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Description
WARNING
This story depicts scenes that may be unsuited for young audiences. This includes and is not limited too; death and witnessing death, blood, etc.
Viewer/readers' discretion is strongly advised.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 4th 42BC (2019)

It started out as that of a normal evening. Well, normal enough for me that was. So I wouldn't really call it normal. I'm a city stray as I get called who runs around for food and am attempting to learn to how to steal things back from thieves. So like a Thief's Thief? But anyway, on with the day... sorta?
Over the last year, this thing known as "The Slasher," has been wrecking havoc throughout the city, challenging the skill of both Hunter and Guard. Granted I have been a thief who’s done just that more than once. But it's gotten to the point, they are now asking everyone else to get involved in tracking this thing down. I don't know how to feel about it. If anything, it's unsettling for those who are supposed keep the city safe are basically telling us we are on our own now. That feels good. It doesn't. But we go on with life.
So now onto the day.
For the most part, it was uneventful, the occasional shower from the sky, and some thunder, but nothing that was over dramatic. I was still struggling to figure out how to stop thieves. Ishkur deciding to do something a bit different and that turned into a spar match. I think I got one decent swat... then I got decked immediately. It was safe to say it was over after that. I was not awake. I came too a bit later, Ishkur said I was out about twenty minutes... Seemed like, but I went about my day after that. Training was at its end then, and I went to go check on Yoon, and see how he was faring with his injured leg. Funny enough, I had not very long ago, injured my leg and was out of commission. Cici made sure I wasn't going anywhere. Bit annoying honestly, but nice to know someone cared.
Regarding the Slasher fellow, fella, whatever they are. I debate if that's what happened to Azita and Buffalo. I've not been the best at keeping up with Honour. Saxon is normally around the docks. I have seen glimpses of Accalia around, but honestly none of us really talk anymore. After Bohea left, I feel everyone drifted apart. It's... it's depressing to see, but... what can really be done. Saxon and Yoon are the two I still feel I talk too. I say they're family, yet I don't know what they are up to most of the time. Like it hard enough getting to watch those you grew up around drift away and disappear as is. Then you have those that single you out based on where you came from, not giving any concern or acknowledgment toward where you are trying to go or if you are trying to improve yourself. Makes me wonder if I just give up trying to do better and just be a thief. It's like the only thing I am any good at. And even that is hated. But hey, I'm getting bashed for it either way. So why be anything different?

All of this continually swirled in my head, day after day and night after night. Part of me wants to talk to Ciroria about it, but I know Matea has a thing for her, and could more than likely influence how she responds to it. She's convinced Ishkur that she's done nothing wrong, or he won't stand his ground on it. I don't know which, and I hardly want to find out. I feel like I tried to get things from both sides, and am now left with little to nothing to show for it. Both sides closing doors on me, like I should just walk away. But, something I have heard more than once, from Ishkur, from Bohea, and from others. Your path is likely the one to push you the hardest, not an easy coast. So, it might be vain, but it going to take a lot more to beat me. I just want to do the right thing, even if that means being the only to stand for it...
However, today was a day that was not done pushing my limits.

