A tall and scrawny fox gingerly opens a rustic door with the words 'The Willow Trader' inscribed on the top. Entering the small shack an old and weathered raccoon engages with him. "Hello, Aspen, long time no see, Your usual?" Aspen nods placing 10 coins on the counter, five of them dawning a brass sheen. In return, the raccoon places a large bottle of mead, a worn box of bullets, and a folded piece of paper.
Walking through the desolate village, Aspen passes by a sizable market with 8 stands, a tavern, houses, and a city hall with a graveyard leading into thick woods. Entering the thick woods Aspen goes along a barely visible path, snow beginning to fall as the light dims due to the denseness of the pines as he walks farther up the path. The paths open up exposing a large shack with a garden.
At last home, the fox places the goods on a table, then feeds a fire. Sitting down Aspen opens the note reading the first lines, 'Conan: 6ft, wolf, 3 scars on neck, light pelted. He has stolen from many, assaulted 5 people, commonly found in taverns, Bounty 500. For proof of extermination bring his necklace and one of his claws.' Placing the note down Aspen goes to a makeshift cot to retire for the night.
The early morning sky casting over waking him in the process. Aspen walks by the fire picking up a pot. Filling the pot with water and hanging it up to boil over the fire. Above the fire lies a shelf lined with jars of herbs, and dried flowers. To the side of the fire is a table with baskets of varying vegetables. Aspen grabs carrots, celery, a small squash, and a jar of lavender. He fiddles around to find a cup, dropping buds of lavender to steep in it. Aspen returns to the last of the boiling water, slicing up the vegetables and plopping them into the pot to simmer.
Suddenly, knocking estimates from the entrance. "Aspen Fernandez?", an assertive voice calls out. Opening the door Aspen makes eye contact with the person in the entryway. A short, slender, and lean Coyote stands in front of him. Dawning fair clothes, long well-kept hair, and black combat boots. "My name is Colonel L. Hackberry, I've been sent from Bleckcrest to discuss important information". Hackberry enters the dwelling without giving Aspen a second to process. "Uh- Sit down I guess, I have Tea and soup cooking want some?", "Tea is fine". Aspen returns to the fire, reducing the flame and removing the pot, bringing back two cups of tea and a bowl.
"Word has spread to my superiors that you are skilled in tracking down and dispatching targets in a timely and secret fashion", "We need someone with your capacity in our leagues". Hackberry speaks while making mental notes of Aspen's body language. "Really?", I never thought that I was that good". Aspen unknowingly making himself seem weak with this statement. "When can I start"?
"Right now you can, pack up". Hackberry instantly responded. Leaving the next couple of hours for Aspen to pack, and inform his superiors.
