FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sound of engine starting is what I hear before we take off. I'm currently riding the school bus to my new school. New faces, new people, new everything. I keep telling myself I'll be fine but everytime I say that, my heart races yet again.

I put on my earphones, turn on my phone, and listen to my favorite music playlist that I made consisting of mostly Japanese and a few Pop Songs to distract myself from these thoughts. Going to high school was gonna happen eventually, I mustn't fret. I took the middle-right seats because it was the only seats that were vacant on both, which also helped me relax a bit.

I close my eyes and imagine what my high school life will be. It'll probably just be another ordinary life. First we'll have an orientation then continue with studies.

I get interrupted from my music when the bus stops and came in a black furred Husky with a white gradient on his lower muzzle. He's wearing the school uniform, which is normal but he's wearing a pair of pilot goggles, which is not. I try to ignore the fact that he looks weird, but I can't help but laugh in the inside.

He starts walking towards where I am sitting.Does this mean that... I'm gonna be sitting beside this weirdo? Wow, first day before school and I'm already unlucky.

"Yo," he smiles widely with his paw raised to his shoulder. His light blue eyes making contact with my black eyes. I keep a poker face at him as he sit down beside me and the bus starts running.

"So, you're my new seatmate. Excited?" he asks with his wide smile. To be honest, he looks quite cute smiling like that with his goggles. Makes him look like a little kid.

"Yeah, sure," I reply to him with a flat tone. I'm not really sure what I'm feeling but excited is definitely not the word. He laughs a bit at my response and then stares past me towards the blue sky, his eyes look like they're glistening.

"It's cool, isn't?" he says as he continues staring, tail wagging slightly "I'll definitely reach it, someday."

I smirk and roll my eyes. This guy, judging from his attitude and saying, is carefree, a happy-go-lucky type of person.

I put away my earphones, stare out the window and watch the sky with him. The sky has always been beautiful, but I find that watching the sky alongside someone is better than watching it alone, even though I don't know him yet. I retract what I said. This is actually great, because I get to see a more beautiful sky. I'm not unlucky... yet... maybe.

When we reach the school, he bid goodbye to me and dashes off. My hunch was right. I sigh, take my bag and prepare myself for what comes ahead.

"1-B... 1-B..." I tour myself around the hall to find my room and finally find it. I stretch out my paw to slide the back door but stop midway. Thoughts of new things came across my mind. This is it, my high school life begins.

I hold the handle of the door with my right paw when it suddenly swings open to the left, dragging my paw and making me lose my balance. I get bumped by someone midway of my fall but manage to get unhurt by sliding my back to the momentum and landing on my elbow, while the green fox, a rare color to see for a fox, with a darker green spot on his right cheek, is knocked unconscious when his head hit the floor while his body safely lands on my mine.

"Oh good, you stopped him," a female Tabby Cat says. Her short hair and most of her fur was orange, her muzzle was white, and she has horizontal darker orange stripes on her cheeks.

"More like he stopped me from entering," I reply back to her as I slowly roll the fox away and stand up, in which she just laughs it off.

"I tried to have a conversation with him but he just ran away from me. Can you help me get him to the nurse? He might miss orientation but oh well, things happen," she picks up and carries the unconscious fox by the shoulder, "C'mon, help me."

By reflex, I help her but, "I never agreed in the first place."

"Well, you're helping now and that's all that matters," she says mockingly with her tongue stick out, "Besides, you wouldn't let a fragile girl carry someone all by myself now, would you?"

"Well, you seem to be strong enough to carry him by yourself before I helped." I state and she replies with a boo.

We both carry him and walk for a while until I realize something, "Do you know where the nurse's office is?"

"I was just following you," a deep silence came from between us. I was probably glaring at her unintentionally because she says sorry a while later.

"Well, let's ask around otherwise he'll wake up before we reach it," I look around and see an older looking silver furred Akita, "Um, excuse me, where is the nurse's office?"