The sun had nearly set, and I was wondering the Upper Class District, reason being, probably not the greatest. Stealing, well, the desire to do so has always been something I have had to fight. So I was poking around, doing something’s I could get in trouble for. But, that was half the reason, the adrenaline of getting away with it. But, I was hunting for something simple to snag, but something was following me. And I didn't know it.
I jumped down from a roof top, scooting my front legs as far down the wall before taking the leap down, what I didn't see was the ground was wet. I slipped when I landed, at first thinking I just landed in water or something like mud. I coughed when I landed and pulled myself up, and looked at what I landed in. I could feel every hair stand on my body. I had landed in a pool of something's blood, there was no mistaking the colour of my now stained fur and scent. My eyes followed the pool where what sounded like a splat on the ground snapped my eyes forward.
A smaller figure layed on the ground, shaking, and my eyes were forced to move off the shape, and onto a larger shape. My eyes went back to the smaller figure for a split second, but then the larger shape moved, growling, glowing eyes taking a glance at the body that still shook, but made no noise, and then back to me with his ears lifted up at seeing me. I-I had froze in place. Shear terror at what I was seeing, and what I now, was face to face with. The creature looked like it... like it wanted me to run. As if, to play its game. It took a step forward, and my frame refused to move.
The way the light hit the edge of the animal's frame, it looked it carried a dark colour on its roof, and a lighter colour on the sides of is muzzle, long, white fangs peering from his mouth. I was not only frozen, but could feel tears in my eyes. So I couldn't say accurate what I saw was. Suddenly, the beast moved. I didn't move, and took a solid hit, heavily staggering me aside. It was enough. Enough to snap me out of being frozen in fear. I kept myself from falling, taking a few steps back. And. And then I played his game.
I shot a final glance back at the now lifeless body that lay on the ground, its blood and now my own stained and mixed my pelt and the ground itself. I twisted around the corner, realizing I had ran straight into an alley instead of into the open street, where I had a much better chance of getting away from whatever this monster was. But I was in the alley, and I ran like a rat. I could feel every hair was on end, and it felt like it wanted to fly off of me. My chest pounded, adrenaline running from guards and hunters was one thing. This... This was not the same. It wasn't a fix. It was pure, unfiltered fear for my life. With what I just saw, and how this monster spoke, there was great joy in his acts.
My paws cladded against the street, my face becoming partly numb from the hit, and I could almost hear steps behind me, chasing me. I didn't give a second to look back to see if he was or wasn't. I just needed to get away from him. And hide! I wrapped a few corners, left, right, and another right. Before choosing to go up a few levels. I saw a beam that was slanted against the frame work of a closed shop and ran up it, banking a hard right when I got on it, to try and slip through the building. I was met with a thud, and a laugh. "Good try. Still playing I hope." I was shoved backward, out of the gap, scrapping against the wall and falling to the ground. I bolted across the empty street, disappearing into the alleys of the Slums. Something I was quickly to regret.
It didn't take very long to be cut off again by this monster, taking a swipe or other injury in my attempts to flee. Everything began to just turn to a blur. I didn't understand how I was not coming across any guards, anything at all. There wasn't anyone nearby. I could feel I was wearing out. I forced myself to stop, my instincts saying run, run, run. Find somewhere to hide! Where the hell was there to hide. I was in the slums, this area was pretty well lawless to begin with. Now I was being hunted by something... perhaps this was what those Empire Cat's felt like when the Bounty Hunters go after them. It didn't raise my faith in them any bit, just bought my chaser time to close the gap, if there was ever a gap.
There was a crack behind me, causing my head to snap in the direction. The path was dark, but there was no sign of anything there, anymore at the least. Another shuffle in front of me. Making my head snap forward. Again nothing. This area lit a bit better, but the sun was all but nearly gone. Hidden by a new cast of clouds and the smell of rain inbound. Wind was already picking up. Last thing I wanted was to be in the weather with this thing watching me. It made me wonder how have I been watched, and is he why Azita and Buffalo vanished? Is he why Bohea and his person left the city? Another shuffle to the left of where I looked grabbed my attention, I could feel my heart skip a beat from it. Only to have a mouse run out of a small gap in the wall. I looked around for what felt like forever, and didn't see anything. I knew. I knew I was being watched still. I couldn't head home, what home? I debated, with my senses becoming less blurred.
The adrenaline beginning to turn into exhaustion. My entire frame began to ache. My face stung, and I looked down. I was covered. I had blood on me. I had gunk caked into cuts and scrapes. I wanted to drop. I knew I was still in his game, the ever present eyes continued to emit from around me. I chose to move on, hastily as possible, and find a place more populated.

