Caden swore as his newfound companion lost his nerve and dove under a table. He noted the presence of the badger, that they had entered the fight, and he hoped they stayed on that side of the room with whatever idiots decided to accost them. Badgers weren't uncommon where he had lived in Varangia--one of the officers he worked with at the military outpost was a badger--but he had seen the kind of damage they could do on a battlefield, and he was not keen on getting near the pan-wielding specimen several tables over from him.
Then something large and fluffy and red and green was barreling towards him, sending beasts scattering and toppling. Caden felt an instinct like perhaps he should jump under the table with the cowering fox. However, he noted who the stranger carried in her arms. He thought to go to her, but she was so effective at what she did, it did not take long for her to deposit Asta in front of Caden.
Terrified yet exhilarated, Asta was both crying and laughing as she threw an arm around her father. The albino held her tight, heart hammering in his chest as relief flooded over him. They spoke to each other in Varangian.
"Asta! What are you doing here? Are you hurt?"
"I'm not hurt. Oh, I'm so glad you're here. I thought I was going to get stabbed or dragged off by one of these--these--" She scowled and gestured to the room at large with her lute.
Caden frowned. "This is why I told you not to come here, not alone. I'm just glad you're okay." He turned his attention to Pomodu, whose presence had created something of a buffer zone from the press of the crowd. Though, the fighting itself had begun to peter out throughout the tavern, save for in several particularly vicious pockets of activity.
"Thank you," he said to the red panda, looking up at her. "I owe you a great debt for rescuing my daughter."
