FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Freddy awoke with a start, just as he had for months, immediately ready for fight or flight.

The smell of soap instead of the familiar stench of rotting food and stagnant sewers, the soft warmth instead of cold and hard concrete, it all confused him.

Then - slowly - recollections of yesterday returned to soothe his troubled mind. He looked round his room, the 'Blue room' the otter called it. He lay in a huge, king-sized bed, a thick blue-and-silver quilt draped over the top of him. Doors lined one wall, hiding the cavernous space that held his new wardrobe; more clothes would fill it once the mouse had finished the necessary alterations. On the opposing wall, a door led to the en-suite bathroom complete with a walk-in shower, large enough for at least three, and a Jacuzzi tub.

Freddy sighed loudly as he slumped back into the pillows, he just wasn't sure that this could last, that his luck had changed so quickly. For the first time since he had left home he felt comfortable and rested. He ran his paws over his body, claws combing through soft clean fur. He felt so thin; his ribs standing proud, his scrawny legs and arms had not a trace of fat.

Eventually, inevitably, his paws found his sheath, stroking and squeezing it. A low moan rose in his throat as he continued his ministrations and he felt a dribble of pre leak onto his paw. With a force of will, Freddy stopped himself, not wishing to stain the bedding. He threw back the quilt and headed for the shower.

Turning the water on full-blast, he adjusted the temperature, rubbing his sheath as he tinkered. Stepping into the steaming torrent, he let the heat penetrate his fur, putting fire into his blood. His wolfhood surged, quickly swelling and coming free of his sheath. The hot water flowed over the sensitive flesh as he pumped faster with his paw. He reached out and braced himself against the wall as his knees buckled, his seed spattering against the tiles. Growling softly, his balls emptied, trails of his cum trickling down the wall and washing round his footpaws. A rumble in his stomach prompted him to find food.

Having showered and dressed, Freddy wandered downstairs following his nose to the dining room, where Tyrone was sitting drinking coffee while looking through a stack of paperwork.

"Good morning Freddy, I trust you slept well?" the Doberman asked glancing up at him, wrinkling his nose.

"Yes, thank-you Sir, very well," Freddy replied meekly. He found the dog intimidating when he was in business mode.

"Help yourself to anything you want, I just want to go through these," Tyrone muttered, waving a paw at the large wooden buffet, where an array of silver tureens sat. Spirit lamps flickered beneath them as they kept their contents warm.

Freddy lifted the lids in turn, and plumped for eggs and bacon with some hash browns. As Freddy sat down at the table, a door opened and James entered with a fresh pot of coffee and a basket of hot toast which he set down beside the wolf.

"Good morning Master Freddy. I trust you are suitably refreshed," the otter enquired, a brief look of distaste crossing his muzzle.

"I am, thank-you James," the wolf replied.

Left alone with his thoughts, Freddy concentrated on eating, quickly clearing his plate and satiating his hunger. Sitting back in his chair, he munched on a slice of toast, spread thickly with butter and jam, while watching the Doberman read.

Scanning over a page, the dog marked sections here and there that he found pertinent before returning to read them in more detail. Sometimes he would write a note in a separate notebook before adding the page to the read pile and starting on the next. Freddy was fascinated by how methodical the Doberman was, every five pages the big dog paused and took a sip from his coffee and gazed into space before resuming. Finally Tyrone finished and picked up the papers, tapping them on the table until they were in a neat, orderly pile.

"Well, that made interesting reading," he muttered, almost to himself.

"What were you reading, Uncle?" Freddy asked nervously.

"Oh, they were all your school reports, and the press coverage from your hometown on your disappearance," the Doberman replied.

"But I only gave you those details about me last night!" the wolf gasped.

"Yes, I know. Freddy, you will find out that I do not hang about, waiting for things to occur; one has to make them happen. I asked one of my associates to obtain the information after you retired last night. Fortunately, your old school's network security is not as good as they might think, it is very easy to obtain such information if you have the means to do so. But don't worry, there will be no trace left behind to alert anyone," Tyrone retorted.

"Even so, it's just surprising you got it so soon."

