The Dance (Closed for moonlightlilly and I)

[Ravenloft]

Her name is Izabelle, Izzy for short. A slender woman with long golden curls and stunning green eyes. Some would say she has the face of an angel, but those who know her kind, would say she is something else entirely. Her face was kept cover by a soft blue veil for you see, she was inflicted by her mother’s greatest curse, beauty, and beauty always attracted the kind of attention no woman longed for. She was more though, so much more. Her kind relied on being unnoticed until a time and place of their choosing, where their work would be done in private chambers.

Izzy is a righter of wrongs, a small force set to balancing the scales of good and evil, day and night, light and total darkness. A dispenser of small justices some might say.

She did not choose this life for herself. Indeed, it was not a life anyone would consciously choose, knowing the sacrifices and pain it would undoubtedly require, but here she is, twenty-three years of age and a vessel for powers she would give away in an instant if given the choice.

But how could she think such things? How could she wish away the very thing her own mother, who now lay spent and dying in her arms, had imparted upon her as purpose of her mere existence? How could life be so unfair? She loved her mother dearly, and as she faded away, her pail face and dull hair resting in her only child’s lap, her eyes slowly clouding over as her life force trickled it’s last into her daughter’s soul, she still managed a weak, pale smile. “You will forever be my little light Izzy”, and her breath was gone forever.

Izzy wept openly, in part for the loss of her mother, and part for the overwhelming sense of guilt that for to live, her mother must die. It is who they are. What they are destined to be.

She sat quietly, holding her mothers now stull form in her arms, her slender fingers brushing the stray hair from her pale brow. She thought about her life, and what it would now entail. Where was she to go? What was she to do without her mother’s guidance?

Truly these were crazy thoughts. Even as a child she was told that she, in the guise of a Dervish Dancer, had a destiny that had been passed down from mother to daughter for a hundred generations. She was meant for great things and someday she would come to see what a blessing she was to the word.
Right now, she didn’t give a shit about the word or her wonderful destiny. She hurt. Deep inside her heart was broken, a large piece ripped out leaving a hole that might never be filled, and she felt so terribly alone. Even the beast within was silent.

At the age of eighteen her mother had taken her to the secret cave in the mountains that was sacred to all her kind. Daughters, born of daughters for hundreds of generations. It was on this night that her world changed forever.
Throughout her life, she has never heard her mother utter a single audible word. They were luckier than most. She and her mother shared such a strong bond that they could hear each other’s thoughts. It was a rare ability, even amongst her kind, but it was one they enjoyed immensely.

She had often thought that without her mothers’ soft words of reassurance washing through her mind, she might not have made it through her initiation ceremony. Despite how taxing that night was on her mother, she was her guiding light.

She was asked to say one final word before taking a vow of silence, the name of the beast that would become her spirit animal. The beast whose very nature will guide her and at times, control her, through the rest of her life. This base animal would give her strength, allowing her to transform and take its shape if the need ever arose. It would come to the surface and aid her in the completion of her duty when her human emotions became to exposed. It was “wolf”.

Her human voice was silenced but her inner self screamed at the intrusion of this foreign entity invading her form, becoming one with her, blending every part of it’s being with hers. As she screamed, the wolf also howled in pain. It had been her mothers wolf, and she knew her mother would feel a great emptiness in passing it to her daughter, but this is how it was done. Some day she would pass the beast that now resided within her, onto a daughter of her own, and so the cycle would continue.

So here she was, silent and alone. She knew her duty, and performed it well, but always there had been her mother’s soft words of encouragement guiding her forward.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. A burial plot had already been prepared for her mother, and a simple pine casket, ordained with a brightly coloured bouquet of wildflowers lay waiting. Simple as they were, they were her mother’s favorite blooms. There was no preacher, no crowd of grieving family and friends, just a daughter, feeling terribly lost and alone. As the casket was lowered into its final resting place, Izzy wiped away her tears and sent her mother final goodbyes.

As she turned to leave that sad and lonely place she heard a voice in the back of her mind, “West” it said, “go west”.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse was born to an elven maiden and a roughened warrior man in a quiet village, things were peaceful until he was three and his father fell out of love with his mother. "Do you love me anymore?" She asked one day. He turned to her coldly and simply said "no." Mouse, his older sister and their mother left and dwelled in poverty for years, many trials and tribulations passed and things were not always well with the broken family, but the father made an effort to be their father, the best he could. The subtle tensions came to a head one day when their father accused her of neglect and threatened to take mouse and his sister Wren from her. But the tow made it clear to their father that would be unwise. The tension remained. Their mother found love with another, a man of great heart, but doomed to pass only five short years later.

For the first part of mouse's childhood, he was happy, open and friendly, until the predatory and cruel nature of his peers made him draw into himself more and more. The frail man was a source of light and did more to form Mouse's spirituality and fill his heart with love than he would ever know. Even his birth father grew to respect the frail man for his hand in his children's lives. When the frail man passed away, mouse was heart broken and more than a little rebellious, and in that rebellion, he neglected his studies and turned his back on many good people. His father being one of them. He felt his father saw him as weak, and he was, physically, but also thought him aimless as well. Mouse hated him for that, to his dying day, losing out on the support his father could have given him, if he had only listened to the intentions behind his father's cruel words.

In his rebellion, mouse found a place where he could be more himself, in the ways he had suppressed for far to long. The Golden Tusk, a bawdy sea side tavern run by a big, bold and beautiful half orc woman named Mamma Tusk who took no shit from anyone.

She caught him stealing and made him pay by forcing him up on stage to perform. Little mouse was terrified! Terrified that he would be eaten alive, either by the orc woman, or the crowd, he wasn't sure, but somehow began to play for the drunken crowds, where he continues to perform to this day.

 

[Ravenloft]

It was the early evening and Mamma Tusk was not yet up. Mouse knew his duty and so got up on stage once more! "Greetings you old sea dogs! Welcome back to the Golden Tusk, this fine night! I see a few new faces, so... Allow me to sing to you a warning! This is the Ballad of Mamma Tusk!" Mouse cleared his throat, sat on a simple wooden stool he had brought to the stage with him, a thread bare pillow to sit upon and tuned his mandolin before he began to sing melodically.

"Welcome to you, oh, you burly men of the sea, with hearts stout and true!
Please heed this gentle and humble warning I give to all of you!"

Mouse shifted his gaze across the gathered crowd, some of the patrons knew this song well, it was something of a ritual that every show of Mouse's began with.

"Be aware, Mamma Tusk needs no sword, needs no shield!
One look from her and you would do well just to yield!"

At this, Mouse shifted again, waving for the audience to join in on the well known final chorus. Many slammed their flagons upon their tables, others clapped, others slapped their knees to the beat, but everyone who knew the song, joined in!

"Do be careful, do be wise or you will be crushed
Between Mamma Tusk's powerful thighs!"

Everyone burst into raucous laughter and applause at that and there were more slamming of mugs and stomping of feet until it was certain that Mamma Tusk must have heard her nightly summons!

"Ahem, we will have to give Mamma a while, I think, last night was Equinox revel and you know her... Not one to miss out on a party!" Mouse stood up and paced the stage, watching the crowd for inspiration.

And Mouse was not disappointed, when an unkempt and lusty brunette shouted out from a table full of harlots. "Aw, c'mon Mousey! Give us more than that! We know you got it in ya!" The saucy woman reached down the cleavage of her bountiful bosom and procured a couple of coins. "Two coppah to drop yer drawers!" She shouted, holding them up to the light.

"Sally, you slut! You know these trousers are worth more than that! A gold at least!" Mouse countered with practiced ease. The crowed busting up laughing. "An impromptu auction then?" Mouse offered. "The bidding for these find doe skin breeches starts at one gold!" Mouse set his mandolin across his pillowed stool and gracefully motioned as if showcasing his form fitting pants.

Sally and her harlots performed admirably, producing just enough coin between the seven of them right on cue. "One gold here!" The seven of them shouted together. Mouse nodded graciously to them and they all laughed and winked and wet their lips in anticipation.

