Wintrow

The gentleman swung the machine back around and said, “Eminox. Respect. You’re name isn’t the most unknown to the Nexus. Might I ask if you’re here for a combatant?”

“Not exactly. I’d be happy if you don’t spread the message that I was here. I prefer that my location remain hidden.”

“Can’t promise a thing. Feel free to change and prepare. Three others are here for barebrawl as well. Your name will appear on the screen above.”

“Thanks,” he said. Leaf continued forward down the ramp and into the combatants area. On the far wall, various bladed weapons rested waiting to be taken into the arena. Beside the weapons, an exit door. On the opposite side, a medic unwrapped bandages around a fighter’s upper arm. Deep red and brown blood soaked through the gauze. Leaf noticed an open bench and sat down.

Leaf waited.

After a few minutes, Tar entered the changing room. A human clothed in grey with tattoos across his body entered behind. Tar sat. His body bandaged from where Carical the Blood Carver cut deep into his back.

“Hell of a fight,” Leaf said. Tar stared at Leaf. Leaf was not sure if he would charge at him or reject him all together. “Did you come from your home planet just to fight?”

“Yes…” Tar said in common. He sized him up. “Wish to see your death?” He cocked his head to the side.

“Not the same weight class.” Leaf quickly thought. “You would kill me before the fight began,” he said with a half truth to the matter. He read from an aspiring acolyte to not outclass someone at their own mastery – they make fools out of us all, he taught.

Tar the Tarnathian grunted and turned to tending to his wounds.

“Tarnathian! You look like a man I know,” Leaf said. He sought to direct the conversation.

“Did he look like this?” Tar turned and bared his teeth. His gums were bloody and teeth worn.

“No, prettier,” he said.

“Ha!” Tar laughed.

“I’m looking to find him. I’m willing to pay for the information too.”

“What business does a bounty hunter have in searching for a Tarnathian? I should decimate you for your arrogance!”

Leaf chose his next words carefully. “He’s the leader of a group dealing in Offlander trafficking. Your people included.”

He bore his bloody teeth once more. This time he did not have the same jesting nature as before. He stood and showed his full size. In comparison, Leaf barely reached his shoulders.

He thought quickly and decided to lead with the truth of who he was. “I am a sworn bounty hunter of the Navalen Guild.” He pulled his arm sleeve up and revealed his mark. “Here is my crest.” A golden fox of his guild with the historical Crimson Kingdom shield laid behind it. “He is a traitor to your people,” Leaf said.

“No Tarnathian would dare betray his allegiances to the Milky Way.” Tar placed a palm to his head in thought. “Why should I betray my own kind?” He asked.

“He’s as likely to trade your sister, wife, or child as he is mine. The Tarnathian is no Tarnathian of yours.”

The Tarnathian yelled and kicked the bench that rested between them. It slid across the metal floor screeching and crashing into the wall with weapons, which fell to the floor. He charged at Leaf stopping just short. “Now! You remove your words from my mind at once!” He pointed to his skull.

“I…” Leaf thought for a moment. “I don’t think you’re using those words the way you want. I cannot simply remove what I’ve said.” Leaf gave a moment for the Tarnathian to regroup. “I speak with informed investigation and declaration of a higher body to bring the man you wish to protect down for Offlander Trafficking.”

Silence fell upon the room. Leaf noticed Tar struggling with his options and began to pace.

“Is coin a concern? I could pay you for the information,” he said.

This brought Tar to a halt. “What can you offer me? I’ve won hundreds of thousands of coin on fighting alone.”

“What do you seek beyond coin?”

“A fight. In my culture, the winner of a battle proves honor and respect. I will your entrance into a fight.

“With which man?” Leaf asked.

Tar dismissed his question with a grunt. “Beast.”

“In exchange for the Tarnathian’s whereabouts?”

Tar thought and mustered the words, “Traitor to you today. Traitor to me tomorrow.”

“Yes. He is a traitor,” Leaf said.

“Dat,” he said in Tarnathian.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Wolves Den cage opened before Leaf. The hard sand pit covered in blood.

“If you succeed, combatant, you may walk out with your life. Fail, and you’ll receive no mercy from the Wolve’s Den. May your god grant you passage in the afterlife.” The announcer said over the loudspeaker. “Begin!” And with the crack of a gun shot, the opposing cage opened.

A Taginat approached from the shadows to the den. The beast’s head emerged, revealing the wolf-like snout blending into sharp scaled ears. Fangs the size of Leaf’s fist dripped venomous saliva. Scales formed an overlapping protective layer across the legs and back. A fur-skin covered the abdomen.

“Strike below, strike fast,” he said to himself.

Leaf stead poised in an athletic fighting stance, ready for the beast to attack. The beasts eyes trained in on him and narrowed. Saliva dripped. The front shoulders descended. Leaf tossed his cloak aside and withdrew the dagger that Tar agreed to beforehand.

The beast leaped from his charging stance and accelerated at full speed toward Leaf. The Taginat leaped off all fours into the air. Grasping the handle, Leaf rolled below the Offlander beast and into his Trepan Stance- Leaf raised to both feet in a half crouch, placed his rear foot behind, heel raised, and awareness placed into his right calf - balanced. The beast crashed into the back wall head first. It fell and turned in a snarl.

Attack and backward roll. Hits the wall. Claw marks dig into his back. Strikes a dagger into the beasts paw. The beast retreats. Pause. Thoughts. Runs dives over head as the beasts runs head on. Strikes. Hits scales. Useless. Again, while sliding, strikes the side of the beast. Weakness spotted. Returns to form and waits.An opening, Leaf thought. As the beast leaps forward, strike at the heart from beneath.

He planted his weight, raised to a standing kneel, and thrust the blade through the chest. Blood squirted from the wound and the Taginat fell atop him. Blood pooled down the blade and onto Leaf’s torso. A roar erupted from he stands above the Wolves Den.

Leaf tossed the Taginat aside. The announcer yelled over the crowd, “It still breaths! Kill it and live human!”

“Kill it!” a gambler yelled from the crowd. “Kill it!”

Leaf sighed with relief. He looked out into the crowd. Humans and Outlanders alike shouted and shook the caged fence. (The woman watches) He walked around the beast that lay on the floor bleeding out. He turned his back to the crowd, laid a hand upon the beasts forehead. It did not rouse to his presence. Leaf reached the blade across the Taginet’s throat and pressed the blade deep into where he assumed the carotid-like artery pumped blood to his head. The pulsing artery stopped and the beast fell limp to the floor. He released the carcass to cheers around the arena.

“We have our winner!” The announcer yelled over the crowd.

Bloodied and bruised, Leaf peered up at the crowd as it cheered. The Vanguard woman known as Aleana stood watching. She smiled simply and whispered the words, “Congratulations, warrior.”

“Ha! The human won!” He yelled and jumped with excitement.

Leaf grinned a bloody smile. He had won favor with the Tarnathian. He stood proud and raised his hand with the dagger in hand.

Tar the Tarnathian reached Leaf and clasped his hands over Leaf’s back and shook him. He was ecstatic to see the young human win the honor that his people prided.

Just then, the lights flashed blinding white.

“Under the authority of the Vanguard of Crimson Kingdom, freeze where you are! You are all under arrest.”

End of Chapter 1 - The Red Light District