FSE

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The wide door to a packed well lit inn opened with a loud creaking groan, emptying the building's rowdy noises into the streets for a few brief moments. Two figures, a badger and Belgian Malinois shepherd, exited the building in good spirits wearing smiles.

"Astor, you are not the stingy hard bargainer I was afraid you would be!" Alessandro the badger laughed and patted the canine's shoulder.

"I hope honesty is the best bargaining policy." The Belgian shepherd replied. "We can conclude business tomorrow as soon as you want."

"Yes! We can meet at the South Gate tomorrow morning." The badger exclaimed with a bright smile.

"Perfect. I will see you tomorrow then." Astor nodded in agreement.

"Take care, and sleep well tonight!" The two new friends parted ways into the early hours of the night. Astor calmly walked ahead as a cart clambered past him over the otherwise quiet cobblestone street. An old leopard emerged from a neighboring shop only to cough and then shuffle back inside. A distant shout from another neighborhood briefly echoed to the canine's ears.

'I suppose I could try to find a spot inside the city to stay at for the night.' He glanced up above where the moon was peeking above an adjacent rooftop. The city was always a busy place, even during the surliest hours of the night. As fun and lively as it was, the woodsman always preferred the calmer and peaceful background of the countryside or nature.

'I'm not sure if I can handle more than a few loud noises from strange neighbors.' He mused to himself and kept a relaxed gait. Despite the new, and in his opinion, cramped urban surroundings; the Belgian shepherd was accustomed to traveling and spending time away from home.

His pants had deep pockets and his belt carried a sheathed stone knife that he kept at all times. However, he was bare chested, and typically never wore a shirt of any kind. In case of rain, he always kept extra hunting clothing with a hood in his backpack. His backpack also contained a canteen, cup, a small wood burning stove, and a fire starting kit. He also carried a walking staff that had a small button compass at the top of the handle to keep a sense of direction.

'I'm afraid a compass isn't very useful inside a city like this.' The canine wiggled his nose and glanced at the item in hand. He wasn't in the woods or countryside, but a maze of buildings and streets. He paused at the end of the cobblestone street and weighed his options.

'Alessandro told me that there was a good place to stay with plenty of comfortable rooms for the night.' He recalled. The directions were less clear now that he was out in the early night. 'If the street bends around in an arc, then would that mean this is a shortcut?' His head turned to an adjacent alleyway. Doubt lingered in his thoughts.

'Saint Rochefort is overwhelming.' Astor blew a sigh with folded down ears, and ruffled his head fur. Glancing around, no one else was out. For such a crowded city, the setting sun silenced much of the populace. The canine began to wonder if it would have been better to arrange for a place to stay back at the inn, but a little stubbornness kept him looking ahead.

'The only direction I know is back to the main South Gate.' He opted to go through the hopeful shortcut through the alley. It was chillingly quiet in the long alleyway. All of the other early nighttime noises seemed to drown out from crickets to a few lingering pedestrians. Only the subtle sounds of his own steps made noise. An eerie feeling quickly formed in his gut, but he kept a calm demeanor. His eyes glanced back and forth, having a difficult time discerning what was in the shadows.

The light scuffing of a fast footstep behind him caught his attention. Ears turned back as he paused for the briefest moment when the sound disappeared. In a split second, he turned and looked over his shoulder. A moving shape in the shadows made his heart race. His eyes glimpsed fur, and something more sinister.

'Not good!' He saw the glint of a knife through the reflective moonlight. Astor knocked back the assailant's arm with a quick swing of his staff only for the smaller figure to lunge at him. In a swift move, he drew his stone knife with a free hand and block the incoming blade with a sharp sound. Eyes focused, he found himself nearly nose to nose with a hooded coyote thief.

Unable to safely break the deadlock, he swung his staff causing the coyote to back off and jump back. That put enough distance between them. Properly squared off, Astor held his staff and crouched into a defensive stance. There wouldn't be anymore sneaky attacks from behind.

Adrenaline pumping, he was ready for a difficult fight. However, in the blink of an eye, the coyote turned and fled into the night like a bat. In mere moments the entire mugging had ended, albeit in vain for the mysterious criminal. The alleyway was empty once more, giving the canine an eerie feeling that he had fought a ghost.

'Sheesh...' Astor breathed and tried to relax as he sheathed his stone knife, but his heart was pounding. The canine was ruffled, but didn't panic. That could've saved him more than just his money or belongings.

'I think it will be safer for me to camp outside the city walls and in the forest.' He concluded and exited the silent alleyway. Astor quickly roamed the dark main streets all the way to the open South Gate. He gave a testy second glance to everyone he came across, no matter how clumsy or innocent. Even a casual cough or sneeze kept him on high alert.

The oil lamps of the gate came as a welcome sign to the lone canine. The gate guards had already switched shifts and paid little attention to him exiting the urban vicinity despite the late hour. Few others, whether travelers like himself or vagabonds, were in the vicinity.

'I should never have bothered with looking for a place to stay within the city.' He sternly thought to himself feeling the sting of regret. Nearly getting mugged or cut by a thief dampened his optimism from his successful preliminary meeting. He crossed an empty bridge that passed over a noisy stream. The tall grass soon softly crunched beneath his steps once he left the worn path that snaked downstream to the nearest farms. Astor scaled the gentle slope of the nearest wooded hillside until he reached a flat enough area sheltered by the trees and bushes. He had more than enough to set up a camp with his pack of supplies.

The canine didn't bother making a fire, instead relying on the moonlight from above to guide him. The silence of loneliness was never new to the Belgian Malinois. He felt more at home with the crickets chirping loudly around him and the full view of the gibbous moon shining above the cityscape. He appreciated that there were no longer any unpleasant noises from the city within earshot. The shouts or yells of a stranger were nothing like the hooting of an owl or rustling of leaves. Once everything was set, he took a moment to unwind from his unpleasant encounter.

'I should be thankful for remaining unscathed.' He wiggled his nose, but couldn't completely forgive himself for taking that turn into the dark alleyway.

"I suppose if the woods and countryside have bandits, then the streets will have thieves." He blew a weary sigh and laid back without another word. It was late and he was tired from a long day that had unfortunately ended on an unpleasant note. The crickets chirped emphatically around the canine, helping ease him to a peaceful sleep.

"Thank you so much! I greatly appreciate doing business with you." Alessandro's voice crisply spoke with a boom of approval. "I can have my bookkeeper record everything and a signed agreement notarized by tomorrow."

