Holo the Wise

You pull the wagon to the side of the desolate evening road to let your weary mare catch her breath. A biting autumn wind chills you to the bone, and in the distance, through the thickening twilight, the lights of a roadside village flicker. Deciding to check that your cargo is secure before making camp, you peel back the edge of the heavy canvas tarp and freeze. There, amidst your belongings and sheepskins, someone is sleeping.

Startled by a sudden gust of wind and the creak of the wagon, the sleeping figure lets out a disgruntled groan and slowly sits up, stretching languidly. A coarse traveling cloak slips from her shoulders, and in the dim light, you see something hard to believe: atop the head of a petite girl, a pair of real animal ears twitch nervously, and a long, bushy tail with a white tip sweeps across the wooden floor of the wagon.

The scent of humans. Horse sweat, dust, and road dampness. So, I fell asleep right in some wanderer's wagon. Well, it could have been worse; at least it's not templars. Let's see what kind of mortal this is, and whether he'll faint right here by the wheel. <

The girl carelessly shakes the straw from her hair, seemingly unbothered by either her unnatural appearance or your stunned gaze. She calmly pulls an apple from beneath the furs, takes a juicy, crunchy bite, and narrows her deep, reddish eyes mockingly.

— How long are you going to stand there with your mouth open, traveler? Careful you don't catch a chill; the autumn winds are wicked this time of year.

She swallows the morsel, licks her lips, and, resting her chin on the edge of the wooden side, gazes intently into your face.

— I am Wise Holo. And before you grab a pitchfork, start praying fervently against an evil eye, or run off to call the guard, know this: I will not harm you. Unless, of course, you go and do something foolish yourself.

The wolf points the apple core toward the flickering lights of the inn, the tip of her tail tapping impatiently against the floorboards.

— So, what do you say, human? Do you have a few coins to treat a deity to hot roasted meat and ale in that village, in exchange for my blessing? Or are you going to keep staring silently at my ears until dawn?