Elayne

“Ugh! Why is she so heavy!” Osric says aloud to himself as he staggers out the exit of the auction house, the unconscious wolf girl on his back.

He finds himself in an alley. He stands still for a moment as his eyes adjust to the darkness. It’s pitch black — and I’m out of money. Where are we going to sleep?

He waddles down the alleyway, yawning. Stopping by a stack of wooden crates, he sets the wolf girl on the ground. He kneels over, putting his ear up to her chest. Her hearts still beating, and Munster said she’ll be fine... She's gonna wake up — Right?

He takes off his black cloak, draping it over the wolf girl before sitting down next to her. Before I decide what to do next, she needs to wake up. I can’t carry her any longer with this puny body.

He lets out another yawn and lies down next to her. He listens to the slow and rhythmic sound of her breathing, taking in her features; Her long dark-gray hair is matted and tangled. Her pointed ears are filled with some sort of crust. The rag covering her, ripped and tattered, is littered with stains. Despite that, her face is almost — serene. Unlike the livid rage she had shown on the stage or the hopeless stare she gave the floor as the slave collar was put around her neck.

Laying down next to her... She kinda smells. Once we get home, I’ll arrange a bath for her. How am I gonna explain this to Randolf and Catalina? Maybe I can say she’s my...

Osric’s thought tapers off as he dozes off to sleep next to the girl.

>>>

The galloping hooves vibrates through the ground, reaching Osric’s ear. He opens his eyes to see orange-red early morning sunlight painting the walls.

Crap! Did I fall asleep? He stands up, scanning the ground of the alleyway. His cloak rests where the girl was.

He reattaches his cloak in a panic, looking up and down the alleyway. She’s not here! Where could she have gone?

He sprints out the alley into the plaza, already lively with people in the early dawn. With the wolf girl still not in sight, he runs over to a stand selling fruits.

“Sir, did you see a half-beastkin wolf girl around here somewhere?” Osric asks the tall, gruff looking man in just a vest behind the table.

“Did I?” the man retorts. “That girl stole some of my fruit while I was setting up shop! I tried to chase her down, but I lost her. The guards are out looking for her now.”

“Oh, really... That's too bad. Which way did she go?” Osric asks.

The man points down the street.

“Thanks!” Osric takes off.

“Hey, you know that girl? You better pay for what she stole!” The man shouts at him.

Osric turns to say, “nope, I don’t know her, sorry pal.” He laughs nervously at the man before, jolting down the brick road.

Dodging townsfolk, he runs down the street. Glancing down every alleyway he passes — no sign of her. He keeps going until the street ends. The path opens up to a coastline, where docked ships being loaded line the way, beyond them a vast ocean. Osric stands and watches two men carry wooden boxes up a ramp onto a boat.

While observing the workers, thoughts flood into his head. Oh my gosh, is she trying to stow away on a ship? Where are these ships going? Maybe the Empire of Duskhan? I read Aurelith trades with them — I hope she isn’t on one of these ships. Hopefully she's just hiding in an alley somewhere. Osric turns around, trying to decide which street to search next.

His mental struggle is interrupted by the rattling of armored men running. He turns to see a group of armored guards running down the dockside street.

I bet they’re chasing after her. He thinks — sprinting after them.

His stubby legs can’t manage to catch up to the guards. He only gets into earshot after they stop running to debate with each other.

“She turned and went down this way.” One guard points down an alley.

“No She didn’t, it was this way”, another guard says, pointing down a different alley.

Their debate is interrupted by a woman emerging from a street behind them. “Guards!” She shouts.

The group turns to her.

“There is a group of thugs attacking people, please help!” She yells, pointing down the street she just came from.

The guards all look at each other. “Forget the girl for now, let's stop the thugs.” One guard steps forward, waving the others to follow.

The guards all follow the woman down the street, leaving Osric standing at the dockside.

Osric starts to walk away when — in his peripheral vision, a barrel sitting up against a red-painted building shakes. Doubting his eyes, Osric stops to examine it. The barrel moves again. Then — the top of the barrel flies off and the wolf girl’s head pops out, an apple in her mouth.

