tourists for her own gain, doing it for others, for justice was a new sensation. It left her feeling fulfilled in a way she'd never expected.

"Jasmine..." The baritone voice purred in her ear as she slipped towards her mark. Jasmine froze and she swallowed as a large hand dropped down against her shoulder.

"K.. Rio.." The cheetah managed to get the name up as the dark creature loomed over her. What was he doing down here in the club? While there were people here?!

"Come, you are required upstairs." The stallion's eyes flashed beneath his thick forelock and she felt a shiver of fear run down her spine.

Around her people started to pull backwards and look at the tall stallion nervously. It didn't matter that he was an anthro, one of the submissive creatures that they could abuse without fear, their instincts told them differently. Their eyes flicked towards the strange red eyes creature and slid away before they risked him meeting their eyes. He didn't acknowledge him, he was looking at her and it made her feel small and vulnerable. He had never done anything to her, never pushed her, never abused her, but he still unnerved her. It was more unnerving that he was in the middle of the club when it was open. He never revealed himself. He had told her that it was because he didn't look enough like a horse and people would ask questions, but tonight he didn't seem to care.

He wasn't even dressed like a stripper or worker. In fact, he wasn't even dressed in modern clothes at all. He wore a deep blue shirt that looked as if it would have been more fitting on a pirate. The color brought out blue highlights over his black hide and the spill of his mane. The shirt was tucked into a pair of pants that remotely resembled riding pants. They were the same color blue and tight enough that they were bulged over his groin and outlined the strength of his bent legs. Silver embroidery ran down along the outside of the legs before they ended just above the feathered lower legs leaving his cloven hooves bare. He did not belong in the crowd of modern creatures, he looked like he was dressed from another century entirely.

"But.. I was working, sir." She licked her lips and tried to ignore her own nervous emotions. They wouldn't do her any good.

To her surprise Kalan snorted roughly and gave his head a toss. "Be at ease, girl, you are not in trouble. I only need you to witness something."

"Yessir.." She ducked her head and saw Jackson coming out of the backroom with his eyes on the strange stallion. He looked back at her and offered a confident looking smile. "I'll come."

"Good, lass." Kalan murmured approvingly before turning away from her. "Come along now, you will be back down here soon enough.

~ ~ * ~ ~

Jasmine was led into the study she had been brought to before. It was the first time she'd been invited into the stallion's inner room since she'd been changed. Kalan held the door open for her with a slight smile on his velvety muzzle. She tried to stop her tail from twitching about wildly, but it barely worked. It was the one part that she didn't like about being a cheetah, her tail always revealed her mood no matter how hard she concentrated on keeping it still. Her sense of unease only went up a notch as she noticed the heavy bodied mule standing with his back against one of the book cases. She knew what Jack was now. She'd been here long enough to recognize that he was an enforcer for the dark stallion and she swallowed roughly.

"Be at ease," Kalan snorted with amusement and moved past her with his tail tip curling back and forth against the ground. "Jack, bring the creature in."

"'Course," The big jack gave a bob of his head and moved to a discreet door at the back of the room. Jasmine watched the equine nervously while Kalan settled on the edge of his desk.

"You have a right to know and see what is happening." The stallion turned to look at her with his ears flicked back. "When you were first brought here we believed that you were someone else. Your 'brother'."

"I remember, sir." Jasmine licked her lips and flushed slightly. "It's hard to forget."

"I respected the fact that you felt indebted to him. I do not often allow sentiment to cloud my choices, but we had harmed you gravely. To force the information from you would have been.." Kalan flicked his fingers as if he were searching for the word. "It would have been distasteful, dishonorable, and I am many things, but dishonorable is not one of them. But, you deserve to know the truth. You deserve to understand."

"I know he hasn't behaved... well.." Jasmine faltered slightly and flattened her ears. She'd never forgotten what had brought her here. She'd never forgotten the fact that Kalan had allowed her to keep her secrets and her honor. And all that might mean.

"No, he has not." The stallion nearly bit the words off with a click of his teeth. "He has been murdering my people. He has been killing those that I protect and violating them."

"He wouldn't.." The denial reached her lips before she could even let the words sink in. The fur on the back of her neck bristled and she drew herself up. "He isn't always a good person, but he wouldn't cross that line. Ever."

