Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

As dawn broke, a pale light crept into the alley, stirring Guldrin from his restless sleep. Hunger gnawed at his insides once again, harsher than before, his head foggy and heavy from the night's ordeal. The previous day's stolen moments of comfort faded with each pang, leaving him with a gnawing emptiness that felt like it would swallow him whole. He glanced at Emily, her small white form curled up beside him, eyes still closed as she rested.

*Meow~*

She stretched and yawned, 'Good morning, Guldrin,' Emily's soft voice greeted him in his mind, though he could sense her concern. He offered a tired smile, stroking her fur as he struggled to shake off the ache of hunger.

"I have to eat," he muttered, and as if in answer, Gluttony's presence surged faintly within him, urging him toward food with an intensity that left no room for hesitation. But there was no sign-in reward yet since he signed in last night, it still has many hours of cooldown, and the meager bread and dried meat from yesterday had only staved off the need for a short while.

The alley he had spent the night in was close to a bustling street lined with market stalls and vendors beginning to set up their wares for the day. The aroma of fresh fruit, baked goods, and roasted meats wafted through the air, taunting him with every breath.

Guldrin's eyes fell on a fruit vendor arranging ripe apples and oranges on a wooden cart. His stomach rumbled, and he felt his feet begin to move before he even fully decided to act. The vendor's back was turned, and a few shiny apples sat right within his reach. He crept closer, moving silently despite his small, frail frame.

'Are you sure about this?' Emily asked softly, sensing his plan.

He hesitated, feeling the weight of her question, but another pang of hunger clenched his stomach. "I… I don't have a choice, Emily. I can't keep going like this." He reached out, fingers brushing one of the apples.

'Ding! Sin Gluttony urges you to consume.'

With his heart pounding, he snatched two apples and quickly ducked behind a stack of barrels nearby, taking quick bites as he devoured the fruit. The sweet, juicy flesh was more satisfying than anything he'd tasted, momentarily easing his hunger and the ache within.

But as he savored the taste, he felt a hand grab his shoulder and roughly yank him backward. The fruit vendor had spotted him, and his face was twisted in anger.

"Thieving little brat!" the man spat, tightening his grip. "Think you can just take whatever you want?"

Panic surged through Guldrin, but he barely had time to react before a crowd began gathering, their curious gazes quickly turning into judgmental glares. He struggled against the vendor's hold, instinct telling him to run, but the man was strong, and his grip only tightened.

"Please… I was just… I was just hungry," he stammered, voice trembling as he tried to plead his case. But the vendor shook his head, unmoved.

"A thief is a thief," the vendor muttered, looking around to the gathering crowd. "Maybe it's time someone taught you a lesson."

The murmurs of agreement around him grew louder, and fear pulsed in Guldrin's chest, matching the beat of his pounding heart. Emily's voice came through, calm but urgent. 'Guldrin, stay calm. Look for any way to slip free, and remember, trust your instincts.'

Taking a deep breath, he tried to wriggle out of the vendor's grip, recalling the agility he'd gained from the night before. His mind reeled to what Agility meant, and he understood what to do. His feet shifted, weight distributed just enough to use his momentum and pull his arm loose. With a sudden twist, he broke free, darting through the crowd with the last bit of energy he had.

The crowd's shouts faded as he weaved through alleys and streets, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he finally found a quiet corner to catch his breath. He clutched his remaining apple, hands shaking as he leaned back against a wall.

Emily's voice chimed in, gentle yet firm. 'Survival isn't easy, Guldrin. But you did what you needed to. Don't let fear stop you. We'll keep going, one step at a time.'

Her words soothed him, a small reassurance in the uncertainty of the day. He took another bite of the apple, his strength slowly returning as he thought of what lay ahead. "I can't stay here, they will chase me… I need to keep moving… I don't know why, but that feels like the right choice."

Emily's comforting presence steadied him, and as he finished the apple, Guldrin's thoughts turned to his next problem: he needed clothes, proper shoes, and somewhere he could hide or rest safely. His feet ached from running on the hard concrete and asphalt, and the cold morning air chilled him, a reminder of how exposed he was. Glancing down at his dirty, worn clothes, he knew he would need to change if he was going to blend in or avoid being easily recognized.

'Where do we go now?' Emily's voice whispered in his mind.

