Ash 29, 4621¤
It was late that same night they had outran the Valran from the treasure room and ended up in an alley for black market goods. The short pair were headed to the main plaza to look for signs of Cloak's rival. It was surprisingly dead that night and the pair went unnoticed among the shadows with Cloak at the lead. They were looking for signs of a break in, a door askew or some window tilted up. Eventually they found it and waited patiently to see if the prediction was right or if someone in the home was just forgetful. No lights were on and it would seem everyone inside the home was asleep. What it must be like to live such a simple life? Instead of a life of crime. Miki mulled this over as they waited until the mark appeared.
Finally after a long hour a man crept out with a black sack and a mask. They watched as he replaced the window where it belonged and silently scoped the area. His sack looked heavy, like he had gotten a good haul. The duo made themselves small and hid silently while he climbed onto the home's cat walk and then on to the roof. Miki watched where he went and oriented with the stars to find out what way he was headed. The night was crisp and warm, just like she liked it.
"Due North."
Miki told the gnome and they waited until heading out after after man throughout the alleyways and streets. It took some time but eventually they lost sight of him. He had snuck off. Cloak told Miki,
"It must be around here somewhere. Keep a lookout. Do a bird call if you find anything. Listen for mine too."
Miki wandered around the streets aimlessly not sure what she was looking for. At least with Cloak she knew she had a flare for the extravagant. Probably how he stalked her. In any case if it weren't for her natural ability she would be lost as she had no idea where she was truly going other than looking for something suspicious. A loud clang roused her from her thoughts and she shrunk back behind a pile of rubbage just in time for a cook to come out and throw away what seemed to be vegetable odds and ends. That was when she heard the bird call, thankfully not a duck, but the shrill cry of a song bird not far off from where she was. Waiting for the cook to leave she watched him give a tired shrug before dusting his hands and heading back inside. This was taken as her opportunity to skedaddle and Miki made a quick get away towards the bird call. They wouldn't be caught this night, not on her watch.
Miki found Cloak hunched over a few pallets which Miki could now see was covering an inconsistency in the wall behind them. Cloak struggled pulling them off with her short stature.
"Well don't just stand there, tall one."
Miki obliged and helped peel the layers of pallets back and off the stack. They cralwed through the small hole to find themselves in a backroom storage for a home.
"We made it to his place."
Cloak said quietly, obviously triumphant and satisfied.
"Let's find somewhere to hide to wait him out. While he's sleeping we can snoop if you are quiet."
Nodding, Miki said nothing at all and crept off with Cloak to find a small area to confine herself while waiting for the man to go to sleep.
They ended up in his cellar behind the wine and hoped that he wouldn't be teetotaling tonight. This gave them a moment to speak in a low, hushed voice.
"His name is Brandon Ebert."
Cloak started and Miki knew it was time for a tale.
"We were classmates in Dagrun for CLUGS and he was always jealous of me. Somehow he hates me so much he picked up on my concept of stealing. I don't understand why but it's an unhealthy obsession I've been dealing with off and on for some years.
This wasn't good, not only was she breaking and entering in who-knew-who's house but she likely would have to pin the arson on a stranger to get back into Cloak's favor. Would this lie work out? If they were truly in the man's home and hideout she would have to leave something here to incriminate him. But how? Cloak then answered that for her, she began scheming out loud.
"So we find your things, leave, then tomorrow or the next day find the guards and incriminate him for the arson of my favorite lawn--"
She still didn't know Miki had done it. There was no way she would tell her.
That was when a light shown from the top steps and down into the cellar. Each girl drew in their breath and stayed as still as possible. Miki's body hurt from the cramped position she was standing in. Pressed up against the wall she watched through a crack from behind the wine rack as he walked down the steps and chose, thankfully, wine from a different part of the cellar. It did seem to be their mark, from what little features she could see he looked to have the same wavy hair and build. A cool shiver went down Miki's spine and the wine in front of her rattled. She pushed her body up against it to mute the sound but it was too late, he had already heard her. Cloak grabbed Miki hard by the shirt as he started walking towards the noise, but instead shook his head and walked away.
"Fuckin' rats."
They could hear as he went back up the steps and shut the door behind him.
Both let out a hurried sigh of relief. They moved out from behind the wine to find a new spot in the cellar when the door opened again, this time even brighter, showing the two short forms in the middle of the room.
"You! HOW COULD YOU!?"
He screeched, dropping his lantern as it rolled and caught fire down the stairs. Miki didn't have time to think. There was a barrel of rainwater connected to a spout and she rolled the water over, spilling its contents on the flames. He ran from the scene covering his face with Cloak shouting,
"I found you dumb ass! It was so easy!! You're going to pay for what you've done!"
While leaping two at a time up the steps. At the top of the stairs she clicked a button on her wrist and a tiny cross bow popped out, she drew from her boot a small arrow and notched it in the bow, then ran after him. Black smoke billowed into the hallway as Miki followed them both out into the street. This wasn't going according to plan at all. Before any type of law could be spotted she darted back into the house without seeing where the other two went. She dashed up the stairs and into one of the first doors she saw. She got lucky, it was a trove of black sacks and goods. Not sure which one was Pogma's and not one to dally either she scooped up three of the bags and high tailed it from the home.
Brandon and Cloak were on top of the roofs running full speed, leaping from precipice to precipice, when Miki came outside.
"We need to go, now!"
Miki shouted with a wave and made her own way away from the house, leaving the other two to their duel. She would scurry back to Pogma's house and wait for word from Cloak, if there was any. If both got taken away then so be it, there was enough incriminating both of them in that house and she was leaving soon anyway. The problem may have solved itself. Shifting the bags on her shoulder she made her way back to Pogma and Izul in a brisk walk.
That night she dreamed she was rolling a giant coin. Although it was completely smooth, not a single scuff or scratch, it rolled easily in her hands. She walked up the dusty road for some time with it at an even pace until they came upon a saloon. Rolling her penny through the swinging doors she sat down at the gambling table and the coin landed with a "crash!", smashing the game to smithereens. Everyone drew a gun then and began shooting. The next day she awoke with a dry mouth and aching back, although she swore she would never do it again she still slept on the bare ground. Old habits die hard.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, let me know. Enjoy your rewards! 