Farmsteads, gardens, and dirt roads appeared heralding civilization's approach. Before long, Fritz and Ada were standing before Falken's wooden palisade wall. Long gray logs, sharpened to a point, were arrayed in a large circular retaining wall. Smoke billowed from small stone homes within. In the morning, residents of the town milled about starting their day.

Fritz and Ada were exhausted. Their pace was slow yet steady, as they continued their three-legged trek. The blonde wolfkin had convinced Fritz to push through the night. Fritz readily agreed as he dreamed about a soft bed and a warm meal. As they approached the gate, Ada pulled Fritz in close.

"Fritz, can you do me a favor?" She asked.

"Sure. Anything." Fritz answered back.

"Please don't tell anyone about your magical powers, and don't run off on your own. Can you do that?"

"Of course." Fritz replied. "I won't slip out in the middle of the night. I'm still trying to get back on my feet."

From down the road, Fritz looked up to the town's gate. It had been thrown open in the late morning. A few beastkin were moving through, going about their daily task. Fritz and Ada's lumbering gait was gathering attention. Concerned looks followed them as they approached Falken. Fritz could feel Ada's arm pulling down on his neck harder, making looking around difficult.

As they got close, Fritz could see a young red-haired foxkin running towards them. Her dress billowed in the wind, as she sprinted over.

"Ada is that you?" She said, "What happened? What did you find? What's happening?" Fritz looked up and caught her eye. "Oh. Oh. Oh. Are you alright? What happened? What's your name? Are you injured? I can fetch the healer right away. Fran's really good. She'll get you patched up right away. Oh my. Ada who's this? What's wrong with his ears? Did he have an accident? Where's his tail? Did it get bitten off?" A flurry of questions escaped from the woman with fox ears. Fritz couldn't keep up with her. Ada was pulling Fritz's neck down, interfering with his vision. He could see wagging tails poking out of strange dresses and pants as they walked forward.

"Healer first." Ada groaned out.

"Everyone! Ada's bringing home a strange man!" The red-haired foxkin shouted to the others. More beastkin gathered around Ada and Fritz. "Don't pull on him. It's rude, Ada." The foxkin said excitedly. Fritz only grunted in response. "Is she hurting you? Should I tell her off? She can be awfully obstinate. What's your name?" The woman prattled on.

"Just ignore her." Ada said, as she clamped down on Fritz. "We'll be here all day, if we stop and talk."

Fritz's fatigue prevented him from following. His focus shifted to putting one foot in front of the other.

Passing through the gates, a crowd gathered following Ada and Fritz. Ada kept her grip on Fritz's shoulder, as she led him forward through the town. The townspeople were curious, they stopped what they were doing to watch Fritz's three-legged marathon. Children followed them as they marched through the muddy ground of the town. Fritz could feel small hands reach around and poke his butt, searching for his non-existent tail.

"He lost his tail! I can't find it!" A small child screamed out. Fritz turned his head to see a gaggle of furry-eared children trailing behind him.

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"I bet a monster took it! That's why he's so dirty! Probably a bear ripped it off!"

"It could have been a dragon!"

"A dragon? He couldn't escape a dragon. He looks weak."

He gave the children a tired smile. Reaching into his pocket, he focused on his magic. A small plastic red dragon blinked into existence. He pulled the toy out of his pocket, tossing it to one of the children. Catching the toy, one of the children ran off leading the others in a desperate chase.

"Fritz! Stop that!" Ada groaned.

"What?" Fritz asked with indignation. "I'm trying to stop them from poking my ass!"

"Ada! What happened? Why's there a human here?" A manly voice called out from the crowd.

"I'll explain later." Ada shot back.

Ada led him deeper into the center of Falken. Rounding a corner, she pushed through to her destination. The crowd of strange onlookers followed them through the village. Fritz's black boots stomped into the muddy streets of Falken, as he pressed forward.

"Finally, Fran's." Ada huffed out. With her free hand, she pounded upon the door. "Just need to get inside, Fran will keep them out."

The crowd of onlookers were behind them. Ada unhooked her arm around Fritz's shoulder, and looped it back through his arms.

"Stay close, they mean well, but are incredibly stupid." She whispered. Fritz nodded. His tired eyes could barely register the frantic mess behind him. Voices called out questions to the two.

"What's his name?"

"Where did you find him?"

"Is he an escapee?"

"Where's his tail? His ears? Is he a human?"

"Does he eat beastkin? I heard they eat beastkin."

"Ada, is he your boyfriend? Are you getting married?"

"What's wrong with his ears? They're so weird, and round!"

"Does Neva know about the human?"

"Is he rich?"

A flurry of questions from the gathering beastkin left Fritz confused. His fatigued mind seemed unable to properly grasp the cultural situation. He looked back, and offered the gathered beastkin a tired smile, and a set of apologies. Fritz leaned in close to whisper towards Ada.

"Why are they crowding us? They don't hate humans do they?"

"Why would they? You're the first they've probably seen." Ada answered. She frowned as she looked back to the crowd behind her.

From above, a paned glass window was thrown open. A fair skinned woman with fox ears threw her head out of the window. Her silver hair seemed entirely at odds with her glittering youthful appearance.

"What in the goddesses' hidden entrance is going on down there? Can't you let me nurse my hangover in peace?!" The foxkin shouted down at the crowd mingling down below her shop. Looking up, Fritz's tired eyes locked onto hers. Her expression immediately changed, as she saw Fritz and Ada. "What in the seven hells is a human doing here Ada?! I'll be down in a moment!"

Within an instant, her face disappeared back inside her home. Fritz took one long look behind him. He scanned the faces of the onlookers for open malice. All he saw was a strange energy of excitement and curiosity.

The door to Fran's slammed open. The small fox woman ushered them inside quickly, and slammed the door shut. Fritz let out a sigh.

"Ada! and you! and you! Who are you? You're not from around here." The foxkin jabbed a finger into his chest. The woman was willowy and short. Her long silvery hair fell back into a single bushy tail.

"Fritz." he mumbled out in confusion. "Ada needs help. She was bitten."

"By a snake? Goddess above how'd she make it back?!"

"No! A wolf. It took some flesh, that's all." Ada huffed grumpily.

"What about him? He looks near death." The woman asked. Her face pressed close to his chest. Standing on her tiptoes, she tried to get a better look at Fritz. Ada coughed to get her attention.

"Fran, he's fine. Just exhausted. Can you take a look at my leg? Let us rest here tonight?" Ada asked.

"Of course. Of course. Just through here. Don't mind the mess." The silver haired foxkin hurriedly led them through the building.

Fritz with little attention to any other detail aside from his own fatigue followed the white robed woman into a room on the first floor. She opened a door revealing a large room with three empty beds. He picked one furthest from the door shambling over with single minded purpose. Fran quickly moved to draw the blinds around the windows, as curious onlookers peered at him through the windows.

Fritz fell face first into the bed.

"Goodnight." He said.

Like a snuffed flame, Fritz's exhausted mind fell away into slumber.