A Cry for Help

[Wrenly Summer]

Tag: OPEN

The cloaked girl flashed a small smile at the bartender as she paid for her drink. Without waiting a beat, she turned and quickly made her way out of the pub. The bartender might have recognized her because she certainly recognized him. Ever since she joined the guards, Wrenly Summer became more aware of her surroundings. At first it was only whilst she was on duty but then it was hard to turn off and then it just became second nature to her.

The door shut behind her. A couple of figures ran past her and disappeared into the night. Wrenly tightened her cloak around herself, took a deep breath and walked down the seemingly empty streets of The Commons. The streets were barely lit but that was alright for the city guard.

Then out of nowhere she heard footsteps thundering from behind her. That did not surprise her but the shout that followed did. "Help!" she heard. Was the voice calling out to her? Confused, Wrenly turned around unsure what to expect.

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

What the fuck just happened? Scarlet was laying flat on the damp muddy ground and clutching her throbbing head. There was a scuffle and before long someone was raking through her pockets. She tried to find her dagger but a boot landed on her chest "Don't try it boy, unless you want a knife in your throat." Well at least they thought she was a guy, that meant they wouldn't...she shuddered at thought. There was a pause as the man raking through her pockets consulted his partner and with limbs throbbing with pain Scarlet threw herself up onto her feet.

One of the men turned slowly pulled out a length of obedient steel "We ain't done with you yet." Scarlet stared at it before clumsily spinning around and taking the first alleyway she could. It wasn't long before she could hear the two men thumping after her, a scrape of metal against stone followed them. She knew she couldn't keep running for long, the thump to the head had had worse repercussions than she thought. Looking ahead Scarlet spotted a figure in the darkness and yelled, her voice much more girly than the regular facade she put on.

The girl ran past the figure before turning around and staring at them "Two...meh...men..." She was breathless but it wasn't long before the two men came crashing down the street, freezing at the shadowy figure.

[Wrenly Summer]

An eyebrow arched as the girl stared at the figure running towards her. As a guard, she supposed she should have expected something like this especially since it was night time and she was in one of the most rampant crime area. Still, like most of the guards, she rarely bothered to patrol this side of the city.

Wrenly Summer tried to make out what the figure was running from exactly. Was it a robbery? Was she actually chasing someone who had just past Wrenly earlier when she left the pub not long ago? The guard waited until the girl came closer and she got a good look at her - who apparently did not seem like a her much to be honest.

Two men? Her brain quickly registered it and she turned around when she heard the crash. True enough, there were two men.

"Is there a problem here?" she called out as her eyes darted between the girl who screamed for help and the two men who just appeared - unsure what to make out out of the situation. "It's a little unfair I think to pick on somebody smaller, don't you agree?"

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

Scarlet was still catching her breath when the girl decided to speak. Of course there was a fucking problem. What was she, fucking blind? What person runs down the backstreets of the commons yelling 'help' for the fucking thrill of it? Scarlet stared at the two men, almost baring her teeth and drawing her dagger. She turned her attention back at the girl "These two fuckwits jumped me! Then one of them had the bright idea to consult each other before they emptied my pockets." Head still throbbing, Scarlet prepared herself for any action.

The two men stared down the other girl "This really don't concern you, just run along now. A girl like you, ain't safe out this late. Lot's of undesirable characters. No guards to keep you safe."

[Wrenly Summer]

The nineteen year old was a little taken aback by the words the other girl spoke of. Then again, considering where they were and how unladylike she looked, Wrenly supposed she should not have been all that surprised.

"Really? I-" she started but before she could continue with her question, one of the men spoke and his words brought a sly smile onto the nineteen year old's face. She felt a bubble of laughter coming out - if only they knew.

For a moment, Wrenly contemplated whether or not to reveal that she was in fact a city guard herself. But at the same time, she was not sure if revealing the fact would even keep her safe. She was no fool. The two men were certainly bigger and they seemed like the kind who would have no qualms to beat up a guard.

She had to play it smart.

"Say, and a girl like her can?" her head nodded to the other female. "I think..." After a last glance at her, Wrenly turned around and placed herself between the two men and the girl. "You two should run along. I don't think anyone dressed as shabby as her would have much anyway," she said, shrugging.

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

The two men were taken aback by the other girl's words. One turned to the other and traded looks. The one in charge took a step forward "Yeah, a girl...like her could definitely. She's been haunting these streets for years. She's sure to have something good on her. And if not on her than I'm certain we can find something entertaining to do with her." A large smile spread over his face as he leered at Scarlet "Ain't that right, girl?"

Scarlet gave a grunt as she lurched forward, spitting her words "Fuck off you creep! I should jam this dagger in a place the sun don't ever fucking shine!" She knew she probably couldn't take two of them but if she managed to split them up a bit, incapacitate one.

[Wrenly Summer]

When one of the men stepped closer, Wrenly Summer made no moves to move an inch. Instead, she sucked in a deep breath and brought gaze up to meet his. No way was she backing down to these goons despite being at a slight disadvantage in size. That was not what she went through training for.

What she heard next made her clench her fists. It was not the first time she heard something like that but what was implied by his tone and looks disgusted the guard. "I don't think that's a good idea," she said through gritted teeth as she lifted the hood of her cloak down.

The outburst that followed was no surprise to her. The men in front of her advanced. "Hey, hey, hey." Wrenly reacted by raising her hands up, as if that would help to keep him at a distance. The other hand then swept her cloak behind and went to her waist to rest on the hilt of her sword, purposely showing off the emblem of the city guard. "Let's not do something stupid, alright?" she said in what she hoped was a threatening tone.

