FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

...

Chapter 1: The Hunt

This is a tale of kings, of princesses, of queens, and of courts. This is a world apart, a world of beasts who call themselves men. Where life and death live hand in hand. We begin with a tale from the southern tip of the world. The landscape is cold, snowy, rocky, and peppered with dense pine forest groves separated by barren channels of snow and rock. On this early winter's morning, the air is dead and snow is falling in thick heavy flakes. An eerie silence covers the land broken only by the occasional branch giving way to the powdery white snow set upon it. A young feline is prowling near a cave in the forest. This is her story.

-sniff sniff-

She sniffs the air hoping to catch the scent of her prey. Lingering a moment, taking pause before lowering her head back down under the canopy of the barren shrub. It's useless, no wind, no scent, this is going to be more difficult than anticipated. Her long white spotted fur collects the snow and drags heavier than usual. She knows it will help her hide in plain sight yet. Her prey is smart, cunning, and knows how to spot danger from afar. She moves her way through the heavier snow along the back of a tall ridge to get a better view of the hunting grounds.

-sniff-

Nothing, fairly sure she won't be seen she raises her head above the crest of the overhanging ridge that she has ascended. It is a small embankment near the cave where she began her hunt. She studies the grounds. To her left lay the large hollow rock formation in the middle of the clearing. Beyond is a division between two large groves of snow laden pine. Perhaps she can follow her prey's tracks. No too much snow has fallen and the path is now obscured by fresh snowfall and drift alike. Surely he will return for his things once the sun begins to approach it's rest. That would take hours and would not make for a thrilling hunt.

-sniff sniff-

This time she keeps her head low to the ground, her breath blows the light top layer of fresh snow from in front of her, still, nothing, no scent to guide her. She pauses a moment to think, then suddenly it comes to her, the birds! She scans the horizon... a few minutes pass before it happens. Past the cave down a long stretch of barren snowy rock, she sees a black bird fly away from the western treeline against the pale overcast sky. Birds don't typically fly in this weather. She rolls over the top of the embankment. With an arm outstretched she lands upright in a crouched position to stay low to the ground. She then makes her way across the front of the cave where she can quickly reach the nearest part of the treeline. She estimates her prey's distance far down the treeline to the left from her position. She pauses for a moment to consider the best approach. She can't travel the treeline she would be in the open. Going around through the forest would carry a risk as well. Any sound, just one misplaced step could tip-off her prey. Without any other viable options to consider the forest will have to suffice. Tree by tree she makes her way through planting her paws carefully on each rock avoiding dead leaves and branches. She carefully feels out each step she takes, attempting to avoid even a loose rock that might make even the slightest sound.

_Will he move before I get there?_She wonders to herself as she finally approaches the treeline from within the forest. She hides behind the low hanging branches of one of the great fir trees drawing the air in slowly.

-sniff-

Nothing... or so it would seem at first. She draws in another long slow whiff of the bitter cold air.

-sniff-

Yes, there is the faintest scent on the wind. He was here! She scans the white snow beyond the trees looking for a silhouette. There, near the brush, antlers! She needs to be closer. Even more careful than before she approaches from behind. It takes several minutes, an eternity under these conditions to get into range. Then, LEAPING forward through the covering pine branches she pounces at her prey! Branches and twigs snap in the brittle cold as she hurdles through the brush!

Her prey stands, hearing her for the first time only quick enough to turn around and catch her paws directly into his chest. Knocking him backward into the clearing. The pair roll across the ground and separate. He is fast to his feet, but she is quicker. Leaping forward again she catches him in the act of standing and drives him to the ground a second time.

Pinning him, there is no escape.

"Haha, I got you Enozen! I did it! "She declares triumphantly before rolling aside and allowing him to regain his composure.

"Indeed, you have Kyra, I'm impressed." He states both proud of her and embarrassed.

"Someday, maybe they will pick my name for a real hunt." Kyra clenches her paws into fists in excitement.

"Is that so? Well, don't get too excited in a real hunt your "prey" will probably fight back. Now put your tail down before I get the wrong impression." Enozen pokes fun at Kyra standing with her tail at full attention from the excitement.

Kyra quickly grabs her tail and pulls it down to her chest. "I would never..."

"Ugh, I Know, don't remind me. Let's go get dressed. I will be missed if I don't return soon." Enozen brushes the remaining snow out of his dark brown fur as he turns and head's back for the cave.

Kyra follows close behind him "Miran would never allow it. Besides, you forget you're still a prince. What would you want with a common Anoran like me?"

Their voices echo deep into the cave as they approach. Unbeknownst to them, a 3rd party lays nearby, unconscious but alive.

"Watcher Miran would have you do all manner of things you wouldn't partake in. Why not take some liberty?" He goads her alluding again to an unrequited love affair between the otherwise close friends.

"Sarcran would not allow it, neither would your father, neither would Queen Anora." Kyra lists off in a flat tone as she picks up her cloth skirt and ties a band on the inside of the skirt around her right leg. She then ties the skirt around her waist and finally pulls her tail through a hoop on the outside of the skirt attached to the band beneath holding her tail in a more relaxed downward position. She places a light hooded cloth cape across her shoulders and back tying it on in the front otherwise relying on her thick coat of long white fur to keep her warm.

In contrast to his catlike companion Kyra, the young Prince Enozen has more elaborate attire. His garb consists of strong open hoof boots made from layers of cloth laced up nearly to his knees. Enozen wears a mantle made of hand-woven leaf and still green pine. Down his back a short cape made of brown cloth with a tan fuzzy fringe. His antlers are decorated with gold rings some of which permanently affixed in place. His paws are protected by finger-less bracers made from leather and around his neck an amulet containing jewels and the royal seal of the Tanoi people. "You should be proud though. No one has caught a prince in a real hunt in a very long time. If you ever get your chance, you will do well. Assuming you learn how to fight.

"It's in my nature to fight." She declares half in protest to any implied skepticism and half in brash self-confidence.

"Is it?" He taunts.

"I have these don't I?" She poses with one arm outstretched and the other by her head as if ready to strike and reveals her claws and teeth.

"To be honest I wish they would stop the hunt. I feel like it divides our cultures. Some even say it's propaganda to keep up the appearance that the Anoran are at least by their nature, a superior species." Enozen says in protest to her display.

"It's tradition." She states flatly.

"A barbaric tradition." Enozen responds in an equally flat tone nearly mockingly.

"It helps keep the peace." She tries to make a case for her people's custom.

"How does killing keep the peace?" Enozen starts to show the slightest amount of genuine irritation.

Both Kyra and Enozen are too young to fully grasp the cultural significance of the sacred Anoran holiday known as "The Hunt".

"I, um, well... I don't know it just does." Kyra seems distracted, "you should go..." Kyra perks up her ears slightly. Her senses are sharper than Enozens. There is something in the cave. Kyra can feel it.

"I didn't mean to offend." He pauses for a second unaware of what Kyra has picked up on.

"No, it's not you. Don't worry about it. I will make my way home in a bit." She says quietly looking directly into the cave now. Kyra turns back to him and smiles "You don't want to get caught out here with a precariat anyway do you?"

"No, I suppose not. I wouldn't want to deal with father preaching about how dangerous it is." he grabs his traveling satchel and places his hand on her head as he is considerably taller. "Just be careful okay?" He says with a hint of genuine concern brushing his hand between her ears messing up her mane before leaning in perhaps for a more intimate gesture.

She pushes him back casually. "Please, I'm surprised you don't have a guard to walk you home."

"Ha, till next time." He laughs and gestures dismissively and walks away through the snow.

Kyra turns her attention fully towards the cave. Formed from the convergence of several large boulders jutting from the ground the cave has a large entrance 8ft tall with a main chamber immediately inside with a ceiling of about 20 feet. A large domed room that narrows a bit near the back wall. It faces away from most of the winter winds and is relatively dry inside. Kyra hesitates for a moment considering if she should investigate the presence in the cave further. She raises an arm to call out as a brisk gust of wind blows past the cave causing crystals of snow to kick up and gust past her. She pauses again. No, she thinks to herself. She lowers her arm and decides to take a more stealthy approach. The sun is setting now, and the temperature has noticeably dropped. She enters the cavern with the same attention to detail she used earlier to explore the woods. The fire she had started earlier with Enozen still sports a small flame among smoldering embers in the middle of the main chamber. It crackles as she silently makes her way among the large rocks set upon the floor. Many of the rocks stand at least to chest height if not taller. Past the fire, the faintest silhouette of her shadow stretches beyond to the back of the cave. Had she been too careless? She freezes motionless trying to determine what to do next, had her shadow alerted anyone or anything that may lay in wait. It is then she notices the arm. Furry with a rich brown hue lays with it's fingers uncurled upon the floor sticking out from behind one of the larger formations. She moves cautiously to the rock and peers around it slowly. A sleeping creature with a bushy tail, rounded ears, and rounded face like a herbivore, but claws and sharp teeth like a predator. To you and I it may be best described as a Pine Marten. The creature is like nothing Kyra has ever seen before. It lays upon the floor perhaps it's not sleeping but instead unconscious. It is unusual but hardly unexpected to see an unfamiliar species for this is a world full of diversity. However the southern nations are rarely traveled by outsiders especially in the winter. She cautiously investigates him further. Clothed only in tattered shorts and completely soaking wet perhaps he had been stranded in the cold and came in for warmth before passing out. His fur seems thick and made for a cold environment, but not this cold, and certainly not while soaking wet..

He stirs, coming to from his unconscious state. Quickly Kyra withdraws, unsure what to expect. He rubs his head and then his eyes. He looks around the cave with a confused expression like he's seeing it for the first time. He sits up and looks at his side that was in contact with the floor, covered in dust and dirt sticking to his wet fur. Slowly, he climbs to his feet and leans arm out stretched against the rock before him.

Kyra steps backward trying to maintain the most minimal line of sight to him. However, in reality, she is completely exposed. Kyra now stands between him and the fire in the center of the room.

The fire crackles and catches the attention of the creature. He looks directly at her following the sound and is immediately startled. He lifts his paw from the rock defensively and takes two steps backward. A black silhouette of pointed ears and a tail stands before him in the dim light of the fire. A large cat on two feet. Still in a haze from his unconscious state he reacts instinctively with fear. Stepping backwards he nearly stumbles before catching his balance.

Kyra crouches quickly into an aggressive stance unsure what to expect.

The creature too scrambles mentally for a plan of action and for a few moments the two of them stand frozen staring each other down.

His thoughts are a blur. In his effort to come up with a plan he finds it difficult to even conjure the simplest things to mind. Where am I? What am I? What is my name? All questions he is unable to answer. His confusion contributes to his fear.

"Whats going on!" the creature shouts, his vision still somewhat blurry. "Stand back, I..." Not sure how to finish that sentence he rubs his eyes quickly trying to get a better look at Kyra.

Kyra can't understand a word he's saying. She slowly steps back somewhat startled by the shouting. Perhaps I can calm him down. She thinks to herself and proceeds in a calm tone, voice cracking mid sentence. "Look, I don't know what you are or how you got here, but you're all wet, and it's going to get very cold soon. So just, take it easy, and maybe we can work together to get you to safety." Kyra still uncertain of his intentions attempts to persuade him to cooperate.

He can't understand Kyra either but perceives her tone as non-threatening. Has he misjudged her? He approaches and cautiously reaches out his paw attempting to gesture in a way that shows he means no harm.

Kyra quickly grabs his paw. "If you are okay to travel we need to get you to town as fast as possible before you freeze to death. What are you anyway? I have never seen anything like you before?" She moves closer and reaches for his head to examine a cut he has yet to notice.

"Okay, you..." He starts not having understood a word she just said as Kyra moves in to examine the cut. "Woah what are you doing?" Raising his own paw and feeling his head, he examines his paw to find wet diluted blood running down his fingers.

Kyra grabs his arm tightly. "This is going to be unpleasant but we need to dry you off." Pulling him hard towards the cave entrance. He resists but Kyra is larger than him and as such he is forced to take a step in her direction.

He panics "Let go of me! Stop!" As he nears the front of the cave the bitter cold cuts through his wet fur. Before he can object further Kyra throws him into the snow bank. He leaps back to his feat brushing the powdery snow from his fur as quickly as he can in a state of complete panic. His tattered linen shorts slip and fall below his waste line he gathers them quickly but not quickly enough to avoid some embarrassment.

