Faith
The freezing air of an early autumn morning made Vaeren shiver with discomfort, they hid their hands deeper in the pockets of their coat and quickened their steps. The nearest magic shop—one that offered ingredients necessary for brewing both healing and mana replenishing potions—was still a long way ahead. The roads, at first mostly empty, soon filled with people hurrying to and fro despite the cold wind tugging at their clothes and hair. Eventually Vaeren reached the outskirts of a little town in Corol Ambo, a place that didn't seem all that remarkable at first sight, but all those who knew about it were certain to come back again, and the reason for it was a small establishment by the name of "The Laughing Satyr". A magic store that offered some of the finest and rarest alchemical ingredients in the south. Vaeren looked up at the weathered sign above the door and sighed, it really didn't look too inviting. They knocked on the door first, then pressed down on the handle. The door opened with a creak, but before they could take a step inside, something soft and fluffy squeezed through the opening, then right between Vaeren's legs, down the street and disappeared in the back end of an alleyway, quick enough to make them doubt whether it actually happened. "That little scoundrel! Where has he gone off to this time?!" Someone shouted from the inside before forcefully grabbing the door and opening it widely. There stood an older lady with beautiful silver hair braided in a long braid and an intricate, colorful scarf draped around her shoulders. "What are you waiting for? Go after him!" Vaeren looked helplessly between the lady and an empty alleyway. Was she really sending a customer out on a chase after.. What exactly?

"Yes, I'm talking to you! Come on, move it or he's going to get away. I'm going to give you a discount, so hurry up and fetch that rascal for me!" With that a pair of hands pushed them out the door with more vigor than they'd expect from a frail looking, older lady. Then the door shut behind them, and all that was left was the sound of wind. Vaeren gave the door one more confused look, with their brows furrowed and lips pursed, then ran down the stairs and straight into the alleyway the fluffy thing had disappeared into, thinking to themselves with exasperation "Fine! But you better make that discount matter, old lady!".
Dora
*The streets were getting more packed as time went on, she didn't have a lot of time left, but she was really itching for the coin that this job offered.*
*She had long straight hair, the top layer braided into a viking knot. The rest of her hair covered her ears, neck and a good portion of her torso.*
*She wore a broken corset, half of the bodes was broken off, revealing the right side of her malnourished stomach. She had tight leather pants and a belt that held her longsword. Her black leather boots stopped at her knees and her leather pants were torn.*
*Pulling a man along behind her, she ran into a dark alleyway as she pushed him up against the brick wall.*
*Though the man's eager smile faded rather quickly as she pulled out a dagger from her left black leather boot. Pressing it against his throat.*
*Her thick peach toned lips curving into a smirk as she whispered.*
'What did you think was going to happen?'
*She spoke as she pushed the tip of the dagger into his neck, letting the drops of blood fall down the tilted dagger.*
Faith
Vaeren ran as fast as they could, past all the stores and buildings, slipping and sliding on wet leaves and splashing water in puddles, until finally they reached the front of an alley they thought that accursed thing had disappeared into. Here they slowed down to a walk, doing their best to catch a breath. Looking from right to left, trying to catch a glimpse of the furry creature, but to no avail. "Surely must be somewhere here" They thought and kept walking, scanning their surroundings carefully, yet nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The alleyway was dark and empty, with brick walls and boarded-up windows, it hadn't seen the light of day in a while. Vaeren shivered as a gust of wind blew past them, causing their long coat to flutter briefly. Just then, out of the corner of their eye, they noticed a fluffy tail disappear behind the corner. "There!" They gasp softly and follow quietly behind it, not wanting to scare off the animal they worked so hard to find. Yet the moment they turn the corner, what greets their eyes isn't a runaway cat but a pair of people pressed tightly against the wall. Vaeren stops in their tracks, eyes set on the couple, who, as they now notice, seem to be in a scuffle. The long-haired woman appeared to hold the man at knife point, the blade tightly pressed against his neck. The man whose face was obscured by the shadow, either frozen by fear or unable to react in time, didn't seem to resist. Vaeren's thoughts collide with one another, unsure how to proceed. They take a hesitant step back when "MEOOOW!" A big ginger cat leaps down a broken window opposite the pair, then lands right in front of them. "Meeeow.." He repeats unbothered, then looks back at Vaeren as if asking "What are you doing? Come pick me up." Or at least that's the thought that crosses Vaeren's mind as they look from the cat to the pair of people they clearly just interrupted.
