Manning The Menagerie Pt. 01

The story was a warm-up for me after not making a story in a very long time. It was something I came up with on the fly to get my writing gears turning again. I hope you like it and offer criticism and any way I can improve my writing is always appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Dearest Paul, I am afraid I will not be able to operate the store with you today - I have unfortunately come down with a severe case of hayfever and will be bedridden for the entirety of this weekend, my doctor has unfortunately quarantined me after checking in at the local hospital. But, I trust that you will be able to manage the shop by yourself during my absence, as a reward I will count these (and only these) next three days as overtime - which, you may be glad to hear, will be reflected graciously in your next paycheck.

Until then take care Hon, your boss Mrs. Catlynn.

The young wolf-boy, having finished reading the hastily written yellowed letter, dimly realized his prominent grey ears on his head were drooping - no doubt reflecting his unfelt sympathy for his boss's situation.

After all - it was thanks to Mrs. Catlynn, the kind and caring cat-folk who had in his time of need, offered the wolf-boy his first official job after having made the dangerous trek from his village in the far south Dom-Ha mountains to the gargantuan city of Olsted.

The young man had been simply amazed at the cities pristine ivory-white walls, having seen the water-locked city from miles away and how upon entering - opposingly his villages thatched straw roofs on their wooden cabins and dirt and gravel paths had compared to the sprawling maze-like roads filled stone and concrete buildings and all manner of shops not just simply dedicated to survival were packed with all manner and races of passerby and seemingly busy patrons all ignoring the new arrival who was quite prominently still dressed in his winter furs - a sign of just how different the weather was past the mountains in the south.

He received a few cursory glances here and there from passing figures, most wondering what a young wolf-folk was doing wearing winter furs in the warm and breezy climate that Olsted seemed to offer year round. In truth Paul was rather warm, having shed his fur jacket he looked around hoping to figure out what his next plan was having entered the bustling city.

GgggrrrrrRRowlll

Paul, having realized he had exhausted his last rations from his village elders - his tail curled around the back of his legs and his ears drooping in embarrassment trying to silence the sound emanating from his body, looking around for a restaurant would have to be one of his first orders of business he thought to himself - setting off in the direction of what was undoubtedly someone cooking Paul hurried through the crowd to the source of the smells that plagued his ever useful nose.

"Sorry kid, I don't know what your chiefs or whatever taught you but this ain't Olsted currency - your money is as good as rocks here pal. Now get lost I got hungry patrons right behind ya's."

Sighing, in resignation Paul thanked the ratfolk chef - whose chewed ears flicked angrily for his time and understanding, returning to the back of his kitchen whose wonderful smells continued to assault Paul's senses, the female cat-folk staff at the taverns counter gave him a understandably apologetic look but stories like his were common, a person who can't pay for his meal and who could not benefit the business was almost as good as wasting precious ingredients.

Having left the fifth tavern that he was aware of Paul, made his way out to the now hazily lit orange city, the sun was now ever slowly setting in the once bright sky - and for his part Paul had simply forgotten the time that had past as he had looked for somewhere to eat his hunger away.

Staring at the dirt encrusted and aged copper and silver coins in his hand Paul solemnly walked along the unfamiliar streets coming to a stop having looked around the now streetlamp lit city. Realizing he was in some village No, city square - there were street vendors selling quick bites all around the enormous water fountain, hunks of red meat roasting on skewers with their fat rendering off into a sizzling frenzy, vegetables spiced and seasoned grilling in large cast iron pots, sweet smells assaulted his senses to his left watching a woman give something undoubtedly sugary to a young girl and boy - watching the pair exchange small gold coins and paper for the delicacies made Pauls stomach churn.

Looking at his former village's currency again, Paul was mentally assailed by disturbing thoughts. Perhaps he could steal a few of those sizzling meat sticks, or maybe grab the children's pastries.

They were only a few feet from him, he was always quick on his feet he could do it - right?, right?.

Shaking his gray hair and wolf-ears back and forth a sign of his determined response, Paul was not of that disposition - He could never bring himself to do such a heinous act. What would his parents have said?

The shame it would bring to his elders, No - Paul simply would not give in to such inhibitions.

Looking at his seemingly useless currency, Paul resigned himself to retreating the coins to his leather pouch - making his way through the square again before walking on yet another unfamiliar winding concrete and paved stone path it became apparent that the temperature was dropping slowly, Paul watched as more of the cities whitish-yellow street lights seemingly without fire, started to slowly come alive - the source of the lights dancing little specs of some unknown origin to Pauls mere lack of knowledge of magic were a simple glance in astonishment.

The city of Olsted too, was transitioning with the arrival of the purple-black evening, with houses and shops now filled with the warm and inviting yellowish-light Paul was used to back home. He was dimly aware he was walking without a sense of direction carried on by the sights and wonderment of the now yellow-lit city, with shops and taverns filled with patrons all conversing at once creating a cacophony of loud but seemingly welcome air of business booming.

His stomach gurgled again, Paul looking to and fro, realizing that he could really do nothing to ease his stomach's cries of indignation, resentfully decided to find a place to try to sleep somewhere away from all the now busy nightlife sounds and people.