"In business, speed can make all the difference between winning and losing on a deal. Anyway, you will be happy to hear that it has corroborated what you told me. Although I was a little shocked and disappointed how little effort seemed to have been put into locating you after your departure."

"Really?" Freddy whined, his ears splaying sadly.

"Sorry, Freddy, it was unnecessary to tell you that," Tyrone apologised. "In fact I think I have been a little brusque with you all-told. You are safe here, pup, I will do all that I promised last night but if you decide that it is not for you, then I will not put you back on the streets. I think it is a chance for you that you should grab with both paws, but I will ensure that you are alright whatever you choose."

The Doberman stood and walked to where Freddy was sitting; holding out his arms, he beckoned to the wolf with his muzzle. Freddy leapt from his chair and fell into the offered hug, his breath catching emotionally as the arms closed round him.

"Now we need to make sure that you have everything a modern teenager needs. You may be a little out of date with the latest models of phone and so on. Ask James where the study is and go on to the web and do some research. Once you have decided, we will take a trip to the mall and get you equipped. Don't forget laptops and such for school, you are a little behind now so I will have to hire a private tutor to enable you to catch up before we get you enrolled." The dog grinned as he released the pup from his embrace, ruffling his headfur.

"Oh, and one last thing. Ask James for some scent masker so the next time you have to relieve yourself before coming to breakfast, we don't have to relive it. It is a little distracting." The dog chuckled as Freddy scampered from the room in embarassment.

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"So what did you decide on, Freddy?" Tyrone enquired, looking over the phone display.

"A Galaxy S3, I thought about an iPhone but decided on the Galaxy," Freddy replied, tail wagging happily.

"You heard him; we will take one of those on an unlimited plan," Tyrone nodded to the waiting sales assistant.

"Yes Sir, of course Sir," the assistant chattered obsequiously. "Is there anything else I can help you with today?" he added.

"No, that will be all, thank-you," Tyrone grumbled. His paws hurt from traipsing round the mall for what seemed an eternity. His shoulders hurt from carrying bags of electronics for miles, he had had enough and he needed meat

Paperwork signed, the phone added another bag to the collection, but at least it was the last of them, and Tyrone sighed in relief.

"Right, that's the last of it, let's get a burger. I know James will throw a fit but I need food now," Tyrone growled.

"Sounds good to me, Uncle Ty!" Freddy laughed.

Laden down with bags, Freddy and Tyrone wove their way through the crowded mall heading for a burger joint. Suddenly Freddy pulled up short, looking around with a puzzled expression on his muzzle. Tyrone didn't notice immediately, and carried on walking for a few yards before he realised that the wolf wasn't there. Turning back, he saw the pup standing still, the crowds breaking round him as he scanned the area.

"Freddy?" the Doberman called back, the wolf snapping round and focusing on him. Slowly Freddy made his way over, still looking round anxiously. "You OK pup?" the dog asked, concern in his voice.

"Yeah, I think so. I just freaked out for a moment there," Freddy whimpered, his eyes still flicking anxiously over the crowd.

"Come on then, my stomach won't wait any longer pup!" The dog grumbled, steering the wolf away from the burger chain he was heading for. "Not there Freddy, this way!"

Leading the wolf out of the mall, Tyrone turned into a courtyard lined with a variety of restaurants, each with tables and chairs neatly arranged outside. Different patterns of tablecloth demarked each establishment's area. Opening an opaque-glazed door, the dog led him inside. As Freddy looked round, Tyrone called out to the big grizzly behind the counter.

"Hey Mack. How ya doing buddy? Two of your finest, please!"

"TY! Been too long," the ursine growled, looking up from his grill.

Tyrone and Freddy deposited their cargo at an empty table and walked back to the counter. The bear had eased himself out front and enveloped the Doberman in a big bear hug, squeezing the dog tightly. Tyrone returned the embrace in kind.

"Good to see you, Mack. Don't get in here often enough these days," the canine grunted as they released each other.

"No, you don't, Ty! Always a pleasure tho', bud. So who is the pup?" Mack rumbled, tossing his head towards the wolf.

