Maelstrom

Chapter 3:

Ruse's POV

Your stomach growled loudly as you readjusted your compass, damn thing might as well be broken for your lousy sense of direction.

You look back up towards the direction you thought to be where land was.

Ah-ha! There we go. You laugh as you begin to navigate through the rocky waters that seem to calm the closer you get to the shoreline.

Tying up your dinghy you make your way through what looks to be a village of some sorts, small but not too small. A bit noisy and rowdy but nothing compared to some of the cities you've visited. It seems like a fairly small town compared to some of the others you've been at and you're feeling a little thankful for that. It would suck if it was a bustling city- there would be people there likely to sell you off, bounty or no bounty.

You shivered before shaking the unpleasant thought from your mind.

Golden eyes narrow in keen calculation as you grin.

People are milling and strolling through town, and right ahead of you is exactly what you were searching for.

Food.

Your grin widens as you throw your hood up, covering your face in case of any locals that may know you. It's always better to be cautious and careful in new environment- even if you were a low-tier bounty, you were still an outlaw. It didn't matter what crimes you've committed -whether they were petty or large- having a bounty meant that more often than not you had to constantly be on your guard for anyone that knew who you were.

After fixing your appearance a little -misconstruing your gender was easy when wearing a cloak like yours and the first thing you always do to avoid any unnecessary attention- you place your hood back into its usual position over your head. Another moment of momentary pause as you carefully shift your muzzle into place over the lower half of your face, hiding the scars that stained your skin.

You inhale softly, mentally preparing yourself before pushing open the wooden swing-doors to a lovely little place called 'Party's Bar.'

"Welcome what can I get for you today Sir?" A soft feminine voice calls from behind the bar stool. Ah, easy as pie, even women thought you were a guy, well as seeing how you were dressed, plus having been used to binding your chest, you were more than okay with it. Made life a little easier on you to forgo any attention to your hidden fairer sex.

Being perceived as a woman, even a sixteen year old one, was not something you were partially comfortable with. It made your skin itch when drunk men tried to wrap their grubby paws all over you for simply having womanly attributes. They expected you to bow your head and prostate yourself before them, thinking that you were lesser than they were- and for what reason? Because they were men? It was infuriating. That's why you were perfectly content with being misconstrued for a man instead of your true gender, and even purposefully wore misleading attire. It was much easier for you to get around and do your business without any extra attention paid to you. Honestly, you were vexed about having to hide away your own identity at first -but after a few risky encounters in back alleyways and crooked markets- well, let's just say that you were more than happy to keep up the ruse.

"Could I get 6 servings of meat? And some water please." You made sure your voice was an even pitch- having plenty of experience with mimicry you were proud to say that your voice rang out at not quite male, not quite female- but something in between.

The woman behind the counter poked her head up, green curls bouncing as she gave you a once-over look before grinning at you.

"Of course. And will that be all for you kiddo?" Her voice was sweet and polite.