FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Hell yeah, another tour in the history books,” the black panther shouted out as he slid down the railing of the back stage loading ramp. When his feet hit the ground, he turned back to look at the rest of his band mates shuffling along behind him. They gave back a few weak cheers and shouts, but it was clear that none of them had the energy the panther seemed to. Everyone was exhausted, both from the grueling tour, and from the recently finished show itself. Deeds of Shadow were known for their intense stage performance, and that was quite clear in the way the raccoon, the goat, and the brown bear lagged behind the panther. Their black robes, spiked gauntlets, and dripping fur paint certainly weren’t helping with their comfort very much either. The Panther seemed to be the only one with any spark left as he waited for them at the bottom of the ramp, exchanging high fives with each of them as they waddled past.

“I need to get on whatever diet you’re on,” the raccoon said with a deep breath after getting his high five.

“Yeah, what Paul said,” the goat echoed, taking his high-five with a little groan as that panther slapped against his sore drumming paw.

“I’d settle for just being a few years younger,” the bear added in, lifting his paw for the high five, and absorbing the blow into it with ease.

“I’m still riding that show high,” the panther replied to them all before turning to follow the motley crew. “It’ll fade soon enough. But man, they were really rocking out! I know this almost never gets said by anyone ever, but I love coming to Iowa. They know this is the only thing to do around here, so they don’t hold back. They’re all freaking crazy.”

“Yeah, I guess,” the bear grunted in response as the raccoon opened the door to the dressing room with a strong huff. The band spilled their way in, having a few spikes bounce off the door frame on the way, but no one seemed to care. No sooner had they entered the small and bland room than those spiked gauntlets, belts, and boots were stripped off, and the black robes discarded into a pile by the door. A few towels were passed around to wipe their fur clear of sweat and most of the makeup, although only a proper shower would take care of it all. That would have to wait until they got back to the hotel, but for now they all made due in stripping down to their base layers of clothing, and getting those towels wherever they could.

“Alright,” the panther said to break through the grunts and groans of his disrobing bandmates. “It’s my turn to get changed first this time. Y’all get out while I get naked!”

That got another round of grumbles from the band, but they knew their rotation, and not one of them could say anything about it. Each member made their way towards the door, wearing little more than a sleeveless undershirt and some form fitting leggings. With the loud slamming of the door behind the last to leave, the panther let off a wide smile and a deep, relaxing breath. Now that he was enveloped in relative silence, he took a second to enjoy it, letting the ringing in his ears die just a bit. Without any rush in his step, he walked over towards his duffle bag and began to unzip it, pulling out a fresh set of clothing to change into. A shower would be nice, but the after-party wasn’t going to wait for a trip back to his hotel. So, a little body spray, and a few more rubs of his fur with his now damp towel would have to do.

With an eventual sigh and wiggle, he slowly stripped off his undershirt, pulling it free of his matted chest and back fur, and giving everything a little shake to try and dry it off. He plopped the shirt into his pile of other dirty clothes before reaching down to slide a paw into the waistband of his pants. With another wiggle he pulled the stretchy black fabric away from his thighs and began to free even more sweaty fur. Another pass of that well used towel, and a few more shakes were all he could do to dry himself off. Then came the last bit – the skimpy little thong he always liked to wear. He maneuvered his paws in between the strings on his hips and pushed the thin black fabric down, sensing a new wave of musk fill the room. He worked quick to wipe it off with that now soiled towel after stepping out of the skimpy underwear, and then he gave himself a moment to let everything air out, shaking his hips and running his paws through his fur to free any further trapped moisture. It was just after he let out one last deep breath and sigh of relief that he heard a familiar voice ring in his ears.

“Hello Erik,” that gruff voice said out of nowhere, leaving the panther jumping up onto his toes and swinging around to meet the source. The instant his eyes fell upon that well-dressed pit bull, with his broad shoulders stuffed into that fancy pin-striped suit, and his ears poking out from the sides of that fedora, the panther let out a relieved sigh.

“Do you always have to scare me like that?” Erik said as his heartbeat slowed after the sudden shock.