Kyra tries to comfort him. "The snow should soak some of the water from you, here take this." She disrobes her hooded cloak and mantle and holds it out stretched in his direction looking away in an effort to preserve his modesty.

He backs away from her trying to brush the remaining snow from his fur and heads for the cave.

Before taking more than a step or two Kyra notices his attempt to walk away and grabs him. "There is no time for that, we need to get to town before it gets any colder." She walks away from the cave pulling him along with her.

Unbeknownst to the him, there are only about 4 hours of daylight this time of year. The night is long, and it will soon get considerably colder. He pushes her back with what is for his size considerable force and says. "You have to be crazy I'm not going to let some half dressed... cat, thing, drag me away from shelter. I'm going to stay right here until morning!" He prepares defend himself if necessary.

Kyra regains her composure and then draws her claws unsure if she had just been attacked. She takes a lower aggressive stance and begins to move slowly towards him.

He realizes now he may have not thought this all the way through and immediately regrets his decision. "Hey, okay, uh..." he says with his paws up stepping backward. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." He trips falling into the freshly fallen snow.

She continues her advance strafing to her right.

"Stop! I'll go!" He nearly shouts and holds his paws up next to his head.

Kyra stops. His posture of surrender is more universally understood than anything said so far. "Good, come with me." She grabs his arm and heads into the snow and he follows close behind her. Kyra heads towards town. It's going to be a bit of a walk. She looks back at the odd creature covering it's face from the wind following behind her.

"So that's it? I'm a prisoner, is that it?" He asks amid silence as they move through the cold to which he receives no response. They walk in the clear between the stands of long needle pines. Even the tallest trees have fully pine-needle laden branches with even minimal exposure nearly all the way to the ground. Staying close he crosses his arms as it is bitterly cold. The wind pulls and whips the frayed edges of his tattered clothing. He scurries, grabbing at the cloth he reties it quickly before returning his arms to a folded position. He starts again to ask a question "Just how far~"

Kyra turns and looks him directly in the eyes and leans uncomfortably close to him in an attempt to asses his condition.

He takes half a step back and raises his paws unsure of her intent.

She grabs his paws and holds them a second before he pulls them back. She reaches up and grabs his upper arms and then shoulders for closer examination. "You're shivering. This isn't good. We need to get you to a warm place. Just hang in there it's not much further." She takes his paw and resumes walking through the snow. It's really coming down now. Thick white accumulation weighs down the tree branches. Kyra leads him along a path that has now been completely obscured by snow. It's existence only evidenced by the occasional wooden post sticking out of the ground.

Amid the silence of his companion he find himself contemplating his situation. He pays little attention to Kyra only as much as needed to follow her along the snow covered trail through the clearing. The wind blows through the clearing kicking up a fine powder of snow and ice. He shields his face then looks to the sky. Featureless and cloud covered he would gain no indication to his whereabouts. For now his only salvation would seem to come from following Kyra and hope that she has good intentions. "So just how much further?!" Nearly shouting as she has now put some distance between them with the wind blowing in his face.

Hearing his voice trailing off in the wind Kyra pauses momentarily and trudges back through the deep snow to again grab his arm again and lead him now more quickly than before. Ahead a lantern can be seen hanging from a tilted post jutting out from the ground along the treeline. They quickly approach to find a gap in the trees. Unclear her companion in the accumulated snow it marks a path through the stand of pine. He approaches the burning lantern to warm his paws but again is pulled away by Kyra into the forest.

"Let's go it won't be much further now." She attempts to reassure him.

He slowly walks behind her as they move into the dense forest. The canopy is so thick that for long stretches not a single snowflake has yet reached the ground, despite there being two feet or more of accumulation in the clearings they had walked just before. Once past the first couple trees the lower branches thin out enough to see some distance into the woods. The tall sturdy long needle pines only growing dense green needles overhead. Sheltered from the wind he finds himself in an odd state of relief from the elements though still quite cold. He is however now accompanied by a new sensation of apprehension as the sun has long gone down and beneath the clouds. Between the overcast, snow, and tree cover it is absolutely pitch black save for occasional marker lanterns they occasionally come to pass. Too far apart from one another, the lanterns are not meant to serve as a source of light. Instead, they are positioned just near enough for the faintest red-orange glow to be seen each leading the way to the next. Laid into the forest floor is a path of rounded stones uneven and difficult for him to walk on. Kyra, on the other hand, seems to have no difficulty navigating the uneven surface of the path either from experience or from perhaps a more natural advantage.

"There." Kyra points ahead. The path though difficult to see for her companion to see in the dark it connects to a larger road ahead.

He hurries down the path to the road in the hope of being able to find someone who can help. Not sure what he was expecting he is somewhat disappointed to find it does not lead to anything familiar. It is a wide cobblestone path covered by a tightly packed well-traveled layer of snow that in turn is covered again by a thin veil of snowdrift and fresh accumulation though in some places still yields to the cobblestone beneath.

Kyra quickly catches up to him at the intersection and leads him to the right. The road follows a large, heavy stone wall that is two perhaps even three stories tall. It's height matching the height of the equally towering treeline that runs along the right-hand side making the road feel more narrow than perhaps it truly is. At the bottom the wall is made from large boulder sized rocks that get smaller as you reach the top. Carefully fit together in a way that the wall is very stable in spite of the natural shape of the stones that comprise it. The top of the wall, however, is a different story. Crowned with a slight overhang supported by logs threaded through the natural stone structure is a walkway with very cleanly cut stone bricks sporting a merlon and embrasure facade like those found on the old castles and walled cities of Europe. The wall is lit periodically with torches. Not perfectly straight the wall curves along with the road unevenly but generally to the left.

The wind is greater here than in the forest but still muted compared to the clearing before. It cuts at the poor creature who has been exposed to the elements for far too long now and a sense of urgency starts to overcome him he picks up the pace.

Kyra, seemingly unbothered by the elements travels alongside her new friend who is now more so than in the lead as before. It is obvious at this point which way they need to go and before long, they reach a large framed wooden gate constructed into the wall. From here you can see through to the city that has until this point been concealed by the stone structure. The gate towering nearly two stories tall has been drawn open and the wall above it built even taller to conceal the metal barred door that could easily be lowered to cut the city off from the outside world.

"Whoa hey, are those guards? Maybe this is not such a great idea." He stops stops before Kyra the path then moves close to the wall trying to stay out of sight. Not sure what to do he resists Kyra's motion to continue. He is bitterly cold, on the edge of hypothermia, and no longer thinking straight. A few moments pass before she walks back and grabs a hold of his paw which shaking quite noticeably at this point. He takes a few moments to compose himself before coming to the realization that his fear may not in fact rational. Soon he reluctantly gives in and follows her to the gate.

The guards are the same catlike species as Kyra. Unlike her, they are fully dressed except for their feet, and fingers are exposed at the tips for their claws. They are wearing a sort of armor that unlike Kyra's thinner cloth vestments they are made of what looks like a much heavier woven linen material wrapped in twine rope to compress many layers down to provide a sort of primitive protection. Only their necks are covered in convincingly protective leather. Their chest much like their limbs are covered in thick multi layer-linen embedded with small square 1 inch plates of darkly stained and decorated wood each with small runic markings carved into them. Almost like a kind of scale mail if not for the odd material choice. Each guard is armed with a spear but also carries an axe at their side. Each with a well-forged metal tip which contrasts greatly to what he perceives as somewhat otherwise primitive set of armor.

"Kyra!" One of the guards calls out. "Back so soon? And with a guest?"

Kyra raises her paws to pose in a fighting stance towards the guard. She poses poised for attack as if she would have her claws out. "Am I going to have to fight you to get in? You know I can still kick your ass." She says playfully.

Her companion, however, unable to comprehend is initially startled. He is expecting a real fight is about to break out and is unsure if he should help Kyra or side with the guards in exchange for safety.

"Like you could ever!" The guard gesture's back aggressively at Kyra but only for a moment before relaxing back to a normal stance. "But seriously who is this? He looks cold. Not a lot of travelers this time of year."

The poor freezing creature continues to steps back before falling over an uneven cobblestone.

"Him? I found him in a cave. He's strange, isn't he? Looks like it may be from the western nations like Nuro" She says now relaxing her stance and looking over along with the guard in the martens direction.

He slowly gets up from the ground on his own.

"In a cave really? Does he not know how dangerously cold it is this time of year?" The guard says with a concerned tone.

"I know right? I think maybe he's a survivor. I'm going to take him to brown-hearth and see if Elons can spare some food for him. Then we can go to the well in the morning. I don't think he understands a word I'm saying.". Kyra explains

"Kyra, you shouldn't..." The guard says with a concerned expression and tone.

"Shouldn't what? Trust strangers? What was I supposed to do? Leave him out there to die?"

"No I mean, just, are you sure you wouldn't rather just leave him here with the guard?" He gestures towards the gatehouse.

"I'll be fine. At least this way I can feel like I'm making a contribution." She says with a very slight tone of doubt.

"Don't say that you're fine." He says in an appeal to comfort her.

"Am I? I can't just run off and join the guard like you. Besides I'm fine. I can take care of myself Tharin." She says confidently.

"Okay suit yourself then." With that the guard motions for them to pass through into the city.

Kyra also gestures towards her rescue who has dusted himself off from his fall and again is left with no clear indication of what is going on left with little choice other than to follow her. They pass through the gate, and he finds himself locked in a long stare with the guards. They are some kind of cat _. Just like Kyra...__ Where and what have I gotten myself into._He thinks to himself as he walks down the city street.

The buildings are made from natural stone framed in by either logs or thickly cut lumber. The town has a cold gray and icy tone. Both the buildings and street are made from the same gray rock. Icicles hang from nearly every roof. Each roof is made either of cut lumber shingles or a thick pine thatching. It is also apparent that the walls of the city are much taller than the buildings. Most of which are only 1-2 stories tall with only a few 3 story buildings sparsely spread throughout the skyline of which due to the crowded nature of the structures in general little can be seen. The main street form the gate is well-lit by torches and even has a sort of median with evenly spaced tall pines every couple of streets apart. The architecture is simple but well-built. Not modern by any means but sturdy. Much of the main street itself is made from newer cut stone. Even a few buildings are newer and too made of cut stone and stand out visually from the rest of the natural older stone structures. The larger buildings have their upper floors made of wood or logs with only a stone foundation. Most of the buildings are built into interconnected rows that run along the street like row houses. A number of buildings along the main street adorn carved or painted signs. Some with pictures others with a strange text comprised mostly of runic-like intersecting straight lines. Those with signs have windows at street level but those without generally do not. The street is not crowded but still has considerable foot traffic. All catlike creatures just like Kyra. The marten stares intently at each of them fascinated how few of them bare him any mind in return. Before long they turn onto a side street where the roads are much narrower and dimly lit. Relying on ambient light from the windows above. Soon they reach a large decorated hall that touches another major road. This much taller 3 story structure with a cut stone first floor and wood floors above. It is difficult to imagine what it looks like from the street however as they never make it that far. Kyra abruptly stops to enter from the alley through a small door in the back.

Cautiously Kyra pushes open the wooden door and powdery snow blows across the seal. She steps quietly inside and gestures her companion to do the same. The warmth is inviting but the atmosphere inside is strangely quiet. The smell of food is heavy in the air and there are several of Kyra's kind preparing in large cast iron pots a sort of stew. A number of dried plants and spices hang from all places

Looking around the room Kyra's companion looks for any sign of familiarity. They appear to have entered a kitchen. With the door shut it is quite warm inside and the layer of snow on the pair of travelers quickly turns to water making both him and Kyra uncomfortably wet.

"Kyra!~" A male Anoran approaches dressed in a cloth shirt and pants that appear meant for the indoors. It would be somewhat loose and baggy if not tied closely to his body all over again with a sort of twine rope. "You will contaminate the offering besides you shouldn't even be here tonight I'm sure they will feed you at White Hall."

Her poorly dressed friend looks around the kitchen. Unlike the normal bustle of an ordinary kitchen, the workers here act with an unusual sense of reverence. The workers are handling the meat with extraordinary caution making sure to preserve every single piece and carefully clean bones setting them aside rather than adding to the stew they are preparing. Perhaps for some future use?

"Elons please I need your help." She pleads with him. "It's always freezing in Whitehall. I found this guy in the wild. I think he's lost. I need somewhere warm to stay tonight, for his sake?"

Elons gestures for her friend to approach him. "Hey! Do you have trade or coin for a room?"

