FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The quiet tune of wake-up alarm drags me from the bowels of my own mind, its slinking fingers caressing my ears.

I groan angrily, my eyes slowly opening to the sight of a clear sky and a high hanging sun.

"What time is it?" I sigh rolling over on to my stomach.

It's probably nine thirty or so... maybe it's later than that since I set up back-up alarms...

I roll out of bed, my hindpaws making a quiet plopping noise as my full weight comes rests on them. With a quick step, I make my way to my desk, checking the time on my music player.

"TWELVE THIRTY?!" I exclaim, my tail puffing angrily as my claws dig into my desk.

It's already twelve thirty? Fuck!

I snag my glasses before running out into the living room, not a soul in sight.

"Lin? You home?"

Of course, my statement goes without reply.

I scan the room in hopes of finding a trace of his presence. A small piece of paper resting on the table happens to catch my eye, my curiosity driving me to I step over and check it out. I put on my glasses to get a better look, the snaking black lines coming in to focus as soon as I do. I give the note a quick look over, my name immediately jumping off the page and signaling me to read it.

"David, I had to leave for work early today. The professor needed me to help him reprogram two of the utility androids. I won't be home 'til late tonight so I left you some money on top of the fridge to buy groceries. I included a shopping list so you wouldn't have to take inventory yourself. The store closes around seven, so be sure to grab all of what we need before then. I've already set out the spare key for you and fed Magellan, so don't worry about that stuff. Please remember to buy the human vitamin supplements this time; I really don't want a repeat of last time where you accidentally bought me canine supplements. Thanks in advance. Lin."

I take a step back, sighing heavily as I do.

"First I wake late and now this? Today's off to a great start," I grumble before stepping over to the fridge to aimlessly grope the small envelope of funds I'd been left by my roommate.

It only takes me a moment to find the stash of funds, my innate curiosity prompting me to flip through the faintly colored bills.

"One hundred ren? 's a lot of money for a little bit of groceries," I mutter, setting the envelope on the table before rushing back to my room.

"Kay, gotta get goin'. No time for fiddling about."

"Eve!" I call out.

"Yes, Mister Everton?" replies the AI, the screen of my computing tablet lighting up with the familiar home-screen logo.

"When does the next metro leave for Aellia station?"

"One moment. Populating list of departure times."

I pick up my pair of jeans from yesterday and toss them on top of my bed, my paws grappling the handles of my closet doors and swinging them ajar. With swift precision, I grab a light blue flannel and a white t-shirt with orange motifs, managing to snag a pair of striped boxers while I was at it.

With a nonchalant toss, I fling the pile of clothes onto my bed before slamming the closet doors shut.

"The earliest three times for the next metro to Aellia Station are twelve forty five, one, and one ten."

"Please set a countdown for the one o'clock metro."

"Yes, Mister Everton."

"Thank you, Eve."

The AI promptly turns off the screen to my tablet, the amount of time remaining displayed on the screen as a cool blue digital clock.

Got twenty seven minutes. Need to move fast.

I skip into the bathroom, hurriedly undressing and setting aside my glasses before hopping into the shower and pulling the curtains shut behind me. With a quick twist, water begins to torrent into the tub, my paw deftly yanking on the lower part of the faucet to allow the showerhead to douse me from head to toe.

The water begins to gush from the showerhead, the heat of the drops making me dance from left to right as I utter gibberish resembling some ancient language long forgotten.

"HOOOOOOT! Hot hot hot hooooooot!" I exclaim as I reach for the knob to turn the temperature down a bit.

In mere moments, the cools off, a sigh of relief parting my lips as I reach for the shampoo.

The slim bottle finds its way into my paw, the distinct snap followed by a thick slurping sound prefacing the vigorous scrubbing of my headfur.

As I grope for my body wash, I step back under the stream of droplets, the warm stream washing away the suds atop my head.

I open the small bottle and quickly lather the slick liquid all over myself, scrubbing my fur as I huddle under the warm cone of rain flowing from the showerhead.

As soon as I've rinsed off completely, I turn off the water and hop out of the shower, snagging my towel and grappling my glasses before I slink into my room to dry off and get dressed.

Twenty two more minutes... Relax and take a deep breath, David. You'll make it on time.

I close my eyes and inhale deeply, the comforting thoughts of company and a nice cup of tea bringing me back down to a more relaxed state of mind.

Gotta dry off and then get dressed. Breakfast should be light, so I might have some cereal or something.

I set my glasses on the bridge of my muzzle before I begin drying myself off, the soft fabric of my towel caressing every inch of my body with its gentle touch.

Wait... don't I still have the Nutri-Bar from Wednesday?

I wrap my towel around my waist before stepping over to my messenger bag, barely lifting the flap to peek inside. To my surprise, the bar was still there, untouched since Anthony gave it to me.

I smile and grab hold of the palm-sized confection, unwrapping it eagerly and taking a sizeable bite of the honeyed bar.

