“Ahh … it hurts …”

Burp

On a rooftop, not far from the crimes she had committed. Spiko rubbed the slowly smaller growing pot belly, which had somehow just grown in a flash. Regrets? No cats never regret something done with the purest of intentions.

Burrrp

“Uggh …”

Mostly without regret. A greasy wooden box, void of anything. Told the tale. If someone would ask her now. Her answer would be quite simply, ``Good´´. While trying to not roll onto her side or stand up, if there’s no immediate threat to her life. Just lazing around on a slightly creaking plank of old rough hone wood. Was perfect to her.

Why didn’t I put those metal things into my bindle? Could have used them to trade for more good food, right?

Shrugging mentally to herself. With a silly expression on her face. Because did it really matter to her?

I even gotten food, without giving anything in return!

Weakly lifting her fingers. She ravenously licked the last dregs of fat of them. Warmth spread through her. As the midday came on in full force. Sighing restfully a few times. Soon her mind drifted off.

Zzz rrzz … rzzzz … Zzzhh

Faint snoring was heard only by the ones with the most sensitive and alert ears. While a wild goose chase happened two floors beneath her. For an unknown that had allegedly managed to knock out a Magus. Breaking his concentration, letting energies of a mid-class spell spark out to a large area. Loud energetic noise spread throughout the whole district. It was like a festival. If you liked being chased by angry guards. That had fear for their Lifes, because oh boy. They would all hang if they didn’t get the preparator of this whole incident. Or worse, be made to join the army.

“STOP!”

“OPEN UP!”

“By the gods…”

“I saw someone run there.”

“Watch where you're swinging that!”

“HALT!”

Scratch Scritch

Small involuntary happy movements. Were the only signs of life from her. It mattered not how loud everyone was. As noise came naturally in a world filled with glass, metal and burning things. Her home was a lot rowdier most of the day, then this. As air flowed gently over her with a warm touch. The day passed on without her noticing. With the end of that, came the slight cold of night. Which gently woke her up.

“Hnn … it’s the moon.”

Holding out her hand. Trying to grab it. A smile spread from her eyes to her lips. The very first time in a long time. There was it, the moon that always brought light to the dark. Clenching her eye lids a bit.

The moon has a sibling?

A bit confused, the mixed colors gave her pause. What had looked like a red spot on the pristine whiteness. Was quickly moving along a path. Shyly hiding behind the moon moments later. Just to peek out on the other end again.

Was that always there … I’m sure there’s only one moon. The moon?

Licking over her still greasy lips.

Let’s find some water. Normal non-cold spreading and not so-sweet. Just water.

Getting up with relaxed slow movements. Shifting a bit to get her things. Nimbly she stripped out of her clothes. Throwing them somewhere, with no care. Cause a few moments later, there was a robe and shirt in her hands. Holding them out, light sparkled of the robe. Her luck was, that the shirt had been a simple silken one. Without any overly sparkly inlays. But the robe was overly pompous one of a Magus.

That’s stupid. But its soft .. well I can wear it this way too.

Turning the insides out. Not caring for the unseemly seams now showing. Quickly she put on the robe. With a jump and a robe flattering in the wind, she gotten to the ground. Skipping towards the sound of rushing water. Not far away, there was the first source of a watery sound.

Uhhh … this isn’t water to drink? Why do these people have piss and shit flowing there.

Looking disgusted at the open-air waste canal. Her ears flat and her tail clenched to her left thigh. Shaking herself slightly a shiver went over her skin.

Waah … stupid and crazy …

Her ears focusing on the next source of that distinct sound, of rushing water. Hurriedly she ran toward it. The smell was starting to get to her. It would be easier if her nose wasn’t just smelling bad odors since she came into this place. Sticking a finger into her nose. Small red flakes kept flaking off.

Okay … this one is more water. But … it smells weird.

Looking at the water, running along a small stone canal. Her head searched for a reason. Whatever the crazy's put into this, that sticky burnt smell was known to her.

Hnn … oil and coal?

With disgust she tried to pour dirt into the canal. But there were only cobblestones below her. Repressing the need to get this covered, she moved on.

Sigh

The next location. Now with quick hectic steps. She ran towards it.

At last!

“Hey idiot! Watch where your running!”

