FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

No one was there, but the music was playing clearly and beautifully among the frozen wasteland I was in. The snow was starting to come down hard enough to start a blizzard. I was in a bad position, I was transported to an uninhabited part of Fichina in the middle of a blizzard wearing a uniform that doesn't give much protection to the cold. I could quickly feel myself going numb. I had nearly no energy left from the battle against Iozawa. I tried to concentrate to give myself some warmth with a fire spell, but to no avail. After the attempt I nearly collapsed, and then the music started to play again.

'If that's music I'm hearing then there must be someone nearby,' I thought and managed to get myself up. I listened hard for the music, which wasn't as loud this time, and surged forward. The elements were slowly claiming me. I couldn't feel any part of myself anymore and my fatigue and hunger were dominating. As I moved along the trail the music had slowly begun to get louder. I was pretty sure that I would soon find out the source of the music.

"If it's someone wandering around or a nearby facility I'm saved," I said to myself and continued onward making my way over a large hill. My hopes were getting up, but I had to make sure what it was. If it wasn't something that could help me I could surely die. By the time I got to the top of the hill my doubts were relinquished. About a good 50 feet away was a small base, getting pounded by the blizzard that steadily grew stronger. I nearly jumped and began running quickly to the place. The music was definitely coming from there as I could hear. Then I felt something brush my back that made me stop. I pondered on for a second and forced some energy to use a scan spell. I searched around the space to find a powerful force right up to me, before I could look around to see who it was, I felt a powerful blow to the back of my head and everything faded into darkness.

Fortunately Jovey quickly was able to find out where Ryan was.

"He's on Fichina," Jovey said. Most people almost started to panic, they knew that Ryan was surely going to freeze unless they got there quickly. Fox took the wheel and punched the overdrive towards Fichina.

"I'm taking only three others with me and Jovey again. Red, Lucian Blaze, Robert, get your heavy gear ready, and someone get some extra stuff for Ryan once we find him.

"I got it," said Tri who quickly handed Fox some extra articles of clothing. After a few short minutes they had quickly arrived in Fichina. They landed in a spot that Jovey had instructed them to. Fox quickly put on an extra layer of clothing and met the other three chosen outside of the Great Fox. Jovey was the only one not wearing extra clothing.

"Won't you freeze?" Lucian asked.

"The cold doesn't bother me," Jovey said, "although the snow we could do without."

"We must find Ryan quickly," Red said in a serious tone. He and Fox were already ahead of the others looking around, and it didn't take long for Fox to find something useful.

"Guys," he shouted, "there are tracks!" Everyone heard and come over. There was the faint signs of footprints in the piling snow from the blizzard. It was hard to see but it was definitely there and Red measured the footprints.

"It's Ryan's alright," he quickly stated and Fox called up Slippy again.

"I know I know," Slippy said, "sending speeders right now." Right after that the speeders were in front of them and ready to go. Peppy spoke to Fox quickly afterward.

"Humans aren't quite used to the cold as we are. We don't have much time left as it is."

"Right," Fox agreed and shut off the communicator, "let's hurry guys." He took off with everyone else following close behind and followed the tracks with great speed. After a quick 10 minutes they spotted an old base getting hammered by a huge blizzard.

'He might be in there,' Fox thought and sped off toward it, stopping just inches from a large hangar entrance and knocked on the door. For a second he could swear that he could hear music, the music however had quickly stopped after he knocked and he could hear someone approaching.

"Who's that?" A voice asked barely audible over the blizzard.

"I'm Fox McCloud of the Star Fox team," he replied, "I'm here with a few others to look for someone." There was a pause and as everyone else approached Fox the large metal door began to slide up.

"Get in quickly," the voice said as his figure began to appear. They all quickly got inside and the person closed the hangar door again. The inside was large but empty and abandoned by the looks of it.

'It's quite old,' Fox thought, 'haven't seen this place in a while.' Fox and the others turned to see who it was that let them in. It was a lynx with bright white fur wearing a heavy cloak. In his hands was a decent sized harp. He made a few small strums and looked at the crew.

"So how can I help you?" he asked, "are you here for me and the other two stranded mercenaries?"

"Other two?" Lucian asked. Shortly after he asked two more people walked up to the crew from behind the lynx. Both of them were wolves each with a different shade of gray on their fur.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves," the lynx said, "I'm Noah, just Noah. The wolf with the lighter fur is Ray Minamoto while the other is Malakai Moratumee."

"Nice to meet you," Ray said while Malakai gave a small bow.

"We don't have much in the way of supplies so we are glad that you came," Malakai said. Fox thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Alright then," Fox said, "Lucian and Robert, please escort these three back to the ship, then await my orders."

"That won't be necessary," Jovey said, "if you guys are willing we could use your help finding Ryan."

"The human?" Ray asked and Jovey nodded, "sure thing." Noah and Malakai nodded in agreement and grabbed what little they had left before heading outside back to the speeders.