I ask him, but he just stares at me with his emotionless eyes. Now that I'm closer to him, he looks intimidating, like he's waiting for a chance to strike. He raises his finger, which made me flinch, then points to the right. I follow the direction and there is a door with the sign "Nurse's Office"

I thank him and he nods back. Me and the cat both go to the nurse's office with the unconscious fox quickly, passing him by. We go inside and tell the nurse what happened. She is kind and thoughtful, even asking if I got hurt which I reply I'm not. I was expecting she will scold us for this.

The two of us go out of the nurse's office and the Tabby Cat starts a conversation, "You from 1-B?" I nod "My name's Tabitha Melow, I'm from 1-B too, nice to meet you," she says, extending her paw.

"I'm Varu, Varu Foks" I shake her paw. We go back to our classroom and I found a familiar face. It was that weirdo guy with the goggles before. He seems to be writing something, but didn't mind it since I don't want to know nor care about what he's writing, honestly.

I look around and check for available seats, "Oh, by the way, that seat is from that fox earlier," Tabitha says, pointing her finger at the backmost seat near the window.

"Ok, then I'll pick," the only seat available, "that seat," the seat beside that weirdo. I wave my paw slightly at Tabitha and she waves back. I walk towards my seat and drag it, then I'm greeted by a "hey!" I turn around and it was from,

"Name's Riese Michael Fritz, friends usually call me Riese," he says with his wide smile from this morning, the annoyingly cute goggles over his closed eyes, and paw raised.

"Varu, Varu Foks," I reply with my paw slightly raised, and sit down facing the board.

"Wasn't expecting we'd be classmates but this is great, a fellow sky lover such as I, wanting to explore the vast horizon!" he says with hand gestures which was honestly quite funny, though I never said to him I love the sky. I mean, it's not that he's wrong, but how'd he know?

"Your eyes tell what you feel, and as we both stared at the sky, yours was sparkling!"

"O-oh, was it?"

"Yep!" his smile doesn't seem to disappear from his face, like it's been glued to his face. "And since you're my friend, I'll give you a free ride to the horizon with my plane!"

'Since when did we became friends?' is what I am thinking.

"Of course, that's when I'm older and that I can actually make my plane. So right now, studying and those stuff will be done first," he says with full confidence.

"O-okay...?" he seems like an airhead type like in one of those animes. Can't believe they actually exist.

He continues with whatever he was doing while I wait for the teacher. After a while, the door opens and comes out a cougar in a usual teacher's uniform and glasses.

He is carrying a class record, and puts it down on the table with much force that the sound echoes, silencing the entire room. He also slams both his paws at the table with a very serious face. It was terrifying that even Riese stops with what he was doing and his face didn't show his smile, but a straight face.

It went like that for a few seconds until the teacher's face lightens up and a smile arcs across his face, "Let's have a fun school year, everyone," his voice isn't even intimidating. Heck, it is soft and kind that it confuses me about him, contradicting his action from his voice.

The cougar starts writing his name on the board legibly, "My name's Lindil Kelt, I'll be your adviser this year. It's always nice to meet new faces here," he says, "Now let's start the attendance. Michelle Amitta?"

The orientation continued and went pretty well. An "introduce yourself" after the attendance then an annoying ice breaker. Seriously, I thought that the song "If you're happy and you know it," is dead, which reminds me. The fox wasn't able to attend. Maybe he was still unconscious.

"Well, that's the orientation over with. Any more questions?" he asks the class. I see Riese raise his paw.

"Why did you slam the desk?" he asks nonchalantly. I facepalm myself on the inside my mind. 'What is he thinking?' I can hear some murmurs and grunts from other student.

"Well, the teachers said that I should give a strong impression to my students, so I thought that slamming my paws on the desk would be a strong impression enough," I can't tell if he's being sarcastic or not because he said it with a straight face.

"I see... okay," he takes the answer immediately that I'm left with a 'you're kidding me' face at him. These two are unreadable.

The school bell rings, signalling for the next period "So, now that that's all wrapped up, I hope that we'll have a fun school year. Au revoir," he takes his class record and leaves the room.

