FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

It was early autumn, and the leaves were beginning to change colors. Faded greens were slowly being replaced by bright yellows and subtler reds. The forest undergrowth was thinning out noticeably as well. Any random spot on the mountain might see clearly ten to twenty feet away, but it was becoming much easier to see even further out.

I stood by a large pine tree, nestled close to its burly branches. I tightly held my spear in hand. I kept my breathing calm and waited for a signal, or sound. Within sight a short distance away was a black werewolf, my mate. She was looking intently in a different direction, only glancing back at me on occasion. Her tail was still, and her ears were facing ahead. I was becoming more aware of their subtle cues. A pause in the step, or sudden turn of the head could mean that they have caught the scent of something to catch, or flee from. But all of her visible signs displayed focus.

The pack had encircled a small herd of deer a short distance away. One of the werewolves would charge the deer, leading them into a trap if one wasn't immediately caught. The technique required planning, effective communication, and stealth. The werewolves were incredibly skilled with this deadly combination.

"Phhooww!" A muffled whistling snort erupted nearby. I heard leaves crash away from us as an unseen scuffle ensued. I had to clench my teeth so I wouldn't preemptively jump out from my hiding spot. Despite all of the noises suddenly erupting, quietness quickly enveloped the forest. I glanced over to my mate, but she was perfectly still. In the tense moment, I wondered what had happened.

"Aawwwroooo!" A victorious howl echoed throughout the mountain from close by. My mate sprung into action and hurried through the trees. I quickly followed the werewolf to the sound of the howl.

"That's a good sign!" I exclaimed as we barreled through the underbrush. More of their hunts were successful than not, and it was proof of their efficient teamwork. The strangest part to me was working with others, and being part of their team. I was used to doing every little task on my own. However, there were many benefits that made being alone feel even lonelier than I remembered.

Emerging from the brush I found the alpha with blood stained lips with a freshly slain deer at his paws. The white and cream furred male had red stained claws, and was panting with a gleeful smile. The female red wolf was also in the hunting group. The alpha female had a somewhat round belly that was obvious at a glance. Even her breasts, normally hidden in her dense fur, were more noticeable with dark red nipples poking freely from her fur. When she moved forward or bent over, they shifted freely from their own developing size and weight. Despite her obvious signs of pregnancy, she never shied away from a hunt, or using her impressive strength as needed. By comparison I would easily be slowed down by wearing my backpack while hunting.

All of the wolves shared brief nuzzles and other signs of affection before quickly deciding to feast. I backed off as they tore into the newly caught meal, but I didn't have to wait too long for them to eat. The alpha had first choice followed by his mate, the other male werewolf, and then my mate. I typically received the remnants of the spoils, after my mate had her share. They were more than kind enough to save me something. I was smaller than them, and didn't require as much food to survive.

Once they were all finished, the alpha took the carcass and hauled it up the mountain to the den. The other wolves lazily followed him at a slow pace. For once I didn't feel so sluggish by comparison.

"Have enough to eat?" I grinned and patted the black furred werewolf's back. She licked her chops with a subtle grin cross her face. "Good. I didn't want you to gnaw on my arm again." I teased. She exhaled and rested a hand in my shoulder as we hiked up the mountainside.

"I want to check my traps before we return to the den." I added and broke off from the rest of the pack. She nodded me wagged her tail once. The werewolves chose not to follow as we walked separate paths. I set up most of my traps close to their den so I wouldn't have a far distance to travel. Since the werewolves spent time hunting larger prey, I could focus on smaller prey like rabbits, with greater success. Having smaller intermittent meals helped the pack avoid hunger even though they could go several days without food.

My steps carried me to several simple animal traps that I had laid out the previous day. Out of a dozen, two had snared rabbits. I felt a little pride in being able to help hunt among powerful werewolves. I returned to the den site where the others were lounging around peacefully, or even taking naps. Even my mate was sprawled out lazily near the den's entrance. I found myself grinning as I set my spear against a tree where two others were propped up. Nearly all of them were carrying spears now at some point; primarily for self defense against a larger predator, or occasionally to assist with hunting. Their intelligence was almost certainly on par with any human. At first the fact startled me, but it proved that they were more than mere wild animals.

But I wasn't smiling about their fast learning from me. I was just happy to have someone to come home to. Without interruption I went to work skinning one of the rabbits with my knife. I started a fire and soon had the skinned rabbit roasting on a spit. The welcoming smells of cooking meat pleased my nose. Glancing around, no one had taken much notice in what I was doing. The wolves had quickly grown accustomed to my use of fire, and they weren't shy about asking for a sample of what I was cooking.

My thoughts were blank as I watched the flames dance before my eyes. I looked around and found the female red wolf sitting beneath a maple tree alone. Without the intimidating alpha at her side, I approached her with the second rabbit in hand.

"Here." I offered the extra rabbit to the red wolf. "You need this more than me right now." She happily accepted the gift of food, and patted my waist as a sign of thanks. I sat down beside the werewolf and looked at her entire front. She didn't seem to mind my obvious curiosity, especially after the gift of food. I reached out and gently touched her belly. The softness of her cream colored fur always caught my attention first, especially when I was inches away from her jaws and claws. It was a little humbling that a terrifying creature could be so soft and warm. Tracing over the subtly distended belly, my guess was that the wolf hadn't been pregnant for very long. She only showed subtler signs when I first followed the pack back up the mountain several weeks ago during the summer. I wasn't certain how long her pregnancy would last, but my best guess was that she would likely give birth during the end of winter.

The red werewolf leaned back onto her hands a little and closed her eyes while I ruffled her belly fur. My eyes caught a glimpse of the mottled grey alpha watching me from nearby, but I wasn't worried. He wouldn't intervene if I was "pampering" his mate. I ran my hand over her rounding belly several times before venturing up into the tufts of cream chest fur. My hand carefully felt over her soft breasts. Both felt noticeably larger given her strong build. They were formerly barely noticeable curves underneath her, but I coddled one breast and had a handful. I closely eyed the more prominent nipple staring back at me. Her fur appeared somewhat thinner around the naked fleshy spout. Her body's developing changes during pregnancy were mostly a mystery to me. The soft grin on her muzzle seemed to know a lot more than what I knew.

