FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

(1)

With a pained groan Alexander Kies sat up in his new bed, a crude, oversized cot. In front of him was a line of iron bars with a matching door that led to a dimly lit, high-ceilinged hallway with smooth stone walls. To his left he could see a cot just like his, but with a massive mound on it, one that barely fit on the rough mattress.

His face showed worry for a moment but it hardened into a determined expression as he turned away from the bars and thought, 'I need to get out and make it home, back to Ebonhawke.' He stood to stretch his aching body before walking up to the bars and pressing his face against them. Looking down the hallway to his left he saw more cells lining the walls, with torches placed periodically, ending with a set of stairs leading deeper down into wherever he was. The hallway carried on for a few steps to his right, a smaller cell occupying that space, before turning into a brightly-lit bend. Alexander could hear what sounded like distant shouting from above. A moment later he recognized the smell of acrid smoke and wet fur as it wafted in, making him wrinkle his nose and cough.

He walked back to his cot with some vigor, sat down, and assumed a thinking position. With an elbow on his knee and his knuckles on his chin, he quietly mumbled, “This is a labor camp at best…" He scanned around the cell, searching for anything interesting and only finding a few discarded chicken bones in the far corner.

He patted himself down with the hope of finding something helpful, but only felt the sting of some fresh and hastily bandaged bruises and small cuts once his fingers passed over them. The loose-fitting prisoner's rags that covered his stocky frame were another unwelcome addition that brought a frown to his face. One hand reached up to ruffle through his unkempt black hair as he looked up again to see that the mound across from him had moved.

It was sitting perfectly still, but it was facing him now. Its shoulders were at least twice as broad as his and gave way to a massive frame topped by a sloped neck, one that led forward and attached to the back of its head. A pair of large, saber-like fangs were the first signs that this lump wasn't just a hallucination. A set of piercing, orange-yellow eyes confirmed his suspicions, and it looked like they were sizing him up before relaxing, as if they'd just confirmed he wasn't a threat.

Alexander's focus died immediately. He had a good idea of what he was sitting across from, but he didn't want to think that it was one of them. He shook his head clear with that frown still on his face and stared for a moment at the enormous silhouette with a mix of dread and confusion.

The shadow spoke first, a feminine voice but lower pitched and somewhat raspy, “What's wrong?" Alexander tensed up at the sound of the voice, his teeth gritting for a moment as he leaned forward to stare at the center of the cell's floor with a mix of surprise and disbelief. He held his gaze there for a moment before looking up into the large eyes across from him. “I'm in one of your kind's crude prisons."

“So you're the newcomer." She leaned forward and smirked, sending her head into the light and showing off a toothy maw. The sight sent Alexander's tan skin crawling. “I was surprised when you were dumped in here, they don't tend to dress our meals for us." The smirk turned into a knowing smile, one much too threatening to be anything other than unsettling.

Alexander's frown dropped into a grimace and his stare turned into a glare. “From what I've seen, your people hardly kill their meals… Savages."

Her smile was replaced with a snarl as she stood up. Five dagger-sized claws slipped out of each of her nearly chest-sized hands as she stepped into the center of the cell. Her eyes narrowed down at him while she put her bulk on full display, nearly filling the space between them.

She was even bigger than Alexander could've imagined, easily the largest of her kind that he'd ever seen, over twice his height and heavy enough for each step to make his cot shudder. The ceiling would've had to make room for her head if it wasn't for her race's natural hunch. What wasn't hidden by her prisoner's rags was covered with fur. An orange-tawny color gave way to an auburn shade as it spread out from her center while her core and underside was almost cream-colored.

She was a charr. A large, beastly feline-like race typically sporting four horns and four ears to match. Known for their discipline, ferocity, and explosive tempers. They've been waging war against humans for generations and the hate between the two was deeply-rooted, especially in the human settlements closest to the plains the beasts inhabited.

Alexander felt himself shrink back instinctively as every muscle in his body flared with the urge to get up and run. But his pride wouldn't allow him to be intimidated so easily. He stood and moved to meet her in the middle of the room, having to look up into her looming face as she craned her neck down to maintain eye contact.

Now he could clearly see her horns. The upper pair sloped back with her skull before jutting upwards, while her lower and shorter set sprouted from near the rear of her jaw and curved inward towards her mouth. Her long-furred tail swayed slowly behind her, its gentle whooshing the only thing he could hear aside from the pounding of his heart. He could stand her frightening appearance, but he shirked away and grimaced as her stench hit him. Menace, death, and many days spent in the same cell.

