[center][color=lightgray][h1]PIPER[/h1][/color][color=mediumseagreen][b]& CHERYL LUSBY[/b][/color][/center]

[color=lightgray]The stranger was rambling again - but this time, Piper listened. The contents seemed important, especially since he got to know more about the stranger's world. When the stranger reached out to brush Piper's cheek, he did not lean into it, nor did he jerk away. He simply accepted the touch.

'[i][b]My name is Piper.[/b][/i]' Throughout their conversation, he'd been sneaking glances at the plate of lamb ribs, the alluring scent of roasted meat nearly overpowering his senses. Unable to resist any longer, he bounced over to the plate and sank his canine teeth into [i]utter bliss[/i]. Juice washed over his taste buds, a little dribbling out his mouth. The hunger in his belly demanded more and he obliged. The next few minutes saw him inhaling and slobbering all over his food, ravenously stripping meat from bone.

When nearly all the meat was gone, which wasn't that long later, Piper started working on the bones. The calcium snapped easily between his teeth and he chewed, calm and content.

'[b][i]About earlier-[/i][/b]' He didn't look up as he picked up where their conversation had left off, fixated on his food. '[i][b]It was very nice of you, but you probably shouldn't do that again. Almost every human here has..."prejudice", you said? You'd spend all your waking hours fighting off everyone with bad opinions on dragons. Not much point.[/b][/i]'[/color]

[hr]
[color=mediumseagreen]Cheryl stared at the leather pouch on the floor.

'[i]What the flame. What in the utter flame. Of hell's pit. Just flaming happened.[/i]' Unsurprisingly, the pouch didn't respond to her mental inquiries. Wary, she crept forward, reaching for the pouch. She poked it. Nothing happened. Encouraged, she took it, peeking inside.

Silver and gold winked back at her. A gasp escaped her, giddiness washing over her. Rich. With this little bag, she was filthy, meat-stinking rich. There was enough to last her more than a year, if she spent it right. Cheryl frowned.

If she could even spend it.

Whoever wanted Stranger, wanted him bad. Real bad. [i]Bounties[/i] hardly even went this high for a single person. Clutching the neck of the bag in one hand, she leaned her chin against her middle knuckles. She needed to think this through.

'[i]Con. He's crazy with magic that even Piper didn't recognise and that he couldn't control. If I piss him off, I'd have to kill him before he does any damage.[/i]

'[i]Pro. That's a meatload of money.[/i]

'[i]Con. I'd be doing shit I didn't sign up for.[/i]

'[i]Pro. That's a meatload of money.[/i]

'[i]Con.[/i]' She pressed her fingers against her forehead. '[i]He [/i]did[i] try to help at the tavern, even if it was basically useless. He tried when no one else would have. If I bring him in to some mysterious cloaked figure organisation, it would be...[/i]'

Unfair. Then again, life was unfair. Life was, and had always been, unfair to her. Unfair to Piper and dragons like him. And now, unfair to Stranger.

She needed to find Piper and go before Sancho threw a fit. Gripping the pouch, she stood up, collected her knife - which had cooled - then paused, looking at the spot where the cloaked figure had been.

'[b]You didn't even tell me where to send him[/b],' she said to the empty room. When no reply came, she huffed. '[b]If you're gonna run a business, do it properly.[/b]'

She left.[/color]