Swords jostled along her hip, sheaths rubbing against each other like a pair of horny teenagers. Red cowl clung to her mouth as it danced behind her. Smell of burnt flesh found a way to seep through the cowl. It was fresh, bodies not long dead. Someone had been killed on this day. Given her luck, likely the same individuals she'd been hired to apprehend. Luck was never a kind mistress to her, mocking her every step of the way. If she was an actual person, Tatiana would punch that bitch right in the face. They said violence never solved anything. She liked to beg to differ. To her, it solved everything. Boys giving you problems? Knock em out. Rivals trying to cramp your style? A one two to the gut and they were gone. 

Thoughts of violence only rose as she saw the remains of the camp. Three bodies laid sprawled on the ground. Charred pieces of wood scattered about the grass, remains of what was likely a camp fire. Bending to one knee, she inspected the bodies, flipping them over, examining what might have killed them. Two were burnt to some degree, hair jutting into the air. Shocked maybe? The other had a wound just below his chest. Varying deaths might mean she was dealing with a tandem. Two souls who had stolen her rightful pay yet again. She was going to give them a piece of her mind, if she found them of course. If she could find the brothers, she could find their killers. Hands rifled through the pockets of the fallen men, taking any gold that remained behind. Sadly, it was not much. Maybe enough to get a mug of mead at a tavern. Oh, how lucky she was indeed. 

Night air turned to a blaze of sunlight. She'd followed what little tracks she could in the night. It'd been difficult, but nothing worthwhile was ever easy. Some philosopher or something said that. Plenty of people in this world wished that son of a bitch had been wrong. Herself included in that list. She'd lost the trail by the sun's full rise. Going on nothing, but instincts now. They would likely be heading into town. People had to sleep and eat eventually. That she was sure of. What they looked like on the other hand, that she wasn't so sure of. One of them had a sword. That was all she really had to go on. First swordsmen she saw was getting hit right in the face. Making her walk all this way. Part of her wished it was another girl so she could knock those pretty little looks right off her face. She knew better though. 

Investigation mode initiated the second she entered the town. Hands grabbed any villager she could find in the streets. Asking them all the same question, “Has a man with a sword come through here?” The reactions she got varied from person to person. Some seemed frightened, one old man in particular nearly relieved himself in his pants. Others were stuck in a state of confusion, staring at her like she was some type of monster. It wasn't her fault she didn't really have tact. She needed answers now. Being polite only delayed the information she needed. Fuck having to wait all that time. Guild master's voice fluttered into her head, 'You need to settle your emotion Tat or they shall be your downfall one day.' Downfall my ass. 

Anger simmered through her body as she entered the tavern. Force of her push sent the front door crashing back into the wall as eyes all shifted towards her, staring like she was some weirdo. Body told her to just try to fight everyone in the tavern. No, in the whole town. Mind however was invaded by the guild master's voice yet again. “We are protectors not aggressors Tat. Remember that, always remember.” His magic had to be some form of telekinetic bullshit. Always weaseling into her head when she was about to do something dumb. 

Finding an open table near the back she took a seat. Left leg crossed her right, white complexion of her skin visible from the thigh down. In the most polite way possible, she ordered a hot tea. Small waitress nodded, scurrying into the kitchen. Tatiana took in steady, deep breathes as she tried to settle down, ignoring any wandering eyes in her direction. “Just stay calm. There are other jobs.” She whispered to herself over and over again.