This inn wasn’t much different than any other I had visited, despite it’s advertisements of importance. I had grinned upon noticing that none of them said exactly, what was so special about this place. Judging by the number of drunkards and ruffians about, not much at all.

I could tell the ramshackle inn had once been a beautiful structure, finished wood shone through its various scars and stains from unwary customers. Who knocked one of the many candles over or spilled their ale. Brass footrests and trim on various objects sat tarnished and unpolished… this place had indeed, been a work of art at one point. The architecture screamed out its designer’s expertise.

An uncommonly tall ceiling with large beams, beautifully carved into mystical creatures: one depicted a flowing mural. It showed the story of a young farm boy saving the kingdom. Alright, the more I looked, the better this place seemed. After admiring the building itself, I focused my attention on the creatures within it. Only two caught my eye, the young lutran bartender and the creature with whom she spoke.

The former carried herself with an unexpected ease for a young, feminine creature in a place like this, suggesting that she knew how to take care of herself. As she reached to the rack of glasses above her head, I saw a fair bit of movement beneath her fur. Confirming my assumption, that she definitely took care of herself and was in great shape. My feet carried me to the corner of the room, where I took one of the many available seats.

It happened to be a large, yellowed with age, arm chair. From my vantage point I could observe everyone, with myself unnoticed. Not as invisible as I thought I was, the young bartender quickly eyed me and walked over to take my order. Not one scarred or blister worn hand tried to reach at her rear end as she crossed the room. These customers were regulars, I assumed. With a smile that one in a public occupation saves for all their customers she greeted me with a worn out warm welcome.

“So, what can I get for you?” she questioned after introducing herself. I figured I was far enough north for there to be vodka around,

“I’ll take some vodka…please.” I hesitated, not wanting to sound like a suck up, but the customs and manners driven into my mind, since a child, over-rode any desire not to sound like an idiot. She gave me a curious look, and that’s all, before asking:

“Do you just want a bottle, or to pay by the rounds?” I took the bottle and paid up front. She walked off to fetch my drink; I imagine intrigued by the jingle that had sounded when I had reached for the proper coins beneath my cloak.

A napkin dropped nearby, and as she bent down to pick it up, I couldn’t help but notice how she stuck one leg outwards, rather than bend directly over. She had good sense, and also the usual fear of rape. The days I had spent traveling caught up with me seemingly, all at once, for exhaustion hit me like a brick wall. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes, and leaned back into the padding of the arm chair. A loud knock of the bottle hitting the small upright table awakened me…

I only closed my eyes for a second and I had already drifted off to sleep. Rubbing my eyes more furiously, I returned to an upright position.

“You look tired my dear; we also offer lodging for the weary such as yourself.” I didn’t have to look to know it wasn’t the young bartender. I slowly lowered my hands from my eyes; it was the aged otter with which she had been speaking to earlier. I opened my mouth to refuse, when the thought of spending another night out, in the already saturated countryside, during another heat storm, came to me.

“I suppose the sleeping accommodations are up those stairs there?” I motioned towards the narrow flight of stairs by the inn’s entrance.

“Very observant.” She complimented me, “Lodging is two tarkens a night.” I drew the two small silvery coins from within my cloak.

“Thank ye, will there be anything you’ll be needing?” although she was simply trying to be helpful, her presence was starting to become a slight annoyance, I wanted to be alone.

“No, I imagine I’ll be fine. Thank you though.” I gave her a nod of gratitude and almost seemingly dismissal.

“You should stick around, you seem to have a story worth telling.” Her tone was almost a demand rather than an offer, but I hadn’t the time to respond before she walked off to deal with other customers.

“Heh, I hadn’t planned on hitting the hay for quite a while anyways.” I silently commented.

My tangled mass of emotions acted as dead weight, forcing my head to hang, and I unwittingly fell asleep with my eyes open. A few moments later I jerked my head back up in a subconscious attempt to dodge something that wasn't there. Leaning back in my chair, I vigorously rubbed my eyes, trying to banish their ability to dream while wide open.

Satisfied with the amount of irritation I was able to invoke, I turned my, surely bloodshot, eyes to the table I rested so heavily upon. Embracing the nearly forgotten burn of liquor in my throat, I drained the contents of the seriously chipped and burnt, ceramic mug.

