FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Dark, rolling clouds cast shadows over the emerald green leaves of Lasica forest, blotting out the afternoon sun. A light rain started to fall accompanied by the faint rumble of a far off storm. The forest spread out for many hundreds of acres and was cut clean in half by a winding ribbon of water known by the locals as Snake river, and sheltered to the west by the cliff of a small mountain that had no name and was known by many as simply 'the cliff'. In the very centre of Lasica forest, right next to a small section of river, was a circle of mostly bare earth. This plain, surrounded on all sides by Lasica forest, was called Sica village. Rounded homes and structures made from a combination of wood, stone, and clay were spread spaciously apart, and a number of small farms meshed together like a patchwork scarf around the perimeter of the village. Sica village's inhabitants were a tribe of mainly ferrets, and home to the dragon and his rider that now swooped in from the clouds.

A group of young children ran forward to greet the dragon, yelping and cheering, some pursued by swearing parents as they abandoned chores in the excitement. Ghai the dragon circled around once and then landed carefully in the centre of the village, the powerful downbeats of his wings kicking up a cloud of dust. In his front talons he held a rope net full of broken machine parts, which he gently dropped to the side just before he touched down.

The little ferrets milled around excitedly despite the dust, and as soon the huge dragon was firmly on the ground they ran forward, daring each other to touch his claws or flank. Ghai couldn't help but laugh at the attention. It was strange, but he was used to it after all these years. Sitting atop Ghai, Ollie smiled and patted his friend's neck.

Now a group of adults approached, most having followed their children. A middle-aged ferret with greying fur led them. One of his legs was missing, replaced by a crude mechanical prosthetic just above the knee that hissed and clanked as he limped forward. It was not in the best repair and he leant on a hand carved walking stick for support. His name was Malet, and he was the Chief of Sica village. He leant on his stick and waited. Other ferrets came forward to try to collect their hyperactive children, while others inspected the pile of machine parts.

Ollie quickly untied the rope that connected him to the harness around Ghai's neck and leapt down, landing lightly on the dirt. He strode towards the small crowd, with a grin plastered across his face and his bow slung by its string over his shoulder.

"The intrepid hero returns!" Ollie called out.

"You didn't wear your helmet," Malet scowled. He tossed a leather cap to Ollie who caught it with one hand. Ollie looked over the thing in disdain. It was nearly perfectly rounded with two holes for his ears. In truth, he had 'forgotten' it on purpose. He thought it made him look like he was wearing a ball on his head, and it stopped the glorious feeling of the cool wind whipping through his fur.

"Really? We fly nearly a thousand feet in the air, Uncle. What exactly is going to hit my head?"

Ollie hardly saw the stick move. But suddenly the top of his head stung and pounded, and Uncle Malet was planting his walking stick down firmly in the earth with a smug look. Several of the other ferrets chortled, including the dragon Ghai. Ollie gave Ghai a dirty look before turning back to his uncle.

"What was that for?" he said, rubbing his head.

"If you were wearing your helmet, it wouldn't have hurt as much."

"If I were wearing my helmet, you wouldn't have hit me at all!"

"All the more reason to remember safety gear."

Ollie was about to argue back when a woman's soft voice interrupted him.

"Don't be so hard on him, Malet," she said as she emerged from the crowd.

"I just want the boy to stay safe, Tae."

"Hi, Mum," Ollie mumbled sheepishly, hoping no one would notice her giving him a peck on the cheek.

"But you," Tae took Ollie by the shoulders and gave her son a stern look, "need to listen to your uncle. He knows what's best for you."

"Yes, Mum."

She hugged him and he winced, pulling his left arm away.

"Ollie, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. One of them managed a lucky shot." He quickly unclasped the plated sleeve that covered his left arm as the memory of the wound started to burn and ache like new. How had he forgotten? His armour came free and he rolled up the sleeve of his brown tunic. A nasty red welt was clearly visible under his fur. Tae inspected it closely.

"You're going to have a very colourful bruise." She looked up and smiled. "But you'll be fine."

