2

Dodging a waitress who was carrying a massive tray of drinks and food, he bumped a table, knocking over a nearly empty stein. The Dracos sitting at that table stood up and grabbed Jassen, as he hadn’t realized he’d done it, and had tried to continue his path to the bar. “Hey! What’s wrong with you vagabond! We don’t let your kind in here!”

Turing and seeing the tipped over stein. “I’m sorry. Was that my fault? My sincerest apologies. I don’t wish any trouble as I only just got to town, and am only interested in getting clean, dry, and some actual food. Perhaps I can replace it?”

Grinning and showing teeth, his grip on Jassen’s shoulder tightening enough he could feel it through the flexible parts of his armor. “I said we don’t let your kind in here drifter.” The Dracos pulling himself up to his full height, and finding he was only a few inches taller than Jassen.

Reaching over with his left hand to the hand on his right shoulder. Jassen locks eyes with the Dracos through his helm, his claws pressing into the wrist of the lizard, whose eyes go wide in surprise. “As I said. I do not want trouble sir, and I’ll be happy to replace the drink that spilled when I bumped your table, by accident, as I allowed one of the fine waitresses of this establishment pass by with a large load of drinks and food.” Jassen was not being quiet about it, and most eyes in the room were on them. “I’m sure you’d accept a free stein to replace the nearly empty one that fell over?”

Nodding, his eyes starting to show a hint of fear and pain as the pressure Jassen was putting on his hand and wrist increased, the claws only letting themselves be known but nothing more. “Yeah. That would be okay with me. I must have misheard what you said.”

Smiling beneath his helm. “Not a problem. Mistakes happen right? What were you drinking?” Releasing the hand, the Dracos pulling it away immediately and sitting.

Rubbing his wrist. “Just ale. Thank you.”

Nodding. “I’ll make sure it gets delivered.” With that he finished walking towards the bar, followed by the eyes of many in the room, the Dracos′s buddies, all obviously off duty guards, looking between him and Jassen. The Dracos looking at his wrist in surprise as he rubbed it.

#

At the bar he took a stool and waited until the barkeep finally found a moment. “Hello stranger. What can I get you?”

Jassen almost fell off the stool. It was Kreff, his older brother. Taking a deep breath, telling himself that right then was not the right time. “A stein for the table with the Dracos, whatever it was that they were drinking. A table, a meal, some ale for myself, and a room. I’ll want a hot bath run.”

Smiling. “Well stranger. Most people usually take their helm off once they enter a place, but I’m sure you have your reasons. Ale and the meal are easy, as is the room. Although it’s not common yet for inn’s in this part of town, we have in room plumbing. So you’ll be able to run it yourself to the temp you prefer. The question being payment of course.”

“Of course, and yes, I have my reasons.″ Yeah, being your long lost brother is a pretty damn good reason. ″Indoor piping you say? Excellent. As for payment. Do you accept Draakeeth Scales?”

“I’ll accept just about anything. Scales?″ Clearly thinking it over. ″That’s a bit of a distant currency, but I can take it. Just a moment, let me figure it out.” Pulling out a sheet, a pencil, and a calculator. It was the calculator they found all those years ago as kids in the small ruin nearby. “Let's see. That would be 300 Red for the ale and meal, 2000 Gold for the room, plus the water you use.”

Nodding. “I’ve got that. I’m looking to be in town for at least a week or so.” Popping open a plate on his armor and removing his wallet. Thanking again whatever weird habit resulted in him always keeping it with him. He pulled 2500 Gold Scales out and placed it on the bar. Putting the wallet back, he took out a small pouch and pulled a pair of gems out of it. “How long will this cover me for?”

Looking at the gems in surprise. “Well ain’t that something.” Picking up the gem’s and checking them. “This will cover you for two weeks, including meals, and you could leave the water running if you wanted. Though I hope you don’t.”

