Kay, I'm not done Bloodhound yet (I'm drawing it out!) so if anything contradicts anything in here... just pretend it doesn't ;)


Beka didn't know how much she had drunk. She remembered declining the ale, but somehow she was persuaded into drinking, and drinking, and drinking some more, until the rusher who was talking to her was suddenly multiplying, and how were there suddenly three smirking, obnoxious coves in front of her?

He was awfully close. She could smell his breath as he smiled. He had yellow teeth, and the first two were missing. He had a patch over one eye. His hand was on her leg, and when she went to push it off, he grabbed her hand.

She was confused and annoyed and disoriented, so she went to her last resort (it was humiliating and she would never admit that she did it, but it always worked):

"Rosto's not going to be h-ha- happy."

"Come on love, we're having fun, aren't we?"

The three rushers now moved even closer, so she said it again.

"Rosto, he... he won't be... he won't like it."

"No, Rosto, won't like it," a menacing voice came from behind her. The three rushers moved away, and she breathed in relief. She stood up, wobbled, and walked away, glad to be away from the man. Behind her, she heard Rosto say, "don't think I'll forget your face," before he came after her.

Beka looked up at him. "There are three of you."

He smiled thinly. "Do you remember why you don't drink?"

She nodded.

"Any why not?"

She glared. "Don't talk to me so con-conde- con... meanly."

Rosto laughed. "Come on Beka. Let's get you back to your room. I promise I won't be con- conde- con mean anymore."

She glared again and tried to get away, but when she walked away she wobbled and would have fallen if he hadn't have been there to catch her.

"Where's Kora and Ana-Aniki?"

"Kora is with Ersken. Ana-Aniki is feeding your dog, who you have neglected."

She gasped. "Achoo! Oh no!"

He grabbed her arm. "No need to run off again. You'll only fall over."

She glared. He looked at her and smirked. "Your eyes aren't quite so scary when they're glazed over, Beka."

He helped her up the stairs and let her into her room. Pounce gazed at them with angry purple eyes.

"Don't look at me; I'm just making sure she's home safe."

Pounce glared at Beka. I know full well this is her own foolish doing. Beka collapsed on her bed and tried to snuggle up to her cat, but he jumped off and stalked away, tail held high.

This had better not become a habit of yours, Beka, he said before leaving. Rosto shook his head and came over to Beka. He held up the blankets.

"Come on, Beka. Crawl under."

She tried to glare and failed, before she crawled under the covers and snuggled up. Rosto leaned over and tucked the covers tighter around her. She looked up at him.

"Are you going to kiss me?" She asked.

"No," he answered.

"Why not?" She said, puzzled. He leaned back and looked at her.

"Because, Beka, no matter what you wish to think of me, I'm not the type of cove to take advantage of a mot when she doesn't know which way is up."

Beka's arm shot up and pointed to the ceiling. "That way's up."

He smiled and put her arm back down at her side. "Very good, Beka."

She yawned. Finally she said, "Thank you, Rosto."

"Could you maybe write that down? So that tomorrow, when you're sober, you can remember that you were actually appreciative of me for once."

She glowered. "Get out of my room."

"Ah, the fleeting moment of love is overtaken by animosity once again."

"I don't... I don't love you."

He sighed. "Don't I know it." He made to leave, but she felt the need to clarify.

"But I don't... hate you, either."

He gave her a surprised glance, and then walked over and kissed her gently on the forehead.

"Good night, Beka. If Kora isn't here when you wake, I have a hangover remedy that works wonders."

But she was already asleep. He tucked her in tighter and then quietly left.