FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

It was late in the evening the sun was just sinking below the horizon of the far off mountains. An old mansions stood upon a tall hill at the foot of the mountain, it outer walls over grown with ornamental vines nearly concealing it amongst the pine trees that surrounded it.

"That is where I am supposed to meet this guy?" Amber thought. The truck she was in the back of rattled and shook making it uncomfortable wherever she tried to sit down clutching her bags and suitcase.

Amber was a 21-year-old tabby cat. Here coat was dark grey shading darker until it turned black along her spine and tail with rings going along its length. She has white on the tips of her ears as well as her tail. Hidden by here turtle neck shirt and jacket was her chest fur brilliantly white as well. She wore her clothing to hide it cause she didn't like males gawking at her so she always wore clothing to hide it.

"How much longer?" Amber asked the Buck that was driving the truck through the back window.

"Oh about ten or fifteen minutes," the buck said over his shoulder, "the ride gets smoother closer we get to Radstall Mansion."

"That is the name of that place?"

"Yep. My grandfather actually new Morgan Radstall. Very smart man."

"Are they still around?"

"No. The guy that owns this place now is some sort of professor. Usually he keeps to himself. Every now and then he comes into town. Not sure exactly what he does in town. After the Radstalls left I never really kept track of things," the buck paused a moment as he made a hard turn, "you going to be staying up here awhile?"

"Yeah I am doing a sort of study abroad program at my college and I going to be here for couple months learning from Professor Houghton."

"Is that his name?" the buck asked taking another hard turn. Amber held on to her bags with one arm her suitcase between her legs gripping the side rail of the truck the turn threatening to make her roll around in the bed of the truck.

"Yeah Dr. James Houghton Professor of Parapsychology," Amber said through her teeth as she struggled to keep grip.

"Is that what your here to learn?" The buck said looking over the shoulder realizing her was turning to hard and fast, "Oh I am sorry ma'am. I forgot your not in the front seat. You want me to go slower?"

"That would be very helpful," Amber said with a fake smile.

The buck slowed down his truck enough so the ride was much smoother for Amber. She relaxed her hold on her belongings and fixed her hair so her bangs were not in her face. Taking a deep breath, she looked into the sky. Being a girl who mostly grew up in the city she never really had a good view of the skies with all the tall buildings around her. The wispy clouds clouds overhead glowed with a soft orange and red hue from the setting son. Amber could not help but be in all.

"Wow. That is really pretty," she said quietly barely audible. She took out her camera from her backpack and snapped a couple photos.

The buck turned to look over his shoulder on a straight away of the road and asked, "What did you say ma'am?"

"Oh I was just thinking on how pretty it is up here."

The buck smiled and went back to his driving, "Yeah it is a nice place to live."

Amber enjoyed the scenery until her gaze as broken by the thick arch of the main gate.

"Looks like they knew you were coming," The buck said.

"Oh, yeah Professor Maxwell called ahead to let him know. I would have done it myself but he said it be easier if he did it."

"Why is that?"

"According to him it's because Houghton is not 'technologically minded'. Whatever that means."

The buck chuckled as he pulled his truck into the courtyard drive way stopping when he got in front of the main door. Amber hopped out slinging her back pack over her shoulder along with some over her other bags and getting her roller suitcase ready to move letting her camera hang from her neck. She then came over to the passenger side window of the truck noticing why she could not sit there in the first place. There was a sleep male about 8 or 9 year old fawn slouched over in the seat. Amber smiled thinking he looked cute sleeping the way he was.

Amber then turned her gaze to the buck, "Thanks for the ride mister... I never got your name actually. I am sorry."

"Oh, its fine really. I'm Dillon Miles you can call me Dill if you like. Most people do," Dill looked down and pet the sleeping fawn gingerly not waking him, "And this is Bobby. My little brother."

"Well tell him I said hi when he wakes up," Amber said smiling.

"I will," Dill said looking up at her, "Hey... If your ever in town and need anything you are welcome to ask me or whatever."

Amber nodded, "I definitely keep that mind."

"I live on the second floor of the hardware store where you came in asking for directions so I should be easy to find."

"Mhmm. I remember where it is," Amber said nodding liking the courtesy and politeness of Dill's tone.

"Ok, Well I have to get back to start dinner," Dill said putting his truck in drive, "Nice to meet you Miss... You know I didn't get your name either," he chuckled.

