Grant walked across town towards a bustling market square. It was near the edge of town and built around a large depot where most of the imports were processed and distributed among all the businesses.
It was easily the busiest place in the town. Shops lined the streets and hawkers set up stands in the road. A throng of people rippling like a choppy sea that parted every time a carriage came.
Grant seamlessly made his way through and waved a greeting to the people that recognized him without his cloak.
He reached a small building next to a greenhouse. Thick vines snaked across the building and covered it with flowers that made a sort of sign. If someone came by during the night, they would see them aglow with bioluminescent colors.
A welcome break from mana or torchlight.
Grant pulled the door open and was greeted by the tinkling of a bell.
The room was filled with various items on shelves or on hooks. Piles of sacks lined the walls and were covered with images of various brands. Potions and vials were placed behind enchanted glass to avoid breaking or theft. Certain areas were filled by pictures due to scarcity or the nature of the item.
Not that Grant had a chance to look around.
As soon as he came in, he was tackled by something from the back of the room.
The creature had a large bulbous red head and white spots around its eyes and mouth. I would say it had one around its nose, but sadly it seemed to lack that feature. It had a ring of petals around its neck like the frill of a carnation. The rest of the thing's body was green and had leaves going from head to tail like a stegosaurus. Altogether, it gave the terrifying impression of a clown plant dog monster.
Grant, for his part, acted appropriately.
"Aaaaaah! Bloody murder! Bloody murder!"
He shouted as he chucked the thing over the shelves.
Grant watched the thing go out of his sightline and heard a terrific crash that he was certain had knocked over more merchandise than he could afford at the moment.
He heard the sound of rushing footsteps and a door slamming open.
*BANG!
"Alright! Whoever you are, I am so sorr- What the f**k!"
...
It seemed that the voice needed a moment to take in the wreckage.
Grant shot a nervous glance at the door.
'I wonder if I should start running?'
"I am going to tear you limb from limb!"
The voice roared with enough force to make the entire shop tremble. The sound of someone storming towards Grant decided to make itself known soon after.
'Yep.'
Grant frantically started to yank on the door and jiggle the knob, as the stomping grew closer.
'Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come o-'
"You have some explaining to do!"
The voice was now distorted beyond belief and it creaked and cracked with every word. It sounded like it was flooded with water, yet strangely hollow at the same time.
Grant turned around and nearly ruined his pants.
He saw that the shop had come alive along with every shelf, hook, and piece of organic matter inside it. The very walls splintered and writhed angrily.
In the center of it all was a short figure that emminated power.
'Ooooh, s**t.'
Grant closed his eyes and tried to sink into the door as the figure continued screaming at him.
"How dare you! I know that Petri scared you, but you didn't have to wreck my shop!"
Grant flinched as a vine lashed near his head.
The figure continued its tirade.
"What do you think?! That my stuff grows on-!"
"Trees?"
The figure said the last part in a small voice.
Grant heard everything crack and move back into position, as the person's energy started to dissipate.
"W-well, guess what? It does, I mean they do! Heh, heh. *Groan"
Grant heard the person's voice chime out nervously.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a young woman with petals for hair. She was wringing her hands and tidying herself
She offered a hand to him with a smile that said, 'please don't kill me.'
"Wanda name is my. I mean, my names Wanda.'