FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

With last night's show fresh in her mind, Molly was determined to compete with the best dancers Violetta had to offer. How she wished she could watched it all again — the rich lighting, the fluid motion of her newfound colleagues on the side-stages as she observed. The colour, the passion. And all conjured from a mere smattering of dancers? Rylan's and Vi's remarks about note-taking were not lost on the hybrid. She could learn a thing or two before hitting the pole. But that was last night, and a small part of her wished she'd paid more attention. Fuzziness threatened to consume the memory, or did she get around to drinking proper alcohol? Molly couldn't remember.

All that being said, there was no doubt in her mind that she'd been invigorated by the tiny peek at the club when it was in full swing. Well — as Rylan was not shy to point out — half-swing at best. A handful of table dancers and a small stage to keep lustful stares sated. She kept hearing about the bigger 'shows' that Violetta put on, from Rylan and others. She knew those would be a sight to behold. But now, all teasing and pampering had ended...all mixers and events welcoming their new employee had come and gone. Now was the time for effort!

“Gragh!"

Molly groaned as her legs stretched over the gym mat in her living room. Music played at a low volume through a pair of earphones that sat snugly in her hybrid ears. A small grip hugged the base of her horns, allowing them to remain in-place. The music helped her concentrate. It was an arrangement of string instruments, playing softly, providing a comforting backdrop to her workout. She followed Rylan's guidance, and put herself through the many paces he'd prescribed. Feeling a bit hot and heavy, but enjoying the burn of her workout and the effect it had on her...sensual side, Molly decided she could handle another few sets.

C'mon Molls, you can do it. Five more minutes...show the girls at work what you're capable of. She grunted as her limbs braced. The mild ache of her muscles would be nothing compared to the payoff. Show them, she mumbled, cheering herself on, show them what you can do! Oh yes...they'll see...

A quiet buzzing emerged in her left ear. Molly at first ignored it, but then it got louder. When she wasn't able to stomach the dissonance between the pleasant tunes that played for her and the harsh wasp-like buzz the antelope rose from the mat. She sighed, plucking the earphones from her head and looking for the source of the noise.

“The doorbell," she said, “of course. Not even lunchtime and someone's already on my ass."

Molly felt irritation at the intrusion of whoever was calling. She was in the zone...she was...come to think of it she was starting to feel turned on. All part of exploring her new body, she surmised, and straightened out her gymwear.

* * *

Depressing the doorbell, Cade stepped back and waited for the chime to end. When it did, a small light flickered above the button. He heard the crackle of a speaker as Molly's voice came across: “Bradshaw residence."

“Hi Molly."

“Who is it?"

He furrowed his brow. “It's me, Cade."

“Oh I'm sorry," came the electronic apology, “I could only hear you, I'll be right out—"

“Uhh, you know there's a camera on the door too," he said, interrupting her, “if you go to the kitchen there should be a flat panel you can pop out and turn on. There's controls for it there."

He paused, hearing a faint commotion of clacking and tapping over the intercom. “You can just..."

“Sorry Cade, this stuff is still new to me! I'm just gonna come by the door okay? I was in the middle of my morning exercise routine."

He coughed an affirmative, and waited. He sympathised with Molly, as the residential association did very little to educate new neighbours on the finer details of their modern homes. Cade managed it by spending a lot of time on the Internet, looking up product manuals, but he knew beforehand the level of complexity of some of the automated systems designed to 'improve' your everyday life. Overkill in all the wrong places. I'll drop my notes off with her, they should be in my desk drawer. They'll help.

Lost in thought, Cade missed the first turn of the door handle as the sleek steel hook twisted with a 'click'. The recessed rectangular patches cut into the wood spread a pattern of reflection and shadow across the whole door as it moved, rippling and changing in a cascade of dazzling light. He looked up, and his grip tensed around the large envelope in his left hand.

Molly spoke as soon as the door had cleared space for her. “Still getting used to all the fancy features of this place."

“Ah, it's no biggie, I can help out with—"

Cade stopped. Words were lost to him, and all sense departed his mind. Molly!?

“Hey," she said, leaning against the side of the door.

He caught Molly's smile, as they locked eyes, and knew she had a lot of explaining to do...