"I know you believe that." The stallion sank down wearily. "So I have waited until I was able to bring him before you with his sins still fresh and with little doubt as to his guilt. You will remain silent. I wish you to hear his guilt from his own mouth, unhindered by the knowledge of you and what you are. Jack! Bring the boy in!"

Jasmine opened her mouth to protest, but it snapped shut as a curse erupted from the door behind her. It flew open and a small, familiar, and very human body was shoved through by the mule. Jack's eyes blazed as he glared down at the huddled human and he rubbed his hands along the worn jeans he wore as if he were trying to wipe something vile off. The cheetah wasn't paying attention to the mule, her eyes were on the crumpled form that pushed himself up onto all fours. She knew his face as well as she had known his own and her stomach turned as he jerked his head up and glared towards the desk. His lips peeled back with hatred as his eyes moved Kalan to her and then to the jack.

"Boy, you are accused of murdering my children, my people. We have evidence that you have raped, tortured and hunted the people of my club without mercy or remorse. We have the bodies you have slain and left for scavengers to eat as if they were animals." Kalan's voice deepened into a growl as the stallion stood up behind his desk. The red eyes seemed to hold a sickly glow as he glared down at the boy and Jasmine sucked in a breath. "It has taken me a long time to find you, but humans are never so careful as they believe they are."

"Fucking beast." Beau pushed up to his knees and swayed a bit. His hands were tied in front of him as he spat on the carpet. The handsome features were constricted with hatred. "I don't have to tell you a god damn thing."

"Beast..." The stallion's voice purred and his eyes narrowed. "Do you believe us animals that walk and talk?"

"Fuck you." Beau snarled and his eyes jerked up to glare at Jasmine. She swallowed at the anger in them.

It can't be true. He probably thinks that they've killed me or captured me. I'd be as angry as him if I thought that...

_ _

"I was too late to save, Nina." Jack brayed the words out. "What you did to her a mad dog wouldn't do! You call us beasts?"

"Jack.." The one word silenced the jack as Kalan walked around the desk. "The blood is on your hands. You have to answer for their lives, Beau. Do you think I should kill you as you killed them? Butchered them?"

"I never killed them," Beau bristled and glared at the stallion. "You fucking animal, I never killed them. You know so much!"

He didn't do it.. Relief welled up in Jasmine's chest and she let out a soft breath. I knew that he didn't do it.

_ _

"Your Uncle." Kalan growled the words and curled his lips back in a feral grin that showed sharp curved teeth. "Yes, we took care of him. He gave them a clean death, and we honor that. It was a twisted type of mercy, but mercy none the less. It was you who hurt them, who tortured them, who raped them as they cried."

Beau's head jerked to one side, but Kalan reached out and jerked his head back so their eyes met again. "Do you believe he was lying to me before he died?"

"You killed him?" Beau's eyes snapped open wide.

"Oh yes, he died. Cleanly, as he killed my own people. What do you believe I will do to you?" A fine tremble ran down Beau's body as he stared at the equine.

"He fucking made me do it! He thought they were all whores that needed to be shown what they really were. It wasn't my fault."

The world fell away beneath Jasmine's feat as Beau started to try and protest his innocence because he'd been forced into it. He knew his 'brother'. He'd grown up with him. He could see the frantic flickering of the pale eyes as he tried to string together a story of how his Uncle was a sick son of a bitch. How he had been dragged into the acts and been forced to do them. It was well crafted. The story he spun was one of being abused and unable to help himself. It was worthy of an Oscar, it was exactly the sort of story that Beau had made up when they'd been growing up and needed to get out of trouble. He probably even believed it himself on some level, but it was hiding the real truth. He had done it. He had tortured and raped furries.

The cheetah's eyes started to sting and water as Kalan didn't try to stop the young man from talking. The silence only let him dig himself deeper. She hadn't wanted to believe the worst, but now she stared at the hunched over boy that had been her friend, her brother. That familiar form had done horrible things, unspeakable things to anthros. People like Snow and Jackson, and so many others that she knew and cared about. Her stomach started to twist and roll with nausea as she fought not to let the tears roll down her cheeks.

"Silence, boy." Kalan's voice suddenly stopped the story and he pushed back up to his hooves so that he loomed over the human. "You have seen enough, my cat? Are you sure of his guilt?"

"Yes.." Her voice cracked slightly and she turned her head to one side. "Yes..."

_How could he have done those things? How could he have become such a.. monster.. _ She felt a hot tear roll down her cheek.