"Elons..." Kyra pokes Elons from behind as he has turned his back to her to speak with her companion. "He can't understand you. I think he's a survivor. Can't we just... sleep in the attic for the night? I promise I'll repay you in the future."

"Kyra I like you but it's not like I haven't heard that before." He says with both a tone that expressed concern but also doubt in Kyra.

"How about Lichen I can take a trip to Dunmoras and bring back some Lichen." Kyra bargains with him.

"How can you manage to get Lichen but you never have anything to trade when you show up on my doorstep." Elons presses however his tone suggests intrigue over doubt.

"Do you want the Lichen or not? You know I can get it." Kyra starts to get impatient with him.

"Fine, but climb up through the outside and do NOT make a sound. I can't have you interrupting tonight's ceremony." He pauses and before Kyra can ask "And yes I'll see what I can spare for your guest. I'm sure I have Saughus for your friend here but don't expect to eat well. We are going to have a lot of Anorans in attendance tonight".

"That's fine. I'm more worried about the cold more anyway I can scrounge around for a good meal tomorrow. But this guy is shivering pretty badly I need to get him warm."

"Okay, get going then I don't need anyone seeing you here anyway. One less headache I have to explain the better." He pushes the door open and ushers her and her friend back out into the alley.

"What? No! It's cold I..." the marten begins to protest but is quickly shut out before he can cause much of a scene.

"Let's go." Kyra again grabs him then points up towards the roof. She then quickly leaps up with her claws grabbing the wooden framework of the large building and begins climbing up.

He just stands and stares at her blankly.

Kyra looks back down at him motioning for him to start his ascent.

"You don't really expect..." He starts.

Realizing he's not as keen to climb Kyra drops back down on to the narrow overhang above the door and extends him a paw.

Rather than immediately taking her paw he stares at his own for a moment. His claws are much like hers retractable and sharp. The prospect of climbing the building begins to sink in he finds the notion strangely comforting. Perhaps he was fond of climbing before? His train of thought is interrupted and looks to Kyra still with paw out stretched. Probably best not turn down a kind gesture. He thinks to himself and accepts her help anyway. He takes her paw. Together they make their way up past the second story and into a small window that leads to the attic.

The low angled roof makes it so that the two can stand just fine so long as they stay roughly in the center of the room. Slowly Kyra leads him closer to an area where more light is pouring in through the timbers that comprise the floor. The attic itself has no lanterns or torches but enough ambient light makes it's way in from below to give the area a warm orange glow. Her companion sits on the floor. Once situated Kyra removes her boots, braces, and other vestments all except for her skirt and hangs them from the crossbeams presumably to dry. She then turns to her companion who now that he is beginning to warm up is free to go back to wondering about more than his survival is currently preoccupied with concern over the apparent lack of perceived modesty on Kyra's behalf. She pulls and tries to ring water from her fur as the snow has now melted making her quite wet as well. Unable to make much progress she gives up trying and turns her attention towards her new friend.

Kyra moves closer and kneels before him and begins to pull at his pants in order to hang them along side hers to dry. He however protests as it is his only piece of clothing.

"Stop!" He pulls it from her paws.

Kyra gestures for him to keep the noise down "Shh, calm down" She then states very slowly as if somehow expecting him speaking to him like a child will cause him to understand. "We need to dry off, it's still cold and you're still shivering. You will dry off faster without them." She approaches and gently pulls at his shorts once again. Pausing to see how he will react. He looks displeased. "Fine I won't look." she turns her head away and holds out her hand.

"No way." He says trying to communicate for her to stop with his paws.

Kyra pauses to think for a moment. She walks back to her clothing and grabs some of the cloth from her outfit. It's not fully wet however with some effort she is able to wring some water from it in a demonstration for Him. Again Kyra gestures to his shorts before hanging the cloth back in it's place.

What a difficult creature. He needs to dry off. Frustrated Kyra tries to determine the best course of action. A moment goes by before she suddenly tries to grasp the cuff of his pants and pull them away quickly before he can react.

Again he pulls it back from her however, the temporary relief from the cold has worn off and the still chilly environment of the attic is starting to set in he decides it's for the best and finally removes his pants and hands them to her. She promptly hangs it from the rafters. Kyra looks back at him and he realizes now he is standing there naked.

He pauses for a moment then quickly covers himself. "Well don't look." He says flatly.

Kyra of course can't understand but gets the idea from his gesture. She turns way and moved towards the edge of the eve space and returns with a rolled up mat of sorts. It is a quilted, heavily used, and torn roll of cloth. Kyra spreads it along the floor. The mat is not very comfortable on it's own merit but is still easier to sit on than the rough cut wood joists of the attic.

Still shivering a moment passes before her companion chooses to break the silence. "So now what?"

Kyra shoots him a stare meant to encourage silence.

He sighs and then lays facing the floor on the quilted mat and peers through the gaps in the floor to see where the light is coming from.

Concerned over his shivering Kyra is confronted by what to her is a difficult decision. Though she is more than willing to help this strange creature he is still an outsider. However he is cold and shivering. Anorans are a society of isolation. It is okay to consort with the outside but touching an outsider is frowned upon and for some species strictly forbidden. It is one thing to help him along the way but could she...? It would be a shame to see him come to any harm now she thinks. Growing up on the streets she finds herself feeling a bit more compassionate towards the cold outsider.

He turns his head to look back at her and before he can say or do anything she lays down with her legs beside his and her body covering his back. He starts to turn over and says as quietly as possible "What are you doing?"

Kyra places her paw over his mouth and says back to him "Please, be quiet. I'm trying to keep you warm. Just wait until the ceremony is over then we can try to talk."

The paw over his mouth makes it clear she wants quiet and he capitulates choosing to remain silent and resumes looking through the floorboards to the chamber below.

The chamber is a great dining hall. The lower floor is open and surrounded by a second story balcony with a well crafted wooden railing rustic and blocky in it's design yet still ornate. There is a large altar in the middle of the room surrounded by long tables with chairs on only one side facing the altar. Above on the balcony tables are arranged much the same all facing the railing. All the tables are set with stone bowls. The altar is decorated with fresh cut pines and red berries. Arranged carefully around the antlers is an assortment of knives, cups, jewels, and a large elaborately decorated spearhead. A tapestry hangs over the center red with an elaborate crest. The antlers are heavily decorated with gold rings and jewels.

Anorans begin to enter the balcony from out of sight and take their seats at the long tables. Below some commotion can be heard and before long several well dressed Anorans enter the room and stand behind chairs to which they seem to have been assigned. Yet more Anorans below are lining up along a deep dark reddish carpet that runs from the door around the altar to the head table. The head table is covered in an assortment of bowls and plates full of unusual berries, ferns, leaves, and grasses all arranged like food. There is a hush that comes over the room and snow can be seen blowing in. Someone has just arrived.

Down the center aisle walk a pair of Tanoi. This is the first the marten has seen of the deer like species. Much like the Anorans, who share many similarities with snow leopards, the Tanoi appear to share many trait's with deer. Both the male and female Tanoi below have antlers with the male's antlers being much larger and forking several times. The female Tanoi below has simple straight spikes that fork only once forming 2 points on each side at the very ends though the points are quite small. They both are wearing long green cloaks that wrap all the way around and tie in the front to stay warm. Not long after entering the room they remove these cloaks and hand them to a pair of Anorans who quickly take them away presumably to be hung to dry. Though fully clothed some details of their fur coats are still apparent. Their coats are brown with the male having a tan underbelly and the female a white underbelly framed black and tan respectively. The male starting at the back of his neck has black stripes down his spine while the female has white spots. The male has black fur accents coming down to the corners of his mouth from his eyes. The female has tan accents on her face and her underbelly coloring comes all the way up to include her lower jaw. The Tanoi are also 1-2 feet taller than Anorans at a height of 6-7 Feet tall not including antlers on average. Unlike the Anoran they do not have human like hair only fur. Clothing wise the Tanoi in question are well dressed. The female is dressed with a very simply pine branch and needle wreath upon her antlers. She is wearing a green gown that covers her shoulders but as far as the cloth is concerned would leave her chest exposed before rejoining above the waist and forming a long skirt down to her ankles. Her chest, however, is covered starting at the edge of the cloth by an elaborate garland made of woven pine branches still covered in fresh green needles. Suspended in the center of her chest is a covering made of leaves decorated by all sorts of pinecones and berries and other small details all made from gems and precious metals. On her back she is wearing a matching green cape with a white fluffy trim that too extends nearly to the floor. Rather than feet her legs end in hooves but her arms still end in human-like hands with black fingernails matching the color and texture of her hooves. The male Tanoi wears a cape to match hers but it is shorter only coming barely to his waistline the rest of his vestment is brown fur and leather. Almost like a decorative armor but distinctively tribal. Fur lined leather braces, and fur lined leather chest armor tied in many places with woven twine. All of the armor is hand painted in earthy colored curly abstract almost runic art. Unlike the female his antlers are much more decorated with silver and gold rings. Some rings fitted permanently below the forks. He also is wearing a type of boot over the bottom of his legs/hooves. Fur lined leather like the rest. Both Tanoi in their own way look almost druidic.

The pair makes their way down the carpet past the Anorans each placing a hand on the altar momentarily. A pair of Anorans approaches and hand them each a gift, before they proceed to the head table. Once the Tanoi are are positioned behind their chairs the Anorans proceed to their tables and all seat themselves. Tanoi speak candidly to one another while the room looks to them in silence. They inspect their gifts and the assortment of food before them. After a moment the Tanoi stand holding paws together and take turns delivering some kind of speech. Barely even able to hear through the cracks he can't understand a word. Once done they bow then the female claps her paws and they both take a seat. You can hear the door to the front of the room open once again and a band of three Tanoi Musician's began to play festive music and the Anorans cheer. Servant Anorans begin to fill the room bringing large pots of the brothy stew they were preparing earlier out and begin serving it to the Anorans.

Kyra's companion has finally stopped shivering. The room is still relatively cold which becomes more apparent as Kyra sits up no longer covering him. He too takes the opportunity to sit up and face his companion in what is, compared to earlier, a more calm and relaxed setting for the first time. He finds the atmosphere of the revelry below comforting. They stare at each other for a few moments before Kyra finally breaks the silence between them.

She raises her paws to her chest and holds them together and states. "Kyra". Pausing for a moment she looks at him for a response. He is however still somewhat taken back a bit by just how surreal the situation is and does not immediately respond. Repeating her motion, she states more slowly. "Kyra."

"Er, oh yes. Right, Kyra." He stammers having finally caught on. He decides to clarify and mimics her motions and repeats his name back to her but as he starts to do so, no name comes to mind. Unable to devote much thought to it before it is apparent now that he can't remember anything about his past. Who he is, what he is, where he is. All questions without answers.

Kyra stares blankly at him. Does he understand me?

Not wanting to be left out of the conversation he scrambles to come up with a name. He can't remember his own, maybe he could make one up? Tharen, Elons, Kyra. He looks to the names hes heard so far for inspiration but comes up dry. "Renno" He says quietly.

Kyra looks at him with uncertainty.

Renno looks at her and repeats her motion from a moment ago and states clearly now "Renno".

Kyra understands immediately and repeats his name this time placing her paws together in the center of his chest. "Renno."

Renno thinks to himself "This must be like pointing to them." He then starts to mimic her action but realizing he would have to touch her chest he withdraws and opts to point with a single finger instead. Given how closely they are sitting together comes across quite awkwardly. "Kyra." He repeats aloud.

Kyra in response raises her paws over her head facing her palms inward and gestures them down over her body outlining her general form "Anoran".

Renno is completely lost.

"Anoran." She repeats her gesture only to be met with a blank expression. She repeats the expression a 3rd time. "Anoran". Kyra then takes her paws and makes the same gesture around Renno but instead says nothing then points to her mouth encouraging to Renno to provide her with a response.

Renno in a completely failed attempt to comprehend her points at her. "Kyra" Then makes a similar outline motion towards her "Anoran." Then repeats. "Kyra Anoran." That's your name!". Then he repeats the outline gesture on himself "Casner, Renno Casner." Plucking yet another name from thin air to keep the conversation going.

Not the response Kyra was looking for but without further context concludes that he must be in fact a species known as "Casner".

Before they can continue the session a trap door opens across the attic from them and Elons makes his way up. He carries with him a bowl and over his shoulder and a small satchel. He immediately sets down both staring at the Kyra and her startlingly under dressed friend. "Kyra! What have I walked in on." His town a mix between joking and legitimate concern.

