Katelia trudged towards the tavern beside Hel, her massive companion. The two had spent the night hunting, and now had a great boar draped over the snow leopard's back to show for their efforts. The flaming sky, painted in the sunrise, mirrored the blood still dripping from the fresh kill, staining Hel's coat and the ground beneath them. Really, the boar was the only reason Kat wasn't having Hel carry her now. She had no interest sitting behind that stinking beast.

While the two companions made for an odd scene – a small girl with a missing arm, midnight skin, and snowy eyes and hair, and her huge, menacing snow leopard carrying a still-warm carcass – the townspeople they passed had long since grown accustomed to them. This was a trek the two made once every few days for the past year and a half, and though they still garnered some stares and whispers, people had accepted them as just a couple more characters that colored their world.

"Hey Bernie," Kat called as she pushed the back entrance to the tavern open, "got your new supply." She wasn't actually sure if the old proprietor [i]liked[/i] it when she called him that. Kat had started using the nickname in the hopes that he wouldn't. Testing your landlord/employer probably wasn't the [i]wisest[/i] move, but Kat just couldn't figure the old codger out. Really, what the heck was his deal? Hel shrugged the boar off of his shoulders in the backroom and it landed with a great [i]whump[/i], blood no doubt staining the floor. This, too, Kat had him do intentionally. Most would yell or scold at their floor being seeped with blood, but this guy…

Kat just shrugged her shoulders, once again deciding to leave the mystery of the Blue Moon Tavern proprietor for another day. Glancing around, she saw that the sprite waitress wasn't anywhere to be found yet. She was right annoying, but at least Kat knew what to make of her. Plus, she was fun to ruffle. Kat turned to the kitchen sink and began the process of rinsing off her hand and splashing water on her face. After that she grabbed an old rag to wipe down Hel (who always tried to swat her away whenever she did this).

Finally rid of the blood, she grabbed an apple out of a barrel and turned to leave the kitchen to go to the front of the tavern. "Later, Bernie," she called behind her, Hel following her with his heavy footfalls. The two made their way to a table against a wall. Kat dropped herself into a chair, swinging her feet up on top of the table and leaning back in a move that could only be called 'unconcerned.' Hel settled himself at her side, resting his massive head on his paws, and the two watched as the tavern began to fill up for the day, Kat slowly eating her apple.