The Furmage Sage

By Norin Lotor Coone, called the Gamer Coon of the Northwest

Disclaimer: All character portrayed in this document are official property of their creator, the author, and are not to be taken with express written permission. Thank you for your cooperation.

Chapter 1

He floated though the multi colored sky, his muse hovering just out of reach. He had to reach her. He tried to float closer, his muse giggling lightly and moving away from him, her face blocked by her long hair and the brilliant light behind her. He squinted, looking at her, and floated closer, called to her. As he got closer, he started to here a voice calling his name. He continued on his quest for her, thinking the voice was hers. The voice called his name again, this time sounding more manly. He stopped in his pursuit and pondered that for a second. 'Why would my muse have a manly voice?' he thought to himself. The manly voice called his name again from all around him, an edge of annoyance apparent on it. He then thought, 'Maybe this is a...'

He opened his eyes and looked around the room, '...A dream.' finishing his thought. He say at least 20 or more furs around his own age and one slightly older lion face all staring at him. He blinked again and knew immediately what happened. He had fallen asleep in Calculus, again. "Thank you for joining us, Norin. Perhaps you'd pay more attention if you had more stimulation." the lion said, standing in front of the board, "How about you tell me how to figure this problem out?" as he pointed at the equation involving a few symbols and numbers. Norin blinked at the problem and gulped slightly, 'Damn, I knew I should have read that chapter before going out.' He then grinned.

---

He knew Norin had blown it. He knew it from the second the coon had walked in. He barely could find his seat, let alone comprehend anything the professor was saying. He had to admit though that the problem on the board had stumped him as well, but He wasn't about to incur the professor's wrath and make him do it. He grinned at the ringtail's squirming at the sight of the problem, 'He hasn't read the chapter. He is so screwed.' He then blinked curiously as Norin grinned and then seemed to whisper quietly to himself. He opened his eyes wide and thought, 'He's going to try that! This is not the time nor the place to attempt that, especially if he gets caught. I'm not bailing him out again. Those anti-mage groups can have his furred hide.' He then grinned, 'Well, I'll guess I'll bail him out, but he'll owe me big time. This ought to be fun to watch.'

---

The spell worked. Well, mostly. Norin now had access to the professor's mind. That was the good part. The bad part was that he had access to ALL of his mind. Norin would later remark that that had to be one the stupidest thing he had ever done and he would have nightmares about it for years to come. Though, he did find an answer to the problem. He then gave the answer out loud, smirking smugly. The professor looked at the problem, and then grinned, "I'm sorry, Norin, but you made the exact mistake I thought you'd make.'

'D'oh!', Norin thought, wincing. He then turned around and looked back at a smirking fox, sitting about 3 rows back. He then mouthed, "Shut up, Ben." "Norin! Pay attention!" the professor shouted. Norin whipped his head around and looked forward. "This is the last time. Stop talking with your friends and pay attention to the lesson." Norin nodded, "Yes sir." The professor then went back to explaining how to derive the Macclaurin series of Cosine. Norin, of course, promptly wrote down what was on the board and started doodling in his notebook, next to his notes. The rest of the class period went without any other interruptions. Well, as best as one can do with two mages in the classroom.

---

"I can't believe you tried that spell. You didn't even know if it worked. I mean, you could have killed the fur." Ben said to Norin after class, sitting in the Student Center in their usual spot. Their usual spot was off in one corner, relatively close to the card players, but not close enough so they could see what game they were playing. "Hey, I had to field test it and what better time then Calculus. I mean, when am I ever gonna use the stuff?" Norin replying, sipping on a carbonated beverage of some sort. Ben just sighed, "You're gonna get caught one of these days and I'm not gonna be the one to bail you out. You know the general feelings about mages." Norin nodded, "Yeah. They despise and distrust us. They're almost at the point of burning any they find at the stake. Ever since society found out that magic was real, that's the way it's been. Yes, I've been following the media." The media had portrayed any mages as evil incarnate and being a mage was considered to be one of the worst things possible. Of course, they were opposite view then that, but they never got covered by the normal media. The general feeling on the people as a whole, whoever, was that of tolerance with a lot of distrust. You wouldn't be attacked on sight, but you were given a wide berth and stared at.

