Prologue Antosha
That was way too much to drink. I really shouldn’t have done that. That’s just not like me! Well, there was some cause to celebrate, I guess. It’s just so good to be back home!
She had decided to wander the now-deserted streets of Amber City, hoping that the cool night air would help in clearing that intoxicated fuzzy feeling out of her head. She patted the small pouch that was hanging from her belt that contained the carefully packed remains of her repast at Bloody Sam’s. The best steakhouse and tavern in town—it had been some party! She quickly ran her hand along the rest of her belt to assure that she had remembered to pick up her sword, dagger and the smaller pouch that held a deck of Amber family Trumps and the few coins she had left. Satisfied that it was all there she continued on her way. By her senses she guessed that it had to be after two or maybe even three in the morning. It really didn’t seem to matter where it was she was going, so she didn’t pay any particular attention to it. She absent-mindedly pulled her dark auburn hair back into a tarry-tail, which made her looks more masculine, adding to her already masculine outfit. You wouldn’t be able to tell that it was a girl at first glance.
She gave a heavy sigh and passed a hand over her dark green eyes as she leaned up against a post as if to steady herself. Her head suddenly seemed to be filled with loud noises—cheering, catcalls, loud music and something that sounded like animals fighting.
Across the street from where she was standing she was able to make out a dimly lit bar with the name "Rabbit’s Hop" above the door that hung from one pitiful hinge. It was definitely a seedy dive. Whatever windows were there before, they were broken out now. Before she knew what was happening she found herself walking toward the door of the bar.
Wait a minute! I thought I told myself that I’d never visit this part of town again—but then, where is this part of town? Think Ashlyn!
She shook her head in vain to lose the fog that seemed to be clouding her senses. As she entered the door she could have sworn that she heard a dog yelp in pain and a bird squawk out in anger. She sauntered up to the bar and automatically ordered a drink, paused and took in her surroundings as she used the bar for some support. Towards the back of the bar most of the clientele was huddled in one big group around what appeared to be some kind of arena. As the crowd briefly parted, Ashlyn was able to see that there was indeed a dogfight happening with a huge bird of prey and the bird was getting the worst of it. The crowd had obscured her view again. Ashlyn wasn’t sure what to think, but weren’t fights like that illegal within city limits? I don’t really remember...
Wait another minute! I know exactly where I am now! Yeah! The infamous Rabbit’s Hop—the best-known whorehouse in this quarter! Happy realization instantly turned to regret. Oh, why did I come in here? Everywhere I go trouble always seems to follow.
Despite her better judgment Ashlyn decided to check out the fights anyway and walked up just in time to see the dead bird being hauled out of the arena. Bets were being taken for the next fight that was slated between a dog and some mountain cat. There were huge odds on how long the dog would last, or if the cat would lose altogether. Beyond the crowd and arena Ashlyn spied a bunch of different animal crates that no doubt held the savage animals. The fronts were all barred so one could see that the big mountain cat had vicious fangs and claws. There was a huge crate with a Grizzly bear chained to the inside of it and it was extremely hungry by the looks of him, not to mention extremely angry at being locked up. Next to the bear’s crate was the dog who would be going up against him—a shaggy, scruffy-looking German Shepherd, half-wolf thing—huge. He was growling, snarling and snapping at anyone who dared to get near his crate.
Ashlyn was sure it was because she was still intoxicated somewhat, but she suddenly felt so sorry for this mutt. He wouldn’t last half a minute against that hungry bear!
"Gentlemen! Next fight in ten minutes! While bets are being placed, please enjoy the entertainment of the Rabbit’s Hop as we present our newest girl, Miss Mandarin Hansen!"
Hoots and hollering was raised as a young girl that looked to be about sixteen looked as if she were practically pushed onto the stage and unwillingly at that. Sleazy and seductive music began to play and she seemed to be frozen to the spot as the men began to try and egg her on to remove a piece of clothing. The more experienced women who were down in the audience draped across men’s laps were teasing the hell out of her. It was obvious to anyone that this girl had never stripped before and she was terrified to do it.
Ashlyn turned away from the girl and returned her focus to the snarling mutt in the crate. Just what was it about this dog that was so fascinating? Is it because I’m still drunk or is it that this dog has the most intriguing eyes I’ve ever seen?
By this point, the dog had quit snarling and growling at her and was just staring back at her. His huge puppy eyes seemed to be pleading with her—I’m hallucinating. But he needs me, I’m sure of it! But this is a strange dog—I’ve never seen him before in my life—he’s vicious, mean and hungry and would probably like to rip me to shreds if you gave him a chance. So why isn’t he being mean to me?
The crowd suddenly yelling and cheering yanked Ashlyn out of her thoughts. She looked back up at the burlesque show to see that someone had reached out and touched the girl, who was crying out in protest. Someone else had jumped up and grabbed her chest from behind and before she could scream, the offender had planted a big kiss on her mouth to prevent her from making any sound. As soon as she was able to, she sent a resounding smack across his face and that’s all that was needed to send a bar-brawl into motion. It had now turned into a free-for-all, with beer and bottles flying, women screaming and jumping into the fray themselves. Ashlyn saw her chance and decided that despite the fuzzy feeling still in her head that she would take the risk that she knew she could very well be beaten for if she were caught.
Ashlyn reached out toward the dog’s crate and lifted up on the latch. Instantly, the dog was free and in the confusion, tearing straight out of the bar. Ashlyn knew that this was the perfect time to use the brawl as cover and "vamoose" herself.
