The Hanged Man was its usual raucous self, a din of laughter, arguments, and clinking mugs filling the smoky air. Nolan pushed his way through the crowd, his broad shoulders and weathered coat cutting a path to the bar. In one arm, cradled against his chest, was a scrappy little pup, its ribs showing under a coat of matted fur. The dog’s big, imploring eyes scanned the room nervously, ears twitching at every sound.
Nolan set the pup down on the bar gently, one hand staying on its back to steady it as he caught the bartender’s eye.
The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, taking the coins and disappearing into the back. Nolan glanced down at the pup, who had sat down on its haunches, its tail wagging weakly.
As he waited, he scratched the dog behind the ears, his rough hands gentle despite the wear and scars they carried. He wasn’t sure why he’d stopped when he saw the pup huddled in that alley—maybe it was the way it had looked at him, like it was used to the world turning its back. Nolan knew that look too well.
When the bartender returned with the milk and his ale, Nolan pushed the saucer toward the pup, watching as it sniffed cautiously before lapping at it hungrily. He took a long pull from his mug, leaning back against the bar and surveying the room.
He smirked faintly, shaking his head as the pup finished the milk in record time, licking the saucer clean before looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
The Hanged Man carried on around them, oblivious to the man and his unexpected new companion at the bar.
Nolan set the pup down on the bar gently, one hand staying on its back to steady it as he caught the bartender’s eye.
Need a saucer of warm milk for this one,he said gruffly, patting the pup’s side. Then he reached into his pocket, fishing out a few coins and sliding them across the counter.
And an ale for me while you’re at it.
The bartender raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, taking the coins and disappearing into the back. Nolan glanced down at the pup, who had sat down on its haunches, its tail wagging weakly.
Don’t get too used to this,he muttered, though there was no bite in his tone.
As he waited, he scratched the dog behind the ears, his rough hands gentle despite the wear and scars they carried. He wasn’t sure why he’d stopped when he saw the pup huddled in that alley—maybe it was the way it had looked at him, like it was used to the world turning its back. Nolan knew that look too well.
When the bartender returned with the milk and his ale, Nolan pushed the saucer toward the pup, watching as it sniffed cautiously before lapping at it hungrily. He took a long pull from his mug, leaning back against the bar and surveying the room.
Well, kid,he said to the dog, his voice low enough to keep it between the two of them,
looks like you’ve got yourself a better night than you planned. Don’t make me regret it.
He smirked faintly, shaking his head as the pup finished the milk in record time, licking the saucer clean before looking up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.
You’re trouble already, I can tell,Nolan muttered, though the corner of his mouth twitched upward as he reached down to scratch its head again.
The Hanged Man carried on around them, oblivious to the man and his unexpected new companion at the bar.
11-20-2024, 01:07 PM
