Chapter Text
The small yellow volkswagon hummed along the parkway, passing a few cars along the way, if they had looked inside they would have been greeted to an odd sight, as three small animals sat side by side, each one in a safety seat, as tensions were high amongst the trio.
"Istiks, you shall let me lead when we arrive at the battlefield. I shall fetch, and I shall run, and if you should get in my way, you will be.. eliminated!" The small white shih-tzu named Lae'zel growled at her companions as they shifted uneasily in their seats.
"Just stay with me Arilda, I'll keep you safe!" Gale purred, Arilda looked at her shorthair cat companion and scoffed. "Just like last time huh? You ran away.. remember!?" The pug exclaimed, as Gale shrunk back down in his seat, his usual swagger gone. "That.. that was a special circumstance! I mean the monster was armed!" He says, reflecting on Lae'zel's silver sword, he was kept even more aware of it, as it currently sat beside Lae'zel's seat.
Morgan glanced back at the trio, her wife Karlach doing the driving today, as the five of them were going to the park!
"We're here!" Karlach exclaimed, putting the volkswagon in park, and opening the door. Morgan went to Lae'zel first, lifting her silver sword and placing it in her purse. "I'll hold your bone for you Lae'zy, now let's get you out of that booster seat" she rubbed Lae'zel's cheeks, and straightened the Shih-tzu's green bow atop her head.
Soon enough all three were at the park, a magical place for the animals of Baldur's Gate, a meeting point and social hub, where the true adventures away from domestic life could be held. Lae'zel marched away quickly, eagerly running to a black shaggy dog under the shade of a nearby tree. "Who's that?" Arilda asked, her flat face stIll adjusting to the outdoor air, as she let out a loud "ACHOO!" startling Gale. "Oh for Meowstra's sake I thought I was being attacked!" He calms down, his hair still raised slightly as he watches the black dog.
"That's Shadowheart, she lives a few houses over, her owners are odd though, they are always so sullen, so angry looking. Once I had a piece of fish, and one of them grabbed it, and told me I needed to "learn about loss." Mother Karlach decked them though, shes so brave." He states, his eyes already having fallen on a greyish white persian cat, sunning herself in the grass, "excuse me Arilda, I do believe I have somewhere to be!" He pranced away, his eyes never leaving the persian.
Arilda was left alone in the expanse that was the park, her owners sitting on a bench holding hands. She wanted to just sit with them, huddle between Morgan and Karlach, but she knew she needed to take this step. Arilda needed to prove her bravery, how else could she survive living with a fierce shih-tzu warrior?
Before she could go far, she heard a drawling voice, one not totally unfamiliar. "So the useless thing found a home? How amusing." She looked but saw no one. The voice felt like it was inside her small pug head. "Yes, I'm in there, dunce. I'm also at the park, and felt the need to remind you of your place. Look at those owners of yours, really look at them." Arilda looked as the cold, cruel voice commanded, Morgan and Karlach waving when they saw her staring.
"Say your goodbyes, you're in my domain now, and I will show you how useless you really are. My dear sister." Arilda gasped, as she saw the black pug across the clearing.. "Astryx?"