A Hunter's Mark ( Misskitty19&JamesWeatherford)

[MissKitty19]

Aura

was aptly named, the youngest of six children, all of whom before her were male. She was indeed like a breath of fresh air for her mother, who had begun to despair at being surrounded by so many men. She was also born later in life. Grey had begun to color her mother and father's dark hair and now that she was coming on her 20th year on this earth they were both well past middle age and bordered on elderly.

Her eldest brother had a family of his own, and a small girl child that was still toddling around cared for by the tribes elderly while the parents hunted to provide.

She normally would join them, hunting in a coordinated pack. At 19 years she a more then capable warrior in her own right. Tall. Taller then her mother and yet still shorter then all of her brothers and her father. Sturdy too. Her body hardened with the effort of life but still feminine. Not as curvaceous and soft as the woman who did not hunt. But still sporting lovely curves.

Instead of hunting though it was her newly appointed job to teach the small pup that was currently curled up in her lap, enjoying the warmth from the fire. He'd been bound to her as her companion only days before.

Her people lived alongside wolves. Traditions linking familial packs of wolves to family units within the tribe for generations. They lives together, hunted together, fought together with the creatures. Each tribe member was given a cub too bond with when they came of age
She'd finally done just that.
It wasn't late, or rather wasn't late enough that a quiet had found it's way into their settlement. No, the air was still alive with families conversing about their days and familial packs arriving back from their hunts.. Her gaze fell on the boy, not far away, A year older then her. When he caught her gaze he smiled, and embarrassed at being caught looking at him, she returned the smile with a nervous grin of her own. Her cheeks flooding with warmth and she recalled the rather forward way she had shown her initial interest in him, shortly before she was matched with the pup in her lap. Part of the coming of age was to make a killing blow during a family hunt. She had been successful, and the high had her feeling as if she could take on the world.

That kiss under the old willow has been her first taste of adult love. Even now, as she sat by the flame she could feel the way his hand had slid around her waist and settled at the small of her back, pulling her into him. Deepening the fervor of the kiss.

He was nice to look at, and the wolves in his family were as strong as they were in her own.

Aura looked down at the pup in her arms, Due to his coloring she's named him Night. He wouldn't be primed for mating until he was at the very least a yearling. So she had plenty of time to work up the nerve to take things farther. It was important he be strong though, to claim the female as his own. If the female rejected him. Aura's romance with the boy would be put to an end.

Still a year was plenty of time.

At least that was what she had thought. She woke in the middle of the night to the commotion, the noise and her sudden motion causing Night to spin in circles yipping on the end of her cot. She lifted him and left to find out what was going on, when she stepped outside she was greeted with an awful sight. Fire everywhere, and not the typical cooking fires and fires for warmth. Instead big, destructive blazes consuming the flammable canvas shelters. Cries echoed in the wind and she listened as the pup in her arms perked up his ears. The war cries of her people sparking the beat of her heart, it thumped in her ears like a drum and her eyes searched for her family in the fracas. Her father's Companion, A massive black beast bounded past her and she ran after it.

"Aura, find your Mother and Sister in law, and get them to the caves."

That was what she did, Finding her mother slumped over her whimpering grey companion. Normally when a companion is wounded in battle and death was inevitable they would make it quick, peaceful. But there wasn't time. Dragging the mourning woman away , watching the ache in her mother's eyes as she was tugged off the heaving beast. In the caves there was crying. Her brother's wife, held her child and sobbed, when she inquired, she wanted to scream in her own mourning.

"He's gone, Star and Nina too. They took out the wolves first, while we were still asleep, Father saved us." Her father, and her four other bothers they were all still out there. They all still needed her help.