"That's one gold!" Mouse posed, do I hear two? Several patrons scrambled to make their bit but it was a deep voice that shouted out first. "Oy! Five gold for the breeches to come off!"

Mouse sniffed and smiled. "Five gold! Do I hear six?" There was a slight lull in the crowed as everyone turned to look to the source of the current bid. It was a well known patron, Brutus, the brute. His ship mates and a few vixen sat with him and they all took turns haranguing him for his boldness. "Git off! Git off!" He snarled at them and glared up at Mouse, daring him to close the bidding. "Oh now Brutus, that will cost you a hundred gold at least, and we all know you came in with only the five!" Mouse shot back smoothly, grinning from ear to ear.

"Wut? I don't git it..." Brutus mumbled to himself, staring blankly as his mates all laughed and jeered him for his ignorance. "Oh that Mouse is a clever one, he is, he is!" One of his woman chimed in. "Six gold here!" She swiped Brutus's five from his hand and added one of her own.

"The moon bless you, dear sister!" Mouse called out to her, gratefully. "Do I hear seven, eight, nine? That's what makes six tremble, I hear!" He had the drunken revelers in the palm of his hand now!

From the bar, a mysterious woman, Mouse had never seen before, who had come in alone raised one slender hand with a small pouch of coin handing from her finger tips. "It would seem we have another bid!" Mouse squinted, trying to guess how much was in that pouch from the stage. "Ten gold at least I would wager!" Mouse had no idea how much there was in that small pouch, but the offer, and the woman intrigued him, so he rushed through the closing procedure before giving anyone else a chance to outbid the mysterious woman. "Goingoncegoingtwicesold! To the lady with the veil!!"

Mouse bowed to her politely and turned to the crowd. "Alright! Avert your eyes, all you see dogs, if you don't want to witness this! This one is for the ladies!" Mouse began undoing his belt and glanced up to see Brutus licking his lips. "You too, Brutus! You old pervert! You didn't win the bid after all!" Mouse warned, modestly.

"Here goes..." Mouse groaned dramatically, undoing his belt completely and letting his drawers drop around his ankles! He stood there, proudly, even casually as Sally and her sisters all gasped, just as they were paid to as everyone else began to laugh and clap and cover their eyes.

Mouse wasn't done though, he retrieved his mandolin and began to strum it as he strode forward, to the edge of the stage, and leaped across to the middle of a table! The patrons around it gasping and even one fellow falling backward in his seat with a grunt of disbelief. "Oh sorry, did I get you in the eye?" Mouse quipped as he danced in a circle upon the rickety old table top! A couple of women were reaching up to touch him and one guy was about to stab at his foot with a fork! But Mouse sprung from that table to another with practiced ease! He was picking his way toward the bar, to serenade that woman who had bought his pants from him!

Just as he approached her, smiling and strumming a jaunty tune, from the upper floor there came a shout!

"MOUSE!"

"Eep!" Mouse squeaked and ducked down on all fours, throwing his mandolin over his back by its strap.

"Put yer pants back on, its unsanitary!" It was Mamma Tusk shouting from the top of the stairs, tugging at her hair in exasperation at the scene she had walked into.

"Excuse me, pardon me..." Mouse muttered as he scrambled on all fours right under the mysterious woman's skirt without thinking to hide from the half orc woman.

Looking up, Mouse realized where he was and blushed before the woman sprung to her feet and stepped aside, revealing him hiding under the bar stool. "Oh... Oh my..." Mouse whispered. "I think I've gone full mast here..." He said to himself just as Mamma Tusk came up to him and thwacked him over the head with a broom stick. "Ow!" Mouse yelped, shooting to his feet and rubbing his head where he had been struck. "Sorry Mamma Tusk, I got carried away..."

"Oh, you will be sorry if you don't put your pants on this instant!" Mamma Tusk warned, brandishing her broom. The room was roaring with laughter and someone tossed Mouse his pants, probably Sally or one of the other consorts.

Mouse slumped his shoulders, properly scolded and shoved his legs back into his pants. Mamma Tusk sniffed at him and glared down upon him, pointing her broom handle toward the kitchen. "Enough show and tell for one night! Go and start making some food for our guests, little Mouse! Wash your hands first!"

Mouse bowed his head and walked as if marching off to the gallows, pausing at the door to the kitchen with a heavy sigh, playing it to the hilt! Mamma Tusk gave him a stern look and jutted her broom handle once more at the kitchen doors.

Everyone was rolling on the floor or wetting themselves with laughter at the ridiculous scene! While they were all busy trying to collect themselves, Mamma Tusk turned to the mysterious woman. "Please forgive the boy if he offended you, its all really just part of his act, his and mine... We meant no offence..." She offered her apology in a hushed voice. "I believe that is for us though?" She put her hand out to accept the pouch of coin the veiled woman still held onto.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy had visited many taverns in her life, it was the best place to find the sinners she was looking for. She didn’t choose people at random though, she looked for those who were cloaked in a shadow, like they were coated in a rancid sludge. The darker the shadow, the deeper the evil, the more severe the punishment. Those who had fallen victim to these bastards, the innocents, those who could not defend themselves or even seek justice, these people deserved no less than their evil doer to receive a punishment that fitted the crime.
Taverns were also a wonderful way to see the best in people, the laughter, the banter, friendship old and new. Her mother had told her many times, make the most of the light in the world, it will help you to live with the darkness.
She had passed through many small villages since beginning her journey west, but none held any appeal, little darkness and certainly nowhere that felt like somewhere to call home. Still the voice was there, touching the surface of her mind, “go west”.
It was early in the evening when she entered a larger town. Light was fading fast so she sought out a tavern to find lodgings for the night, and food, all this walking was proving to produce quite an appetite.
The tavern ‘Tusk” caught her eye and sound of laughter drew her in. A young man was on a small stage playing music and singing funny lyrics for the entertainment of the patrons. He was obviously well known to the crowd so was able to push things a little far and get away with it, which made his performance even more entertaining.
It was one of those moments when Izzy wished she could laugh loud and heartily like everyone else, but she didn’t let it dampen her spirits. This was the most joy she had experienced in a long time. Then the young man began to auction off his pants. Her eyes teared up from laughing so hard and holding it in. she could not help but join in on the fun and placed the highest bid. Six gold. A high price to see a man without his pants but she had a feeling it would be worth it just for the fun.
And with that, off came the pants and the young man, who Izzy now recognized as half elf, strutted his half naked body for all to see. She wondered if he was going to auction off his shirt next. She may have bid on that as well. If his bottom half was any indication to go by, the whole package might be worth the cost.
The arrival of a large woman, Mamma Task she assumed, brought things back under control when the young man, still half naked man, dived for cover, through the tables and chairs, then under her skirts no less. She hadn’t expected this and jumped back, revealing the hideaway who looked just as surprised as she did. Her eyes met his for just a moment, but in that moment, she felt something…new. Something frightening and exhilarating at the same time. Something dangerous.
Still feeling a little stunned she hardly noticed the man getting to his feet or putting his pants back on, but when the large woman approached her, apologizing for the man’s antics, she came back to herself. Opening her purse, she handed over the six gold coins, then, using signs and body movements, she asked about a bed and food. Both were going to be needed if she was to think about what just occurred.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mamma tusk accepted the coin with a friendly grin and portioned it in two, half for herself and half for her little mouse. "Thank you kindly, ready! Oh now... What's this?" She asked, a bit confused by the odd gestures the strange woman was making. They were universal enough though that Mamma Tusk immediately grasped their meaning. "Oh yes, of course! There is room for you hear, sweetie! Of course! Of course! And food! Oh! You will love what Mouse is back there cooking up! I'll even make sure he gets you an extra portion! Now... Let's talk price, shall we? What can you afford, my dear? Mamma Tusk will make sure you are real well taken care of, if the price is right!"

"A simple, no frills room is just two silver.." She made a face like she wouldn't wish that on her worst enemy though. "However! For just another two gold, I will set you up in the finest suite we have! And for another gold on top of that, you can have your pick of companion for the night! If you do that, I'll even comp you your meal and give you this chit, it's good for one nights stay upon your next visit!" Mamma Tusk procured a wooden disk about the size of a coin with what looked like a boars tusk burned into the surface. She leaned in and whispered conspiritorially. "Just between us ladies, if you hold onto that you never know what sort of favor you might find outside these walls..." She gave the woman a cheeky little wink. "It has a way of opening doors in this town you see..."

