Once Atemis was cleared to leave the infirmary, he followed Juniper's directions to the guild master's office. From the infirmary, he made his way to the lobby. It was much bigger than he imagined. It had a long red carpet from the entrance all the way to what was obviously a reception desk, and a bulletin board next to it. At either side was a set of stairs going up. There were also a couple of stations nearby, one that looked like a small café, another that appeared to be a general store. Hanging high above were several tapestries, purple in color and bearing an emblem: a silhouette of a wolf's head howling at a full moon. Several animals were in the area. Perhaps they were other guild members, but he didn't pay much mind to it at that moment. He went up the stairs to the third floor. He walked along the long hallway with numerous doors on either side, eventually coming across a large double door with the same emblem on the tapestries engraved into them. A sign was above the door frame, reading 'Guild Master's Office'. He was here, at last. He knocked on the door. He heard a female respond, "Come in." He pushed open the door and entered. He looked around the room. There were bookcases on one side, file cabinets on the other. Up above hung a crystal chandelier, and in the back in between two large windows was the same tapestry that was hanging in the lobby. A desk sat in the middle of the room, along with two figures. Behind the desk was a female wolf, with light brown fur, a white underbelly, and blue eyes. Sitting to her right was a white weasel with a purple streak down its backside, and amethyst eyes, perhaps female as well. "You must be Atemis," the female wolf spoke, "I've been expecting you."
"You knew I was coming?"
"Yes. Valentine told me you might stop by. Welcome to my home. I'm Luna, the guild master of Lunawolf. And this here, is my advisor, Nina," she gestured to the weasel, who greeted Atty with a smile. "Have a seat. I would like to have a chat with you." Atty did as he was instructed and sat down across from Luna. "I heard about how you fought a group of Bloodfang thugs in the forest. From what I've been told, you held your own pretty well against them. Your fighting spirit is admirable. A lesser one would've dropped everything they had and have made a run for it. But I must ask, what brought you here in the first place?"
"I'm just a lone wanderer that happened upon your territory. I don't go looking for trouble, though occasionally, it seems fit to look for me."
"So why did you leave your pack? Most of our kind tend to stick with the group."
"I left because I didn't want my life decided for me. I wanted to be free to set my own path. Life on the road has been rough, but it was better than staying home and letting others decide my future for me."
Luna smiled. "It seems you and I have more in common than I first thought." Atty's ears perked. "I still remember when I left home. It was sad to say goodbye to my family, but I knew I was meant for something bigger than what they had in store for me. I wanted to help people, make a difference in their lives. That's why I formed the guild in the first place. And I can tell, looking in you eyes, that's what you want, too." Luna thought to herself for a moment before continuing. "Here at Lunawolf, we're like one big family. We support and console each other, have a deep, mutual respect for one another, and are there for our fellow guild members through the best and worst of times. I offer you a chance to become part of that family, if it suits you."
"I've been thinking about it since I came here, and I'm strongly considering joining you."
"Glad to hear it. But before you do, there's something you must do first. A test, if you will, to see if you're Lunawolf material."
"Okay. What do I have to do?"
"The town always looks for folks it can rely on, especially in their biggest times of need. I'm going to give you a chance to show you can get the job done." She reached into one of the desk drawers and pulled out a sheet, laying it on the desk for Atemis to see. "This here is a letter of recommendation. You must get another guild member to sign it for you before we can make you an official member of the guild. All you have to do is help them with a job and gain their approval. Simple, no?"
"Sounds easy enough."
"You'll do fine, I'm sure. Now as for finding work with a fellow guild member, you should check with Jewel at reception, and our bulletin board." She sighed and looked at the weasel for a brief moment, then back at Atty. "Well, I think that should cover it. Any questions?" Atemis shook his head. "On your way, then. Return to me once you get your signature. It's been a pleasure meeting you, Atemis."
"Likewise," he replied.
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Atemis headed back downstairs into the lobby and looked around for a bit before heading to the reception desk. This time, someone was there. It was a cat with pinkish-purple fur and pink eyes. She wore a studded diamond collar. The fur on her body was smooth and slightly fuzzy, and her tail was quite fluffy in comparison. She looked like she was in the middle of reading something behind her desk, until she heard a voice call out to her. "Um, excuse me?" She looked up and noticed the wolf staring at her, and smiled.
"Oh, purr," she said warmly, "our newest visitor is a cute one. What can I do for you, handsome?"
"Are you Jewel?" The cat nodded. "Luna said to speak with you about this." He showed her the letter of recommendation given to him by the guild master. Jewel looked it over for a moment, then back at him.
