The Hunter’s Hold sat beside the sea. A large grey brick wall kept the winds of the coast at bay. The great waves washed up the cliffside beneath the keep in a great display of white and blue. Seventeen sat on a bench by the docks while Brom spoke with a police officer. They exchanged words, papers, and coins. The Hold looked old and out of place, a relic from an era long past. The world around her was that of steam and metal, but the Hunter’s Keep had a look of bone. A look that many, it seemed, disliked. Brom had told her about it on the way over to the docks.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf5r4EHQ2Z 維尼
“They don’t feel they need us anymore,” Brom said, taking a swig from his flask. “Not many things go bump in the night anymore, and the things that do are too scared of this modern age to crawl out from whatever hole they’re hiding in.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqwTCEetyF 維尼
“But, you all still work?” Seventeen asked. The automobiles whizzed by with clunks and wheezes of black smoke. The factories pumped out steam, and electricity thrummed in the air. “People like the Cauled Man still exist?”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuUcpGznXb 維尼
“Wish it were as simple as that, lass,” Brom said as they rounded a street corner. The police wore green uniforms with silver buttons and trappings. The younger one frowned at Brom, the older one tipped his hat. “Time was we were the only thing keeping people alive. Now people don’t have enough courtesy to acknowledge what we did for generations.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjJzphHocV 維尼
A large ship of gas bladders and propellers moved slowly over head. All the noise, all the sights, everything was becoming too much for the young girl. Seventeen began to shake, her fingers twitching. Brom sighed. “Be sure to breathe there, girl,” he said in a kind voice. “Focus on your breath, your heart, not the blimps or the cars or the people. Ground yourself for now.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xIvS8ixTI 維尼
Seventeen did as he said, and for a time it helped. Everything lessened, the harsh sunlight gave way to calm warmth, the sounds gave way to repeated patterns, and before she knew it, Seventeen was sitting on a bench at the docks looking up at the Hunter’s Hold.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjYCxMrH5s 維尼
Brom walked over after finishing up with the police officer. “Now anyone besides me or Donic asks? Your name is Quinn,” Brom said. He handed her some papers, a likeness of herself on a small note, and some documents. “I had these written up by a friend so if anyone asks,” Brom pointed to the picture and the papers, “This is you.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAMrZqEqdd 維尼
“Why do I need these?” Seventeen asked. She held the forms in her hands and looked through them. She began to understand a bit better now. Identification, Medical Records, Birth Certificate, and Citizenship Papers. She was being given a past, a life to call her own. Quinn, she could work with this, she was Quinn now.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ557CzIcdXd 維尼
“I’ll be sure to stick to it,” Quinn said. She smiled slightly. “Thanks, Brom.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLPqVulBWl 維尼
“Don’t thank me yet,” Brom said with a frown. “You still have to deal with Cowl.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WAMUKj6TH 維尼
“She can’t be that bad?” Quinn asked, standing up and straightening her jacket. “Can she?”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZfYDy5ww7 維尼
Brom grimaced, a toothy half smile that showed little else but pity. “You’re in for a trip, girl,” he said, then gestured Quinn to follow him.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9zU7334Jz 維尼
The gates to the hold were a carved silver steel. Pictures of battles against beasts, abominations, and great construction projects could be seen as simple carvings. They looked ancient. A blue clad man stood at the gates, saluting Brom with a fist placed to the heart. “Captain Brom, good to see you sir,” the man said, a silver badge hung from his lapel depicting a wolf's head on a black field.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8eEjjvxz7 維尼
Quinn surmised it was a badge of office, guards must have to indicate their allegiance to the Hunters.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbrdu0CX0u 維尼
“This is Quinn...Cadwell,” Brom said, gesturing to Quinn. “She’s a Prospect, here to join the others.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtN5z9tuc2 維尼
The man looked over at Quinn, who stared at the ground with her fists in tight balls at her sides.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvpV29cUu7 維尼
“A bit young, don’t’cha think?” the guard said.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYcJlqX2u7 維尼
“And talented,” Brom beamed, “Consider her my pupil, guardsman.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6TyIBoS6g 維尼
This elicited a response from the guard who starred a bit wide eyed at Quinn. Quinn was thin but athletic, with deep blue eyes and shaggy black hair. Nothing seemed to stand out to the guard about the girl, save that she could probably use a good meal and some sleep. 8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNhvf7FLxn 維尼
“Strange days when you take on students,” the guard said suspiciously. “Though I suppose it’s not my place then?”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡX087qyjYiD 維尼
