Thread:Riftgard Princess/@comment-1298206-20120320193345

Chapter Four

Sharrk shrugged off the pain he was feeling in his leg. He wouldn’t allow Destiny to see him in pain. That would be a sign of weakness. He glanced back to make sure that Destiny was with him before he continued to the pawn shop. The pair maneuvered between the many creatures that crowded the street. The black weasel looked back at Destiny as they started walking towards an alley. He turned and went down the alley with Destiny, who glanced around at the shadows as if somebeast would spring from them at any moment. They exited from the other side and Black Sharrk lead her straight to a small shop. He opened the door and looked around, causing a small bell to tinkle. There was no sign of anybeast. Sharrk called out,”Bilius, it’s me, Sharrk! I brought somebeast for you to meet!” There was the sound of somebeast walking slowly when from a back room, a pine marten of about thirty five seasons old appeared. He wore a pair of spectacles on the end of his nose, gazing around at the shop without having seen the two young weasels who had just entered the shop. He turned his head and noticed Black Sharrk and Destiny standing there. He suddenly brightened up. “Why hello there, Mark! I didn’t see you there for a moment! Who’s your friend?” Black Sharrk frowned at the pine marten and spoke in a flat tone. “It’s Sharrk, not Mark. I wouldn’t exactly call her a friend... Anyway, I was wondering if you could hire her to help you out around the shop.” Bilius looked at Destiny, his eyes twinkling happily as he walked towards the two weasels. He adjusted his spectacles and peered through them as he looked Destiny up and down. “Hmm...yes... I would greatly appreciate having another creature helping me out... Uh, what is your name, Miss?” Destiny didn’t quite enjoy being called ‘Miss’ very much, but she just smiled and said,”My name is Destiny.”

The pine marten smiled and extended an open paw to Destiny. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Destiny. So, how long do you plan to work for me?” Destiny spoke,”Um...Actually, Sharrk told me that you were kind of lonely, so I’d thought I would live with you...That is, if you don’t mind, of course.” Bilius’s eyes brightened at what Destiny said. “Splendid! Did you bring your belongings?” The female weasel looked slightly embarrassed when she replied. “Um..I don’t have any...I’m an orphan and I’ve been living on my own.” A flash of sympathy shone in the pine marten’s eyes for a moment. “There’s no need to worry, Destiny! I will provide for you in the best way that I am able!” Destiny smiled at Bilius. She thought he was a little odd, but a kind beast, even though they had just met. “Thank you very much, Bilius!” Sharrk turned and began heading for the door. Destiny called out to him as he reached for the doorknob. “Sharrk!” He turned his head and glanced over his shoulder at Destiny. “What is it?” Destiny made eye contact with him, but swiftly turned her gaze away from his eyes. They were cold and empty. “I just wanted to thank you for bringing me here.” Sharrk looked back at Destiny for a full minute before speaking. “It was nothing.” With that said, he turned the knob and opened the door. He stepped out and shut the door behind him. Destiny watched him go without saying a word to him. She was grateful for having found a place for her to stay and a job for her, but something about him made her feel strange, but she wasn’t sure how to describe it. What she did know was that she didn’t like it. Once Sharrk had exited Bilius’s shop, he looked to the sun’s position in the West. He gritted his fangs when he saw that the sun was starting to go down, marking the end of the day. He began making his way down the street as quickly as he could, managing to weave his way between the creatures that crowded the street. His leg was starting to hurt him again, but he shrugged it off. He knew what the consequences would be if he wasn’t where he was supposed to be at sundown... Sharrk continued heading down the street until he approached a small house. He walked slowly towards the door and shoved a paw in his pocket. He pulled out a key and put it into the keyhole. The young weasel turned it and opened the door. Sharrk entered the house and shut the door behind him. He found a box of matches and struck one, lighting the lantern. The black weasel rushed to the pantry and pulled out a few vegetables. He put them on the counter and pulled down a fish that was hanging over the sink. He grabbed a butcher knife and began dicing an onion. After that, he began filleting the fish. Sharrk brightened up. He might have enough time to finish preparing the meal before- Too late. The door was flung open and a weasel entered the small house. He slammed the door behind him. Sharrk cast his gaze downward and continued filleting the fish as if nothing had just happened. He heard the weasel who had just entered walk over towards him, but he dared not look up. The creature stood in front of Sharrk and spoke in a gruff, unimpressed voice. “What are you doing?” Sharrk muttered a reply in an almost timid voice. “I’m preparing dinner...” The other weasel’s voice sounded a bit angrier when he spoke again. “You’re preparing dinner? It should be done by the time I return home!” Sharrk still kept his gaze focused on the fish as he replied. “I’m sorry...It’s just that I was in the market today and I was trying to bring back more supplies and-” The older weasel shouted at Sharrk angrily. “Do you think that’ll pardon you from bein’ lazy? You stayed in the market too long and therefore returned home later than you ought to!” The black weasel’s voice carried the note of desperation. “Father, I really didn’t mean to-” The weasel grabbed him by the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground so both creatures were face-to-face. “I work all day at the docks an’ come home to this? I work to have money to help support you and this is how you repay me? I don’t want this to ever happen again!” He dropped Sharrk, who grunted as he hit the ground. He glared as the other weasel turned and walked away to get a fire started in the fireplace. When he finished preparing a meal, he gave the larger portion of the fish to his elder. Sharrk was preparing to fetch a drink for him when the other weasel got one himself. Sharrk’s heart fell when he saw what it was. Grog. He opened the bottle and nodded gratefully to Sharrk as he took his plate of fish. He took a few bites and put his fork down to take a swig of grog. The young weasel slinked off to another room to avoid the other creature. Gard sat back in his chair and sighed after having finished the fish that Sharrk prepared and his bottle of grog. Since he had discovered that Shia had been slain shortly after leaving him with her child over fourteen seasons ago. Shia had been very close to Gard since they were young and he often viewed her as a sister of sorts. He had since attempted to use alcohol to wash away the thought of her death. It was not very effective and was only leading to his mental deterioration. Gard raised his paws and saw his vision swimming before him. He gripped the arm of his chair with one paw and began to rise slowly with his plate in his other paw. He released his grip on the arm and took an unsteady step forward. He thought he was about to fall, but only stepped forward clumsily. He continued forward, but stumbled and nearly fell. The weasel cursed under his breath and placed the plate on the counter he called out in a loud voice, his voice sounding a little strange. “Sharrk!” The young weasel entered from the next room, his thin frame making him look small. “What is it?” Gard staggered towards the black weasel, whose eyes grew large when he saw the way Gard advanced upon him. Sharrk turned to run back, but was knocked flat. He tried to crawl away, but a footpaw pressed down on his back. Sharrk winced, but squirmed out from under the footpaw and scrambled away. He was grabbed by the back of the neck and spun around. Gard smacked him over the head several times and punched him in the face once or twice, leaving Sharrk with a black eye. He released Sharrk, who fell to the floor on all floors. Gard turned and gripped the counter as he walked away unsteadily. Sharrk crawled into his room and shut the door. He curled up in a small corner and sniffled as he curled his paws into fists. He pounded a fist against the floor and shook with anger as he his gaze hardened. He promised not be the victim anymore.  