[Flashback] The Art of Hunting Human Boys (Giph)

[Renalee]

57th day of Spring 512 AV To say that Ren wasn’t enjoying her stay in Ravok would be an understatement. The city had proven nothing short of dangerous for the young Kelvic and that coming from someone having grown up in Sunberth was saying something. Having gotten herself in all sorts of trouble Ren felt it was about time she left the city and gave the Wildlands another try. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t scared of getting captured again, but trying her luck with the few caravans of slave traders out there in the wilderness seemed like a much better option than staying where said traders congregated. However, before she could leave, the Kelvic had to restore her food supplies. After leaving Sunberth Ren had been surprised to discover how much she actually missed human food after she went through her rations in a little less than two weeks. Obviously she would never say no to a big juicy piece of meat - big enough to sink your teeth into - but having grown up with bread and cheese, and fruits Ren came to crave their taste after having been deprived of them for a while. Especially cheese. White cheese that crumbled into pieces in your mouth as you bit into it, and soft cheese that melted into bread, and cheese that stuck to the roof of your mouth, taste remaining for quite some time... she would definitely need to buy cheese. Ren wondered around the streets of Ravok, taking care to stick to the smaller alleyways and paths and to completely avoid bridges. The latter was proving a difficult job, but despite having spent a sufficient amount of time during her childhood around docks and boats and piers the blonde never really got used to vast expanses of water. And while the lake was certainly smaller than the sea Ren’s inherent distaste was still there. At some point the Kelvic found herself in a mostly deserted part of the city where few people walked the streets and even fewer vendors had opened shop for business. The place looked shady and it gave her an uneasy feeling so she was just about to turn around and retrace her steps back to livelier places when a familiar smell caught her attention. It was a wonderfully familiar and delicious smell at that - that of freshly baked bread, grain crackers and an assortment of other baked goods which Ren couldn’t name but would definitely love to try. Nose in the air she followed the smell to its source - a half-crumbled shed which was trying to pass for a bakery. While it didn’t look promising it certainly smelled so and Ren who often left her belly to think for her decided to make a stop. The old lady who seemed to be running the ‘establishment’ looked at the blonde suspiciously but let her look around and pick one or more of her goods. Ren on the other hand was perfectly content to sink into the smell as she sized up loaves of bread, looking for the nicest looking crust. Her choice was made easily enough and she dropped the bag with her belonging to the floor, fishing her money pouch out of it and a couple of coins out of that. She could stack on some of the provisions needed here and if she found cheese she could even make herself a nice meal for right now. That sounded about as wonderful as it was going to get. Perhaps Ravok wasn’t that bad of a place after all.

[Giph]

Once more, giph had a bad day. He hadn't had any good targets in a few day's now and the day he had to pay his rent was slowly inching closer and closer. He skulked through the back alley's, trying his best to look like just another short young adult and not like a thief trying to find his next mark to relieve of his miza's. Since he wasn't expecting to much trouble and really wanted to look inconspicious he had left his prized crossbow at home. It would have just attracted attention to him if he had it on him anyway. Instead of another day of stumbling around trying to pickpocket only halfaware drunks who already pissed away most of the miza's they had on their person, like he had expected to do. He noticed a pretty young woman walking around a fat purse hanging of her belt, she hadn't even done anything to hide her purse, how in rhysol's name did she manage to keep her money on her own person? Still, not being one who looked a gift horse in the mouth he just thanked rhysol for being the first thief who noticed her! Giph quickly ran the situation through his head, he didn't have a crowd he could hide in after the fact and he really didn't want to wait for a crowd, if he did another thief would probably swoop in and steal his prize so he just had to wait for a distraction, or create one. He slipped the small knife out of his pocket and loosely held it in his hand has he closed in on his mark. Waiting for a single moment of distraction in which he could strike. When his target stopped at a bread stall and looked absolutely entranced by the smell he took his chance and moved in on his target as quickly as he could without looking to much out of place. As he was close enough he quickly lashed out with his small knife in a small, quick and practiced motion, cutting the strings keeping the purse attached to her belt as he lightly grabbed it with his right hand and hid the purse and his knife under the folds of his cloak. As he walked past the woman. The entire practiced motion had taken not much more then a few scant moments. Giph kept his face straight and calmly walked away from the crime. Bolting now would just alert the victim that something was wrong and that would get him in a shitload of trouble.

