FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

~Preface~

Harsh white light streamed from several work lamps illuminating a crumbling twenty foot cellar. Several men sporting yellow hard hats smudged with wet earth stood near the rough hewn walls. They all had sturdy steel support poles gripped in mud caked gloves. They had instructions to shore up weakening layers of hard packed dirt that separated them from the many footfalls of hospital staff above their heads. What had their attention was not the tons of concrete above them. They were intently watching a figure in the center of the room that had taken a cedar wood dowel and began to trace lines in the wet earth of the cellar floor.

The act of writing in the mud was not the oddest thing to note about this figure. Long, delicate hands that seemed to be covered in soft white fur held the cedar wood dowel with ease. Red hair crested from the forehead, flowing up and between two erect canine ears. That red hair ended in a waist length braid. A canine muzzle adorned the persons face between a set of deep emerald eyes. White fur adorned every inch of the figures body that wasn't hidden by a white lab coat, or the official burgundy scrubs. An ample swelling of the chest indicated the figure was female as well as the high soprano voice that a singer would envy as the muzzle opened and closed with muttered words in a strange language. A white plumed tail erupted from under the lab coat swishing in slow motion. Just peaking from the scrub pants were mud encrusted paws.

The figure stood and looked over her shoulder at the waiting crew. "The alchemical array has been set. As soon as I activate it, the cellar will start to expand, remolding the earth into a larger room. Until the shifting magic has finished the room will be in danger of collapse. Be sure to shore up all weak points. Are we ready?"

The men simply nodded. The figure bowed her head, whispered a few more words then knelt in the mud. A gentle touch of the alchemy array etched in mud brought a slight reddish brown glow of light. The mud rippled with vibrations and soon the wet earthen walls began to melt away from the men. Parts of the ceiling began to sag prompting the men to swift action bracing the weakened earth with iron base plates and the steel poles wedged into place. The twenty foot cellar steadily opened out into a four hundred foot basement. The men were starting to grin in satisfaction at how much work the figure in the lab coat had saved them on the hospitals expansion project. The grins suddenly vanished as the earthen ceiling began to vibrate. A few steel poles groaned then bent under stress. A sickening snap was heard as the poles snapped like tooth picks.

Pain burst into Ahmeh's chest as the ceiling collapsed setting fiery fingers of agony tracing over every one of her ribs. Cold mud was felt seeping through her lab coat and scrubs. Somewhere in the basement muffled cries of help were voiced. Ahmeh tasted the coppery tang of blood in her muzzle. She tried to breathe then panicked when her lungs wouldn't work. Debris from the ground floor was crushing her body. Opening her eyes she saw a pale light filtering through a thick haze of choking mist. More screams erupted as others buried in the rubble were starting to feel the adrenaline laced shock wearing off.

Ahmeh tried to move her arms. If she could just move them then surely she could move the oppressive dirt and concrete off of her. She couldn't feel her left arm, just a cold void where her mind thought the arm was. The right arm responded and Ahmeh looked down at her chest hoping to see what had pinned her down. The sight of a steel girder tangled in concrete robbed her mind of any will to move her right arm. She was going to die.

Closing her eyes, Ahmeh let her head sink back to the mud in defeat. Her mind grew numb as the lack of oxygen began to shut down her brain. How could this have happened? She had used a simple earth alchemy array to reform the ground under the hospital. The circle was perfect. Work crews had even come in with support poles. What did she do wrong? Did she go too fast with the reshaping of earth?

Several shouted inquiries filtered into the dimly lit room. A rescue team was digging out survivors. Sobs of relief filtered through the damp air to Ahmeh's furred ears. A few people would be rescued, but she doubted anyone would care looking for the person that had brought the basement down around their ears. Ahmeh felt herself slipping from her body as all sound faded from her. Being crushed to death was a lousy way to die.

Chapter 1

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** ** A sea of voices brought Ahmeh crashing back to consciousness. She felt her body being moved rapidly on a hospital gurney. The voices around her sounded urgent. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy and refused to open. Her mind was thick from trauma and what must be morphine in her system. Her eyelids felt heavy and refused to open. The taste of cotton, plastic, and disinfectant was strong in her muzzle mixing horridly with the copper tang of blood making Ahmeh feel nauseous. The gurney jolted when a metal door was bumped. Her body flared into pain all over making her feel like she was swimming in lava causing her to let out an ear piercing scream. The pain shoved her mind into darkness.

