Shared Pain Chapter One The Begining
This is the most work I have put into a story. I hope you like it. Comments please.
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In a dark alley in the slum of a medieval city I was hard at work. Not the traditional peasant job as a farmer or even a slave. I'm a homeless bum. Doing the one thing a bum can do for money, prostitution. It's kind of nice I'm my own boss choose my own hours but the obvious drawback of having to fuck all kinds of disgusting fair. Plus being a male customers are in short supply with everyone thinking you go to Hell if your gay.
I was busy finishing off a rather robust polar bear. I sucked lightly on the tip of his thick, crimson member. For him being so large it was rather short, but I don't discriminate. I felt him swell as he was about to blow and took the entire length, rather easily, into my mouth. He trembled in ecstasy as he shot his load down my throat. I eagerly swallowed what he had to offer. Trying to fill my stomach of something to help stave off the hunger.
"Here you go." he said as he tossed a few bills from a stack that looked to be as big as my fist.
"Hey you cheapskate! I've got kids to feed." I screamed. Then there was a bright, white flash and a shot of pain across the left side of my face. I fell to the ground holding my cheek as he picked up the bills.
"That's for talking back. If you've got kids, then put 'em to work at least they'll fetch a higher price." He laughed loudly as he left the alley and disappeared into the dark street.
"Dammit." I said to myself as I rose slowly to my feet. This isn't the first time this has happened but I've decided it is going to be the last. I made my way through the moonlit streets of the slum, thinking to myself. Not really of anything just a culmination of things what will I eat tomorrow, what will I eat tonight now that I have no money. Mostly about food and eating, then I started to feel hungry again. When you're on the brink of starvation food is usually not far from mind. Before when I said I had kids was a lie I use to get more money. It usually doesn't work, but when it does those couple extra bucks can mean the difference between starvation and salvation.
I made my way to the Cross City Bridge. A large wooden bridge that crosses over the Schuyler River which separates the city into two sections. The poor on on side the rich on the other. Just beyond the rich neighborhood was the castle of King Theodius. I live on the poor side underneath the bridge.
Vince already had a fire going as I walked up. Vince is a nice, mild-mannered hawk with an eyepatch over his left eye. He's in his late thirtys and is fairly well-built. He's covered in black feathers except for his head and chest which are a dark brown with pitch black eyes. I on the other hand am an eighteen year old fox. I have grey fur with black-tipped ears and a black stripe running the length of my tail. I'm about six foot tall, Vince has got a couple inches on me, with shoulder length head fur. I'm also well-built but with more definition.
"Hello there, Danal." Vince greeted as I walked up.
"Hey. Did you find anything?" I asked sitting down next to him trying to warm up on an unusually cool night.
"Not much. But only after."
"Come on. I had a rough day."
"That's why we are going to do it." The large avian stood and got into a fighting stance. I stood slowly taking my place in front of him.
"Alright remember to use your opponent's force against him. Come!"I jabbed at the left side of his face. He grabbed my wrist and flipped me onto my back. "Good! Going for your opponent's weakness."
"Then why am I the one on my back old man?" I said sitting up.
"One: I'm better than you, but that's why we're practicing. Two: I'm not that old. Three: Your opponent knows his weakness better than you. It is the thing he thinks about and protects most." He helped me up, " Instead of going for it straight off. Ignore it at first. Make him get comfortable. Then BOOM Go at it with everything you've got. Come!" And we sparred for a while more. I didn't get thrown down again.
"That's enough. Rest yourself." Vice said as he sit down by the fire. I sat next to him sweating and panting.
"Going to stop before I beat you old man?"
"That was once and it was a fluke. I had sand in my eye."
"Protect your weakness." We both laughed as Vince handed me this charred substance that might have once been some sort of meat.
"What is this?" I asked eyeing the 'food' with suspicion.
"Eat it. It won't kill you. I think." I looked at him then cautiously bit into the morsel. Then once I realized it was edible I ate heartily.
"I think I may join the guard." Vince choked on his water then looked at me angrily.
"What! Are you mad?"
"No, it's just there I would get three square meals and an actual bed to sleep in. I can take the training. It can't be any worse than what I do now." Vince softened a bit a laid back.
"I can't tell you what to do. But think about it first." He rolled over and soon enough I heard his breathing soften and knew he was asleep. I have thought about and I will join.
I woke in late afternoon and Vince had already gone off to scavenge for food. So, I decided to head over to Walman's. Walman's is the name of a popular restaurant near the bridge. It so well know even rich people came over to eat there. Because of this old man Walman doesn't let homeless eat inside. That's why I snuck around back where you can get food. I came to a large wooden door and knocked once paused then knocked twice more. The door creaked open a crack and a single beady, little eye peered out. I waved to show who it was and the door flew open and a great, huge bulldog filled the doorway.
"Danal! How you been?" He shouted defeating the purpose of all the secrecy.
"I'm fine Claud. Keep it down." I whispered quickly entering the kitchen. The kitchen was large with various pots and pans everywhere, a large basin for cleaning them, and a enormous fireplace with a cauldron to match it over a roaring fire. The smell wafting over was enough to make my mouth water. I couldn't help but stare.
"Alright. I get you some porridge. Sit." Claud motioned for a chair at the table. I sat as Claud fumbled around for a bowl and I stared lustfully at the bubbling cauldron filled with heaven's best. Claud ladled a hearty portion into a clay bowl and set it before me with a spoon. I ignored it as I stuffed my face with the gooey contents. It tasted even better than it smelled if that is possible.
