Chris heard foot steps as the person in the doorway approached the foot of the broken bed. All was silent in the room except the two of theirs breathing.
"Are you seriously about to act as if you're asleep after wrecking half this room?"
Chris opened one eye quickly the closed it again as he responded.
"I've collapsed from exhaustion, shhh."
"Ah, ok, my bad."
Chris hears footsteps and wooden clunking as the stranger walks away.
'That actually worked?!'
Chris opens his right eye just in time to see the lady hit him in the knee with a piece of the broken table.
"Ow, what the hell!"
Chris bolted upright both eyes open as his knee started aching lightly. It didn't hurt that much but it stung and surprised him enough to evoke a reaction from him.
"I could say the same to you! You wrecked my table and my bed!"
Chris took sometime to actually look at the lady and was stunned by what he saw. The lady in front of him looked to be about his age and about the same height as him as well. She had brown eyes and red hair that was borderline orange. On top of her head she had dirty orange and black tipped fox ears. Chris blinked a little in surprise.
'The fu...'
He looked down and was even more surprised to see a fox like tail of similar color to her hair and ears. Suddenly the fox girl began snapping at Chris drawing his attention upwards.
"Hey, eyes up here mister."
She then pointed at her own eyes. Chris began blushing at the girls misinterpretation of Chris's wandering eyes.
"I'm sorry, I was just surprised to see you have a tail."
"Eh, like you're one to talk wise guy."
Confused for a moment Chris suddenly remembers his own tail.
"Ah, sorry. I know this may sound weird but I haven't had this tail for very long."
She nods as if this was actually expected.
"So you're recently awakened then eh?"
"Uh, I guess if that's what you say. You'd probably know more than I would about it."
The girl looks at him perplexed.
"Huh? What kind of demi-human doesn't know about awakening?"
Chris just shrugs. The girl rolls her eyes in response.
"When demi-humans meet certain conditions for their species sometimes they awaken and become more similar to their monster ancestors. Looks like your ancestors were of the lizard race."
Chris pauses to think for a moment.
"What if they were actually of the dragon race?"
The girl snorts and then begins laughing hysterically.
"Ah that's funny, I can't decide if you're an idiot or just dumb. The dragons have been dead for hundreds of years. Any of their surviving descendants were hunted down long ago."
Chris thinks back to his encounter with Abraxios and doesn't feel at all certain of that claim.
"Guess I'm out of luck then."
"Yeah you are. So wanna say what the hell happened to you. From the looks of it you had a bad run in with some adventurers."
Chris grows grim as he recalls the monstrosity he committed last night.
"You could say that I guess."
"You guess? Your chest was practically caved in from how many ribs were cracked. Your clothes were almost completely burned away, you were absolutely covered in blood, and your shield bug looks like it has been through hell."
"You mean Armonite! Is he alright?! Where is he?!"
He was now at the edge of the bed full on in the fox girls face. She lightly shoves him back onto the bed.
"Personal space buddy. Your bug is fine now, but it's carapace will likely be scarred for the rest of its life."
Chris leans back against the beds head board. As he does this he hears a groaning noise come from the bed as the remaining three legs give out and he falls with the bed. The fox girl looks down at him with an annoyed expression.
"This conversation has been great and all but how do you plan to pay for my bed eh?"
"Uh, sorry, but I don't have any money."
"Yeah I know, I brought you here."
"Uhhh, I could help you get the Marie raps for a new bed?"
The fox girl sighs and rolls her eyes.
"How do you plan to do that without an axe of some kind?"
"Trust me I don't need an axe."
"Oh ho, so the fool doesn't need a axe. Oh I can't wait to see this. Come on let's go, and put these on before you even try to get up again. I don't need to see you in your underwear."
She throws a pile of old fashioned clothing at Chris that covers his face as it blushes again. She then exits the room and he quickly puts on the clothes and follows her out.
She stops him at the exit of the house and offers him her hand.
"Victoria."
Taken by surprise he hesitates before he shakes her hand in return and says.
"Ch... Leonidas."
Victoria raises her eyebrow at Chris.
"Chleonidas?"
Chris sighs.
"Just Leonidas."
"Ok Just Leonidas let's get your shield bug from the recovery center first. I imagine your just dying to see him."
Chris nods his head in affirmation.
"Alright then let's go."
She then leads him out the door and into a world Chris would've only imagine in story books. There were small houses on either side of the street simple in shape and design. Walking the streets were creatures of every shape and kind. Mostly Chris notes that the residents were of the semi-human race but occasionally he'd see a full monster walking monster traveling the street or sky.
"This is the town of Braxian. A safe haven for sentient monsters and Demi-humans alike. It's not the one of the larger sanctuaries but it up there on the list."
Chris was looking around like a stunned child. Absorbing all the wonder around him he was witnessing. He quickly looks at Victoria.
"You mean there are larger villages than this one!?"
"Wow you really are clueless."
She then turns and starts heading towards one of the larger buildings that has a healing cross over the top of it and on a hanging sign.
"This is the healers building, any monster or Demi-human that needs healing is brought here. This is where you were originally treated, but they were so busy they asked me to take you in for the night. After healing you of course."
Chris heard something cry out to his right and he looked to see his tail had tripped a strange humanoid frog creature, wearing a small jerkin and that was it.
"Watch it will you!"
"Sor..."
Before he can finish apologizing Victoria cuts in.
"You'll have to forgive this idiot, he's newly awoken and, get this, thinks his ancestors could've been dragons."
Both of them burst out laughing as Chris blushed furiously. Even though he had no reason to, he just stood there and took it.
"Ah, a dragon! Can you imagine."
The frog thing stops laughing and stands up looking at Chris.
"Just for that I'll forgive ya. What's your name kid?"
"Leonidas."
"Nice to meet ya, names Clive. I'm one of the blacksmiths of this town. I'll see you around kid."
With that Clive gives the two a backwards wave and hops on his way down the street. Victoria recovers from her laughing fit and guides Chris inside the healers building. The healers greeted them very kindly and quickly brought out Armonite for them. Who, upon catching sight of Chris, started chirruping excitedly.
"Armonite, oh I was so worried about you buddy!"
The two enjoyed a brief reunion before Armonite fastened himself to Chris's arm. All the while Victoria was aggressively rolling her eyes.
"All right love birds. It's time for you to get me my materials for my new bed and table."
Armonite glances up at Chris as Victoria smiles evilly.
'What did you do?'
"I accidentally broke her table and bed with my new tail."
'Pretty clumsy aren't you.'
"I'm sorry I've never had a tail before."
Victoria looked at Chris absolutely flabbergasted.
"Are you talking to the bug?!"
"Well of course I am."
"Geez, you really must have a screw loose. Anyway the tree I have in store for you is just this way."
Victoria leads the two out of the town and into the forest.