FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Colen, let me take a look at your cut." Nyanni pleaded. “It seems to be ok“ She said as she slowly peeling back layer after layer of the dressing. “I'll have to re-bandage it kit..."

“Nyanni, are you really sure that you want to meet with this group? Your response hardly had the zeal I was expecting" I asked her.

“Well, we do need the help, but, I'm not sure how far the Abesses' reach extends. This may be a trap but, I don't know.." She replied with a frown as she turned away, leaving the new bandage only half applied. After a moment of hesitation, she resumed her work on the bandage. “There just isn't much I know beyond my burrow about this sort of thing, but I feel safe with you kit."

“It couldn't hurt to try, and at the first sign of trouble, we'll take our leave." I told her trying to give her just the right amount of comfort she needed to go along with the plan.

With my arm feeling better and the day slowly drawing to a close, Nyanni and I were ready to make our way to the ranch He'ki invited us to. In a fit of chivalry I guided Nyanni to her seat, up front of course, to which I could swear she blushed through that fur of hers which had been turned to gold form the light of the setting sun. The drive was a short fifteen minute journey. I recall thinking to myself how long it took He'ki to make this same trip merely hopping through the woods. It couldn't have been easy, and for that matter, what brought her all the way out there? I can't believe that she was merely thirsty as she had originally reported. Regardless, it could be a blessing of sorts to have allies in the area.

We finally made it to the ranch. As we pulled into the driveway I noticed the name of the ranch was Hare Ranch. The sign looked new compared to the fences and mail box. Clearly this was a recent change meant to be an inuendo to the nature of what they do here. “Well, at least the avoided the title of 'Bunny Ranch'" I thought to myself giving myself a bit of a laugh in the process.

“Kit, why are you laughing? Nyanni inquired. Staring back at me making me think of all the, well, for a lack of better words, 'naughty' things we've done together.

“Oh...ummm... nothing sweetie..." This only made me laugh more and undoubtedly left Nyanni bewildered.

When we arrived, I had expected a larger following from what He'ki described, but there were only three other cars there. “Well Nyanni, we're here!" I said with a bit of excitement. This would of course be the first time I have been able to mingle with my own kind in a while. Being imprisoned in a rabbits burrow doesn't lend itself to being a social parade. Nyanni looked visibly shaken at the situation. It hadn't occurred to me that this would also be her first opportunity to mingle with my kind other than myself in her life! My heart sank a bit with empathy. “Would you rather I carry you Nyanni?" I offered, perhaps that would give her some security.

“..yes please..." she replied, never making eye contact with me. Her eyes were fixated on the ranch house. I like to think that what she was feeling as far as anxiety was not unlike the anxiety I felt when she first took my into her burrow. Of course I prayed this had a more pleasant outcome for both of us.

I picked her up and held her as I walked to the front door. Still she could not look away from our destination. After reaching the front door there was a bit of a pause before I raised my hand to knock. I looked at Nyanni and she looked back at me. I tried to contain my excitement while she had no such luck with her fear that was manifesting itself via her death-grip she had on my arm. Before I could knock for the first time the door swung open. A girl, perhaps nineteen years old was there with a bright smile to greet us.

“Hi there! Welcome to The Hare Ranch! My name is Erin, its a pleasure to meet you!" she said with much exuberance.

“Hi, my name is Colen and this is Nyanni. I take it He'ki told you we were coming?" I asked.

“Yes she did! Come on in and have a seat in the living room, we are still cooking. Beef stew for us and carrot soup for our furry friends!"

“How cliché' of you!" I thought to myself. Luckily I was not suffering from foot-in-mouth syndrome this time. “Oh thank you very much" I replied more appropriately.