***

With nightfall fast approaching, the pack headed over to the den. My mate waited for me at her favorite spot at the mouth of the den. I left the smoldering ashes of my fire for a restful night of sleep. I slipped off my clothes and set them aside on a small stone beside my backpack. It felt more natural to sleep naked with her, if that made any sense. Then again, her fur coat was invitingly soft and warm to my bare skin. She preferred it as well to what I could tell. My clothes had several small nicks and tiny holes because of her impatient hands and claws seeking to remove them from me.

Her curious nose went to work examining me as soon as I let go of my shirt. Puffs of air sent chills across my skin wherever she smelled me. I shied away from her cool damp nose touching my skin, but her hands quickly joined in and began touching me too.

"What? You know I'm not hurt." I insisted but endured her little touches. Although I truthfully didn't mind that the werewolf secretly had a doting soft side to her. Her personality wasn't emotionless as I once thought werewolves were. They were hardly the nightmarish monsters that they appeared at first glance. I was glad to have her as my mate.

A puff of air between my legs caught my attention. However, despite my manhood dangling tantalizingly close to her snout, she didn't make any moves towards me. The alpha werewolf wouldn't put up with it, and he certainly wouldn't allow it when we were all in the same place sleeping. The werewolf released me and reclined down on the den's floor. Her eyes looked at me expectantly as I laid down. I snuggled up to her warm furry front, but grumbled as a tongue washed over my face twice. She always knew how to catch me off guard.

"Goodnight." I whispered as her arms loosely covered my front. Her head rested just above my own as her hand touched my chest. We settled down for a restful night of sleep.

A breeze briefly ruffled the trees before everything was still once more. I folded my arms for a moment from the sudden chill.

'It's not hot and humid anymore.' I felt the change in the mountain air. Fall was a gradual season in the mountainous terrain where I had survived for the past few years, and I was grateful for that. Walking in single file, I accompanied the entire pack down the mountainside. The alpha's pregnant mate was in front of me, and my mate was behind me. It was the second time in three days that the alpha was leading us down the mountain without intending to hunt. It felt significant given how much time was spent hunting in the high elevations during the rest of summer. I kept my eyes preened for any signs of danger through the tree, but thankfully there were no signs of monstrous tigers or bears in the area. I was glad to have extra sets of powerful noses and ears around me. Instead of growls or quick footsteps, another sound had everyone's attention.

The natural roar of a waterfall pouring softly echoed around the trees of the mountainside like distant rainfall. It steadily grew louder as I walked until we emerged along a small pool nestled amongst large stone where a modest waterfall poured forth. It was a deep pool surrounded by moss and short grasses, but source of the waterfall intrigued me. A large metal pipe wide enough to crawl through was the source of water gushing out.

'Where did the pipe come from?' I wondered, but didn't want to complain about the source of fresh water. I watched as the alpha waded into the pool followed by the red female. He tilted his head back in a comically lazy fashion as he stood underneath the waterfall. I watched the water pour all over him, soaking his fur entirely.

"Oh." I realized why we came down this way. "Bath time." At first I was surprised how cleanly the werewolves kept themselves, but if I had a fur coat that changed each season I would have to clean it as well. The other male and my mate waded into the water awaiting their turn. I discarded my clothes and hung them over a tree branch before joining the others. I stepped onto the silty bottom but staved off a chill. The water was cool, but refreshing.

Lingering at the water's edge, I splashed myself several times and wiped down my face. Before, I would rarely have an opportunity to relax like this, and not have to worry about intruders. When the others were finished using the waterfall, my mate waded over to stand under it. The water poured over her body, instantly soaking her. Our eyes met and she softly barked at me.

"I'll help wash you." I waded towards her, and gladly offered to wash her entire backside. The black furred werewolf's long grey-brown hair had become a wet shroud covering her back. Without any complaint she allowed me to rub her back. Her tail wagged happily on occasion, brushing against my inner thighs. The subtle tease wasn't missed on my part as I ran my hands up and down her wet back. Despite the softness of her black fur, the muscles underneath her were more than powerful enough to subdue me in mere moments. After washing her sides, I stepped around to her front only to receive a complementary lick to the forehead.

"You're welcome." I washed her upper arms while her hands rested on my shoulders. I barely noticed her hands slide down my sides before resting on my rear. I jumped into her arms feeling her claws pinch me.

"Ouch. You're sneaky." I gave her a suspicious look as our fronts were pressed together. Her pretty dark eyes begged to differ. She smiled at me and licked my forehead. I touched my nose to hers to let her tongue reach my lips. My hand reached up and lightly gripped her small breast. The heat of her groin pressed just above my own was tantalizing to feel... However, a low warning growl interrupted our little antics. I glanced over at the alpha male who gave us both a stern gaze before returning his attention to his own mate.

"Maybe later." I whispered into my mate's black furred ear. I could see a little grin bloom on the corners of her mouth as a wet tail wagged briefly. I turned around and she resumed washing all over my back. I enjoyed the leathery warmth of her padded palm and fingertips rubbing my wet skin. I couldn't help but notice that the alpha male was doing the same affectionate gesture towards his mate. The female red wolf was grinning contently as her back was tenderly rubbed.

After a few more tender rubs, we waded out of the pool together. I shielded my eyes from stray droplets as she shook her body of excess water. I shot her a playful glare as she laid out in the sun. I walked over and used my shirt to dry my face before returning to an open spot of sunlight. The warm rays felt nice against my naked skin after the bath.

