It was only my third day in the new world. The fact that I hadn't learned the name of it was of no consequence.

I had slept in the same inn, the coins I had received from Nelson were enough to pay for a few more days yet.

But that meant I needed more money.

Flying deliveries was certainly an option. My new-found love of flying made me want to consider anything that made use of the skill.

And with that in mind I found myself moving towards the fort once again, walking. It was not that I didn't want to fly, but rather I didn't want to have to land.

Landing was an affair.

After my test flight I discovered that coming down too quickly was quite easy. And I needed to glide and brake over quite a far distance the first time. I was getting better, but I still wanted to practice away from stone structures and bystanders.

The day was nice. A warm sun from above felt good on my exposed plumage and skin.

I was never much of an outdoorsman, but I was starting to see the appeal. The lush nature of this world, the clean air. There was a charm to the idea of being outside.

My musing was cut short by my arrival. The bustle of the place rang true to the words I had received. People filled the space like the days before, a rush of action and work.

I strode through the open gate and found myself looking for faces of people I knew, spotting the wolf visage of Teroldus and the much more normal Reodrich. I didn’t want to simply approach them, as they may have been busy, so I decided to watch how other people trained for a while.

Bodies moved too and fro, some in formation, some practising solo and some lifting weights that seemed out of place in this world. It seemed that many were using weapons in repetitive motion.

The drills didn't need my crude interruptions, so I moved to the side and began stretching in preparation for active work. My new form was remarkably limber, allowing an impressive range before I felt the muscles and joints resist the exercise.

I lost myself in the slow exertion. Beginning to move from stretching to light calisthenics.

There arose a strange feeling in my breast, an odd jealousy. Not for others. But myself.

This body moved so well in comparison to my old one. It felt almost unfair that 8 was given something that worked with such efficiency. Like an average student being given a full scholarship.

I had never been incredibly fit, I ran occasionally and tried to keep my weight down, but I felt like a go-kart driver behind the wheel of a sports car.

Much of my exercise was an exploration of this body's 'my' limits. And they felt high.

I could raise one leg straight up as the other supported my weight. My wings were clearly much stronger than I expected, although they bent at angles such that upper body exercise as I knew it was futile.

I had attracted the gazes of some of the people once again. Likely angry at me for intruding upon their space. They were polite enough not to openly stare, but I could see more glances and feel more eyes judging me.

I continued to work in silence, trying to ignore the glares I could sense digging into me. I wanted to run away. But I stayed, hopefully if I persevered they would gradually become used to my presence.

The feel of the courtyard began to change as the time approached noon. People working less hard and some grabbing food.

Deciding to stop lest I be the only one powering through lunch, I slowly cooled down my pace until I was standing still. My workout had not been terribly stressful, thus I lacked the usual 'burn' associated with physical exertion. It was likely this body's thresholds were simply higher than I was used to.

As I was isolated in the crowd, I found the occasional looks and stares to irritate me. I pushed onward, and made my way to converse once again with Teroldus.

He was wearing full armour and had clearly cleaned it recently, as it shone across the courtyard and made him an easy to spot beacon.

"Teroldus." I called out to him as I approached. "I was hoping to speak with you."

"What do you need, Sariya?" He turned towards me and I could see that I was interrupting his lunch.

I glanced at the wrapped bread that he held in his un-gauntleted hand, "If you are busy I can come back later," I offered, trying not to offend.

"No, it's fine." He remained seated and swung his legs around the bench so that he was facing me. "I'm in no rush."

I tilted my head in a nod and began my request.

"I am seeking employment to help the Town here." I tried to project myself in the way you would make an elevator pitch.

"I am likely one of the fastest overland travellers in the region. I could carry messages or parcels for you and the others of this town."

He smiled at me, "That's not a half bad idea, we could always use people willing to ferry information, potions or other things around."

