Solo Night On The Town

[Ryu Tenko]

6th of Spring, 515 AV

Ryu stalked along the alleyways, hood up and hands in his pockets. He kept his head down, staring at the cobblestone below, and followed the path. He had nowhere in mind, he just knew the right place to strike for Ryu was relatively low on money, and intended on mugging an unlucky passerby.

The handaxe tucked inside his coat beat against his ribs as he took each step, and he was determined only to use it as a threat or as a last resort should his victim resist. It once belonged to his father, so Ryu planned on keeping it from becoming damaged at all costs, since it was one of few reminders he still had.

The moon shone onto the ground below, illuminating the night along with the dimly lit lamps that were placed intermittently along the walls Ryu passed. As he got closer to a turn, Ryu heard voices. Two men, laughing and joking. Obviously drunk. Ryu slid along the wall, and peeked around the corner.

The one on the left was tall and blonde haired, whereas the other was short and brown. Both had a mug in their hands, and were sipping from what Ryu guessed to be ale. Ryu spied a money pouch on each man's waist, which brought a devious smile across his otherwise blank face.

He was about to dismiss the idea as too dangerous until the short man declared he had to go relieve himself, and disappeared into a nearby doorway. Ryu decided it was now or never, and strode up behind the blonde man. Slipping his hand into his coat and clutching his handaxe, but not drawing it, Ryu muttered into the man's ear.

"Your money or your life."

[Ryu Tenko]

"OK, OK," whispered his victim. "Take it ea.."

Ryu wasn't expecting what happened next. The man swung his elbow straight into Ryu's chin and knocked him flat. As Ryu was scrambling to his feet, tripping all over the place and banging into a wall, the blonde haired man took off down the street, in a jog, no doubt to go find his friend and maybe more. Ryu gritted his teeth, pushed himself up, still dazed, and gave swift pursuit, determined more than ever to catch him after the cheap shot.

Although his world was spinning, and he was banging into every little thing, Ryu eventually spilled out onto a main road. Hand tightly gripped around his handaxe, he scoured each side street, window and doorway, searching for his prey. Ryu's left hand felt like it burned, it was the hand he was his Daggerhand allegiance on, so it was probably superstition. Carrying further on though, he ran into two familiar faces. Thored and Praed. Two other Brothers of the Daggerhand.

"Brothers, are you free?" Ryu asked.

"We are," answered Thored. "What's the problem?"

"There's a tall, blonde man, just hit me and ran. Give me a hand and help me find him."

The duo nodded and headed out in search. Ryu continued on his own. His head had since cleared from the blow, and Ryu could get his thoughts straight, even though his own mind was focused on vengeance. His thoughts finally moved onto Thored and Praed. They were a good pair, and Ryu was pretty sure they were actual brothers. He shook the thought from his head and continued.

After a good ten minutes, the three met back up in the centre, with no sightings. They conversed for a bit about what they were about to do next, until they heard shouts from beside them. It was the blonde man, brown man and an extra who's features Ryu couldn't make out. The rival three were making their way towards them, and fast.

Ryu exchanged glances with his own two, and drew his handaxe, eyeing up the tallest and, presumably, the strongest one.

[Ryu Tenko]

As Ryu lashed out at his attacker with the handaxe, the other two collided with Thorin and Praed, and began to exchange blows. Ryu grimaced as his slice narrowly missed the tip of the blonde man's nose, and was prepared for the ensuing retaliation that would no doubt render him defenceless and at the mercy of the man he attempted to mug not long ago.

It never came though. Thorin had managed to push his own assailant into the blonde man, temporarily knocking him off balance and giving Ryu the chance to regain his composure and plan his next course of attack in under three seconds. He decided once more on blind luck, and swung violently in the direction of the blonde man, hoping that he would strike something.

It worked. Ryu watched and felt the blade nick the blonde man's left bicep, and grinned slightly as the blood leaked from the wound. It wasn't major, not at all, but it was something, and it gave Ryu the much needed mental boost to continue. He looked left and right, while the blonde man was making sure his wound wasn't fatal, and made sure his friends were fine. They were, and Ryu focused his attention back on the task at hand.

After a few further exchanges of punches and kicks, a small crowd had gathered to watch the goings on. Ryu would have happily revelled in the glory, had he not been pre-occupied with the task at hand. All six were bleeding, bruised and battered. But none were going to give up. Not at all. Not willingly, anyway. Ryu thought up a simple plan while swinging upwards with his handaxe, and put it into motion as soon as he missed.

The blonde man's retaliation was swift, and painful. His fist connected with the tip of Ryu's nose, and he heard it snap. He tumbled a few feet back from the man, before going onto his backside. The adrenaline pumping through his veins softened the blow as much as it could, but Ryu knew he was going to feel it in the morning. As his adversary advanced, Ryu made sure he had hold of his handaxe, and waited.

[Ryu Tenko]

Ryu regretted letting himself suffer a blow, but he had other plans than to give up easily. He watched as Thorin and Praed easily handled their own assailants, dispatching them swiftly with a series of punches, kicks and the occasional bite. Ryu counted himself lucky that the rival trio weren't armed, or hadn't decided to draw their own blades in an attempt to make the battle a more even one.

The blonde man advanced upon Ryu, a devilish grin on his face. Ryu tightened his grip around his handaxe that was hidden beneath his thigh, ready to use it once the attacker got close enough. The crowd, baying for blood, cheered on the blonde man as if he was about to finish off Ryu like their battle was set in some kind of gladiator arena. Refocusing, Ryu returned the smile as he was finally in range.

Ryu swung viciously out at the blonde man, aiming for his leg, and sighed one of relief as it hit home with a satisfying thunk in his ankle. The blade slid out the gash as the blonde man tumbled over, clutching the wound in a futile attempt to stop the heavy bleeding. Ryu scrabbled to his feet and stepped towards him, blood dripping from the tip of his handaxe.

The red liquid pooled around his foot as Ryu crouched down and yanked the coin pouch free from the thin strip of string that kept it secured upon his waist. He then moved up to the blonde man's ear and, resting the blade of the handaxe against his neck, began to whisper.

"You should be happy I only took the coin."

He then bounced the handle off the blonde man's head and beckoned for Thorin and Praed, who had long since finished their own fights, to leave with him. They burst through the crowd and took off down the street, while Ryu cared for his still-bleeding nose.

[Elias Caldera]

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