FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

After a rather long yet much more enjoyable trip across the Land Bridge we stopped at the human town crossing the road leading to the Bridge. Amusingly, or rather unimaginatively; Harry had chose to rename the town ‘The Crossroads’. We spy Lina approaching us with a wary look on her face. Zander holds onto my leg, “I’d not dismount just yet Gwen. Something seems off here.” So we wait at the gate, which was a real palisade now.

I studied it’s structure as Lina approaches, she slows down when she sees me on Zander’s back; then stops a respectable distance away from me. “Pardon Lady Hunter I didn’t know it was you, someone came running into our guard office shouting that scary monsters had come to the gate.” Cheshire fluffs his fur and looks insulted, “Monsters are we?” Lina looks embarrassed, “well Sir Cheshire; you are to cute to be a monster.” Cheshire winks at me, “of course I am.” {I have to keep up some appearances}, he chuckles at me.

Lina looks around and up in the sky, “begging your pardon Ma’am. I heard tale you had a Dragon on your side now. He’s not here is he?” I chuckle and even with Zander’s protests I slide off his back. “No Lina, we thought it best to not scare the whole town with him. He has gone scouting out information while we are here. We were planning on staying a few days if it can be arranged.”

Lina perks up at that, “sure thing Ma’am. Stay here a moment though? Most people here are not use to seeing non humans, so we’d like to set up an escort for you.” I wave my hand, “that should be fine as their only job would be to keep us from being bothered.” Lina nods her head and rushes off, and Zander puts his hands behind his back and gets a stern look. “Now Gwen I hadn’t told you it was safe yet,” I chuckles. “You worry to much, we know these people. I had hoped to visit them, but knowing how things are I haven’t had time to as yet. So this little break on the way was a good plan for it. I am really curious at how they have changed since we were here last time.”

Zander crosses his arms, “yeah it’s the incident that happened here before that has me concerned.” Alberich nudges Zander, “I don’t think they will cause any harm. At least intentional harm, these people became part of that cult because they were scared of what they did not know.” Zander turns to Alberich, “that is what bother’s me. I wouldn’t want Gwen hurt because of how they treat us.” I see a twinkle in Alberich’s eye, “well I still think it won’t be an issue.”

A throat clears behind Zander making him jump and a familiar voice speaks. “Lady Hunter! I hope the young one is doing alright, I wish I could make it up to her.” I smile at Zander, “Harry she’s fine. Right now there are more ‘hornless’ ones that we rescued that she has helped live through their loss. Alberich is even giving her some lessons in fighting, which to one of her line is considered a great sin.”

Harry smiles at the news, “well that’s good to hear then. I decided to have you stay with my family Lady Hunter, though I am not sure I have proper accommodations for.” He trails off and Alberich scares him by speaking, “me and Zander will be fine sleeping in the woods at night. Just inform the gate guards we may return at dawn.” Harry blinks a tear coming to his eyes, “I didn’t know your kind could talk Sir Alberich.” He bows, “please forgive me.”

I tilt my head, “I guess you have not gotten any non human visitors?” Harry shakes his head, “no. Thought Lina speaks often of the gryphons and how much fun it is to see them flying, the young men who go fishing with her regale the people with tales of them for free drinks in the evenings.” I chuckle, me will always find a way to try and impress people.

I wave at the town, “so how about a minor tour so we can see the improvements?” Harry perks up and extends and arm in the direction he wishes to start it. He first takes us down a row of houses, real ones. Not the little shacks that we had seen last time, they were made from wood. However, they reminded me of the ‘cottages’ you read about in fairy stories. Each has a small veggie plot that seems to be growing very well. One of the homes had a cucumber plant that was climbing so far out of the little trellis fence that it could try to snatch you if it were something menacing. Not to forget the size of it’s leaves, those were bigger than my spread hand.

I look at the leaf carefully, “so I see the people responded well to learning new skills.” Harry nods his head and smiles big, “I am very proud of the folks here Lady Hunter.” They aren’t all that bad once they learned that life wasn’t theirs to control any longer.” I nod my head, “good. I like seeing it when people better themselves.”

Next he takes us past a group of animal pens near the center of town, they are empty. I lean against one of the fences, “what are these for Harry?” He smiles and says, “give it a minute; it’s just about time.” I straighten up curious as to what he meant, then I heard sheep. A giant flock of them started rushing to the pens.

After they were all inside the pens Harry speaks, “we acquired some livestock. We’re starting a wool trade, next time your traders come through we should have a batch for them to trade for.” I nod my head, “in this area that’s a really good idea. I hope it pans out for you.” He nods his head again, “we let them graze outside the walls during the day as long as there is a wall guard. We have a pack of twenty sheep herding dogs to keep them all in line.”

I smile, I imagine he has discovered he likes his job better than he thought he would. It really did suit him to be in the position of Headman. He then takes us to the town square, which is now paved; by hand. Also there are a scattering of statues of dwarves and gryphons as well as some random others. Harry speaks, “we found them outside the gates one morning. We figured the dwarves wanted us to remember where we came from in all of this.” I tilt my head, “or maybe a reminder that you shouldn’t return to this. To grow and learn,” he thinks a moment. “I think you’re right Lady Hunter, other wise they wouldn’t have given us everyone.” I nod my head in agreement but mentally pause as I count the number of statues.

{You didn’t miss count Gwen}. Cheshire mentions to me, {we knew there had to be more; but}. He mentally gasps, {this is unreal}. There was forty statues scattered around the square. From the looks there was at least ten unicorns. Alberich is mentally vibrating with anger, and I say to Harry. “I think it is also a reminder that someone is watching you.” Harry looks back at the statues, he starts squinting as he thinks. “You’re right there too I think Lady.

I then look at him curious, “I wonder why my uncle never mentioned it to me as he came through here.” Harry’s head pops up, “he was?” I nod my head, “yeah grizzled older man with to many weapons and a large.” Zander bumps me and says, “Dog. Her uncle had a very large dog.” Harry thinks a minute and then responds, “oh I saw him. Folks said he was a mercenary looking for work. Glad to know he’s your kin, so we’ll keep an eye open for him from now on.

{Zander why did you?} Zander glares at me, {Loki’s species is extremely rare. Him being a hunter of beasts probably knows what Loki is and that there is a bounty on them. Comes from them being man eaters}.

Harry never notices the exchange with Zander, and he leads us to his house for the night.