Fuck.

I’m guessing I had to have been standing on the plate when the time was right to return to my time. Unfortunately, the doctor forgot to mention that detail.

“FUCK!” I screamed out, punching the wood floor.

“FUUUUCK!” I screamed out in pain, as I shattered my knuckles from the impact.

I’ve had worse.

I laid down on the floor, and it began to dawn on me that I'd never see Johnny again.

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

“Goodbye then, friend.”

In the heat of the moment (pun definitely intended), I'd forgotten the hut was still ablaze. I looked up and noticed the raging inferno still eating away at the wood walls.

I got myself together and dived for the exit, narrowly avoiding the roof collapsing.

“That was damn close.” I muttered to myself.

I wiped the tears from my eyes. No use in mourning the past, I needed to keep pushing forward.

I looked up to see at least a dozen people staring at me.

“are you all right?” one lady called out from the crowd.

I only nodded, before walking away from the scene. I didn’t owe any of these people an explanation after all.

“Don’t you all have anything better to do? Like, putting out the fire? I asked, as the people would not budge.

That woke the crowd up. Most of the people dispersed, the only people that remained standing had water buckets on them already and were throwing them at the fire.

-

After wandering through town for some time with no particular destination in mind, I came across a sign with the words “Black market dealership” And an arrow pointing left written on it. I peered left, and saw a dimly lit, almost pitch-black alley.

Did this town not have any law enforcement, or were the dealers simply stupid? This sign was basically like saying “Please come arrest us”. My curiosity overtook me, and I turned left down the alley.

A few steps later I came across a very spindly and hungry-looking cat. It was lying on its side, only breathing slightly. I pitied the poor creature, and looked through my bag for anything I could feed it. To my surprise, there was a jar of small herrings preserved in vinegar deep inside the bag.

I popped the jar and tried to feed the hungry cat some of the fish.

The cat meowed softly in appreciation and began nibbling on the herring. I left two more fishes on the ground and gave the cat a little scratch behind the ear before moving onward down the alley.

Eventually I was surprised by a knocking sound coming from my left, and I looked to see what made the sound. I was met by a solid steel door, and an opened viewing port.

“Here for business, or just browsing?” The two eyes called from behind the heavy door.

“Just browsing.”

The viewport closed shut, and I heard multiple deadlocks and bolts being unlocked, before the door was opened.

“Welcome to the speakeasy, friend!” a voice called out. I didn’t see anyone at first.

“Down here, big guy!” the voice called out.

I looked down and saw a tiny man. If I were to guess, I'd say he was about 1 meter tall. It wasn’t a child though, his defined muscles and beard clearly proving this claim.

“Oh, sorry for my rudeness. I just didn’t expect someone so... Tiny.” I commented.

The tiny man let out a little chuckle. “Well, that’s dwarves for you!” He said, before entering a small door in the side of the wall. It looked like a doggie door.

Slightly confused by this whole situation, I decided to walk further into the building. There were multiple interesting items on display in the small hallway, all from purple-glowing skulls to a dangerous looking floating dagger. It almost looked like it wanted to shank me, but thankfully it was locked behind a glass barrier.

“Funny little thing isn’t it!” the dwarf remarked, emerging from another tiny door behind the exhibits.

“If you decide to buy it, it will be linked to you forever, only taking stabs at your enemies. We call it soul bondage.” they said before tapping the glass cube, inciting a jab from the floating knife.

“It's very aggressive!”

“So, how much for it?” I asked.

Of course I wanted such a weapon. It was a deal too good to pass up.

“Well,” The dwarf started.

“Normally such a dangerous tool would sell for around 500 gold, but you seem like you know what you’re doing so I'll give it to you for 200 gold.”

I had no idea if that was a lot of money or if he was being generous. I was flat broke.

“Well, about that. I have no cash.” I remarked, with some slight embarrassment in my tone.

“What kind of moron walks into a black market without any cash?” The dwarfs' tone suddenly shifted tone, becoming accusatory and angry.

“Leave my shop and come back when you have some money, bub.” The tiny man snapped before giving me a good shove, sending me flying out of the hallway and hitting the stone wall outside the store.

