FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

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Chapter 20

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Laguna

It was finally here! The last day of our extra long duty at the guard post! They had made the effort of giving us some pretty good food over the time we were here, however my body ached from exhaustion and the constant coldness that the draughty old building could never shake, even now at the tail end of summer. We were just waiting for the squad replacing us to arrive and then we were heading home. I was looking forward to spending the night in my own bed! The night shift were catching a few hours of sleep while the rest of us continued our duties. The last patrol had just returned and were lingering in the courtyard around one of the numerous braziers to keep warm.

I looked up and saw that the sun was high in the sky. It wouldn't be long before our replacements got here. The drakes in the courtyard below were chatting eagerly. Some talking about wanting to see their families, others planned on picking up their pay and going to get drunk the moment they got back. I wouldn't mind a couple of drinks myself. I'll make a point of getting a couple of strong drinks when I have my usual meal with Kassandra.

"They're here!" Someone down in the courtyard called out.

I turned my attention to the gate and saw the new arrivals pour through the open gate. At long last! Eager to get on my way I jogged down the stones steps and into the outpost itself. I ran to the dorm and grabbed my bag which I had packed earlier this morning in readiness. Tristen, Roxis and Kassandra were already there collecting their own possessions.

"Ready guys?"

"Raring to go!" Roxis sighed.

Tristen came up behind him and wrapped his arms round Roxis and nuzzled his neck.

"When we get back I'm gonna screw you so hard!" He whispered.

I laughed while Roxis squirmed with excited embarrassment. It was refreshing at how open they were being about their relationship now. During our last week off the pair of them made their relationship officially public. Telling their families and deciding to move in together. They were both a little surprised when no-one had been shocked by their announcement. The biggest secret about their relationship was that they didn't know everyone already knew! During the next week they would move into their new home. Apparently Tristen wanted to start the celebrations early.

"Lets go!" I said with chuckle.

They followed me as we made to start the long walk home. As we entered the main hall a drake by the name of Dusan spotted me and ran over. It was obvious he wanted to speak to me, so I stopped and waited for him. I was curious about what he was so eager to talk about. We've never really spoken to one another. We've sparred a couple of times in group training, and we got on well enough, just never spent any time in each others company outside of that.

"Laguna! Have you heard?!"

"Heard what?" I asked curiously.

He hesitated a moment. A feeling of dread washed over me.

"What's wrong?" I ask concerned. My imagination running rampant that something had happened to my family during my time away. Why else would he be making a fuss? "TELL ME!"

"He's back!"

"Wha...? Who's back?" I ask.

"Yeah dude. What the hell are you talking about?" Tristen cursed impatiently.

"Malakye!" Dusan exclaimed. "He's back!"

A stunned silence fell over our group as we all tried to process what he had just said. It was impossible. It was ridiculous! He was trying to get under my scales. A cruel joke!But from the conviction in his voice and that look, that look of absolute certainty, I knew that he wasn't lying to me.

This wasn't some kind of bad joke. If it was then Dusan believed it himself. I couldn't speak. I stepped back, my entire body felt numb and a cold shiver ran up and down my spine as if I had just seen a ghost. I turned round to look at Kassandra who has the same look of disbelief I'm sure I had. We looked at one another, a silent acknowledgement that we both hoped it was true.

"What?" Tristen exclaimed. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

"No seriously!" Dusan assured him. "Lord Anaris announced his return at the tournament! They preformed a mal'dov in front of everyone! I saw it! It was Malakye." He looked back at me. "He beat four masters!"

"I... I-I... need to get back!" I stuttered as I barged past Dusan and sprinted out the door.

I ran out of the hall, through the courtyard, barging past several other drakes who all shouted and cursed after me. I didn't care about them! Malakye was back! It was as if some deity had granted me my greatest wish! I had to see him! I had to make sure that this was real, that he was real, to make sure this wasn't just some surreal dream.

I sprinted up the mountain road that led back to Zangar as fast as my paws could carry me. The only faster way would be to glide. But that was risky at the best of times and I would get lost. I had never navigated the route by myself and as desperate as I was to get back my fear of flying those routes alone was enough to overcome my desperation.