The action in the tavern was beginning to pick up and Mamma Tusk saw that she would be needed behind the bar soon to pick up the slack. "So, do we have a deal, my dear? Can you afford three more gold for the night?" Another patron approached them but Mamma Tusk held her hand up to him and he immediately took a step back and lowered his eyes, giving her a grin. Seeing a shy sort of hesitation over The offer, Mamma Tusk chuckled a little. "No pressure, deary, I'll be back around to you in a bit, duty calls!"

Mamma Tusk went back to the kitchen to make sure Mouse was on task, and to give him his cut from his little auction! "You are so naughty little mouse! I think the girl likes you...she got all shy when I offered her her pick of the litter for the night!" Mouse looked up from cutting into a piping hot roast. "Oh? She is attractive..." He answered, putting at a strand of hair that had fallen loose and was threatening to get in his eyes. "Gonna give her the works, Mamma?" They both chuckled and went back to work.

Mouse prepared a plate for the mystery woman first, before anyone else and made a point of bringing it right out to her. "Hi! This is for you! Thanks for being a part of my show! You Were spectacular!" He thanked her, rocking back on his heels Exhuberantly.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

The large woman had given her the price for a room and offered her so much more if she was willing to pay for it. Another woman may have taken her up on the offer, but she was no ordinary woman. She had never been with a man, and her mother had always warned against such things. Sex often led to attachment, which led to emotions, and that can cloud your judgement, and your duty. It wasn’t that she thought Mouse wasn’t attractive, quite the country, and what she had experienced when she met his eyes was more than a little disturbing, this was not something she could consider. Perhaps if she was an ordinary woman…
The large woman was called away but promised to return to see what she had decided about the room, and or, the company.
She ordered a drink while she waited and cast her eyes about the room. Places like this always provided her with a choice of scum to choose from. Thieves, blackmailers, con-men and such, each adorned their own shade of shadow, it was the darker kind she was seeking. The murderers, rapists, pedophiles, those who enjoyed inflicting pain on the innocent and undefended.
It didn’t take long. A large man, half orc, half asshole, if she had to guess, sitting at the bar being as loud as he was large. His shadow was thick with darkness and his odour was nothing short of rancid. This was what she was looking for. A peodophile of the worse kind. His victims rarely survived and those that were unlucky enough to live, had no life left in them, most taking their own lives once they were old enough to know how. They were broken, body and soul. She found it sickening to the point where it felt personal. Every one of those little souls would be avenged. But she would wait. It took time to set things up just right, and tonight she was tired and hungry.
Mouse appeared shortly afterwards with a plate of roast chicken, vegetables coated in thick gravy, a bread roll on the side of the plate and a dob of butter. A feast by normal standards but as hungry as she was, she would make short work of it. She nodded in thanks and looked around for a table. Mouse seemed to fumble around somewhat, like a teenager smitten by a pretty girl. Such interactions were the very reason she kept her face concealed.
Mouse crossed to the closest table and told the patrons to “Get up and give the lady a seat”. They grumbled about it but collected their mugs of ale and retreated to the bar. Izzy was very grateful, her legs had been threatening to give out for some time, and she was keen to begin her meal.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse felt energized, the mystery woman hadn't really done anything to warrent how suddenly smitten he was with her, but he was bursting with interest in her and he knew he had to find some way to contain himself so as not to look like a complete fool! He shooed some patrons off to get her a table, that didn't seem too overly bold... She seemed grateful for it too. Now... What else could he do to make her feel welcome! He thought he knew! Rushing over to Mamma Tusk, he returned his three gold to her and whispered. "Please give that girl the best Mamma! I really don't want her to go!" He admitted, with a shy smile.

Mamma Tusk took the coin back from him, laughing and rolling her eyes. "Foolish little Mouse... Okay, she'll get the best room, of course! But dear, you must calm down a bit, for your own sake, you're acting a bit manic you know..." Mouse looked up at her and nodded, biting his lower lip. "Thank you Mamma! You're the best!" He hugged her the best he could and she laughed. "I'll be good, don't you worry about that! I'll mind my manners and all that! I kinda want to keep this one..." He admitted with a smile. She looked down at him strangely, but smiled and returned the hug, patting him on the back. "I know you'll be good, have some fun, love, just don't push. Be calm..." She advised little mouse with a soft sigh. Something told her that tonight was going to be a defining moment for him, she just hoped it went well for him.

He nodded and rushed off to make himself a plate, procured something to drink and brought a bowl of fresh fruits to the woman's table. "May I join you?" He asked calmly, setting the fruit and drink on her table, but waiting to seat himself until she gave him permission.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Shortly after shovelling the first few folks full of chicken into her mouth, taking care to not get gravy on her veil, Mouse returned with a plate of his own. He asked to join her and for a moment she was going to say no, but thought a little company might be nice, and he was funny. Conversation though was not easy, especially since she was unable to speak but it seemed he was quite prepared to speak for them both as she continued to devour her meal.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse sat quickly when the mystery woman motioned her indifference. "So, you don't talk much, or at all, do you? What is it? Some tragic story, I hope? Oh, don't get me wrong, I don't mean it like it sounds! Just... Tragedy makes for compelling tales which makes for more coin in my pocket, if you know what I mean! I'd hope you lived a happy life, but if not, then I would be honored to hear your tale of woe so that others might know of it and swoon if not need the warning! I hope I'm making sense! Most people get offended by my cavalier take on things. It's not really that, I'm not immune to such things, in fact, they effect me deeply, I just don't like to show it on a first date, you see!"

Mamma Tusk looked their way from the bar, overheating him carry on like a fool and motioned her hand subtly for him to tone it down a little! He caught the message and blushed, clearing his throat. "How about... I show you around Hallowgrove after we finish our meal? I have never played the tour guide before and think it might be fun! There's Cassie Creech, the apothecary and witchy woman! BlackTom, the smithy, Wierd Harold, the glass blower and many,many other fun and interesting places to check out on this side of town... I won't show you the bad side, it's dangerous there, little boys and women go missing over there and you see, I look an awful lot like a simple boy, so... I wouldn't be much good if we were waylaid!"

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy listened to Mouse talk away rather enjoying his awkwardness. She waited for him to catch his breath before using signs to tell him she didn’t speak. She also signed that she was tired and just wanted sleep. He seemed disappointed but insisted she join him for the tour in the morning. Mamma Tusk returned and asked what room she would like and Izzy indicated she wanted the best room, but without company, and she would be staying for two nights. She handed over two gold coins and took the key.
She gave Mouse a curt nod, once again making eye contact for just a moment. It was all she could do not to run to the room and lock the door. What magic did he possess? How was he doing this to her?
It was the best room they had to offer but she was to tired to appreciate the decor. The bed was soft, and the sheets were clean, right now, that was all she needed to know.
After dodging Mouse in the tavern, Izzy spent the morning looking for the right location to take care of her mark. She requires some place private, a room or den, where she can be alone with the bastard to work her particular craft. As it turned out, the man she had in mind lived in the perfect location. “This is going to be an easy one”, she thought to herself.
She strolled through the crowded streets of the Town, which she learned was called Hallowgrove, and browsed at the wears for sale from various venders. There were so many lovely things, and she could not resist treating herself to some new charms and zills. A lavender veil caught her attention and she figured it was time for a new one, along with a dark blue shawl. She had always enjoyed shopping, especially when she had a little extra coin. Her last mark had a very full purse which she greatly appreciated. It wasn’t like he was ever going to need it again.
As she strolled she noticed Mouse in the crowd. He seemed to be looking for someone and thought perhaps it was her, or perhaps she hoped it was her, so she quickly changed her veil and shawl to reduce the risk of him recognising her and walked the other way.
The sight of Mouse left her feel quite flustered. A feeling that was new to her and left her feeling both curious and terrified. She didn’t like situations she could not control and this Mouse, he brought up a lot of things she had no control over.
The further she walked away from him, the stronger the ache inside her grew until it formed an almost physical pain. “Should she go back?” she wondered. Should she find out what this feeling was? For the first time in her life, she was afraid.
She resolved to take care of her mark that night, after he left the “Tusk” and staggered back to his room alone, then tomorrow she would leave and continue her journey west. Until then she had time, and perhaps spending some of it with Mouse would prove interesting. She needed to know what this feeling was, and how she could make it go away.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse was a quick study and always had a sharp mind so the meaning of her signs were clear. He was a little sad that she just wanted to rest, he would have loved showing her a good time! It didn't have to be naughty though! So he did insist on Giving her a tour on the morrow. He remained at the table and finished his food alone, but feeling quite happy with himself. It wasn't the worst interaction he'd ever shared with a woman. And when they made eye contact before she went up to bed... Mouse"s belly fluttered with butterflies. He was genuinely smitten and he knew it! She must have some magic power of attraction,he thought to himself.