She rumbled with an excited grin, “You're brave, but I can smell your fear."

Alexander waved at the air in front of his nose. “I'm surprised you can smell anything at all. Your stink could kill."

Before he could regret the insult he was grabbed by the collar of his shirt, lifted off of his feet, and slammed into the wall behind him. He tried to speak but the pressure on his chest wouldn't allow it. All he could do was look forward with surprise and grab at his cell mate's forearm. Her earlier snarl was now a full growl as she squinted at him, looking ready to lunge forward and chomp down on any part of him.

“Caeda! Release him!" Shouted a rough voice belonging to another charr, this one male. The pressure was released with those words and Alexander peeled himself from the wall, gasping for breath. “He's your new partner, you agreed to it and you'll stick to it!"

Caeda took a step back, clenching her jaw and glaring at Alexander as he brushed some of her fur from himself. She turned to the guard and grumbled. “I did not agree... I was ordered."

“And you'll obey that order… Or should I notify The Warden?" It was spoken like a threat.

Her claws sheathed themselves at the mention of The Warden. She shook her head and stepped back to her cot before heavily setting herself onto it and staring at Alexander again as the guard continued down the hall.

The lone human stood and staggered to his prison bed to sit down, dazed. He returned Caeda's piercing stare for what seemed like hours, too worried to lie down and rest. He could feel himself dozing off after quite some time, but her gaze never faltered, only digging into him as time passed. He eventually had to give in and lie down to rest. His first night was plagued by thoughts of home and family, only to be interrupted by the sudden doubt his capture and Caeda introduced.

***

Alexander woke to the sound of marching as many guards moved to line the wall of the main hall. Half of them carried mining equipment and all of them were armed, their swords and other killing tools sheathed. A smaller guard came from the right with a set of large keys in one hand. He began unlocking cells and theirs was first. Caeda stood and walked to the door with a heavy gait. She stepped through as it swung open before taking an offered pick from a guard and turning left. Alexander scrambled up to follow her out and hefted a charr-sized pick to stand tall with, but still fell just short of being eye level with some of the smaller guards. He gave up the stance and hefted the charr-sized pick over his shoulder.

Other prisoners came out of their cells and fetched the remaining mining equipment. All of them were charr of various sizes and expressions save for one. His head was bald and skin was almost shining white as he stood just as tall as Caeda. He somehow looked even stronger than her too, an almost comedic amount of muscle rippling in his arms as he was given two picks to use. Alexander squinted at the miniature giant with confusion until a shout from the lead guard brought the twin lines into a march forward, headed towards the darkened stairs at the end of the hall. The occasional torch was grabbed from its place along the wall by a guard as they moved.

The walk down was uncomfortable as the stairs turned into a rough ramp part of the way down and the air grew thick with heat. Alexander could only imagine how much worse the temperature felt for the fur-covered charr surrounding him, but as he peeked about, none seemed noticeably more uncomfortable than him.

The descending march ended in a wide room with small mineshafts leading out from it in all directions. The line of guards dispersed and filed out along the walls as the prisoners spread to fill the center of the room. Alexander and Caeda somehow found themselves in the front, shoulder to hip. The same guard that had reprimanded Caeda earlier strode to the front of the room and started in on the forced duo. “You two will be furthering the Northern line." He said, leaning back to speak to Caeda, then leaning forward to speak to Alexander. “I expect to see you keep up, mouse." Neither dignified him with a verbal response, only a deepening of Alexander's scowl.

The head guard stepped aside and Alexander pushed himself into the narrow shaft first with a mix of anxiety and purpose. Eliciting a chuckle from some of the guards as Caeda followed with a sly grin, blocking the view from behind with her bulk.

The tunnel was lit periodically, just like the hall above. Alexander strode forward quickly, hoping to put some distance between himself and his partner. Caeda slowly moved through the tunnel, having to duck under its low-hanging supports. She let loose a relieved sigh as her partner blazed ahead of her.

Alexander came to a stop. The shaft widened before abruptly ending with a spare pick set off to one side. “This must be it." He stepped to meet the right wall and started swinging away with an odd lumberjack-like style. He hefted the large pick with some difficulty, but made an arm's length of progress before Caeda caught up to him.

She thumped up and stopped just behind to stretch from one wall to the other in the cramped tunnel, groaning as a joint or two cracked.