"She's flat lining! Crash cart now! Charging to 200 joules. Clear!" someone shouted.

A large whine was heard as electric surged somewhere and a jolt rocked Ahmeh's body. Her heart raced like a chased rabbit bringing her mind back to a faint awareness. Beeps from a heart monitor measured out her life and that measure was sounding tired and weak. The gurney wheels rattled on tiled flooring as a male voice vied for dominance over the other voices. That voice seemed to have a quieting effect on the others as the panic dwindled to muffled whispers. More metal doors were heard slamming open; the harsh bite of antiseptic filled her nose. She felt several strong hands slide under her body, picking her up with ease then laying her down gently. The crinkling of surgical drapes contrasted sharply with a rasping noise. The rasping was her breathing.

The stink of rubber mingled with the ozone scent of oxygen flowing from a mask secured over her muzzle. Gentle tugs and the snicking of scissors biting into fabric announced that her clothing was being removed with haste. A gentle hand was felt moving over chest, ruffling her white fur, setting her ribs on fire as fingers probed for injuries. The hum of electric clippers whirred to life. Ahmeh couldn't feel where she was being shaved, but she could hear the soft thumps of mud laden fur falling to the floor.

"What's the story on this patient?" the deep male voice asked.

A feminine voice responded to the question. "She is the last of the victims from the basement collapse at the Angel's Whisper Medical Center. She was air lifted from Spokane. The EMT's thought it was a miracle she survived this long."

"Do we have any vital statistics on her?" the male voice spoke and Ahmeh felt more probing.

"Administration is still gathering her personal information. We do know she works for Angel's Whisper Medical Center. Other than that the information on hand is that she is an Anthro, further classified as a female Lupinossai, white furred, red haired, and in critical condition. Blood type is AE+. Use of the Canine Anthro Protocol is strongly advised. " The feminine voice was crisp and professional.

"Very well then Tammy. Continue prepping her for surgery. As soon as she is stable, I will operate on her. I am going to need all three O.R. shifts to come in. Her injuries are extensive." The male's voice held a tone that left little to argue with.

"I will call them right away Dr. Wolf. Should I also contact members of Coalesce Bio Blend?" Tammy asked.

A sigh was heard from Dr. Wolf. "Only if we get clearance from Administration that this patient is worth the expense. For all we know she could be just a janitor."

"Yes, you're right doctor. I will try to get in contact with Angel's Whisper's resource department personally. The E.R. team is estimating that we have less than an hour before she stabilizes." Tammy's voice held a note of concern in it.

"Well then, we better get ready then." Dr. Wolf responded.

Warmth spread in Ahmeh's right arm. Her foggy mind grew worse. They were giving her a pre-anesthetic. She heard someone ask her to count back from ten is she could hear them. A thought trickled through the mind numbing drugs. Amputations and severe burn victims were the only reason Coalesce Bio Blend was ever involved in any medical facility. Was she going to lose a limb? Was she burned? Before she could worry the world went silent once more as the drugs took full effect.

******

Running water hit the stainless steel sink like a maniacal drummer filling the scrub station just outside of surgery suite number 4 with the signs of life. Dr. Wolf was replete in blue hospital scrubs. Antiseptic lather gloved his arms from finger tips to elbows as a small scrub brush scoured away every speck of foreign material. He glanced through the viewing window into the surgery suite, blue eyes narrowing slightly as he thought about the patient on the table.

Large swathes of white fur had been shaved away from the female like a large dog being prepped for a veterinarian to operate on. But this was a bit different. The patient was no overgrown dog, nor was she some mutated wolf. The patient was a member of an exposed group of genetically engineered animal species locked up in some forgotten base in Nevada back in the 1980's. The details behind these races had come in like a tidal wave to the medical community as many were malnourished and many were the victims of medical testing. Most of them could stand on two legs and could speak. The sudden surge of nearly 3,000 of these genetically engineered species had the United States Government in a panic. By 1990 though, they were classified as anthropomorphic citizens. The derogatory name of Anthro quickly spread.