Dora
*The woman didn't seem to notice the prying eyes until the new guest took a step into the alleyway, the crunch of thin ice under her feet. She wiped her head to the left to spot the figure lurking in the opening of the dark alleyway.*
*She quickly removed the dagger, though pointless as the girl had already seen her actions.*
*She opened her mouth only to spot the man running in front of her and out of the alleyway.*
*The woman groaned, she would have to hunt him down later but first she had some new business to deal with.*
*She glanced at the girl as the cat fell in front of her. She glared down at the cat before up at the woman.*
'What? Don't tell me I get two kills today?'
*She questioned, a grin forming a cross her lips.*
Faith
"The owner won't be too pleased if you do that." Vaeren says cautiously, hoping to relieve some tension, then bends down and beckons to the cat. "Come here, little bastard. Just look at what you got me into.." But the cat didn't seem to care, and even a genuine plea likely wouldn't convince him to move. Instead, he looked at the woman with a pair of big, honey-colored eyes and purred. Vaeren sighs and stands back up, assessing the stranger's intentions. Does she want to fight? Is there a way to deescalate the situation? "Listen, it's really none of my business what you were up to in this alley. Why don't we just-" As they say that, the fluffy ginger ball of hatred approaches the woman assassin with an intention to rub against her leg. Vaeren closes their eyes, praying to the gods that they don't have to bring the shopkeeper lady the carcass of her beloved pet.
Dora
*The woman glared the woman down. Clenching the dagger at her side.*
*She opened her mouth to spit back an insult when she felt something rubbing on her leg. Her grin falling away.*
*She shuddered, her hatred for animals showing though now. It seemed this miserable woman didn't like anything or anyone.*
*She kicked the cat away hard enough to get a yip in pain from in but not hard enough to leave any physical damage.*
'Your right, it is none of your business. Unfortunately for you, you saw me. Your a witness now.'
*Her grin came back as she took a step closer.*
Faith
Vaeren opens their eyes as they hear the yipping of the cat, just in time to see it disappear behind some rubble. They exhale the breath they've been holding back until now and look at the woman in front of them. "Witness, huh?" They repeat after her, a wry smile on their lips. "I don't know you, nor anything about you. I couldn't possibly recognize you in the light of day." They take a step back, then another, just enough to put some distance between the two of them. "I'd rather not fight you, but I will if I have to." The temperature around them rises slowly as tongues of flame wrap around their forearms and calves, then disappear briefly. "However, I'd much rather have you take my word for it, I won't tell anyone. There's no reason to, nor anything in it for me to gain. Why should I?"
Dora
*The woman's grin grew as the girl stepped back. Though she was cautious. Her stance proved she was ready to run after her if need be.*
*The fire around the girl warmed the woman up but not once did she look scared.*
*She thought for a moment, the girl was making some good points.*
*She groaned before speaking reluctantly.*
'Go, NOW! I'll make sure that feline pest follows you.'
Faith
Vaeren raises their eyebrows at the sudden exclamation but manages to nod promptly in response, not wishing for the assassin to change her mind. The woman, although threatening at first glance, had something fragile about her and Vaeren couldn't help but steal one final look at her. "Take care then." They say, taking a step towards the exit of the alley. "I hope we won't be meeting again, but should the fate play a trick on us, let's grab a drink together to celebrate. Sounds fair, doesn't it?" Vaeren asks softly, not an attempt to provoke her but instead to forge a connection that could go beyond threat of violence. "Goodbye then." They nod and turn around cautiously, still a bit wary of whatever the woman has planned to do next.
Dora
*The woman watched cautiously. Her grin growing at the girl's uneasyness as she rambled on.*
'I don't drink.'
*That was a lie, she spoke sarcastically, it was definitely a lie that she didn't care if she was called out on.*
*She had different reasons for not wishing to **"Celebrate"** As the girl put it.*
*She was quite the loner it seemed.*
*As the girl turned to walk off she turned, to were the feline was hiding and leaned down, pulled it out.*
*She stood and kicked it towards the woman before running in the direction the man ran off.*
Faith
As Vaeren arrived near the alleyway's exit, they turned around to take one final look at what they left behind. Gloomy back alley, now eerily empty—it seemed the assassin has already left, perhaps in a hurry to chase after her runaway prey. Vaeren took a deep breath, the cold autumn air filling their lungs and calming their fast beating heart. Only now did they notice that coming out of the alley was big ginger cat. The "Feline pest" Woman promised to make sure followed after Vaeren when they left. It seemed she'd kept her word, Vaeren sighs and bends down, once again beckoning the animal. "Come here" They reach out with one of their hands, and cat approaches, nuzzling it's face against the inside of Vaeren's right palm "You've had quite an adventure today, I think it's time to go home." They smile lightly and pick up the troublesome cat "I'm hoping for a big discount, you know."