"Ah yeah, that's Freddy, my adopted nephew, " the dog blustered. "So Mack meet Freddy, Freddy... Mack."

The bear stuck a huge, calloused paw out to the pup. Seeing the wolf cower away slightly, Mack dropped to one knee, still holding out his paw. Even so, he dwarfed the young lupine.

"It's alright, pup, I won't hurt you. Besides your Uncle Ty would have something to say if I did anything wrong. And even I don't want to see that dog riled up!" the grizzled bear chuckled.

Nervously, Freddy stretched out and felt his paw engulfed by the bear's, the grip surprisingly gentle and friendly. The wolf relaxed and a shy grin spread over his muzzle.

"That's better pup, if ever you are in town and need a safe place to escape to, come and see old Mack. I will look after y'all. And send your Uncle the bill!" The bear guffawed. "Anyways, you two look half-starved, go sit down while I sort out your order."

It seemed Tyrone and Freddy had hardly settled into their seats when two plates were slid in front of them, the aroma of grilled meat assaulting their nostrils. Both were drooling in expectation as they lifted the thick burgers to their muzzles. As Freddy bit into his, juices from the succulent patty flooded his mouth and the pup whimpered in pleasure. Tyrone had his eyes closed savouring the moment, meat juices dripping from his jaw as he took a large bite. Neither spoke until they had finished, both too lost in the sheer pleasure of the experience.

"That's better," the dog sighed in contentment. "Nothing like one of Mack's special buffalo burgers."

"Buffalo?" Freddy queried.

"Yeah, this place is a bit different. Everything is hand-made from the best ingredients and all organic, just the best."

"Guess that would explain the fries then!" Freddy chuckled, waving a thick-cut wedge at the Doberman.

"That's just because Mack knows, like most things, I like them chunky," Tyrone smiled wistfully.

When Freddy left the table to visit the restroom, Mack sat down in the pup's vacated seat.

"So what's the deal with the pup, Ty? I know you don't have no siblings, so where did he come from?" the bear growled.

"He's a good kid Mack, just had a bad break. I found him in a similar position to you, at his wits' end and unable to take any more. It was a spur of the moment thing but I don't have any regrets. He checks out alright so I will give him a new start and a future to look forward to. If ever he does come to you, promise me you will look out for him, whatever he needs."

"You know I will, Ty, you don't have to ask bud. Just don't let him take you for a ride," the bear rumbled waving at the pile of shopping.

"Don't worry, I won't Mack. Just been kitting him out with all the things that a modern teen needs to survive. He had it all once and it was taken away from him, violently. Anyway, it is just a drop in the ocean."

"Ok, just don't be a stranger, bud. We got lots to catch up on," Mack squeezed the dog's shoulder as he rose to go back to work.

As he left the restroom, Freddy watched the bear working his way back behind the grill. The muscles rippling under the tight shirt suggested he had once trained hard but they were now covered in a layer of fat that gave him a softer outline. Scars on his forearms and muzzle that fur had never grown back over hinted at a violent past. The wistful look that Tyrone was giving the bear's back didn't escape the wolf's notice either. Once Freddy got back to the table, the Doberman stood with a deep sigh.

"Come on then, pup, let's get all this back home. I am sure you must be eager to starting playing with it all," the dog grumbled, a wry grin spreading across his muzzle as he started picking up the bags.

Having got back to the car and packed everything in the trunk, the two travelled back to the house in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. That the dog had called it home for them was not lost on the wolf, and he wondered to himself if that was how he saw things already too. Tyrone was just vacant, automatically going through the motions of driving, his mind drifting back to the past. A screech of tyres and a blast of a horn snapped him back to the present, making him focus until they made it back home safely.

As they struggled upstairs with all the bags, James fussed round them trying to assist and taking umbrage that he wasn't allowed to perform his duties. Stumbling into Freddy's room they offloaded onto the floor and collapsed onto the bed.

"Are you happy with this room, Freddy?" Tyrone panted.

"Yeah, it's amazing, better than anything I had before," the wolf replied happily.