'I'll dry off a lot faster.' I thought about their fur coats and looked around the pool. The alpha was sitting close to his mate while his fur dried. The female red wolf was sitting in the sunlight with wet fur, and I could see the roundness of her belly in full view. The roundness reminded me of a swollen fruit as it grew. It was odd to see her belly as anything other than a flat muscular abdomen. Her breasts, which were normally mostly hidden in her cream colored fur were fuller, and clearly visible on her wolfish body as well. They seemed to hang from their own weight.The feminine appearance reminded me of Vale, but they were not as large or round. Both dark red nipples were fully visible, and the rings of skin surrounding each were partially visible beneath the thinning fur as well.

Glancing at my mate, her breasts were small by comparison. They were only visible when her fur was wet, like it was now, and their subtleness matched her athletic canine build. Fur easily hid the pale peaks of flesh atop both, but outlined her feminine form well enough. The red wolf then laid down onto her side while the alpha kept a lazy watch out for the entire area. One of her arms stretched out while the other lazily rested over her side.

'I might as well enjoy the break while I can.' I decided to follow suit. The black furred werewolf was still very damp, so there would be enough time for her to dry off. I settled down with my mate for a quick nap in the sun...

***

I woke up a short time later to a tongue washing over my face.

"I'm awake." I shielded my face with a hand to stop the sudden tongue bath. Blinking my eyes, I found my mate looming over me wearing a little grin. From the corner of my eye I saw the other werewolves were all awake and moving with the alpha. My mate brushed her head over me as I hastily sat up. It was time to go. My mate helped brush my back free of dirt and bits of leaves. I retrieved my clothes from the tree branch and quickly dressed. I followed her and the other wolves down the sloping mountainside.

I was surprised that the alpha was leading us further down the mountain. Traveling up or down steep terrain wasn't a problem for the werewolves, but it would be a long climb back up for me. I still wasn't entirely sure why the alpha male had a sudden interest in venturing down the mountainside. No one was leading a hunting formation. Everything felt relaxed and laid back compared to a hunt. It became obvious that they were exploring.

'Are they searching to make a new den?' With the weather changing I wondered, and it seemed likely. Before I left the mountain several weeks ago to escape the encroaching wolves and monsters, I would do the same. I glanced over and noticed the red female wolf walking ahead of me. Maybe they were looking for a safer place to den for her offspring too.

We descended the mountainside and I suddenly found myself stepping onto flat land. The trees around us also changed from a natural forest. Young saplings were everywhere like a narrowing maze, making it more difficult for all of us to walk ahead. My foot suddenly caught something hard on the ground, and I nearly tripped over myself. A black furred hand was quick to reach out in case I had fallen.

"Oops." I looked down and found a brick partially buried under the leaves and dirt. "Thanks." I touched my mate's arm. Reaching down, I pulled the brick from the earth's grip. The solid reddish block was heavy and had a few pill bugs crawling on its underside. My mate smelled it from afar but didn't appear interested. I didn't have a use for it, so I tossed it aside with a thump into the fresh leaves.

"This might've been an empty field." I guessed aloud, noticing that the ground was even. One of the werewolves looked at me curiously, but continued walking through the dense vegetation. And then the saplings ended after a few meters, opening up into a grassy field. Scanning ahead, the field extended a fair distance to several buildings. The rest of the forest surrounded the open area.

With no sign of danger, the wolves fanned out to cover more ground. I followed but it soon became evident that this wasn't any random field in the mountainous forest. Rubble and what appeared to be a small dilapidated building was visible up ahead. My footsteps began to crunch beneath me as I walked onto patches of gravel leading straight ahead through the tall grass. I scanned the grass and other modest plants growing amongst the tiny rocks. Maybe this was once a rural road? It was in greater disrepair than any asphalt road I had seen.

Glancing along the grassy field I could see several bare patches where only building foundations remained. Untamed grasses grew without restriction in the empty spaces. Another lot contained only rubble; an odd mixture of crushed concrete, bricks, dust, gravel, and pieces of wood.

'Did a fire burn through here years ago?' I wondered as I reached the first intact house. I approached a side door that was difficult to access. Weeds had grown over the concrete path beneath me, and a bush covered part of the doorframe. I reached out and grasped the doorknob only to find that it wouldn't budge.

"Locked." I muttered. Kicking the door in wouldn't be too difficult, but I decided to circle the home first. Whatever hopes I had of exploring the inside were quickly dashed. What was once a front porch had caved in blocking the front door. Windows were broken, and everything inside was dark from my point of view. What little I could make out resembled a disastrous mess like the piles of rubble elsewhere. The roof appeared caved in over most of the building as well. If there was anything useful inside then it was likely rusted or partially buried. It would likely bee a good home to hornets, wasps, and spiders. I scuffed the grassy ground in disappointment.

Nearly all of the other buildings were even more disappointing skeletons of concrete, vinyl, or brick. They resembled empty shells with rubble or concrete floors inside. The werewolves peered around and looked through a few, but made little fuss about what they found. I meandered through the rubble filled lots with the pack. I was unable to find anything more than bits of metal or plastic scattered amongst the ruins, gravel, and grass. The only other object of significance was the outer rusted shell of a vehicle resting in the grass. It had likely burned decades ago.

"Oh?" However, there was a second standing house that had my attention. Between two empty lots, the entire building was in good standing condition. My mate walked close along my side as I headed over to the last intact dwelling of the field.

"It doesn't look damaged." I felt hopeful. The second house was nearly overtaken with brush along one section of wall, but my hopes were high when I saw unbroken windows. They were too dingy to see through, so I made my way to the nearest door. An odd red spray painted marking covered the entire face. I didn't know or care what it meant though. I grasped the handle expecting the door to be locked, but to my surprise it softly clicked and completely turned.

"Alright." I opened up the door. The air inside was hot and stuffy, but a faint mysterious odor caught me off guard as well. It wasn't overpowering or very foul, but it was noticeable.