Guldrin gazed around the alley, looking for any possible source of clothing. His eyes settled on a small shop nearby that was just beginning to open, a laundry business with clothes hanging out front, drying on lines. The shopkeeper, a plump older woman, was busy inside, sweeping the floor.

"I think I see something," he whispered, glancing at Emily, who gave a small approving nod. Staying low, he crept forward, eyes darting between the clothes hanging from the lines. He quickly spotted a small pair of trousers and a simple shirt, both slightly tattered but still far better than what he was wearing.

One step at a time, he edged closer, reaching up to grab the clothes. Just as his fingers brushed the fabric, a voice startled him.

"Hey! What are you doing?" It was the shopkeeper, her sharp gaze catching him in the act.

Guldrin's heart pounded, but this time, rather than panic, he remembered Emily's words to trust his instincts. He snatched the clothes off the line, darting away before she could reach him, the woman's shouts echoing down the alley as he vanished around a corner.

Breathless but relieved, he slipped into an abandoned building nearby, its walls crumbling and overgrown with vines. He quickly changed, pulling on the pants and shirt. They were slightly loose, but they would do. He looked down at his bare, dirty feet, still bruised from running on the hard ground. His stolen clothes wouldn't be enough without shoes.

'Guldrin, look at the floor,' Emily's voice nudged him, and he glanced down to see a pair of battered but wearable shoes discarded in the corner, caked in dust, and hidden behind a broken crate.

A small smile tugged at his lips as he picked them up, brushing off the dirt before slipping them on. They were stiff and uncomfortable, but they were better than nothing.

"Well, Emily," he murmured, looking down at the little white cat who stared up at him with her bright, knowing eyes. "We're starting to look the part now. Maybe we'll make it through this day without any more trouble."

She purred in response, curling up on his lap as he sat to catch his breath, allowing him a moment of calm. The worn shoes and new clothes gave him a fresh sense of confidence. "Now we need to leave this place… I have stolen too many things… My instincts are telling me to leave…"

Purring in his arms, Emily spoke in his mind, 'Maybe you can hitch a ride on a truck?' Guldrin seemed to consider this as he registered the meaning of truck in his mind, "Yes, I could climb in a truck and ride to a new place… Hopefully, one where I can find more food."

After a few minutes of rest, Guldrin took a cautious glance outside the abandoned building, watching as early morning traffic picked up on the nearby street. Delivery trucks, some carrying produce or supplies for local businesses, were rumbling past, their drivers barely noticing the young boy watching from the shadows.

He spotted an old, beat-up truck with an open bed rolling slowly toward the corner, piled with boxes and crates that offered enough cover to hide under. Emily's voice urged him, 'Go now, Guldrin. Just slip in behind the crates, and no one will see you.'

Nodding, he darted out from the alley, moving swiftly toward the back of the truck. With a final glance around to make sure no one was watching, he scrambled up into the truck bed, squeezing himself behind a stack of boxes. Emily jumped up next to him, curling up between the crates and tucking her small body out of sight.

The truck lurched forward, and he gripped the side, steadying himself. With the city streets rumbling below, he felt a strange mixture of thrill and fear, knowing this might be the first real chance he had to escape the hunger and watchful eyes that plagued him here.

As they drove on, the rough roads and bumps made it nearly impossible to relax, but the change of scenery filled Guldrin with a spark of hope. Fields and small buildings whizzed by, each mile taking him farther from the familiar streets of desperation. A few hours later, they entered the city and Guldrin saw a sign that said 'Welcome to Los Angeles.' 

After a while, Emily's soft voice broke through his thoughts. 'What will you do when we stop?'

"I don't know? I was hoping this truck would lead to a more country part of the area… But we are further in the city than we were before… How am I to survive here?" The truck passed many buildings and entered a rough-looking area, "This place is scary… No food around here… Please keep going, mister truck…"

Luck wasn't on his side as he heard the driver muttering about being almost home, "I need to find a new truck…" His eyes scanned the area and found a small warehouse with people loading a large truck.

"Emily," he whispered, "I'm going to try to sneak into that truck. Stay close and be quiet." She nodded, her wide eyes gleaming with anticipation.

