FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The scent of ash mixed with blood followed soon by the echoing of screams in the distance as fire burned the remaining buildings to the ground leaving nothing but ruin and rubble; the heat from the flames were intense and raged with a hate fueled intensity. Staring into the fire the long warrior gripped his sword, armor and feet stained with blood as his shoulders rose and fell with each breath; the scent of blood would not leave his senses for some time as he watched as yet another building fell to the raging fires. It would be then that the soldier was joined by others, heated words passed unto him before all three rushed off.

Now standing before a roaring crowd within a magnificent city landscape, flower petals being thrown into the wind causing a flurry of colors to dance against the blue skies. The celebration being for the returning army as they marched through the city gates and onto the streets; families reunited as the massive force lowered their weapons; finally feeling at ease as they stepped back into their homeland and the safety of their own city walls. Here would be that lone soldier once more, head hung low with dark brown eyes cast upon the stone paved streets with the cheers from all sides falling upon deaf ears as the thoughts within his mind plagued his senses leaving him untouched by all the happiness and joy around him. The things he had seen...done. They have left him marked and it now haunted him in his waking moments leaving him unable to partake in the celebration even as his fellow soldiers grip his shoulders to shake him into the celebration giving cheers and praise of returning alive.

Within the hallowed walls of a massive room the soldier can be seen shouting toward a group of shadowed figures; their faces disfigured and unrefined as grim smiles and deep laughter leaves a low hum as the soldier continues to shout; clearly speaking his mind within this area. He spins, turning and shouting over and over to anyone that would listen yet all his efforts would be in vain as he turns once more only to behold a glimpse of fire soaring toward his face. His next moments were filled in agony and screaming, tormented by the flames that engulfed his body leaving him flailing in pain as he attempted to shield himself and force the flames from his body.

A quick gasp as the hooded figure lifted their head before letting forth a deep sigh as the nightmare had passed in the moment that they awoke. Taking a few more moments to slow their breathing as they shifted around to shake the heavy ash from their body that had gathered before pulling the large tattered cloak about themselves once more in an attempt to gather whatever warmth they could as the cold night lingered above leaving a chill that would reach the very bones.

"The scent of water is the only thing that is keeping me going now. I have no idea how long I've been here, cast aside and left to die in this wasteland. Days and night have blended under this darkened sky, the feeling of warmth would let me know when its day and thats when I would move following the smell. Its amazing what how the senses enhance when one is on the very edge of death, I think it was the fourth day of walking that this scent came to me. I can't tell if I really smell water or I'm just slowly losing my mind, but the scent has gotten stronger as I keep walking so I pray to the gods that I still have a grasp upon my mind."

Letting their shivering hands up from the petty piece of parchment the lone soul would huff into them to push away the cold, dust and ash covered their body once more as they turned their head toward the open landscape; sitting out in the open without fear of attack from animal or man. These lands having long since been devoid of any life, no wild animals to be seen and no settlers would dare attempt to make a home within this forgotten ash lands; nothing but black sand and ash resided here, not even weeds dared to grow. The lone living figure simply sat within the darkened night, a tattered cloth cloak being their only shield from the howling wind that whipped the sand and ash about threatening to slip into all orifices leaving one unable to breath. Huddled up close the lone soul kept the cloak wrapped tight while their hands slowly lifted holding the shoddy piece of parchment once more.

"These constant wind storms at night keep me from moving when its cool, I have nothing but my thoughts and this scrap of paper I snuck with me. This in turn is one thing that keeps my mind sane yet I fear that it is nothing more than a jumbled mess, I have no idea if anyone will even be able to read what I try to write now. Yet I will continue in hopes that if I do not find water that someone might find this and know that I did not give up."

Letting out a deep sign before they huddled as close as possible with their head moving to rest upon their curled knees in an attempt to get what rest one could in this type of situation.

Day had rose some time ago yet the lone soul did not move, the wind had not died down for some time leaving them unable to move forth yet as soon as the wind settled they rose throwing their arms up over their head throwing off a small mountain of sand and ash that had covered them. The lean toned figure now presented as a man, the lack of breasts being evident as no shirt covered their upper body with tattered leggings barely gripping at the waist kept things from being too obvious.

