Note: This story picks up right where Ab uno disce omnes [Furfur Diary 10] ends. This follows the side story of Furfur's journey and takes place between the last story and the one to come.
Warning!
This story contains mature language.
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Furfur took a few tentative steps to follow Dhina and paused.
There it was again.
That sound.
He stopped and gave the darkness an uneasy look before continuing. It was was probably something just crumbling.
Dhina's light has illuminated the surroundings and he was vaguely aware that he was in some sort of building similar to the ruins of the forest. He had never been so unnerved in his life. The interlocking stones felt strange under his feet and the occasional slip of a hoof caused him to stumble forward. He gave the terrain an exasperated huff and continued to follow. He was tired, sore, and wanted to get back to Kita where he could be safe.
Dhina stopped and looked back at the tiring deer in her footsteps. "Need Rest? Fine. I'll leave the light with you and return in the morning." She extended the illuminated orb forward to rest over the antlers of her companion and took off into the dark.
Furfur curiously explored his surroundings. He was in some sort of a large enclosed room with an open ceiling. The normally starry sky seemed far out of reach and he could only see the faint glimmer in the distance. It was unsettling. He squinted towards the sky and scrambled for cover as another quake trembled throughout the structure. It was happening far more frequently as they ventured further into the strange place.
He hesitantly ventured down one of the side paths and froze as the faint glow above his head illuminated a small room filled with strange objects. he ventured into the strange surroundings and eyed it with some skepticism. There was some sort of strange see through object with koi swimming in it. Odd colourful designs on the walls. A raised structure with a faint glowing box on it.
He tentatively raised his front legs climbing onto one of the elevated structures to get a better look. It was a pleasant surprise to find the raise ground soft and warm. He leaned down to graze at the odd ground and jumped as it tore easily releasing feathers. Was this some being he had injured..? Some strange flat waterfowl? He briskly shook his head an explored the low ceiling of the room. The surrounding frame was decorated with bright solitary birds in flight and pieces of clay suspended from hooks. He gave the clay bell shapes a curious nudge and was pleasantly surprised as they clattered together to give pure soothing notes. He yawned sleepily and laid down to rest on the softer ground. It seemed calm and safe here.
He laid his head down and lightly sniffed at the ground before he slept. It seemed so comforting and familiar. Part of him felt as if it would be better to remain here. Maybe he could find his friends of the forest and lead them back to this safe place. There would be no fighting or hate. He eyed the room with another scrutinizing look and frowned. No..it was too small to fit all of the deer he would want to shield. He laid his head down and allowed himself to rest for the first time in a long time.
"FUCK IT!"
The surroundings trembled violently and tore him from his rest. The clay bells rattled and chimed chaotically. The motionless birds trembled and the koi in the enclosed pond swam for cover. Furfur snapped his head up and stared intently towards the entrance to his sanctuary.
"I don't get it! I just don't fucking understand...What is the point!?"
Each word caused another tremor to ripple through the room and disturb the peace. Furfur trembled. They were getting stronger and closer. He lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly. It would pass. Nothing could hurt him here. It would pass.
"Why do I even bother? No one even cares! I'm such a dumb bastard...all I ever do is fuck things up. "
He slid from the softer raised resting spot and stared desperately for a place to hide. He could see the hall becoming illuminated by the source of the rage and he had to escape it. Furfur scanned the room multiple times before sliding under his earlier resting spot as a last ditch effort. Each breath caught in his throat and he pressed his face against the cool ground in an attempt to silence his own sounds.
The light approached the room and he could only make out the legs of the being before him. Two, not four. It was another one like Dhina. Another person human. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Clearly this was a person human place. He should have stayed where Dhina left him.
The human paused to touch something on the back of the enclosed koi. A bright light illuminated the inside of the cube and parts of the room. Furfur watched as it leaned down to drop some coloured flakes into the water and talk soothingly to the fish.
"Shh...its okay. I'm sorry. Are you too cold? I'm not sure if that new heater is working..I'm sorry if it's not..I don't really know how..I don't know anything..stupid.."
That voice..it was the same one that caused the earlier disturbances. The speaker crawled onto the soft structure and Furfur felt himself tense involuntarily. The destructive creature was above him. If he were to be discovered it might kill him again. Hurt him. He'd never see Kita again. He stared desperately towards the entrance to the room. He would have to escape. Furfur tensed himself to make a mad dash for the door but a sound stopped him.
