FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The warm drape of twilight has descended on this little town of ours, painting everything in a sleepy glow you'd be lucky to find anywhere else; you can practically hear the yawns slink from every house you pass, taking off into the sky like dandelion seeds on the warm winds of summer. Wispy clouds of cream lazily drift on the orange ocean hanging just above our heads, coaxing out memories of happier times you'd thought to never see again.

When I look up, it's almost like I'm a sailor, sifting through an unending stream of thoughts I had presumed long since buried and others yet that harken of a time I have yet to live through. I feel as if I command a grand vessel of my own making, standing at its helm and steering it through waters untraveled to a destination that not even I myself am too sure of.

When I gaze up at such a grand view, I can't help but feel like I'm off in place of pure fiction, as if I were a young man being swept off into a life full of countless adventures that have to unfold before me. To wander into innumerable directions and to meet people of all stripes and colors, enamored by the sensation of discovery and newfound understanding.

Its evenings like this I wish I could share with someone else... to be content with his company and to be lovingly tender without doubt or worry. To enjoy the quiet warmth of our interlocked fingers and to just watch the sun set together... to be like two vagabond seafarers drifting on the undulating ocean waves, leaving behind our worries and only seeking to fulfill our desires. What a life that would be...

I take the last swig of my iced tea before returning the can to the inside of my backpack, setting aside my journal and pen before taking a long, deep breath of the warm summer air.

Still too wordy. Need to be more precise with what I say. But I guess this'll have to do for now.

I glance up at the sky, painted a distinct shade of lavender melding with a voluptuous red.

It's getting late... best get going, then. Don't wanna be caught out after dark.

I snap my small, leather-bound journal shut, carefully returning it to my backpack along with my pen, zipping up the rather small bag before pushing myself up and onto my hindpaws.

I grab hold of my bag and begin to meander along the nearly unwalked path that leads to my little hide out. The tender summer breeze licks at my face and ruffles my headfur as the cool rushing sound of the nearby river coos enticingly, almost as if it were begging me to stay for just a moment longer. I shake my head, as if replying to whatever unseen seductress, that I must go, but shall return whenever my wanderlust gets the better of me and carries me back to this place I call my own.

Swift steps carry me from the heart of the woods, the soothing song of birds permeating the air as the engulfing heat of July swallows me up.

Just another normal summer's eve, I guess...

The day seemed to have dragged on forever, hardly any costumers arriving to break the veil of quiet that'd settled over the store. My boss eventually just told me to head home, since there hadn't been enough customers to warrant an extra hand lingering around. I did as she asked of me; clocked out and headed off to the woods to give myself a moment of respite from the daily drudgery of work.

As of late, that's all that seems to really bring me much enjoyment. The casual conversations between Bryan and I are enjoyable enough, though nothing seems to coax a smile out of me more than a quiet evening by myself where I get to sit down and write out what I've had on my mind all day. Sometimes it's poetic and creates a wonderful piece I keep for later. Other times, it sparks a little story I attempt to write to its completion, or grow bored of it and set it aside for a later date. And sometimes I just write out what I feel, since conversations regarding the more tender matters of emotion are rarely a point of discussion between Bryan and I. He does fancy the occasional philosophical bout, though such a thing is a spontaneous treat, one I relish any time I am able to.

However, I can't seem to really shake the desire for the company of someone else... someone to talk to and share my odd thoughts with... someone to enjoy these evenings with... maybe even someone to love... but that's another thought for another time, I suppose.

The familiar sound of quiet conversation and friendly remarks notifies me of my return to the familiar setting of the quaint little town, my restless gaze shifting impatiently to scan my surroundings for anything out of the ordinary. As per usual, not a thing is off.

Just like always...

I turn the corner by the florist shop, wandering past the tightly packed stores that comprise our little shopping district. After only a short distance, I take another right onto a practically empty street, only two noteworthy buildings populating the desolate section of road; one of the two happens to be the apartment Bryan and I share, while the other is an old three-story motel that's been shut down for years now. However, something quite particular catches my eye as I approach the apartment complex: an unfamiliar truck painted a queasy shade of green sits near the end of the street, its engine groaning in unison with the hum of the cicadas.

As I move closer, I'm able to make out two figures, one being clearly human while the other is a bit harder to make out. Obvious details like a slender frame, big ears, and a coat of ashen colored fur immediately stick out, but the finer details of the figure's physique remain a mystery to me. The two figures seem to go back and forth in conversation, their voices barely carried along by the almost unfelt breeze that drifts through the air.

Both of them are guys... the human's got a bit of an odd accent, though... a foreigner, perhaps?

The low growl of the car's engine suddenly sputters into a lively rumble, the hoarse cough and pungent fumes that follow speaking rather poorly of the cars condition. The vehicle slowly pulls up beside me, the human's gaze shifting to meet mine before he explains his dilemma and politely asks me for directions to the highway.

Typical... No one ever stays here for long...

"Head out to the end of town and take a left. Drive that way for about fifteen minutes and you should see a sign that directs you to exit sixty-four. From there, keep heading that way until you start to see signs directing you to exit fifty-five. Once you're there, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding your way back."

"Thanks for the help, man. Have a nice day," he replies before driving off in an all-fire hurry, zipping around the corner and disappearing from my view.

What the hell was someone from the big city doing here? Visitors are normal, but I have my doubts he was just any 'ol visitor. And what happened to the person that was with him? He couldn't have just disappeared when I wasn't looking... or could he...? No, there's no way he could just disappear like that.

I look back to the spot where the figure was standing, not a trace of his presence remaining. An eerily cold chill runs down my spine before I shake my head and continue my commute home.

He was standing right there, though... where did he even go?

As I approach the front door of the apartment I fish out my keys, clumsily inserting the biggest of the bunch into the lock and twisting it to the left.

"Home from work, Bryan," I announce as I step through the door, quietly shutting it behind me before slipping out of my brightly colored sneakers.

To my dismay, no reply follows my statement, the muted sound of the fan blades cutting through the air seeming to be the only sound that dared make its presence known.

Guess he's not home yet...

I trudge through the hallway and into my room, setting my bag at the foot of my bed as I tiredly flop onto the worn mattress.

Who was that out there? The young man standing by the human... he must've had something to do with him... but what?

I think back to the brief but fuzzy image of the figure in an attempt to discern more of his features, though nothing in particular strikes me. If anything, I found the human to be a bit off; I couldn't quite seem to place his accent or why he was here, though that's likely due to my own lack of worldly travels. But the disappearance of his companion still perplexes me... where did he go?

I shake my head and sigh, wishing to dwell no more on the subject despite my curiosity's efforts of vying for my attention.

"Who knows... maybe he'll show up in town or somethin'... 'd be nice to have someone new around," I mutter to myself before closing my eyes.

The long, drawn out groans of the cicadas drift through my window, barely cracked, coaxing a faint smile out of me the longer I listen.

However it is, it is; not much to be done about it beyond that. I just hope he's alright...