After he had finished, he took care of the plates, then rushed over to Mamma Tusk, excitedly. "Mamma, I know it's not one of my regular duties, but please let me fix the pretty ladies room back up, nice and tidy in the morning? Please?" Mouse asked, practically begging. He wanted to leave her a special gift, something he had seen for sale at Creech's shop for some time now. A bracelet with jingly bits worked into it. It was pretty, and he'd always liked it, but hadn't had a reason to buy it, until now.

Mamma Tusk turned to eye him suspiciously, never in her life had she seen someone beg for MORE work! "Well, okay, but don't go using it as an excuse to get out of your other cleaning duties!" She warned, feeling a strange pride in him and an even stranger feeling... One of impending loss? So very strange... She didn't like it, she would have to drag someone up to her room tonight, kicking and screaming if she had to, to forget about it. Perhaps Brutus...

In the morning, mouse was up and working on his usual chores before anyone else, floating somewhere between mooning and pining over the mystery woman who had yet to tell anyone her name! "I don't even know her name!" He saidto himself aloud, pausing in his work to acknowledge that. He shook his head and shrugged, it didn't really matter, he was determined to find out, he felt committed to learning all about her! Her likes, dislikes, joys, fears, triumphs, losses... He had a feeling they would all take his breath away. Maybe he should be scared of this sudden and intense desire to know her, but he wasn't, it felt right, it felt true. He felt calm, he felt alive.

His daily chores done, he rushed out to go buy that bracelet as a gift for her, which he would leave on her pillow after going up and cleaning her room for her and making the bed. Somehow, he missed her coming down from her room and without knowing it, he almost met her out on the town as well. He was on a mission, but he didn't let that stop him from enjoying the butterflies in his stomach and let a few of them out to tickle a few of his town mates as he went! Greeting his friends and even a rival or two as he made his way in almost a dreamy state to Creech's shop, mere moments after Izzy had been there to buy her veil and shawl!

Cassy greeted him and instantly knew something was up with him."Hello little Mousey! Well look at you! Are you in love?" Mouse blushed and grinned, but didn't admit to it, this one was his to enjoy, unspoken. She nodded, approvingly at his silence and smiled, touching her red hair longingly, looking off into space for but a moment, remember her own loves, before returning to the present moment with a soft clap of her hands. "So, what can I get for you today, Em? Your usual? Or... Oh, I see! It's about time you caved and bought it! You've been drooling over it for months, ever since I put it in the display case!" Cassy came around the counter, with case keys already in hand.

"Here you go, that will be five gold, please? Oh and you'll have to go see Black Tom about repairing the clasp, it's a bit bent you see... Don't ask." She warned with a wink and a smile. Mouse just rolled his eyes and flashed her his Tusk chit. Cassy laughed. "Fine, three gold then, us rogues must stick together after all! Still gotta go see Tom about the clasp though!" Happy with his purchase, mouse hugged her tight and dashed off to get the clasp repaired. He didn't know it, but that's when Izzy saw him, in the middle of his mission!

Black Tom had the time and the tools to repair the bracelet and they talked for a few minutes, afterward the old Smith refused to take payment, seeing Mouse so happy was plenty enough for such simple work, he said. For a moment, on his way back to the Tusk, Mouse wondered why Cassie and Tom wouldn't just admit they liked each other... Stubborn, lonely people! Or was it just that they had no idea how each other felt? Hmm... Cassie was on his way back to the Tusk! He stopped in for a moment. "Thank you Cassie! Tom says hi, by the way!" It was the subtlest way he knew to get these two to connect. "Oh?" She said, as she paused in her cleaning. She looked down and he caught a soft smile on her lips as she played with a lock of her fiery hair.

"Well, that worked better than I expected..." Mouse thought to himself as he turned to go, hearing her him to herself. Good deed done, Mouse was high on pride as he finally returned to the Tusk! He went up and tidies the room and made the bed that Izzy was using. Even fluffing the pillow back into shape. That's when it hit him, the lavender scent that lingered in the pillow she had used during the night! "Oh..." He exhaled in dreamy wonder. "Oh my..." It was a good thing he was alone, he was feeling rather weak in the knees all of a sudden!

He had just enough strength to place his gift upon her pillow before walking dreamily and unsteadily down to the common room and sat alone for a while.At some point, Izzy returned and Mouse looked up with a big old smile and waved to her, inviting her to join him if she wished.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy was deep in thought when she returned to the Tusk. She had a great many things to contemplate. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Mouse waving and grinning like a kid with a candy. She hesitated. What did she have to lose? The answer, her heart. She thought it against her better judgement but made her way over to the table to join him. After all, she would be gone before the sun rose tomorrow so what harm could it do?
She slid into the seat across from him and eyed him warily. A busty barmaid with a warm smile brought them both a drink, gave Mouse a wink, and returned to the bar. Izzy felt like there had been a joke and she had missed the punchline. She returned her focus to Mouse. He looked younger than he was with boyish features and cheeky grin. There was a small scar above his right eyebrow, probably from a fight, and he wore a simple gold ring in his left earlobe. With focus she could see a pale grey shadow about him, so he was no angel, but certainly wasn’t drowning in evil. Probably a few petty thefts and scams. No real harm.
He lifted her eyes to look at her over the rim of his mug. “My name is Mouse, would you do me the honor of telling me yours?”
Izzy was taken back for a second. It wasn’t often she was asked her name or felt the need to give it, so how did she tell him without speech? She thought for a moment then went to the bar. She picked up the bell and held it out to him. She figured Bell was close enough to her name and shouldn’t be to hard to guess.

 

[Ravenloft]

The scar was not from a fight, her gotten it as a child while running around in his parents back yard, oblivious and happy, until he ran into that low hanging tree branch! He didn't know that trees could bite so hard! That's how he liked to tell the story, with a sense of humor. The ring was Sally's idea, she said they had to start him up a bit if he was to work at the Tusk, so he went along with it.

He watched the woman stand and go to the bar, curiously, returning with a bell. "That is a bell, yes... Oh! I get it! Isabelle?! What a beautiful name! I adore it! You know, this is kind of fun, the way we communicate! I've a sharp mind and you are very clever. However, you must know how to read and write... If not, I will teach you! If you will allow me? I can also learn your signs, if you are willing to teach me? Isabelle..." At that, Mouse signed, propping his head in his hands, looking up at her dreamily, completely smitten by her.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy returned the bell to the bar. He was good. She had thought he would guess Bell, but Izabelle was unexpected, and nice. No one had spoken her name aloud since her initiation. She regarded Mouse for a moment. There was something about him, something that made his eyes sparkle with life, and yet, not far beneath, was pain, and loss, and grief. Perhaps he was someone who could understand her own pain and loss, at least to a certain degree.
Teach him her sigh language? A nice idea, but was leaving as soon as her work was done that night. She could read and write, but rarely used it to communicate due to the face that she liked to stay unnoticed and rarely communicated with anyone except for the most necessary of things, like food and a bed, and she could use signs for those. Having a two sided conversation with someone was something that ended when her mother died. She had not imagined there would ever be anyone else.
She sat back down at the table across from Mouse and regarded him for a moment longer. It was then she did the unthinkable, she picked up the salt container and showed him the sigh for it. When he got it right, she picked up candle and did the same. Some of his attempts made her laugh, something she hoped he could see, even if he could not hear it. It was during Mouse’s goofy attempts at signing “the sun is setting” that the man Izzy had marked made his way into the tavern and she was reminded of the real reason she was here. It would be a few hours before he left, and she knew where to find him when he did. Trying not to let her plans for later in the evening interrupt her fun, she returned her attention to Mouse and his very clumsy attempt at the sign for drinks. She hoped he got it soon, she was getting thirsty.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse regarded Izabelle in return, she was fascinating, enchanting even. He was soul touched by her and he knew it. She held a quiet sorrow to her, just like him, but in sharing even a moment with her, all that felt washed away, or at least so distant from his heart that it might as well not exist. Still it remained, if only we some small sliver of pain in his heart. Was it in her heart too? Could he help her? He wanted to. He liked this feeling that came over him Everytime he was in her presence. Joy.