He rubbed one hand against the chin of his muzzle and looked away for a moment. "I think we can accommodate that in the budget." then turned back to me "if you come back in a couple of hours I can have a couple things for you that we would have had a rider take."

"Thank you." I bowed to him, "I would also request that I be allowed to spar or train with the others here, I think that fitness is not the priority for my training but rather combat ability."

His brow raised appraisingly as he considered my request.

I took care with my words. Slightly ashamed of how I had conducted myself in the past. I needed to centre myself and present a calm and competent front to those around me, or I would never get what I wanted.

His gaze softened and he spoke up once again.

"It seems there would be no harm in that. I gather that you're not from around here and are unused to the way 'things' work." I had a knowing slant to the way he spoke. "I trust you around my people as long as you work on yourself."

I felt slighted by the casual implication that I was lacking in some way already. Yet, more importantly the way he spoke sounded like he knew my situation more than the average person around would. And the way he broached it in a polite fiction showed that he did not intend for the information to become widespread.

"Thank you Teroldus," I tried to shrug my shoulders but found the new joints made the action somewhat awkward, the motion instead pushing out my chest. "and my apologies, I am still adjusting to the changes."

He actually laughed a little at that.

"I'm sure," he chuckled, "well although the 'majority around here' are human, I can understand the difficulties in 'being' different."

I had felt I was able to read the signs he was less than discreetly conveying and took it to heart that he noticed that I was getting used to my body still. Although, I didn't believe that he saw me as a male; he would surely be abrasive and rude if he realised what kind of deviant I was.

It felt like black tar in my veins as I was forced to think about it for a moment.

Teroldus must have seen it on my face,

"Is something wrong?"

His voice was unreadable. Perhaps he had seen through me at last.

I took a shallow breath to try and calm myself.

"No, I am alright, just lost in thought." it wasn't the most convincing way to say it, but I forced the words out so as to not arouse further suspicions.

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"Alright…" he said and was clearly about to begin a new line of conversation when I cut him off.

"- I believe I have taken up too much of your time. My apologies." I said attempting to escape the uncomfortable situation.

Teroldus looked at me with his inscrutable gaze and nodded.

"I'll talk to you later then." it was a statement, not a question. He seemed to be committed to allowing me to take on a job. Allowing me to make an exit from the line of inquiry.

I turned and began to walk away. Still somewhat shaken by my own internal failures, the people around me seemed to glare as if they could see right through me.

A part of me desperately wanted to rub my eyes and the bridge of my nose, but my reworked anatomy made the gesture unlikely to look natural.

My gait took me swiftly through the yard and past the crowds.

[][][]

I had finally returned to the town proper and the fact I had only eaten one meal in the last couple of days was evident by my body's protests.

The streets off town led through buildings and squares that were densely populated by inhabitants.

Sitting on chairs and benches just outside of homes they chatted amongst each other. Young children playing and older men and women sitting in the calm sun.

There was a cool breeze that cut through the day's bright sunlight.

Sounds bounced off of the buildings and faded into the open air. Shouting, laughing, even the tones of some native stringed instrument.

I took my time walking, my talons clicking against the stones of the cobbled road, and sinking into the soil when I stepped over the thin boundary. There was a scent to follow hanging in the air and it led me to a stall at which a pair of men, likely father and son, were serving food out of. The deep blue cloth that was hanging above as a sunshade contrasted with the brown stones of the fire pit.

Removing my pouch of money was getting easier each time, although I did have to spread my feathers in an eye-catching display in order to do so gracefully.

People stopped and stared as I approached the two.

“I was hoping to buy a meal.”

It was stressful speaking to strangers with so many watchful eyes.

“Of course, what would you like?” The question from the older of the two was an expected one. However expected it was, I had no prepared answer.

“I am unaware of what you serve, I simply enjoyed the smells.” It was not flattery but a true comment.

This gave the man a laugh, “Alright, well, how about you have a seat and we’ll bring you something.”

