FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The three friends sat at the small cafe where the confrontation began. Coffee sat cooling on their table as they stayed silent in the nearly empty cafe, tension high as they waited for Ian's mother and father to arrive. The hot beverages left untouched as they simply waited and prepared in their own ways. Max checked his weathered pistol in his lap before re-holstering and recalling where his nearest stash of medical supplies was. Ian seemed to be meditating with deep breaths and closed eyes and Eli simply warmed her hands around the ceramic mug flicking her tongue to take in the flavor from the air.

The staff and other patrons knew what was coming when their small group stepped in. Scabbed over wounds and hushed voices spoke to their desire to not be disturbed after the coffee was brought to their table. Max's furrowed brow stayed locked onto the glass pane door as he waited for the new party to join them in their small alcove. Hushed whispers were shared between the few other patrons before they quickly left. “Bet they'll be spreading more rumors about this little 'get together'. Hopefully it won't be as bad as the last ones." Max was dejected as he leaned back in his chair crossing his arms, starting to feel the days of stress and sleepless nights bearing down on him.

“Are you alright? You're looking a bit worn down." Eli tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder that he leaned into. Her recently warmed hand radiating some of that heat back into him. His shoulders slumped as his brow relaxed and looked back to her with a light smile.

“Just a bit antsy is all…well, I am tired, but I'll get over it." Max rubbed his burning eyes before focusing back on the door. “We can't slow down just yet. If we can solve this here then we'll finally get some breathing room to relax."

Ian chuckled as his eyes opened, looking over to his friends. “If this goes well, and everything is settled, I'm going on vacation. Had enough stress and excitement in just one night I feel like I need a week."

“Hell if this goes well, I'll take us all on vacation for a month. Finances be damned, I think we've all earned it." Max leaned forward as Eli leaned in to give his cheek a light kiss.

“It doesn't matter to me if we stay or go. I'm just happy we're alright as of now." Eli leaned into his shoulder just to absorb a bit more of his body heat. “Although the beach sounds divine right about now. I like the snow but I can only stay cooped up for so long without the sun."

“If this gets settled here I'll take us all on vacation to the Bahamas. Hell, I'll get Noah, Chel and the kids in on it too. It'll even be pretty cheap with all of the flight time I've put in." Leaning back into her, Eli took a moment to process what he said.

“I thought you said you'd never go to Florida." Max chuckled as he looked back at her with a light smile. “What changed?"

“I'll never move there. Vacations are fine, especially when it's seeing family, but as of now no, I'm not moving there." The three laughed as they continued to wait, their coffee now cold and forgotten on the table as the large white SUV pulled in front of the cafe.

The light chatter behind the counter dies down entirely. She rose from the driver's seat in a smooth motion. Silver rimmed sunglasses sat across her eyes as her towering form loomed over a few pedestrians that quickly shuffled past her. Her husband quickly moved to the entrance from the passenger side of the vehicle before opening for her. A few whispered words and a loving chaste kiss between the two was had before she entered and was followed closely by Destin.

She towered over the group standing easily above six and a half feet. Simple clothing of long jeans and plain shoes for her digitigrade legs were accented by the black leather jacket that was taut across her shoulders and arms. Her covered eyes looked over the individuals before settling on Ian. “My sweet boy!" She pulled him from his seat and wrapped him in a tight hug, feet dangling above the ground as she embraced her son. “Thank god you're okay, I was so worried when you didn't call!"

Max and Eli were just confused as Ian's ears blushed a harsh shade of crimson in embarrassment. “Ye-yeah ma. Missed you too." His back cracked as her hug tightened and he whispered his next strained words. “Ma, you're embarrassing me in front of my friends."

He was dropped to his feet unceremoniously as her still-covered eyes looked over to the other human in their company. “Your friends? Do you mean the ones that dragged you into this whole mess? Forgive me if I'm not too favorable to the company you're keeping."

Ian rubbed the back of his neck as he shrugged to Max and Eli before trying to explain. “Ma they've been good to me, hell even saved my life from one of the goons that Trevor sicked us."

“What?" Her tone was level but the emphasis she placed on her words spoke volumes about her boiling rage sitting just beneath the surface. “I knew about the harassment and the shop burning down, but what is this about sending men on you?"

