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Description
Finally. The day arrived. One that Yuni had been carefully planning and building up to for what must have been forever. Her and Ore’s first trip to a tavern. This was no easy feat for the small blue ketucari, not with a companion like Ore.

Orestias, as she called herself was a strange, huge ketucari with an impressive rack of horns atop her head, a lovely so opal blue coat and dark lining about her frill that traveled down her neck on one end and outlined her impressive fantail on the other. Dotting her frame, a series of glittering scale marks, iridescent in quality that depending on the lighting could almost blend into her pelt or strike a sharp contrast that nearly matched her filigree. Or in other words; Ore was big, attractive, and had a head full of rocks. She was loud, rumbled a lot, and was more stubborn than Yuni knew how to handle at times. But coupled with those traits was someone strangely abnormally honest, fiercely loyal, trusting to a fault and one of the majorest pains in Yuni’s ass; protective.
This was the source of a lot of strife in her life, and if Ore hadn’t managed to somehow be both useful and endearing, Yuni would have ditched her tail long ago. After a life of watching her own back and learning how to deal with people she encountered a lost Ore and took her under her wing. It didn’t take long for her large compatriot to assert to every stranger who passed that if they so much as looked at Yuni wrong they would end up dealing with her big, angry ass. It was flattering, but mostly, it was a liability. Making gold now had to be done extra careful or Ore’s honesty would ruin a good con in a heartbeat, and towns had to be navigated with a lot more awareness. One errant shove of an asshole would end in that asshole’s arm broken and the two of them having to skip out on town. All because the big lady didn’t like it when Yuni was disrespected.

It was almost as if Ore came from another world or lived in some odd fantasy filled with honor and chivalry and some sort of nonsense like that. Which, well, considering her friend believed she was once some dragon empress and that Yuni was a kirin trapped in a Ketucari’s body? She did.

Anyways, back to the tavern. It had taken months of dealing with Ore, teaching her how to not lose her temper, and tiring her out with a hunt before they arrived but finally, they could visit a tavern. Yuni was confident this evening would go off without a hitch. Ore was as relaxed as Ore possibly could be, nobody was starting any trouble. Yuni could find a seat at the bar, order a drink, sit back, relax, and enjoy her evening.

At least until a group of weirdos entered the Tavern.
It was some silkie leading the group. Large, stern looking male, Had a pair of horns not anything like Ore or hers. Something akin to a plicilope’s or something in that vein. His hard eyes were looking for something, or someone she supposed. When his eyes settled on Ore the recognition was enough to set off alarms in Yuni’s head, and, when they hit her and stayed there the short ketucari knew in that exact instant this tavern trip was ruined.

“Hey there boys,” She smiled her best charming smile and added after glancing behind the large male, “and ladies. What brings you here to our corner of the woods?” Play it casual, there were too many of them and Ore would go berserk if she thought there was a threat. Maybe this evening was still salvageable. “You’re the short blue, horned ketucari that’s been causing trouble throughout the region?” the large male asked. Yuni eyed the ketucari up and down slowly. Even without the backup, Ore might have trouble dealing with one this size. Just by the way he looked he’d put up one hell of a fight.
“I could be, what’s it to you?” She asked, sipping from her drink casually.
“I’m Tuarnen and these are my compatriots. We’ve been looking for you and can’t miss your partner there either. You two really stick out among the crowd.”

Well great. This was the exact thing she warned Orestias about happening. Break a few arms and people notice. Who were these guys? Bounty hunters? Somebody’s loved ones here to get themselves a slice of revenge pie?

“You aren’t sure though, or you wouldn’t be asking. So I ask again, what’s it to you, Fluffy?” Yuni need only to shout and Ore would be launching herself at this guy. The silky took in a breath, shut his eyes and released it slow, Yuni made note of that. “You notice how cold outside it’s been? More bitterly cold than it ought be? Well Tauratu the winter king has disappeared and there are only two people in this world who can bring him back.”
The seriousness in his voice and the way he was looking at her made Yuni laugh.
“The winter king? Oh now I know you’re messing with me. He’s a fairy tale.” She took another sip from her drink. Here she thought there’d be trouble. The male didn’t just leave the joke at that.