Rinsing off the antiseptic, Dr. Wolf dried his hands then slipped them into white latex gloves that hid the light tan of his skin. Wiggling fingers to make sure the gloves fit right, he glanced back to the patient. Only a few things separated the Anthro's from humans. Their senses were very sharp and they had a few variations in the skeletal anatomy department. Most of them had fur as well as tails. Outside of these physical anomalies, they thought, loved, lived, and felt just like humans. They also aged, contracted illnesses, and died like humans. Gloved, he took a surgical gown out of the sterile wrappings with care. Soon he was garbed with surgical gown, surgical cap, and a surgical mask.

Leaving the scrub station, Dr. Wolf backed into the surgical suites double doors and entered the sterile room. The rise and fall of a mechanical respirator, a steady beep from a heart monitor, and the anxious hum of surgery assistants greeted him. The din made him smile behind the mask and relax. The assistants had every right to be nervous. This was a fresh batch of interns and they were all eager to help the famed Dr. Wolf operate on something close to a wolf.

Stepping up to the operating table, Dr. Wolf took another long look at the interns. The operation was going to be lengthy. Nodding to an assistant to his right the click of a button was heard.

"This is Dr. Fleetian Wolf, Chief Anthro Surgeon of Foxingale's Temple of Healing, of Seattle. Today we are performing multiple amputations as well as reconstructive surgery. Our patient is a female Lupinossai, white furred, red hair, green eyes. She weighs 145 pounds and stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches. She is one of many injured victims in the basement collapse of Angel's Whisper Medical Center, of Spokane. Further personal data is being acquired. The patient's injuries are severe. Complete shattering of left collarbone, shoulder blade, as well as the left arm. All of her ribs on the left side of her torso have been broken. Several internal lacerations are to be expected. Both of the patient's legs from mid femur and below are pulverized. Patient was clinically dead for two minutes at the site of the collapse. EMT's revived her. She was air lifted to our hospital immediately. To say that it is a miracle the Lupinossai is still alive is an understatement.

Surgical treatment will be the complete removal of her left arm, removal of both legs at the hip sockets, and what repairs that can be done to her ribs. Further treatment may include the use of surgically implanted prosthetic limbs. Sustained physical therapy and mental counseling is advised as well. I will now end this recording of the surgical entry log. This surgery is being visually and audibly recorded for further training purposes to better facilitate our staff in treating future Lupinossai Anthro patients." Dr. Wolf's voice was deep, calm, and reassuring.

Taking up a scalpel in his right hand, he began to incise the skin of the Lupinossai's left shoulder. After that first incision time flowed like a river. Eighteen hours later, Dr. Wolf wearily followed the orderlies as they wheeled the anesthetized Lupinossai into the intensive care unit. Most surgeons learn to detach themselves from their patients during surgery. Dr. Wolf was not one of them. He saw every patient coming to his table as a tragedy and treated everyone one of his cases with care.

As the orderlies finished wheeling the Lupinossai into an intensive care slot Dr. Wolf looked about for Tammy. The nurse was due to meet him with the Lupinossai's medical history. Not seeing her anywhere, he stepped up to the gurney. His blue eyes fell on the bandaged Lupinossai with pity. Such a massive amputation of limbs was a nightmare for most human patients. For an Anthro he could only imagine it to be a living hell. He rubbed his thinning auburn hair with a weary air of concern. He never liked having pieces of information about his patients missing. His eyes locked onto a wall phone tempting him to call up Admin to locate Tammy.

The gurney rattled slightly as the Lupinossai shivered involuntarily in the bed, a sure sign of recovery from anesthesia. Dr. Wolf pulled several warm blankets from an over head shelf and covered the patient. The shivering still continued, but that would only go away as the anesthesia wore off. Footsteps were heard approaching him. Turning he found Tammy watching him and the patient. A file folder was clutched in her hands. Dr. Wolf let a tired smile drift onto his face with hope.

"I am hoping you have this patient's missing story and not a malpractice suit." Dr. Wolf said with a strained sense of humor.

Tammy put on the best smile she could to humor Dr. Wolf. She could see how tired the surgeon was. Hell, he still had on a bloody surgical cap and his surgical mask hung from one ear like a broken child's swing. "Yes, Dr. Wolf. I have the patient's records that Angel's Whisper's resource department grudgingly parted with."