"In that case you have a free rein to decorate it how you like, any changes in furniture you want just say and we'll organise it. James has a load of colour charts, fabric and flooring samples and so on, ask him for them when you are ready," the dog grinned as he ruffled the pup's headfur.

"Thanks Uncle Ty," Freddy gasped, his voice catching in his throat as the emotions of the day started to well up.

"I bet you want to unpack this stuff and figure out how it all works, so I will leave you to it. James will come and get you for supper later on," Tyrone grunted as he rose from the bed.

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It seemed like mere minutes had passed to Freddy when there was a knock at the door.

"Dinner is served, Master Freddy," James announced.

"Coming!" the wolf shouted back, suddenly aware of his hunger.

The door opened and the otter stepped into the room; glancing over his shoulder James closed the door behind him.

"We have a few minutes yet, I would like a word with you if that is alright," the otter whispered secretively.

"Of course James, you don't need to ask permission of me," Freddy replied.

"By any chance, did you and Mister Briggs go and see Mack today?" the otter enquired. "I am sure he asked you not to tell me but please be honest, nothing bad will come of it."

"Yes we did, he seemed a nice person." The wolf gulped nervously, "How did you know?"

"He is always the same when he sees Mack, goes off into a deep, introspective mood," James sighed. "If I know the cause of it, then I know how to get him out of it again."

"So what is it between them? I could feel something but it made no sense," Freddy enquired.

"Mister Briggs and Mack met at college; they were in the Reserve Officers Training Corps together. Even though their backgrounds were very different they just gelled and became inseparable. When they left college and joined the Army full-time, they trained together but just before they got commissioned Mister Briggs' father became ill and he had to buy his way out to run the family business. Mack stayed in, entered the Special Forces and just disappeared," the otter recounted.

"How do you know all this, James?"

"It has been my honour to serve Mister Briggs, his father and his father before him. I have been servant, friend and confidante to them all. There is little that I do not know, and nothing I would not do to aid them. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. It turned out that Mister Briggs had developed a crush on the bear but had kept it secret from him," the otter continued.

"But why would he do that? If he felt that way, why not say something rather than let him drift away?" Freddy whined.

"You have to understand, young Master, that it was a different time and different beliefs held sway then. Society was just not understanding or accepting of such things, the military most of all. Besides he believed that Mack wasn't similarly inclined and he valued his friendship too much to risk so he held his tongue. With the demands of running the company, he had little time for relationships and so remained lonely and alone."

"So what happened next?" Freddy prompted the otter, eager for knowledge.

"As time passed, he was able to spend less time on business and started to have a social life again. There began a string of relationships that burned bright and faded as it became clear that they were not interested in Mister Briggs but rather what his money could buy them. Besides, none of them could match up to Mack. Eventually he became disillusioned, tired of being used and disappointed." James sighed at the memory.

"Then, one day the two of them came across each other again. Mack was out of the Army and struggling to survive. He had seen and done so much in the service of his country. Things preyed on his mind and were driving him insane, the only solution he could find was to end his life and end his torment. Call it fate or chance, one evening Mister Briggs was meeting a date in a bar that Mack happened to be drowning his sorrows in. Mister Brigs recognised the drunk at the bar and, date forgotten, dragged his old college buddy back here. That night Mack found a rock to cling to while Mister Briggs brought him back from the edge. He set Mack up in that restaurant and made sure he was going to flourish before stepping back to cover his own pain and longing."

The otter sniffed.

"Time to go down for dinner," James grumbled, looking at his watch. "I have told you far too much, please say nothing of this to either of them." He added, shooing the wolf out of the door and down the stairs.

After dinner, two stuffed canines sat quietly in front of a crackling fire, a movie neither was really watching played out on the television in front of them. Freddy observed the Doberman as he gazed into the flames, absent-mindedly swirling a snifter of brandy in his paw, as he lost himself in his thoughts. The look on his muzzle suggested that they were not happy ones, the shine from water-filled eyes confirmed it. Unable to watch his benefactor in such emotional turmoil, and lacking any idea how to turn him round, the wolf rose from the couch.

"I'll say goodnight, Uncle Ty, it's been a long day."

"Huh?" the dog grunted as he snapped back to the present.

