Chake’s blood tinted the puddle where Shula washed her hands. She squatted behind a stack of firewood between a couple of old homes which the city had surrounded. There was a noise from the street and she shifted to check that Chake hadn’t found her. Nothing more than dust from carts was to be seen. She was still alone for now.
Shula shook the bloodied water from her knuckles. Her normally teal skin was cracked and purple with bruising where she had desperately knocked Chake senseless when he had turned on her. She bared her teeth. Chake had grown stout enough to think he needed to have more say than Shula. He had convinced the others to foolishly try and bully her into allowing Chake to run the gang.
Shula shook her head. What in the hells did that little rat even want to lead for? He couldn’t come to any decision on his own. That was Shula’s job. But now he had managed to come up with the idea that he wanted to run things. The others, out of boredom or like-minded stupidity, were ready to help him. Shula would have let him have his fun, if the first thing out of his stupid mouth hadn’t been for the group to hold Shula down and force her to say Chake was the leader. They were all young enough that it was no more than bullying at that moment. But Shula knew that they could have more sinister thoughts if they decided to turn on her again. Time didn’t favor fools, and they were leaving childhood behind.
While they had held her Chake had tried to sound smart and in charge. Shula interrupted him with a few choice words and a wicked grin causing those who heard her to laugh. She had taken advantage of the distraction, tearing free one arm, striking at the boys loosely holding her. Shula had the two cretins at her sides screaming in pain before Chake could think to help, but he wasn’t able to face her alone. Shula knocked him to the ground and took out her frustrations on his face. Shula glared at the others who stood back watching, then turned and walked away from the only group where she had ever belonged.
Now that that was over Shula was by herself hiding from retaliation. She kicked at the stack of firewood, instantly regretting the decision as her toe scraped the wood through a hole in the side of her shoe. She leaned against the piled wood, lifting her foot up and pulling it higher to see if there was blood with the pain. Fortunately, she had only managed to rough the surface, nothing that would have a chance to become infected. Shula dropped her foot and let her head rest against the dusty wood while she looked at the sky.
What now?
Life had never given her options. Now Chake had managed to end what little she had. The gang was bound to end eventually, but she had always hoped she would have found something decent to go to by then. As it was, Shula was just on the run again with nothing. Chake and the others would either come looking for her or go see what task Lopper Sway might have. The Lopper wouldn’t pay her to work alone, he had already said he disliked how distinguishable she was in a crowd. Shula decided to go ahead and walk on, there was no point in brooding in a dead-end alley.
Dead-end alley?
Shula thought of the place where Elliot had been going, down the twisted alley by the woodworking shop. That big goof was welcomed there, and she hadn’t been able to figure out why. Curiosity was enough to go on for now, and maybe she could swipe something from Elliot to help her get by. Shula headed north towards her goal, watching for trouble on the way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Shula prowled cautiously into the alley which led to The Crowded Shelf. Ahead, she could hear at least two people talking. In the small courtyard-like space at the end, a small hand cart had backed its way to the door. One of the speakers was Elliot, dressed in an ash-colored apron over what he normally wore. He was speaking with the delivery man. Shula watched around the bend in the alley, a bit confused as Elliot held a conversation with minimal stuttering. She was shocked when he turned and hefted multiple bags of goods over his shoulder without strain or wobble. Then he reached for another bag with his free hand while he balanced the large bags. Strength might have been something Elliot had naturally, but he had never been able to handle it well. Shula had watched Elliot fall over just trying to pick up a dropped coin only a month ago, what had changed?
Once the cart was clear of supplies the two parted ways. Elliot stooped to fit all of his burden through the door, and the cartman pulled his empty ricksha towards Shula. She pressed against the wall to let him pass and watched the typical expression of suspicion begin to form as the driver regarded her teal skin. Shula ignored him and walked on towards the door on the back alley wall. Besides the door, the only details she could see were a little stone bench beneath a large window to the door’s right. All part of a wall that seemed out of place compared to the buildings which surrounded it.
She reached for the handle only to have the door pull open as Elliot rushed back out. The two narrowly avoided colliding. Elliot mumbled an apology, but was focused on the departing cart with a small package in hand. He was around the bend and out of sight in a few strides. Shula crouched defensively watching him go.
A voice came from within the open doorway, “Sorry about that miss, would you care to come inside?”
Shula squinted into the dark room, trying to spot the speaker while her eyes adjusted to the light difference. Someone sat just inside but was mostly hidden behind one of those odd angled desks that shops used to display valuable books. Shula leaned against the doorway casually, but didn’t fully enter.
“I’m just figuring if I wanna come in or not,” she said.
There was a light chuckle from the greeter. She could see his pointed ears now that her eyes were out of the sun. He wasn’t a full-blooded elf though, he was part human just as she was. His mixed blood just had the perk of being easily overlooked. Orc heritage was less discreet. Shula glanced down at her folded arms, her colorful skin. The blue flamed candles that filled the dim room cast various layered light patches which danced upon her exposed teal arms. It was as if the room itself was inviting her in with welcome.
Shula wasn’t sure if that was a good choice. She had spent years tormenting Elliot because he had been a defenseless simpleton. He looked… capable now, and that was just as dangerous as Chake. More so if he held a grudge for everything she had stolen from him. She nodded a smile into the doorway and turned to leave. Footsteps made her end her calm act and she tensed to find Elliot returning. He watched her as defensively as she watched him. They stood facing each other, neither sure of who should act first.
“Why are y-you here Shula?” Elliot asked breaking the silence.
Shula tried to stand taller and keep herself calm but she felt trapped with Elliot standing between her and the only known exit. He was worlds more intimidating than Chake when he stood his ground.
She regretted every moment teasing him now. All she could do was hide her insecurity and give Elliot a hasty shrug, “Just needed away from Chake, thought here might be good.”
Shula had unconsciously been backing away from Elliot and startled slightly when her back came against the front of the tavern. She mentally cursed herself for thinking this was a good idea. Elliot stepped forward. When he wasn’t cowering from thrown rocks, or ducking his head under his hands from continued insults, his shoulders were well above her head. He came within an arm’s reach and stopped. Shula was looking for the best path to slip past him and run.
“C-Come get some soup, it’s p-p-potato today.”
Elliot stepped passed her and walked inside.
Shula caught her breath, staring at the dark open doorway. She watched it as if it was a cave with a sleeping bear that would wake and come after her. Quietly she stepped away from the door and turned away.
“Here.”
Shula ducked, expecting Elliot to be striking her from behind, but as she spun she found he only stood with a steaming bowl of soup and a small loaf of bread. She couldn’t understand why he would do such a thing. Elliot set the bowl on the small stone bench under the window. He set the loaf lightly on the rim then walked back inside without waiting to see what she did.
Shula approached the bench looking at the food. It didn’t have to make sense to fill her stomach. She pushed the bowl to the side and sat beside it. Maybe she didn’t know what made sense anymore. Shula lifted the bread and took a bite. It was the most welcoming thing she had experienced in a very long time.