"Of course. I will relay the information back to my hometown this afternoon. Thank you." Astor replied kindly in turn to the badger's gracefulness. The two warmly shook hands and approached the South Gate from the dirt road. Their concluding agreement went without any trouble or even a single cloud in the beautiful blue sky above Saint Rochefort.

The bright sunshine of the late morning was a pleasant change from the events of last night that felt more like a distant benign nightmare. The badger and canine promptly struck up a friendly conversation.

"I love that subtle smell of morning dew on the grass in the morning." Alessandro note with a raised snout like a wine connoisseur. "You can only notice this upriver though where the water is shallow, because there's always a foulness in the air downriver." He humorously waved a hand in front of his face. Astor half grinned at the subtle joke concerning the city's sanitation.

"But regardless of an order, it's beautiful whichever direction you gaze upon the city." He concluded.

"The farms and city look beautiful from the hills once the sun rises in the early morning." Astor agreed.

"Early morning? Did you sleep outside the city walls?" Alessandro half joked.

"Yes, I did." He gave a slow nod, surprising his business friend. "I unfortunately had a brief run in with a thief." Astor explained.

"Oh my! I hope nothing important was stolen."

"Thankfully, nothing was taken from me, but I was still a little shaken that it had happened."

"Ah, yep." The badger slowly nodded. "The city has had issues with thieves and robbers over the past few years. The new duke Leopold II has only been in power for almost three years, but I don't think he is as capable an administrator as his father. I think he has been more preoccupied with finances and chasing women than public safety."

"That's a shame. Luckily, I am more comfortable sleeping in the woods than a cramped inn." The canine grinned.

"That's good to hear, but I'm sorry you had to go through that experience last night." The badger spoke sympathetically. "It's a shame I didn't offer to help you beforehand. I should've accompanied you, or at least offered-"

"No, it's fine." Astor insisted and cut him off with the wave of a hand. "I really appreciate the gesture, but I'm okay. In a city of this size, it's going to happen. I suppose it is better that the thief targeted me than someone who couldn't defend themself."

"That's very noble of you to say." Alessandro acknowledged. "The last thing on my mind would be forgiveness or understanding." He chuckled.

"Despite what happened, I'm hoping to explore some of the city properly between meetings while I am here." He looked around the outer walls. "Is it possible for your to show me some of your favorite areas?" Astor inquired.

"I wish I was a badger with free time." Alessandro sheepishly grinned and offered up empty hands. "Saint Rochefort is a beautiful city with many avenues to explore. What places are you curious to explore?" He inquired.

"I'm not entirely sure to be perfectly honest with you." Astor spontaneously laughed with a wide grin. "I suppose I enjoy finding things that aren't in the countryside and small villages where I'm from."

"Ah, then it may be best to discover and explore on your own." Alessandro flashed a warm grin in return as they came upon the busy southern entrance to Saint Rochefort. The gate was active with different people exiting and entering the city proper. Farmers, traders, and travelers alike were passing through as well as plenty of townsfolk. A particular genet farmer was having a colorful argument with one of the several corgi musketeers who stood guard and kept order.

'I wish they could guard the streets at night instead of just the gates.' Astor huffed silently to himself, but let go of his brief ire.

"I believe this is where we part ways." Alessandro stopped. "I hope to the heavens that you enjoy the rest of your stay in Saint Rochefort, and stay in good health. If you need anything else then you know where to find me." He politely nodded.

"Thank you." Astor smiled. "It's been a pleasure and I hope you stay in good health as well. Please take care." The two complimented one another with well wishes.

Going their separate ways, Astor walked along a bustling street with several shops. A candlemaker, a baker, a cobbler, and so many more professions lined the single busy street. Customers were greeted and entered or exited with whatever they needed. Although, business was never merely confined to a building. A few peddlers were using the streets to sell various items, typically of lesser value. It made for a noisy environment, but Astor was accustomed enough to it from doing business in several small towns and cities over the years.

The petticoats and colorful dresses of constantly moving townspeople created a lively array of colors. Between the bright clothes, colored signs, and wares that vied for the eye's attention, his ears were constantly hearing conversations of passersby.

"No, I never trusted Francois ever since he cheated me while gambling." A badger gruffly talked to a genet.

"That skunk always seemed sneaky to me." The genet shrugged. Astor nearly bumped into a well dressed raccoon financier with a younger wolf walking quickly by his side.

"I don't trust the new paper Livre money that the government is issuing." The raccoon muttered. "I'll take clipped francs over paper notes!"

"I hope Remi's uncle recovers from being ill. I've heard terrible stories about a simple cough becoming something very dire." A middle aged coyote lady talked sympathetically to a somber wolf who was leaning against the brick wall of a store front.

"Have you tried talking to the apothecary owned by the Brabeuf family?" A second canine lady asked the wolf.

"Mama!" A young otter child tugged on the hem of a mother's dress whose arm was carrying a basket full of fruit. The casual eavesdropping of daily conversation was unavoidable, and often valuable for Astor as he sauntered along the street. The bright cheerful mood changed somewhat from the busy shops.

At the opposite side from where he was walking there were a handful of beggars scattered about the area. Vagabonds always existed, particularly in urban areas. It was an unpleasant reality, but unavoidable when walking the common streets. Dressed in dirty clothes or little more than rags, they appeared rough in their downtrodden state. The sudden chiming of a nearby church bell made him pause and weigh his options.

'Alright, I saw a nice bakery...' After casting a second glance across the street, a certain figure caught his attention and made him pause. A coyote was seated on the ground, begging for spare money or food, beside a destitute Doberman who was laid back asleep on the sidewalk. Wearing a hoodie with a cloak, the coyote's face was partially obscured and ambiguous, but the softer feminine features made Astor realize the person wasn't a male. It all suddenly made sense to him.

'That must be the same coyote!' He realized as oblivious people walked past him. No knives or other weapons were visible, but the modestly sized leather pouch on her side would be a convenient hiding place. Who knew what else her hooded cape hid from plain sight? He noticed she had two earrings in each pointy ear, as well as a nose ring. That made him wonder just how much she needed to beg on the street, but then again, women's fashion wasn't his expertise nor interest.

Although, if he was correct, then she was a far cry from the dangerous criminal he had encountered he previous night. Someone tossed her a crust of bread which she hurriedly thanked and stowed it away for later.

