FSE

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--Why the hell do I have to do this?-- I asked myself as I stood below the great arc of timber and flowers that signaled the entrance to the town's annual 'Graduate's Festival'. At some point, years ago, I might have been looking forward to assist, especially as one of the 'graduates'. However, now I can only guess how bored the townspeople must be to make such a fuss over their children graduation from middle to high education. Well, it also meant the graduates would be socially seen as adults from that point onwards, that could be considered important, but in my opinion none of the fursons I finished middle school with behaved like an adult at all.

"You may go to the Sala and wait with the others" I heard father say at my back, "I'll see you later, when the Pavoneada begins." before he passed me and walked away.

--Yes, I know-- I responded to my inwards. Probably the event which was most looked forward in the festival and the most important for the male graduates, 'a display of the physical and magical abilities gained through middle education, and proof of virility which is necessary for the male adult'. Or at least that is how our former homeroom teacher portrayed it. I had no interest in taking part of it; actually I considered it an annoying ritual. But if that was what I needed to gain the 'adult' status I would comply, because there was something I wanted to do.

But regardless of what father had told me the idea of going to the Sala with the brats was completely unappealing to me, so I opted for killing some time with a stroll around the place. It was a pity though how the festival was also unappealing. After coming each year without fail and always finding the same things I grew bored of the festivities long ago. You might find some smaller differences or new things but nothing worth the effort of coming out the house. Still it was better than the first option so I started to move forward before I could bother any more the coming fursons standing still at the middle of the entrance.

I just moved with no real aim or direction; I would eventually go through everything anyways. Stopping a little at each stand to see and sometimes to greet an owner I was acquainted with I tried to walk at my slowest pace, not wanting to finish too quickly and find myself with much free time before the main event. I had just bought some cookies to snack on when my ears perked up at the shout of my name.

"Héctor!" I looked around for the source, though I already knew who it was. A cheerful, high pitched, yet not displeasing voice, that's how I could put it. "Héctor!" My ears located the direction the voice was coming from and turned before my whole body could even do so. Among the crowd I could finally acknowledge the feline figure of Anne who was quickly approaching, waving a hand high in the air.

She was an adorable little thing, with a height and pelt anyone would find endearing. And her personality was by no means mismatching of her appearance as she was a kind, well-mannered, and considerate kitten. However, this purity of hers might be why I found her slightly annoying, added to the fact that she would stick to me constantly. But I had never been used to being around other people so that could as well be the cause of my discomfort whenever she joined me.

"Héctor!" She called a third time and next she was in front of me, a little smile on her muzzle. "Good morning!" She leaned forward, rising on the tips of her toes to reach my face. I responded lowering my head and allowing her cheek to touch mine, already feeling uncomfortable at the required physical contact the gesture demanded. It was a common way of greet between close fursons, especially for the females, but I saw no point in such intimacy or considered myself that close to her.

"Good morning" I responded back, "what a coincidence to meet you" I added trying to be courteous, though it was not that much of a coincidence. She was a graduate just like me and it was obvious she would be at the festival.

"Yes, I'm glad I was able to find you." Then a silence dawned between the two of us. I really had nothing to talk about so I didn't but I knew she did, and of course she did. "Would you mind to accompany me around?" She simply asked.

"I don't" I said almost automatically. Even if I was not the most comfortable with the situation neither I had a valid reason to deny her. I had the problems that I would agree to nearly everything others requested if I had no excuse. At my approval she placed herself at my right and slipped her arm under mine, interlocking them and taking me as her escort.

She had been the interested one hence I let her lead the way, and probably she had had already something in mind because we didn't stop to appreciate the stalls or talk. Not that I minded; I was a furson of few words anyways and she seemed to be one of the few that understood that. The silence between us was not awkward. She took me to where a crowd had gathered on a far-off side of the festival grounds. Upon reach she politely started to make her way through the fursons, without letting go of my arm, and soon we were on first line.