Dr. Wolf nodded. He wasn't surprised about the difficulty in getting the records. Angel's Whisper Research Facility was known to have their hands deep in a lot of government funded experiments. He looked back to the Lupinossai and monitored her vitals once more. A wave of his hand signaled Tammy to read him the information on the patient.

"Our patient here is one Ahmeh Loraine. She is 28 years old, and an intern of the Medical Research department. No apparent allergies to drugs, though since she is a Lupinossai and related to canines, caffeine and chocolate are flagged as possible food allergies. The rest of the file is all the release forms that I had to fill out just to get the little information I told you." Tammy sighed with irritation. "Ahmrh seems to be someone of importance to keep the rest of her records out of our hands."

Dr. Wolf nodded. He looked back to the patient. He knew her name now. "The information we have is a start, Tammy. Now let us hope that Ahmeh pulls through recovery. I am worried that her lacerated lung and stomach may reopen. Keep the blood transfusions going for another three hours. She is going to be in a lot of pain from the amputations. Speaking of amputations, did we get clearance for calling in Coalesce Bio Blend?"

Tammy simply nodded. "Yes. CBB has full clearance to get Ahmeh back on her feet as soon as possible. They want to schedule the implant surgery within a week."

"That is too soon. Schedule them to operate in two weeks. We won't have enough blood on hand if they tear into her so soon. She needs time to recover from the trauma of today's surgery." Dr. Wolf's statement wasn't really needed as Tammy was in agreement.

"Well, the specialists believe she will be stable enough within a week but I will see to it that Admin knows to postpone the surgery. Would you like to see their plan of action?" Tammy offered.

Dr. Wolf nodded emphatically. He wanted to know what was going to be inflicted on his patient. Tammy pulled several stapled sheets of paper out and handed them to him.

"I will be at the nurses' station Fleetian. I suggest you go home and sleep." Tammy offered kindly.

"I will once I have read everything." Dr. Wolf smiled hearing her break tradition and using his first name. He watched her leave then slid a stool over to him and sat next to Ahmeh. Paper rustled as he began to read the proposed implants to be used. His eyebrows rose in tandem as the list grew.

"A full nerve grafting of the left arm, right and left leg will be implemented right away. Experimental synthetic muscles and light weight high impact limbs to be used." Dr. Wolf murmured softly.

The report felt like a science fiction novel as he read all of the proposed procedures. Setting the papers on his knees he reached over and took up Ahmeh's remaining furred hand. This was the first time he had a chance to look at her hand that wasn't mangled. So delicate were the fingers. He stroked her hand as if petting a dog's paw.

"You're going to be in a living hell of pain for some time to come Ahmeh. Just hang in there and you'll pull through."

******

Ahmeh tumbled through blackness that only anesthesia could induce fighting the creeping panic that was rising up in her. The silent darkness wasn't completely devoid of imagery. Glowing orbs flitted by her as she fell. Reaching out her furred hands, she latched onto a pale azure orb. She seemed to slow in her falling descent as the warmth of a memory seeped into her ethereal body. Arid sand filled her mind's eye, the scent of cactus filled her nose, and she swore she felt sand blowing into her eyes. Ahmeh looked about this desert dreamscape with the feeling of familiarity. She had never been in a desert that she could recall, yet she was standing amidst sandy dunes and cacti.

"Hello?" Ahmeh shouted across the dunes. Her voice echoed off nearby plateaus, sounding lost and hopeless.

A gust of wind pelted her with sand and she closed her eyes. When the scouring gale passed she opened her eyes. She was no longer among the dunes anymore but inside of a tiny holding cell. The cell was barely tall enough for her to stand much less wide enough for the two Lupinossai she saw huddled in the deep shadows. One was a male, the other a female and in the last stages of giving birth. Both were thin and looked starved. She heard the male whisper encouragement to the female to keep pushing. The female Lupinossai howled once in pain and the male held up a newborn puppy. A quick cleaning and the puppy began to squeal with life.

The male and female sobbed in joy at the birth of their daughter. The pup was soon wrapped in a blanket that was the least dirty of the cloth available in the cell. The male stroked the pups head. Someone spoke next to the cell. It was congratulation on the start of a new life then another voice spoke up. The voice was bitter and weary. It told them to hope that someone would remember to feed them, or the pup wouldn't live. The male responded with a voice of hope stating it had only been two weeks since the last orderly had been by. Maybe it was a new test in endurance. The female Lupinossai held the puppy close to her chest to nurse. She looked up at the male Lupinossai. Both seemed to be unaware of Ahmeh standing in their tiny cell sharing this miracle of life.

