Ashen Light

Chapter 14: Among The Living

The trio, now joined by Astro, arrived at a small desert town nestled against a craggy ridge. The town bustled with life in its own quiet way—merchants bartering loudly in the square, children playing with handmade toys, and workers repairing windmills that creaked softly in the persistent desert breeze. It was a place of modest comforts, but to weary travelers, it felt almost like a sanctuary.

Cyrus found a simple inn near the edge of the town, its adobe walls cool and inviting. As they settled in, it became clear that Astro was unaccustomed to such surroundings. Though he tried to blend in with his human disguise, his wolf ears and tail frequently twitched with curiosity, drawing the attention of nearby townsfolk.

Skylar chuckled as Astro nearly knocked over a stack of books in the corner of the inn's common room. "You've got the subtlety of a sandstorm," she teased, watching him apologize profusely to the innkeeper.

Zack grinned, leaning back in his chair. "I give him two days before someone tries to pet him."

Astro's face flushed red as he folded his arms tightly across his chest. "I-I'm not used to all this," he admitted, his voice shy but genuine. "It's... a lot."

Cyrus observed silently, his gaze softening slightly. Despite everything, there was an odd innocence about Astro, a sharp contrast to the weight of the world they were carrying.

"Here, let's get this out the way first." Skylar said, taking off her own white cloak and throwing it over Astro. Beneath this cloak, Skylar wore very simple clothing, though admittedly she dressed certainly more masculine than Cyrus had ever seen from a girl.  Astro struggled with the cloak for a moment, then was able to slide it on right. It fit him well, and once Skylar raised Astro's hood and made the back end drape over his tail, it was hard to tell he had wolfish features. Astro looked at the cloth with sparkling eyes and Skylar turned around to the other two guys, rolling her own. 

Astro's struggle to adapt quickly became apparent, though not in a way that annoyed the group—instead, it brought a strange levity to their otherwise heavy journey. The town's bustling market square seemed to overwhelm him with its sheer sensory overload as they stepped out to gather supplies for the road. Every sound, smell, and sight appeared to pull his attention in a dozen directions at once.

"Stay close," Cyrus warned as they wove through the crowd. His tone was calm but firm, aware that Astro's curiosity could easily land them in trouble.

"I am!" Astro insisted, though his words were undermined by the way his tail flicked at every new sensation, a little bit visible from under the cloak. A vendor displaying colorful spices earned a lingering glance, while the faint smell of roasting meat made his nose twitch.

At one point, a child ran past holding a small wooden toy shaped like a wolf. Astro froze mid-step, his wolf ears perking up. "Is that... supposed to be me?" he asked, tilting his head, wide-eyed with wonder as he watched the child leave.

Zack couldn't help but laugh, clapping Astro on the back. "I hate to break it to you, but wolf toys have been around longer than you've been here."

The group stopped at a stall selling fresh bread, where Skylar was negotiating with the vendor. Astro leaned in close to Cyrus, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Why are they all so... loud? And pushy?"

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "It's just how markets are. You'll get used to it."

"I don't think I will," Astro murmured, his tail drooping slightly.

The real trouble started when they reached a blacksmith's forge, drawn by the rhythmic clanging of hammer on metal. Astro froze at the entrance, his eyes lighting up at the sight of molten iron being shaped into intricate tools and weapons. Without thinking, he stepped forward, his tail knocking over a bucket of water with a loud clang.