FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Here we are just past the six month mark and I've past a few other milestones behind the scenes. First draft is now written out to seventy five chapters, and over two hundred thousand words. I'm now at a point where I'm pulling a good deal of stuff from the first run that never saw the light of day. That's whats helping speed things along right now. At that rate you can look foreword to constant updates every week well into next summer. Sorry 'bout that.

Jeremy had gotten back to the apartment to find Sam was out. He decided to go for a walk. He needed to think and he'd found that walking around on autopilot helped.

He'd now endured three weekends of intensive training from Alex. He had explained to Jeremy that each dominant had the potential of having several talents. Together he promised to help discover the first of Jeremy's unique talents as a dominant, eventually.

To find it he would need to train his mind first. Jeremy hadn't expected sitting and concentrating to be so exhausting. His mentor had him sitting at his desk and simply focus his full attention on an individual body part. He wanted Jeremy to blank out all other input from the rest of his body. With noting else to occupy him mind other than focusing on a part of his idle body he was finding the lessons more than difficult.

Jeremy was barely paying attention to where he was going. Instead he was still focusing on how the air pushed against his whiskers. That had been the focus of the morning's exercise. He stopped when his path was blocked and turned his attention outward. There were three felines standing in front of him. A forth was standing a few paces behind them looking around.

There was no one else in the area making it appear Jeremy was on his own. He could tell their intentions were not in anyone of his specie's favor. The jaguar spoke first "Where do you think you're going rat?"

"I'm a weasel since you seem to be unable to tell the difference." Jeremy responded. He opened PATOMES and started targeting each of the cats. He guessed it would take them some time to work themselves up to action. He'd rather not use PATOMES out in the open if he could avoid it. It would be best if he could find a way to sidestep the confrontation. He suddenly paused and looked closer at the forth of their group. The cheetah looked strikingly familiar.

With the rush of adrenaline from the confrontation and a corresponding surge of awareness Jeremy recognized the cheetah. He'd been introduced to him years ago while he was at the academy. PATOMES confirmed what his memory had already provided. He only found it a little strange that they were waiting for him to act first. As he stood waiting for their next move he noticed the feeling of his whiskers.

It felt as if the breeze had slowed to almost stillness. He made an effort to bring his hand up and touch his face but he could barely move. He could barely shift his eyes to look down at the strange behavior of his arm. With his eyes still mostly on Allen he could see the cat looked to be barely moving as well. It was as though time had sped up for him, trapping him in a slowly passing moment.

Jeremy turned his attention to PATOMES. It was running at the same pace he was. He was also able to confirm that it wasn't responsible for his sudden change of perspective. He would have smiled at how simple it had turned out to be to find one of his talents. His mind explored the experience.

He could feel his heart beating in his chest but couldn't move his limbs against the mounting resistance. Relaxing the outgoing signals from his brain regarding the movement of his body Jeremy focused on the information his accelerated awareness was bringing him. His heart beating was of foremost importance. That would mean he was still limited to the biology of his body's ability to support his brain.

In short he could literally stand there unlocking this mystery and not starve his brain of nutrients. It certainly wouldn't do to pass out from a lack of oxygen or blood to his brain from exerting his newfound talent. With the feeling of resistance coming back from his muscles that would mean his speed of thought was outpacing the chemical reactions that fired his movements. No, that couldn't be right, Jeremy puzzled over the contradiction.

Thoughts were based on electrical impulses. He was also aware of the nerve responses coming from all over the surface of his body. It was where movement came into consideration that his emerging theory broke down. His heart was an involuntary movement and still worked at the same pace of his thoughts. His motor control of the rest of body stood outside, trapping him in a body that he couldn't move.

It would have made sense if everything inside the boundary of his skin worked on the same pace, but it clearly did not. He refused to consider the idea of a boundary lining his nervous system and only portions of his musculature. It seemed more likely that his subconscious was limiting the expanse of his talent within his body.

He would have to revisit his theory later. He was growing hungry even as he pondered his talent. However it worked it actually seemed to be draining his physical resources much faster than normal. Again, something for later. Jeremy reorganized his priorities.

He used the remaining reserves of his body within the time limit this new talent was giving him to plan out his part of the encounter. He weighed his options and assessed the likelihood of each alternative for success. There was a limited amount of information of the felines' intentions, but he knew their type and felt secure in drawing on previous experience. When he felt prepared he considered how to end the rapid pace his mind was running.

Several possible ways came to mind. In the end it was again as simple as exerting his desire to return to a normal sense of time.

The lion scoffed "Look at the bold rat, Len." he was huge, standing taller and brawnier than any of the others.

The Panther accused "Your mouth is writing checks you can't cash rat." and added a push to drive the point home. He was slim but tall, about the same height as the jaguar.

The cheetah was looking around behind them and muttered "Its clear now, but this guy ain't worth the trouble."

Jeremy pointed at the cheetah. "Allen. Allen Alversten. Its been what, a year?"

The baffled expressions of the other cats confirmed Jeremy's assumption. He had broken the pattern they were used to. He continued his strategy. Projecting calmness and a sense of fellowship he asked "Allen, how have you been?"

All three of his companions looked to Allen.

"Uh, good. Jeremy, right?" The cheetah said with a dawning expression of recognition.

"Thanks for remembering. I know we've only met a couple times." Jeremy said as he stepped out of the circle the three others had formed around him. He offered Allen his paw in greeting. He smiled easily, stepping out of the circle had been the trickiest part of his plan.

Touching pads with Jeremy the cheetah glanced at the others and said. "This is Jeremy. We went to the academy together."