His mind was spinning, what other things could he learn from her? What humble offerings could he give her in return? All the thoughts were hard to contain, but all of his attention was now focused on her. So much so that he noticed the way she paused, clearly liking the idea, but... What was it... She couldn't stay? She was only passing through? He was reading her eyes, everything seemed so clear, whatever she wanted, wherever she went, he knew he wanted to be near her. It felt right and true. He didn't want to get in her way, he only wanted to help her, in whatever she would do.

When she sat with him, Mouse felt a burst of elation wash over him and made this strange little squeak of excitement in his throat, he couldn't stop himself, he only hoped she hadn't noticed it, it was so embarrassing to feel this way, naked in his desire to be with her, to stand by her side and do great things! He held his breath to keep himself from making any more curious little sounds as she continued to regard him in her silent way. Please let her pick me, his heart was screaming, if he had breathed in that instant it would have come out as a shudder of anticipation.

As she began to show him her language, his eyes and heart lit up with joy and he immediately went to work, studying each and every sign he showed her. He had some trouble with signing candle, which they skipped over and had a laugh about, she was a fun and kindly sort of teacher, never making him feel bad for not getting it right the first time. He was thrilled by the way her hands moved with such grace. He had to focus though, not lose himself in her beauty. So eager to learn more, he doesn't from his seat and gathered the bell from the bar, a random book and the candle from before, he was determined to get that right this time!

"Show me?!" He asked brightly, waving his hands over his tiny collection of items and she did, but out in the right order, leaving it to him to have to guess. He concentrated really hard and may have even bit his tongue as he pondered. "Bell?" He signed, she nodded. "Book?" He signed again, another nod. "And... Candle?" He hesitated only slightly, nervous, afraid he would get it wrong again. She kept him waiting and he felt his heart begin to sink, but then she smirked, she was teasing him and he knew it! "I knew it! I knew I knew it! Hah!" He slapped the table in triumph.

They continued on, teacher and student for some time, until he noticed someone catch her eye. Looking behind him, he saw a Known member of the hellhounds. "Oh... Oh no...it's that time again... I should warn Mamma that he's back, but I'm not to go near, I've been told." He was sworn to absolute secrecy, but forgot his promise while he was in Izzy's presence, there was nothing he would ever hide from her. "That man, he's here to either take money from Mamma Tusk, or he will hurt one of us, Sally, her sisters... Or me..." Mouse sunk down in his seat as the man looked his way, trying to make himself as small of a target as he could. It was all he could do to keep from trembling, half in fear, half in rage. The last time, the only time Mamma had tried to make a stand, Yvette spent a week in bed, recovering from the violence the hellhound had done to her. Mouse felt so guilty, it should have been him, would have if she hadn't pushed him out of the way and stood between them.

Izzy was trying to get his attention and finally did to, his eyes were glassy and he shook his head to clear it of those painful memories. He'd been the one to get Yvette back to physical wellness, but there was nothing he could do for her spirit, she was no longer the same old, bold Yvette anymore. Too high of a cost. And he was too much of a coward to make any sort of stand against the hellhounds! He felt sick to his stomach. Catching her sign, he tried to smile. "Drink? Yes, I think I really need one right now..." He said softly, rising, sitting back down, then rising again, clearly confused.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy didn’t miss the change in Mouse’s composure when he spotted the big half-orc man at the bar. She had already marked this man for his crimes against little girls, but it seemed there was more to him. She watched as the normally cheery harlots shrank back into the shadows, and the barmaid vanished. Mumma Tusk appeared, and for such a large woman, she seemed incredibly small all of a sudden, handing him a package over the bar. He was extorting them. She sighed to herself. She had seen this so often, in so many places. Good people being robbed of what little they have by bullies too lazy to make a living for themselves. Such types normally worked in packs, like jackals killing for scraps. She didn’t like jackals. Her inner wolf growled softly. “Hush” she told him, “patience”. Work like hers should never be rushed. That was how mistakes were made and her kind, no matter how much good they did the common man, was feared and feared things had to be destroyed, more often than not, tied to a post at the center of a large bonfire. She preferred to not meet such an end.
When Mouse returned with the drinks, the mood had changed and she felt sad for the loss of the merriment they had been sharing. She showed him the sign for ail, and smile, trying to reclaim a little of it but it was past. They finished their drinks in silence. The day was fading and Izzy needed to prepare for her night's work. She signed to mouse that she would like to have a bath and asked where there was a bathhouse. He became cheered by her request, insisting he could prepare her a bath in her room, but first he would get her something to eat and another drink while he got things ready for her. She thanked him for his kindness and watched him hurry off, his sense of purpose restored.
She turned her attention to the mark once more, only now he wasn’t alone. “So”’ she thought to herself, “The dog does have a pack. No matter, one dog or ten, they will all go down and the world would be better for it”. The wolf growled again, this time in anticipation. This night would be his, and there would be blood, much blood.

 

[Ravenloft]

With renewed purpose, Mouse put his whole heart into planning out an experience Izabelle she would treasure forever. Nothing dirty mind you, he was too in love to even think about such lower matters, his intentions were pure, purer than they had ever been. He would be her loving servant for the night, if she would allow, he hoped she would allow.

He gathered a meal he knew he would be happy with if given to him and set a out making a bath, scented with fresh cut lavender. He wasn't sure if he was going for romance, but he took care to make the lighting and environment of her private room something akin to magical. No, not akin, it would be magically lit, with one of the few spells he had discovered he had the gift to cast, faery fire, lighting the room with a glowing purple Haze. With everything set to perfection, he went looking for her, to invite her to her room where he hoped she would allow him to bathe her with tender, loving care, not a thought for himself, the had to remain pure, it just had to.

