9- Too rude awakening

The little wolfkin girl was tightly holding the brim of her mistress clothes, time seemingly frozen in the singular moment in which all those involved were both perplexed and utterly confused, it remained still.

The scene remained still, for what seemed an eternity. Soon going back into motion, as pain gained room against confusion, and a cry full of disbelief and anguish echoed now on the stone walls of the pathway.

Still, mostly surprised by all that unfolded in front of her, a few things had all of Ayi’s attention during this time, much to her own surprise, the stinging sensation of pain on her cheek wasn’t even among the top 5 most concerning things going on right now.

Right now in her own head she was fiercely debating about which one of 2 things happening right now required her undivided attention, if that was even possible within the current situation.

These being namely. First (maybe?), the screaming thug she was holding by his unnaturally-twisted-and-obviously-broken arm, which, given her own posture, she could guess she had reacted with one of the many many self defense techniques she had to relentlessly practice as part of the armed forces training regimen, thus making her the sole individual responsible for his broken limb.

Grimacing in disgust by the thug loudly yelling too close to her, she just let go of the now dangling arm, focusing her attention on the less unsightly Second (perhaps?) object of her attention.

A light blue semi translucent windows seemed to have appeared right in front of her.

A very videogame-like window was right in front of her.

Congratulations!

You have created unlocked a New skill!

-Cruel Retaliation- skill acquired!!

With her eyes fully fixated at this eerie window, several questions came to her mind. The most pervasive and redundant one being simple enough.

“WHAT?!”

“WHAT IS THIS?! HOW?! Well… I suppose I know –how-, but then again, HOW?!”, she thought to herself, within the turmoil of thoughts that her mind was at.

She knew well enough which movement she had used. Years of practicing such movement, just to comply with armed forces standards, didn’t leave her any doubt of where she learned it. Although she had never used it once, and looking at the unsightly screaming thug, with a now useless right arm, pretty much answered the -why-.

As the videogame-like window slowly faded away, she couldn’t help but to fret on the many questions unanswered, which would have to wait.

After all, cowards rarely attack unless they feel absolute superiority is on their side.

Clicking her tongue at the sudden situation, she changed her posture, a well practiced unarmed combat stance, facing the two would-be robbers. A low stance, arms flexed and tense like a spring ready to snap at any moment, without fully realizing it, her big cat ears were turning in a very feline demeanor, instinctively letting her know if there were more people nearby.

Within a heartbeat she had changed gears for the current situation, with one hand she reached back and made sure Zoey was still safely behind her.

Putting idle thoughts aside, her focus was on the two standing in front of her, much to her own surprise she saw how their ugly faces twisted from an aggressive threatening scowl to a confused and then panicked state within a few seconds.

It was then when she heard several hurried steps behind her, she quickly thought about it, the panicked faces of the thugs in front of her made it unlikely to be reinforces for them, maybe a rival gang?. No. The 2 of them, turning heels just started running to the opposite direction.

This was the moment when Ayi couldn’t help herself and turned around to see just who, or what, was approaching them, just as the hurried footsteps started to turn onto a cacophony of weeps and sobs, clamoring for help, crying for mercy.

It was then that she saw what was most likely the rest of the gang running past Zoey and her, paying them no attention, running for their lives now. It was then that she heard them, heavy -Grandiose footsteps of justice-.

“What?!”, Ayi was again surprised and confused, her own thoughts and perception felt, no, they were altered when referring to those footsteps.

It was then that she saw him, coming from the tunnel, behind the helplessly running gang, with a -Majestic grace-.

“Is…Is that you, Feugan?!”

There was no other way to describe it. Her dragon companion, Feugan, was slowly approaching them, with firm and a rather self-important look to himself…

Now, Ayi couldn’t help but to squint her eyes and look with more attention at Feugan as he continued moving toward them in a rather slow pace as he…

“Is Feugan looking at the side… posing?...” Unable to keep her thoughts to herself, Ayi let out such a question, much to which Zoey seemed to react with a soft laughter as the little wolfkin girl relaxed a little.

Now, completely sure the thugs scurried to wherever. Ayi stared at Feugan, which remained on top some stairs on the way to them, maybe just 2-3 steps above them... Still looking to the side, almost like, lifting his chin and… wearing strips of broken leather on top of him?

All sense of danger long left Ayi, she was more confused by Feugan’s looks and attitude right now, was he trying to… to look cool? Where those strips of leather some sort of battle trophies? She remained agape for a moment, and much to her surprise Feugan seemed to puff his chest full of pride.

This majestic scene, full of magnanimousity and confusion would have continued much longer, were it not for a poor poor gate guard that came running, obviously after Feugan.

Panting and wheezing, he lifted a hand torwards Ayi and stood there, still trying to catch his breath.

“Ma… Ma’am! Is… is your mount pooty trained?! If he is not, he has to remain with the other mounts by the gate!!” he cried in an almost desperate for help voice. 

At this, Ayi couldn’t help but to chuckle, to the absurdity of the scene in front of her, as much as the sight of Feugan making an annoyed huff at such a claim torwards him.