FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Pop. Pop. Crackle. I lay by the glowing hearth, flames dancing in front of me. Sounds of water tap, tap, along the roof and windows. It is so easy to fall asleep these days. The gentle crackling of fire, rhythmic taps of rain on the roof, the dreary-grey sky, the fire's warm embrace.

This is my favorite time of year. Cold and wet is my sunny day. I pull myself up from the fireplace, and lazily pad over the soft, oak-log floor to a window that views the forest that surrounds my quaint cabin. My surroundings are lit only by the fire in the room adjacent, and the moody-grey falling liquid-sky. I watch the clouds' tears roll down my window, leaving clear wet streaks in their wake.

I set my arms on the sill, and lay my head sideways atop, allowing my eyes to droop. My eyes flutter, the forest and rain become a blur as I no longer focus on my vision. The lulling sounds of the hearth crackling and the pitter-patter of rain around me become amplified. Soon my auditory state also becomes distorted as my consciousness slips away and sleep washes over me. My breathing becomes measured, and I am asleep.

Slowly, I regain consciousness. I lay for a few minutes before I open my eyes to an almost identical scene as I had fallen asleep to. Everything the same, save for the fire, which, was a little low. I lay there for a few more minutes, dreading even the thought of moving again, for I was perfectly content. But a familiar sensation quickly found me to move. My stomach complained to me about it's lack of food.

Groaning, I wipe my drool off of my arm and groggily stand up, rubbing my eyes. I yawn and stretch, letting out another groan, and make my way to the doorway to my right, and onto the cool rough oak-log floor of the kitchen. I open up the refrigerator and am met with a soothing chill, and the faint smell of food greets me. Surveying my options, I spot some left over pasta wrapped up on a paper plate.

The weight of the noodles made the middle of the plate sag. I drowsily pad across the rough wooden floor to the microwave. I set the plate down, and begin to unwrap it. Upon lifting the thin plastic film up, cold, moist condensation rubbed off onto my paw. Wiping my paw on my pants, I toss the plastic to side and stick my food into the microwave.

Two-minutes. Cook.

A light comes on inside, a buzz emanates from the machine, my food slowly rotating inside. Waiting, I lean on a counter and play with the drawstrings on my hood, glancing at the timer every few seconds. With thirteen-seconds left on the timer, I opened a drawer and retrieved a fork just as the buzzer sounded. I could already hear the sizzling of the sauce before I opened the door.

Upon opening the microwave, I am met by a wall of heat and the smell of tomato sauce. Walking back to the table, I sit my food down on the table, and pour myself an icy glass of water.

I sit there at the table and stare out the window. The fire had died, the rain calmed a little bit. I sat and ate in nature's soothing grip.

Night befell my cozy castle. My cabin glows, a candle in the pitch-black night, leaking into nature. Again, I lay by the busy hearth, this time on my back, freshly added logs disintegrating inside. I lay with my hands behind my head, watching the spectacular recital of the flames. They leap and twirl from the walls to the ceiling pirouetting and flipping. I lay there and watch the fantastic shapes for days seemingly, but glancing at the clock, I find I have, in reality, only lain for fifteen-minutes. I lay there, playing with my tail, listening to the cracking of flames, seeing warm flickering light in my peripheral vision. I look into my mind and wade into my pool of thoughts. Happy times. Sad times. What-if's... Coming too, fourty-five minutes had past since I had last checked. I roll and lay on my side. I could feel the flame's hand on my face.

No worries, no problems, no needs.

---

I trudge through the dense snowy-forest, ice crunching underpaw, the seething wind howling, trees whipping around in it's ferocity. Ice pelting my face, even with a full set of gear. I use my arm as a shield against my invisible foe, whom tried with all of it's might to knock me down. Suddenly, I watch in horror, an uprooted tree is sent hurtling towards me. I couldn't even make my legs move. I screamed. I screamed a scream that not even I could hear, for my voice was stolen by the wind, and carried far away. I shut my eyes tight, covering my face with my arms.

Silence.

The howling wind, the blizzard, the snow, it was all gone. Slowly I opened my eyes and bring my arms away from my face. I was no longer standing, I was sitting. I was sitting on a chair surrounded warmth, people, food, and the buzz of business. I spot a waitress walking towards me, a young, pretty fox. She had a small frame, and a kind face, looking to be in her mid-twenties. "Another round for you, Mr. Lars," she smiled, arriving at my table.

"Sure," I glance at her nametag, "thanks, Jessica." I add, winking. She smiles back, blushing, then left back to the kitchen. It's weird, I've never been in here before, but I must have, since Jessica knows me by name.

Jessica returned hastily, a small glass of whisky in her grasp. She set it down and slid it over to me. I watched the glass glide over the marble table, whiskey sloshing around inside. I thank her and she tells me to holler if I need anything else. She smiles and nods before scurrying off to satiate the customers of the busiest hour of the restaurant.

I hold the whiskey in my hand, and take in it's strong scent. I don't drink. I raise the glass and tip it towards my mouth. I feel it's warmth on my lips and close my eyes as I enjoy. After half of a sip, I opened my eyes again.

My feet were wet and freezing. I had a heavy jacket and ski-mask on. I no longer held the glass, the fuzzy feeling of alcohol soon left me.

I stand, blinking in early morning light. Shimmering icy-blue walls to either side of me, darkness behind me, sunshine refracting from hanging icicles. I stare out of the mouth of my frozen fortress and scan my surroundings. Snow lightly fell, each snowflake it's own icy planet.