The Elemental Huntress

Chapter 1 - The Huntress

Fall of 2022

Through a cloud of pain and rage, the Huntress backflipped between a trio of rogues. Knocking one unconscious, as she leaped through the air before landing, with a crack of his neck. All but one of the arrows she used with her bow were now embedded in the hearts of the many rogues that scattered the thick forest floor.

The throwing daggers she kept hidden throughout her leather combat uniform were long since lodged in the chests of the various remaining rogues. She spun her body around, whilst getting lower to the ground, knowing that the rogues could never match her speed, she sliced the Achilles of the last two, intentionally leaving their leader until the very end.

She could smell blood in the air and felt a slight breeze that would carry the scent away. Hopefully as a warning to other rogues in the area that she was coming for them.

As she got up from her crouching position, she noticed the all too familiar, confident, snicker that graced the face of the rogue they called 'Dwight'. As their eyes connected, the once snickering face turned to a look of panic.

"You're the one they call 'Hunteress'. I was expecting someone a little more menacing. Let's see if your reputation proceeds you!" Dwight spat his words, trying to intimidate her and appear confident. "Well, what can I say Dwight? Looks can be deceiving!" The Huntress grinned at him as she taunted him some more. Both Huntress and Rogue slowly circled around one another. Waiting to see who would strike first. Trying hard to conceal his obvious worry, Dwight lurched forward with his claws extended to slice and dice the Huntress.

By this stage, he was much too weak to fight in his wolf form and, whilst trying her best to stifle a laugh, the Huntress drew her final arrow against her bow, and ended the rogues life in her signature style - a silver arrow coated in Wolfsbane straight through the jugular, embedding his lifeless body into the tree.

The Huntress wasn't sure how many more rogues might be lurking in the area. She tried not to think of it too much, as she pulled her weapons from the bloody corpses. She herself, was very much covered in blood, and was desperate for a hot shower.

This was what she lived for, what she was apparently destined for.

A Huntress of Moonlight Tech. Sworn to protect mankind from the dark forces of evil. Her specialty: Werewolf Hunting. Her duty within the organization was to rid the world of those who strayed the path of the true wolf.

That and somehow... homework?

The path of the true wolf had been engraved in the caves of their ancestors long ago. They were never here to do harm to humans. They were to rule their own kind within their own lands. A secret from the rest of the world. As time went by, werewolves managed to co-exist with humans, easily hiding who they truly are. Myths had been told about Werewolves with powers saving the world from evil, but that part was just that, a myth, as nothing had ever been proven these types of Werewolves ever existed. Werewolves were pack animals, it was their duty to fulfill their destined role within their pack. Those that have strayed are referred to as Rogues, lone wolves. They generally turn feral and harm humans. That's part of why Moonlight Tech was created. What started out as an ancient group of people wanting to protect humans from the supernatural, eventually grew into a military corporation. Two thousand years ago they were once called Moonlight Warriors.

Elira was about to embark on her senior year of high school. Due to the increase in rogue attacks, and the fact they were unnaturally forming packs in the area, was cause for concern. Elira's parents decided to move to Roseberg, a city based off the Umpqua National Park Region in Oregon. They were Senior operatives at Moonlight Tech and joining them was her handler, Rhydian, and her closest friend, Willa, who was also a Huntress at Moonlight Tech. The three of them have been best friends since childhood. Elira was dreading going back to school and couldn't wait for her final year to be over. Her only saving grace was Willa, as Rhydian was older and already graduated.

ELIRA POV

As she pulled her last dagger from a dead rogue, a familiar figure strolled out from behind a tree.

"Bravo Elira, always a pleasure to see the infamous Huntress, does not disappoint in her body count or her signature style." The tall sandy-haired figure known as Rydian, grimaced at her, waiting for a witty response. "What can I say Rhydian, I was trained by the best. Oh wait, I am the best. So, I guess I was just born this way." Elira tauntingly snickered at Rhydian, who was her handler but also happened to be one of her best friends.

"Oh yes, my mistake. I must have forgotten the red carpet. Would you like me to turn around and come back?" Rhydian’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight as he grinned at me. I laugh and shake my head. "Absolutely not sir, I wouldn't want you to have to do any overtime now!" I winked at him, and he chuckled back at me.Rhydian is 5 ft 8 with sandy brown hair, blue eyes and loves to think he can out sass me. He has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I have often wondered if he's a brother I was never told about or if my parents had arranged my marriage without us knowing.

Something about him feels familiar, like more than just friends, like he's a part of me somehow. I didn't notice it when we were kids, but in the last year or so it's become stronger. He's only a year older, but he loves to think he's much wiser than me. Maybe that's true. Sometimes it shows and other times I think he's a little clueless.

He is responsible for my training, notifying me of my missions, keeping me in check, my personal trainer; he’s basically the Giles to my Buffy. I keep him in shape more than he keeps me in shape, and it's an unspoken topic between the two of us. He is well versed in the knowledge of books and knows his history, especially about the Werewolf/Lycan/Moonlight Tech stuff. I often say he's the brains of the operation and I'm the muscle, much to his own objection.