Kyra stares him down and says sternly. "You know me better than that Elons. Drying off, nothing more. If you're so concerned maybe you could him some dry clothing?"

Elons sigh's and shakes his head. He completes his climb through the hatch and picks up the bowl and satchel. To give to Kyra end Renno. The bowl is filled with the hot brothy meat stew which he hands to Kyra. The satchel Elons to hands Renno. "This is what I can spare. You should get some rest. In the meantime I will see if I can find something your friend here can wear. I will need you to leave by the watchers light."

"I can't stay till dawn?" Kyra asks somewhat disappointed.

"Unfortunately not today. Besides Dawn is almost twenty hours from now. Your friend will be fine with some warm clothing and a nights rest."

"Fine, thank you again for your hospitality." Kyra says trying to maintain a polite demeanor despite being clearly displeased with the situation. Kyra re-positions herself next to Renno rather than across from him. "Elons?" she calls out before he fully closes the hatch.

"Yes?" He replies half down through the hatch to the lower floor.

"Do you have any blankets to spare?" Kyra asks gesturing towards Renno.

"I'm afraid I don't. Most of the delegate have chosen to stay, and the Inn is booked for the night."

"I figured as much, thanks anyway, though." She waves farewell to him as she contemplates what to do about the morning. She stares blankly towards Elons as he descends the ladder and closes the hatch in the floor.

Renno sits quietly and takes this opportunity to get a close look at some of the features of Kyras face. His curiosity getting the best of him does not notice he has begun to stare.

Kyra turns her attention back towards him and is momentarily startled to find him staring straight at her from so close. Once the moment has passed she grabs a wooden spoon from the stew that Elons has served her and takes a bite. Renno simply watches her unaware that he too has been given something to eat. Kyra points at the satchel.

Renno opens the small cloth sack. Inside an assortment of leafy lichen, strange little red berries, a brainy broccoli looking thing that unlike broccoli is completely spherical, and some dried salted bite size bundles of cut grass. "What the?"

"Oh oh! Wow, that's some great stuff! Where did they get rilots this time of year?!" She asks rhetorically as she points at the berries.

Renno picks one up and eats it. It tastes just like a tomato but with a hint of sweetness. He takes some time to examine the berries closely even breaking one open to examine the inside. No visible seeds. "Interesting." He moves on to the Broccoli like plant. It's very clean, much cleaner than the others, it also upon closer inspection has little leafy bit's in between clusters and it even looks like some have been cut it's uncooked. He breaks a cluster off and bites into it. The unusual plant is very bitter and has an almost seaweed like taste to it. "Oh blah, that is... not for me." He sets it down.

Kyra stifles a laugh.

Renno then picks up the Lichen, after a quick examination he sets it down and picks up one of the miniature bundles of preserved grass. It has somewhat of a waxy texture. It is a thick straw-like grass that though preserved has not robbed of all it's moisture. It's covered in salt and other spices and tied together like a miniature bite sized stack like a bushel of cornstalk or hay. The tie is made of longer strands of the same grass it is also preserved and spiced. He gestures towards his mouth unsure if they are meant to be eaten whole. Kyra nods, some gestures need no translation. It's a little crisp when bitten into but softens once chewed. The grass itself is sweet, but it's been preserved with a strong vinegar, seasoned with salt and something resembling pepper. "This is actually quite delicious!" Renno exclaims and quickly eats the rest. He looks around at what's left to eat and appears somewhat dissatisfied with his options. Lichen or the bitter uncooked broccoli seaweed tasting substance. He takes a moment to calculate before the aroma of the stew catches his attention. He turns to Kyra. Renno points at the stew then points to himself and makes a pinching motion with his fingers. "Can I try just one bite?"

Kyra pauses and pulls the bowl a little closer to her. "But is has meat in it." She says quietly. Kyra uses a chopstick like utensil to spear a piece of meat and pull it up to her mouth. "See? meat." She points at her fangs.

Renno smiles showing his teeth and points at his canines. "See they aren't as long or sharp, but I have those too."

Kyra pauses a moment then gives him a bite sized piece of meat to try.

Renno eats the meat savoring it for a moment before swallowing. "Very good!" He says looking over at Kyra to see if she at least picked up on his tone of approval. He then rubs his stomach and smiles trying desperately to communicate that he does enjoy the dish.

Kyra offers him another piece.

Renno puts his paws up and waves them with a "stop" like motion. "It's okay I'll stick to what I got for now." Renno looks over at the lichen. "Okay fungus looks like it's just you and me." He closes his eyes and expects the worst. He takes a bite. "Okay, this is actually not that bad." He says before continuing to eat.

Kyra drinks the last of her broth and puts the wooden bowl down. "We should get some sleep" With that she turns and leans against him.

Not sure what to do at first Renno looks at her. Kyra presses against his shoulder with her head a little harder and he just decides to go with it and lays down. Kyra quickly falls asleep.

Renno, on the other hand, just lays there staring at the ceiling. For the first time since waking up in the cave and this whole ordeal started he finds himself with some time to reflect on everything going on around him. He thinks to himself. So this is really happening I guess. Renno begins to contemplate how or even if he can get back home. The surreal state of affairs begins to truly sink in. How will I get back home if I can't remember anything? Or am I home already? Perhaps someone will recognize me in town. The longer he thinks about it the more he realises he is not tired. A mix of being either asleep or unconscious before waking up in the cave for an unknown amount of time coupled with all the excitement Renno is in no mood for sleep. His attention now turns to Kyra. After examining her ears visually for a moment he decides to pet the top of her head and scratches her ears poking up through her hair. She wakes up.

"What? Do you need something?" She looks directly at him not upset, just tired and uncertain. A few awkward seconds go by before she lays back down and falls asleep.

Okay, he thinks to himself. Don't pet the stranger whocould still decide to maul me. It's going to be a long night.

End Chapter 1

_________________________________________________

...

Chapter 2: The Well

Though it is still dark bells can be heard emanating from somewhere in the town. Kyra wakes up to find Renno gone from her side. She stirs looking around the attic. The lights from below has long been extinguished and the attic is dark. Her eyes soon fall upon Renno's silhouette by the window now dressed in Anoran clothing. Elons must have returned while they were resting.

"Hey, you're awake... Your friend gave me this." Renno pulls at his new shirt.

Kyra hardly awake rubs her eyes and try's to gain her composure. "Watchers light... already...".

"It's been snowing like crazy you should see this!" Renno seemingly resigned to the fact that Kyra isn't going to understand him talks casually to her.

Kyra stretches before rising to her feet states in response. "We need to get you to the well..." She then makes her way over to her clothing. She examines it rubbing the cloth between the exposed pads on her fingers. It has not dried fully yet. She seems displeased but dresses anyway. Once finished she makes her way to the window... "Oh wow..." she states having now gotten a good look at the accumulation. The snow is nearly up to the overhang on the first floor. Kyra climbs into the window and steady's herself on the ledge before letting go and purposely falling into the deep snow allowing it to break her fall. Its very cold and has not packed tightly causing it burst out in all directions in a cloud of frost that quickly settles. She shouts back at Renno gesturing with her paws "Come on!".

Renno climbs out of the window eager to demonstrate his climbing skill to Kyra however, instead misjudges the accumulation of ice on the ledge and looses his grip. His claws failing to penetrate the ice leave Renno falling from the attic window landing hard on the overhang before rolling off in an uncontrolled and ungraceful manner into the snow below next to Kyra.

Kyra stifles a laugh before coming to his aid. "By Miran are you okay?". Kyra kneels next to him and examines the shoulder he is now clutching.

"Can we not do any more windows please..." Renno says weakly.

Kyra asses him not to be seriously injured. "Okay we need to get to the main street." She says pointing to the front of the building. With that Kyra starts pushing her way through the snow along the building where it is shallowest. In total the snow is deeper than they are tall so they hug the wall and use it as leverage. Moving through snow this deep is a mix of digging then stepping up onto it and just as it feels almost like you could walk up to the top your next step simply sinks back down. Luckily they need not travel far and it only takes them a few minutes before they eventually reach the main street which is remarkably clear.

Renno has not been down this street before. The pair step out into the open and Renno takes in the sights. The street in front of the building is wider forming a small plaza with stone benches and a large four arrow pattern in front of them. Three dark arrows, one of them with a line intersecting. One white arrow pointing down the street to the right. Renno is unable to make sense of the pattern.

Kyra calls to Renno having not noticed her walk off to the left down the road. Though it is lit by torches and lanterns it is still fairly dark and difficult to see. Yet despite the dark the street is filling with Anorans, many more than the night before. This time including children clinging to their parents. The children pay much more attention to Renno than the adults. Before long they reach a magnificent town square. The market district in the center of town. Its still snowing although lightly. In the center of the square is a fountain. Steam is pouring off the water and even the air is quite warm. Here there are many large hand driven carts accompanied by merchants showing off goods. Though it is clear the hour is still early and many merchants are still setting up for the day ahead. There is a haze in the air that is more apparent here than in the rest of town from all the fires and torches burning. Between climbing through the deep snow of the alley and the wet ground Kyra and Renno are already quite damp. Renno can feel a chill beginning to set in while Kyra hardly seems to mind. She is focused on getting Renno to their destination.

They walk past a large free standing stone chimney billowing black smoke into the air. There are several of these tall vents that stand around the edges of the square. There are a few Anorans standing around each of them holding their paws outstretched to absorb the warmth. Renno takes a step in that direction but is grabbed quickly by Kyra who pulls him along towards her destination. They make their way through the square. Renno finds himself preoccupied with his surroundings studying the people he now finds himself among. Renno takes in all the different appearances of the Anorans finding himself somewhat surprised by the diversity. In their fur some of them have rings, others spots, some even faint stripes. Some Anorans are more pure white while others are almost tan. Some have markings so dense that parts of their bodies particularly their backs are almost completely black. Some have longer fangs than others that stick out even with their mouth closed. Their clothing varies greatly too with some wearing as little as only a skirt or pants and others as much as full dress from the shoulder down. Nearly all of them wear a hooded cloak or mantle however few are using the hoods at this time except the children. They tend to wear their hoods in addition to a full set of clothing and with multiple layers. Almost every Anoran wears a bracelet made of teeth with markings carved onto them. All except Kyra. Renno begins to feel uncomfortable in the presence of so many Anorans, though he can't put his finger on why. None the less a feeling of apprehension begins to sink in. His confidence in his safety is undermined by two things. The unfamiliarity of the world now having lost his memory and a base instinct not to be around so many pure predators. They continue down another large road away from the plaza and after a while they finally they arrive on the opposite side of town near the wall. There is a large staircase with rune carved stones marking the top. It is dirty. Covered in coal ash. There are guards posted at the entrance.

Kyra approaches the guards. This time the conversation is short. "I have a survivor, we need the well." She explains to the first guard, who does not look directly at her but continues to stare straight ahead as if a statue.

"Proceed, be quick." He states flatly.

Kyra presses the tips of her paws together in front of her bowing her head in some kind of salute.

The guard raises one leg and stomps it to the ground in some kind of recognition of her salute.

They pass into the cave, Renno starts to become anxious.

The guard above while similar to the gate guards is dressed in even heaver armor with much more of it being made out of metal rather than cloth and wood. Much of it decorated and painted as well in various shades of blue. The steps lead down into a cave below the city. The air is thick, humid, and warm. They proceed down the hall a way until the come to door in the wall of the cave. The path they are on heads off around a bend and gives off a rich warm orange glow who's source can not be seen. Instead Kyra try's the door but it is locked. The door is comprised of vertically aligned heavy slats of wood. Their thickness as such that there would be little to no hope of knocking and being heard by anyone on the other side. Kyra scoops a sizable rock from the floor and with both hands she uses it to knock hard on the door. After a short time the door opens and a fairly official looking robed Anoran stands before them. Kyra again explains the situation as she understands it.

"We need the well. This Casner can't understand us, I'm fairly sure he is a survivor."

"I have never seen or even heard of a Casner before... What is it?" The figure asks.

"I don't know... it's... well..." Kyra stands aside so the robed Anoran can see Renno more clearly. "It's whatever he is."

"Okay, let me call the guard in case we get down there and he panics." The robed Anoran whistles and a young Anoran Kyra's age runs up the steps to greet them. He is dressed in the lower standard of the gate guards attire. "He's a survivor, escort them to the well. Please, don't mess this up for a change." The robed Anoran orders guard.