The haste pace was almost instantly grinded to a slow walk. I passed by a couple patches of felines, all of whom made it clear I wasn't wanted near them, given how I looked. That was the slums, there were small groups that stuck to each other, but nearly no one else got in to the group unless they prove themselves able. I had the group I was with, but again, that feels like it fell apart and I was alone once again. Now I was potential dinner for something. The weather was quickly growing worse, rain and hail started to fall, forcing me to go to sketchier paths to avoid the weather, but put me at higher risk of getting silently plucked. My gaze found the docks. My bet Saxon was around. But there were less ships, and Saxon always kept one of doors ajar so someone could enter, and it was closed. I darted out anyway, the rain quickly trickling the deep stains on me to tints. But it was still there in a way, just now I was standing in it. I went to the door that was normally open, the skies had fully unleashed their wrath at that point. Rain falling harder, it was ice cold. With lightning flashing the skies, thunder roaring, moaning, and grunting in swirled distortions that sounded like whispers to that of a tiger in your ear. I heard yells from the coliseum, this was meeting that volume if not passing it at times.
The door wasn't budging. I hollered. "Open up! Open up!" going as far to hit the door with my paws and cry out. "Saxon open the door!!" I pounded for another ten or so minutes, continually pleading to get in. There was never an answer... I was now soaked and freezing. Looking back at the docks. I still felt like I was being watched.
There was a click noise above me... and my eyes jotted up as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. The same glowing eyes were there. I didn't remain idle to bother trying to get detail off of this monster. But they had already leaped at me by that time. I was lucky enough to be fast enough to react, and swing first. I felt contact with flesh and immediately backed up, I had my eyes shut when I swung, and reopened them. I could make out the silhouette, my guess was they might have been a cougar, but again, I couldn't verify that to save my life. I could make out the edge of their frame, and the newly found cuts across its face. The monster's eyes were gone for what looked like a second, but they reformed, and they said one thing, that I was in much more trouble now.
Then it growled and leaped at me again. I wasn't fast enough to jump out of the way from his grip, but I kicked with my hind legs in the same instance of feeling claws sink into my shoulders. And I was then on my feet, seeing the monster stumble forward and off the side of the dock. I didn't waste a second to run this time. I was not going to win in a fight against him. I ran away from the docks, my paws splashing the ground, heading more up the streets. I needed to find a somewhere to slip through he couldn't. There were... a few places like that... but... they were not the best places. But right now, smelling like person dung was better than being dead, right?
I cut a glance back with the cat climbing up the dock's shorter wall. Fire was in his slits for eyes. I ran harder, knowing where I needed to go, this thing hopefully didn't realize my goal. But I didn't look back at this point, I just ran, hearing his paw steps slowly get closer. I knew he was gaining on me. His thuds splashes growing increasingly louder, the gap was closing, if not closed. I heard a clamp behind me, I knew what the bastard just tried, and luckily missed. But his next move didn't. I felt a large solid paw hit my side, sending me tumbling sideways. Luckily tumbling and getting onto my paws in a smooth motion, looking over to see the cat leaping, closing the gap fully. I dove under him, a smack following my dive. He had dived into a wall, letting off a pissed off snarl, I was fueling this things desire to chase. My gaze left the cougar, and met my target. I ran sort of in its direction. I couldn't have him figure me out.
I got about four strides before I was again hit, this one flattening me against the ground, claws quickly sinking into my neck and back. The wind was knocked out of my lungs, and I heaved to breathe, the cougar having growling. I was certain they said something, but ringing ears prevent me to know what was said. Before I could do anything else, teeth clamped right around my neck and yanked me off the ground. He kept a tight enough grip there was no way I was going to break free from him easily. His hot breath pushing against my neck. All I could do was pray for a chance to get away from him. But then I could see where he was going... toward where I was trying to go... I attempted something, swinging my hind leg, trying to flail a kick in his direction, where I abruptly dropped, but teeth again clamped around my neck before I could do anything, this time where I was arched backward, my throat up and spine down, and a tighter grip, choking me enough to keep me occupied but not enough to take my consciousness from me. And he past the person's restroom. Turning and heading into an alley.
Only thing I could do now was pray he dropped me again... lightning continued to flash through it all, thunder roaring, there was nothing out in this weather, minus those who were not going to do anything about it. For all they knew, it was an adult carrying a troublemaker. The silence felt like forever. I could hear my heart beat, the cougar seeming to notice, and chuffing along with it. My fur just continued to try and fly off of me. Every now and then I would shake a bit, trying to not drown on my own saliva, it was so hard to swallow, it was hard to breathe. But then the cat stopped, turning his head, myself swinging a bit with the head turns. I felt his jaw loosen, and I went to attempt something, but again, his front paw had already gripped me and slammed me to the ground, where I let out a pained groan and cough. With a second of that, his second paw firmly against my head, almost outright stretching my neck out. He wanted me to try something. I knew it. I felt his breathe get closer to my head. Again, certain something was said, but my hearing... it was not where it should have been. I made nothing out of his words. So I just shut my eyes tightly. I. I needed to wait just a moment longer.
I felt the cat drop his weight, like he had pinned down his kill. The moment I heard that. I acted, I knew it was now or I was dead.
I twisted my back and gave a well aimed kick to his head, pushing his bite to a hairline miss. His weight shifted, and I writhed at that moment, getting my head free and partly loosening my shoulder. Teeth met my head within a flash a lightning. I reacted and had my front legs free, and racked them into whatever I could. The cat yelled and I was able to get out from under his weight. I shot a glance, with his now bloodied face looking at me, clear he was going to shred me if he got a hold of me. I bolted away from him with clear sound I was getting followed, but the sound was only for a second, where it then vanished. I doubled instantly at the silence, venturing into the dark alley, coming out the other side, and running right into icy rain. It stung my head like a torch hit me. I moaned from it instinctively, knowing if I had shaken this monster, I may have just reversed it. I ran farther anyway, and saw what I was after originally again. I didn't give a hair line to look back and b-lined to it. I wrapped the corner, hopped through a gap, and threw myself down through one of the many holes in the opened structure.

