The winter was coming early, the weather already nearly freezing at night and the skies overcast and grey only a few weeks after most places usually held their harvest festivals. In many places on the island of Futanashima these hadn't taken place at all, or had at irregular times and in ways not usually seen as worries set in as to how unseasonably cold the winter would be.<br/><br/>Iyo, the provincial capital of the island and the oldest and largest and grandest of the castle towns that dotted the mountainous landscape, had not yet seen the snow that was already dusting the mountain peaks, but only because of its more mild climate, both being on the southern tip of the island, and due to the influence of the sea, its position on the coastline keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in the summer than the interior.<br/><br/>But while it was free of ice and snow for the time being, it was not untouched. Already a small tent city had sprung up near the gates, perhaps a hundred, two hundred people clustering in the shadow of the city, it itself numbering only perhaps four thousand to begin with.<br/><br/>Even inside the city, after Konoka had managed to make her way past the guards and soldiers posted at the gates, the atmosphere was subdued, heavy with expectations of hardship. It makes accommodations even harder than usual to find, most places already full, or raising rates prohibitively high as the proprietors alternately prepared for, or took advantage of the situation.<br/><br/>Which is how Konoka found herself in the door of an unmarked and unnamed little dive, a little too close to the waterfront to be reputable. It was too cold already to sleep outdoors, and here, at least it was said, was a place which kept a fire at night, and did not gouge so much as to be unaffordable. By the looks of the common room, it was easy to see why. The room was dim and smoky, likely poorly ventilated, and the dozen odd patrons all looking like they were here because no other place would have them, a mix of shady lowlifes and crippled veterans and others not fit to be seen on the streets.<br/><br/>Beyond the man behind the counter, they were being waited upon by only a single serving girl, and that would have made her harassed enough if she were normal. She was short and far curvier than was usually fashionable, despite her obviously binding her breasts down. She had a dark mane of hair, out of which stood two slightly drooping cat ears, and she had a matching tail behind her. As it was, her tail was being pulled just about as much as the rest of her was being felt up, and there wasn't a place it was safe to swish it without getting in the range of<em>someone</em>as she detoured towards the front, looking exhausted and perhaps just a little defeated as she bowed and greeted the latest patron.