It's hard for Renno to see in the dark but it would appear the robed Anoran is much older, with hints of gray in his markings and face. The guard takes one arm and Kyra the other and begin to usher Renno down the steps. It suddenly comes to becomes clear to Renno that he is under arrest. "Wait no! I didn't do anything wrong! Where are you taking me!" he tries to resist.

"Here we go..." Says the young guard.

"Just calm down, everything is going to be just fine." Kyra says trying to be reassuring.

Renno is having none of it and continues to flail wildly. They drag him reluctantly down the steps. Past another wooden door there is a large chamber with a pool of glowing water that sparkles like the night sky full of stars. "What is this?!" Renno asks, to which he receives no answer. They walk him to the water's edge and force him to his knees. "Oh god what are you going to do to me?!" Renno protests raising his hands defensively above his head. The water though it seems to illuminate the room appears black and ominous as it is stared into. Renno is sure now, they must mean to torture him, to gleam some kind of valuable information from him, of this he is certain. Reason has left Renno at this point the fear of having no information to divulge and the optics of his predicament have overcome him. All of the kind words, though only understood in their tone and not their definition, from Kyra are lost on him.

The guard looks to Kyra. "Are you sure before we do this that he is not a bard."

"I haven't heard him sing so I am supposing not. Either way I take full responsibility." she says not entirely confidently but enough to convince the guard to proceed. She and the guard take Renno by the shoulders and dunk his head into the water.

Renno flails and in his attempt to get away and inhales some of the liquid. They let him go and he reels back violently and sprawls across the floor. Soon he props himself up with one arm his legs lay limp, coughing and choking, trying to regain his breath.

"Are you okay?" Kyra asks cautiously.

Renno waves his hand without raising his head still staring at the floor, holding his hand out in her direction behind him.

"Maybe it didn't kick in yet." The guard asks uncertain. His inexperience showing now.

Kyra takes a step closer. "Renno?" she asks.

Having caught his breath enough to respond Renno says back to her. "No of course I'm not okay, you tried to drown me." Still nearly breathless he takes a moment then makes the realization. "Wait you speak..." words escape him as he searches for, well, whatever it is his language is called. "You speak my language?" his tone is vague, somewhere between angry, confused, relieved, and frustrated all at once.

"No." Kyra states flatly "I speak no more Your language than you speak my own. The effect of the well allows us to understand one another."

Renno looks to Kyra trying to piece everything together. "You, I." He starts to say before he realizes he does not quite know what to say.

"Come on." Kyra reaches out her hand to help him to his feet. "We can't really stay in here. We can talk once we get outside."

"It's freezing out there." He protests.

The older robed Anoran speaks up. "This is no place for recreation you are not to stay here." and gestures frustratingly to the young guard for not doing his duty.

"Oh, yes, you must go now. Your business is concluded here." The young guard says, with no gravitas or authority whatsoever.

The elder raises a paw to his face. "Come on boy." He says with utter contempt.

"We can go back by the fountain where its warm we can talk and figure everything out from there" Kyra try's to be reassuring. Herself feeling great relief the two of them can finally talk. Though her motives somewhat selfish wanting only to explain her actions the night before.

"Okay, lead the way, I guess I don't have much of a choice." Renno replies before vigorously shaking his head in an attempt to shed some the water from his fur. Once again they make their way back outside into the cold. Past the heavy door Renno looks down the curved hallway, nothing can be seen but he can feel the air being sucked in from the outside. They climb the staircase back past the guard, Kyra looks into the sky. It is still dark.

It's not long before Renno begins with his questions. "So I guess my first question is where are we?"

"We are in the Southern reach in the Anoran Kingdom." Kyra replies as she leads him through the now crowded street towards the square. Kyra thinks to her self about the last day. It dawns on her now that she had not thought this far ahead. She wanted to save this poor creature but now has no idea what to do with him. Her thoughts drift towards this and away from his question.

Renno realizes he has no frame of reference. "And so... where is that?"

"Where is what?" she replies unsure of the nature of the question.

"I..." Renno pauses feeling unnecessarily that he must chose his words carefully. "I don't remember anything."

"I know, or rather I should say I assumed as much. Just what were you doing naked in a cave?" Kyra asks back at him in a disapproving tone.

Renno had forgotten and is embarrassed. "I don't know that's the first real memory I have."

"The first real memory?" Kyra pauses in the middle of the street.

The Anoran's around Kyra brush by, some coming in light contact with her. She seems unphased. Renno however notices he has not bumped into a single one. Odd he thinks to himself though the street is much more crowded than before though there is no shortage of open space. It is like they pay neither Kyra or each other no mind, like neither they nor her are truly there, but Renno on the other hand, he is like an island in the crowd. He is given space they choose not to afford each other. Still none of them look at him, none of them seem to take account his presence. Simply they walk just clear of him as not to touch and carry about their business otherwise unaffected.

Kyra reasserts her self "Hello?" and waves her paw in front of his face.

"Yes?"

"What do you mean first "real" memory?" she repeats the question this time with emphasis on the word real.

"It's the first event I can think of in which I was there. Everything before that. Well..." he pauses to think about it. "I don't remember events, only feelings, like how I feel about things."

Kyra looks confused for a moment and before speaking begins to walk down the street towards the square. Renno follows. "And just how do you feel?"

"Well, I feel like wherever we are, is a place I have never been before. Not that I would recognize. But well, it's hard to put into words. But I feel like if I had been here before I would know."

"Well our nation sits on the south eastern tip of the continent below the great divide. We rule over the whole peninsula. Everything from the White forest to the White Mountains is ours." She says proudly as if Renno should be impressed.

"Do you name everything white?" he asks jokingly shattering her illusion of grandeur.

Tempted to lecture him she holds back and answers the less obvious question Renno had not been aware he asked. "It's the well. The magic that allows us to understand one another but it always translates in the simplest words. It gets more specific eventually. Names and things like that, they get converted when they shouldn't. But don't worry." Kyra reassures him though he were bothered. He is not. "As you learn it grows with you and soon you hear things as they should be."

"Oh" Renno says, trying to remember what he asked and if it was important. He had let his mind wonder as they enter the plaza. He is distracted by the fountain. "How does it work?" He asks as if Kyra were on the same page.

Kyra stares at him blankly.

"The water, how does it do that?" Renno points at the fountain bubbling hot steaming water from the top of a stone pillar twice as tall as any Anoran. It stands in the center of a pool of steaming water at least 30 to 40 yards across. It is a brilliant centerpiece the warm humid air rising off the water warms the square but at the cost of the nearby buildings and trees growing heavy with ice from the cooling vapor. There are a few Anorans going about breaking the ice off of more delicate things like signs and the closes most compromised trees. Others are bringing hand driven carts full of snow to the square and dumping their contents into the water. The snow quickly melts away making room for more.

"You remember Eastern Corridor?" Kyra inquires.

"The eastern what?" He responds.

"The cave we were just in with the well." she reminds him.

"Oh yes, that."

"Beyond that is a great furnace chamber where wood and coal are burned. I have heard it boils up the chimney in the middle before draining back down. Its a marvel of engineering the envy of the whole world." She says with complete and total admiration. Somewhere deep inside she knows this to be a lie but she wants Renno to be impressed.

Renno however may not remember a great deal of things but he is certainly capable of recognizing an empty brag. "Is that so." He says, half intrigued but also with enough of a hint of apathy that Kyras expression of admiration quickly melts to that of mild annoyance with him.

Kyra sees this as her opportunity to express the "Correct" interpretation of her actions the night before. "Well, I hope you understand last night." She pauses but just as Renno raises a paw as if about to speak she continues. "I only wanted help you survive the night. You would have frozen. They would never allow you to sleep in Whitehall and so I had to make arrangements with a friend." She looks around nervously and leans in towards Renno as if to tell him some precious secret. "I was just keeping you warm okay? Don't tell anyone." She looks directly into his eyes eagerly awaiting confirmation that he would keep it to himself.

"Why? You did me a favor." Renno is genuinely confused.

"Because Miran wouldn't allow it. Now be quiet okay?" She stares him down somewhat intimidatingly she had not gotten the confirmation she was looking for.

"Jeese okay I won't." He puts his paws up defensively and she backs down. "So who is Miran?" he asks innocently.

Kyra looks at him angerly, but then catches herself, she had jumped to the conclusion he was still speaking of the night before but quickly realizes he had asked a fairly innocuous question. "Watcher Miran is the guiding light of the Anoran people. She taught us our nature. What it is to be Anoran." her tone of excitement and admiration has returned. She adores Miran.

"Is she like your leader?"

"No, she is a Watcher." She states as if she expects him to understand.

"And what is that?"

Kyra is initially put off by a question as if someone asked her "What is the sky.?" They take a seat on a stone bench near the water in the center of the square. "The Watchers are the ancients." Kyra holds her tail in her paws a subconscious habit of hers. "Each species has its own Watcher. They made us or perhaps we were made in their image, I don't know and the texts don't say. But either way they taught us everything. What it meas to "BE" Anoran. Each species has one. I'm sure you have one Whatever you are."

Renno is saddened by this "Your right, I don't know what I am. I had hoped you could tell me."

Recalling upon the night before Kyra answers him. "I have never seen a Casner before I'm afraid I can't help with that."

Renno laugh's.

"Whats so funny?"

"Nothing its just, I thought you wanted my name. My name is Renno Casner. Well it might be. I admit I don't recall, I made it up."

"Oh" she says looking off into the distance. "Well in that case I really have no idea what you are. You don't remember even how you got here?"

"No nothing before last night." Renno says with a hint of sad hopelessness in his voice as the notion sinks in.

Kyra tries to piece together a plan. Its clear she won't be able to simply direct him back to where he came from. She had hoped he had simply become lost. It never dawned on here that Renno may not want her help. Though she may deny it if asked she is compelled to help others in need. Renno would not even be the first. "Well I can't take you to Whitehall." She says feeling and sounding like the statement would disappoint Renno.

Renno cracks a smile at the name.

Kyra picks up on his smirk and the reason why. "We have a lot of words for White okay?! She states exasperated but energetically.

Renno laughs openly now.

"I will push you right in to this pool if you don't stop laughing right now." She says with clear hyperbole.

"Okay okay, I'll stop. Besides I don't want to be thrown back into the snow afterwords again. Say, why did you throw me in the snow?" He protests jokingly only half expecting an explanation.

It is Kyra's turn to laugh. "To get the water off, don't you know?" For her it is common knowledge. "The water will freeze in your fur, the snow if dry enough can help soak it out if your quick about it and the conditions are right."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that." This time Renno truly is impressed.

"I suppose I should take you to stay with Minetz."

"Your friend at the inn?" Renno asks.

"No that was Ellons. Minetz is different. You'll like him. If you really knew Ellons." She rolls her eyes. "He makes my ears hurt you wouldn't like him for long." She says exasperated even at the thought of Ellons.

"He must be some friend then." Renno jokes. "Are you sure Minetz won't mind my staying?

Kyra looks confused but answers, "He doesn't really have a say in the matter. Lets go." And with that Kyra releases her tail and jumps to her feet.

Renno follows her and they head around the plaza this time to the south. Near the southern exit to the market another black and white stone arrow pattern is layed into the ground This time the bottom arrow is white and the top arrow is barred. "Whats with these patterns?"

Kyra looks blankly at him and follows his gaze to the street beneath their feet. She steps back off the arrow she is standing on and explains." Its a compass. The north is barred and the quadrent of town is set in white. This is the south quadrant."

"Oh I get it." Renno looks around trying to establish a pattern. It is much easier to see now as the first light begins to pierce the clouds now. The snow has stopped and brilliant pink orange light streams in between the overcast edges of the clouds in the sky.

Kyra continues on down the road. "This was the capital not long ago. We built this city as the first city about three hundred years ago when the tribes united. But after the war a new capital was built by the coast to the north. Its still being built really. I swear its twice as large every time I go there."

"So they built this city from scratch for no reason?" Renno felt compelled to challenge the notion. A feeling deep inside that cities either did not, or should not normally come about in this manner.

"When the tribes first united they were happy with the new laws but they didnt want to live together if it meant letting the others move in to their territory. So they needed a common place where all were welcome.".

Renno is intrigued. "Why not?"

"The great philosopher, arbitrator, and later first matriarch Anora negotiated the treaty that first united the tribes of the peninsula." The Rohean, Ieza, and Airet tribes had long warred with each other for dominance over the best hunting territory and resources. They believed if a tribe could take something by force from another that it was just. Anora challenged them . She used the teachings of Water Miran to..."

