Dim moonlight filters through the shattered glass windows of an old office building, draping the streets of Haven with a blanket of jagged shadows in multihued edges. The elongated silhouettes of a trio of men trail their counterparts' deliberate footsteps, winking in and out of existence as dictated by the light that gives them life.
One of the men pauses, silently extending an arm to indicate the yawning mouth of a nearby alley before adjusting his course in that direction. He's trailed by his compatriots spread out in a triangle, alert to dangers coming from any direction. Lightly though they tread, the men's heavy boots crunch loose pieces of asphalt and stone as they advance through the unnatural quiet of the urban wasteland, signifying their presence for any who might be present to witness them with all the subtlety of cannonfire.
Jolon looks back to you; all you can see is a single eye in the thin blade of moonlight cutting through the alley, but it glitters with excitement. This isn't the first time you've shadowed the human patrols by night, but you've always kept your distance, observing and learning their patterns and proclivities, cataloging them all for future use. But this time they changed their route, randomizing the sweep directly into the gloom that shelters your prying eyes.
"What should we do?" you hiss under your breath. Your heartbeat quickens, your fears kept at bay only by virtue of weeks of training.
The huntmaster fades from view, appearing several seconds later at your side to whisper in your ear. "It's an excellent question, BLjGIT BG. There is, of course, always the option to do nothing, but given the gravity of the situation, I'd counsel against it."
You suppress the urge to snap in anger. "This isn't the time for games or philosophy, Jolon. They'll be here soon, and they have guns!"
"All the more reason to make your judgment quickly." He grins. "And no cheating with your tech toy unless absolutely necessary. You can't always rely on military tech to make you invisible."
Leave it to Jolon to turn a life-or-death situation into a lesson. You can almost feel him smiling at you through the darkness. There's no more time to waste. If he won't make a decision, the responsibility falls on you.
I look for a way to conceal us here in the alley. Running might draw attention.
Staying here could be suicide. I direct Jolon in a calculated retreat, hoping that our movements aren't noticed.
Let's have a little fun and scare the crap out of the soldiers.
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