I ran until my lungs burned, my legs were numb and my paws ached. Even when I couldn't run any more, when I knew I should stop and rest, I kept going. I pushed myself as hard as I could go, silently cursing myself for not training harder.

Eventually I collapsed.

I hit the ground hard. I managed to land on my paws and knees, stopping myself from muzzle planting itself into the uneven rocky road. My paws stung where some small, sharp rocks peeled away a few scales. My knees were protected mostly by the leather armour I wore. The leather was thinnest around the knees, and while it stopped my knees from getting cut up from the rocks, my knees were be sore from the impact.

My knees however were not the issue. I could barely breath. My saliva was thick and vicious. It felt like I had small slugs in my maw. I needed to drink some water, but I would need to stop coughing first. A rough, hacking cough. I was already out of breath and the cough was just making things worse.

I should have rested. I should have stopped for a few minutes, drank some water and caught my breath. It was basic. If I'd done that I'd still be heading towards Zangar, but now I needed to take the time to recover or it would just take me longer to get there. To where Malakye was.

"Laguna..."

I heard a voice call my name.

"Laguna!"

There it was again. It came from behind me. Louder now.

"LA-GUN-AAAHHH!"

I'd recognise that overly dramatic tone anywhere. It was Tristen. Moments later he appeared over the crest of the hill behind me with Roxis and Kassandra in tow. They were breathless like myself, but they had obviously stopped to rest unlike me. Kassandra though looked like she could run all the way to Zangar and back to the outpost without stopping. That dragonesses stamina was terrifying!

"You're an idiot!" Roxis huffed.

"I have to see him!" I huffed back, my coughing finally stopped enough for me to be able to have a drink of water. I reached for my water sac.

I normally keep it in my rucksack. I reach in the bag and pull it out to find it empty. I hadn't filled it before I'd run off. Kassandra sighed and handed me hers. I nodded in thanks and gulped down the cool refreshing water.

"You're a fool for running off! What if you'd have had an accident!?" Tristen lectured. I huffed in mild annoyance as the most carefree member of our group went on about not thinking about consequences. "We all want to see him you know!"

"Yeah... I'm sorry." I apologise. In part because I was a fool and had worried them, but also in hopes that this lecture would come to an end. "I just wasn't thinking."

"It's alright dude." Tristen assured me, calmer now that he'd had his rant to vent. "But lets just head back together okay? We can jog back if you want but no more running off on your own!"

"Sure. Sounds good." I smiled. He offered me a paw and I take it. He pulled me back to my foot-paws and we head back to Zangar, this time as a group.

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As the gates of Zangar came into view I began to run a little faster. The guards saw us coming and opened the gates for us. One of the drakes there grabbed my arm as I try to run past him. I don't know who he is, but I've seen him around and know that he is in charge of squad guarding the gate.

"What's the rush?" He asked, a note of concern in his tone. Suddenly I realise what he might be thinking. There were few reasons someone from the out post would come running back as hastily as I had.

"I need to see Malakye!" I exclaimed, with more desperation than I'm comfortable expressing.

"Oh! Right you and him were friends huh?" His statement makes a little of my worry that this is one huge elaborate joke fade. But it wouldn't fade completely until I laid eyes on him. "I was at the tournament. That drake can fight! Crazy bending skills too."

"Right! Thanks!" I nodded and take off once he's let go of my arm.

The others had caught up to me at that point and we all head into Zangar proper. As we enter the market we all pause to catch our breath. Suddenly I realised that he could be anywhere! Where should I look? His home.

"Come on! Let's go to the Anaris house!" I declared.

"You're seriously going to walk up to Lord Anaris's home?" Roxis asked.

He was nervous. By all accounts I was as well. But unlike Roxis I'd actually met Lord Anaris, I still couldn't bring myself to even call him by his name even when thinking about him, despite on several occasions he had insisted me to call him by it. The thought of heading up and knocking on the door of the most powerful drake in Zangar was understandably scary.

But that wasn't scary to me right now, not if it meant I could see 'him'. Even if I didn't get to talk to him I just needed to see him. To prove that he was alive. To prove to myself that this wasn't a dream or some bad joke.

"Well I'm going!" I snarled impatiently. "You can come if you want."

