— James —

After wandering the city for a while, I realized. I had no idea where the guild I wanted to join was. Pulling out the map, I couldn’t make heads or tales where I even was. “Excuse me.” Calling out to the first person I saw, hoping they might know where to go.

A tall woman with long brown hair, carrying a halberd on her back turned toward me showing crisscrossing scars across her face. “Yes?” After getting a better look, I found she was quite attractive. Even her scars seemed to accentuate her face. How does that even work?

Finding I was staring, I walked toward her gesturing to the map. “Do you know where I can find the warriors guild?”

She smiled. She definitely saw me staring. She looked over the map then asked. “ Which one?”

“The owl one,” I replied.

While looking over the map she asked. “Which owl one?”

Which one? Now confused I asked. “There’s more than one?”

She looked away from the map smiling. “Yeah, there are three.” Holding up three fingers.

I didn’t know there were multiple. Noame just suggested looking for the owl guild. Was there a specific one I should shoot for, or are they all the same? “Ok? So what’s the difference between them?”

She shook her head. “No idea, just know their names.”

I stared slack-jawed at her. “Well then, what are their names?”

“Grass, Masked, and Grey.” She counted them off on her fingers as she spoke.

Just from the names, they all had their own appeal. Masked sounded mysterious. The grass had the feeling of weight; resilient, sturdy, flexible. Grey, felt like they dwelt in the grey area of the world. Doing what must be done.‘Not sure how I feel about that honestly. But what do I know, I'm literally judging them by their names. Thinking over the three I asked about the one that intrigued me the most. “How do I find the Masked Guild?”

She shrugged.“Not sure.” Well, second choice then. “Grass?”

Shrugging again she answered. “No idea.”

Sighing resignedly I asked. “Grey then?” Maybe they can direct me at least.

“Sorry don’t know where any of them are.” She said apologetically.

Confused, I asked. “Then how do you know their names?”

“Don’t need to know where they are to know their name.” She said flippantly.

Now annoyed. “Then why didn’t you say you didn’t know?”

Scrunching her nose at my comment. “That would have been rude. I do know the general area.” She seemed to take personal offense at the thought of being impolite.

“Then where is the general area.” I pointed to the map in my hands.

She came close and poked at a spot on the map. “Three blocks east from here you’ll find the warriors guild district. Should be one of the ones in there.” She circled a large area on the map. That had to be at least a few miles in diameter.

Now staring at the area she circled. I was feeling overwhelmed by the size of the search area. I was really hoping I misheard. “District?”

“Yeah, warrior guilds are very popular here.” She points to a spot three blocks away from the area she circled. “By the way. You are here. I hope that helps.” Before I could ask any follow-up questions. She pointed in a direction. “That way.” She began to walk off.

“Bye?” I honestly don’t know if that was helpful or not. Folding the map, I placed it in my bag and headed in the direction the woman pointed.

It took no time at all to locate the warrior district, once I knew where it was. The only problem now was everyone I asked didn’t know where the owls guild was. A few people gave me directions but always ended up in front of a different guild. For some reason, they kept sending me to a crow’s guild. I didn’t know what their specialty was but I didn’t want to be a crow.

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“Why does no one here know where any of the owl guilds are?” I asked the open air. I’m starting to think there is no owl guild here. I had searched through the massive warrior district for hours. I found the hawks, eagles, badgers, crow, and eight different reptile guilds but no owl. Everyone knew of the guild, but no one knew where it was. It was starting to get dark when a grumble came from my stomach as I passed a nearby restaurant.

“I should probably eat something.” I made my way into the restaurant to eat and think.

I found a table and gave the waitress my order, beginning to think this over. Maybe talking to myself a little. “This makes no sense; how can everyone have heard about the owl guild, but no one knows where it is?”

“That’s because they find you.” A voice from the table across from me spoke.

“What do you mean?” Looking over to the table to see who spoke.

The man pointed his fork at me as he spoke. “Simple. The owls don’t advertise. They only bring people in that they believe are worthy.” He was a slim olive-skinned man, with slicked-back hair wearing a rapier on his hip, toned muscles, and a cocky smile. He sat at the table with two other men with pale skin, short dark blue hair, large, athletic build, carrying large scimitars. One had half his head shaved in a stylish wave. They were all dressed plainly, in jeans, t-shirts, and jackets except for the guy with a rapier. He looked like he just left work or something, with his white dress shirt half-tucked into dark dress pants. They looked like three friends out for dinner.