After we halted I took the opportunity to take a look and figure out which event was taking place. Two wooden posts were standing on the frontier between the grounds and the forest which surrounded the town, the both of them with a red bandana tied near the end; it was obviously a stating line. I didn't need more clues as I recognized it as the obstacle race. The time coincided too. I had heard it was actually challenging, a multi-terrain course through the forest which tested the competitors physical strength. The race would be broadcasted to the audience by a set of a light screen and numerous wispcams. Looking at the participants I could discern some of them were graduates, allowed to take part for the first time. Then from the corner of my eye I noticed a figure approaching toward us.

"Yo, Héctor! Good to see you made it" I was greeted by an adult. The large furson was a bear with a light orange, maybe blond, color of fur and whom I didn't think I was actually acknowledged with. The town was not that small, but sometimes it bothered me how it seemed like that everyone knew my name. "How're you doing Anne?" He turned towards her.

"I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for asking, Mister Griffin" she said with a slight bow. "I hope we arrived with good time".

"Sure you do!" He responded to her query.

I could only glance with a stone face at their sudden chitchat, until she let go of my arm and patted it encouragingly.

"I wish you the best of lucks, Héctor" she told me. I turned to stare her with a curious expression, wondering what had she meant. Then I felt the paw of Mr. Griffin on my shoulder.

"Give it your best, boy!" He added before he started to direct me towards the group of participants that had gathered near the starting line. My eyes widened a little and my face turned to one of bewilderment as it dawned on me and I turned to her again. I only was granted a smiling face and a cheering gesture with the hands telling me to do my best. Her tail was raised up and gently curved behind. When the bear took me to the spot I would be taking and gave me a pat on the back and left, at that point I knew it was settled.

I stared to nowhere for a moment before I let go a sigh, then I started to stretch without even trying to object. I should have predicted something like that would happen. She was the kind of furson that wouldn't allow others to isolate themselves and would try to get them to participate in activities. I had reached that conclusion from experience.

The townspeople were friendly, all of them. Even my strict and stern father would spare time to socialize with other fursons. Sometimes I found mystifying how they were able to be so open and kind to any soul. Among them I was the only outcast, a decision I had taken myself but which probably had made me to stand out even more. It shouldn't have surprised me if everyone actually did know who I was.

Seeing as how she would stick only to me and how she acted I had deducted that about her. She would frequently appoint me without prior consent or dupe me into joining class activities and other events. But no matter how many times it had happened I would never come to doubt or refuse her requests. I guessed I considered her a furson incapable of ill motives.

"Can everyone hear me?" someone shouted. Mr. Griffin had come to stand at one side of the starting line. He interpreted the silence as a confirmation. "I'll explain the rules one more time before we being. The setting is easy, a one loop course through the forest. The path is marked with red bandanas, just like the ones on the posts here so you only have to follow them. The first to return here without taking shortcuts wins! For those who'll get taken out by the obstacles, worry not, the rescue team will take care of you."

He had certainly put it 'easy', but I wondered how he could have said that last sentence so cheerfully.

Every participant got in a starting position, not actually crouching on the ground like in other kind of races but still ready to start off with force. The audience went quiet as the tension built up and Mr. Griffin raised a handgun pointing to the sky.

"Go!" He fired.

The cheers returned even louder as we dashed towards the first mark and into the woods. I didn't think the number of participants was considerable, but in the tight space between the threes it was possible to collide with each other so I kept some distance. I could see the second mark ahead, yet what actually caught my attention were the thick bushes that stood on the way. Probably the first obstacle I thought. They weren't tall, jumping over them would be easy, but I didn't want to take the risk of grazing my clothes so I avoided them completely.