Down in the common room, more hellhounds arrived and the patrons grew more and more unsettled around them. There was definitely something brewing. The leader went up to Momma tusk and demanded that she provide them each with a harlot! And he had his filthy eyes upon the poor Yvette. It would appear action might well have to be taken and soon, if no one was to be hurt tonight.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy continued to watch as the situation in the Tusk became more volatile. Patrons began to leave quietly and some of the harlots began slipping out the back into the kitchen, using Mumma Tusk as a shield. Mumma Tusk called Mouse to her, she wanted to speak to Izzy in private, NOW. Mouse was more than a little confused but knew better than to ask too many questions, especially when the situation was so grave. Izzy didn’t hesitate, pulling her veils closer around her face she followed the big woman into a small concealed room. There was no time for pleasantries, “I know what you are and I know what you do. Things are about to get real ugly out there if you don’t help them. These bastards have been killin’ folks all over the city and no one has got what it takes to set things right. You do. I will give ye’ anythin’ ye’ want if you can set this right. Save my family, please”
Izzy had already planned to make this night a memorable one, but with Mumma Tusks help, it was going to be extra special. She signed to her that they had to get everyone out, including Mouse, so that only the big dogs were left in the room, from there, she would take control.
Mumma Tusk went back into the bar first, whispering to Mouse and set about removing the remaining patrons. Removing the remaining harlots though proved to be more of a challenge as one of the men reached out and grabbed Yvette by the arm. The girl squealed and pulled her arm free, giving Izzy the second she needed to place herself between Yvette and the foul-smelling hulk. She knew too well his cruel intentions.
“Well, well, well, what we got ‘ere? Seems we got a pretty thing wants to play boys” the gang laughed in anticipation of some sport and cheered him on. The room was almost clear, just Mouse and Yvette to go. Mumma Tusk ushered Yvette into Mouse’s arms and out into the kitchen then closed and barred the door behind them. It was time.
Izzy put some space between herself and the men, unfastening her cloak and removing her shawl. This received a huge cheer from the men and shouts to “take it all off”. She then began to slowly remove her veil, unwinding it from her torso, neck, hair, and then finally, her face. The last face these men would ever see. She looked at them with teasing eyes and a seductive smile. Reaching into a concealed pocket of her skirt she found the new zills she had purchased earlier and slipped them on her slender fingertips. Tapping them together with expert skill, she chimed a rhythm and began to sway. “A dance, yay a dance. She’s gonna dance for us lads”. And once again the room erupted in cheers and laughter. “Laugh while you can you pieces of shit, it will be your last”. She looked to Mumma Tusk and gave her the signal to hide. The big woman vanished behind the bar. No matter what she heard, she knew better than to lift her head until it was over. Mouse however was bashing on the kitchen door screaming a fit to be let back in. She was almost relieved when she heard a soft thud and the sound of Mouse falling to the floor. Yvette had taken the cook's best rolling pin and hit him over the head with it. It was crude but effective.
Steadily Izzy increased the tempo, swinging her hips in time with the elegant, hypnotic movement of her arms. The men became mesmerized, their laughing and chanting began to dull to soft murmurs as their eyes drank in the beauty of her dance, her body, and her face. These men were thugs of little inelegance and easy to seduce. It was then she began to spin. Slowly at first, keeping in rhythm with the chimes on her fingertips, then faster and faster. As she twirled and spun, the real magic began. The men now found it impossible to close their eyes, heat building up within them until their mouths fell open in silent screams. If her screams had to be silent, so did theirs. Faster and faster she spun, her full, silk skirts fanning out around her like a delicate wheel, and then she stopped. Standing perfectly still, she looked about the now quiet room.
All of the big bad dogs were lying dead on the floor, their eyeballs melted from their sockets, the sticky liquid that was once their eyes, oozing down their cheeks and into their filthy beards. The blackened socket that once supported their eyes was charred and smoldering. Their bodies lay twisted and convulsed, portraying the agony in which they died.
Izzy’s inner wolf, Lock, was not happy. He had been promised blood this night. Izzy soothed him, telling him that it was not polite to make a mess in the home of their friends. There would be other nights and other opportunities for blood. There was no need to paint the walls of the Tusk with it. There was enough of a mess to clean up.
Mumma Tusk popped her head up from behind the bar and the two women’s eyes met. They were going to have to have a much longer conversation.

 

[Ravenloft]

With the immediate threat removed, Mamma Tusk let out a shaky breath of relief, but she knew they weren't out of the woods just yet! And now, with all these dead bodies... They were definitely locked into this situation now! There would be hell to pay if the remaining Hellhounds found out about this, and that terrified poor Mamma Tusk! She had only ever been this scared once before...

"Well now... That was quite effective..." Mamma Tusk stammered, looking about in mild shock. "And far less messy than I was expecting... Thank you for that! You truly are an avenging angel! We need to talk, but not here, no one needs to know what I have to tell you..." Mamma was quickly recovering from her shock and horror. There was something strange about her, something that felt oddly familiar. She closed the Tusk and commanded everyone go to their rooms, giving none of her "Children" any room to argue. "And please take poor Mouse to his room... Make sure he stay's out too, or he will most likely continue his temper tantrum."

With that, Mamma Tusk helped Izabella dispose of the bodies, it wasn't as time consuming as it would have otherwise been, considering Mamma Tusks strength and stature, and her exceptionally large furnace! "Grim business..." She muttered once it was done. "Thank you. You and I need to talk in private." She clearly wasn't going to take no for an answer either. "Come with me..." She walked up to her room and let Izabelle in before entering, herself. "Okay... Before you become too suspicious of me... Allow me to explain how I know you and what you are..."

Mamma Tusk explained how she had been born in a far away frontier land full of orc tribes who often raided, raped and pillaged the encroaching human settlers, and how her parents, a mother that could only look upon her with disgust and shame, and a father that hated her for what she symbolized, had no use for her and quickly sold her into slavery, before she ever even had the chance to come of age. The fates only became more cruel, as she was shipped across the seas to meet them. On the boat, she was beaten and bullied, not yet old enough to possess her racial gift of orcish strength and ferocity.

In the middle of the year long journey, the slaver ship was hounded by pirates and scuttled, and she was pressed into service aboard the pirate vessel as little more than a cabin boy. That would have been fine if it hadn't been for the passage of time slowly making it impossible to pretend to be male, and the Captain took special interest in her once she... "Blossomed" Rage filled her heart as her body filled out and Captain... No, not a monster, sick and twisted, but not a monster, at least not until she was of age... Then... Izabelle graciously allowed her to skip over those details.

"I snapped one day, everything went black, and found that when I came to, I was being treated as Captain, but I had to bind my chest and play the role. Perhaps the best time of my life, I admit, I got drunk on lust and power for many years, it was easy, when we gathered such a vast fleet, I had a plan you see, we only took slaver ships, you would be surprised how easy it became! One sight of us and often enough, it was simply a matter of boarding and offering the remaining slaves safe passage home, or a place in our fleet! The work, quite literally did itself!"

Mamma Tusk sighed and rubbed her brow, what she had to admit next shamed her. "I... We... Lost sight of what we were doing somehow... One day, we were following a ship, not a slaver... A woman jumped... We rescued her... I don't know if it was all a ploy... But... My boys... I... Oh... I" Mamma Tusk trembled and covered the space between her breasts, as though she was in sudden and terrible pain. "I should not have let them... Do what they did... I thought it was all in fun..." Her voice was strained and she was crying. "They tried to... Molest the woman... I didn't stop them... Not until they tore her dress open..." But by then, it was too late, my folly cost them all their lives... I wanted to die as well. I didn't fight... That is how I got this..." She pulled her top low enough to show three angry scars between her breasts, they were poorly healed and looked painful "She would have done me in, if she hadn't ruined my wrappings and exposed me for what I am..."

"I don't know why she didn't, but it cost me my entire fleet, they all fled and lift me to die... Only, she wouldn't let me die... I think that was my punishment? Living on? I can't say I blame her. It taught me my lesson. I knew what you were because this damnable scar... It burns whenever one of your kind is near... Weather its a curse or a warning... I felt it acting up not long before you entered the Golden Tusk... I mean you no ill will, I already own you my entire fortune, what's left of it..." She went to a large trunk at the foot of her bed and opened it with a key.

"I have no right to ask this of you, but there are more of those wicked men, they reside in a secret place in the bad side of town, Mouse knows where it is... I do not... If this is not finished... By morning... I fear for us all, there will be retaliation and it will be wrought in fire and in blood... I am terrified, just as terrified as I was that day that I should have died..." She brought out two sheathed blades, cutlasses. "These... Are my heart and soul, I give them to you. I cannot face it, I may look tough, but I am broken inside... Please... Please help me, I am begging you... I don't want to lose this family too..." She held her weapons out to Izabelle, desperation in her eyes.