Gritted teeth shown from strain as he quickly patted his chest and legs shaking off more of the filth from his body before he turned to look off to the left then the right. It was clear that one would lose their way in this endlessly similar land without much effort yet he would lift his cloaked face and sniff the air. Several intakes before settling down letting his mind work over the scent before finally turning to the right and starting off his stride showing a clear purpose. His body had cleared taken damage, the lack of food and water had withered what was once a proud physique into a starving sac of flesh, yet more proof would be within the apparent scars that riddled the mans arms and stomach showing the signs of battle as no scar was from the same moment as the next; trophies from many years of battle.

Constantly moving forward he held determination in his journey and did not allow himself to slow down or rest as he hiked up a large mound of sand yet as he huffed his way to the top he would cough at the peak before suddenly catching his foot upon a stone and tumbling down the other side. Landing with a strained groan within the small valley thudding against hardened earth underneath causing no measurable amount of pain in upon his stressed body yet he forced himself to sit up giving several hacks from sand being forced down his throat during his tumble; sand ending up in places that it was never meant to be.

Yet as he regained his wits he would turn with his right hand sliding across the sand till it ran over the hardened earth that turned he landed upon yet it was not rough nor jagged as a natural formation but carved stone, clearly created by hands capable of wielding tools. Shifting his head down to the staircase that lead into the earth, the light of day quickly fading as the darkness of the underground swallowed it without end. The mans right hand would slowly lift to feel the flow of air coming out of the hole before sniffing the air once more, his head lifting with his jaw dropping slightly showing his weary surprise as disbelief lingered upon his features.

"Let this be real" his voice clearly strained and raspy, yet he would not sit and speak to himself as he stood and took a few careful steps down the stair case with renewed vigor, once steady within his steps he began a steady rush with a left hand braced against the wall.

Disappearing into the earth showing no fear of the darkness leaving the ash covered world above without so much as a second thought he would miss the carvings in the still standing pillars that resided around the entrance of the staircase. Strange etchings of people walking around and bowing down before what seemed to be a human with a snake wrapped around them as with its head raised high toward a carving of what seemed to be glowing eyes. The rays seeming to stream out onto the crowds of people and they celebrating with arms raised high.

Panting as he continued to the stairs the man quickly found himself out of breath, every so often hacking as his lungs pushed out more of the sand he had swallowed finding that he might never be able to get rid of the taste. Yet this wouldn't stop him as he moved further and further into the earth, the cool open air was replaced by a cramped yet warm breeze as he stepped down more till suddenly a heavy burst of air wafted over him as he entered a large corridor. The air was heavy, hot and humid leaving the already out of breath man even more exhausted to the point that he had to stop as soon as his feet landed upon a flat surface.

The man huffed as he lowered himself slightly with his left hand moving to rest upon his thigh; as he attempted to keep himself from hunching over and gasping outright he attempted to slow his breath. Swallowing a dry mouth he would take a deep breath before sniffing the air a few times and taking a few steps forward as his journey clearly was not finished. The air being so humid he was tempted to just open his mouth and start swallowing in hopes to collect some water from the air itself yet he restrained such a pathetic show of desperation. At this point at least.

This area was very different from the land above, as he continued to move the carved walls would become less maintained and more rushed looking as if the skilled carver had become frantic in their attempt to create a path to the point of just hacking away at the stone. The staircase was finely made yet was very large for a human, being nearly four horse length wide while four horses high. This corridor however would be even larger, over ten horse lengths wide and high. The carving started out well made with even with a show of similar etchings that resided near the entrance of the stairwell before quickly turning into a rushed endeavor.

It would never be known as to the reason why the fine carvings suddenly turned into a frantic hacking away at the stone yet soon the frantic hacking would turn from a straight corridor into carving out large caverns in either side of the walls. Seeming to make caverns that would fit a large number of people with small stone pedestals risen from the ground; possible places for people to set food or father around for a sense of normality. As much as one could hope for when they were so deep within the earth that it felt like one could fall out the bottom.

