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[Corwin]

"Oh, well," Henrietta fumbles for the right words, taking a step back, "I don't think you need to worry about that. I kept on risking my life without knowing about what you did or, you know, that reassurance. But I would like to believe it was not mindless or senseless in any way."

As her general awareness returns, so does her embarrassment at causing a public scene grow, and Henrietta turns away. "I was thinking of getting a-- a dog, that is, a guard dog, actually. N-Not because it is Hecate's animal or anything of the sort." She sneaks a quick peek at Vriskna before averting her eyes again. When she speaks again, however, Henrietta's voice no longer stutters. "But if you are not busy, maybe you would like to help me pick the right one?"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

As Henrietta sneaks her peek she can see that Vriskna is once more wearing her usual condescending smile. "A dog, hmm? Well, perhaps one of these four would suit your tastes?" she invites, as the black dog by her feet woofs and wags its tail. At Vriskna's words the other three canines lingering around the shrine pad over and line up neatly to sit facing the sorceress, this doing nothing to diminish the growing number of people stopping to gawk.

The black dog has a mid-length coat and floppy ears that manage to rise up just a little before bending over and falling down the sides of its head, long tongue lolling out and panting while its tail wags and thumps the ground behind it.

Next to it is a much smaller terrier, its very short fur mostly white except for a mottled brown and black patch on its left flank, prickly upthrust ears and an almost buzzing short pointed tail. It makes a happy yap at Henrietta's scrutiny.

The third dog is the largest of the bunch, a ponderously moving and lazy looking hound with sagging jowls and big ears dangling flat down the sides of its head. It seems content to just sit there idly catching the sun on its reddish-brown coat, and the only response it gives to Henrietta's gaze is a cavernous yawn that shows off very large teeth.

The last member of the pack is a greyish-white skinny canine that seems to exude haughtiness, sitting perfectly straight as if a soldier at parade rest, the only movement betrayed by its upthrust and occassionally twitching or swivelling ears.

[Sierra]

"Meant what I said," Lucie offers on parting, whether Hermann wants to hear it or not. "There's ever trouble you all can't deal with on your own, just let me know."

Having said her piece, Lucie heads home--well, to her old home--as there's still one person left to see in Shadowshore. All words to the contrary, she looks forward to not coming back after this. Not for a while, at least.

[Ebiris]

Rudy

Heading out Shadowshore way intent on getting answers about Maya's sordid past, Rudy has a little trouble with ruffians wishing to divest him of his hard earned gold, but a sharp word or two and Myra's gentle ministrations are enough to see such foolishness off without any great harm to either party. Unfortunately he doesn't find the Cobra Fangs immediately in evidence either in or around the rum distillery they habitually hang out at. It's only when he's about to give up hope that mercy is shown in the form of Hermann leading his abbreviated gang out of old Rabbani's shop, a scowl on his face and a small cloth bag in his hands. The overweight Dawley ambles along lazily behind him, while young Maya twirls and skips to a song only she can hear, her terrifying (did it grow spines recently?) ophidian slithering to and fro on either side of her.

[Carthrat]

Putting on the cheerful face that only those completely certain that everybody wishes to see them can wear, Rudy waves towards the Cobra's remnants and approaches at fast clip. "Afternoon, gentlemen and ladies," he remarks, undeterred by Hermann's grim expression. "Folks got a few minutes for some serious discussion?"

[Ebiris]

Rudy

Maya skips to a halt and waves cheerfully. "Hello Myra!" she calls, clasping her hands behind her back and walking over to examine Rudy's eidolon, ooohing and aaahing over the extradimensional horror's new fins and other appendages, while her snake warily follows her.

"Rudy, right?" Hermann's expression at least becomes marginally polite, stuffing the bag into his pocket with a jingle of coin. "What's up?" he asks, starting to walk towards the nearby brewery and tavern.

[Carthrat]

"The same. Wanted to come by and have a chat about the youngster's circumstances," replies Rudy, glancing briefly at Maya whilst Myra poses for her benefit. "Or, rather, how she arrived at 'em. Seems like it should be concerning to me."

[Corwin]

That condescending smiles helps put Henrietta on a defensive better than anything else could, and she collects the shards of her composure and meshes them back together until they stick.

"You all seem very nice dogs," she tells the animals, her gaze alternating between the four. If Vriskna can talk to the dogs and get them to respond, so can she! There is nothing mystical whatsoever about smart animals. "Which of you wants to help guard my home? It is very nice and there is plenty of room, but it can also be a bit loud at times and I might need to leave from time to time for my job. I promise to leave a nice person behind to care for you if I do, however."