Thank you, Anthony.

I step back over to the pile of clothes, grabbing randomly for my first article of clothing. Luckily, it was my boxers.

I unwrap my towel from my waist, quickly slipping my legs through the sizable holes, the elastic of my underwear making a dull snapping sound as they settle comfortable to my form.

Next, I seize my jeans and t-shirt, donning my choice of attire with efficiency and ease.

"Much better," I giggle as I give myself a look over, noticing that I happened to be lacking sock.

I step back over to my closet and retrieve a pair of white socks, pulling them over my hindpaws with a swift tug.

"Eve, cancel the countdown I'd set," I order, grabbing my flannel as I step over to my desk.

"Yes, Mister Everton."

The clock stands still at precisely sixteen minutes.

I stuff the other half of the Nutri-One bar in my mouth before pushing my arms through my flannels fitting sleeves, adjusting the slightly crooked collar before grabbing my bag from the back of my chair.

Phone, music player, books, wallet, envelope-

I pause mid-thought, skipping out into the kitchen to grab the wallet and shopping list for later tonight.

"Envelope, shopping list, phone, music player, books, wallet..."

I snatch the keys from the table top and smile.

"And keys. Everything's in order here."

I wander back to the bathroom to give myself a quick look over, everything appearing to be just as it should be.

With excited steps, I march myself back to the front door, hastily putting my shoes before walking out the door and locking it behind me.

I pull my cell from the bowels of my bag, noting that I had roughly thirteen minutes to catch the next metro to Aellia station.

"Alright, let's do this," I mutter before scampering down the three flights of giant stairs that lead down to the fifth floor, the door to the elevator hanging open as if someone had intended to use it but decided against it.

I slip in unnoticed and press the small button labeled by the letter "G", the doors closing promptly and taking me down to the ground floor. The elevator door opens soundlessly, the familiar sight of the modestly furnished lobby sprawling before me as I saunter past the grouchy clerk and toward the front door.

"Ey, Everton," he calls out, my ears lowering as his raspy voice rakes at my attention.

"Yes, Jordan?" I query, not bothering to look back.

"Where you off to?" he replies, his disgustingly snoopy tone unnerving me.

"I'm going to work. I got called in and I'm running late."

I hate to lie, but if it means I'll be able to make the metro on time and slip out of Jordan's conversation without a hassle, I'll make an exception.

"Oh... Alright, whatever," he grunts in a grouching tone of voice, giving me the opportunity to dash out the door and into the bustling streets of the Veneya district.

The walkways are flooded with students, professors, and citizens alike, most hardly distinguishable from one another.

I slip my earbuds into ears, allowing my music player to randomly select a song to accompany my venture to the station. Luckily, it selects an upbeat drum and bass tune I had been fancying as of late, my steps quickening to match the distinct thump of the bass, my entire coat standing on end as the vocals begin to resonate throughout my entire skull. I awkwardly mouth the words as I weave through the crowd, the usual bustle completely drowned out by the masterfully crafted symphony of vocal harmony and electronic rhythms snaking along the circuits of my musical pleasure center.

My heels pivot and my body turns, allowing me to smoothly round the corner and descend along the narrow pathway leading into the underground metro station, brimming with people of all varieties.

I glance up at one of the neon signs, the time displayed for the next metro's arrival listed as ten minutes, destination: Aellia station.

I grin triumphantly, the rising beat of my music making my smile shine all the more brightly.

Made it! Just in time, too.

A breath of relief fills my lungs as I look around the station, trying to see if there were any familiar faces or not. To my surprise, there is.

Is that... Anthony?

I spot the tall young drake with ease, his black shirt contrasting his white scales in a minimalistic but sexy way, causing his broad shoulders and long arms to pop and gain attention like a smattering of vibrant paint against a plain canvas.

Wait... who's that next to him?

I spot a slender vixen standing by his side, her posture relaxed and not in the least bit uneasy.

Who might that be? Perhaps a passerby?

I watch the two interact, the drake smiling and nodding his head as the fox makes accenting gestures to better define whatever she was talking about.

Could she be the friend he mentioned? The two seem awfully familiar with one another.

The drake folds his hands behind his back and sinks his head in, the familiar tint of red staining his cheeks.

What the hell are they talking about?

My gawking doesn't go unnoticed, of course. The drake tilts his head curiously and looks over at my general direction, causing me to clam up and face straight ahead, hoping that the odd duo wouldn't investigate further. To my dismay, they do.

The towering drake shuffles awkwardly through the crowd, eventually standing only a few feet away from me.

My face comes alight with a beet red heat, my tail puffing up in response to my self-inflicted embarrassment. Wanting not to be rude, I remove my headphones, glancing to my left as I do.

"H-Hey," Anthony greets, his voice shivering with an anxious excitement.

"H-Hai, Anthony," I reply, shuffling diffidently.

"I uh... S-Sorry for running late. I was hoping to get to the café early, but Lyra wanted to accompany me to the station."

