Claw and Orders

The petrified and the strong.

Practical problems

Mylo

Darkseekers

Silence

Indecision Decision

Confrontation

Taking shape

Convergence

Gone Together

&#x3C;p&#x3E;The zone assigned to Munst awaiting deployment was not the largest area in the world. Towering buildings had been built above to block most of the light as magnetic connectors powered the suspension that held each one above them aloft. It was all strange to Urk, seeing things float without more than a few runes and some sort of power source.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;It had been two days since he&#x2019;d arrived, and he was still waiting for his assignment. The items he&#x2019;d brought had given him a sizable amount of income upon which to comfortably rest and wait. The food in the city was a new experience every meal, and he was excited to travel out again once more to find a location to eat.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;It was during another one of these trips that he found a stone building at odds with the steel ones all around it. Like the slums, it was made of a much older design, with the city built above the structure with no regard for gravity. A figure in blue stepped out and frowned at him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;What do you want, monster?&#x201D; The atmosphere of the street dimmed to a chill as Urk stepped back and waved an arm.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;&#x26;lt;Ah!&#x26;gt; I&#x2019;m sorry! I was just looking at the structure. I&#x2019;ve not seen many old human structures, let alone ones of stone.&#x201D; Moving to look down timidly, Urk curled his tail around himself submissively, almost tying himself up for the human in front of him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;This is the police station. Criminals come here.&#x201D; Answering his radio, the man began to run for his bike and take off into the distance. Curiosity drove Urk to fall to all fours and move to follow, leaping onto the railing of a floating path to avoid bumping into the crowd.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Criminals? Humans don&#x2019;t kill them?&#x201D; The idea of leaving someone who had done harm alive was foreign to Urk. Seeing everything in black and white left little room for grey or colours like humans could see. For all the chaos his presence was causing, the policeman didn&#x2019;t answer as he slid to a stop in front of an older lady outside of a knick-knack store. A shattered window was visible alongside a noticeable area of nothing, the dust marking where something had once stood.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Don&#x2019;t worry Ma&#x2019;am. The cameras caught a clear view of the perp. We&#x2019;ll have your antique clock returned to you promptly.&#x201D; Giving a nod, the man lifted up a tablet and then pressed a few buttons. Only then did he turn toward Urk.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;No, and I don&#x2019;t have time to explain the legal system to you. Goodbye.&#x201D; With a jump, he hopped onto his bike and drove away. With the two of them left, the old lady spat at Urk and went inside. Cupping his cheek, he wiped it away. Brief anger filled him, but he deflated a moment later.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;A crash echoed out from the store. No passerby but Urk paid it much attention beyond a glance. Police had just come by, and the alarms were already blaring. Someone more qualified would come by soon, surely. Moving toward the window, Urk meanwhile looked in to see a second figure forcing the woman to unlock a cabinet filled with necklaces and jewellery.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;And give me that card of yours, I&#x2019;m going to be making a withdrawal.&#x201D; The man smirked as she shakily reached for her purse to grab it, eyes staring fearfully at the bat he was carrying. Someone would come for her...right? Once the beep echoed out, the man grinned and pulled his mask back down. &#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;You tell that little policeman about our polite chat, and I&#x2019;ll have to make a second trip back here.&#x201D; Moving to head toward the back door, the man glanced toward the Munst before dashing into the alley. Hopping through the shattered glass, Urk moved over toward the woman.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Are you alright?&#x201D; Briefly, he considered offering a claw. Instead, he decided to just keep his hands close to his chest.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Why didn&#x2019;t you do anything! You could have helped me! Now-Now I&#x2019;m...I&#x2019;m&#x2026;&#x201D; The woman slammed a fist into his chest to no effect. Tears flittered down her face as she shook with anger and distress.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Do...you want me to bring him to that policeman guy?&#x201D; Pointing a claw to the open back door, Urk waited for her response.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;...Why do you care? You&#x2019;re just a monster. Do what you want.&#x201D; She spat at him again and curled up into a ball to cry alone.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;What I want&#x2026;&#x201D; The question was one Urk didn&#x2019;t know how to respond to. What &#x3C;em&#x3E;did&#x3C;/em&#x3E; he want? To support Mylord? Or was that only what he felt obligated to do? A moment of clarity amidst confusion only prompted one response from his small mind. Whatever he wanted or didn&#x2019;t want, that man had made this woman cry. For once, Urk wasn&#x2019;t the weaker one. Even the smallest kobold child could fight against a human on at least equal footing, though the collar did dampen his abilities.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Breathing in deeply, he caught the scent of the man and dashed out the door, moving through the streets like an eel as his body leapt and jumped over groups and crowds to slide to a stop in front of a door. It was in an alleyway, with many doors scaling upward to reach small shelters built into the side of one of the skyscrapers.