Bertram, a furry white, brown, and rust patchwork, cautiously pushed the “Buzzing Bongo Bean Bar door open.” He wasn’t one for trendy new cafes, preferring the greasy spoon down by the docks where they knew his usual: burnt coffee with three sugars and a side of stale biscotti. But today, drawn by the scent of something exotic and the murmur of human intrigue, Bertram had ventured into the unknown.

His eyes darted around, taking in the ambiance and the barista with her nose buried in a menu. A nervous twitch, a familiar comfort, played through Bertram’s whiskers. He made his way to the counter, his claws clicking softly on the polished wood.

“Can I get you started, sir?” boomed the barista, finally looking up. Bertram blinked, startled by the amethyst flash in the barista’s eyes.

“Just… uh… browsing,” Bertram squeaked, feeling ridiculous. Browsing was for tourists, not for someone as sophisticated as Bertram.

But the barista grinned a subdued smile that reminded Bertram of a possum he’d once befriended. “Don’t be shy,” they drawled. “We have concoctions to tickle every whisker and stir every tail.”

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And that’s how Bertram found himself staring at the chalkboard menu, his nose twitching at the unfamiliar names. Lavender lattes, cardamom macchiatos, and something called a “Phoenix Rising” that shimmered with gold leaf and paprika.  

Paprika? Bertram’s ears twitched. He loved the smoky spice sprinkled on hot dogs from the street vendor near his den. Could it work in a drink? Curiosity, that insatiable itch, gnawed at him.

“I’ll take a Bandit’s Brew,” he said, his voice barely a rustle.

The barista’s grin widened…what is that?  Bertram explained,  “I’m a creature of spice, you see. It’s a daring little elixir, a firestorm in a cup. Espresso’s kick, caramel’s sweetness, and the paprika’s smoky whisper. A taste of mischief, they say.”

As the barista whipped up the brew, Bertram felt a thrill. Tonight, he wasn’t just a scrounging nobody, a shadow in the city’s corners. He was Bertram the Explorer, the Bandit of his taste buds.