It wasn't a vulgar word.
Nor an angry outburst.
No words filled with hatred and misplaced passion.
Instead a soft choke.
A subdued sniffle.
A strangled sob.
He knew that sound well. Sadness. He slowly crept out from beneath the platform and gave the human a curious look. It's back was to him and he could not tell whether it was female or male. It's shoulders were shaking and eyes were closed. In it's arms it tightly clutched a small deer crafted from cloth being used to wipe it's puffy eyes.
Furfur hesitated. He had far more experience than he would ever desire comforting his friends in times of sadness, but never before had he dealt with one of these creatures. It's raw emotions seemed to shake this place and he feared for his own safety.
Yet...he couldn't do it.
He couldn't turn his back on the pathetic creature sobbing on the bed.
The others had done that to him in the past.
They looked past his happy smiles and intelligent conversation.
They ignored his failing health and pleading eyes.
No.
It would be different this time.
He stretched his front legs up onto the soft ground and clumsily nudged the smaller being forward to make room before he pulled his own exhausted body to rest comfortably by it's side.
Furfur frowned and lightly nuzzled the person's back.
In response he felt a trembling reach back to touch his side.
No words were exchanged.
It was not necessary.
What could be said?
He knew not of why this creature hid itself away. Why it cowered in the dark instead of being out in the light dancing and playing with friends. He couldn't even fathom for a second what these creatures did for fun. It seemed enough just to sit with it while it was overtaken with emotions.
The pathetic sobs soon turned to slow rhythmic breathing and Furfur leaned closer to examine the features of his sad companion. It's eyes were marked by long lashes and were smeared with some sort of black substance for decoration. It's nose was slightly crooked and covered in a permanent flush. It looked tired and angry. He furrowed his brow in frustration. Male? Female? How do they tell these creatures apart?! He lightly sniffed the being to see if it's scent would reveal the close guarded secret and his face was lightly pushed away by a firm hand.
"Furfur stop...I'm trying to sleep. Just be still..."
He furrowed his brow again. The voice sounded so feminine, yet it held the harsh tone and words of men. He ceased his curious examination obediently and settled down resting his face against the creature's short hair. It was a strange shade of red and smelled faintly like sandalwood and citrus. It was comforting to smell such familiar scents in such a strange place. He closed his eyes and lightly planted his lips on the mess of tangled hair before averting his gaze to the far wall as he spoke. "Goodnight...I..I don't know your name."
"I-It's Alecsander."
Male..? Female? How troublesome. He lightly exhaled and tried to think of words to console his new friend. "Tomorrow will be better."
He heard more soft sobs from the being and resisted the urge to look when he felt those delicate arms around his shoulders and the soft voice in his ear. "I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today.." It's tone was dull and lifeless. It was not the firm voice of a self confident proud stag. Instead Furfur could only bring images to mind of small trembling fawns trailing in the steps of their elders and repeating their adages like clockwork. He laid still for the being and tried to retain his calm composure.
Annoyance.
Hatred.
Doubt.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Weakness.
They were all so contagious and he could feel the tension building in the sanctuary. He laid his head on the soft ground and tried to push back the emotions flowing freely from the trembling ape pressed against his side.
Furfur missed his friends and the peace of the forest. He wondered how it had changed in his absence. Part of him prayed that it had remained in the same dull quiet lull that he was so accustomed to.
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The title is dog-latin for "Don't let the bastards grind you down."
;A; *Loves on you both
*Loves on you both forever.*
*hug* (This is very sweet,
(This is very sweet, though. <3 I hope you feel better.)
I'm fine guys. Just wasn't
Just wasn't in a good place last night after a pretty bad fight with my family+ Other things.
I'm over it, just felt pretty inspired to write the next segment early with my mindset.
If you feel like you need to know more feel free to hit me up on MSN when I'm on later tonight or tomorrow.
This came out beautifully
(No subject)
Well now, I hope you feel
Thanks Seele. I actually
Words cannot describe how
I love your detail, and how attentive you are to making sure we know what's where.
Lovely.
Thankyou Crimmy. I figure
I figure since this is the first time I've given scenery to the place where Furfur is trapped I should make sure it's fully understood.
I'm still a bit iffy about the bed.
I have an elevated bed that someone can easily crawl under but most people's archetype of "bed" means low to the ground and dark. I had some time of "hm...does elevated really give the impression I want?"
This still gets me. > >