FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

We continued walking down the dirt path. Our destination? Summum Regnum. All I know about this place is that it is still about a days journey away and that Ranfult is a royal guard. It was about mid-morning when Ranfult found me at the river and we've only been walking for about half an hour or so it seemed. My sense of time isn't the best when I'm bored.

"So..." Ranfult said breaking the silence, "Do you feel clean?"

"Uh... yeah," I responded sort of taken back by this personal question. "Did you get a chance to bathe?"

"No, not yet. I'm waiting until we get to the kingdom. It's much nicer than the river," he smirked.

"Hey, no judging! I was filthy and it couldn't wait!" I responded defending my actions.

"You're going to hate yourself for bathing in that river when I show you what you are going to be bathing in at the king's manor." he said playfully.

We continued our small talk for quite some time before I heard my stomach growl. I saw Ranfult look at me then look up to the sky.

"Oh wow," Ranffult exclaimed pointing at the sun, which was directly over our heads. "It's time for lunch." He began rummaging through his sack. After a moment of rummaging around he pulled out a few pieces of Wungsing fruit, leftover from the day before. "Here Zanith," he said handing me a piece of the Wungsing fruit.

"Thanks, I'm starving!" I took the fruit and ate it in a few bites. I wish we had more though.

"Don't worry, we'll arrive at a village just outside the kingdom in a few hours where we can get some more filling food," Ranfult said as if he read my mind. He must have been thinking the same thing.

"Ah, Great!" I said anxious to see the village and who enhabits it.

About an hour went by before I realized I was dying of thirst. The weather here is perfect. Not too hot, not too cold with some gentle breezes and clouds every once in a while to cover the sun. It was truly beautiful here, much better than the weather from back home. At home I got the worst of all four season: Extreme heat in the summer and frigid cold in the winter. I could get used to this type of weather.

"Ranfult, is the weather always like this here?"

"Well no, sometimes it rains..." he responded, confused by my inquiry.

"Well I'd hope so! Or there'd be no vegetation," I laughed. "No I mean the temperature, and these breezes. It is so pleasant."

"Oh," Ranfult said now understanding what I meant, "Yes, it is. You would think this is pleasant with the weather from your home. Boy does that suck."

"Yup!" I said playfully, smiling at Ranfult as he looked away to focus on something in the distance. I began to feel uneasy. How does he know what my weather is like back home? I know he has been there before, but for how long? His response indicates at least a year. Maybe he just knows the climate of my hometown? I don't know. It seems like everytime I talk to Ranfult I get another unanswered question. Eh I just got to hold off all my questions for the king. Ranfult has made it clear he doesn't want to answer any of my questions.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

A million thoughts were racing through my head, yet again. My brain has not rested since I arrived in this foreign land. The good thing about a restless mind is that time seems to fly the more you think about something and before I knew it Ranfult declared we had reached the village.

"Thank god we're here," I said, "I am starving."

"Yeah me too! and I know just the place!" Ranfult said eagerly. "A good friend of mine has the best restaurant in the village! And it's super close! Come on!"

I could tell Ranfult wanted to run but held back because he knew I wouldn't be able to keep up. I also wanted to take in the sights of the village. He seems to forget I've never been here before.

"Hey Ranfult! Slow down, I'm trying to take in this scenery!" I yelled as he slowed down to match my walking pace. "Geez, you're really excited aren't you?"

"Yeah I haven't seen him in a while!"

"Good friends?" I questioned.

"You can say that. We've known each other since birth and we're really close. He's like a brother to me."

"Well I can't wait to meet h-"

"And he has a sister!" Ranfult interrupted, "We're also really close. Both of them are basically my family. Hopefully she is home. I haven't seen her in ages!"

"Well this will be nice for you then," I said, happy for him. Just as I finished my sentence I noticed everyone that was walking around on this street was looking at me. There was not a human in the bunch, as I had anticipated, but there were lions, tigers, and panthers of both male and female origin. Many of the males were walking around topless while all of the women were fully clothed. After studying them for a moment, I leaned up to Ranfult and whispered, "Why are they all staring at me?"

"Oh, well humans are quite rare and all of them don't know you, so naturally they are curious about you. Don't worry about it. They're all harmless."

"Ranfult!!!" a female voice yelled from the distance.

"Yasika!" Ranfult roared. "I am so glad you are here this time! Last time I visited you were no where to be found!"

"Yeah, sorry about that," she said as she grasped Ranfult in an enormous hug, "I was out of town getting some supplies for the restaurant."

"And why didn't your brother do that?" Ranfult inquired.

"He is the master chef. If I made the food we wouldn't have customers," she laughed and hugged Ranfult one more time, "Oh have I missed you..." she trailed off and glanced over in my direction.

"Oh where are my manners? Zanith this is Yasika. Yasika this is Zanith."

Yasika was a tall black panther. Though she wasnt as tall as Ranfult she definitely had a couple of inches on me. She spoke with such a soft tone that something told me she could be trusted. Besides Ranfult said she was like family, she must be trustworthy.

"A pleasure to meet you," I said extending my hand to her paw but she ignored it and embraced me in a hug much like the one she gave Ranfult.

"Oh excuse me! I don't usually do that with strangers," Yasika said apologetically, "It's just that seeing humans are so rare."

"Oh please you are fine! I am a hugging type of person anyway," I smiled.

"Good. I can't wait for you to meet my brother! He is going to be so excited we have a human customer today. I hope you came with an appitite because we have to best food in the village!"

"Great! I am starving! Lead the way," I said motioning the panther and Ranfult to lead the way.

Yasika and Ranfult began to walk faster and faster. I was trying to keep up without running but their speed walking made it nearly impossible. I didn't have this trouble in the forest with Ranfult, why is this an issue now. Then it hit me, they were talking. Obviously a conversation that was not meant for an audience. I'm sure they're just catching up. I mean Ranfult did say it has been a while since they last saw each other. I had no reason to think otherwise until their whispers turned into backward glances in my direction. Much like a gossiping high schooler would do. _Oh great so they must be talking about me... _

They must have realized I was catching on to what they were doing because Yasika hollered at me to hurry up.

"We're almost there!" Ranfult yelled, "I can't wait for this food. I am so excited!"

We turned a corner and arrived at a huge two story house. There was a sign on the door that said _ The Brundy Hut _. I have no idea what the word "Brundy" means but from all this hype I am hearing about this place, it better be good. We entered the house to a great big open area filled with tables and chairs. The restaurant was about half-full which was to be expected for this time of day.

"Hey bro get out here and greet your guests!" Yasika yelled at the top of her lungs. Ranfult ran to the kitchen and Yasika walked infront of me blocking my view of the reunion.

We heard a few small noises of pots and pans clashing together in the kitchen before a figure appeared, "What is it Yas-" his voice stopped mid-sentence.

"Ranfult!! How the hell are you?!" a strangely familiar voice said as they embraced in a huge. I walked around Yasika to see the reunion when I saw him. It was the black panther from the river, Kantum. What were the odds? What do I do? Do I pretend I don't know him? Oh god, this is going to be hard.

"Ranfult," Kantum said as he pointed in my direction, "Who is your friend?"