How truly peculiar. I had never been told that my eyes were scary. I don't think I liked the way being told that made me feel either. I have always liked my eyes truth to tell. I thought that they were rather unique in their coloration.

They made me wonder what color my father's eyes had been. I know that I got the gold in my eyes from my mother, but I didn't know where I got the red in my eyes. My mother's eyes were pure gold, dazzling and beautiful. My eyes were golden, yes, but they had red starbursts in them.

I was told my eyes looked like they had fire in them, or that they reminded people of a sunset. All lovely things, truly. But scary? That had never been a descriptor used.

"How odd. My apologies. On that note though, I really must be heading out. All of the people on the streets make going anywhere rather difficult."

"Oh? Wait, but if there aren’t people on the roads, why would they build them? Yeah, no, roads have lots of people… it is sort of their purpose. Is that not normal where you are from? Out in the desert? Hmmm?" His voice rose considerably as he maintained the M sound for a span too long.

"Of course it isn't. We have lovely people that visit, but never in mass. Thus, not that many people jostling one another to try to get to their desired local."

"Makes sense. Okay, let me show you where you need to go one more time okay? I want to make sure you know where you are going. Like you said people are all sorts of all over. You gotta be careful. And it is suuuuuper easy to get lost if you don't know where you are going."

"Please." I request.

He draws his finger over the map, showing me the best path to follow. I thank him once again and make my way out of the library. I take a deep breath as I step out of the library and into the hoard of life forms moving here and about. It is rather suffocating, but I murder walked my way through.

When I get to the zone, I understand what he means. The homes are very cute, many of them resembling cottages, with smoke coming out of the chimneys. It all feels very cozy. There are people walking about, but not nearly so many. They stop on occasion to greet one another. How quaint. If I can find living quarters here, I will be well pleased.

Now then, what sort of place will allow me live there. I think back the stories that I have heard throughout the Pleasure Gardens and remember. Ah, yes, an inn or tavern were the best places to stay. Well, now to find one.

I walk the streets and dodge out of people's way as I look around.

"Hello traveler. Are you looking for something?" A large canine gentleman with black hair and grey ears inquires of me.

"Ah, can you point me to an inn or tavern that houses people for a long length of time?"

"Of course. You want the Paws and Claws Inn and Tavern. It's down this road, take a right, go past three buildings and there will be a dirt path on your left. Follow that down a ways and you shall have the Paws and Claws, a rather quaint tavern."

"It is off the main road?"

"That is the owner, Mama Tia being nice. She knows that people there can get a little wild at times, celebrating good dungeon runs, and is doing what she can for the rest of us."

"I see."

"Don't let that turn you away. The rooms are nice, the servers are cute, the food is good, and it isn't loud every night. It isn't the kind of place where tables get broken, or people get into brawls. Just some loud singing, cheering, dancing and carousing."

"That sounds wonderful."

"Great, just let them know that Dillan the Sharp sent you."

"I shall. Thank you again kind sir."

"Haha, what a sweet lass you seem to be. Off with you now. And make sure to flash your claws, or fangs, eyes, ears or tail. I can tell you have them. Although we are polite, we are most kind to our own."

I dip my head low in acknowledgement of his words. He seems very smart and intuitive. Dillan the Sharp indeed. As I walk I smile to myself as I see the different beast-kins. All manner of canines such as wolves, coyotes, and other breeds I don't know the names of. I think Huskey? Shibu-Inu? I must profess I doth not know.

There were also the feline-kin, or cat-kin as some say. There were lions, tigers, and oh my that is a bear. As well as small breed cats, panthers and the likes. Aside from the feline and canine there were avian, and reptilian. And all of them are getting along! I looked around for smaller races and see a sign that points to the mini-maze! The smaller breeds decided to have fun and made a small maze with their homes built in. I believe that I also see tubes going over and around the top of the maze. That does sound like it could be a run way to get around. As I observe I see a ball moving quickly through the tubes, a small mouse-kin was running inside the ball. How fun!

When I make it to the Inn I take a look at it before going in. There’s creeping ivy growing along the outer brick, along with hanging planters with all manner of flowers. The brick was red with white trimming. Above the door was a sign naming the tavern, it was a bit worn but easy to tell it was well made.