"My name is Amber Willhoit," Amber said dropping her bag and reached in to shake Dill's paw.

"It has been a pleasure Amber," Dill said returning the shake with a genuine smile, "Well, will I see you again?"

"Maybe," Amber said not able to resist smiling back.

"Well, I be looking forward to it if we do."

"Me too," Amber picked up her bag, "See you later Dill and thanks again for the ride."

"Not a problem see you later," Dill then accelerated his truck forward making a U turn in the courtyard driveway waving out his window as he passed by exiting out the main gate.

Amber smiled and waved back, "He is actually a nice guy," She said to herself. She Watched Dill drive away down the hill before she turn toward the front door of the mansion.

The door like the rest of the house was old. The red paint was fading and the engravings were worn down, in some places, to being flush with the door. Amber was nervous about knocking on the door so she tried looking for a doorbell finding there was none. She decided it be ok to open the door and walk inside. Instantly she flared her nose smelling old wood and paint. The air was stale and cold making Amber fur on the back of her neck stand on end.

"This place is creepy," She whispered, "Hello? Any body there?"

The only answer was the groaning of the door behind her slamming shut making her jump. She took a moment to calm her nerves and the tried again to see if there was an answer. Again there was no response. Getting frustrated Amber left her bags next to the coat rack that was just left to entering the door. She then began exploring being cautious of the stairs because of their old and poorly maintained state. The red carpet on the stairs was pulled up or matted with spots of black mold scattered in random spots.

"My god," she said, "This place is a piece of junk."

She ascended the stairs at a quicker pace than she normally would, Her small displeasure of being in dirty places getting the best of her. She found comfort in bringing her paws into her jacket sleeves and slouching her head into her green scarf so her nose is covered making a sort of breathing mask.

Slowly she made her way down, what appeared to be, the cleaner of the two corridors. Her eyes where drawn to portraits of various different foxes and families of foxes hung along the walls. The clothing the foxes where wearing went from modern styles to those that would have more than likely worn during the 1800's. It became apparent to Amber that this as the family lineage of the Radstalls. Her growing interest in the portraits distracted her from how far down the corridor she traveled until she found here self turning down another corridor.

Amber wanted to turn and go back to the entrance hall but she was stopped by the hint of light coming from under the door further down the hall.

"Finally," Amber sighed taking a brisk stride toward the door and knocking on the heavy door, "Hello? Professor Houghton?"

There again was no response making Amber irritated. She was about to knock again but hard with a balled fist when the doorknob turned and opened before her paw landed. Expecting Professor Houghton to be in the doorway she placed her paws on her hips so her body language showed her disapproval of his hosting capabilities. She was disappointed to find nobody in the doorway.

Perplexed she took one step inside looking around for any thing that hinted Professor Houghton's presence. The only thing that she found was a mass of old books stacked on the desk along with papers with dark inky scribbles laying about the floor with arranged in a specific manner only the one who put them there. The room was dim, lit with lanterns instead of electric lights that Amber was use to.

"Is this his office?" Amber said.

"Yes," a hoarse whisper came from behind her.

Amber quickly turned around seeing only darkness in the corridor. The evening sun now gone allowing no light to enter the mansion. Amber heart began to beat faster. The origin of the whisper failing to become apparent to her.

"What... your... name?" the disembodied whisper came from behind her again.

"What? Who!?" Amber exclaimed turning around checking all around her again finding no one. She started to back out the room slowly, her fur standing on end. Something told her to get out of there. When she turned to exit she ran into a hard warm body making her loose her balance and fall back into a pile of papers.

"Oh my!" a surprised voice exclaimed, "Are you alright?"

Amber scrambled back against the heavy wooden desk still disoriented from her fall. "Who? What?"

She came to her senses and looked up in the door way finding a tall young coyote standing there holding a couple of leather bound books the size of one of Amber's text books. "Was that you?"

The coyote looked confused twitching his ears inquisitively. "What do you mean?"

Amber paused rethinking about wether or not to tell this stranger about the whisper. In the end it could just have been her imagination. "N-nothing," she hastily said.

The coyote came around the desk as Amber got to her feet dusting herself off. She felt eyes watching giving her the impression the coyote was looking her over. She snapped around about to form words she may regret. To her surprise the coyote had his back to her putting some books up on a bookshelf behind the desk. He then leisurely sat down in the big leather office chair and scooted it closer to the desk. He pulled out a folder, seemingly at random, from a stack of other folders on his desk and began reading it as if he had forgotten Amber was in the room with him.