"So, make sure to keep a low profile." Bens said, leaning inward, his vulpine eyes narrowingly slightly, "I'd like to not have other furs staring at me in Biology." Norin nodded and got up from the table and grabbing a black bag, "Okay, I'll try to rein it in a bit. I gotta get to Computer Programming or I won't know what's gonna be on the test Friday." Ben nodded in response and got up as well, "Yeah, I gotta get over to English Composition. I've got an essay due today that I need in." The two furs then maneuvered they're way out of the building, casting a side glance at the card players, especially Norin, finding the game kinda interesting but his better judgment reminded him of his class and he left for class.

---

The hyena padded his way around the corner into the darkened hallway, looking hurriedly behind him as if checking for pursuers. Walking quickly down the hallway, the hyena in question looked back around the corner and murmured a few words quickly under his breath and walked backwards into the shadows and faded into them. The hyena exited the shadows in a sealed room. The only lights in the room came from two light fixtures above the large throne in front of the hyena. The throne was the only major decoration in the room other then the vaulted ceiling, which seemed to spiral off into infinity. Despite the fixtures being so close to the throne, a figure sat upon said throne, seemingly encased in pure shadows. The hyena moved in front of the throne and kneeled, saying some shakily, “My lord, I have done as you have requested.” The figure seemed to nod and said, with a slight distortion to his voice, “Excellent, Mendo. You have done well. Show me the information.” The hyena nodded and gestured to the bare wall behind him, again quickly murmuring a few words. The wall seemed to light up like a slide show, showing a certain coon and fox. The figure studied the information, not moving at all and then looked to the hyena, “Is this all you have?” The hyena took a step back and nodded, “This is all my team could gather, my lord…” The figure’s shadowy form seemed to darken for a second and then resumed it’s former cloudyness, “This will suffice for our needs. Proceed with Test Phase 2.” The hyena nodded and moved to the shadows from which he came. “And Mendo,” the figure said, the hyena in question turning around, “Don’t kill them if you can help. They will be of great use to us later, if they pass.” The hyena grinned and nodded, murmuring and fading into the shadows and disappearing from view. The figure looked up the information still glowing on the bare wall and then began to cackle, slowly moving up into a full blown Evil Laugh™.

---

Norin glided around the corner, quickly making his way back to the Student center. Navigating his way around the few students wandering the campus, he soon found himself in front of his destination. As he walked to the door, he suddenly stopped and stared. His eye fell upon a familiar looking feamle lupine and couldn’t quite remember her name. She looked at him and smiled, as he straightened his flannel jacket and t-shirt/jeans combo. He looked her over and remembered her wearing that same shirt with those jeans before as well. “Fancy meeting you here, Norin.” She said smiling. “Yeah, imagine the coincidence. Almost like someone I know set it up…” Norin replied grinning. She looked at him blankly and then shrugged, “Whatever. Anyway, what’re we upto?” “Same old, same old. Going to classes, doing work, etc. Nothin’ special to report, I‘m afraid Sophie.” He replied, shrugging. He looked at her curiously, “By the way, what’re you doing in these parts? Last time I heard you were still living Eastward.” She grinned, “I decided to go to college up here. Is that a problem?” He shook his head, “Of course not. Just curious. Anyway, I’m meeting one of my friends inside, so I gotta go.” She nodded, smiling, “Okay, talk to you later. It was nice seeing you again.” as she walked off. He then called back, “Yeah, it was.” and headed inward.

---

Ben rushed out of the class and started sprinting. Cursing to himself aloud, “Dang. Not gonna make the session…I gotta run.” and then was suddenly stropped by two rabbits: One short white one and a tall brown one. Ben glanced at them, “Will,” he said indicating the short one, “Freedan,” as the larger one nodded, “How can I help the two leaders of the local AntiMage group?” Freedan looked to Will and the shorter rabbit nodded. Freedan studied Ben, “We’ve heard rumors that you and your coon friend may know of some mage scum in the nearby areas. What do you say to this?” Ben looked a bit puzzled, “Mage scum? Me? Norin? Not that I know off. Last thing I heard was that some church downtown was harboring some mages.” Will and Freedan exchanged glances and then nodded, “Thanks for your assistance. Keep us in mind if you find any mage activity.” Ben surpressed a grin and nodded, “If I see any, you’ll be the first to know.” Ben suddenly remembered and looked to his watch. His eyes widening, he suddenly took off sprinting in the direction of the student center.