The guard turned the cubic silver knobs of the door. Quinn could here gears shift, and tumblers slide as the door slowly opened without another sound. The hold was divided into five larger sections: a courtyard, a large central keep, a series of dormitories, a workshop, and a research building. There were already several people standing in the courtyard chatting. They all looked stronger than Quinn, older and better fed. There were two girls who looked similar, one blonde and the other grim. A younger man with dark green eyes. A man with dark skin and well kept clothes. A tall man with a mop of blonde hair. But there was one who stood out, a girl with strawberry blonde hair that tumbled down to her shoulders. She looked over in Quinn’s direction, and Quinn could feel...something rush over her. Heat and embarrassment, deep curiosity, and a flutter of anxiety in her head. Quinn’s eyes darted away, back to her feet. Brom chuckled, “Those are your fellow prospects, girl,” he said in a low tone. “Be sure to not let your temper get the best of you.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJYfkFzNSx 維尼
“Do...do I have to go over there?” Quinn said quietly. “I’d much rather have a needle in my arm again.” Quinn laughed nervously.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZTGBETiMb 維尼
“Go on, girl,” Brom sighed. He pinched his brow. “Put on a brave face then.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxK5tPN2SM 維尼
Quinn began to walk forward toward the small crowd. She put on her best attempt at a brave face, all the while her heart raced inside her. Why was this imposing? They were just people, right? So why did it hurt so much?8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E9rJL9g0e 維尼
“Who’s this then?” the boy with green eyes said. He sounded terse, if not annoyed. “Didn’t hear anything about last minute applicants.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiKgVx6jjM 維尼
“She was with the Captain,” the blonde girl said. “Must be important.” Her voice was melodic and round. She sounded like a bell.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7gt7wbvM 維尼
“I-I’m Quinn,” Quinn said. “I...I only just got here.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡviaGDScLsH 維尼
“Weird name for a girl,” the green eyed guy said with a shrug. “No skin off my nose. Names Van, Van O’Drolen.” Van walked over and shook Quinns hand vigorously. He gestured to the Blonde Girl who had spoken a moment ago. “That one with the scrutinizing an’ such is Ophelia, her younger sister there is Patricia.” The grim looking girl didn’t even look at Quinn, just stared into the middle distance. She looked tired, if not a bit bored.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dk1PDI1nW 維尼
“Names Wyman,” the dark skin guy said. After he shook Quinn’s hand, he wiped it off on a cloth from his pocket. He seemed a genuine sort, with a bright smile and warm hazel eyes.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkN7maa0XT 維尼
“I’m Sam,” the tall guy said. He waved awkwardly from where he stood, then crossed his arms.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡNN7QbYrXp6 維尼
The girl with strawberry blonde hair smiled a bit. “I’m Bastine,” she said. But made no move toward Quinn. “Not much else to tell.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy7fDDbY5C 維尼
“Nice to meet you all,” Quinn said after a moment of silence. The air grew tense and awkward as the others seemed to expect something of Quinn.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUoQu9uVHx 維尼
“I...haven’t been here long,” Quinn said. Not exactly a lie, though not a full truth either.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEdIDlmwW8 維尼
“Not from Gheriwck then?” Bastine said. One of her eyebrows raised.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq4u971gq9 維尼
“No, not from Gherwick,” Quinn repeated.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLjMP82snv 維尼
“Then where are you from?” Van said. “I’m form Ditspar, obviously. Wyman is from Gherwick, Ophelia and Pat are from Fareun, Sam is Ilstinian, and Bastine?” He looked over at Bastine. “What about you, Bastine?”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡChs1kgwKd1 維尼
“Nowhere important,” Bastine said. “I traveled a lot.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡALayJzcGwj 維尼
“Fair enough,” Wyman. “You ever come to Gherwick?”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMOyOkDZ6Z 維尼
Bastine thought for a moment. “A while ago, for a little while,” she said. She wore a smile but Quinn could see a hint of sadness in her eye. Bastine’s heart was racing, her blood was rising as if embarrassed. She was hiding something, but what Quinn couldn’t say.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUp6FU9Gse 維尼
“What about you Quinn?” Bastine said, taking notice of the new girls stare.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMqvPIEKzv 維尼
“Around,” Quinn said quickly. “About the same as you.” Quinn could feel her temper rise. Why was she getting frustrated? Why were her palms so sweaty. Her eyes shot behind her as footsteps approached. None of the others seemed to notice Donic appear amongst them save Quinn.8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM9ijRhnKT 維尼
“Good to see you all,” Donic said. He wore a patch over his missing eye and a long duster stitched together with white thread. The woman from back at the mansion was behind him. She had bleached blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail beneath her hat. What was her name again? Erin, was it?8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxNFmT2ag 維尼
“So many of you willing to join us,” Donic said grimly. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.” He smiled. “Welcome, Prospects.”8964 copyright protection452ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sEW3vBjAh 維尼
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