Papuru Star: Coalition Carnage

Chapter 27: The Indolent

It was the smell that stirred Okanuso awake; that of strong alcohol. He stretched, feeling the satisfying pop in his arms and back, tail straight out. He felt like he'd been sleeping on unpadded tree bark and was confused to learn he was actually on wood. His foggy brain cleared at the smell, his nostrils forcing him through the opening in the cloth canopy. He stepped on cobblestone pavement, rubbing a clawed hand over his tannish mane. He had been in the back of a covered wagon that now sat unoccupied off to one side of a wide boulevard on which many more wagons were pulled by six legged horses. The drivers remind him he was on Pia, the Pians pointy ears and rigged foreheads were unmistakable.

The moon cast a distant glow on the greyish environment and the parked wagons around several establishments from which the smell and noise of merriment issued. Okanuso allowed his nose to decide his destination, walking into a two story, slightly dilapidated building directly across the street called One for the Run. Inside were over two dozen Pians, a scattering of Humans, a couple of Yuni, and a Tilris wearing heavy clothing. Okanuso scanned the room untill he saw a booth near the back corner, empty.

He ignored the looks of patrons, sliding into the rough seat. Mugs of near empty liquid littered the table; Okanuso was thirsty as hell, but he wasn't desperate enough to drink the back swallow of strangers. He raised a claw, gaining the attention of a woman with a tray of food in each hand and one on her head. She was a few feet away unloading her burden before coming over with a small parchment and writing utensil.

Waitress
Haven't seen your kind this way in a long time. What you having?

Okanuso
The strongest liquor you have, my lovely lady.

Waitress
You came to the right place if you looking for the best. Expensive though.

Okanuso
I am financially wealthy, my dear. And I will tip handsomely if you can direct me to the nearest mage.

Waitress
No mages around here, kitty. Be back with that brew.

She sauntered off with the used mugs, smacking a groping hand that drifted too near with one. A bald, athletic man sitting at the corner booth, got up and sat across from him.

Bald man
You looking for a mage?

Okanuso
Yes, please. Do you know of one?

Bald man
Sure do. But he don't do nothing without being paid.

Okanuso
I have plenty of money if he has the talent.

Bald man
No problem there. Let's go.

Okanuso
As eager as I am to go this minute, I haven't drank anything in over a day. Can we go after I've wet my whiskers?

Bald man
Sure, pal. I will be waiting outside.

He got up and left. It was a different woman who bought him his drink on a tray, the alcohol frothing over the frosty mug. She was older then the previous waitress, had close cut hair and a black eye patch over her left eye. She gazed at him with her remaining eye, as if he would go berserk any second.

Frenzy
Marantha wasn't lying. A Coojur, here. Lucky me. I'm Frenzy, owner of the place.

Okanuso
Nice to meet you, my lovely Frenzy. Could I have that drink now?

Frenzy
You're Okanuso, right?

Okanuso
Have we met? So thirsty.

Frenzy
Not officially. You escaped the containment unit up on Urland. How?

Okanuso
Somebody let me out, I don't know who. Throat, dry...

Frenzy
How'd you get planetside?