"Looking to join the guild, are you? I can help you get started, then." She stepped away from her desk and went to the bulletin board nearby, filled with pinned envelopes of different colors. Atty followed. "People in town are always looking for help. They post their requests here. Our job listings are coded by color, as you can see. Green is for general labor, blue for delivery, yellow for providing an escort, red for bounties against bandits and such, and white is for, well, everything else. The miscellaneous section, if you will. Inside each you'll find the job's description, the client's name, the location, and the pay. Half of whatever you make goes to the guild, the rest is yours to do with as you see fit. But don't worry, these jobs usually pay pretty generously. Now let's see." She went back to her desk and went through some files. "You can't take any of the jobs on the board until you're an official member of the guild, so I have to assign you to one that's already taking place with another member." She pulled out a green envelope, and took out the letter inside. "This one shouldn't be too difficult. We recently had a heavy storm that damaged some homes nearby. People are asking for help with repairs. Several guild members are lending their aid to this cause, and they could always use the extra muscle." She giggled and looked the wolf in the eyes, "with such a strong physique, they might ask you to help carry materials for them." She gave a wink. Atty blushed at the gesture. "A doberman named Vyn is overseeing the operation. He isn't that hard to identify. He has a scar on his left eye." She slid the letter towards the wolf. "Take this with you. It will help you find your way."
"Thanks, Jewel," said Atty. Before he took the letter, the cat spoke up once more.
"By the way, I don't think I've caught your name."
"It's Atemis."
"Well, Atemis, maybe after the job is complete, you wouldn't mind using some of that pay to show a girl a good time?" she said with endearing eyes and a flirtatious smile. Atty blushed slightly at the idea.
"Tempting. But I've already made plans with Juniper."
"Oh. I see." She pouted a bit. "That's alright then. Can't blame a girl for trying. You should get going, then. That letter of recommendation isn't going to sign itself." He nodded and went on his way.
Atty went on his way to help with the job request. It was the first time he'd been outside since he'd woken up in the infirmary. The building for the guild was huge, like a mansion. Huge double doors and purple banners with the guild's emblem at either side marked the entrance of the estate. He followed the cobblestone path that was the main road of the town, reading the directions in the letter carefully as he navigated through the district. He eventually reached his destination, the residential area, where many small houses resided, with serious roof damage, some that were caved in. Lots of animals were about the place patching up the damages, others were hauling materials for repair. Atty caught a glimpse of a canine that seemed to be calling the shots. He was a doberman, probably the one Jewel mentioned. He had a scar on his left eye. The iris was pale, which indicated he was probably blind in that particular eye. His other eye was dark brown. He wore a charcoal colored sash around his neck that had the Lunawolf emblem on it. Atty approached him. The doberman seemed to be unaware of his presence as he got close. "Hello. Are you Vyn?" The doberman's attention snapped to him, like he was startled.
"Who's asking?" Atemis took out his letter of recommendation and showed it to him. "Ah, looking to join us, are you? We could always use an extra set of paws. You can start by helping the others carry the supplies." The canine gestured to some animals pulling carts of building materials. "Shouldn't be too difficult for one such as yourself. Once we're done here, I'll be sure to sign your letter. Now you should know, I'm usually extremely antisocial and don't like most people in general, and my word is worth its weight in gold in the guild. So if I vouch for you, that's saying a lot."
"Sounds good." Atty agreed, and went to work right away. He grabbed an empty cart and went to fetch supplies, making sure the cart was full before hauling it back to the build sites. He did this repeatedly for what felt like hours. He hardly spoke to anyone with anything more than a greeting, focusing on his work. He was determined to earn his place in the guild, and pushed himself even further whenever he felt tired. Eventually, the time came when the sun was beginning to set. He felt exhausted, but the job was finally done. All the houses had been patched up. He saw Vyn approaching him, and forced himself to stand.
"You did well. Thanks for your help. Here's some coin for your trouble." The doberman handed him a small pouch filled with gold. "And you've definitely earned that signature. Here you are." Vyn then gave him the letter of recommendation, with a signature and paw print at the bottom. "Take it to the guild master the first chance you get. She'll take care of the rest."
"Thanks, Vyn."
"Don't mention it. I look forward to working with you again."
Atty made his way back to the manor, once again in awe of the building's massive size as he entered through the giant double doors. He went upstairs to the third floor once more and went to the guild master's office right away. He knocked on the door, getting a response from inside to enter. He went inside and saw Luna and Nina, who looked like they were about to close up shop. "Welcome back, Atemis," the wolf greeted. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon. How did it go?" Atty approached and laid his letter on the desk. Luna looked it over. "Ah, good old Vynnie. His signature is well worth a thousand words. Well, all that's left now is to make it official." She reached into one of her desk drawers and pulled out another sheet. This one was smaller. "This is a registration form. We just need your signature and paw print, and you'll be good to go."