“There’s a prophecy, and the description of the champions therein sound exactly like the rumors that have been going around of two blue ketucari, and small horned female and a giantess who comes from-” “Alright, alright.” Yuni cut him off. “I get it, this is a practical joke, ha ha I’m small, that’s the punchline. You hear a rumor and see us and now’s your chance to have a jolly laugh. Did you forget the part where my friend over there likes to break the bones of people who cross us?” Yuni set her cup down and turned to Ore. Her friend was staring at the male with total rapt attention.

“A prophesy you say involving a missing king?” Ore’s voice was all too interested sounding. Oh no.

“Aye, Tauratu, the chosen of Seijalka, arch deity of winter, king of the winter. He is the one who hails in the transition between autumn and winter itself. He’s disappeared, and it’s you and yer friend here who’re to bring him back from the great evil that has taken him under their thrall.” His attention was fully on Ore as he spun his yarn. From the look of Ore’s face she was buying it hook, line, and sinker. No….

“Where do we find this king?” Ore asked, totally serious.
“No…” Yuni said out loud.
“We need to head to the northern mountains. Follow the moon for days until we reach the keep.” He was all but taking Ore’s hand in his as he spoke. Someone save them.
“No.” Yuni spoke louder.
“Do we have any clue the dangers we’ll face?” Ore again, getting way too into this.
“Ore stop.”
“The prophecy spoke of a Sorcerer. Please it is only the two of you who can save him.”
“ALRIGHT STOP.” Yuni slammed her cup down and stood up in her seat. “You. Ore, why are you all excited about this?” She asked incredulously, “And you? Do you think we’re some charity? If there’s some prophecy and we’re the only two who can do this did it tell you the price for all of this? We’re not leaving here for free to chase after your fairy tales.”
“Yuni.” Ore started.

“No, Ore. No King without pay. So you? Coin up front. And when we get him. Coin upon his return. Fifty gold now or we’re not even leaving this tavern and that’s that.” Yuni sat back down and turned her back to the group. Ore made an odd sound, and sat down beside her, looking for all the world like a confused pup whose ball was taken away.

After a moment a sack of coin was placed on the bar between them. “Fifty gold, small one. We don’t got more on us, but if you’re insisting upon your greed versus your sense of goodness for these lands, then you help us bring Tauratu back to our lands, we’re reward you handsomely. Does that sound alright?” He sounded judgmental, but his gold spoke so much sweeter.
Yuni smiled.
“Alright. Deal.”

Description
Finally. The day arrived. One that Yuni had been carefully planning and building up to for what must have been forever. Her and Ore’s first trip to a tavern. This was no easy feat for the small blue ketucari, not with a companion like Ore.

Orestias, as she called herself was a strange, huge ketucari with an impressive rack of horns atop her head, a lovely so opal blue coat and dark lining about her frill that traveled down her neck on one end and outlined her impressive fantail on the other. Dotting her frame, a series of glittering scale marks, iridescent in quality that depending on the lighting could almost blend into her pelt or strike a sharp contrast that nearly matched her filigree. Or in other words; Ore was big, attractive, and had a head full of rocks. She was loud, rumbled a lot, and was more stubborn than Yuni knew how to handle at times. But coupled with those traits was someone strangely abnormally honest, fiercely loyal, trusting to a fault and one of the majorest pains in Yuni’s ass; protective.
This was the source of a lot of strife in her life, and if Ore hadn’t managed to somehow be both useful and endearing, Yuni would have ditched her tail long ago. After a life of watching her own back and learning how to deal with people she encountered a lost Ore and took her under her wing. It didn’t take long for her large compatriot to assert to every stranger who passed that if they so much as looked at Yuni wrong they would end up dealing with her big, angry ass. It was flattering, but mostly, it was a liability. Making gold now had to be done extra careful or Ore’s honesty would ruin a good con in a heartbeat, and towns had to be navigated with a lot more awareness. One errant shove of an asshole would end in that asshole’s arm broken and the two of them having to skip out on town. All because the big lady didn’t like it when Yuni was disrespected.

It was almost as if Ore came from another world or lived in some odd fantasy filled with honor and chivalry and some sort of nonsense like that. Which, well, considering her friend believed she was once some dragon empress and that Yuni was a kirin trapped in a Ketucari’s body? She did.

Anyways, back to the tavern. It had taken months of dealing with Ore, teaching her how to not lose her temper, and tiring her out with a hunt before they arrived but finally, they could visit a tavern. Yuni was confident this evening would go off without a hitch. Ore was as relaxed as Ore possibly could be, nobody was starting any trouble. Yuni could find a seat at the bar, order a drink, sit back, relax, and enjoy her evening.

