It was late in one of Honorfireâs less than stellar neighborhoods and
music echoed out of a disreputable looking bar and into the worn streets around. The music swelled as the door crashed open as a fellow slammed through it and tumbled onto the sidewalk, coming to rest in a pile of refuse. While certainly still alive, it was plain he wouldnât be moving under his own power for sometime. A silhouette filled the doorway, as Aden Chernus stood there with a triumphant smirk as she straightened her marginally ruffled shirt.
âWas that really necessary, Aden?â A voice asked over the dull murmur of voices as she turned back inside, closing the door as she did.
âHey, itâs not like I killed him.â She replied, heading towards the bar. The bartender, whoâd questioned her just shook her head as she poured a drink for another customer.
âYâ could âve just said yâ were a Hunter, I mean, donât you lot get some sort of crest to prove that? Iâm sure if youâd pulled that out heâd âve apologized..maybe even bout you a drink.â âMaybe Sheena, maybe.â Aden replied, reclaiming her drink from where sheâd set it on the bar.
âOn the other hand, he was talking shit and you know I couldnât let that pass.âSheena, the owner and sole barkeep of the
Honorâs End, a rough and tumble dive bar built right against Honorfire's outer wall, just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Aden was a long time regular, and unlike many of the others, she paid her tabs.
âSo,â She said, starting to wipe down the bar.
âWhere you off to? Youâre only this âfightyâ just before you head out.â Aden laughed and downed her third, or was it fifth, beer of the night.
âOh, itâs a bad sign when your barkeep knows you so well.â They both shared a chuckle, before Aden got a little serious.
âNothing too major,â She lied. It bothered her a bit, lying to someone she
did actually consider a friend, but it was what it was.
âJust a patrol to the cityâs southeastâŚrumor of a concentration of demons, so weâre gonna do a little scouting.â Sheena blanched a bit at her words.
âHey donât worry,â Aden said with a grin.
âMy tabs all paid up after all!â Despite her obvious worry, Sheea laughed and reached out to cuff Aden in the shoulder.
âVery funny you ass, but seriously, do stay safe.â âAlways.âAden yawned and grimaced as the hangover pecked at her.
âLaugh it up you ass.â She muttered to the human-shaped silvery figure âwalkingâ beside her. Gamas never spoke, but she could sense what it was thinking or saying, and right now it was most amused. Reaching the North Gate, she spotted what could only be another Hunter; the only other people nearby were the on duty guards, and civilians tended to avoid the areas near the gates when at all possible.
âYo,â She said by way of a greeting. Propping herself against a wall, she did a once over of what little gear she was carrying, before taking the scattergun, which had been slung over a shoulder, and ârackingâ it to load a shell. Then with deft and practiced hands, she slowly pulled the bolt open again. This time she re-seated the shot sheâd just loaded, before tucking another round taken from her gear, under the bolt and onto the lifter. That done, she eased to bolt forwards before flipping the gun upside down and feeding a new shell into the magazine tube. All loaded up, she captured the gunâs hammer under her thumb and pulled the trigger, easing the hammer down once it released.
All that done, she dropped onto the bench beside Zyrick with another yawn. Gamas stood in front of the man and seemed to be studying him.