Hounds Rising

Myla was surprised to feel that her headache was now starting. Usually, being out with this many people around, drinking and shouting, would cause her mind to jump from person to person, taking in emotions and thoughts, eventually leading to her head pounding from the fluctuation of stimuli. She focused carefully on the conversation between Arric, Kanadak, and Rhokhishi in front of her.

“You are quite a large and strong woman! I’m not used to seeing orcs without their bellies hanging low before them,” Kanadak stated between large gulps of his ale.

“That is rude of you, Ironcarver, to say things about a woman,” Rhokhishi snapped back.

“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s bad at words and small conversation!” Arric tried to mediate. “What he means is that you’re quite muscular, and he appreciates those with strength. We also don’t see many orcs and half-orcs around here either.”

“Well, I work hard and train harder to keep myself in top shape!” Rhokhishi replied. “If it was meant as a compliment, I’ll forgive your choice of words. Thank you, Ironcarver.”

Myla’s mind kept shifting and shifting. She could tell that her headache would only make it harder to stay. She wanted to prove to herself that she could do it, but it was getting increasingly more difficult by the minute. She leaned over to Rhokhishi and whispered in her ear.

“I may leave soon… The headaches are back.”

Rhokhishi looked at her and nodded, understanding.

“Would you like an escort, Myla?” She asked.

“You’re leaving!?” Kanadak shouted sadly. “We still have more songs to hear and ale to drink!”

Kanadak gave what he probably assumed was a small pat on Myla’s back, but the force of the goliath’s hand pushed Myla forward, knocking into a man carrying a drink in each hand. The glasses fell to the ground and spilled everywhere. Arric stood up immediately and spoke to the man as Myla turned back around and tried to regain her balance.

Her head spun, and it felt like tiny spikes pushed into her brain. Second by second, her mind reeled, spinning as they took in the enormous emotions of those around her. The spinning unbalanced her, and she leaned on the table for support. She closed her eyes, but the feelings came in colors that flashed behind her eyelids. Then, she opened them, feeling like she would scream or vomit, and stared into Kanadak’s eyes, who looked worried.

Myla tried to use Kanadak’s face as a tether and sank into the emotions around her. Finding the worry, she latched onto it and felt the other emotions and thoughts disappear from her mind. The headache vanished, the sickness was gone, and she felt fine again.

“Are you okay?” Rhokhishi asked.

“Yeah… I feel better now.”

Arric returned with more drinks. Kanadak and Myla immediately grabbed one and began to drink theirs down. She saw him looking at her and felt the competitive nature take hold. Before she knew it, they were both at the bar ordering more drinks and chugging them down to see who could drink the fastest. One after another, they drank, dropped coins onto the bar, grabbed another mug, and started again. Finishing the tenth drink, Kanadak and Myla dropped their cups simultaneously on the bar.

“You are gifted in drinking, little one!” Kanadak shouted.

“If you can only keep up with me, then you’re not so fast for your large size!” Myla laughed back at him.

Kanadak roared with laughter and bought them both another round. They moved back from the bar to the table with their friends and sat down as Ana dropped from the table top and met them.

“I’m all out of songs for the moment, but there is another tavern not too far from here. It’s a little closer to the Athenaeum, so we could see Lyla and Leaf leaving while we were there,” Ana suggested.

“It is getting late, so that might be the best choice,” Mr. Muffins agreed.

They all got up to leave, Ana and Arric waving goodbye to the crowd of drunks, and they left the tavern. Myla jumped onto Kanadak’s shoulders and felt strong and insanely tall. She looked down at everyone else, then looked up at the stars. Before she knew it, she could feel the dark expanse move around her as the ale took hold of her and the world blackened.