When Fritz awoke, the room was dark. A pang of hunger radiated like an old wound through his stomach. His mouth was drier than a desert. His head felt dull and foggy. Staring at the ceiling for a moment, he centered himself. The building was quiet. He could hear nothing but the soft creak of the wood. For a while, he laid in the stillness of the night piecing together the recent events into something coherent.

Breathing in deeply he moved to stand up. Walking past the empty beds towards the door, he found it locked. His stomach protested the injustice of his internment. Wasting little time, he moved towards one of the small windows. Peering behind the curtain, he could see a small alleyway outside. In the dim light, he found the latch locking it in place. Accounting for his shoulders he reasoned the fit was possible. Opening it, he pulled his shoulders inwards and climbed out of the building.

The cool night air greeted him within the dim alley. His eyes adjusted to the dark grime of the muddy ground littered with weeds and garbage. A scent wafted to his nose. An undeniable allure drew him out of the alley. The nearby smell of food enraptured him, leading him deeper into the foreign beastkin town. No one was around. Fritz briefly considered returning to the clinic, yet removed such thoughts from his mind. His stomach protested the thought of retreating empty-handed.

His sore legs led him towards a nearby building. A large clamor of shouting voices came from inside. A sign with a goose swayed in the evening breeze above the door. The grimy street outside was illuminated by the candlelight indoors. Black specters jostled, sang, and drank behind the dirty glass windows. Fritz stood on the precipice of the door. His practical mind weighed the pros and cons of his quest for food. He didn't have money, but couldn't he make some? But what did it look like anyways? Would they notice him conjuring? Would they check for counterfeit coin?

Loud muffled arguments were coming from inside. The vague shadows of beastkin moved behind foggy, dirty windows. The thick gray wood of the door stood between him and food. Fritz considered for a moment, before his stomach complained for the final time. Approaching the inn's door, he rested his hands on the handle.

A sudden crash of fur and claw ripped through the window next to Fritz. His head swiveled to watch two large beastkin launch through broken shards of glass as they plummeted to the ground.

"No fighting! How do you idiots always muck it up?!" A woman roared from within the inn. The two men groaned in pain. "You owe me a new window too!" The inn erupted in applause, as a wooden tankard flew out hitting one of the beastkin in the head.

"Get 'em May!"

"Show 'em who's boss!"

Fritz blinked in confusion, as he watched the two injured men slowly help each other up, and slink away. The applause within the inn was dying down, as the patrons went back. Debating on whether to go inside, Fritz stood like a motionless statue in the doorway.

"He's probably some kind of bandit! Or maybe a thief! Or like a murderer!" A high pitched rabbit woman screeched with conviction above the crowd of beastkin. Another pang of hunger radiated through Fritz. Pulling back on the handle Fritz finally opened the door.

The inn was nearly full. Strange ears and tails twitched as the door creaked fully open. Conversations dropped as heads turned to see who entered the inn. Fritz could feel the crowd of strangers staring at him. A quick glance through the inn showed Ada and Frann missing. Patrons crowded around a mishmash of obviously repaired tables. Sloshed ale, and tobacco smoke had dyed the floor and walls of the building. Nearby a stone fireplace to his left sputtered a small, comfortable fire. A checkered game board sat idle between two older beastkin, as they turned to see who entered. Ignoring the awkward stares, Fritz stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

Finding an open spot at the bar counter, he held his head high as he moved towards it. Behind it, a large woman with bovine horns nearly seven feet tall watched him as she resumed cleaning a large mug. She wore a neat, green dress decorated with yellow flowers. Small bands of green herbs twisted between her horns. Her large arms bulged with striated muscle as she fought a particularly stubborn stain. Faint hints of annoyance flashed across her face, as she scanned her patrons.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." Fritz said with an awkward smile, as he leaned his elbows onto the counter.

"Oh you'd never be interrupting sweetie." The bovine woman said. To Fritz's left a black-haired catgirl seemed ready to pounce on him. To his right, a large well built wolfkin huffed in annoyance as Fritz looked over.

"Great. It's been a long day and I'm terribly hungry you see. I just woke up and I happened to smell-"

"Say, no more sweetie Momma' May will fix you up!" The barkeeper interrupted him. "Stay right there and I'll get you something." The bovine woman said with a smile. She turned towards the two beastkin next to Fritz. "Don't give him any trouble, I watched him come into town half-dead." Her expression hardened as she stared at the wolfkin to Fritz's right. Setting her mug down, she pointed an accusatory finger at him. "You know the rules, Regus! No fighting! Don't!"

Regus growled in annoyance as he nursed his tankard. Fritz turned his head towards the catgirl to his left. She simply shook her head from side to side at May. She placed a hand on Fritz's shoulder and leaned into him.

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"Don't worry, May, I am the most respectable of ladies. I can look after the rich hoo-man." She flashed Fritz an award winning smile. Her bright teeth were accentuated by inhumanely sharp canines. "Saw you trundling into town this morning. Quite the commotion. So, can we get a name? Are you Ada's new boyfriend?"

"Call me Fritz. A pleasure to meet you. And no, I just met Ada." Fritz offered the woman a polite handshake. Looking down, she turned his hand over in confusion, not understanding. "Human custom." Fritz said with an awkward smile.

"Such a gentleman! Lizz, Regus on your right. You can just ignore him. He's stupid, unimportant, and most likely feral." Fritz felt something coming close to his neck and turned towards it. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the man pulling back away from him.

"Nice to meet you both. Didn't mean to come between you two. I was just looking for an open spot."