“It’s what we demons do best,” the pit bull replied with a hint of a smirk on his face.

“Yeah yeah, I know why you’re here,” the panther said, spinning back around and reaching for his body spray. “I still owe you a soul to corrupt and all that. I know I have a contract. I know I’m past due. You tell me that after every show. But I’ve been on tour, stuck on a bus with my band mates 95% of the time. I haven’t actually had the chance to go out soul shopping for you, ya know? But, now that the tour is over, I can start looking again. It’s easy enough to grab some random fan and toss them to ya. Give me another few weeks and I’m sure I can find someone.”

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” the pit bull countered, closing his eyes and shaking his head in the process. “If you actually read the fine print of your contract before signing, like I warned you that you should, then you’d know why. I offered you the skills, the talent, the energy, and the opportunity to join your favorite band, just as you wanted. In return, I asked for one willing soul per tour and album. I’ve been lax on enforcement in the past, but the contract also states that after three late payments, I may take what I wish in lieu of payment. The tour is now over, and this is the third time you’ve missed a deadline... in four opportunities I may add.”

Erik didn’t seem too worried as he had given himself a good spraying and slid into his new thong and pants while the canine had been talking. He lifted his T-shirt up in silence and tossed it over his head, pulling it down with a shake of his body, and flicking out his ears as he stuffed his arms through the arm holes. With a slow spin back around, he looked at the canine with a cocky smirk and said, “Relax oh sinful one. No need to get pushy and threatening. Have I let you down before?”

“Yes,” the canine was quick to reply. “A few times in fact.”

“Well,” the feline continued with another flick to his ears and tail behind him, “this time won’t be one of them. In fact, why don’t you try that kid we had come up on stage and play with us tonight? He seems your type. Young, eager, good looking…. Remind you of someone?” The feline did his best to push his paws together and tilt his body to the side, trying to make himself look as cute as a kitten with a few quick lashes of his tail behind him. The little flickers to his eyelids only helped to deepen the effect, as did the soft purr that rang out through his throat and chest.

The pit bull seemed unmoved by the feline’s antics as he just gave out a low grunt in response, rolling his eyes and saying, “Even if I did accept him, he would hardly qualify as a ‘delivered’ soul. Naming random people you meet does not constitute as preparing them for me.”

“Do you want me to gift wrap them for you?” Erik responded with a hint of a smile, relaxing his posture back to normal. “Maybe even put a nice big bow on their chest? With your name tag dangling off an ear? I’ve found you people who say ‘Yes’ when you ask them to sign your contracts – what more do you want from me?”

The feline shot off a dismissive chuckle after those words left his lips, leaving the pit bull growling underneath his breath. “I’ve had enough of dealing with you!” he shot back in a thundering tone, almost causing the room to shake from the force of the words alone. It made the playfulness race out of the panther’s face in one quick snap. “If these were the old days, then you’d already be getting tortured in the pits of Hell. Even with all these new rules and regulations, I’ve waited far longer than I should’ve to take action. You mistake my generosity for weakness, and I have let you get away with too much. No one takes advantage of a demon for long and survives to tell the tale.”

“Woah, wait a minute big guy,” the feline cried back as he put his paws up in front of him, shaking them back and forth. “Calm down, I didn’t….”

Those were the last words the feline ever said as the pit bull shot him one final glare, and in an instant his body was gone. However, a weak and muffled cry could still be heard from somewhere inside the room, although only to those that were actively listening for it. Words of protest rung out from somewhere, from something that was far from capable of making much sound on its own. The canine took a few steps forwards and stood right where the feline had been standing, only to squat down and pick up the skimpy black thong that lay in his former spot.

“Cry, scream, and whimper all you want Erik,” the canine said to the underwear as he lifted them up towards his muzzle. “No one can hear you. At least no one that can help you anyway. I hope you enjoyed getting cocky with a demon, because you’re about to get all the cocky you can stand, and so much more.”