"Ah!" I heard someone gasp ahead of me. I saw a bull, and also a graduate, halted and immobilized. He was standing just some steps away from a bush yet the branches were extended and stuck on his short pants. It didn't look like if he had got caught by a thorn; the bushes had no sign of being thorny at all. Actually it seemed as if the leaves were the ones holding onto the fabric, like glued to it. He tried to pull away, trying to break free of the hold with pure power, but then the braches suddenly retracted. In a swift movement they tore his short pants, taking them whole, and exposing his lower part which had no undergarments on.

He zoned out for a second before he became conscious of the situation and rapidly took his hands to his front and pulled down on his shirt to cover himself. Behind him I couldn't suppress a snicker before I overtook. When I crossed the second mark I was out of the woods and in a clearing.

"What the hell!?" Someone shouted in the forest.

Leaving that incident behind, ahead of me stood a cliff, the two bandanas of the third mark tied to some poles nailed at the base. I intuitively raised my sight to the top and effectively found the fourth mark standing far; the second obstacle was a climbing test. I returned my attention to the front in time to notice an object flying into my direction. I barely avoided it hastily charging my body to one side. I had no time to look back at what it had been when I saw another object literally jump from within the ground and again direct towards me. That time I caught it.

I immediately regretted it though when I felt something slobbery moving with force. I took a look at it and meet with an elongated purple reptile twisting in my grasp. Tossing the disgusting thing aside I returned my focus to the front, my left paw now slick. The participants ahead were having a similar situation. I could see more clearly how the slim animals jumped from within the earth, launching themselves toward the fursons. Most participants would avoid the living projectiles, but a few would get hit and what happened next made my fur stand and my spine shiver. The creatures went inside their clothes.

I knew they were harmless, having learned about them before, but running with a slick and long reptile inside your clothes couldn't be the easiest or the most pleasant sensation. The females looked especially grossed out, which I found understandable. One certain panther was embracing strongly her chest, probably trying to stop the creature from wriggling too much inside her tight blouse; her face in utter distress. She had stopped running, and was on the ground once her legs had given up. I considered she was holding herself pretty good because I knew I would have reacted worse. Physical contact wasn't my forte nor was slobber tolerance; both of them at once wasn't something I wanted to deal with at all.

Watching carefully at the ground in front of me I could mostly discern the holes the creatures were coming from thus making dodging easier. I was putting an extra effort into not getting trapped. I couldn't let myself get into such embarrassing predicament. I finally leaved behind the dangerous fields and reached the cliff's bottom and began my way up.

I hoped for nothing more to happen. Climbing the earthy wall left us in a vulnerable position where probably we couldn't respond efficiently to another attack. My worries settled down with no signs of another creature coming so I shifted all of my concentration to the cliff I was holding onto. I looked up at the other contestants ahead of me, at first sight I could count eight of them but I was unaware of the others at my sides and behind. I didn't know how many of them had recovered either or were already past the mark.

I thought I was getting into a good pace when my left paw unexpectedly lost its hold and caused me to lose balance. I held to the wall with my right paw, clenching it on the rock, trying to not fall. When I recovered my stance I looked up right away; the stone I had grasped was somewhat round, but it couldn't be that hard to seize. But then I remembered my paw was still slick and slippery from before. Until that point I had climbed without mayor difficulties so I had completely forgotten. Rasping it against the earthy cliff wouldn't take the slime from inside my fur fast enough and the position I was deemed my other plans not really viable.

Entering the race in first place hadn't been my own idea, but I refused to wuss out. I hadn't wanted to use any tools, not because it was banned, but because I had wanted to show off a little, even if it was only to myself; I would have to suck it up. I reached the knife holding onto my belt and drew it high, stabbing the cliff. The slick on my paw made it more difficult to handle than usual but the grasp was better and soon I was back in the race.

Once I reached the top I didn't have time to catch my breath, instead I held it when I saw the next obstacle. In front of me was a lake of blue opaque water; it looked more like blue-colored water actually. Small round stones floated over and circled around a tiny island in the middle where the next mark stood. It had been obvious from the start that magic had been used in order to set the course, but at that point I presumed the cliff itself had also been a work of wizardry.

