The four of them sat in a diner late in the evening. Empty dishes and glasses littered the table. Nobody else was there except for Penny, the tiny varg server who was just minding her own business at the moment. The hues of neon lights shun in from the outside and bathed them in pinks and blues.
Raven’s wounds and bruises had been mostly healed through magical means but it was clear she was still in a lot of pain. Her neck was bruised and scrapes were still visible, the claw and bite marks on her hands were mostly scabbed over and she seemed to be favoring her right side still. But she remained determined to not speak of it.
“Are we...just not gonna talk about?” asked Kurai.
“The fact that our friend seems to be very self destructive?” said Janette with disapproval in her voice.
“Oh absolutely. Raven you are self destructive but one of these days we’ll have a lengthy discussion about that. But we’ve got bigger things to address.”
Kurai’s companions all looked at each other, confused.
“And...what’s that?” asked Arcaea.
“That ugly ass shirt that Raven’s wearing.” said Kurai pointing at the tacky short sleeved shirt in question. It was black with golden palms. “Did you steal that from a middle aged man’s closet? Seriously, that shirt is a war crime.”
They laughed.
“Hey. I’m a grown ass woman.” said Raven, crossing her arms. “I can dress however I wish.”
“Well, clearly you don’t make good decisions. Whether it’s in combat or in fashion.” said Janette, the disapproval slowly fading from her voice as the infectious jovial atmosphere around them began to affect her.
“That was an interesting tactic, though.” said Kurai. “Shoving your fist into the Banshee’s mouth like that.”
“Judging by the bite marks on her shoulder I’d say she shoved a little bit more than just her fist into her mouth.” said Arcaea and chuckled.
“Gross.” said Janette and laughed.
“I’m pretty sure my fingers actually touched her stomach there for a second.” said Raven and smirked.
“Gross!” exclaimed Janette.
“I mean, it worked didn’t it?” said Raven.
“It sure as tork did.” Kurai agreed.
“That varg lady was so friggin huge! I didn’t know you guys could get that big.” said Janette to Kurai.
“Well she’s a different sub-species than me. There are some that get even bigger than her. And others that get even smaller than old Penny over there.” explained Kurai.
“Huh?” they heard Penny say from the kitchen.
“Nothing, Penia.” Kurai called out.
They then heard Penny mumble something as she got back to cleaning the kitchen.
“So...when did you start fighting for Mr. Beringer?” asked Arcaea.
“Oh I don’t know. A few weeks ago?” Raven seemed unsure.
“Two months ago. A little before we all met.” Confirmed Janette.
“There you go. Two months.” said Raven with a smile. “Although I usually just pop in there every now and then.”
“I really don’t like you fighting there. You could have lost an eye or some fingers. And there is no way to grow those back, you know. Not with arcamancy at least.” said Janette.
“I know. I just needed to...work out some issues.” said Raven sheepishly.
“Have you ever thought about, I don’t know, therapy?” asked Kurai in her usual sarcastic tone.
“No, never. What is this therapy you speak of?” Raven asked back and the two smirked at each other.
“It can be hard when all you’ve known is battles and fighting.” said Arcaea.
The table went silent. Raven simply looked at the dozku woman with a blank expression. “I’m good at fighting.”
Arcaea nodded. “Yes you are. But there is more to life than fighting.”
She thought she saw a hint of grief on Raven’s face but it was gone before she could confirm.
“We’re just worried about you, as your friends.” said Janette.
Raven sighed. “I know. And I appreciate it.” She gave them all a warm smile before reverting back to her usual stoic self. “So...what’s this about a bounty?”
“Oh, just a job worth 2000 lerings. What, what?!” said Kurai as she pretended to throw money into the air. Janette giggled at the display and soon joined her in the shenanigans.
Raven couldn’t help herself but smile. “Oh man, we’ll never have to work again.”
“Yeah girl! I mean we already got 800 lerings for reporting that bunker to the Keystone Committee of Whatever! We’re gonna own this town!” Kurai now leaned back and put her feet on the table.
“HEY! No feet on the table!” they heard Penny shout from inside the kitchen.
Kurai quickly retracted her feet. “Sorry Penia!”
“So what’s the job? Who’s the bounty?” asked Raven.
“Just some nobody, super simple job.” proclaimed Kurai.
“They wouldn’t be paying 2000 lerings if it was a super simple job.” corrected Arcaea.
“Super. Simple.” reiterated Kurai.
Raven looked at her varg friend with growing disinterest and then looked at Arcaea, expecting a proper answer.
“To be honest I don’t know, yet. A peacekeeper approached me today and asked if I was part of the crew that took down the urthog the other day. He then invited me and my crew...” and she moved her hand to indicate the others sitting at the table, “...to come and speak to Marshal Delona tomorrow. She’s in charge of maintaining the law here in Keystone.”
Raven thought about it for a moment before replying. “That’s...pretty huge.”
“I know!” interjected Kurai.
“From what I know, the Marshals of the colonies normally don’t reach out to bounty hunters or other adventurers unless it is a highly sensitive and important matter. If the 2000 lering bounty wasn’t indication enough.” said Arcaea and her heavy brow furrowed. “I imagine the job, if we decide to take it, will prove to be very challenging.”
A silence fell on the group as they considered it. After a short while Janette spoke.
“I...I have to admit that I never thought I’d be able to do any of the things we’ve done in the past few weeks. I’ve spent most of my life in libraries and academies. The outside world always scared the drim out of me.”
“Whoa.” said Kurai. “Janette swore.”
Raven shushed her and nodded to Janette, indicating she wanted to hear the rest.
“And, I mean, everything scares the drim out of me still, but it seems easier to overcome those fears when I’m with all of you knuckleheads. So, whatever it is, I’m sure we can do it.”
They all looked at each other and smiled.
“Well said.” said Arcaea.
Old Penny walked over a moment later with their bill. The old woman was very short indeed. Her fur was light brown, her ears absolutely miniscule and her tail big and fluffy. Her massive eyes shun like emeralds and her stubby teeth could barely be seen as she smiled at them.
“You girls better get going. I’m closing in just a second.” she said in a rather grandmotherly way.
“Thanks for the food, Penny. It was delicious.” said Kurai.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to having you back soon. Give your mother my love, Kurai.”
Penny patted Kurai’s thigh before wobbling away. Kurai gave a smile which had a hint of sadness to it which only Arcaea noticed as the others were busy watching the smaller varg walk away.
The girls split the bill and then walked out into the damp night air. They basked in the neon lights that filled the city past sundown. The air smelled of summer, fresh rain and the occasional waft of sewage. Which made them all quicken their pace for a moment while pinching their noses in disgust.
None of them were born in Keystone and most of them had only found their way there in recent months. But it had somehow become something of a home to them. It was a place where they could be free of who they used to be, at least for the most part. A place where they could just be themselves without the expectations they had lived with for most of their lives. And it had been a turning point for most of them in some shape or form.
They strolled on down the street towards their homes to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting with a marshal and the promise of an important job opportunity.
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