The Bird & the Blade

The Ring

Hunters point of view:
I sat in the damp metal cage, waiting with the other girls as the constant yelling came through the bars. A few beer bottles smashed against the clothed covered bars destroying the peace the girls had in here. I sighed and hid back deeper into my cloak as I waited. The cloak was my signature piece or that's what I heard from the chatter of the thugs in the Jokers team.

The signature of the Joker team was based off of the crazy clown couple of Gotham. The girls dressed up like female clowns while they fight and the boys wore strange masks. I was the only one who wears a cloak with black leggings and fitted tank top underneath it. I was also one of the only ones that got payed for fighting as well. My fights were voluntary and I got payed for my winnings. I had freedom where the other girls were stolen off the streets and while confined had to fight food and warmth.

    I tried to get as many girls out of the rings as possible. The ones who get sick or lose to badly. No one ever notices when one or two slip out a night, but theirs always more that return in their place. I try my best but their was only so much I could do while retaining my employment and helping others.

The money pays for the food me and Selina go though. Though she steals jewelry and sells them for cash, she forgets to pay for food for us and the cats, so I do. She took me in when I arrived to Gotham alone and without protection. I owed it to her to find a way to take care of her. I had taken a few days off after she had been taken back in the asylum.

     We had enough food to survive for a bit with just me, but without money I couldn't buy any more. Selena would be back in a few days again, I just need to make sure theirs enough money saved so she wouldn't have to go stealing right away. Cause even though she got locked up a bunch, she always came back.

I saw the ref walk into the cage and wave me over. I was the title fight and luckily the girls after may not have to fight if enough people bet against me and left. I fallowed the small rat like man out as he whispered frantically to me "It will be an easy fight for you, just some routine stolen kids. Just don't beat them up too badly whoever you get. Their good kids just not good fighters tonight." I nodded to him and hid into the blackness of my cloak to conceal my appearance as I walked into the shinning lights of the ring.

I stood patently waiting by the edge of the arena for the other girl to show up. I stretched lightly in preparation but nothing as I would when I was with the Assassins. It wasn't that serious of a fight, so I didn't warm up as much. When the girl finally was pushed out of the other cage and stumbled into the spotlight I noticed her attire. She is one of the Riddlers kids. The out fit being a vibrant emerald green with the black question mark gave it away.

I turned to the announcer as he started speaking to the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we have a special event for you. We have on the challenger side Miss Lora for the Riddlers!" I heard about 75% of the crowd cheer from the non Joker side. He continued "And on the victors side we have Miss Kyle for the Jokers!"

I heard the laughing from the Joker crowd which was a high honor in the ring to make them all laugh. The name I had gotten from Selena. It was her last name and the easiest way I could hide my own identity from these thugs.I heard the whistle shriek over the crown as the announcer screamed, "Fight!"

I quickly saw the girl dart forward at me. Her form was sloppy and she was trying to just unbalance me. Her plan was probably an all out punching fest on the ground but that wasn't my style. I dropped to the floor and slid between her legs before twisting. My legs smacked into the side of her calf and knocked her off balance as I through her legs out from under her.

    I quickly got to my feet before turning. I didn't attack as she got to her feet which brought some boos before the girl with a glare darted back at me. I raised an eyebrow not impressed by her lack of creativity. I used my technique from the assassins to flip her over my shoulder. As her body rolled over my back an slammed into the ground, I made a then swiftly twist to make sure she fully hit the ground. Sweeping out her feet from under her assured that she hit the ground. I heart the crack as her face smashed into the dirt.

I back off a little before seeing her start to lift her head and I darted forward. I slammed the side of my foot into her nose, hearing a crack. I then grabbed her shoulders and while doing a backflip I tossed her out of the ring before landing gently on my feet. I pulled my cloak over myself again to make sure my face was still concealed as I turned to walk out of the ring.