FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter One

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Lilliana paused in the shadowed hallway, her black fur and dark clothing allowing her to blend in seamlessly. She stopped to catch her breath and get her bearings, double-checking the space beyond the doorway for guards. Her ears swiveled around, listening intently while the tip of her tail swished. It was a quick sprint from here to the windows, and then once out the windows a dash along the roof to where she could drop down.

Lucky for her she had grown up in the palace and had played with the servants' cubs, allowing her an intimate knowledge of the back ways around the castle. She thought back to the strange circumstances that had landed her in this odd situation. It was certainly a tale worthy of any bard, and she was determined to see that it had a happy ending.

It all started when her love, Haiyan, who worked in the stables and had the most beautiful silver and black fur, had joined the Vorreiters, the outriders that patrolled the edges of Brinaea to ensure the safety of the Feline Kingdom. He had been proud and excited, and she had exchanged a final, stolen kiss behind the stables before he rode off on his first mission.

The only one of his Band to report back was a bedraggled tan cougar who told dire tales of foul magic-users wielding dark magics and controlling fey beasts. The entire Band had been routed, but some were taken prisoner and still remained alive. She had begged and pleaded with her mother, the feline Queen Iakai, to send out a second Band to investigate, but she had been denied. Her mother had wanted to know what interested her so about this Band's troubles, and she had been tongue-tied. How was she, the princess, to explain that she was in love with a mere stable boy?

The nights following she had been troubled by dark dreams, each one showing Haiyan secured somewhere, still alive but in pain and definitely in trouble. She awoke each night with her heart firmed a bit more. She had to save him! She couldn't wait for another Band to be sent out to look, she had to do it! So, with this newfound determination Lilliana set out to prepare herself for her journey.

The first step was to escape the castle and the surrounding town of Agraia. She paused a second longer to sigh at the romance of it all, the story of the star-crossed lovers about to be reunited by her cunning and courage, before darting out of the doorway and down the hallway, heading straight for the windows which were already opened to the warm night.

She peered out before slipping her lithe body across the windowsill, lowering herself one paw at a time. Touching down onto the sloped roof, she crouched down and slunk along the rooftop, moving with speed and care to get to the eaves before easing herself over and dropping herself down. She hung there, stretched taught for a heartbeat, before dropping down into the shadows behind the bushes.

Here she paused again, straining her ears to hear any sounds of pursuit or alarm. While there, she peered across the field to the stables- wherein resided her gelding Roanoake. She stared across the grass and noted that it was silver in the moonlight- silver just like her love's fur. If she closed her eyes she could almost smell him, could almost hear him laughing softly into her ear. She would rescue him, she must!

She shook herself back to the present and then steadied herself, and with a burst of speed shot out from behind the bushes and streaked across the ground towards the stables. She reached there in record time and pulled up beside the building, letting herself in on silent tiptoes before turning and closing the door behind her, hoping to avoid notice while she prepared Roanoake.

The smell of hay and horses hit her nose then, and she smiled softly. The smell reminded her of her Haiyan, who was no doubt praying to Corellon Larethian that his rescuer would arrive soon. Well, she was on her way! She smiled confidently as she picked her way across the stable to the soft sounds of horses wickering to themselves. She whistled softly and watched as Roanoake poked his mighty head out of his stall, looking at her curiously.

"Hey there, we're just going on a little journey, you and I. Are you game?" She whispered to him softly as she let herself into the stall. She ran a hand along his midnight black side as she led him out of the stall and towards the tack. She grabbed up her saddle and bridle, trying to move with the confidence befitting the heroine of an epic tale. She had watched the stable hands the last few times they had prepared Roanoake for her, and she had asked a few questions, so with a minimum of fumbling she was able to have him ready. She stopped back by the stall and grabbed up her satchel and attached it to the saddle. She buckled on her sword, threw on her hooded cloak, and attached her bow and quiver to the saddle before heading back out and grabbing up Roanoake's reins. She led him up to the doors and opened them just a crack before pulling herself up into the saddle, the creaking of leather sounding suddenly loud in her ears. She paused, her ears pinned flat against her head while she took a deep breath, and then kicked the stable door open and headed out into the night at a full gallop.

Roanoake, being given the signal, stretched out and flew across the field surrounding the stable. His gait was steady and sure, and he carried small Lilliana effortlessly along the smooth ground. She watched as the short fence at the edge of the grounds grew closer, and tensed as Roanoake gathered his haunches beneath him and went sailing over the fence, touching down lightly on the other side. They appeared quite a sight, the dark and hooded rider upon a mighty black steed, silvered by moonlight and graceful as they leapt over the fence and headed for the small eastern gate.

They reached the gate unmolested, and Lilliana allowed Roanoake to walk and catch his breath, although he hardly sounded winded. She smiled and stroked his neck as she got down, walking over to the smaller gate. It frequently went unmanned, and unless she had hit it at absolutely the wrong time she would be able to get through with the guards none the wiser. She paused, listening to make sure that they were alone, before extending her hand to the lock.

She smirked, thinking that they kept her inside by denying her access to the key. She had no need of keys! She extended a bit of her will, and bent over so her mouth was near the keyhole, whispering softly to encourage it to open. The tumblers creaked and moved, and with a clack and a groan the gate unlocked and swung open. Lilliana sighed happily, glad that her innate, and unschooled, magic talent hadn't failed her.

She remounted on her gelding and rode through the gate, pausing to close it behind her. Now that she was out of the castle proper, she would just have to get herself across the river that surrounded Agraia and then out into the forest beyond. She had a map in her pack, and had marked where the scout had pointed to as the place of their attack. She was on her way!

Oarran straightened as he saw a dark-clad form riding a dark-clad horse from the stables, and lifted the horn to his lips to sound the alarm. The princess is trying to escape again! Ugh, if she gets anywhere, it'll be half-rations for all of us on watch tonight!

A soft paw on his arm stopped him from blowing. He jumped in shock, and turned to see Queen Iakai standing there on the wall next to him. He bowed low. "My Queen," he said softly.

"Thank you, noble Oarran, for watching over my daughter's escape, however I must ask you to not sound your horn." The queen's voice was a strong alto, flowing through his ears like music. He felt relaxed, but the message left him a bit confused.

"But, my Queen, she's all alone..." he trailed off as she shook her head at him.

"It is all right. This is something that she will set off to do alone, but she will find companionship along the way. I do not give up my offspring lightly, just understand that this must be done and speak of it to no one. I will see that you do not get punished."

"Y-Yes my Queen." Oarran bowed low and then straightened, looking around himself in confusion. Who had he been talking to? Why had he been bowing? He shook his head, thinking about how these late nights were not good for any feline with a lick of sense.