I slowly opened my eyes and instantly felt a little different. After a few minutes of regaining my conscious I realized that I was hanging upside down. I looked up at my feet to find them frozen into the roof of a cave. I would have died if it weren't for the boots blocking out most of the cold although my feet still froze. I looked around the cave and found to my right my sword and blasters were stuck in a stalagmite of ice to my right. Well this was quite the predicament, I was frozen stuck upside down to the ceiling and my equipment was frozen out of arms reach. Not to mention I was freezing all over. I knew then that someone must have taken me here.

"Hey!" I shouted, "who's there?"

"He's awake," said a very deep voice. His accent was very deep like a guy from Russia. I looked around and all of a sudden some ice formed away from a wall to expose a tall white polar bear in the Claxan uniform. I wasn't that surprised anymore. He looked at me and chuckled.

"My meat's not quite frozen yet," he said, "and demands answers. Perhaps freezing you alive is taking too much time." He was very easily annoying me, and I was pretty sure that was what he wanted from me.

"Who are you?" I asked impatiently.

"My name is Mikial," he said sternly, "master of all things ice. The cold's fury stings greatly into people's hearts. I'm certainly stronger then most of the Claxan. Those other three deserved to die for being so weak."

"Did you kill them?" I asked.

"Of course not," he said, "I have no desire to kill those who may be useful to me before said death. Fario was a cocky little kitty with fancy pyrotechnics, Zack was a pushover and a traitor, and Iozawa," he gave a loud chuckle, "all he had was a pet and a fancy laboratory." I wondered what this laboratory he was talking about was for. I thought for a moment and decided to worry about it later.

"Regardless I'm growing quite bored talking to you. I'll just watch you freeze to death here," he chanted a little bit and all of a sudden I felt my hands gets pulled closer to the ground. I looked at it to find that my hands were completely frozen and encased in ice which attached from the ground. Now I was completely at Mikial's mercy, I could just imagine what he had in store for me next. He just smiled and went back behind the wall and sealed it behind him. It seemed he just decided to leave me there to freeze to death. While I hung there I thought long and hard about what was going on.

'Some strange rogue Claxan was out there killing his own members, and he transports me to places where another Claxan is which he'll kill later. First was Fario on Katina and he transported me to Zoness where he killed Iozawa. Now I'm here in Fichina with Mikial. Does this guy plan to kill him to? Could this guy be on our side? If he is he might come to my aid and help me. It's either that or one other possible thought...'

Fox and the others looked around a bit as they exited the abandoned base and Fox spotted something near the opposite side of the place.

"More tracks," Fox said, "they seem to lead onwards for a long while."

"Then let's follow it," Ray said and hopped onto the speeder Red was on while Malakai got onto Jovey's speeder. Noah got onto Fox's and everyone quickly took off following the tracks. While they were going Fox decided to ask Noah a few questions.

"Hey Noah," he started.

"Yes?" Noah asked.

"How long have the three of you been there?"

"Just a couple of days, our ship broke down a week ago here from a Claxan attack to raid our supplies. We landed here and fled with some supplies that weren't stolen. We were the only three survivors."

"I see. Why do you have a harp with you?"

"I'm a bard. I have the unique ability to increase strength and other attributes through playing music for a specific person I have in mind."

"Hmmm. Glad I took you and Jovey along then, we could use your help with Ryan once we find him."

"Ryan's heart is strong just like his mind and body. We'll find him." They ended the conversation as the blizzard subsided and a cave came into view from the horizon. After another few minutes they parked at the mouth of the cave.

"Just as I thought," Lucian said, "the tracks end right here. He's in the cave."

"Let's hope he's alright," Robert said.

"One problem," Red said and pointed, "look." Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and found three other speeders there as well.

'Someone's already in there,' he thought and got off his speeder to look at the insignia and nearly fell over himself.

I tried to get a little sleep and it seemed to work for a little bit. It was hard to tell the time though. Even though I was very badly hungry and thirsty, I had gotten enough rest to restore some energy. I wasn't willing to try a spell because I would be too weak to get away afterwards. I thought about what was going to happen to me when I felt a furred hand come right over my mouth. I struggled a little bit until someone shushed me and whispered.

"Shut up so we can get you out of here," I was completely caught off guard. I whispered back.

"Where the hell have you been Wolf?" I asked.

"Important business," he whispered back, "now stay quiet while we break you out of here." I looked around as Panther and Leon approached each with a small device in their hands. They quietly walked around and quickly started melting the ice around my hands and feet as well as my weapons. After only a few seconds there was a loud crash and Mikial burst through the wall with great anger on his look. He slammed the ground with one powerful hand with a grunt and sent a flurry of icicles right at the group of us. Panther quickly drew his blade and deflected most of the blasts, Leon protected us others with a ray shield and pulled out his blasters. Wolf charged out at him with his claws swiping quickly. Mikial stepped to the side and pulled out his weapon, a large mace with several spikes made of ice on the ball and attacked the three Star Wolf members. All of whom easily side stepped each attack and split up to each side of Mikial to surround him. Mikial chanted and a suddenly huge blizzard started penetrating the length of the cave. If I wasn't still frozen to the ceiling I would have been pulled away from the force. When the blizzard subsided I looked on to see Panther and Leon trapped in a clump of ice. However Mikial was clutching his chest, which was bleeding quite a bit. Wolf looked on holding his guard. He had clawed Mikial square in the chest and it showed with the blood on his hands.

