The door swung open with a creak as Kieran stepped into the dimly lit tavern, the soft murmur of voices and the warm aroma of hearty meals filling the air. His keen eyes scanned the rustic interior, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows on the wooden beams and worn furniture. Weary from his travels, he sought solace in the embrace of the familiar atmosphere.

Finding an unoccupied spot at the aged wooden counter, Kieran lowered himself onto a stool and let out a sigh, the tension of the day slowly ebbing away. He ran his fingers through his minty blue fur, his gaze fixed on the assortment of light blue glassware and bottles lining the shelves behind the barkeep.

The tavern's lively patrons, lost in their conversations and laughter, formed an almost comforting backdrop to Kieran's thoughts. He beckoned the bartender, a robust swift fox woman with a friendly grin, and ordered his favorite whiskey—a drink that never failed to bring warmth to his heart and clarity to his mind.

“Surely, surely, order coming right up, sir,” the swift fox looked him over for a moment with curiosity, seemingly analyzing his attire. “I recognize that type of clothing. Here to save the day, bounty hunter?” she said with a giggle.

Kieran stared at her with a subtle smile. “Yep.”

The bartender winked at him. “I won’t bother telling you to be careful, you look well and fit enough for the job, mister…?” She trailed off, inviting him to introduce himself to her.

“Kieran,” he raised his hand up and then back down to the counter. “Kieran Dravenholm.”

“I’m Isabella,” she responded warmly. “Nice to meet you, mister Dravenholm.”

Kieran nodded curtly, not quite in his element as he socialized with the swift fox girl. “You too.”

As the bartender busied himself with Kieran's order, a sudden ripple of excitement seemed to sweep through the tavern. Curious, Kieran glanced toward the source of the commotion and caught sight of an unexpected presence. A short dark blue fox girl, her ethereal aura setting her apart from the crowd, had entered the tavern accompanied by a small, fiery dragon perched on her shoulder.

Kieran's interest was piqued as he observed the celestial fox girl, her vibrant jade green eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and confidence. The intricate patterns of her wings hinted at a story untold, an otherworldly elegance that intrigued him. She also wore a pair of fancy, gold-colored goggles atop her head.

With a sense of intrigue, Kieran's gaze lingered on the girl's companion—a diminutive fire dragon, its flickering flames casting a warm and comforting glow around them. It was a sight both mesmerizing and enchanting, as if a slice of a magical realm had materialized within the walls of the tavern. Both of them seemed to ignore all the eyes staring at them.

As fate would have it, their paths converged as the celestial fox approached the counter. Kieran's gaze met hers, and a subtle recognition passed between them—a shared understanding of the mysteries that lurked beneath the surface of their respective journeys. She was definitely not a local, she was a traveler just like him. Judging by what she was wearing, Kieran thought she might also be some kind of bounty hunter like him.

‘But… she’s so small,’ he reasoned with mild concern. ‘Could she really be a bounty hunter?’

With a gracious smile, the celestial fox took a seat beside Kieran, her presence radiating an energy that seemed to light up the space around her. "A drink for the weary traveler," she quipped, face-planting onto the counter with a hand raised for the bartender. Her little dragon looked at Kieran curiously, gently sniffing at him from a distance.

Kieran's lips curved into a faint smile. "You seem like you've traveled quite a distance," he replied, his curiosity piqued by the starry aura that seemed to envelop her.

Tessa chuckled softly, her gaze playful yet genuine. "You could say that. The road has its surprises, doesn't it?"

Kieran’s eyes widened for a moment in agreement. “

Their conversation flowed effortlessly due to the two sharing a wavelength, a mixture of anecdotes and shared experiences exchanged over glasses of spirits. The tavern's ambience seemed to shift, the world outside fading as a newfound connection took root. They learned each other’s names, and Kieran did quite like hers; it was Tessa Hawthorne.

Tessa ordered a vodka for herself, which was surprising for the bounty hunter given her size and gender. “Isn’t that strong for you?” Kieran asked.
“N-no,” she said through coughs as she sipped. “It burns, yea, but I like the tougher things because they help harden me. It tastes really good too, though! It’s got orange and cranberry in it, my favorite flavors.”

Kieran gripped his whiskey glass and swirled the liquid around in a circular motion. “If you say so.”

A moment later, Tessa beckoned for the bartender again who came over with ears perked attentively. “Hi, yea, I’d like to order a flamebrand tequila, if you’ve got it, ma’am.”

Kieran had been taking a sip of his whiskey when she said this and he damn near spat it out at hearing this.

“Yes, miss, I’ll get that for you as soon as I can,” Isabella said politely, but no doubt thinking the same thing as the minty blue fox. This was proven when the swift fox and Kieran locked eyes with each other in concern for a moment, before she went off to fulfill the order.

Kieran could not get out any words, and just stared at Tessa with shock.

She glanced at him, smiling, beginning to pet her fire dragon. “What?”

“Um,” Kieran raised a brow. “I mean to each their own. You are one tough apple pie.” He took another swig, looking away from her.

Tessa giggled, honestly rather cutely. “Oh, that’s not for me, silly!” she said, scratching under her dragon’s chin. “That’s for Perseus.”

“Perseus?”