"No, Aura, don't" Her mother tried to stop her but nothing could, she kissed her mother's cheek, sure she may never see the woman again. She was sorry that she wasn't the sweet girlish daughter that her mother deserved. Like everyone else in her family she was a warrior. She wouldn't hide while those she loved died for her. She took a scrap of cloth and tied the pup to her chest. Hoping that he would keep still as she left, In her hand, the wooden handle of her signature blade, a short knife that wrapped around the back of her hand just above her knuckles before coming to a point just above her thumb. If she hadn't trained with it one would wonder how she didn't hurt herself with it as it wasn't a very conventional weapon. Though Aura liked how it allowed her to get close to her prey. It was small but deadly, a point she proved when as a man went to grab her, swinging the hand around as the blade sunk into the flesh at his throat, without warning blood spurted from the wound, soaking her hand in the warm red liquid and spattering the side of her face and her dark hair.

She moved forward and came across her youngest brother. The boy just a year older then she, his yearling chewing on the arm of one the pair had just taken down. "Run." She said, tears blurring her vision as a man came up behind the pair. In horror she watched as her bother was gutted from behind, and angry she moved to attack the beast who had done it. The screech elicited from her lips as she leap onto the man a horse sound filled with the loss she had just experienced.

A tiny thing, in comparison to the men of her own tribe, she was even more minuscule in comparison to these attackers, so when an arm moved to strike her. It sent her positively flying a good distance away, skittering in the dirt until the back of her head slammed into the trunk of a tree vision blurring she tried to get up. Night, head out of the sling bathed her chin as weakly her body slumped back down, vision fading to black. Arms circling around the worried and whimpering pup. To protect it.

 

[JamesWeatherford]

For hundreds of years now, Humans have hunted elves. Considered by all a lesser race, they were considered a minor species compared to the humans, just based on their evolution compared to the human race. They all still lived in forests among wolves like savages, instead of trying to integrate with society. This explained in most part why, in every city or town you would go to, you would only find enslaved elves used as sex things or pets and servants.

Edar Grov

Finally being the captain of his hunter team, Edar had to work hard for it. An orphan probably abandoned by his parents at birth, he never stopped working through blood, sweat and tears for this position. Edar never had a particular hatred for the elven people, say for that he was human and everyone regarded them as lesser people, or even not as people sometimes. But hunting is just another job, and a man's gotta live. Having grown up partially in the streets, violence was most he knew and so becoming an elf hunter felt like the most logical choice.

On a spring afternoon, the hunt was on. Edar, or Cap'tain Grov as he was called by his subordinates, was leading the search with two blood hounds. Soon enough, the dogs picked up on a scent trail that led the hunting party to the elven camp. Stopping the dogs, the captain signaled his team to fall back to a cave they had spotted earlier. They would wait for the opportune moment, probably the middle of the night, to attack.

As they waited for the night, anticipation and excitement grew on the minds of the team. This was, after all, just a job. But not any job. They would probably all get injured, and some would die tonight, though they hoped it would be more elves than humans that would perish. Most of the men felt anxious, though this feeling would soon disappear as the moon came out from behind the clouds, and the team moved on in the cover of the night.

Swift on their feet in the high of the night, the team discreetly arrived at the village from the back, unseen. One of the hunters had brought firewood, which he promptly struck together to light on fire and started setting fire to as many shelters as he could before the team started rushing in the village and the carnage started.

Many died that night. Edar lost four good men and two were badly injured. Most of them had consequential bite mark and scratches on their clothes, arms and faces from the fight, but they all emerged victorious. All remaining elves were either dead or captured. Most of female that were considered usable by the hunter's standards were taken as slaves and chained up, while the others were either raped and killed or directly killed.

Doing a last tour of the village to check for anything to grab, Edar noticed a noise coming from a tree. Walking over to it, the man saw a pup wolf which seemed to be protecting a young female elf that was laying next to a tree trunk. The human captain quickly ordered one of his man to grab and throw in a cage. He then walked up to Aura which looked dead. The female was bleeding from the back of her head, though she was still breathing. Kneeling to get a look at the female, Edar moved the hair that covered her face with his fingers and smiled. Young and pretty, she'll fetch a nice price thought Edar before wrapping his arms around the female and lifting her up over his shoulder.

Coming back to his group, some of his team had come back with their horses. Edar placed Aura's unconscious body on a horse and let one of his subordinate tie her hand and feet in case she woke up during the walk home.

