"Ugh.", Hastings groaned as he limped through the doors of the temple, looking about as several beasts in habits attended to the various injured beasts.
"Hastings?", he heard a voice behind him say.
"Krynn.", he said, turning around to see the younger vixen.
"Oh my…", she breathed, covering her mouth with her paws as she looked at the otter's wounds.
"I don't suppose you could help me out with these?", Hastings asked as he set his staff and gambeson against the wall.
Krynn placed her paws against the otter's chest, casting her healing spells as she did so.
"Ahh…", Hastings sighed as he felt his flesh knit back together and his pain subside.
"So…", Krynn began, speaking softly as she tended to her friends wounds. "How was your day?"
"Thrilling and painful.", Hastings groaned as he held up his sack of winnings. "But profitable."
"I heard the matrons say we should be finishing up for the day soon.", Krynn said. "While today has been a productive one and I've found enjoyment in my tasks, it will be nice to have good night's rest."
"And Old Robinette seemed to take a liking to you.", Amber chuckled as she stuck her head into the alcove.
Krynn looked away, embarrassed.
"Huh?", Hastings asked as Krynn handed him a cup of poppy milk.
"A senile old rat told her she was pretty and gave her courting advice.", the older vixen said, still grinning mirthfully.
Hastings chuckled as he emptied his cup, sighing with relief as his pain disappeared.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Ahhh, quitting time.", Amber sighed. "Time to go get my earnings and pick up my bairns."
"I'd best follow her if I want to get paid.", Krynn said to Hastings as Amber held out the bucket and requested gold.
"I'll want for you outside.", Hastings said as he paid the vixen before standing up and heading for the exit.
"Here's your alchemist's fire, antitoxin, and smelling salts.", List said, handing the mink jill her purchases. "That will be 80 pieces."
The mink handed over the gold and took the items, then headed on her way.
"Hmm…the suns going down.", List said, looking up at the sky. "Krynn and Hastings should be heading back here soon."
"I see them!", Floki chirped excitedly as he hovered over the marten's head. "They're heading this way."
List turned in the direction the little dragon was gesturing, seeing his two companions walking down the street towards him.
"Hello.", Krynn said as she and Hastings walked up to the marten's stall.
"Hello, how's your day been?", List asked as he put his gold away.
"Good.", Hastings replied. "Won three prize fights."
"Helped several beasts' hurts.", Krynn said.
"Nice to hear your day was productive.", List responded. "Now that the sun is heading down and the clouds are gathering, I think we should seek shelter."
"But first…", Floki began, turning his eye towards the marketplace. "…food."
The three beasts wandered down the street, looking about at the brightly painted stalls and garishly decorated sighs as the merchants shouted at the crowd to come and examined their wares.
"Finest keif in the city!", a red-eyed rat shouted, hoping to attract a few more patrons before the sun set.
"Pies, fresh from the oven!", a blue-furred vixen yelled, pulling a delicious-smelling pie from a earthen oven behind her.
"Sunrods, smokesticks, and more!", a black-pawed ferret called out. "Guild certified!"
"Step right up!", a gayly dressed weasel shouted from in front of his shrouded booth. "See the Spectral Hydra of the Haunted Hills!"
"There is no way you've a hydra in there!", a stoat laughed as he stood outside the booth.
"Is that so?", the weasel asked. "Pay a gold piece and see for yourself!"
"Ah the farmer's market.", List said as they caught sight of a section of stalls filled with produce of all kinds.
"What are those?", Hastings asked, gesturing to a pen with a number of small, squirrel-like beasts in it.
"Chipmunks.", List answered. "Very tasty."
"Why is that vermin eat meat so much?", Hastings asked, watching as a young ferret girl reached into pen to pet one of the chipmunks.
"Well most of us 'vermin', as the woodlanders call us, are terrestrial carnivores.", the marten answered, showing Hastings his sharp teeth. "Why do you think we have these?"
"Hotroot!", a graying old rat shouted from his booth. "Get yar hotroot here!"
Hastings' ears perked up a bit at that sound.
"What say I fix an old otter dish for dinner?", Hastings said. "Feels like ages since I've eaten hotroot soup!"."
"Sounds good to me Hastings.", List replied, stroking Floki as the little dragon perched on his shoulder.
The otter turned towards Krynn, who nodded.
"First…", Hastings began. "…we'll need the hotroot."