'I wonder if she is a thief or simply a beggar?' He wondered quietly to himself. The image of her moving swiftly through the shadows gave him doubts about a more innocent nature. However, Astor didn't like seeing people suffer, even if they had tried wronging him before. Shuffling into a secure pocket, the canine approached her.

"Here." Astor held out his hand causing her gaze to lift. The coyote's eyes widened at what he held in his hand. "Eat something other than a crust of bread." The shepherd handed over a single coin before turning and walking back. Astor felt a small sense of relief. Glancing back over his shoulder, he noticed that the begging coyote had disappeared from the street beside the sleeping Doberman.

'She's gone.' He silently thought. 'Maybe I was just imagining it all.' Taking a turn, Astor's eyes widened as the coyote reappeared beside him like a living ghost. The image of her face from last night in the moonlight flashed before his memory.

"You really are the coyote who tried mugging me!" He looked at the petite canine in partial disbelief.

"Shh!" She hushed him and glanced around. No one in the passing crowds had taken notice of Astor's sudden outburst. "Sorry. It's nothing personal." She offhandedly remarked as if they only held a mild disagreement. Astor was half surprised that she didn't bother denying it to his face. She really was the thief in the middle of the night!

"Thank you for the coin." She held it up between her fingers. "Most people might toss some half eaten food, and that's it. I almost never get a coin."

"Oh. Yeah." His anger deflated. "I don't like seeing people suffer. Get something good to eat."

"Thanks. I will." The coyote flicked the coin with a thumb before slyly tucking it safely away into a pocket. "My name is Rowena." She introduced herself.

"I'm Astor." They shook hands.

"Well Astor, I'll try to return the favor to you someday." Rowena stated before quickly stepping back across the street as a noisy cart clamored across the cobblestone.

"Hey-!" The canine lost sight of her as the cart passed by. And just like a mirage, she had vanished in plain sight. The everyday chatter from passersby reached his ears once more.

"If only the river passing by was a little larger for boats to pass then this place could've become a regional capital." A well dressed male rat waved his hand in the air while carrying a few paper scrolls.

"You can't catch me!" A young calico feline darted around Astor with two younger felines chasing not far behind.

'She's a clever coyote.' The Malinois slowly turned around and resumed his walk along the street through the city.

The sharp chirping of a wren sounded off overhead as it flew to a small thicket of bushes along the embankment of the small river outside of the city. Water dripped noisily with splashes as a canine figure bathed himself without care. Astor was almost waist deep in a quiet bend in the river beyond the city gate; and he wasn't entirely alone. Upstream and downstream, at spaced intervals, other males were using the river to wash or bathe with some privacy. Coming from a rural background, it was more natural for the trader to bathe outside under the bright sun than use a cramped bathhouse.

'I wonder if I should use the rest of the day to explore the city?' Astor thought to himself and washed his arms thoroughly. It was only noon and he didn't want to pass up the opportunity while he was in the area. The thought of finding a nice bakery or place that sold delicious food gave him an appetite.

'I think there was one not far from-.' His ears perked up as his thought was cut off.

"Fancy seeing you out here." A female voice immediately caught his attention.

"Hey!" He turned around and was shocked to see the coyote beggar and thief crouched down at the water's edge beside his belongings. "I was told in the morning that only men bathed in this section of river." He partially turned around but kept a close eye on her.

"That's correct," the coyote nodded, "but I don't exactly obey the rules and laws." She told him with a grin.

"You better not rummage through my bag to steal something." He warned.

"As much as I would love to, no thanks." She sat down in the grass, and kept her attention on him.

"Then what are you doing here?" He was surprised the coyote stayed.

"I was going to ask you the same question." She retorted.

"What?" He tilted his head in confusion.

"Why not use a bathhouse?"

"I do not like bathhouses, and I'm not staying in the city." He told her.

"Are you staying at a villa or farmhouse?" She questioned.

"No. I sleep in the woods."

"Ah, so you're a true woodsman." She reasoned.

"Part of the reason I am sleeping in the woods is because you tried to rob me that night." He flatly informed the coyote who promptly fell silent for a while. Astor half hoped that she would leave, but the coyote remained seated in the grassy embankment.

"How far away do you live from here?" She asked.

"A few days of travel by walking."

"Do you have any more business in the city?"

'She is asking quite a few questions.' Astor silently thought to himself. The Malinois felt a tinge of embarrassment as the clothed coyote watched him bathe. He'd give respect to a naked woman and avert his eyes if the situation was reversed.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" She suddenly asked.

"Yes. I don't have anywhere else to go right now." He tersely spoke.

"There's something on your mind." She wiggled her nose and stared at him curiously.

"I'm just thinking about how talkative you are right now." He plainly answered. The coyote glared at Astor, but said nothing more while he finished bathing. Rowena, the mysterious thief, had run into him several times during his stay in Saint Rochefort over the past few days. It was hard to tell if she was being helpful, or simply spying on him. Either way the Belgian Malinois had grown accustomed to her presence when she chose to reveal herself.

"Hey, can you pass me-" Astor didn't finish before she tossed him the towel he had placed in the grassy embankment. "Thanks." The Malinois dried himself as he waded onto the grass.

"You're welcome." The coyote stood up.

"So what are you doing here?" Astor asked again. "I was going to spend some of the day in the city."

"That's what I wanted to know." She stated.

"Why?"

"I can show you parts of the city you would never know about." She offered. Astor was curious about the city, but never had someone properly show him around. However, he had a nagging suspicion about the coyote.

"This isn't some ploy to mug me again, is it?" He paused and asked.

"When will you let that go?" She rolled her eyes.

"I will always remember it." He retorted much to her annoyance.

"Well, I'm not going to mug you." Rowena stated. "I'm a thief at heart during the night, but during the day I usually pose as a beggar."

"Hmm..." Astor thought it over. Once his fur was dry enough, he began to dress himself with his back half turned to the sneaky coyote woman.

"Do you ever wear a shirt?" The coyote eyed up his bare chest.

"Not unless it is raining." He gave her a peculiar look. She wiggled her nose and turned around.

"We can go whenever you're ready then." She waited. Astor stared at her back and then gathered his belongings.

"Alright." He decided. "I'll go with you into town, but I need to put back some of my belongings." Astor picked up his pack and started climbing up the grassy embankment.

"Alright." She happily spoke as her tail swished.

"I'd be a little more comfortable if you waited here instead of following me." He looked over his shoulder back at her. The coyote paused and then wiggled her nose.

