Dallen, heading toward the market in Latulle Cave, took off with the soft wingbeats characteristic of an owl anthro . His eyes scanned below as he passed over the street crowded with numerous shops. With each gentle spread of his wings slicing through the wind, the market crowds appeared smaller and smaller. The street overflowed with merchants selling all sorts of goods, people haggling in front of them, and wagons weaving between them all. Even inside the cave, not a single spot was left in darkness, as lanterns brightly illuminated everything, and under that light, footsteps busily traversed the paths of earth and stone without a sound.
Dallen's gaze was particularly drawn to the wagon workshops clustered on one side of the street. Lining both sides of the road were various wagon ornaments, from ornately decorated wagons to simple carts, all neatly arranged in sizes large and small. Lamp holders, decorative metal pieces fitted with horseshoes, and even stylish copper wheel spokes were being crafted in plain view. This street was truly the heart of wagon making. Shops with hook-like curved woods hanging from the ceiling were visible, and stacks of wheels large and small clearly marked them as wagon workshops.
The place Dallen was heading to was right at the end of that street: the old wagon workshop known as Kadir's. As he approached, the heavy hammering sounds grew louder in his ears. The noise of tapping and joining the wheel rims and spokes one by one, the intense clatter of copper nails being driven in, binding metal and wood together. The workshop's door was half-open, and inside, he could see a man handling heavy wood.
Kadir's workshop was built with old stone walls and thick wooden pillars. The interior held several long workbenches, scattered with wagon wheels, rims, and various wooden pieces. Tools of copper and iron hung on the walls, while heavy wooden hammers and long chisels occupied their places. Dallen tilted his head slightly as he entered, following the hammering sounds. There, he saw Zaraman Kadir at work.
Zaraman Kadir was a man who had spent long years crafting wagons in Latulle Cave. His graying hair gleamed under the light, and his dark skin and rugged arm muscles spoke volumes of how long he had been in this trade. Without stopping his pounding on the wheel, he lifted his head slightly toward Dallen in greeting.
"Oh, Dallen! I've been waiting, and here you are right on time. I was just thinking you might show up around now, haha."
Dallen gave a slight smile at his words and opened his bag. He pulled out a leather-wrapped bundle and handed it to Zaraman. Zaraman immediately reached out, unrolling the leather, revealing a hammer, chisel, and gouge made from Babeubao tree wood.
"Hmm~ Babeubao tree..."
Zaraman slowly traced the wood's grain with his fingers and inhaled its fragrant scent deeply.
"It carries the scent of home. This is fine wood indeed."
Pleased, Zaraman picked up each tool one by one. Gripping the hammer, he felt as if a good tool would help him focus even more on his work. Dallen nodded as he watched him.
"The Babeubao tree is exactly as you requested. I sourced the wood from your homeland and commissioned a craftsman there to make them."
Even as he listened, Zaraman didn't stop, continuing to craft a new wagon wheel. He processed a large wooden plank, connecting the spokes and firmly driving in copper nails—his movements seemed somehow urgent.
"Yes, it fits my hand perfectly; these are well-made tools. Sorry I can't even offer you a cup of tea. I have to finish this wheel in a hurry. There's a wagon stalled out on the road right now—an overambitious merchant overloaded it with goods, and the wheel broke. No way it could handle that weight on the cave's hard paths."
Zaraman grumbled as he continued.
"But merchants don't get that; they just expect the wagon to hold up no matter what. So here I am, fixing their messes. I need to get this done fast, so no time to worry about aesthetics."
He hastily hammered copper nails, fitting the wooden planks of the new wagon wheel together.
Zaraman picked up the hammer again and pounded the wooden plank firmly, pressing on with the work. His hands were skilled. Each time he used the Babeubao wood hammer from Dallen, the heavy sound seemed to carry even more force. Dallen watched his work in silence for a moment. Seeing the wheel taking shape under Zaraman's hands reminded him anew why he was regarded as the finest wagon maker in Latulle Cave.
"But..."
Even as he worked busily, Zaraman turned his head toward Dallen and spoke.
"How did you manage to pick out such top-grade Babeubao wood? I didn't know you had a knack for selecting timber, Dallen."
Dallen pondered for a moment before replying in a soft voice.
"Well, to us, wood isn't just mere material. Good wood differs from the start in its scent and texture. You can tell the moment you touch it. In Muwa, we could identify fine lumber even with our eyes closed."
"Indeed... Holding something like this makes the work go even smoother."
Zaraman nodded briefly at Dallen's words, then tested the Babeubao wood hammer with one more strike. Then, he smiled contentedly. Satisfaction spread across his lips, but it seemed he still needed more time to finish the job. Zaraman drove in another copper nail with the hammer and let out a deep breath.
"This wheel's work will be done soon. With a broken wagon blocking the path in Latulle, other merchants must be inconvenienced too. I doubt they'll thank me when they pick it up, but everyone suffers when this happens in the cave, so I have to wrap it up quickly."
Zaraman briefly met Dallen's gaze, then approached to check the other tools Dallen had brought, one by one.
"Good, the wooden hammer, chisel, and gouge. This should keep me set for work for a while. Especially this wooden handle... Excellent. Fine tools indeed. You must have been busy with your own trade, so thank you."
Dallen smiled and bowed his head.
"Yes, completing commissions is my job. Moreover, I'm glad the hammer will aid your work."
