FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

For any and all matters regarding my two year absence in which I posted no new content, there is a journal incoming. Until then, I hope you enjoy the new story and new content.

***

June 4th 2019 (Kieran)

...It was really quite beautiful in the void today.

It's not the kind of thing I would usually notice. All things considered, I'm not that observant a person, but today it wasn't something I could very well look past. It was normally gray. Not with clouds, just a silver backdrop above and a black abyss down below. But today...I never guessed a place with no sun could have such a colorful sky.

A bright orange had replaced the grey I was so accustomed to seeing, although, I don't exactly know how. Again, there's no sun to speak of in this world, or at least, none that I've ever seen. Maybe there is a sun, and this is just how long it's taken to reach me. Although, that wouldn't explain why the entire sky is orange. Shouldn't only one portion of the sky look like that if that was the case?

No, just like when it was grey, the sky was evenly shaded. And if there WAS a light source on it's way, shouldn't it be getting rid of the darkness in the abyss as well? I mean, it's just a mass of shadows, wasn't it?

The corner of my mouth twitched as I sat cross legged on my pedastal, peering over the edge of the pillar, the image of my stable perch sinking below the inky mess making me cringe , as it always does. But this time it was different...the darkness seemed to take some sort of shape...a thick black fog covering the earth. Where I would once look down and imagine nothing but an empty abyss, for the first time I envisioned destruction. My entire world set ablaze, cities crumbling, forests burning, and the darkness was the ashes of what's left. People clamoring over each other for safety just to escape this unceasing destruction, and yet I, on my perch, was for some reason raised above this.

If it was smoke, it didn't rise, but fell, clinging closely to the ground...was there even a ground? Or was this big black ball of fog everything there was to this world. Object permanence is a funny thing like that. If you go without seeing something for too long you eventually start to question whether it was ever there in the first place...but then, if there was no ground, what was this pillar attached to? ...No, there had to be something down there.

I again looked down below at the mass of shadows stretching as far as I could see, imagining the people of the world trapped inside by it as I shivered.

...I could almost hear the screaming...

I shook my head and sat back, leaning my hands back on the stone as I stared at the horizon, trying to forget about it...and for fucks sake, even the debris has changed...this place normally looked like the remnants of a battle that ended in mutually achieved destruction. Bits of buildings, landscapes, and rubble flying about with no rhyme or reason. The aftermath of a great tragedy, but now?

Everything was static...nothing moved, even more, it was arranged specifically...instead of looking like remains it almost looked like an unfinished project...was this place...was this place rebuilding itself? Chunks of skyscrapers all huddled together, almost yearning to be a great tower once more, it's pieces lost to the smoke ages ago. This was...this was far too depressing. Everything looked so...hopeful. How can a place so empty be so optimistic? Did it think it still had a chance to thrive?

"Heads up, Kieran!"

My ears twitched as my eyes snapped towards the voice, smiling as a young husky boy came rushing past on a chunk of a building, riding it like a surfboard and sailing just over my head, the following gust of wind bristling up my tail and ruffling my clothes

I stood up and stretched out a bit, loosening my muscles as he tried to turn, having overshot me by quite a bit. I shouted after him as he made a uturn, taking my paws out of my pockets and cupping them over my feline muzzle as if it would actually help the sound travel and smirking.

"You're LAAAAaaate~"

He rolled his eyes, although the smirk betrayed his faux annoyance as he neared my pillar, tossing me a baseball mitt as he pointed his own at the sky.

"Of COURSE I'm late, are you blind?" He grinned at me, his bushy tail wagging behind him as he idly floated in circles around me, enjoying the scenery far more than I was as I slipped the mitt over my paw, shrugging off his comment.

"A change in scenery is nice I guess..."

He turned back to me, taking a circular shaped stone out of his sweatshirt pocket and tossing it to me, landing squarely in my mitt as I turned my paw to catch it. It hurt a little bit more than the sting of catching a baseball, but we made do.