"Nnyuff." My mate huffed unhappily. Despite her disapproval, I entered the building. My steps softly thumped and the werewolf's claws clicked on the wooden floor. I soon found myself in a modest kitchen. It had been looted like every other house I remembered entering, but this one was noticeably different. Even though the house was abandoned a long time ago, it wasn't ravaged entirely. Most buildings were looted of personal items as well as anything useful for surviving. Food was obviously gone, as were any traces of modern weapons. Blankets, clothes, batteries, utensils, and similar items were rare to find for the same reason. This meant everything would be ransacked or destroyed in the process with few exceptions like the warehouse over the mountain.

I tended to look for blueprints in larger buildings that I explored, provided there were no signs of occupation. There was a small chance I would find rooms labelled "supply closets" or other miscellaneous rooms where more useful supplies were possibly locked away or hidden. However, this house was relatively untouched. There was a good chance I would find something inside.

The floor and virtually everything else was covered in a thin film of dust. A wooden table rested in the center of the room with three matching chairs neatly pushed under the table top. A fourth chair was knocked over. The small door to a cabinet was laying on the floor, unbroken. It was covered in dust like the rest of the floor. The refrigerator was open, but empty except for a lingering spiderweb or two. I flipped a light switch only to receive an empty click. Stepping over to the sink I turned one of the handles, but no water came forth.

"I guess I'm not going to be lucky every time." I looked around the room. The werewolf was looking at a framed painting of a faded sunflower on the wall, only to sneeze from the dust. The light cream painted walls around the picture were starting to chip and crack in several spots. I pulled a few drawers open and discovered plenty of personal items: pens, notepads, old batteries, seed packets, papers, rulers, and rusted utensils. I frowned and started to feel funny about how intact the first room was.

Glancing around, I picked up an item slumped over at the bottom of the wall. The dozen pages were warped and bent from their own weight, and the bottom half of the cover was mostly faded. However, I could see the top half image of a lighthouse and trees with four digits printed in large letters above.

"2036 calendar." I managed to read it aloud. "What does 2036 mean?" I turned to my mate who was uninterested in the rest of the room. The werewolf's head tilted at the number, but she didn't seem to know either. I flipped through, and the first two pages had small scribbles on several of the numbered boxes below two large pictures of lighthouses. 'Meeting' 'Grocery' 'News' were legible on a few. But most of the second page was blank. The last box with writing on it was number 22 with the faded grey word 'Evacuate' circled. The third one titled 'March' was entirely blank, and so were the remaining pages. None of it made any sense to me.

I set the odd 2036 calendar on the kitchen table and walked around. A lamp on a desk facing the opposite wall was still plugged into an outlet. A small framed picture beside the lamp caught my attention. Turning it towards me, the picture had a smiling young woman with long red hair. The snapshot was a happy moment forever frozen in time. It seemed alien at first to imagine that.

'Who were these people?' I wondered, but soon felt a nose curiosity prod my neck from behind. Glancing back, a large wolf head loomed over me. I grinned and ruffled her cheek fur.

"Did you want to look?" I handed the picture to her. The werewolf looked at the image for a moment, carefully holding the frame in her large hand. Her eyes blinked, but she soon gave it back to me.

"I don't know who it is," I placed it back on the desk, "but it's another person. Maybe she lived here." I had no idea and walked past a small but modest side room. It appeared untouched as well, but the large windows gave a scenic view of the field to the forest. Seeing no use in the furniture or blank screen on a large tv, I walked into a hallway instead.

"Hmmrmrrr." The black furred werewolf growled behind me as I approached an open room.

"What?" I paused and glanced over at my mate. I didn't feel worried about anything with her at my side, but the wolf's ears were folded back against her head. "If you're scared of something, then I should be scared too." I admitted and looked around. I couldn't see or hear anything that would be dangerous. Maybe it was the odor in the air?

"We'll go outside for some fresh air after this room." I promised. Her black tail swished briefly, but she didn't turn around to leave. My footsteps softly thumped down the hall while my mate's claws slowly clicked behind me. I walked into the back room that was dimly lit from an unseen dingy window. My nose immediately wrinkled up in discomfort. The odd foul musty smell was a little stronger, but didn't make my stomach churn.

Glancing around the front half of the room, it looked like a place of study. A corner desk was kept very tidy and neat with pens, pencils, and paper nearby with a study chair to sit at. A pair of books were stacked alongside another little lamp, but one item on the desk's far corner caught my eye.

"A phone." I knew the machine's name despite not knowing why. I picked up the receiver and stared at the number pad. There was no dial tone, only silence. I placed it back and wiped my hands clean. A small bookshelf was within arm's reach of the desk, acting like a wall that divided half of the room. However, much of the bottom shelves were empty.

'Maybe the books have answers.' I wondered. They were also less prone to destruction by the alpha male. The dominant werewolf appeared angry when he destroyed the recording, although I didn't know why. Most books I had come across before were excellent firewood, but they were rare to find in decent condition. Oftentimes the pages were illegible, or breeding grounds for mold. Paper never lasted very long in lieu of good wood from my experience. The top shelf of books was covered in a thick film of dust, so I carefully grabbed the first one.

'Modern and Contemporary European History.' I slowly read the title with little understanding. 'What does European mean?' A little cloud of dust erupted into the air as I cracked the pages open. I coughed and looked away for a moment. Even the book had a misty smell! I flipped and found a colorless picture of an old man with wispy white hair and old glasses wearing a suit. Numerous pages were decorated with colorful maps, but most had nothing more than many lines of text. Austria, Germany, France, Russia, and England... I had never heard of these places before.

I set the book back onto the shelf and skimmed the others. Most of the remaining titles were uninteresting, and not what I was hoping to find. 'The Greek Commonwealth... Latin Dictionary... Latin Poets...' Many other book titles were ineligible, so I ignored them entirely. I sighed with some frustration, because I didn't know what I was looking for. I glanced over my shoulder and found my mate standing in the hallway, watching me closely.

'I better hurry up before she pulls me outta here.' I thought to myself. I was wasting a bunch of time. My gaze settled on the floor below.

"What the...?" The wooden floor had an ugly stain that bothered me. I couldn't place it, but however many years had passed seemed to have permanently altered the floor's color. I followed it around the bookcase like a trail, but I soon halted in my tracks. What was resting in the back of the room on the floor completely stopped my search.