The others fursons were crossing, jumping from stone to stone, and a few of them were already down in the water. But they weren't trying to swim towards the isle; actually they weren't moving at all. I saw one of them try to raise an arm and tendrils of blue gooey liquid stuck to it from the lake and impeded further movement. My face contorted with disgust.

--Who came up with these things?-- I thought.

I saw one of the steppingstones coming my way and my ears twitched at a sound coming from behind; the others were nearing and I had no time to waste. I sheathed the knife as I ran along the lake's edge and used the extra impulse to jump at the incoming platform. At moments like that I was especially prideful of my feline upper sense of balance. When the next stone came close I jumped over, again and again until I was halfway from the mark. The moving platforms had taken me to opposing side of the lake so I could see the others making his way as well.

I hastened my pace trying to cut some seconds, however, I failed to notice my steps until I found myself in a dead end. There were no steppingstones close enough for me to advance and it looked like it would take some minutes before any were to come.

"Bad luck, kid" someone told me. Looking to my left I saw one of the fursons who had fallen into the lake trap. The adult alligator was staring at me. "Fancy meeting you here by the way. I thought you didn't like this sort of things" he added in what seemed to me like a taunt. It really seemed like everyone knew of me. I didn't mind at that moment though, a sudden idea coming to me.

"Excuse me!" I said as I used his head as another steppingstone, even if just of a second or two, to reach the closer platform.

"Hey!" He complained, but I was quickly advancing over the second half and next I had reached the mark. I regretted my rude tactic though.

At the island I just found a hole on the earth. With nowhere else to go I jumped in to find a underground path. I ran through the tunnel, which curved downwards like a coil and was mildly illuminated by little wisplamps; moments later I reached more leveled terrain and a passage which split in three ways. I looked around, trying to find some kind of clue on which path to take, but I found none. With no other option or time to lose I hoped for the best and went through the one at the right.

After running for some minutes I asked myself if my previous decision had even mattered, seeing how all tunnels seemed to cross randomly. I presumed those three paths from before actually connected into what I would describe as a tangle of passageways with no real difference. It was not exactly a labyrinth, but if the tunnels had been trampled with magic then it could be worse than that.

I ran nonstop for a while, taking random choices as I had given up on looking for clues indicating the way; there were definitely none. Doing markings on the wall didn't work either; they would disappear without doubt by the work of magic. I decided to stop and take a quick break, even if there weren't any visible signs relying on sheer luck wouldn´t help much either. I needed to think of a way to find the correct path, there would be definitely one. But then I heard footsteps, rapidly growing in strength and numbers. The others had already caught up and were coming in group.

I resumed my run until I reached an intersection and hid myself form view, sticking my head slightly to take a look at the upcoming fursons. I only had to wait some seconds, the noise growing to a ruckus, before I could discern another sound mixed in. Shrieks. It wasn't something that some fursons couldn't do, but those shrieks sounded more animalistic. I frowned at the expectation. When a figure finally came into view I recognized it as one of my former classmates, a light brown dog I could actually talk to without getting annoyed.

"Hey!" He shouted without restrain. His gaze fixed on my direction told me he truly knew I was there, however, I didn't move. "Run!" he added. I was puzzled for an instant before I noticed that some boar-like animals were chasing after him.

"What the..." I froze there for a moment unknowing how to react, but once I saw him close enough I simply dashed down the tunnel. The mix of stomps and shrieks resonated within the place and made it quite uncomfortable. I ran and changed directions repeatedly, but the uproar didn't seem to go away.

"Looks like they won't give up, huh?" I heard someone say, which made my eyes widen and turn my head around; that dog was running just a few steps behind me, the sounder of beasts following close.

"Why the hell are you following me?" I yelled. He seemed pensive for a moment.

"Ain't more enjoyable to go together?" He spouted.

