The Fox and the Hunter

You’re sure you’re being searched for, but how? Your eyes scan over your beaten down friends- no, allies. They all look as weak as you feel, and your eyes settle on Alexei. As hurt as she is, she’s standing in the corner, smug, grinning right at you, like she knows something you don’t. It’s a smile you’ve only seen once before. 

…

Your mission was relatively simple. Your employer, a wealthy merchant by the name of Reynaldo Drakesbridge, has hired you to cripple a powerful crime network, The Beastial Enclave, by taking out one of their key enforcers. By any means necessary. You and Khalia strap on your gear, as you watch Reynaldo prepare in his own eccentric way. He’s sitting in a chair, powdered face and straight bowtie, facing himself in dragonchess. 

“Are you sure she’ll show?” Khalia said, seeming concerned, “And what of our pay if she doesn’t?”

“Don’t worry about that, you. I’ve dealt with many criminals in my line of work, from highwaymen to masterminds. An organization like this relies entirely on its reputation. I spoke out against them at a public forum. Their reputation is King, thus check. They must react. And The White Fox is their top agent for situations like this. She shows up, you kill her, they don’t look so high and mighty. Checkmate. Any further questions?”

You share a look with Khalia. You can tell she has further questions. She purses her lips, and places her Ruby Longsword, and starts walking behind Reynaldo, who has a pretty brisk pace for his age. You hold Khalia back a moment, whispering in her ear. “You do realize we’re the pawns in his analogy, right?” She chuckles and pushes past you.

It’s well into the 2nd act of the play, you and Khalia on high alert standing in the back of the third story balcony, scanning the crowd. You look to Khalia, only to see her tense up, one hand on her sword, one hand cupped to her ear. You do the same, trying to listen. Over the murmur of the crowd and the action of the pit orchestra, you can’t hear anything. Suddenly a shadowy figure- covering her eyes and nose in a fox mask- lurches down from above the balcony, swinging into the window with almost supernatural speed. Before you can react, she jumps onto Reynaldo, knocking his chair to the ground and punching him square in the jaw. He yells out in some mixture of shock and pain as you and your partner spring into action. Khalia lands a kick on the Fox with a decisive crack, knocking her off of Reynaldo, then goes to stab down into her with her trusty longsword, only to have the assassin roll away with lightning speed and leap to her feet. You throw your hands forward with a quick hold person spell**,** and Reynaldo has the time to get up, coughing and wheezing. “You didn’t think I would be unprepared, did you?”

Khalia stands in front of Reynaldo, annoyed.

The White Fox breaks free enough to sneer out a “To be honest, I don’t really think about you,” rolls through Khalia’s legs, slides past the merchant, and hits him with 3 incredibly precise jabs, immobilizing him, and then kicks him in the chest, sending him flying into the balcony railing. There’s another crack, though you’re not sure if it’s the wood in the railing, or his ribs. The wind gets knocked out of him either way. She rushes for him, getting blindsided as your dragonmark flashes and Nocturne pounces at her through a rift in space, sinking its teeth deep into her side and provoking a shout,  as Khalia moves in on the other side, white knuckling her sword, ready to attack, fury in her eyes. 

The White Fox takes a step back, raising her hands in surrender. “I’ll admit, your lackeys are strong. Smart of you to not work alone.” she looks right at you, and her nervous frown breaks into a wide, malicious smile, a smile like she knows something you don’t. “I’m smart too.” Her right hand twists into a signal of some sort, and she cuts it downward.. You look behind you with just enough time to see a crossbow bolt fly out of the sea of shocked faces on the floor below, right into Reynaldo’s throat, the rest of the breath he was struggling to keep in getting forcefully pushed out as he drops to the ground. Khalia runs forward, slashing into the enforcer’s leg, and she cries out in pain and stumbles. Khalia uses this as an opportunity to grapple her, holding her blade to her throat. The White Fox hisses through gritted teeth, blood running down from under her mask. “Knifeplay… Hot. Usually I want to be wined and dined first, but-” 

She’s cut off by Khalia pressing deeper in with the blade, prompting the girl to, once again quicker than either of you can react, lands four strikes down her arm holding the blade, causing her muscles to cramp and let go of both her and the sword. She makes a run for the balcony, you can’t let her get away. You have to think fast. You grasp at her hair streaming behind her, slicing with your hidden blade. A lock of hair falls to the ground with the same softness as the figure that just flung herself over the railing. 

Khalia huffs, clearly upset. “We let her get away. Not that we’re getting paid anymore regardless.” She looks to the lifeless body of your employer.

“We can use this to help find her.” you say, crouching down and grabbing a lock of the fallen hair. “ Old bounty hunter trick. Plus, I’m sure someone else has a hit out on her head.”