The place was sprawling with motion. People were walking everywhere. And as her nose lead her close to a food stall. A man was nearly run over. Slipping and sliding a bit, her path curved around him. Stopping directly in front of a quite nice smelling food stall. Lacquered wood made it a lot more luxurious than her last stop. There were boxes as seats and a thick board where people had food laid out before them, stuck on some barrels. Happily munching on something wrapped in a thin baked dough. While making merry with their neighbors. Lots of people were happily getting food and drink served to them.

“Hey lass, come drink with us!”

“Ha! Yeah come! Join us!”

Two men that were shifting dangerously around on two heavily creaking wooden boxes. Were eagerly waving her over. While spilling some of their mug's content around them. As the cheerful wide arc, made it swap over the rim with force.

Sniff

“That water your drinking? It smells off.”

“Ha! Water?! Lass, if you enjoy squatting over a hole for a week. You can drink that filth!”

“Ale! It’s the best Ale … well that we can afford. But hey! It doesn’t taste like horse piss.”

While mumbling under his breath ```That much´´´, he grinned a smile with missing teeth at her. Still waving at her to come over. One started getting up, staggering heavily. With a kick, he moved a box closer to their improvised table.

“There. Come sit down lass. We will pay for your first Ale even!”

“Let’s celebrate!”

Nodding. Because, free stuff. She came closer and sat down on the offered box.

Cling

With little effort she placed her bindle before her. So, she could have an eye on it.

Those people seem nice, but everyone here still is crazy.

Shaking her head with a smile, that just screamed. I’m the only sane one around. Lifting a finger in the air, the one still staggering to his box shouted out to a female of their kind. Which instantly became the number one focus.

“Food …”

“Lass your hungry too! Haa, fine lets really have a feast. It’s our lucky day anyways!”

Now really shouting at the closer coming heavy-laden employee of this place. The peeved serving lady smacked another mug and a few crude wooden plates onto their table.

“That’s 7 more coopers. Pay up.”

“Ahh come on. Don’t be like that.”

Trying to grab at the serving lady. But missing her by a good bit. As he leaned way too much to his left side.

Splash

‎ “There, now it’s 9 coopers.”

“Pfftt hahaa. You are no fun.”

Wiping his wet hair out of his face. He still smiled at the really angry serving lady. Eyeing not just only the meat and mugs on her carrying plate. Before it could get nasty, his companion threw a small silvery coin towards her. Without breaking eye contact to the brute. The lady snatched it out of the air. Moving towards the next shouting drunkard. It was just this kind of place. Maybe a bit higher end, then the stalls in the slum areas. But still only really made for the rough-cut ones. Everyone here was just repeating their nightly behaviors. So, the whole scene didn’t even make anyone flinch. Just Spiko alone looked in interest at the whole exchange.

“Here! Drink lass, drink!”

“Thanks? What’s Ale it smells … weird?”

““Ale?””

Both of them repeating the same question. The two men looking at each other confused. Shrugged and took a large gulp of Ale.

“Ale is Ale. I got no freaking idea, how they make it.”

“I think its wheat water! At least I heard someone say that.”

Sniffing the off-smell water in the mug. That had been handed to her with quite the force behind it.

“Hnn.”

“Just take a sip Lass. It won’t bite!”

“Here have something to chew too. But you got to drink!”

‎

‎

Holding a plate of those nicely smelling doughy looking food pieces before her. Her tail stilled from the unsure paths it had been tracing in the air.

That’s meat for sure. At least there is some meat inside?

Picking up a whole handful. She stuffed them into her mouth.

“Ha! You can chow down properly!”

“You’re really going at it lass.”

Smiling at her the two men ate some too. Chatting her up, urging her to drink.

... it can’t be that bad.

Frowning. She starred at the gifted drink. Lapping at it with her tongue. While gently holding it to her face.

Hnn … tastes … different. But not bad.

Now taking really to it. Lifting the mug to her mouth. Emptying it in a few gulps. Large riflets of ale ran down her cheeks. While the overly large mug got lifted higher.

“Haa ….”

Shaking her head. The dryness of her mouth finally soothed.

Burp

“That’s how you do it! Good one lass. Here let me get you another!”

