Yotto – Summer – Ren – Voon (4^th Month, 11?? Day) Year 827 GE


    The bell chimed from above the door as Zira walked into the coffee shop. She wasn''t surprised when many of the heads turned to follow her as she passed. The red Zitta on her shoulders and leg had a tendency to do that. Most citizens feared the Kander when they came around, and those who didn''t were typically the ones she was sent to put back in line.


    “Hot chocolate,” Zira ordered when she got to the counter, the Barista was sweating under her collar. “But not too hot, please,” She added as she placed the chip on her bracelet over the reader, showing a small smile to the Barista.


    The coffee shop was filled with citizens, so it took Zira a moment to spot an available seat, there was one across the room by the window, a Duran two seats away from the empty one caught her eye.


    “Y... Y... Your drink... is ready.” The Barista stumbled over her words as she handed over the Chocolate drink.


    “Thanks.” Zira winked before heading over to the seat she spotted. As she expected the Duran, a gray skinned male with wire for hair and rocks for muscles eyed her as she headed to the seat by the window.


    The seat facing the door and the table with the Duran was the one she took. It wasn''t unheard of for a Kander who let down their guard to be attacked while out on a mission. It was her policy not to give them the chance.


    As Zira took a sip of her cocoa she cursed. “You ask for cooler and it''s still volcanic temperatures,” grumbling under her breath, she set the cup down and pushed air out through her mouth, trying to cool off her burning tongue.


    A slam on her table shifted her attention back to the Duran, he had slammed one of his stone fists down, jarring her drink and splattering some of her cocoa on the table. The room had felt tense when she walked in, causing many to use whispers instead. But with the new ruckus the room quickly fell into silence. Zira glanced around, taking into account the room and who might be supporting this Duran. Only his table where another person sat, he was a Zutu young man with red hair pulled back into a warrior’s tail his black eyes staring at her with a mixture of fear and determination, who seemed to be ready to support the Duran in his cause.


    “Sit back down Duran,” Zira spoke in a quiet voice with a warning in her tone. “I''m not here for work.”


    He looked at her a moment before shifting his stance, placing his palm down on the table. “Your kind ain''t welcome here Kander.” Lifting her cocoa back up to her lips Zira shot a side glance at the Duran. When the cut was close enough to her lips that she could feel the heat wafting off it, she sighed and returned the cut back down to the table without getting her sip. Zira regretted the lack of the sweet chocolate flavor on her tongue and glared at the Duran instead.


    He swallowed visibly before continuing, “No one wants you here.” Snarling Zira could see he was trying to act strong as he fixed a glare toward the ‘Evil’ Kander woman.


    “You don’t want to do this,” she ran a finger around the rim of her cup. “But if you''re so determined,” Zira snapped her fingers, a glowing purple portal appeared beside Zira and the Duran, “We can move to a safer place.” A collection of gasps came from around the room, as well as a clattering from those at the tables nearest the two. Scattering to get as far away as they could. Zira sighed inwardly as she took in the messy upturned tables and left over drinks now spilled across the floor.


    When it didn''t look like the Duran was going to back down, Zira sighed releasing her drink and pushed away from the table. As she headed toward the portal she looked back at the Duran, “Then, shall we?” She questioned, looking back with a wistful look at her cocoa before she stepped through the portal onto a grassy plain.


    Zira could see the Duran and Zutu exchanging glances as they worked up the courage to follow her through the portal. It was the Duran, who stepped through first, anger still painting his features, the Zutu followed through after a pause, resignation in his eyes. When they were through, she snapped again, closing the portal behind them. There was a hesitation in the two young men, and effort to cover the fear in their features.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    She gave them a moment to compose themselves and put together their courage. When the Duran squared his shoulders and stepped forward Zira spoke softly, “So how do you want to do this.”


    “I got your back Goh, but this doesn''t seem like...” The Zutu spoke as he hesitantly shifted into a defensive position.


    “That''s enough Kohn, we''ll just deal with her here and head back.” The Duran, Goh growled toward his nervous friend.