A complete skeleton was laying on the discolored floor, partially curled up in an unnatural position. I had seen "bodies" very similar to this one before, nothing more than bones, but they were rarely intact or whole. It was the only evidence that they had existed before me. However, this skeleton was virtually complete and barely disturbed from its final state. I blinked, but my eyes weren't deceiving me.

'What the...' My brow furrowed as I noticed something peculiar amongst the bones. Around the vertebrae was an old worn rope. It was tied around, and too narrow to fit over the entire skull. I stared silently while I processed what I was looking at. I had no idea who this person was, but their existence suddenly meant everything to me in this very moment. My eyes glanced up only to fixate on a beam in the ceiling. The same type of rope was tied around the beam, but a trailing end tapered off. It had been severed or torn from an attached weight. I felt my face turn pale as the reality of what had happened long ago sunk in.

I released a wild scream as panic overcame me. My voice traveled faster than I had realized. I barely heard the clacking of claws on the wooden floor, but in seconds the entire pack was huddled over me in the stuffy back room. I spun around feeling my heart race, and my forehead sweat. For a brief moment everything that had recently happened regressed. I was terrified of death, and solely concerned with survival. The werewolves looming over me were monsters, nothing else. I didn't know who I was looking at. All I could see were gleaming eyes and muzzles full of teeth. The fear in my mind reacted violently. My arm swung out erratically, nearly causing me to stumble over.

"Get back-!" I choked on the last word once I realized what I was saying. A black furred hand with thick claws reached out to me. I stared at the dark padded palm before grasping ahold of the werewolf's hand. She gently pulled me up. As soon as I was back onto my feet, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her tighter than ever before. I hid my face somewhere in her soft dark fur. Her strong arms consolingly hugged me. I felt the tears in my eyes being wicked away by her fur.

"Don't let go..." My muffled sob sounded pathetic, but I meant every word. I cried for an unknown amount of time. Part of it was the shock of what I had seen, and some of it was old. Years of bottled up emotions poured forth from surviving in such a bizarre difficult world. My mate gradually let go of me, but I was surprised as the red wolf hugged me from the side next. I felt an arm rest across my back and shoulder as her round belly rested against me. The female werewolf consolingly licked the side of my head a few times before gradually letting me go.

The alpha male approached me in turn. A large pair of furry genitals bumped against my hip as he gave me a reassuring hug next. I could also easily feel the unrivaled strength hidden underneath his fur. It was a subtle reminder that he was obviously in charge, but also cared for my well being on some level. I wasn't completely alien to them thanks to my mate.

We walked outside and the cooler air felt fresh and pleasant on my face. It felt wonderful to breathe the pine laced mountain air. The alpha watched me and waited before turning to lead us back. A black furred hand gently touched my side.

"I'm okay..." My voice was shaky, but I managed a steady nod without bursting into further sobs of despair. Maybe it was their understanding and physical affection that comforted me. I needed both as I followed the pack across the field and up the mountain once again.

Standing outside the werewolf den, I stared into the darkening trees as crickets chirped melodically. The air was cooler as night settled over the forested mountains. Folding my arms, I felt the presence of bumps on my skin. The chilly bite helped numb the raw emotions I had experienced earlier in the day. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt so sad and utterly lost. Was I supposed to react differently? I had always seen death, or at least signs of death virtually everywhere I had travelled. Bones, a gruesome stain on a surface, or violent damage to a small space. However, there was always a sign of a struggle, a clear presence that the will to survive was not lost. One particular thought haunted me.

'How bad could it have been to just give up?' I gazed at the early night sky without speaking. I always kept a spare bullet in my now useless handgun just in case a dire situation became hopeless. How much suffering did someone have to endure to make that decision? My hands clenched as I exhaled an unsteady breath. The crackling voice of the unknown woman came to mind.

'Was it the woman from that recording?' It was unlikely, but still possible. The worry and fear in her voice matched the scene. The person chose to end everything surrounded by the fading comfort of what they held dear. My own memories were vague. What did I once hold dear?

Looking up at the stars, I asked myself, "why can't I remember?" It was blunt enough, but asking the simple question made my head feel funny. The lack of any clear answers in the vast unknown bothered me. It felt like I was asking too much from the silent world around me. A shallow snort caught my attention.

Behind me, my mate was seated just at the mouth of the earthen cave. In the low light her black fur made her nearly invisible, like a living shadow of the night. Her eyes were quietly watching me, waiting for me to come inside the den and sleep with her. Usually the werewolf wasn't shy about dragging me to lay down with her, but she knew I was dealing with something unseen. Not wanting to admit openly that I felt vulnerable, I silently turned around.

After disrobing I sat down beside her. A pair of wolffish arms immediately wrapped around me as her canine head gently rested atop my own. I was completely in her welcoming embrace, and there was nowhere else is rather be at the moment.

One hand dipped a little low and curled through my pubic hair for a moment, before reaching even lower. I felt the padded warmth of her hand coddle my genitals, but she didn't seek to arouse me. It was a subtle pass, but more of a reminder that I could trust her with my entire life. The giant sharp claws carefully gracing my most delicate skin would never purposefully harm me. It was complete trust. I knew I had developed a strong bond with my mate, and I cherished it dearly. A muzzle brushed against my face lovingly, forcing a smile out of me.

"Thanks." I whispered and pet behind her ears. My mate always had an affectionate side towards me when I needed it the most, even if I didn't realize it. She knew that I was feeling upset and stressed, but it was her way of telling me that I was safe. And safety was an important part of survival, but maybe that was the problem that plagued me.

All I had cared about before was surviving. There was only one person that I knew or cared for, me. I was all alone trying to eat enough, and avoid those monsters trying to do the same. The tigers, and then the wolves... But then the wolves weren't monsters anymore. I wasn't only worried about survival anymore. My mind had reasons to search out and go over new things I hadn't noticed or outright ignored. I had always been curious about the world around me, and why it was in its current state. But now I had plenty of time, and reason to do so.