I smile and nudge him gently.

"No worries, alright? I'm actually kinda glad I met you down here. I was worried I was the only one running late."

Anthony chuckles, the touch of relief in his poise making me smile.

"Is Lyra by chance your friend over there?" I query, gesturing toward the young vixen standing by herself near one of the benches.

Anthony nods.

"Y-Yes. She had plans to meet up with some friends in Ebyntyr station. Seeing as we were both going down the station, I decided to wait for her to finish so we might go together. Unfortunately, I accidentally set our lunch on fire in the hurry and... made us both a bit late."

I can't help but snicker.

A drake setting things on fire? How fitting.

"Like I said, don't worry 'bout it. I had to work late yesterday, so I ended up over-sleeping," I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck bashfully.

"Attention all commuters, the twelve fifty five metro to Ebyntyr station is arriving. Please grab any and all luggage when boarding and departing the metro. We thank you for your patronage."

The intercom cuts off just in time to hear the shrill squeaking brakes of the metro as it pulls in to the station, all varieties of individuals huddling around the doorways of the still-moving subway.

The vixen waves at Anthony, a warm smile plastered on her muzzle. Of course, he mimics here gesture, managing a genuine smile in return.

"So... you 'n Lyra live together?"

He nods.

"Y-Yeah. She's been taking care of me since I got here a few years ago."

"A few years ago? How long have you been living in Anorra?"

He takes a moment to consider my question.

"Probably about seven years or so. Growing up in the city's been quit the experience," he chuckles.

"Yeah," I sigh, looking over at the countless people that swarmed the station.

"So uh... where are you from, David?" he asks, the hesitance to his question quite apparent.

I glance up at the drake.

"I'm from Reytoria. It's one of the really big southern provinces. Ever been?"

He shakes his head.

"I've never really been outside of Anorra, to be honest... What's it like down there?"

The twang of curiosity in his voice draws me in, my attention now completely fixated on the conversation.

"In the southernmost part, there's endless beaches that border the Allantian sea. I remember visiting the beach several times with my parents during the summer. The water is clear and fresh, like that of a river. To the north, there's towering mountains and forests, which is closer to where I lived. My family took residence in the rolling plains, close to both the ocean and the forest, allowing me to experience plenty of different environments when I was growing up. The weather was always pleasantly warm in the spring and summer, the chilled winds of fall and winter rarely bringing more than a slight drop in temperature. All in all, it's quite a lovely place to live. If you're bored, you can venture off into the woods and explore for hours, or you can drive to seaside and enjoy the cool ocean waves by yourself or maybe with a friend. Or, perhaps, if you're feeling thoughtful, you can just laze around in the cool grass and read a good book."

I can't help but smile as I think back the hours I'd spent perched against the side of the house with my nose in a book and my head in the clouds.

"It sounds like a wonderful place... Like something out of fiction," sighs Anthony, an almost dreamy look in his eyes.

"Maybe we could visit together after we're done training," I state.

"Wh-Wha? The two of us? T-Together?" he stammers, his cheeks flushed red.

I nod.

"Why not? You're my friend, after all. Besides, it'll be quite a while before we finish our studies."

I meant that. I really did want to visit back home. It'd be even better if I could take Anthony with me.

"O-Oh uh... Th-Thank you," he murmurs, trying to hide his evident embarrassment.

"Attention all commuters, the one o'clock metro to Aellia station is arriving. Please grab any and all luggage when boarding and departing the metro. We thank you for your patronage."

I glance over at Anthony and smile.

"Guess that's us."

He nods shyly, huddling closer to me.

With a shrieking howl, the metro pulls into the station, slowly but surely coming to a stop as it usually does. The doors pop open and the mass exchange of people begins, some entering and some exiting, Anthony and I managing to squeeze in without too much trouble. We seat ourselves right next to one another, Anthony taking the inner seat while I take the outer.

As we sit there, I notice the relaxing warmth that seems to emanate from my companion, the close proximity between us making my heart skip and my body shiver.

Is this... how it feels? Maybe something like this? Warm and close... something relaxing... something familiar... something to hold on to.

"Th-Thank you for accepting my offer, David," mutters Anthony, his gaze fixed on the floor.

I shuffle a bit closer to him.

"And thank you for asking me to go with you," I reply, my arm gently brushing against his.

"We're now departing for Aellia station. Please remain seated until the metro has come to a complete stop. Thank you for your cooperation."

With an audible shake, the metro begins to move,the vision of people crowding around the transportation hub slowly fading into the distance before vanishing entirely as we are swallowed up by a tunnel.

I'm glad I said yes... I don't know what the future holds, but I can only hope its good things...

"Don't worry. Just take everything one step at a time."

The same familiar voice from Wednesday resonates in my head, bringing a strange calmness over me.

"Take it slow and enjoy yourself, alright?"

Alright.

I close my eyes and lean back, warm thoughts of what is to come drifting through my head.

Just one step at a time...