The door swung open to a dimly lit, partially crowded parlor. Monrey surveyed over the random groups of patrons heavy in conversation. Her face lightened when she caught site of the dark corner of the room. There, sitting in a booth was the person she had spent the last hour looking for.
With a grin she began crossing the room in a determined stride. She weaved her way in between tables filled with large, ominous looking creatures.
They would pause with quick glances over shoulders, and from tops of mugs filled with ale. Before quickly returning to their conversation.
Either not noticing or pretending not to notice she boldly cuts a path to the small figure in the far booth.
Coming to a stop at the edge of the table she hesitated. There before her were several stacks of dishes at least five high. Most picked clean, others with small scraps of food sticking out from between them.
In the seat sat a young, dark-haired cat.
Reclinging in her booth with her long legs outstretched and crossed, her feet resting on the cushion of the opposite seat. Her hands folded on her stomach and head down appearing to be asleep.
"You know," Monrey announced. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You'll never guess what I heard."
She stood there for a second, expecting a response but got none. Not even a flinch of recognition came from the individual in the booth.
Monrey stood there with contempt increasing on her face. With an upward twitch of her eyebrow and a quick inhale she shrieked, "Siamera!"
The room around her fell silent as the surrounding mainly male creatures laid their gaze upon her once again. And again either not caring or not noticing she ignored them.. Choosing only to intensely stare at the one in the booth.
Siamera opened her eyes slowly, panning them up to the, at this point hovering monkey next to her. She opened her mouth but before she could utter a word Monrey continued.
"I come here with a juicy piece of information,"
she said putting her hands on her hips and thrusting her nose in the air. "But if this is the way you act then perhaps I won't tell you," she held that pose for a couple seconds, before one eye peering back down at Siamera, who seemed to have faded back into sleep.
With a huff Monrey flopped down on the opposing seat with such force both of Siamera's knees flew up and crashed into the bottom of the table, setting the stacks of dishes rattling.
"You know," Monrey said, plopping both elbows on the table. "I don't think you truly appreciate me as a friend."
"No?" the now wide-eyed Siamera replyed.
"No," Monrey echoed back. "Here I am bringing you important info and you couldn't be bothered."
"Let's have it then," Siamera snapped quickly.
"Oh no," drawled Monrey. "You're far to busy with your little cat nap."
She glared at Monrey, watching her flick crumbs of food off her side of the table.
"If you're not going to tell me then move your scrawny ass and let me sleep," Siamera hissed before sinking deeper in her seat.
"Fine, fine," grinned Monrey with a permanent case of selective hearing. She continued, "I'll tell you but only because you begged."
"You know that little casino down by the waterfront? …..the one called The Bees Knees."
Siamera gave an unenthused nod.
"Well," she went on "There I was playing a titillating game of poker. When guess what?"
"You lost all your money," Siamera quickly blurted out.
Monrey who obviously didn't intend for Siamera to actually answer her, shot her a annoyed look. "Really," she replied, "Me lose money….ha."
With a quick shake of her head she picked up the story again, "Anyway, there I was with a hand of four distinguished gents. When I happened to overhear some of what the other players were talking about." She paused for dramatic effect. "Silex of all people…."
"Who?" Siamera asked.
Monrey's mouth dropped open, "Who?" she repeated with a dumbfounded look... "The person you'll be fighting tomorrow, you know in your match!" her voice rose above the clatter of the small honky-tonk yet again. But the nearby crowd didn't seem to react this time. It appeared they had lost interest in the loudmouth, little monkey.
"How could you not remember the name of your opponent?" Monrey asked, still struggling to understand.
"I'm not good with names," Siamera sharply answered.
Monrey sighed, putting her hand on her forhead.
"I guess their name really doesn't matter," she added. "But the information I got definitely matters. It seems this guy is….," she stopped as she watched Siamera get up from the table. "Where you going?" asked Monrey looking up at her. Siamera rummaging around in her pocket pulled out a handful of coins. Laying them on the table she looked down at Monrey's inquisitive face. "I prefer to learn what I need to know on the battlefield, not through hearsay."
"But-but," Monrey stuttered "What could it hurt to know a little bit about your opponent?"
"Trust me, it's better this way," Siamera replied walking away from the table.
Monrey quickly shot up on her knees and yelled, "You know I bet a lot of money on you, so you better win!"
"Don't worry, I will!" She shouted back as she strolled through the heart of the room…
The men grew silent as she passed, their eyes narrowing with anger at her cocky attitude. But Siamera simply smirked as she left the small tavern. If they had something to say, they could save it for tomorrow, when the annual Combat Battles begin…