A Rat's Home(New)

Looks like I ended up on the southern side of Solaris. The Skegi river runs from West to East, splitting the city into North and South. Elves and Jarcoba, the dog-like race of people, live on the North side in our own little corners of the city. The Dwarves, short beards with arms, and the Saurians, the lizard people live on the South side. I should get out of here. An elf on the South side is like a turkey among chickens. 

I need to meet up with Ren at our usual spot, collect our payment from Nick, and what else? Maybe Ren and I can go and hit on some girls? Nothing like some good tail to celebrate a job well done. I wonder if Freala still has that boyfriend?

I walk close to building walls to try avoid the rain a bit, but it doesn't really work. I just need a new set of clothes. I get a lot of stares as I make my way back to the meeting point. I guess an elf without a cloak or master is a strange sight.

After a bit of walking, I find Ren in his normal cloak next to the large oak tree in the elven slums. He notices me and marches towards me. I wave gleefully, but he just keeps marching. He shoves a spare cloak into my chest and shouts, "What were you thinking!? Why would you do something like that!?"

I laugh it off. "Don't worry so much. I got out just fine."

"That's not what I'm talking about! Why would you-" He stops himself and looks around before angrily whispering,
"Why would you snatch the fucking kid!"

Oh, he's actually angry. I stop smiling and contort my face to match his expression. "What's your problem? It got their attention didn't it?"

"That's not the point. You traumatized that kid!"

"So what? Almost every elf is traumatized at some point. We just stepped over all those homeless last night."

He shakes his head and looks at me like I just ate a pile of shit. "What does that have to do with anything? How does their suffering lead you to holding a kid hostage?"

"It's justice. They take from us, we take from them."

"Justice? You call that justice?" He backs off a bit and looks to the ground.
"I knew you hated humans, but... This is too much man. That's not how justice works Kar. Sure, most of the humans are dicks but that's all they are. They haven't done anything. Especially not that kid!"

I let out a single laugh at that. "Exactly. None of them have done anything to help us. Or bothered to care. As far as I'm concerned, they're just as guilty. We have to help ourselves. The kid can't be blamed, but the parents can. Besides. The most respected rebellions around the world start with acts like that. The rebellion of Langolithia, the Pine's Ridge rebels. The list goes on."

"What kind of weak argument is that? That's not respect. That's fear and hatred. You can't just hurt a bunch of people and expect respect."

"I'm fine with that. If the humans live in fear of us, then that's better than respect."

He fumbles over his words before picking one to say. "But it's not right. I believe that a world where any race is living in fear of another, is a world that needs changed. I think when we can all respect each other is when most people will be happy."

I take a deep breath before saying, "You're so naive. Can you really see a world where we can accept each other? I can't. I can, however see a leader who leads the world into not treating the other races like garbage. A world where we keep our distance. Where we don't bother each other. That is the most we can hope for."

He's out of things to say. He scowls at himself then at me. He takes one stomp forward, splatting mud on my boots. "You know how I'm always telling you, you're kind of a jerk? This! This is worse! You can't even see what you did is awful!"

His argument's flailing. "We're-"
I check our surroundings. "-thieves. Ren. Even if what we do isn't justified, it's not exactly heroic. What makes what I did any worse than you?"

He throws his hands up, gripping at the unkempt hair near his ears. He throws his hands down and steadies himself. "They're merchants Kar. They can recover from a bad investment. But that kid- no. No, I won't do this Kar. I can't do this."
We both take a step down. His eyes cast away as he bites his thumb nail. Something he's always done when nervous. He's been holding on to this for a while. After a bit of light rain platting and distant conversations, he asks, "Kar, do you ever regret becoming a thief?"

Where's this going? "You know I don't. We're feeding our families and keeping some humans down."

"Right, I know I know. I joined you thinking I could help the elves with our earnings, and I did, but there's got to be a better way, right? I saw an elf with nobility recently, as an aristocrat, not a servant and. I don't know."
He shakes his head and finally looks me in the eyes. "I can't work for Nick anymore Kar. I won't."

He's serious about this. Agh, damn it. His compassion is going to get us killed. "You know what happens if we just stop. We don't have enough money to leave the city either-"
Oh. There's an idea. "Are you up for the last and biggest job?"

His eyes slowly widen at the realization. "You don't mean?"
I only nod. We'll steal from Nick. He takes a step closer. "He isn't just some stand owner, you realize this right?"

"That's why we're making an actual plan. I'm not letting you get yourself killed because you extend your 'kindness' to the damn humans."

He stares at me with his initial surprise before smiling and looking to the ground. "Thank you Kar. For understanding."

I could never understand what he's thinking. But I do know that there's no guarantee Nick will keep us around. We've probably come close to the limit of our usefulness. We should escape Solaris as soon as we can. And hey, maybe Ren can accomplish whatever it is he wants to achieve in Langolithia.
I slap his shoulder. "You better appreciate this. For now, let's tell Nick the job is done."
He only nods and we make our way to his house. "Who's that maid that always smiles at you? Ah, whatever. This is gross, I know, but if you can, try to seduce her. We'll need an excuse to stay there during the day."
Which means I'll have to find a maid as well. Ugh... Hopefully human women aren't too different than elven. As we walk I describe the basis of my plan and he offers his opinions and suggestions up until we reach the main city. I wouldn't dare discuss our plan anywhere near Nick's territory.

