Solo Winter winds and frozen hearts

[Neil Karnus]

Winter 36th 513 AV

The winter winds howled through the streets as the sun sat on the lawless city of Sunberth. The home to one, Neil Karnus, who had roamed these streets since birth. It was his home as it was his brothers, he had gained what little skill he had on these streets. He released a long sigh, another day of the harsh cold that plagued the winter months. He pulled his cloak in tighter to his body, his eyes hidden by his hood as he walked. He ignored contact with others out of protection for himself and them. The fact was you couldn't trust anyone in this city, everyone was out to help themselves and it was no different for Neil. Besides the fact that he only wished to help his brother as well. He gripped the edge of his cloak, yesterday the was a murder in the city. Which wasn't uncommon but the murder of a high ranking gang? Now that was a different story, along with the body was a note. That told of the end of an era in Sunberth, that change was coming and that some guy who called himself the "hound" was bringing it. He laughed, that was stupid. What could one man do in a city of a thousand thugs? Nothing, this man would be found and crushed in the streets before to long.

Sunberth would never change, unless another God decided to take anger upon the city itself, it would remain the same till the end of time. Neil rolled his eyes and chuckled. "What a stupid thought" he mumbled to himself. Neil continued to walk the lonely road, or maybe it wasn't so lonely. He stopped in his tracks, stood before him there were three men. Brutish looking thugs who had taken notice of him. "Shyke" he mumbled, "this is not what I need" he added. "Ay boy. What do you think you're doing walking our streets so late?" one of the thugs asked. Neil remained silent, his eyes watching them as they faced him. "You going to answer kid?" the same thug asked, but still Neil remained silent. "Looks like he's not going to answer, Rick" one of the thicker men looked at the man standing between them. "No respect eh Jare" Rick said, "Maybe we should teach him a lesson" he added with a laugh. The three walked towards Neil, who quickly turned and took off in a full sprint. "Ha! Look at him run Jare! Lets get'em" rick roared out as the three took off after him. "Run little rabbit run" they called to him as they chased him.

Neil ran as the cold air filled his lungs, it burnt him inside. The feeling of the chill grasping the walls of his lungs made it harder to breath. He didn't know how long they would chase him, but he kept running. He turned down an alleyway and leaned against the wall. His breath was heavy as he looked around the alley. As far as he could tell they were gone, he had escaped. "Bless Leth" he said under his breath as he rested. it wasn't unusual for thugs and gang members to be patrolling the streets, but they seemed more aggressive. 'Was it because of the murder?' he thought to himself. "This stupid hound is going to make life harder for all of us. What does some petching outsider think he can do" he spat. He sighed and pulled his cloak against his body and turned down the alley, making his way towards the exit. "You sure can run fast" Rick said, a wicked grin spread across his face. Teeth had rotten out from years of mistreatment. "Now what was that about the hound? You know 'em? Hmm" he asked Neil, stepping closer to him. His two brutish thugs standing behind him, menacingly grinning and cracking their fingers. "I don't know nothing about him" Neil mumbled, which was true. He had just heard the rumors that spread around the town like wildfire. "Yeah... I don't believe you. So we'll just beat it outta ya" Rick said. "Kick his arse Jare" he said, stepping aside and letting the big brute behind him step forward. The thug had a few scares on his face, and was completely bald. His face was that even a mother couldn't love, one that even a jungle cat would be afraid of, he was ugly. Neil quickly moved to remove his cloak. His hands numb from the cold, he undid it as soon as Jare had thrown one of his huge fist square into Neil's jaw knocking him to the ground. Neil spat, his jaw felt like he had gotten hit by a brick. He rolled and stood up to his feet, looking at his opponent. He was a bit bigger then Neil, wider at least. That would make him slower, he thought as the hulking thug came running at him again. He swung his arm out in a wide arc. Neil ran towards him, ducking under his arm and turning around so he was facing Jare's back. He kicked out at his enemies leg, catching the back of his knee with his kick. The thug dropped down to one knee, his face grimaced in pain. "You little petching punk" Jare groaned as he stood back on his two feet. He faced Neil and growled.

"Im going to sma-" Jare begin to speak, as Neil brought his fist up to his chest and jabbed forward, catching Jare straight in the mouth. The thug grunted in pain and swung wildly, Neil jumped back avoiding the hit but being caught by the other brutish thug who wrapped his arms around Neil and tossed him to the ground like he weighted nothing. Neil rolled on the ground before he landed, he sat up his on all fours and began to stand before he took a knee to the jaw. Sending him crashing back to the ground knocked unconscious. Rick stood over him with the same snarling grin he had before. "You little Shyke" he said, "Check him" he added as he leaned against the wall. The two other thugs turned him over not finding more then about 10 copper coins, that they pocketed. "Aint got nothing on him boss" Jare said, as he climbed to his feet again. "Ah who cares. Lets go, its cold out here" Rick groaned. The three trotted off back to their business leaving Neil in a heap on the ground. He groaned in pain, he pushed himself up. His cloak laid on the ground covered in dirt and his jaw stung. He rubbed his hand over the sore spots and pushed himself to his feet walking over to the discarded cloak. "Petching thugs" he mumbled, he hated this city and everyone who lived here. But he couldn't do much about it, he didn't have the money to just leave. But the thugs ran wild and there wasn't much one could do about it besides protect themselves, if they could even manage that. He wrapped his cloak back around him and walked out of the alley. Over the next few days, his body would be bruised and sore. A price he would have to pay for walking so late. He sighed and made his way back home, praying for Leths protection as he went.

"Thug speak" "Neils speak" "Neils thoughts"

[Matthew]

Neil

Neil, it doesn't look like you have updated your Ledger to reflect Seasonal Living Expenses for Winter. I can't grade this until that update is made. Whenever you have updated it, please let me know and I can edit this post to include your grade. thank you!

A shout-out to Ollic Rimesage, who was kind enough to make this template for me.