"They are enchanted, a blood drinker and a soul stealer respectively, but you must become attuned to them, it only takes an hour... Please..." She pushed. "You can have my entire fortune!" She implored.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy listened to her story and her heart went out to her. The scars were so much deeper than her flesh. Before accepting the blades she moved forward and reached out to touch the still swollen scars across Mumma Tusks chest. She had seen this mark before, but never on a living soul. It was a miracle that she had lived at all. This was her mother’s mark. Destiny is a strange and twisted thing, its purpose known only unto its self. She pressed the tips of her fingers gently against the scar and closed her eyes. The scar began to heal, became less angry and was little more than an itch instead of burning pain. Izzy’s mothers blood had put the scar there, the same blood could take it back, well most of it anyway. This woman had paid enough for her sins.
She took the blades from Mumma Tusks hands. She could tell they were precious to her and giving them to Izzy was a great sacrifice. Izzy did not want payment for what she did, or what she had to do. The coin taken from the purses of the dead was more than enough, and most of that she would give to those in need. Her needs were simple and easily met.
The blades were the same size and the scabbards very similar in appearance but there was one major difference. One was warm to the touch, the other cold. It was rare that she had use of any tools other than her magic and the wolf, but she had a feeling that what was to come, would need a little extra. She looked up at Mumma Tusk and nodded her head in thanks. Then she signed, “Show me how to use them, we have work to do”.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mamma Tusk was speechless, somehow, Isabelle's mere touch had lifted the curse of pain from her chest, the scars would likely never go away, but yes, the pain was suddenly lessened to nearly nothing! "The Morninglord bless you!" She gasped in wonder, moved by her actions to her very core. She never thought she would ever know such mercy. Not in this life anyway. And for her to take up her swords? Was she dreaming? Could this nightmare actually be coming to an end? Her soul felt a lightness she had never known before and she was openly crying in front of a practical stranger, but she couldn't help herself.

Before she began showing the dancer how to weild Heart and Soul, she insisted on some sort of payment, pressing a Tusk token like the wooden one she had shown her before into her hand, only this one was made of gold. "This is yours to keep, and any time you come here in the future, you just show that to anyone who works here and you will always get the finest treatment we have to offer! Now! Let me show you how these two operate!" She began walking Isabelle through the process of attunement, it was really just a matter of meditation with the item in hand and could easily be done anywhere at any time, as long as one had at least an hour to focus on the magic within the item they held and allowed themselves to connect with it. "These two are safe and don't demand anything of you, but they are hungry bastards, so beware that you don't let them push you around just to get their food."

Mamma Tusk took a step back and looked Isabelle over while she held the two blades. "You are fearsomely beautiful, every bit of your mother, there really is no way I can thank you enough for what you have done, what you are about to do..." It all fell into place, seeing Isabelle like this. Mamma Tusk realized their strange connection, and knew that she had met this woman's mother long ago, probably before this one had been born. "There is time before what must be don has to be done, a few hours at least and there is a bath waiting for you, it would be a shame to let it go to waste, and there is Mouse who only wants to please you... I hope you will let him... He's a good boy, full of love."

She seemed a little choked up as she mentioned the half elf bard. "He's probably frantically worried about you, the silly child has no idea how powerful you are... Please let him care for you, let him prepare you for what is to come? He will be heart broken if you just leave and I know for a fact he won't try anything you don't permit. He'll bathe you as piusly as a priest of Pelor at sun rise solstice!" Mamma Tusk laughed, wiping away her tears.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Mamma Tusk was right about one thing, she really did need that bath, but the notion of being washed like a child didn’t appeal to her much. It seemed like such a strange and unnecessary thing when she was quite capable of washing herself. When she opened the door to her room though, she was more than a little surprised. Mouse had gone to extraordinary lengths to set up the bath, and then some. The room smelled of lavender, and there was the afterglow of elf magic, probably extinguished when Yvette hit him with the rolling pin. There were flowers and candles, and on the pillow of the bed, a bracelet. She grinned to herself. “This guy works fast. I only checked in yesterday.” Without giving it much more thought she undressed and stepped into the still warm bath. On a night such as this she could hardly afford the time to rest but once her body was emersed in the warm water, it was easy to convince herself that she could stay a few more moments. She could not rest though, nor could she relax. She had to get this done and time had a way of running short when she needed it most. She promised herself that when she returned in the morning, Mouse could wash her back till his hearts content, but right now, she needed to fight while the fight was still keeping her keen. She dried quickly and slipped into a simple shift. Transforming into the wolf had shredded more than a few of her favourite outfits, then wrapped herself in her cloak. Open his door just a little, she could see Mouse, still out cold on his bed, a very guilty looking Yvette watching over him.
At the back door of the tavern, she met with Mamma Tusk. She signed that this could not wait and without hesitation she slipped the shift down over her hips and handed it to her. She would have need of it upon her return, and more hot water to reheat the bath. This made Mamma Tusk smile, though Izzy could not grasp why this was so important to her. Stepping into the shadows she gave Lock his freedom, transforming from woman to wolf in a mater of steps. But he was no ordinary wolf. His kind was thought extinct decades ago. Larger and stronger than a normal wolf, yet as sleek and stealthy as a cat, they were talked about in stories with high regard, and more than a little respect.
The stench left behind by the hellhounds in the bar was an easy trail for him to follow, silently moving through the shadows and listening to the sounds of the night. The trail led him to the darkest side of the city. The streets stank of emptied chamber pots and wretched excuses for human life lay in the gutters, passed out in pools of their own vomit. His thoughts flicked to Izzy “Remind me again why this is worth saving?” Izzy sighed, sometimes she wondered herself.
Lock followed the all to pungent trail to the outskirts of the city where a roughly built camp consisting of tents, tarps and human waste was dimly lit by the remnants of a cooking fire. Pausing, he concealed himself in the shadows, listening to the sounds coming from the camp. Two men were posted at either end of the camp, and one of them was drunk. The remainder of the gang appeared to be asleep with the sounds of snoring, farting and drunken rambling doing little to conceal the gang’s location. Izzy supposed they didn’t think anyone had the balls to attack them. How wrong they were.
Making his way around the camp to the drunk guard, Lock lunged forward and snapped the man’s neck with a single bite from his huge jaws. He felt no satisfaction in the kill though, it was far to easy. The second guard met the same end, death finding him so fast he had no time to make a sound. There were still at least a dozen men, but Lock wasn’t in hurry. He moved from tent to tent, quietly and quickly reducing the gang’s membership. Then the inevitable happened. One of them woke and upon seeing the massive wolf biting into the throat of his tent mate, screamed like a banshee. Lock struck out with his huge paw, his razor-sharp talons slicing so deep into the man’s throat, his head was completely severed from his body, leaving the tent and rolling onto the ground outside. The remaining men began shouting, gathering weapons and trying to work out what hell had been unleashed upon them. Lock was in his element, pouncing from man to man, ripping and tearing at their flesh. He didn’t mind the stench of their unwashed bodies, not when the strong scent of blood filled his nostrils. They came at him with swords and knives, but he was to fast for their big lumbering forms. Finally, he was done, or so he thought. The sound of a footstep breaking a twig caught his attention. One of them had returned to camp late and was attempting to flee through the trees. Lock was upon him in a heartbeat, pinning him to the ground, a large paw in the centre of his chest. The weight of the wolf was enough to break the mans ribs and Lock felt them give way beneath him. The man screamed in pain and fear as Lock moved his paw to cover the man’s mouth and face. He shifted his weight, putting his upper body fully on his front paw. The bones in the mans face began to crack and Locks paw sank into the depts of the man’s skull. When he lifted his paw again it was to shake of the remains of the man’s brains from his claws.
Dawn was not far away, and they had to return to the Tusk before anyone saw him. Time had run out. Rushing through the shadows, Lock took a moment to shake the blood off his dark coat before it had a chance to dry, something Izzy always appreciated. At the back door of the Tusk, Mamma Tusk was still waiting for Izzy’s return. When she saw the huge dark brown wolf approaching from the shadows she almost fled and closed the door. Within a few steps the wolf gave way to a slender golden-haired woman, naked and cold, blood covering much of her body and looking exhausted. Mamma Tusk wrapped her in her cloak and rushed her inside, ushering her up to her room before any of the staff could see her. Now she truly did need that bath and she didn’t care who washed her.

 

[Ravenloft]

"Ooooh... Ow." Mouse groaned, slowly coming to, reaching a hand to rub the sore lump on his head while cracking one eye open. As consciousness slowly flooded back into him, he sat up and, still rubbing his head, looked over at Yvette, who looked entirely too guilty. "Why, Yvette, why?" Mouse asked, the hurt in his voice making it strained. "Because you were hurting yourself, Mouse, an I din't want to see you doin it." Yvette answered, her eyes brimming with tears.

