"STOP." ROARKE'S VOICE cut into the darkness, pulling Ciri up short. Holding his face upwards, Roarke brought out his Wolf, but only its sense of smell. By doing this, he could remain in his human form, but have the advantage of whatever enhanced sense he wanted.
"What is it-?"
"Keep quiet." Roarke moved back against a low picket fence, crouching there. "Someone's coming."
Quickly copying him, Ciri dropped down behind Roarke, having to lean on his arched back in an effort to not fall onto him. Roarke turned his head around, eyebrows raised.
"Sorry," Ciri whispered, removing her hands and holding them up in surrender.
"Guess what?" Roarke said as he focused forward again.
"What, Roarke?"
"We have a friend." At Ciri's confused shuffle behind him, Roarke said with an edge in his voice, "It's Ace."
A dark figure rounded the corner, three houses away. It was striding hard, seeming to be in a hurry. Roarke straightened slightly, into a hunting crouch.
"Bring it, bitch!" Roarke shouted, springing from his crouch and shifting midair into his Panther subconsciously.
Racing towards Ace with an unexpected speed, Roarke managed to put a deep scratch in Ace's muscled shoulder. His next attack was weary; he now knew of Ace's shield, and was still feeling its reminder in his throbbing arm.
"Well, hello, my friend," Ace sneered. Roarke growled menacingly in reply. "Come on out, girl. I know you're there…"
Roarke shifted back and turned to glare directly in Ace's eyes. "What, came back to finish us because you weren't man enough to do it before?"
"Oh, maybe. I might just do that for you." Ace's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "But I actually came to help you." Roarke gave him a questioning look, one eyebrow shooting up.
"And what help do you think you're giving us by gracing us with your presence? Go. Away."
"Boys…" Ciri stepped in between the two older boys, and pushed Roarke backwards.
"Well," Ace continued, looking at Ciri. "The news I got is that a rebel group is coming to kill you. Just thought you should know…"
"What?" Roarke said, concerned.
"They're coming; I'm sure about it. Oh, yeah, they also have two speed demons and a thought demon, so you might want to keep that in mind."
Roarke stared at the retreating back of Ace. "What the hell, man? You can tell us, but you can't help us?"
Ace stopped, turning slowly. "You want my help?" he asked incredulously.
"Only if you get rid of that self-proclaiming attitude," Roarke conditioned. "Or you could call it pig-headedness."
"Like you can talk," Ace shot back, smirking.
Roarke threw a hand across his forehead in a mock swoon.
"I'll kill you, you know?" Ace threatened half-heartedly.
"Not if I kill you first." Roarke smiled, and stretched his hand out towards Ace. "I'm Roarke."
"Ace." The two boys shook hands, slapping each other on the back.
"Okay, now that you guys have got the whole bromance thing outta the way, can we please get going?" Ciri pleaded, looking around anxiously.
"Whatever," Roarke said, walking off with Ace right behind him.
"You're not with her, are you?" Ace stage whispered.
"Hell, no. I'm running my own race, man." Roarke joked.
"I can hear you," Ciri groaned, trudging after the two boys.
A loud crash, followed by a string of profanities, drifted from around the corner, making the trio freeze mid-step. "Yo, Ace," an older voice called. "Come help this old man."
"Ha. It's only Rem, guys. Loosen up." Ace jogged around the corner, Ciri and Roarke on his heels.
Rem leaned against a trash can, a big smile plastered on his face as he held up his whiskey bottle. "Happy birthday!" he said with a laugh, the words slurring. He threw his head back and took a gulp of the alcohol, before staggering past them.
"Nice company you keep," Ciri said. Ace shot her a glare.
"Better than no company at all, right?" Ace questioned, raising one eyebrow.
"Mm. I guess so," Ciri replied, sarcasm leaking into her voice.
"Hey, you guys wanna head to my place?" Roarke walked over to where Ace and Ciri were standing, the now half-empty whiskey bottle in his hand. "I've got a stock!" he called back over his shoulder.
"Ugh. What did you say your friend's name was? Because I look forward to meeting her," Ciri said as she turned to walk in the direction of the cliffs. Rem snatched back his bottle, taking another sip.
"How bout you hitch a ride?" Roarke asked, shifting into his Horse.
"Aww," Ciri said, leaning forward to stroke Roarke's head, her previous expression softening. "Does all your colouring transfer? Like, is that why you're a buckskin?"
Roarke nodded patiently, then motioned for them to climb up. "Are you sure, mate? Rem's pretty heavy," Ace laughed.
Roarke snorted indignantly, and began trotting off, Rem scrambling to get his seat, but failing.
"Woah, Roarke. Slow down, man." Ace teetered on the rump of Roarke's Horse, grabbing Ciri's shirt in the process.
"Oh, come on, wuss. He's only trotting." Roarke whinnied a laugh.
"Fine. I'll-" Ace finally toppled right off Roarke, landing heavily on his arm, before putting up a shield to soften the rest of his fall. "Walk," he finished.
Ciri giggled loudly and pointed at a forlorn Ace. "Sh-a-me." She laughed again, before gripping slightly harder on Roarke's dark brown mane.