Renno interrupted. "Is Miran watcher for all 3 tribes? Or did they each have their own."

"Miran is watcher for us all, anyway, Anora had her own interpretation that the teachings about the natural order of the world didn't apply to the individual. The original scholars and chieftains believed that if someone was strong, or noble, able to negotiate or take a thing then that thing was theirs. That the natural way of our people was though individual strength and that a tribes strength is just a product of united individuals. Anora taught that this only lead to unproductive fighting. That together we could be more. If individuals could make a tribe then tribes could make a nation. The natural order wasn't based in the will of an individual but in the inherent strength of the species. That we should work together. She would travel from village to village and challenge the scholars in public debate. Her and her followers would brings goods from all over the peninsula with them and give them to the people. Showing the riches of the region beyond the scope of any one tribe. For many it would be the first time they would see others with different coats working together. Yet despite..."

To Renno her words would seem to trail off as he contemplated her statements. He interrupts her again to ask a question. "Different coats?"

"Yes, us Rohean have rings see?" She holds out her arm and points to the rings of black covering her fur. "The Ieza only have spots." She points out a brilliantly bespectacled male Anoran passing by without a shirt on. "The Airet..." Her tone changes to that of annoyance. "They have solid black stripes and are much larger than the others. They don't like to live in the city and mostly keep to themselves."

Though she had not stated it directly Renno could tell that there was more to it than that and suspected quite correctly that there was still some internal conflict between the Airet and the other races. They have arrived at an open air workshop of brilliant tools and work benches though completely unoccupied by any workers. The work benches nestled off the street below the overhang of the second story of the building. The first floor though half the size of the second is comprised of a main stone structure with large wooden joists supporting the floor above reaching out to five large wooden support beams along the street front. The beams are connected by heavy wooden arches that are decoratively carved with a triangular pattern along the top and edges. Below the overhand are two open furnaces cold and dark the likes of which have not been lit in a long time. Each have a chimney that extends upwards into the floor of the second story and pass all the way through to the roof. Making the front of the 3rdfloor. The chimney of each serving a secondary purpose of supporting the structure above. The second floor is a white plaster finished with beams of wood dividing it the segment between the lower arches into squares, then diagonally again into triangles save for the two symmetrically positioned windows which are shut with heavy wooden shutters attached to hinges above. The third story is set in from the street but extends the entire width of the building. Though it can not be seen from this angle it is asymmetrical reaching all the way to the back alley giving the building a 2 story facade with an overhanging roof before the 3rd story in the front, and a clean three story facade from the perspective of the alleyway. The building sits prominently on the main southern street with a large deliberately planted pine center of the street on either corner of the front of the building. The building faces west. Before it like at brown hearth a small open plaza and another compass set into the cobblestone road surface.

"Your friend lives here?" Renno asks timidly.

"For now, yes." And with that she simply resumes her history lesson. As they proceed towards the front door. "Despite being travelers of all tribes they gave away these goods for free which would get the members of the tribes to attend the debates. Moved by her clarity they would then donate them gifts and they would depart for the next tribe and begin the cycle again until one day the three chieftains challenged her directly. A large gathering here, in the open field where this town would later be build convened where she bested all three of them in a weeks long event. At the end the chieftains met and came out in agreement. A treaty would be forged in the coming months and we would be united under one banner. Once signed they appointed her first Queen and the nation was born. She declared the very spot on which the debates took place would become a symbol of our unity and Anorans from all over the peninsula came together and constructed the First City. Aht'Regenia." Kyra pushes open the front door of the building which sticks rubbing the floor as the hinges are worn and in dire need of replacing. She pushes a second time harder with her shoulder and the sound of the wood rubbing the floor echos through to the second floor. "Minetz!" She shouts to what appears to be a relatively empty and dusty building.

Renno repeats back to her. "Aht'Regenia".

Kyra turns back to him as they step in the door. Other than a staircase leading up to a banister overlooking them the first floor is comprised only of rows of wooden cabinets each with heavy metal latch like lockers. "What about it?" she asks.

"I heard it as you said it. Does it mean anything?" Renno picking up on the inconstancy of the translation.

"Aht is a short way to say Cat." She pauses and says again after a moment slowly. "Ah-net" Then repeats it "Cat, Ah-net, Cat, Ah-net, Ahnet" she says it a few times more until eventually Renno only hears the true word. "Ahnet". Kyra then forcefully pushes the door shut.

With that light rapidly pounding footsteps can be heard before a figure bounds over the balcony through the air down at them landing gracefully on the floor no further from the pair than they stand from each other. His ears standing tall one flopping over momentarily due to the momentum of his athletic feat. He stands upright. The rebounding ear grazes Renno in the face.

End Chapter 2

_______________________________________________

Chapter 3: Life in Aht'Regenia

Renno raises a paw in reaction to brush his face though the ear had long left it.

The figure standing upright ears included is only as tall as Renno, his head covered in fur of pure white extending up until finally turning black at the end of his long slender ears. By all accounts a rabbit to you and I. "Someone new, something new. He stresses as he rapidly examines Renno looking around him to his right then stepping around him to his left and garbing his tail. "What is he!" The rabbit exclaims excitedly.

Renno pulls his tail back. "Let go of that." he says frustratingly.

Kyra speaks up. "Renno, this is my friend Minetz, Minetz, Renno." she introduces the two. "Minetz is a Thanorite of the Thono species.

Minetz stands with his fingers clasped together behind his back resting on his stubby little tail. Leaning forward towards Renno. "Nice to meet you." he says as calmly and politely as he can possibly state. He then breaks his demeanor and returns once again to a high energy state this time directed at Kyra grabbing the edge of her cloak lifting it to look behind her back. "Did you bring it? You promised me last time! I'm almost out you know. You don't want me to starve do you?"

Like with Renno with his tail Kyra snatches her cape away from Minetz. "Stop it your such a child and no I don't have any. I was unexpectedly busy yesterday."

Minetz strains beggingly "But I could staaaaarve, you don't want me to starve do you?" He leans against Kyra affectionately.

To Renno's surprise Kyra pushes him away with considerable force causing him to loose his balance and fall. However, due to a quick angle motion he turns the fall into a roll and springs spryly back onto his feet and laughs as though it meant nothing to him.

"Come on you gotta see this I finished the first one!" And with that Minetz takes off up the steps leaping and skipping two or three steps with every bound.

Renno looks to Kyra still somewhat shocked by her reaction.

"What?" she looks back at him.

Renno shrugs and looks to the second floor.

"We better not keep him waiting. He might explode." She says sarcastically and begins up the steps.

Renno Follows behind, a noise of rummaging through metal and wood tools can be heard emanating from above.

"See look!" Minetz exclaims as he holds a thin wooden card up with several holes cut through it.

"Its too big, It will never do." Kyra says unimpressed.

Renno observes the exchange as the two carry on. He thought often of asking for an explanationbut thought maybe its best he not get between them. As she argued with Minetz Kyra worked her way towards the stairs, turning around after each explanation to face Minetz and object eventually at the top of the incline pausing a final time at the top of the steps before finally rapidly descending to to the bottom and opening one of the cabinets. Renno rushes to the banister realizinghe may miss out on the opportunity to ask her more questions.

"Your not leaving are you." he calls down to her.

"Ill be back in about two months to check in on you." She calls back up to him.

Renno is struck by a sinking feeling of being trapped.

"B-but..." he stammers.

Minetz rushes to join him at the banister approaching it with such speed he must use it as a brace to stop himself. Leaning way over the banister he joins Renno in objecting. "But im almost out of food."

"Well the engineer something I owe Elons a favor, and hes not the only one." She says calmly in an adult tone as if to deliberately out-mature the two boys. She pulls a couple shirts and pants from the cabinet along with a pair of gloves.

"Pleeaaaaaaasse don't go momma Kyra." Minetz pines in the sappiest tone he can muster.

Renno though a little embarrassed by Minetz joins him in asking, though not in the same tone. "Kyra could you stay? I have a lot of questions."

Kyra pauses at the door. "Fine, ill return in the morning before setting out. Ill bring you whatever supplies I can to tide you over. But I will have to leave tomorrow. Its early winter, Its bad enough I waited this long to make the trip. Any longer and it will be the dead of winter the whole way though. Just be up by watchers light." She puts the clothing the removed from the cabinet onto the cabinet next to the door rather than take it with her thenpulls on the door to open it, again it sticks rubbing the floor. She has to use a foot braced against the wall to pull it open. "And fix this door!" she shouts in a disapproving tone as it is not the first time shes made the request. With that she has gone.

Renno slumps to the floor beside the banister in disbelief. For perhaps the third time in just a day his entire world has changed around him. So many questions. He contemplates, what to do, what to eat, where to sleep, even where to use the restroom. Can he walk the streets safely? Can he get a job? Does he need to pay Minetz? Speaking of which, he turns to find Minetz bending over and staring at him from an uncomfortably close range.

"Can I help you?" Renno asks rhetorically.

"Are you any good with wood?" He asks back in earnest.

Renno looks at the ceiling. "I don't know. I can't remember anything beyond yesterday."

"Oh! Oh your a survivor? Did you get the plague and live?"

Renno looks at him. "What plague?"

Minetz puts out his paw and pulls Renno to his feet and starts walking towards his workbench. "The plague, the magic plague." He says. "I was too little to remember when it first happened, I hear it spanned the continent perhaps the entire world!"

Renno hangs on every word. By now he has become desperate for information on his past and for the first time this seemed like something that might involve him.

"Oh yes, it was terrible. So many died. They say it killed more magic than people. Artifacts, Ruins, those kinds of things. They would glow with an eerie color about them before burning out like a torch plunged into a troth of water and with it all magical effect. Anyone exposed to the wells, which to be fair is nearly everyone, could be affected. It spared the bards, that's how we know. It spared the bards but so many people. I can barely remember. They would ring the bells in the middle of town seven times. We would all hide inside. Only the dead would be loaded onto carts and carried away to be buried or burned. It was scary. It was a few years ago since the last time it happened. I was still little then but that I remember. First you lose your memory, then your mind, then your life. A tragic way to go. Few who caught it were spared, but they lost their memory. Is that what happened to you?"

"I suppose it could have been. I don't remember so its hard to say." Renno pondered for a while. Even if this were the answer it wouldn't be enough. He still has no idea where he came from, how he got here, or who he was before. He would need to find someone who knew him. But how.

"And that's how it works you see? Its so much better, I'll show Kyra, one day." Minetz holding up the wooden card before Renno.

"I'm sorry what?" Renno had been caught not paying attention to the young Thono.

"Okay I'll start again." Minetz begins to repeat himself before being cut off by Renno.

"What is this place?" he asks looking around the workshop.

"Its the engineering workshop. Well one of them anyway. It was abandoned between the population decline and the move to the new capital. No one uses it anymore. So they let me stay here. No one bothers us here. I mean I don't go outside. Sometimes they come the door. They ask me to make them tools and things. Usually they are just laying around and I can trade them whats already at hand. I suppose once they belonged to someone. But they have been left to the dust now. So I sell them. I suppose I should feel guilty. But I need to eat. Oh sure, sometimes they leave me food in the night. Sometimes its not even wilted. They mean well. But the wont talk to me, oh no, not by the light of day. Not where the others can see. They like me, I know it, Kyra likes me. Shes my mom you know. Well my second mom. Kyra's the best." His words are quick and cheerful.

"You sure do like to talk." Renno says a little lost in his explination. "How old are you anyway?"

"Me, I'm 12, Kyra's old, shes like 15. I make fun of her for that. She doesn't like it. How old are you? You gotta tell me. I told you, now you go." He picks up a tool and examines it then starts to draw in a blank ply of wood.

"I don't know." Renno is 19.

"Did you lose count? It was hard to get past 10, I ran out of fingers. I had to memorize. But I'm good now, I can count all the way to 100 now. I bet I could count more. I haven't tried though."

His enthusiasm begins to grate on Renno. He should have asked Kyra these questions when he had the chance. They are interrupted with a knock at the alley door. Minetz rushes off before Renno can even process the conversation fully. Again Minetz leaps over the banister and forgoes the stairs. Before Renno can even reach the top of the steps he has the door open and is conversing with someone on the outside.

"You understand an axle. Its urgent. Do you have one or not." The voice says faintly as Renno descends the stairs.

"Hand cart, merchant cart, or goods cart." Minetz asks hanging on the door by the handle.