"Which part of this is enjoyable?!" I responded, exasperated at his logic.

He just laughed weakly.

But the beasts indeed didn't seem to give up soon and I was getting tired; it would be just a matter of time before they were to catch. Thinking about what could be done I remembered the cookies I had bought. Success wasn't guaranteed but it was worth the try. Reaching my pocket and drawing the food from its bag I crudely threw it behind me. I didn´t even turn to confirm and just continued to run. Fortunately the shrieks of the animals soon were left behind and when I was sure I had lost them I stopped to catch my breath.

"Good thinking, as expected from you" the comment took me by surprise and made jump a little, my fur bristling.

I turned around and found the dog staring in the direction we had come from, and where probably we had left the beasts. He was panting and holding to the wall with a paw but didn't looked exactly tired, more like if he had just finished a good exercise. Ignoring him I just closed my eyes and allowed new air to enter my lungs, the scent of fresh air calming me down. Then it hit me. I dashed once more.

"He- Hey!" I heard him protest but his voice faded at the back.

I had realized the way to get out and the excitement of the moment had given me a spurt of energy. I ran and turned, following the scent of fresh air. It made sense; all along the course mostly our physical abilities had been put to test. I had been too immersed into finding an intellectual solution that I forgot to rely on my survival instincts. The aroma started to become stronger, making it easier to track and pick the right path. I noticed the light inside the tunnel growing brighter and shortly I could see the exit.

I came out of a cavern and once more into the woods; I had lost count of time long ago so I didn't know what my situation was. I couldn't see the other participants but standing ahead was the next mark. The lonely sight made me feel down a little and I didn't wanted to run anymore, but I did it anyways. I wasn't sure of how much longer was left but I would at least finish the course. Thankfully the distance to the next mark had been a peaceful one.

As I neared the mark I started to distinguish the shapes of fursons between the trees, the crowd from before was still there and the noise of the festival grew louder and clearer the closer I was. I quickened my pace those last meters. When I crossed those two red bandanas the audience let go a loud cheer which stopped me on my tracks. Taken aback by the reaction I tried to observe around. In the space that I recognized as the one I had been at the beginning I could see a number of fursons standing, almost all of the other participants, staring at me. Some of them were also cheering. I remained still, trying to look unmoved at the display.

"Good work making it back, Héctor!" I felt a paw landing on my back with more force than necessary. At my left Mr. Griffin had come to stand next to me, a grin on his muzzle. "You're the sixth place" he said in a lower and softer voice, "and the first of the graduates" I was looking him with an expression of stoic perplexity. "Well done" then he walked away.

Returning my attention to the crowd I tried hard to not let my lips curl into a smile, which probably resulted on me making an awkward face. I refused to show any sign of embarrassment or content in public.

"I guess that makes me seventh place, right?" My fur bristled at the surprising question and quickly turning my head I found that dog sneaking once more behind me. When he noticed me glaring at him he just smiled.

"Hey you" another furson said. Turning again I saw the alligator from before coming towards me with a serious face, his once brown clothes were now almost completely dyed in a light hue of blue.

I prepared myself for a reprisal, dropping my sight to the ground and my ears laying back. He stopped in front of me and raised a paw to put it on my shoulder, squeezing with less force than expected. I dared to look up and I meet with a wide smirk.

"Good stunt you put on me back there" he stated with rascally tone. I raised my face to give him my full attention. "What do you think? What is it fun?" He asked.

While I pondered his question I couldn't hold his gaze anymore and instead stared to one side. It hadn't been fun; I had run for I don't know how much time with danger of being stripped, slobbered, and stomped onto. He couldn't think of that as fun, could he? But looking back, I guess it had been a kind of exciting. I glanced at him briefly before diverting my sight again.

"No- Not really... Maybe."

He was probably satisfied with that because he chuckled and gave a last squeeze before retreating. But I was beginning to feel uncomfortable so I started to make my way out. I couldn't when a white kitten pulled me into an embrace.