Although the older man was smiling, the younger one was staring at me. Clearly made uncomfortable by my presence or appearance.

I nodded at the older man and turned towards the tables. They reminded me of picnic benches you would find in parks on Earth. Two long flat benches attached on opposite sides longways down a rectangular surface, held up by large triangular legs.

The tables were sized for a regular person and my legs would not easily stow beneath them, so I sat with my legs off the side of one edge of the bench rather than below the surface.

It was odd waiting like this. On Earth you get so used to having something to pay attention to. A phone, or book, or even just the ever present barrage of commercials and advertisements.

Here, I watched people.

Those at the near-by benches chatted animatedly

“Have you been doing well with your apprentice work?” A young lady asked her friend.

“The hours have been getting longer now that I know more, I swear she expects me to enjoy sewing for a whole afternoon.” a complaint was aired in return.

Their conversation continued and I tried to tune it out to avoid eavesdropping, even if it was such a mundane topic.

I watched the men behind the stall prepare the food. It was a type of dish I wasn’t familiar with. They had long strips of meat that were laying on a table, they put them into a large bowl shaped pan that they added oil and eggs to.

Once the cooking began they added vegetables and some type of grain that reminded me of the rice back home. They added some sort of grey powder to the cooking pan and mixed it all in.

As I watched I got glances back from the younger of the two, who still seemed off put by me. I tried to make a show of not staring at him too much, but I was interested in the cuisine of this culture.

What they were making seemed to be standard fare, as they mixed in clearly defined and previously partitioned spices and ingredients. Each added in turn and with a hand tool that easy partitioned the correct amount.

It was something that made me consider how this world came to be. Did their practices and traditions organically spring up? What guided these cultures and people to choose they way the saw the world?

I was drawn out of self reflection as they finished and began packaging the meal into a container. It was a sort of wooden bowl and a lid that they first placed a large leaf into. The leaf acted as a separation from the food and the bowl.

Taking my staring as will to shop, the older man behind the stall left the younger and out to me, placing the food at my table.

“What brings you here in particular”

It was a question I had considered yet, was honestly unable to adequately answer.

“I -“ I halted myself from speaking, the sudden shift of eyes towards me bringing judgment and ridicule. Those around me were waiting to hear what the stranger in town would ask for, surely.

“I would like to purchase food from your stall, the scent is appealing.” I repeated then tried something neutral, “I admit that I am not familiar with this region as of yet and am low on coin, how much would this cost?” I gestured to the pouch of money I had removed and placed on the table.

The man bared his teeth at me, “Nonsense, if you’re new in town you should worry more about learning, I’ll give you a meal on us if you promise to come back.”

The shocking difference between how he acted and how he spoke threw me off. I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me at first.

“But I really wasn’t asking about what made you come to this stall, I am confident that the smells of my food could woo anyone!” He boasted and laughed.

It came to me that he was likely worried about me and that I may be a threat to not just him but the town at large.

“I assure you, my presence in this town is coincidental, I simply would like to assist the members of the church and any near-by adventurers.”

I was impossible to read his face as my stress began to grow. I was thinking of standing up and simply leaving, running away in the face of the strangers here.

“Well, with all I’m hearing, that's something this town direly needs, more people to help out.” He gave what could only be a forced laugh and continued. “No matter, enjoy the meal and be sure to return.” He set down a spoon in the way of cutlery and returned to his cooking area.

I ‘stood’ my ground and forced away my fears and panic.

I opened the dish and steam rose from the pile of meat and grain carrying with it a strange aroma that reminded me of clove and spice. I raised a spoonful to my mouth and gently blew on it, causing the wisps of steam to disperse and quickly return.

The taste was savoury, although, the true nature of it is hard to describe or find comparison to. The meat was lean but the oils of the pan meant that it was tender, if still chewy.

I sat for a while focusing on eating. I was very conscious of the stares I was drawing with my strange poses, but I continued to eat until I had finished the bowl.

