FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Nil, now fully clothed in some old clothing, sat down on the oak dining table, head hung as low as possible, and beet red of embarrassment. His ears folded back and his tail drooped to the floor, hiding under the chair. Leo stood behind him to his right, face straightforward and also red, but in a brighter color. Zumi, sitting across the lupine, also blushed the same color as the feline. The three of them became silent as the morning incident continued to replay in their mind. The more he thought about it, the more Nil sank to his chair, fur becoming even redder than before. He wished that he could vanish at that moment. Ela, who had no idea what's going on, kept looking back and forth between the older people. Sitting beside his mother's right side, he cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention.

"Did... Something happen?" He asked innocently.

"Nothing!!" Nil yelled immediately as more blood came to his face. He sank back down to the chair and covered his face.

"God that was so embarrassing..." He mumbled to himself. "I can't believe it's one thing after another..."

The room became silent once more. The trio became uneasy of the silence. Zumi opened her mouth to say something, but was cut in by Nil.

"I'm really sorry," he said. "I didn't mean you to see that."

"N-no worries," Zumi looked away. "I'll forget about everything."

Nil gave a sigh of relief as he started to eat the food the lady had offered him.

"So what are you going to do now?" Zumi asked.

"I really don't know," the lupine sighed once more. "I can't return back to my place until this whole thing has been settled, and I can't stay here without endangering everybody."

"What about your parents? Aren't they going to be worried about you?"

"I was abandoned in the streets since I was a pup," he replied with a monotone voice. "I have never known their faces of voices."

"I'm very sorry to hear that," Zumi apologized.

"Ah, it's quite alright," he smiled. "At least I'm happier now."

"Are you sure about that, sir?" Leo asked, causing the lupine to turn his head towards the Tulos.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm happy," he raised an eyebrow. The lion just stared blankly at the wolf before letting out a sigh.

"I guess it's just a feeling, sir," he said.

"I see..."

The wolf soon shrugged the words off as he continued to eat in silence. The large feline, however, had other thoughts in his mind.

'The way the master acted...' he thought to himself, 'it's very unusual for him to be like that after all that had happened to him...'

"Hey Leo!"

The lion snapped out of his daze and looked at the arctic wolf.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay? You seem a little off now..." Nil stared at him.

"I suppose I'm still exhausted," he smiled softly.

"That might be..." Zumi nodded. "You only have slept for an hour."

Nil turned his head towards the mice in shock.

"You mean he's been awake all this time?"

"Yeah," Ela confirmed. "And I'm surprised that he hadn't collapse yet."

Nil turned his head to Leo and sighed.

"Leo, you can go back to your world now," he said.

"But sir!!" Leo tried to protest before the lupine cut him off.

"Before you say anything, tell me this. If you're exhausted, how would you be able to protect me?"

Leo hung his head in defeat. The summoner does have a point.

"Go get some rest," Nil smiled. "I'll let you know when I need you."

Leo just raised his head and looked at him worryingly.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Leo smiled in relief before being enveloped by pure light and disappeared into thin air. Nil turned his head towards the two and chatted idly. The mice were pretty interested to the travels the lupine had done. Nil, in return, happily told his story and tried his best to hide the terrifying torture from his master afterwards. Ela and Zumi returned his stories with their own, explaining the details of the lands, the main topography of the country, and the heroes. As mealtime finished and the three cleaned up, Nil went back up to the room and grabbed all of his belongings. He descended the stairs and smiled at the mice.

"You're going to go now?" Zumi asked as she handed his leather bag.

"Well, I can't stay here forever," Nil admitted. "The longer I stay here, the more I put everyone in danger."

"But your body hasn't fully healed yet!"

"By time it will. But the longer I stay here, the more I put you in danger. People will think you two are traitors for treating me."

"Then atleast stay another day."

"I really shouldn't."

Zumi just shook her head at the stubborness of the wolf.

"Fine. But don't expect me to help you when you collapse."

"Thank you for understanding our situation," Nil smiled.

"Come back soon, okay?" Ela smiled. "We could share stories again."

"That would be nice, Ela," Nil chuckled. "Thank you very much, you two."

"Take care, wolf," Zumi waved him goodbye. The wolf soon departed on his journey to who knows where. He was thoughtless on where the journey would lead him. He remembered about the notes he had taken on the last village and took it out. His right paw soon snagged upon a metallic object. He pulled the small item down and examined it. It was the Contract Necklace he sealed upon his bag. He sighed in relief, as it was safe from the hands of his master. Soon, thoughts flood back into him. The words his master called him before he threw him out.

"Am I... worthless?" he mumbled in the middle of the grassy field. The wind gently blew hid snow colored fur, caressing him like a mother's paw. But the young lupine was in deep thought. Memories of his past flooded back into him.

"I'm okay, right?" he asked himself. "I mean, it is the first time he did that, right?" he chuckled nervously and tried to remember more. He soon found that most of his past was filled with torture. The elder canine had nearly drowned him, caged him, starved him, broke his body, and for the last month, raped him for the past ten years. His own master, the only person who raised him from the dark streets, treated him like he was nothing, even after he had succeeded. He chuckled once more as he stared sadly upon the necklace.