"That's fine." She understood. "I'll wait for you to come back over the bridge." Rowena followed him up the meandering waterway past other bathers. However, as Astor requested, the coyote thief stopped once he reached the bridge to cross. Few others were crossing so he quickly made his way into the forest to his temporary encampment.

'There's nothing wrong with taking a little adventure even if my guide can be untrustworthy.' Astor reasoned as he stowed his spare clothes, but kept his stone knife with him. 'Assuming she is still here when I return.' The Malinois reasoned as he made sure everything else was in order for his return by the evening. Upon exiting the forest and returning to the bridge, he was surprised to find Rowena waiting for him in the same spot.

'I guess we will be touring the city together.' Astor thought to himself and approached the coyote.

"I didn't follow you. Are you ready?" She asked.

"I think so." He nodded.

"You're not bringing your walking staff?" She noticed. "We will be doing plenty of walking this afternoon and evening."

"I'm not carrying anything on my shoulders, and a compass isn't very useful in a city when the streets are like a maze instead of a pathway." He knew from personal experience.

"Don't worry." Rowena reassured the canine. "I grew up on this city's streets so I know every little twist and turn." She waved for him to follow and led the canine along the pathway to the open gate. A few small tents had been erected just outside the city entrance selling small wares and food to locals and travelers alike.

"Fresh corn and potatoes!"

"Bales of straw!" Despite the calls to buy, a polite wave or turn of the head normally sufficed.

"Need anything to eat?" Rowena asked.

"No thanks. I already ate." He declined, although a calico feline selling freshly caught fish and duck was tempting to his tastebuds.

"Suit yourself." They passed the food tents and proceeded into the city. The same corgi musketeers were stationed with the South Gate at their post. The bustling sounds and mixed smells of the bustling city filled his senses.

"You're a fur trader, correct?" Rowena asked him as they walked along a busy street.

"Yes, but I'm also a trapper." He explained. "I prefer to do my own work, but I have help with transporting pelts from where I live."

"So who is the person helping you?" She asked. "Is it the same guy who drives the horse drawn cart?"

"What? No. I just told you that I work on my own."

"Then it is the badger you've been meeting with." She guessed. "I know you're selling to someone."

"No, Alessandro is my business partner for this year as well as the next two years."

"Ah, Alessandro." She spoke with a nod. "I think his last name is Rodolfo."

"How do you know him?"

"That fancy badger has a few wealthy connections. I can tell you where some of those pelts will end up if you like." She offered with a little gossipy sway of her hips.

"No thanks. What he does with them is none of my business." Astor shook his head. Rowena rolled her eyes at his lack of curiosity.

"I heard that there are many trappers and hunters in the new world who import furs. Don't you worry about that?"

"You don't seem like an ordinary thief to me." Astor observed.

"Yeah, you could say that." She shrugged.

"Are you a spy for the authorities?"

"Pf!! I wouldn't stoop so low and work for the state." Rowena frowned as if she had tasted something sour. "I have to earn what I steal. At the very least you could fight back that night. With the state, you can't even do that." She told him.

'What a strange philosophy.' Astor thought to himself, but said nothing more of it. They casually strolled along the busy streets to quieter ones. Passing by houses, one could hear he occasional cry of an infant or chatter from an open window. The off key singing of a child was more appealing than that of a cough, sneeze, or distant shout.

'Yuck.' Astor held his breath as a cart carrying waste couldn't pass by soon enough. "So where exactly are we going first?" He asked Rowena.

"Right here..." She whispered.

"What?" Astor glanced at the coyote.

"Follow me." She whispered and quickly pulled him aside and into a quiet alleyway, leaving the noisy street behind.

"H-hey!" He yelped as Rowena led him into the shaded path.

"Pipe down!" She angrily hushed him.

"Why are we going here?" The Belgian shepherd glanced at the small homes and cramped apartment style houses. An older papillon wearing shoddy clothes was washing something in a bucket, but paid no attention to them.

"I'm taking you to one of the best hidden little spots to see much of the town."

'The ground is mostly flat and there aren't any hills to climb.' Astor quietly thought to himself as he looked up the side of the tall buildings around them.

"You'd never notice while walking around." She glanced over her shoulder.

"Notice what?" He didn't understand as they emerged to a wider sunlit street bordering a church. A male red fox ran by them with a paper in his hand. Two older feline ladies calmly strolled by carrying a basket of vegetables and fruits in each arm.

"Do you have a fear of heights?" Rowena suddenly asked.

"I've climbed trees before, but nothing higher than that." Astor gave her a suspicious look.

"You'll be fine then." The coyote thief took him around the corner where an old narrow stone stairway ascended up the side of the stone building. "Just follow me." Rowena gracefully and effortlessly climbed up while Astor carefully followed.

"Should we be up here?" He asked.

"Just stay low so no one sees us." Rowena told him. The woodsman didn't want any trouble, but followed her lead anyway.

'It would involve stairs...' Astor grumbled in his thoughts but kept a steady gait as well as a firm hand on the wall for extra balance. He ended up climbing over three stories before reaching a small level roof beside a slanted terra cotta one. A few pigeons nearby flew away. Rowena was already waiting for him at the end of the roof.

"Oh wow." He looked around the streets below and rooftops stretching out before him. It was no different than if he had climbed a tree overlooking a large meadow. The small fountain in the plaza below resembled a tiny puddle from the high view. The townspeople were just as small. Rowena sat calmly beside him on the edge with her legs swaying back and forth like an innocent child on a fence.

"I knew you'd like this place." She remarked without breaking her gaze from the horizon. "I found it when I was a kid, and it helped me overcome my fear of heights."

"I can see why. It's a beautiful view." Astor could see so much from their hidden little perch. He could see a few kids playing with an old cart wheel in one street, and then blocks away a mother or wet nurse was nursing an infant on a secluded bench.

"That is where prostitutes like to come out at night." She pointed at a particular street down below.

"Wait, what?" Astor have her a curious look.

"Yep. Most try to use little signs that only patrons will notice like peaches, pine trees, or red diamonds. There is only one small quarter where prostitution is legal, and it is illegal everywhere else in Saint Rochefort, but you have to make a living somehow. It's a quick way for men to lose their money, if you ask me."

"Okay." Astor stated slowly. "Just out of curiosity, how do you know all of that?"

"What? You think I'm making all of this up?" She turned to look at him.

"You could be."

"I have done business with-"

"I hope you don't mean that kind of business." Astor interrupted.

