After they relaxed and bathed with one another, the trio were ready to set off. Or at least, that’d what Tiger had planned.

Wolf had other issues to attend to, and Dragon had disappeared. He was left alone to roam through the bustling streets of the town.

‘Here I thought we were in a rush. Since when did these two want to stop and smell the Roses?’ Then his thought went to Dragon actually sniffing at Rose. Eugh. What does his mind do to him sometimes? This is why he didn’t think.

Dawn had come, and along with it all the workers. Labourers travelled to the mines and the forest, shop keepers tended to their wares, and busy bodies made their bodies busy.

Tiger was there, alone and bored, surrounded by strangers. However, from the three, he was the one that felt the most comfortable within large towns. He had lived in large towns for some time.

Wolf enjoyed having many people he knew around him.

Tiger liked having many people he didn’t know around him.

Dragon didn’t like anyone near him.

Tiger trailed through the market place, ignoring solicitations from various merchants.

However, he did eventually come across a small stall that had various jewellery made of bone. His eyes lit up as a tiny voice called out.

“Caught yer eye?” The one who tended the stall was a small woman, not doubt a Halfzer.

Halfzers were a small people who enjoyed having large families. They were perhaps half the size of a typical human. Many worked as either merchants, adventurers, anything that involved travelling.

There were a handful of Halfzers that remained within their steadings near various hills or mountains, some even near forests.

They were short, not even reaching Tiger’s waist most of the time. Their ears were lower than those of humans, but were large and ended in a point, almost like a leaf at the sides of their skull.

“Ay, that’s right.” Tiger dropped to a knee to look at the wares, rubbing his chin. The Halfzer’s brows shot in surprise.

“Do ya need a seat?”

Tiger shook his head in response. “I’m fine here.” He pointed with his finger towards a ring that was more human sized. “How much is that one?”

“That’d be a dragon, good sirs.”

“A dragon you say?” Tiger sucked in air through his teeth. “Hmmm.” He cocked his head to one side as he eyed up more pieces of jewelry. “What about that necklace there?” He motioned his head to the singular necklace that seemed to be made up of a Rock Bear’s teeth.

“Five wyverns for that one.” She nodded, arms crossed.

‘A fair enough price.’

He continued to rub his stubbled chin. “The other rings?” He pointed to a couple of other rings.

“These rings here are each a dragon.”

Tiger nodded in response. “What say I buy four rings.” He paused for a moment. “Let’s make that ten rings and the necklace. I have some Silt Bear pieces I can part with, if that’s fine with you, miss.”

The Halfzer nodded her head in response. Ten dragons was a good day’s work, there would be no complaints on her part. She placed the rings in separate small wooden boxes with tiny cloths under them, before placing them in a basket. The necklace went into some parchment and a slightly larger box that she handed directly to the man.

Tiger handed over the Silt Bear parts and thanked her for her time.

‘I hope she likes these.’

Tiger smiled to himself and then whistled as he left the market place with a pep in his step.