FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The air beyond Felix's apartment walls was a bit more chilling than he had hoped for, but then again the little fox was easily susceptible to cold. Kaiser however had no issues at all, sporting a simple pair of jeans and what appeared to be a Gators T-Shirt. Felix found it admirable how dedicated Kaiser was to his team, and even if they weren't the best football team in the world, he never seemed to give up on the idea of catching the right person's attention someday. He always walked with his head high, shoulders back. He had something Felix never could truly muster up.

...Confidence...

Admittedly it was a bit intimidating, but then again it was also refreshing to be in the company of someone who knew how to self motivate and keep pushing forward no matter the circumstance or issues that they were faced with. "So tell me this Felix.", Kaiser suddenly spoke up. The fox quickly perked an ear. "How long have you been doing art for?" The question no doubt caught him off guard. No one ever really cared that much to ask. "Well let's see. I started off at the age of six, back then it was just doodles really, but I always had this fascination with the ability to take something from within my mind, or another's, and bring it to life. There's just something so empowering about being able to turn a dream into reality." The fox continued on, completely animated, bubbling with excitement. Kaiser had no choice but to smile at the sight. It was nice to be able to hear about someone else for once.

They had a few more blocks to go now, just a bit further down the road past some old downtown buildings until they reached the bay area. He could smell the sea already. Kaiser was leading the way to one of Cape Cavada's most notorious eateries. At least for the college kids. Gregg's Place. It was fairly priced, had great food, and best of all, was right near the beach. What more could you ask for?

"So once I finished High school, I had already accumulated over 150 drawings. Mostly rough sketches but I still have some to this day! I'm 22 now.. So all in all I'd say I've been doing this for just over fifteen years! "Kaiser was in disbelief at the statement. "Fifteen years?!" You've been drawing for that long Felix? Felix shook his head and smiled. "Not just drawing, but painting too!" Kaiser laughed to himself in a way that said, "I cannot believe this guy.". That's some serious dedication Felix. Surely you've got some pretty big plans then?

...If only he knew...

Felix suddenly lost his light. As if the question were asked too heavily and the breath came out too fast, blowing out the flame within the fox's heart. His ears drooped, and he stopped walking suddenly. It took the dog a second, he was so set on the scenery around them that he almost didn't notice the Fox's sudden absence. He quickly stopped and turned around, moving back over to Felix's side. "What's the matter?.." No response. "Felix?.. Are you ok-". He was abruptly cut off. "For years now I've asked myself that same question.. I don't even think I know what it is I truly want to do with it all. Some days I want to be an illustrator. Others I'd want nothing more than for my still drawings to be turned into live and animated characters on a screen. Then there's days where I feel like it's all going to end in futility anyway so what's the point?"

Kaiser could tell that he'd opened up something with the last question. He gently placed his paw on the suddenly spiraling fox and smiled, hoping to calm him a bit. "Y'know I don't think there's any reason why you couldn't do all of it. The biggest obstacle we oftentimes have to overcome is ourselves." Felix sighed. He knew that the dog was right. But he also despised the fact that Kaier's level of confidence was so much different than his own. It was almost envy. "If I could follow through with one thing that I wanted to do Kaiser, I don't think I'd even be in this position right now. Kaiser nodded, taking in the statement before retorting. "I think you give yourself way less credit than what you're due." Felix tilted his head. What was he trying to say? "You just spilled out your entire adventure of honing your artistic abilities to me not five minutes ago. Didn't you just tell me you've been doing this for fifteen years now?" Felix nodded quietly. "That's a long time Felix. You dedicated yourself to bettering yourself and I'll be damned if you didn't! I mean come on! That picture you drew? It was like I was standing right in front of you. There's no way I could ever do anything like that."

Oh god.. The drawing. Did he HAVE to bring that up again? "Yeah Kaiser, but I haven't ever done anything with it you see? I've never had the drive.". He said this with a heavy heart. It was very personal, an obvious struggle that he faced daily.