"Merchant cart." The voice states blankly.

Renno comes around the door behind Minetz.

"By Miran there are two of you now." The male Anoran states. He stands in the alley quite a bit taller than Renno or Kyra, fully grown. He is wearing his good over his head drawn tight around his face making it difficult to see him clearly.

"And in exchange?" Minetz asks inquisitively.

"Right. Here. I brought you some food just like before." The Anoran hands over a sack of mixed vegetables and grasses to Minetz.

Minetz looks them over before replying disappointedly. "This is all, for a whole axel?"

"It's fresh." he states almost in the tone of a question.

"You'll bring me more wont you? You gave me more last time." The two exchange rapidly.

"Last time was for a wheel."

"And it wasn't enough you promised!"

"Fine, now please hurry my cart blocks the road."

"Okay" Minetz runs up the steps and returns shortly dragging a heavy wooden cart axle nearly as tall as he is to the top of the stairs.

Renno looks up at him with concern. "Would you like some help with that."

Minetz turns and replies to him "No ill be just fine-" before tipping over and dropping the axle. Minetz manages to brace him self against the wall as the axle rattles down the stairs in a tremendous racket before resting at the bottom.

Renno puts a paw over his face in disgust and the Anoran behind him sighs heavily.

"Sorry, Sorry! Its good strong wood, its fine. I didn't use pine, I know better now." he rushes to the bottom and picks the axle up off the floor and drags it over to the door. "You'll be back with more food right? You promise?"

The Anoran reaches for the axle and takes possession of it. Renno takes notices of the spots on his arms and recalls the lesson on tribes from Kyra earlier. "Yes I will return with more later."

He did not.

. . .

With the door shut tightly behind her Kyra looks into the bright sunny sky above. Still partially cloudy and yellow with the light of dawn it is at least a new day in the Anoran kingdom. She knows her time to earn her keep at the market is running short. She hurries quickly down the street.

"Kyra!" A familiar voice shouts to her.

Kyra stops in her tracks and follows the voice to a small shop that tailors clothing.

"My Kyra come in out of the cold. Tell me just what on earth were you dragging around the streets earlier." a female Anoran says to her a bit too dramatically for Kyra's taste.

"Kota..." Kyra addresses her elder and shopkeep.

"Look at you, your skirt is tattered. You need to take better care of your things. Poor girl. I know it must be hard. Here. Take this market order to Sherantz for me. Ill hem you something nice. I finally got my heavy cloth in for the winter." Kota hands her a list of goods addressed to the merchant.

Kyra looks at the note reading it over. "Your going to give me a skirt simply for taking a note down the street?" she says looking over the contents of the order.

"Why dear, Miran knows you need it. I wouldn't want my sweet little Kyra to freeze in the last winter of her childhood. That would be tragic."

_Charity_Kyra thought to her self. A feeling of disgust overcame her. If there is one thing Kyra wanted in the world, its for people to see her as she feels she truly is. A kind loving soul who stands for everything Miran stands for. Loyalty, honor, a champion hunter, unbreaking, capable. Its not to say Kyra actually is all these things. But to her the idea she would need to get by on handouts was particularly frustrating. It is unnatural. After all, the natural order is at stake here. Who should be provided for who cant provide for themselves? Charity is an insult.

"Kota?" Kyra calls her attention.

"Yes dear."

"I seek to travel to Dunmoras tomorrow. Can you have me the clothing by then?"

"Dear I'm not sure I'll have the time." She says dismissively.

"Advance me the skirt and enough coin to make a purchase on your behalf. I can bring you all the heavy cloth you can possibly want for the rest of the winter months. Its cheaper there. I know you will need more. Consider the skirt a down payment. When I return you can repay me in full with a complete outfit plus two more for my friends."

"Well dear I suppose." Kota thinks it over. She abhors the idea of making an outfit for a Rabbit. But she knows as does Kyra the prices in Dunmoras are half of what they are in the south. "Alright. Ill have it done in the morning. Your lucky young lady you have such a compassionate friend in me..." She continues to lecture Kyra about how virtuous a person she is for accepting Kyra's offer and that no other Anoran would possibly accept such an absurd request to cloth a foreigner, and a herbivore at that. Stressing every word to hyperbole as if there were not even the slightest economic advantage for her in it.

Kyra endures the lecture without objection.

"Ill also draw you up a list. I wont spoil the opportunity to buy from Dunmoras on heavy fabric alone." and with that she dismisses Kyra.

She opens the door back out into the streets to find a commotion. An overturned merchant cart is blocking much of the road as the keep rushes to pick up his wears before they get trampled or taken. Kyra recognizes the man and rushes to his aid.

He mutters a colorful myriad of curses under his breath as he collects his goods from the cobblestone. "Kyra! My damned cart. I'm late to the market and now this. Lousy workmanship. The axle has gone."

"Ill pick up here. Go to the southern workshop and ask Minetz I think I saw him cutting new parts just the other night. He may have what you need. I just left there."

"I don't need the help of any Thanorite especially a Thono." He rejects her suggestion.

"Didn't he make you a wheel just a week ago?" Kyra knows this to be true. She presses the issue with him. "Besides I have taught him to read and write. I've discussed with him the virtues of Miran. Hes more Anoran than Thono now anyway." She attempts to appeal to his sense of pride.

"I suppose I don't have much of a choice." he knew this from the start.

The truth of the matter is Anorans are isolationists. But more than any other they despise Thanorites, their liberal views on inter-species relationship has been long a sticking point between the cultures. Their borders are too far apart for this to spill over into conflict but they hold a distinct mutual disdain for one another. The Anorans see them as immoral species mixing promiscuous deviants. Meanwhile the Thanorites see the Anorans as immodest barbaric specists. Each nation has laws forbidding them from even touching one another.

"Well then go, take some food with you as trade. He is running low." Kyra grabs a sack from the wrecked cart and hands it to him. He fills it up with the few basic vegetables and grasses he has on hand.

Kyra stops him as he departs. "Is that all?" looking him directly in the eyes she points at the satchel.

"I would be a fool to pay more. If he can even build a suitable axle I bet it won't last a day." He states impolitely as possible.

Kyra presses her case with him once again. "And if it lasts more than a day then what."

"Then I'll thank Miran for the miracle and go on about my life." He pushes Kyra aside and walks down the road south towards the workshop.

Kyra picks up the cart rapidly as best she can. Once done she looks around cautiously. _The nerve of him._She thinks to herself. Her mind made up she grabs a sack from the cart and fills it to the top with all the vegetables she can fit and runs back across the street into Kota's shop. "Hold onto this I will be back for it" she plops the bag down onto the counter and runs back into the street before the merchant can return.

Kota though confused doesn't say a word and stashes the bag under the counter.

It's not long before he does axle in tow. "I'm impressed, a fine piece. This should do nicely." he says proud of his acquisition.

"Don't speak too loudly now. I might mistake your tone for admiration." Kyra mocks him.

"One day you'll learn Kyra not to trust anyone but your fellow Anorans. But your young, so many life lessons of Miran to learn without a parent to teach them." He sets to work propping up the card so he can work on it.

Again Kyra is insulted. She considers herself an authority on Miran. While the watchers teachings do speak of the natural order. That for an Anoran their sacred right is to hunt and provide for their self and family though their strength. However, Miran also teaches with the gift of strength that it falls to them to protect and provide for others to strike a balance. It would seem many Anorans would soon forget that or only apply it to their family. This particular merchant is one of the worst. In his case "Specist" is less a stereotype and more an unalienable truth he flaunts proudly. A nationalistic zeal that he likely feels brings him customers.

He dismisses Kyra. With the satisfaction of having done two good deeds though one of them a little underhanded. She proceeds through the town back to the square. A breeze has kicked up and she can feel the crisp cool air blow through her fur. Like any good Anoran, she enjoys it. Anoran culture is a patchwork of beliefs based actions, tribal tradition, and new modern so called practical approaches only recently invented.

. . .

"You never did explain what this is." Renno holds the wooden card with the holes cut into it upto the light streaming in through the slatted window.

"Its great its for writing." Minetz informs him "The Anorans love books that can all read. Kyra taught me to read. But they spend too long, all day, writing books. So many of them write. I can write fast. Kyra says its messy but I can write faster than her. I think shes jelous. But this, with this you can write faster than anyone."

Renno is beginning to wonder if Minetz ever slows down. He starts to regret even asking the question to the talkative child.

Minetz snatches the wooden card from his hand. "Watch this." he slaps the card onto a piece of paper and then douses it with ink. Slowly he lifts the card and it becomes clear that it is in fact a stencil. "See you can read it right?" he holds up the paper and the overuse of ink causes it to run down the page.

"I don't know if I can read. Even if I can I don't seem to be able to read Anoran." Renno says feeling a little disappointed in himself.

"It says. Behold faster words have never been written before. Isn't it great?" Minetz awaits Renno's approval.

Renno stares at the pathetic sheet a few more moments. "It takes a whole page just to say that?"

"Well..." Minetz looks down at his feet for the first time sounding a little saddened. "I know, its not very good yet. But it shows that you can write without writing! That has to count for something." His tone returns to an excited state by the end of the sentence.

"I see. Well... that's something I suppose." He says trying to sound encouraging although not to get Minetz hopes up.

Minetz pulls a round green vegetable out of the bag of goods he gained from the merchant before and breaks it half with his paws. He offers half to Renno. "These are pretty good. But they don't cook well. Here have some."

Renno receives his half of the plant it looks almost fruit-like though it is dark green and porous on the inside. Packed full of little curls of leafy nubs like a head of broccoli turned inside out and packed into a ball.

Minetz takes no time in eating his. He seems to quite enjoy it.

Renno takes a small bite of his and his face nearly turns inside out. "Blagh!" he heaves and coughs leaning over the floor nearly dropping the vegetable.

"Are you okay mister?" Minetz rushes to Renno's side.

Renno waves him off and regains his composure "I'll be fine, ugh that is the most bitter thing I think I have ever eaten and I'm fairly sure I don't need my memories to say that with confidence."

Minetz does not wait for Renno to hand the vegetable back and takes it from his hand. He takes a huge bite out of it and says with his mouth full "Wfut du youf meen. Thish ish grate?"he swallows the bite with no trouble at all.

Renno looks at him with a smile. Something about the way he confidently went about it seemed to please Renno. "I think we just have different tastes maybe its a species thing."

Minetz smiles and takes another bite this time he swallows before talking. "Ill turn the rest into a soup later. You'll enjoy that."

Renno remembers the stew he shared last night with Kyra. "You know, Kyra gave me a bite of stew last night that was pretty good. If you learned to cook from her taste I just might."

Minetz mood shifts suddenly and he looks dead at Renno almost as if he had seen a ghost.

"What?"

Minetz looks at Renno, at his claws and nearly shouts. "You wouldn't eat me would you!" He takes a step back from Renno away from the table.

Renno a little confused replies. "No, of course not. Where would you get that Idea?"

Minetz just as quickly turns his mood again to joy. He runs the few steps of distance back to Renno and hugs him around the waste. "I knew you wouldn't eat me."

Renno is caught off guard unsure what to do he issues him half a hug back. "Okay, yes its fine allright."

Minetz little paws squeeze Renno a little tighter as he speaks.

"Alright that's enough let go of me." Renno tries to push Minetz off which Minetz seems to ignore. "Come on now let go." he finally pry's the little Thono off of him. Renno yaws, though it is morning here he is feeling quite tiered. He didn't quite get a lot of sleep the night before. "Is there anywhere I can lay down?"

"Sure sure, at the top of the steps, Ill light the furnace for you down here. You will find a bed roll. I have a spare. Just use the one laying out up there. I have work to do anyway, Ill wake you for dinner. Your gonna love it. I'm the best cook. Kyra tried to cook once. It was awful. I don't know how you turn half a food to mush and the rest is still crunchy and raw. You know this one time..."

His voice trails off as Renno walks up the stairs to the third level of the workshop. It's quiet here. Rows of dusty books line the walls and divide into idles. Some of the shelves are very deep holding up to 3 volumes in front of one another. There are piles of books on the floor as well. Some of them lay open. Renno cant read them but they are full of drawings and diagrams of tools and parts. The ones near the bedroll seem to take up the topic of cart construction. Renno lays on the roll and stares at the ceiling. But sleep won't come. Like the night before his thoughts turn inward. He thinks about the life he can no longer recall. For hours he lay upon the floor contemplating the short account of his new life. He knew he would have just one more chance to ask Kyra questions. He assumed simply after that he would never see her again. That by the time she returns he will have found a job and be on his own. Perhaps even leave town for warmer shores. Yes this was a fine plan. He needed to get his information tonight. Eventually though unclear to him how long it had taken sleep would eventually come.

