A/N Okay, here is another chappie, served on a most likely stolen silver
platter. My first reviewer, miamouse, requested I mention Briar's double X
tattoos- and I will! Here it is, the next chapter!-Shadowsong CometShard
StarGlaive
Roach and his gangmates shoved the dead bodies of the Bonecutters into an alley that housed trash bins and the backs of cheap garment stores. Roach kicked at the sinewy thief that had tried to attack him with distaste. 'Stupid gang,' he thought, 'Trying to take over territory of the Lightnings!'
Swift stole some coins out of a carcass's pockets, then pushed it into the alley. Roach nodded, then heard a shriek. Swerving around, a young woman who had been dumping trash saw the corpses and screamed. Swift streaked over to her, swift as his namesake, and held up a crimson dagger to her throat. "Stay quiet, miss, and move!"
The youth, who looked about twenty, nodded dumbly, and ran, leaving her trash behind. Swift looked as if to about to hurl his knives, when he decided not to and instead took count of the wounded.
Only two gangsters were injured; Viper had a slashed hand, Score, a younger gangmate, with a slight stab in his finger. Both stripped the Bonecutters of ribbons of cloth to make makeshift bandages with. Score tied his around his finger, twirling it to give it a slightly dashing look. Viper merely wrapped it around his hand.
Roach, seeing these injuries, looked at his own hands. They were both crossed by X's, signs that he had been in jail twice. One more time, and he went to the docks or quarry. No arguments.
"Lightnings!" called Swift. He motioned for them to come. He was at the end of the area that the gang owned. "It's nearly dusk, and the shops are closing!"
The gang rushed towards Swift; dusk was the best time to steal, because everybody was going home and making last-minute purchases. Swift motioned for Score and Slug to move in among the crowds, and for Roach and Viper to steal. The rest of the gang would maneuver themselves around the market, looking for a prime steal.
Roach noticed a shop that sold delicate and exotic meats; he motioned for Viper to follow. Ducking behind the shelves and shops, they arrived. Swift spotted them, and gave the slightest nod.
Briar ducked behind the stall, blending in. The sweet smell of lamb, pork and a scent that he could not tell what is was wafted towards him. Roach decided to take the pork. He poked Viper, then signaled for him to distract the shopkeeper.
Viper nodded, and then slipped off. A moment later, Roach heard Viper talk to the merchant with gusto, careful to keep his tattooed hands behind his back.
"Sir, how much is the pork? Lamb?"
The seller stared at Viper. "You got the look of a thief about you. Go before I report you, kid!"
Roach took his chance. He sneaked under the shelf, and swiped a cooling piece of pork- he could tell by the smell, for it was incredibly dark in there- and flitted back from behind the shop, the meat tucked neatly behind his clothing.
Viper swiftly nodded, then smiled at the man, giving him a innocent look for a minute. "Yes, sir!"
Roach grinned; Viper was as deadly as his namesake, but was as silver- tongued also. The thief could swipe a bottle of drink from your hand and they would not notice how it was gone because they were too busy soaking up compliments.
Roach fleetly sped to the Lightnings den, depositing the meat in a corner, and came back up to join his gangmates.
Half an hour later, the Lightnings had stolen a collection of glass beads, three more pieces of meat, one loaf of bread, and a pair of leather boots. Roach was the one that had stolen the bread and one portion of chicken, so he got to eat the bread and most of the meat. The gang was satisfied with their pickings, and had went back to the den to celebrate with a feast of their own.
Slug was showing off the glass beads he had purloined when a sharp crack! had jerked the gangmembers back from their workings.
Another snap sounded. Roach poked his head out of the den entrance, then quickly ducked back in. His voice was filled with glee.
"It's a Bag, the one the Thief Lord told me about!"
Swift grinned, showing yellowed teeth. "Well then. I suppose the 'Lord favors us then, to tell us of when a Bag's coming in." He stroked his knife blades with pleasure. "A Bag with lots of riches, I think. What do you say, Lightnings?"
The gang lifted their right arms, flashed the blue band, and in unison- "Right!"
Roach settled in his corner. "The noise was a Bag guard announcing he was here, I think," he said slowly. "The 'Lord told me to go in two days, to let the Bag 'settle' in."
Swift scratched a bug in his hair. "Hmm... We'll deal with this tomorrow." He blew out the tallow candle, and settled in a corner to sleep, as did the other members. Briar peacefully stroked his moss before dozing off.
