FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Misguided Rumors

Ifrit sneezed, as if catching a cold, or maybe because someone is talking about him behind his back. He didn't know who and he didn't want to know, especially that was not the case of his situation right now.

Due to a good land travel connection, they reached Lilac's village in mere 6 days instead of a full month when Ifrit started his travel with his first surface world friends, Albreich and Lilac. The land connection was in a form of captured portals from re-occupied towns and cities. But then, they could not use too much of those portals, as those portals might connect with a settlement still occupied by the rebel forces. While the three of them could fend of lesser demons and hellhounds, they wanted to preserve their strength for a possible fight at that village, which by now must have been overridden by the demons.

Right at that moment, Ifrit was camping in the middle of a forest with Anubis and Eshdar. Eshdar was hunting while Anubis helped with the fire and guarding, due to his ability to read 'Soul Particles'. Personally, Ifrit didn't understand anything about Soul Particles, as the concept of manipulating free particles of soul fragments was a foreign concept for him (Anubis tried to explain himself, but he gave up when Ifrit could not even grasp the basic concept, with the black-furred hellhound dismissing it as a Caropus family's royal gift while it was Anubis's curse).

"(Ifrit, are you feeling cold?)" said Anubis to the hellhound while shifting the wood in the flame. He could sense Soul Particles of a person and would know if they were feeling unwell. Of course, as a close friend and companion, Ifrit knew Anubis was trying to be helpful despite of his handicap.

"(Nah, Ani, I'm fine. I just have a feeling that somebody's talking about me, that's all)."

"(I bet five coins of gold it's your girlfriend)," said the jackal with a smile. Anubis was actually a very cheerful fellow who tried to lift their spirit in the worst of situations, something that both Ifrit and Eshdar depended on to prevent them to become more or less cold-blooded killers.

Hearing that comment made Ifrit smiled himself and said, "(Yeah, I guess you win this one, Ani. Unfortunately, I don't have that much with me)."

"(Ah, come on, Ifrit, I'm just kidding!)" He then pulled out his sword, a weird curved sword which looked a lot like a question mark if held upward. He then touched it and moved his fingers slowly over the sword, gently pressing it while he stared into somewhere, which Ifrit could only say consisted of Soul Particles.

"(That sword is yours, isn't it? I can see how you take care of it like a prized treasure)," said Ifrit to the Death Jackal. Anubis kept moving his finger over it, seemingly ignoring Ifrit's comment, but then he stopped after it reached the base of the blade.

"(This khopesh was a ceremonial sword for our family's funeral, inherited down through the line of my family. It's actually dull, but my former servant sharpened it so it can become a proper blade)."

Ifrit remembered which servant he was referring to. He also vaguely remembered that Death Jackal was the first Jackal he met when he was trying to save Anubis from that succubus, with the help of Nergora. They met again in a small settlement of refugee hellhounds, where he claimed to had taken it from the Caropus's weapon collection and gave it to Anubis, claiming that it was his father's gift to him. The khopesh (as Anubis said) had inscription written in a Hellhound language, but was not engraved normally. Instead, it was written in a form of writing based on touch that a blind person like Anubis could read.

"(How about that old sword of yours?)" Ifrit was referring to the sword Anubis used during their first introduction to each other. Anubis just plainly pull the sword from his pouch. He then said, "(What? You think I'll just throw away my weapons? I'm not someone who uses a splinter to kill people, you know. I wonder who that is)."

By that time Eshdar returned with some rabbits for us to eat for the night. We ate our fill and proceeded to silently walk away from the camp and looked to the village beyond the forest, lit with torches, lanterns, or candlelight; anything that a village of a surface world could suffice.

But of course, those lights weren't only because of illuminating. Ifrit knew that the village he thought would be destroyed was rebuilt as a settlement for the rebels, who emerged from a portal leading to the hellish domain. They knew if they get out of the forest and go down there, they would be quickly recognized. No, their mission this time was not to ambush the place. It would be suicide to just get there blindly. There were a lot of other hellish creatures that could prove a problem for them.

Their mission was to go around the village and look for the whereabouts of Lilac's brother, Hans Rezmirn, and his mount, Azureath. Not only that, they wanted to possibly find Ifrit's old friend, Angelus, the hell wyvern-dragon hybrid who helped Rhynsa and Ifrit in their respective pasts. The news and rumor they got from friendly settlements suggested that they fought together for a while, which was the rumor they were tried to prove as a fact.

"(Soon, Lilac...I promise I'll return you back to your proper home)," thought Ifrit while watching the silent town full of demons from different layers of hell. This place held great first memories of the surface world and his first meeting with Lilac. He wanted to return it to its rightful owners.