Zaraman nodded at his words and picked up the hammer again.
"As you said, tools are crucial for the job. Alright, I'll finish this wheel soon, so why don't you sit and rest a bit? I was thinking we could have some tea while you wait."
Dallen hesitated for a moment but soon shook his head.
"Thank you, but I have places to go today as well. I'm thinking of taking a few boxes of earthworms to Damu. I figure Latulle's earthworms will sell well to the anglers there."
"Oh... Come to think of it, isn't Damu's festival season starting now? Hahaha... Alright, see you next time then."
Zaraman smiled understandingly and refocused on the wheel work. The sound of large wooden planks interlocking and being secured with copper nails once again cut through the air.
Dallen took in the sight one more time before slowly turning away from the workshop. The cave's breeze lightly brushed his feathers, and he lifted into the air again, soaring over the street lined with wagons.
*****
Dallen slowly folded his wings and landed at the entrance of a shop tucked in a dim alley corner. The ground held faint puddles, and the moisture seeping from the damp stone walls made the space feel even darker and colder. Beneath his feet, the scent of earth mingled oddly with the fishy odor of moss, tickling his nostrils.
Inside the shop, large and small barrels and boxes were neatly arranged. Each barrel brimmed with wriggling creatures, and in the long-uncleaned tanks, freshwater shrimp undulated with the water's flow. Next to them, thick earthworms burrowed and coiled in the dark, moist soil. On the walls, luminescent moss emitted a faint green glow, flickering softly to light the way. These lights cast long shadows across the shop's winding interior.
At that moment, from some corner, a sharp gaze gleamed as someone emerged. Large, round yellow eyes and jagged, saw-like teeth marked the shop owner, Lokaga, who approached to greet Dallen.
"Oh, a customer? You seem to be here for bait."
Lokaga said with a faint smile on his moist lips. As his thin, long fingers moved, the webbing between them spread softly.
"Yes, I've come to look at earthworms and other fishing baits."
Dallen nodded and replied.
With a gesture, Lokaga pointed to various barrels and began introducing each bait.
"Take a look here—these earthworms have been raised in the soil for a long time; they're resilient and don't break easily when hooked. And these freshwater shrimp? I raised them myself with these delicate hands, making them a favorite prey for fish."
Lokaga waved his hand toward the tank where the shrimp swam.
Dallen scanned the shop's interior, taking in the appearances of the various baits one by one.
Dallen stepped further into the shop, feeling the moisture envelop his damp talons. Lokaga's shop was far more diverse in its offerings than he had expected. In every dim corner, barrels filled with different baits were neatly placed, each with a small wooden plaque hanging that noted the bait's name and characteristics.
Lokaga watched Dallen with interest, his yellow eyes sparkling.
"You don't seem to be here just for earthworms; looks like you need a bit more variety... Heading to Damu's festival, are you?"
Lokaga said, curling up the corners of his mouth. Dallen smiled and nodded.
"That's right; this time, I want to take some more unique baits. Anyway, stepping into your shop... you really sell a wide range. What about these shrimp... are they something special?"
Pleased, Lokaga tapped the shrimp barrel lightly with his slender fingers. The webbing between his fingers rippled as he pointed into the water.
"These shrimp aren't ordinary. Especially since they're caught from deeper rock crevices, they have a subtle glow. You know fish are drawn to shiny things, right? Plus, they have a uniquely strong scent that works wonders for attracting fish."
Hearing this, Dallen examined the water tank containing the shrimp closely. Their small, sparkling bodies emitted a subtle light in the water—it was truly captivating. Propping his chin with the tip of his wing and nodding, Dallen asked.
"In that case, buying these shrimp would be a good idea. And what about those hawkmoth caterpillars? They're plump, but... wouldn't they be a bit weak as bait?"
Lokaga chuckled with a clucking laugh and lightly tapped the barrel. The hawkmoth caterpillars rustled inside, making an odd sound.
"People usually think that. But these hawkmoth caterpillars are excellent for luring fish with sound. When used, they produce a subtle vibrating noise underwater that draws fish in out of curiosity. Especially unbeatable for catching catfish."
Dallen listened to Lokaga's explanation with admiration. Then, pointing to the box of grasshoppers beside the barrel, he asked again.
"What about these grasshoppers? They seem larger than average bait; where did you catch them?"
Lokaga opened the grasshopper box, revealing the large, plump grasshoppers inside. They hopped vigorously within the container, full of energy.
"These grasshoppers were gathered from the humid areas deep in the forest, so they're big and sturdy. When they hit the water, their strong resistance makes them perfect for hooking big fish. That's why anglers aiming for trophy catches by the riverbank especially favor them."
Dallen examined the grasshoppers with interest before looking back at Lokaga.
"This is truly fascinating, Lokaga. This is my first time setting foot in your shop today, but I already have plenty of reasons to return. Then, earthworms and shrimp, plus hawkmoth caterpillars and grasshoppers... I'd like a bit of each. For starters, five boxes of each, please."
Lokaga nodded with a satisfied expression and shook Dallen's extended wing in a firm grip.
"With these, they'll be the best-selling baits at Damu's festival. Today was enjoyable for me too. My shop's goods will be put to good use."
Dallen smiled as he watched Lokaga prepare.
"Then, I'll come back tomorrow with the wagon to load the goods."
"Ah~ Sure. See you tomorrow."