The rumbling groan startled Alexander, getting him to glance back and raise both brows at the sight. 'I'm expected to keep up with that?' He thought, his focus gone once again.

Caeda took her place to Alexander's left and started in on her side of the tunnel, starting slow as she gauged how much room there was to swing. But she soon resembled a living machine, hammering rock out of the way with each practiced swing of her pick. Alexander turned back to his task and redoubled his efforts, shaving the rock away at a steady pace.

She passed him in just a handful of minutes with no problem, even making a show of relaxing once she had a steady lead on him and teasingly flicking her tail from side to side in tune with his swings. Alexander forced himself to speed up as she took ample time to test different grips on the pick and stretch about. Caught off guard, he matched her progress for a moment before she plowed ahead of him again with a frustrated huff. This time she maintained her pace.

After a few hours of picking away, the tunnel had extended a good stone's throw on Alexander's end. But Caeda's end was almost twice as long, extending further than the torches mounted along the walls would light. Plenty of debris waited for whoever the guards would send to scoop it up.

A whistle blew and Alexander paused, he took it to mean they were to return to the previous room. He knew he was right when Caeda tromped her way ahead of him before the tunnel narrowed back to single-file width.

Alexander was winded, but the sting to his pride hurt more than the ache in his muscles, 'Outdone by a beast!'

They were escorted out of the tunnel with the other prisoners, back to the main cell hall, then up into the light. It led to a large mining pit with scattered guard towers linked by walls with the sun shining down from almost directly overhead. A thick gate could be seen at the far end, well guarded by two heavily armed and armored charr, blunderbuss-like rifles held at the ready.

The new group with Alexander and Caeda were sorted into pairs again, but they were chained together at the ankle before being sent into the mining yard.

Alexander could already see the displeasure on Caeda's face as they were linked together, his left leg and her right. “Is this really necessary?" She asked, “Making me drag the runt around?"

“I have to agree, I'd work best without a fuzzy wall chained to me." A hint of concern crossed his face as he realized the implications of being chained to a much larger, much more aggressive partner.

The guard simply shook his head. “No can do, Warden's orders."

They frowned in unison and continued into the pit. Caeda ran ahead, heading right for a tight cluster of rocks scattered with ore, dragging Alexander along.

He stumbled and nearly fell, but managed to keep up with her. He started picking away at some nearby rocks as Caeda turned to see if she'd tripped him up. With a disgruntled sigh at his persistence, she started smashing a neighboring bunch of stone.

Alexander simply went about occupying himself physically to keep from looking like a slacker while his mind worked its way through the situation. 'Very heavily guarded above… Can't tunnel out below, way too much to dig through...' He looked up at his partner as she demolished a boulder-sized hunk of stone, revealing a patch of dark grey ore inside, his face twisted into a knowing frown as he stared on. 'No good options, unless we…' He forced himself under her arm as she raised it again and swung his own pick into the center of the ore, fracturing it perfectly before quickly digging it out with smaller strikes.

She froze and looked down, confused first and angered second. “Hmph!" She stepped far to her side, sending Alexander off of his feet and onto a shoulder while growling out the words, “Get a bag and fill it!"

A guard standing above tossed one down to him with a chuckle.

Alexander wheezed as he hit the ground, but snatched the bag out of the air and began stuffing loose ore into it. He nearly filled it with just that one large find before trying to stand again, but only made it onto one leg.

Caeda stepped far forward and Alexander found himself on his rear. He stayed there for a moment, letting Caeda move a bit further before quickly standing and yanking his chained leg back in tune with Caeda's backswing, sending her tumbling.

She immediately stood again and shot a murderous glare at Alexander, who stood there with wide eyes, shocked to see someone so large move so fast.

His expression leveled out, save for a bit of worry in his eyes. “I didn't think that would work..." His voice held steady, but a tiny smirk gave away the lie.

Caeda started moving towards him, looking ready to pounce. But a gruff, “Enough! Back to work." from above stopped her. Her mouth hung open gravely as she narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, but she returned to the previous task before being scolded again.

Alexander jumped slightly at the sound of the voice. Recovering his composure, he moved to the side and busied himself with mining once again, stuffing the ore bag full and setting it aside.

The two worked without directly interfering with each other for a good while, much like most of the other miners did, only the occasional tug of a leg or bump of an elbow. But just as it looked like the day would continue without incident, Caeda grabbed the chain with one hand while the other filled an ore bag. She started pulling on it, gathering the slack under her before starting to reel Alexander in on the other end.

