I walked out of the house, grateful for the darkness. I was pretty sure I wasn't actually supposed to be outside yet, so I hoped that I would be long gone before someone checked my room. Pounce leapt ahead, almost invisible in the darkness.

First, I decided, I should go to the Court of the Rogue. There has to be some gossip about someone with a grudge against Rosto. The problem with this plan is that as soon as anyone I know sees me, they'll haul me straight back to the boarding house.

Stopping by at a vendor, I noticed they sold wigs. They were popular with the nobles nowadays, because for some cracknob reason they all wanted to have different hair colors. Well, maybe I'll be a redhead tonight.

I purchased the wig, slipping it on. It was very itchy, and I scratched furiously, before setting it back on my head. Glancing in the fountain on the way by, I decided that I looked different enough to pass everyday inspection. Just to be sure, though, I also put up my hood.

The Court of the Rogue was a hive of activity. This was the last official month of Court being held here. Next month, it would move to our boarding house. I grimaced. And I thought the house was noisy as it was.

I passed some men having their fortune told, positioning myself in the center of a large group of people milling about, listening to the talk. I had gotten less shy, but that didn't mean I'd confront a stranger with small talk to get information.

"Five nobles! For a loaf of bread! Well, I told that shopkeeper where he could put that bread—"

"—visited my Aunts, who tried to give me some blue cheese, for who knows what—I mean who ever heard of cheese that was blue? Honestly—"

"—And I grabbed it by the horns! I sure swear, it was this big! Bigger'n my—"

"Nasty trollop wen' an nicked—"

"Hear 'bout tha' Puppy tha' got thrashed by Jackknife's lot? Rumor has it they di' it to get back at—"

I felt my pulse pound in my ears. Jackknife. She had a name. Before she heard the rest though, there were gasps from the gossipy group. They stared, and one of them said, "Trickster's mercy, tha' cat has purple eyes!"

The man's voice rang out. Several more people fell silent from his words. I cursed, thinking, Pox rot on you, Pounce! Choose the worst time to show up!

Nearby, Kora was fortune telling again, and she heard, head whipping around. She saw Pounce, and her eyes narrowed with suspicion. I saw her beckon to Rosto and Aniki, and turned, casually walking away. If I bolted, I'd only draw their attention. Looking ahead, I stopped dead in my tracks. Tunstall and Goodwin ambled in. I'd forgotten tonight was the night to collect the Happy Bag. Turning, I headed for a side door. I walked faster when I saw several pairs of eyes turn to my direction. I didn't help that my leg had begun to hurt again, so I'd developed a small limp. Or that Pounce had chosen that moment to meow loudly and follow me. It's almost like he wanted me to be found.

Five people, five certain people, started in my direction all at once. Time to abandon pretenses. I ran, hard, throwing my wig to the ground. It was only a few coppers, anyway, and it was itchy.

I cut into several alleyways, winding my way through the city. They'd expect me to go back to the boarding house, or somewhere near, so instead I went to the Jane Street Kennel. I wanted to find out about this Jackknife.

ooo

No one! Not one Dog or Puppy has even heard a whisper about this sarden Jackknife fellow! As I began to walk home, I kicked a stone furiously. I had asked around, and all I got for my trouble were the Dogs looking at me like I was cracknobbed.

In my frustration, I didn't notice someone slip out of the shadows and follow me. I continued on, taking some quick shortcuts in some back alleys.

Later I would hit myself for my stupidity. While I was in one of those alleys, a hand grabbed my neck from behind. I gasped from the pressure, and before I could swing a fist around I felt something cloth like wrap tightly around my neck. I tried to scream, but the yell died in my throat, replaced by a choking gasp when I felt the cloth tighten unbearably, cutting off my air completely. He'd tied it.

"Let's see if you can cooperate this time, doxie," said a hoarse voice behind me. Instinctively I reached up and clawed at the cloth, fighting to pull it further from my skin. The man behind me chuckled, before throwing me to the ground. I lay still, no longer wanting to waste energy and oxygen on a seemingly useless task. He began to walk away, and I started to see my vision cloud over. Multicolored specks danced across my vision, slowly starting to grow bigger and converge. I'm dying, I thought, strangely detached. Before I could contemplate it further, I felt cold steel at my throat.

Suddenly the pressure loosened, and I gasped through a bruised throat, eyes watering. Dimly I felt someone pick my up and throw me over their shoulder as I continued to cough.

My vision was beginning to clear, and I saw I was being set down by a nearby torch. Looking up, I saw none other then Rosto leaning over me. There was anger in his dark eyes.

"What were you thinking?" he hissed, checking my throat. He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a small jar. "You're injured and recently survived a murder attempt, and what's the first thing you do? Run out of the boarding house, and take the back alleys and the way back. I was right; Ahuda did knock you over the head one too many times. I would've thought those Dogs of yours would have taught you some sense by now."

I listened numbly to his ranting, just processing that I was alive. Finally, I opened my mouth and rasped, "How—how did you—"

"Find you?" he said harshly. "I guessed you wouldn't go back to the boarding house like a good little Puppy, and then I saw you heading for Jane Street Kennel. When you came back out, I followed you. You lost me in some of those alleys; I'll still pretty new to Corus, despite being the Rogue. And when I find you—you—you're lying in the dirt, about to die. Don't ever—I mean—you—"

I looked up at him, and was shocked. Was their…concern, in his expression? Before I could contemplate it further, he leaned down and kissed me. I was startled, but soon relaxed. I felt so nice, and besides, it's not like I'm in the condition to fight back…right?

He slowly pulled away, and said, "Don't ever scare me like that again."

I just looked up at him into his eyes. HE was obviously still frustrated, but their was something…different, about the way he was looking at me. It was kind of nice. I nodded, and picked up the jar, spreading its contents on my throat. I'm guessing that it was bruise balm; it smelled like it anyway. And besides, what self-respecting rusher wouldn't carry bruise balm around with them?

Instant relief washed over me. Rosto put the jar back, and then studied me. I shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze. Before he could say anything, though, we both heard loud footsteps coming towards us on the otherwise deserted road.

Aniki came into view, panting slightly. When she saw us, she slowed slightly. "Where have you been? I've been looking…."

She saw my neck, where I assumed ugly bruises were starting to form, and trailed off. "Goddess…."

Abruptly Rosto hooked his arms underneath me, lifting me up. I started to protest from this position, since it was becoming uncomfortably familiar to me, but stopped when Aniki and Rosto glared at me. At once, they turned, heading in the direction for the boarding house. I sighed, unconsciously tightening my grip on Rosto's neck. That had been a close call. Too close. I needed to find these Rats, before our next encounter killed me. And why does Rosto seem to care about me so much?

ooo

Author's Note:

Silly Beka. Don't worry, she'll figure it out soon. So, you likie? Sorry for the longer wait, but I've been monstrously busy. I'll try to update whenever I can, but I can't promise the usual stories-done-in-a-week. I hope you like it though! It was a blast to write. ("Well I told that shopkeeper where he could put that bread--" lol!! I had so much fun with that!)

And I was a little unsure about the wig thing, but Alanna used a wig in her series, so…it's possible. And I'm sorry if the whole cloth-strangling-thing seems suspiciously like the yaskedasu in Shatterglass, but what can I say? It seemed like the best thing for an almost-death, and I just read that book.

So, I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading! (Review, please! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, lol)

Padfoot