Gently returning it to the table, I poured myself another mug of vodka. The bottle was half drained already, but I was only just beginning to feel the dizziness that comes with being tipsy.

Exhaling sharply, I downed another, strengthening the pungent breath one achieves when dowsing their innards with alcohol. A moment later, the bottle was empty and the room was spinning. Resting my head in my hands and focusing my gaze on a small knot in the wooden table helped, however, walking, let alone standing would prove to be a chore.

As I sat there, a pressure in my abdomen told me that it was time to step outside and relieve myself. Using the table and chair to pull myself upright, I tried to balance on my bare feet. The wraps that once protected them, back in Kalena, had long since been worn to shreds.

Taking small steps and focusing on the front doorway, I was able to cross the room without any mishaps, save for a slight stumble when I stubbed one of my smaller toes on a chair leg. A light drizzle came down outside, dampening the air, myself, and the ground. This chilled moisture only increased my desire to urinate.

After having relieved myself in the dark, a safe distance from the inn, I slowly made my way back inside. The dizziness I had achieved with the alcohol was now accompanied by a dazed weariness. Despite Arissa's request, I felt it would be best for me to goto bed right then, and not risk any longer. The narrow stairwell seemed to be an impossible task laid out before me, but with patience, and a few light tumbles, I made it up, one step at a time.

Lifting the trapdoor, I climbed into the relatively small room. I found a vacant room behind a door immediately to my left. Flinging myself chest first, down onto the bed, I was out in a matter of seconds.

Groaning like a zombie, I clutched my face, protecting my eyes from the dull sunlight. I rolled over, rubbing my side with my free hand; the handle of my dagger had been burrowing it's way, rather painfully, into my side as I slept. As my eyes adjusted, it was like someone took the volume button and turned it up cruelly loud as my mind started taking in background noises.

Rain pattered loudly against the window and low ceiling, sounding as solid as hail. With a loud thump, I rolled off the bed and onto the floor. As I went to push myself up to my feet, I found myself in the position already, and thinking “Hell, why not?” I started doing push-ups. Twenty-nine later, I collapsed to the floor, my pulse pounding, and feeling light-headed. I went downstairs, preparing to exit via the doorway when Isis brushed past me, catching my arm.

“Where are you off to?” she inquired.

“If I knew, I would be able to tell you.” I shrugged. She gave me a peculiar look before simply stating.

“Alright, but you'll be back before you know it.” with that, she returned to her chores, leaving me with a pat on the shoulder. Without realizing it, I brushed off that shoulder, and continued on my way towards the door. Drawing up the hood of my cloak, I stepped out into the muddy mess just outside the inn.

The rain beat down onto everything like nails being driven into wood. There were two of them.

“Diego Moongale I presume?” the short, humble looking man began. He wore a series of loose draping garments unlike anything I had ever seen before. They were now plastered to him with rain.

“Yes… although I should like to know who it is that hails me.” The man’s expression went from that of weariness to relief immediately.

“Then we’ve finally found you, my lady wishes to have a word with you.” With that the significantly taller creature stepped forward and lowered the hood of her cloak. She was a lutran such as myself, and upon seeing her face, I felt a twist in my gut, I knew that face from somewhere. I just couldn’t place it; nor did she give me the time too.

“My dear… it’s been so long since I last saw you…” she approached me with her arms outstretched, although I felt uncomfortable, I somehow knew she meant me no harm. With a hand on either side of my head, she gave me a good look over before, quite to my surprise, hugged me in a strong embrace. Standing there with my arms pinned there to my sides, completely bewildered, I looked to the stout little man over her shoulder. Seeing my face he came to my rescue.

“My lady, perhaps proper introductions should be made first…” She instantly stepped back attempting to look composed by brushing off the front of her soaking attire. “Oh… yes, of course. I’m sorry… you obviously don’t remember me, but no-one at your age could be ex…” I cut in because I felt it was necessary, she seemed let down

“When I saw you, your face struck me as being familiar… although I don’t know from where.” her features lit up.

“Ah, that’s great to hear, it’s probably your mother you’re remembering, we were twins you know...” I cut in again; this time unintentionally.