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

The black dog barks loudly in response to Henrietta, wagging its tail, while the little terrier next to it bounces up and down on its paws, seemingly filled with nervous energy. The other two are more restrained, the big dog lying down and resting its head on its forelegs, looking up with sad soulful eyes, and skinny dog betrays no reaction at all.

Rudy

Hermann grunts and continues on into the nearby tavern, the rest of his gang following. "Figured you might be interested in something like that," he allows, waiting until everyone has a mug of paint-thinner or rum or whatever they call it around here - with the exception of Maya herself who forgoes beverages entirely, sitting against her snake while the others use the table. "So, I figure you didn't pick up your creepy pal the way Maya got Midolin - you've hardly got that vibe," the tall bald man leans on the table, facing Rudy. "So what did you want to know in particular?"

[Carthrat]

"Can't say my nerves weren't thoroughly wracked by the end of it. Got a real taste for drink right after," replies Rudy, reaching out to drink his mug of distilled pain (nothing can be worse than the drugs, after all.)

"These things ain't natural, and by that I don't mean they're from hell or whatever- mean, they could be, but I ain't certain. What I mean is that there's got to be some sort of method you can use to give people these magical monstrosities, something a person did. I guess what I wanna know is who's dreamed it up, where they are or were, and why."

He takes a big gulp, and sets down his drink with a heavy breath. "I figure the others might tell you I protest too much over it. Gotta be hundreds of people out there who want a bit of power for themselves, y'know? But even now, Myra still leaves me all uneasy. So that's what I wanna know, and why I want to know it. As it pertains to Maya, well. Where'd it happen, and how?"

[Corwin]

Henrietta takes that loud bark as her answer. The black dog must want to go home with her the most.

"Are you sure?" she asks, focusing on that dog now. "Assassins might attack me again at some point. That is, I hope not, but I suppose it is a possibility. If you are brave and wake me up, however, well... I am certain we can win against them!"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

The black dog springs to its feet and barks again, bouncing on its paws and spinning in a circle before wagging its tail furiously and barking again as it looks up at her.

"It seems you chose well," Vriskna muses, tapping a slender finger against her chin as she watches for a moment before leaning down to ruffle the scruff of the dog's neck for a long moment. "So to formalise your new friendship, surely you should provide this fellow with a name?"

Rudy

"Not something I know a huge amount about," Hermann admits, nursing his cup as Rudy discovers the foul alcohol brewed here burns his throat and clears his sinuses as thoroughly as before. "'Tween Maya and Lucie we've had to get some handle on magic, but you'd hardly call us experts."

"Best we can figure, Maya used to be normal... so was Lucie when she was a kid, so take that for what it's worth. She didn't meet the snake or get any of her other powers until after she was taken away."

"It was cold there," Maya speaks up now in a faraway voice, "The rocks were jagged and damp, and in the dark I'd cut myself on them..." her head swivels around to regard Rudy with a beatific smile, "I like wood more," she pats the filthy floorboards under her.

[Carthrat]

"Better food and better company here too, right?" asks Rudy, eyeing Maya with curiosity.

"Taken away means kidnapped, right? That sounds like a story."

[Corwin]

Henrietta only hesitates for a moment before she copies Vriskna's actions, reaching down to pat her dog. It would probably take some work to care for him, but her father would surely just say it is all good training for the future to learn how.

"How about Val?" she asks the dog. "Do you like that? It is a very noble name from my land of birth, I will have you know!"

[Ebiris]

Henrietta

The newly dubbed Val barks happily at receiving his name, bounding up to put his paws on Henrietta's legs and start licking and slobbering over her face. Vriskna straightens up and covers her mouth with her hand, observing the scene.

"He clearly approves," she murmurs, hiding her mirth unsuccessfully. "I'm sure you'll be much safer with him watching over you."

Rudy

"I... can't remember," Maya admits, looking lost, her gaze faraway. "I remember the cave, but not where I lived before... it was here, though. It feels right," she murmurs vacantly.

"She comes and goes," Hermann coughs awkwardly. "Sometimes she'll mention something from further back, but ask her about it later..." he shakes his head, "Gone."

"We've pieced together bits. Whoever her family was around here, they're gone now... figure either they got a fat pay-day and did like Lucie did, or they got themselves dead," he elaborates harshly. "Lots of people disappear in Shadowshore, ain't exactly something most folks bother noting after a while."