Ahmeh's emerald eyes glanced about the cell hoping to glean some information about where she was. Every time she looked closely about her, the room would darken. She could hear a soothing heartbeat beckoning her to close her eyes and rest. She tried to resist the lulling heart beat but the rhythm was soothing, gentle. Closing her eyes she heard the two Lupinossai speaking again. They were going to name the new life, Ahmeh.

Hearing her name Ahmeh was snapped out of the memory. She wasn't in the cell anymore but falling in the infinite blackness again. She looked about for another memory to stop the endless plummeting. She had never known her parents, but somehow she had hidden that little memory from birth in the depths of her mind. A ball of glowing gray light floated within her sight. She reached out to grab the memory and her hands passed right through it. A memory played through her mind.

Ahmeh was standing in a linoleum tiled hall. The smell and physical press of teenage bodies was oppressive in the small hall of Coolidge High School. Chatty girls stepped through her like she didn't exist as the jocks from the basketball team made cat calls at cheerleaders playing hard to get. As Ahmeh looked about, having a clear view over the heads of teens not hitting their growth spurts yet, she saw a clear circle where students were avoiding one person. That person was a gangly, 14 year old Ahmeh. Dear God, her red pig tails looked horrendous, as did her worn, hand me down clothing. The jockeys had spotted her and were closing in on the teenage Lupinossai like a pack of wolves.

Ahmeh shivered as this memory played out. Most of the teenagers sensing the jocks on the move thinned out. Soon, little Ahmeh was surrounded by the jocks. The name calling started and was followed by the pulling of ears and tail. Some of the creepier jocks started to grope her as well. Panicking as she usually did at that age cursing would be heard as one jock was bit hard on the offending hand. A loud metallic bang would be heard as the jocks buddies shoved her into a wall of lockers. They would have closed in and beat her if the crowd of spectators hadn't started gasping at the site of the principal and two security guards walking down the hall towards the fight. The crowd broke up and most of the jocks slunk away except for the idiot with the bleeding hand. The principal wore a disgusted look on his face seeing who was bit and who caused the bite. The guards escorted the jock to the nurses office while the principal walked little Ahmeh into his office. She sat while he dialed up her foster parent's number and started the long yelling match about another student being bit by their animalistic foster daughter.

Most schools, by law, had to put up with her as she was moved from Oklahoma to Oregon, and then wound up in Washington. The human foster parents caring for her were missionaries spreading the good word about God and his crucified son. Now Ahmeh did believe in a God, but that was a hit and miss belief on the days the jocks, or the bullies, or the jealous girls of whatever school she was attending caught her alone outside of school. The beatings were never pleasant. Her foster parents were always moving to build new churches, but this high school in some back woods corner of Pullman, Washington was the worse she had ever attended. Everyone pleasantly ignored her. Ahmeh could have missed every day of school and the teachers wouldn't have cared. They all thought she was below the IQ of a stray dog that no one wanted. Her foster parents told her that everyone was special to God, that no one was unwanted. The next four years had proven to her that her foster parents must have been smoking something really good to not notice how isolated and depressed she was getting.

The memory faded to shades of gray then left her sight with blackness once more. As she continued to fall Ahmeh began to consider why she was falling. Was she in an accident? She vaguely remembered feeling pain and difficulty breathing. Had she somehow died? Was this her penance for being born a non human who practiced magic? Was her fate an endless tumble in the darkness of a special hell?

Warms wisps of red drew her emerald eyes to another floating memory. The memory seemed to glow bright with newness and engulfed her. Before her a fogged glass door stood. Gold lettering spelled out the words Angel's Whisper Medical Research Center, Research and Arcane Lore Department. Well that sounded fancy and important. A glance down revealed she was dressed in a white lab coat over burgundy scrubs. A shiny white plastic tag bore her full name, Ahmeh Loraine, Arcane Research Intern. The tag was pinned above a white embroidered emblem of an angel whispering into a patient's ear on the breast pocket of her burgundy scrub top.

Ahmeh knocked on the door setting the lettered glass to rattling. "Come in." a female voice answered her knock of the door.

