Tigerlily and the Hermit 01

Tigerlily questions townspeople and begins travel Northward.

Any constructive comment is welcome

Tigerlily and the Hermit 01
After bargaining for a single room at the only Bed and Breakfast for the night Tigerlily went to the nicer of the two local Taverns and chose her seat on a whim. Unconsciously she chose a chair with a hole in the back for her orange and white tail to swish about seemingly on its own. She pulled out her map and spread it on the table. Being only four feet tall, she had unconsciously gravitated towards the Dwarf sized tables in the Tavern of the Burly Bear. Most of the patrons of the well-worn common room were Human, yet there were five Dwarfs sitting and talking over various mugs spread out on their tables. The Tavern was not too full as there were still four larger tables unused. The rubbed pine walls shone nicely in the light of a wooden chandelier holding seven beeswax candles, the smell was pleasant. The serving girl came over to the Catgirl and with wide eyes told her of the meal for the night.

Though Tigerlily had the orange head of hair, ears, tail, and instincts of a cat she was obviously Human in nature. Finally, after she was sated with chicken pot pie and a slice of cherry cake, Tigerlily took her mug of pale ale over to the Dwarf table and introduced herself. The Dwarfs were a genial bunch, and their answers to her general questions were fluid and responsive. "No, can't say as I've heard about any other cat, or other animal being tumed into a a sentient species." Said the least inebriated of the five pale men and women. The others nodded in acknowledgement of that fact for themselves. Momentarily, there was one brilliant hair of red, and two blue, and an equally flashy purple bobbed up and down, One Woman who seemed to be taller than the others had blue hair with naturally occurring purple highlights. One significant tendril lay across her left eye, and she casually swept it aside.

Though they were an agreeable lot, Tigerlily moved herself and her mug to the Human tables. She found a stool meant for Dwarfs to reach the taller height, carried it over, and climbed upon it, Addressing the huntsman and farmers, she received no replies to the affirmative. After her question, she asked if there was any news she should know of if traveling East or North. The farmers mentioned the town villain who was not in the Tavern that night but comes in from his hovel outside of town to trade carved figurines when the peddlers arrived from the East-West River further to the South. The huntsman was more pragmatic with tales of wild cats that might take her for a meal. The second table was not any more forthcoming.

Snuffing out the beeswax candle later that night, the Catgirl curled into the fetal position and went to sleep as quickly as the cat she used to be. Light in her sleep as on her feet, Tigerlily woke at the footsteps of the owner's young son before he knocked to inform her
Breakfast was ready in the dining room. She performed a quick wash in the basin and brushed her teeth. She also dragged her comb through her wonderfully orange hair and a few quick strokes for the balancing tail. Traipsing down the stairs she took a tall stool at the Human sized table and ate as if famished. General questions of the travelers found that they knew of no other Catgirls or boys, nor of any other animals transformed as her.

A mother and son of teenage years were walking in her direction, and she offered to walk with them as companion and protector. She was fit and though not strong, she was graceful, and dexterous. The teenage son leered unconsciously till his mother nudged him. Their names were Berry and Farim, known as Fatty to his mother (he was such a roly-poly baby).

Taking their leave the trio of Catgirl, mother and son were given some raw vegetables from the widow's garden, warm bread and pale cheese for their break meal.