"Not on your life." She cut her eyes at the Malinois. "I have plenty of connections in underground circles, and I've traded and bartered with a few ladies of the night. There's a buxom middle aged husky, let's say her name is Marie, who is the neighborhood madame of the street prostitutes. She's very friendly and can help you find just about anything that isn't sold in a shop." Astor silently hoped that he would never need to know such information.

"How do we get down?" He glanced towards the ground only to look ahead to avoid dizziness.

"Not accustomed to heights?" Rowena guessed.

"No." He flatly answered.

"Just climb down the stairs then." She grinned. Astor frowned and carefully turned around while Rowena glided past him despite so little room to maneuver.

"Careful!" Astor edged towards the narrow stairs.

"Hurry up. You're too slow!" She teased and quickly trotted down the steps. Astor steeled his nerves and gradual descended the stone stairs where Rowena was patiently waiting for him. He skipped the last step and landed on the ground with a thankful sigh.

"There won't be anymore climbing, will there?" Astor feared.

"Nope, but that's only the first place I will show you." The coyote declared and led him across the plaza causing a few pigeons to fly away.

***

Rowena took him along several winding twisting streets, meandering as they went through nice neighborhoods. More prominent centuries old houses of worn stone and stucco mixed with those of wood. Some even had ivy growing up past second story windows! Large terra cotta pots full of vibrant flowers dotted certain doorsteps and the occasional statue gave an ancient personal feeling wherever they went. Astor searched interesting places including; a blacksmith, tanner, candlemaker, brewer, distiller, winemaker, markets, printing presses, and many other shops. He luckily found a good bakery for lunch, and was enjoying himself with his unexpected new friend.

"There is a tobacco shop right over there if you want to be fancy and have a cigar." Rowena pointed as they passed by.

"No thank you." Astor politely declined. "I never cared for the taste of smoke. I can't tell why rich people enjoy it."

"I couldn't pay for them anyway, but it does sound weird to breathe something you cannot eat."

"That reminds me of a childhood story. Have you ever heard of the boy who refused to eat his supper his parents cooked him? I think at the end of the story he withered away and turned into a block of cheese, his least favorite food. A large hole was where his stomach used to be, and that's partly why there is a cheese with holes." Astor tried remembering the crazy bedtime tale.

"I've heard of something similar to that." Rowena nodded. "Although, I've had learnt of times where my stomach felt like a hole." She stated causing Astor to hold back a laugh. Next they came across a large building where two small stone statues bordered a stoop that led to a nice wooden door.

"This is a very nice home." Astor commented. "I bet the owner is worth a fortune."

"This is where the best doctor in the city practices."

"Is he a world renowned surgeon?"

"I guess." She shrugged. "He doesn't ask questions so if I ever get sick or hurt, so I know he can take care of me without getting involved with the authorities." Rowena grinned.

"That's useful to know." Astor wasn't surprised. A sudden breeze caught them both off guard. Looking overhead, the once partly cloudy sky had changed to overcast.

"The dark clouds are rolling in." Astor rubbed his head fur.

"I guess we are about finished for the day then." Rowena noticed the change in weather. "The two warehouses will be the last place we stop by before we part ways for the day." She walked a little further with him and cut a corner. "I have a few stories about them." She hinted at more than just a tall tale to tell. They walked another half block before Astor stopped the energetic coyote.

"Rowena."

"Yes?"

"This has been a lot of fun, and I never would have found half of these places on my own; but why are you showing me all of this now?" Astor paused and asked.

"You know, I kinda thought you were a spy of some sort when you gave me that coin a few days ago." She admitted. "I had to think about it for a few days before I trusted you." Rowena reached into a pocket and held up the exact coin he had given her. "It's really nice, and not clipped."

"Why?" He was baffled to hear that. "How is giving charity the work of a spy?"

"Because it's... it's, you know, rare to receive any money from begging. You're lucky to get more than a hunk of cheese thrown at you, or bread crust with soup from the church. After a while people just think you're meant to be poor, give up, and there's no way out. But I never gave up." She placed her hands on her hips.

"I always wondered how the city poor were treated, but what you say doesn't surprise me." He acknowledged her difficulties. "Even though you tried mugging me-"

"Stop bringing that up. I'm sorry." She huffed and folded her arms. Astor blew a sigh past his lips.

"Even though you tried mugging me," he said again despite a cutting glare from her eyes, "you looked kind of innocent begging at the street. Like I told you before, I wanted to help."

"Thanks, but not everything is as innocent as it appears during the day." She stated with a knowing look on her eye. "When the sun sets, I become a shadow that lurks around the corner, ready to take advantage of any situation."

"Yeah, I know."

"Oh. That's right." She giggled. "Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that I wanted to make up for mugging you and the coin you graciously gave me; but I felt paranoid you were watching me or something." Rowena admitted.

"It's fine." He didn't mind. "I thought you were a desperate lost soul, so to speak." Astor explained. "I'm kinda glad you have your life, uh, mostly organized." He gestured using his hands.

"Of course I do!" She exclaimed. "How could I be a skilled thief? Carry lucky charms all over me, and hope for the best?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if you did." He teased causing the coyote to wrinkle her nose at him. "If you don't mind me asking, where do you live?" Astor asked. "In an abandoned building?"

"When you say abandoned, I think of free real estate exempt from property taxes." She wittily replied.

"Well... that's one way of looking at it." Astor agreed with a grin.

"I don't live in a tree hole in the woods." She lightly made fun of him. "I can't afford that fancy real estate."

"Pff. Free can be expensive." He grinned. "Building a cabin by yourself is plenty of hard work. I'd rather be able to buy it, but that means I have to work for it in a different way."

"I should've asked this before, but how many more days are you staying in the woods for?"

"Let's see... not much longer. There's only two more shipments via wagon that I'm waiting for, so maybe a week."

"There are plenty of other areas I could show you, but there's only so much time in a day to show you around." Rowena pointed up at the thick cloud cover that hid the evening sun.

"I think it could rain any moment." Astor wondered if it was time to call it a day. A soft pattering sound caught his attention with the sensation of a droplet landing on his head. Glancing around them, the little dark circles of rain drops began to appear.

"Hey, looks like it's starting to-"

"Uh oh." Rowena turned to face the west. A soft oncoming roar quickly approached and in mere moments the scattered pattering of rain became deafening. The heavy downpour caught them both off guard, as well as everyone else on the streets. The townspeople quickly sought shelter in a hurried chaotic frenzy. Clotheslines were hurriedly pulled inside, carts were parked under roofs, and tarps were used to cover anything leftover. A pair of friends laughed as another friend grumpily shook himself free of excess water.