Opening the door, several things were apparent to Ahmeh. A strong scent of leather furniture filled the room and nearly matched the overwhelming scent of lavender. She fought back an urge to sneeze and felt her eyes starting to water a little. Beyond the smells the office was a study in controlled chaos. She'd never seen so many books lying open on the expensive leather couch. Paper plates, holding the forgotten mummies of half eaten sandwiches reserved the empty spaces were rows of books were missing. The controlling force behind this mess was a squat woman with black, straight hair graying at the temples. She had a light olive tinge to her skin and through the heavy scents of lavender she detected a hint of curry mix. Half moon glasses perched upon a robust nose. Slender lips where pressed into a thin line of concentration as the lady read a large book laid open on one of those old elementary school metal desks teachers were so fond of hating.

Ahmeh closed the door behind her as she walked in. She stopped a foot from the front of the desk. She peeked at the pages of the open book. The text was in the hieroglyphic language of ancient Egypt. Deep brown eyes shifted from the pages to look upon her. The lady stood taking her glasses off and let them hang by a strand of pearls. This close to Ahmeh, the scent of curry was a little stronger but a tone of sandalwood perfume thinned the curry scent. The woman was a foot shorter than Ahmeh making her about 4 feet 6 inches. Those brown eyes looked over her from head to furred toes.

"You must be my new research intern." The woman's voice held a slight Middle Eastern accent.

"Yes. I am Ahmeh ..." the woman held up a slender hand to stop Ahmeh's introduction.

"Ahmeh Loraine, graduate of WASU, two year intern at Bing Hospital, 28 years old, and single. Major in Ancient Arcana with a minor in Symbiotic Energy. You are a Lupinossai Anthro and a bit of a hellion." The lady said listing a summary of Ahmeh's more recent history. "I am not the usual starched and pressed doctor that seems to spark in you a need for complete lack of professionalism." The woman's tone was casual as well as stern. By the dictionary was a dingy yellow folder festooned with a rainbow of post it notes.

Ahmeh recognized that accursed folder that followed her ever since she had entered college. She knew she was now doomed to being fired before starting her internship. Her thoughts must have lit across her face and muzzle as the woman raised an eyebrow in skepticism. The lady looked back to the desk catching what Ahmeh was staring at.

"Your file is an interesting read if you're doing a dissertation on behavior in Anthros raised in a foster home. Don't think that this stack of black marks has me writing you off. I pulled a few strings and kissed a lot of backsides on the Board to get you pulled into my department." The woman leaned forward to invade Ahmeh's little bubble of personal space. "Would you like to know why?" the woman asked.

Ahmeh stood for a moment hesitant to answer that question. "Yes please." Then as an afterthought she asked a simple question. "May I know your name?"

The lady chuckled and stepped back from Ahmeh. "Please have a seat. My name is Lahan Herasha. I am one of the few medical researchers working with the government to document all arcane lore including Anthro's who can use magic living in the United States. I also research a few darker agendas that the government would rather forget. Having a Lupinossai intern on staff will make my documentation job easier. Do you realize how rare your race is in the northwest? I am more than willing to look the other way in regards to your behavior issues in exchange for every piece of information you can tell me about you and your race. Most would look at this stack of reports ranging from assaulting staff to the act of actually biting a patient as grounds for putting you down like some rabid animal. You're a diamond in the rough, Ahmeh. Rest assured that I will knock those rough edges off of you and give you a second chance to shine like you should. Now, do you think I will fire you?" Lahan asked in a voice that said she held all the cards.

Ahmeh shook her head no at the question. She still stood, but after hearing Lahan mentioning the possibility of being put down like an animal, her knees started to shake. She sat quickly to hide how much that thought had affected her. Would someone have really tried to put her down? Regaining some composure by making a show of readjusting her lab coat she looked at Lahan.

"Yes, I would like to work with you. Though I am intrigued by these darker agendas, what are they?" she asked nervously.

A pearl white smile split those thin lips. "In documenting Anthros, other species have surfaced that have been hiding quite nicely. Most of these species seem to have the ability to manifest magic. My department investigates the reality of these claims. I believe that you exhibit some traces of magic yourself? I have read that you have a rare talent in your veins, Ahmeh. You can tap ley lines and know ancient alchemy arrays. Those skills will provide useful in searching out many of our arcane interests. But, I must ask for a demonstration to know whether you can use magic or if you are just smoke and mirrors."