"You think someone did this? Or did it just change on it's own?" He asked me as I tossed it back and our game of catch began.

I answered his question with another question. "Well, did you do it?"

"...no."

"Neither did I. Mystery solved." I smirked, although he didn't find that answer quite satisfactory enough.

The thirteen year old frowned as he put a little bit of oomph in his next throw, hitting my mitt with a *thock*. "Well...I dunno...I mean there could be other people out here."

I raised a brow at that response. If he's ever had these thoughts, he's never shared them with me, which was...a little disconcerting. "Have you SEEN anyone else?"

"Well...no...but I never go too far from the pillar...if I lose track of where I've been, then I might never find you again." I noticed his ears flicker as he tried to stop them from tucking back. Though, whether it was from the thought of losing me, or my denial that there were others, I didn't quite know. I decided to probe a little deeper to find out.

"...do you WANT there to be other people?" I asked softly, tilting my head a bit in curiousity.

He scratched the back of his head with his free paw as he thought about it. "...I mean it would be nice...wouldn't you think?"

To be honest, I didn't know how to answer that question. I was perfectly happy with it just being me and my little bro. It's been that way for years and it's not like he'd just forget about me if more people came along.

...would he?

...suppose some people came along...they were friendly enough, bonded with him...he could leave any time he wants and I was stuck here, it's not like I could stop him, nor could I go with him...was he staying for me? Or is he just scared of being alone...more importantly, could I handle being alone?

"Kieran, pay attention!"

I flinched as the stone whizzed by my head, soaring right over my pillar and into the abyss as Ferin made an audible groan.

"Dammit."

I turned around just in time to see it disappear behind the shadows, never hearing a sound as it just vanished, forever gone thanks to my carelessness.

"Kieraaaaaan, what'd you do that for?" He whined as he huffed and crossed his arms.

My pointed ears pinned back against my head as I looked at my feet, my index finger beginning to pick at my thumb as I mumbled. "...sorry..."

...that...was the last thing we had to entertain ourselves...now lost to the shadows like everything else. I had to fix this.

"Look...I'm sure we can find another one..."

"You mean I could find another one." He grumbled, although I don't think he realized how much his words actually stung me. It's not like I had a fucking choice, does he honestly think I couldn't get off of this fucking thing if I could. But I calm myself. He's still just a kid after all, I know he didn't mean it as a jab, just a mindless complaint that he'd have to do all the work. I took in a deep breath to compose myself.

"Look, if I-" I was interrupted as something landed at my feet, startling me as I jumped a little. It was...a ball?

I blinked and stared in disbelief at an brand new, mint condition baseball....the fuck did THIS come from?

"Kieran, look! I told you!"

I looked up at Ferin, and then immediately followed his finger to where he was pointing, freezing at the sight. Floating up from the smoke, was a man. At least...I think it was a man. It was at least shaped like one, but had himself completely covered by flowing white cloak as well as a red and black mask that looked as if it was made by a demented two year old...big, uneven eyes with a cheshire cat smile scrawled on it, complete with pointy jagged teeth. At first it seemed that he was floating on his own, although as the cloak fluttered a bit, I saw a glimpse of stones underneath his feet, one under each, just barely enough to step on.

We stared at each other for what seemed like a lifetime, not entirely sure how to react to this before finally breaking the silence.

"What're you, fucking beetlejuice?"

He remained silent, ignoring me completely, posing his own question instead.

"...well that's...odd..." His voice somehow made me a bit more calm. It was soft...soothing even...like ripples in a glass of water. "This world...why is it like this."

My tufted ears flicked as I narrowed my eyes. "I'm not sure I know what you mean. It's been like this as long as I can remember."

He remained still, or at least I think he did. it was hard to tell with his getup. Perhaps that was the point of it. "I understand that, but with a world so devoid of ground, I expected someone avian at it's center...not a puma."

I flashed a fang at him as I snarled. "Caracal...not a puma."

"Oh, my mistake...you'll have to forgive me, it's hard to see slight differences through little slits on a mask."

