FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter- 6 "Weight of the World "

Raku remained awake for the remainder of the night allowing Reecie to sleep, albeit a light sleep with the events she endured still fresh in her mind. The dull murmur of a bustling tavern roused her the following morning. One eye peeked from the mess of hair as she awoke, spying Raku leaned up against the door, arms crossed, his head hung forward. Reecie sat up rubbing her eyes.

"Raku?" She yawned pulling her hair back into a ponytail as best she could without brushing it first tying her little leather band around it. "Raku wake up." Reecie stood up and stretched, Rakus eyes popped open blinking a few times before his head lifted looking to her as she arched her back with a satisfied sigh.

"I wasn't sleeping." He lied catching that oh so contagious yawn. "Strange...it sounds pretty busy downstairs." His ears flicked about soaking up the noise.

"You think it has something to do with last night?" she wondered. Raku could see her shudder at having reminded herself of that terrible ordeal.

"Might as well go see what the commotion is," he opened and closed his left hand a few times and rotated his arm in a small circle and winced only a little this time. His species natural healing factor was starting to pay off.

"Let me see first," Reecie asked seeing the wolfkin work his partially restored mobility. Raku obliged taking a knee to be at a comfortable level for her as she began to undo his bandage. Layer by layer she started to see a row of stitches in the fresh yet tough feeling scar tissue. Parting his fur with her fingers she traced the where the wound was. It was healed, for the most part at least on the surface. "amazing" she muttered checking the exit wound only to find more of the same.

Raku smirked as she admired his new scar.

"It's a curse as much as a blessing." He stood up and started to pluck out the stitches with his claws.

Reecie looked puzzled.

"How could healing so fast be a curse?" She asked. Raku turned to the door talking over his shoulder as he went to leave. "If a broken bone isn't set soon enough, or if it's not done correctly it can leave a Wolfkin permanently disfigured." He opened the door. "depending on how bad it is of course." With that final thought, the two made their way downstairs.

The few scattered patrons of yesterday were gone instead several guards were dotted around the tavern questioning anyone and everyone. The wolf's ears tuned in to one guard, in particular, talking to the stocky bartender from last night, Bromur was nowhere to be seen, however.

"So no one unusual came through here?" the guard asked.

The bartender wiped his hands on his apron before throwing his hand towel over his shoulder. "No we didn't see nothing like that." he boasted. His attention turned to the stairs where Raku and Reecie had stopped. "We did get these two odd ones last night, caused a bit o ruckus but no monsters." The guard looked to the two on the stairs as well. "thank you," he replied and started walking towards them.

"Fucking hells," Raku muttered and looked away as the guard approached. He crossed his arms partially covering the brand on his chest as well. Reecie looked from Raku to the guard still confused as to what was going on.

"Good morning mam," his gaze shifted to the wolf who was clearly avoiding any sort of eye contact "and...beast kin." he continued looking back to Reeice. " We've gotten numerous reports that creatures of the White Wood have been getting braver. We are blanketing the nearby area to see if anyone might have seen something that caused the increase of activity." The bartender over there tells me you lot were here all night, did either of you see anything out of the ordinary?" Reecie shook her head.

"no sorry nothing like that," she replied. The guard nodded and smiled.

"Good day then," he replied.

Rakus blood ran cold at the news.

"Luthalve's ..." The wolf muttered. Raku headed down the stairs hastily, swinging the door open he nearly toppled a man carrying the taverns daily delivery of flour.

" Watch where you are going stupid dog!" He shouted before staggering back as he almost collided with Reecie the same way as she slipped by trying to keep up with Raku.

"hey slow down, what was that about?" She asked. Raku did a quick inventory check before unhitching the horses and climbing up in the cart.

"Get in I'll tell you on the road."

"Al-alright," she said admittedly a bit confused. Raku wasted no time as he steered the horses round and onto the road where he cracked the reigns spurring the horses forward.

"When we get to the city I'll need to remove your stitches too." Raku gave no response, out of the corner of his eye he could see Reecie starting to fidget idly.

" You wanted to know about Luthalve's?" He finally spoke giving her a momentary glance. Reecie nodded.

