I awoke to the smell of fires and to the rude awakening of a hand prodding my side. Causing me to straighten up and look from side to side. I heard Jackie laughing at me, as if she hadn't just scared the living shit out of me. "We've arrived" said Jackie pointing over the big fluffy head of Mungus the mammoth. I spotted Yugo packing up his tent.

"But, I thought you said it'd take like three days to get to Coldsreach" I said getting up and looking over the mammoth at the stone wall, Coldsreach seemed to be situated against a cliff, sure enough the burning road sat at either side of us along the road proving that the mammoth must have crossed the torch fence while I at least was asleep.

"Well obviously it'll take less time to get there riding something than it would to just walk there. It probably gave us better time that Mungus didn't stop to sleep, I bet he took a short cut to get here so quickly" Jackie answered my question before I could ask it. Was I THAT easy to read? Well that's it I'm asking less questions from here on out.

All I could see of the town were the very tips of buildings as it was surrounded by a large stone fence at irregular intervals there were people clad in metal, and some other substance. As we got closer, they lifted up their arms I thought I caught sight of flashes of metal. Were those guns? I hadn't really realized that people here would be able to make firearms.

"Just passing through looking for some trade" called out Yugos. The nearest person the giant gate turned and waved to someone behind him and the two gargantuan sides of the door slowly opened.

"So they've got a lot of security around here, huh" I asked? Mungus stomped through the gate and we got our first look at the inside of Coldsreach, well I saw it for the first time. Damnit! I asked another question.

"Coldsreach hires mercenaries to act like security guards at the front gates. It pays well, but you might end up getting frostbite for standing at the city gates in cold absorbing metal for so long" said Jackie. She then proceeded to jump off of the side of the mammoth like it was nothing. When she landed on the ground she looked up and waved up to Yugos. "I hope to see you again soon Yugos". The large man waved back.

"I would say the same" he said. I gulped and gathered my nerve, I was sooooo sick of being a wimp. Before I could talk myself out of it I hopped over the railing and landed on the ground, I've gotta say, don't do that. It does a number on the shins. Jackie patted me roughly on the back.

"I'm proud of ya Barry, now stay close. Some of these animals might not be the most well fed" said Jackie with a bit of a laugh. I held back tears of pain for my poor shins as we trudged down a road made of stone. There were multiple shop stalls all around the road there were weaponshops, clotheshops, saddleshops, armorshops, you name it. What was even weirder to me was how many animals were in town. Almost every stall had a wolf, or a tiger standing beside of it as if to tell people. 'Steal from me and you're dogfood' which was probably what they were trying to say.

Jackie didn't stop at any of these shops she kept going until we made it to a large building made of stone, she kept moving with me in toe and we passed what looked like a small dog lounging on the porch. It slavered up at us and I could hear its tail thump on the ground as if it were excited at the sight of new people. Jackie rapt at the door and a well dressed, and trimmed man opened the door.

"Is my order ready, Morton" asked Jackie? The man gestured to the house and we stepped inside. Morton seemed curious about me but he didn't say anything I got the strong sense that unlike Yugos who was one of Jackie's friends apparently this relationship was strictly professional. There were more of the little dog things inside at least five they were all different colors and they all seemed to be very excited for no apparent reason. Yep they're dogs alright. Morton walked away and eventually returned carrying a large hide bundle of something.

"Here you are miss" said Morton. Jackie gratefully accepted and lifted her left arm, out came what looked to be fifty ingots of metal. That must be his pay, the man lifted his own left arm and took the payment. After which me and Jackie took our leave. I didn't really want to ask anymore questions but I couldn't contain my ever curious mind.

"How long of a walk is it going to be to get to your tribe's place" I inquired? Jackie chuckled a bit.

"By walking, two weeks and we'd die for sure. So we're not doing that, my plan was two rent a flyer for the ride back" said Jackie. I wasn't sure what she meant by flyer but I just went with it for the time being, which of course lead to me seeing the absolute biggest bird in what in my opinion had to be like ever. Jackie walked into this large building as usual with me behind her and it was less of a building and more of a perch. There must've been twenty huge eagles wearing saddles and staring us down as we moved into the building. Jackie passed a young man a few bits of metal and hopped on a bird with reddish and silver feathers.

"Hold still" she called to me as the bird took off. I was about to ask her what she meant until the bird picked me up in its talons and I was a bit too surprised to say anything after that.