"Felix, you have all the dedication in the world, I just think you're so busy beating yourself up all the time that you can't see the bigger picture here.. No pun intended." He smirked, which in turn got Felix to crack a smile. He was right.. It wasn't dedication. It all boiled down to his confidence. "And if you need support. If you need someone to help motivate you.. Well.. Then.. I can help! Of course then you know I'd expect to see some more awesome drawings of myself.". Felix laughed and shook his head. "Self absorbed much?" Kaiser chuckled and nudged the Fox gently. "Nah, you just make me look better than I ever could do justice." What a comment that was. Felix detected a hint of insecurity masked behind that joke. Then again, the majority of us were used to masking our insecurities with comedy nowadays. "I'd like that Kaiser.. I really would." He said with a soft, more serious tone as he gazed up at those big blue eyes again, smiling wide. Kaiser nodded and smiled back before reaching out and patting the fox's head. "Alright well then it's settled. I'll buy you lunch, and you draw me like one of your French Furs." At that, he was off again towards the destination.

...W H A T???

The remainder of the walk was filled with jokes and laughter. Mainly those about Kaiser's undeniable obsession with being drawn naked.

"Look, all I'm saying is that if you're going to draw someone, at least get the whole package." Felix was shrieking with laughter at the puns. It was too much. His sides were aching, his eyes watering. This dog knew how to make him laugh. As they approached the front doors of the diner he had to stop for a moment to catch his breath and regain himself.

Gregg's Place. Admittedly, he wasn't very familiar. He had come here once with a couple of friends months back, but it wasn't anything to write home about in his opinion. Then again he never actually tried the food. The majority of his time there had been spent out back on the deck, drawing the scenery of a sunset over the ocean. As they entered the obviously aged restaurant through the glass doors, they were greeted by a very personable feline named Darin. At least that's what his name tag said. "Hey guys! Just have a seat wherever you like and one of us will be right with you okay?" Kaiser nodded and thanked the cat, before slowly making his way through towards the back to a table near a window.

This place wasn't all too bad actually. Nice, cozy. Had a very coastal feel to it. Lots of pictures of boats and fishermen, the usual knick knacks of pirate ships and old boats. They even had a novelty singing bass hanging over the bar.

...What a lovely addition...

As they both took their seats in a booth isolated away from others, Kaiser wasted no time in swooping up a menu and scanning over it. Felix was relieved that the shepherd decided to sit as far away from others as possible. It wasn't really that Felix didn't like being around others.. But for some reason he felt much more comfortable being able to have a bit of privacy with Kaiser for now.

"So have you ever been here before?" Kaiser asked with a smug look. It was obvious he had hopes of surprising the fox. Not wanting to spoil that, Felix shrugged and said, "Nope, never! It's pretty cool looking though." Technically it wasn't all a lie. After all, he never had the food.

Kaiser smirked and quickly snatched the menu from Felix's grasp as he was picking it up to look it over. "Hey! Give it back!" He squeaked out as he reached over the table to no avail. The dog had pulled it well out of range. "Ab-so-lute-ly not! The shepherd said with a grin. "You haven't lived until you've tried the fish and chips here, and that's exactly what we're getting." Felix tried to argue but it was no use, Kaiser was dead set on this decision.

"I'm telling you now, no one comes here for anything else but this!" He said before glancing out the window beside him. Except for this amazing scenery of course.." The dog said as he drifted off into thought, watching the waves roll in and out onto the beach. For a moment he drifted off, remembering the dream he had last night. The sand engulfing him, the sudden depth of the ocean surrounding him, the body, the voice.

...The face...

Kaiser was so lost in thought that he almost didn't notice the food being placed onto the table in front of him, but as soon as his nose caught a whiff of that delicious battered fish, he quickly came back to reality.

"I don't know if I can eat all of this!", Felix said with wide eyes. The plate was enormous. Stacked high with fries and two generously sized pieces of fried fish. "That's okay, they have to go boxes!" Kaiser said with a mouth full of food. Felix giggled and shook his head. How Charming.

Felix really dug in, and by the end of it all, to his surprise he had essentially finished his entire plate. How that could even be possible was beyond him, but one thing was for sure. He was stuffed.