The man brushed his hands against the hastily hacked at stone feeling the desperation in the hacks as the stone was chipped away before he turned to look down into the depths of darkness before him. The light had all faded some time ago yet as he was descending the stairs a strange light illuminated the corridors which seemed to beam from strange crystals that jutted from the ceiling of the corridor looking to be a cluster of them giving off a dim greenish blue glow that fell to the floor yet it was far from the illumination of a torch it kept one from fumbling around in the dark though the man still held firm to his hand against the wall.

Pressing onward into the dimly light corridor finding that the humid heat only seemed to raise more and more before his hand that rested against the wall was suddenly met with open air nearly leaving him in a free fall to the floor. The large hastily made corridor had now opened into a massive cavern that couldn't be measured by any means, much like the inside of a ball the cavern was that of a dome like shape with a massive number of ledges and archways carved into the stone similar to those found in the corridor the man had just left. As he regained his balance he would shift to his right sliding his feet to a ledge, feeling the heat rise as he 'peeked' over to a lava stream that reside far below. Even at the distance he was at the heat was nothing to mock as the very air shuddered openly from the flow of heat rose into the air; this clearly being the source of the humidity.

He let out a heavy breath as he pulled back, the heat that rose up into his face more than enough to make him want to drop yet he glanced around slowly clearly not finding that he was searching forward; water. Having crawled and clawed his way all the way here, he now was fighting with the thought that the mere heat from the crevice had evaporated the water in the air which is what brought him here. Now panting he stepped carefully to his left making sure to keep his mind on where the edge was as the heat was now taking a toll on his already exhausted body.

As he shuffled about making sure to drag his feet along as to avoid accidentally stepping off the edge ending in a free fall to his demise yet as he shuffled about he could make out a sound that lifted his heart. The sound of splashing water like that of a waterfall, despite his joy he continued to shuffle, moving along the ledge that circled the walls of the dome cavern. Feeling a cool breeze flow along his left side he would turn into the archway that had been carved, a much smaller cavern having been hand crafted around an underground spring. Water freely flowed down the walls and fell into a hand carved pool along the far wall.

This would not be the only water pool, the far wall collecting water yet there were two other pools on the left and right walls with water heated by lava streams below making them hot springs of some kind yet the lone man care not for relaxing as he shuffled forward with heavy feet. Panting as he felt the cool aura from the water pushing away all of the heat and fatigue, his left foot slipping off the edge of the pool sending him falling into the cool water which he quickly began gulping down without a care in the world. The water though cooler than the open air around them was still fairly warm from the location yet he cared not as he opened gorged on water returning life to his desperate body. After a few moment submerged he would pull himself up letting his head break the waters surface with an open gasp and his right hand reaching out to grip the edge of the pool.

The pool was deep enough for his feet to swim openly without touching the bottom and he merely pulled himself to the edge to enjoy the feeling of water around him yet a moment of enjoyment and pleasure would quickly fall short as a new sound erupted causing all other sound to disappear leaving only silence. He shifted to look toward the arch way as this sound continued leaving him puzzled as he attempted to place the type of sound that it was all the while he failed to notice the shadow that slowly began to creep out of the pool behind him. The shadow rose higher till it stood nearly the height of a man as that sound flowed out once more and the man lifted his head as he realized the sound and the source of it. A hiss. That of a snake showing its displeasure and anger and it was coming from directly behind him. With this realization now upon him he quickly turned onto to be greeted with a force from below that threw him from the pool and into the air only to slam against the heated stone floor near the open archway.

As he slammed against the heated floor he was reminded at how frail his body was once more, hacking out as slammed flat upon his back before rolling over with his arms propping him up. Hacking with soggy tatters of clothing clinging to him, his cloaked hood stuck over his face yet as he lifted his head in the direction of the pool even with the cloth over his face he was given no time to try and 'see' anything as a hand firmly clasped over his throat. The hand quickly followed by a force like no other that hoisted him from his spot upon the floor to the open air before slamming him against the wall next to the archway; already breathless he could only give a dry huff of air as his back slammed against the wall.

His feet kicked in the open air unable to find the floor as his hands reached out to grip the forearm of the one that pinned him against the wall. The hand that gripped him was firm, strong, he was unable to pull the arm away as he gasped for air only to be greeted by a snake like hiss as it flowed from behind fanged teeth.