I hit something hard, coughing when I hit, prying myself back up to my paws, with several flashes of lightning strobing the sewer hole I was now in. I didn't wait to move from where I was though, and pushed forward, feeling more and more exhaustion, I was going to drop sooner than later. I needed to know I was away from this monster first before I was going to allow myself to collapse. There were larger openings every now and then in the sewers, a flashing lighting up a frame as I looked up, hugging the walls of course. The frame was that who was chasing me. I froze in place, and closed my eyes. Several rumbles of thunder passed, and I peeked one open, he was looking right me, or at least it seemed like it. But then he let off a hiss and vanished.
I... I actually got away from him... I thought... shocked... that single relief was enough to tip instinctual survival into finding help. My balance had instantly become tipsy, and my vision wanted to go black. I hurt too much feel the pain I should feel. It was a deep numbness and nothing more. I wanted to just stop and sleep. My brain, my fear of dying, kept me pushing forward. I go down in here, I was likely to not get up later.
Walking and drudging the ground for a felt incalculable time frame, I found an exit that wasn't climbing out, and walked up the incline. I came up near one of the market places, the north market place. The sun had rose, it was mid day, at least that was why my fading awareness told me. I looked around and began to walk numb. I walked street to street, didn't look at anyone or anything, found what was a familiar place. Ciroria's place. I walked toward it quietly, and entered through the space in the gates, finding and open window and pulling my through it. I fell, knocking something over that came down with a crash. I glanced and it was a vase that held flowers... did anyway. My gaze glanced about, and I saw no one. I stood up, in an almost drunk fashion, and continued forward to what I saw was a mound of bedding that Cici had said was mine to sleep on. I stood on it and dropped.

Disclaimer:
Serval is not certain the creature is a cougar, he is guessing based on the silhouette. More of this he spent getting blinded by rain and blood on his face. He is bound to not even clearly remember this. But enough to know he got away, but now fear he is being watched.

