FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Nara waited for Sev in the bustling city square. Nearly four years had passed since the two had met. Every week they would wait for each other in front of the little shop in the far corner of the square where they would meet up and head to the woods where they would talk and go on fun, little adventures together.

But today, they were not just going on one little adventure. This one was important. As part of their training as Pathfinders, they were to be sent off into the woods for a week where they would head to a mountain towards the east known as mount Skaron. Once they reached the top of the mountain, they would finally receive their special power that only they could wield. This was the last challenge set in place by their training guilds Overseer before they would begin training with their powers.

But before they were to leave, the they all were to meet back at the guild one last time for further instructions on their final task.

"Hey," Sev called as she came around the corner of the shop, "Sorry I'm late. My brothers didn't want me to go and they kept tuggin' on my arms. My mum had to finally pull them off of me so I could leave..." She smiled. "So ye' got everythin'?"

"Yeah, I'm ready to go," Nara said as he turned around to show her the bag he was carrying on his back.

"D'ye say goodbye to yer Da yet?" she asked.

"Not quite," he began,"My Da was asleep when I left and I didn't want to wake him so I just figured that we'd pass by my house on the way to the guild and I'd say goodbye then."

"Alrigh', sure... But if ye wanna see yer Da before we leave then we should get goin' early," Sev said.

The two walked through the busy streets towards the western side of the city. They walked together in silence as they passed through alleys and streets and up and down stairs filled with all kinds of vendors, traders and shops.

Soon they were passing through the more residential part of the city where people had built their homes and where the streets were much calmer. Nara waved to Mrs. Stratford, his next door neighbor, who was on her commute to her work in the city. She smiled and waved back.

"Good morning, Nara. I believe that your father is wondering where you might be," she called as they passed each other, "And good luck on your journey, too." Nara nodded and smiled and they went on their way.

The two took a right turn off of the main road and onto a dirt path. Soon, they had approached Nara's house. It was situated a bit farther away than the rest and was worn down and wooden, unlike the sturdy, brick houses on the main street.

Nara stepped up to the front door and Sev followed him. He put his hand out in front of her and held her back.

"I think, you should wait out here," he said.

Sev paused and thought about this for a moment, "Yea, alright. I'll wait," she said.

"I'll be right back," Nara said as he took a breath and opened the door.

The front door opened up onto the main room where ashes from last nights fire were smoldering in the hearth and rows and rows of books were all in their proper place atop the shelves that lined the back wall. His father had been sitting in his old, wooden chair reading a plain covered book with his legs crossed and his thin tail loose.

"Forgetting something?" he said, coolly, without looking up from his book. Nara closed the front door behind him. "I was beginning to worry that you had already left... Do you have everything for your trip? All your food, and equipment, and... things?" he asked as he put down his book carefully on a side table where a lit candle and an ink well and quill (which was one of Nara's own feathers) were already set down.

"Yeah, I've got our map and canteens and Sevs bringing all our food," Nara said. "Now are you sure you're not forgetting anything? Anything important?" he asked as he looked around the room like he was searching for something he had lost.

"No, why? What did I forget?" Nara said as he began to doubt himself.

His father smiled and pulled from his pocket Nara's compass. It was simple with no design. It was just painted black with light blue stripes on the edges.

His Da had tossed the old compass to him and Nara opened his hands to catch it. He grabbed the compass from the air and pocketed it.

His father motioned for him to come sit in the chair beside him and he obliged. Nara sat and placed his bag on the floor beside him.

For a while, the two didn't say anything. They just sat in silence until, finally, Nara spoke up.

"I'll miss you, you know," he said.

"Oh, don't worry, I know," His father responded in his gruff voice.

"I'll come visit whenever I can. An-and I'll write to you, and-"

"Nara, don't try to comfort me," his Da had interrupted. "I'll always worry about you, no matter how much you write to me." They smiled at each other and more silence passed. "You know, if it were up to me, you wouldn't have all that hair of yours. You'd have nothin' but feathers on your head," His Da said flippantly.

"If it were up to you, I wouldn't have feathers at all. I'd be covered with black fur, like yours," Nara kidded.

"Oh, don't you start that," his father said wryly, "I'm glad you turned out to be an Eagle, like your mother... I just wished that she would be the one to teach you how to fly rather than Mister Etherton from across town." The Panther looked down with a somber look across his face. "You know she lost her life in this war."

"Yes, Da, I know," Nara put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, hoping that it would help relax him, "And besides, Mister Etherton taught me well," Nara said remembering the summer he had visited Mister Etherton every afternoon for flying lessons. Mister Etherton hadn't really like children. Especially those of Nara's age at the time, and it reflected in his teaching methods.

"That's not the point Nara... She died fighting for us. I wish It could've been me in her place but I couldn't leave you here by yourself..." his Da looked up at him with watery eyes. He sighed and continued, "I just feel, as a father, I always need to keep you safe, and I'm not exactly doing my job by letting you go off and fight in this war..."

"Well, it's not like I'm going to be sent straight into battle. Everyone thinks that the Finders are too important to lose. We'll probably sent on different sorts of missions and things... I'm not quite sure to be honest, but... I don't think you should be worrying too much."

His father looked back down at his lap and chuckled. "Nara, I worry about you every week when you go off into the wilderness with Sev. There is no way that I won't be worrying about you when you're away," He said as he shook his head.

He sighed before he continued. "But... I'm not going to stop you." This time, put his hand on Nara's shoulder. "You've made me proud, Nara... Now go and fight... And don't give in no matter how bad things get. Okay?"

Tears filled Nara's eyes and his voice got caught in his throat. He silently nodded and he hugged his father.

"You'll be back here in seven days right?" his Da asked.

Nara nodded again.

"And you'll be getting your powers?"

"Yeah... I will." He said raspily.

"Make sure you show them to me once you get back, All right?" he joked.

Nara laughed. "Yeah, sure. But I might accidentally flood the house. Or, who knows, I might set it on fire. I don't have one clue what my powers are going to be."

"Well at least tell me what you powers are, okay?" his father said as he pulled his son in for one last embrace.

"Of course, Da." Nara spoke into his shoulder as he held him tight.

Suddenly, Sev burst through the front door, "Nara, ye've got to hurry up. We'll be late."

Nara smiled and pulled away from his father's grasp. "When have you ever cared about being late?" He snickered.

"Now, Sevagaia. You take care of my son, All right?" His Da demanded.

"Don't worry, Mister Nox. He'll be safe with me. I promise." Sev smiled and Nara followed her out the door before pausing in the threshold. He waved goodbye to his father and slowly closed the door.

Nara exhaled as he stared into the morning sun.

"Are ye ready to go, yet?" Sev pleaded impatiently.

He sighed. "Yeah... I guess I am." He followed the fox down the dirt path back to the main road and away from the comforts of his home.