He came upon a alleyway, closed off on three sides, all the buildings seemingly around it had only faint flickering yellowish-light emanating indoors behind their glass panes, Paul found a seemingly comfy spot as much as one could manage really next to a small awning under a cobblestone stairwell jutting out from a cracked wall with vines growing from therein.

Laying his fur jacket on the mostly clean stone and paved floor Paul much like his kind was known for began to orient himself in the best way possible, settling to cradle himself in a fetal position on top of his heavy fur coat.

Something landed softly on his cheek, reflexively opening his bright blue eyes, he touched the now wet skin - water. No sooner had he even looked to the heavens above did more of the now increasingly fast and heavy raindrops begin to assail his lightly clothed body, Paul hurriedly covered himself with his fur coat pulling its patched and worn hood over his grey wolf ears and hair. It did not take long for him to be soaked. The coat had many stitches from constant wear, and though meant for harsh cold weather its fur lining was simply useless as it became soaked in rainwater - turning into a heavy weight that pressed against the poor wolf-boys shivering lightly dressed body.

Paul, having pulled his legs to his chest, was assaulted yet again by his stomach's unabated growling, this time almost ringing louder in his prominent fur covered ears than the now torrential rainfall all around him.

Paul's last ounce of optimism vanished with that thought, any thoughts about how great the city of Olsted was and its wonders vanished with it. He was truly lost, no money, hungry, and sleeping out in the rain in a unfamiliar-foreign land. Paul truly began to realize the ostensibly hopeless situation he was now in.

He was unable to get back home as the pass had certainly frozen over by now - he slowly, regrettably began to cry softly at first but soon uncontrollably as he was assailed by rain and thunder all around him until they at last melded together. His shivering body slowly conserving any last amount of energy Paul realized he was drifting off to sleep, adjusting his leather jacket he shifted uncomfortably and shivered in the downpour curling his soaked grey tail around his legs until he slowly lost consciousness his head resting on his now drenched knees of his pants.

He dimly awoke to the sound of a door opening its creaking hinges drowning out the rain, now a steady soft pattering - he was cold, very cold. His eyes dimly registered a shadow, something, moving down the stone stairwell holding something long and thin, it whatever it was, was looking at him in the dimly lit alley, he reflexively jumped up - pins and needles registered all throughout his body.

How long had he been asleep? No matter, he readied himself only to fall back down in an almost comical fashion - shivering as he was he did not make for an intimidating figure. Not counting his short stature but clearly soaked body and clothed as he was, he looked nothing like the wolf-folk that were so well-regarded from his home village. Paul readied himself mentally to run past the figure to the street, or if be told to get lost for disturbing the figure's property. Whatever the case - he did not want to get hurt and willed himself to get up again.

His cloudy-blue eyes had adjusted enough to finally make out the tall figure, a cat-folk, willowy with brown graying hair and prominent feline ears, clearly an older woman. She was dressed in a green faded evening gown with a light raincoat, after a minute or so Paul realized the object he had seen faintly had been her carrying an umbrella in her hand. Paul watched the woman trying to orient himself to stand so he could make it to the water soaked street.

The woman unabated walked toward him, positioning her hands around the umbrella Paul realizing how numb his body simply could not move on its own to escape, thinking she had every intention on striking him, he reflexively moved to protect his face shielding his ears and face with his arms cradling them in his legs.

He heard a simple fwoosh, looking up warningly, waiting for a strike that took advantage of his weakness. He was confused to see the willowy woman had opened her umbrella holding it out over him, shielding him from the now soft but equally present rain.

Wide-eyed Paul could only stare up at the cat-woman who towered over him, his ears alert listened as she in a hushed almost southerly drawl and yet clearly invoking a gentle tone began to speak to him,

"Young man, you should know not to be out at this time - especially in this weather."

He barely registered she had dropped to his level, he reflexively tried to back away from the woman, only pushing back further into the damp stone wall, the women's brown cat ears flicked back and forth listening to the rain as her green eyes looked Paul up and down - seemingly stared not into his cloudy blue eyes but his very soul, he heard her ask him other questions things and yet he could not bring himself to answer.

"Hmmm, you're drenched sweetie, - you'll catch a nasty cold if you continue to stay out in this weather you know?"

As if to emphasize her point she looked out to the rainy street outside from her umbrella, its dome of a shield covering the both of them. Paul found himself looking in the same direction, those green eyes were on his face again.

Something soft and foreign had touched him on his forehead, Paul looked back from the street hastily - reflexively jumping with a start at the foreign sensation. Realizing the cat-woman had placed a soft hand to his head she was moving it around coming to a conclusion and merely stating:

"No, No dear you already have signs of a cold, Honey, how long have you been out here?''

Wolf-boy, found himself not able to answer the woman's question only mumbling incoherently how sorry he was to have intruded on the woman's property and that he would leave in a minute if he could collect himself, what came out of his mouth though was garbled nonsense with some words forming a few congruent sentences.