"Then why don't you stop being a creepy fuck, and take it off."

He paused for a moment, looking off in another direction as if he was actually considering it, but then shook his head. "Hmm...no, I don't think I will, thank you."

...there was a long silence between the both of us as we stared each other down. I wondered whether or not I should be happy that someone else was alive in this world. He seemed creepy and all, but other than that, he didn't seem very-

"You mean to tell me that you're happy with this?"

I puzzled a bit, not sure exactly what he meant by that. Seeing this, he elaborated.

"With this" He made a big sweeping gesture with his arms, indicating our surroundings. "This world...it's so...empty...you're happy with this?"

I shook my head immediately. "Not exactly happy, but-"

"But you're still not unhappy enough to do anything to fix it. Why is that?"

I furrowed my brow a bit as I tried to understand exactly what he meant by that. Was he implying I could? Ferin looked between us, even more confused than I was.

" Kieran...do you know this guy?"

I shook my head but kept my eyes fixated on the outlander. He, however, turned to inspect my little brother, his head tilting to the side a little bit, before making a little noise...was that a chuckle?

"Ah...now I get it." He said, sounding a little bit more cheerful as he turned back to me. Somehow it was creepier when he was happy...maybe it was the smile of the mask.

"Tell me," He continued, "If your little friend was in trouble, then would you try and fix it? I mean I've done what I can, but I don't even know if you like these changes."

....it was...him? ...though, more importantly...

"...was that a threat?" I scowl, although trying to intimidate someone like this was most likely pointless.

"No no...not a threat..." He chuckled gleefully, raising his arm in the direction of my little brother, a black furred hand escaping from the folds of the cloak with silver tipped claws. "Merely a theory."

With a sharp, flick of his wrist, a loud crack rang out followed by a worried yelp.

"Kieran!!!" My brother howled out as his platform split in two, forcing him to pick one side as the halves drifted apart.

"Ferin! You...the fuck are you doing you bastard!"

The intruder simply shook his head. "You're surrounded by shit, yet refuse to do anything about it, more content just to sit on your little pillar. Why? Is it because of him?"

He made a chopping motion with his hand as another crack formed in the stone, chunks beginning to erode away from beneath the terrified husky.

"If you have a problem with me, you leave my brother out of it!" I screamed at him, my heart pounding in my ears as I frantically looked for something, ANYTHING I could do.

"Brother?" He looked between us a few times. "huh...I think I'm starting to understand you a bit more...Kieran, was it?"

"Fuck you!" I instinctually stomped on the edge of the pillar, the stone beneath me shooting forward and launching me straight at the bastard in the cloak, tackling him off of his perch and sending us sailing through the air.

"Oof!" my shoulder slammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him as I latched my arms around his torso...and before I even realized what I'd done, we were falling.

"You...stupid girl!"

"FUCKER!!!" I screamed, overpowering his voice as we both fell, not registering that we were both about to die and clawing at his chest repeatedly.

After a few swipes though, he grabbed my arm, reaching his other hand downward desperately as if to grab hold of something just as our bodies fell through the darkness. It was only then, surrounded by pitch black that I realized what exactly I had done. I instinctively kicked off of him as if I could propel myself back up, but I had already dug my own grave. All it succeeded in doing was getting rid of the last tangible thing I had. No sight, no sound, no feeling....nothing.

I felt a rush of cool air, my body trembling as I opened my mouth to cry out for help but didn't even have the chance to before something unexpected happened. Someone grabbed my hand, stopping my fall as I dug my claws into his arm, squeezing it and hanging on for dear life.

"Ferin...thank God...I-" I gagged as another hand clasped around my throat, pulling me up to meet what I could only assume was his face, as that voice, now far more cold and cruel than before, rang in my ears.

"...you...really are an odd one, aren't you."

I kicked my feet and tried to lash out at him, only to be answered with knee to my stomach, the wind forcing it's way out of my body as he repaid my early attack.

