Solo Heat and Drink

[Alex Cromwell]

Season of Summer, Day 45, 513AV

The heat was unbearable. Alex hated heat. He was a wolf after all. Fur and heat do not mix well together. He was basically walkingthe streets of Zeltiva only in his linen pants. He had taken everying else off, besides his weapons, and had put them in his bag. Everything that he owned was made from leather and fur. Alex decided that he would head to the Kelp Bar before he died of heatstroke, which he thought that he already had. As Alex walked through the markets, heading for the bar, his nose was assaulted by the smell of sweaty sailors, the salty sea, and rotting fish. The heat was making them decompose quickly, even when they were packed in ice in the vendors stalls, sheltered from the sun. He tried to keep down the breakfast of pork strips that he had as he passed by the rotting fish. It was difficult, but he managed to keep his breakfast down.

Alex was almost to the bar, when he felt his legs give out from under him. He was tired and thirsty, but he could not bring himself to get up off the streets, and take the last few steps to the bar. He lay there in the street, baking in the hot sun, until he felt two sets of hands grab him under his arms and drag him into the the bar. The hands then grabbed his head and shoved it into the rain barrel. Alex immediately began to drink. By the time his head felt better, a quarter of the water in the barrel was gone. He turned around, and he saw two sailors standing there. He bowed ever so slightly at them. They smiled and called for the bartender to bring them a round. Alex and the sailors went and sat down at a table, while they waited for their drinks. Alex reached into his bag and pulled out three pork strips, handing one to either sailor. The drinks arrived, and the sailors cheered to a successful voyage. Alex raised his mug with them, and drained it in a few gulps. He thumped the mug on the table.

Then, Alex thoght about why they had saved him. He mustered up his courage, and asked. "So, why did you guys decide to drag me in here? You could have just walked right on by. Why save me?" The sailors laughed. The larger of the two spoke up. He was around 6'1, 250 lbs, and was covered in scars and tattoo's. He had seen much in his travels. Save you? Why we just thought we were playing a joke, but if you want to think of it like that, go ahead." They laughed again, and drained their mugs. Alex felt stupid.

[Alex Cromwell]

Alex thanked the sailors for the drink, drained his mug, and got up and changed his seat to one at the bar. He tossed a few gold mizas on the counter, and the bartender came back with three mugs of ale. Alex needed the drink. His head felt horrible. He had had too much water, and it was getting to him. He quickly drained two of his mugs, and began drinking the third, when his stomach told him to stop. The way it told him to stop was to clench and then force all the liquid that was in it back out of Alex's mouth. He covered the bar in puke water and booze. Alex, before he passed out, apologized to the bartender.

Alex came to by someone dousing him in water. His head felt terrible, and he was back out in the heat. He slowly got up and checked his surroundings. He was on East Street. How the hell did I end up here? Alex thought as he struggled to his feet. He looked around, and sobered up quick. East Street was home to whores, drunks, and thieves. He had to get out of here. First, though, he checked his bag to make sure that everything was still there. As he was rummaging around in his bag, confirming that everything was in there, someone bumped him from behind, and he felt a tug on his belt. He quickly checked his belt. His silver daggers were missing! He wheeled around, and saw a figure running into a side alley. Alex quickly packed up his things, and took off after the figure.

[Alex Cromwell]

The figure was fast, but female in shape. She had to have had some form of training, judging by the way that she was evading him. Jumping over downed stalls, using the environment to slow Alex down, and even throwing one of his daggers back at him, nearly taking off his head in the process! This girl was good, but Alex didn't have time to dwell on how good she was at escaping. Alex decided to end this before this thief got away. He pulled out the one dagger that she had thrown back at him, and prepped it. He had to decide if he wanted to maim the girl, or just trap her. Alex shook his head. This girl, thief or not, did not deserve a knife in the back. Alex then spied a rope attached to a large crate swinging above the street. He stopped, lined up a shot, and threw, praying that this would work.

Alex prayer's worked. The knife sliced through the rope, burying itself in the wall behind the now severed line. The crate crashed to the ground, trapping the girl in the street. She halted and wheeled around , Alex's other dagger drawn. She flung the dagger at Alex, and he barely had time to duck before the knife sailed over his head, hitting the wall behind him with a loud. "Thunk". The girl begins to panic as alex closes in, baring his teeth and letting out a guttural growl. As he reaches her, he grabs her by the neck and lifts her off the ground. He pulls her hood off as he begins to squeeze. He then lets go of the girls neck, and lets her drop to the ground. She was only a child. He felt sorry for her. Alex sighed, and reached into his coin purse. He took out three gold mizas, and handed them to the girl. "No more stealing, Ok?" The girl quickly nodded, and ran off. Alex collected his knives, and headed back to the bar.