He kept his footing, sliding towards her as she pulled, but came uncomfortably close to falling into her as she stopped.

He put on a deep frown and turned to reach up and tap her on the shoulder, his patience was at its end.

She turned, leering, and received a stout fist to the underside of her jaw, sending her reeling more from shock than force. The chain she was holding was forgotten as she dropped it and let her claws show. Alexander simply stared up with a furious frown and tossed his pick aside, making himself ready to brawl.

A couple of guards patrolling along the wall above started moving to intervene, but they were stopped with a grunt and a gesture from one particularly decorated charr standing just inside the gate.

Caeda looked back to Alexander, her expression turning from shock to rage as she grabbed at him with deadly intent. He slipped under an arm and threw a punch at her side. It was a solid hit, but it bounced off a wall of muscle, sending a wave of pain up Alexander's arm. He immediately regretted his pride-fueled decision yet again, starting a fistfight with a charr, and a massive one at that.

She wheeled around on him and batted at his side, landing a glancing blow as Alexander stepped away from the swing. But before he could retaliate, she yanked her chained leg back and leaned forward, sending Alexander onto his back.

Alexander caught himself, dazed but not stunned. He looked up to see Caeda falling towards him, clearly trying to pin him under her, or even crush him with her weight. He had a clear idea of what would happen if he didn't avoid her and rolled hard to his right, just barely skidding out of the way as she slammed down with a growl where he had just been.

She landed heavily, her nearly constant snarl interrupted for a moment as she dazed herself this time.

Alexander took advantage of the moment to climb onto her back and stretch his arms around her thick neck in an attempt to choke her. He managed to get into position with relative ease, but he couldn't put enough force around her neck.

She stood and looked for where Alexander should've been, only noticing he had gotten onto her back when he tightened his grip around her throat. She let out a dark laugh as his hold felt more like a tight collar than someone trying to throttle her. She flung her head back a moment later, trying to batter him with her upper set of horns, but only managing to tap him with them. She then turned away from the sloped wall of the pit and backed up towards it, her steps growing quicker and quicker.

He saw what she was trying and panicked. Dropping down would have him stuck under her, trampled, pinned, and minced. Flinging himself to the side would save him for the moment, but he would be easily snatched up and shredded from there. He tried the desperate effort of scrambling over the top. Using her horns as hand-holds, he successfully sent himself over her head as she rammed into the wall. Alexander barely balanced himself above her head as she grunted with the impact.

He changed his grip to the lower set of horns, and launched himself down to dangle in front of her, pulling with all his might and weight in an attempt to topple her.

She leaned forward precariously with the effort, but slowly pulled herself back into a stable stance as Alexander continued to pull with no effect. She lifted her face to look him in the eyes, a sickening smile spread across her muzzle as he hung from her head.

Alexander's heart sank and his eyes went wide. He let go and looked away from the deathly smile, but found himself hoisted up by the back of his shirt's collar. He could hear shouting from a few of the guards as he looked again to see Caeda's free arm pull back, preparing to end him.

Many scattered puffs sounded out from nearby.

He desperately swung both arms in front of himself in an attempt to knock the strike aside and managed to catch the swing on his left arm. He fell woefully short of knocking it aside though as a sickening tearing reached his ears while a burning surge of pain shot through that arm, making him shout through grit teeth as he felt it go limp. He could only hope it wasn't as bad as it felt. A slight sting in the side of his neck went unnoticed as the rest of him started going limp, watching his vision fade to black.

Caeda felt many of those same stings as she pulled her arm back again to finish the welp. Her smile drooped a moment later before she slumped against the wall at her back and dropped Alexander, blacking out just the same.

(2)

Caeda woke again slowly, only able to move her head at first as her body slowly started to obey her commands to sit up. She felt lethargic but livid as her first thought came grumbling out. “Disrespected and attacked by a pocket-mouse!" Shorter and stockier than most humans she'd seen, but bolder than any. She couldn't tell if she should hate him or respect him for being one of the few people with the spirit to actually challenge her, alone.

She was on a large bed, one that fit her much better than most others. The floor felt cold as she swung her legs out over the edge, her paws greeted by a metallic chill. The walls had the same chill. This was a proper cell, the only sign of a door was a barred grating that rested at her eye level while seated, allowing some light from the neighboring corridor to spill in.