"Hurry up!" Rowena called over her shoulder, and pulled Astor along the edge of the street. Astor followed her and ran past two outdoor vendors quickly packing up their belongings. He had to hold his hand over his eyes to see better in the downpour. The fierce rain appeared to dance on the streets, and their steps were soon marked by shallow splashes.

"Where are we going?!"

"Somewhere to stay dry!" Rowena darted along the street. Shop doors closed around them and some people temporarily huddled under wide awnings for reprieve from the rain. They ran under a stone archway, only to take a sudden right turn. They narrowly dodged a tiny waterfall of rain pouring from the corner of a rooftop. Leaping over a large puddle, they ran up a connecting alleyway. Rowena dove into an open partially destroyed building that lacked half of a roof. Astor followed the tight twist and turn before following her up a flight of stairs along a wall.

'What!?' His eyes widened as she turned to where a wall used to be, overlooking the alleyway from the second floor.

"This way!" Rowena ran across tied wooden planks connecting the two upper stories before disappearing from sight. Astor tensed as a flash of lightning briefly allowed him to see that she was in a building across the alleyway. Once the thunder loudly clapped, he followed and bounded up the planks after her inside a dim room. They were both panting and thankful to escape the heavy rain, but running through the streets and alleyways came at a cost.

"That storm came out of nowhere." Astor breathed.

"Yeah, it suddenly started pouring out there." Rowena mumbled as light flashed through the open entryway. Astor's ears perked up only to fold back. A clap of thunder rumbled through the city with the strength of the heavens.

"Ugh. I'm soaked..." Astor stood up and looked over his pants which appeared much darker than before. Completely wet, they clung to his legs. The fur of his unclothed upper body was dripping wet. The canine was glad to be out of the downpour, but now he was forced to wait for the storm to subside before leaving the abandoned building's upper story.

'This isn't good...' Astor realized that all of his belongings were back at his camp in the forest. That meant no change of clothes; no warm fire, and no warm place to sleep.

'I'm stuck.' He looked around the vacant room and saw that it was inhabited. Windows were open without any glass leaving a lack of insulation from the elements and outside noise. A short clothesline had thankfully been pulled inside through an empty window, but there were no extra garments or blankets on it. The opening they had run through was essentially a wide hole in a wall. A bare bed rested by one corner where an overhanging shelf contained a few items: rope, an oil lamp, a tin cup, a small pot, and a pair of simple bowls among other things. Two broken oil lamps rested in an opposite corner with an empty bucket.

An opening to what could've been a dark hallway, or separate room, was partly sealed off with scrap wood. In some ways it reminded him of an old hunting shack that had been abandoned; minus several traps and hunting equipment.

"Ridiculous..." A voice mumbled beside him. Astor glanced over and saw Rowena was already taking her clothes off. Once her shirt was cast aside, he noticed that the coyote wore a chest binding.

"You wear a chest binding?" He found it odd.

"It's so fewer people look at me." She concisely spoke.

"Ah, ok..." Astor gave a slow nod. It made sense for the coyote to make her appearance more ambiguous, because being a criminal meant that you weren't under any legal protection. However, she did not stop and unraveled the damp binding as well, revealing her bare chest to him.

Astor blinked and found his eyes giving her more than a second glance. The cream fur of her bare chest contrasted with the smoky grayish-brown of her face and arms. Her breasts were nicely sized, a tad unexpected for her small stature, but there was an obvious feminine roundness that only a woman possessed. Two blushing pink nipples poked innocently from the light cream color fur that were no longer constrained.

'Those bandages hid her chest very well.' Astor thought to himself.

"I know you're staring..." She mumbled.

"I was just thinking about how your chest binding kept your profile low."

"Uh huh. You should worry about yourself." She glanced at wet clothes while her dexterous fingers continued disrobing.

"You're right..." He didn't argue and and busied himself with wriggling free from his wet trousers. Astor pulled off his pants and undergarment off completely after some reluctance. The wetness of the fabric made it that much more difficult and uncomfortable.

'I suppose it's no different than when I was bathing in the river.' The canine thought to himself. Despite being wet, the cool weather didn't bother the Malinois very much, but the slight chill in the air was persistent. Without a warm set of clothes, or even a blanket to wrap oneself in, catching a cold was a real concern.

"Do you have a blanket or something to dry off with?" He looked around and found the coyote already using one. Rowena paid him little attention while she quickly dried her back.

"Yeah, just a second..." She huffed and made sure her fur was no longer soaked before tossing it to him.

"Thanks." He briefly looked it over. The fabric was old, worn, and already damp; but Astor secretly didn't mind since it smelled just like her. 'Wild just like the forest.' The shepherd thought to himself. Another flash of lightning briefly illuminated everything before rolling thunder rumbled across the urban landscape. Meanwhile, Rowena connected the short clothesline between two nails at one corner of the room near an open window. She hung up her clothes to dry off.

"Mind if I hang my clothes up with yours?" He asked.

"No. Go ahead." She stepped back. "I hope they'll dry by morning."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Astor took his wet garments in hand and strung them out beside her cloak, dripping a tiny puddle onto the floor.

"Is that a knife?" Rowena curiously peered around his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's a stone knife." He held the sheathed blade to her.

"Oh, very nice." The coyote looked at the blade with interest. "I can't say I've seen anything like it before." She handed it back over.

"Thanks. I had it specially made a few years ago." Astor clipped it to his drying pants. An awkward silence fell between the two. There was no river to hide in, and standing in the rain would be foolish. He tried finding something to talk about to avoid thinking about how they were standing together in a room completely naked. Luckily, the Malinois found it right between where his eyes had been staring.

"What's that?" He hadn't noticed the item hanging from around her neck.

"This? It's a pendant." She looked down and held up the small item with a colorful stone in the center. It had a subtle shine even in the dimming evening light.

"How can you afford the silver earrings and a colorful pendant as a thief?"

"Who says I paid for them?" She answered with a little grin.

"Oh duh." Astor realized how stupid his question was.

"Well, I didn't steal the pendant." She admitted to his surprise. "I traded something else I had stolen for it. It might sound weird to you, but I don't steal everything that I see."

"I'm impressed." He acknowledged.

"The gem is striking, and the luster attracts the eye very well, especially for pickpocketing." Rowena held it up for a moment before letting it naturally rest between her breasts in a tuft of light cream chest fur. Astor instinctively touched his sides only to realize he wasn't wearing pants.