Smiling behind his helm. “I won’t. Though I expect I’ll use a fair bit tonight.” Glancing down at himself. He really was a sight. ″Both I, and this.″ Tapping his chest plate. ″Need a good deep cleaning.″

Nodding and taking the gems and money, depositing them in the register that their father had insisted they both learn to repair. Kreff returned with the room key and motioned one of the waitresses over. “Cleef, sit this weary traveler wherever he wishes and take his order.”

“If it’s all the same. I thing I would like to clean up before I eat, so if I could take the food in the room?”

“Not a problem.” Handing her the key.

“This way sir.” Motioning for Jassen to follow. ″If you’ll follow me.″

#

He followed her, marveling at what a beautiful woman his baby sister had become. Once in the room, he thanked her and she advised that she would bring up the food in about an hour, so he would have a chance to clean up first.

Closing the door after taking the key, he immediately began dropping armor till he was completely naked. He was glad he kept his wallet and such in those internal armor compartments. He lost everything else when he was transported here. Transported to his home continent, his home country, to now be staying in the Inn his family still appeared to own.

In that moment he got a whiff of himself and made a quick line for the bathroom. A few moments later the water was running as hot as he could take it and he was scrubbing the scented soap and shampoo that smelled of his mother's recipes, deep into his fur. The drain almost clogging from the loose fur and mud. Thankfully they still used the mesh traps. He just emptied that and kept rinsing.

Once he had finished cleaning himself, he retrieved his armor, and after emptying the various compartments, cleaned it as well, setting it up to dry out. He then ran the bath and sank into it for a much needed soak.

He was almost asleep when he heard the knock on the door as Cleef brought up the food, which smelled great. The water had gone from almost scalding the fur from his flesh to just tepid, so he pulled himself out of the bath, thanking her through the bathroom door. Drying himself as well as the three towels could get him, and then exited to find her still in the room.

#

Cleef looked up at the stranger whose scent lingered heavily in the room, a scent that was so familiar, only to see an impossible sight. A Tiger-Wolf, like her and her brother, like her family whose name adorned the building. “You’re a….!” Taking a surprised step back.

Stopping in his tracks. Ears going flat to his head. “Yes. There is a reason in this city I tend to not take off my armor and helm.”

″I have never heard of any other Tiger-Wolves in Creedeth. Just Kreef and myself.″

Trying to right his ears. “I see. Well, we are numerous in Draakeeth. It is where our people are said to be from.”

“That’s what Kreff has told me. He said that we will go there one day, if we can save the money, but something is always breaking here at the inn.”

“I’m sure you’ll get there in time, but I would appreciate it if you kept my nature to yourself. Even from your brother Kreff.”

“Of course. We are discrete if nothing else.” She then excused herself and he sat down to eat the food, which clearly showed their mother's cooking. He lost himself in the food, and the memories of his family washed over him with each bite.

When he finished eating, he put the tray outside the door, and locked it. He then set about setting up his armor for a quick donning. Once finished, he laid out on the bed and was unconscious before he could consider the potential results of his baby sister seeing him. Such as the fact that she immediately pulled Kreff aside and told him what their strange guest was.

#

“Are you sure Cleef? Not a half-breed or something?”

“No. A full blooded Tiger-Wolf like you and me. And scars. Lots of scars.”

Shaking his head and leaning against the wall of the storeroom. “Well. If he wants to keep his privacy, so be it, but we need to keep an eye on him.”

Glaring at Kreff. “I am not bedding him Kreff.”

Looking at her surprised. “I… Okay. I was just thinking.”

“No. I remember mother’s words as well as you.”

“I do. I just don’t know how we are ever going to be able to afford to travel to Mellitt. Hopefully we can meet and be accepted by the clan there.”

“He said that we are numerous in Draakeeth.”

“Draakeeth? But that’s almost the other side of the planet. That’s way too far.”

“I know, but we can hope.”

Hugging his sister. The only family that they had left. Their appearance one of the only reasons that the Tiger-Wolf had stayed in business as long as it had. Even then, things were tight. Though the stranger being a Tiger-Wolf explained how he was able to put Drev'nor in his place. It was why the other guards always came here with him. Kreff could control him where none of the other taverns could.