FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Anna watched from the top of a dead streetlight. For the first time since being granted a new body she was glad to be small. No one noticed the little gryphon perched on the cap of the darkened streetlamp thirty feet over their heads.

Through most of the day just ended she'd flitted from one place to another, just watching. Most were only interested in getting out of the city, until later in the day. Once most had made their exodus that left those willing to take a few risks. The first break-in she witnessed had been at a Bartell Drugs. It was as if once the gates of the store had been breached a signal had been sent out and the hordes arrived. From out of nowhere people came, entered and left carrying boxes and bags, obviously taking what they wanted and was on offer.

Less than half an hour later she heard glass breaking up the block and the process began again. By late afternoon roving bands of people went from one looted store to the next. She watched one young man that looked no older than twelve wander into a liquor store and come out with a bag full of goods he had no right to even purchase. In the end she was no better.

Once hunger drove her to claim food she had no way to pay for she felt a little less judgmental. She picked one of the Ivar's on the Waterfront to dine and dash. The landmark had been broken into and windows broken out of, and the chairs had been thrown out and were now scattered everywhere on the pier. Hovering outside the windows just long enough to check for vandals Anna picked her moment. She was inside and down behind the counter in the blink of an eye.

Searching the dark kitchen she hunted for any leftovers. None of the famous fish was left. Nor was there anything substantial. Not even a scrap of potato or tasty breading. Condiments were scattered everywhere, as well as utensils and other tools. Getting out was just as easy as entering for her. She went to the Ivars one door over to find the place emptied just as thoroughly. Having more than one storefront and a Seattle icon did little to help Mister Haglund's establishment from being looted as much as anyone else. It took an hour of searching through looted eateries before she found enough leftover scraps to satisfy her hunger. The rest of the day she kept out of sight and high enough to remain unnoticed.

Most of those below her were busy taking. Shops were being looted, and some of them set on fire. The trouble was, and she wondered if the looters even considered this, there were apartments and condos above most of the shops they were gutting.

At her size there was nothing she could do to stop so many that had lost all sense of normalcy.

With darkness closing in and fires spreading Anna knew she had to get out while she could. Things were only going to get worse.

Spreading her wings she lifted off the lamp and rose into the air.

Unlike Glen, who needed to spring into the air to launch himself, Anna could simply start flapping her wings and lift herself into the air. She reached the cleaner air over the city and searched for a place to stay for the night. She hadn't had any problem staying safely away from strangers while scrounging for food. She'd discovered she was too fast and nimble in the air for anyone to hope to catch her. She was also clever enough to spot what she wanted, zip in, land, grab it, and be off before anyone had a chance to react to her presence.

Whatever had changed her had also cranked up her internal clock. Her sense of time now made everyone and everything around here look like they were swimming in molasses. It was as if her cognitive running speed was like a new generation computer. Whatever it was that had put the hummingbird puzzle part in her had made sure it was connected to her sense of time.

She had always liked hummingbirds, had put out a feeder out in the yard when she was growing up and knew how fast they were. If their metabolism was to be considered at a 9.5 out of a 10, then she thought she now operated at an easy 8. Up high she could sense a breeze coming in from The Sound. She flew into it gaining ever clearer air.

At the Waterfront she spotted a perfect place for the night. The Great Seattle Wheel was still and dark now. The huge ferris wheel had large cars shaped like plastic bubbles where people would ride. Hovering outside several of the enclosed cars Anna saw that if nothing else the operator had seen to it that they had been evacuated. It took her a number of tries to get a grab hold on the door handle of one of the cabs. Her feet and claws were not made to grasp metal and glass.

The rescue effort had left its mark. She'd never rode the wheel but seeing obvious pry marks and the strip of duct tape to keep the door closed Anna guessed they had had to break in to reach those trapped inside. She wondered for a moment on how they had been able to rotate the huge wheel to get to each of the cabs but put the mystery aside. She pulled at he door but it wouldn't budge and having made the effort she started slipping down off the door. She'd had to regain a little altitude to try again.

It took several more tries to get a bit of practice to get the door opened. Before she flew into the cab she examined the inner part of the door. The last thing she wanted was to get stuck inside the cab at the top of the wheel. Should she trap herself there would be no one to come to her aid. To her it looked like the only thing that had held the door closed was the tape.

Inside she sat on the seat and looked around. The seat cushion felt soft enough, and the cab was roomy considering her stature. She looked at the door again wanting to be sure it wouldn't swing closed and slam itself shut and lock her inside. Rearing up on her hind feet to look at the glass behind her seat Anna read the instructions at the bottom of the window. It brought back memories of reading the short instructions on the back windows of the bus she had rode to school. She could, if she needed, push out the glass and escape.

It took her a few minutes to get the tape off the outside of the door and tape the door closed from inside. Secure in her temporary nest Anna settled in for the night.

She had no idea how long she'd slept before she came to full wakefulness. She felt as if something had happened. Looking around and seeing the car lit by dim moonlight she saw nothing to explain why her nerves were on edge. Moving only her head and ears she listened for anything that might have startled her awake. After several minutes she rested her head back and tried to relax but it would be more than half an hour before she found sleep again.