"Did you always rely on stealing to survive?"

"No, I've had a few small jobs over the years since I was an adolescent, but stealing is how I stay alive. My uncle, the only family member I ever really had, was my mentor. Besides, there aren't exactly a lot of opportunities for women to work in this small city." She informed him. "Being a wet nurse pays well, and so does prostitution, but I'm not a whore." The way she casually said the vulgar word made one of his ears turn away.

"And I take it you're not a mother either." He presumed.

"That's right." She nodded.

"Where I'm from women tend to perform a lot of housework, but I can see you don't have a lot of house to keep up with." He glanced around the open room.

"I don't keep a lot of possessions." The coyote wasn't bothered by his comment. "But I'm proud of surviving on my own."

"I understand that." He looked at mostly empty walls. "So, is this your place?"

"Yep. It's my main hideout." Rowena stated with a hint of pride in her voice. "This is where I sleep during most of the year."

"I guess you weren't joking when you mentioned free real estate." He mumbled. "How did you end up in this place?"

"There was a fire in an adjacent building that partially burned this complex. Fortunately, it didn't effect this section. Everyone who used to live here moved out, so I moved in."

"I'm surprised there aren't any leaks." He admitted and glanced up at the dry ceiling.

"Eh. When the wind is blowing rain then a few spots can get wet through the windows. I have collected enough scrap to keep the roof from leaking though." She walked over and glanced by a window.

"I'll light a lamp. It's already turning dark, and this storm is not going away anytime soon." She headed to the shelf hanging over the bed. Most of the dim interior was soon alight with a soft bright glow.

"Have you ever been attacked or followed here?"

"I can always pull up the planks if someone is being nosy. The authorities have followed me close to here before, but I don't like using this place if I am being followed." She told him as a flash of lightning illuminated the entire room.

"That's going to be a loud one." Astor barely finished his sentence before a tremendous bang echoed through the city only for the loud pattering of rain to resume.

"Yep."

"Are you sure this place won't collapse?"

"It's been through worse." Her words didn't exactly reassure the Malinois. "What is your house like?"

"It's small but cozy when there's a fire in the hearth." Astor wished he was back home for the night.

"That sounds nice." Rowena admitted and rubbed her arms for extra warmth. The lamp light subtly flickered causing their shadows to shimmer against the walls. Astor suddenly yawned.

"There's only one bed and-" Rowena began to speak.

"I'll sleep on the floor over here." He calmly stretched and stepped over to a wall that didn't have any nearby open windows. Rowena folded her arms for a moment and hesitated before retiring to her bed alone for the night.

The floor was uncomfortable, but he didn't care. Astor was cold from the rain, and tired from the long eventful day. Walking on the streets made his paws sore, and getting soaked sapped his remaining energy. Being a woodsman, the canine had found himself of uncomfortable situations before, and this was not particularly difficult to him. However, the thunderstorm reminded him of pleasant summers at home. The memories of running back home in the rain or seeking shelter under a large oak tree put his mind at ease.

He hoped to fall asleep with the pouring rain and occasional thunder, but the chattering of teeth interrupted the calmer sounds of nature. His ear perked up as Rowena tossed and turned several times.

"What're you doing?" Astor grumbled without opening an eye.

"I'm cold." Her voice chattered from the bed.

"Yeah?" Astor plainly answered.

"Can you sleep with me?" She asked. The canine's eyes blinked as his ears perked up attentively.

"What?" He didn't believe what he had heard.

"I don't have a spare blanket, and I know you're cold too." Rowena pointed out. Astor opened his eyes and found the coyote thief sitting up with tightly folded arms. He stared at her faced aglow from the lamp's light. Her look of concern was genuine.

"Fine." Astor stood up and shuffled over to the bed.

"Thanks." Rowena moved over enough for him to settle down beside her. Their mostly dry bodies immediately came into very intimate contact as a Rowena nuzzled up to him.

"Careful... You hit my leg."

"What? I'm cold!"

"Don't elbow me."

"I didn't... Move your arm."

"How else can I lay down?"

"Try your other side or your front."

"Who sleeps on their front?"

"I don't know. Just lay still!" Rowena recommended.

"I am!" Astor managed to settle down somewhat comfortably only to feel a different sensation from within.

"Darn."

"What?"

"I need to relieve myself."

"Ugh." Rowena grumbled as he slipped out of bed.

"Where do you want me-"

"Just go beside the wooden planks." She sighed. Astor rose from the bed and shuffled across the room once again, following his long shadow into the darkness. His paws stopped by the edge of the dry floor where only an occasional droplet would land on him. Astor silently thanked the night storm that he couldn't see how far up he was from ground level.

'Never in my life did I expect to pee from an abandoned building in the nude during a thunderstorm.' The Malinois couldn't have predicted this occurring in one hundred lifetimes. Once Astor finished, he returned to bed where they had to start all over again. The two canines tossed, turned, and complained but in the end both settled into somewhat comfortable positions. Body heat proved to be the best as they snuggled closely together, but the awkwardness was a new hurtle to cross.

"Alright. No more moving." He sighed.

"Okay." Rowena placed a cold hand on his chest. The coyote's body was intimately pressed up against him. He could even felt her breath softly ruffle his neck fur, but at this point the woodsman was too tired to care how close their naked bodies were pressed together. The rain poured hard and fast, and thunder continued to rumble around them. Rowena's shivering soon stopped, and her body heat lulled him to sleep in the soft bed all while the lamp flickered silently overhead.

Astor's eyes slowly opened from a fulfilling night's sleep. The endless hiss of rain and rumbles of thunder no longer filled his ears. Surprisingly, crisp silence and a ray of golden sunshine greeted him. There was a brief moment of confusion as his vision gradually focused on a dilapidated ceiling above him. A softly chirping wren hopped behind the beam only to fly away in near silence; but a distant shout made his ear perk up.

'I'm in the city.' He remembered. Despite the faint memories of the previous cold stormy night, the Belgian Malinois felt warm, cozy, and happy.

"What-?" He started to move an arm only to feel something holding him down. Blinking, he suddenly noticed the body heat keeping him warm. Barely glancing to his left, Rowena was laying beside him, directly pressed up to his side. They were intimately intertwined together like tendrils of a vine. His upper arm was pinned to his side and her bare chest. A slim light brown and dark brown furred arm was draped over his chest while a pair of paws mingled with his own. There was simply no space left between them.