“I think it's best if you sit down for this." Destin slid out a chair for the graying wolf woman before she slowly sat down, pulled her husband into her lap and held him close. “Max, since you're the nucleus of this, want to give her the rundown? Take it from the top so to speak?" With a nod, Max started recounting the events over the last month. He didn't skimp on the details going from point to point. Ian's spying and turn coating, the stress of collecting information and reading defenses, and the subsequent assault. There were things even Eli didn't know about like the number of people that had their eyes on their small group.

“That brings us to now, besides skipping over the things you already know and some of the more private details. I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances but it is still a pleasure. It's nice to know that Ian has such loving parents to lean on." Max bit his lip as he finished his sentence, giving the wolf a slight tell as to something that ate at the back of the human's mind.

“Ian is my little boy, all my boys are, but it seems I've been having them be a little too loose on their leashes since we retired." The lenses of her silver sunglasses lifted as she rubbed her eyes, giving only a glimpse of her cyan orbs hidden by those lenses. “I appreciate that you showed some restraint with my youngest but I'm more surprised that you haven't sought out Trevor directly. Seeing is how he's been the instigating force."

“I thought about it, but I want to make sure if it ever comes down to it I stay in the green for a self-defense case. Even with Jacob that was well within reason for breaking into my home." Max tightened his hand around Eli's as he spoke about that traumatic event. Fully willing to take the blame for the loss of life. “He was the one that roughed up Ian and myself. Left us no choice."

The woman's jaw clenched as her head turned to focus on Eli. Her brow narrowed before she spoke in a tone of authority and frustration. “I appreciate your friends trying to shield you from your own actions, but would you mind telling me yourself why you pulled the trigger?"

Eli swallowed the lump in her throat as a new weight rested on her shoulders. She felt like she was being crushed under that hidden gaze and her steely blue eyes. Her mouth was dry as she opened her lips to speak, but no words came. She couldn't breathe as her mind was dragged back to that moment, Max's heavy breathing from the beating he just received, the pistol held to his head, and the feel of the cold metal in her hands. That lecherous smile offered before the trigger snapped under her finger and the pink mist of flesh and bone was ripped apart before her eyes. “I… I didn't…have a choice I…"

“Eli, it's alright. You're okay, I'm right here." He knew that feeling, being brought back to that moment and how terrifying it can be. Her only response was to wrap her arms around him. “She doesn't like to talk about it…it's a sore subject, to say the least. That's why I was saying I did it. So I wouldn't have to have her live through it again. She's re-lived that night enough times already. Are you mad that we lied or about what happened to him?"

The large wolf woman hugged her husband close as she looked at the younger couple with a faint sense of envy. Budding love reminded her of the early years of her relationship and how they cared for each other. “I never liked Jacob and always knew he'd be trouble. He never did anything I could prove, but you have done what I couldn't do when I was in charge." A heavy sigh escaped her thin lips as she tenderly licked the back of her husband's neck. A moment later she was back to her stern and regal self, realigning the bit of her social mask she let slip. “The point still stands as to what you want me to do about this. It seems like you have everything under control, besides, I don't have the power to make any of this go away besides paying for damages to your home and therapy for you miss Elianora. Seriously, I'm sorry that you had to go through that but I don't have that sway anymore. Trevor took over the business of the ranch well over a year ago, you'll have to handle him yourself."

Max's eyebrows furrowed in frustration. “The help is greatly appreciated, but that doesn't mean his army or his influence will change. He'll keep pursuing, antagonizing. He'll always hold a grudge until one of us is ultimately dead. I don't want bloodshed, I want this to de-escalate, to end. So what would you have me do?"

“You wont like my suggestion. Especially coming from his mother." The woman kept her eyes low as Max shot a questioning glance her way. “Whatever happens, it's out of my hands. I can tell that you can handle yourself, keep a level head. My son can't."

“You're right, I hate what you're suggesting. I've wanted the conflict to start from the beginning, have I welcomed the challenge when I knew he won't and still won't back down? Sure, but I've never wanted anyone else dragged into my squabble. My friends have been threatened and I doubt he'll consider family off the table. Honestly I was just hoping you had enough sway in town to have the police finally get off their asses and finally dig into everything that's happened." Max just rubbed Eli's back as she kept shuddering into his shoulder. Her warm tears dampened his shoulder as he continued to try and comfort her by just being close. “Why would you, his mother, want me to do this?"

She thought for a moment before pulling the glasses from her face. Her crystal like eyes glinting in the low light of the cafe. “I talked to Sam since the incident. Besides the broken arm and other scrapes he got he seems…better than before. You crushed his pride and made him reconsider his place in the world. If you can do that with Trevor, I'll take care of the rest."