This was our dynamic, cheeky banter that lightened the mood, as we cleaned up the mess we had made from hunting down the rogues and ruthlessly ending their lives. Rhydian was more of a watcher than a risk taker, but he more than made up for it with his mental capacity to find the truth and knowledge in absolutely anything. A total book nerd! Elira Landon, born and raised into a Hunter family that has existed for many generations. Yeah, that's me, super skilled at archery, flexible, strong, 5 ft 8 with light blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, witty as hell and blood thirsty for vengeance.

See, I never really wanted to inflict pain on other beings while growing up. I studied and I trained hard because I was taught that it was my duty, but killing something or someone wasn't the type of thing I was ever truly interested in. I always felt I had a much bigger capacity to love than to hate.

But that all changed when I was 12 years old. I watched an entire town being killed by rogues in an ambush. My parents and I were visiting a town near Thousand Oaks in California, where my favourite Auntie lived with my Uncle Keith and my two cousins.

My cousins were cool, Will and Shaun, they loved to practise Archery with me and always had the funniest jokes to tell. My Auntie Sarah was the most kind and loving person I had ever experienced. She was always there for me and never failed to make me feel more loved in our short visits than my own mother had in my entire life. These visits were the highlight of my whole childhood.

Until the day I lost them, it was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. The memory of that day haunts my sleep every night, infiltrating my dreams and fuelling me and my hatred for the werewolf kind.

Although Werewolves were generally harmless towards humans, I still loathed their very existence.

As a hunter, it was my job to maintain the balance between humans and other species. Fighting demons and other worldly creatures was what I did for a living, while other sectors of Moonlight tech were in charge of discovering and archiving prophecies and artefacts. The Hunters of Moonlight Tech are highly trained at a military combat level, to compete with the special kinds of species and demons they are sworn to fight against. They masquerade themselves as a tech company.

My parents bought a beautiful house in town but aren't expected to move in for another 4 weeks, so for now Willa and I are staying with Rhydian, at what will be his own permanent residence whilst we are living here.

Willa, my cute, sometimes ditzy, but extremely fierce in a 'I know not to f**k with you' kind of way best friend, is an orphan. Mum and Dad said that her parents were heroes in the organisation, for the work they did the year Willa was born. They haven't really said much else about it. She has fiery red hair down to her waist, big bright brown eyes, and a mouth on her like no one I've ever met, except for myself, that is. She is practical and has some of the best tactics I've seen in any of the other huntresses' our age at the organisation. She could outsmart me at any moment, and I definitely think she was born for this warrior type stuff more than I was.

I graduated at the top of my class at Moonlight Tech Academy along with Willa. She was much more natural when it came to fighting, sometimes reminding me how out of place I felt in my own life.

Graduating as one of the best in my class was my own sweet revenge on my peers who had often reminded me that I didn't fit in. Something about me was different. I knew it, my parents knew it, we all knew it. And they never failed to remind me!

When I was alone, I would often think about how different my life would be. If I had different parents, I would be just a normal 18-year-old about to embark on her senior year, thinking about college and a career.

My life was already pretty set in stone.

I was to be the greatest Huntress of my generation. My parents went on about it all the time. I felt constant pressure from my mum and only ever felt love and appreciation from my dad. He was my rock!

Once Rhydian and I were done cleaning up the mess of the rogue pack I had just slaughtered, we sauntered off back to the villa to wash up. I was in desperate need of a hot shower, and couldn't wait to feel my muscles relax, to just disappear into the abyss of the sound of running water. Hot steamy water always relaxes me, I would never pass up an opportunity to enjoy it.

After arriving back at the villa and enjoying a hot shower, I walked into the living area. There I found Willa and Rhydian were discussing food options and, of course, couldn't agree on whether to order in: Mexican or Chinese?

I couldn't help but giggle and shake my head at the sight of them, just casually bickering over the menu options laid out on the countertop in front of them. The three of us really were like siblings, a family so to speak. Nothing would ever come between us, that much I am sure of.

"Seriously you two, can you ever agree on what to eat or am I always going to have to play peace maker here?" I said to them as I walked into the living area. Willa gives her usual cheeky grin and calmly states "Someone has to keep him on his toes, and I guess it can't always be you, Elira."

Now I am grinning, and Rhydian gives me a wink before throwing more shade at Willa, "I just can't handle the house shaking from your snoring every night, and think as a punishment, you shouldn't be allowed to eat the dinner you want."

If looks could kill, Willa would be the reigning Queen. Before she can respond though, I shout "Pizza, drinks and some .... dancing tonight? I honestly need to unwind, and I think this is the best recipe for us all right now. What do you think? How about we head to Club 88, and get all three at once? And no, Rhydian, this doesn't translate to 'bring a girl home "OK!"

I couldn't finish my sentence without giving him a teasing smile. I felt the need to add that last part in, as I wasn't sure of what this sudden connection I was feeling really meant.

I desperately needed the distraction and was more than willing to follow my rebellious instincts tonight. We had all been working hard at maintaining the rogues that were rampant in this town, now we needed to let off some steam.