Shade's Dilema
Shade could not help but yawn inside the tavern, the chase from about a hour ago left him tired, hot, and hungry. Luckily for him around the tavern sat very few, about four village guards sat at a nearby table playing some kind of board game he was not familiar with. The tavern owner was washing the counter as she chatted with a depressed looking reptile, the tavern owner herself almost looked as if she was his sister, both of them having the same pale blue scales.Shade pushed his plates of food away, leaning back in his chair enough so that he would be comfortable without seeming as if he passed out. The two women from before made his legs so tired from running he was not sure he would have actually been able to escape. Even now the muscles and joints in his legs ached, and they should, he had to run around the village three times before he lost them. Even then they asked around to see if anyone saw him, and he did not like that at all.'Why did they chase after me so? I did not harm them in any way, nor did I act rudely to them... maybe I did without realizing it, I should be more careful in the future, I do not wish to have this happen again... They were rather cute... I wonder if it is wrong for me to think that... I mean, I am human... I know from experience that most of the Anthros hate humans... or at least... I think they do... Shouldn't they? I mean, there was a huge war several decades back between the two species..''Wait is species the right word? It does not feel like it, seems a bit racist... wait, is there such a thing as racism here? Theres so many different species of them... if there is racism I have yet to see it... I wonder if that little girl is ok.... I hope I did not scare her with me running away like that... She sure was happy with me fixing her doll...' Shade yawned once more and his head began to feel heavy with drowsiness.'Oh no, those women truly did tire me out... I have not slept in a while I know but I was hoping I could last another day... I need a place to sleep, and this tavern surely is not the place. If a maid comes in my room and sees me I surely will be caught... I need to leave this village and head for the forest, there I can sleep in solitary. Peaceful, blissful solitary... with the birds chirping, the smells of the plants and animals, and the feel of the soft wind brushing against my face...' Shade's day dream is interrupted by a flash of lightning outside. One of the knights at the table flinch at the loud boom of the thunder and his three companions laugh at this, patting him on the back, comforting him. 'Oh right, I forgot that it is raining... If my clothes get wet they will stay that way until I find time to dry them out... Last time this happened I was carrying about sixty pounds of water with me for several days... Well going outside is out of the question, now what?... maybe' yawn 'I can attempt to sleep in this place... I just have to make sure that if someone comes in they will not see my face... I fear that this seems to be my only option...'Shade stood up and slid his chair back under the table, picking up his plates and laying them on the counter so that they do not have to go so far to retrieve them. He stood beside the now passed out lizard man, who had his jaw open and drooled against the counter. Shade waited for the tavern owner to see him before he spoke up.She looked up at him and smiled a toothy grin, her sharp vicious teeth making Shade nervous. Her pale grey eyes stared straight at his covered face, "That'll be five copper and two silvers."Shade almost forgot he had to pay, reaching into his empty right coat pocket and using his magic he opened a small portal to were he hides his possession. Pulling out four silvers and handing them to her, "Please keep the change."The Lady seemed shocked at this, taking them slowly and eyeing them to make sure they were real. A silver itself can pay for a full day's meals, however with four silvers you had enough currency to buy yourself a fine weapon to get yourself a meal, along with the ammunition if needed.Seeing that they were real she lifted her right eyebrow at him, "Are ya sure? This's alot just for a tip..."Shade nodded, "The food was excellent at your service was most appreciated. However may I bother you with a small favor?"She lowered her eyes and almost seemed to glare at him, too used to perverted proposals brought to her. "Why yes you can..."Shade produced five more silvers from his pocket, "May I rent a room for the night? I fear I can not sleep outside tonight due to the rain. Sorry if I am being a burden upon you and your staff."The scaled lady can not help but laugh at this, taking a single silver from his five, "Oh dear, I'm sorry, I was confused with your question. Yes you may my kind friend although I suggest you stop passing out your coin like it's candy. I don't want to see you to go broke!" She laugh louder at this and hands him a small iron key, "Second door on the right once you head upstair. I hope you have a good rest."Shade takes the key and places his coins back into his pocket, letting them jingle so that no one becomes suspicious. "Thank you Miss, I hope you and your friend here have a wonderful day." he tilted his head to the passed out man beside him. Making the Tavern Owner chuckle and wave at him as he walked away.Shade yawned as he walked up the stairs, his boots thumping loudly as he walked on the wooden floor. He noticed the fact that his room was in fact between two others, and across from the hall was three other rooms, he did not like this one bit. Thinking it is a trap he silently unlocks his door, opening and closing it softly.Once inside the first thing he noted was the lack of common furniture, the only things in the room were a wooden table with one chair, a lamp on top of the table for light, a chipped mirror beside the window, and a stone bed with two blankets on it.The bottom one big and fluffy, most likely used so that the stone was not too uncomfortable, and the other a thick wool cloth. The lack of furniture bothered him little, since he was only using the place to sleep.The first thing he did was listen to the walls, trying to hear if they were occupied. Placing a ear to each he noted that only the room across from his bed had a soul in it, only this one was snoring in his sleep. 