    “Yeah...” Kohn, the Zutu drew out while looking around, Zira knew he was seeing the grassy plains as they were. “So how do we get back if we defeat her, just in case you missed it, this is not the city.”


    Goh looked around for the first time, noticing their predicament, there was no city in sight. He swallowed visibly, “We''ll figure it out,” The nerves causing his voice to crack slightly.


    “Now look here,” Zira ran her hand through her hair, “I''m 12 Zitta Zira Kander, and I have no intention of fighting you as long as you don''t engage.” She indicated toward the two, “We can just head back to the coffee shop now and pretend like this was all just a joke amongst friends.”


    “You think you can get out of this?” Goh glared at her as he spoke, Kohn reached forward and gripped his friend''s shoulder.


    “Man, she is a rank 12, she is giving us a way out of this without fighting.” Kohn swallowed hard “I think we should take it.”


    “I''m not just a caster,” Zira added to further discourage them, shifting her balance and preparing to strike. Goh looked at his friend, doubt starting to sink in, Zira had seen this before. The tough guys trying to stand up to the ''Evil'' Kander, chasing them out of their land. She also understood the need to handle this without damaging the big guy''s pride. For it was their pride that always drove them forward.


    “Look, I really don''t want any trouble, I''m just looking to enjoy a good drink, and head on my way. So how about we return to the coffee shop and enjoy our drinks peacefully,” Zira could see that was the wrong thing to say, Goh, the Duran squared his shoulders and shifted into a stance ready for attack.


    “Don''t do it Goh.” She spoke in a warning tone, using the name she had heard the Zutu refer to the Duran in an effort to calm him down. His eyes opened in surprise, before shifting to charge her.


    “Use your words,” Zira pushed back toward him, the hope of quietly defusing the situation starting to fade, “Kohn, you seem to know how this works, if I''m attacked, I have to put the attacker down. Now is a good time to get your friend under control,” the response was instant, Goh started forward as Kohn grabbed his arm once more, pulling back on his friend as he began to stomp forward. Zira dropped into a defensive stance and moved her hand to perform a Shadow Snap.


    Just as she shifted, Kohn wrapped himself around his friend''s legs, effectively tripping him. And commenced to pin him to the ground, “Calm down Goh,” He yelled it at first, then as he felt his friend''s muscles relax, he slowly started to release him, chanting for calm. When he felt he wasn''t going to be getting in between the Hisanni woman and his friend, he finally sat up, “If you strike at her, she would have to kill you, if she killed you, I would have to avenge you. In which case she would just kill me as well. So, unless you want to get us both killed how about we just say we''re sorry, and laugh, buy her a drink to replace her lost one as an apology, and get on with our day.”


    Zira looked down at the two friends, “Does this mean we can get back to the coffee shop?” She questioned.


    It was silent a moment before Goh responded, “Let''s go back,” He looked between his friend and Zira then pushed up from the ground. Zira smiled and snapped her fingers, a portal formed opening up next to the table in the coffee shop. Zira''s eyes set on the cup still waiting on the table she had just left. She indicated for the other two to go through the portal before her. There was a collective sigh of relief as the two walked back into the coffee shop still in one piece. Then Zira walked through the portal and the room went silent once again. Without considering Zira picked up her cocoa, ready to take a drink before she was interrupted again.


    “I wouldn''t drink that if I were you.” Goh spoke as he headed to the counter, “I would have tampered with it for sure, knowing a Kander could come back for it.”


    Zira slammed the drink down and followed Goh to the counter. “Stupid people tampering with perfectly good drinks,” she grumbled under her breath. Kohn looked like he was going to laugh as Goh started to order drinks for all three of them. “And to think it was finally a drinkable temperature.”


    “We''ll have a dark roast, a latte, and...” Goh turned to look at Zira who was still muttering to herself.


    “A children''s cocoa,” Kohn added in remembering what she had ordered before and her complaints of the temperature, “With no whip.”


    It was a few moments before Kohn handed Zira her new hot chocolate, Goh had cleared off her old table and was sitting down at the one he and Kohn had left before. Zira sat down before she put her drink up to her lips, letting out a sigh of relief when the cocoa was the perfect temperature.


    END