As Enoki sat there, fighting the urge to cry over improperly eaten food, ze heard En’mat sigh. Her elven hands went around Enoki’s waist and moved hir to En’mat’s lap like a toddler dragging over a favored doll. 

“Enough of that now. We have things to do.” En’mat looked to Kraken. “So where are you going anyway?”

Kraken cleared their throat. “Well, I am staying with Crackle as she attempts to find what she wants to do with her life. But we are low on funds, so she wanted to go home to get the rest of the money she had tucked away.”

Crackle had now moved next to Daikon and was reaching up to touch the blue beads in his hair. “It’s not much money but we think it might help us get somewhere across the sea. I want to see new things. Most centaurs just stay in the desert and wait for friends, but I want to be more like the humans and travel!”

Hearing this, Enoki shook hir head as if to clear out the more gloomy cobwebs. “Right, well. The gods chose me to help with the feast. I need to get to Kissla.”

“Of course that’s where we need to go.” Kraken groaned. “And I suppose you will want us to travel with you.”

“No. I mean, yes. But no.” said Enoki. 

Daikon quickly turned his attention to Enoki, the beads in his braids rattling against eachother and smacking aginst Crackles hand as he did so. “Dear chaos, what in Nosh kind of answer is that?”

Enoki stood up, dusting hirself off. “I want you to come. The gods obviously think it’s a good idea for you to come. But I can’t force you to come and I won’t. If this flock thing means family, then family shouldn’t force you into a life you don’t want.”

Kraken had their arms folded, their tail flicking back and forth. A small smirk appeared and a short laugh escape their lips. “Alright then. We’ll at least help you in the city. Beyond that, no promises. That should be enough payment for the escort across the waters.”

“Yes!” Enoki grinned. “Now. How dangerous is it actually to go through right now?”

“Death will come for us all in the waters!” Crack let her voice boom again, shaking the tent walls before letting out a small giggle. “But with an orc and an elven priestess it shouldn’t be too hard to get through. No matter what you really are, Enoki.”

Enoki held up hir finger, “Ah, maybe in trouble. But we’ll figure it out.”

**

It didn’t take long for the sand witch caravan to get itself sorted again and make its way to the trade town. Enoki watched as the sun set in the east behind the now distant mountains. The chill in the air was starting to set as signal fires were lit amongst the various towers in the trading post. It didn’t seem large to Enoki. Maybe the size of some of the farms ze saw growing up. This place had tall smooth stone similar to earth’s adobos, and a large wall going around. Once inside there was a mix of various races. The gnomes and elves both had some amulets on to keep themselves cool. Other races either dressed for the weather or, as one dwarf walking by seemed to, wear almost nothing but boots and a smile. Not that you could tell for sure with the dwarf’s twitching beard and long hair.

The newly met flock was led by Crackle in the attempt to get a spot in the inn. As Enoki walked into the busy place, various species were talking and arguing. Conversations about being delayed and stranded by the storm. Missing their boats. Having to make a detour into the cursed sands almost overloaded hir. At least until the smell of food hit Enoki’s nose. 

Ze walked towards the counter where cups of ale and bowls of stew were quickly being served. Crackle happily bounced up to the counter with Enoki and lightly butted heads with the older centaur behind the bar.

“Well met, friend! We need a room for the night!” Crackle's voice was heard perfectly over the crowd. A few stopped their conversations in annoyance.

“Well met, friend. We have no rooms. Everything is taken.” The white bearded man quickly poured two more ales and slid them down. “Unless someone leaves a room tonight, we have none. But half this place needs a place to sleep.”

Kraken huffed. “We should have stayed with the caravan instead of rushing here.”

“Maybe you should have, friends. But if a room opens up I’ll let you know. Otherwise you are sleeping outside tonight.” The innkeeper was moving back and forth fluidly. If it wasn’t for the fact Enoki could see the horns and ears ze never could have guessed that was the movement of a four legged person.

Crackle pouted. “Not even a challenge room?”

Enoki turned to the little centaur, who even with her horns was still just under Enoki’s height. “What’s a challenge room?”

The inn keeper gave a sly grin as he slid a bowl towards En’mat, taking a coin she had just placed on the counter. “Well, we centaurs don’t leave the desert much. But it's hard to travel, you see. So we have challenges in our business. Show us something new and we give something equal in return.”

Another elf groaned. “Centaurs his age have seen so many things it’s not worth trying. It’s hard to impress them.”

Enoki arched hir brow. “How old can he possibly be?”

“I turn One hundred and fifty-six next week. Almost time to retire.” He chuckled.

“You don’t look a day over one hundred, sir.” Just as Enoki went to grab a bowl of stew the old man was handing hir, Crackle picked it up and pushed Enoki forward. 

“Ze will take the challenge! Enoki has seen and done a lot that you have probably never seen before.” Crackle’s grin widened as she brought the bowl to hir lips and began to sip.

In a hushed voice Enoki whispered to Crackle. “What are you doing I don’t know if-”

“A human?” The old man interrupted the thought. “They were still new when my father was a child.” 

“They aren’t that new, friend. They’ve been around for 500 years now!” Crackle waved her arms in the air, Kraken quickly taking the bowl of stew from her before the rest of the contents splashed on someone else.

He ruffled Crackles mane with a free hand, putting a cup of juice in Enoki’s hand. “Humans have nothing new to show us yet. Maybe in another five hundred years or so.”

That line of thinking always bothered Enoki. Older and younger always had things they could learn and show each other. Just because a person or group of people were younger didn’t mean they were not able to show new ideas or skills. Same with older folks. Enoki let out a small, controlled breath before taking in a deeper one. 

“Let me use your kitchen, and I’ll make a new dish you never had before!” Enoki half shouted over the crowd. 

The strangers closest to hir let out some chuckles. The other centaurs in the room twitched their ears, slowly starting to make their way over to the counter. Ze was wondering if this was the best idea ze’d had, but it was too late. Especially as Daikon was already picking Enoki up to set hir on the other side of the counter.

The old man’s eyes glinted a bit. “Alright. I’ll give it two hours. Whatever you can make in that time, you can present. But I warn you, I have had dishes made by the races from around these lands. I doubt there is much you can show me.”

“Deal. And I can use anything you have?”

“Anything in the kitchen or the storehouse. Or that you brought yourself.” He glanced to the pack. “But I suspect that isn’t much.”

There was a moment where ze was tempted to grab things from the storerooms. After all, it’d be easier to make something new and exotic looking using the things in there. But for now? It was best to just stick to what was offered for free. After all, there was no telling what would be needed later.

“Deal. I’m going to make a new dish you will love.” Ze said with unearned confidence.

Daikon hopped over the counter himself to follow. “En’mat, keep an eye on Noodles!”

“Happily. And I’ll have a chat with our companions.”

Enoki went into the back room. Ze saw a mix of the staples. Flour, sugar, salt, meat, cheeses, and even some mushrooms and carefully prepared cactus pads. Not surprising given the area, ze supposed.

“What are you going to make?” Daikon picked up a jar of something pickled, sniffing it before setting it down. “I can’t see much of what you can do here.”

Enoki grinned. “With two hours? A classic fast food staple from back home. The only reason we’ll need the extra time is for the buns.”