FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The gentle pit pat of rain dances atop my umbrella, the distinct slosh of water beneath my boots accompanying me as I commute to the apartment complex I had found myself in four days prior. The previously majestic statues now seemed to be painted in a menacing light as thunder tears at the sky's fabric, its vicious fangs racing along the uneven contours of the clouds.

My gleaming green eyes peer forth from behind my fogged up glasses, my hot breath forming thick white wisps in the cold air.

"Almost there," I mumble as I trot toward the front door of the complex, swinging it ajar with my free paw before hurriedly scampering inside.

"Ah, it's a pleasure to see you again, Mister Everton!" greets a familiar voice.

I look to the desk and smile, the old hare from before standing in the same place as he had the last time I was here.

"Hey, Alfred," I reply, snapping my umbrella shut and giving it a bit of a wriggle.

"This weather is simple terrible. I certainly hope your commute was safe," he remarks.

"Everything went fine. Nothin' I haven't run into before," I chuckle as I step over to the desk behind which he resides.

"Here to see Master Nightfang, I presume?"

I nod.

"Yeah. Need my ID again?"

He shakes his head.

"No need, Mister Everton. I'll just use the previous entry and re-log you from your first visit."

"Could I ask you a quick question, Alfred?"

"What can I do for you, Mister Everton?"

"How do I get down to the training floor?"

The hare pauses a moment, tapping the desk thoughtfully.

"Take the elevator down to the third floor. I'm sure Master Nightfang gave you a card, yes?"

I nod.

"I've got an access card, I just was wondering how to get there. Thanks for the help, Alfred."

He smiles and nods.

"But of course, Mister Everton. It's my job, after all."

"Alright, you have a good day! Don't let the weather get ya down," I call out as I step into the elevator and press the button labeled "B7".

The door shuts soundlessly as I am whisked down into the bowls of the earth, the quiet hum of the elevator lulling me into a strange state of calmness.

I wonder what today's gonna be like. Wednesday was exciting and Friday left me wanting to spend more time in Anthony's company... I just wonder what treasures are nestled in today's events.

With a quiet sigh, the doors of the elevator open to the sight of the white hallway, the sleek black paint of the training room door smirking at me.

I step forth from the confines of the metal shell, my paw digging through my pocket to grab hold of my wallet. I flip the small leather block open, my fingers snatching the slim piece of plastic from inside and swiping it through the card reader mounted next to the door. A quiet beep of confirmation lets me know that the door is unlocked, now allowing me access to the room.

I hesitate a moment, my gaze fixated on the golden knob.

What if someone else is already there?

A quivering sigh slithers past my lips as I take the small golden ball into the palm of my paw.

Relax, Dave. Just be calm. Today won't be all too different from Wednesday. There's nothing to worry about.

With an impulsive turn of my wrist and push of my shoulder, the door swings open, only the wet sound of my footsteps there to usher me in.

"Hello...?" I call out, half expecting to hear a response.

The rhythmic thump of my heart pulses in my ears as I shut the door behind me, my gaze scanning the room for any possible residents other than myself.

Am I the first one here? Guess so...

I saunter to the seat in which I had found myself the day before, setting my backpack and umbrella to my right.

It's weird being early... No one else to have around... The lack of company is rather unsettling.

My unease gets the better of me, urging me to examine the glass panes that serve as barriers between myself and the outside world.

I press my paw to the glass, the warmth radiating from outside reminding me of the summers I'd spent in the woods, perched beside the river that snaked through the foliage. I used to sit there and read books while listening to the soothing sounds of the river's fingers racing downstream, slowly carving into the skin of the earth. I remember feeling the warmth of the sun graze my cheeks as I'd look up and take a deep breath of the fresh country air; nothing compared to the simplicity of the life I lived out in the countryside.

Home... I miss home... I wish I could just escape into the woods like I used to... to sit there by myself and be alone with my thoughts... just to think... to find repose in an old comfort...

"H-Hello?"

A soft but familiar voices touches my attention, my gaze quickly shifting to the general location from which it originated.

"Anthony?"

The towering drake quietly shuts the door behind him as he steps over to me.

"H-Hey, Dave. Quite a pleasant surprise to see you here."

I look him over from head to toe, his dark trench coat contrasting his snow-white scales well, his friendly smile bringing a perfect balance to his image.

"I could say the same for you. I was starting to feel a bit lonely all by myself down here," I chuckle, folding my paws behind my back.

The drake tilts his head curiously.

"Is Master Nightfang not here yet?"

I shake my head in response.

"I have yet to see him appear. Who knows, he might make an extravagant entrance like his last exit."