"What's a matter, bitch? I fuck your sister?" Beau snapped out in a voice as ugly as the words. "Must not have been a good lay if I can't remember-"

"SILENCE!" Jack's bray burst through the room and his hand flew in a blur to strike against Beau's head. The young man was knocked onto the ground as the large mule towered over him with his teeth bared in rage.

"You may go, Jasmine." A hand brushed her cheek lightly so she looked up at the stallion's softened gaze. "I am sorry."

The cheetah swallowed roughly and nodded her head too rapidly. She looked down at the dazed person she had counted as her best friend, her brother, her defender and another tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't fight when Kalan's hand slipped beneath her elbow and guided her to the door. All she wanted was to leave the ugliness behind and find Jackson. Behind her Kalan dropped down to one knee and touched the unconscious boy. Justice would be served.

~ ~ * ~ ~

Beau stirred slowly towards consciousness as his pounding head felt as if it were beating with the beating of his heart. It throbbed and made him groan as he tried to shift it to one side to relieve it. His consciousness was slow to be dragged back from the black brink he had found himself in, but inch by inch he became aware of his aching body and the strange position it had been forced into. Something rested beneath his chin and straps cut over his back, right over his shoulders and along the curve of his ass. He was on all fours, but he couldn't have been like that for long. His legs and arms weren't aching as if he had been in the position for long, they were just sore. It felt like he had overworked himself doing something stupid like trying to climb balconies again.

He shifted and tried to adjust his weight. His mind was fogged over to the point that he wasn't quite sure what had happened or where he was. He remembered that stupid beast hitting him, he remembered the animals trying to get him to confess. That memory was a splash of icy cold water as he recalled the dark horse's casual mention that his Uncle had been killed for what he'd done. What they'd done. He lifted his head slightly and fought not to wince. His uncle had been right. These creatures were an abomination on the face of the world, they deserved to be hunted and killed out before their taint could touch pure humans. They were the unholy offspring of human's mating with filthy animals. They were the-

"Now now, you'll make the show late, beast." A purring voice cut into his thoughts before something hard, thin, and flat slapped against his ass. "Come on, lazy animal!"

Beau jerked forward and started to curse the speaker, but a hoarse HEEEE-EEEE-EEEE erupted out of his throat as he snapped his eyes open. The world tilted wildly as his vision was strangely placed, and it made his head hurt as he jerked forward to try and escape. Leather creaked and protested as he dug his hands and feet against the ground. They were numb, they'd fallen asleep from being in this position for too long. His fogged mind crawled through the thoughts as the black horse thing from before moved into his line of vision.

"There we go, I was afraid you'd sleep until dawn." The creature bared his lips to show a disturbing flash of fangs in what looked like a horse's mouth. "And that would do us no good, would it, my children?"

A rippling of noise spilled through the background and Beau held still with his nostrils flaring wide with short hard pants. Why couldn't he move? He was tied up, but he couldn't get his arms up. He tried to lift one of them up, but it bent awkwardly.

"Tonight, we have the beast that has hunted among us. He has been the terror of the darkness as he violated those we cared for." The not-horse walked forward with his tail coiling behind him oddly. What horse had a tail like a lion? "I could take his life.." A burst of noise interrupted him, and not human sounds. He heard howls, bellows, barks. Animal noises. "Ahh but, my dear ones, death is a sweet release that offers no punishment except an ending. What he has done does not deserve that. So we shall exact our revenge on him and take our payment."

"W'at ah' yew-HEE-HEE-HEEEEEEE" The words turned into rough brays as his tongue formed the first words almost alright, but he brayed out wildly after he managed that.

"Oh my dear jenny, don't talk. Your place isn't to talk." The stallion twisted around and his eyes hardened until Beau cringed. That's when he realized what his slow mind had been trying to tell him...

His body wasn't moving right, because his body wasn't right at all. He jerked his head up and found himself staring at a mirror set against one side of the stage. It was the sort most strip clubs had, and it wasn't him staring back. A large blocky brown head stared at him, his nose faded down to a pale color and ears were flattened along a short Mohawk of a mane. A mule was staring at him, a mule complete with two forelegs that were locked into place by an intricate harness and two inhuman hooves. Not hands. His hands weren't asleep. As he stared and brayed out his fear, the creature lifted hooves and clattered them against the ground. He was trapped, heavy wooden poles were rigged up so the harness didn't let him move.

