DOWN THE CATACOMB

Seraphine jolted awake from the loud clanging of the watch tower bell. It was a warning signal.

Ironhold was about to be under attack.

On autopilot, she strapped on her guild armor, putting on her boots, tucking in her silver daggers, and strapping on her weapons belt. With a passing glance at her mirror, she strode out of her quarters to find two burly guards standing at her door, as though they were waiting for her.

“High Commander requests your presence, Duskbane.” The first said and turned on his heel without hearing her acquiesce.

“Follow us.” The second guard echoed as he joined the first, both striding in the opposite direction of the Calvary where the hunt battalions and their commanders were assembling.

No ‘Commander Duskbane’ or even ‘Hunter Duskbane’ 

Seraphine wondered at their beefy backs and shrugged off the discomfort she felt at their snobbish tones, as she matched their brisk pace.

“What's happening out there? Who's attacking us? Is it the Hybrids or the Pure-Breeds? What's the attack strategy?"

Seraphine bombarded the guards who were either deaf or experts at playing dumb.

“Why are we walking away from the battlefield?” She wondered aloud as the number of hunters they passed in the firelit hallway dwindled to zero.

“High Commander will answer all your questions.” One of them mumbled without breaking his pace. He wiped a bead of sweat from his upper lip.

“Wait, I need to see my men first. I need to speak with-” Seraphine paused mid-sentence. Her movements stilled, her brain working into an overdrive.

This didn't feel right.

The guards stopped and turned. They could see the wheels in her head turning and slowly began advancing towards her. 

“High Commander Vex Marron didn’t send you, did he?” She took two steps back, increasing the distance between them and widening her stance to form a defensive pose.

“Look here Duskbane, we’re only following orders-”

“What orders?” She demanded, while her hands deftly reached for the silver daggers around her waist.

“To get you to a safe place.”

She stopped. Fingers hovering over her weapons.

“What?”

“It is for the safety of the human race, Duskbane.”

The three heads snapped to the direction of the newcomer, Councilman Derrick.

Seraphine forced her terse muscles into a relaxed position.

She folded her arms with a sigh, “I should have known it’d be you, Derrick.”

“You dare say my name with that filthy wretched tongue!” The councilman fumed, his face beet red.

“What is this foolishness you cooked up while we are preparing for an attack?” Seraphine taunted, ignoring his outburst.

He lit up like a firecracker, “HOW DARE THIS-- YOU ARE THE REASON THE WOLVES ARE AT OUR THROATS TONIGHT!”

“Then, my dear councilman, let me go out there and rectify the situation.” She retorted with a wide grin.

“Just how many wolves do you think you can cut down before the hybrids scent the bloodlust and decide to join the massacre…” Derrick sneered,  “…or do you think you can solve everything with those little kitchen knives.” He gestured to the daggers cinched around her waist. 

Seraphine’s jaw clenched.

“You keep forgetting Commander Duskbane, you are just one trained hunter.” He continued, getting in her face.

“You are nothing special.” He poked her shoulder, hard. Earning merely a glare from Seraphine. 

She refused to let his taunts get to her.

“This war can end before it starts, No. It will end before it starts.” Derrick vowed with fierce passion in his eyes.

“By sacrificing your best hunter?” Seraphine asked dryly.

“Pah! There will always be better hunters than you, Seraphine.” He silently signaled the guards to close in on her.

“Besides," Derrick said, like an afterthought, "the elixir is undergoing major improvements. Soon, tales of your prowess will be wiped out."  He waved a hand, "Seize her.”

The two guards grabbed both her arms, hefted her to her tippy toes and followed after the Councilman.

“What do you plan to do with me?”

“You will serve as an exchange to the Wolf Prince.”

She turned to the guards and whispered, “High commander did not sanction this. You will be punished--”

With an angry shout, the hilt of the councilman’s blade came crashing down against her skull, once, twice, thrice, until Seraphine lost consciousness.

“That’ll teach you to know your place, you filthy wretched gutter-bred thing.” The councilman heaved heavily as he wiped the bloodied hilt on Seraphine's bodice.

Stunned silence filled the air as the two guards stared at him.

“What, they never said she is to be brought in unscathed,” He defended hotly.

In heavy silence, the guards hefted her slumped form up and they resumed their descent down the lonely hallway, deep down into the catacombs where the trade would take place.

                                                                                   ,,,

Meanwhile, Dorian and his battalion had arrived at the Calvary and had begun to search for their Commander.

The roll call began and ended with every hunter either present or accounted for. The commander roll call began.

“Where is Commander Duskbane?” The high Commander queried as it got to the First battalion.

Dorian stepped forward, “Commander Duskbane is missing from the grounds, High Commander.”

Just then, a guard ran into the assembly, “High Commander, I bring news from the watch tower.”

“Speak,”

“The Creatures we sighted have been confirmed."

"Well, what are they?" Vex demanded, impatient.

"They are not the hybrids, High Commander.” The guard whispered for only the High Commander to hear.

"I understand, you are dismissed."

The guard hurried back to his post while murmuring rose among the hunters.

Vex Marron used a minute to take in the information, then he dispersed the assembly and gathered all the commanders to the Calvary Hall.

“We have a problem.” He began.

“What do you propose, High Commander?” Commander Thalion of the Rear battalion spoke up.

“First, we need to secure Duskbane." Vex scanned the hall, "Thalion, I need a man from each battalion. Form a team. Scour every inch of Ironhold, find Duskbane and bring her to me at once.”

“I will not fail, High Commander.” Thalion bowed and strode out of the hall, already barking out orders.

“The rest of you will join me to protect Ironhold. We will hold the forte until Thalion comes back with Duskbane.”

Vex began a slow parade, to and fro the length of the hall.

“You lot are the commanders of the hunters guild, the strongest amongst the strong. The bravest amongst the brave.” Vex Marron's eyes bored into theirs as he passed them, noting their terror.

“Tonight, we face a battle we have trained for from the time of our birth. We face a battle with creatures that defy humanity in its basest form. We face a battle with the abominations that threaten our wives, our children, and our hope for a new beginning…”

The moment he finished his speech, the men cheered and rose to their feet, all seventeen of them, including the High Commander, their voices booming as they chanted,

WE ARE THE HUNTERS,

WE ARE THE GUILD.

WE ARE GOD'S JUDGEMENT,

WE ARE THE GUILD.

WE DON'T GIVE IN OR FAINT,

WE ARE THE GUILD.

WE STRIKE WITH IRON, HOT AND FIERCE,

FIRE AND VENGEANCE ON ALL CREATURES OF THE NIGHT.

WE STRIKE WITH SILVER, COLD AND FROST,

FIRE AND DEATH ON ALL CREATURES BREATHING FRIGHT.