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Four floors up, the door opened to his touch, and he found the man packing the items away into bags and packages to be delivered. There was even a large clock in one corner. The silence stretched for a brief moment and then the man pulled out a gun and fired.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Dodging to the side, the bullet caught his shoulder, and Urk felt a sharp pain as he dove for the man and moved to pin him down. Reaching into his knapsack, he tried to grab his rope as he was thrown off, soon facing down the barrel of the gun once more. A heart-stopping moment of sheer terror filled them both as instinct fueled a dive forward. &#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The second shot grazed his forehead, but he managed to grab the gun and throw it out the window. Urk moved to raise his claw to swipe down at the man, but a sharp burst of static curled outward from his neck, and he cried out as he fell to the ground. The man wobbled to his feet and laughed.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Aha...ahahaaha! That&#x2019;s what you get, you filthy monster!&#x201D; Kick after kick and punch after punch hit Urk as he remained unable to even protect himself as the collar kept him paralyzed, each moment causing fresh pain as the blood soon seeped down and forced him to close his eyes.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;That&#x2019;s what you get for getting in my way!&#x201D; The man used Urk&#x2019;s rope to tie him up and began to quickly prepare the last packages. Each time Urk attempted to move, the shock would shoot out again as his mouth opened in a silent howl of pain. Moisture formed in the corners of his eyes as he desperately fought to remain conscious.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;The door slammed open as five policemen brought their guns to bear, first on Urk and then on the man, one of them being the same policeman from earlier. The thief made a dive for the window as the stun gun fired out and immobilised him. Shackles were put on the man before they moved to attempt the same to Urk.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;No, let him go.&#x201D; The familiar man knelt down and deactivated the collar. A breath finally entered Urk at his own bidding, and he curled up into a ball, shivering and shaking as the pain continued to pulse from his wounds and sudden jolts wracked his body. Reaching into his pocket, the man brought out a first aid kit and tended to his injuries.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;If it weren&#x2019;t for this monster, we might not have caught the second perp. That means all these illicit goods could have been smuggled out to Blackke. Look at the gunshot wounds, he was trying to defend himself.&#x201D; The man waited as Urk recovered from the aftershocks and offered a hand.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;That nose of yours is quite useful. Come back to the station. I want to talk to you about potential employment opportunities.&#x201D;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;---&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x3C;br&#x3E;&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;So...what is this &#x2018;Blackke&#x2019;?&#x201D; Walking through the street toward his hoverbike, Urk took the opportunity to ask another question. Idly, his mind wandered over the strange contraption. Two plate-like circles underneath a square compartment with a curved front. It almost looked like a bird head in a way, but with the eyes underneath it, to stare into the ground forever as it sat there.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;It&#x2019;s another town. A smugglers&#x2019; den. They got a hold of one of our generators and used it to make a moving city.&#x201D; As the man slipped onto the bike, Urk was able to take in their details easier&#x2014;blue uniform with gold accents and a badge, serious brown eyes, and a mane of auburn brown hair curling down his back.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Let&#x2019;s see how fast you are, monster.&#x201D; Flicking the switch, the machine roared to life and lifted into the air. As it took off in another direction, Urk let out an alarmed cry and raced after it. Claws gripped and ran on vertical surfaces as he leapt from building to building to try and keep up with the retreating form. While the motorbike did vanish out of view, he was able to follow the scent and arrive shortly after.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Not bad, not bad,&#x201D; the man commented as he tossed his helmet onto the vehicle and moved to enter the building. The tall doors opened to a spherical room with a desk in the centre, the ground patterned with a bird with gilded wings spread in flight. Marble pillars held up the domed ceiling, hiding the lights that illuminated the place.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;What is that creature doing here? He&#x2019;s scratching the floor.&#x201D; Looking down at the receptionist&#x2019;s words, Urk made an effort to lift up his talons so as to not damage the floor further. A sheepish smile fell on his face as a shiver of nervousness filled him. The receptionist was unamused.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Need to see the chief. He in?&#x201D; Leaning back on the soles of his feet, the man slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. Urk looked down to his own clothing, simple casual wear&#x2026;aha! With a brief smile, he copied the action and slipped his hands into the pockets of his own pants. The man let out a soft breath in amusement.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Yeah, he should be in his office, go on in.