"But..." He began, there was no but to be said. He knew she'd done clocked him on the head out of love. "Why are you always the one watching out for me? Why can't you let me defend myself, and the ones I love, including you?" He asked, dropping his hands into his lap, feeling useless and defeated. "Because, you're just as precious to me as we all are to you, and I don't ever want to see you get hurt, not when I know my soul can take it." Yvette countered, wrapping her arms around him.

"I only wanted the chance to help..." Mouse muttered, shaking in her arms, fighting tears of his own. "I know, luv, I know..." Was all Yvette could manage as she squeezed him tightly. "You do help though, in ways far better than fighting, any idiot can fight, but you... You're the light in the dark, or have you forgotten how happy you make everyone just by being you?" Yvette whispered, ruffling his hair, making it a mess. "Stop it... You're messing up my hair..." Mouse joked, nudging against her like a brother, fighting a grin. "No, you stop..." She replied. "I think you've got somebody waiting on you..." She added with a wink. "She's fine, but I bet she could really use some cleaning up..."

That was all Mouse needed to hear, he was up and out of the room in an instant. He didn't even bother stopping to see what he looked like before coming to Izabelle's door and knocking gently, to see if she would allow him in. "Are you decent? Once for yes, twice for no." He called softly, through the door, not wanting to alert anyone else to his visit, and get teased for it in the morning.

*Elsewhere in the night, a single man walked into the Hellhound's camp, a silent witness of what remained of Lock's slaughter.*

"Well... Shit..." The man growled, toeing a severed head out of his path as he put on a pair of black silk gloves. "What a bloody mess this is... Years worth of work... Gone in one night... Well, someone is going to pay for this..." He said aloud, kneeling beside the dismembered head, touching his index and middle fingers to its brow. "Wake." The man commanded and the heads eyes fluttered open. "Aiee! Get away! Wut? Oh... I'm dead aren't I?" It asked. The quiet man closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his own nose in annoyance. "Yes, Dirk, I am afraid so... Who, or what did this to you? Answer quickly, you only have one breath to speak with, I would not waste it on pointless drivel."

Dirk's eyes went wide and the dead head seemed to consider his final words as carefully as a dead man could. "Was a wolf, a big one! Please tell me kid I lo..." and that was all the breath Dirk had left in him, once again going still. The quiet man closed Dirks eyes for him, pondering his final words. "A wolf.... Hrm..." Ignoring Dirk's attempted final request, he stood back up and brushed off the dirt from his clean pants. "First no word regarding the Tusk... Now this... I am very displeased..." He walked back toward the town of Hallowgrove, under cover of darkness. "I will have to pay Mamma Tusk... A visit..." He growled, grimly.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy slid down in the bath, rinsing the last of the soap and blood from her hair. Closing her eyes, she lay back and enjoyed the warmth. There was a soft knock on her door. “one knock for yes, two for no” she knocked once and the door opened slowly. Mouse stuck his head through the opening, a weird grin on his face. This was the first time he had seen Izzy without a veil covering her hair and face. He seemed a little stunned, or perhaps it was a residual effect of being hit over the head. Izzy signed, asking how the bump on his head was. He pretended to be the tough guy and told her it was nothing, just a bump. She told him she was glad that he ok and also that she would like more hot water for the bath. He almost tripped over his own feet going to fetch it. It was then that Izzy realized that he made her smile. Without doing anything in particular, he managed to make her smile. She wondered if it was elf magic, then concluded, this was Mouse magic, and he was a master.
He returned with a bucket of steaming water and Izzy moved to one end of the tub so he could pour it in. she stretched out, allowing the heat to spread throughout the tub and let herself relax again. Mouse seemed more than a little awkward standing beside the tub with an empty bucket in his hand. Izzy felt she had to save him. Passing him the washcloth and the soap, she asked if he would wash her back. She didn’t know it was possible to drop a bucket and pick up the soap so fast. Once again, she was smiling. Lifting her hair over her shoulder and out of the way, Mouse began to gently move the washcloth across her back. She knew there was dried blood there that she couldn’t reach, and it felt nice to have her back washed.
Mouse tried to be so gentle, but the blood was dried on and required some scrubbing. He apologised continuously for being rough and Izzy did her best to reassure him that it was all good. He didn’t need to treat her like she was made of glass, for she was definitely made of stronger stuff.
The water began to cool and she was ready to get out, signing to Mouse that she needed the towel. He held it out for her as she stepped out of the tub, his eyes not moving from her body for even a moment. She took the towel from him, wrapping it around herself. Fatigue was beginning to take over. She collected the blades Mamma Tusk had given her, the gold medallion, and the bracelet from under the pillows and placed them on the small table beside the bed. She held the bracelet out to Mouse, asking if it was he whom had left it there for her. He blushed, looking about the room and not directly at her. “Pretty ladies should have pretty things, and I have never seen a lady as pretty as you. I hope it’s ok. I had the clasp fixed and the little bells make a sweet sound when it moves”.
Izzy shook the bracelet gently and smiled at the delicate chimes. She presented her wrist to him, asking for him to put it on for her. It certainly was a pretty thing, and something she might have chosen for herself. Leaning forward, she kissed him on the cheek. This was new to her, she had never kissed anyone, let alone been kissed in return. It felt nice. Warm. Intimate. Feeling a little awkward herself, she signed to Mouse that she wanted to sleep now and thanked him again for his gift.
“If there is anything you need, or want, just knock and I will be right here to take care of you. Thankyou for helping us. This is the only family I have ever known and if I was to lose them, I can’t even imagine”,
Izzy placed her hand on his and smiled. She was happy to help. It was several more minutes before Mouse finished thanking her for all she did, and how great it would be if she stayed a while, after all he hadn’t given her the tour of the city yet and there was so much to see. When the door closed behind him she locked it. It was out of habit mostly, but she didn’t want to wake and find him sitting beside the bed and kill him by accident.
The sun had fully risen by the time she climbed between the sheets and despite how tired she was, sleep did not come easy. A nagging feeling stuck with her, this was far from over.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse only needed half as much sleep as the rest of his family, so he was always up and making things ready for the day before anyone else was. He was mooning over Isabelle and everyone could see he was instantly in love with her. Love came easily for him, he didn't care if it was foolish of him either, he trusted his instincts to tell him if he was wrong. He was so absorbed in this feeling that he didn't notice when the burgomaster of Hallowgrove came to the door of the Tusk until his third attempt to catch Mouse's attention.

"Lord Cassius?!" Mouse sputtered as he finally noticed the towns leader at the door and rushed to let him in."To what do we owe this honor of you visit?" Mouse asked, politely, a bit surprised to see such an important man grace the Tusk with his presence. Cassius chuckled, removing us black silk gloves and patting mouse on the head. "I bring the greatest of news, for Mamma Tusk, it would seem Hallowgrove is rid of it worst... I don't know how it happened, but the hellhounds are no more! Every last one of them... Has perished! Something I could not do, dispite all my efforts as Hallowgrove's chosen protector! Is Mamma Tusk available? I must share this exciting news with her, and I feel it must be celebrated!"

Mouse's stomach sank, all that death, and he wanted to celebrate? Sure they were bad people, doing bad things, but... Celebrating their demise? That felt wrong to Mouse. Honoring their lives wasn't very appealing either though, so... "Mamma!!! The Mayor has something to tell you!" Mouse shouted from the common room, grinning, knowing she was not so secretly taken with the stylish and powerful man, all the things he did for the community,the fact that he had helped her set up the Tusk and run it in a town full of humans, when the law literally prevented orc blooded to run a business, let alone own property? She saw him as a champion, a hero of the best kind! A man for change and an open mind, enough to allow her to not only survive in a cruel world, but also thrive in it!

She came down in a too hurried manner, excited to see him, as always, collecting herself as she stood before him. He took her hand and kissed it gently, surprising her, she had never felt so feminine in her life as she did when he was near, the way he treated her was a welcomed change.

How wrong she was about him...