His eyes rolled wildly and he found himself looking out at a crowd of creatures that he knew. They were strippers and whores, prostitutes and sluts. They were fucking faggots and everything he hated in skimpy outfits. Tigers and wolves, dogs and cats, rats and mice, reptiles and birds, they were gathered around the stage and staring at him. He twisted his changed lips back and snapped at them wildly. It turned into an agonized bray as a riding crop slashed down against his haunches and hit him like fire. He tried to kick back, but his legs were locked in place.

"Oh you think you are still better then us?" The not-horse glared at him and peeled back his lips. "You are nothing but an animal, a beast, something that most sane societies would put down for being a rabid dog. No, less than a dog. And tonight we will violate you as you have violated those who you trapped."

"Sh'up" He slurred and then the words turned into brays while he struggled against the restraints. His nostrils flared open wide and then the riding crop trailed up beneath his ropey tail. A tail that had been tied back against his haunches.

"Jack! He violated your sister, it is your right to claim him." The not-horse tapped the crop between Beau's legs while he flinched against the touch.

Oh god, it wasn't touching his balls. Instead he felt the slap hitting something that shouldn't have been there. He brayed out and kicked his legs back against the hobbles with a fresh wash of fear, but it was ignored. The flat leather of the crop was slapping at soft vulnerable folds. A female's sex was tucked between his legs as neatly as any jennys. His legs? Fuck, fuck, fuck, her legs. That fucking bastard had changed her into an abomination! Worse than an abomination! He writhed and brayed out curse's that turned into squeals as the riding crop hit her ass again and this time it made her eyes tear up in pain.

The mirror gave her no comfort as the mule that had struck him down stepped onto the stage with a vicious look on his face. The flat teeth were bared as the crowd that watched went silent. Beau froze and started to tremble as she saw flashes behind her to reveal the rough looking creature was nude. He turned and gave a short bow towards the not-horse. What the fuck was that creature? What had it done to her?

"Don't break her, Jack." The black stallion purred. "She'll be working her debt off for years to come and a broken mule is no use to me."

"I can avoid that." Jack snorted and one rough hand moved to clap against Beau's rump cheek.

She jerked and rolled her eyes back frantically as she felt the fingers gripping her. The mule looked up at the mirror and flashed his teeth before his other hand dipped down and moved between his legs. It was sickening as he purposefully moved to one side so that she could see the thick leathery flesh that was dropping from the sheath. He'd never seen an anthro male naked, though the females were quite animalistic in their own right, he'd had no interest in boys. The sight of the swollen glans coming into sight and the inches of mottled flesh that was cupped in the hand sent a wave of panic through her. She threw her weight forward and squealed to try and get away. It was big, too big, she was.. had been a good nine inches, but that monster was at least fourteen inches, perhaps longer.

A hand gripped her behind the head and dug into her short mane as the black stallion stepped beside her head and jerked it back to the mirror. His hold was firm as Jack made a show of rubbing along his tip in slow circles while she watched. Her stomach rolled in disgust and then went cold as the hand on her rump slipped down to where her folds were. She tried to jerk her head free as thick rough fingers squeezed against her folds and curled forward. Her body stiffened and she twisted and bucked in an effort to get away from it. Her heart pounded against her chest and the big mule only let out a laugh before his hand squeezed and a thick syrupy drop of precum oozed out of the tip.

"You relax darlin', I bet you're goin' ta squeal like a filly in heat fer me." Jack drawled the words out, slow and heavy with an accent.

"Oh no you don't, my fine lass.." The black stallion gave her mane a tug when she tried to look away as the bestial creature moved behind her.

Beau trembled and flattened her ears back as she felt something thick and heavy rubbing up against her outer folds. Her hind legs were shaking with an effort to get away, but the leather only creaked and held her. She was forced to look at the mirror and the rough looking as he stepped behind her and pushed harder against her untouched folds. Even when she tried to glance away she was left staring at the hostile crowd and their savage grins as they watched her punishment. Her uncle had been right, these creatures were animals, they were beasts that deserved to be hunted and killed. They couldn't be civilized, they couldn't be tamed, they were-

"EEEE-EEEEEEE-EEEEEEEAWWWWW" Beau's lips parted in a rough wild cry as two hands gripped her hips and Jack lunged forward.