The arm that gripped him was lean and stretched back to that of a feminine figure, soft slightly pale skin from the lack of real sunlight gracing it yet extenuated by that of soft green silk like cloth being wrapped in specific areas with gold jewelry resting in specific spots. Upon her upper arms rested gold bangles in the spake of snakes twisting around her arms three times for the heads stopped just above her elbows. Gold coin like jewels rested about her neck while earrings hung from long pointed ears similar to that of a fennec fox yet no fur resided upon them by deep green scales rested upon the backs while a smooth pale white marked the inner areas.

Sharp gold eyes glared out their anger past the black bangs of her long black hair that was tied into a single pony tail as pink lips parted in a twisted snarl showing those sharp fangs that resided within, the woman a mix of beauty and beast at the same time yet more so than just her face as a long tail whipped to the left in the background it could be followed up to the waist of the woman that pinned the man to the wall. A Lamia or Naga, part human mixed with snake; a creature of the past that had been believed to be extinct.

Deep green scales marked her tail, with a pale white under belly yet even her snake like tail which measured nearly twelve feet alone was adorned with the light green cloth with gold clippings holding it in place. Yet the man was too preoccupied with his sudden need for air to admire his captor as she hissed at him, bringing her face closer to his as she held him in place clearly unfazed by his weight as she held him in place with one arm easily.

"Yet a new one wanders into the den of my ancestors to pillage the treasures or to claim the last of our kind, you shall not have the glory this day. I shall place you with the others as a warning to all those that enter!"

The naga's eyes began to glow dimly with mist beginning to flow off of them into the open air, the gold mist flowing over her forehead and through black bangs. Her free hand lashing out to rip the cloth hood from the mans head as she snarled out once more.

"This day you shall turn to stone and forever be a warning to those that dare violate this place!"

Gold beams of light would flow out from her angered eyes and wash over the mans face as he gritted his teeth still struggling within the grasp of the female naga. Quickly closing her eyes after the mans head was washed over by the gold light that she cast upon him, turning her head to the side as she gave several huffs trying to calm her anger though something quickly caught her attention. Eyes shot open as the grunting of the man still lingered, his feet kicking and his hands desperately trying to pry her arm from him.

The naga slowly turned to look in shock, yet her eyes widened even more as she gazed upon the mans face, his mouth normal as was his nose but across his eyes from temple to temple rested a horrid scar, his flesh burned and charred and his eyes sealed shut. Blind, not naturally but by some manner of force or torture inflicted upon him; his sight taken from him leaving him in a world of darkness. She stared at him before relaxing her hand allowing him to drop to the ground with a thud before he began gasping and hacking for air.

The snake woman was in shock, unable to figure out the manner of this yet her confusion was quickly passed as she gritted her teeth once more, "Thou shall not have your prize simply because you are immune to the Serpents Gaze!" She hissed while lifting her right hand high, fist clenched yet she paused as the man held up his right hand clearly in fear of being struck, his left hand moving to shield his head from any oncoming blow. He looked frightened, panting, wet and curled up with no ability to defend himself...she paused at this sight.

As the moments passed her hand lowered and the man spoke "I-I do not come here for prizes. I merely search for water." He stammered, his words filled with fright as he 'stared' forward toward the lower half of the woman's tail, unable to even comprehend what had attacked him.

She 'sat' there, confused and unable to rightly strike the defenseless man as she sat there. She attempted to speak, her mouth parting yet she stopped; unable to find the words or unable to express her thoughts she cast her gaze to the left then down toward the man once more yet something caught her eye. Narrowing her gaze she shifted down past the mans outstretched arm to pick up the piece of parchment that rested within his belt. The paper matted form the water and the scribbling on it like that of a child yet the woman looked it over, her eyes shifting over the soggy piece of parchment and as time lingered the man slowly lowered his arm and seemed to take a more relaxed position.

Eventually the woman lowered the paper, her eyes showed her mind working over what she had read and soon they fell onto the man sitting there quietly; either out of fear or respect it was unclear though she had found the words for him.

"What is your name?"

Her words caused his head to lift, taking a moment to swallow and speak to her. "My name is Glenn."