“What?” The words were being placed in my ears, but my head refused to digest them…

“Yes, I’m your aunt Maxellan, but enough of this talking in this blasted rain nonsense, please let’s go inside where it’s warm.” She indicated the inn I had just left with a wave of her arm. I sat there stunned; all I managed to get off was a dumbfounded and redundant

“What?” before she took me by the shoulders and steered me inside.

The bar was exactly as I had left it not 5 minutes before. Rain hit the roof hard enough to drown out the conversations spoken at a normal volume. As I passed by Isis, she gave me a smirk saying “See I said you’d be back before you knew it.” But my mind was on other things, so I merely responded with a nod.

We occupied a booth against the farthest wall from the door. Isis took out drinks, my aunt taking water, and her servant (I assumed) took some ale. While I asked for the “fire” whiskey that was made by a local, Aunt Max gave me a look that I was careful to ignore. After Isis walked off to fetch our drinks.

“Ah, I feel this is a much better place for introductions.” She commented airily with a dramatic wave of her arms. Pointing to herself, she continued “I’m Maxellan Moongale, but please, call me Max; or Maxine.” She gestured towards the man, who as I looked over at him nodded his head in greeting. “This is O’darr; he’s my servant at the manor.” They gazed expectantly at me.

“Oh, alright...” I sighed, “You both know that I’m Diego Moongale.” She shook her head.

“Of course we know your name my dear, but we would like to learn a little about you.” She pointed at my chest from across the table.

“Well… what do you want to know?” I asked, unsure of what to say.

“How about you begin with how you came to wind-up here?”

“Just wandering around, I suppose.”

Isis delivered our drinks and began to tend to some other tables nearby, her head cocked so she could hear us. I allowed myself a slight grin at her antics, and then turned back to the two in front of me. My aunt appeared to be chewing over my answer, trying to decide whether to push the subject further or not, while O’darr sat contently enjoying his ale, giving the place a look over.

Personally I despised the weak, and horrendous tasting beverage, but as they say. “To each his own.” Making up her mind to leave me alone for the time being, Max remained silent. Instantly I felt bad about shutting her out, still keeping the conversation directed away from myself, I questioned her.

“So…” she turned her attention back to me. “If you’re my aunt, that means you knew my mother, right?”

“Why of course, we were twins. I knew your father as well… unfortunately.”

“Then why is it that I was orphaned to a family in the middle of nowhere, and you just now come to claim me?” my tone was a little angrier than I intended, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. Taken aback, she replied defensively

“Your mother ran off with your fool of a father long before you were born. We never knew about you. We tried saving your mother on several occasions, but she was so damn stubborn.”

I gave her a twisted grin to match my humor

“I suppose that makes my mother a fool as well… Oh and how did you finally find out about me?”

“That big fiasco down in Kalena, you didn’t kill those two guards did you?”

“No.” I replied shortly.

“I didn’t think so, Jurgeen was a great help in finding you though…” she looked around quickly “Which reminds me… where’s Kacir? He said she was traveling with you.” All the way up until the point at which she said Kacir I had been feeling okay. After that I took an excessively large drink of the whiskey, draining more than half of the small bottle in front of me. Fighting back my emotions, I told her rather coldly.

“She’s dead.”

“Oh my, I so sorry dear… what happened? Or are you not ready to talk about it?”

“No I can tell you.”

“Jurgeen had said you two were close friends…” my stony face silenced her rambling attempts to comfort me.

“She died giving birth.” A single tear began its descent; I quickly brushed it off. “They lost the child too.” My aunt covered her now open mouth with her paws.

“My… that’s terrible, who was the father?”

“An old friend of mine.” I lied, “He committed suicide later that day.” The extra effect sank in. I didn’t want her to dig any deeper on the subject, at least not with Isis listening in.

“That’s a damn shame.” O’darr commented sadly over his mug with a solemn shake of his head.

“Indeed.” My aunt concurred. I finished the rest of the whiskey with a second large swig and sat it down with a sigh. Thankful for the duos’ silence, I took the opportunity to retire.

“I’ll go and arrange for your lodgings.” Max raised her head to argue.

“I’ve got it covered.” I insisted; clearing my throat I continued. “Either Isis or her grandmother, Arissa, will come over and instruct you on the details.” I indicated the two working at separate spots in the room. Stalking off briskly, I made the arrangements with Isis’s grandmother at the bar, before dodging between drunks and tables to the narrow staircase that lead up to my room.