"Héctor!" Anne said. "You were amazing!" Looking down I could see her smiling enthusiastically. "You were so cool, using your knife to climb the cliff after almost falling." I was actually frowning more upon the close contact than the mention of my failed attempt to go barehanded. I waited for some seconds at that position, but she didn't show signs of letting me go anytime soon.

"Uhm, thanks... Can we leave now?" I requested her.

"Huh, oh, yes" and then she retired her arms. I could see her tail drop a bit but I couldn't let myself feel guilty over such matter. We started to walk away from the place, however, someone stopped us.

"Leaving already?" asked Mr. Griffin. I just nodded and he looked disappointed. "Well, at least don't forget to take this with you." He raised his arm and presented me a white lump of fur which upon closer inspection was a stuffed toy shaped like a cat. I took it a little confused. "It's your sixth place prize" he beamed, "make good use of it, okay?" Next he gave a wink and left.

When I figured out what that last line had meant I only thought how unnecessary it had been. He had certainly misunderstood something, but maybe not completely. Glancing at my right I saw Anne looking me back attentively.

"Here" I extended my arm and put the plush within her reach. I tried to sound nonchalantly. "You can have it."

She stood there motionless for an instant, with an astonished expression, until she slowly took the cat from my grasp. Holding it with both paws she gazed at the toy before bringing it to her chest and hugging it gently. She looked at me again and gave her best and most tender smile, her expression giving me an uneasy feeling in my gut.

"Thank you" she told me.

Once away from the race grounds we were looking around the stalls, spending some time before the main event. Somehow that dog had tagged along; he was carrying another stuffer toy, the prize he received as seventh place, which coincidentally was a light brown dog much like him. He would talk to Anne and pretty much distract her from me so I had no problem with it, but every time their conversations started to turn too lively it would actually annoy me.

I stopped to look at my wristwatch and saw that I had around half an hour left before the Pavoneada. I considered it was time to head to the Sala and wait.

"We should head back now" I said directing to the dog, "and get prepared."

His ears perked up and he turned his attention to me, staring curiously. He then took a look at his own watch.

"You're right" he agreed. He turned to Anne next. "Are you going to come with us?" He inquired her; I probably knew the answer.

"Of course!" I was right. "I'll see you at least to the door."

And with that we headed towards the Sala, which was actually near the limits of the festival at the back, away from most of the crowds where the graduates could have some peace time before the great event. In ten minutes the tent that was the Sala came to view and we halted a few meters from the entrance.

"Héctor" Anne called, "can I talk to you for a moment before you leave?" Her tone was more serious than before. I stared at her a little stunned. "In private" she added glancing to the other furson.

"I'll head in first then" the dog said before taking his leave behind me.

I followed Anne to the woods near the tent; that disturbing sensation was building up in my gut again. I could only hope what she wanted to talk about was not what I was thinking. Once it looked like we were out of prying eyes and ears she spoke.

"Héctor, what will you be doing this afternoon? After the Pavoneada I mean." Her back was turned to me so I couldn't see her expression, but her tail was up and curled like a question mark, like emphasizing her words.

"I was thinking of going home. I have some issues I want to deal with as soon as possible" I gave her the most honest answer I could muster.

She hunched slightly, bringing closer to her body her head and arms. She was most probably hugging the stuffed cat tightly. Her tail swished before returning to its previous stance. When I heard her question I thought that sensation in my gut would go down, thinking that she perhaps only wanted me to participate in another event, but instead it grew more intense.

"It will take all of your time?" She asked further.

"I..." I had no idea. "I don't know, maybe."

"Then. If you have some time. Will you..." She hesitated. "Will you..." I thought I would throw up my whole stomach. "Will..." Her voice had grown quieter each time, but only to return much bolder as she turned to stand front to front. "Will you be my partner in the First Dance?!"