"Maybe you can't create...maybe you can only destroy...am I to believe that someone like that exists?"

I couldn't respond, still desperately trying to gasp for air as my lungs constantly rejected any of my attempts. What would I even say to it? It sounded more like he was having a conversation with himself than with me.

"No...no no...I don't believe that...I CAN'T believe that...I'll be keeping an eye on you..."

"I...you..." I tried to form a sentence as I could just barely catch my breath, but I didn't have a chance as he shoved me away, falling backwards as I gasped desperately for air

***

I shuddered as my eyes flickered open, the jet of cool air coming from the nozzle above chilling my sweat stained fur. As a shiver ran up my spine, I reached up and twisted it shut, hitting the call button for the flight attendant as well as I tried very carefully not to wake my little brother in the process. That proved to be a fruitless effort though as his head lifted from my shoulder, his eyes squeezing tightly as if they were trying to cling to the slumber that was already gone.

"Sorry Ferin..." I murmured as I shrunk back into my seat a little bit, my ears flickering as he hugged his legs to his chest and yawned, still not making any sort of verbal response. Eh...whatever, the seatbelt sign was lit up, so we were probably landing soon anyways.

...wait.

I frowned as I stared at the light for a few seconds, reaching back up to turn off the call button, as I didn't want to cause any trouble if we were landing soon, but it was too late for that. A uniformed dalmatian with a plastered on smile placed her hand on the back of my brothers chair, leaning over us and pressing the call button off for me.

"Hello miss, is everything alright?"

I pick at my thumb with my index claw uncomfortably. Well shit, if she was here already, I might as well just ask.

"Uh-um...I don't...suppose it's too late to ask for some water?"

Stupid question. I already knew the answer to that, but I guess it was less pointless than sending her back.

"I'm sorry, hun." I force myself not to recoil at the word "hun". " We'll be landing in fifteen minutes anyways, you can grab something then. ....are you feeling okay? You look a little...well..."

Sweaty. The word is sweaty. Stop trying to find a polite way to say it and just say it.

"I'm fine." I mumbled as I fiddled with the window shade, pulling it up a little as I looked down. Finally, I could see the ground, and I breathed a sigh as relief washed over me. "I'm not sick...just a bad dream I guess."

...why couldn't I remember it?

"Mhmm...scared of flying?" She asked idly, not even looking at me now, tilting her head towards the other stewardess who was waving her back over.

"Sorry for bothering you..." I murmured uncomfortably, not bothering to answer her question. It's not like she actually cared anyhow. I crack open my window and relax a little. Finally I was able to see the ground again.

"It's no problem at all miss" She nods and smiles widely at me again as my ears perk at the phrase "miss". Did I flinch when she called me hun? If I did, did she notice? ...no, I'm thinking too much. She was a dog after all. Unless it's something that is of particular interest to them, they aren't that observant.

She bounced away with a swaying tail, my ear flicking, earning me a little pinch from the husky beside me, earning him a smirk in return as I nudge him, leaning over to whisper "How many times do I have to say, present company excluded."

My brother was one of two canines I know that could read a cat's body language, much to my simultaneous chagrin and enjoyment. I've always been annoyed by dogs...actually, annoyed isn't quite the word for it...perplexed seems better. Their so damn happy all the time that it feels extraordinarily fake, although Ferin assured me it's not. I tended to believe my own instincts over his though. Being that happy all the time just seems far too exhausting.

His eye roll assures me that I'm forgiven and I ruffle his head fur in return, effectively embarrassing him in front of anyone who happened to be watching. He swats at my paw and gives a mock pout as he shoves me a little, getting me to laugh which in turn makes him smile. I decide to stop it there though. Believe me, we'd have gone on like that for at least a good ten minutes, but there were too many people around, not enough space to roughhouse and still thousand of feet off the ground.

Besides, if I look too happy when I get off the plane, Mori might get the wrong idea...can't have him thinking I'm happy to see him.

***

(As I've said, if you want updated regarding my activities, I'm putting them all in a journal