The cock plunged into her body so hard and fast that she felt the walls nearly tearing around him. It worked itself into the snug virginal passage while the anthro's chest pressed over her hind quarters and he lunged forward in a shorter buck. A hot slimy drool of precum oozed out into her and was smeared through her passage by the blunt swollen tip. The fingers that gripped her hips squeezed hard enough to bruise as Jack pushed his chest down over her back and stretched his head out. She didn't even know what he was doing as the bonds that held her creaked in protest. His blunt teeth suddenly snapped down against the back of her neck just as he gave a final rough drive forward that sent his tip plunging upwards and lewdly shoving against her cervix.

Beau brayed out again and the hands on her mane released her so she could drop her head as she was forced to squeeze around the too large girth that rubbed and pushed inside of her. It hurt, it ached and she struggled to pull away, but he only yanked her back with his rough hands. His hot breath hit against her neck as she squeezed her eyes shut against the sight of the damned freaks just watching her. When the jack's hips pulled back a lewd wet noise could be heard, some of the precum dribbled out of her while she contracted tightly about him. She only remembered the black stallion when a hand gripped her head and jerked it to one side. His lips pressed against her ears.

"Watch them, watch them and know you will never know privacy, never know your shame without their eyes watching you for what you are, beast." The deep words vibrated her ear before the jack drove himself forward again.

The hard stroke drove the tip up to hammer up against her cervix as he grunted out and started to buck forward in short hard strokes. He wasn't acting like a person with a lover, he was acting like an animal and that just made it all the worse. Her walls were rubbed and stroked, they were caressed and stretched even as they ached. She was forced to watch the crowd as they stared at her rape and humiliation. They didn't look away, not like people would. They seemed to be memorizing the sight of the jack fucking her with the rough wild abandon of an animal. It stung and she tried to close her eyes to it, but she couldn't.

The hips suddenly drove forward and she felt heavy balls clapping up between her legs before they drew back again. A thick dribble of precum coated her passage and, to her humiliated horror, her own wetness was growing as she tried to deal with the feel of the equine cock plunging into her. Each thrust forward drove the tip right up against her cervix before pulling away again. It nearly bruised her and she started to shake as she lowered her head to almost touch her knees. Her breathing came out in short rough noises as the teeth bit harder against her neck. The weight of him pressed against her as the thrusts grew shorter, rougher, more brutal. It didn't matter that he weighed lest, he was hitting her hard enough that she might have gone to her knees if she hadn't been restrained.

Her walls clamped down tightly and there was a thrill of horrible pleasure in it. Nerves she'd never had or experienced were being touched in ways she'd never wanted to know about. She roughly cried out as the shallow harder strokes forced her to constantly feeling him moving. Her walls contracted and clutched as her own slickness coated him. Her nostrils flared open wide and tasted a sweet scent on the air that was mingled with hot male musk. Her ears burned hotly as the jack gave a driving thrust forward and the tip wedged right up against her cervix as the glans began to swell open wider and wider.

Her body was forced to stretch around him just that much more as her legs tensed up. She peeled her lips back and jerked her head up high as the balls that pushed between her legs tensed upwards. Beau's eyes showed a ring of white as the cock suddenly started to throb inside of her. A loud bray escaped her lips just as the first hot thick wash of cum erupted into her body. The cream splashed up hard against her cervix where he pressed forward until she was almost certain it was spilling into her womb. Her walls milked around him, she couldn't stop herself as hot tears welled up in her eyes. The thick goopy stuff was flung harder against her cervix while an outpouring of applause, howls, roars, and cries erupted around her.

"Oh don't worry, sweet jenny, you're a mule. An infertile thing that I can have bred every night and not worry about foals.." The dark stallion's words were a low murmur that turned her stomach to ice. "A toy and tool all in one, and you will serve us until your dying day. And I promise.. you will live a long.. long.. time.."

The jack rolled his hips and Beau trembled as the flared glans stirred inside of her. A thick drooling spill of cum escaped her quivering folds to stain her inner legs. Unbidden came the thought of the times he had seen furred thighs streaked with cum. His cum.

Oh god.. no.. please no...

_ _

~ ~ * ~ ~

"I should help him.. her.." Jasmine hugged her arms and felt Jackson squeezing her tightly so that she was resting back against his weight.

"He chose his fate, my love." His voice came in a rasping purr while he rubbed his hands over the bump of her stomach. "Would you truly see him set free?"

"B-but this.." She stared at the stage with haunted eyes.