Thinking back to the warehouse past the mountains and in the desert, there were so many things I could've looked into. But how much time would that have wasted? Not hunting for an entire day could easily be a costly mistake. With a sigh I knew that I did what was right for the time, and there was no changing the past. Having deep regrets would only make it more difficult to move forward.

I ran my hands through the werewolf's thick dark fur, watching my fingers almost completely disappear underneath. I enjoyed the fluffy warmth of her fur, particularly during a chilly rain. And since the weather was becoming colder as the seasons were changing, I envied it that much more. I doubt I would notice a sudden snowstorm outside while in her arms.

When I yawned and found it difficult to keep my eyes awake, the werewolf decided it was time to sleep. We soon laid down together, and I turned a little to nuzzle her soft front. Her strong arms had no trouble keeping me close, and I soon found rest in the werewolf's black fur.

My footsteps softly crunched over the dead pine needles as a subtle cool autumn breeze gently rustled the trees above. Quieter paws were walking right behind me. The partly cloudy sky above obscured the afternoon sun, leaving the forest floor damp and cool. Vale was one person I could confer with without any language barrier. She would also share any information or previous knowledge on hand. I was anxious to speak with her.

"We're close to where Vale lives." I said aloud as we approached the end of the tree line. A clearing opened up, stretching far ahead across a sparsely grassy area over rocky soil. A creek lazily flowed by the distant patch of trees at the foot of a slope.

"There's her cave." I recognized the landmark and quickly approached with the werewolf at my side. I could hear sounds from within the cave softly echoed out. "I think she's here." I marched over the gravel to the cave's entrance. My mate smelled the air and shook her head before following me. I approached the cave entrance, but paused seeing two figures laying on the cave floor together. My eyes widened as I registered what I was watching and listening to.

Vale was laying on her back, utterly naked as always. Her breasts were somewhat rolled off center with her nipples blushing as they pointed to the cave ceiling. Nawa the large male werewolf was laying on his front, looming above the lower half of her body. His large canine snout was pointing down, nose buried in the thick curly dark hair of her sex. The rhythmic flicker of his wide pink tongue lapped smoothly over the woman's hidden labia creating a soft sensual sound that echoed off the cave walls. He seemed to be taking the utmost pleasure in making her hips roll and hump against his lapping tongue. The moans and coos of pleasure softly echoed from the cave mouth with heated passion. Vale's face was flushed rosy red, and contorted with pure pleasure. Whenever her leg lifted, Nawa's nimble large hand would gently push it back down.

"Aaauhhhahh." Her body tensed when she suddenly cried out in a lengthy moan. Her chest heaved and body shuddered as the werewolf licked her sex slower, but never stopped entirely. There was a brief moment of quietness as her eyes fluttered open. She whispered something to him before sitting upright. Nawa finally backed off and licked his chops. I noticed the tip of a red shaft emerging from a heavy sheath down low. Vale turned around and lowered onto all fours as the much larger werewolf mounted her. But then everything stopped.

I glanced up noticing a pair of canine eyes glaring at my gawking stare. A low growl that I had heard several times before echoed from the cave. Vale looked over in confusion only to lock eyes with me. Her face flashed a brief look of surprise only to return her attention to her werewolf mate who all too glad to resume making love to her. A padded hand touched my shoulder, stirring me to move.

"Let's wait for her over there." I took my mate by the arms and walked away as the slick sounds of passion resumed behind us. My eyes blinked several times as I rubbed them. My heart was racing from what I had witnessed. I chose to wait at a spot down from the slope of the cavern's entrance near the rocky creek that meandered into the forest. The minutes ticked by awkwardly, but quickly as I chatted to my mate.

"Do we look like that when we mate?" I asked her. The werewolf gave me a funny look before huffing and swishing her tail. "What? You were watching them just like me." I said. "You couldn't take your eyes off them..." I added with a mumble. She merely wiggled her nose while scratching her chin. Some moments later, movement caught my eyes.

I waved as Vale emerged from the cave. She didn't hesitate and walked straight towards us. She wasn't carrying her weapon over her shoulder, but the woman didn't appear any less capable of defending herself as she walked with brisk strides. Naked as always, the most obvious features of her womanly figure were her breasts, and the thick patch of dark hair nestled over her groin. Her breasts protruded naturally with feminine grace that didn't exist in the world anymore, and her hair contrasted starkly against her pale skin. As she neared I glanced down and couldn't help but notice that her thick bush of of dark pubic hair appeared damp in one spot. My cheeks still felt warm from what had happened.

"Hey." She greeted me with a short grin. "You two showed up right when we were mating." The woman wasn't shy about mentioning it at all.

"Sorry." I didn't know what to say. "We didn't mean to interrupt you and Nawa."

"Oh well." Vale shrugged without much complaint. "At least you and your mate didn't show up any earlier. Is she your mate?" Vale curiously asked.

"Yeah, uh..." I looked over my shoulder only to see the normally black furred werewolf partially hiding by a bush near the creek. "Don't be afraid, she's our friend." I grasped the black furred werewolf's hand and tugged her closer. However, her ears gave me mixed signals.

"Being wary of strangers is smart." Vale softly grinned as the black furred werewolf relented and shyly stepped closer.

"I was afraid my mate was jealous of you." I admitted. The woman gave me a curious look before understanding.

"Oh, because I'm a human." Vale realized. "Well, you don't need to worry about that." She looked at the werewolf with a kind grin. "Nawa wouldn't be happier either, and he's my mate." She pointed to herself. I was happy that the woman addressed the werewolf. Although if my mate could speak, I wonder what she would've said to Vale in response.

"Is Nawa staying up there?" I glanced back at the cave and saw a canine head watching us from afar.

"Yeah." She grinned. "I think he trusts you two around me." I felt a little relief that the large male wasn't going to make an entrance. "Let's sit down." She nodded over to an old fallen log by the creek.

