Post by Aldored on Nov 28, 2009 1:23:35 GMT -5
((Rated PG for mild swearing))
Aldored stumbled drunkenly through the worn dirt paths of the Park District, occasionally tripping over a small hole in the ground or rock. The front of his jerkin was damp and smelled of bourbon, while his hair was wildly draped over his shoulders.
"OOMPH!"
With a loud thud he hit the hard ground face-first.
He looked around hazily. Did he just fall? How did that happen?
"Damnit!" He spat. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw something move. Did someone knock him over? They would have to pay.
Pushing against the ground with his hands he slowly brought himself upright. Where did that bastard get off to? Squinting, he scanned the area. His eyes fixated on a dark alleyway not twenty feet from where he now stood. Grinning, he stumbled towards it.
The ally was dark and paved with cobblestone, which differed greatly from the natural look of the Park District. A large amount of buckets were piled in the far left corner, all of them looking rather worn out and at the end of their usefulness. A few rats scurried away as Aldored approached, alerted by his heavy boots scuffing against the cobblestone.
"Come out and fight, you cur!" He snarled, bracing himself against the wall with one hand as he walked.
Something moved beneath the pile of buckets.
Aldored, upon reaching the buckets, began kicking them away recklessly. "You must be a scrawny one, hidin' in here!" He laughed.
Looking down, he realized that the culprit was scrawny. Staring up at him through wide, fearful eyes was a bone-thin cat. Its coat was dirty and orange with splotches of white. Upon even glancing at the beast one could tell that it hadn't eaten in quite some time.
Aldored stared blankly at the cat, swaying slightly where he stood. He slumped back against the wall of the alley with a sigh. Reaching into his pocket he produced a metal flask. With a quick flick of his fingers the lid was unscrewed and he was already taking a long pull.
The cat, obviously relieved that it wasn't squished, perked up from its defensive position. It cautiously approached Aldored, looking even more pitiful than before.
"Whadayawant?" Aldored slurred.
Cocking its head, the cat walked towards Aldored's satchel, which hung over his shoulder. It sniffed it a moment before turning its face back to Aldored and gave a look of pleading.
"I barely have enough food for myself, bud. I can't feed you too."
The cat continued to stare at Aldored.
"Didn't ya hear me? Go on, git!"
The cat didn't even blink.
Aldored sighed heavily. Reaching into his satchel, he tossed a small strip of pork jerky towards the cat.
The cat quickly devoured it, chomping on the stale jerky with the ferocity of a savanna lion. Purring, the cat hopped onto Aldored's lap.
"I can't afford to keep you, little guy."
The cat purred even louder, butting his head against Aldored's stomach.
"I barely have a home."
The cat walked in a circle a few times before curling up on Aldored's lap.
"I'm lousy company."
The cat nestled its head in the folds of Aldored's jerkin, content.
"Damnit."
Defeated, Aldored scooped the cat up in his arms. "So you're gonna live with me, eh?" He said, looking into the cat's eyes. He smiled a rare smile and resumed the stumbling journey to his room, though at least he wasn't alone.
Aldored stumbled drunkenly through the worn dirt paths of the Park District, occasionally tripping over a small hole in the ground or rock. The front of his jerkin was damp and smelled of bourbon, while his hair was wildly draped over his shoulders.
"OOMPH!"
With a loud thud he hit the hard ground face-first.
He looked around hazily. Did he just fall? How did that happen?
"Damnit!" He spat. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw something move. Did someone knock him over? They would have to pay.
Pushing against the ground with his hands he slowly brought himself upright. Where did that bastard get off to? Squinting, he scanned the area. His eyes fixated on a dark alleyway not twenty feet from where he now stood. Grinning, he stumbled towards it.
The ally was dark and paved with cobblestone, which differed greatly from the natural look of the Park District. A large amount of buckets were piled in the far left corner, all of them looking rather worn out and at the end of their usefulness. A few rats scurried away as Aldored approached, alerted by his heavy boots scuffing against the cobblestone.
"Come out and fight, you cur!" He snarled, bracing himself against the wall with one hand as he walked.
Something moved beneath the pile of buckets.
Aldored, upon reaching the buckets, began kicking them away recklessly. "You must be a scrawny one, hidin' in here!" He laughed.
Looking down, he realized that the culprit was scrawny. Staring up at him through wide, fearful eyes was a bone-thin cat. Its coat was dirty and orange with splotches of white. Upon even glancing at the beast one could tell that it hadn't eaten in quite some time.
Aldored stared blankly at the cat, swaying slightly where he stood. He slumped back against the wall of the alley with a sigh. Reaching into his pocket he produced a metal flask. With a quick flick of his fingers the lid was unscrewed and he was already taking a long pull.
The cat, obviously relieved that it wasn't squished, perked up from its defensive position. It cautiously approached Aldored, looking even more pitiful than before.
"Whadayawant?" Aldored slurred.
Cocking its head, the cat walked towards Aldored's satchel, which hung over his shoulder. It sniffed it a moment before turning its face back to Aldored and gave a look of pleading.
"I barely have enough food for myself, bud. I can't feed you too."
The cat continued to stare at Aldored.
"Didn't ya hear me? Go on, git!"
The cat didn't even blink.
Aldored sighed heavily. Reaching into his satchel, he tossed a small strip of pork jerky towards the cat.
The cat quickly devoured it, chomping on the stale jerky with the ferocity of a savanna lion. Purring, the cat hopped onto Aldored's lap.
"I can't afford to keep you, little guy."
The cat purred even louder, butting his head against Aldored's stomach.
"I barely have a home."
The cat walked in a circle a few times before curling up on Aldored's lap.
"I'm lousy company."
The cat nestled its head in the folds of Aldored's jerkin, content.
"Damnit."
Defeated, Aldored scooped the cat up in his arms. "So you're gonna live with me, eh?" He said, looking into the cat's eyes. He smiled a rare smile and resumed the stumbling journey to his room, though at least he wasn't alone.
Founded April 26, 2005