The wind was knocked out of me, so I just dropped down to the floor and saw the steel door slam shut in front of my eyes.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

-

I remained sitting for a good two minutes, before I felt something rough rub against my injured hand.

It felt... surprisingly good. Normally something like this would have hurt badly, but it felt affectionate and caring.

I looked down at my hand and saw the spindly cat from earlier licking at my bloody wounds.

I put on a little smile. Seems I made a friend. I reached out with my other hand and gave the kitten a few good pats. It purred happily and continued licking my wounded hand.

Wait. Was it only my imagination, or did my right hand suddenly feel all right again?

I looked down at my hand, and to my shock the wounds I had were all gone. Even the broken bones had been mended.

The cat sat down on its behind, almost mimicking my position in a way.

“I think I'll name you... Alice.” I told the cat.

Alice, seemingly content with her newfound name, gave a content meow.

I got up from the alley floor, before noticing I was sitting in a rain drainage duct.

Just great. Thanks for wetting my cape, dwarf jerk.

I bent down and picked up Alice, holding her in my arms almost like a baby. She seemed fine with it and snuggled into my torso, purring.

-

Deciding I'd done enough exploring for one day, I went back to the Inn.

The moment I opened the door to the establishment, the innkeeper gave his salutations and went back to cleaning the dirty mugs on the counter.

I reciprocated the greeting and went to sit at a table.

Within about a minute of waiting, a waitress came and took my order. The innkeeper was still happy about the heroics I had performed yesterday and told me anything I bought was on the house.

While waiting for my food to arrive I decided to open the jar of herrings from earlier and fed Alice until there was nothing left in the jar but vinegar and some fish bones. She sure must have been hungry! A moment later the first platter of food arrived and I licked my lips greedily before digging in.

After eating about a pig’s worth of cutlets I felt satisfied and finished off the meal with a glass of water. Keeping it simple.

“Okay Alice, what do you think we should do now?” I asked my new feline friend.

Alice mewed, before stretching out one paw toward the bounty board from earlier.

Oh right, I still need the money to buy the dagger from the rude dwarf. As much as I didn’t enjoy his treatment, I still really wanted that dagger.

I walked over to the bounty board and inspected the bounties listed. Of course, I could go after Gentle Gine, but I felt like taking on a bigger assignment than one simple “dead or alive” quest.

Browsing the different posters, I stopped at one that looked interesting.

'Mine infested with werewolves; proof of removal will be rewarded handsomely.’ The poster said. The attached image was of a map, with a large X on the foot of a mountain. I’m guessing this was the mine’s location.

I snatched the poster off the wall and walked over to the innkeeper.

“Who put up this poster?” I asked Jeffery.

“Couple of miners, identifying themselves as ‘Preachers of the pure blood’ or some nonsense like that. Their ‘clubhouse’ is just down the road from here, it’s called pureblood pub. I’d advise against going in there, but I'm not your mommy. Good luck, Faron.” Jeffery smirked.

I did a polite nod and exited the inn. Alice decided to walk alongside me, tired of being carried around.

I looked both ways down the roads outside the inn, and I finally saw a sign displaying the words ‘Pureblood pub’.

I walked over and was greeted by a beefy man dressed in heavy metal armor. He looked practically bulletproof.

“Invitation?” The large figure before me rumbled. His voice was akin to that of a landslide.

I showed him the wanted poster. “Is this enough of an invitation?” I asked him.

“Oh, that’ll be plenty. Welcome to the pureblood inn, bounty hunter.”

The large man stepped aside and opened the door to the building. Nodding my thanks to the guard, I stepped inside.

This place was teeming with all manner of lowlifes. I could tell all of them were up to no good from my previous experience with drifters.

I walked up to the bar counter and slammed the wanted poster down at the counter. After a few seconds, a person with wings and horns emerged from one of the doors. He introduced himself as “Priest” and asked if he could be of assistance.

“Well Priest, I saw this wanted poster up at Jeffery's inn and I got word you put it up. How much exactly is the payment for this job? Why do you want to get rid of the werewolves inside?”

Priest looked at the poster, before answering: “700 gold. As to our reasoning, it’s none of your business.”

