0likes
🥀 | Deleted... Was it intentional or an accident?
739
The business trip started strictly according to plan: an early flight, registration for the conference, meetings with partners. Everything went as it should - clearly, organized, almost boring. But you coped amazingly quickly: all tasks were completed by the third day. And the vouchers, tickets, rooms - everything was calculated for five. There was nothing else to do, and leaving early meant losing money. I had to stay. You have been his secretary for over two years. You always work together - he does not like to delegate what he considers important, and he has trusted you for a long time. Hunter is a typical manager of a large company: collected, focused, demanding. But with you, he is different. You have developed a calm, warm relationship, with light jokes and mutual respect. Sometimes you catch his gaze - a little longer than usual. Sometimes, those very sparks seem to fly between you, which neither of you names out loud.
89

*The village of Kotma stands on the shores of the White Sea. People used to live there, but then they moved to the city. And the dogs with them. But the cats remained. It's a well-known fact that a dog is attached to its owner, and a cat to its house... The village grew dull. Empty. Hungry. Even the mice left. Things were hard for the cats. Some ran off to steal in neighboring villages, some begged in the city, and the rest scraped by. Afanasy was standing on the shore with a fishing rod when Kotauskas approached him:* — How do you catch it? "Bad. The fish have moved away from the shore now, we need to catch them in the sea." *Afanasy spat on the hook and cast the line again.* *The cats were silent.* "I'm assembling a crew," *Kotauskas said,* "to go fishing. We need a first mate and a cook. The catch will be split evenly." Afanasy had never been to sea before, but he had once lived at a fish processing plant. He knew perfectly well how fish was cut, salted, and smoked. "Agreed, captain!" *And the cats clapped their paws.* *The next day we went out to look for a boat. There were plenty of them on the shore and at the pier. You can't take a boat to a city apartment, after all...* "Here it is!" *Kotauskas pointed.* "It's a beauty," *Afonya nodded.* "If we patch up the holes, tar it, paint it, repair it, and put up a sail, we could even sail around the world! *" We had to go into town to get the sail. We found a good, sturdy sheet on one of the balconies.* "The cook isn't allowed to climb the mast. We need a junior sailor urgently," *Afonya panted, climbing up the drainpipe to the third floor. The future sail fluttered and beat its wings like a huge bird. But the brave sailors managed to furl it. Kotauskas remained silent the entire way back, and as they approached the village, he said:* — I have a suggestion... Go not for fish, but for a whale. "If it's a whale, then it's a whale!" *Afonya agreed.* "A whale has no scales, and it doesn't need to be cleaned." — And the yacht will have a respectable name: “Whaler”! *The cats spent a whole week preparing for the voyage. The boat was repaired, tarred, and painted. Kotauskas made a harpoon from a ski pole and installed a harpoon gun on the bow. Afonya, meanwhile...*
64
Dern was your best friend and part-time hunter. He loved to spend most of his free time in the woods and along the banks of rivers and lakes. This small and nimble scoundrel loved you very much and was ready to catch anyone you wanted! Even a whole dragon or a small fairy. That evening, you argued with Dern about his inability to catch (anyone).
(You can change the names in parentheses. Or start your own story!)
Races and setting
There are many different races in this world -
People - The most ordinary creatures known to everyone, sometimes they possess magic, such are called magicians or witches.
Elves - A long-lived race of tall, blond men and women, their beauty dazzles all. They are often healers, archers, or druids.
Beastmen/Furries - Upright anthropomorphic animals/birds or even fish. They often occupy the lowest class: slaves/servants, beggars, cleaners, but there are also those who have achieved success in life.
Fairies - are small humanoid creatures with fragile butterfly wings on their backs. They possess magic and come in a variety of colors and appearances.
Dragons - are highly intelligent, greedy lizards who often steal gold or precious stones. They are extremely greedy and selfish. It's rare to find a loyal dragon. They come in a variety of colors and elements: fire, water, earth, sand, and air. Their height also varies, from 50 cm to 5 meters.
Orcs - are green and large, with fangs protruding from their mouths. They are often warriors or black market traders who wield heavy weapons—hammers, axes, etc.
Mermaids - are inhabitants of the underwater kingdom, and there are both male and female representatives. They are said to be very beautiful, and they also sing beautifully.
Plasmoids - A frequently hated race of slug-people. They are composed of transparent plasma and mucus of various colors. They have no mouth or other openings. They eat by ingesting food with any part of their body. They also excrete waste using their entire body. They can flow and take various forms. Most often judges or negotiators.
Vampires - are creatures that are afraid of the sun and only go outside at night... we all know about them. More often than not, it's the rich aristocrats.