The group slept in while Eshdar, who was normally a hunter and a tracker, stood guard. The night was uneventful, with Eshdar even whistling despite of the risk of being caught. Since the wind did not go down towards the village, his scent and his sound would not be found. Years of growing up in a village of hunters had made Eshdar knew the extent of nature to his advantage. Despite of this, being resurrected after being killed was the most surreal experience he had ever experienced, especially how everything he knew was perceived as the most surrealistic dream he had ever known or even felt.

Still, that would be a topic for another day. He wanted to share his brief glimpse of a hellhound's afterlife, but...

A sound of rustling leaves caught Eshdar's attention. He would normally pass that as a wild nocturnal animal grazing the forest for berries, but this one was different. Unlike normal animals this one reeked of demonic aura.

"(Hey, guys, wake up!)" whispered Eshdar after he climbed down the tree to his two companions. They woke up, but Eshdar quickly said, "(We need to get away from this camp)."

"(Did they find us?)" asked Ifrit.

"(Not yet, but I am sure something demonic is lurking in this forest. It could be a demon dog)."

"(Are you sure that's a demon dog?)" asked Ifrit unsure. He had been with a close companion of a demon dog for so years he could have known the aura of a demon dog. Sammael's aura was not specific for him.

By this point the rest of the group could sense the aura. Ifrit knew this was not a demon dog, but another demonic race. Eshdar quickly climbed a tree, followed by Ifrit who helped Anubis to climb. They managed to get to a high tree before the big demonic aura reached their position.

Ifrit and the others didn't pay attention to the creature, knowing that looking at it wouldn't solve a thing at their situation. Eshdar made a gesture to walk the branches slowly towards his direction. Though blind, Anubis could still grasp some branches and follow them as normal, since the forest itself had Soul Particles to help his vision. After a while, they managed to get away from the camp, just as two hellhounds looked up when they wondered about the camp's inhabitants.

"(The camp is recently abandoned)," said one of them. "(They must be nearby. Should we try to find them?)"

"(They might just be hunters around this area. This place used to be a human settlement, right? Some of them might have lived inside the forest)."

"(Are your senses numbed? There are clearly demonic scent around this place, but...it seems they covered their tracks well)."

"(If that's what you claim it is, we cannot let them leave. But...we cannot risk ourselves to get lost in this forest)."

"(Shit, you're right. I don't want to get ambushed by the Three Kings)."

"(Are you scared by three royal princes?)"

"(Just so you know, I hated them for killing my friends, but I don't want to end up like them. Those three are monsters!)"

"(Okay, scaredy-pants, I'll take you out of this place if you feel like you want to piss your pants)," said the other one with a sigh. They talked all night long with their giant beetle-like creature behind them. The beetle, of course, could sense them, but seemed to not go towards them.

The three of them climbed down the three and made a sigh of relief, yet Anubis asked, "(I thought your gift can't influence insects)."

"(With proper training, you can do that if you want)," said Eshdar with a smile. "(We gotta go around the village and get to another town. From there we can find any clues to Angelus's whereabouts)."

Going around the village wasn't so hard, considering how Eshdar's tracking skill helped them immensely in traversing the forest and avoiding any scouts. They managed to avoid anything until they went past the village to go to the next town, which like the Sideview Village, it was abandoned and was currently being populated by hellhounds, yet unlike the village, the place was neutral. It was evidenced on how anyone didn't even know their appearance, suggesting that they were just hounds who wanted to populate the town.

Like a strange twist of fate, Ifrit felt as if everything played out just the same with when he first got into this town with Lilac before meeting with Albreich, all in the while he also remembered the same building he used to help a person from falling, showcasing his Survival Instinct. It was like a distinct past now, even though only two or three years had passed since then.

Eshdar and Anubis knew how meaningful the town was to Ifrit, so Eshdar let Ifrit alone with Anubis (who wanted to talk to his friend, and also because he was blind so he could not wander off too far away). The Death Jackal approached Ifrit and said, "(That's one building full of souls, right there)."

"(That's the building where I saved a person from jumping)," said Ifrit to his friend. "(I know that was risky and could potentially exposed me, but at that time, I felt a strong push to help them. Weird, right? I am a demon, yet I have this sense of kindness in me that felt out of place, yet I cherish)."

"(I prefer a life like that to being heartless every time, Ifrit. But, uh...you want to stand there all day staring at a building full of red souls)?"

Anubis could make a difference of souls in which he could see soul colors. Red color mean that the concentrated soul was demonic in nature. Ifrit knew that, despite of how good the building was then, he knew it wasn't wise to show his face too much around these part anymore. He then walked towards where Eshdar went while pulling Anubis's hand, guiding him.

