Fated to the Huntress

All around her were unrecognizable bodies. Some were covered in fur, others in scars, but they were all covered in blood. Vera stood at the edge of the large clearing that had once been a safe haven and now saw all her favorite flowers being trampled without care as man and beast clawed, stabbed, and bit at each other with everything they had. The humans had swords and bows, but they were so much smaller than the beasts they fought, like toys fighting back against giant hounds. The beasts' growls were like continuous thunder, and every time their feet hit the earth it shook and made their enemy unsteady. They used their massive paws to swipe at any weapons they saw, while their jaws snapped at anything within reach, hoping to catch an arm or a leg of their opponent. One good bite meant another human would fall, but they would be quickly replaced by two more. Vera knew, rather than felt, tears were streaming down her face and neck, but she couldn't care as she scanned the bodies before her frantically. First the ones on the ground, hoping she didn't recognize anyone. Of course she did. Even covered in blood, sweat and fur, she saw the bodies of her friends, old and new. They all gazed at her in horror at the painful deaths they had just experienced, blaming her for their plight, and demanding that she bring them justice. She didn't find the two faces she was looking for, though. The next time she looked up, there were only two people on the battle field, placing their feet carefully around the dead bodies of their companions. One was a human, circling slowly with a raised sword and shield. She could not see his face past the visor he had pulled low, but she recognized the crest on his armor as the leader of her Lodge. Opposite him paced a black wolf, larger than all the others that had been on the field. He stood easily twice the man's height, and had perfectly defined muscles bulging out from his pitch dark fur. When he growled, the waves made Vera's bones vibrate, and she shivered as dark red blood oozed from his maw, but those silver eyes never left the man. "Please...stop," Vera wanted to shout but it only came out as a choked whisper as they circled, completely ignoring, or unable to hear her. "Please, you have to stop this!" Neither gave any indication that they had heard. Before she could take another step toward them, they both lunged, one with a sword drawn high, the other with fangs ready to bite. Vera closed her eyes against the c*****e she knew was about to happen. - - - - The morning sun had woken her up ages ago, but Vera had no interest in moving any part of her body. Everything hurt too much already, and she had barely moved a muscle since gaining consciousness. She could feel muscles aching in parts of her body that she didn't even know existed. The moment she moved, every ache would be magnified, she knew from past experience, and she wanted to hold off for as long as possible. Which turned out to not be long when Lottie swung the bedroom door open with extra force and slammed a metal tray on her bedside table. "Get up, you great bum!" The woman said curtly before grabbing the edge of Vera's sheets and pulling it. Vera was left uncovered and shivering, but even shivering made her moan with pain. "Oh, stop being such a pansy. You've gone through worse before, and you'll go through worse again." Lottie pulled on Vera's arm until the woman sat up and swung her legs over the side. "Thanks for the encouragement," Vera muttered as she looked over the breakfast Lottie had brought in. She wasn't hungry now, but she knew that with the day she had ahead she would need the sustenance. "Don't look to me for encouragement when I have to deal with all your moaning and groanings. You all act as if you didn't choose to be here..." Lottie stopped and gave Vera a sympathetic look which the young woman immediately waved off. "Markus has made it clear I can leave whenever I want. But this is family now. You know that." Lottie gave her a gentle, motherly smile and patted her on the cheek. "You had better eat up now. It's going to be another long day unless a new job comes in." The elderly woman left as quickly as she had come, leaving Vera to clean herself up and eat quickly. Before long, she had stepped out of her room and walked down four flights of stairs to the courtyard that took up the center of the square building. On one side were long tables set in front of a wooden stage where people were mulling around, some eating breakfast, others talking amongst each other. On the other side of the courtyard stood a bar, a large bulletin board, and some more tables, chairs, and plush couches. Some members were arguing with each other next to the bulletin board, but Vera moved past them quickly to sit close to the stage. She wanted to be the first to get her assignment for the day. The sooner she got started, the sooner the day would be over and she could recover in bed again. She rested her head in her hands and waited patiently, but frowned when she sensed a presence next to her, knowing by instinct who it was and already dreading the interaction. "I saw on the board, you and I are tied for the lead. It's not much longer 'till the Choosing, how about you just bow out now and save yourself the humiliation. You may come close, but you'll never beat me. Maybe I'll take you on some missions, though. Could be a chance for us to grow...closer" Xander teased in a low, menacing voice. He leaned in close and trailed a finger up her arm. Vera had to fight the urge to gag. "Why would I deny myself the satisfaction of beating you into the dust? I can't wait to start going on S-class missions. The time away from your stench will only make me stronger." Vera smirked and pulled away from him. Xander was the man-slut of the Lodge, and it was her misfortune that he also happened to be a great Hunter. He had taken out so many bounties he was her only real competition to be promoted to S-class, even though he had joined after her. This would be the first year they would both be competing for promotion, but they had always been so close in points that everyone knew they would end up fighting to get promoted first. Xander's rebuttal was cut off by a gray-haired man walking onto the stage with three other people. Everyone that wasn't already seated took their seats quickly and the entire courtyard went silent. "Good morning everyone," Master Markus began. "Mira will pass around your assignments for the day. I want everyone to report to their training immediately after this, unless you have a job, in which case report to me." He began listing off members who had jobs and Vera sighed. She had finished her last job too quickly and now had nothing to do but train until a new one came in. Training schedules were specially made to be grueling and almost harder than the jobs they were sent on. She already knew she was still training with Brent. She looked at the tall, muscular, red-head on the stage, and he met her eye with a smirk, as if he knew exactly how much she dreaded training with him. There was no doubt he took training to a whole new level whenever she was in his class. She knew it was to make her better, but she still hurt after every session. Once he was done speaking, Markus walked off the stage, but motioned for Vera to come to him. She quickly left Xander, and moved through the small crowd that had started to go to Markus. Only a few people had jobs right now, but they kept a distance when she and Markus stood next to each other. "Vera, I need you to be prepared tonight. I heard a rumor that a local werewolf rogue group is nearing the area. Take Xander and make sure they pass quickly." He chuckled when she grimaced, knowing she hated doing anything with Xander. "You two are going to be paired up a lot more right now since you're tied for points. I can't show favoritism by giving you a job and not him. Just be sure to bring back more trophies, if it comes down to a fight." He consoled her. She nodded, but it didn't improve her mood. As annoying as Xander was in the Lodge, he was worse on jobs. She would actually take training over being with him, but she couldn't deny a request from the Master. She grabbed the information parchment from Markus and read it over. There were only eight rogues, and so far they hadn't caused any problems in the towns they had passed. "Should be easy," She commented. "Don't get complacent. Werewolves are dangerous, rogues especially so. Just because they haven't done anything yet, doesn't mean they won't. Keep sharp, and don't let Xander get to you. Please," Markus begged as he leaned closer to whisper conspiratoriously in her ear. "If you get promoted to S-class first, it'll be a good talking point for you when I have to name my replacement." Vera frowned, but said nothing as Markus turned away to address the members that had jobs. Markus had been her mentor, and the Lodge Master for years, and the thought of anyone taking over for him, even her, didn't sit right. She sighed as she looked back at Xander, who had found a new recruit to flirt with at the bar. He twirled her hair in his fingers while she giggled shyly at anything he was saying. "As long as it's not him, I guess the Lodge will need someone to take over someday." Vera determined. Suddenly she hoped the rogues made trouble. It would give her a good chance to pull ahead in points.