“So you got another offer last night?” Ed asked Raven as he poured her another cup of coffee.

Raven was seated at the counter of the bar, eating a plate of eggs with some bread. Frankly, the eggs were the only good plate at the Dog Pound, and the bread was subpar. It was this hard slice of a loaf of bread. Ratsgrove was too poor to get access to the high-quality bread of the Nile’s more prosperous districts like Rosegarden and Dove’s end, the two richest districts of the Nile. Raven had been to Rosegarden once, it was like a whole different country compared to Ratsgrove.

“The starting price is 10 silver pieces. I’ll be taking a trip to Mourning Bridge later after I finish up with some business first,” Raven grinned. “How’s Burt by the way?”

Ed chuckled. “Why don’t you see for yourself?” He said pointing behind Raven.

Raven turned around to see Burt taking someone’s order. He had his forehead bandaged up. He also seemed tamer. He was more polite, not as loud and rowdy as he usually was. Ed told Raven that Ed had threatened (in a joking manner) to fire Burt if he kept being a jerk. Burt being Burt didn’t understand the joke. Burt turned around and saw Raven and Ed staring at him. Raven waved at him and laughed when she saw Burt clench his fists, crumpling the order he just took.

“You want to join me, Ed?” Raven asked, turning back to her plate. “Like old times?”

Ed shook his head. “Sorry Raven, but my criminal days are over. I’ve been caught too many times to my liking; I’ve made my fortune, which I used to open the Dog Pound.”

Ed used to be a bodyguard for a once very active drug dealer. Ed with his brute-like appearance, his massive size was very intimidating. He didn’t look intimidating mind you, he was clean-shaven, almost bald, with a grizzly beard, dim brown eyes. His presence and height was what made him intimidating. He was huge compared to most people, standing easily at seven feet. He had an extremely well-trained body. Ed made lots of money being a bodyguard, as the crime ring, he worked for distributed a drug ironically called Ratsnest as it was only present in Ratsgrove. The drug numbs its user out, rendering them almost lifeless as they experience wave after wave of euphoria. It is extremely popular as it’s a drug for people to use to forget about their problems, like alcohol except much worse. The drug was extremely addictive, and overdoses became an epidemic. Unfortunately, if someone overdosed on Ratsnest, the drug would mess with their brain, effectively killing them.

Ed was a victim of the drug that made him all his money. He caught his brother overdoes and die. He hid his fortune and eventually turned on his employer, confessing to the Nile Wardens. He served five years, and then using his fortunes he hid, opened the Dog Pound.

Raven shrugged. “Was worth a shot,” she finished her last sip of coffee. She paid her tab, plus a little extra before making her way out of the tavern and onto the cobbled roads of Ratsgrove.

Ratsgrove looked just as gloomy today. A thick mist had settled in over the urban area of the district, with smoke billowing out of the chimneys of the stone houses. People talked in hushed tones, crowded together in groups. Beggars were everywhere, mostly ignored, but the desperate ones were easily compared to rabid animals, effectively giving the title of “The Rabid”. The wandering police always kept an eye on them and put them in their place if need be. It was not an uncommon sight to see authorities dragging bodies away, or seeing dead bodies being ignored on the streets.

Raven made her way into the center of the city, where a statue of Nile Grove could be seen. According to legend, Nile Grove is the man responsible for the creation of the Nile, and he started right here. Though this district used to be the ancient capital, it eventually became what it now is. The capital was moved to the district of Golden Nile, the Marquis at the time renamed this district Ratsgrove.

Raven walked past the statue and into a shop called “Rats & Mice”. The name fooled many, but the shop was an armory. She walked into the shop, a bell jingling, to announce her arrival.

“Just a moment!” someone yelled from the back of the store.

While Raven waited for the shopkeeper, she looked around the store to see if there was any new merchandise. There were some new items, like walking canes with a knife, hidden daggers, but nothing that impressive. Apart from that, the shop was still the same old shop that Raven knew. Raven walked to the front counter, leaning against it, waiting. The shopkeeper came out from the back, her face lighting up when seeing her customer.

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“Raven, it’s so good to see you!” she said, jumping over the counter to give Raven a hug.

Raven had just enough time to brace herself for the bone, crushing hug she was about to get. Unfortunately, it didn’t help as she could imagine her bones just breaking from the hug.