"Thanks." I said as we sat down together.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Vale asked.

"Well," I began, "the alpha led the pack down the mountainside to a field. There were several lots of rubble, but there was one house that wasn't disturbed as much as most other buildings I have explored." I explained. "Usually there is debris everywhere, no cans of food, useful items like knives or even blankets. When I explored the warehouse over the mountain I didn't find anything useful, except for running water. Old machinery, binders, and other items were leftover." I paused as I thought about the room once again. "In a back room I found a skeleton with a rope... Whoever this person was chose to die rather than live, even though they had so much. I don't understand why."

The silence between us lasted far longer than I expected. A large padded hand touched my back reassuringly. I glanced back and flashed a brief grin at my mate. She didn't need to speak to convey her feelings, and I was glad to have her comfort.

"You're the only person I can talk to about it." I added.

"I see." She nodded. Her breasts shifted as she leaned onto her knees in thought.

"Have you ever seen anything like that before?"

"I don't think so."

"Was whatever happened long ago really that bad?" I had to ask. Vale looked at me with a concentrated expression.

"It must have been." She finally spoke and sat upright once again. "Although, I doubt I will ever know how bad. What I do know is that all of those buildings you have seen, and that I have seen, were once full of people at one time." Vale told me.

"Full of people? All of them?" It made sense, but it felt like a fantasy given everything I had seen and experienced.

"Yes." She nodded. "People built them to live in, and do other things like build machines." There wasn't a lot of confidence in her voice about the second part. "If you're going to wonder about the past like this, then you'll have to realize how few of your questions will be answered." She admitted. "Whatever happened caused a lot of destruction, and it must've happened everywhere."

"Hmm." I nodded with tight lips and looked at the ground. "But there's so much around us. Shouldn't it be easy to know why?" I wished there was some thing to tell me, like the voice recording.

"I'm curious about everything too, but I have more to live for than the past." She glanced over her shoulder towards the cave. "I have Nawa to take care of, and he takes care of me. I pref thinking about that, because it's something I can do." She had a very valid point. I should be more focused on the fast approaching winter.

"With the seasons changing, and the air becoming cooler, are you going to move soon?" I asked.

"Yes." She nodded. "Nawa and I will move by the first frost to our winter den down the mountainside this way." Vale motioned further away.

"My pack is going to move as well." I told her.

"Where to?"

"I think down the mountainside the other way." I pointed over and motioned with a hand. "The alpha male led everyone down there twice recently, and looked around the grassy field where some two buildings and lots were."

"We'll be farther away and probably won't see each other until mid-spring." She guessed. I didn't like that, but there was nothing I could do to prevent it. I was very lucky to talk with her.

"I'd like to visit this house you found." Vale mentioned.

"I can't go back there yet." I shuddered as the fresh image of the rope wearing skeleton still haunted me.

"I don't expect you to." She acknowledged how I felt. "But maybe during the springtime?" Vale offered.

"Yeah..." I gave a slow hesitant nod. "Maybe during the spring." I didn't know how to feel about that, but my desire for answers kept me yearning.

"I'm glad you came to visit again." Vale smiled. "It's good to talk to another human."

"It is." I softly spoke with a nod. "It's nice."

"I hope your mate doesn't mind." The woman teased with a half grin.

"No!" I laughed and looked at the black furred werewolf beside me. "It's fine. She understands."

"I hope you and the pack stay warm and well fed."

"Thanks. You and Nawa take care of each other." We stood up and shared a brief hug.

"You and your mate do the same." After another set of goodbyes and waves, the naked woman parted ways with us and returned to her mate resting inside the cave.

***

There was a noticeable spring in my step as I walked through the section of pine trees. Despite the lack of answers I received from Vale, I felt more eager to learn about the past. I was ready to accept whatever answers I might find, but also the answers I may never find. I wasn't the only one in a good mood. The black furred werewolf strode alongside me. She continually slowed me down by brushing against me or playfully nipping at me ears. All of a sudden a pair of arms wrapped around my front, halting me entirely.

"Hey!" I laughed feeling her lick my ears and cheeks. "What are you doing?" She finally relented, but traced her claws over my shirt without entirely letting me go. A little huffing sound blew hot air onto my neck.

"What?" I paused and turned to face the wolf looming over me. Her eyes gazed at me closely. I half expected her to gnaw on my arm for spending time with Vale again, but she rubbed her face over my shoulder and cheek instead.

"And you were once worried that I liked Vale more than you." I teased and ruffled her thick cheek fur, scratching plentifully. She softly snorted at me, scoffing at the idea, but lifted her head appreciatively at my gesture. I happily ran my hands along the warm downy fur along her neck and under her chin. Her tail wagged a little as she aggressively pulled at my shorts, clearly wanting something more than a few pets.

"Oh." We were alone in the woods, no one but the two of us. The images of Vale and Nawa passionately mating were still fresh in my mind. Arousal crept into my thoughts, and the werewolf prying at my clothes was more than eager to strip me naked.

"Easy. Don't rip my clothes off." I managed to batter away her sneaky hands. Never liking to pass up on a moment like this with her, I quickly unbuttoned my pants for the werewolf. She could easily arouse me on a whim, and the gleam in her eye made me wonder.

"Do you enjoy this?" I asked as she crouched down before me. Her hands had little trouble swiftly yanking my unfastened pants down my legs. My half erect manhood came into view, eager for what was to come. Puffs of air touched my sensitive flesh first. She always smelled me first. Scent was vital to a canine's nose, but it was also her odd intimate ritual of foreplay. The werewolf drew closer and nuzzled my groin tenderly.

Seeing her nose partially buried in my curly patch of hair was arousing in its own right. My heart was already racing from her undivided attention. She pulled back slightly and I took a deep breath as her fuzzy lips brushed over my skin. Her tongue slipped out and delivered the first long lick over my dangling manhood. I softly sighed as she didn't hesitate to deliver a second lick to the side, grazing the sensitive tip. I held back a moan as my length jerked up without falling back down.