‎ “MORE MORE! WE WILL DRINK TILL WE FALL!”

“” HAHAHA “”

Clothed in filthy rags, a more unusual bunch was having fun at this place tonight. Scars, cut off ears and fingers were generally present on them. No one here had a full set of those, except the staff and Spiko. Generally, what you would see happen to someone that gotten a heavier sentence for a crime committed.

“GO GO GO!”

“ANOTHER!”

“YEAH DRINK!”

A lot of other customers cheered her on now. Everyone here was in the mood for a party. Their day might have been hectic and dangerous. But many of them had taken to the opportunity.

“SPIKO DRINKS ALL THE ALE!! SPIKO BEST!”

Burrrrrppppppp

She shouted to the masses. While showing of another empty mug. While standing a bit wobbly on a table.

“GO SPIKO, GO! ANOTHER!”

“””SPIKO!!! SPIKKOOO!!”””

In the whole mess of a commotion. All those Thieves and Scoundrels had the best haul in years. Especially the ones, that were so lucky to stumble onto coins just spread out on the floor. While all the guards had been busy harassing people. They had quickly and stealthy scoured the whole area of valuables. Sure a few got caught red handed. Quite literally murdering each other over the spoils. But hey that was life. Now they all were happy drunks. Cheering on a strange lass. That just kept chucking down one offered mug after another. The ale was watered down as much as the next drinking hole overs. But more and more got annoyed at the quality of the brew.

“WE NEED GOOD ALE! NOT THIS WATERY SHIT!”

‎ “YEAH, GET US THE GOOD STUFF!”

“BAR KEEP”

“”” BAR – KEEEP – BAR - KEEEP”””

Chanting they cornered the stall owner. Who had started shifting to the house's door behind him. Presumably his own home. Soon they had knocked out the stall owner. Stolen their money back. Which hadn’t been in the clutches of some quickly scampering serving ladies.

“””” ALLEEEE!!!”””

Cheering they announced their triumph. Now they dished out Ale, fresh out of the cask. Not the watered-down profit oriented one. Everyone had a good laugh and mugs were refilled. Although the food had long since run dry sadly. Only a few scraps of hard rye bread were left. That no one really cared for.

“WOohOoOHH!!”

Gurgle

Spiko was laying down on the table, with her back to it. While three men held a casket for her to drink directly from. The whole thing was inefficient to the max. Splashes of Ale just washed over her face. Mostly hitting her robe and shirt. Which to the disappointment of all schemers, didn’t want to get soaked in Ale. It just seemed to shine a bit in a silvery color. Then the damned Ale just peeled of it. Like magic, they cursed.

“WoohhhOHohOoOHH!!”

Gurgle - Gurgle

A few had unsavory thoughts regarding things they wanted to do with Spiko. But as others wanted that too. They all quitely killed each other off, while no one was looking at them. Drunkenness and Daggers, don’t mix well. Sadly, a campaign like ``Don’t drink and hold a Dagger!´´ wasn’t going to go viral here anytime soon.

While she was woohhing and gurgling in the Rythm of the splashes. Everyone kept cheering and drinking in good mirt. Till they all keeled over one by one. A few moments later, with a content sound. Spiko got up.

Burp

“Th--isss.. Niccee.--ess”

Dangerously leaning to one side. Then with quick steps running into a wall. Just to get up and repeat the same thing, with the other side. A slightly tipsier Spiko than she would ever admit to having been. Tapered out into the night. As her resistance to poison was hard at work. Alcohol in the end, was just a less deadly poison then let say. A ``Muniras Death Berry´´, which she had eaten handfuls of prior to this in the forest. But quantity in the end, always makes a difference.

Urggpphhh

A few paces further. A rainbow streamer would be able to be seen in the shifting moonlight. As a terribly woozy Spiko puked her stomach out onto a wall. If she hadn’t had that artificial body. She would have died simply by the shear intake of water. Even with her eccentric metabolism, that just converted stuff she ate in a flash. It had enough and showed its rebellious temper. In the end, her body won the argument. Making herself scarce from the large puddle she made. Searching a nice comfy and preferably warm place to sleep.

Totally ignoring the well she actually had come here for. Which mostly was used by the households around here. To clean up themselves and their other belongings.