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Sometimes Owaen missed the tropical climates of Belrea. Especially when the rains poured down in buckets. This day was one of those days he wished that he were still home. A short run from the tavern to home didn’t result in him getting that soaked. But here, in Tendaji, the streets and buildings were all strange to him. Tinerr had been a strange town when his airship landed at the raised docks. Now in Liem, Owaen just wasn’t sure where anything was! Standing beneath a small awning and looking up and down the street, he watched as others dashed here and there through the rain. Some just leisurely walking as if it were a normal thing. Glancing downwards he looked at the canine that had accompanied him to this place.

”I don’t like this weather Mocki, it seems worse than any sea powered storm back home. And those were bad enough for the sea merchants.” Owaen complained as he glanced up at the ever dark clouds, ones that grew darker as day slowly turned to night. ”We should really find ourselves a place to stay, quickly…”

The Duruf barked in agreement before shaking itself again to knock whatever water might have been in his coat off. Owaen wished that he could do the same, but sadly his traveling coat was soaked and he was starting to shiver as if cold. Pulling the collar tighter around his neck, he headed down the street once again hunting for a tavern or inn. There had to be some here… Right?

‘You!’ came a voice from what looked like a storefront. ‘What are you doing out there in weather like this?’

Owaen stopped in the midst of the downpour and looked towards the woman who stood in the doorway of her shop. It looked like a florist shop with the many floral baskets outside and the arrangements that still sat in the window. The woman was a Wind, her dark brown hair was pinned back and her dress showed signs of work.

”Um.. I just got to this place when the rain started.” he answered moving closer taking shelter under the awning of the shop. ”Thought it would pass and I could just continue on.” Owaen looked around at the other storefronts that were starting to darken as closing time neared and people were likely to be eating supper. ”You don’t happen to know where I can find a tavern or inn do you?” He asked looking back towards the woman.

‘There’s one on the edge of town, but it’ll be dark by the time you get there and you’re already soaked clean through.’ the woman said before motioning him to come inside. ‘Best get in here, nights get chilly, this rain will make it worse and you don’t want to get sick.’

She moved back into her shop as Owaen was reluctant to enter. He stopped just past the door as Mocki bound in tracking muddied pawprints everywhere on the hardwood flooring. It was bad enough that Owaen was creating a puddle where he stood as water dripped off his coat. Snapping his fingers he motioned for the Duruf to come back to him and stay in one spot. He wasn’t even sure if Mocki was even allowed into the shop to begin with.

”Sorry about the mess, I should have mentioned that I wasn’t traveling alone.” He looked back towards Mocki who sat beside him, tail wagging happily. ”Perhaps we should try and get to the tavern…” He looked around at the clean shop, well clean except the floor now.

The woman waved off the idea of Owaen running back out into the rain. It was clear to her that he was shivering and wouldn’t last much longer out in that weather. ‘Never you mind about the mess, it gets dirty all the time. I do more than just arrangements. I sell potted plants as well and there is always soil or something meeting the floor.’ she chuckled, ‘Besides, like I said, you’d never make it before dark. So close the door behind you and come into the back.’ she motioned for Owaen to follow her.

He was still unsure as to what he was supposed to do, but anything was better than freezing to death he supposed. Motioning Mocki to follow him, Owaen closed the door that he had left open and followed the shopkeeper into the back that he assumed was her home. As he went he looked around, ”I am really sorry to impose on you like this, I am not used to the weather here in Tendaji.” he confessed as the woman went into her kitchen to start cooking supper.

‘It is quite alright. I don’t normally let strangers into this part of the shop, but you looked really lost. Don’t see too many of your liking in these parts too often.’ The woman commented as she turned and looked at Owaen. ‘Now shed out of those wet clothes, through that door you can change into anything dry you might have.’ She motioned towards what Owaen thought was a restroom.

Stepping inside he stripped out of his wet clothing and into a set of dry ones. Though when he opened his packs the Averin leaped out onto the sink and looked at itself in the mirror. ”You behave, You nearly got us in trouble on the airship. You know that right?” Owaen said in a low voice as the averin just stared at him indifferently before starting to groom itself.

Gathering up his wet clothing and the Averin, Owaen exited the room and placed his clothing close to the roaring fire to dry. Afterward he had a warm meal with the shopkeeper, getting an idea of just where he was. Where he might be going, his occupation and so on. As the rain poured outside, Owaen sat in waiting for it to end, enjoying the company of the woman. Though he was always eager to get back onto the road.

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