Jeremy turned to look back at the three felines. They were all looking at each other sheepishly. They clearly knew they had now lost the initiative and were wondering what to do next. Jeremy pulled out his phone and turned back to Allen. "We should get together and catch up. What's your number?"

Allen recited a number slow enough for Jeremy to put it in his phone. His strategy had almost gotten him clear without having to resort to violence. Still smiling he said "Hey, I was about to have a bite to eat. If you're not committed to anything, and your friends can do without you why not join me?"

Allen smiled back at him. With a glance at the others he turned and said "Sure. They can do without me. I know a great place just blocks away. You like Thai?"

"Yeah, I love Thai." Jeremy said. He didn't turn to look at the others. He was almost out and didn't want to give them an opportunity to reengage.

Allen turned and with a glance back at his companions said "See you guys later."

Jeremy turned to glance at the other cats. They were all staring. None of them looked the least bit aggressive. Jeremy's sudden change of direction in the encounter had sidestepped their almost instinctive routine. They were literally left staring at each other wondering how their prey had gotten away.

He walked with Allen to a small diner. They took a table and Jeremy waited until they'd ordered.

"Seriously Allen, what the fuck was that?"

"Sorry?" the cheetah asked as if only then realizing he was sitting with someone that he and his friends had recently targeted for predation.

"You went to the academy and you're doing this? Preying on people? We both know you can do better."

Allen sighed. Looking down at the table he explained. "I've known those guys since I was a kit. Even after I left to go to the academy they kept in touch. No one else from the neighborhood did that." He looked up at Jeremy a moment and continued. "I guess it was just poor judgement. I never wanted to do those things. Never wanted to run with them once I knew what they'd become."

"So, they've done that to other people before?"

Allen only nodded.

"Then stop running with them."

"Its not that easy." Allen said. He was almost in tears when he looked back up from the table top. "You were smart even in the academy. I've never seen anyone do what you did to them today. You totally baffled them, I bet they still don't understand what happened." He asserted with a weak smile.

A moment later the humor left his face and he continued. "But me, I'm not that smart. I barely passed my finals."

Jeremy had lost most of his anger at the cheetah as he'd explained his story. With a sigh of his own he asserted "That still doesn't explain why you're still running with them."

Allen looked at Jeremy with a miserable expression. "Because if I'm not one of them, I'm one of you."

Jeremy looked at the rat bringing their food. His stomach rumbled at the smell when the waiter set his plate in front of him. He returned the smile of the rat as he set Allen's meal in front of him. As the rat was leaving Jeremy said "Well, you can't keep running with them forever."

Allen kept his eyes down. He didn't move as Jeremy looked at him. He realized after a few seconds the cheetah was waiting for him before starting on this own meal. He wondered just how far down on the pecking order Allen stood. He started his meal letting the cat eat in silence for a while. As he ate he started thinking on ways to help Allen out of his situation.

Allen was halfway through his meal before looking back up. Jeremy met his stare waiting for the cat to speak.

"Sorry."

Jeremy sighed. "Don't apologize to me, I made it out alive."

Allen looked back at his meal.

"I take that back, sorry." Jeremy said. He pulled his phone out and after a second texted Allen his number. He heard the phone buzz in the cheetah's pocket. "There's my mumbler, call me if you need my help."

He only nodded in reply.

"You're going to be alright with them, aren't you?"

"I'll be okay. They know they need me."

"How so?"

He looked up at Jeremy finally. "When I said I'm not as smart as you? Well, they're about as stupid to me as I must seem to you."

"I don't think you're stupid." Jeremy said as he glanced at the rat walking their way.

"Well, I'm no genius like you are. If that had been me I'd have been lunchmeat. You just walked right out from under them. I've never even heard of anything like that." He glanced at the waiter as he slid a little tray on the table with the check clipped to it.

Jeremy stared at him for several seconds. There were so many implications in what Allen had just said he didn't know where to start asking questions. It was another issue that he'd have to revisit later. He'd just had a meal and his hunger was still climbing. He was also starting to get a headache. He could only assume using his newfound talent for so long, subjectively, had taken a toll. He was beginning to feel the aftereffects much like when he'd overindulged the night of his birthday celebration.

Jeremy paid the bill and stood. "Well, I need to get home. Stay in touch, okay?"

Allen stood next to him and said "Yes, I'd like that, if its okay with you after what we tried to do."

"Well, like I said, I got away." Jeremy replied wondering himself why he'd made the effort of giving the cat his number. The plans he had for the cheetah didn't require he stay in touch. In fact the more he thought the more complications it would tend to add.

They left the cafe together only parting ways on the street. A block later Jeremy stopped at a small convenience store and bought a package of cookies and a soft drink. He usually avoided gunk food but his body was running on fumes in trying to replenish the spent energy from using his talent. He stopped at several more stores on the way home and was still hungry when he got back.

With Sam still out he set to fixing himself a huge meal, right after finding the painkillers he still had from his arm injury.

* * * *

As I expected there was a question last week on what was done to Candy Krowly to stop her from maturing as a dominant. To make it simple another dominant somewhere has the talent that includes the ability to effectively burn out her pituitary gland. After researching it to make sure that would have the desired affect the future for her is far from sunny.

I went ahead with that theory but never found a way to reintroduce her back into he story without making it seem like the stretch it would be. So here's her fate.

For people with damage to their pituitary the road ahead is full of health issues. Growth ends as does a lot of regulatory functions of the body. Without it she'll have problems with blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and a few others that she's not likely to live long enough to appreciate. She was already overweight and the lack of proper hormone levels will only make that uncontrollable.

Maybe it would have been kinder to just end her but those involved felt they were being merciful. Or maybe they just wanted to think that.