"I'm going to bed, Uncle," Freddy repeated.

"Oh, goodnight then, pup."

"Goodnight - and thanks again for everything today."

"That's okay. Sleep well, Freddy." Tyrone sighed, knowing that for him sleep would be hard to come by tonight.

Freddy walked over to the door before turning back, unable to leave and say nothing.

"Uncle Ty... If you ever want to talk about him, I would like to hear about it," the wolf whimpered shyly.

"Whom do you mean, Freddy?" the Doberman asked.

"Mack. I saw how you looked at him today, and you are so sad tonight, I just though that... Well, you know," the wolf tapered off awkwardly.

"There is nothing to tell," the dog growled, turning back to the fire.

Dismissed, the wolf closed the door quietly behind himself and headed to his room, leaving the dog to wallow in his misery.

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As Freddy walked through the mall, bodies and faces swirled around him steadily merging into an indistinguishable blur. Just behind it all stood a shadowy figure, there but not there, felt rather than seen. Slowly, a pair of eyes burned through the haze, dim at first but growing in intensity and clarity. Freddy gasped and froze as recognition hit him.

Panic.

Flee.

RUN!

His unconscious screamed at him and he did what his mind instructed. Pushing past the featureless bodies that surrounded him, he bolted for the exit and out into the open. It was dark, night had fallen. How had he not noticed? Everywhere was deserted; streetlights threw small pools of light that he flitted in and out of, like a moth.

Cold. Why was he so cold?

His flight started to slow as he got colder, snow pulling at his feet dragged him back. When had it snowed, the day had been warm and pleasant, this was not right.

All the time he felt hunted, he could see no one but he could feel a presence behind him. Malevolence haunted the shadows. Running blindly, he turned down a side street and then another, they all looked the same. He was totally lost.

Glancing back, he thought he could a glimpse of the eyes glowing in the darkness, tracing his every move.

Breathless and panting he turned into another road and ran blindly.

A dead-end.

Leaning against the high brick wall, he gasped for breath. Glancing round, he saw a dumpster and climbed onto it. Lifting the lid, the stench of rotting food made him gag. He jumped in anyway and shut himself inside.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" a dark, teasing voice called out. "I know you are in here, puppy. Come out and I might make it easier for you."

Freddy could hear movement outside, scrapes and bangs as things were moved around and searched. A bang echoed in his ear as the dumpster was hit hard.

"Only one place left, kid, you are gonna suffer for making me find you." The voice snarled as the lid was flung back and a paw gripped his collar, wrenching him from his foul sanctuary. Flung to the ground and dazed, Freddy rolled to face his assailant. A large, dark, furred figure dressed in black jeans with a black hoodie pulled over his head.

The long snout with buck teeth protruding from the hood, and the long, thick, scaly tail shouted Rat!

A creature of the streets.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. If so, then the pus-yellow eyes that glowed inside his hood showed the diseased soul that lived behind them.

Freddy struggled to get to his feet, paws scrabbling on the icy ground. The rat was on him in the blink of an eye, blows from his hard fists beating the wolf back down. He could feel the blood dripping from his damaged muzzle; smell its coppery taint, the metallic taste on his tongue before he sank into oblivion.

The world swam round his head as Freddy came back round. His bags had been tipped out over the ground, clothes scattered around him. His backpack stood off to one side. On top of it sat everything of value. His phone, iPod, tablet and a wad of cash amongst it all.

The rat noticed his victim stir, and waved a blade at the helpless wolf.

"Damn rich kids, come to the city and expect everything to be peachy. Well it's a sewer and it stinks, kid. Now you are going to have to pay the price."

Grabbing the wolf by his collar, the rat dragged him across the ground and flung him across an overturned trash can. Pinning him down with a paw on the centre of his back, he sliced open the wolf's belt and pulled his jeans down to his knees. Too dazed to struggle Freddy could do little but lie there and let it happen. His ears twitched as he heard a zipper being opened behind him.

A calloused paw gripped his tail and yanked it to the side as a searing pain erupted in his tailhole.

Freddy opened his muzzle and screamed.