Cutting a shapely figure, bound only in tight-fitting gym clothes, stood a anthropomorphic hybrid. Molly's voice had emerged from the lips of this new being. Darkened, a rough touch to her accent — but unmistakably hers. Cade inched back to get a full view of his neighbour.

Molly's stature had grown, and she beat out Cade for height even considering on what ground they stood — be it elevated or not. The form of an antelope, part-obscured by the door, filled his vision. Everything Molly had been dumbstruck by after her transformation now struck Cade similarly dumb, overwhelming the poor guy. He didn't know where to look. Face? Neck? Chest? Arms or legs? Hooves!? His eyes darted, leaving Molly's pensive gaze to wander. She seemed so nonchalant with his exploration. Like she expected it. Idiot! Of course she expected it!

She'd nothing to hide. Not from him. She bared her hybrid figure with quiet confidence. And what she wore...well, that just added to her exotic beauty...

Cade sneaked glimpses of her gym attire, between tactical adjustment of his hair. As he swept back a couple of dark curls he spied a grey spandex material stretching across her bosom, containing a larger chest than he'd remember seeing. The thin straps that wound their way over her shoulders and around her sides looked ready to snap against the curves they so desperately held back. But they didn't, and the material flowed like water — coating and flexing with her movements, perfectly adaptable. The same could be said for her bottom half; high-cut shorts that exposed an awful lot of thigh and had little more than a shred of a waistline, plunging dangerously close to protected areas. A gulp formed in Cade's throat, and he was wise enough to avoid staring for too long as it audibly passed through him. Part of him wondered...if this was the front, what did the back look like?

Molly remained ignorant, looking beyond him to the street behind, preoccupied.

“What's up?" Her eyes burned, telling another story. Words he wished she'd just come out and say: like what you see?

“You, uh, while you were gone last week this showed up," he said, holding the envelope high enough for her to see clearly, “think this is the last of your mail I should be getting."

Molly struck out, and snatched the long flat parcel from his hands. It was a blur, though she didn't move that fast. Cade was just awestruck, and that had a way of dulling oneself.

“Yes," she murmured, “the address should be correct from now on."

Tearing open the seal, she pulled out a two-page letter of some kind. From opposite her, Cade made out a header with some logos and text, but nothing else at the distance he was from her. He studied the antelope morph's expression as she read the mail. Despite fresh features, he could still work out her despondent reaction to whatever she was reading.

She glanced over the top of the page at him, seeing his confusion. “It's my first official bill. Utilities and a service charge."

Cade broke into a chuckle. “Lucky you."

“Ugh! I'll need to call work and get an advance if I'm already being charged for moving in so soon." Molly tilted her head. “Must remember to..."

Pausing, she turned to Cade. He flinched when her arm shot out, and let out a strained 'erhm' when her fingers coiled around his wrist. “Why don't you come inside," she declared, pulling him into the house, “I bet you've got a tonne of questions."

“I do, but—eee-yuh!"

Cade stumbled forward, hurtling into the hallway. Inside, he noticed how clean the place looked — certainly a change from the box-filled bomb site that it once was. Catching his breath after the strength of Molly's pull had stripped it from him, he inhaled. Molly had since relinquished her grasp on him, and began walking further into the house. Her stubby tail flicked with excitement, perched atop a full pair of cheeks that forced Cade to keep certain thoughts at bay. The sway of her hips didn't help matters as the gym shorts bounced with energy at each step. The outside world faded into the background; the only thing Cade heard was the dense 'clack-clack-clack' of her hooves on the hard floor.

Accepting the invitation to follow her, Cade carefully closed the door behind him before moving on. Once in the living room, he saw what she meant by exercise in the form of a large cushioned mat spread where a soft rug might've blended in better. On a side table were a couple of water bottles.

“I should probably change first," she said, walking past the mat, “but I'm exhausted and can't give a crap 'bout that right now." Molly ended her sentence with a wink. At least, Cade though he saw her wink.

She has to be teasing me, right?

This wasn't planned, but Cade was sure she was making the best of their encounter. He followed her into the kitchen, where he'd previously told her to find the controls for the home security system. “I was gonna say — I can show you how all this stuff works."

“Could you? Oh that would be great, I never lived somewhere with this level of unnecessary technology."

“Yeah it takes some getting used to." Cade arrived at the kitchen counter, and watched Molly stroll by, seemingly oblivious to any attempts at ogling. “Need something more than water," she said.

