FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Light windchimes filled Clara's ears as she rolled over to one side, with an off handed tap of her paw she silenced the sound before burying herself under the covers.

Louder windchimes now filled the room, with a yielding snarl Clara leaned over to see the phrase “NEW JOB, GET UP" flashing at her from the screen which she half shielded her azure eyes from. “OH NO!" Sitting bolt upright Clara quickly got out of bed. “I completely forgot, wake up!" She stated to herself, her footpaws managing to get her to the bathroom. In the mirror she observed a bedraggled dalmatian face staring back at her, giving a soft yawn before beginning to wash her face which marked the beginning of her morning routine.

There was no sound more comforting in the morning than that of a kettle being boiled, at least in Clara's opinion, she poured boiling water into her favourite purple and black floral mug as the water changed to ruby and then the brown hue of tea. Clara let out a small yawn as she waited for the tea to steep.

Opening the fridge, Clara took out a couple of streaks of bacon before placing them in a hot pan, the sizzle of bacon and the scent of frying it soon filled the kitchen of her small apartment. With a silicon spatula she pushed the bacon around in the pan as it hissed and crackled, the fat going a golden brown. She added milk to her tea giving it a stir and then taking a long audible sip, letting out a tell-tale sigh of satisfaction at her brew. Soon enough, the bacon was finished which she added to two slices of fresh homemade brown bread.

Clara felt the warm sun on her black and white fur, it was a nice day for certain, which is why she was wearing a short sleeved red and white stripy top and soft blue turned up jeans. She paced through the cobbled streets of the town, passing a fairly small fountain in the centre of the town square the water flowed down from the spiralled stem into a pool below. The water sparkled as the sunlight danced across it. Clara walked down a narrow, cobbled street which was fortunately quiet this morning, on her left was wooden sign hanging from above a door which read Ash Leaf Bakery & Tea room. With a slow breath in and out Clara stepped forward and opened the door.

A small bell rang out as the door was opened and soon enough a tall black canine appeared at the counter, a fairly tight grey top was visible behind a black apron adorned with the Ash Leaf logo of the bakery. “You must be Clara?" He spoke in a deep yet soft butterscotch tone.

“That's me!" Clara stated as she looked over this tall man.

“Well I'm Dominic, worked in a bakery before?" there it was again, the warm butterscotch tone coating Clara's alert ears. She shook her head.

“Can't say I have. Though I'm certainly up for the challenge!" Clara let out a determined smile.

“Well that's certainly the spirit!" There was a slight pause while Dominic looked through a list of tasks to do, he then set down the piece of paper and smiled to Clara. “Come with me then I had best show you the ropes." He then headed into the back. Clara followed closely, revealing a small kitchen. Dominic guided her around pointing out various stations and appliances “So here we have the ovens, very important to keep an eye on the time when it comes to those." Then Dominic opened a large shining metal door, it slowly opened; Clara felt a rush of cold hit through her fur, her ears perking up at the sudden change in temperature. “This is our fridge, you'll find pretty much everything you need in here, Clara." He let out a slight shiver, his form tensing under his tight grey shirt. Dominic then walked over to a workstation where he had already prepared ingredients. “I'll be showing you how to bake things, first up is the cinnamon bun."

Clara watched Dominic set the ovens to 180c as well as preparing the cake tins. He then gave her a mixing bowl. “Oh, don't worry; I've got this bit!" Clara stated as she began adding sugar, salt, cinnamon and flour into the bowl, mixing it up fairly swiftly with a wooden spoon. Clara inhaled the scent of cinnamon a scent she could work with every day and never tire from. She picked up a whisk from the counter and began to whisk in the egg yolks, milk and butter into the dry mixture, turning it a golden cream colour.

“Not bad, not bad at all, Clara" Dominic stated, looking over the workstation toward her. He then took the newly formed dough and flattened it with a rolling pin, flour covering his black furred arms. “Now what we do is divide it into even pieces." He took a small sharp knife and divided the dough. He then placed the slices of dough into a familiar arrangement in the baking tin. He took a small bowl of milk and brushed it over the top of the cinnamon rolls. “Now all that's left to do is let them cook" He smiled to Clara as he placed them into the oven, its warmth bathing over Clara who nodded.

“I guess you have to get used to the changing temperatures in here?" Clara inquired.

“Certainly, its quite easy though, go to the fridge to cool down, go to the ovens to warm up!" Dominic chuckled. “You'll get used to it."

“So how many of these do you need me to make?"

“Make another four batches, they sell really quickly especially when they're warm and it's a cold day."

Clara nodded; she heard the faint ding of the doorbell. “Oh, I'd best see what our customer wants." Dominic turned and headed through the door. Clara getting a view at the back of the tall canine, a large smile dawning on her face. It would appear the sweetest buns in the bakery weren't of the cinnamon variety.