'This still feels like a trap... I should lock the door and cover it with a dresser or the closet... oh wait...' He blinked at his forgetfulness and sighed, there obviously not being any furniture that would be able to barricade the door with, the table being too big and the chair too small. 'Alright... I guess I will just have to live with it for one night...' Shade never the less locked the door and pulled the drapes over the window. Now feeling comfortable enough to pull down his hood, he walked over to the mirror to check his reflection.'Oh wow, no wonder the women chased me, I look like I have not slept in days... although it is true...' He could now see the huge dark rings around his eyes, obvious from his pearly white skin. 'I guess a few days of no sleep and this is bound to happen... I should not be so surprised...' he now noticed his rough facial hair, having not shaved since about a week ago. Shade pulled out a small blade from his inside pockets, the small thin blade almost four inches in length, with three of those inches being the blade. The small metal blade was a faint green, and was embroidered to appear like a metal leaf, the stem being the handle. He sighed and slowly started to shave, careful not to slit his cheeks as the sharp blade cut his facial hair.After about ten minutes he finished shaving, his white cheeks now even brighter since his small black beard is now gone. Shade yawned and stretched, sleep now clouding his mind as he laid upon his bed, not minding the cold stone as he used the top blanket as a pillow. Within seconds he passed out, his mind drifting off to dream...
Shade's Dream~ All around him is darkness, all but his jeans gone as he stand up. He looks down at his arms and his pale body. The coldness of the dark making his hairs stand on end and he shivered slightly. Looking around he spotted a light in the distance, a piercing white that made his eyes burn. He walked towards it hoping to escape the darkness.As he drew closer to the light his eyes started to reply back in fuzzy pain, making him cover them as he ran closer, suddenly a hand grips his ankle and he falls to the ground. Only he never hits the ground, instead he continues to fall, the darkness folding around him as the wind whips across his face.Suddenly a bright light flashes before him and he is falling out of the sky, plummeting miles in the air towards the ground. The view of the trees and villages do not escape his mind however as he falls. The white clouds against the blue sky and the mixtures of the regions of the land mixing together gives him a calming feeling as he falls to his death. Suddenly It stops and he feels a robin holding his finger, the small bird some how holding him in the air as he flys. Looking around the landscape he smiles, happy to be alive and to see so much beautiful sights. Suddenly a sharp pain is felt on his head and he is wrapped around by light, no longer in the sky as he falls onto a bright white floor.Suddenly he yells in pain as his head starts to feel as if it is splitting open,his ears feeling as if they are on fir as he falls to the ground, writhing in pain and screaming for it stop. tears soon start to threaten to leave his eyes as he bangs his head on the floor.A soft voice is echoed around him, "Do not fight it, it is what you wish."He feels around his hair and notices that there are two pointy soft appendages there, twitching his ears they flick also. Now realizing that they are small canine ears Shade realizes what is happening, just as he pulls back in pain, his spine starting to burn in pain as his bones crack."No! Stop! This is not what I want!" Yelled Shade in agony, his ears folded back as tears escape his eyes."Yes it is, you should not lie to us, we can feel your thoughts.""No you can not! I do not want to be like you! I am who I am and I always will be!""Hahaha, what makes you believe that this is how you were meant to be, while others around you are normal and you are like this. We are doing you a favor, now stop struggling.""No you are not!" Shade cries in pain as he feels his teeth changing shape in his mouth, his jaw starting to grow outward and he struggles to speak. "You monster, can you not see that this is my burden to carry!? Let me live as I am and not how you wish me to be, for I am truly free!""You call this freedom? Living in the shadows, hiding yourself from others in fear, avoiding all who wish to help you? This way you may never live in fear, embrace the light my child.""I am not your son! I am never going to be like you! I was born a human I will die a human, I do not care how you think of me!""Stupid animal. You are an abomination upon this world and I am going to replace you.""No.. No! No-"