They followed Eshdar to a nearby pub, where hellhounds of all sub-race gathered there. It was, of course, once a surface dweller's property, but ever since the town was overrun by rebels, the whole place had become a gathering spot for hellhounds of all kinds.

But when mentioning 'all kinds', one must assume that the pub itself did not just harbor rebels or civilian hellhounds, but also other royal figures, stripped from their magnificence and went on their days drinking by the bar. The Three Kings were not as popular as they were in the central region where most of the action took place, as the place was small, and not much happening there. Humans voluntarily left their hometown in fear of the hellhounds, while the hellhounds just wanted a taste of what surface world felt like.

One of those royal figures was someone who one of them knew personally. He was a red-furred black striped hellhound, who at first glance could be mistaken as Eshdar if not for the color of his eyes. He was not drunk, as he was only staring at the beer mug, still full of the beer he ordered. Like Eshdar, the hellhound wore tribal hunter outfit and carried a carved bow.

Even before Eshdar could approach him, he noticed the hellhound and wanted to greet him with open arms, but Eshdar made a gesture to make him stop, knowing how their presence in the middle of an enemy region would surely cause more harm than good. He obliged, sitting by the bar silently as Eshdar sat beside him.

"(Give me something strong)," said Eshdar to the bartender. The young-looking hellhound nodded. As he waited, the red-furred hellhound said, "(Never though I see you again in this state, boy)."

"(Never have thought you as a bar frequent)," said Eshdar to the hellhound, to which the older one chuckled.

"(Well, not much is going on around this part. I'm just back from huntin'. I need some place crowded for company. That's all)."

"(Not sure that is wise, Acroud. You were one of my father's trusted subject. Anyway, how's father?)"

"(You'll be surprised who came to him when you guys were busy gaining popularity. Do you know an old human named Albreich Schafner?)"

The mention of Albreich's full name made Ifrit's ears propped up like an aware dog. He quickly moved towards Acroud and said, "(Albreich came to your village? When was that?)"

"(You're Ifrit Schelkz, right? I heard a lot about you from Al, including how you got a nice-looking werewolf gal. Dang, I wish love can be that faithful...)"

"(Hey, stop teasing him. Do you have a place where we can talk?)"

"(You're lucky I live in that big apartment building there)."

"(Wait, when did you move out of the village?)"

"(I'll tell you everything, after you finish that drink of yours)."

They got out of the pub and walked towards the multi-story building. Walking up through the third floor, Acroud produced a key from a pouch and opened it, where inside tribal trinkets that looked menacing and otherworldly greeted the three travelers. While Eshdar did not feel anything strange (and Ifrit as oblivious as always), Anubis was worried. He kept looking around the room as if trying to find something amiss. Ifrit, worried with the things his blind friend could 'see', poked him and said, "(You okay, Ani?)"

"(It feels like this room is staring at me from all corners)," said Anubis trying to stay calm. "(I know places with strong supernatural forces like this room, but the Particles felt like eyes watching me. I don't feel any privacy with my vision at all)."

"(Are you referring to the spirit of the house?)" said Acroud to Anubis. "(Shamans like to give us totems to ward off bad luck. Don't worry, they don't bite)."

But Anubis took it differently. The place did not feel so peaceful, yet not that much of a threat. It's just that, because of his affinity to the world of souls, the Death Jackal sensed the world differently, with his sixth sense essentially become his sense of sight after he lost his vision.

"(Now, what are you trying to tell us, Acroud? When did Albreich came to the village?)"

"(Around a week ago. I know news don't come too often around these parts. Tragoria may have been full of demons, but privilege to communication, even to hellhounds, are severely limited. They tear off any telegram poles they could find, cut off telephone lines, and even forbid us to use any sort of fifth layer technology!)"

"(Are hellhounds being discriminated that much?)" Eshdar's argument was not something random. Hellhounds, being a race of demons that occupied the outer layer of hell, were looked down upon by the demons from the depth of hell due to their appearance and general hierarchy. Even then, Ifrit knew a demon who did not look like he came from a layer full of angry demons....

"(Well, we are the race with the idea of invading the surface world so why do they bother? Anyway, I know why you even bother going to Wayfar from somewhere in Adaline or maybe somewhere like in Tanah region. Is this because of that hell wyvern?)"

"(Yes! Do you know where she is?)"

"(Uhmm...I never have thought you, of all people, would even bother making a difference of gender to feral creatures)."

"(Just tell me where the hell he is. Our search has gotten nothing close in gathering all of our allies. Angelus is the only lead we can get for now)."

"(Then you have wasted you time, Eshdar)." This surprised them, causing Ifrit to exclaim, "(What?!)"

"(Did you see that village where everything started?)," said Acroud while taking a glance towards Ifrit. "(It did not burn down like it supposed to be if that damned wyvern came there. She never came)."