"I'm coming." Came the immediate, and slightly surprising, response from Kassandra.

"Fine." I smiled, happy that she was as eager as me. "You guys coming?"

"I'm up for it." Tristen grinned, putting an arm round Roxis's shoulder. "It'll be alright babe."

"Fine." Roxis sighed reluctantly.

We headed up to front door of the Anaris house. The silence was heavy as we made our way towards the large, imposing, metal doors that marked the entrance to the Anaris household. They were far more imposing than I'd remembered. I hadn't been here since the memorial service Lord Anaris held for Malakye. I raised my paw to grab the heavy knocker on the door and hesitated for a moment, my determination to see Malakye wavered, but I shook it off, grabbed the knocker and banged it against the door three times. Each knock resulted in a loud, echoing boom.

I stepped back a couple of steps and waited. It took about a minute before there was a heavy, metallic clank as the bolt on the door was released. The door swung inwards enough for someone to step through the door and a smartly dressed drake stepped out. It was Jovani.

"May I help you?" He asked with a smile and friendly tone.

"We're here to see Malakye." I said.

He looked round the group before looking back at me. His friendly smile never faltered.

"I'm afraid the young Master is not home."

"Do you know where he is?" I ask.

"I'm afraid I was not privy to his plans." He responded. "But I am more than happy to let him know you came by when he does come home."

"Okay..." I sighed. It was obvious that he wasn't going to let us wait here for him, but then I would probably go stir crazy sitting around. "I guess I'll try and find him in the mean time."

"I will let him know that you came by." Jovani assured me and turned to head back inside. He stopped and turned back to look at me. "It's good to see you again. I'm sure the young Master will be pleased to see you." He disappeared back inside and the door slid shut, the sound of a metallic bolt sounded the end of our visit.

"So where do we look?" Tristen asked.

"Why does he know you?" Roxis asked, completely ignoring Tristen's question.

"I've... spent the night a few times okay?" I say. I wasn't ashamed of the fact that I'd slept with Malakye. It wasn't a secret. "So what? We can either stand around here waiting for him or go looking for him!"

I looked at Kassandra who looked surprisingly embarrassed. She hid it well but I've spent enough time with her to know that she was not feeling comfortable. She was well aware of the fact I was gay, but I guess she never really thought about the fact I actually get fucked, or who I'd been fucked by.

"Where would he go?" Roxis sighed. Obviously giving up on his previous line of questioning.

"The dojo?" I suggested. "Maybe the adept training area?"

"I'd start with the dojo." Kassandra stated.

"As good a place to start as any." Tristen shrugged.

"Then lets go!" I say, heading towards the dojo at a slow jog.

The others followed me, matching my speed. We got a few strange looks as we jogged through the marketplace. They dismissed us quickly, turning their attention back to what ever it was they were doing. It's not unusual for warriors to train after all. We slow to a walk as we approached the entrance of the dojo. The large wooden sign which held the familiar symbols marking the entrance hung above the entrance.

I had some basic reading skills, but I couldn't read old tongue, which is what the sign was written in. I knew what it meant. Principles Master Aceh made sure we understood. Discipline, honour and strength.

We stepped through the large opening. The dojo was busy. It was rare to see so many students here at one time. Karnal and Barnus were training the younger students while Aceh helped the others. He saw us enter, smiled and walked over.

"I think I can guess why you are here."

"Is he here!" I asked looking round the mass of students.

"No." He sighed. "But I'm sure he will appear sooner or later."

"It's busy." Roxis commented.

"Everyone is wanting to see him." Aceh explained. "He has become something of a local celebrity."

"Returning from the dead would do that I guess." Tristen chuckled.

"Mmm." Aceh agreed.

"Have you spoken to him?" I ask.

"Mmm." He nodded. "He has challenged me. That's why everyone is here."

"Why did he challenge you?" Roxis asked.

Master Aceh remained silent. His normal stoic expression was laced with something I'd have to guess was worry. If he was worried then that must mean he wasn't sure that he could win. Had Malakye become that strong? Yes he beat four masters, but I was certain that Master Aceh could probably do that. Bending skills don't matter much in paw-to-paw combat, and Master Aceh is the best fighter I've ever seen by far.

"So are we just going to wait here till he turns up?" Tristen asked.