"Now, why are you just standing there?" I hear him from the outside followed by a yelp. The back door swings open and something dashes towards the other side of the room. It was that green fox.

"S-sorry..." he is curled into a ball at the corner of the room.

"Well, as long as you introduce yourself to everyone and ask them about what we talked about, you'll be fine," Mr. Kelt, who is at the backdoor, says before leaving .

The green fox goes to his seat and starts to cry. His sniffs can be heard along with the chatter of the other students.

"Hey," at my first word, the fox jumps and his tail stiffens. He slowly turns his head towards me, "um... I'll tell you the details later. Name's Varu, by the way," he nods.

An awkward silence is between us while I wait for him to reply his name. It was manners to say your name when someone tells him name, right? But that didn't seem to be happening. I turn around and face the board, waiting for the next teacher to arrive.

After the Math and English periods taking 9:30 to 11:00 and 11:00 to 12:00 respectively, it was lunch time. I always bring my own lunch and just eat at the room alone, but the next thing I know there's a weirdo in front of me.

"Hey!" Riese says along with his usual smile, goggles and raised hand. He's really acting like someone from an anime.

"What is it?" I ask, trying not to show my annoyed tone.

"What's wrong with eating with my friend?"

"I don't remember us being friends in the first place, though."

"If you know each other's names, then you two are friends. We know each other's names, so we're friends," he says. I roll my eyes, "Hey, it's the first step of friendship," he says as he opens his lunch box, and inside is rice and curry. Looks delicious.

"What're you having?" he asks.

"Oh, mine is" I hesitatingly open my lunch box to reveal a Japanese style bento. When I look at him, I receive a smug face that annoyed me, "Yeah, so what if I like Japanese food?" I look away embarrassed. I know I'm blushing.

"Did you make it?" he asks. I shoot him a glare followed by a nod. "Cool, so we both make our own lunch. And it look delish," his smile is different now. It is like it shined. I can't help but blush at his remark. It wasn't the first time I was complimented, but being complimented always makes me feel good but also embarrassed at the same time.

We talk while we eat our lunch.

"So, you said that you'll let me ride your plane. You're planning to be a plane pilot or something?

"Yeah, I really want to fly, but since artificial wings aren't a thing yet, flying a plane is the next best thing."

"R-right..."

"So, you like Japan?"

"I'm actually studying the Japanese language and culture at home, but I'm still not good at Japanese so don't expect me to talk like one."

"Aww, I wanted you to speak at least a little Japanese."

"Not happening."

"Boo."

"Thank you for the meal," we both say in chorus after finishing lunch, which genuinely surprised us both. I see a smile arc across his face which made me smile as well as I put my lunch box away.

It's still 12:30, I think 30 minutes is enough time to tell the fox about what we had during the orientation. I turn my head and see that he is writing something.

"Um, hey," I call him, and he immediately slams his notebook shut with his body and tail stiffened. I raise an eyebrow at his reflexive gesture.

"Y-yes?" he replies in an almost unhearable voice.

"Oh, uh, Do you wanna know the things we talked about during the orientation?" he slowly puts his notebook under the desk and looks away from me, "I took notes, so--" I get cut off as I reach for my notebook under my desk.

"You take notes? I don't like taking notes, such a hassle," Riese says as he leaned backwards with both his paw at the back of his head.

"Thank you for the unnecessary information," I talk back at Riese sarcastically as I take the notebook. "I'll take note of that."

The fox giggles, but immediately says sorry afterwards as if giggling is wrong. "It's no reason to say sorry, dude. We're the comedic duo after all," Riese says with pride.

"Since when did we became the comedic duo?"

"Well, we made him laugh, so we gained the title."

"What kinda logic is that?" I say before turning my attention to the fox, "But well, yeah, you don't need to say sorry if you laugh at something funny."

"So you agreed that we're funny?"

"You're the clown here," my response make him puff his cheeks, "By the way, I didn't get your name."

"R-Rue Krantz ... " he says after a few seconds of silence."

