A Place to Stay

Janette sighed, hearing the same response for the fifth time in a row. The worker noticed her frustration and concluded his point quickly, saying the usual I'm sorry's or my apologies before bidding her good luck on her search. Behind them, a slim girl with an over sized travelers cloak kept herself busy as her eyes wandered around, scouting for the teeny tiny squeaks her ears had captured in the midst of their talk. It was very tempting, her eyes shot up when out from the hay, a little brown mouse poked its head out and kept eye contact with her, daring the other to make the first move.

"It's fine, no no you were a lot of help. Thanks, and goodnight." She spun around and noticed her friend lost in a staring contest before dragging her away by the arm. "C'mon, let's go."

"Any help?" She beamed before looking disappointed when she shook her friend. "Darn, maybe Felix and Wolfy are doing better?"

"Not likely, look." Felix spun around in time to see Felix speaking apologetically to a man around his height sporting a vest and scarf. He was listening and nodding his head, even though similar dressed men were holding a raging Reta up by each arm as she shook around and violently shouted insults in a foreign language.

"Not even in her wolf form and still she has her claws."

"Or nails! Wolfy-Nails as sharp as claws, nya~!" She made a growling face and raise her floppy sleeves much to Janette's amusement.

"You're right." She looked around, noting the absence of people as well as the increase of the darkness approaching, heightened by the now lit torches around the Market streets. "Well, we went at it for most of the day. We can go for it a bit longer but I'd rather we start searching for rooms to stay in overnight."

"Yip! Awful nice to know someone has so many beds and let us sleep in for one night."

"Not how that works," Janette replied after a brief laugh. "But I like that."

Just then, the pair of men let Reta go with Felix rushing ahead of her to keep her at bay. KuliKuli giggled at the silly sight, with her mate bidding them goodbye and thanks before pulling her away and noticing them down the street.

"Hai, had any luck?" She chirped, hugging his side.

He smiled but shook his head. "Sadly no, not yet. But we'll get there, just don't know when."

Reta scoffed, spitting beside them and rubbing her arms. "Lousy assholes think they're the shit. All muscle and no brains!" She shouted, waving her fist at them.

"Reta, behave." Janette pulled her aside, noticing the duo of cats watching them atop the closest shop. "Oh, was wondering how it went for you guys. No luck either?"

Both pounced onto the ground, rubbing their legs and feet whilst meowing and purring.

"Right." Felix looked up at Janette. "Can't say much out here. Are we looking for a place to stay?"

"Sleepover!" KuliKuli beamed before being pushed aside by Reta.

Janette sighed. "Didn't really look for one, the day went by quick and I lost track of daylight. What now?" She asked, noticing KuliKuli kneeling down and listening to Syri meow at her.

"She says she has news, she says she knows where Dimyri is, sort of. Is it too late to be happy?" Syri meowed, several people passing by just stared at the young woman seemingly speaking to a cat before walking away. "Huh, not yet then. Darn. But yea, Syri says she found her." She stood up and smiled a sweet smile with a look of relief.

Janette followed and leaned back, feeling some weight removed from her chest. "Gosh, I shouldn't say this but I didn't think this would work, not this fast anyways."

"Right!" Felix cheered, "Now we just need a place to stay. You got the coins, right?"

"Yeesh, not so loud. Sure do-"

"E-Excuse me?" All of them turned their heads to a young looking man with messy brown hair, dark eyes and a dirty looking apron with weird oil stains on his face and chest. He held a door open, an empty bucket in his hand with a mop on the other. "You guys mention money-er uh, needing a place to stay? We got a residence up stairs if you're interested?"

Reta scoffed. "I don't know, he seems rather clumsy in ripping us off. What's downstairs?"

"Oh, well here at the floor level we have the local bar."

"Good enough for me, let's go!" She said, skipping to him and going through the door. He smiled and nodded as she passed by, with the others shrugging before going through.

He stopped KuliKuli briefly. "Erm, I don't know if we allow pets inside." He stated, pointing at the two cats following behind her.

Janette poked in. "I'll pay extra."

"Oh, okay then! Just, try to keep them off the furniture I guess." He let her through, with Felix thanking him as he was the last in line.

"Thanks for the quick help. I'm Felix, and your name?"

"Oh, it's Yoku. Kou Yoku, at your service!" He beamed before shutting the wooden door.