As she hit the street, there was no sign of the dog. Oh, well. At least he’ll live to see tomorrow. What in the Abyss possessed me to let him go? I’m just not thinking! I hope he doesn’t try to hurt anyone out there. Is anyone following me? I’m not sticking around to find out!
Ashlyn began to blindly run down the street—she didn’t much care where she was headed—as long as it took her away from the Rabbit’s Hop. The foggy, fuzzy feeling was just beginning to lift, but she still needed to stop once every so often to catch her breath and check to see if she was being pursued. Satisfied that she wasn’t, she ducked down an alleyway to rest and let the fog in her head clear.
She found a rather secluded corner where a bunch of old crates were piled up. She found one to sit on and she leaned herself up against the wall and took a deep breath and closed her eyes to try and relax.
Ashlyn felt herself beginning to doze off a little when she was suddenly aware that the piles of crates in front of her were growling at her. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see that the dog she had rescued earlier form the Rabbit's Hop was now standing in front of her.
"Hey, there boy. Don’t you remember who I am?" Ashlyn spoke low and evenly. The dog took a tentative step forward and took a sniff. Again, as the dog and woman locked eyes, the dog stopped growling. She was sure that the dog knew who she was now.
‘That’s right. Just Ashlyn. Are ya hungry? I’ve got some leftovers," she produced the pouch of leftovers she had been carrying with her from her earlier repast at Bloody Sam’s. Carefully and slowly, she unwrapped what she had left of the steak and potatoes that she was saving for later. The dog sniffed again and his tail began to wag and he let his tongue loll out. Ashlyn placed the food before him and he wolfed it down.
"I suppose you’ll be wanting something to drink next," she said softly as she produced her water skin from the pouch. Again, the dog’s tail was wagging as she carefully poured the water into her hands and he thirstily lapped every drop she offered. When he was done, he let Ashlyn stroke his shaggy fur coat.
"Do you have a name? You must have belonged to someone for you to be this nice," Ashlyn wondered aloud. "Even if I were to never see you again after tonight, you wouldn’t mind if I gave you one, would you?" The dog laid his head across her knees and let her stroke his head and he let out a sigh.
"I’ve never owned a pet and I guess I shouldn’t start now, but if you were mine, I’d call you Antosha," she said softly. The dog brushed her leg with his paw indicating that he seemed alright with it, or else the fuzzy in Ashlyn’s head was still bad. It just was so strange—all of it. Despite her best efforts, Ashlyn found herself dozing off. When she came to, Antosha was gone and she noticed that the dawn was fast approaching as well as a pair of footsteps.
"Look! That’s him! There he is!" she heard a voice cry. Ashlyn looked up to see two men coming down the alleyway toward her—one being a huge mountain of a man.
"See Tone? That’s him. He’s the one who let the dog out. That’s what screwed up the Grizzly match!" The smaller man was practically jumping up and down with excitement. The bigger man who was addressed as Tone was quickly advancing with a dark, stony glare on his face. Ashlyn had barely gained her feet when he was upon her with a huge hand about her arm, preventing her from pulling any of her weapons.
"You! Cost me some major money, boy!" he growled. He stenched of smoke and beer.
"Get you damn mitts off me!" Ashlyn snapped as she let go a serious right hook to his face. The foggy/fuzzy feeling was still lingering from the night before.
"Hey, Tone! No way! It’s a girl!" the smaller one piped up.
"I can see that, Horace! She even hits like one!" Ashlyn hit him again, harder. Tone only stood there, not releasing his hold and had a new grip on her other arm, lifting her into the air.
"And a tough little minx, too! She’d make a good bouncer! But since you’ve decided to blow my money by letting the dog go, I should feed you to the Grizzly! But I’ll just make you work off that debt at the Rabbit’s Hop just as soon as I get done with ya!" Tone leered. Horace smiled and cracked his knuckles. Ashlyn then tried lashing out with her feet but it seemed to have no effect on the mountain of muscle that held her tight.
Suddenly out of nowhere, a huge shaggy missile hit Horace square in the chest that sent him sprawling onto the pavement, knocking him out cold. Before Tone had realized what was happening, he was feeling excruciating pain in his ass, causing him to drop Ashlyn to the ground, who landed in an uncoordinated heap. Tone let out a yell and took off running back down the alleyway, trying to hold his pants together where they ripped.
When it was all over, Antosha came trotting back to where Ashlyn was just trying to pick herself up and began to lick her face as if to ask if she were all right.
"Thank you, you big, shaggy thing!" Ashlyn hugged him tight. "Oh, thank you, Antosha! You saved me! You big, loveable—!" She began to laugh as Antosha began to lick her face in frenzy.
As Ashlyn rose, she recovered her dropped sword and re-hooked it to her belt. She picked Horace clean of anything valuable he had on him and began to walk away as the grey light of the dawn began to make things more visible. Antosha simply sat and watched her. She paused and turned around to face him.
"C’mon, boy!" she called. Still Antosha did not move.
She slowly extended her hand to him. "Antosha!" she tried gently in one last-ditch effort. With a little yelp of excitement, Antosha bounded over, nearly bowling her over again, nuzzling her hand.
"C’mon, Antosha," she smiled warmly as she jingled what used to be Horace’s money pouch. "I’ll go buy you another steak."
Back to The Hub