It took a moment for Amber to realize who this may be. "Wait. Are you Professor James Houghton?"

The coyote's eyes darted across the folder a few more times before glancing up at her. "Why yes I am," he said smiling wide, "You must be Amber Willhoit, am I correct?"

Amber extended her paw to offer a shake. "Yes I am. Nice to meet you Professor," Amber aid forcing herself to smile. She was still in a small state of shock from the scare she just experienced.

"Oh, the pleasure is all mine I assure you. Travis told me all about you."

"Travis?"

"Professor Travis Maxwell! Don't tell me you two are not a first name basis. The way he spoke of you it would have seemed otherwise."

"Oh yes. I usually just call him Professor or Professor Maxwell. Just out of respect I guess."

Houghton nodded his smile never fading. "Well feel free to call me James if you like Amber. I am not one for formality," He looked around his office for a moment before returning to Amber, "Or organizational skills. Good lord this place is a mess. I knew you were coming and I did even think to straighten up!"

"Oh its fine really my dorm room back at the university is not much better." Amber giggled a little at the goofy nature of Houghton as he sort of tried to make his disheveled desk more presentable. She almost had completely forgotten about here recent encounter with the disembodied voice until she heard it again.

"Can... you... anything..."

Amber gripped the arm rests of her chair. Her eyes widened in fear. She sunk into the cushions as instinct not knowing what to do especially in front of Houghton. This was her first impression and did not want to screw it up but it was hard to control her nerves. What was going on?

"Are you sure you are ok Amber?" Houghton asked snapping her out of here sudden fright.

"Yes, yes," she said her voice trembling, "It just has been a long trip is all."

"Ok. Well. Would you like to get some rest before we discuss what you will doing here?"

"Yes that be nice. I think a good night sleep is what I really need."

Houghton nodded. "All right. Follow me I will take you to your room."

Houghton rose from his chair, Amber doing so as well and following him out the door into the darkened corridor. Amber felt a cold chill run up her arms making her slightly uncomfortable. She remained quiet keeping her eyes forward on Houghton's blue suit coat.

"So what made you want to get into Parapsychology?" Houghton said.

"To be honest I am not. I am basically trying to earn credit hours so I can hurry and become a Psychiatrist."

"Oh. That is a fair goal. Looking to help those in need?"

Amber really didn't want to admit that she just figured it be an easy paying job. Again her pride of a good first impression getting the better of her. "Yes, I thought it be a good way to give back to others."

Amber could see Houghton grin even through the darkness as the came into the entrance hall again. Amber quickly noticed her bags were not by the door anymore.

"Hey! Where is my stuff?"

"What?"

"My bags and stuff were right there by the front door and now they are gone!"

"Oh Bradley must have taken them to your rom already."

"Wait. Who is Bradley?"

Houghton turned with the same wide grin s before. "He is my ghostly butler."

Amber's fur on the back of her neck stood on end. "Ghostly?"

"You hardly ever see him around yet he does all of his duties. Your bed will be made when you get back in your room, breakfast will be waiting for you in the dining hall, and your things will be in your room when you arrive. That sort of thing." Houghton continued his grin. The way he smirked made Amber think he was not telling her the whole truth.

"Oh ok. I thought you meant he really was a ghost or something." Amber chuckled. Houghton joined in but did not really attempt to reassure her.

"Follow me. We need to go down this hall to the living quarters." Houghton said before heading off toward the opposite corridor that lead to his office.

The corridor was much darker than the one that lead to Houghton's office. Amber was not sure if was the fading light of the evening or if its was her own imagination. She began to feel things crawl over here skin. Sharp chills run up her spine each time. The air got colder even with her coat on.

"Why is so dark in here? And Cold? Do you not keep the heater on in this place?"

"Well this place is really old. It was not built with electricity in mind."

"Wait this is place doesn't have power? How am I supposed to use my computer, or my dryer, or my hair straightener, or even charge my phone?"

Amber was stopped by Houghton raising his paw up to calm her tone. "Don't worry the Mansion was retrofitted years ago and has working electricity in the living quarters. You will be able to enjoy your comforts of home there."

Amber breathed a sigh of relief. "Sorry for raising my voice. It's just.."

