Chapter I

The aroma of tea has always been extravagant. And that sensation of the tea's texture when it slithers down your throat. Fascinating. When it's at the right temperature, the hot but not too hot type. I guess I'm a picky tea person. That's why I know where the best teas are made. It's cleared labelled here - 'Delight Tea'.

When ever I see their cursive front store logo it always makes me look forward to my day. When you're a warrior on the battle field there's that special something that motivates you for the day.

Just like my everyday routine I would push open the doors of a new world. An angelic bell would chime above me, the sweet sound waves drifts into my ears. It always signals the entry of a new customer - me. Oh damn that smell gets me every time. Surprisingly, every day their store has a different scent that overpowers the tea smell from the day before. I've walked into this tea store everyday since I turned 15. It's been 3 years and every time I walk in, I'm telling you the smell always changes.

The mixture of supernatural, other worldly herbs seizes my nose and allured me in. Lavender, rose, mint. As if my feet can also sense the beautiful scent, I painstakingly drag my boot onto the raised platform that leads me into the shop. The floor board taps at my boot's intrusion. This tea shop isn't much, but the simplicity of it makes it calm and soothing, I feel like it's my second home. I stride proudly into the shop while the closing door behind me chimes. I graze my fingers across the lovely marble tables that's so smooth and delicate, the cool surface always comforts my warm palms. I don't think it's just the smell but the bright atmosphere in the shop with the rising sun glaring in. Gusts of smooth wind glide through the open windows at the front of the store. I was slightly startled by the energetic voice of her.

"Leona what will it be today? Your usual fireday tea." She softly giggles with her beautiful voice. I mirror her giggle and gaze at the beautiful woman with the beautiful voice. Her lively spirit stands out more than her lovely pink flower patterned apron. Her dark wolf ears and tail smoothly contrasting it.

Her shoulder length ebony hair flings side to side as she passes through a small waist height gateway, from the other side of the counter. "You know me too well Ms Naoko." She dives in for an ear rub, a werewolf's sign of greeting. She always seizes to surprise me when she too like her store smells of different herbs every day. And her ear, like all werewolves are just so soft and fuzzy. AND EXTREMELY CUDDLY.

Playfully winking with her emerald eyes she twists back to enter the small kitchen to make my usual cup of fireday tea. The thing I love most about the tea shop is they live show their tea creation. It's a 4 meter long waist height bench, with a small gateway which Ms Naoko smoothly pushed through back onto her stage. Behind the small live show kitchen places rows and rows of shelved herbs in sealed containers.

I casually lean against the bench to see Ms Naoko organizing her show. When a middle aged man walks out from the store room. On his short dirty blond hair sits a pair of wolf ears similar in shade. He whips his hazel eyes to meet mine while entering the room.

"I guess habits never change." A joyful grin curves to reveal a pair of canine teeth, as well as some lines reveal along his face. But his bright eyes glows power of happiness in response to his tail joyfully wagging about. The same way I greeted Ms Naoko, I gave Mr Naoko a rub on the ear.

Breaking from the greeting, "That's true Mr Naoko," I release a small sigh, "Guess I'll be doing sword practice today too, just like what I've been doing for 3 years, but right after my breathtaking cup of tea."

Ms Naoko passes me a tall glass cup of red coloured tea. Sitting at the bottom of the cup is a fully bloomed crimson rose, with a few dates. I take desirable mouthfuls of tea. A burst of sickly sweetness of the rose brightens me up then the crisp sweetness of the fresh dates spring joy from my soul. Then a tang of grapefruit surprises me.

I give them a pleasant smile, when suddenly a rush of people comes into the store, the bell ringing continuously with the groups of people coming in. Among them are werewolves and humans. Inpa Werewolf Village have both humans and werewolves, and I love the fact that we're living in harmony. I continue my bright smile as a crowd of people rush into the small tea shop. That's why I always come early.

Suddenly out of nowhere a small cute werewolf girl springs into the shop, and slithers with great speed to weave through the crowd of people. Ms and Mr Naoko gives the little girl a slightly angry stare. She has yellow brown ears and long braided hair to her waist. What catches me is how she grows every day, into a proud woman, and those strong powerful glare from her unique blend of jade and hazel in her eyes never fades.