The Elementals

Chapter 6: A Rough Day's End

They made it to the town within thirty minutes. Outside guarding the gate were large grey wolves with fauns watching over them. They suddenly jumped up and started barking, growling, and snapping their jaws at the approaching teens. The fauns pulled on the rope the beasts were bound to at an attempt to quiet them down as they examined the six.

"What brings you to Wanborne?" the faun on the left asked. Brandon, who found himself at the front of the group, towered over the two at the gate and looked down at them kindly.

"We're just here to spend the night," he said.

"How do we know that? The towns are in danger as of now, why should we let the lot of you enter?" the faun on the right questioned.

"Yeah! You could be working with the enemy, so we've been given orders not to let anyone in!" the other said.

"Are you kidding me..." Elizabeth muttered. "What was the point of asking when you just weren't gonna let us in? Did you see the direction we came from?" The two exchanged looks with each other and yanked on the rope holding the wolves once again to quiet them down.

"What's going on!?" a deep voice boomed. A minotaur quickly rounded the corner of the barricaded gate and stood between the fauns. He stomped his hooves and let out a snort, his black eyes looking immediately to the six teens.

"We just want to spend th-" Elizabeth started.

"Elementals?" the minotaur questioned quietly, his brow furrowing.

"This bitch didn't just interrupt me."

The muscular creature wasted no time to turn on the fauns and swung his horns dangerously close to them.

"You idiots!! These six are from Aria!" he growled. "Let them pass! The mayor has been awaiting their arrival for some time now!"

"What?!" the group exclaimed at the same time.

"Look, we're just here to spend the night. We don't need to see anyone," Kyle said, standing beside Brandon. The minotaur paced a small circle and waved off the two smaller creatures.

"Are you not from Aria?" he asked when they were gone.

"What part of 'we're just here to spend the night' don't you understand?" Alexis asked.

"Quiet pup! If you bunch aren't here to protect Wanborne, then I cannot grant you entry until I have a valid reason for your travels!"

"Look, keep your nosy a-" Kyle started, but Noah covered his mouth.

"We're moving... Together. We were residing in Aston but grew tired of the place and its number of people, so we've decided to go to a smaller area," Noah explained calmly, glaring at Kyle. "I apologize for this one. He's had a very short temper lately; all of this travelling and the stress of moving in general has him a little upset." The minotaur was still for a moment, then nodded slowly, allowing his black eyes to stare blankly at each teen in turn, lingering on Elizabeth.

"So be it," he rumbled as he stepped to the side, gesturing for them to walk past. "Welcome to Wanborne. Our Inn is at the center of town; do make yourselves comfortable."