Battle of the Gente Animali

Room 14

After about an hour of sustained jogging, they finally came to the end of the forest. Canis, Anne and Ferre were panting struggling to draw breath. He could see that Anne was holding a stitch in her side.

" Come on slowpokes flying is a lot more tiring  than running." said Passerie in a mocking voice after she had turned back into a girl.

" Well, you weren't carrying all these bags, " growled Ferre irritated that their new found companion was talking to them like that.

" Passerie where is the town " asked Canis trying to break up the argument."

"Just on top off that hill," replied Passerie pointing at a hill 120 twenty meters away over the grassy plain land. Sure enough Canis could see buildings, stone pavements and what was unmistakeably a clock tower. 

"Okay everybody no changing into animals, we trying to keep a low profile," said Anne who gave the other three stern looks. They all walked the rest of the way on foot. Canis could see that Passerie was fighting the urge to take flight. When they reached the top off the hill Canis saw the neatest and orderly town ever. It appeared that the town was set out in a grid formation. A fountain was front of a clock tower in the middle of the town which was obviously a town square.        

"Well we best just find an inn to stay the night,"said Canis. The sky was turning beautiful Autumn colours as the sun set over the land. They tried the first inn a flashy well-built joint but when the owner told them how much it would cost to stay the night, they were back on the street searching. They went to many inns, but all were too pricey until they reached an old, damp and mouldy inn, which by the looks of it was on it's last legs.

"We are not sleeping in there it will be the death of us," stated Ferre.

"I agree with bear man over here " said Passerie "I have lived in a forest all my live. I have slept in pretty nasty places, but that place looks like it's going to cave in on us."

"Guys we are doing this to stop Vastator," said Canis we an annoyed tone in his voice. " we are not on a luxury holiday." Canis let this settle in.

" Your right Canis," said Ferre "we just need to suck it up and get on with it."       

 When they entered an old lady with grey hair tied in a bun was sitting at the counter. She had half-moon glasses which sat at the end of her nose and was wearing a cobalt blue fur coat. 

"Good evening," she said in a high voice. " I am Madame Dishelga and how may I help you."

"We wish to stay the night," said Anne " We'll take the cheapest room you have." Madame Dishelga looked at them with curiosity and a hint of disgust. 

" Follow me, " she said finally. She came out from behind the counter and led them down a long narrow corridor. There were wooden doors on each side of them. Each one had numbers they passed 6, 9, 12 until they finally reached the end of the hall with a number 14 on it. The old lady open the door and a wave of stale mouldy air rolled over Canis. He looked around at his companions and found he wasn't the only one who found the smell of the room revolting. Ferre had hidden his nose in his shirt, Anne had held her head to he mouth looking the like she was going to vomit and Passerie was on the ground gagging.

"Well you said you wanted our cheapest room." said the lady looking very annoyed that this is how her guest reacted to her service.

" She's right guys it just one night, it not that bad," said Canis as he walked into the room his nostrils on fire from the smell. He tugged on a string hanging from the ceiling which turned the light on. He looked around and the room and could tell why it was their cheapest room. The was on a bed in the far left-hand corner, a manky old couch in the middle of the room and a coffee table in front off it. The windows were boarded up and only what was left off the dying sun's rays came through the gaps in the boards.

"It is very cheap only one gold coin a night." said Madame Dishelga with a somewhat proud tone in her voice.

"We'll take," said Canis.

"WHAT!" the other three only yelled in union turning to Canis. A look of glee spread across Madame Dishelga's face 

" I will be back at morning to take you payment," said Madame Dishelga  and slammed the door behind her which made dust fall from the ceiling.

"This place is awful," said Anne with a green tinge spreading across her face. she took in another breath and said "Ugh I'm going to vomit." and ran off into the bathroom. Canis could hear his mother's insides chucking up their contents. They waited for about 20 seconds later and Anne reappeared with a rusty bucket full of barf.

" This has to be a joke," said Anne with a tone of displeasure " I can't image when this was last cleaned. I'll take it outside and see if I can clean it, just hope I don't come back with several diseases afterwards." And with that Anne left the room. Then Ferre started

"We better stock up on supplies while we're in a village, we don't know when the next time an opportunity may come by like this again."

"Okay but don't spend more than seven gold coins, we're on a tight budget," replied Canis and Ferre to left the room. Canis and Passerie just sat around the room waiting for the other two. Canis's nose was really starting to burn now. His time as a dog had improved some of his senses like smell and hearing, but he was really regretting it down. Anne came in ten minutes after she had left.

"Unbelievable tap out back has nowhere near enough pressure to clean this thing and the public well closes promptly at six O'clock and no way am I touching this thing. The best I could do way tip the vomit in a bush," yelled Anne. Not moments after Anne had re-entered so had Ferre.

" Okay for seven gold coins I got two loaves of bread, four carrots and three apples," said Ferre.

"Great, we each get half a loaf then," said Canis. "Now all we need to do is sort out the sleeping arrangements. I think mum should get the bed, Passerie you should get the couch-."

"No, I'm fine sleeping on the floor, in fact, I think this cupboard will be a good place to make a nest." said Passerie gesturing towards a cupboard nest to the bathroom.

"Okay Ferre you get the couch, I'll sleep on the floor." There was no argument. Once they had all eaten their bread they moved to where they had been assigned. When Anne got into the bed, she complained that it was as hard a rock and when Ferre put his full weight onto to the couch. Canis saw some cockroaches scurry out from beneath it but he decided not to tell Ferre for it might put him off his sleep. Passerie was making a nest like a shape with blankets and towels she found in the cupboard. Canis asked her for a blanket and she reluctantly gave him one. Canis settled himself in front of the couch. Within minutes, Ferre's deep snores filled the room and eventually he fell asleep.