Hounds Rising

Water came down in a light sprinkle as Lyla made her way out of the alley. It had grown late, and she didn’t see anyone nearby. She quickly changed into her clothes and took stock of her inventory.

She had made her way to the window and heard a slight cracking inside the office. Without much thought, she had picked it up and felt it in the dark. It was smooth, like a large egg, about the size of her fist. Before she could think about it, she heard someone stomping towards the office, so she hopped out of the window and into the alleyway.

Lyla crossed the street and stared at the egg. She felt it rumble and could see it starting to crack more as the creature inside broke through. Carefully, she watched as a small bluish-gray creature crawled its way out and fell into the pile of clothes beneath it.

Lyla had never seen a creature like this before. It looked leathery, had eight stubby legs, and had two eyes. On its back, small needle-like scales moved as it breathed. She assumed that it could push them out in defense of some sort when the creature was older. Its face reminded her of a lizard, and it wasn’t more than half a foot long. She picked it up gently and wrapped it in the clothing she took. In front of her, she saw an opened crate and decided to set it in there carefully.

Right before closing the lid, she saw it staring at her. It cried out softly, and its eyes started to glow a dull blue. Lyla looked away, unsure of what magic it might be able to create, and shut the crate.

“I’ll come back for you, little buddy,” She said as she lightly patted the top of the crate.

She crossed the street again, returning to the front of The Jaded Tavern. As she stepped in front of the door, she heard broken tables and screams. Lyla leaned into the door and looked through the windows to see what was happening.

Inside, she watched Leaf ducked from an attack as the attacker swung his sword. Leaf stood up quickly, and she could see him yell out an incantation while holding up his hand. Ice formed and shot out from his arm, erupting against the attacker’s chest and knocking him back. Lyla focused and linked her mind to Leaf’s.

What is going on in there?

Where have you been!?

I had to go out the window, but I was coming back.

Well, whatever you did upset them, so get back in here!

She reached for the doorknob and turned, only to find it locked from the inside. She took a few steps back, gauging the door, then noticed the window to the right. She turned and ran across the street, then readied herself. Running straight for the window, she focused inward, and her ki erupted behind her into spectral wings of red to orange, then to a white ombre. She felt them push down and lift her body. Carefully, she let her feet hit the window with all her might, and she crashed through, spinning around to deflect the glass as she landed on a table in a knelt position. She looked around her as her friends and the attackers’ eyes darted up at her, stopping for a moment to see what was happening.

“What the shit? I wasn’t invited to the party!”

Lyla saw the water genasi and one of the half-elves about to attack Leaf, who wasn’t looking in that direction. Quickly, she flipped over Leaf. Aiming carefully, she threw out one hand and one leg, hitting the water genasi in the face and kicking the half-elf in the chest before landing on her feet and readying another attack.

That’s one way to get in here.

You didn’t say I couldn’t be flashy! Let’s do this.