Chapter 1: The First Hunt

Lotus orders one ale, and asks, "When does your show start?"

Keene gulps one down quickly, then raises the glass to Gloria, baring his fangs. He then looks to the barkeep in a menacing manner. He asks, ya recognize me?

---

Lena finds a quiet corner of the bar, takes out her flute and begins to play soft, vulnerable notes.

"Circus? I don't..." Brunhilde rubs her temple, confused. "Are we sill in scene? I hope we're not still in scene. It's been what, two days and I have never seen a script nor heard from the Director. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a diva, but I have serious concerns about the work environment here. May I speak with the Production Manager please?"

"'Child?!' Why thank you, darling!" Brunhilde laughs. "To be completely honest I'm starting to think there's been a huge misunderstanding. I thought I was joining a theatrical production." The dwarf actress glances over in Lotus' direction. "That was an audition, wasn't it? And then we've been doing improv since then?"

Krenq says to the barkeep, Heh, s'long as the drinks keep flowin', I'll be a good boy. He downs the second ale, then pushes both mugs towards the barkeep.

Lotus gathers an oversized (for her) mug in both hands and looks at Brunhilde. "Well," she begins, hesitantly, "we were auditioning, in a sense. We were being tested to see if we had the talent for hunting monsters."

She thinks about it some more. "And yeah, we've been basically making things up as we go, I guess."

"Actors." Brunhilde says wearily. "We're all actors, right? I'm an actress, not a real warrior. It's a performance, right?" Deep inside Brunhilde already knows the answer. There's been a terrible (or hilarious, depending on one's viewpoint) mixup.

Krenq, annoyed by the dwarven diva, throws one of his empty mugs at her. Quit'cher belly-achin'! We don't want no part of yo' tight-ass actin' bit, ya freak bitch! Get outa here! We don'want'cha here, enyweys.

"What the hells is wrong with you?" Lotus snaps at Krenq. "She's held her own ever since that wolf pit. You got no right to call her that!"

Back off, tiny, lest ye wanna get smashed. I've had 'bout 'nuff o' yu.

Lotus stands on the bar stool. "I will not back off! So what if she thought we were actors? That don't mean you can call her a freak and say we don't want her!"

After narrowly dodging the thrown mug Brunhilde leaps to her feet. All her chins quivering, she stares Krenq down. "Real warrior or not, I'm a dwarf through and through and a dwarf will not take shit from anyone. It's true, I don't belong here, but it seems neither do you, you ill-mannered lout!"

A deep breath to calm herself, and Brunhilde turns to Lotus and Lena "I'm sorry if I've caused you any trouble, dears. It seems this is where we part ways. Best of luck to the both of you."