Word Count: 3752
+4EP for Picture
+6EP for Word Count
+10EP for Activity Check
+20EP to Serval

Description
WARNING
This story depicts scenes that may be unsuited for young audiences. This includes and is not limited too; death and witnessing death, blood, etc.
Viewer/readers' discretion is strongly advised.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 4th 42BC (2019)

It started out as that of a normal evening. Well, normal enough for me that was. So I wouldn't really call it normal. I'm a city stray as I get called who runs around for food and am attempting to learn to how to steal things back from thieves. So like a Thief's Thief? But anyway, on with the day... sorta?
Over the last year, this thing known as "The Slasher," has been wrecking havoc throughout the city, challenging the skill of both Hunter and Guard. Granted I have been a thief who’s done just that more than once. But it's gotten to the point, they are now asking everyone else to get involved in tracking this thing down. I don't know how to feel about it. If anything, it's unsettling for those who are supposed keep the city safe are basically telling us we are on our own now. That feels good. It doesn't. But we go on with life.
So now onto the day.
For the most part, it was uneventful, the occasional shower from the sky, and some thunder, but nothing that was over dramatic. I was still struggling to figure out how to stop thieves. Ishkur deciding to do something a bit different and that turned into a spar match. I think I got one decent swat... then I got decked immediately. It was safe to say it was over after that. I was not awake. I came too a bit later, Ishkur said I was out about twenty minutes... Seemed like, but I went about my day after that. Training was at its end then, and I went to go check on Yoon, and see how he was faring with his injured leg. Funny enough, I had not very long ago, injured my leg and was out of commission. Cici made sure I wasn't going anywhere. Bit annoying honestly, but nice to know someone cared.
Regarding the Slasher fellow, fella, whatever they are. I debate if that's what happened to Azita and Buffalo. I've not been the best at keeping up with Honour. Saxon is normally around the docks. I have seen glimpses of Accalia around, but honestly none of us really talk anymore. After Bohea left, I feel everyone drifted apart. It's... it's depressing to see, but... what can really be done. Saxon and Yoon are the two I still feel I talk too. I say they're family, yet I don't know what they are up to most of the time. Like it hard enough getting to watch those you grew up around drift away and disappear as is. Then you have those that single you out based on where you came from, not giving any concern or acknowledgment toward where you are trying to go or if you are trying to improve yourself. Makes me wonder if I just give up trying to do better and just be a thief. It's like the only thing I am any good at. And even that is hated. But hey, I'm getting bashed for it either way. So why be anything different?

All of this continually swirled in my head, day after day and night after night. Part of me wants to talk to Ciroria about it, but I know Matea has a thing for her, and could more than likely influence how she responds to it. She's convinced Ishkur that she's done nothing wrong, or he won't stand his ground on it. I don't know which, and I hardly want to find out. I feel like I tried to get things from both sides, and am now left with little to nothing to show for it. Both sides closing doors on me, like I should just walk away. But, something I have heard more than once, from Ishkur, from Bohea, and from others. Your path is likely the one to push you the hardest, not an easy coast. So, it might be vain, but it going to take a lot more to beat me. I just want to do the right thing, even if that means being the only to stand for it...
However, today was a day that was not done pushing my limits.