While she jostled with her fridge for something fruity, she continued talking: “so anyway, I worked out some of it, like the bell/buzzer and intercom for the front door, but it seems like it's more hassle than it's worth to use all of the 'Home Assist AI' systems this place advertised."

“You'll get used to it — that's all I can say."

“Well, I suppose I'm being paid enough to put up with it," she smirked, finishing her quest into the refrigerator by producing a smoothie from its depths. She set it down on the counter-top and took a seat on one of the stools on her side, motioning for Cade to do the same on his.

Cade watched her drink, thinking of conversation topics to keep from being shepherded out on short notice. What did Molly like? Well, he knew she had a fair few books — more than enough to call a decent collection. That's all stuff though, he didn't know a lot about her now did he? He knew she was being coy about her reasons for moving in. Job, sure...but what kind?

It took him long enough to think of something to say that she had already finished her smoothie and slammed the cup down, startling him. “Want one?" she asked.

Cade stammered. “I...no thanks, Molly. Just thinking."

“Thinking?" The anthro antelope gave him a suggestive side-glance, mixing the signals of poor Cade's understanding into a terrible mush of indecision.

“I'm curious," he finally said.

She grinned. “I bet you are. I can indulge you for a time."

Cade nodded. He still found it hard to speak, stunned by her appearance. In no time at all the neighbour he thought he had comes home a whole 'nother species. And the worst part? He was too busy with teaching to realise she'd been gone multiple days. “This is what happens when I don't visit you. You turn into a deer."

“Antelope."

“Antelope. Sorry. Zoology isn't my speciality."

“I'm not offended. This is a lot to absorb."

“You tell me, Molly!"

She noticed his difficulty with forming words, and sought to soothe his torment. “Just ask a question Cade. I'll see if I can sate your curiosity once I know what it takes."

“Heh. Well where to start?"

“This," Molly said, motioning to her body with a flourishing gestures, “obviously." Her movement seemed so perfect, so delicate. Cade was lost in her figure, and was sure she knew it. “But first a favour from you," she continued. He nodded before even learning of her need.

She pointed at the display panel embedded in the kitchen wall. “Teach me that shit."

* * *

After a quarter-hour of tech support, Molly was happy to go the rest of the way herself. Cade had solved one or two problems she had with the house and its automation. He reckoned he'd ingratiated himself enough to pry loose a couple of answer, right?

“So about sating my curiosity. Particularly, about the 'work' you had done..."

Molly placed a finger on her lip, then swiftly traced a line across her chin. “Maybe I shouldn't," she said in a low voice. Her thoughts turned to mischief with Cade sitting opposite, his shoulders hunching, neck craning closer...yearning for insight. “Let it bottle up inside you 'til you go mad."

“Mean." Cade rested on his arm, elbow on the counter. “Didn't think you were gonna speak plainly so what was I expecting? Very abrupt notice, this job of yours. Move in not a short while ago then you're hurried off somewhere and I don't see you for a while."

“Spying?"

“No," he gave a small sigh, “I normally saw you tending to the lawn in the mornings. When I didn't, my mind got to thinking."

“Don't you have a job? Why does this sound like you're spending a lot of time watching me?"

“I didn't mean for it to sound like that, geez! I...whenever I head out in the morning you were somewhere I could notice — watering plants, collecting groceries, jogging. Don't pretend you didn't know I was there. You wave back at me."

Molly looked away, her gaze travelling to window. The sunlight was strong as it came through, lighting up the room. “I know," she said, returning to Cade, “my small talk sucks. I used to be better, I swear. It's fatigue...I was trying to finish my work out before you called."

“Sure, I get that. I interrupted your morning routine. You must be tired. Can't help but think what you've done also affects you. It feels sudden, unless I'm missing something."

“You are. My 'change' has been in the works for a long time."

“Hmm, so it was planned." He snapped his fingers. “It is work-related! You were very shtum about your new job last time we met."

She smiled. “No point in hiding that fact, is there?"

“Heh, not at this point. Still not ready to tell me what it is?"

Molly leaned in close. “Maybe. Maybe not. Isn't it more fun to keep you guessing?" Her hand swished the air in front of them.

Cade returned her entreaty with a friendly grin. “Well...sure...but you'd have to let me guess."

