FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“Look, I'm sorry, but there's just no more spots available. Everything's booked." The man in the booth said. His facial expression was an attempt at looking a apologetic, but there was no hiding the boredom in his eyes.

“What about something headed to a closer port?" Nari pressed. “Kurvaz? Yaokul?"

“Not for this week's rotation no. Its just very bad timing, really. There should be another boat that puts you on that particular trade route..." the man trailed off vaguely as he consulted a chart tacked to the interior wall of the booth. “...almost two weeks from now. Twelve days, if you want to be exact."

“Oh gods damnit, that's no good. What about..."

“Look..." the voice cutting him off was decidedly less friendly, and firmly on the side of fed up. “I've told you what's available. If I had an option, I'd have given it to you to get you out of my hair. My shift is basically over, so, please. Leave. Good evening."

What followed was the swift rolling down of a wooden slat curtain that clattered into place, signaling the ticket booth's definitive closing.

Nari was tempted to kick at the weathered structure, but decided against it. The last thing he needed was any harbor guards taking an interest in him. He hefted the hefty sailor's bag slung over one shoulder and looked around, feeling panic slowly creeping up his stomach. The sun starting to slowly set, and already the harbor was about half-empty, with four or so ships already making their way out into the bay, and headed for the distant lands across the Pardesian sea.

“Gods, there's gotta be someone. Anyone."

He started walking, heading down the docks, mostly out of lack of anything else more productive to do. The calls of seagulls was ever-present in the air, along with the creak and rock of the docked boats. Here and there a ship bell clanged softly as a gust of breeze hit it just right. He ran a hand down his face, fighting to keep tears of frustration from welling up in his tired eyes.

“All outta tickets, huh?"

Nari jumped, not having heard anyone coming by as a voice piped up next to him.

A pair of amused green eyes glanced back at him, bright as gems. Feline.

Nari recognized the pantherman standing next to him as an onekoma. One of the large felinefolk from the eastern lands. He stood bare-chested, fur rough from the salty air, with faint, darker rosettes scattered across his shoulders and back. He wore simple sailing pants, cinched with a leather belt that had a pair of sheathed daggers hanging to either side. He walked barefoot, but Nari could see silver and golden studs glittering along the edge of his rounded ears. A leather cord dangled around his neck, carved wooden beads resting over the valley between two meaty pecs.

“You trying to head east?"

The voice snapped him back to the moment with a surge of panic as he realized he'd been staring at the male's chest. He looked up at those same green eyes, keenly aware of the half a head of height the feline had on him. He swallowed briefly.

“N-north east, actually. Savany Silk route." he lied, partly. That route shared its first half with his actual intended route. “But there's nothing headed out as far as Yaokul even."

The onekoma snorted, crossing arms over his chest. His limbs looked solid and sinewy, the fading sun along his pelt highlighting more than a few old and not so old scars that ran along them.

“Makes sense, around this time of year. Storms pick up a lot, makes a lot of folks thing twice about a crossing. Only the very experienced or the very foolish try to brave it. After all, it's a big risk for a big reward. Lots of gold to be made for bringing in goods to port that nobody else is." Those green eyes looked Nari up and down, taking in his build and his clothes and the bag slung over his back. The human thought he saw a hint of an amused smirk at the corner of the feline's lips, but it was gone before he spoke up again. “If you're truly desperate to make it onto an eastern route, there's room on our ship. However, we're not a passenger ship."

Nari's eyes lit up. “Its...that's fine. I'll sit in a crate if I have to if it'll at least get me to Yaokul."

The feline chuckled. “We have more room than that. The crew though, is more like me. And worse." He said, studying Nari's face as he spoke. “If you think you can travel with some eastern heathens and some green-skins and monsters."

Nari swallowed. “I don't...I mean. Look, I'll travel with anyone. Long as they're not trying to make me into extra rations for the trip, or something like that."

A genuine grin pulled dark lips back from white, sharp teeth as the onekoma laughed. “Hah! Worry not. I'm sure your people love to spread tales of beastfolk devouring humans, but we have far better food onboard." He smirked, and a heavy hand landed on Nari's shoulders. “I think you will get along with us fine. Come," he said, giving him a half-tug to get him to start walking with him.

Nari half-stumbled, catching himself before following behind the feline. He watched that thickly muscular neck turn that rounded head as the onekoma glanced back at him over his shoulder.

“My name is Kazeem, by the way."

The human blinked, half-pausing but then hurrying on along Kazeem.

“I'm Nari." he said, then continued, unable to help himself. “I...didn't expect you to have a pardan name."

“Well, Nari, my father was born here. A very long time ago, he made a very risky journey to leave this country." the feline explained, his voice dropping a bit lower as they went. He glanced back at Nari as they walked, side by side. “It would seem risk taking runs in my family. It certainly seems to keep finding me in my travels." the cat chuckled.

Nari could feel his heart beating faster as they approached a ship at the far end of the docks, alone and away from the other ships. He could see others working to finish loading it up, large orcs hefting heavy crates, while here and there a ratman or goblin scurried along the rigging, checking on the ropes and sails. He could see several humans as well. Swarthy northland folk with their golden hair, and even a couple of pardans like himself. He looked back at Kazeem.

“Well, you said it yourself before. Big risk for a big reward, right?"

“Atta boy." Kazeem grinned. “And you said you'd travel with anyone."

“I did. Anyone would do to get out of here. But I think it will be a much better trip, going with someone like you."

Kazeen smirked, big hand coming to rest on lean shoulders as he led Nari forward. “I think, I would agree. Let's get you aboard, Nari. I've got several someone's that are gonna love to meet you."