The sun had nearly set, and I was wondering the Upper Class District, reason being, probably not the greatest. Stealing, well, the desire to do so has always been something I have had to fight. So I was poking around, doing something’s I could get in trouble for. But, that was half the reason, the adrenaline of getting away with it. But, I was hunting for something simple to snag, but something was following me. And I didn't know it.
I jumped down from a roof top, scooting my front legs as far down the wall before taking the leap down, what I didn't see was the ground was wet. I slipped when I landed, at first thinking I just landed in water or something like mud. I coughed when I landed and pulled myself up, and looked at what I landed in. I could feel every hair stand on my body. I had landed in a pool of something's blood, there was no mistaking the colour of my now stained fur and scent. My eyes followed the pool where what sounded like a splat on the ground snapped my eyes forward.
A smaller figure layed on the ground, shaking, and my eyes were forced to move off the shape, and onto a larger shape. My eyes went back to the smaller figure for a split second, but then the larger shape moved, growling, glowing eyes taking a glance at the body that still shook, but made no noise, and then back to me with his ears lifted up at seeing me. I-I had froze in place. Shear terror at what I was seeing, and what I now, was face to face with. The creature looked like it... like it wanted me to run. As if, to play its game. It took a step forward, and my frame refused to move.
The way the light hit the edge of the animal's frame, it looked it carried a dark colour on its roof, and a lighter colour on the sides of is muzzle, long, white fangs peering from his mouth. I was not only frozen, but could feel tears in my eyes. So I couldn't say accurate what I saw was. Suddenly, the beast moved. I didn't move, and took a solid hit, heavily staggering me aside. It was enough. Enough to snap me out of being frozen in fear. I kept myself from falling, taking a few steps back. And. And then I played his game.
I shot a final glance back at the now lifeless body that lay on the ground, its blood and now my own stained and mixed my pelt and the ground itself. I twisted around the corner, realizing I had ran straight into an alley instead of into the open street, where I had a much better chance of getting away from whatever this monster was. But I was in the alley, and I ran like a rat. I could feel every hair was on end, and it felt like it wanted to fly off of me. My chest pounded, adrenaline running from guards and hunters was one thing. This... This was not the same. It wasn't a fix. It was pure, unfiltered fear for my life. With what I just saw, and how this monster spoke, there was great joy in his acts.
My paws cladded against the street, my face becoming partly numb from the hit, and I could almost hear steps behind me, chasing me. I didn't give a second to look back to see if he was or wasn't. I just needed to get away from him. And hide! I wrapped a few corners, left, right, and another right. Before choosing to go up a few levels. I saw a beam that was slanted against the frame work of a closed shop and ran up it, banking a hard right when I got on it, to try and slip through the building. I was met with a thud, and a laugh. "Good try. Still playing I hope." I was shoved backward, out of the gap, scrapping against the wall and falling to the ground. I bolted across the empty street, disappearing into the alleys of the Slums. Something I was quickly to regret.
It didn't take very long to be cut off again by this monster, taking a swipe or other injury in my attempts to flee. Everything began to just turn to a blur. I didn't understand how I was not coming across any guards, anything at all. There wasn't anyone nearby. I could feel I was wearing out. I forced myself to stop, my instincts saying run, run, run. Find somewhere to hide! Where the hell was there to hide. I was in the slums, this area was pretty well lawless to begin with. Now I was being hunted by something... perhaps this was what those Empire Cat's felt like when the Bounty Hunters go after them. It didn't raise my faith in them any bit, just bought my chaser time to close the gap, if there was ever a gap.
There was a crack behind me, causing my head to snap in the direction. The path was dark, but there was no sign of anything there, anymore at the least. Another shuffle in front of me. Making my head snap forward. Again nothing. This area lit a bit better, but the sun was all but nearly gone. Hidden by a new cast of clouds and the smell of rain inbound. Wind was already picking up. Last thing I wanted was to be in the weather with this thing watching me. It made me wonder how have I been watched, and is he why Azita and Buffalo vanished? Is he why Bohea and his person left the city? Another shuffle to the left of where I looked grabbed my attention, I could feel my heart skip a beat from it. Only to have a mouse run out of a small gap in the wall. I looked around for what felt like forever, and didn't see anything. I knew. I knew I was being watched still. I couldn't head home, what home? I debated, with my senses becoming less blurred.
The adrenaline beginning to turn into exhaustion. My entire frame began to ache. My face stung, and I looked down. I was covered. I had blood on me. I had gunk caked into cuts and scrapes. I wanted to drop. I knew I was still in his game, the ever present eyes continued to emit from around me. I chose to move on, hastily as possible, and find a place more populated.