“It’s good to see you too,” Raven said through clenched teeth. “Remember what I said about close physical contact?”

Creek let go of Raven apologizing profusely as Raven took a deep breath.

“Sorry sorry, keep forgetting that you’re claustrophobic,” Creek said laughing.

“I’m not claustrophobic! How many times do I have to say it? I just like my personal space.”

Creek shrugged. “What can I help you with today Raven?”

“I’m here for my order,” Raven explained, taking out a slip of paper from her pockets.

Creek took the paper and went into the back store, rummaging for the order.

Raven has known Creek for a while now, if a specific date had to be placed, it would be a little over two years. Raven knew Creek wasn’t her real name, but until now, she couldn’t decipher the enigma that was Creek, so Raven quickly gave up. Creek is also a thug, a lowlife, though that wasn’t surprising, considering that nearly everyone in Ratsgrove is in one form or the other; a crook. Creek is a moonshiner, making her own, very addictive booze and has cashed in quite a bit of money. She used that money to open up this store to act as a front. Make some legitimate money to throw off the authorities so her illegal business would go rather unnoticed.

Raven and Creek teamed up to aid in expanding their wealth. They formed somewhat of a friendship, but they kept it most of the time professional, well Raven did. Creek was an eccentric, outgoing girl, unlike Raven. She was always happy dealing with customers or hanging out with her fellow Mooners. She was also deviously pretty. Sporting silky, golden locks with emerald, green eyes, somewhat chubby cheeks, but it somehow added to her charm. She had a well-developed body, a good pair on her chest. Creek wasn’t afraid of using her body to get a bit more money and she was fine with that. Her body got the attention of many lustful men and jealous women, one of whom is Raven.

Raven never cared much for her appearance, in fact, her “childlike” body that Creek claimed she had, has been more beneficial to Raven then having a developed one. Raven was a thief; her slim appearance allowed her for quick escapes, faster movement, better hiding. When in public, no one turned to look at her, which was good, yet when Raven was beside Creek, she couldn’t help but feel jealous. Raven sported black, oily hair almost like she dumped a canister of oil on herself. She had a petite, slim body with sub-par breasts. She also wasn’t very tall, making her the target for a lot of child jokes. The only redeemable physical feature Raven had was her golden eyes, bright gold eyes that seemingly could pierce the night.

Creek came back from the back store with two daggers. They were sheathed in their little black scabbards. Raven unsheathed the blades. Two jagged black blades, with a line of red running down the middle of the blades. The hilts were decorated in silver and onyx engravings, little skulls and whatnot. Raven tried the sharpness of the blades on a wooden block Creek kept out so customers can try the items on display. Raven swung both blades at the block and stabbed it as well. Satisfied with the results she sheathed them and gave Creek her old, rusty, worn out blades. Raven paid the money that was owed gave her farewell to Creek and promptly left the store, heading for Mourning Bridge.

Raven walked back into the crowded streets of Ratsgrove. As it was still early morning, the air had a cold, crisp feel. People huddled together to preserve warmth or huddling around bin fires. She headed deeper into town, with Mourning Bridge coming into view. Mourning Bridge was the bridge that connected Ratsgrove’s “richer” district and the desolate, poor district dubbed the “Ratpit”. Being born in the Ratspit was sealing your fate to die. Almost no one ever crawled out of that place and lived a full life, by Ratsgrove standards anyway. Mourning Bridge was given its name due to the number of suicides that happened there every year. Ratsgrove contributed for more than half of the Nile’s suicide and death rate, becoming yet another crisis that has yet to be addressed. Raven walked up to the Mourning Bridge, heading to the center of the bridge on the west side. She leaned onto the railing, looking down at the dark, muddy water of the river. Raven could imagine all the polluted, toxic fish, swimming through the disgusting streams of water. She fished out a silver piece and let it drop, humming quietly to herself as she waited what would happen next.

It didn’t take long, as a tall, rather well-dressed looking man approached her.

“Raven I presume?” He asked in a thick accent that Raven could barely understand. He clearly wasn’t from Ratsgrove. “Yeah, that’s me, who are you?”

“My name is of no concern for now,” the man replied. He tossed her a pouch of eleven silver coins. “The starting price that was agreed upon, plus the coin you let fall off the bridge. Please follow me.”

The man didn’t wait for an answer; he just left, heading into the Ratpit. Raven wondered what she may have gotten herself into but ultimately followed the man.