FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Avy has taken to typing rather well and has spent most of the morning telling Key all she knows about her species.

She started with the larva he found near the lake. That's essentially their first form after hatching from eggs. It looked like it had been feeding on the plankton, before the air changed and suffocated it, and was about ready to burrow back under the ground to change.

The second form for her people, was the four legged spider-like crab that she was when they'd met. She indicated that she'd been in that stage for several freezes, mainly because she had no reason to proceed. Changing is something her people can do at will at that stage.

She then explained how she had changed to the winged ant-dog, since that not being one of their normal forms. When she burrowed down near Alice, she spent some time learning about her form. Apparently, one of the "trakkats" as she called the ant-dog had found her sent and tried to dig her up.

Sensing it's presence, she opened her shell and killed it by spearing it with her leg. A storm picked up soon after, reburying them. When she re-cocooned, part of the trakkat was inside with her. When she emerged, the results surprised her. Nothing of the trakkat was left, and she had thought she had become a trakkat.

It wasn't until Key had scanned her that she learned that she had either absorbed or simply fed off the creature, and it's shape alone had altered her size and form. She should have been about half that size, with only four limbs and four wings. The leg tips splitting into fingers had also been a surprise. She had thought that feature was from the trakkat as well.

When Key had found the larva, she had an idea. With time pressing, a strong need to change again, she couldn't afford to wait. She had burrowed with the larva, and like before, cocooned herself to it to "feed off." Now, she's closer to what she's supposed to be, though she still has more arms and legs that she should.

Having read her explanation, Key now sits mulling that over in her head. After a few minutes of silence, he finally asks, "You absorbed the trakkat. It gave you the eight legs...and maybe the extra wings. With what I've learned of the trakkat, they don't have fingers, just spiked leg tips like you did when I met you. That had to come from somewhere else."

"I believe that I may know that answer," Drudge states. "Your DNA."

"My...DNA?"

"Yes," Drudge states. "When I reviewed our scans of her, and factor in what she just told us, I now find remnants of the trakkat's DNA mixed in with hers. I also have noticed a similarity in brain structure between her second, or rather her third form and that of the trakkat."

Avy types again, and Key reads. I MAY HAVE PICKED UP SOME OF IT'S MEMORIES TO. IT FELT NORMAL TO HAVE ALL THE LEGS AND WINGS. THE FINGERS THOUGH. THOSE TOOK A MOMENT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE.

"The other DNA I found, is yours. The traces are very minute, but it is there."

"So a little of my DNA was with you too." Key scratches his head for a moment, then asks, "Is that why her fingers have joints now, or is that from something else? And why is her face nearly humanoid."

Avy abruptly turns to Key's crude mirror and audibly gasps. She gently traces her facial features for a moment, then types, I HAD NOT NOTICED THIS CHANGE.

"If I compare her current DNA to her previous form, there are still traces of the trakkat, some has been reverted back, I would guess by the larval DNA. Yours are still minimal and should not have brought about his much change. There are several strands that are new. I will keep trying to identify these new strands."

Avy sinks down, laying herself on the floor, then types, I THINK I KNOW WHERE THEY CAME FROM...AND I AM SORRY KEY. IT WAS NOT ON PURPOSE.

Key looks curiously at her, then says, "Alice."

Avy nods. I WAS CLOSE TO HER. I DID NOT THINK I WAS THAT CLOSE.

A range of emotions flash through him. Anger. Sadness. Confusion. Her grave has been defiled. She's completely gone now.

Avy taps a few words out. NO, SHE'S NOT.

Key slowly looks back to her.

I HAVE NEW MEMORIES. SHE LOVED YOU VERY MUCH...AND NOW I DO TOO.

Key can't help but smile a little, letting his memories of her flood his mind.

SHE WOULD HAVE SAID YES, HAD YOU ASKED.

A tear rolls down his cheek. She would have said yes. He thought she would have, even with the promise that they both had to never remarry. He slowly moves over to her and moves the tablet aside.

"I'm not yet sure about how I feel about your...absorbing Alice, but I do believe you didn't mean to. I still need to accept the fact that she's gone, and there's nothing that I could have done to change that."

Avy grabs the tablet. SHE WAS SCARED. SHE FELT SAFER IN YOUR ARMS THAN IN THE SEAT BELT. THAT WAS NOT YOUR FAULT.

Key sighs and leans against the wall. "I know. It's not easy for me to accept, but I know."

She nods, slide the tablet aside again and lies down across his lap.

As he puts his hand to her lower back, he realizes that her shell's lightly damp.

"Her body temperature is 37 degrees," Drudge states.

"Same as mine." Realizing she no longer needs to filter feed, Key asks, "Avy, are you hot?"

She nods and swipes one of her arms across her forehead.

Understanding the gesture, he says, "You feel very hot."

She nods again.

"Let's fix that."

Avy lets him up, and he grabs one of the few charged power cells left. After attaching it to one of the pods, he turns on the thermal charger.

As it begins to draw the excess heat from the room, he sets back down by Avy. "Let me know if you start to get cold."

She nods and lays back across his lap. It doesn't take long for them both to fall asleep.