(Hope you all enjoy my starter!  I'm going to sleep for now but I couldn't rest until I finished this.)

[center][h2]Cole Striker[/h2][/center]


[indent][indent]The voice of a good friend called out from the other side of the counter in a tavern, [color=fff200]"So what did ya find out there?  Got some witches with that blade of yours?"[/color][/indent][/indent]



[center][indent][indent]And so Cole Striker continued his life as an avid hunter, taking a break from the activity that he had done a while ago.  Early in the day Cole hunted in the area around Seren's Folly, but for some reason his search led him to nowhere today.  It was probably just the way his luck turned out, but in a sense that helped him.  Now he had a better understanding of certain areas not populated by those evil witches just yet.  It was a win/win situation, and the next time he went out he would know that.[/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]But in response to the bartender Cole could only mutter out, [color=9e0039]"Not for now, but I'll find them next time.  I swear . . . I'll comb through everywhere to find those suckers.  And my blade will make sure that those wretched beings don't get to live another day.  You know, the only moment my blade would hesitate was if I found a 'good' witch out there."[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]The bartender said through a huff, [color=fff200]"How many of that kind would you find out there in the wild."[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]After a moment Cole spoke, [color=9e0b0f]"Probably none but-"[/color]  Some of the conversation in the tavern seemed to die down a bit, noticing Cole for a moment but then continuing on with their normal conversation like they expected it out of him.  [color=9e0039]Geez, sometimes these people don't take me seriously and it bugs me.  But I'm good at being a hunter!  I can't blame the fact some of them are just stuck-up old people that can't get a joke.[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]The bartender stated, [color=fff200]"Maybe you've had a bit too much to drink already, there are no 'buts' when it comes to those things.  You kill em, and you make sure that you kill em good so that they don't come back to haunt you.  If you were any old stranger people might have been suspecting you right about now, you're lucky that we're friends and all.  Sometimes I wonder what you'd do without me.  Now, you came here to get a drink right?"[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]Cole nodded slowly and said in a slightly loud voice, [color=9e0039]"Yeah, get me a glass of whiskey."[/color]  He knew that from his experience witches were evil creatures, that was exactly what they were.  Evil creatures that cast their magic to curse the hearts of men and only serve as a hindrance to humanity.  Cole wasn't a newbie or even a simple rookie, so he knew a lot about the topic but at the same time his mind frequently wandered off to random topics when he was in a loud tavern like this one.  He said, [color=9e0039]"I guess I just have an odd mind when I get ready to drink some alcohol, make it snappy please Adam.  As much as I like the atmosphere it's not my style to use up precious time for no reason, I need to figure out where these witches lay."[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]The bartender chuckled as he poured the glass and said, [color=fff200]"Yes, sir.  Oh you know you never seemed to change all these years.  You're always going to be that same guy that wanted to be a hunter from the start."[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]Cole looked at the glass as it filled with the wonderful liquid and kept his eyes on it as the bartender placed the cup down in front of him, the liquid inside swishing around.  The bartender remarked, [color=fff200]"You have some experience under your belt but that doesn't make you a master at your craft.  You still have a life ahead of you, filled with challenges and other things.  Don't throw your life away."[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]Cole rolled his eyes and spoke, [color=9e0039]"Sure, of course Adam.  If I threw my life away I wouldn't get to enjoy the whiskey like I normally do when I relax.  If you really want to help me then you could do me a favor."[/color]  He then leaned against the table as he asked, [color=9e0039]"Got any rumors to share with me?  Maybe a lead to help me out with hunting them down?"[/color][/indent][/indent]



[indent][indent]Adam shrugged and slid a small slip of paper to Cole with his hand, trying to make it appear as if the paper would have his answer for him.  He then spoke to carefully hide the secret message while he glanced towards another customer, [color=fff200]"Meh, I got nothin of the like for you sir.  Don't know what you're talkin about.  But anyways there are more customers in this here tavern than just you."[/color][/indent][/indent]



As Adam walked away to take care of other customers Cole shook his head, reaching for his glass of whiskey and then bringing the cooled lid of the cup to his lips.  After taking down a gulp of the wonderful liquid Cole brought his cup down on top of the note that he was given, masking the message further by making sure that it would be extremely hard to just catch a glimpse of the note.  [i][color=9e0039]Can't let other fellows beat me to the witches after all, I want to have some fun with them.[/color][/i][/center]