Anthony snickers at my remark.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," he sighs, stepping over to his seat and removing his coat, revealing his striking but fitting choice of attire: a black t-shirt with blue and orange abstract motifs, like fire and ice dancing with one another.

"Nice shirt," I remark.

"O-Oh uh, thank you," he replies, smiling in the curiously endearing way only he seems to smile.

A moment of quiet comes between us, the drake's crystalline eyes seeming to look me over as if a question lingers at the tip of his tongue.

"May I... help you out of your coat?" he asks, gesturing to my thick hoodie.

He... wants to help me out of my hoodie?

I shuffle in place bashfully, searching for a properly formulated response.

Oh my... Oh dear... I wasn't expecting anything like this... Do I just... let him...?

"Go right ahead," I reply as my cheeks begin to glow red with embarrassment.

Anthony steps over to me, gingerly taking the small metal zipper between his fingers and carefully tugging down. His touch was gentle and his hands... they provoke thoughts of closeness; I want to reach out and hold him.

With great care, he slowly peels back the layer of fabric, eventually exposing my fur to the warm air of the training room.

"You're quite gentle for your size," I remark, propping myself against the glass wall.

"I... I am?"

I nod.

"Mhmm. Your size is somewhat deceiving in that respect," I reply.

The drake manages a bashful smile, shaking his head as he places my jacket on the back of my chair.

"At least my size doesn't scare you," he sighs.

I furrow my brow curiously.

"Why would your size scare me? You're a nice guy, Anthony; no need to be afraid of a big friendly drake."

Anthony chuckles embarrassedly.

"Friendly? I'd have found the word 'awkward' more befitting," he replies.

I shake my head.

"Nah. You're not awkward; just a bit nervous around people you don't know very well. Nothin' wrong with that."

I smile reassuringly.

"Just relax, alright? I won't bite."

His posture seems to become less tense as his expression becomes more relaxed.

"Alright. Th-Thank you, David."

"Anything for a friend."

He trots over to my side, stealing a moment to himself to gaze out into the clear blue that surrounds us.

"It's really relaxing to just look into water. It makes me think about the beach... walking along the sandy shores and inhaling the salty air."

His voice speaks with a relaxing tone of enthrallment, the calmness that emanates from him gently wrapping itself around me.

"I'd walk along the beach and collect the smooth rocks that'd wash ashore. Some were flat and colorful, like pieces of a rainbow that had be cut to perfection. Others were more rigid but had their own unique designs; they were all like works of art that the ocean's hands had crafted for anyone to see. I'd stash them away beneath my bed so no one would find them. I even managed to keep some of 'em."

He turns toward me and smiles.

"Maybe we can go to the beach together some day, like you said in the Metro station."

I feel my cheeks light up with the heat of my embarrassment.

"Would you like to?" I reply hesitantly.

He nods.

"I've never been with a friend. I'd love for you to be the first person I share the experience with."

I can't help but grin as those words part his lips.

"Maybe I can take you to the forest back home. I used to spend my summer afternoons beneath the oak trees and read books. Would you... like to sit there with me?"

"I'd love to," he replies, his thin whiskers giving a distinct twitch.

I can feel my heart skip a beat, his response making me feel as light as a feather.

Just the two of us in the woods... enjoying each other's presence...

A dreamy sigh parts my lips as I huddle closer to him.

"Thanks, Anthony... you're the best."

He smiles and nudges me gently.

"No, you're the best."

I giggle playfully, nudging him back.

"No, _you're _the best."

The drake chuckles and shakes his head.

"Nope, that's you, Dave."

I make a comically grumpy face as I bump him with my shoulder.

"Noooo, you're the best."

He sighs glancing over at me and smiling.

"Whatever. I still think you're the best and nothing will change my mind about that."

A strange impulse tickles my attention, whispering that I grab my courage and embrace him.

Should I...? Would it be weird if I did...? I don't want to chase him off...

With a hesitant sigh, I inch closer to him.

We're alone... Might not get a chance like this again for a while...

With an awkward hold, I wrap my paws around my scaled companion, the heat of his body licking at my fur as I press my cheek to his chest.

"You're the best, no matter what you say."

The drake giggles, ruffling my headfur lovingly.

"Whatever you say, Dave."

"Excuse me for being so late! The weather made my commute feel like I was trudging through a mob of frenzied animals."

I practically leap out of my own skin, my frantic gaze managing to capture the sight of Master Nightfang standing in the door way, his coat soaked by the torrent of rain pouring from the sky.

