FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A young grey wolf's excitement was immeasurable when he walked the streets of London, naked bar his shoulder satchel, a pair of black Velcro shoes and his steel-rimmed circular glasses. He had a slim build. Leaving his goolies and buttocks visible drew eyes, yet no one gave the sight a second thought. His raised tail wagged, accentuating his fervour as he strode on the sidewalk. How he had been anticipating this day, this moment, to see the one figure he remembered best. The city felt foreign to him, yet the sights were similar to his commute when he lived in New York City. "Foggy old London"? It didn't look so foggy that day.

The spectacled wolf entered a building called Archibald Tomasovich School. It had the rustic appeal of brick walls and a shingled roof. The sign with the name was simple and had a grand piano as its logo, making it black and white.

In direct contrast, the interior had plastered walls, wooden doorframes, and a hardwood floor. The wolf's tail still wagged, for he found that the owner's style survived the transition to the new place. He walked along the hall to the chamber labelled the number 4.

As it turned out, when he opened the door, he saw a class still occurring. College students of various species followed the steps of choreography to the playing of a stage piano, the coach not being who he expected. A female Siberian Tiger was holding the class. She was nude as well, her bright pelt seeming to accent her hourglass curves. From the looks of things, they were setting up one of their performances and were almost done for the day.

The young wolf watched the furs around his age, all naked, retrieve their clothes and bags while clearing out. The tiger approached the young wolf.

"D-you have an appointment?" she asked him.

"I have an interview. The owner said it would be here at three."

"You must be the applying musician," another voice spoke. It was the one who played for the tiger, a white wolf. "Y-must be confident about it acin' it, too," he remarked, noting the grey wolf's wagging tail. The white wolf headed out, followed by the tiger woman.

Barely a minute later, a middle-aged polar bear man entered. He had broad shoulders, muscled arms, and a gut. His eyes were ice-blue. He was naked as the day he was born. "As I live and breathe," the bear commented. The grey wolf ran to him and hugged him, his tail wagging like mad. The polar bear returned the hug. He towered over the young wolf. "I couldn't believe my ears when I heard your voice and that you intended to apply," the polar bear added.

Seeming to milk the hug, the wolf replied, "You knew I'd meet you where you are."

"It's no less of a surprise, let alone a pleasant one."

The wolf backed up, his wagging having ceased, and his tail dropped. "I only have two new references since I quit where you worked."

"That's all right, Tony. My way of auditioning hasn't changed," the polar bear responded as the wolf retrieved his resume from his satchel. "I only need songs to dance to."

"I think it's not just customary to read resumes," Tony claimed, handing the owner the pages.

"I see you improved the formatting, too," the polar bear commented upon the first glance.

"I can still only do covers, Dan," Tony announced, approaching the piano with his music sheets.

"But it's good to know musical plays' scores in advance."

The young wolf improvised a melody, testing the stage piano's keys and sounds as his intro.

"First, I'll play 'Dark Carnival' from the indie game, 'The Dark Undergrowth'."

Having deduced the chords, he introduced with a repeat of three quarter-notes, which he then complemented with half-notes. He got to the primary chords. Knowing his progression, the wolf looked up, finding the polar bear swaying about. For a man, especially one with both muscles and a gut, Dan looked flexible. His arms rolling made him seem to make tribal ritual gestures.

"I know it's short, but it sunk in when I first heard it."

"It's still good on repeat," Dan replied.

"Next, I have 'MacGafraith' from 'The Slums'." Tony got right to it, introducing on a jazzy chord. He even attempted to play the tune of the lyrics. Dan strove to mimic the gestures of those with keen senses, and seemed to nail them. The melody slipped into the style of big band, the notes intense. Dan could feel it, for he moved like he were really there.

"I prepared a piano cover of Blackwhim's 'Charmer and Fiend'."

"Not familiar with Blackwhim," Dan remarked.

Tony performed a chord to prepare himself as he was used to playing a grand piano over a stage piano. Then, he performed a repeating chord, which grew intense as it slightly changed and the bass notes were added. As if Dan already knew the tone, he imagined dancing in a ballroom with his wife, and moved like it, even down to seeming to hold her. Tony thought nothing less of him and kept playing. How surprised the polar bear was when the melody changed, still intense yet gentle. The finale came off as ominous, but was inspirational.

"I think you know my answer," Dan spoke when Tony finished his audition. "I'm putting you on my payroll the first chance I get, and you'll start Monday."

"Perfect," Tony proclaimed. It was Saturday. The wolf ran to the polar bear to hug him again. How he missed hugging the giant fluffball. However, something was amiss.

"What is it?" Dan asked.

"I know your body better than your wife does," he pointed out. "I know you're proud of your love handles, but your handles feel more like... mug handles than bike handles."

"And what does my gut feel like to you?" Dan demanded.

"Like a boulder... but not as wide as I remember."

"I still have my blubber."

"I know that, but... something is off."

The polar bear placed a hand on the wolf's shoulder, prompting him to look up tenderly. He was always willing to look up. The wolf found him superior in every way. "I like that you care so much, Tony, but don't worry about me." Silence. "Let's make the most of things together."

That prompted Tony to wag his tail again. He took off his glasses for a second to wipe his eyes. "Working for the best boss ever was worth moving to England, just like you did for your wife." He picked up his satchel and placed the strap over his shoulder. He walked to the doorway, only to look back, taking in the tree-like legs and rock-like buttocks of the white giant. Tony realized what could await, and wanted to remember every part of the bear's body.