We all looked round at each other, waiting for someone to make a decision. If we wait here it could be hours before he appeared. If he was going to make an appearance today. But if we keep looking then we might find him sooner. But if he comes here when we're away looking...

"Two of us stay here while the others go looking." Kassandra said with a tone of urgency that made it more of an order than a suggestion.

"Okay..." Tristen nodded as he considered the idea. "So who goes and who stays?"

"I'm not going to hang about!" I declared. I would go crazy if I just sat around and waited for him.

"Fine. You and Kassandra go and check out the adept training area." Roxis said. "We'll hang around here and come get you if he shows."

"Great!" I smile. "Come on!"

I took off eager to get to our destination. I didn't have to look behind me to know Kassandra was following. I was happy that she was so eager to find him. It was the first time I'd seen her give a crap about anyone in such a long time. We wasted little time in getting to the arena where the adepts train. We didn't head into the arena proper, we headed up into the stands, we'd get a better view from up here. That and non-benders are not welcomed, not as a rule but as many of the adepts consider themselves better than non-benders. Kassandra has enough of a bad relationship with most of the warriors, we didn't need to risk setting one of them off just because she was there.

There are about a dozen warriors training in the arena, perhaps half that sitting chatting in the stands. None of them noticed us, or if they did they didn't care. I didn't either. We were here for a reason.

"Can you see him?" I asked, peering at the drakes as they trained, hoping to recognise Malakye among them.

"No." She responds after a few moments.

I didn't see him either. He wasn't here. I sighed and fall heavily onto one of the benches. Where the hell was he?!

"Laguna?" I looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. It was Frax. He had been the drake that had dragged me away from Malakye's side during the attack; when the wolves had breached the Eastern gate. "It is you. I suppose you've heard?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I don't suppose you know..." My question trailed off as Frax shook his head. "Figures. I'm not sure where else to look."

"You'll find him. Don't worry." He assured me. "If you don't I'm sure he'll find you."

"I hope so. But I'm not giving up!" I declared standing up. "Any ideas where to look?"

"Hmmm..." He rubbed the side of his muzzle as he thought. "He had a pretty tough fight yesterday... I suppose you've tried his home?" I nodded. "Well... if he's not there... maybe the hot springs? A lot of drakes go there to recover."

"Maybe I'll try that." I smiled, certain that he wouldn't be there but it was better than nothing. "Thanks Frax."

"Take care buddy. Say hi to Malakye for me."

"I will."We embrace each other in friendly hug that lasted all of a second. "If you see him tell him I'm looking for him."

"Will do." He grinned.

Kassandra and I high tailed it out there as fast as we could without running. After the short walk to the hot springs I confirmed my suspicions. He wasn't there. I remembered that little hide away that he took me to once. It was like his own private hot spring. We checked there after letting Roxis and Tristen know where we were going. He wasn't there either.

We continued to look, just walking around for hours asking anyone we thought might be able to help us in finding him. No one had seen him. We even went back to the Anaris house only to be told the same as before. He wasn't there. I was beginning to think that this was just one big joke that everyone was in on except for me. Well me and Kassandra.

Before long it was late. The market was beginning to wind down for the night and everyone was going for their dinner. My own stomach rumbled unhappily at me. We hadn't eaten since our breakfast this morning. I'm sure Kassandra was as hungry as I was.

"I'm going to check the dojo again." I announced.

"Lets call it a night." She said, her sudden change in attitude catching me by surprise.

"What? Why?"

"It's late. I'm tired." She replied.

"But... it's Malakye!"

"We've been looking for hours! No one has seen him. Unless you plan on breaking into the Anaris house to look for him, we are not going to find him!" She argued, her voice raised slightly. She sounded fed up.

"Maybe I will."

"Yeah..." She scoffed. "Let me know how that works out."

"Fine!" I sigh. "We'll call it a night. But we'll meet up early tomorrow and look again."

"Okay." She sighed.

"I'll go let Roxis and Tristen know. You head home. I'll come round after breakfast tomorrow."

She nodded and walked away. Her posture was slumped and tired looking. Even a little sad. I understood how she felt. But I would find him! Even if I had to walk to the underworld and back! I would find him!