"It's ok. It's ok." Lizz purred. She traced a claw slowly on top of Fritz's shoulder. Her smoldering yellow cat eyes were accentuated underneath the orange glow of the candlelight. The black slits in her eyes narrowed at him.

"Uh, huh." Fritz replied. Casting a look behind him, he noticed a lot of eyes suspiciously staring at him.

"So, what brings you to town? Are you some kind of merchant? A rich nobleman?" Lizz asked. "Jess thinks you're a jewel thief on the lamb."

"None of those. Passing through, at the moment. Harder than expected traveling. Need to get to Fehrenn." Fritz answered with a sigh.

"Fehrenn? That's on the other side of the conclaves." Lizz said. "How do you get this far out in the boonies anyways?"

"I, I don't really know." Fritz replied. His mind turned back to the strange dream before he awoke within the cemetery. The woman and the strange man gave him a quest. That was all that mattered to Fritz.

"That sounds like a lie." Regus said as he leaned onto the counter. His dark eyes fixated on Fritz, as he looked onto him with open disdain.

"Regus!" Lizz interjected.

"So how do I get to Fehrenn?" Fritz asked, trying to change the topic.

"You can take the road out of town, south. The roads can be pretty dangerous. Can't ever be too careful. Best to stay put if you ask me." Lizz answered. Fritz felt a clawed finger touch his knee. Fritz's leg pulled back.

"What kind of danger?" Fritz asked.

"Bandits. Wolves. Monsters. Sometimes Elves. This far into the country, anything can happen." Regus answered.

"So where'd you come from? Some big city in Rennes I suppose." Lizz asked.

"I grew up in the middle of nowhere. Smallish factory town. Or it used to be one."

Lizz turned to Regus with a look of confusion on her face. The bovine barkeep returned with a bowl of soup and a chuck of black bread. She placed it before Fritz, with a stern look to the two beastkin seated beside himself.

"Thank you, May. Ada's a resident right?" May nodded to Fritz. He felt a pang of regret for what he was about to do. "Do you mind putting it on her tab for me? She owes me after using me as a human crutch for several days."

"Of course. I'd be right happy to." The barkeeper said.

With relish, Fritz picked up a spoon and began digging into the food. The bovine woman seemed intent on standing right before him. Another beastkin dressed similarly, but not as tall as May, was moving between the bar and customers with lightning speed as if to pick up the slack. Behind him the crowd of beastkin argued even louder. Curses and threats filled the inn. Fritz looked behind him to see a small beastkin thrown halfway across the tavern. The inn turned to watch the beastkin stand up, shouting and pointing towards the door. A large group of beastkin left the tavern readying for a fight.

"Is that normal?" Fritz asked May.

"Course it is. No matter how hard I hit them, they don't stop! At least most are smart enough to take it outside." Fritz tore off a piece of bread and dipped it into the soup as he considered his next words.

"Love a good fight. Really gets the blood pumping! What do ya' say? Fancy a' go?" Regus asked, leaning in towards Fritz. A wicked grin spread across his lips, as he stared darkly into Fritz's eyes. Abnormally long, sharp canine teeth peeked out from under his gums.

"What?" Fritz asked.

"Regus! By Freyes' panties! Did you ever learn any manners in your life?" May said, rolling her eyes.

"I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to the hoo-man." Regus snapped out. "Come on! I've never fought a hoo-man before. I heard your kind eats us. Let's see who's stronger!"

"I'm not much of a fighter. So, no." Fritz said as he tried to return to his meal.

"Then how'd you end up in the woods? Come on! You can't be as weak as you look." Regus taunted. A friendly jab hit Fritz in the shoulder.

"Let him eat in peace." May warned.

"He's recovered! Look!" Regus groaned. "Don't baby him, he looks grown. Come on. We can fight to first blood if you're squeamish. Weapons or not, it doesn't matter to me!" Regus leaned in closer.

"Regus, can't you piss off?" Lizz growled. "I'm trying to have a conversation with the rich hoo-man here."

"What? You got a problem with me?" Regus growled out. May rolled her eyes, in annoyance.

Fritz's two neighbor's leaned into the bar's counter to glare at the other. They growled like two animals squaring off. Fritz, doing his best to ignore them as he tore off a piece of bread, and dipped it into the soup. The food was heavenly. The rich, warm broth soothed his aching body.

"May, this is delicious. Really, amazing. I can't remember the last time I had something this great." Fritz said. May smiled warmly at him, before pushing Regus' and Lizz's face away. Regus struggled against May's strength valiantly. His hands gripped the bar counter as he tried to stay put.

"May!" Lizz complained, as she settled back into her seat. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Just ignore, Regus. He's touched in the head. Too much battle-lust, not enough talent." Lizz said.

"You're one to talk. You're a weakling, Lizz." Regus stopped resisting against May, as he jumped up from his seat. "We've talked enough. Fight me, hoo-man. Let's see who's stronger. " Fritz turned slightly to watch the tall, muscle bound beastkin. His lips were fixed in a rictus grin. He rested his large hands confidently on his hips. Behind him, his tail swayed with bemused excitement.

"Leave him alone!" Someone from the crowd shouted towards Regus.

"I'll fight both of you! I'll take on anyone!" Regus snarled back at the others.

"No." Fritz said.

"What do you mean 'no'? Are you a coward?" Regus barked out. "Stand up, and let's see how strong a hoo-man really is."

"Regus!" May shouted.

"Shut up! We'll fight outside! So stop complaining!"

"No, fuck off. I'm trying to eat." Fritz said.

Like lightning, a hand flashed over Fritz's arm. Grabbing the half-full bowl of soup, Regus tossed it over his shoulder.

"Don't look like it to me." Regus said with a wicked grin.