The haste pace was almost instantly grinded to a slow walk. I passed by a couple patches of felines, all of whom made it clear I wasn't wanted near them, given how I looked. That was the slums, there were small groups that stuck to each other, but nearly no one else got in to the group unless they prove themselves able. I had the group I was with, but again, that feels like it fell apart and I was alone once again. Now I was potential dinner for something. The weather was quickly growing worse, rain and hail started to fall, forcing me to go to sketchier paths to avoid the weather, but put me at higher risk of getting silently plucked. My gaze found the docks. My bet Saxon was around. But there were less ships, and Saxon always kept one of doors ajar so someone could enter, and it was closed. I darted out anyway, the rain quickly trickling the deep stains on me to tints. But it was still there in a way, just now I was standing in it. I went to the door that was normally open, the skies had fully unleashed their wrath at that point. Rain falling harder, it was ice cold. With lightning flashing the skies, thunder roaring, moaning, and grunting in swirled distortions that sounded like whispers to that of a tiger in your ear. I heard yells from the coliseum, this was meeting that volume if not passing it at times.
The door wasn't budging. I hollered. "Open up! Open up!" going as far to hit the door with my paws and cry out. "Saxon open the door!!" I pounded for another ten or so minutes, continually pleading to get in. There was never an answer... I was now soaked and freezing. Looking back at the docks. I still felt like I was being watched.
There was a click noise above me... and my eyes jotted up as a flash of lightning lit up the sky. The same glowing eyes were there. I didn't remain idle to bother trying to get detail off of this monster. But they had already leaped at me by that time. I was lucky enough to be fast enough to react, and swing first. I felt contact with flesh and immediately backed up, I had my eyes shut when I swung, and reopened them. I could make out the silhouette, my guess was they might have been a cougar, but again, I couldn't verify that to save my life. I could make out the edge of their frame, and the newly found cuts across its face. The monster's eyes were gone for what looked like a second, but they reformed, and they said one thing, that I was in much more trouble now.
Then it growled and leaped at me again. I wasn't fast enough to jump out of the way from his grip, but I kicked with my hind legs in the same instance of feeling claws sink into my shoulders. And I was then on my feet, seeing the monster stumble forward and off the side of the dock. I didn't waste a second to run this time. I was not going to win in a fight against him. I ran away from the docks, my paws splashing the ground, heading more up the streets. I needed to find a somewhere to slip through he couldn't. There were... a few places like that... but... they were not the best places. But right now, smelling like person dung was better than being dead, right?
I cut a glance back with the cat climbing up the dock's shorter wall. Fire was in his slits for eyes. I ran harder, knowing where I needed to go, this thing hopefully didn't realize my goal. But I didn't look back at this point, I just ran, hearing his paw steps slowly get closer. I knew he was gaining on me. His thuds splashes growing increasingly louder, the gap was closing, if not closed. I heard a clamp behind me, I knew what the bastard just tried, and luckily missed. But his next move didn't. I felt a large solid paw hit my side, sending me tumbling sideways. Luckily tumbling and getting onto my paws in a smooth motion, looking over to see the cat leaping, closing the gap fully. I dove under him, a smack following my dive. He had dived into a wall, letting off a pissed off snarl, I was fueling this things desire to chase. My gaze left the cougar, and met my target. I ran sort of in its direction. I couldn't have him figure me out.
I got about four strides before I was again hit, this one flattening me against the ground, claws quickly sinking into my neck and back. The wind was knocked out of my lungs, and I heaved to breathe, the cougar having growling. I was certain they said something, but ringing ears prevent me to know what was said. Before I could do anything else, teeth clamped right around my neck and yanked me off the ground. He kept a tight enough grip there was no way I was going to break free from him easily. His hot breath pushing against my neck. All I could do was pray for a chance to get away from him. But then I could see where he was going... toward where I was trying to go... I attempted something, swinging my hind leg, trying to flail a kick in his direction, where I abruptly dropped, but teeth again clamped around my neck before I could do anything, this time where I was arched backward, my throat up and spine down, and a tighter grip, choking me enough to keep me occupied but not enough to take my consciousness from me. And he past the person's restroom. Turning and heading into an alley.
Only thing I could do now was pray he dropped me again... lightning continued to flash through it all, thunder roaring, there was nothing out in this weather, minus those who were not going to do anything about it. For all they knew, it was an adult carrying a troublemaker. The silence felt like forever. I could hear my heart beat, the cougar seeming to notice, and chuffing along with it. My fur just continued to try and fly off of me. Every now and then I would shake a bit, trying to not drown on my own saliva, it was so hard to swallow, it was hard to breathe. But then the cat stopped, turning his head, myself swinging a bit with the head turns. I felt his jaw loosen, and I went to attempt something, but again, his front paw had already gripped me and slammed me to the ground, where I let out a pained groan and cough. With a second of that, his second paw firmly against my head, almost outright stretching my neck out. He wanted me to try something. I knew it. I felt his breathe get closer to my head. Again, certain something was said, but my hearing... it was not where it should have been. I made nothing out of his words. So I just shut my eyes tightly. I. I needed to wait just a moment longer.
I felt the cat drop his weight, like he had pinned down his kill. The moment I heard that. I acted, I knew it was now or I was dead.
I twisted my back and gave a well aimed kick to his head, pushing his bite to a hairline miss. His weight shifted, and I writhed at that moment, getting my head free and partly loosening my shoulder. Teeth met my head within a flash a lightning. I reacted and had my front legs free, and racked them into whatever I could. The cat yelled and I was able to get out from under his weight. I shot a glance, with his now bloodied face looking at me, clear he was going to shred me if he got a hold of me. I bolted away from him with clear sound I was getting followed, but the sound was only for a second, where it then vanished. I doubled instantly at the silence, venturing into the dark alley, coming out the other side, and running right into icy rain. It stung my head like a torch hit me. I moaned from it instinctively, knowing if I had shaken this monster, I may have just reversed it. I ran farther anyway, and saw what I was after originally again. I didn't give a hair line to look back and b-lined to it. I wrapped the corner, hopped through a gap, and threw myself down through one of the many holes in the opened structure.