At least until a group of weirdos entered the Tavern.
It was some silkie leading the group. Large, stern looking male, Had a pair of horns not anything like Ore or hers. Something akin to a plicilope’s or something in that vein. His hard eyes were looking for something, or someone she supposed. When his eyes settled on Ore the recognition was enough to set off alarms in Yuni’s head, and, when they hit her and stayed there the short ketucari knew in that exact instant this tavern trip was ruined.

“Hey there boys,” She smiled her best charming smile and added after glancing behind the large male, “and ladies. What brings you here to our corner of the woods?” Play it casual, there were too many of them and Ore would go berserk if she thought there was a threat. Maybe this evening was still salvageable. “You’re the short blue, horned ketucari that’s been causing trouble throughout the region?” the large male asked. Yuni eyed the ketucari up and down slowly. Even without the backup, Ore might have trouble dealing with one this size. Just by the way he looked he’d put up one hell of a fight.
“I could be, what’s it to you?” She asked, sipping from her drink casually.
“I’m Tuarnen and these are my compatriots. We’ve been looking for you and can’t miss your partner there either. You two really stick out among the crowd.”

Well great. This was the exact thing she warned Orestias about happening. Break a few arms and people notice. Who were these guys? Bounty hunters? Somebody’s loved ones here to get themselves a slice of revenge pie?

“You aren’t sure though, or you wouldn’t be asking. So I ask again, what’s it to you, Fluffy?” Yuni need only to shout and Ore would be launching herself at this guy. The silky took in a breath, shut his eyes and released it slow, Yuni made note of that. “You notice how cold outside it’s been? More bitterly cold than it ought be? Well Tauratu the winter king has disappeared and there are only two people in this world who can bring him back.”
The seriousness in his voice and the way he was looking at her made Yuni laugh.
“The winter king? Oh now I know you’re messing with me. He’s a fairy tale.” She took another sip from her drink. Here she thought there’d be trouble. The male didn’t just leave the joke at that.

“There’s a prophecy, and the description of the champions therein sound exactly like the rumors that have been going around of two blue ketucari, and small horned female and a giantess who comes from-” “Alright, alright.” Yuni cut him off. “I get it, this is a practical joke, ha ha I’m small, that’s the punchline. You hear a rumor and see us and now’s your chance to have a jolly laugh. Did you forget the part where my friend over there likes to break the bones of people who cross us?” Yuni set her cup down and turned to Ore. Her friend was staring at the male with total rapt attention.

“A prophesy you say involving a missing king?” Ore’s voice was all too interested sounding. Oh no.

“Aye, Tauratu, the chosen of Seijalka, arch deity of winter, king of the winter. He is the one who hails in the transition between autumn and winter itself. He’s disappeared, and it’s you and yer friend here who’re to bring him back from the great evil that has taken him under their thrall.” His attention was fully on Ore as he spun his yarn. From the look of Ore’s face she was buying it hook, line, and sinker. No….

“Where do we find this king?” Ore asked, totally serious.
“No…” Yuni said out loud.
“We need to head to the northern mountains. Follow the moon for days until we reach the keep.” He was all but taking Ore’s hand in his as he spoke. Someone save them.
“No.” Yuni spoke louder.
“Do we have any clue the dangers we’ll face?” Ore again, getting way too into this.
“Ore stop.”
“The prophecy spoke of a Sorcerer. Please it is only the two of you who can save him.”
“ALRIGHT STOP.” Yuni slammed her cup down and stood up in her seat. “You. Ore, why are you all excited about this?” She asked incredulously, “And you? Do you think we’re some charity? If there’s some prophecy and we’re the only two who can do this did it tell you the price for all of this? We’re not leaving here for free to chase after your fairy tales.”
“Yuni.” Ore started.

“No, Ore. No King without pay. So you? Coin up front. And when we get him. Coin upon his return. Fifty gold now or we’re not even leaving this tavern and that’s that.” Yuni sat back down and turned her back to the group. Ore made an odd sound, and sat down beside her, looking for all the world like a confused pup whose ball was taken away.

After a moment a sack of coin was placed on the bar between them. “Fifty gold, small one. We don’t got more on us, but if you’re insisting upon your greed versus your sense of goodness for these lands, then you help us bring Tauratu back to our lands, we’re reward you handsomely. Does that sound alright?” He sounded judgmental, but his gold spoke so much sweeter.
Yuni smiled.
“Alright. Deal.”