The Salamander's Cup. Second floor, room two. 4:75 MN (around 11:25 AM)~Shade awoke suddenly with a burst of screaming, tears flowing down his cheeks and his hands gripping the side of the stone bed."NO! I may be a abomination to you, but I am born this way! If Mother Nature wished me to be like this than I will not change for you! You heartless monster! I-"Shade panted as he saw that he was back in his room, sweat and tears rolling down his face and dampening his cloak. His fingers were sore from gripping and scrapping the hard stone bed. He panted and slowly curled up on his bed, sitting down and hugging his knees as he cried onto his jean."I am not a monster... I may be different and I may be human but I am not a monster... The human race may be a endangered race, and it may be seen as am abomination, but I can not help it... If Mother Nature decided I was to be Human then I respect her decision... I am who I am, this is my burden to carry, it is the same as everyone else... I will never trade my life for another... I am just as much of a monster as everyone else... everyone has a soul... no one is truly a monster..."Shade held back his tears and wiped them away, remembering that his screaming could be heard by the residents. He steadied his breath and calmly thought to himself, 'I have to go... what time is it?..' He looked out the window and saw that the sun is about halfway in the sky, 'Ok... it is almost 5:00 MN... I should not have disturbed any one who was asleep...' Suddenly he hears a knock on the door and a familiar voice is heard from behind it."Sir ar you alright? We heard screaming in here?" Shade flinched and quickly tried to remember who it is, his head still wandering about his dream, 'Who is that?... It is not the owner... it is not any of the guards..'"Yes, I had a nightmare, sorry to disturb you and your customers." Shade replied, careful not to have his voice slip."Hey wait, I recognize your voice... Hey Sydney come here!" yelled the voice behind the door.Shade sat on the side of his bed, still trying to recover as he slowed down his breathing, thinking clearly and not noticing the chatter behind the door. Calm now and fully awake he stretched and listened to the chatter going on behind the door. He know remembered who it is. 'Oh no... its those two from yesterday...'"What do you want now? Can't you see that it is Guards day? We are loaded with hungry customers and you call me up here for what?" Asks a irritated voice, who Shade can clearly recognize as the Vixen from yesterday."Shh, keep your voice down. I think that Human from the park is in here?" Replied the Wolf woman."What?" He could hear that the Vixen named Sydney was reaching for her keys, the jingle if them and the click of the door unlocking makes Shade flinch and panic.Looking for a way out he quickly runs to the window, pulling back the drapes and ready to leap out. Only to have this idea crushed as he sees that the window is protected by iron bars, normally used to keep robbers out, only now they made the room suddenly feel like a prison to him. 'Oh no... I am so screwed..'Shade turned around in time to see the Wolf and the Fox women closing the door behind him, both of them in waitress uniforms and both of their tails wagging happily. Sydney in particular seems happy as she twirls the ring of keys on her tail, sticking her tounge out at him in a mocking expression. The wolf woman however seems a bit more irritated as she glares at him. He long sleeves rolled back as she points a fist at him."Hey why did you run away earlier?" She growled, clearly not having a very good day.Sydney pulls down her friend's arm and shakes her head at her, "Don't scare him away, can you not see how shy he his?..." The Vixen turns back to Shade and grins happily, wagging her tail and holding out her arms for a hug, "Come here sweetie, we won't hurt you."'What the hell is wrong with these two?' Shade thought to himself, his eyes darting between the two of them, his cheeks hot with a mixture of shyness and frustration. 'They are treating me like a pet.'"Damn it Sydney he isn't a child, he is obviously taller than us, I am pretty sure that he can kill both of us if he wanted. You have to show force to tame these kind of people." She grins a toothy smile, waving for him to come, her whole demeanor seeming very dominate and frightening. "Now come here boy, if you come willingly we won't hurt you.""Why do you always think men like being pushed around? Don't you remember back in the park, how gentle and kind he was to the birds, and to the little girl... he obviously does not want to be treated as a slave." "I am not treating him like a slave! Am I boy!?" The she wolf grins at him, giving him a cold death stare as her eyes glint from blue to red.Shade flinches at this and ties to not look suspicious, his booted foot leaning against one of the bars, kicking it softly as he tries to kick it free."Your scaring him! Can you not see that? You are so cruel to people..." Sydney whimpers and hugs her fluffy white tipped tail, the keys hanging from the base of her tail as she nuzzles her fluffy tip.The wolf girl sighs and bend down beside her friend, "You know that is not true... come here." She wraps her arms around the Vixen and they both giggle.'This is getting way too intimate for my eyes...' Shade thinks to himself as a loud hollow sound of a metal bar is heard outside. The two women's ears twitch at this and they look toward him. Shade however is already out the window, falling down a story and rolling as he lands, rubbing his shoulder as her runs down the street. The two women both look out the window and watch as he runs away again, sighing in dissapointment as they lost him again.Shade however is happy to not be caught again, his shoulder burning with pain as his roll did not end well, 'I have got to work on this more... Next time I may have to jump out of a four story window...'