The Traveler

Chapter 1

 Timber watched the sun slowly die over the mountains in the distance. She led her horse, Bullseye, through the desert. Timber knew where she was going but also knew it had been days and would take days to get to her location. She could not recall the name of the town, but it had been the wealthiest of the area. Timber never formally had a home, so she had just been a traveler her whole life.

Timber leaned against Bullseye for a quick moment before standing up straight again. She climbed over the hill and saw where she had been headed. Timber caught her breath. She looked at Bullseye and mounted his saddle. She clicked at him and gave him a light kick and Bullseye started to walk. Timber rested her head on his mane for a moment before sitting up again. They had arrived, but they would not stay. Timber felt on the brink of giving up, but there was no place she could call home.

Timber tied Bullseye's reins to the pole outside of the Saloon. She stroked his neck and walked towards the entrance. She opened the doors and the gazes of the unfamiliar people landed on her. Timber ignored them. The bartender was sitting behind the counter, talking to someone at one of the tables until he became aware of Timber. Timber walked over, ignoring the gazes, and sat at the counter.

"I have not seen you around here." The bartender started after studying her. "What can I get you?"

Well, aren't you being overly friendly? Timber scoffed. "Doesn't matter." She said sternly.

The bartender narrowed his eyes and stared at her for a moment. Then he shrugged and turned around. "Okay then."

Timber looked at the bartenders hands. They were metal, not paws like everyone else had. They were sharp, pointed at the end. "What's that?" Timber asked grimly.

"What's what?" The bartender handed her a drink. He just stared suspiciously at her.

"Your hand." Timber narrowed her eyes.

"Why would you want to know, newcomer?" He leaned on the counter.

"Why so secretive?" Timber drank her drink without hesitation, not caring what it tasted like. "Or are you hiding something, bartender?"

"I have a name." The bartender grinned.

"So do I. 'Newcomer''' Timber mocked him.

"Who got under your skin recently?" He joked. "The name's Yenzo. It's pretty clear you're not the nicer type."

Timber slammed her paw on the counter in anger. Yenzo didn't flinch. He just crossed his arms. The unfamiliar gazes started landing on her again. Timber pulled her paw away. "Timber." She muttered.

"Glad to meet you. So what brings you here?" Yenzo stood up again.

"Nothing really. I am a traveler." Timber said roughly.

"For what reason?" Yenzo asked. Timber opened her mouth to talk but stopped. What reason?

"What's the point of staying in one town?" She asked grimly.

"What's the point?" Yenzo chuckled. "You're funny." He flicked his tail. Timber growled.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Timber snarled through gritted teeth.

"So defensive!" Yenzo gasped mockingly.

Timber's ear flicked in annoyance. Yenzo leaned closer to her.

"You know you're in the richest town in the entire state, hopefully." Yenzo whispered. Timber looked away from him.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Timber asked.

"You won't be here for long. You probably won't even last a whole day here!" Yenzo sneered.

"You underestimate me." Timber looked back at him.

"Oh, do I?" Yenzo backed away, trying to look scared but he obviously was trying not to laugh. Timber stared at him. "You may act rough and tough but behind all that is just a coward, every time."

"I'm not the one who is a coward here." Timber said. Her tail lashed.

"Calm down before you cause a bigger scene, you take everything so personally." Yenzo looked serious. Timber looked around and tensed as she saw people staring at her. She looked back at Yenzo. He was staring coolly at her. "Am I still the coward?" He asked, smiling. Timber said nothing. "You can't even speak anymore, that's how much I defeated you? Timber?"

"I never admitted defeat." She hissed.

"No, but you showed it." Yenzo blinked. Timber felt her face get hot. How are you so good at understanding! She gasped.

Yenzo and Timber stared awkwardly at each other for a couple minutes.

"How about we continue this tomorrow?" Yenzo's tail swayed.

Timber just stared at him for a moment. "Or how about not?" She muttered.

"So you're not coming back then?" Yenzo almost looked disappointed. "What a shame." He looked down.

Timber looked away from him. She got up. Yenzo looked at her again. "Good night." He threw in coolly. Timber stared at him in shock. How can someone be so nice? Timber nodded.

"Yeah... good night..." She turned and walked away.