Calls of distant songbirds melded with the dull, indiscernible roar of a thousand voices echoing through the streets of Pinecrest, as the sun began to set. As the streets began to empty, the taverns began to fill with adventurers and local laborers hoping to relax after a long day.

Tobacco and incense smoke hung among the rafters of the Dew Drop Inn like a thick cloud, violently swirling about as the doors opened to welcome a burst of refreshingly cool air as a patron crossed the threshold.

A pink husky carefully worked his way through the crowd in the main hall, hugging several tankards of cider to his chest.

“Like I was saying, Star,” he began as he gently lowered the drinks onto the table, around which his compatriots were perched, “Do you really think we’re going to find anything? I say we just take that escort job for Lady Emmerson.”

As he spoke, the lynx opposite him snatched up her mug and hurriedly gulped down its contents.

With a contented sigh, she retorted, “What, is a little mud too much for you, Princess? It can’t be too hard for you or Felix to find a trail. The more we sit here and complain though, the more likely another party is to take up the same job.”

She paused and hooked a small braid of hair behind her ear as she leaned toward the center of the table, and continued in a hushed voice.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I for one am not fond of babysitting pretentious nobles who treat us as inferior beings and pay us poorly. At least this job offers decent pay.”

She turned her attention to the blue dragon at her side, playfully jabbing an elbow into his muscular arm.

“What about you, big fella?”

The man issued a muffled growl before responding, “Koda doesn’t care. Koda just want to fight and eat egg.”

He snorted and took a long draw from his mug, emptying it.

“If I may,” murmured another lynx, seated opposite the dragon as he laced his fingers on the table, “Who exactly did you hear these rumors from, Star? I’d rather not go hunting for missing adventurers and whatnot, just because you heard something in the market.”

“Felix has a point, you know,” noted the husky, folding his arms over his chest, “It wouldn’t be in our best interest to wander out in the middle of nowhere for nothing, and miss out on something that would definitely offer us an income.”

Star groaned, “Would you relax already, Rafe? If you must know, it was an official notice from Lady Sarrena, herself. With all of the rumors about the faeries, and now the disappearances, she simply wants someone to confirm the stories, or provide some kind of evidence to refute the rumors. All we have to do is take a hike into the forest, come back, and get paid.”

Koda slammed his fist on the table, “Koda want fight!”

Rafe patted his companion’s shoulder reassuringly, “Easy big guy, we’ll find a bear or something for you, alright?”

The dragon nodded solidly, “Good…And egg too!”

“Yes, we’ll get you some eggs on our way out,” the dog assured him, “I promise.”

Felix smirked and looked down at his own reflection in the cup of amber fluid.

“I guess that takes care of that,” he noted plainly. “We should retire shortly, and leave as soon as we can, so we have plenty of light for our trek.”

The rest of the party nodded in unison, and wasted little time finishing their drinks before heading to their rooms for the night.


This is the first part of the story series, The First to Fall, featuring the following characters:
as Koda
as Star
as Felix
as Rafe
And soon to feature