Max just sat confused before he inquired about her words. “You really expect me to believe that a single ass kicking was enough to set him straight? Seriously, I'm not that naive."

“Then you're at an impasse. Either let the assaults keep happening and by extension those you care about get caught in the crossfire or you break him." Her eyes knew that he didn't have a real choice in the matter. That his back was against a wall and the only option out was the path of least resistance. Right through Trevor.

His jaw clenched as he thought. Eyes darted between Ian as he locked his eyes with the floor and Eli as she clung to him, her shaking stopped. He knew his answer before he spoke it and hated it. He loathed that she was right, that she knew his play before he even made it. She was a step ahead of him and more than likely Trevor might be as well. Max rolled his eyes as he thought about how absurd that was since his mother was swinging far above his weight class and knew what she was doing. “I always seem to be between a rock and a hard place. Alright fine, I'll goad him into position, on a few conditions."

“Name them." Her forearm flexed telling that she was gripping her husband's hand in anticipation for what would be said next.

“Everyone else stays out of this, we're going to essentially be two cornered animals fighting each other. No one will be caught in the crossfire." She nodded in affirmation before he continued. “My home will be repaired and Eli taken care of. She needs the help far more than I do." Another confirmation and Max grit his teeth knowing full well what he'd ask next was a tall order from anyone, let alone his own parents. “Lastly, no one will press charges after what happens. Even if a life is taken." Her brow furrowed as she thought, clearly not a fan of what was being planned behind his blue eyes. “That goes for both parties."

Her eyes widened as she realized what he was implying. “Surely you don't think it will come to that. You'll just teach him a lesson."

“I don't know. Your youngest is human and I could plan around that but Trevor on the other hand… I just don't know. The last time I went against an anthro it wasn't a one on one and I could count on my team to assist me. There's a lot of new variables I have to account for and I don't know how he'll react to anything I do. Unpredictability is his advantage. I can only plan for so much and nothing will guarantee he'll be alone." Eli's upturned snout was buried in his shoulder and pressing back and forth as an adorable way just to get his attention. “One moment please."

The couple stepped away from the group with Eli clinging close on his side. She kept her voice low when she spoke. “I don't trust her."

An eyebrow was raised as he looked up to her, ensuring to not give their conversation away through body language. “I'm surprised you picked up on that in such a short time. What do you think, not a good idea to go through with it?"

“I think you should, away from the house and no rules or people to hold you back? It doesn't matter how many guys they bring you'll just…breeze through them without me there. That you'll handle yourself without breaking a sweat." She looked back to the three people still sitting at the table where Ian and his parents were chatting idly and catching up over the last month and a half. “What's your read on her though?"

“My read is that even at the mention of her Destin was shaking in his boots. He wouldn't even come close to making a decision without he say like she still had the town under her thumb. She's not telling us everything and I intend on seeming like we're still in the dark on that front." His warm hand moved to caress her cheek and lock eyes with her. “How are you holding up though? Seemed like a bad flash there."

She took a moment to compose herself and let the haunting images fade. “Not great but not terrible, nothing a few cuddles and some candied rats won't fix."

“That's my girl, don't be too strong though. I don't want you breaking on me." His lips met hers in a chaste kiss, promising that more would follow soon once they returned home. “Lets not keep the deceitful couple waiting shall we?" Returning to the table Ian looked unsure of himself, as if he was questioning what he would say next. “What's up, did something happen?"

“Uhm yeah. I'll be staying with Ma and Pa for a bit. They said sleeping on what was left of your couch wasn't very conducive to the healing process. They offered me a bed and…I'm taking it. I can still swing by to help with more repairs. It'd be the least I could do as tha-"

“We'll be fine!" Eli cut him off to the table's surprise. “I mean…we can handle ourselves Ian." She slid back in her seat from her outburst clearly a little embarrassed of what she was implying with how excited she was.

“Yeah Ian, we won't stop you from getting some proper rest." Ian clenched his teeth before he nodded and turned to his cold coffee.

A few pleasantries were exchanged before Ian and his parents left the cafe leaving a sinking feeling in Max's stomach. “I'm worried about Ian, he looked like he didn't want to go with them. Like he was going to be beaten later tonight."

“We'll check up on him tomorrow right?"

“We'll need to. Something about his parents doesn't sit right with me."