"Okay, Rue, here are the notes that I took," I lend him my notebook.

"Thanks, but... I already... took notes," he stammers weakly and his voice slowly fades towards the end, like he is scared of me of getting angry or something.

"Oh, where'd you get the info?" I ask curiously, but he just stares at his desk, avoiding eye contact.

"Kinda weird, huh?" Riese insensitively says, making Rue's lips quiver and look like he's about to cry.

"Riese, that's impolite you know," I reply to him with an unhidden annoyed tone. Riese apologized, but I shot him a glare before turning back to Rue.

"Well, if you don't wanna tell me, it's fine. Sorry if I sounded mean," I try comforting him, and it looks like it worked. He wipes his eyes and nod saying he's fine. I reply with a smile then gestures Riese to apologize to Rue but Rue says to not mind him. I do what he said and return to my seat, glancing from time to time at him.

The bell rings, signalling it the next period. Class continues and not much happened during the rest of the afternoon class. The fourth bell this afternoon signals the club orientation. I've already decided what my club would be, since I've been fond of reading. The Book Lover's Club that I heard from others. That's the one for me.

"Yo, what club?" Riese ask as I put my things back into my bag, carry it, and stand up.

"I'm gonna join the Book Lover's Club, I hear that there's one here."

"Lame," Riese says mockingly, "I'm joining the High Flyer's Club," he says while pointing his thumb at his chest.

"Who's in the club?" I ask with curiosity and mocking.

"This guy right here is the president of the club," he says proudly.

"See ya," I wave goodbye as I go past him. Before I could leave, I feel someone tugging my uniform.

"Please, I need one more member or it'll get closed," he begs.

"Go find another member."

"PLEASE!"

"No," I'm clear with my answer, but he suddenly wraps his arms around me tightly, "Hey, let go!" I yell at him, luckily there's no one left in the room to see this.

"No, I'm not letting go until you join the club!" He's persistent, but I'm not going down without a fight.

I struggled to get free and join my decided club, and not from someone who I just met today. I choose my own decisions, and I decided to join the Book Lover's Club. I won't stop until I'm free! Then I realize... that I'm a weakling, I don't have much muscles, and I can't break free from his strong grip. I see myself just flailing my arms around like a little child trying to break free from a dad's hug.

"Alright, alright, just let go before anyone sees," I sigh in defeat.

"Promise?" his hug loosens, and he stares at me with pleading eyes.

"Yeah, promise. Let's just get this over with."

"ALRIGHT! Now, let's go to the teacher's office and make the club now," he lets go of me and does a fist pump.

"Wait, we're gonna make the club?" I ask. "Didn't you say are the president?"

"Don't sweat the details. C'mon, let's go," he says with a smile before marchig forward, tail wagging happily. I'm really getting tired if this guy.

"But don't you need five members to make a club? We're only two," I tell him. He stops on the spot.

"Well, let's recruit some members, just three more to go. You can invite your fox friend as well," he says with full confidence and continues marching with his tail wagging more happily.

"This guy," I sigh and decide to follow him, "At least I can still read books there, right" I ask myself.

We arrive at the teacher's office, and there Riese ask our cougar adviser, Mr. Kelt, about forming a new club.

"Sure, you can make a club, but you need to have at least five members by the end of the week otherwise I'll have to disband it," he says calmly. Why is he letting this husky make a club...?

"You can count that we'll have five members by the end of the week," he says, saluting like he's an actual pilot. Mr. Kelt responded by saluting as well.

"Wait, you're actually letting him make his own club?" I ask. I feel my eye twitching.

"Well, we don't have much clubs here, and I don't want to discourage such a high-spirited student. We have a few rooms open for making clubs, so why not? Oh, right, your club room will be on the third floor at the end of the hall. And I like the idea, High Flyers," the cougar adds.

"I know right, the mere saying of High Flyers invigorates you."

"Indeed, makes you keep your spirit fly high."

"Yepyep," Riese agrees with a nod. These two, I think their minds are connected.

