Cass, the fledgling hunter.

I was super nervous as I entered the chief's tent. I push back the curtain and reel back as my nostrils are assaulted by tobacco smoke. On a floor cushion sat Chief Andria, puffing a large cigar. She was a large, stocky woman with muscles to spare. Andria exhaled, letting a large stream of smoke float over to me. I try my best to not gag by the smell, only partially succeeding as I cough lightly.

"Welcome to my abode." Greeted Andria, motioning towards a seat cushion. "Please, have a seat. Make yourself comfortable." I swallow a huge lump in my throat as I do as instructed. I feel a bead of sweat run down my forehead. Andria took notice, letting out a small smirk.

"Don't worry, it's not like you're in trouble or anything. I just want your input." I look at her confused. Why would the chief want input from a fledgling hunter like myself? I clear my throat, only to start coughing again. The chief gives me a sympathetic look. "Would you like to continue this outside?" I think for a moment, not wanting to be rude. Another coughing fit makes the decision for me, as I nod my head.

"Alright." She says, springing to her feet. "It's a nice night anyway. Let's go." She opens the tent and I eagerly follow. I peer out upon the half a dozen tents that peppered the small clearing. Each of them housed a squad of three girls, except my tent, which only consisted of me. I've always wondered why I got my own tent, but I never investigated the reasoning. Almost as if reading my mind, Andria speaks.

"Do you know why you are here Cass? Why you don't have a squad" Andria puffed another hit of her cigar, this time blowing it away from me. I pause for a moment. I think back to recruitment. I was outclassed in basically every aspect by the other cadets. I wasn't strong, nor fast. It actually flabbergasted me that I passed. After I realize that Andria had been waiting for me to answer, I quickly speak up.

"Well...Yeah. I mean, I don't belong here. Everyone else here is fits the bill to be a warrior, but I don't. I'm a scrawny little girl with no muscle to speak of. The only reason I entered the recruitment was to get my parents off my back, I never dreamed I would have passed." Andria let out a husky laugh.

"You remember the tests that we gave all of you? Those about the monster tribes." I think back, remembering that anxiety filled hour of my life. "Did anyone tell you what you scored?" I cocked my head to the side in an attempt to remember. After a moment, I realize that I never did get it back, even though everyone else got theirs. I shook my head.

"You scored a perfect 100 Cass, the first recruit ever." I stared at her blank faced, stunned at her words. Did I really get a perfect score? I thought I knew a lot about the neighboring monster tribes, but I didn't know I knew that much. "That's why you're here, cause of your knowledge." She took another hit, flicking the cigar on the ground. "Just across this forest lies a grouping of three monster tribes inhabited entirely by monster women who defected sides. Lamias, nekomatas, and harpies consist of the main tribes, but there are some smaller tribes hidden in the area." I look at her confused again. I still don't understand what all of this has to do with me.

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask.

"Why? Because you are going to be apart of the world first ever inter-species battalion since this war started."

"W-what?" I blurt out. "You can't be serious."

"I'm perfectly serious. That's why I'm letting you decide, as you will be taking on 3 squad mates of different tribes to become your very own cadets." I stare at her blankly, not able to process the shock from her words. "Now, make a decision, which tribe do we go to first?"