Rikimaru startled, blinking their eyes wide in surprise. How had they been discovered? They were so careful! They had hardly a second to think before a giant cougar leapt in front of them, claws bared and eyes smoldering. Riki's blood froze as they stared down the beast- it had clear hostile intent, and there was an intelligence behind its eyes.
Riki was absolutely going to kill Jackson.
A sharp voice called out to call off the cat. A grown man walked up to them. He spoke cordially for a short moment, but his tone shifted and Rikimaru's eyes drifted to the gun he was holding. Suddenly a fire began to boil in their stomach. Who did this guy think he was? Pulling a gun and using that to justify making demands. The cougar was still eyeing them, and Riki felt an equally feral rage rising up, one that completely drowned out Bug's nervous attempts to calm them. Having a gun and a cougar did not give him the right to threaten them.
Rikimaru's mind quickly began calculating; they would have to be fast, but if they could manage to leap back and dislodge the truck as previously planned, that could buy them time to work their knife as needed. And perhaps put to use that stash of firecrackers they had found a few weeks ago. They'd set Bug loose during the commotion and see if they could do anything in the way of helping Jackson. They had promised him they would help him, and they never broke promises. Though, to be fair, he seemed to be in a better position they they were, as people were smiling at and not threatening him. Which is how it always went, of course. People just naturally did not like Rikimaru. It was a fact they accepted but still agonized over.
A red mist slightly tinged Rikimaru's vision and they opened their mouth to retort when a convenient distraction appeared. The man spoke condescendingly, as if Riki was compliant to do his bidding. Holding back a snarl, Rikimaru watched as the man turned and began to shoot the dead crawling in. Their eyes flashed towards his gun then back to his face. Without a second thought, Rikimaru knocked the gun away with a precise kick as they moved to roll off to the side. Staying low to the ground, and below eye-level, Rikimaru crept into the fray, taking their knife to a few undead ankles that wouldn't get out of their way and for the one zombie that actually did notice them.
Slipping out of the alley, Rikimaru slid their back to the wall and looked back into the crowd. They could see the top of Jackson's head, but nothing definite. Riki palmed the firecrackers in their pocket. They could run and set them off down the road, but that would still leave Jackson with these bandits.
Sprinting down the road, Rikimaru rounded a corner and screeched to a halt as they saw two more people in the distance, accompanied by a horse. More of the bandit gang? There wasn't any time, Rikimaru struck a match and lit the fuse of the firecrackers. Swiftly chucking the incendiaries into the nearest broken window, Rikimaru fled to the rooftops in search of Jackson's animal. They would fetch the jackal- surely the canine would listen once told Jackson was in danger. Rikimaru could see the grocery store from here- they just had to get there quickly.
Riki was absolutely going to kill Jackson.
A sharp voice called out to call off the cat. A grown man walked up to them. He spoke cordially for a short moment, but his tone shifted and Rikimaru's eyes drifted to the gun he was holding. Suddenly a fire began to boil in their stomach. Who did this guy think he was? Pulling a gun and using that to justify making demands. The cougar was still eyeing them, and Riki felt an equally feral rage rising up, one that completely drowned out Bug's nervous attempts to calm them. Having a gun and a cougar did not give him the right to threaten them.
Rikimaru's mind quickly began calculating; they would have to be fast, but if they could manage to leap back and dislodge the truck as previously planned, that could buy them time to work their knife as needed. And perhaps put to use that stash of firecrackers they had found a few weeks ago. They'd set Bug loose during the commotion and see if they could do anything in the way of helping Jackson. They had promised him they would help him, and they never broke promises. Though, to be fair, he seemed to be in a better position they they were, as people were smiling at and not threatening him. Which is how it always went, of course. People just naturally did not like Rikimaru. It was a fact they accepted but still agonized over.
A red mist slightly tinged Rikimaru's vision and they opened their mouth to retort when a convenient distraction appeared. The man spoke condescendingly, as if Riki was compliant to do his bidding. Holding back a snarl, Rikimaru watched as the man turned and began to shoot the dead crawling in. Their eyes flashed towards his gun then back to his face. Without a second thought, Rikimaru knocked the gun away with a precise kick as they moved to roll off to the side. Staying low to the ground, and below eye-level, Rikimaru crept into the fray, taking their knife to a few undead ankles that wouldn't get out of their way and for the one zombie that actually did notice them.
Slipping out of the alley, Rikimaru slid their back to the wall and looked back into the crowd. They could see the top of Jackson's head, but nothing definite. Riki palmed the firecrackers in their pocket. They could run and set them off down the road, but that would still leave Jackson with these bandits.
Sprinting down the road, Rikimaru rounded a corner and screeched to a halt as they saw two more people in the distance, accompanied by a horse. More of the bandit gang? There wasn't any time, Rikimaru struck a match and lit the fuse of the firecrackers. Swiftly chucking the incendiaries into the nearest broken window, Rikimaru fled to the rooftops in search of Jackson's animal. They would fetch the jackal- surely the canine would listen once told Jackson was in danger. Rikimaru could see the grocery store from here- they just had to get there quickly.