After we arrive in Nick's house, I bargain for a slightly higher reward. Milking the fact that I got interrogated by templars, I managed to increase our reward a bit. Not much. Don't want to make Nick angry. After receiving our payment, Ren and I set up dates with the maids and went on our merry way. It was easier than I thought it would be. Turns out the smile and make jokes trick still works. But why do they have to be so short? And why are their ears so... Small. Whatever. Ren and I parted at the oak tree and went home to store our pay. We also got to keep the fruits Ren stole.

As I approach my apartment, I encounter a cloaked figure. My last obstacle on my great journey. I'm ready for whatever she throws at me. My mother greets me outside our apartment with a weary scowl and arms crossed. "Did you-"

I stop her before she can finish. "Steal? Of course not. Ren did though. We should really control that kid before he gets himself hurt!"

She repeatedly jabs her finger into my chest with each word. "How long are you going to keep doing this!? What if you get caught!? Or Ren!?"

Now that I think about it, I have news that will actually please mother. And this time, I don't have to lie. "Yeah, I know. Ren and I just talked about it. We'll find a way to get out of our... Arrangement with our employer."

She pulls back her hood to reveal her long blonde hair tied into a messy tail and long droopy ears. "Look me in the eyes and tell me the truth."

I pull back my hood and stare into her maroon eyes. The only trait I share with her is my eyes. Apparently I look like my grandfather on my dad's side, the only other elf in the world with dark hair and sharp facial features. I also inherited my father's ears which I'm especially thankful for. Long straight ears, that stick out are the most attractive ears a guy can get.
Ren has straight ears, but they stay with his head. It does work to our advantage sometimes. It makes him much less threatening. Long droopy ears, like mom's, are very cute on girls.

After our eyes lock, I hold up my hands and say, "I promise."

Apparently she can tell when I'm lying by watching my eyes. After she's studied my eyes for long enough, she lightens up. "By the Lords, you're telling the truth."
She walks over and hugs me. Would you look at that. This is the first time in a long time that she's hugged me out of nothing but joy. Usually its out of worry or just because. As my arms reach around her, she asks. "By the way. Why are you completely drenched? It's not raining that hard."

"Some jerks pushed me into a well thinking I was Ren."

She smacked the top of my head for lying. "Get inside and get changed. It can't be healthy walking around like a used rag. Besides, I'm sure the kids would love to hear one of your crazy stories."

Ugh. She's basically telling me to watch the kids until she gets back. Well there goes my plans. Oh well. I can plan while watching the kids. And it's not like it has to be done today.
I oblige and she thanks me by pulling my head down and placing my forehead on hers. Her favourite position to say, "I love you Kar."

My eyes roll before my hands land on her shoulders. "Love you too, mom."
She releases my head and leaves to go do whatever it is she does. I think she works in a brewery. I head inside and navigate my way through the hallways until I find my door. I step inside, get changed in the short entry hall where we keep all our clothes, then step into the bedroom. "Hey, snot goblins."

Ja'Lith, the eldest of the three, is sitting in the middle of our bed teaching the twins to read. The twin sisters eagerly jump out of the bed and call out my name. "Kar!"
They run over and cling to each of my legs and stare up at me with familiar maroon eyes. Wyn, the pale-blonde twin, pleaded for entertainment while Naelu, the even paler-blonde twin, begged for fun. I answered their call by lightly bonking them on the heads with my bag of strange fruits. They giggled and asked "What's in there?"

"Sit down and I'll tell you. I promise you'll like it."

Ja sighed and closed his book and put it back on the shelf mom and I made. The twins gathered around him and prepared to hear my tale of adventure and glory. Something wild, like Ren and I heard the legend of a city under the Skegi river so we went to go explore it. We're attacked by river monsters, yadda yadda the city is cursed! They no longer live to their magical age of ten-hundred years old. Instead they die at the normal age of a hundred-fifty. Spooky.
And I; being the valiant hero I am, saved the city from the curse with the help of trusty sidekick Ren. Of course, no story is complete without some romance. I added some cute girl to the picture witch Ja thought was gross, but he's just fourteen. He'll understand soon.
Yadda yadda, the city sent us off with a reward. Some strange river fruits!

I have no idea what these fruits are, but they can't be that bad. It's a healthy looking yellow and the insides are juicy. It even smells really good! Reminds me of summer. You can tell it's foreign. We all took a bite at the same time. Our faces slowly scrunched up until we all spit it out. This is terrible! Ugh, I can still taste it! It's all tingly and gross!
The kids all went 'eww' at the same time. I add in some life lesson about always accepting gifts from others, then proceed to eat the whole damn thing to my displeasure. They found my reactions entertaining, so I guess it was worth it.

The rest of first-day was spent playing with the kids until they fell asleep on me. I am in a terrible position. How am I ever supposed to fall asleep like this? One of them is laying flat across my chest like I'm the bed, another is holding my arm above my head at some uncomfortable angle. And the last one is laying on top of her sister with her head against my neck.
I sigh into the darkness. Hope you're comfortable kids. 
Why don't you just move? They'll fall back asleep.
Because that wouldn't be nice of me. Shut up you.

When I open my eyes again, I don't find the hair of a twin in my nose. In fact, I don't feel all that uncomfortable anymore. I look down and figure out that mother came by and fixed us. Now we're all situated into our usual spots on the only bed. I'm safely on the edge while mother and the kids occupy the middle. Time to escape while I have my chance.

I slink out of bed, out the door, through the building, and emerge a free man on the outside. Looks like the sky cleared up. And the Sun is just peaking out of the mountains to the West. Guess, I'll go see what's going on by the old oak and wait for Ren. Looks the same as every sunny day. Various humble vendors set up, a few elves relaxing on the benches under the tree, and some templars... Templars? They never bother to come here. Are they... Wearing blindfolds?