As I closed the trapdoor behind me, blessed silence consumed me. Tossing my still soaked clothing over the back of a short wooden chair, I closed my bedroom door and waited for the whiskey to kick in. Sending me into a dreamless state. I didn’t have to wait long before I was out cold in my bed.

I awoke to silence. Feeling a pair of eyes on me, I sat up and looked around the room. My room door was open a hair. What little grogginess that had been left over from sleep was suddenly gone, I was wide awake. The moon was full and flowed intensely through the window as it spilled out across my room.

A presence at the door was making me lose my nerves, who the hell was watching me sleep? Had one of the drunken fools from downstairs decide to be a funny-guy and come disturb me? Rob, or kill me in my sleep? My mind raced as hundreds of possibilities danced throughout it. After a few seconds that felt like minutes, I decided it was time to find out for myself. I couldn’t scare the creature off, if I intended on catching the culprit. I had to act inconspicuously, and fast.

As I swung my legs over the side of my bed, the cool air struck me, triggering the realization that my clothes were in the other room. Oh well, what the hell. It would look suspicious for me to turn around and grab the sheet for decency now. Standing up, I was careful not to look at the door… surprise was my advantage now. Instead I went over to the window and looked out into the bright night.

There was a rain-soaked field at the back of the inn that ran all the way to the borders of some large dark wall, which I assumed to be the trees of a wood. These woods were only a short distance away, maybe a few hundred yards away from the inn. Hiding it with a stretching motion, I silently snatched one of my daggers from the nightstand. Perhaps it was a good thing that I had forgotten to set them outside with the rest of my stuff.

Careful to keep the dagger out of my stalker’s line of vision, I walked around the bed and crossed the room. Now able to approach the door from it’s closed, hinged, side. I cautiously, silently, made my way to the door. At the door, I held my breath, gently placing my handle on the door knob. I listened to my midnight guest’s breathing, I could tell they were trying to listen for any notion I was coming to the door.

Counting down from five in my mind, I prepared to spring. As I hit two, I swung open the door, slipped through the doorway, and reached blindly into the dark. My hand brushed past something large and furry, which I then grasped, realizing it was their throat. Positioning myself behind my bewildered opponent, I put my dagger to their throat. With a menacing whisper, I questioned them.

“Now… who are you and what are you doing here?” I felt them swallow beneath my grip.

“Let go of me.” My recognition of the voice caused me to loosen my grip.

“Isis?” I whispered. This question, much to my surprise, and to the cost of my nerves was replied with a fist to my face, and an elbow to my stomach, but low enough I could tell it was intended for my groin. I managed to catch the third swing, which would have been on target, and step out of the way of a fourth wild swing for my head. Before the breeze generated from the last swing has dissipated, I leapt backwards, and in doing so dropped my dagger, and lost my grip on her. Still in shock from the attack which made no sense, she made a run for it, but I grabbed her arm, and after a few moments of struggle, had her pinned against the wall.

“Are you ready to discuss this civilly now?” Her face was shadowed but after a moment, I responded, quite tired.

“Yes.” Cautiously, I released her and stepped back; asking

“What in the world was all that about?” quietly from the fear of rousing others within the inn. I mean walking into a room and seeing a young female pinned against the wall by a less than decently clothed male otter certainly wouldn’t look good for me. Holding up a finger, I motioned for her to stop before she had a chance to begin.

“Hold on; let me go get some clothes.” Crossing the small room, I found my clothes still too wet for comfort, so I sheepishly went into my room and made a toga of sorts from my sheets. Returning to where I had left Isis waiting, my eyes had become much more adjusted to the dark, so I could clearly see her clearly sitting in one of the two chairs which occupied the table. I pulled the other one out, and took a seat across from her. Just as I opened my mouth again to ask her again what the hell she’d been doing. I sis stopped me in my tracks.

“You were the father, weren’t you?” It felt as if a weight had dropped into my stomach. Realizing my mouth was still open, I shut it a bit too quickly, resulting in a loud snap.

“What makes you think that?” How had she known…?

“You were talking in your sleep…” She paused and I heard a sniff, Isis was crying, “Was it really that bad?” I sniffed myself.