"Well, have fun with your new club," Mr. Kelt says before we bid him goodbye and left the room.

"Okay, now let's find some new members," Riese marches off and accidentally bump someone. It was that silver Akita. He stares at Riese then to me then back to Riese.

"Hey, wanna join the High Flyers Club?" Riese asks with no hesitation. The Akita stares at me again, which made my skin crawl, then back at Riese. He nods. Is he serious?

"Alright, that's three, two more! This'll be easy!" he says, marching past the silver Akita and off to his next destination, wherever it is.

I stay and look at the Akita. He was staring at me again with those emotionless eyes. I hesitated on speaking, but "Are you sure you wanted to join the club?" he nods.

"Ken." he says. I tilt my head slightly, confused. "Ken Aki is my name," his eyes start to show a little bit of emotion. He looks less intimidating than before.

"Oh, Varu. Varu Foks. Nice to meet you, Aki," I extend my paw.

"Call me Ken," he shakes my paw gently. I was expecting a strong grip.

"Ken." I shake his paw again and nod to assure I'll use that name the next time.

"Well, I'm gonna follow that guy, see you next time," I walk past him and turn back to say, "Thanks for accepting the invite, I guess?" Ken waves his hand and I wave mine as well as goodbye. He seems to be the silent type. Wonder how our club will go.

After recruiting Ken, the silver furred Akita, we didn't have much luck afterwards. The clock strike five and the bell rings. I bid farewell to Riese and he did the same.

"Let's continue scouting tomorrow," he says with thumbs up.

"Go scout by yourself," I turn back and start walking when something, or someone, hugs me from the back, but this time he coils his legs around mine, "Seriously, stop it!"

"Scout with me tomorrow."

"Fine, just get off of me," he gets off me and bids goodbye again, leaving with his wide smile, goggles, and raised paw.

I sigh. Finally he's gone. I feel really tired. I walk back to my house, which luckily wasn't that far from the school, just around two kilometers. My middle school was farther because I had to ride the train back and forth. And I just rode the school bus because I just can't be bothered with walking in the morning.

I arrive home and open the door. I take off my shoes and put on my indoor slippers. The first day and I'm already tired because of him, but at least I made a few friends.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home," I call. Even though Mom's not here anymore and Dad's working far away. I still get teary-eyed everytime I come back home. Mom died two years ago, during my birthday. It was the worst birthday ever, and my future birthdays will forever be a mourning day.

I go to the kitchen and prepare the ingredients for curry. After preparing the ingredients and cooking the curry, I eat. It's cold. Even though it's warm, it feels cold. I can't remember the last time I ate something warm until that Husky ate with me.

'Why am I crying again?' I wipe away a tear, 'I'm not a little kid anymore, I'm fifteen,' That's right. I've been providing my own food with my mother's savings and father's sent money.

After eating, I wash the dishes and clean up the house a bit. While cleaning, I see myself in front of a mirror. My fur blue with a white muzzle and a bit of black hair between my ears. My black eyes showing loneliness and sadness, and wearing my casual red shirt and blue shorts. I look normal, just another normal fox.

After a bit more cleaning, I decide to hit the hay. At bed, I wish my life will change tomorrow, a happier life, but I know that when I wake up, I'll always remember that day when I came home happily because it was my birthday then I saw Mom on the floor, breathless, lifeless. Dead. And Mom and Dad won't greet me when I wake up.

I curl into a ball hugging a pillow and try to forget Mom's death, but how can I? It's been haunting me for the past two years, but I can't stay sad forever... it's already been two years I've been mourning. I mustn't mourn anymore otherwise no one won't come near me. I have to stay strong, and act okay, but it's so cold alone. When that Husky, Riese, hugged me, it felt warm. To be honest, I wanted him to hug me more, because I felt like I was actually loved again, like how Mom and Dad hugged me back then.

But they're not here, and I live alone in this house, caring for myself, doing everything by myself. I start to cry. I don't like the cold. I'm so pathetic like this... And the next thing I knew, I cried myself to sleep and woke up the next morning.