Leonaira: Tales of fallen kings

"Captured" - Chapter 8

James

It takes us about half a day to reach the encampment, It's just as large as I would have thought. I can already see a collection of white and brown tents huddled together on a free grass area in the distance. The hunters "escort" us to the camp, the field before it has been decimated by fire and alike what we saw along the fallen tree, the ground simple soot from what grass was once there. Despite us being a couple hundred meters out, the devastation that the hunters have put forth is an abomination to say the least. The ground is scorched and burnt to oblivion, the smell of smoke still fills my lungs and makes me cough slightly. As do some of the other hunters and Mia. 

Large iron and a couple silver cages are kept on the outside of the grounds. Probably for my kind and Shapeshifters. They are mostly empty. Others have vampire inhabitants. I can't recognize certain things in those cages, some are large and have evil at heart. The fear, yet their ferocity lunging out at me. "stay close to me, Mia." I remind her, seems as if this could be my most reckless decision so far.

"Believe me, I'm not planning to wander off here" She smiles looking at me slightly. The hunters follow close behind keeping their formation keeping the wounded man amongst them. Let us at the front. Not that I'm worried about myself, but Mia for sure. Mia is obviously uncomfortable, to say the least.

As we emerge closer to the camp they break formation, some of the elder hunters stick with us whilst the others return to the tents or talk with others. Even the hunter who I hurt this morning I feel bad about. Perhaps I was rash and could have simply made the guy hover or something. "we will take you to the council, they will be... Pleased and surprised to see you, James." One of the eldest hunters adds. He's a vampire hunter, clearly a tactician as he doesn't look or act strong.

"Thank you, I'm sure I was the last person they would be expecting" I peer back chuckling to myself, everyone seems to just move out of our way and clear a path directly towards the largest tent. It's about the size of my home In the mountains taking a good chunk of the field itself. The hunters and the few kids I see between the tents stare at us as we walk past. They don't seem to make many others their prisoners. Some of the kids must be around six years old. Children in a war camp.

It's a grim place, to say the least. Some have battle scars and prosthetics. Few having eye patches and keeping their hands on their weapons. Making sure we keep in check. Mia's trembling in fear and stays even closer to me. Seems as if she's under enough stress as it is then this lot to look at her waiting for her to slip up giving them an excuse to kill her. We arrive at the other hunters post up as guards. The council guards halt us. "it is okay, this is James the revenant our new elemental lord. The girl Is with him regrettably" the main hunter states clearly, the guard's nod before unblocking the route with their Halberds. The Vampire elder walks in with myself and Mia. Clearly to resolve the situation with the council.

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The main platform stands there. This is the main arena where the different hunters are put into their respected fields. There are five disputed hunters and some rare ones:

Vampire shapeshifters- these are the mainly the muscle and brains of the hunters providing knowledge that could be useful for them over time. They wouldn't stand a chance against a lone grown vampire so usually from what I've heard its around ten against one vampire.

Shapeshifter hunters- This is the main bulk of the hunters some more experienced than others yet more animosity amongst them. Shapeshifter isn't as tough but is a lot more adaptable. Wolf is common, the bear is a lot rarer as the energy it takes to morph into one is consuming and the elusive Jaguar or mountain lion hunters are rare as they are usually the assassins and more skilled hunters.