“Go ahead, I won't bite. Not with my brand-new teeth."

“Okay. So, you picked a deer—"

“Antelope."

“—antelope...they're very good runners, yeah?" He waited for a nod, which she gave promptly. “And a herbivore, and also not built like a tank like horses or cows, so you aren't planning on joining the military...unless there's much call for those on the tall and skinny side."

Molly laughed. “Hey, that's discrimination!"

“Yeah, yeah — then bite me with those new teeth of yours!"

“Five minutes in and you've already shocked my gentle heart with your narrow-minded human prejudice."

“Hey — what's this about humans!? Whose being bigoted now?"

“Pfft!" Molly let her snort break the flow of their chat. A brief pause ensued, in which both sparring conversationalists rested their wits. Cade started once more to speak, his hands raised: “can i finish? So...swift and slender...something that needs stamina and speed. An athlete?" The snap of his fingers terminated in a finger-gun gesture directed straight at the hybrid.

Molly held her hand flat and waggled it. “Close. What I do involves a certain level of athleticism, but if you think I'm training to be an Olympian than you're way off." Her sunny attitude was infectious, and Cade felt like he could open up with her.

“Okay. But that's close, right? 'cause there are a couple other ideas I have, but they might be taken the wrong way."

“Go on, take me the wrong way." A grimace, then a stifled guffaw told him she couldn't hold back much longer.

Cade burst into laughter. “Hah...heh...ah, even you know that line was bad!" He watched her expression, searching for any change. She did a fine job keeping her inner thoughts from being spread across her features, even when those features were scarcely a few days old. She's flirting with me, he thought, she's so flirting with me. What do they put in that gene-splicing serum?

Molly straightened up and laid her hands on the counter's surface. “Let's be serious for a moment, Cade. I don't know if it's the best time to tell you about my job...though you are the only person I know in the neighbourhood at the moment. Could we put a rain-check on that revelation?"

Again!? “Of course. I get it. It's complicated."

She gave him a sheepish look. “Kinda. Sorta."

“Then should we talk more about your transformation?"

“What's there to talk about, you see me — almost all of me — right now. That's what it is. Is there a lot left to say?"

He shook his head. “Not that. If I'm prying let me know, but...that was a helluva ballsy thing to do. To make such a huge change in your life for what sounds like a dream job. I admire that."

“Dream job?"

He sighed, though it was for a pleasant cause. “I can hear the enthusiasm in your voice. You sound like you're ready to leap out of your skin."

“Thanks. That actually means a lot to hear it from someone not in the same boat as me."

“I only hope my puny human brain with it's prejudices can cope with seeing you in a whole new light."

Molly snickered. Her eyes lowered, settling into a sultry stare. “Call around more often, and you'll definitely get used to me."

“Is that an invitation?"

“Depends on what it's for. What you intend..."

“Book club?" he joked.

Molly let out a soft purr. Faint, almost melting into the silence, but Cade picked up on it. He sensed the rush of air that passed from her lips as it graced his neck, the end of a long voyage 'cross the counter-top.

“That could be the excuse, yes," she half-whispered.

“Maybe I'll call myself your tutor...in, u __h_ m_, something. As a mature student returning to education. You may be older than me, but there's always more to learn."

“Not any more."

He inched his head back, puzzled.

She huffed and began explaining: “I mean physically. See this process, it really does a number on your biological clock. You might as well treat me as a recent college grad, rather than the plain old human lady you answered the door to a week and a half ago. Young again. Possibly around the same age as you."

Oh, he thought, that's too sweet a hint to be unintentional. Ms. Bradshaw, so forward!

Then again, look at what I'm doing...

“That's all it's been?" he muttered. “Feels like forever."

Molly sighed, and stretched. “Feels that way because I've changed so much in such a short span of time."

“...but deep down you're still the same person as before."

Smiling, she walked around the counter, nice and slow. “You got it."

“That makes you the first hybrid I've met, and a pretty one to boot."

She mouthed the word 'pretty' and glowered at him, her thoughts no longer hidden. Instead, they radiated from her, warping the space around her and him, until all Cade could hear was the loud thumping of his heart. She moved her lips again. “Pretty?"

She arrived beside him, her form still strange to him, but alluring. Cade moved to face her, not knowing where things would go next.