Ollie, Tae and Mallet walked towards the pile of devastated machine parts. Some other ferrets were busy pulling the robots apart, using crowbars and hammers to pry away the metal casing from circuitry and hydraulics, turning pieces over in their paws trying to determine usefulness. There was only one robot that was nearly completely intact, with only its top propeller missing, but no one touched it, instead only salvaging the separate pieces. Malet pointed at it with his walking stick.

"That's not going to get up again, is it?"

"Not a chance." Ollie shook his head. "We fished it out of the river, that's why it's still in one piece. These things don't do so well in water."

Malet nodded and grunted in approval. But his hand moved to his waist where a long and narrow sword with a crosshatched, two handed grip hung. It was attached to a length of red silk that was tied around his waist, marking him as the village chief.

"Ghai!" he said suddenly, turning to the dragon.

The two small children currently sitting on Ghai's head nearly overbalanced as the dragon jumped at being addressed so suddenly.

"Yes, Chief?" Ghai asked.

"I think some of the folks would like their kids back."

Ghai carefully removed the two tiny ferrets with his claws and nodded. He nudged another off his tail. "You heard the boss," he said to the scrambling children. "Besides, I'm starting to get hungry, and we all know my favourite food is little ones who haven't done their chores!" He roared and tensed up as if getting ready to pounce. The children squealed and ran away in mock fear, screaming and laughing at the same time. Some of the parents laughed, while others cursed, now having to chase their young back home. With the children and parents now gone, Malet turned his attention back to the dragon.

"The battle went well?"

"Very well, Chief," Ghai rumbled. "There were a dozen Buzzers, and we took down all of them. Also, that new maneuver worked. We forced them to scatter, and they destroyed one of their own in the crossfire."

"That's good, very good," Malet nodded in approval. Ollie puffed out his chest and beamed at his partner.

"Anything else of note?" Malet asked. Ghai's eyes darted nervously to his friend.

"Well..." the dragon started, but Ollie interrupted.

"They're getting better at aiming," he said quickly. Ghai closed his large mouth with a click.

"Oh?" Malet raised an eyebrow at his nephew. Ollie nodded and pointed to his ruined tether that still hung from his belt right next to the spare piece of rope he had been forced to tie himself to his friend.

"They shot right through this. But I managed to get the spare out before anything bad happened." Ollie shot a look at Ghai, warning him to keep quiet. The dragon rolled his eyes behind Malet's back, but stayed silent. "They also hit my armour," Ollie added, showing off the purple lump above his elbow.

Malet's brow darkened in concern. "Can these things learn how to shoot better? Gain experience like a real warrior?" He poked his stick in the direction of the scrapped robots.

"I doubt it. We destroy any we come across. They don't have any chance to learn."

"It's still worrisome. And twelve, at the same time." He stared down at his walking stick, crinkling his forehead. "Very worrisome. I shall think on it later," he said, looking back up to Ollie suddenly. "For now you two should rest. It will be dinner soon."

The mention of sleep caused Ghai to let out a yawn that made the ground tremble. "I like that idea. My wings feel so heavy," he said lazily.

"After what you pulled off today? I'm not surprised," Ollie said, patting the dragon's foreleg. "I'll talk to you after dinner. Rest well, Ghai."

Ghai nodded and stretched out his tired wings, feeling the bone and tendons pop and pull. For a few seconds the sun shone a deep orange through the leathery membrane before he took to the air in a blast of wind and dust and drifted lazily towards Snake river. Tae led Ollie into the village, fussing over his arm, while he protested loudly that he didn't need any treatment, and hoping that it would leave a 'wicked battle scar'. Malet followed closely behind them with a rhythmic clunk every time his false leg stomped heavily on the ground. He turned to glare at the almost intact buzzer, then called out to a fellow ferret.

"Yes, Chief?"

"I want that thing taken completely apart," he ordered, pointing at the robot. The villager gave him a confused look.

"But doesn't the priest-"

"I don't care what she wants. I want it in pieces. She can put it back together later if she so desires."

The villager was wary, but also not about to argue with the Chief. The pieces of the machines always came apart easily if you knew where to stick a crowbar, so he doubted it would take too much longer. "Sure thing, Chief."

Malet thanked him and headed back into the village, the weight on his mind a little lighter.