" Well yes, that and the White Woods? I thought that was just a place people used to tell stories about to scare kids into not sneaking out at night." Raku smirked slightly.

"I wish it were so simple. No the White Woods is quite real as are the things that live in them, and the Luthalve's...well they are a secretive group of monster slayers." Raku sighed giving Reecie an annoyed look. "Luthalve's are always high elves. They treat anything that's not an Elf, Dwarf, or human-like its problem that needs to be dealt with." His attention shifted back to the road. " Wherever there are unsavory creatures you can bet there is at least one Luthalve around. The worst part is that they are sanctioned by the Kings court so they are allowed to do as they please so long as they get their kill. "

Reecie listened quietly to his explanation. "I think...I think my mother was one of those, a Luthalve I mean. My father used to tell me all about her monster killing adventures as a child...it never occurred to me that she might be apart of this group, these Luthalve's After she died Alarune never really spoke of her much. " She looked up to Raku "I'm not even sure how exactly she died he never told me any details and would just get upset whenever I brought it up. She sighed saddened a little at the thought.

"Certainly sounds like she was a Luthalve, secretive even in the end."

Raku added. Just over the next few hills, Reecie could see the city gate in the distance. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night." he shook his head with a knowing smile. "I understand, don't worry about it. "

"No, it's not that. This amulet you gave me." she faltered, taking the object into her hand for a moment. "That...thing, Baymon. I think he was after it. Reecie watched Rakus head cock to the side slightly thinking for a moment.

"you know now that you mention it." He looked to the amulet she still clutched to her chest. His mind flashed back to last night when Reecie emerged from thin air followed by that deafening crack. "I only found you because I saw some sort of glowing object that had called me to it."

" Strange, when I woke up it was humming and vibrating against my chest. Do you think it was maybe some kind of warning?" Raku started to slowly nod. "you might be onto something there, Stranger still though. I have held onto that stone for many years and it never did anything like that in any of my encounters. Like I said before. Lucky charm. " He gave her a wink before cracking the reigns again. Reecie smiled.

At the city, the gate stood with two guards on either side, halberds in hand. The uncharacteristically dark stone of the region that gave Black Rock its name was truly a sight to behold up close, the lighter tone of the mortar contrasted against the rocks giving the walls a monochromatic appearance On the wall above sat the gate captain, a fat bald little red nosed dwarf. A great flowing brown beard was braided into two parts hanging nearly to his knees, on his head, an Iron spangenhelm was tilted forward covering his eyes while he napped. It wasn't until he heard a cart rattling up the road that he lifted the edge of his helm with one thumb taking a peek at the elf and beast on board.

"state your business," he shouted through a yawn. Raku stopped the cart and grabbed Treefellers head by the mane hoisting it up for them all to see. Flies buzzing incessantly around it. "We have come to collect the bounty on the head of Titus Treefeller!" He shouted. The dwarf slapped his knee letting out a hearty laugh, his helmet falling back into place revealing his grey irises.

"Well, would you look at that! You've got quite the set of stones their dog! But I hate to be the bearer of bad news. You won't be able to collect any bounties today! Captain Firebrandt was found dead in his home this mornin, apparently, it was pretty gruesome." Raku lowered the rotting head slightly, a look of fear struck his face. "Any idea who did it." The dwarf shook his head.

"Not officially but rumor has it Aku did it. some folks say they saw some sort of black beast leave his residence." The dwarf huffed. "Thought that scoundrel died years ago." Raku could see Reecie's eyes dart between the two guards in front of them anxiously.

"As did I friend. May we enter the city until the matter of this bounty can be resolved?" He called up to the dwarf.

"Don't see why not." The gate suddenly started to rise with a mechanical "click click click." like a giant gear was being cranked. The two guards moved to the side so that the cart could enter. " Oye! If I see you around I'll buy you an ale! Shame to see such a brave beast go unrewarded for the head of a tyrant." Raku sighed and ushered the horses onward slowly. "I'll hold you to it, dwarf!" he said dryly. The dwarf laughed again. "A dwarf never forgets a face! be seein ya dog!"

