Scarlett was exhausted, with blisters on her feet and feeling hungry. All she desired at the moment was to take a hot bath and have a warm drink, followed by a comfortable bed to rest her weary body.
She shut her eyes, focusing on the peaceful murmur of hushed chatter from the cafe patrons around her. The small cafe was situated beside a clear loch, surrounded by towering mountains on three sides. The friendly locals respected her need for solitude and did not interrupt her deep in thought. When she was sinking into a well-worn wooden chair, nobody questioned her actions.
After days of climbing the nearby peaks in the rain and wind, Scarlett was thrilled to finally be warm and dry. Despite wanting to cut the trip short, she couldn't resist her enthusiasm.
As she sat in the cozy cafe, surrounded by the low murmur of voices, Scarlett felt the warmth seeping into her bones, and thought that the city was truly heaven.
One of the voices caught her attention, and she turned to see two men at the bar.
"That sounds like quite the fish you caught, Alder," a man said to his friend.
Alder grinned, "It was! Bigger than two arm spans, I swear it!"
Scarlett turned back to her drink, feeling content and grateful for the warmth and comfort of the place.
As the men engaged in a lighthearted dispute about the size and amount of the fishes, Scarlett caught the sound of the cafe's front door creaking open. A blast of frigid air invaded the cozy warmth of the room, causing everyone to shiver, as two men stomped in, shaking off the mud from their boots.
Scarlett stiffened, heart skipped a beat as she glanced towards the door. Her body tensed up as she thought they might be King Tobias' men, sent to track her down.
As memories of her narrow escape from the palace still fresh in her mind, she tried to hide her face behind her hood, hoping they wouldn't recognize her. She watched them carefully, trying to decipher their intentions and wishing they wouldn't cause any trouble.
Her heart was racing as she peered out from under the cover of her hood, taking in every detail of the men's appearance.
Scarlett looked over their bulky fur coats, stained with mud and snow, and their rough, calloused hands. Her eyes flickered between the two men, scanning their faces for any sign of recognition or hostility.
She noticed that their eyes were fixed on the two men, not on her, which eased her anxiety a little. Still, she remained on high alert, ready to act if they posed a threat.
One of the men cleared his throat and addressed the patrons. "Hey, folks! Great, we made it all the way from the other side of town! Just wanted to give you all a heads up!”
The cafe fell silent as all eyes turned to the newcomers.
"What's going on?" someone asked.
"It’s bad news," the other man replied grimly. "There were reports of lycans roaming through the city. It's not safe to be out alone after dark."
Scarlett's heart sank at the man's words. It seemed like there was no escape from the danger that followed her everywhere. She gripped her hood tighter, hoping that the men wouldn't notice her distress.
She couldn't shake off the feeling that the lycans were somehow connected to King Tobias and his henchmen. Memories of her narrow escape from the palace and the lycans' relentless pursuit still haunted her. The thought of encountering them again filled her with dread, and she couldn't help but ask, "Lycans in the city?" Her voice quivered, betraying her fear.
The man nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, miss, and they're not the friendly kind," he said. "We've heard reports of people being attacked, even killed. It's best to stay indoors after dark, and to travel in groups if you have to go out."
The thought of being trapped inside the cafe, unable to leave until daylight, was unbearable. She mustered up her courage and asked, "What do the lycans want? Why are they attacking people?"
The two men exchanged a glance before the first man spoke again. "Nobody knows for sure," he said, his voice low. "Some say they're after food, others say they're just looking for a fight. But one thing's for certain - they're dangerous, and we should all be careful."
Scarlett nodded, her mind racing with questions and fears. Her heart started pounding faster as she contemplated the possibility of King Tobias and his henchmen being behind the lycans' sudden appearance in the city. She wondered if they had something to do with it, and if they were using the chaos caused by the lycans to their advantage.
She couldn't shake the feeling of being constantly watched, even though she knew it was irrational. However, she couldn't help but feel that the King's men were always lurking around the corner, ready to pounce on her.
She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves, but the image of King Tobias's menacing grin flashed before her eyes, making it impossible to relax.
As the two men finished their drinks and headed out into the night, Scarlett sat alone at the bar, lost in thought. She wondered if she would ever be safe again, if the lycans would ever be driven out of the city, and if she would ever be able to return to her old life.
Scarlett thanked the man for the warning, her mind racing with thoughts of how to stay safe in the city. She knew that she couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment.
She took a deep breath and began to formulate a plan. She knew that she needed to find a place to stay, somewhere safe where she could rest and gather her strength. She decided that she would look for a small inn or hostel, a place where she could blend in with the locals and avoid attracting attention.
She also realized that she needed to be prepared for any situation. She searched her pockets and found her small knife, but knew that it wouldn't be enough to protect her against a group of lycans. She decided that she would need to find a way to acquire a better weapon, perhaps a sword or a bow and arrows.
As she walked through the dark and deserted streets, she made mental notes of the alleys and shortcuts she could use to evade any pursuers. She also made a mental map of the city, marking down the locations of any potential safe havens or places where she could acquire supplies.
Finally, as she approached a small inn, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could find refuge here, and begin to rebuild her life. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.