Ahmeh blinked in surprise. How did Lahan know about her gift? The only ones who knew were the foster parents and the personal shrink she was subjected to day after day. Then there were the numerous exorcisms from her foster parents believing she was possessed. A slight shake of her furred head tumbled those thoughts back into the dark corners of her mind.

"May I ask how you know about my talents? I am pretty sure that I have never demonstrated them in public to my knowledge." Ahmeh asked with interest.

Lahan's smile vanished and was replaced with a thin line of seriousness. With a slender hand she withdrew a gold chain necklace that rested underneath her light green blouse. Attached to the gold chain by a strange clasp was a small piece of amber no longer than Ahmeh's thumb and about as big around. What was within the amber surprised Ahmeh. Trapped in the resin prison was a small tuft of some bird that must have brilliant red feathers. The amber amulet was glowing with a pale yellow light.

"When you research those things that bump in the night they often bump back. This phoenix amulet detects the slightest hint of magic resonating around me. It lets me know when I am dealing with someone who is playing their cards close to their chest in the mundane department. The reaction it is having to you is the strongest I have seen." Lahan explained in a monotone voice loved by most professors.

"I've never heard of a phoenix before. Are they common?" Ahmeh asked.

"As common as a polar bear playing a ukulele, phoenixes have long been extinct. This amulet has been passed down in my family for generations. Now then, I know you resonate with magic so show me what you can do?" Lahan said in a cool, crisp tone.

Lahan sat and watched Ahmeh waiting for something to happen. Ahmeh swallowed nervously. Her magical ability was usually a creature of panic and rarely seen during calm situations. She closed her emerald eyes and decided to try finding a ley line first. Clearing her mind she let her soul feel out the room. Most rooms were a deep shade of gray to her mind with tiny currents of color that indicated where a ley line may be. Lahan's office was mostly dark gray but a stream of silvery colored light flowed through the window and split the office in two. Ahmeh stood and moved toward the window and opened her eyes once she stood in the stream of energy.

"You have a silver ley line in your office Lahan. Silver indicates arcane power often associated with wizards and mages who give their lives to the study of magical texts and myths." Ahmeh spoke in a soprano voice.

"Very good, now what can you do with that silver ley line?" Lahan asked with a slight tone of excitement.

Ahmeh took a moment to think. "That book you are reading. It is mostly in Egyptian hieroglyphs. How much of that book can you understand and read?"

Lahan gave a slightly embarrassed look to Ahmeh. "I can read some of the hieroglyphs but the rest takes some time to translate."

Ahmeh smiled knowing what demonstration she could perform now. Placing her hands together she opened them in a gesture mimicking a book being opened. Next, with her right hand she touched her forehead then touched the hand remaining outstretched. Ahmeh spoke in a slightly musical language only remembered in deep, dark cages that flowed from her muzzle with ease. "Paariis ooprehm tii vuum iin taat riidiimee." She felt magic old and strong vibrate through her setting her nerves tingling.

Lahan covered a sharp intake of breath. Her brown eyes watched the book that was laid open on the desk. The hieroglyphs seemed to blur on the page. The ink that had held those symbols to the paper fiber liquefied then pooled in the center of the page before flowing back out onto the paper in common English. With slender fingers, Lahan flipped through a few pages and they too were all in English.

"Now this is a very useful skill indeed." Lahan said quite impressed.

Ahmy stepped out of the silver lay line and felt as if something had slammed into her stomach. She took a lean against the back of the book laden couch. Using ley lines always left her nauseous once the euphoria of power left her.

She felt a jab of pain in her side as she watched the memory. She looked down at her side seeing blood seeping through her white lab coat. When was she hurt? Looking up the memory shattered like broken glass from a cathedrals mosaic window. She was falling once more, but this time the endless black was starting to shift to light gray. As she tumbled, Ahmeh saw a white light rushing up to meet her. Her body began to hurt.

Several ICU nurses were startled from their little chat at the nursing station when Ahmeh started to scream in pain. A nurse was by Ahmeh's side injecting morphine into her I.V. line. Warmth flowed into her veins and she stopped screaming as the white hot lances where her limbs used to be begun to fade.