It looks so charming. I take a deep breath, reach out a hand and... Notice a sign on the door. It reads, ‘Now Hiring. Free room and board included.’

I stare at it and grin. Yes, I had been given some money, but it would be best if I could find a place and make a living. It would also surely help cover the other expenses that I am sure to incur. Good weapons and armor are not cheap. And coming in looking for a job would be a good way to find community. Then I will feel safer telling Kay where I live, and others if I befriend any others.

I open the door and am greeted by warm lighting, good smells, nicely crafted wooden tables and chairs, along with cushioned benches. There were large chairs in front of a glowing fireplace that people had fallen asleep in. As I make my way further in, I see a cat-kin girl walk up to me.

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"Hello! Welcome to the Paws and Claws Inn and Tavern. Are you here for a room?"

"Well, indeed I am. I am also wanting to inquire about work?"

"Oh hooray! That had been up for weeks, many people seem to be scared off from working here."

"Why is that?"

She points to her ears and tails and that is when I notice. She had some amazing colors dyed into her fur. Her’s were pinks and yellows. Her serving clothes were colored similarly to her dye.

"Because here we dye our fur! Many people are put off by this. They say, oh no my purrrescious fur. I simply can not!" She puts an arm over her face in a dramatic gesture.

"I wouldn't mind coloring my fur. I wouldn't mind at all really."

"Oh? What color is your fur? I can’t tell under that cloak."

"Well, one of my friends back home was learning to dye fur and I let her test on me. However, I was simply unable to clean it out, and, well, she wasn't very good at it and in the end dropped out of her class and began culinary arts."

"Haha oh I see. Well in that case let's get you a room and you can follow me! I will show you some of our dyes and you can see if any of them strike your fancy. Though, you have a lovely air of mystery about you so I am thinking some blue and purple with maybe some deep red thrown in."

"That sounds quite lovely."

"Yay!" she claps her hands in front of her and leads me to the desk. She grabs a set of keys, room 13, and leads me up the stairs. "Do you have any experience?"

"Some, but I am not sure how useful it would be."

"Oh?"

"Well, I am good at serving drinks. I also am proficient at tea services and know some classic dances. I hear that you have dancing here?"

"Haha, your drink experience would be nice. We have some people that come in all the time in the afternoons for tea and desserts. Also, I don't know about classic dances, but if you are up for it we can teach you some bar dances! There is swinging and stomping and such."

"Stomping?"

"I don't know if it has a real name so that's what I call it. Oh! My name is Vita by the way."

"Lovely to meet you, Vita. My name is Amaya."

"That's a real fancy name. I like it! Though if you do get to workin' here the regulars might give you a nickname to shorten it."

"I see. I am quite fine with such things."

"Haha, listen to you. We gotta teach you how to speak more relaxed. Haha! Here you are!" she says, unlocks the door and pushes it open. There is a moderate sized plush looking bed, a wardrobe and a trunk.

"The wardrobe and trunk have magic locks. I will give you the keys for that later. Oh! Your room key is also a magic lock so you can feel pretty secure here. Look, this room even has its own bathroom! The rest of us serving gals have rooms next to you. We are in rooms 10,11 and 12! The boys are in the rooms above us. Now, let's see your fur!"

"I apologize but I'd rather you didn't. Do you have fur lightener? Once my fur is lightened I shall need your help with the colors."

"Oh how fun! You will let me color you even without knowing if you have the job?"

"Indeed."

"Yay! Put your stuff down and come show me your tea skills. I can teach you how to mix drinks as well."

"Oh, I do know how to make some mixed drinks. I picked up on how it is done where I last worked." It was true. Momma saw me watching some of the workers mix drinks. I said how it looked fun so she let them teach me, under threat of many bad things if they let me drink any of it.

"Are you old enough to drink?"

"I am old enough to be an adventurer."

"Ah. We let adventurer's drink at any age. They die so soon we let them enjoy the tastes of life we can offer! Though of course we will have to wait til you are done with your training, both as an adventurer and a new hire."

"That is very kind."

"How about you instead try saying that's great!"

