TITLE:Untitled
Author:Haven Townsend - 2009

The War between the Verns and the Kalean Armies had lasted for centuries, over who would rule the land of Molonia. The loss of many lives laid claim to the plague brought on by the greed and negligence of the Tyrants. My parents had been killed in the onslaught when I was a child. My father, whose head caved in as cannon fire busted through the window into his skull. My mother was next as the explosion resulted in a fire, and she burned to death, using her body to protect me from the flames.

I then was orphaned and ran North, where I joined a band of thieves, where I was raised and trained in the way of their people. Though we didn't work for ourselves, we were hired. But as the rich begun to get killed off by renegades, work became scarce and we became bounty hunters.  Feared as we were, the renegades and criminals begun coming after us.

Soon, only 3 of the original members were left, and disbanded and went our seperate ways. Driegus Maximillion, a white wolf with great skill in CQC, became leader of the Vern's Personal Army. Padishar, a Noble leader and fearless combatant. His good judgment lead him to become a leader of a small village, and that left just me, Haven Townsend, the last of my line, a Sonatalian hedgehog who still clings to the old ways of the Thief, and continues to hunt criminals til this day.

*** Chapter 1: Bounty Hunter Hunters***

“Your bounty head is Vawn Kester, known as Bullet. A bobcat with any kind of gun and arsenal you can imagine. He been ruthlessly killing anyone who even sneezes in his presence, including the Town's guard. Reward set at 1,000. Last known location is the Welltop Inn in Sector 8-E.”

I take the slip of paper and look it over, seeing if anymore info is on it. I slide it into my pocket and look up at the Warrant Officer, nod, and walk outside the building.

“Section 8-E, thats just about 6 blocks...” I turn and head off. The hazy red sky on the verge of nightfall. I stop at a Noodle shop and grab a couple bites, though I don't normally eat before a Hunt, but I fucking love Ramen, some of the best I had too. I reach sector 8-E, mostly barren except for a podunk bar located near the center square. I walk up and through the window I spot 2 people, a bobcat, playing solitaire and the bartender, a panther stocking shelves. I walk in slowly, and walk to the counter. The panther turns towards me, yellow eyes shining bright, but his body shows his age.

“What may I grace your presence with today, sir?”

“I'll have water, but I want to buy that man a scotch.” I look back and see his ear twitch.

“Coming right up sir.”

I'm sipping my water as the panther bring Vawn his drink. The bobcat thanks him and get up to walk towards me. He sit on the stool and stares.

“Why ya' bein' so nice to just a homly stranga, mate?”

“I am giving you a choice. And you must pick one or the other.”

He looks at his glass and swirls the ice, he stares deeply as if its the only thing existing. He looks towards me, “Your a bounty hunter, and your claiming my head.”

I nod in agreement, and place my blade upon the counter. The panther continues stocking his shelves with wines and beer as we converse, as if we are just talking chaps, yakking our heads off.

Vawn lays his piece upon the table, “Well, your the nic'st bounty hunta I've met, buyin' me scotch and givin' me a choice to go quietly, so I'm not gonna kill you. In fact, I will pay off mah bounty myself! All I wanted was some respect, ev'n if I had to kill for it!”

He chuckles to himself and lays down 2,500 in my hand. I pocket the money, and grab my blade off the table, smiling.

“One of my better days,” I think to myself. Vawn then places a palm on my shoulder, and turns me around. He holds me in place, his eyes filled with fear, “I am gonna say this quick, I am. This is an ambush, Renegades set this up to kill you, saying your interferin'. I'm tellin' you dis cuz your one of the few decents I seen in mah life. Run.”

He pushes me out the door, but I grab his arm and pull him out. The panther inside had pulled a shotgun out and fired. Vawn hesitates then quickly pulls himself up and we gun it together. Within mere seconds, the building exploded. The panther within it. The raging fireball sent debris up into the air as rocks fell like rain.

We were then cut of by cougars and bobcats on gyrocycles, so we ducked into a deserted building as they open fire. We clambered through the wreckage and made it to the roof. I turn and pull Vern up, and leap across the roadway unto the next building. I motion for Vawn to hurry, and he runs for the jump. A shot rangs out and hits his arm as he's in the air. Screaming, he huddles in pain, clutching his arm. I tear my scarf at the bottom and wrap a tourniquet, followed with a hoist on my back.

“We got to get out of town, to the Fallen Passage. I have friends there.” Vawn whispers in my ear as I cross an alleyway. I nod and turn toward the North. I stop in Sector 1-A, the Northwest corner of Steperback. I dive down onto the street as Vawn clutches tightly. There is no sign of the Renegades around us, so I believe we are safe. I double check on my supplies, and pull out a ration. I hand it to Vawn, who looks as if he had a heart attack.

“So, what the fuck just happened?” I ask in a stern voice, I wanted answers. Today was going so well too.

“The plan was that we lure whatever bounty hunters to the location, by how ruthless I am. Kill them then loot their supplies and sell it for money. The Renegades are just assholes, I was against the whole plot and in doing so, I was the guy that gets killed, either that or get killed for not trying. You were our first target, but one of the retards set up the bait before we were finished with the set up. I couldn't bring myself to killing you, since you were the first person to treat me as a...well, a person!”

I stare at him, eye balling him. Now that I get a good look at him, he looks young, about 15. His accent was gone too, instead of a gruff Westerner, he sounded like a kid. His attire fit him a bit loosely, a white button collar shirt, brown over coat and pants, and a matching hat. I smell gunpowder for at least 12 different guns.

“So was it a lie that your 'a bobcat with any gun and arsenal?”

“No, in fact I have 23 weapons upon my body, and I have been trained in the use of all of them. Well, 22 now. I left my gun on the counter.”

“And your voice, you sounded like you were past your 30's”

“Easy, we are trained to change our voices. Watch”

He speaks in my voice and the voice of the bartender as if it really was us talking, which was really impressive. I look at the rising moon, glowing with the tinge of red from the smoke of the earlier explosion, still burning presumably. I look at Vawn, now finishing his supper of crackers and milk.
“You said you had friends in Fallen Passage. What will I find there.”

“Oh! Oh yeah! You will meet my friends, a mechanic who builds these walking metal people, and a creature thats called a...human? I think that's what its called.”

“Well, lets head out there, I wanna get there by morning.”

Vawn smiled, “Okay!”

***Chapter 1 END ***