700 gold? Now you have my attention.

"What should I bring back as proof of their removal?”

“A werewolf tooth should be plenty.” Priest answered with a slight smile.

“Consider it done.”

-

I asked a stranger what the quickest way to the mine were. Most people told me it was suicide to go there. Eventually, I came across an old merchant lady who was apparently going to a city beyond the mountains and offered me a ride. Her carriage was filled to the brim with wares, so I got to sit beside her on the driver’s bench. Alice found her place in-between the two of us, and purred happily.

“That’s an adorable cat you have there. What’s her name?” the old woman asked me.

I smiled and pet Alice. “Alice. I helped her out, and she’s helped me ever since. She even healed my knuckles.”

The lady’s eyes widened, but she shook her head as if keeping a secret.

“Well, hello there, Alice dear!” She said before petting the kitty’s head.

“So, why are you going to Pillan?” The lady looked at me.

Pillan was apparently the name of the mountain between the two cities.

“I’m a bounty hunter. A miner crew wanted me to exterminate some vermin lurking in their mine.”

“Oh, you’re that kind of type, eh?” The lady took a good look at me.

“Come to think of it, you do look like a bounty hunter.” She commented before whipping the reins, making the two horses neigh and start trotting forward.

“So, where’s your iron? Every bounty hunter needs a weapon.”

I’m still getting used to the fact that people of this era don’t know that revolvers are weapons.

“Well, I keep them in this bag.” I exclaim before pulling a longsword from the bag.

“Hot damn, you must be rich to afford such an expensive sharpness enchantment!” She looked in awe at the fine blade.

How did she know it was enchanted? It didn’t matter. I stowed the sword away again.

“Well, they certainly hired the right guy for the job. There are many powerful monsters that call Pillan their home.”

“No pain no gain.” I answered.

I pulled out my journal and got to work writing down a few more notes.

-

Mythical creatures:

Dwarves. These guys are almost like regular people. They have a short temper. They are also quite small, around 1 meter tall.

Werewolves. I’ve yet to encounter them, but they sound dangerous.

-

Points of interest:

The mountain of Pillan. Said to house powerful monsters.

-

The rest of the ride went by peacefully. I learnt the lady’s name was Etariel, and that she loved nature.

“Good luck with your bounty hunting!” she yelled before whipping the reins again.

“Thank you, Etariel! Hope we see each other again sometime!”

Alice waved her paw at the leaving coach. I’m beginning to suspect this ‘cat’ Is more than what it’s giving out to be.

Shrugging my thoughts off, I squatted down to come closer to Alice.

“i need you to stay here, okay? Who knows what’s lurking in that mine.”

Alice seemed to disagree strongly. I swear I could see her face contort into a pout, as she laid down between some rocks.

I hate to see her sad, but its for her own good.

Okay, I have two ways of going about this. I could try to reason with the werewolves and explain the situation, or I could kill them all. Normally I wouldn’t hesitate to go with the second option but seeing as I have no knowledge of using a sword and I only have a limited supply of bullets; it didn’t seem like it’d end well for me.

I decided to try my hand at the first option.

I walked over to the mine entrance and lit a torch.

It sure was dark in there. Not only was it nightfall, but the mine naturally blocked out what little light the sun still provided.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

I heard a young voice call out from inside the mine, followed by incessant hushing.

Was the bounty target... a family?

“I only want to talk.” I said with a low voice.

There was a moment of silence, only broken by the occasional crackle of my torch’s flame.

“We can talk.”

The voice coming from inside the mine sounded deep and dangerous.

I put one hand on my holster.

A face emerged from the dark. It was a man, but he had wolf-like ears, a snout and a tail.

“Hello there. Name's Faron. Faron M. Dick.”

“Fred.” the wolfman answered.

“Okay Fred, I'll be honest with you. I was sent here as a bounty hunter.”

Fred immediately got into a defensive position at my words, slightly retreating into the darkness.

“Okay, I know how it sounds, but I want to make a compromise. If I wanted to kill you and your family I'd done so already, right?”

The wolfman seemed to agree.

“So, what do you propose?” He asked me.

“One of you’ll have to cut off your tooth.”