[Renalee]

You would think that having grown up in a place where thievery had passed from an illegal, frowned upon activity into a respected profession and even a fun hobby Renalee would have known better than to keep the purse with all of her money on her belt. Having stolen quite a few times herself during her childhood - be it from merchant stalls or the bulging pockets of stupid and unsuspecting Sunberth visitors - she’d realize how much of an easy mark she was. Unfortunately, ever since her escape from the slave traders she had been feeling tired and distracted, too focused on keeping the fact she was a Kelvic a secret to be able to worry about anything else - including all of her savings. Luck had been on her side so far, but luck was a capricious lover and came and went as he pleased. And today he seemed to have gotten bored with Ren’s company and was leaving her just as she was rediscovering the pleasures of human food. She wasn’t sure when it had happened. It had most likely been while she was contemplating if she wanted a bread with a golden crust or one covered with all sorts of grains. All she knew was that one moment her pouch full of lovely golden and silver mizas was there and the next minute it ... well, it just wasn’t anymore. She came to the realization as she reached down, attempting to pay for her bread - she had chosen the golden crusted bread in the end, privately laughing at the joke that she was no bird so needed no grains. Alas, there was nothing to pay her purchase with. Ren whirled around as the realization struck, predator instincts mixed with the indignation that probably any victim of thievery experienced. She needed this money! This money was what would get her human food for the road! Who would be stupid enough to steal from a puma. Then Ren realized she wasn’t allowed to be a puma - not in Ravok, not anymore - and her indignation only grew. In the end, it turned out that Sir Luck had left her a parting gift. Through the mist of the lovely bread smell, her own familiar smell and that of the old lady which she had noted when she had approached her vending space, Renalee caught a whiff of something - or rather someone - else. Someone who was currently retreating down the street, attempting to look inconspicuous. He was the one! He was the thief! The beast inside of the blonde growled. It would be so easy if she could shift right now, so easy to simply leap upon the boy - for he couldn’t have been anything other than a boy judging from his frame - who was no more than 20 meters away. Fear held her back. Fear and the purple-blue bruises that were still clearly visible on her wrists and her neck, covered only by the thin material of her shirt. No, she couldn’t shift there. Instead she would hunt. Swinging her bag over her shoulder and securing its strap Ren set after the little thief, pace something between a quick walk and a slow run. She allowed her legs to make small quiet leaps, used to threading unnoticed on Sunberth’s roofs. They were getting further away from the bread vendor, but the Kelvic was gaining on her prey. She hadn’t noticed she was holding on to her breath. Now if only he stayed oblivious to the predator hot on his trail...

[Giph]

Giph counted the steps he was taking as he was walking away from the woman in his mind. It would be way to suspicious if he looked over his back, so he kept his ears open for anything that even remotely sounded like rapid footsteps coming at him or angry yelling aimed at him. Those two would probably be sure indications he should run like the wind. After a few dozen paces of silence the sound of footsteps started up and began to grow closer by the second. Giph shot a quick glance over his shoulder, confirming his fear. The woman had noticed that her purse had been stolen. “Oh petch!” giph cursed as he broke out in a run and dived into the first alley he could find, desperately trying to shake his pursuer. Still, knowing his luck she probably was a professional courier and a lot faster then him. At least giph thought he had one advantage, she looked like an outsider, while he knew the city like the back of his hand.. in most parts anyway. His mind was going a hundred miles per hour as it tried to plot an escape route to the nearest canal those where usually a good escape route He took a sharp turn into another alley that he thought would point him in the direction of a waterway.

[Renalee]

Ren was feeling pretty good about herself. She had missed the feeling of taut muscles, of adrenaline taking over and of blood rushing through your veins and drumming in your ears. The good kind of adrenaline that hunting brought on and not the bad one from fear. She had had more than her fare share of fright recently, thank you very much. And so far her prey seemed not to have noticed her. Unfortunately ‘so far’ only lasted that long. As soon as she thought it the boy craned his neck back - prompted either by his own suspicion or by the sound of her thread. As soon as he spotted her the human broke into a run. Ren cursed under her breath to mimic his own exclamation and quickly filled in her lungs with his scent, remembering all its subtle nuances. She’d be damned if she got outran by a human, but - just in case - she needed to be able to track him. Everything afterwards was instinct. She just let her legs perform the well-learned movements which would have come even more naturally in her animal form. She ran after the boy with determination, but also something resembling enthusiasm. This was familiar, this she could do. It was ok to be a Kelvic for this. The thief jumped into and alley, Ren hot in pursuit. ”The smart thing would be to give up now, kid,” she shouted and then cursed again as he turned another corner and she almost ran past. A last moment swerve saved the situation, but, still, Ren almost slipped on the small pebbles littering that particular street and fell. She managed to right herself quickly enough and resume the chase. This rabbit would be hers soon enough!

[Giph]

Giph didn't yell anything back, even though he really wanted to yell back that he wasn't a blasted kid anymore! But his indignation about his stature took a backseat to survival at the moment and saving his breath for running was a part of that. Giph knew that he couldn't keep running forever and when he slowed down, it wouldn't take long for the woman to catch him. He needed to shake her, or at least make sure he managed to get at the canal before the woman caught him. He heard the telltale sound of somebody stumbeling a few moments after he took the sharp turn into the alley and couldn't help smiling. That would buy him a few extra seconds at the worst. He didn't turn around and just kept running along the alleyway, ignoring several sideways in the process. Mentally ticking them off in his head. When he knew he had the right one he quickly took a sharp turn to the left. This was a simple final stretch, The end of this alley ended right besides the water... If he remembered right.