Her head was innocently tucked under his chin, like that of a chaste maiden's. Although, he knew better than to see her as an pure innocent soul. It was the warmest he had felt despite sleeping completely naked under a half worn blanket in an abandoned upper story building.

'I don't think a fire in a camp would be this nice.' Astor closed his eyes once again to savor the early morning moment. Alas, the moment would be fleeting. Movement at his side stirred the Malinois back awake. Weight shifted beside him, and he expected Rowena to get up for the morning.

His eyes opened up wide as something glided across his naked waist. Weight pressed down on him and the canine found himself being straddled by the equally naked coyote woman. She was quite a sight with the bright sunshine illuminating her bare furry body. The swell of her lovely perky breasts hung over him, and her blushing pink nipples appeared to glow with golden hues. Her torso was slim but not frail due to her curvy hips. However, her womanhood remained partially obscured due to their now mingling fur, but Astor clearly felt the hot kiss of womanly heat press against his groin.

An arm reached out above his head for the oil lamp. The oil lamp on the shelf above his head had remained dimly lit despite the storm passing hours ago.

"Good morning." Astor softly smiled at the beautiful view she had given him. Rowena's ears wiggled and she glanced down at him.

"Sorry to wake you..." She spoke softly only to pause.

"I think I woke you." He grinned only to notice what had her attention. The subtle sensation of something stirring in his groin was nothing new for the early morning, even a chilly one at that! However, having a naked lady perched upon his hips was another matter entirely!

"I think you are happy to see me." Rowena's eyes darted to his swelling sheath and then back to him.

"Uh heh." Astor couldn't find words to say as a knowing grin etched itself onto her muzzle. Without any warning, Rowena gently ground her hips, rubbing her womanhood over his manhood. He swallowed a grunt and clenched his teeth as his sheath swelled causing his member to enlarge and emerge.

"You aren't one for romantics..." Astor huffed.

"Is that what men say when they go to a brothel?" Rowena countered. She rose up onto her knees and positioned herself above the shepherd's now proudly standing erection.

"You have a piercing... there?!" Astor's eyes widened in surprise at her groin.

"Are you surprised?" She used two fingers to open her labia a little more to reveal the subtle glint of metal hiding inside. Using her other hand she flicked the nose ring she always wore in her nose. Before he could give a response, Rowena lowered her hips and pressed her entrance over his tip. Sliding inside, his senses were overloaded as she took him to the hilt in a single stride.

"Ohh. Oh god, Rowena." Astor grabbed ahold of her legs. The coyote lady's inner heat was hot like an open fire, but tight as a glove. He could feel himself pulsating inside her hot vice. Astor fought back the animalistic urge to start thrusting into her.

"You feel nice too." She softly groaned and cupped one breast. Rowena stopped her little self pleasure and leaned forward. Astor grunted as his member shifted from her movement. He gazed up at her, heart pounding inside his chest, as their noses almost touched. His entire body felt so sensitive and alive, like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes stared at him lovingly as her breasts freely hung just above his chest.

"I am a thief, so I can steal your seed if you aren't careful." She whispered under a heavy breath into his ear.

"Take it then." Astor grinned back. The coyote gal returned a toothy grin of her own but unexpectedly lifted her hips all the way up, allowing his aroused manhood to slip out into the cool air. Falling partially onto his belly, the shepherd's member glistened as it throbbed in time with his heartbeat. Astor blinked and looked up at the naked beauty.

"Time to get up." Rowena slipped away and started smoothing her messy fur all the while he stared at her.

'I guess she is a thief at heart.' He reasoned with a wry smile. 'I should've expected as much from her.' The shepherd sighed and sat up to cool down. Astor waited for his arousal to subside until his member had retracted back onto his sheath. Standing up in a big stretch, he felt hot blooded from their brief passionate moment together. He hadn't expected anything like it, but it wasn't a dream.

Rowena pulled the blanket from the clothesline and loosely wrapped it around her shoulders to stay comfortable. Astor walked over to the clothesline and gathered his pants, thankful that they had dried overnight. Rowena didn't move to dress herself though. She wasn't even covering herself bashfully like yesterday evening. If anything, she seemed content with letting her blanket stay open enough for him to glimpse any intimate part of her.

"Aren't you getting dressed?"

"No, not yet."

"What about your chest binding?" He asked.

"I'll put it back on after you leave." She winked and held the blanket open. Astor felt his cheeks warm at the sight of her naked body kissed in the sun's glowing rays. "Besides, I need to air out once in a while." Rowena giggled and gave her chest a little shake causing her breasts to jiggle for him. The Malinois' cheeks burned even brighter.

"Ah, ahem. I suppose so." He gave a nod.

"Hehehe." She giggled at his bashful reaction.

"You're a dangerous tease." Astor said.

"I am a thief, but I'm also a lady." The coyote winked. "Why are you getting dressed?" She asked, causing him to laugh.

"I cannot walk the streets like a harlot. It's morning. I have to go."

"What are you going to do today?"

"I need to check my camp to make sure nothing is waterlogged from the storm." He explained. "After that, I will need to check if any correspondence was sent from home."

"I doubt anything will arrive on time due to the bad weather."

"I have to check anyway." He shrugged. "You're not going out to thieve or beg?"

"No, I'm afraid not." She admitted with a halfhearted sigh. "Although I briefly thought about begging you to stay for a while." Rowena winked. A grin ingrained itself into the male's cheek.

"What's the best way back to the South Gate from here?"

"All you need to do is follow that street." She pointed to the right. "And then follow it all the way down to the end where it merges onto another street. Even you can't get lost there. If you want a good breakfast then go to the little shop right before the street ends. There's a big sign with a picture of bread. You can't miss it." She pointed far ahead.

"Thank you for sharing your hideout with me for the night, and showing me around the city yesterday."

"The pleasure is mine." Rowena nodded. "Come by anytime." She smiled. "You know where to find me, or I'll find you." Her voice sounded like the lure of a siren.

"Thanks. I will." He waved before departing the abandoned upper story. Astor cautiously walked across the planks to the adjacent abandoned building without looking down. He gave Rowena a final glance and smile before turning to descend the old creaky staircase down to ground level. Despite their unexpected sex ending so abruptly, the trapper felt great and walked with a noticeable bounce in his step. Any worries from being away from camp for a night had vanished like the storm itself.

'Is she trying to steal my heart?' Astor silently wondered, partly hoping it was true. Either way, he was looking forward to the next time they met.

To be continued?