Friends Again

[black shadow]

Closed to Ashla)

Dead Man's Drink was as loud as always with the sounds of the local farmers singing their songs and the travelers fighting. If you were not dragged into a fight yourself, it was always fun to watch the others fight and almost kill eachother. On occasion there would be an unlucky traveler who would order their specialty drink, an ale so powerful that no one has made it through more than half the drink before being drink. Those that managed to finish the ale would pass out or even die. This is where the drink, and the bar for that matter, received its name, Dead Man's Drink. If you were a traveler and needed a place to stay you could rent out a room for the night. There were enchantments for each room o that no sound could enter the rooms, or leave, unless that is your room or you work at the inn.

Black Shadow sat in the far corner, his usual spot, watching all the fights, laughing to himself when he watched someone fall unconscious. The fights amused him as he watched the drunk men throw punches left and right. One man stood up and was so drunk that when he threw a punch it completely missed and he fell over. Black Shadow could see a young boy, not old enough to drink, order the Dead Man's Drink. Black Shadow just shook his head, knowing what was to come. The waitress gave the usual warning about the drink, but he insisted. Within a few minutes the waitress returned with the drinks. The boy took one sip and put it down, the burn from the alcohol was a new feeling to him. The sweet taste had a way of making you want more, and he put it to his lips again, his friends cheering for him. He did not even make it half way before collapsing. The boy's friends stopped, shocked, and checked for his pule. There was none.

This was always a sad moment, to see one bad decision end the boy's life. Black Shadow then motioned or the waitress to come to him. "Ah, Master Shadow, how are you?" The waitress asked. He just nodded, the way they learned for him to say good. "What could I get for you?" She asked. Black Shadow put up two fingers. "Ah, the usual, right away," she said turning to the counter.

He continued to watch all that went on around him. When his drink arrived he thanked the waitress. She walked off to tend to the other customers, stepping over the bodies of unconscious men. He took a sip of his drink, taking in the flavor. one of the reasons he loved this bar so much was that the liquor had a taste like no other bar that he had been to. When he put his drink down he noticed someone moving towards him, his hand in a fist and obviously looking for a fight.

Here we go.

[Ashla]

Dead Man's Drink.

Located in dead skeletons trying to make you dead too land.

It had been... quite the trek... to civilization through woodlands and plains where diseased animals and walking corpses wanted to maim you. Of course though, an Icebreaker of the chilly mountains of Eiskalt, Ashla managed.

Her appearance really told of her struggle though. A finger bone was rested in her rustled hair, which usually was at least combed. Her shirt had a large rip at her left side, her steel chainmail shining through. Her black shorts were on a bit crooked, not centered. The loose spaulders hooked to her knee high boots clunked with each step. Her eyes had circles that had circles under their circles. Her eyes were lifeless and bland - she was unenthusiastic and unamused. This young lady was taking no crap at this late hour.

She walked up to the closest bar, not even caring to read the sign (she could care less about her surroundings at this point) before walking in.

When she walked inside, she was pretty sure she was either hallucinating or she just entered the wrong joint.

[black shadow]

Black Shadow allowed the drunk to throw the first punch, for obvious reasons. When the fist was sent his way, Black Shadow simply moved his head a few inches and the drunk nearly broke his hand on the hard wood. a quick kick sent the man flying a few feet into another man whose back was turned. They both fell over, and Black Shadow could not help but laugh. This went away quickly though, when a few others noticed how easily Black Shadow defeated the man and turned their attention towards him. This happened way more often than Black Shadow liked.

He was forced to stand and fight, he could not fight off so many people while seated. Black shadow threw a few punches, but mainly ducked and dodged, causing the men to beat on each other. It was always fun to be in a bar brawl. At one point he had grabbed the hair of one man and slowly turned facing each drunkard in the brawl, laughing to himself. All fights seemed to stop suddenly, when a newcomer entered the bar. Black Shadow turned, still holding the man by his hair, to see who entered. He was surprised to see who it was, his longtime friend, Ashla.

He dropped the man and pushed through the men to the door, hoping she would recognize him.

[Ashla]

I don't have time for this crap, Ashla thought, No time to deal with this bar fighting and crap and-

Her thoughts came to a halt, eyes slightly brightening up, at the familiar person at the center of the fight. Even though he was mostly cloaked and shadowed, there was something familiar about him... but what?

Who knew? Once again, she could be hallucinating.

She reached up and pulled a finger bone out of her hair, dropping it as she gave all those around her a cold stare, "Move it."

Surprisingly, several people cleared a path through this horrid, ale reeking, mess of a joint for her to walk up to the counter. Despite her size, she seemed to carry some type of commanding presence. It was odd, as she was still young. Yet, she had this weight that surrounded her. She sword at her hip proved more than even her almost emotionless expression that she was an experienced fighter. She stepped through the crowd effortlessly and walked up to the counter. She tossed a coin on the counter, "Hot apple cider. Revitalizing, hot, steaming, apple freaking cider."

The bar manager, who seemed as dead as her, nodded. Ashla looked back towards the crowd as she waited... what was so familiar about that cloaked man? She'd been through so much throughout the years, and her mind was unstable as jell-o, she was deep in thought looking back. The poor bartender seemed just as caught up, looking back to her and shrugging, "What was that, ma'am?"

Her eyes briefly flashed ice blue in her temper, impatience seeping out slowly, as she gritted her teeth. "Hot apple cider." She even started using sign language, motioning to him with her hands, "You know, from apples."

Suddenly, her eyes grew big times bigger. She knew who she had seen back there. For all the stupid crap the day had put her through, a smile crossed her face. Was it true? Was it him? The person who taught her sign language to begin with all those years ago? A whisper escaped her lips, "Black Shadow..."

Ashla turned hastily back to the wreckage of the bar entrance. Her long, black hair whipped around as her weary smile only grew. "Black Shadow!" She called.

[black shadow]

Black Shadow continued to push his way through the men, having to throw a few men to reach her. They joined in a hug, knowing how long it has been since they have seen eachother.

She looked... different upon closer inspection, Black Shadow just could not tell what it was. For a starter she was not pregnant anymore.

Black Shadow turned to the bartender and asked for another drink. He watched as the bartender poured a fresh ale into the mug.

"How have you been? Where is your daughter?" He signed to Ashla. She looked extremely tired, and a little beat up. He waited patiently for her to reply.