Vitae Colony sat on a hilltop village in Wood Lake, NE for the last fifty years. Established in 1964 by Marcus colonist and his brothers, they were the first American Colony. For years they continually recruited solo Hunters and small groups into their ranks, and had become well known for their civilian members: their weapon and metal smiths were often sought after, commissioned years in advance. Over the past decade the world had become a far harsher and darker place, more and more Supernatural rose in larger and larger numbers. War was coming, the end of days as Humans knew it, and there was nothing to do but wait and prepare.
Vitae Colony had done just that, recruiting, training, building. They had fortified their village and town with walls, a “private community” as most would call it but it boasted one of the largest in the United States, and they were ever expanding. They had a surrounding farmland, lakes and forest’s to hunt within, able to be nearly self-sustaining without much civilian/government interaction, but as the time grew closer the council had to make a choice that would save their Colony in the future.
The Call had been sent; a request for any able and willing Hunters to join the Vitae Colony. They hadn’t expected many to reply, if any, but it was a plea, a group of Hunters and their families totaling nearly 100 people seeking help from any smaller groups or singular Hunters to join their ranks and fight to keep their home safe.
The response had been unexpected, at first only a few small groups, often a Hunter and his family would show up at the Colonies gates seeking asylum, but now they were receiving replies, they were being flooded with requests for help, requests for asylum and requests for rescue. Many were trapped within their own territories, leaving their safe walls brought them unnecessary risk. They were asking for extraction, in most cases, not wanting to risk their families, their children on the road to travel.
Mackenzie and Ashley-May had received the call, heard their plea and though Mackenzie had wanted to remain out, untied to any groups Ashley-May had convinced her it would be beneficial for them, and if she still had not be satisfied, they could always leave again, on their own once more. They had arrived at the Vitae Colony in the busiest of times; the gates were crowded with people, Hunters and their families, civilians whom knew about the relative safety behind the walls, and other Hunters like Mackenzie and Ashley-May. They had waited outside the gates for three days before they were accepted within, and even then there had been great protest; some families, whom had arrived before them were still waiting to be accepted but the Council needed to bring in those that could help the most first, before bring in those they would need to support. Mackenzie hadn’t liked it, it left a foul taste in her mouth, but she’d do anything for Ashley-May and so she bottled her discontent and did as shew as instructed.
Vitae Colony was organizing those that were brought within into potential extraction units; Hunters that arrived alone, or in their small Hunting Packs, versus the Hunters that had arrived with their Families. Those that had come with family units would remain behind, with the council and other Hunters that could not travel and continue to defend their borders, keep their territory clear of any potential threats, while those whom had no families were asked to join the extraction units; they would force no one to endanger themselves for others. Not many Hunters refused the request; they knew the dangers of having family in a world like this, many of those that accepted their tasks had known loss.
Mackenzie and Ashley-May were among those whom volunteered for the extraction units, both women had been Hunting together for years, and both knew what loss felt like. Mackenzie Skye Canonach was a generational Hunter; born to a family of Hunters that’s history stretched back further than most could recount. She had been part of a Colony once, many years before and trained by her brothers, father, uncles to Hunt and survive. Her Colony had collapsed, over run by a Pack of Wolves and a Den of Vampires within their territory that they could not compete with. Everyone had been lost save for Mackenzie, and her two older brothers. Ten years since the collapse and she’d lost both of them as well, both in fights they couldn’t win, and both times she’d been spared because of a brother’s quick thinking. From there she’d continued Hunting, continued fighting, many other Hunters avoiding her due to her reckless nature; she had nothing to lose after all.
Five years ago she came across Ashely –May Branston, or rather she came across the demon that possessed her, a cross roads demon impersonating the then third year medical student at New York School of Medicine. It hadn’t been hard to miss, given people were being torn to shreds inside locked rooms. Nothing screamed Hell Hound louder than this. Mackenzie spent two weeks on campus posing as a law student her bar exam, it didn’t take long for Demon-Ashley to find her and proposition her. Typically, in this situation, Mackenzie would have just offed the demon with her Demon Blade and went on her merry way, but something about Ashley-May had made her dig out her exorcism kit and drag the demon from the woman’s body. She’d been thankful to Mackenzie, thankful she’d been freed, and honestly Mackenzie had been surprised she was still alive. Mackenzie had left Ashley-May with her name and number and headed off on her next Hunt only to receive a call from Ashley-May not a week later. She couldn’t continue with her life like nothing had happened, she’d spent three months in the eyes of a Demon and she wanted to help others like herself. Mackenzie had sent her the name of the city of her next Hunt and Ashley-May had bussed down and met her. They’d been inseparable since.
Vitae Colony council member Brendan Jack had been building extraction units and sending them out once they were filled, or earlier depending on the level of urgency the next family or group that needed help. Mackenzie and Ashley-May were the first to be added to the next unit, assigned a dormitory, however neither bothered to unpack what little items they owned; if they were going to be out on the Hunt again, best to keep your baggage light. Ashley-May has brought some books for research, while Mackenzie had left everything but her favored weapons in her car, a 1953 Ford Mainline UTE. Silver knife kept hidden in her long boot, pistol holstered against her ribs and a pure iron blade at her belt, there wasn’t much need for any other weapons in her opinion. Mackenzie and Ashley-May were occupying the same small bed, Mackenzie splayed out eyes closed, leather jacket covering her torso while Ashley-May sat with her back against the head board, their legs intertwined. Ashley-May read her book quietly while Mackenzie dozed her finger tips slowly drawing patterns on the other woman’s back.
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