I hit something hard, coughing when I hit, prying myself back up to my paws, with several flashes of lightning strobing the sewer hole I was now in. I didn't wait to move from where I was though, and pushed forward, feeling more and more exhaustion, I was going to drop sooner than later. I needed to know I was away from this monster first before I was going to allow myself to collapse. There were larger openings every now and then in the sewers, a flashing lighting up a frame as I looked up, hugging the walls of course. The frame was that who was chasing me. I froze in place, and closed my eyes. Several rumbles of thunder passed, and I peeked one open, he was looking right me, or at least it seemed like it. But then he let off a hiss and vanished.
I... I actually got away from him... I thought... shocked... that single relief was enough to tip instinctual survival into finding help. My balance had instantly become tipsy, and my vision wanted to go black. I hurt too much feel the pain I should feel. It was a deep numbness and nothing more. I wanted to just stop and sleep. My brain, my fear of dying, kept me pushing forward. I go down in here, I was likely to not get up later.
Walking and drudging the ground for a felt incalculable time frame, I found an exit that wasn't climbing out, and walked up the incline. I came up near one of the market places, the north market place. The sun had rose, it was mid day, at least that was why my fading awareness told me. I looked around and began to walk numb. I walked street to street, didn't look at anyone or anything, found what was a familiar place. Ciroria's place. I walked toward it quietly, and entered through the space in the gates, finding and open window and pulling my through it. I fell, knocking something over that came down with a crash. I glanced and it was a vase that held flowers... did anyway. My gaze glanced about, and I saw no one. I stood up, in an almost drunk fashion, and continued forward to what I saw was a mound of bedding that Cici had said was mine to sleep on. I stood on it and dropped.

Disclaimer:
Serval is not certain the creature is a cougar, he is guessing based on the silhouette. More of this he spent getting blinded by rain and blood on his face. He is bound to not even clearly remember this. But enough to know he got away, but now fear he is being watched.

Word Count: 3752
+4EP for Picture
+6EP for Word Count
+10EP for Activity Check
+20EP to Serval