"Careful. You burn self." Claud warned. I already had in my mouth and on my hands, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get as much of the wonderful food as I could. "It is my wife recipe. Handed down for generation."
"She sure knows what she's doin'." I said after swallowing the last of my bowl.
"That is all I can give. Rest is for customer." He took the bowl and set it on the counter.
"That's alright. You've done me quite the service just giving me something."
"You wel-," He stopped short and inspected my swollen left cheek. "What happen?"
"Angry customer."
"Here I give balm. Make feel much better." Claud said grabbing a jar from the top shelf. "Wife make for burn, but should work." He said slathering a handful of noxious tan slime to my cheek. Surprisingly there was no more pain.
"Hey, thanks, Claud. I haven't been treated this nicely since-" I choked on the rest of my sentence thinking of her again.
"Your mother, she was good woman. Had heart bigger than me. Haha. She would hate to see you like this." I smiled realizing he was right, "Now go. Before Walman come." I thanked him one more time before he pushed me out of the door. It was early evening now and the sun was slowly lowering itself across the paling sky. It was so nice I decided to go for a walk around town. I made my way through the nicer parts of town, then as I progressed the streets got dirty and rough. The houses turned into small huts and everyone looked as though they were going to kill you and they might. I made my way to my old neighborhood and started recognizing things from the past. The alley my friend and I used to play knights in. The run-down tavern that our moms worked to barely get us by. The road my father used to leave us before dying in the war.
I passed an equine watchman that eyed me up as I walked by. I listened fearful that he may start to follow. Although they are here to supposedly keep the peace. Around here they are even worse then the normal lot. They rob you in broad daylight and I've even seen them beat an old man to death for not having any money them to take. I was almost in the clear when I heard the clang of metal on pavement. I picked up the pace but the sound kept getting closer until he was almost upon me.
"Danal? Is that you?" I looked straight at the face of my savior for once he saw the second fur he knew better then to step in.
"Hale! How have you been?" He noticed the fear in my eyes and understood immediately.
"I've been fine. Why don't you join me for tea?" I didn't even answer for once the door was opened I bolted in. Inside was a cozy little living/bedroom. a small bed to one side a pair of hand-made wooden chairs by the fireplace, which doubled as the kitchen. There was a table big enough for two in the back with chairs underneath. "Sit while I fix us that tea." Hale said striding to the pantry.
Hale is male raccoon the same age as me, we grew up together and is like a brother to me. He is an inch shorter than me with grey fur, a black-ringed tail, a black around his eyes that look like a mask. He also is a slightly less built then I am.
I sat quietly as Hale poured me a cup of tea and sat next to me by the fire I made. I took a calming sip of the hot liquid. The faintly sweet taste of the tea ran down my throat and seemed to lift all my troubles away. I started thinking of the times when it would be storming out and our mother would sit like this sipping tea and watching us we chased the cat around the furniture. It was nice to once only think of fond memories.
"You guys always had the best tea." I said breaking the silence.
"Yea.....How long have you been gone now?" Hale asked.
"About a year." I hesitated thinking of the day I left.
"So your eighteen now?"
"Yep." There was another long silence. The tension was thick in the air it was sufacating.
"You-you know you can stay here...if you want. Y ou don't have to live on the street." Hale said nervously.
"I told you before I'm not going to burden you like that. You are barely surviving as it is."
"You're not the only one who was hurt!" Hale said standing trembling with anger, "Beth was special to all of us! My mother's heart couldn't bear the pain and she died a week later! Your not the only one who is hurting!" Hale was gritting his teeth as tears streamed down his face.
"At least you didn't have to hear Mary burn to death in her own home. Thanks for the tea." I said marching out of the house slamming the door as I went. I stepped quietly into the silent street. The full moon shined gently on the surrounding buildings outlining the jagged rooftops. I crushed a stick under my foot as I stepped into the vacant lot the was once my home. Tears started to form as the horrible memories washed over me. Memories of that day.
It was a bright sunny day and I was fishing down by the river. I smelt smoke, it was a way off but I smelt it. I knew something was wrong, I looked back and my fears grew. I saw it was coming from our neighborhood.I ran as fast as I could never stopping even as my lungs screamed for air. I heard Mom before I saw the flames. It was a bone chilling, blood curdling scream. It echoed in my ears as I fell to my knees when I turned onto my street. Everyone was watching as watchman half-assed an attempt to put out the fire.
I sat stock still. I watched as tears rolled down my cheek. Then I screamed, screamed at the top of my lungs. I screamed until I ran out of breath and my throat burned. Mary and Hale rushed to help, but I wouldn't move.
"You can stay with us." Mary's words rang in my head as I sat in a chair after the blaze was put out. "Danal can you hear me?" she asked waving her hands in front of my eyes, "Please say something."
"Maybe he hurt himself screaming Hale said bring in tea, "The honey will help your throat."
"I'm leaving." I finally said, "I can't stay here." I got up denying the offered drink.
"What! Where will you go!?" Hale exclaimed blocking the door.
"I don't know or care I just have to get the hell out of here." I went for the door, but Hale moved to stop me.
"Stay with us. We can help you."
"Help me!? HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU HELP ME!?" I yelled pushing hale back a little, "CAN YOU BRING HER BACK!? I can't stay. You guys are barely making it. I have to leave." I made for the door and Hale didn't stop me.
I thought to myself as I cried silently between piles of trash left in the lot. Maybe Hale should have stopped me. Maybe everything would be different. Maybe if I wasn't so stubborn I could actually be happy. I made up my mind. I will go back and apologize and if I'm lucky...Maybe he'll forgive me.