Evening
Why were mondays always tiring? Chris rubbed his temples at the headache that was threatening to get worse. He hoped it didn't. He made his way back to the cafe.
Ellie was finishing up for the day and she smiled widely as she saw him
Chris returned it. "Hey, am I too early?"
"No I'm late, one minute."
Chris nodded and settled to wait.
Ellie appeared from behind the counter a few moments later.
"Ready?" s "Yep, pub, bistro or just a walk?
He shrugged. "I don't mind. I'm still trying to get the layout of the town. Only really know the walk from mine to work."
"Then we'll walk and then go to the pub?" Ellie suggested
"Sounds good to me."
Ellie led the way down Main Street. "It's tiny and we all know each other fairly well. Supermarket's a bit further back, the park's probably the biggest thing we have here."
Chris walked along with her, listening. "Do you know how many people live here?"
"About a thousand last count."
"How long have you lived here?" he asked. "Sorry, I'm assuming because of the accent."
"Three years, I'm from Cork originally, you?"
"Originally? Edinburgh. Then Cheltenham. But London before here."
"We're all from all over. There are people, like Art, that are native, but we're a niche I suppose you could say."
He frowned. "Niche?"
"Well. you are like us?"
Chris frowned. "Like you? What do you mean?"
"A therian." s "What's a therian?"
"Shapeshifter." s Chris stopped walking and frowned deeply. "A shapeshifter?"
"Well one form. Arctic fox for me."
"Fox... Right." Chris rubbed his forehead. "I should probably get home. School night after all."
"Art chose you, to be safe here," Ellie murmured. "I get that you might not stay, or want to speak with me again."
"I..." Chris shook his head and sighed. "Goodnight, Ellie," he said softly. He turned to leave putting his hands into his pocket. "Save me a bacon roll in the morning?"