"Is there a catch?"
"Nothing you don't already know. Half of anything you make on a job goes to the guild, and you have to do so many jobs in a month." Atty nodded, and took a pen in his mouth as he signed the form, then placed his paw on the nearby ink pad before printing his paw print next to his name. "Great. One more thing. You get a sash with the guild's emblem so people know who you work for. While the guild's main color is purple, we carry several colors to meet each member's individual preference. What would you like?" Atty thought about it for a moment before answering.
"I'm thinking red." Luna nodded and reached into another drawer, pulling out a sash with his requested color.
"Go ahead. Try it on." He took the garment, and tied it around his neck. The color really brought out his ruby eyes. He looked down at it, and stood proudly in his new attire. "Looks good on you. Well, there's only one thing left to do. Our guild provides it's members with a room. Some of our recruits have to bunk with others, but lucky for you, you'll be getting a room all to yourself." Luna looked at her weasel assistant. "Nina, would you be so kind as to show our newest recruit to his quarters?" Nina nodded.
"Follow me, Atemis." They left the office together. He followed the weasel one floor down and along the hallway and opened the door to one of the rooms, labeled 'fourteen-A'. "This one should be vacant." They entered the room together. It was like a small apartment, featuring a luxurious bunk bed, a small kitchen area with a table, and a window with a nice view of the town. "The guild provides all the essentials for its members," she said, "If there's anything specific you require, you need only ask. Any questions?" Atty shook his head. "I'll be on my way then. Make yourself at home. You have a big day starting tomorrow." After the weasel left, Atty felt a hint of relief. He was an official member of Lunawolf now. But he was too exhausted to think about it. He decided to call it a day and made himself comfortable on his new bed. It was soft, and seemed to help him relax further as he quickly fell asleep.
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Atty slept the night away in the comfort of his new room. It's been so long since he'd had a good night's sleep. He awoke only to the sun shining through his window and hitting him in the face. He sat up and stretched in a downward dog pose, and gave a yawn. "Morning already?" he said lazily. He took a glimpse out the window. It was a little misty outside, so he couldn't see very far, but he noticed several animals out and about already. After taking a few minutes to wake himself up, he left his room. As he exited through the door, he bumped into somebody, and heard an 'oof'. He looked down and saw that it was the fox, Juniper, laying on the ground. "Sorry, June. I didn't see you there." She stood up and brushed herself off.
"That's okay." She took notice of the sash he was wearing. "Oh, so you're an official member now. Congrats. That sash really suits you."
"Thanks." He smiled. "So what are you doing here? Do you live on this floor, too?" She nodded.
"I was just on my way to the café for a drink. Care to join me? Guild members get a discount."
"I'd love to." He perked up a little at her request. She giggled, and they went off together. They headed downstairs to the lobby. It wasn't very busy, and the café seemed almost vacant. They took a seat at the bar and ordered a couple of beverages, making small talk as they waited for their order.
"If you're ever looking to get a pick-me-up, this is the place to get it. It's also a good place to relax in the evening and enjoy a nice mug of ale, wine, or whatever else you're into."
"Do you come here often?"
"Every morning, and occasionally late in the day after the clinic closes." Their drinks finally arrived, and they each took a sip. Atty seemed to perk up a bit from the beverage.
"Been a while since I've had a good cup of coffee. Traveling on the road offers little in the way of stimulants."
"Sounds rough," June replied. "Did you ever feel lonely out there by yourself?"
"Almost everyday. But I think those days are behind me now. I have a place to call home, make some new friends and memories, and I get to enjoy your company." Juniper smiled warmly.
"I enjoy your company as well, Atemis. I'm looking forward to spending more quality time with you."
"Likewise," the wolf replied.
"So what are your plans today?"
"I'm gonna do as many jobs as I can, and save up what I can. It's gonna be a busy day for me."
"Don't push yourself too hard, Atty. You've only just begun, after all."
"Guess I'm just super eager, is all." He chuckled. As they finished their drinks, June laid a small sack of coins on the bar.
"Coffee's on me today, Atty," said Juniper.
"You don't have to do that, June."
"I know. But I want to. And besides," she gave him a lick on the nose, "you can pay me back with that date you promised." The wolf blushed at the gesture. The fox looked at the clock hanging in the back of the cafe. "I'd better get going. It's about time to open the clinic. See you around, Atty."
"See you, June." Atty seemed a little sad to see her go, and watched her as she left.
