The night breeze flowed gently as furries walked in and out of the bar. Talk became louder as someone laughed at a joke. A bard played softly in the background and a few furries sat in various positions in the room listening and smiling at each other. Around the city of Alcove, furries drifted towards home or to the same bar to get a drink and maybe some company. One in particular sat at her desk going over paperwork that seemed to appear as if by magick in front of her.
She ran a paw through her red hair in frustration. Muttering a curse in her language, she then sat back and looked up. Taking the papers she piled them up on the desk and sighed.
Another furre sat across from her and nodded. "This is enough for one night Rastashana. Go home and get some rest or go to the bar and relax. You're taking too much on yourself and I can see that."
Siting back Rastashana closed her eyes and judged herself too tired to continue. She rubbed the back of her neck that had a crick in it from reading. "Aye... you're right Lorana. I won't keep you any longer. Go home to Ishido and," Rastashana grinned, "to some peace from the paperwork. I think that I will go to the bar for some fine ale and some company."
Lorana smiled. "Then good night Rastashana. I will see you in the morning."
Rastashana nodded and watched her friend and her second in command walk out the office door. She looked down at the longsword she had taken off and set against the wall. The longsword was a gift from a departed friend. She had received it after the death of that friend. Smiling sadly she picked it up and slung it back in its place at her back. Stepping out of the office she nodded to the night watch and walked out of the building that was the headquarters of the Peacekeepers.
Walking to the corner of the path she turned and walked towards the bar. The closer she got the more noise she heard from it. She nodded to a new recruit that was partnered to a senior PK and winked at the Private that was showing the recruit the ropes. Smiling, she entered the bar finally and looked around. She nodded to a few furries that she knew and grinned at Merideth who was at a table with Angeluss. Merideth waved back and nodded to the empty chair next to her.
"Ok. Hold on Meri... got to get myself a mug of ale then I will be right over." Rastashana smiled and walked to the bar. Taking a silver coin and throwing it out on the counter she ordered her mug of ale and carried it over to Merideth and Angeluss. "So what's up you two?" She asked.
"Oh nothing much. Just talking about the university. By the way I love watching you teach. Your getting me interested in combat and tactics." Merideth grinned.
"Oh, really? Well join in a class sometime then Meri. I'll get you running." Rastashana smiled and took a sip from her mug.
Angeluss chuckled at Merideth and smiled at Rastashana. "If you do that I will eat my boots."
Merideth turned to Angeluss and hit him on the arm. "Oh you!"
Rastashana laughed and suddenly she felt a paw on her shoulder. Turning she saw the recruit that she had nodded to. He stood there and she could see that he was frightened. "What is it shena?" Rastashana asked the recruit softly.
"P-private... h-he dis-disapeared." The recruit stammered.
Rastashana frowned. "When did this happen?"
"W-we turned t-to go into the barracks. I went first. W-when I turned around... he was gone." The recruit stammered.
Rastashana glanced around the bar and then nodded to the recruit. "Take me to where he disappeared." She looked at Merideth and Angeluss. "I'm sorry, if you will excuse me."
Merideth nodded. "That's ok. It's about time for me and Angel to turn in anyways. Talk to you tomorrow."
Rastashana nodded and followed the recruit out of the bar. Her boots clicked on the stone of the path as she walked back towards the barracks. The recruit stumbled to a stop near the door and nodded. Rastashana walked over to the door then looked at the floor. Something shiny caught her eye and she went over to the object and picked it up. Looking at it she could see it was the silver badge of the PKs. Turning it over she could see engraved in the back of it the name of the private who's badge it was. It was the private that was teaching the recruit standing close by. Rastashana looked at the recruit.
"This is his badge. Now think back... did you hear or see anything?" She looked at the recruit.
The recruit shook his head then got a thoughtful look on his face. "I'm not sure exactly... I thought I heard a... something... it was like a click of claws and a laugh... I think."
Rastashana nodded. "Good you at least are aware of your surroundings. Remember that Recruit Dagve. You are dismissed now. Get some sleep."
The recruit stiffened to attention then saluted Rastashana. She saluted back and turned away to go back to her office. She sighed as she nodded again to the night watch and opened the door to her office. The hair at the back of her neck prickled and she halted, narrowing her eyes. Searching she saw that her papers where changed and she called out to the night watch.
"Did anybody enter my office?" She asked the watch and the Sergeant shook her head no.
Frowning she entered the office and walked over to her desk. She tripped over something and caught herself on the desk. Looking down she saw something under her desk and knelt down. Seeing something glistened on the stone of the floor, she touched it. Her paw came away with something warm and sticky. Smelling it she growled in rage and that brought the Sergeant to the door.
Looking up Rastashana growled again. "Get the doctor! Now!"
The sergeant eye's widened and nodded as she turned and ran out the door. Looking under her desk she saw the missing private and frowned. Blood pooled from a slash that gaped from the private's throat. Shaking her head she stood up and looked at the blood on her paw. Closing her eyes she murmured a prayer and then sighed. She stayed like that till the doctor came.
"What's the fuss?" He asked entering the office.
Rastashana looked up and nodded towards the body beneath her desk. "It's one of my PKs Jacque. His throat is ripped." She stepped back and let Jacque take a look.
The doctor stepped around the desk and made sure to not step in the puddle of blood. He knelt down and looked around the body and then looked closely at the wound. Grunting a little, Jacque stood up and looked at Rastashana. "No doubt about it. And from what I see it looks to be some extremely sharp claws did the wound."
Rastashana nodded in agreement. "The recruit that he was chaperoning around...," She sighed. "Damn it all! I don't understand this!" Rastashana closed her eyes and ran her paw through her hair. When she felt a paw on her arm she opened her eyes to see Jacque looking sympathetically at her.
"Look that kind of wound is usually done by a wild animal or a enraged furre. And I don't see how a furre could have done that to your PK. If you will get some furries to help I will get the body out of here and check to make sure that I'm correct in my diagnosis." Jacque looked at Rastashana and waited.
Rastashana nodded and turned to the night watch. "You and another wrap the body up in a cloak and then bring it where ever the doctor wants you to." The night watch saluted and when off to find another to help.
Turning, Rastashana shook her head and leaned against the wall. Jacque waited for the PKs to wrap the body up and move it out of the office then he looked down at the puddle of blood and frowned.
"Strange..." He spoke.
Rastashana raised a brow at Jacque. "What is it?" She asked.
"The blood." He waved a paw at the puddle. "There isn't enough of it..." He frowned again and shook his head. "I will send a report to you when I'm finished."
Rastashana nodded. "Ok... please do."
Jacque walked out the office and the PKs followed carrying the body. Rastashana rubbed her forehead and frowned as she looked at her desk. There was still something wrong with the way it looked and she leaned against the wall, studying the desk. She stood there for about an hour before it hit her. There was an extra paper on the desk that wasn't there to begin with. Walking over to the desk she looked down at the paper and frowned.
Dear Alcove,
Welcome me back. I have returned and I'm hungry for some more fresh bodies.
The paper was smeared with blood and she was sure it was the Private's on the hand written letter. Rastashana closed her eyes and she shifted as she heard something. Opening her eyes she found herself looking at someone she though she would never see. The creature before her glared at her with red eyes and Rastashana's paw went to the katana at her side. The creature laughed and ran past her, trailing a claw against her cheek as it went by. Turning quick, Rastashana ran out the office and saw that the creature was gone. Something hit her arm and she looked down to see blood droplets then she wiped her cheek and it came away smeared with blood. Cursing she stanched the blood with a rag from her office and closed the office door behind her.
Chapters-2