"It is quite all right." The coyote said with a comforting smile that Amber could barely see through the darkness. He then slowed to a stop. "Here we are. This will be your room."

Houghton opened the door and manged to find a light switch. The room was very large furnished with a large king sized bed with a carved oak heaboard as well as an oak dresser and writing table with a couple of chairs. The blankets, rug, and curtains were all red with golden trim stitching.

Amber was rather relieved to feel the warm air as she entered the room and to see her bags neatly arranged on the bed. "Wow this is better than some fancy hotels."

Houghton smiled, "Yes it is quite nice. Everything here was originally owned by the Radstalls and has been kept in prime condition."

Amber looked around the room expecting to see flaws like signs of poor housekeeping or aging wood but found none. She figured since this is the retrofitted part of the house that its must have been rebuilt. Despite her earlier feelings she was rather excited to be living in a fancy place for a couple months.

"Its really nice. Do we get room service by any chance?" Amber said jokingly.

"Why yes we do in fact." Houghton said cheerfully apparently happy to indulge his guest. "Bradley would be happy to get you anything you like. Anything in particular you like to have in the morning?"

"Oh really? I was just joking I don't want to be too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all Amber. Really what would you like in the morning?"

"French toast and coffee?" Amber said quietly.

"All right then. I will tell Bradley." Houghton said clapping his paws together. "Well I am off to go do some last minute work. Make yourself at home. Your own bathroom is right through that door and I hope you rest well Amber. Welcome to Radstall Mansion."

Houghton smiled as he exited closing the door behind him. Amber let her smile fade before she flopped on the bed surprised on how comfortable it was.

She suddenly felt something under her quickly reaching down to swat it away fearing a bug. She sighed in relief when she found it to be only her phone. She checked it to see what made it vibrate to find she had missed two calls from her mom and just got a text from her friend Katie.

Amber opened the message reading, "Hey!! How was ur trip!"

She replied, "It was ok until the bumpy truck ride to the mansion XP"

Amber was surprised to get an answer back so quickly but it was nice to talk with someone she knew.

"He lives in a mansion! Cool!!!"

"Yep and I get to live here with full room service the next few months :P"

"LUCKY!! How is the new Prof? Is he old and grouchy as Prof Allen?"

"Actually no. He is like in his early thirties I think and very nice."

"Whoa really? Is he cute?"

"Oh come on Kate he is my professor!"

Amber heart caught in her throat when she read the next message, "You didn't answer my question >:)"

Amber could feel her cheeks flush with blood as she pondered the thought. She really didn't think about it at first cause of all the weirdness happening at the time. He was well mannered and very considerate, something that Amber thought was more important that looks and what he wore. Even then he was neatly groomed and dressed in that nice blue suit. Sure his style seemed a little out of date but it looked good on him. On top of everything else he lived in a mansion.

Amber shook her head and hastily typed the message on her phone, "He is married Kate. Besides he not that good looking." After she sent the message she groaned with frustration. Why did she just lie like that? She didn't like getting into situations like this with Katie. Sh wasn't even that interested in finding guy in the first place.

Kate quickly responded a few seconds later with, "I don't believe you until I see a pic of him with his wife you have a crush on him hahaha. :P"

Amber sighed, "You suck Kate. I am going to go to bed now."

"Goodnight girlfriend ;D"

Amber tossed her phone on one of her bags and hopped up from the bed and began to get ready for bed. She took her bags off and set them aside. "I unpack those tomorrow," She said relieved to get out here coat and scarf throwing them both on her bags. Taking off her pants she felt a cold breeze that caught her off guard making her shiver. She quickly jumped into the bed and got under the covers without bothering finishing with her pants.

"Jesus that was weird," She murmured as she sank into the bed clutching the comforter. Warmth came to her quickly allowing her to relax. Kicking off her pants letting them fall to the floor she got comfortable was soon fast asleep.

As Amber slept she began to shiver and groan curling up with the comforter again bringing her legs and tail close to her. Suddenly her pants seeming on there own accord levitated off the floor and neatly folded themselves and floated to the chair coming to a rest on the seat cushion. Her coat and scarf then floated to the coat rack next to the chair and hung themselves. Her boots simply realigned themselves to be neatly side-by-side and facing away from the bed. An unforeseen force then dimmed the lights to near darkness. Amber relaxed her, body gaining its warmth again. She slept easy unknowing to what paranormal event that just happened mere feet from her.