Marching all the way through to the morning, they were only an hour away from the town of Elderia now. The morning sunlight was caressing their faces as they walked through the lush forest, following the dirt path through to the city.

 

[MissKitty19]

She came awake with a groan the musk of horse in her nostrils overwhelming she struggled swaying her body back and forth until she slid back landing on her bound feet off the horse and then landing hard on her rear end. Yet another bruise. Or two . Her eyesight was still bleary, but she could make out a procession, horses, and people on foot and wagons, and, elves in chains. They were being marched to the auction block.

Horrified she closed here eyes, hoping it was just a dream, a nightmare, but when it was still there when they opened again. If less blurry.

Lowering her head she lifted her bound hands, fingers gently running over the back of her head, blood sticky in her dark hair, her scalp had split when she hit the tree. She needed a regenerative brew or some stitches to heal properly.
Considering they had just tossed her over a horses back she doubted they cared one way or another. If she died on the way to the auction block she was just a little bit of income out of their pocket and nothing more.

So instead she reached down to her feet as a man got off the horse that she'd fallen from and began lumbering towards her, as she managed to free the ropes around her feet and stood he was on top of her. She whistled before she could be stopped, hearing the familiar yip of her pup her gaze moved from the approaching man too the wagons, When her wrists were grabbed and pulled towards him.

The sudden movement made her dizzy, and the blood flowing to her previously bound feet made her unsteady and she fell right into him. Cursing in elvish as she yanked herself back wanting to put space between them, only to stumble again. Her bound hands moving to hold her head as it throbbed.

She'd watched her family and her entire tribe of people decimated and a knock to the head is what would hinder her escape? The thought infuriated her. Aura hissed as something touched the already healing wound.

 

[JamesWeatherford]

As they arrived in Elderia, the people and shops that they passed were silent. They instilled respect and fear where they went. People who didn't agree with the elf hunt would not dare say anything, and those who agreed dared not disturb the mourning of the hunters that had once again lost people. People parted to let them through, only closing the gap after the row of chained up elves had walked through.

Aura was still slung across a horse, her black hair dangling down and rubbing against the horse's side as he trotted along the party. The party wasn't paying much attention to the female as she had been unconscious since they picked her up and she was tied up hands and feet.

As they walked through the streets, Edar was leading the party, riding the horse which was carrying Aura. Looking straight ahead as the horse was trotting along, there was a sudden movement on the back of the horse. The man turned around and realized that the elf had fallen off the horse. Raising a hand, the procession immediately stopped. Edar got off his horse and walked towards the female that was on the ground.

The wolf pop was barking from his cage atop a grey horse but, bark all he could, the small pup couldn't do anything. Reaching Aura, the captain of the hunting team was quick to grab her arms and hold her against him as she fell back, not leaving her any chance to start running. Though, even if she did, she wouldn't have gone far. Elves in Elderia are all slaves, sex workers and maids. If she did anything that didn't fit those roles, she would've soon be caught. Also, since she hadn't reached the slaver yet, she didn't bear the slave's mark.

As she falls back into him, Edar notices the dried blood mixed with fresh blood on her scalp. Letting go of one of her hands to examine it further, moving around strands of her black hair, the man notices it doesn't look great. She would need attention given to her wound or she wouldn't make it. It would be a shame if she didn't as she would fetch a good price.

Signaling the rest of the team to move forward, Edar lifted her back onto her feet. "Move, elf" he ordered as he helped her walk towards a building who's facade was green. An Apothecary who would have supplies for a healing ointment and cleaning supplies.

Pushing the door to the shopfront, Edar forced the elven woman to enter the shop and the man then closed the door behind them. "Apothecary, are you here ?" then asked the human as there wasn't a soul inside except for the two. The room was mostly filled with shelves. On these shelves many containers with herbs, roots, powders and liquids of many colors and smells.

 

[MissKitty19]

" Be gentle with her." The Apothecary said sternly as he gathered up the tools of his trade. " I'll charge the company for the services, I assume I'll be paid once she's sold?"