Molly uttered the word 'pretty' once more in a low voice, and admonished him for his compliment: “go to hell you sly little devil."

Cade met her ferocity with a barrage of his own. “Only if you'll join me on the way down."

The moment held between them simmered. The air was thick, the tension palpable. Such flirting had accelerated in a short span of time into something more. Something beyond being neighbourly. Something beyond smiling to one another whenever they passed each other outside. He was enjoying this, and he saw that she was too.

Molly's foot lifted off the ground, and moved a couple of inches his way. Her split hoof planted itself next to the leg of Cade's stool. Suddenly, her grip disappeared, and her hoof slammed into the leg with a loud clatter. She lurched forward, rapidly grabbing the side of the kitchen counter to keep from falling. When Cade saw the antelope morph lunge for him, he flinched, yelping aloud and wiggling his seat away at a snail's pace. Albeit a very frenetic snail. Once the noise had ended, and the fright was gone, they locked eyes...and...

“Bwahaha-ha!!!"

Mutual laughter filled the room. Molly made an awkward smile and said 'oops', whilst Cade placed a hand on his chest, pretending his heart was about to give out. Their mirth resounded through the kitchen, and lasted several minutes. Finally, coughing and wheezing, the pair regained their sanity.

“Looks like you still have some work to do on your footing," said Cade.

Molly ran a hand through her arm-fur. “Ugh...did not mean for that to happen! Let's hope I don't get clumsy, eh?"

As the heat of the earlier flirting faded from memory, Molly and Cade returned to a more normal pace and tone of conversation. Their minds skipped over the descent into attraction, and kept them occupied with idle banter. It did not last, however, as when they both felt it was time to part ways, some sensual phrasing returned.

“...and by the way," she said, harkening back to his 'tutor' remark, “you have a lot to learn yourself. I could lecture you when you visit my workplace."

“Lecture, huh? When you tell me where it is, of course. And what."

“Of course."

Their bodies loitered close together, Molly bunching her hand into a fist and gently punching Cade's shoulder. “I think it's time we both got on with our day."

He coughed. “Yes...time I should go." Cade took a step away but held back. “Nice talking to you, Ms. Bradsh—Molly!" he stammered, shaking his head.

The antelope waved him out and stood in her skimpy shorts and top posed against the door in a scene matching when he first called. “Nice talking to you too, Mr. Lew—Cade!" she jeered, leaving him with a smile and a wink before the front door shut.

Now it was Molly's turn to reflect on matters. As Cade walked back to his home she remained by the door, her head resting against it. The small stubs of her antlers dragged along its surface. She sensed their presence — the dull void that protruded in two pieces from her skull. The vibrations that carried through her with each gentle movement...the steady rattling...comforted her.

Reeling from the encounter, she exhaled, and closed her eyes.

“I can't believe I actually did that! I barely know him."

Her heart pounded in her chest, just like his. Blood rushed to parts unseemly. Her breathing grew haggard, and she looked over at the stairs...

* * *

Cade arrived home, and groaned as the first thing that greeted him when he returned was a pile of papers due for grading. He swore, circling the desk in his home office as the tower of tests teetered precariously in his peripheral vision. Slamming his hands down on the desk, he tried to set his mind to focus.

But he couldn't. His body would not let him relax. Even his pen slipped from his grasp when he tried to peel back the first of many answer sheets.

Well...now I can't think straight...fuck!

He was horny as hell, and he had that beauty next door to blame.

* * *

Molly had moved upstairs and was busy tidying up. Her heartbeat kept up its desperate pace, racing as her body was wracked with anxious energy. She felt the strain of her exercise, and the mental furore of her flirting with Cade, and these sensations only grew worse and worse. Her gym clothes landed on the bed, discarded in preparation for a shower. That should help take her mind off of him.

C'mon Molls, not now. You need a distraction.

Into the laundry basket her shorts and top were sent. Molly hurried past her bed and then doubled-back when she forgot to pick up a couple of brushes for her fur. She'd read up on how to care for her new hide — the ways a hybrid needed to groom themselves to ensure they looked presentable. Her two previous attempts at showering had been...ahem...let's call them a 'mixed' success. And at the time she had people she could call upon for pointers. She was certain her third would fare better, if only she could focus on the boring part of washing and not...him.

Cade.

A picture of them showering together appeared in her mind.

Fuck!