&#x201D; With his own shadow following him, the man trailed toward a door and knocked against it. A stiff voice answered to welcome them in. The office walls were filled with more books than a person could feasibly read, each one covered in a thick layer of dust that indicated a lack of use.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Behind the old wooden desk sat a rotund man with a hat sitting off to one side. A holographic screen was transmitted from a small projector on the table behind the metal plate that held his name: Sergeant Moes. The man leading Urk gave a brief bow of his head and explained the recent incident.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;...Look, even if he helped out, he&#x2019;s a monster. No one on the force would willingly work with him.&#x201D; Sergeant Moes turned off his screen to allow a full view of the two before him. He looked over the 3-foot tall kobold that was looking down timidly.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I will, Sir.&#x201D; Those three words caught the other two off guard. As his eyes widened, Urk looked up toward the man and saw his determined expression. A sigh left the Sergeant, and he moved to reach for his phone.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Fine, but you&#x2019;re training him. It will take a few days to get the paperwork sorted, use that time to get him dressed in something half professional.&#x201D; The verdict delivered, the man dialed a number and proceeded to begin to talk to someone on the other end. A smile fell on the officer&#x2019;s face as he escorted his new officer out.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well, with that settled we should probably see about names. I&#x2019;m Jones, Jones Presley.&#x201D; The man turned toward the kobold and waited.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Urk. Are...you sure I&#x2019;m a good fit for this? I&#x2019;m sure there are better fighters&#x2026;&#x201D; Tapping his claws together, Urk didn&#x2019;t really know if this was a good idea.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Sure, probably many. But I&#x2019;m not looking for the best fighter. Or the best tracker, or the fastest.&#x201D; Kneeling down, the man poked Urk in the chest.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;I&#x2019;m looking for one who acts. While clumsy, you did go out to find the perp. Maybe next time don&#x2019;t announce your presence though.&#x201D; A soft chuckle left him as he relaxed, and a brief burst of affection filled Urk as his pupils dilated. &#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Y-Yes! Right!&#x201D; With a wagging tail, he gave a bright smile, earning himself a pat on the head as the man stood up.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Mind if I call you Dirk though? Urk sounds like the sound you make when you vomit. I do enough of that on a weekend to not want a daily reminder.&#x201D; The joke flew right over the head of the small kobold, but it didn&#x2019;t need to land to get a nod from Urk. To receive a name of any kind was an honour, true or not.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well then, Dirk. Let&#x2019;s get you measured for clothing. Knowing that furry, she&#x2019;ll probably hug you the moment we arrive.&#x201D; A suffering sigh escaped him as he began to lead the way further into the building. Much less decorated compared to the entrance, it soon devolved into simple offices and rooms. Their stop took them to a door marked &#x2018;tailor,&#x2019; and Jones knocked on it.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Hrm? Do you need so&#x2014;&#x201D; The curly-haired woman with nerdy glasses who opened the door immediately lunged for the kobold upon seeing them. Leaping onto the ceiling instinctively, Urk looked down at the woman as he gripped onto it, eyes glowing.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Acting cute won&#x2019;t keep you safe from me forever!&#x201D; She waved a fist playfully and turned to listen to Jones.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Meet my new assistant, Dirk. Need to get him fitted for a...unique uniform size.&#x201D; Reaching into his pocket, Jones pulled out a phone and moved to find somewhere to sit. The woman looked up with a huff.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well, he&#x2019;s got to come down first. I promise no hugs if you come down...alright?&#x201D; At that promise, Urk climbed back down the wall and stood still as the woman looked him up and down.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;&#x201C;Well, let&#x2019;s begin then. Come on in and I&#x2019;ll take your measurements. Do some experiments.&#x201D; Reluctantly, he followed her inside the room.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;Nothing filled him with more instant regret than the moment the door closed behind him.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

&#x3C;p&#x3E;Monsters, humans, war. Within their shielded cities of Technomagi, the humans live their lives in small boxes. Only venturing out of their bubbles with gunslingers or mages trained to defend against the beasts outside. Teleportation to other cities is normal, done through square boxes on rails that are housed underground. These days, the disparity between humans and us has grown to a breaking point. In a single night: an entire nation of monsters vanished. A cloud and flash of light that all had seen. Only the strongest could survive against their might and stubborn ingenuity. Those terrifying, amazing humans.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;We had laughed at first. &#x2018;What possible danger is there? They&#x2019;re just humans&#x2019;. That was centuries ago by this point, of course. We all realized the moment we saw that metal tube fall. There is something that only a human can accomplish, through their ability to see light even in the darkest situation.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;&#x3C;p&#x3E;You don&#x2019;t win against humans. You either die with them or live to serve them.&#x3C;/p&#x3E;

The Dragons Predicament 