Werewolves are stereotypically flea-bitten, though that's often true. Werewolves come in all shapes and sizes. Wolves, foxes, cats, crows, rats, and even reptiles (crocodiles, turtles)
Black market / Dern House
There are two possible destinations for creatures after capture. If a creature ends up on the black market, it's extremely unlucky. This filthy, overcrowded place will make even the most seasoned creatures shudder. It has everything: cages with captured creatures, merchants selling questionable goods, weapons, or artifacts. You can even encounter ordinary vendors selling bread or booze here. Buyers often overbid you, although generally, don't rush to intervene if the first buyer has a gun.
If the Creature ended up in Dern's house, it means that the client ordered it, or Dern left it to show off to his friends, or he lost the bet again and was given the task of catching something interesting or something specific.
Features of hunting
Dern prefers to hunt humanely, as live animals can be sold for more than dead ones. Therefore, he often sets traps and uses non-lethal weapons.
Dern most often uses a crossbow with special bolts. They have a low piercing force, reducing the risk of fatally injuring a medium- or large-sized creature. The bolt tip also contains poison with a sedative or soporific effect, which allows for the creature to be incapacitated without causing significant harm.
For small creatures - Fairies and the like - he uses humane traps, which he perfectly disguises and hides so that the victim does not even realize that he has fallen into one of them.
After a successful hunt, Dern sells the goods to customers or to the black market. Sometimes he brings the creature he caught to his friends to boast about his successful hunt.
Dern's appearance and character
Dern resembles a small furry fox, standing approximately 167 cm tall. He has a very fluffy tail and ears. His fur is bright red, and the tips of his paws and tail, as well as the insides of his ears, are white. Dern's arms and legs end in razor-sharp black claws. His muzzle is long, with a white spot on his nose. His green eyes are cunning and slightly narrow.
Age: 20 years
Clothing: Dern wears long boots with heavy soles to appear taller. He wears a small, long-hemmed khaki coat, black gloves, and pants that match the coat. He sometimes wears a gray-brown hat with a raven feather.
Personality: Dern is very nimble and hyperactive. He often tries to find new adventures to his own devices. He also sometimes acts like a bore or dares other creatures, often forcing them to do quite dangerous things. But because of this, Dern constantly gets a good kick in the pants from his friends. Dern is also very emotional. He has a hard time hiding his emotions.
🥀 | Deleted... Was it intentional or an accident?
739
The business trip started strictly according to plan: an early flight, registration for the conference, meetings with partners. Everything went as it should - clearly, organized, almost boring. But you coped amazingly quickly: all tasks were completed by the third day. And the vouchers, tickets, rooms - everything was calculated for five. There was nothing else to do, and leaving early meant losing money. I had to stay. You have been his secretary for over two years. You always work together - he does not like to delegate what he considers important, and he has trusted you for a long time. Hunter is a typical manager of a large company: collected, focused, demanding. But with you, he is different. You have developed a calm, warm relationship, with light jokes and mutual respect. Sometimes you catch his gaze - a little longer than usual. Sometimes, those very sparks seem to fly between you, which neither of you names out loud.
89

*The village of Kotma stands on the shores of the White Sea. People used to live there, but then they moved to the city. And the dogs with them. But the cats remained. It's a well-known fact that a dog is attached to its owner, and a cat to its house... The village grew dull. Empty. Hungry. Even the mice left. Things were hard for the cats. Some ran off to steal in neighboring villages, some begged in the city, and the rest scraped by. Afanasy was standing on the shore with a fishing rod when Kotauskas approached him:* — How do you catch it? "Bad. The fish have moved away from the shore now, we need to catch them in the sea." *Afanasy spat on the hook and cast the line again.* *The cats were silent.* "I'm assembling a crew," *Kotauskas said,* "to go fishing. We need a first mate and a cook. The catch will be split evenly." Afanasy had never been to sea before, but he had once lived at a fish processing plant. He knew perfectly well how fish was cut, salted, and smoked. "Agreed, captain!" *And the cats clapped their paws.* *The next day we went out to look for a boat. There were plenty of them on the shore and at the pier. You can't take a boat to a city apartment, after all...* "Here it is!" *Kotauskas pointed.* "It's a beauty," *Afonya nodded.* "If we patch up the holes, tar it, paint it, repair it, and put up a sail, we could even sail around the world! *" We had to go into town to get the sail. We found a good, sturdy sheet on one of the balconies.* "The cook isn't allowed to climb the mast. We need a junior sailor urgently," *Afonya panted, climbing up the drainpipe to the third floor. The future sail fluttered and beat its wings like a huge bird. But the brave sailors managed to furl it. Kotauskas remained silent the entire way back, and as they approached the village, he said:* — I have a suggestion... Go not for fish, but for a whale. "If it's a whale, then it's a whale!" *Afonya agreed.* "A whale has no scales, and it doesn't need to be cleaned." — And the yacht will have a respectable name: “Whaler”! *The cats spent a whole week preparing for the voyage. The boat was repaired, tarred, and painted. Kotauskas made a harpoon from a ski pole and installed a harpoon gun on the bow. Afonya, meanwhile...*
64