DiDi's Adventure: The City of Dalia

Chapter 1

After weeks of travelling, they finally arrived. It seemed like they would never see the glimpse of the grand city but here they were. The glorious city of Dalia- located far, far east from the Meridian Empire. Dalia was sitting in the middle of a copper sea of sand, an exact spot where the blazing sun was scorching walking citizens. The majority of people were tan-skinned, some darker, as they flooded the cramped streets. Joining the crowd were goats, occasionally tugged by their owners as they sang a trembling tune with their siblings. Then there were wagons, toppled high with hay or a variety of fruit, wheeling down stone steps and into narrow parts of the city. There were hollering merchants against both sides of the streets, each one showing off their wares and barking cheap prices. They all had their own similar theme of a shop; short wooden carts stocked full with merchandise sitting underneath hanging tapestries which provided shade from the heinous sun. A few inches above the tapestries were ropes attached from one house to the next, each rope holding a series of colourful lanterns with unique designs. The merchants eyed DiDi up and down, shoving their wares into her face and practically screamed into her ears.
"SWEET WATERMELONS FOR ONLY 20 JULES!"
"PEACHES AND MANGOES FOR 5 JULES! TODAY ONLY!"
"COME ON NOW! COME ON! COME GET YOUR DELICIOUS SUGAR CANES!"
DiDi shook her head at all of the merchandise thrown at her and continued down the streets, her staff clicking against the stone carved ground. Kuzu followed in her footsteps, growling lowly at the loud noises from all angles. He kept close to her legs, his white tail swaying from side to side. The great albino tiger caught the attention of pedestrians who strolled by. Some pointed, their curious fingers directing nearby people who glanced. Kuzu's eyes darted furiously as children danced around him in circles. He was anxious from having so many humans surround him in a small space, but he would not bite anyone unless DiDi commanded. 
A small boy snatched Kuzu's fur, climbing onto his back and began to yip and shout while swinging an imaginary rope around like a cowboy. A girl seized Kuzu's tail with both hands, startling him and sending him jumping up and down like an aggressive ox which made the boy howl with laughter. The children giggled, lingering around Kuzu for a moment longer before they merged with the crowd of pedestrians. Kuzu was closer to DiDi this time, fearful of what could happen to him next at any time. DiDi smiled, scratching his poor furry head which was hiding underneath her white cloak. Taking a first glance at the beast, one would think he was a masculine creature with an alpha-like personality. But when witnessing him within a crowd, he was no better than a kitten seeking affection. He had his experiences with crowds but not with people walking an inch apart from each other. The city of Dalia was grand but the population was ample. People were suffocating from their own space bubbles being invaded and pushed around. In the distance, citizens were crossing stone bridges over rushing canals. It seemed with every step, each person was shoved from side to side, becoming dangerously close to the edges before catching themselves again. "A miracle." Thought DiDi, brushing past people as she ascended the bridge. 

DiDi looked down at the map in her hand- a useless map which confused her with all its crooks and crannies and turns and stairways until she hadn't the slightest idea where she was. She was looking for a place called the 'BAT TAVERN' and it didn't seem popular among citizens who knew nothing about such name. Some who claimed they did pointed in random directions which lead DiDi in circles until she began to think they were only trying to get rid of her so she wouldn't ask them so many questions at once. Others recommended different taverns, ones that were described in such exaggerated details and tales heard through rumors.
"I'm tellin' ya! That tavern is the best for rum and entertainment! I once witnessed with my own eyes a man get strangled by a pretty girl with tentacles for arms!"
"Have ya been to ze Dancin' Bear Tavern? Eh? I hear zey got crones dancin' on tabletops."
"The place smells horrible!" Waved an old woman's finger from side to side as she grunted. "But it does have the best vodka..."