With a swift toss he discards his sapping wet attire, the wolf's undershirt and pants seeming to have remained dry by some stroke of luck.

Anthony and I stand there, baffled by his rather grumpy attitude, completely polar to his calm demeanor of our previous lesson.

"Now then, if we're all done gawking, shall we get started with today's lesson?"

His snide comment stings like a well-placed slap, causing me to grit my teeth as I scamper to my seat. Anthony follows in my steps, soundlessly taking his place at my side.

An audible sigh slips past Master Nightfang's lips as he steps before us, his expression changing from one of grim irritation to one of a lesser degree.

"Please excuse my attitude. That was completely uncalled for on my part," he states, his keen eyes glancing at the two of us before redirecting themselves to some unseen entity standing behind us.

"Today's lesson will be about the concept of predisposition, how we are able to cast the magic that we project from ourselves, and how to attain proper focus for better casting. The lesson will involve a certain amount of demonstration, part of which may come from you, if you so choose it to. So, without further ado, let us begin."

The wolf re-adjusts his posture before snapping his fingers, a small flame forming just above his index finger.

"As we discussed yesterday, there are a variety of elements we are able to cast. I cast fire, and you two are able to cast lighting, water, and ice respectively. Anthony is a bit of special case since he is able to cast two elements, though I'll get to that later. But, has either of you ever tried to cast an element outside of the ones you are able to naturally control?"

I shake my head, my brow furrowing as a sense of curiosity stirs in my thoughts.

"How is such a thing even possible?" I query.

"It isn't. At least, I don't think it is," mutters Anthony.

Master Nightfang nods, the small flame hovering above his finger disappearing as quickly as it had materialized.

"That is correct, Anthony. We are each born to control an element, or in your case, two elements. Because of the nature of aether, we only are able to control one at any given time, those able to control two being a rare exception where a similar rule still applies; any individual that is able to cast two elements is bound to them and is unable to cast any magic outside the pair they've been given. Simple enough, right?"

Anthony and I both nod.

"Now, simply because one wields two elements doesn't mean they are superior to someone who only is able to cast one. Two good examples are of two warriors from the distant past. Among the ranks of the anthropian nobles there once stood a general, a 'Kenro' in the ancient tongue, known only by his title of Kenro Valentyne. Kenro Valentyne was a perfect example of the duality that existed in his fighting style; outside of battle, he was calm and gentle, favoring the company of only the nature around him. In battle, however, he was a complete savage, tearing the earth apart beneath the feet of his foes and literally shaping the battlefield upon which war was waged. Another prime example is the human warrior queen known as 'Elyssa'. Queen Elyssa was renowned for her prowess in battle, using the powers of wind and fire to scorch her adversaries and lay waste to armies three times the size of her own. Granted, she was quite the mad ruler, though she wielded her power with a level of mastery few before her had ever managed to achieve. Both were warriors of the arckane, though while one possessed two elements, they both fought with an equal amount of power."

He pauses, a faint smirk stitching onto his muzzle.

"Of course, neither of you is going to be involved in any real combat. However, to better understand the world and our gifts, we must keep our minds sharp and train to be in pique condition. The arckane arts served as tools of war, but also as the pathway to enlightenment. As I pass on my own teachings to you, you will each form your own ideas and ways of thought that may even change what you believed prior to coming here. In a sense, you are both becoming scholars of your own life's journey."

The wolf allows an airy chuckle to part his lips as he folds his paws behind his back.

"Pardon my detour of subject," he sighs, glancing at the two of us before clearing his throat and continuing on.

"Now, aether is the energy that inhabits every living being. Those who choose to harness their arckane powers must learn to utilize the force that inhabits them to project their element. So, in a sense, every time you cast your element, you are taking a part of yourself and using it to bring that element or force into existence. Since you can't create something from nothing, something must be given in exchange, your aether being the substance offered for an equivalent amount of your element to be cast. Make sense?"

We both nod.

"However, since how much we can cast is limited to the boundaries of our aether, we must learn to cast our elements with a greater degree of focus, allowing us to be more precise and use less of our aether while maintaining a high level of output. Through training our minds and bodies, we temper our aether to allow this model to work, since we can't start giving less in exchange for more; that goes against the very laws upon which this world operates. Because we are tempering our aether, we are allowing it to grow in strength, which, in turn, means that less of it will be required when we want to cast our element. Through dedication, focus, and a strong will, you will be able to acquire a level of control and understanding that I've managed to acquire in my years of study."

The wolf pauses again, bringing his paws forward and clapping once.

"Now then, shall we begin with the real meat of today's lesson?"

I tilt my head curiously.