Aura watched the dull throbbing in the back of her head had been largely soothed as he was handed a small bottle and some scraps of fresh cloth. " Clean the wound and reapply clean bandages every twelve hours."

Aura sat there, unbound, the two of them largely alone. She looked up at the man from where she sat, Her hands still bound. Tempted to make a move, she could perhaps overpower him, if she wasn't so dizzy. Elves were small, but they were adapt fighters, her wild gaze caught his and she imagined climbing him and using her binds to strangle him. But then where would she go? If she could make it too the town's edge without being caught, then what?

If the last of her family and tribe had remained hidden in the caves, They would have set off in the opposite direction, she could track them sure, but without Night?

" What will be done with my wolf?" She asked quietly in common, looking very worried as she did so. He'd probably find it strange, that she was more concerned for the pup then herself, but so much of her Familial line of beasts had been wiped out in the attack. He was part of the future of her people as was she. Though her fate had less hope then his. Doomed to be a slave, either as a Domestic or to warm a wealthy mans bed. Neither appealed to the wild spirit within her. She couldn't imagine being cooped up in a building such as this for the rest of her existence. A bauble in a man's collection.

When the Hunter approached to collect her, she'd kick his shin, the force causing the chair she sat in to skitter back against the wood board floor. Her hands still bound, she watched the man, speaking in broken common for the first time.

" Try again and my aim will be better next time."

 

[JamesWeatherford]

Edar grunted as he moved the young elf to a chair. Taking a step back to let the Apothecary take a look at her wound, he nodded to the question about payment and mumbled "Yes of course, if she's still alive" before grabbing what was handed to him. Walking around the chair to face the female, he then prompted her to tilt her head forward so he could clean the wound that was there.

Uncapping the small bottle and wetting the scraps of cloth with the contents, the man slowly started cleaning the wound. "Sold for meat unless someones buys it as a pet" explained the hunter as he swiped the cloth along her wound, removing dried blood along the way. "If he can be trained" he then added, as a note that if he didn't behave, the pup would probably end up in a ditch somewhere.

Taking a step back to let the Apothecary show him how to bandage the head and finish the knot with the cloth, Edar sighed. The elf being hurt that bad meant that he couldn't sold her as is and would probably need to leave her somewhere until she healed, or keep her with him.

Soon, the apothecary moved back, signaling that he had finished. Edar went to the counter, a side eye still looking at the elven female in case she tried anything. The man on the other side gave him a few bottles of the cleaning liquid along with some clean cloth. Turning back to go and grab the future slave that was still sitting down the chair, she suddenly kicked his chin. The man exclaimed in pain before grabbing a handful of her hair and pulling on it to force her gaze to meet him.

"Do this again and I promise you I will gut your wolf in front of you"

 

[MissKitty19]

" You harm that pup I'll chew through my wrists." She threatened face mere inches from his face hissing in her discomfort. Her gaze a flamed as it met his. She didn't want to end her life but there was no doubt that she would if she needed too.

Her lips parted ever so slightly as she matched her intense gaze.

" He won't take training from anyone else." It was true, the nature of her bond with the pup made it easier for her instructions to reach him, It also made it a lot less likely that he'd listen too another. " If he dies, so do I."

She knew that if she died before she was marked and sold he wouldn't make any money from her, but there were many others, so many others of her tribe, one dead elf surely wouldn't matter much to him, unless, she could figure out a way to set herself apart. Her gaze flitted over his face settling on his lips for a long while. If he wanted her, perhaps he'd be more willing to keep her happy? Thinking perhaps that she would reciprocate that joy?

Her cheeks flushed at the thought, surely he'd ask more then she was willing to give, but if it was for Night.

Lips met his briefly and her eyes fluttered closed, recalling the last and only other time she'd shared such intimate contact with someone. Her voice sweet as she bargained.

" Give him back to me, sell us as a pair and I promise to be on my best behaviour the rest of the trip, A virginal well behaved elf and a well behaved pup is sure to go for a pretty penny no? Unless..." She pulled back, the surprise of her action having caused his grip on her hair to fall. So she was more then able to settle back on the chair comfortably crossing her legs as she continued. " You intended to taste me first before the auction block?"