"What's the matter? Scared?" Wolf taunted Mikial. Wolf got the answer he wanted as Mikial took off running to the far off side of the cave, Wolf immediately began chasing him. I could tell he wanted to get him before he ran away, but he could of at least got me out of this prison first. My blood was getting to my head while Panther and Leon struggled.

"Star Wolf," Fox said from behind me, "I knew it from their insignia on their speeders."

"Boy am I glad you guys are here," I said as I felt a warm force free my hands and feet from imprisonment and allowing me to stand up. I was a little caught off balance but Jovey and a white lynx helped me up.

"Hold still," the lynx said and started playing his harp. Jovey followed suit and chanted a little bit. After a few seconds I felt myself getting an energy boost from the two of them. I was still painfully hungry though, although the others that approached were prepared. I also noticed two other wolves that I didn't recognize so I figured those were some mercenaries that needed help. Red handed me an extra spare jacket and thanked him as I put it on, it was thicker and it was a black leather that fit over my vest easily. Everyone then worked on helping out Panther and Leon. I thought for a moment and decided not to let Wolf have all of the fun with Mikial so I took off quickly.

"Be right back," I shouted behind me as I took off with my weapons and new found energy. I followed the trail where Wolf chased him until I found a light at the end of the tunnel. I ran out to find Wolf and Mikial fighting at the base of a snowy hill. Mikial had gotten the upper hand by freezing one of Wolf's arms solid. Wolf had that hand clutched with a masked look of pain and anger on his face. I ran over to his side for support.

"You okay?" I asked him and he looked me.

"Not really kid," he said, "time to put you to the test." He pulled out his blaster while I got my sword out and charged at Mikial. We were quickly circling around each other as our weapons clashed. Mikial had to focus his ice powers separately on Wolf to block his blasts and attack him at long range, allowing me to just concentrate on attacking him. The fight still wasn't easy and it took me all of my energy just to fend off the blows. He pushed me back with a specific attack and threw a line of icicles at us. I tried to deflect it with my sword like Panther but was quickly slashed by a few of them. Wolf was a little bit luckier but still suffered a shoulder wound on his unfrozen arm. Mikial then delivered a hard blow right to my stomach and I flew backwards onto my back. I could feel my blood flow through my clothes and spill out onto the snow. I looked up as Mikial slowly approached. I clutched onto my blade.

'I have to try, it's our only hope,' I thought and slashed my sword up as Mikial aimed his mace up at me. I deflected the blast and heaved myself onto my feat and shouted loudly as I punched his stomach.

"Fire!" I felt a powerful surge as the fire blast went right through him and hit his stomach at full force. He gave a mighty yell as he collapsed onto his back clutching his stomach greatly. I nearly collapsed in pain and exhaustion from the force, I guess I didn't have as much energy as I thought I did. I looked on as Wolf approached me, his frozen arm had melted away. I then looked at Mikial who looked on at us not moving. I could tell he was alive from his spasm like movement. Wolf walked over to him with his blaster held in hand and aimed it. I could guess what Wolf was going to do and decided to stop him.

"Wolf no," I staggered to my feet and held his hand back.

"What are you doing?" Wolf said, "he's too dangerous to be kept alive."

"He's a Claxan member," I said, "if we take him with us we can interrogate him and find out all of the crucial information about them. Then we can end this for good." Wolf thought on and with a growl he put his blaster away.

"You're under arrest Mikial," he said, "number 20." Mikial looked at us then gave a growl. As I approached to take him in a dark portal appeared behind him, I stopped and looked on, Mikial looked back at it and gave a look of sudden fear and surprise. He then gave a shriek as that stranger from before showed up and silenced him with his blade. I almost had to look away so I didn't have to see the bloody mess that took place. The stranger had stabbed him directly in the heart and blood had gone everywhere to blanket the nearby snow. I was going to yell at him again when I had an epiphany. It was then that I realized as I saw the stranger look at me, with his face hidden that I finally understood why he was doing this.

'He was keeping information secret by shutting up the liable members that were defeated,' I thought, 'he didn't want information leaked so he is cleaning up the mess.' I smacked myself on the head for not thinking of that earlier. He wasn't on our side at all, he was there to make sure they didn't mess up, and eliminated them if he did.

He suddenly disappeared again leaving Mikial's bloody corpse to rot on the cold ground. Everyone else had seen the bloody slaughter take place and I looked back at them with a worried look. We're in a lot more trouble then we thought. I was walking back to them when I stopped. I could feel a strange sensation take place inside my body and it began to make me sick. I collapsed and doubled over myself as I felt things begin to heat up. I tried to look up but saw the world begin to spin. What the hell was happening to me? I saw everyone run up close to my aid as my head got light and very hot. I could swear that the snow was melting from right under me. After another second everything all of a sudden got cold and I passed out, fading once more into blackness.