“Yeah…” it took me a moment to work up the courage to continue, and cleared my throat, hoping my voice wouldn’t crack. “I had to watch her die slowly and painfully…. I couldn’t do anything to help… I mean it…” Isis put her hand on my shoulder, silencing me.

“Shhhhh… I know it was bad, but let’s discuss that another time.” Thankful I could close the gates to my emotions again, the overpowering pain began to fade. I hung my head and let myself finishing crying it out. Silence embraced us for several moments, each of us lost in our thoughts. Then she spoke

“Diego?’

“Yes?”

“I have something to show you.”

“Really, what?” I wasn’t sure where the conversation was going until she said

“Follow me.”

“Okay? …” She rose from her chair and crossed the room, lifting the trapdoor. With a questioning look, that she either chose to ignore or didn’t see. I shrugged my shoulders and lifting my makeshift toga out of the way of my feet, came down the narrow stairwell. In near perfect silence, I followed Isis down and through the eerily dead inn. Once outside, the night felt clean. The ground was damp, strengthening the illusion that the Earth really had been washed clean. A cool breeze came from the northwest, an eerie reminder of the mountains and tundra about fifty miles north. I shivered involuntarily as we crossed the field behind the inn.

Isis occasionally looked over her shoulder to make sure, that, I was still following her. I was actually quite taken back by her outfit; inside it had been too dark to see it clearly. It was a gown made of a very fine, dark cloth that moved in waves with her. The moonlight reflecting off it seemed fluid, like a liquid. She led me along a windy path, leading me deep into the woods. After we had been walking for about 5-10 minutes a large dark arch could be made out in the foliage ahead.

Drawing even closer, I was able to make out the word “Cemetery” carved into the metal and stone arch, but the words preceding it were buried beneath ivy. We passed headstones made illegible by ivy and their epitaphs worn away by years of weathering. Then there was suddenly a sharp contrast between the tombstones we had passed and were then passing. They were all newer, and I could catch glimpses of names as we passed them.

“Tarnen Surt – Loving son and-“

“Mae Toya – Beautiful daughter and joy to all who kne-”

Many other names of the dead all reached out at me as well… withered flowers littered the graves, and occasionally a fresh bundle of various wildflowers was resting against the stones. The wind forcing it’s way through the trees made me think, quite eerily, that these dead were restless and trying to speak to me; The wind being their whispering voices.

“Okay, we’re here.” Isis rested her hand on one of the stone markers. It bore the inscription “Storm ~ Cordin & Durnya, inseparable in life. Together in death. We thank you for all you did for us.”

“Your parents grave?” Isis either didn’t hear me, or chose to ignore my question. However, what she said next confused me.

“It’s okay Loki, he’s a friend; you can come out now.”

It was then a creature stalked out of the shadows into the shattered moonlight. It’s eyes a fiery amber, startled, I instinctively stepped back. Grabbing my wrist, Isis pulled me back

“Don’t worry; he won’t hurt you.” Not having much choice, I stepped forward to meet “him”. Isis kindly addressed his luminescent eyes

“Loki, this is Diego, a new friend of mine.”

Loki was a wolf. Monstrous in size; just as I was expected him to end, more of him emerged from the shadows. He was about twice the size of a normal canine, with an unusual gleam of intelligence in his eyes, such a gleam was both comforting and concerning.

The beast walked over to Isis and sat down beside her. She greeted him with a loving scratch behind the ears.

“This is Loki, he’s been there for me, ever since my parents death. I stumbled across him out here, just a short time after their death, I had come out here to mourn, and wound up making an incredible new friend.” As I recognized the beast sitting so loyally at Isis’ side, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“What?” she asked indignantly. Even Loki gave me a less than grateful glare.

“I’ve met this friend of yours before; he saved my life.” Feeling obligated, I kneeled down beside him, and gave thanks the way I had seen Isis greet him, with an affectionate scratch between the ears. The wolf’s facial expression told me that the gift was well received. Isis looked first at Loki, then myself with an expression of slight surprise.

“Oh really? What happened? And what did he save you from?”

As I began to describe to Isis the brief encounter the wolf and I had before, I watched his face to make he agreed with everything I was saying.

