Dragons of Failing Street Lamps
Okay, first off, this is my first Dragonlance fic, so go a little easy please? Which I come to second point, I'm only on the first book, but I love it a lot and trying to keep info correct.
Though let me say, this is an AU, in a 'modern' version of Krynn, to make it funnier, more interesting, I don't know. A few characters may be a bit OOC, because 1)this is my first time handling them, and 2)a different world would alter a person's personality at least a little.
So yeah, enjoy. I'd love comments, constructive criticism, whatever. Enjoy…I hope.
The rain fell like a heavy mist in the streets, intensifying the gloomy atmosphere. The shuffling of people hurrying indoors, and then silence, save for the occasional harsh coughing from under the flickering street lamp.
Flint Fireforge bustled down the street as fast as his dwarven legs could take him. Caught in the rain again, his rheumatism would get him for it later, if not now. His boots splashing through puddles overpowered the constant drizzle of rain only for seconds at a time. He pulled his jacket up tighter around his ears.
"Miserable rain…" he muttered, sprinting across the street as the walk sign faded and a car horn sounded.
"Miserable city…" Flint turned the corner and the lights seemed dim. Darkness was prevailing it seemed, in more ways than one. Finally he saw a familiar landmark; he would be home and indoors soon. The street lamp brightened then dimmed, flickering in the dark. Underneath stood two familiar shadows.
"Miserable delinquents…" The old dwarf walked by the two quickly, having no interest in them. The larger of the two was handsome and muscular, his brown hair hanging loose down to his shoulders and his face was usually kind. However, that changed when anyone dared pester his companion. An obscure young man, the smaller of the two was thin and often referred to as creepy. He shivered in the rain, despite his heavy trenchcoat, but his odd eyes burned like fire. The two would arrive in that spot, day by day, to do their business, even for just an hour.
The larger didn't seem at all bothered by the rain, though he cast concerned looks to his companion as the smaller's coughs increased, wracking his body. He spoke to the smaller, which Flint could not hear over the rain, who nodded and replied. Leaning on a thin black cane, the white-haired young man led his other out of the light of the lamp, returning to wherever they stayed when off the street.
Well, Flint thought, looks like those two idiots do have some brains afterall, finally getting out of this weather… As though to add to his thoughts, a sudden rumbling of thunder caught his attention. He picked up his pace again and hurried home.
The dwarf could remember, many years ago, when the city had once been beautiful, clean and filled with life. But now most of the city was like this gloom wafting through the streets. Gangs, dark creatures, and other strange things had followed soon after. Like those two and others…
They're not that bad, the dwarf considered, compared with the last dealers that had roamed this block.
The last group had been a small group of young men who had enjoyed making ruckus as much as they enjoyed their own drugs. Then those two had come; at least they were quiet, anyway.
"Finally!" Flint breathed a sigh of relief as he reached the door of the small apartment building. Turning the handle, he pushed the door open, and noticed the movement beside him.
"The kender…" he murmured to the small boyish creature beside him. He had learned only last week that the 'boy' was really a kender. All that time before he had merely thought him a young lad who liked to shoot rocks at the dealers with his slingshot. Of course, this other alternative was not much better.
"Hi!" the kender replied gaily, rising. He looked like any street scrounging kid, a tee shirt with a sleeveless plaid jacket and blue cutoffs. Underneath those were what appeared to be leggings to keep his legs warm and floppy old-school shoes. A black baseball cap with a letter "D" sewed on the front was perched on his head, held in place by the crushed topknot that fell out above the strap in back.
Gathering his collection of trinkets back into a sack, which he retied to his belt, the kender spun on his heals and began to head into the rain.
"They've already gone home." Flint stated before the kender could get soaked needlessly. The lad turned back to him at this, and then looked at the assortment of watches on his wrist, all set to different times.
"They've left early then."
"They can't sell in this weather." the dwarf explained impatiently.
"Well…and I had a funny tale to tell Caramon too."
"Which one's he?" Flint inquired, stepping into the building.
"The big one!" At this, the kender held out his arms to prove his point.
"I'll remember that. Go home."
Flint saw the kender running down the street as the door shut behind him. He turned and marched gruffly up the stairs. The half-elf was probably all comfortable, while he left waterfalls on the stairs!
More to come. I'm relieved, 'cause I've had this nasty writers block thing for months now. Then I had this idea, a dumb one, but suddenly the block broke apart and the way was lit to me. So, I wrote something…yay!