FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Original story by: Courgus

Translated by: Erazaa

The sun's rays of the coming morning slowly fell through the forest. Sporadically they met the small hut at the foot of the mountain. Slowly, the sun's rays also reached Varshgar's bed. But not only he was lying on the bed. Overnight Adriana had also booked the bed and was now lying on it, snuggled close to Varshgar. His fur was so warm that it acted as a blanket for her. But also the fire, which burned in the fireplace next to her ensured that it remained comfortably warm in the hut.

When the sun's rays hit Adriana's face, she slowly started to wake up. She hadn't noticed that she was now sleeping on the bed instead of next to it, on the stool, even though it wasn't clear to her how she had gotten there

"Well...?" she thought for a moment as she considered where exactly she was. But then the comforting scent of Varshgar's fur rose to her nose.

"Ah... all right." she thought to herself as she took note.

She lingered a moment longer, not wanting to ruin this perfect moment. On top of that, it was nice and warm. As she was about to rise, she felt something.

Darios stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.

>>Adriana?<< he said with a smile on his lips.>>Darios? You're up already?<<

He smiled and nodded.

>>Yes. I made us something to eat.<< Adriana looked briefly at Varshgar who was still asleep.

She nodded and got up. For her, for now, everything was fine.

Darios had prepared some sandwiches and put some fruit on the table which was a great sight for Adriana.

They sat down and began to eat.

>>Say. When do we need new supplies?<<

>>I think in a day or two we will have to get some.<<

>>Good. Then I'll know.<< said Adriana who was eating an apple.

It was juicy and green just the way she liked it.

She let out a long and joyful sigh at the delicious apple that began to cloud her senses.

>>Gorgeous!<< it escaped her.

In her mind, however, she would have found it even more delicious if Varshgar had been with them. But that was unfortunately not so. He was still not conscious, but she hoped he would be the longer it took. Darios knew how Adriana felt, even if she didn't show it, let alone talk about it.

Her thoughts were only with Varshgar and to be honest Darios could understand it. Darios and Adriana did everything they could to bring peace to a downtrodden and oppressed people. They were always met with more waves than they had behind them.

Nevertheless, they did everything so that they would succeed. For Darios, there was no question. There was no option to fail, because to fail meant to him that a people would perish. That, at least, had been his unanimous opinion on the subject of war with the Wolf Clan. On the other hand, he could not hear the topic anymore. It had always been a slap in the face for him when he encountered the ignorance and intolerance of other colleagues.

Darios was still distracted and Adriana knew that he was thinking about everything again. His look always told her what was on his mind. It was not clear to him, but Darios was literally staring at Varshgar lying on the bed.

>>Are you thinking about what is going wrong?<< Adriana asked.

Even if he was only slightly absent, he still heard Adriana's question. He nodded in agreement to her question. Actually she did not have to ask, but she did not want him to think about it in silence.

>>What were you thinking about?<<

Darios organized his thoughts, which had been diffused up to this point. There was so much he could have said now, but the most important thing was the wolf clan.

>>I had to think about what others are destroying. They destroy a culture and their people. They exterminate it without a reason. War is indicated here as a cause however over the consequences makes itself nobody thoughts.<<

>>Unless we...<< Adriana added a moment later.

>>Yes, I suppose we do. And yet I wish we could do more.<<

>>And what would you like to do?<< she asked again.

>>Wake up Varshgar!<<

Darios' gaze was determined and a spark of conviction was visible in it. He wanted, at any cost, to wake Varshgar up even if he had no idea how.

>>So what can we do?<< his sister asked, looking towards Varshgar.

>>I have already looked through my books. But I don't know for sure.<< he said.

>>What is it?

Darios looked down and then at Adriana.

>>I have no knowledge of the physiology of the wolves of the Wolf Clan. Are they similar to us or are there anatomical differences? Well this question is easy to answer. But what is it like inside them...<<

>>So there are more questions than answers.<< Adriana held.

>>Yes.<< said Darios and nodded to it.

>>Are there any remedies that can be used without risking anything?<< Adriana asked curiously.

>>I had thought about making some kind of scent with different herbs or using smelling salts. This I did on the assumption that they smell better than we do. But I was not sure whether the smelling salt could not be much too strong. It must not corrode his airways, you understand?<< he asked her.

Of course, Adriana understood perfectly what he was getting at, but she was also at a loss. Adriana thought and quickly realized that it could not smell.

Varshgar was in a hut full of all the different smells one could imagine. From the fire burning next to him in the fireplace to the spices in the kitchen, it was an abundance of smells. If they were going to do anything then it should have happened by now.

>>I don't think smells are an approach...<< she said and then elaborated on her thought.

Darios listened to her excitedly and nodded. He had to admit that these considerations were very well thought out and followed a really clever approach.

>>You are right, sister. That is really very wise.<<

Darios realized that he had reached a dead end, but he was also sure that Adriana could help him get out of it and get Varshgar back on his feet.

>>But where else can we start?<< he asked Adriana.

>>Well... I was wondering if he could sense or maybe even react to external stimuli. Like twitching or something.<< she elaborated.