"Meat of the lesson...?" I mutter.

He nods.

"I'll be showing you both how to tighten your focus and feel your aether. If you want to improve upon what I teach you, you will have to do so in your own time. If you want to have a review session to practice with me, email me at least two days prior. But, if you want to practice by yourself, the practice room is always open, as I mentioned on Wednesday. So, my students, shall we begin?"

Anthony and I glance at one another before we both nod in agreement.

"Good. To make things simple, let's start with focusing on the feeling of your aether. I want you both to close your eyes and put yourself in a place that makes you feel relaxed."

I hesitate for a moment before doing as was asked of me, a shroud of dark enveloping my sight before I re-emerge in a place all too familiar; trees jut into the heavens and the river races along its destined path, the light of the moon painting everything in an ethereal glow.

"Take deep breaths, in and out."

I inhale deeply, my chest swelling before collapsing back to its original state, the flow of air entering and exiting my body bringing me to a state of tranquility.

"Shut out everything else and sense the course of your aether. Feel it snake through your veins. Once you've got it, try to move it to your palms. Once you've completed your exercise, open your eyes."

Another deep breath fills my lungs as the familiar sounds of the forest begin to fill my ears, the soft chirps of crickets accompanying the fading whispers of the wind.

I try to focus on the sensation I had felt at our previous lesson, searching for the faint tingle that had sparked my massive output of energy.

A faint shiver races down my spine and spreads through my body, my fingers and toes beginning to tingle with the same sensation as they had last time. I try to focus on the sensation that slowly begins to grow at the tips of my extremities, the spark of aether beginning to become more prominent, almost palpable. A distinct weight seems to form in the palms of my paws, causing my fingers to grope at the shapeless mass.

This is it... I did it...

I slowly pull myself back from my world of imagination, my eyes taking a moment to readjust to the low light of the training room as the weight in my palms dissipates.

"All done, David?"

I nod.

"Yeah. Wasn't as hard as I was expecting it to be," I reply.

Master Nightfang smiles, glancing over to Anthony.

"Your partner seems to have just finished as well," he remarks.

The drake's eyes slowly open, his gaze quickly shifting to Master Nightfang and I.

"How did it go?" I ask.

"Well enough. I wish I'd be able to do it faster, but I guess I can't complain," he sighs.

"The speed with which you're able to feel your element and move it will improve with time and practice, so don't take your initial attempts as a concrete measure of your skill. To me, however, it looks like you're both on the right track for quick growth. Most students take two or three lessons to really begin feeling their aether, but you've both gotten a grip on it quite easily. Then again, you both are able to release your aether, so I shouldn't be surprised that you can move it more easily than others."

He smiles and folds his paws behinds his back.

"Regardless, you've both done well. I'll email you later today to inform you of the time we'll be meeting on Wednesday. Any questions?"

Anthony and I both shake our heads.

"Alright. I hope you both have a good day. Class dismissed."

With that, he tosses small orb to the ground and vanishes in a haze of white smoke, not a trace of his presence remaining.

"I still don't get why he does that," I sigh, tilting my head curiously.

"A knack for the eccentric, I'd guess," replies Anthony.

"You can say that again," I chuckle, glancing over at him.

A drape of quiet begins to settle in over us, a soft sigh parting my lips as I lean back in my chair.

"Wanna meet up for some extra training tonight?"

My coat stands on end as my heart begins to beat rapidly.

"T-Training?"

Anthony nods.

"Sure. I mean... I've got a pretty good grip on some other basic stuff we haven't gone over yet, so I figured I might give you a head start. I-If that's okay with you, that is," he explains nervously, the faint glow of red painting his cheeks.

I smile shyly, considering his proposition.

His offer seems genuine and I want to make some more progress in my training. So... should I?

"S-Sure. I won't have anything going on tonight, so I'd definitely be up for some extra practice with you."

The drake smiles in the endearing way only he seems to.

"Awesome! Can't wait to meet up for practice," he chimes, rising from his seat and slipping into his coat.

"Neither can I," I reply, the tingle of excitement filling my stomach as I get out of my seat and pull my arms into the sleeves of my hoodie.

"H-Hey, Dave?" he queries.

"Hmm?"

"Could... Could we walk to the Metro station together?"

My heart flutters as my tail sways contently.

"Y-Yeah. I'd love to."

He smiles and chuckles bashfully.

"G-Great," he sighs, slipping his hands into his pockets.

I swiftly grab hold of my bag and umbrella before zipping up my hoodie and glancing over to the drake, the tall figure standing in place patiently.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Alright, let's go."

_ _