“Kacir and myself, just after meeting, somehow managed to get ourselves trapped in a blizzard. We both eventually passed out from the cold, and exhaustion. I awoke to find myself in a pit. It was there, that I was soon visited by Loki here-” I patted the wolf gently once more. “Who brought me some food and water. After I had recovered enough of my strength, he helped me out of the pit and led me to a series of caves at a nearby ravine. Once I got inside though, I was attacked and knocked out, which I assume our friend here was behind as well.” The wolf dodged my gaze for a matter of seconds until I continued. “When I regained consciousness, yet again, I found Kacir was in a section of the caves with me. We found out way out of the underground maze via a waterfall we dove off of.”

“Hmmm, well I guess it’s good to know that when he’s not spending time with me, at least he’s helping other creatures. But, what a coincidence.” I sat down, leaning my back against the gnarled tree Loki had materialized from behind minutes before. Loki briefly investigated a rabbit burrow hidden beneath a nearby shrub, before he padded his way over and laid down beside me.

“I think he’s taken a liking to you.” She commented with a grin, sitting down like me, on the other side of Loki. She gently rested her head against the tree and gazed intently upon the hidden heavens. I looked down at the wolf to find him looking back at me, rather expectantly.

“Why, aren’t you a needy big fellow?” I chuckled, before beginning to scratch the scruff of his neck. Isis lowered her glance to the wolf and I.

“He’s been my friend since… since just after my parents died, actually.”

“I’m sorry to hear that, what happened?” Loki had closed his eyes contently, and was off in a world of his own as she began to speak, lost in a pain-filled world of memories.

“An epidemic passed through a little town nearby; my father kept the inn going, while my mother went to help care for the sick. From her continued exposure to the sick, she soon accidentally had brought the fever back to our inn. The fever would kill the majority of the people infected. Children seemed to recover from it better than adults, so while I recovered… my parents never did. So I was left with only my grandma Arissa and I to run the inn, and earn our livelihood. We’ve been able to manage so far, but my Arissa has been looking into hiring a few hands to help out. So...” She lowered her gaze from me to Loki, before continuing. “And that’s why I want to go with you.” I froze.

“What?” She fidgeted and turned to face me, I felt Loki tense up beneath his fur.

“I mean... my grandma will be hiring people to help her run everything, and I won’t be needed anymore, not to mention, I want to get away from this place, get away from the past that is embedded in every part of my life. I want to have a fresh start... I mean you’re even leaving for Narda tomorrow, aren’t you?” she had rushed through it so fast, it took me a second to digest it.

“Wait... who said I was going to Narda?”

“Why, your aunt told me that the three of you, you, her, and her silly servant-“

“O’darr.” I cut in

“Yes, O’darr, are all going to Narda tomorrow.”

“But-“

“I’ve already talked to my grandmother on the matter, and she is willing to let me go.” I sighed,

“I suppose you aren’t going to take ‘no’ for an answer?” She nodded vigorously. Loki got up and laid his head on her with a look of such sadness, it was almost as if I had heard him say “What about me?”

“Aw... I’m sorry buddy.” she comforted him as she stroked his massive face. “That’s why I came here tonight... I wanted to say goodbye, and let you know how true of a friend you’ve been.” She began to cry and hugged him.

“Well. Why don’t we bring him along?” She wiped her eyes, and Loki shot his head around, looking at me hopefully.

“What do you mean?” I shrugged,

“I’m not making any promises, but I’m sure Maxellan wouldn’t mind if we brought him along. After all, he can carry his own weight.” Loki’s tail began to wag excitedly.

“That would be great of her!”

“Yeah...” A slight breath of wind caused the trees to dance above us/

“It sounds like we both have big days ahead of us tomorrow. It might be best if we try and catch some sleep.” I climbed to my feet, offering Isis a hand up.

The walk back to the inn felt brief in comparison to the walk out; like before, we tread in silence. As Isis and I were about to go our separate ways at the stairway, she beckoned me to wait as she went back outside. A moment later, she returned with Loki who promptly went up the staircase, and pushed his way through the trapdoor.

“What’s this?” I asked, indicating the now open trapdoor.

“I figured you two could become better acquainted.” With that, she patted my shoulder and left me standing completely bewildered.

“Oh, what the hell.” I commented before climbing the stairs.