[Renalee]

The human boy completely ignored Ren’s well-meaning advice and continued running. She could almost catch the wheezing sound of his breaths leaving his chest in rapid bursts. Her own breathing was coming out uneven by now, but the countless bells she had spent in the wilderness chasing prey were making this pursuit a much easier task than it was for the kid. Her slender legs were beating against the ground rapidly, shortening the distance between prey and predator with every step. Ren was sure it was a matter of time before she caught him. She would have rejoiced, if she wasn’t certain that, if she realized that, the boy probably did as well. He would be trying to come up with ways to either lose her or lead her into a trap of some sort. And, if he was planning, so should she. She needed to take him down before she had a chance to do anything. A sudden idea came to mind and with a feral grin on her face Ren waited. A moment later the kid made another turn and the blonde prepared herself to slow down a bit. Just like she had expected, a couple of stones had come loose from the wall of the house that was on the corner they were passing. Ren managed to lean forward and take a hold of one without stumbling and without losing too much of the distanced she had gained on the thief. Taking a good hold of the stone which lay snuggly in the palm of her hand she weighed it carefully with her wrist. She wasn’t too sure of her aim, but she was going to pick just the right moment to throw her weapon, when she was sure the human wouldn’t be taking any more of his unexpected turns. At least that way she increased he chances of actually getting him. Her moment came when the kid skipped a turn. At the exact instant Ren was sure he had passed it and couldn’t suddenly swerved she took her aim and sent the stone flying.

[Giph]

A few meters before giph took the sharp turn to the left a hard,heavy stone slammed into the cobblestone ground way to close for his comfort. He let out a strangled yelp as he instinctively took a small jump to the left. Was that broad crazy! She couldn't keep her money on her person, why doesn't she take it in stride she is a moron and deserved to get her money stolen? He pushed himself a little bit harder, ignoring the slight burning feeling that began to form in his tights. She was way to close for his liking, luckily he just needed to turn left and get to the end of the alley to the left. An exited grin crept on his face as he took the sharp turn into the alley, he was nearly there! Only for that grin to fall of his face as he saw a wooden wall had been build at the end of the alley, blocking of the water for the easy dive he had been counting on to get away from this crazy broad. “Oh come on!” He yelled out in disbelief. What the hell had he did wrong in rhysol's eyes to get this as a punishment dropped on him? Giph gritted his teeth and continued running as hard as he could, he just had to suck it up and climb over the thing. When he was seemingly close enough he jumped and stretched out his hands above him, trying to grab hold of the top of the wooden wall. He didn't quite manage it, but as he slammed against the wooden fence, he had enough of a grip to hang a few hands high above the ground. He sucked in another deep breath and began to clamber up the wooden fence as good and as bad as he could. It involved some cursing but he was making good progress.

[Renalee]

Ren cursed loudly as her well-aimed stone turned out to be not so well-aimed. It passed by the human boy, landing on the ground by his feet as he continued running. At the very least it startled him, but if that achieved anything it was to get him to push himself even harder. This cursed city would simply not let her get a break. The Kelvic growled and pulled her dagger out of its sheath as she turned another corner, following the little thief. That is when nature, or Rhysol or just a random builder decided to show up and give Ren a hand. A lovely wooden wall - brand new, judging from the state of the boards that it was made of - stood at the end of the small alley, effectively turning it into a trap. The human child didn’t seem to understand the definition of ‘trap’ however, as it became evident when he broke his run with a jump and slammed into the obstacle. By the time Renalee reached him he had managed to climb half way up the wall, movements reminiscent that of a clumsy monkey the blonde had once seen at the docks in Sunberth. The girl’s hand shot out and locked in a secure hold around her prey’s ankle which she used to tug him and interfere with him climb and his balance. ”This can work out in one of two ways, child.” Ren grinned as she looked up at the youth, clinging off the wall. “You can either come down on your own or I can drag you down. It’s your pick.”

[Giph]

Giph scowled as the woman managed to get a firm hold on one of his ankle's and just strengthened the grip on the wall, he wasn't going to come down of his own violation, it was his money now and like hell he was just going to roll over and give it back just because she asked for it! Then his eye fell on the gleeming metal of the dagger in her hand. Maybe being defiant for a purse full of miza's wen said owner of the purse had a dagger in her hand and probably wasn't to shy about using it. “Fine, why don't you release my ankle so I can climb down without breaking both our necks when I fall.” he spat back in an annoyed tone. His mind was flashing through ideas about how he would be able to distract her to get away intact and preferably with his prize too. He doubted she would just let him go if he handed over the pouch of money. There wasn't any dust on the ground he could throw in her eyes so that was out. Getting in a fight was not no his to do list with her being armed and he doubted he would be able to run long enough now to shake her. But first things first, get her talking and figure out how to distract her later.