The Hunt: On Ice

[Dawnika Snow]

“The North Pole?” Dawn repeated. Ice and snow presumably. Dawn started to summon warmer clothing. Her father’s hoodie and some warmer leggings under her skirt. Lastly, her scarf, of course, and her beanie.

“I suppose you have a lead on our mark?” Dawn asked Kuzuru.

The demon smirked in response. “I have everything we need to find him. Let's go.”

“To the North Pole we go.” Dawn said. “I got our six.” She said watching the teams back. They moved out, Kuzuru in the lead and Dawn back. The mercenaries moved back into the Nexus. The hellish white space of nothing that Dawn hated so much. Agoraphobia was a problem with her.

“So,” Dawn broke the silence, “How about we talk about ourselves?”

“What do you think this is, an AA session?” Kuzuru laughed.

“No, you ass hat. We're brothers and sisters, and robots, in arms. How can we be good teammates if we don't trust each other.” The girl replied.

“Says the one who won't share real na-”

“Dawnika Shae Snow. Vigilante, Orphan and Master Sniper. When I was young my father died in house fire and I was put up for adoption. No one adopted me. I learned how to use a gun and killed the entire carta that burned my house to the ground and left this scar on my back.” She completely cut of the demon. “Happy now?”

“Ecstatic.” He replied continuing on. Gaige spoke up.

“Me, well, I'm from a different world.” She said quickly and kind nervously in tone. “Accidently cut my arm off, wasn't a great experience, but my dad help me make this sick robot arm that also functions as a signal for my friend there. I call him Deathtrap.” She continued. “I got in some trouble on my old planet, so I traveled to Pandora to get away and hunt awesome loot. That's why they call me a vault hunter.” Claptrap excited spoke up.

“I too am a vault hunter! My vaulthunter.exe is in work as we speak! I was made by Hyperion, only the richest corporation on in the galaxies. We sell the most amazing firearms on Pandora and Elpis. Quality Sniper Rifles! I am a CL4P-TP Steward Bot, but my friends call me Claptrap.”

“Your voice is annoying. I hope you can back that up with something.” Dawn said.

“I will do my best to prove myself to you Miss Orphan!” He yelled out gleefully. After Claptrap’s introduction, it went silent for a minute.

“Yo, Kuzuru. Your turn.” Dawn broke the silence again.

“Eh, I'm a demon. Possessed a human when he wanted revenge on a bunch of other humans. Not much else to say.” He kept it short and simple.

“Good enough.”

’What a bunch of reject losers.’ Kagetsume finally resurfaced. ’This is what I have to work with?’ Her voice echoed from the back of Dawn’s mind. Dawn whispered back.

“No asked you.” She said quietly. “Leave me alone, you piece of shit.” 

’It’s only a matter of time human. Soon, you wont be you anymore.’ she disappeared to the recesses of Dawn’s mind again. The vigilante shook her head and continued on, making sure none of her group members heard her talking to herself. Luckily, it had not caught anyone's attention.

The team of mercenaries arrived at the gate to the Frozen Fields, where their mark waited. They could feel the cold air passing through the portal. When they passed through the light, the instant chill of snow and ice sliced their nerves like a knife through butter.

Dawn seemed up moved by the change in temperature, but the rest of the gang, even Claptrap felt the chills down their spines. “Reminds me of home.”

“You must be crazy! It’s freezing here!” Gaige screamed out huddled up to keep warm.

“Quit your whining. We're here on business.” Kuzuru said. “We kill Ballad then we leave.” The assassins pressed on through a blizzard. The snow flying through the air made it impossible to see further than thirty feet ahead.

“Goddammit, how are you supposed to find anything here?” Kuzuru said covering his eyes with his arm. Dawn other hand had lived in harsh conditions like this all her life.

“Look down.” Dawn said. The demon humored her, but didn't see why looking at the ground would help. After a few more steps, he noticed why. Footsteps. Not just one set either. Many sets of different shoes and bare feet.

“We're near a town. That’s the only explanation for all the shoeprints and uh, footprints? Who is dumb enough to be barefoot out here?”

“I guess we'll find out.” The team followed the footsteps. They lead to a steel structure, big one that seemed desolate at first.

’Welcome to Fort Amber.’ A male's voice spoke from a speaker. ’What’s your business here at this trading post?’ 

Kuzuru replied. “We're here in search of a fugitive named Ballad, a prime that has committed a crime against the Kingdom.”

’You’re welcome to come in and search for him. I think you are our first prime visitors though. Besides our founder.’ The steel doors depressurized and slowly swung open. The team of assassins walked in and headed down into the tunnels of the fort after pushing away the traders who insisted on them buying their wares. The tavern was the first thing they saw so they decided to stop and get a drink. As they walked in, the bartender Bianca noticed right away they were new to the fort. 

“Hey there!” She yelled out. “Come on over and we'll sate your appetite, or take a seat somewhere and I'll send my waitress over to serve you.” The four took a seat at the bar and ordered their drinks. Dawn and Gaige got some soda. Kuzuru took something much stronger of course, would not hurt to have a drink before a fight. They had to bend some strings, but Claptrap was able to get a drink of oil to make sure his gears were ready for a fight. The team idly chatted between themselves and the bartender while they got their drinks.