I took Nyanni to the living room and placed her on the loveseat beside me. The entire house seemed to be decorated in standard western charm. Horse shoes adorned the wall above the TV while figurines of cowboys were placed carefully on the end-tables. The smell of stew being made in the kitchen over powered the entire house. It was a welcome aroma though, after having only ate the leafy vegetables the rabbits had fed me in the burrow for so long. My craving for the food that was cooking forced me to twist myself unnaturally to look back at the archway to the kitchen that was in the back of the living room. Of course as if changing the outcome by measuring it, despite looking at the food being cook, it didn't make it ready.

We weren't the only ones there. There were three other rabbits there on the couch on the other side of the coffee table looking at us awestruck. They were all standing alert on their hind legs. Nyanni buried her face in my stomach. If she wasn't gonna be friendly then I supposed I should be.

“Hello there!" I said, “My name is Colen." They looked back at me speechless. I was beginning to wonder if these were just regular rabbits and I was just making a complete fool of myself when finally one spoke.

“Hello.. Colen, I'm Trista." she said. She turned to the other two with her, whispering to them to also introduce themselves. Trista was a brilliant shade of gray. Not a subdued gray, but highly glossy. Her ears also hung down either side of her face instead of being arched back like the rest. She was roughly the same size as Nyanni and she wore a delightful yet reserved smile. Trista seemed rather interested in the two of us from what I could tell from her body language. The other two were rather withdrawn, only to open up after we spent a while talking with Trista.

Trista told us how she had been sent out from her burrow to find a new home for her fellow hares since her burrow, as she was led to believe, was built in a flood prone area. Upon her return to her burrow, they were all gone. Feeling abandoned, she wondered the hills near the ranch and by mere coincidence happened upon the Hare Ranch which was known at the time as the Buck Ranch after the Rancher.

“Trista, why did they leave you? That must have been really rough for you..." I told her.

“Well, I had mentioned before my fascination with humans and I was probably too out spoken about it. My only guess is that they feared that I would bring humans to the burrow." she responded with a glimmer of dismay.

“I see..."

I started to wonder what the other two rabbits stories were. They maintained their reserve too well unfortunately. Before I could try to reignite the conversation, He'ki come running from the backdoor in the kitchen to the living room.

“You guys made it!! This is great!" she blurted out drawing everyone's attention. “Was your trip ok?" she questioned.

“Well it wasn't much of a trip at all, just a short drive from the cabin." I said.

“Oh great! Have you met Lizzy yet?!"

“Lizzy? Who's that?"

“Oh thats the woman who made of this all possible!" He'ki Jumped on my lap then over my shoulder to the back of the couch and shouted again, “LIZZY!! Come introduce yourself!" She seemed to be the most excited one here. As the three other bunnies remained silent at the sight of He'ki.

Lizzy made her way into the living room. She was an older woman who must have been in her mid to late forties. “Why hello there! Colen I take it?" she asked while reaching out to shake my hand. After which she leaned over to take a look at Nyanni who was still visible shaken. “And you must be Nyanni the expecting mother!" She said with a wide smile. Surely perceiving this whole situation as more cute than treacherous on the part of Nyanni. After mentioning her pregnancy Nyanni looked at He'ki with contempt.

“I take it He'ki has told you our story 'eh? I said as I placed my hand on Nyanni's back.

“Yes, and don't worry you will be very safe here. I'm Elizibeth Portman but you can call me Lizzy."

“Well I appreciate your hospitality... So what do ya'll do here?" I asked.

“Well the only real goal here is to facilitate the continuing relationship between humans and the smart little bunnies that inhabit our forests. Can you imagine how many of these cute little furry friends of ours have been the target of hunters and poachers; not knowing of their brilliance and sentience? I suppose our real goal is to protect those we can and undo the damage our species has caused to them throughout history." She lectured.

This was at the very least appealing in that I felt same way about Nyanni. Had she been shot by a hunter, what a tragedy that would have been to know that a sentient being such as herself could have been killed for just her fur or meat.

“That is definitely a worthwhile goal Liz..." I responded.

“But enough of that, the food is ready. Who's hungry?!"