Darios thought and tried to use what Adriana had said.

>>We can't just douse him with water that won't do any good. The heat...well it's certainly not what will bring a reaction. Maybe cooling him down?<< Darios asked, thinking aloud.

>>But he's wearing fur. Why would he react to that? We can't see if he gets goosebumps or not. He won't be shivering with that bit of cold either, I guess.<< said Adriana.

Darios nodded again, even if the approaches were good, nothing fit together.

>>What about the information about the Furies?<< Adriana asked in surprise.

Darios looked up and looked at Adriana questioningly.

>>I mean... are there any reports or references in the records to some sort of... sleeping state among the Furies?<<

Darios considered for a moment.

"Had I read something like that before?" he wondered but couldn't think of an answer.

>>To be honest, I don't know. I don't remember ever having read or heard of such a thing.<< he said thoughtfully.

>>Maybe it would help us to investigate what happened in the forest? I mean the moment when Varshgar fainted.<< Adriana asked.

>>You mean that we can make a connection or a link with the fainting?<< Darios reasoned.

>>Exactly! What if Varshgar is exhausted? He simply lacks energy?<< it escaped her.

Darios thought. There was such a similar disease among humans. They did not wake up if they did not have enough strength, but it was caused by the bite of a sick animal that carried parasites. The parasite fed on the host's strength until it was emaciated. Then the parasite moved on. Usually the host died in the process.

>>I don't know but it could be an approach. There is a reference - a parasite - that can cause a similar phenomenon in us humans.<<

Darios stood up and walked over to his table.

>>The disease, sleep syndrome, was treated by feeding the sick person enough energy to overeat the parasite. He then died because he had, so to speak, overheated himself. What was the name of this plant...<< Darios said tensely and turned over his book.

Page after page he turned, but nothing could be found. He put the book aside and took a herbarium from the shelf. Again he flipped through the pages, but then he came across the answer.

>>Here! It is a widespread species of poppy. The so-called white thorn rain poppy. This poppy actually grows everywhere. It was used to make tea that was given to the patients. It works for exhaustion or symptoms of exhaustion. Maybe that will help us.<< he said with satisfaction.

>>Hawthorn poppy... wait let me see.<< Adriana said and went to the kitchen. The kitchen was her sacred realm since she had put it away. She always knew exactly where to find what.

>>Here it is. We still have a whole can full of it and it's already made into tea. I'll put some on right away.<< she said and went to the stove with it.

She quickly threw some logs into the stove, grabbed some tinder and a piece of paper. She wrapped the paper around a smaller stick that she had dried and went to the fireplace. There she lit it and brought it back to the fireplace.

Quickly the fire began to burn and she closed the door.

She had the water in a bucket and poured it into a small kettle. It took some time but the water began to boil and she put the tea into a capsule with fine holes in it.

>>So. Let it steep and then it will be ready.

>>Then I hope we have something here that will get him back on his feet. It won't hurt either, I guess.<< said Darios who hoped more than he knew.

>>I wish we knew more about them.<< said Adriana.

The scent of tea slowly but surely began to fill the room. It drifted throughout the room, smelling like a composition of different herbs and fruits.

>>It smells wonderful!<< held Darios.

Adriana nodded and had to agree with him unconditionally. Actually, Adriana liked the tea very much, but at the moment she hoped it would help Varshgar more than it would taste good. For a while, Adriana remained at Varshgar's side, gazing at him. Her hope was that they had finally found an approach that would help him regain consciousness. She finished one last thought and then rose. She went to the kitchen, poured some of the tea into a big jug and went back to Varshgar with it. Now she began to think. How could she give him the tea without him choking on it or even hurting him. But then Darios joined in.

>>Are you ready?<< he asked. But he saw the doubt in Adriana's eyes.

>>I know how to do it without him swallowing or suffering pain.<< he said.

>>In the records I have read some more about how to give the unconscious patients tea without having a hard time. Let's see if I can do it this way.<< he said. Darios stood at the head of the bed and helped Adriana get him up. Then he sat behind him and they leaned Varshgar back against Darios. Varshgar now sat upright as if he were just sitting on the bed.

>>And now?<< Adriana asked tensely.

>>So wait a moment.<< said Darios who now touched a spot on Varshgar's neck. She could see him swallowing without being awake.

>>Did it work?<< he asked.

>>Yes it did.<< she said happily, now more confident than before.

>>Good. The jaw should be loose anyway so you can just put the jug on. But don't fill it too much.<< Darios said, leaning his head back from him slightly.

Adriana put the pitcher on and very carefully poured some of the tea into his mouth. Then Darios did what he had done before and Varshgar gulped down the tea. They repeated this a few times until the tea kettle was half empty.

>>Now we have to wait and see if it works.<< said Darios.

>>I will stay with him.<< she said with hope in her eyes.

>>Yes, I know.<< said Darios and nodded because it was clear to him that Adriana would not abandon him.

So Darios went back to his desk and sat down. He kept a diary of exactly what they had done and how everything went.

"I hope it helps..." he thought to himself.