The canine couldn’t help but chuckle at his own terrible pun. He should’ve felt ashamed for making it, as he believed himself to be far classier than that, but it was still nice to throw one last terrible thing towards the feline who’d caused him such a headache these past few years. The panther’s soul, which now resided in his trademark thong, wasn’t in too much of a mood to call him out on it either. He still had a voice, just so that the demon could hear his cries, but otherwise he only had his senses to remind him he was still sort of alive. He tried to shout obscenities, curses, and eventually a pardon for mercy… but all of it fell on silent ears.

The pit bull took a second to truly enjoy his handiwork as he listened in, feeling his grin turn ever wider as that former feline begged for his life back. He was in no mood to give in now that he had his most annoying client right where he wanted him – somewhere he could never cause him trouble again. But, just as the feline’s weak voice had turned into sobs and pleas, there came a strong knock on the door. That was the demon’s cue to vanish into the aether as he let the underwear drop to the ground, all while a shout rang out through the thick wood.

“Hey, Erik, you done in there?” the raccoon’s voice called out through the solid door. He gave a few more knocks before continuing with, “got someone out here who wants to meet you. That kid that took your spot for a song and played it better than you wants to say hello. Not to mention we all look pretty silly standing out here like this, so hurry up!”

With no answer coming, the raccoon waited another five seconds or so before knocking again. “Hey Erik, open up. You’ve been in there long enough!” Another five seconds went by with no response, leaving the raccoon grumbling a bit before he shouted, “Alright, we’re coming in. You better not be naked!”

The handle on the door began to turn, and with a small rush of fresh air into the stale room, the door swung open. The raccoon was the first to storm in, followed closely by the ram, the bear, and then another body as well. The hyena behind them looked young and a little nervous as his eyes took in that small and musky dressing room. Although, after taking in the piles of discarded costume clothing, and the relatively bare space otherwise, his view centered on the confused band mates he’d been talking to only a moment before.

The room wasn’t large, and there wasn’t anywhere to hide, yet the panther was nowhere to be found. His scent was clearly still lingering in the room, but his body eluded all four of the creature’s eyes. The raccoon had made it all the way into the middle of the room before stopping, and he was left a little awe struck. All four of the band members hesitated for a moment, with their glares bouncing from wall to wall, not knowing what else to do. “Um… Erik?” the raccoon called out with an unsure tingle in his voice, leaving everyone else in the band to echo him.

“There’s no way he could’ve slipped out,” the ram said to break the awkward silence that followed, while each band member began to search one corner of the small room. “Come on Erik, where are you hiding? Stop being a douche and abusing your changing privileges!”

After another few moments of relative silence, the band members began to look at one another in confusion, with the bear finally saying, “Maybe he snuck out while we were talking to Ace?”

“There’s no way,” the ram said back, but after another quick spin around the room he let out a soft sigh and admitted defeat. “Where the hell would he go anyway?”

“I dunno,” the raccoon added in, only to let out a strong sigh himself and say, “I’ll go check the bus. Someone check catering, and I guess check the merch booth as well?”

His bandmates shrugged, but all three of them began to turn around and head towards the door. “Ace, you wait here,” the raccoon said as he passed by the hyena. “We’ll be back soon. If you see Erik then keep him here. Try not to touch anything.”

The hyena nodded, and with a thumbs up he was quick to say, “Sure, I’ll keep an eye out.”

“Sorry about this,” the raccoon said as he had one foot out the door. “He’s never done this before.”

“No worries,” the hyena called back, although the raccoon was out of his sight before the words ever reached his ears.

With a soft sigh to himself the hyena took in the changing room, already feeling his senses get accustomed to the heavy scents of the worn gear and costumes. He let out a little cough nevertheless, but covered it up with a paw as he scanned around the room one more time. Something drew his attention to an object lying on the floor, and as the hyena crouched down to pick up that black thong, he heard a soft but deep chuckle behind him. The hyena already knew who that voice belonged to. It bit down onto his soul each time it he heard it, leaving no mistake in his mind.

“Is this the thong you want me to wear?” Ace said without even having to turn around and look, just knowing the demon dog was there behind him.