"(Are you telling me that two dragons flying is not that conspicuous? Acroud, where the hell is she?)"

"(I don't fucking know! Look, Eshdar, I know you need as much help as you need, but do not trust rumors these days)."

"(We don't trust it. They told us that they will go to the village and liberate it from the rebels. She was travelling with another dragon)."

"(Then I can't tell you where she is or the dragon travelling with her. I lived here for one month now and, considering your dragon did not come here before me, I should have found any trace or anything as big as a wyvern, especially something glowing like a hell wyvern. I'm sorry, Eshdar, but I can't help you)."

Eshdar swore to himself while Ifrit and Anubis sighed. This means that their search returned to zero again. Yet again, it was strange not to even see where the dragons were. They were imposing in size, not to mention they were the only dragons in Ternor continent (Hans's story about Main Continent proved that there were no dragons in Ternor, not even any archaeological findings had any relations to dragon activity in the continent).

"(Why can't everything be easy for us?!)"

"(Eshdar, don't get too worked up. We endured Lilac. We can always find them)," said Ifrit to his friend. Eshdar, after a momentary silence, turned towards Ifrit and said, "(If my friend can endure the search for his girlfriend, then bursting out like that won't solve anything. I understand, Ifrit...thank you)."

Eshdar went past Ifrit, while the black-furred hellhound contemplated on Eshdar's outburst. He knew since Eshdar's resurrection, he wasn't the same hellhound who they first met, even though his memory was still intact to the moment he died. He became impatient, often pushing his friends to go faster even though he was aware of Anubis's condition and Ifrit's job as his guide. Eshdar seemed to be easily offended while when they were travelling the first time together he seemed calm and always was a good company with both Lilac and Albreich. It seemed to Ifrit that resurrecting the dead comes with a change, for better or for worse.

Eshdar wanted to breath some fresh air in, so Acroud pointed to him to the balcony. After he went out, however, and out of ear shot, Acroud turned towards Ifrit and said, "(That boy never act like that before. Did something happen to him?)"

"(You will understand in time, old hound)," said Ifrit to Acroud. He wanted to talk to Eshdar regarding his recent outburst, but felt his friend needed to stay away from the group to think for himself for a moment.

After calming down, Eshdar came back in and get his belongings together. He didn't say why, but he turned around and said, "Come on, we need to find Angelus."

But just as he opened the door, Anubis immediately jumped towards him and forced him down as two crossbow bolts came through the door. Ifrit, with heightened senses, caught one of them with reflex, but missed the other and it landed on the wooden panel behind them.

"(Shit, someone must've known your faces!)" exclaimed Acroud while readying his bow and arrow. Anubis acted first by throwing his curved sword towards the door. His ability to manipulate the Particles made the sword phased through the door, followed by a scream behind the door. Acting purely on the Soul Particle vision he could see, Anubis manipulated the free particles to move his sword and decapitated at least three hellhounds behind the door before returning the sword towards his hand, its blade bloodied by the beheadings.

Ifrit kicked the door open and looked at what Anubis did. Corpses of three hellhounds ambushing the door were strewn across the floor, with each of their heads rolling away from their bodies. One of them was only injured, but still manage to shoot Ifrit with his crossbow. Unfortunately for him, though, Ifrit's reflexes saved him again when he quickly banged the door towards the hellhound's hand to change the crossbow's aim before catching the bolt and slam it through the door and into the hellhound's skull. It didn't immediately kill him, though, but a crossbow shot through his head did.

"(Wayfar is no longer safe for you, Acroud)," said Ifrit after getting inside the room. "(I hope you know a way to get away from this place)."

"(I have friends ready to take me away from here should this happen. Someone who is still bitter with the Winsel family could had burned the image of my face to their vision. Ifrit Schelkz...)"

"(Hmm?)"

"(I hope that prophecy of yours being the end of this conflict is right. Don't falter your spirit. Keep strong and you will always find the path of righteousness)."

Ifrit nodded after hearing that, then helped Anubis to get up. The black hellhound proceeded to nod to Eshdar before he ran towards the balcony and jumped down from the third floor, followed by Eshdar carrying Anubis. They landed safely on a canopy, but they knew this was the situation where they need to get out of the place before somebody realized what was going on.

The town of Wayfar erupted into chaos due to different opinions of the attack. Ifrit couldn't believe how a town where humans and Lycans lived together in peace could become a place of internal conflict between hellhounds. He vowed to himself that the place will be liberated, either with the surface dwellers reclaiming their homes, or making it a safe haven for the hellhounds to live on the surface.

Yet right now, they still need to find Angelus and Azureath, alongside their riders, to ensure that they could get a good balance with the opposing faction.