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

Scarlet was still glaring at the men, her position made her look like a animal waiting to pounce, as the other girl talked. She cocked her head as the other girl flashed a sword. It appeared as though the two men were as surprised as Scarlet at the revealing of the guards sword. One of the men took a step back, tapping his partner on the shoulder "Let's just leave, ain't no reason to deal with the bitch when she's got a friend. We'll catch 'er later." At his final words, the one in charge gave Scarlet another perverted smile and a small wave "I guess we'll be seeing you later...girly" And before even Scarlet had the chance to hurl her dagger at him they disappeared.

For a brief moment Scarlet kept in her crouched position, eyes flickering to the darkened alcoves. Her eyes finally landed on the girl and she stood back up "Thanks..." The incident with the men and the fact they knew she was a girl, made Scarlet feel unsure about going back to the hovel she called home. She shot another glance at the girl, her curled hair falling across her forehead.

[Wrenly Summer]

She was not sure how the men would react to her being a guard. If they wanted, she was sure if a fight broke out, they would win in terms of strength so it would just be smarter for the two girls to make a run for it instead of wasting unnecessary energy. But then the men stepped back which made the corners of Wrenly Summer's lips turned up pleasantly.

Her hand still rested on her sword - just in case. She was still disgusted as they said their "goodbyes". It was not smart to provoke them so the guard kept her mouth shut. But after they've disappeared, she muttered under her breath, "Scumbags."

Her hands fell to her sides, relieved they made out of that without having to break a sweat. That was the end of that - at least for now.

"Yeah, just doing a job," she replied, turning around to face the girl. "So what makes you so special huh? They seemed really determined to get to you."

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

Scarlet nodded at the girl, pulling her jackets tight around herself. It was nice to see that not all the members of the city guard were assholes. She even gave the girl a rare smile. That smile quickly faded at the girl's question. Scarlet guessed that the fact this guard had just saved her from an unpleasant fate meant she could be trusted enough to divulge a small amount of info "I-I...I trade in information...you'd be surprised how much trading information can land you with enemies. At least before they didn't know I was a girl, now though..."

She shook her head and gave the girl another smile "Thanks for saving me...I guess you need a reward?" Scarlet was going to suggest buying the girl a drink in the pub but taking in the girl she didn't look like the type to be a big pub patron.

[Wrenly Summer]

As she waited for an answer, the guard observed the other girl. She remembered how one of the men had said the girl had been haunting these streets for years. Either she had been lucky to survive The Commons or she was smart enough to navigate her way around this side of town. Nevertheless, Wrenly meant it when she doubted how a girl dressed like her would have anything much. But then again, perhaps that was all part of a theif's act.

Her ears perked up at the reply she had gotten. That was...interesting. "Knowledge is more valueable than mere objects," she stated with a nod. "Ha, if you make a habit of screaming like you did earlier, it wouldn't be that hard to figure out," said Wrenly, not acknowledging that she probably played a part in the girl's gender revelation.

When she thanked her again, the guard simply shrugged. "Let's hold on to that for a bit. Who do you work for, girl? And what kind of information are we talking about here?" She had to ask, the girl piqued her curiosity.

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

Scarlet gave the guard a glare at the joke but she quickly softened her expression. Be nice. She saved your butt...both physically and metaphorically. She gave the girl a rare smile. The smile quickly faded as the guard started to fish for information "I work for myself. I don't need no fuckwit ordering me about. I have my contacts everywhere..." Scarlet cocked her head at the girl "All sorts of information, shipping reports...the occupancy of houses...other real-estate and goods..."

Noticing she still had her dagger drawn, Scarlet quickly sheathed again. Taking a step forward, Scarlet was now right in front of the girl "Why...you need to know something? An upholder of justice needs something from an urchin?"

[Wrenly Summer]

The guard noted how defensive the girl sounded when being questioned. She supposed that was expected coming from someone from around here. The lesser the details the better for one self, right?

When the girl was basically right up in her face just like one of the men had, and like earlier Wrenly refused to take a step back. "Hmm something like that," she replied, looking up. "I wanna know something about a guy. If you're interested..." Her hand then held onto a leather pouch, hooked beside her sword, and let the coins clink against each other to indicate a method of payment.

"Or if you aren't," she said quickly, "I can just send you back to wherever. Ain't smart to be alone now especially with those goons loitering around here."

[Scarlet "Nox" Blackwell]

Scarlet glanced down at the leather pouch and gave another smile "Of course I'll help you...I just require a few bits from you first. Number 1, I need a name, you may have mine after I have yours. Number 2, do you have anything on this guy? Like a description or name or anything? In return for this generous offer of mine I'd be more than happy to lighten your load. And I'll definitely take your offer of some company home..." She shot out a hand towards the girl, locking her eyes.

"So we got a deal or you going to wimp out from doing business with a undesirable?" Scarlet had started to get a kick at playing the street urchin after 3 years on the streets. She was pretty sure no one knew who she truly was and kept it that way.

[Wrenly Summer]

The smile that she received proved that the coins had done their trick. But the response that came puzzled the girl. Unlike the others Wrenly had dealt with, the girl did not immediately demand for a payment first. Secondly, not only did she took her up on her first offer but the second one as well.

For a few seconds, Wrenly stared at the girl with wary eyes but that did not last long because then she took the girl's hand and gave it a firm shook. "Okay, deal." With that same hand, the guard pulled the girl closer to her. "If you plan to pull any stunts during the way home, I suggest you should rethink that."

With a smile, she introduced herself. "You can call me Wren."