As I walked down the well-trodden dirt path, Sacril trotted beside me, his gray fur catching the light of the sun filtering through the trees.

We’d been traveling for what felt like hours, but the sight ahead made me stop in my tracks.

The trees opened up, revealing a quaint little town nestled in the middle of a rolling plain. Its small wooden houses had blue-painted shutters and roofs that glistened in the sun. Around the town, scattered bushes laden with plump, ripe blueberries glowed like jewels in the midday light.

I couldn’t help but smile as I stood there, taking in the scene.

"So this is Blueberry Town," I said aloud, mostly to Sacril, who paused to look up at me,

"It’s smaller than I expected, but the bushes definitely live up to the name. Look at those berries! It’s almost like they’re daring us to pick them."

Sacril made a sound that resembled a low purr and sniffed the air, probably catching the scent of the berries even from this distance. His appetite was insatiable these days, likely tied to his transformation.

I chuckled and crouched beside him, scratching behind his ears.

"You like the look of this place, don’t you? I bet you’re already thinking about those berries."

He nudged my hand with his head, an unmistakable sign of agreement.

"This might actually be a good place for us to stop for a while, A roof over our heads, fresh food, and maybe even a chance to sell some of that meat we’ve been lugging around. What do you think, Sacril? A little rest before the next leg of our journey?"

Sacril let out a soft bark, almost as if he were saying, It’s about time you thought about that. I laughed.

His expressions and mannerisms had grown so much more distinct since his transformation. Sometimes it felt like I was traveling with a partner rather than a pet.

With renewed determination, I adjusted the pack slung over my shoulder and started walking toward the town.

As we got closer, the sounds of daily life grew louder—the clatter of wooden wheels on cobblestone, the chatter of townsfolk exchanging goods, and the distant laughter of children playing.

It was a pleasant hum of activity that reminded me of simpler times, long before my life became a whirlwind of magic and survival.

The first thing that caught my attention was the abundance of blue berry bushes lining the outskirts of the town.

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Farmers moved between the bushes, carefully picking the berries and placing them in woven baskets.

"This place feels alive, doesn’t it, Sacril?" I said as we passed a group of farmers.

They nodded politely but eyed Sacril warily. I couldn’t blame them; his size alone was enough to make anyone cautious, not to mention the aura of power that seemed to radiate from him.

We continued toward the center of town, where a small marketplace had been set up. Stalls filled with fresh produce, baked goods, and handcrafted items lined the square. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted nuts wafted through the air, making my stomach growl. Sacril looked up at me expectantly, and I laughed. "Don’t worry, we’ll eat soon enough."

I scanned the area for an inn and spotted a modest building at the far end of the square. A wooden sign hanging above the door read Blueberry Haven Inn. It looked welcoming enough, with flower boxes under the windows and smoke curling from the chimney.

"Looks like we found our place," I said, heading toward the inn. "Let’s see if they have a room we can rent."

I reached into my pouch and felt the coins clink together. There wasn’t much left—just a handful of gold and silver coins. Enough to get by for a little while, but I’d have to think about making some money soon. Selling the leftover meat from my hunts might be a good start.

The thought made me pause for a moment. "It’s a shame, really," I said aloud, more to myself than to Sacril. "That meat has kept us going for days. But if selling it means we can stay here and rest for a bit, it’s worth it."

Sacril tilted his head, as if considering my words. "Don’t look at me like that," I said, grinning. "I’ll make sure you get a good meal, even if it means parting with some of our stash."

As we approached the inn, I took a moment to adjust my mask. It was still strange to wear it, but it had become a necessity. Too many people knew my face in places I’d rather they didn’t, and anonymity was a valuable shield.

I pushed open the door to the inn, and the warm, inviting smell of roasted meat and spiced wine greeted me. A few heads turned to look at us, but most quickly went back to their conversations. Sacril stayed close to my side, his presence enough to deter any unwanted attention.

A cheerful woman behind the counter greeted us with a smile. "Welcome to Blueberry Haven Inn. How can I help you?"

"I’m looking for a room," I said, pulling out my pouch of coins. "Something modest, just for a few days."

She nodded. "We’ve got a small room available upstairs. It’s cozy, but it’ll give you privacy. Two silver coins per night, meals included."

That sounded reasonable enough. I placed the coins on the counter and thanked her. As she handed me the key, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. A safe place to rest, even for a few days, was exactly what we needed.

Before heading to the room, I decided to ask her about the marketplace. "Do you know if there’s a butcher or a trader who buys game meat?"

She raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "There’s a butcher just across the square. He’s always looking for fresh meat. If you’ve got something good, I’m sure he’d be interested."

I nodded. "Thank you. I’ll check it out tomorrow."

As I climbed the stairs to our room, Sacril trotted ahead, his tail wagging slightly. He seemed just as pleased as I was to finally have a roof over our heads. Once inside, I set down my pack and collapsed onto the small bed, letting out a sigh of contentment.

"We’ll figure it all out, Sacril," I said, glancing at him as he settled on the floor. "For now, let’s just enjoy the peace while it lasts."