The sun was starting to pierce through the clouds as Sonhu and Ketra saw New Cransberg come into view. The small fishing village was only a few miles south of Alkrun. The town surrounded the great river Kaul, which stretched from just below the Northern Mountain Regions and out into the Trestan Sea. New Cransberg occupied a small part of the river's easternmost bend. 

Their journey had been in silence. The night's events hung heavy in the air. Sonhu trailed a few feet behind Ketra. His tail was low and dragging against the dirt. He stared at the path aimlessly.

Sonhu wondered if Ketra was familiar with the area, and if so, why she would choose to come to New Cransberg. As they passed a fisherman, the man scoffed and gave them a nasty glare as he walked to the dock.

Ketra halted suddenly, Sonhu barely noticing until he stumbled into her. He caught himself and then looked at Ketra. She turned and asked, 

"How far does this river go?" Gesturing towards the dock. Sonhu blinked away the tiredness that had crept up on him. He thought for a moment, then replied,

"I believe it lets out into the Trestan Sea."

Ketra tilted her head and studied him for a moment before asking another question,

"Do they ferry people down the river?"

"I believe so…" Sonhu said with a yawn. Ketra placed her hand on Sonhu's head. He jumped slightly at her touch, but was too tired to move out of her grasp.

"First, we will get you some rest, but tomorrow morning we will take the ferry as far south as we can." She told him. He closed his eyes as she began to rub his forehead with her thumb slowly.

"Why go so far South?" Sonhu asked.

"For a new beginning. Somewhere safe." She replied.

"Safe from what?" He asked, confused.

"Anything." She told him. Her hand retreated from his forehead, and he opened his eyes.

Ketra made her way through the town, Sonhu following closely behind. Walking down the small dirt path, they passed small wooden shacks and thatched-roofed houses. Soon, they arrived at an inn. Ketra entered confidently, but Sonhu hesitated before following her in.

The entrance opened up into a small room with a counter and stools. A few tables were scattered about, accompanied by chairs, most of which were chipped and worn. A singular, small, rusty chandelier lit the room. Sonhu noted that the room was empty except for a single patron who sat alone at a table in the corner. A gruff man with a bushy grey beard, his head rested on the table, his eyes closed. Clasped in his rough hands was a half-finished mug of beer.

Behind the counter, a single woman worked, cleaning a mug with a dirty rag. She was a plump woman with curly, long red hair. Freckles dotted her face, and she breathed heavily through her open mouth.

The woman looked up as they approached the counter. When she saw them, her nose scrunched up and her eyes narrowed, repulsed. She set down the mug and then turned to Ketra.

"How can I help yah?" She asked with a thick voice.

"I need a room."

"A room's twelve silver a night." The woman said.

Ketra produced a gold piece and set it on the counter. The woman looked at it and gave an approving nod.

"First room on the left." The barmaid said with a gesture of the head as she picked the mug back up and continued to scrub it. Ketra turned and made her way towards the room. Sonhu began to follow, but was stopped by the barmaid,

"Aye! No pets. You'll stay outside." Ketra turned and looked at the barmaid with a piercing stare.

"Pet?" She said with a voice full of venom.

"Or servant… whatever you want to call it." The barmaid said, taking a step back. Ketra's domineering form loomed over the woman. The shadows in the room seemed to stretch, and the candles on the chandelier seemed to flicker.

"Sonhu will be coming with me," Ketra said with an icy hiss.

"Yes, ma'am. Su-Sure. It's fine," The woman replied with a stammer. Ketra turned back towards the rooms. The shadows returned to normal. The moment passed. Sonhu followed Ketra without looking back at the barmaid.

The room was tiny. There was a single bed at the end of the room, accompanied by an old pillow and a worn blanket. To the left of the bed was a small drawer. A single desk with a few candles stood near the door, but there was no chair for it. Ketra paced around the room, agitated. Sonhu watched her for a moment. She turned to him.

"Get some rest." She told him, gesturing at the bed. Sonhu collapsed onto the bed, too tired to be pensive. He curled up, his tail covering his eyes. The bed was a bit stiff, but after sleeping on the floor for so long, he reveled in the comfort of the bed.

He felt as Ketra sat down on the edge of the bed, but he paid no mind. Already drifting off to the comfort of sleep.

The next morning, Sonhu did not want to wake up. Lying in bed for a while, not opening his eyes, he hoped that if he lay there long enough, Ketra would disappear, and this nightmare would end, allowing him to return to normalcy.

Eventually, he opened his eyes, and his heart skipped a beat; his neck fur stood on end. Greeting him was the piercing gaze. She was lying on the bed next to him. Watching him intently with her luminescent, purple eyes.

"Good." She said, "You're awake. Let's get you fed." She stood up and made her way towards the door. Sonhu sat up slowly. Did she sleep there? Does she even sleep? He wondered. He stretched his sore body, then walked over to the door and entered the main room.

Sonhu could see Ketra at the counter. The maid was already preparing some food, her eyes darting occasionally in Ketra's direction. Sonhu scanned the room. There were a few more patrons in the bar now, but the number was still relatively small. Sonhu started to walk towards the counter, but a figure stumbled over and blocked his way.

The drunkard from the corner stood awkwardly above Sonhu. His breath reeked of beer, and his clothes had a distinct scent of piss and mud clinging to them. He swayed, off balance. Licked his chapped lips, and then said,

"What d'yuh think you're doin'?" His words were slurred, and his sentence ended with a sharp hiccup.

"Heading over to the counter," Sonhu said, passively trying to sidestep the man, but then the man moved with him, haphazardly blocking his way.

"No… No, you won't." He said, shaking his head. Sonhu looked around the bar. The other patrons were watching now. Amused. Ketra was also watching, her eyes narrowed, her body tensed. She began walking towards Sonhu and the man.

"So what, do you just want me to return to my room?" Sonhu said with a forced chuckle, quickly trying to defuse the situation.

"No… I want you to leave." He said, placing his hand on Sonhu's shoulder.

"That's enough," Ketra said, grabbing the man's hand and pulling it off Sonhu.

"Let go of me." The man said, shaking out of her grasp. "Who do yuh think yuh are?" He said, taking a step towards her. Ketra tensed again. Frustration boiled in her eyes.

"Stop," Sonhu said, grabbing him and pulling him back. The man turned and then delivered a right hook to Sonhu's jaw.

"Get yer fuckin' hands off me, you beast." He yelled as Sonhu stumbled back into a table. In an instant, the shadows around the man contorted, and then dark tendrils leapt forward from them, wrapping around the man and constraining him. The man let out a yelp of fear and panic. The other patrons stood up from their seats, jumping back in alarm. The tendrils lifted the man into the air.

Ketra stared at the man, her steeled face trying to hide the anger that peeked through her eyes. The man squirmed in the grasp of the tendrils, but it was no use. Sonhu darted over Ketra, grabbing her dress and pleading,

"Stop. Let him go." She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on the man. After a moment, she finally yielded and looked at Sonhu, her expression mute, her stare cold.  She turned away and then,

CRRRK. The sound of bones crushing, and the man screamed. A loud, terrified scream. A thud, as his body hit the ground. Sonhu closed his eyes and winced at the sound. A weighty pain welled in his chest.

But the man's screams continued, and when Sonhu looked, he saw the man's arms bent in odd directions, broken, but the man was alive. A strange relief set in on Sonhu. It was an odd concession to give her, but she had not killed him.

Ketra stormed out of the inn. The other patrons cling to the walls as she leaves. Sonhu followed, leaving the man screaming, broken on the floor.