“And how do you know that?” At this point, I had been on a wild goose chase all day and was trying not to get my hopes up.

The one with the shaved side replied. “Simple. We are them.” He flashed an owl pendant inside his jacket. “Now why don’t you come to join us, James.” The man flashed a smile over toward me.

“My name…” I stared at them and got up to join them. This was the first lead I had and it was just what I was looking for. Grasping this thread, I asked before I missed my chance. “Can you guys bring me there after dinner?”

The other large guy at the table grimaced as he spoke. “Sorry man. Their registration is only in the morning, but we’d be happy to show you tomorrow.”

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed but at least I had some people to bring me there. I wonder which owl guild they are. Deciding not to push it, by asking which guild they represented, I enjoyed the dinner and company.

I was enjoying the company of the three owl members. It was a nice dinner where we spoke, joked, and had a good time drinking into the night. They bought all of my drinks. They said it was an early congratulations gift for being selected. They apologized saying that they would have approached me earlier, but needed to make sure I was someone with the determination to join.

It was late into the night when it hit me. I was trashed. Odd. I didn’t know three drinks could make you feel like this. Was it three? I held up my hand attempting to count the drinks I had. I made it to three before stumbling over myself.

“Ok. You're drunk. Let’s get you to your room.” One of the big guys...PETER!! That was his name. He was the one without the shaved part of his head.

“Well the world is spinning. That might be a good idea Peter.” I was happy I remembered his name.

The three men grabbed me and started to bring me outside the restaurant we were in. What was the name of the place? I tried to look up at the sign but everything was spinning, and I was having trouble focusing. “I will find you again one day restaurant.”

“Now where is your hotel?” Peter asked me while the others were holding me up.

I shook my head trying to remember where I was. "Did I get a hotel room?" A small chuckle fell out as I spoke. “You know I haven’t gotten that far yet.” Laughing at my own joke, I saw the men smile wide.

“Well let’s get you to a place.” The slim man said. Keepers, I wish I could remember his name. He was so funny, don't want them to think I didn’t have fun.

Thinking they would bring me to a place I could stay I shouted. “Onward!” They are so nice.

We walked for a long time on the twisting streets. “Hey is that a pixie?” A small ball of light flits past me as we walked. The distraction caused me to trip over my own feet. From there it was all downhill. My feet kept falling out from under me. At some point, I looked up at my surroundings. “Where are we?” That’s when everything changed.

“Let’s do it here,” Peter said as he let go of me.

“Do what?” In my inebriated state, their smiles looked friendly.

“Why, mug you of course.” The slim guy said happily.

‘I don’t think I heard that right, “Mug me? What do you mean mug..” *OOOF*

Peter punched me, as I tried to stand. Knocking me to the floor, causing me to vomit up some of the drinks. Now laying in my own vomit, my addled mind was trying to figure out what was going on. They had said they were going to mug me, but are they really?

“Gross man. Did you have to hit him in the gut?” The man with the shaved side said.

Peter shrugged. “My bad.” My Bad? What the Blight is going on? They are mugging me! I tried to stand making it to one knee before the kicking began. They had surrounded me, continuously kicked me making it impossible to move.

They beat me for what felt like hours. I was still conscious when they began to strip me; taking everything. I was delirious at this point with one thought repeating. “Why?” Blood bubbled out as I was finally able to ask aloud.

The Slim man grabbed me by the hair lifting my head. Sneering he said. “Boy. It’s simple, it's fun for us Shadow Cats.” The man then slammed my face back into the ground.

The three men were laughing down at me. “Yeah, we shadow cats love to do this. Especially to you trainees, even better when they are looking for the fictional owls. They are a joke to screw with the new trainees. Now you won’t even be able to join a guild.”

The man held up my wallet. I felt the anger burning in my chest at the sight. “Fuck you!”

“He’s still got some spirit. For that, I’ll show you something. Check this out.” The slim man showed a small tattoo of a black cat on his shoulder. “This is my special Shadow Cat mark. That means as long as I don’t get caught all of this is sanctioned by the crown. I even pay taxes.” He snickered to himself.

What is he even talking about? Why would a thief pay taxes? That was my last thought before everything went black.