The woman looked at him for a minute, unsure of what she had just heard from the drenched young man in front of her noticing once again how clouded over his eyes were and his apparent lack of awareness to how much he was shivering in front of her, when suddenly Wolf-boy's stomach growled again, eliciting embarrassment from the young wolf-folk. Blushing he found himself unable to meet the woman's green gaze looking away again this time to the wall next to them his tail drenched twitched nervously.

Having decided on what she was to do with the young homeless boy in front of her, Cat-lady extended a hand to the person in front of her, simply stating

"Come on sugar, let's get you someplace nice and warm and something in that belly of yours hmm?".

Paul, only stared at the outstretched manicured hand in front of him,

why?, why would you help someone like me? He thought, his mouth on the verge of forming what he was thinking was suddenly stopped by the cat-lady's quick response.

"Because sweetie, you look like you really need someone's help right now".

Startled, Paul guessed he was at the moment really easy to read. He watched the woman offer her outstretched hand to him again pushing slightly closer. He simply muttered he had nothing to give the woman for her kindness looking back down at his soaked legs wrapping his heavily drenched coat around himself again.

Cat-woman was not one to listen to the rambling of a rain drenched boy as that's what she was going off of looking at the young shivering wolf-folk in front of her who was seemingly content to simply stay in the cold rain. The lady simply grabbed one of the young man's hands and pulled him upright eliciting a startled groan from the boy's now slightly numb legs.

She reflexively pulled the drenched young wolf-boy into a tight hug under her umbrella causing him to be wrapped in the embrace of a complete stranger - The action caused Paul to be confused and startled once again. But as he felt himself get used to the growing warmth of the feline-lady hugging his drenched body with his head resting on her shoulder he found himself being supported by her. Paul realized whether it was through embarrassment or sadness at how his situation and day had been he was beginning to weep not as loudly a mere three hours ago but this outburst was soft swallowed up in the patterning of the rain and the woman continued to hug him. Softly he heard her tell him everything was going to be okay.

Paul was unsure of how long he had stayed crying in Mrs. Catylnns warm embrace that rainy night.

What he did remember was Mrs. Catlynn taking him by the hand and bringing him into her dimly lit shop that doubled as her place of residence. She started a fire in the unfamiliar rooms hearth and prepared a leftover soup of vegetable broth and chicken for his growling stomach before directing him to a unfamiliar room up a stairway with something called a shower - he was given a cotton shirt and pants and left with hot water running through a weird metal bended protrusion in the wall.

He had eaten three large servings of the soup offered to him before the large fire in the hearth where he found himself lazily yawning, his body too exhausted to do much of anything but sleep off the meal and the cold that had rattled his body a mere four hours prior.

Having collected the empty ceramic bowl and spoon that had been clutched in the wolf-boys hands as he sat passed put in a comfortable chair near the bright hearth, Mrs. Catlynn smiled, looking at the sleeping young wolf-boy in front of her - she touched the boy's forehead again, checking for any hint on the cold that had permeated his skin hours prior - satisfied merely that he was recovering.

Catlynn thought back to the clouded over blue eyes that had stared up at her through that hood how devoid of life those eyes had been when she had asked him his name after she had told him he should not be out in that weather, he hadn't responded then. She hadn't known how long he had been out in the downpour only that she had seen him sitting earlier in that spot thinking he was a passerby looking for a place to wait out the torrential rain as she had hurried back to her abode - only to come and find a young-man hunched over sleeping in the alleyway through her second story glass pane.

Mrs. Catlynn shuddered at the thought, looking at the boys calm face as he slept dreamlessly - the boy had seemingly cried for minutes on end in her embrace, Catlynn knew then had she not intervened the young man in front of her would have died out in that rainfall or maybe he had already been dead and she had saved him? For after she had treated the boy to a warm shower, something he seemed hesitant to use, and offered him a simple but warm meal she realized the boy's eyes had grown bright again, the cloudiness had vanished from his gaze as he was concerned more with devouring the soup dished out in hearty portions offered to him.

It was then that Mrs. Catlynn decided to hire the wolf-boy in front of her, thinking on the spot she was always saying she could use help with manning the store, her very business!

Deep down she knew - she could not stand to see the wolf-boy's, No anyones for that matter, eyes clouded over like that ever again filled with such despair and pain that they would be oblivious to their own suffering.

That was how Paul found himself living and working with Mrs. Catlynn, under her tutelage, learned how to run and manage her business of selling magical potions, items and menageries to local wizards, witches, spellcasters and adventurers alike.

He snapped out of his thoughts, recounting his story of how he had met Mrs. Catlynn had caused him to forget he was running the shop on his own today, putting the letter gently away in one of the counters drawer - he rushed to the doorway flipping the CLOSED sign to display OPEN on the glass pane by the door after pulling up the heavy blinds.

Adjusting himself after hurrying back behind the store's wooden counter, Paul put on a cheerful smile. His grey ears perking up and his wolf tail wagging slightly he prepared to start the busy day ahead of him.

Hearing the doors copper bell jingle softly, hidden behind the shelves and bookshelves, Paul bright eyed welcomed the first customers of the day.

"Welcome to Mrs. Catlynns Magical Emporium, how may I help you today?"