 

[JamesWeatherford]

Tightening his grip on her black hair as she talked, Edar took a moment to consider what she explained. He had heard about the elves' link to their wolves and what she was saying did make sense.

But, before he could respond, before his lips even parted, they were met with hers. The soft and subtly warm sensation of her lips against his own had him disconcerted. The elf had just kissed him and her voiced had turned from harsh and hissing to sweet and mellow, flirty even.

Listening closely to every word she said, like a sweet melody to his ears, she once again surprised him with her pull back and his grip on her scalp had loosened, allowing her to sit back in her chair. So she was a virgin. Interesting. She wasn't wrong, a young and beautiful elf like her would fetch an amazing price, even more with a pet. Edar knew of some rich, or rather richer than him people who would pay a pretty price for that.

But now she talked about him taking a taste for himself before selling her. The thought hadn't really crossed his mind until then. But with the sweet kiss she'd just given him, plus the promise of a virgin to warm his bed at least until she healed was an interesting proposition.

"Fine" he muttered, still cold and not wanting to let through too many emotions, especially where other people could see. She was still an elf after all, a less than nothing living thing. "Let's get your pup." he then added before taking a step towards her.

Edar then grabbed the roped that tied her hands together and pulled on them to make her stand up. "But before that, we need to brand you" he then added with a small laugh. Sure she was turning his head easily, but Edar didn't forget his job and what she was here for. She was still destined to be a slave, and she'd need to bear the magic mark like all the others. "Come on let's move" he then added before thanking the apothecary and getting out of the shop, preceding Aura.

 

[MissKitty19]

She moved at a steady pace. Bare feet, used to rough forest terrain, unused too the strange even dirt paths and stone cobbled roads. Spots were damp and sullied where horses relieved themselves and his pushing didn't really allow her a chance too avoid much or watch where she stepped. No wonder so many humans smelled awful. By the time she got too the muddied ground where the auctions took place she was feeling woozy once again. The scent of seared flesh in her nostrils as she was pushed into a tent, eyes adjusting to the din she could see a small gaggle of her kin naked and chained and one on her knees as a red hot rod extended from her upper arm.

An Older woman, paired with another woman if she recalled correctly, yes, the redhead was shivering in the naked group, a red angry wound on her arm.

The man with the brand removed it and examined the mark, a glow and the woman who had done an excellent job remaining silent through the branding yelped as if she had been burned again.

"Another virgin Rare for them to be so old." Another man behind him nodding and scribbling in a ledger of some sort as the woman was tossed into the group. Her chained lover catching her. Clanging and jingling as one woman stopped the other from hitting the ground with her own body. The sound of naked flesh hitting naked flesh" Ah, that makes sense. Captain! Welcome back! What do we have here?"

The man spoke to the one behind her. Eyeing her as he did so.

" Another to take the mark? Go ahead and strip her then. Aura's eyes went wide. What? No. If she was just taking a brand on her arm then why did she have to be nude?

Two men moved forward practically tearing her clothes off and tossing them into the fire while the man who ordered it. Shoved the end of his brand back into the coals. is friends forcing her to her knees.

" Got yourself a feisty one eh Cap? Love it when they fight a little. Makes it so satisfying when they break." He punctuated the word ' break ' by swimming the white hot branding iron out of the fire and pressing it into her arm.


Instantly she understood why the other woman hadn't said anything. This was no ordinary brand. She felt the magic coursed through her veins. When the iron was removed. It stopped her eyes watering from the pain that seemed to radiate from the mark. The man laughed as he examined the seared spiral on her arm as the tail end curled. Signifying to him her innocence.

He was about too tell the man too write down again and Aura yanked her arm from his grip. Standing nude and moving swiftly back too the man she'd come with. The Lessard of two evils. " Satisfied?" She asked showing the ugly burn before covering her chest with her arms. Now she's have to walk about nude, at least until they fetched Night.