Shadow Cities: The Hunter and the Beastie

Usually, this post would belong on our other blog, JadeWings, which is based off a 9 month old RP stat on a app/game called Shadow Cities, but I thought as short story; it could appear here. 

1.

    In the heavily wooded forest, near the clearing and just off center lays a man. His dirty demeanor is only a facade to what he truly is. His leather vest layers over a mesh of Ether. On his shoulder he carries a net, infused with his kind's magic. He is armed with a bow, but his favorite tool is a modified type of taser that is always on and crackling softly at his side. He is a Hunter, roaming out from the hunter camp that lays on the far side of the continent. He patrols and usually leaves the magical community alone, unless he comes across a very unfortunate creature, one that he feels is good enough to break, to add to his pit fighting collection. 

2.

  The camp bustles with magical creatures: Vamps, Werewolfs, Shifters, Fairies. They are only a few of the kinds found here, but in the melange they were all the same; Beasties. Their powers stripped, they shuffle in the courtyard, being assigned to Breakers; a type of hunter whose only job was to discover just what kind of beasties they are. They show no mercy and discover in their eyes what they will become. 

Some never change, regardless, their spirits too broken and are only fit as bait for the Golds and Silvers. These are the lusterless dark gray eyes. The better beasties that are prized are the Silvers- their eyes glitter fiercely and their fighting skills can be honed until they become a Gold. A gold can be found rarely outside in the magical community, most earn it through pit fighting and are quite valued by the hunter community. 

  Tasers, clubs, daggers, threats, the cracking of breaking bones. Whatever, it will take to make them fight. The sand swept arenas inside are mere practice rings; The real deal is in unknown areas where nightly hunters gather, bringing their best and trading money.  

  Those who hope that there is an escape find the camp completely sealed from the outside world. No in or out. The hunters magic absolves and absorbs all of their victims, leaving them with nothing but what is handed to them and their wits. 

3.

  Some do escape, but the marks on them haunt them forever. Beasties, they are called. They bear the marks of the hunters, and can be claimed again and again. Some are driven to insanity by the marks, but others rise to the last level. Platinum, these earn a certain respect from the hunters. They obey no one unless they choose too. It is rumored that only two exist; and to the hunters that is enough. They cause chaos and are virtually unstoppable. But, for most, even after rescued, never stop looking over their shoulders or fingering the marks that lay on their arms or feet. Anytime, could be their calling to be Beasties all over again.