Kalan had told her that she didn't have to come here. He'd told her that she might go out with a bit of money to enjoy a fine meal. Jackson had agreed, but she'd come here anyway. She hated what he'd done, she'd hated that Beau had hid such darkness. A lifetime of friendship and care wasn't so easily thrown away and watching as Jack claimed her and the rough braying noises had her shaking. She stared at the stage as the jack started dragging his hips backwards to reveal a slimy softened equine cock.

"Kalan promised that he would not kill her, nor cut upon her as she did her own victims, nor cause her any real physical pain." Jackson rested his head over her own. "If we let him go the human police wouldn't care what he'd done. He would get a slap on the wrist. Is that what you would wish?"

"I guess not.." She moved her arms up to wrap over his own. "I just, he's my brother. Or at least, he was my brother."

"We all make our own way in the world, my love." The male cheetah leaned forward to kiss her neck ever so gently. "You have your place here, with me, with us. Kalan has promised that we can leave if we want. He has contacts in San Francisco if you want to move so you don't have to be so conflicted. We could raise our cub there."

"Our cub.." Her heart swelled and an embarrassed flush rose to her cheeks at the word. She moved her paw to rest over his own on her stomach. "No.. I want to raise my cub here. In our home.. This is where I belong."

"Where we belong." Her cheetah murmured and turned her around. His muzzle met her own in a gentle tender kiss, turned away from the jenny's muzzle being forced to wrap around Jack's spent shaft. She had made her choices and so had Beau. And she had made the right ones.

~ ~ * ~ ~

"I love this!" Crystal grinned over at her fiancé as they settled in the white carriage just outside of Jackson Square. Justin grinned at her brightly and snuggled her under one arm.

"Me too, love. Great idea to see the city this way." He glanced up at the driver and the mule tilted his head back with a flashing grin.

"Do you want the Garden District Tour, ma'am, sir?" He drawled out and picked up a satin top hat so that it was perched jauntily on his head. "Or the French Quarter tour? I offer both."

"I'd love to see the Garden District." Crystal smiled up at him and then lowered her eyes a bit shyly when he met her gaze boldly.

She'd never been to a city with so many anthro's as New Orleans. There seemed to be more of them then any city she'd ever seen. She'd been told that in the last five years they had started to nearly outnumber the humans, though that was told to her by a man waving pamphlets about their evil. She'd never minded them and the sight of a mule sitting on a mule driven cart had been too much for her to resist. The fact that he wore a loose blouse and had a top hat next to him as if he were trying to appear old fashioned had just made it better. And the mule that had been sucking up water even had a lovely set of flowers woven into her harness so that she stood out.

"Very good!" He beamed and turned about so he could unwind his reins and gave a soft clucking so that the dark furred mule jerked her head up and pulled forward in the harness.

"Now, you can call me Jack.." He paused as Crystal and her fiance chuckled at the unoriginal name. The carriage groaned forward as the wheels started to turn and the mule's hooves clopped against the ground. "This is my city and I hope you've been enjoying it. My lovely friend up there is Ribbon, the finest mule a man could hope to have pulling his cart. She'll be taking us-"

The mule who had once been known as Beau blocked out the set speech. She had heard it hundreds of times before. She heard it at least ten times a day depending on where they were going. The harness pressed down and flattened her damp sweat covered hide as she leaned into the leather and picked up the pace into a smart trot. Her nostrils flared and sucked in the hot humid summer air as Jack continued to speak behind her. She concentrated on following the slap of the reins and tug of the bit against her sensitive lips as she drew the carriage towards the Garden District. The sun beat down on her dark hide and she knew that she would be exhausted by the time she was done.

The carriage pulled itself along a main street and past the flickering gas lights that illuminated the day time façade of the Mirage. She averted her eyes and tried to ignore the feel of being watched. She didn't dare look up. She knew that sensation. Red eyes were watching her as she toiled away in the harness, if she looked up she'd be punished. And Kalan knew so many ways to punish her that her body ached at the thought. Ached and burned.

Damn him, he's made me want it.. Damn him. _ She thought as she picked her hooves up a bit higher. _Damn him and damn me.

_ _

Beau.. Ribbon was damned. Well and fully damned. She served her sentence with manual labor and the knowledge she would never know the touch of a male of her choosing. If she was lucky, she'd get an anthro. If she wasn't, the damned creature took delight in introducing her to ferals. She was a beast, she was an animal, she was what her life had made her.