A/N Well? How is it? Please review! I was wondering how long to make this, and decided to should be five chapters, maybe more, maybe less. Just keep reading! -Shadowsong CometShard StarGlaive
Roach and his gangmates shoved the dead bodies of the Bonecutters into an alley that housed trash bins and the backs of cheap garment stores. Roach kicked at the sinewy thief that had tried to attack him with distaste. 'Stupid gang,' he thought, 'Trying to take over territory of the Lightnings!'
Swift stole some coins out of a carcass's pockets, then pushed it into the alley. Roach nodded, then heard a shriek. Swerving around, a young woman who had been dumping trash saw the corpses and screamed. Swift streaked over to her, swift as his namesake, and held up a crimson dagger to her throat. "Stay quiet, miss, and move!"
The youth, who looked about twenty, nodded dumbly, and ran, leaving her trash behind. Swift looked as if to about to hurl his knives, when he decided not to and instead took count of the wounded.
Only two gangsters were injured; Viper had a slashed hand, Score, a younger gangmate, with a slight stab in his finger. Both stripped the Bonecutters of ribbons of cloth to make makeshift bandages with. Score tied his around his finger, twirling it to give it a slightly dashing look. Viper merely wrapped it around his hand.
Roach, seeing these injuries, looked at his own hands. They were both crossed by X's, signs that he had been in jail twice. One more time, and he went to the docks or quarry. No arguments.
"Lightnings!" called Swift. He motioned for them to come. He was at the end of the area that the gang owned. "It's nearly dusk, and the shops are closing!"
The gang rushed towards Swift; dusk was the best time to steal, because everybody was going home and making last-minute purchases. Swift motioned for Score and Slug to move in among the crowds, and for Roach and Viper to steal. The rest of the gang would maneuver themselves around the market, looking for a prime steal.
Roach noticed a shop that sold delicate and exotic meats; he motioned for Viper to follow. Ducking behind the shelves and shops, they arrived. Swift spotted them, and gave the slightest nod.
Briar ducked behind the stall, blending in. The sweet smell of lamb, pork and a scent that he could not tell what is was wafted towards him. Roach decided to take the pork. He poked Viper, then signaled for him to distract the shopkeeper.
Viper nodded, and then slipped off. A moment later, Roach heard Viper talk to the merchant with gusto, careful to keep his tattooed hands behind his back.
"Sir, how much is the pork? Lamb?"
The seller stared at Viper. "You got the look of a thief about you. Go before I report you, kid!"
Roach took his chance. He sneaked under the shelf, and swiped a cooling piece of pork- he could tell by the smell, for it was incredibly dark in there- and flitted back from behind the shop, the meat tucked neatly behind his clothing.
Viper swiftly nodded, then smiled at the man, giving him a innocent look for a minute. "Yes, sir!"
Roach grinned; Viper was as deadly as his namesake, but was as silver- tongued also. The thief could swipe a bottle of drink from your hand and they would not notice how it was gone because they were too busy soaking up compliments.
Roach fleetly sped to the Lightnings den, depositing the meat in a corner, and came back up to join his gangmates.
Half an hour later, the Lightnings had stolen a collection of glass beads, three more pieces of meat, one loaf of bread, and a pair of leather boots. Roach was the one that had stolen the bread and one portion of chicken, so he got to eat the bread and most of the meat. The gang was satisfied with their pickings, and had went back to the den to celebrate with a feast of their own.
Slug was showing off the glass beads he had purloined when a sharp crack! had jerked the gangmembers back from their workings.
Another snap sounded. Roach poked his head out of the den entrance, then quickly ducked back in. His voice was filled with glee.
"It's a Bag, the one the Thief Lord told me about!"
Swift grinned, showing yellowed teeth. "Well then. I suppose the 'Lord favors us then, to tell us of when a Bag's coming in." He stroked his knife blades with pleasure. "A Bag with lots of riches, I think. What do you say, Lightnings?"
The gang lifted their right arms, flashed the blue band, and in unison- "Right!"
Roach settled in his corner. "The noise was a Bag guard announcing he was here, I think," he said slowly. "The 'Lord told me to go in two days, to let the Bag 'settle' in."
Swift scratched a bug in his hair. "Hmm... We'll deal with this tomorrow." He blew out the tallow candle, and settled in a corner to sleep, as did the other members. Briar peacefully stroked his moss before dozing off.
A/N Well? How is it? Please review! I was wondering how long to make this, and decided to should be five chapters, maybe more, maybe less. Just keep reading! -Shadowsong CometShard StarGlaive