"So what did you think?" The dog said with a cheeky grin. Felix pretended to ponder for a moment before giving his answer. "All I'm saying is that I don't think I've ever finished an entire plate of anything for as long as I've been alive." Kaiser clutched a fist and said aloud "Success!" Felix giggled and blushed. "And hey if I keep this up, maybe I won't have to worry about you blowing away in the wind!" Felix shook his head and rolled his eyes slightly. "Keep on dreaming sweetie, I've been this tiny longer than I can remember and I don't think it'll change now." Kaiser nodded in understanding and gently picked up a fry, pushing it towards Felix's snout. "I guess I'll just have to try harder then, because as I'm sure you already know, I don't take no for an answer."

Felix blushed a bit harder now as he quickly snatched the fry from Kaiser's paw and turned to hide his face.

...Why did he care so much?...

After another 20 minutes or so of chatting and Felix practically forcing Kaiser not to order him any desert, the sudden and oh so familiar feeling of stress and anxiety crept its way back into Felix's life, carefully draping itself over his shoulders like a blanket of evil. For there in the doorway of the restaurant came a face he had hoped he would never have to see again..

Over towards the bar strolled a tall, lanky wolf. Black fur, golden eyes, and a really shitty personality. He quickly pulled off his leather jacket and let it rest on the seat behind him as he ordered a drink. He hadn't noticed Felix yet, and hopefully it would stay that way.

His name was Jackson. He and Felix had met up when he first started school in Cape Cavada. Jackson is the type of guy you want to steer clear of. He's a smooth talker, but knows how to really fuck your life up in an instant without you even realizing it's happening. Felix had the displeasure of dating said wolf for a period of time in his life, and in short, was used. He should've expected nothing less from such a narcissistic vain fur, but then again when you go for years without a paw to hold you take what you can get. Safe to say that the relationship didn't last long. After Jackson got what he wanted, he left without a care in the world. As far as Felix knew, he didn't even attend university anymore. No telling what he was up to now and quite frankly he didn't care. He was just another nail in the coffin that was Felix's trust for guys.

"Hey.. Do you think it'd be okay if we went ahead and left?.." Felix said softly. Kaiser raised a brow. "Now? But it'll be sunset soon, and I know how much you like th-" Felix quickly cut him off. "I don't care about it, I just wanna go.." Kaiser was confused to say the least with this sudden mood change, but little to Felix's knowledge, as he kept his gaze upon the table, the shepherd noticed a very strange wolf staring right at the fox then to him. Kaiser knew exactly what was going on here.. So, without hesitation he decided to oblige Felix's request, but not in the way the fox would've ever guessed.

The next thing Felix knew, he felt a warm paw grasp his own and give him a gentle tug. "C'mon sweetie, let's get going." Felix turned beet red, sideswiped by confusion as this dog he had been crushing over suddenly was holding his paw firmly. "W-What are you doing?" He whimpered out. Kaiser just tugged again and said, "C'mon, let's go." Felix decided to give up making sense of the entire thing and just followed his lead. Was he doing what he thought he was?..

As they strolled past the wolf, Felix kept his head to the floor, not daring to make eye contact. Kaiser shot the wolf a smirk as they made their way past him at to the front doors, strolling out into the setting sunlight of a coastal evening.

As they made their way down the sidewalk a-ways, Felix finally spoke up. "You didn't have to do that y'know.. He was just an ex.. Not a big deal. At last, Kaiser finally let go of Felix's paw and smiled, gently tapping his chin to steal back the fox's eyes. "I kinda had a feeling about that weirdo who couldn't help but stare at us.. So I figured I'd remind him of what he was missing out on."

Felix felt his heart melting within his chest, he pulled his gaze away and looked down at the ground, smiling bigger than his muzzle probably would allow. "Thanks.. I just.." He trailed off. Kaiser quickly spoke up. "You just what?"

Felix sighed and struggled to speak again. Stammering as he did. "I g-guess I just don't see what it is he or anyone else is missing out on you know?.."

Without hesitation the dog quickly took hold of Felix's paw once more, forcing the fox's eyes to dart back up towards the dogs as he gazed silently.

"A really great guy, and a wonderful friend..."

...Friend...

END OF CHAPTER 7