Riparian adj. relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river) or sometimes of a lake or a tidewater
He could hear the little thieves' screams echoing through the pipes. How could they expect to get away sloshing so noisily? Their terrified voices bounced pleasantly, though the delightful edge was dulled somewhat by the slime covering the walls.
But then, Twitch liked the slime. He took a minute to pat an oozing pile affectionately before skipping off after those who thought themselves good enough for his filth.
The pipe emptied out into the sewers' main drag, his kingdom's main street. He could see them now, running along the narrow ledge above the river of sludge. Grin spread wide across his hairy face, Twitch followed.
One stumbled and turned, eyes wide and white against his grimy face as he stared at the oncoming rat.
"IT'S COMING!" he screamed, spit and blood flying from his lips. "HURRY!"
Twitch waved, and vanished into the shadows.
"OH GODS, IT'S INVISIBLE! RUN, RUN!"
Run. What a silly suggestion! Twitch scurried along the access pipe and then down another, popping up in front of them.
"Miss me?" He didn't wait for an answer; it was always something along the lines of "GODS, NO! WHY!" Instead Twitch giggled and sprayed the terrified pair with bolts from his crossbow.
The first thief took a pair of bolts in the chest, let out a gurgling cry, and fell back, his blood turning pretty colors as it mixed with the sewage. The other took one to the leg, and another to the arm. Flailing, he fell with a muffled splash into Twitch's river.
Twitch pranced along on the walkway alongside the man thrashing desperately to keep his head above the water. "You want to give it back now, you little crook? It's not nice to take a piece of other vermin's masterpiece."
The man tried to say something, but his mouth filled with sludge. Lucky bastard.
Yeah, that one wasn't coming out. Twitch scrunched his snout; he'd have to reclaim what the jerk had stolen from the rat trap.
Twitch got their quickly enough, the roar of the waterfall of sewage music to his ears and a treat for his nose. The haphazardly slung net held the corpse, a couple scraps of cloth, and a tarnished frame full sporting shards of broken glass. What a lucky day!
He scrambled up to the net, and pulled off the dead man's shoe. It was a sodden mess, with a single bright pink blotch on the sole.
Twitch carefully stashed the boot, along with the all-important attached bit of gum, and grabbed the mirror frame. Stealing from masterpiece. The nerve of these stinky humans.