With his heart racing, Guldrin crept out from the truck when it slowed enough, keeping low and moving swiftly. The moment felt surreal; the taste of freedom mingled with the fear of being caught. He darted across the street, dodging pedestrians and weaving through the throng, all while keeping his focus on the truck.

As he approached, he could hear the driver grumbling to himself as he hefted boxes, completely oblivious to the world around him. Guldrin's pulse quickened. This was it. He carefully climbed into the back of the truck, ducking behind a stack of crates just as the driver turned around.

'Stay still, stay quiet,' Emily urged, her voice steadying him.

The driver slammed the door shut, sealing them inside. Guldrin's heart pounded in his ears as the truck jolted, the engine roaring to life. The world outside began to blur as they pulled away from the curb, and Guldrin allowed himself a moment of relief. "I can't see anything, but at least it is safe here… For now."

After a few minutes, the driver settled into a routine, humming softly to himself as he navigated through the city streets. Guldrin glanced around the truck's cargo area, noting the assortment of boxes filled with goods in the form of snacks, drinks, and even some canned food, illuminated by the small gleams of light at the front of the trailer. His stomach growled, reminding him that he still hadn't eaten anything substantial since his stolen apples.

Frowning, he opened a bag of chips and ate them, found a drink and drank it, then began to scarf down all the food he could ingest. He reached for the bag of chips first, ripping it open with eager hands, the salty aroma filling his senses as he stuffed a handful into his mouth. The crunch and flavor burst on his tongue, fueling his determination.

As the truck slowed, the driver pulled into a parking lot outside a grocery store. Guldrin held his breath, hoping he wouldn't be discovered. The man climbed out and headed towards the store entrance, leaving the back of the truck unattended.

"Now's our chance, Emily!" Guldrin whispered, the thrill of adventure coursing through him. He nudged the crates aside, shifting his body to get a better angle at the boxes filled with snacks. He quickly spotted a box of granola bars and a bag of chips, both of which looked untouched.

"Quick, grab the granola bars too," Emily urged. "We can stash them for later!"

He quickly snatched the box, sliding it out from under the crates and into his satchel as the truck door suddenly swung open. Guldrin froze, heart racing as the driver returned, arms full of grocery bags.

"What the?!" the driver exclaimed, noticing the open boxes. "Hey! What are you doing in here?"

Guldrin's instincts kicked in. He sprang from the back of the truck, dashing out toward the parking lot, where the driver's shout echoed behind him. "Get back here, you little thief!"

Panic surged again, but Guldrin didn't stop to look back. He ran with all the speed he could muster, weaving between parked cars as the driver yelled after him.

'You can do this!' Emily urged. 'Focus! We need to find cover!'

Ahead, he spotted a narrow alleyway between two buildings and darted towards it. He could hear the driver's footsteps pounding behind him, but he squeezed through the gap and into the darkness of the alley, pressing himself against the cool brick wall.

He held his breath, eyes wide, as he listened to the chaos outside. The driver continued to shout, and Guldrin peered out cautiously. He could see the driver at the entrance of the alley, looking around, frustrated.

"Where the hell did you go?" the driver grumbled, glancing left and right before moving away, back towards the truck, cursing up a storm.

Relief flooded through Guldrin as he slid down the wall, clutching the granola bars tightly.

"Whew! We did it, Emily!" he whispered, letting out a nervous laugh. "I can't believe I actually stole food and got away with it!"

'You were amazing, Guldrin,' Emily replied, her voice full of pride. 'But we can't stay here for long. You need to think about what to do next.'

He took a deep breath, glancing around the alley, feeling a newfound sense of empowerment coursing through him. "You're right. I need to keep moving. I've gotten food, but I still don't have a place to stay… I need to find a way to blend in more…" He slowly snaked his way around until he found a simple-looking garage and shop combo. It has many fancy, (At least to him) cars sitting out front and a red truck parked across the street.

"Toretto Market & Café… there should be food in there…" He sits down and snacks on his granola bars as he scopes out the place. "I don't like that blonde guy."

*Meow*

"You agree with me?"

'Yes, I don't know why, but he feels off…'

"But that woman in the store looks nice… I wonder… maybe she would let me work…" His mind went back to the lady who kicked him out because of her husband and shook his head, "No, I can't risk it, I need food, this will only last so long…" He sat there and waited for them to leave before he made any moves.