. . .

Kyra carries a bag of goods for another patron up the steps to a fine scribes establishment. Her arms overloaded she is careful not to drop a thing. This is how Kyra earns her keep for you see in this world there are no horses to pull carts. No oxen to plow a field. No cats to hunt mice and no mice in need of hunting. In this world all mammals developed into full fledged walking, talking, thinking creatures.

"Where shall you like your goods Mam." Kyra asks politely.

"Oh be a good little girl and place them on the counter. I shall see to putting it away myself." The lady responds to her in a calm soothing tone.

"Yes mam." Kyra replies.

By now several of the scribes look up from there work interrupted by the sounds of conversation. Their glances meant to hush Kyra.

Couriers are the lowest of the low in Anoran culture. Only dishonored members of society labor carrying goods for others. Yet this is how Kyra must make her living. Anoran's still use a tribal system of trade. Each member of the species wears a bracelet or necklace signifying their honor. They are made from the teeth of long dead ancestors carved with their names. When a child turns 16 they receive the coveted jewelry from their family and are considered an adult. Until then they must rely on the honor of their parents. With and honor band they can partake in trade openly. They receive from vendors what they need. The tailor will provide them clothing. The butcher with a hot meal. All of which will be reconciled in the new year at tax time. Those who give more than they receive are gieven payment in gold they can use to trade for more goods. Those who fall short may either pay a tax or work it off the balance over the next year. The crown sets the price for most things. Though items of luxury are still typically bartered for. Those without an honor band must trade for everything.

"Oh dear, I have nothing with witch to trade you it seems." The head scribe says aloud with the back of her arm over her head in dramatic fashion. Her acting is terrible and her statement an obvious lie. "My I do suppose I will simply have to pay you with this." She turns and places into Kyra's paws a single gold coin.

Kyra examines the coin and looks to the lady with disbelief. "You, I..." she starts to speak but words escape her. Likely for the best as many of the scribes have now set down their writing utensils and grow impatient waiting for silence to return.

"Now dear run along. I'm sure you have more pressing matters to attend to." The head scribe ushers Kyra out of the door back into the street.

Another act of charity. A coin of gold is an immensely valuable thing. 500 silver bits make a Silver Paw A coin named after the engraving of three paws representing the tribes. A meal may only cost 100 bits. Bits usually come in dividends of 10 and 50. 10 Paws make a Chieftain. Their are many chieftain coins. Like the Paw it is named after the engraving. These coins are specifically worth their weight in silver and are legal to mint by any jeweler with the skill to do so. They use them as a tool for marketing each minting coins to show their skill in metallurgy of their favorite chieftain. 10 Chieftains make a Matriarch. A coin of gold featuring Queen Anora.

Kyra looks at the coin. It stares back at her almost to mock her. She resents it. Meant as an act of kindness clearly such a valuable thing should never be allows in her paws. She loathes the coin. Anyone else would be singing in the streets though to the benefit of the streets Kyra is not. Anorans are not known for their singing voice. This kind of charity is rare among the Anorans. But with winter looming and despite her lack of an honor band, or parents who's honor Kyra might lean upon she is respected. The people of the town have come to know Kyra. Unlike those stripped of their honor Kyra is well mannered. Well behaved. She will accept any job and she works to the best of her ability. She is noble and kind. She does not sell herself even in moments of desperation and has never been known to steal. Or at least she has never been caught. Her earlier indisgression aside Kyra is more upstanding a citizen than those even with the largest and most glorious honor bands. If only Kyra knew it for herself.

Kyra wondered the streets just looking at the coin. A few onlookers noticed the glinting gold coin in her paws and dawned looks of shock to see her in her tattered clothing carrying one. She had decided where to go. Not to Brown Hearth She couldn't trust Elons with such a task. She headed north. Yes this is the place. A great old dining hall stand before her known simply as "The Table".

The owner of the establishment was the husband of Keeta a prominent business woman of the Ieza tribe. Her family had earned immense wealth in the ages before the War of Burned King. Their trade however was banned when the treaty was signed. Her family has made their coin advising the crown on great deal of matters. The have held the Ieza seat on the council for generations and invested in the rebuilding of Aht'Regenia as well as the construction of the new capital shipyards. Keeta however was the black sheep of the family. When her father died she inherited more than an equal share of the wealth and unlike her brothers divorced her self from the politics of the nation. She headed south. Home to Aht'Regenia she married a poor Airet named Rozen A simple man with a heart of gold. Rather than helping to invest in the crown she used her wealth to fund the rebuilding of Whitehall and bought The Table across the street. She spent a large portion of her money doing it. She was mocked by her brothers having been seen as investing in the poor. Further insult was delieverd onto them by her choice of husband. In their eyes she married a backwards barbarian. With her riches gone she took to tending Whitehall content to break even. The Table on the other hand lost money for years. Most of which due to the neglect of Rozen. He had never learned to read or write until long after taking head of The Table and his book keeping was terrible. To both the surprise and disappointment of Keeta's brothers Queen Anora made them whole refunded her all the coin she had invested and named her "Keeper of Aht'Regenia" a title closely resembling that of Mayor.

Kyra approaches the counter she sits on one of the tall wooden stools and waits patiently for Rozen's attention.

Kyra has never given much thought to her life. She is too busy trying to survive. Though if she had given it a though she might curse Miran for taking her parents from her. She might hold Elons in contempt for his hardened heart. She may not have been so quick to forget Tharon's betrayal of her affection when he joined the guard. This coin could change all that. The scribe Lady Manon knew this when she gave it to her. Manon was a good friend of her parents. Though her establishment is the most successful of its kind in Aht'Regenia coming up with a whole Matron to spare was difficult. She meant to save it a while longer and give it to Kyra on her 16th birthday. But the gold had been burning a hole in her pocket. Kyra's birthday is in the late fall. She simply couldn't wait that long and knew how much good it could do Kyra in the winter months. So she gave it to her early.

Rozen approaches Kyra "Hello lass, here for a mid afternoons drink are we." He pokes fun at Kyra while cleaning out a flagon. Rozen is huge. 6'8" with arms that could crush stone. He leans on the counter. He wears a short sleeved bleached white linen shirt. Stained with mead and stew from nights long past. His attire is completed with baggy brown pants and tall black boots who's origin might be suspect if examined closely made of a thick leather.

Kyra slaps her paw down on the counter containing the gold coin. "I want nothing to do with it."

Rozen looks at Kyra, her expression intense and unyielding. He leans in closer his enormous muscle bound arm leans on the counter. His eyes fall slowly to her paw still covering the coin. After a moment she slowly removes it revealing the coin in all its splendor. Rozen grabs her paw and places it back over the coin.

Quietly but with great authority he barks at her. "Where did you get that."

"Lady Manon" she states flatly.

"Lady Manon?" Rozen asks with less surprise in his voice than before.

"Lady Manon." Kyra repeats herself.

"Lady Manon." Rozen echos back to her though this time with exasporation.

"Take it, feed the poor for as long as you can. I want no part in it." Kyra stands and leaves the coin exposed in the middle of the counter.

"Nothing at all woman are you mad." He says loudly.

The few patrons around the establishment look at him inquisitively but after a moment they return to their meals.

"Nothing at all." Kyra states back to him. Again in her flat, unwavering tone.

"Surely kid, you must want something. I can't take this from you. Don't you understand what this could mean?"

"I know exactly what it means. It means I can't earn my keep. That I have nothing to contribute. It would be an insult to my honor but clearly I have none." She points to her bare wrist. "So it would seem giving me such a thing should be fine. Well I reject it. I have honor, or dignity at least. I wont accept such a thing. Now or ever."

"Oh come on don't do this to poor old Rozen, you expect me to accept it? How am I to feel." He tries to turn her sentiment against her.

"I didn't say it was for you, I said feed the poor." She protests in a match of wits.

"Is that how its going to be then. Really you wont accept a thing. Come on, something, anything. I can't take it if I don't give you anything."

Kyra rubs her paw on her chin and thinks for a moment. "Fine, I want, 3 hot meals. A large satchel of your best vegetables and a single paw."

"Thats it?"

"Thats it." she declares definitively.

"You want all that food now?"

"No, just one bowl and the paw now. I'll come for the rest it in the morning."

He picks up the matron and shakes his head in disbelief. "I know what your going to say. But just so you know. Im going to hold on to this a while just in case you change your mind."

"Rozen!" she snaps back at him.

"I don't want to hear it. I'll feed the poor in case you go through with it. But if your senses come about you simply ask. Understood?"

"Unnecessary." She reassures him.

Rozen returns with a bowl of hot stew filled to the brim. "One day you will look back at this moment and regret it."

Kyra grabs hold of the wooden spoon and eats her stew. She declines to comment further on the matter. Soon her spoon scrapes the bottom of the empty bowl. She rises to her feet and heads for the door.

Rozen waves to her though he does not turn to look. He knows she would not appreciate being acknowledged further.

Kyra waves back this time she holds in her paw a much more suitable and modest paw. She rubs the worn surface of the coin. Imagining her thumb joining her with the three tribes. She smiles. Arriving at the fountain in the market square a voice calls out to her.

"Kyra! Girl where have you been! I have more errands for you to run." The voice belongs to Fen a merchant of scribe supplies from whom Lady Manon earlier bought her goods.

"Sorry Fen, not today!" she calls out across the busy square.

"Are you sure?" he calls back "Its easy work just a few scrolls of Vellum for the guards office for the winter address."

"No thank you Fen, I'll be leaving town in the morning I have to prepare." She calls back leaving Fen scratching his head. He had earlier been told she would be around all day.

Kyra enters into another building this one a single story with a wooden roof, the snow all melted from it and an open vent in the peak of the roof pours thick white steam into the cold winter sky.

"No,no,no, I don't serve your kind here, you know that, out into the street with you. No trade, only coin." The female Rohean by the name of Atta walks briskly from behind the counter and begins to usher Kyra back out into the street. Atta is well dressed and views herself a member of the upper-class. Prideful in her successful operation of a fine bathhouse situated on the market square. She would find it utterly devastating to find that her and her along view her self in such esteem. Luckily for her, arrogance and ego make for an excellent veil for pride and ignorance.

Kyra pushes back. "Here take it." She hands the Paw over to Atta.

Atta stares at the coin half expecting it to vanish as some part of elaborate joke or illusion. When the coin fails to she finally asks "And what do you intend to buy with this."

"I want it all. A bath, my clothing cleaned and a maid to assist me." Kyra says defiantly.

Atta takes a moment to contemplate her request before issuing a response. "Your total comes to 400 bits. However, I am keeping the 100 change. Dirty little street girls like yourself require extra work, I'm sure you understand.

Kyra quickly undresses right before her in the lobby and hands places her dirty laundry on the counter.

"By Miran what kind of two bit establishment do you think I run here. We have a room for that now get out of here before I change my mind. And take your laundry with you, I wouldn't touch it to save my life one of the maids will see to that nasty bit of work."

Kyra smiles and takes her clothing from the counter and proceeds thought the door into the dressing room. A maid attendant waits by the inner door and accepts her laundry from her.

Atta pokes her head in form the lobby. "Assign someone to this girl, she has paid her way."

"Yes mam" The maid responds. "Right this way Matron Kyra."

Kyra is unaccustomed to being called Matron. A term used patronizingly by servants towards those they serve. "Oh you don't need to call me that." Kyra says politely.

The maid looks over her shoulder as they walk beside a pool of steaming hot water filled with a number of bathing Anorans both male and female. "Yes, I do." her tone expresses all she needs to. The language is expected of her by Atta. Part of great illusion of grandeur she would rather uphold even at the expense of letting in someone like Kyra though. You see, the cost of a bath is set by the crown as all basic necessities are. This so called illustrious bath house costs no different than any other. Save for the unfair and frankly illegal expense of 100 bits Atta charged her though to Kyra it was worth it just to see the expression on her face.

The maid leads Kyra to the pools edge. Kyra slides in and lets the warm water soak into her fur. The maid disrobes and joins her. The maid wears a cloth towel wrapped around her head to signify to the rest she is an employee not a customer.

Anoran modesty is a tricky thing to an outsider. It is less a product of what should and shouldn't be seen.