"My past is no better than a slave..." he chuckled once more as tears started to drop from the corner of his left eye. He dropped on his knees and started to cry softly. He was happy that he finally escaped from the lunatic, but at the same time was grieved by the loss of his only family, just because of his not following orders. The cruel bloodhound... Despite his cruel actions and torment, he was like a father to the young lupine.

"Why... why did you do such a thing..." he sobbed. Time passed slowly as the lupine cried on the arms of Gaea. The winds became gentle and firm as if nature was trying to hold him into her arms. Soon the wolf became tired and rested under a willow tree close by. His left hand gripped the necklace once more, as one of the source of his comfort in this world. His eyelids became heavy and his breath had run out. Soon, the teen wolf fell into a deep slumber. But that slumber wasn't a peaceful one. Memories of his childhood appeared upon the lupines mind. The tormented ten years old, bounded upon a wooden plank, exposed to his tormentor. The board was rigged into a device, which turns the table, submerging the victims into the icy river below.

'Master! Please don't do this!' the young wolf begged. But the elder canine averted his ears. He pulled a lever arm length of him and the plank slowly turned. The cub begged for mercy, but as he tried to open his mouth, the raging rapids hit his back, causing him to gasp for air. Water nearly flooded the wolf's lungs, as it was millimeters away from the corner of his muzzle. He shut his muzzle and eyes tight, preventing the liquid from entering his system. His nose was filled with the hypothermic fluids as he was tilted in an odd angle. Not pleased enough, the elder mage zapped the child's body, causing him to jerk and screamed in agony. In return, water flooded his lungs rapidly and he started to drown. Even with his screams, the tormentor never relented and continues his chaos. Slowly, the dark embraced the young pup as the pain became unbearable. Nil shot up like a dart and gasped. He panted as the frightening memory flood him once more. Sweat covered his entire fur, matting them down. He peered upon his shaking paws and stared on the broken silver necklace. It was drenched on salty liquid.

"It wasn't just once..." he mumbled. "Heh, what a stupid rebel I am..."

He sighed and melted the broken links together. He read the journal and cast some water spell on the link the small water bubble made contact to the heated metal and cooled it down. Nil's body, on the other hand, didn't. One look from the fresh water and his entire body was stunned. Hydrophobia soon kicked in and he wasn't able to control his power. The bubble kept increasing and soon burst with an explosion. The young wolf just yelped and hid behind the willow. Water droplets fell here and there, starting a magic made rain. It was short, but it still torments the young soul. He panted and shivered, hoping the rain would stop soon. His cloak was now drenched from the inside and out and his fur was matted down once more. Moments later, his wish came true and the torment ended. Trying to regain his composure, he took deep breaths and gazed upon the now repaired necklace. He sighed before wearing it upon his neck.

"To think it has gotten bad enough..." he mumbled once more as he placed the book into his leather bag. His attention was soon averted as he heard metallic sound close upon him. He turned his head slightly to see the edge of an iron spear pointed directly towards his neck. He turned his head more to see more of the same objects in front of him, held by a group of knights from that kingdom. The emblem on their chest plates was similar to the one on Zumi's dress not long ago. Nil stared at the group before letting out a sigh.

"I have spoken too soon..." he mumbled.

"What do we have here?" a brown-feathered griffin, most likely to be the captain, spoke out. "It appears a spy has entered our kingdom."

"I'm not a spy," he said defensively.

"Then why do you have the Pyroshock's emblem on your cloak?"

"I'm not a spy because I'm not one of them!"

"That's what they always say. Seize him boys!"

The griffin snapped his fingers and the knights darted towards the young lupine.

"Wait!!" Nil yelled. The captain stopped his troops and walked forward, axe held on his hand.

"What is it, spy?"

"I'm not a spy!" Nil retorted. "But I'm too tired to fight back against all of you. I'll just follow you peacefully. I promise I won't fight back, just don't hurt me."

"That's what they say before they attack us," a rhino replied.

"Tell you what. I'll allow you to tie my hands behind my back and take all of my belongings. That way you won't be able to be hit by me, right?"

"Kid's got a point," an ursine replied. "And judging from his body, I'll say he hasn't eaten in days."

"Three weeks," he corrected. "So I still won't have the energy."

The mythical creature gave another thought before agreeing to the lupine. Nil merely obeyed and gave all of his belongings but his Contract, hidden beneath the beige clothing. The small group soon began to travel towards the main city. A few feet away, a mysterious figure stood behind another tree, observing their every move.

"Not yet...," he mumbled. "Still not enough..."

Nil's senses soon detected his presence and he turned towards that direction. Another member of the group, a young bat, also heard something and turned towards the same direction. But all they saw was nothing.

"Is something the matter?" the captain asked.

"... it's nothing..." Nil responded before turning his body back. The flying mammal, concluded the same thought, turned his body as well.