“My dragon.”
Perseus, her little fire dragon, looked over at Kieran and seemed to carefully watch him. Now that he thought about it, Tessa’s pet had been staring at him the whole time as if on guard, often out of the corner of his eye.

“Wait, wait… your dragon… drinks?” Kieran asked quietly. “I heard that correctly?”

Perseus wagged his tail much like a dog at his question.

Tessa nodded. “He likes it spicy.”

Kieran's astonishment slowly morphed into a mixture of amusement and disbelief. He shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle. "Well, I've seen my share of unusual sights in this world, but a dragon that enjoys tequila is definitely a new one. Perseus, huh? Quite the fiery companion you have there."

Tessa beamed with pride, her eyes sparkling as she continued to pet Perseus affectionately. "Oh, he's not just fiery in taste preferences. He's got quite the adventurous spirit too. We've been through more escapades than I can count. Right, Perseus?"

The dragon responded with an enthusiastic chittering sound, almost as if agreeing with her. Kieran couldn't help but be charmed by the dynamic duo before him. He extended a hand towards Perseus, offering a friendly gesture to the little fire creature.

"He's quite the character," Kieran noted, a playful glint in his eyes. "And I have to admit, you've piqued my curiosity. A flamebrand tequila for a dragon, huh? That's a tale to remember."

As Isabella returned with the drink, placing it carefully on the bar, Kieran leaned back and raised his glass in a toast. "To new acquaintances, unexpected friendships, and the mysteries of a world that keeps surprising us."

Tessa's eyes sparkled as she clinked her glass against his, and even Perseus seemed to join in the celebration with a little burst of flames over his tequila that illuminated the cozy tavern corner. He carefully took polite sips of his drink, the fire not harming him at all. Kieran was sure that he was immune to fire damage, which honestly made sense. Perseus could likely stick his head in the flaming brew and not be hurt, but then he’d look silly… and well, the tavern would suffer immense damages due to the fire overflowing the mug.

The three of them, an eclectic group brought together by chance, shared a moment of camaraderie that felt as warm as the drink they enjoyed.

As the night rolled on and the tavern bustled with activity, Kieran found himself engrossed in lively conversation with Tessa. Her tales of daring escapades and mischievous exploits from all around the vast and expansive world of Arthos were nothing short of captivating, and he couldn't help but admire the fearless spirit that seemed to radiate from her every word. It was refreshing, a welcome break from the often solitary life he led. He of course loved his isolation but once in a while a pause was more than enjoyed.

Perseus had nestled comfortably on Tessa's shoulder, occasionally emitting playful sparks that danced in the air. Apparently the little guy could even emit specially shaped sparks, such as hearts, plants and objects. Kieran couldn't help but chuckle at the creature's antics, finding himself genuinely amused by the dynamic between Tessa and her fiery companion.

As time grew ever later, Kieran noticed a subtle shift in the tavern's atmosphere. The air seemed to grow tense, and he caught sight of patrons exchanging furtive glances and hushed whispers. Instinctively, his senses sharpened, and he discreetly shifted his gaze around the room, trying to discern the cause of the unease. It wasn't long before his attention was drawn to a newcomer who had entered the tavern. A tall figure, cloaked in shadows, moved with a purposeful stride. Kieran's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of scars that marred the stranger's form, a testament to battles fought and survived. There was an air of intrigue and danger surrounding the newcomer, an aura that seemed to demand attention.

The stranger's gaze swept across the room, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked. Kieran felt a chill run down his spine, a feeling that was both thrilling and unnerving. It was then that he noticed the glint of recognition in the stranger's eyes, a flicker of something that sent a shiver of foreboding through him.

Tessa, caught up in her own animated storytelling, seemed oblivious to the tension that had settled over the tavern. Perseus, however, emitted a low growl, his small form tensing on Tessa's shoulder, which caused her to pause and pay attention. Kieran's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his weapon, his senses on high alert.

The stranger continued to make their way through the tavern, the atmosphere seemingly shifting in their wake. Kieran's mind raced, thoughts and possibilities swirling as he tried to piece together the puzzle before him. He couldn't shake the feeling that this newcomer, with their scars and enigmatic presence, was no ordinary traveler.

As the stranger approached the bar, Kieran's gaze remained fixed, his instincts urging him to stay vigilant. He exchanged a quick glance with Isabella, who had also noticed the newcomer's arrival. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a shared recognition of the potential danger that lingered in the air.

Kieran's grip on his drink tightened, his focus unwavering as he awaited the next turn of events. In this corner of the tavern, where tales of adventure and camaraderie had been shared just moments ago, an undercurrent of uncertainty now simmered.

Isabella subtly positioned herself closer to Kieran, her eyes never leaving the stranger. The atmosphere had shifted from one of joviality to one of caution, like the calm before a storm. The tavern's patrons seemed to sense the change as well, conversations dwindling into hushed murmurs.

The stranger's presence at the bar seemed deliberate, yet there was an air of mystery that clung to them. Their gaze swept over the patrons, lingering on each face as if searching for something—or someone. Kieran's keen instincts told him that this wasn't a mere chance encounter. There was intent behind those scarred eyes, a motive that had brought them to this seemingly ordinary tavern.