Reecie watched as Raku set the head in the cart. She could tell he was worried. Inside the gate, one could see the bustling streets of Black Rock. Cobbled roads sprawled in all directions like veins creating unique corners and thoroughfares that all merged near the gate creating a sort of Town Square. In the middle, a large stone statue of the King himself stood proudly hold a sword pointing towards the castle, a shield with kings crest sat at its feet resting against the leg bearing the royal family's crest An image of a willow tree growing around a decorative sword a depiction of the sun and moon on either side of the sword etched into the tree behind it in the image. A large circular retaining wall created a shallow fountain around the base of the statue many people were drinking from this source and collecting water as well for use in other places.

A group of children chased each other around this fountain. Looking at many of the buildings that were lined with carts and shops in a characteristically bazaar fashion, one could see no two shops were alike right down to the stonework. Each having intricate designs and carvings a clothing shop on one side had a carving of a woman in flowing garb looking down on the door as if to invite customers inside. In the distance, a church bell rang. The air was buzzing with conversation and reeked of sweat and smoke. Guards patrolled in small packs, others stood to watch outside key locations, entrances, and exits. All bearing brightly colored Tabards of stripes of blue, Gold and silver each with the king's crest neatly stitched in the center. Black rock was at the least, a thriving metropolis. Raku lead them down the main street passing a small fish market and various fruit and food stands before pulling off to down a narrow side street next the blacksmiths forge. Sparks showed the edge of the street as the Smith worked. Adjacent to the forge was the clothing shop. Near the fountain, a group had started to gather as a giant of a man was challenging onlookers to feats of strength, an arm wrestling match more specifically. A shoddy old table was set up with a crate on either side for competitors to sit on.

"So what does this mean? what do we do now?" Reecie, asked as they parked in small dead end street out of the way of most of the traffic. Raku shook his head.

"I don't know Reecie....I really don't.

All her excitement to see the city was drained before they had even entered the gate sadly. Seeing the wolf dismount she followed his lead.

"Why is this bounty so important anyway?" She asked watching as Raku leaned against the wall, his head dropped forward as he let out a defeated sigh.

"With Firebrandt dead it doesn't matter... nothing does anymore." He half chuckled as he slid to a sitting position, one arm resting on a bent knee, His tail curling into his lap. "You know, all this time I thought...I had survived having my throat cut because I was given some sort of a second chance... I thought it was an opportunity to redeem my soul for the things I've done... the people I've hurt. I see now it was only a ruse...I was never meant to find peace... I exist only to suffer for my mistakes, till the end of days. "His eyes closed." I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this."

Reecie was perplexed by all this. As sad as it was she found it interesting to see such a vulnerable side to this collapsed brute before her. A crack in the armor so to speak. She knelt down next to him.

"No ones destined to suffer, besides I coerced you into getting me away from that dusty old farm so we are in this together. Like it or not," she declared. The wolf raised a brow as his head pivoted to look at her.

"Well like it or not the bounty on my head will be renewed any day now. Word will spread like wildfire and every sellsword and Luthalve in the kingdom will be pining to get their hands on that pile of gold," Raku lamented his eyes staring off into nothing.

Reecie put her hands on her hips, a look of determination fixed upon her face. "Well, then we will just have to make sure that doesn't happen! You've saved my skin twice over. So Id says I'm indebted to you which means I'm going to do whatever I can to help. Whether it's clearing your name or helping you escape. Besides with that..thing after me you can't just give up. So I'll keep you out of the stockade and you keep this Baymon away. Yeah...that's it, I'm, hiring you as my personal bodyguard!"

Her demeanor was much more excited as the gears in her brain began to turn "And you will do it because you have no other choice." Raku didn't seem as impressed as she was with herself. He would much rather drown himself in alcohol until the guards drug him away. However, Reecie was becoming a glowing ember in the dying fire that was Haraku, and while trivial at first, Reecie was swift becoming the driving force in his minuscule existence. Raku couldn't help but give her a genuine smile as once again, her ability to spin a bad situation cut through that tightness in his chest giving him at least a brief pause from his burdens.

"You think you can just pull me from a life buried in shadows and lies?" The slightest tinge of hope could be heard in his cadence

Reecie nodded confidently, extending a hand. Their relationship was becoming a state of symbiosis. He gave Reecie a sense of security and experience she craved while she offered him the one thing he truly lacked...purpose.