"Umm, alright. That's great!"

"Haha, yay!"

I put my stuff down and she leads me into the kitchens. She then tells me to make her some warmly spiced tea. I do so with her watching intently.

Next, she tells me a drink to mix and watches how I do it. She nods approvingly, takes a sip from the drink and purrs in delight. She then puts many items on a tray and has me walk around the kitchen without dropping anything. I am nimble so it is easy to do so. At the end of it she seemed satisfied.

"How soon can you start."

"Tomorrow. I sadly need sleep. It has been a very long past few days and I need the sweet taste of miniature oblivion to perk me back up to return to the land of the living." this makes Vita crack up.

"I will have to use that one. Now let me get you that lightener."

I spend the next hour and a half working the stuff into my ears and tail and letting it sit until I see my fur turning a snowy white color. That should be light enough. I then wash my ears and tail before taking a short soak. Twas lovely. There was rose scented soap provided. I could tell that it was un-used and was directed by Vita to use it.

While it hurt me I also lightened by hair and not just my fur. I was not asked to do so but I haven't met another canine breed with hair my color. It was unique to foxes I had been told. I wipe a few tears away. I hated doing this, but it was for my own safety.

I had always loved my fur, I had the same colors as Momma and she was the most beautiful person ever. Momma always complimented my ears and tail when she brushed them at night. They are some of my warmest memories.

I dry off a bit and wrap myself up in a towel. I was honestly saddened by having to hide the warm golden color of my fur but understood the necessity of it. Though when I go about learning to be an adventurer. I will still wear a cloak. Here though I can claim to be a mixed breed and with the dye it would be difficult to argue with.

While wrapped in a towel I open my clothes bundle and am dazzled by the site of the clothing that had been made for me. Quite short shorts, cropped tops, thigh belts for knives, stockings of many colors, short skirts, short dresses, mid length dresses. No long dresses as those were meant for children.

I decide on a medium length close fitted black dress with red flowers. There were cuts in the side to help with ease of movement. I look at myself in the mirror and take a few steps back in shock. I look similar to the way that I do in the winter, tail and ears white. My hair was white whereas it is typically silver in the winter. Seeing that I look so different and yet the same made me feel more comfortable. I tie a large bow onto my tail to help mask the shape. Once done I make my way down the stairs.

It isn’t hard to find Vita as she is sitting in a chair in the kitchen and eating a chocolate chip cookie. It appears she may have been waiting for me.

"Wowza! You're a hottie huh. And that dress!" she walks up to me and runs her hands up and down my sides. "So purrrfectly silky. Meow! I love it. Oops, sorry for touching you without asking."

"Tis quite alright."

"So pretty. I bet your normal fur and hair color is nice huh."

"Indeed. But I am young and ready to have fun with some color. Oh! I should have asked before, but it is possible to work around my classes to be an adventurer?"

"Sure! Most of us do some dungeon runs ourselves for unique ingredients. We make it work. We are like a family here. And now you shall be our little sister."

"I'd like that very much indeed."

"I think you mean, hehe I'd love that. Now you try."

"Hehe I'd love that!"

"Bonus points for the laugh. Now then I was right on the money with the colors I think. But because of your eyes colors we will do reds and purples with blue as the accent."

"That sounds, umm, purrfect?"

"Haha what a cute pup you are. Purring like your older sister. I love it! The others will too. Oh, I am so glad you are a canine. We have me, a lovely little pussy cat, we have Hillie who is an Avian and Emmie who is Serpent kin. The way she moves can be rather hypnotic. Now to my room!" she runs into her room real quick and returns with a robe.

"I don't want to get your pretty dress all ruined. Oh oh oh. Because of the ingredients we use in our lightener and dies we have special soap that can wash it all out, as well as the mess your friend left."

"How, I mean, yay!"

"Purrrfect. Lets go color you up!"

"Oh, I am meeting a friend after this."

"Not the one that ruined your fur right?"

"A different one."

"Oh good. Bring them for dinner, okay?'

"Will do." I say and then she launches into coloring my fur.

“Oh one more quick note, no dating coworkers. Too much drama, I learned that after my third time.”