FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Tik Tik walks past all of tribe on her way up from the collapsed room. The rescue team who found her and Prakibak would not allow her to dress after they had discovered them in their compromising position. Two of the team carried the confiscated articles, but the one she kept her eyes on is not the one with her clothes, but the one with the book.

She can feel the eyes of all of the tribe on her, passing through the different sections as the rescue team leads her through. They passed the digging crew, the trappers, the breeders, and even the hatchery itself. She stands tall, though, letting them all see her as exposed as she is. She knows very well that they didn't need to pass through all of the tribe lands. They wanted everyone to see her. And, seeing the glances from some of the younger among the rescue squad, it is safe to say they wished to see her, too. The more she exposes herself to the dressed kobolds, the more she strides confidently to her final destination.

The air is awkward between her and the rescue team, as none of them speak to her after separating her from the injured dig boss. Supposedly, the healers were dispatched to work their cures upon him, but she doubts she'll find out any time soon with this parade.

The escort leads her to a narrower corridor, ending in a curtained exit guarded by two kobolds larger and more frightening than Prakibak. Out of all the places they could have taken her, they sent her here—the antechamber to the Queen's Quarters.

The guards eye Tik Tik with stern, growling faces, and she hunches over, shrinking slightly. That confidence and defiance she developed during the trip here suddenly vanishing now that the prying eyes linger and do not disappear into the darkness.

The captain of the rescue, a green kobold by the name of Kishke, raises her fist to signal the company to halt. She bows her head before the guards, and they raise their spears, allowing her to pass through the curtains. She turns to the two team members carrying TIk Tik's things and takes the confiscated goods from them before she finally makes the journey through the portal.

The next few minutes are silent. The chill of the cave brushes over Tik Tik's scales. Leering eyes glance over her body, but she takes a deep breath and holds her head up high. Their looks are just that—looks. They would not dare touch someone destined to stand before the queen.

Kishke returns and locks one good eye on Tik Tik's. She points back to the curtains with her thumb and says “Her majesty will see you now. Rescue Team, dismissed!"

The kobolds all disperse in an unorganized mob, each heading back a different way through the tunnels to return to their regularly scheduled duty. Of course, some leave with one final parting glance before disappearing entirely. Tik TIk narrows her gaze as she meets one, who looks away, scurrying off with renewed purpose.

The Captain passes by the naked kobold and snorts, saying, “I don't know what got into you, but good luck." She claps Tik Tik on the shoulder and smiles. “She said she wished to dispense your punishment herself."

“I'll be fine," Tik Tik says, forcing a smile. “She wouldn't hurt me for such a little thing… right?"

Kishke shrugs and continues on, leaving Tik Tik alone with the guards. They move their spears, spreading the curtain wide enough for her to pass through. But, as she does, her eyes sting.

The room gleams with the glitter of gold. Kobold Engineering worked overtime to establish this bright chamber for the Queen. Miles of tunnels and mirrors worked together to let the bright sun beam down from the sky above all the way to this treasure horde. She recalls working on some of the measurements with her master, who warned her not to look at the apparatus while the cover above was removed. A kobold staring directly at that sky fire would surely lose her sight, but not their queen.

“It's been quite the alarming day, little one," comes the husky voice of their monarch. The voice comes from the other side of the room where she lounges upon the “throne," which is little more than a slab of rock with a banner of a defeated kingdom draped over it as a sheet. Every ounce of gold that the tribe doesn't use for trade with others lies strewn about the throne in piles. Tik Tik must bring her hand up to cover the light in order to even see the shape of the queen.

The queen lounges upon her throne-bed, one hand upon her egg-laying hip and another turning a page from Tik Tik's tome. “You found yourself quite the treasure, dear," she says, a growl in her voice. “But, I hardly think it's appropriate for our tribe to see such things."

Tik Tik takes a step forward, placing her hands on her hips as she barks up. “It is a study of magic. Surely, that could be of help to the tribe."

“Magic!?" the figure draped in light laughs. “Oh, yes, you like this work purely for academic purposes, I'm sure."

Tik Tik frowns. There's no arguing against the queen in that regard. “It helped save Prakibak," she mentions.

“Yes, yes, I know" the queen says. “And how delightful that is, but there really isn't much in here you can learn that will help us out. Such… hm… study is not effective in keeping our tribe thriving. Sure, there are ways to spice up the process of breeding, but really…" she says, slamming the book shut. “It's just a waste of time."

“It's not a waste of time!" Tik Tik yipped. “Prakibak and I, we gained a bond. I care deeper for him now. I want to see him again, to hold him again."