“That’s the one,” the canine responded with another slow chuckle, watching the hyena stand back up with the underwear clasped in his paw. Another slightly muffled cry of protest came out of the garment, but the hyena’s senses weren’t sharp enough to pick it up quite yet. The pit bull could hear it loud and clear though, and he knew the panther was picking up on just what was going on. Those shouts of horror were like music to his ears as the pit bull cocked another wide smile. “You are to wear it to every live show, and every recording session, and every band practice, without exception. You are not allowed to wash it either. Consider it your lucky thong if anyone asks. Tell them it’s what you had on when you first played on stage tonight if you want a story to go with it.”

“Is this some weird and kinky Demon fetish?” the hyena replied with a grumble, looking at the underwear and then back at the well-dressed canine. “Are you going to get off when you see me wearing it or something? Cause that’s a bit creepy. I don’t swing that way if that’s what you’re thinking, and there’s nothing in the contract that said anything about doing anything extra!”

The canine let a hearty chuckle ring through the air, before planting a paw down on the hyena’s shoulder in a series of reassuring pats. “Ah, if only it were that simple,” the canine responded with a wide smile as he pulled his paw away, causing the hyena to give him a rather strange look. “It’s hard to explain, but you got yourself a pretty sweet deal if I do say so myself. All the talent, the luck, the opportunity, and the energy to play guitar in one of your favorite bands, all for a few minor things in return. You caught me in a bind, so you should be happy that the thong is your main responsibility. Some of my previous clients have had much harder times for much less.”

“Whatever,” the hyena responded, balling up the underwear in his palm before sliding it down into his pocket. The panther inside gave out another scream and cry of protest, begging the canine for mercy, but it was far too late at this point. The canine’s smile only widened as the hyena continued with, “It’s weird, but I guess that’s what you get when dealing with demons, huh?”

“Oh, if you only knew…” the pit bull said in return, causing the hyena to shiver slightly.

“So, what happened to the panther?” the hyena said back after a little break in the conversation. “Did you, like, kill him or something? He was a good guitarist. I’d hate to see him turn up dead somewhere just so I could take his place, even if he only was their guitarist for two albums.”

“Well, not exactly,” the canine said with another slow nod, hearing the cat trying to shout out through the thong in the hyena’s pocket once more. “He’s still around, although I don’t expect you to see him again. He ran afoul of the wrong people, so it’s his own fault that he didn’t get to continue with the band. Still, I think they have quite the future with you as their new lead guitarist.”

The hyena gave a soft nod, and a confused little smile at that, before saying, “I hope so.”

“This is your chance,” the pit bull continued, giving the hyena another pat on the shoulder. “Show them your skills, give them your contact info, and I have a feeling they’ll be calling you soon. Your name is still fresh in their minds, and when they can’t find the feline they’re looking for, your performance will be the first thing they think of. Don’t worry, you can’t fail your audition, I’ll make sure of that. Just remember about the thong.”

The hyena gave off one final nod at his instructions, squeezing the little ball of fabric in his pocket with a paw, as the canine continued. “Paul is almost back. Good luck, although you won’t need it.” With one final wink the canine vanished back into the aether, leaving the hyena standing there all alone to watch the raccoon poke his head back into the door. That confused and worried look he’d left with was still plastered all over it.

“Hey there, find him yet?” Ace said back with a slightly forced smile, before watching the raccoon slowly shake his head.

---

Just like the demon had promised, Ace was quick to be accepted into the band. He knew all the songs, and could play them just as well as the panther could, leaving the vote unanimous after only a few weeks of searching for the missing panther. The first practices went smoothly, and the hyena kept to his word of wearing the thong, soon breaking it in to hold an extra musky stench deep inside the fabric. A little body spray or cologne usually covered it up for most creatures, and the rest of the residual scent was blamed on the fact that hyenas were known for their heavy scents anyway. Nothing seemed too out of line as the band went to record a new album and prepare for the tour that followed, with the hyena constantly squeezing into that tight thong more and more over the coming weeks and months. The scent was overpowering, and the reek of piss, pre, and even cum stained the thin bits of fabric far beyond any hope of removal. All the while the panther cried out in agony and disgust, forced to have his presence smothered into each little crack and crevice of the toxic underwear.