I thanked the men and reached my leg out to transfer the bowl from my table back to their stall. My legs were long enough that, with my right as a pivot point, I could lift the bowl and spoon then simply turn in place and reach out to return it.

Perhaps being uncomfortable that I was handling food-ware with my feet and talons, they seemed taken aback, but made no protest.

I left, the day still hanging over me.

[][][]

I spent nearly an hour about town, watching the people and being watched myself.

I made my way back to the fort on foot, passing by buildings that seemed to change and flow into one another.

The lazy sun baked the streets and gave lethargy to the people, many had taken breaks form their jobs to speak with one another, or to eat food, or to play, or simply to rest.

However, the fort remained a bustle of activity. People here were not relaxing the afternoon away but working on themselves.

Teroldus amongst them.

He was working hard, having disrobed from the waste up. I watched him from behind as he did a surprisingly earth like pull-up.

Hands grasping the metal bar above him, I could make out a sheen on his fur as the muscles beneath stood in stark contrast to each other, straining as he moved in what feel like a glacial rhythm.

His back was broad, his shoulders and arms rippled with muscle.

I found myself starring, in my past world I envied men who could build physique like his and often found myself looking into magazines and books that showed how much work went into the types of muscle groups that were considered attractive on men.

Teroldus though, was not working for beauty, but practicality. He was a warrior, and needed to be strong to fight.

It was lost in this thought when I noticed that my starring was itself drawing attention, and my face burned. I swiftly turned away, but the sudden movement of my feet on the loose ground caught Teroldus’ attention and re released himself from the bar to turn towards me.

“Greetings.” He called out, allowing my social faux pas to go uncommented on, “I’m supposing you’re here to follow up on those deliveries.”

I nodded and gave a affirmative hum, it seemed that I was predictable, but I was fine with that if it expedited the social interaction.

He walked past me and towards a nearby bench where he had a small leather bad with a long strap.

“I had someone get this.” He said as he picked it up and turned towards me. “It contains a map and some letters, notes for the guild the next town over.”

“Guild?” I asked, he said like the knowledge was expected of me.

“The adventurers’ guild of course. You might not have them ‘where you’re from’ but they serve as an apolitical group that serves to help adventurers help the people, and earn some money.”

He drew his gaze up and down me for a moment, causing the heat in my face to return.

“In fact… Why don’t you join up with them? They’ll give you some easy jobs at first, but I’m sure they would recognize the value in having someone who could fly around.”

I felt a flash of disgust at myself for feeling like he was looking at me for more than practical reasons. He was entirely logical and seemed like a good normal person. -not some deviant-

I forced myself back on track.

“Yes, that may be the best course of action.” I nodded and reached out with a wing towards the bag he held.

“I’ll take this there then, and return after.” I could feel the urge to simply fly away form this conversation growing. “Can I find the town by following one of the roads?”

This gave him pause for a moment.

“I can’t believe that I was about to send you of without telling you where you were going!” He laughed at his own mistake.

“You’re going to the nearby town of Parcoal. It lays directly north of here near the foot of a mountain.”

I scanned the skyline and saw a peak rising over the horizon in the distance.

“You’ve got it.” Teroldus spoke up as he approached from my side.

He was much closer now and even went as far as to reach out and slip the strap of the bag around my wing and shoulder.

I made an undignified noise and a step back at the sudden contact, causing Teroldus to chuckle and slap my shoulder gently.

“I’m sure you’ll get it.” He said. His face was as unreadable as always, but I took the exit for what it was.

“Thank you.” I shrugged my shoulder an twisted the bag so that it lay behind me. Then folded my other arm and crossed the strap over itself, wearing the satchel much like a backpack.

I nodded and turned towards the courtyard, seeing my escape route form out of the courtyard. Before I could be stopped or the situation could be made more awkward, I began to pick up speed towards the centre of the fort and with a monumental effort and flap of my wings I took to the sky.