Molly turned back again and stormed away from the bathroom. In her haste she had missed another item: a bottle of conditioner, to go with her new shampoo. She stomped across the bedroom, producing a series of harrumphs which punctuated each step.

When she returned, bottle in hand, she stopped suddenly. Her head turned to the side and she beheld her wardrobe. A small smile crossed her lips, and Molly stepped in the direction of the wardrobe, hand outstretched. She lay her palm on its exterior, her nakedness lost to deep thought. Eventually, she pulled it open, seeing relics of a bygone life still jumbled amongst several recent sets of clothes provided by Vi and the others in work. Not just clothes, but a sneak peek of her future costume.

She paused, just looking. An elaborate lace bra and panties, in an unopened plastic wrapping, sat there. Silent. Enticing. She could see how gorgeous they looked through the clear wrapping. Molly relaxed and exhaled, admiring the lingerie. They held enough pizazz to capture anyone's attention, male or female. She reached over and plucked them from the rack. The plastic crinkled in her hands. She nudged the button that hooked the whole wrapping shut and pondered for a moment. Should I take a look?

She glanced at the tag that hung from a corner of the clear package. A note from Vi, written in floral cursive, read: 'Best Wishes To A Best Friend'.

Oh Vi...

Molly returned it to her wardrobe.

It can wait. Right now I think they would send me over the edge!

“Ahh," she whined aloud. The antelope morph left everything where she found it, and walked back to the bathroom, a pinch of shame mixed with pleasure piercing her composure.

Cade's gone and got me all heated up. Handsome devil...

Molly stood in front of the bathroom mirror. Feelings welled up inside her. Stronger and stronger with each passing second. She sighed as she watched her doppelgänger do likewise. Only now did she become conscious of her naked body. Hands and arms raised themselves, and hips shifted to better conceal herself; all these instincts soon faded, however. She let herself be bare, an elegant creature, standing proud with what life gave her. Well...life had a little help in that department.

She chuckled, a lighter mood taking her. Stress vanished, and her capped fingernails began to prod. A tinge of sadness — nay, loneliness — washed over her, pursued by a pleasant calm. She touched herself. Only a shade of contact. Only an instant of self-healing. Enough to send a jolt through her. She squealed.

Molly brought a hand to her chest, feeling the shape and size of her breasts. The swell of her bosom moved with her breathing, and she felt out the extent of her animal endowments. I need to do something about this, she realised, or I'll be up all day and all night in a sweat.

A drawer trundled open; a private drawer. One for 'special' moments. Molly hovered about her bedside table with the sound of nervous breathing her sole companion. These feelings...this state of mind, wouldn't go away without help.

Just what I need.

A vibrator sat among some toiletries, but Molly wasn't keen on getting clean any more. She retrieved the device and made sure it was ready for use. The electronic thrum of its body as it shook in her hand cried out to her, beckoned her to ease this suffering. Her fingers tightened 'round it. The large spherical end moved close, but she did not yet make contact. No. First, Molly knelt. She crouched beside her bed, one hand keeping the machine at bay, the other sliding across the surface of her bed.

Its incessant hum deafened her. She wanted...she needed to...

Molly pressed the vibrator against her lower lips, exploring the gateway to heaven with its smooth end. Her belly rippled with the motion of erratic muscles. Her lungs filled themselves with as much air as possible, threatening the burst. She held her breath for as long as she could, before it escaped her in wheezing gasps. The round end of the vibrator pressed against delicate flesh, exciting her senses with pangs of pleasure. She sensed the wetness that had building inside her, desires inflamed by lust. Her free hand clenched tightly, grabbing folds of bedsheet, as her body shivered under her masturbation.

“Aaahhh!"

She felt her limbs weaken.

“Eah...yeah...yessss...." her voice descended into a snake-like hiss as she rode herself to climax. Convulsions shook her. Whole body tensing; she removed the vibrator and left herself wanting. It was better this way. Let the lust burn. Let the agony grow! She tormented herself this way several times, each worse than the last. As she tried to keep her body aloft, her head fell. Hunched over in the corner of her room, Molly bit her lip as her quivering entrance screamed for more.

She pressed it between her legs again, trapped tight between her furry thighs, and let the chorus of bated breaths herald her oncoming pleasure.

It was like nothing she ever experienced as a human.