"Don't stop." I said in a hushed whisper as I rubbed my mate's ears and pet her head. She continued delivering sweet licks all over my throbbing spire until her jaws opened up with richer promises. Under any other situation, I would be terrified at having any part of my body in the jaws of such a fearsome predator. I voiced no complaints as my throbbing length disappeared inside her maw. The faint nibble of teeth at the base of my length barely registered as her mouth sealed shut. What I couldn't see was nothing less than the most pleasurable sensations I had ever felt. A wet warmth encased me entirely, but that was only the start. My knees weakened once her tongue started lapping along my entire underside without pause.

"Ooohhh." I gratefully moaned and strained my legs. Large clawed hands held my thighs tightly without pricking my skin, ensuring I wouldn't buckle and slide to the ground. I needed all of her support. My body quivered and shuddered as her impossibly smooth tongue worked over my rigid flesh inside her muzzle. I grasped the tree behind my back, threatening to claw into the bark from the raw pleasure I was receiving. I was reduced to moaning and shuddering. Despite her numerous teeth grazing my flesh, my hips started gently thrusting on their own accord. Her tongue flickered and lapped quicker with every jerking throb that offered a hint of pre to her palette. She looked up at me as I neared an early finish. There was a deeper hunger in her stare that mirrored my own animalistic desires. In one fluid motion the werewolf's tongue stopped pleasuring me. She pulled back revealing my throbbing length covered in her saliva.

A wall of black fur blocked my view as she rose to her paws and stepped forward. My erect length became lost somewhere in the downy fur of her thighs, but I could feel a much more intimate heat just above. A large padded hand coddled the right side of my head, directing my attention up to her. Despite the werewolf's strength, her gentleness towards me was unequivocal. Her thick black claws were even delicate to my skin. The other claw wielding hand gently held my shoulders as if I planned on slipping away. I ran my hands through her fluffy cheeks and pet her ears before trailing down to fondle her breasts.

A long snout brushed against my face, and I could feel whiskers dance over my skin. It was difficult to kiss her canine muzzle with my flatter face, but that wasn't stopping us from trying. A wide tongue licked my lips seeking entrance, and I gladly yielded to her. The werewolf's powerful tongue was gentle as it washed through my entire mouth. I could barely keep up. Down below, the fur constantly brushing against my throbbing manhood assured I wouldn't lose any pent up arousal from before. I began dry bumping her while our mouths played, and our hands fondled and caressed.

But then she retracted her hands and backed away unexpectedly. I felt the cooler air against my bare skin without her pressed against me. Most notably my erect member pulsating in the open air. The werewolf swiftly turned around and lowered onto all fours before flagging her tail to the side.

"Wait." I fussed and fumbled with my pants around my ankles. Stepping free, I walked up to her presenting rear. Arousal pulsed through my veins evidently enough with my rigid length pointing straight ahead. I felt like a wild animal as I felt through her dense black fur seeking out her womanhood. The wolf's sex was hot when my fingertips found the hidden supple skin.

"Hmmmrr." A low lusty growl enticed me as I caressed her in the most intimate of places. Not wanting to tease her, I quickly lined up. My entire length glided inside as I pressed forward, bumping our bodies together. I exhaled haughtily and grabbed her hips. Despite the difference in size, I could feel every contour around me. Without any thought, I mated with her. The act was a blur of heated passions. The soft sounds of breath and movement were ours and ours alone. The pleasure quickly built up. I was already riled up from her aggressive foreplay, but I didn't slow my thrusts. I rammed my hips one final time and emptied everything into her. My face was flushed when I finally finished.

I could hear us both breathing deeply, but my senses quickly returned as my body relaxed from a pleasant tiredness. I stood still instead of immediately pulling out. I relished the feeling of being inside her even as my length returned to its flaccid state. The intimate body heat we shared was almost as enjoyable as the act of lovemaking itself. I generously rubbed her sides, back, and hips until she stood up. I slipped out, gleaming with a slick wetness of fluids. My mate was softly panting with a wide canine grin across her face.

"That was nice." I touched her side only to find myself being picked up by two wolffish hands. "Hey! Careful." I held on as she pulled me over to a pine tree with a healthy bedding of moss at its base. My mate settled down with me on the mossy surface. I rested my leg over hers while we leaned on each other. Nothing was spoken between us for a little while, only deep breaths of satisfaction. I savored the taste of the clean fresh mountain air and the soft warmth of her fur. My gaze traveled over to the canine leaning on me. With a smile I pet her cheek and ran my hand down to her arm several times.

"You're strong." I mumbled affectionately and traced my way down to her hand. Her bulkier digits opened allowing me to touch her warm palm pad. Her hand then curled around my own and held me closely. I felt my fingers intertwine with her bulkier ones.

"I love you." I leaned onto the werewolf and held her tight. Her arm gave me a reassuring squeeze as we listened to the soft forest noises together. With the passing minutes, we lazily touched each other without much thought. I simply enjoyed the time I had alone with her, and I was certain she felt the same way.

The alpha male would smell us and easily know what we had done, but there was little for us to worry about. He might grumble or glare, but that was all since we were already done. I knew why the mottled grey male didn't want us to mate. Vale was right. Taking care of two offspring would be far more difficult than just one.

I ruffled through her belly fur and traced over the werewolf's slim athletic torso. I didn't feel any protrusion, only the hidden strength of her abdomen covered in fluffy dark black fur. My hand trailed up and touched her breast next. The small mass felt the same, soft and feminine. Her nipple was hidden in the center.

'Could she become pregnant?' I wondered. We had started mating only for a few weeks, so would there be a sign? I wondered if it was possible, but a werewolf and human were so different. I recalled what Vale had told me during our first meeting. Nawa knew her monthly cycle, and she noticed small and subtle changes after they mated. However, nothing more had occurred.

'Who knows?' I thought to myself, and closed my eyes as I nuzzled my cheek into her shoulder. I felt her head rest on me just as I dozed off for a quick nap.