Hastings dodged the fox's jab at his throat, countering with a hammer strike aimed at his opponent's head.
The fox blocked with his forearm, jabbing Hastings in the ribs simultaneously.
Hastings responded, slapping the fox hard on the thigh with his rudder.
The combatants separated, slowly circling each other.
What is this strange feeling?, the otter asked himself, feeling greater pain in his side than a simple punch should warrant.
He looked down, seeing blood oozing from a wound in his flank.
"How?", he whispered to his, forgetting his opponent momentarily.
Taking advantage of his opponent's distraction, the fox kicked him in the knee, sending him to the ground.
"Oof.", Hastings grunted as the fox swung a punch down onto his head, following up with a knee to his face.
With an angry growl, Hastings rammed his shoulder into the fox's waist, tackling him to the floor.
He placing his forearm against the fox's throat and pressed down, ignoring the blows striking him in head and shoulders.
Eventually the fox went limp and the referee intervened.
"You've won.", he said, sticking his cane in between Hastings and his opponent.
The red mist faded from Hastings' vision and he let go of the fox.
"The victor…", the referee said, grasping Hastings' arm and thrusting into the air. "…Hastings Streambattle!"
Floki soared above the city, twisting and turning as he dove down towards the buildings.
"Now where's that stand Master said to go to?", he asked himself aloud as he opened his wings and climbed back up into the air.
He sniffed the air, hoping to detect the scent of his target.
There, he though, looking down at a street vendor handing a paper-wrapped parcel to a customer.
Floki halted above the vendor, slowly descending as he identified his objective.
"What do you want, dragon?", the vendor, a middle-aged rat, asked as he looked up.
"Some of those.", Floki said, pointing with his claws and setting the silver piece he had down on the counter. "And few of those."
"Here you go.", the rat said, taking the coin and wrapping the dragon's purchase in paper.
Floki grabbed the package and began flying back towards his master.
"So Krynn…", Amber asked a the two of them sat down for lunch. "…how a young girl like you end up on the road?"
"Well…", Krynn began, taking a bite from the kabob she bought from a street vendor. "…I spent all my life at the temple where I was taken in as a cub."
Amber took a sip of tea as she listened to Krynn's story.
"I'm sorry for your loss.", Amber said, patting Krynn the shoulder.
"Thanks.", Krynn replied.
Amber dunked a biscuit into her soup, letting the dried bread reconstitute awhile.
"So what's your two companions' stories?", she asked, biting into the biscuit.
Krynn took another bite, slowly chewing the spiced marmot flesh as she thought about what to say.
"The marten, List, I'm not sure about.", she answered.
"And the big weasel who came in with you?", Amber asked.
Krynn was about to correct her on Hastings' species, but stopped.
Best they not know about woodlanders in their midst, Krynn though, pulling a chunk of roasted turnip from her kabob.
Hastings sat at the bar, taking a gulp of grog.
"Here yah go.", the barkeep said, setting a plate in front of the otter.
Hastings handed the rat a few silver pieces.
The otter looked over the bread wrapped smelt on the plate.
Smells tasty enough, he thought, taking a bite, savoring the taste of poppy seeds, hot root, and the strange milky dressing in the sandwich.
"So where are you from, boy?", a piebald rat seated next to him asked as he drained his glass of spirits.
"An island.", Hastings answered, continuing to eat his meal.
"Wherr?", the rat slurred as he drunkenly motioned for the barkeep to refill his glass.
"The sea.", Hastings quipped.
The rat laughed, drunkenly falling off his stool as he did so.
"Somebeast help Mivon up.", the barkeep chuckled as the rat struggled to get up in his inebriated state.
Green Isle, Hastings thought. I wonder if I'll ever see it again.
He drank some more grog as he looked about the dimly lit room, listening to the drunken banter of the patrons.
"Looks like Belua is getting the better of Abrax.", the ferret seated beside Hastings said as he took a bite of his meat pie.
Hastings turned to watch a large rat hurl his opponent into the pit wall.
The rat turned towards the crowd, celebrating his victory.
Perhaps a bit to soon, Hastings thought, taking another bite as the weasel got to his paws and kicked Belua in between his legs.
"Urgh.", the large rat groaned as he turned to face Abrax.
The weasel proceeded to punch Belua in the face repeatedly, knocking him to the floor.
"Aww.", the mink jill seated next to Mivon groaned. "There goes thirty pieces of silver."
Hastings turned back towards the bar, continuing to eat his lunch.
Floki sat on List shoulder as the two ate, watching the beasts on the street milling about.
The little dragon chuckled as he tossed one of the fried beets into the air and darted up to catch it in his mouth.
List grinned as he watched his familiar playing with his food, slowly crunching on fried lobster.
"So what are we doing after this?", Floki asked, swooping down to grab a piece of lobster.
"I don't know.", List answered. "I hear there's a portal to the Elemental Plan of Water nearby, fancy a swim?"
"Hmm…", the little dragon thought, chewing on the lobster. "Nahh, let's find a place with air."
List chuckled, conjuring a small pool of water in his palm.
He cast another spell as he drank it, giving it the appearance and flavor of wine.
"We could head back towards Oleander Woods.", the marten suggested jokingly. "I hear it's lovely in the spring."
"Bah.", Floki replied as he cartwheeled through the air, grabbing another beet from the parchment.
List laughed at the dragons antics, then continued eating.
I wonder how the others are doing, he asked himself, taking another bite.