She scans the dockside, eventually locking eyes with Osric. They stare at each other for what seems like minutes — yet is only a few seconds.

The girl abruptly knocks over the barrel. The apple falls out of her mouth as she scampers away.

“Hey!” Osric yells, chasing after her.

Her bare feet slap against the brick as she speeds up, outrunning Osric.

“Stop running!” he yells, gasping for air.

What’s her deal? She’s gonna get us both in trouble if she keeps this up — I save her and this is how she repays me? Osric stops, his hands on his knees. While panting, he has a revelation. Can’t I make her stop, with the collar?

“Stop,” he commands, holding out the palm of his hand, pointing at the wolf girl in the distance. Nothing happens. How does this work?

“I order you! Stop running!” he demands.

Osric hears the wolf girl’s raspy and pained yell from afar, confirming to him that it worked. Seems like I have to say “order” for the collar to respond.

He catches up to the girl lying on the ground in pain. Recognizable purple lighting shoots off of her body. The lighting disappears, and she struggles to her knees before standing up.

“Listen, let's just talk for a second,” Osric tries to negotiate with her.

She ignores him and takes off again.

Osric sighs, “Just stop, don’t make me use the collar again.”

She continues speeding away.

“I order you, stop running!” he says again.

She collapses to the ground in pain — again.

Osric stands overtop of her. “What's your problem?” he asks, desperation in his voice. “I didn’t want to use the collar, but you won’t listen!” he continues berating her. “You can’t go running around and stealing food, you’ll get us both in trouble.”

She stares up at Osric, a vicious look in her eyes — she gives him no response.

The anger on Osric’s face softens. Hold on, I’m going about this the wrong way. I haven’t even introduced myself yet.

He holds out his hand to help her to her feet. “I’m Osric, what's your name?”

Her menacing stare fades as she stands on her own, leaving Osric’s hand awkwardly lingering in the air, unused.

“Elayne.” she says.

“Now let me go. There's something I need to do.” She turns away.

“And what is that?” Osric grabs her wrist.

“Don’t touch me!” Elayne yells, her voice shrill and slightly grating.

“Alright, alright, sorry!” Osric raises both hands above his head.

Silence falls upon them.

Standing next to Elayne, Osric notices she’s slightly taller than him. He pretends it doesn’t bother him, looking away to hide the self-consciousness on his face. Spotting an alleyway with two boxes.

“Here, why don’t we sit down and talk, Elayne?” Osric motions to the two wooden boxes.

Elayne looks down the alley, “Hmph,” she huffs her agreement, walking toward the boxes.

Sitting down across from her, Osric asks again, “Now, what do you need to do”

“Something,” she bluntly replies, still not looking at him.

“Okay, that doesn’t help me... Can you explain a little further?” Osric worries his negotiations are going nowhere.

“I need to find my mother.”

Osric’s face lights up. We’re finally getting somewhere.

“So where is she?”

“I don’t know!” She replies, irritated. “She was sold somewhere around here, I have to find her.”

“I’ll help you find her.”

She flicks her head, finally looking at Osric.

“Why” she says, narrowing her eyes. “I’m a slave now.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m technically your master, your problems are my problems.” Osric shoots her a thumbs up and a smile.

She blinks, caught off guard. “You’re really gonna help me? You’re not gonna make me work in the hot sun until I pass out?”

Osric raises an eyebrow. Who gave her that idea? Well — I guess she’s not far off from what really happens here.

“Look, where I come from — slaves aren’t really a thing. So, for me, this is more like helping out my friend.” Osric hold his hand out.

“Friend?” Elayne questions, looking down at his hand.

“You don’t want to be friends?”

“No.” She turns away, once again leaving Osric’s hand lingering.

“Well, whatever, just come with me.” Osric gets up and walks out of the alley.

“Where are we going?” Elayne follows him.

“To find your mother. I have an idea.”