Caeda looked herself over, starting with her hands. There was some ruffling of the fur but they were clean. No blood, but she was sure she'd hit him before being tranquilized. She shook her head and moved on, finding the same prisoner's rags dressing her and a pair of manacles clamped around her animalistic ankles, attached to the floor just under the bed. She heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back, 'Again, I'm here again...'

Just as she started to accept her position and simmer down, a pair of voices could be heard down the hall, one deep and raspy, the other weak and indignant. She couldn't make out the words at first, but once they came closer she could hear the weaker voice first.

“To leave... I'll have to. Right?"

“Yes, no exceptions here. Everyone fights."

The conversation stopped as the two walked closer, finally ending with an indignant groan from the weaker voice.

The door to her cell clicked and groaned as it was unlocked and swung inwards. There was another charr, just as broad as her but missing some height and wearing high quality armor. His face was very similar to a lion's, making for a noble look that his darker fur and well-groomed mane added to. “Welcome back Caeda, I brought a friend." He stepped to the side with a sarcastic smile and a smaller frame stepped into the cell.

Alexander, one arm resting in a sling with his neck and ankles bound and linked by manacles that barely fit him, walked into the cell and stopped to scan the room before taking two quick steps back. “No! I will NOT be locked up with her again!" He shouted with spite rather than fear, the softness in his voice that she heard a moment ago long gone.

Caeda flashed Alexander a smile and nodded. “Afraid of me now?" She paused to mock-lunge towards him, getting him to take a clumsy stance and flinch. “You should be!"

“Hey now, calm down." The guard awkwardly placed himself between Caeda and Alexander, waving the latter inside. “Warden's orders. I don't know what he sees between you two, but you're to be kept together until further notice."

Alexander let out a cross between a groan and a growl. He strode forward with a sneer and stopped just in front of Caeda, having to look up at her even while she was seated.

Taking on a stern expression, he said. “You're an insufferable bully and a horrid coward..." He very nearly choked on the word 'coward,' his steely gaze wavering ever so slightly before recovering. He thought to continue, but knew it wouldn't end well and stopped himself there.

Caeda held his gaze, looking smug at first but wearing an incredulous gawk as he finished speaking. 'I nearly killed him and he's... perfectly composed?' She wondered.

The guard shuffled outside, not sure if he wanted to be there for her outburst. “I'll get a second bed."

She could see that Alexander started to sweat, his composure not quite as steady as it seemed a moment ago. But her gawk remained even as he took another two steps backwards and looked her over and frowning. Of course there were no signs of the taps he hit her with. He seemed to notice the chains on her then and continued backwards into the center of the cell, standing tall and shouldering the weight of his arm.

Caeda stood and took a couple slow steps forward, meeting him in the center this time. The only sound made was by her chains as they drew tight. She looked down at him with a questioning glare, probing him for a break in what must've been an act, but found nothing.

“Well?" He asked, frowning. “What is it?"

“You're mad, absolutely mad... I could finish you right now."

“Yes, and there's not much I could do to stop you."

She scoffed, “There's nothing you could do, not with one arm..." and nodded to the sling.

His expression softened and he nodded. “Maybe, but you're standing here talking to me instead of trying to disembowel me."

She shook her head, brows raising as her breath puffed out through her nostrils. “You're different from the rest of the mice. Just as proud and annoying. But you're brave, too brave."

Now it was his turn to look confused. “Uhm…?" He inched just out of reach then, unable to guess her intentions.

She let out a rough laugh and gave him an honest smile. “Just don't insult me by thinking you're safe there." She stretched one hand forward, making the chains groan as she pointed to where he stood.

He stepped back further and responded to her smile with a nervous laugh, completely boggled and looking unsettled.

Caeda turned and walked back to her bed to gently lower herself onto it before lying down.

The guard returned not long after, carrying some scattered bedding and a set of shackles that looked like they'd fit Alexander better than the manacles he was wearing. He paused to stare at Caeda with surprise for a moment before shrugging while turning to Alexander. “Let's get you settled." The guard laid out the bedding along the wall across from Caeda and linked the shackles to the wall using the scattered rings hanging from it.

Alexander stepped up to have his current manacles replaced by the new, better-fitting set of chains. He then settled down on the mattress and watched the guard leave, closing and locking the door behind him.

Alexander twisted onto his uninjured side with a groan, bringing him to face Caeda as she looked at him with an unreadable expression.

He opened his mouth to protest but she rolled onto her other side to spare him from another doomed staring contest. She thought back to the first night and grumbled to herself before closing her eyes and falling asleep.