She moved quickly, boots stamping through shallow puddles that had formed on the uneven streets of Haven City. A hood pulled low, hiding the red locs across her head. Ashelin was now extremely grateful for the rain; it gave her a reason to cover her face in an attempt to obscure her identity. She needed to move quickly and as inconspicuously as possible. Being the Baron's daughter and one of his top Commanders ensured that everyone in the city knew her face, and only a small handful of citizens bothered to look passed those titles; they only saw a weapon to be used by Praxis.
Ashelin had spent a majority of her life in these streets and knew them well. An even longer amount of time had been spent learning how to navigate the city without alerting the attention of the Krimzon guard. Her favorite escape passage ended far away from the Underground's hideout. It was a long walk, but it avoided most of the patrol routes. Her curiosity to explore the city started at a young age, fueled by the forbiddance from her father. She'd been caught quite a few times sneaking out, but it was worth it to her. She didn't want to live solely up high in that palace, above the people she was meant to have power over. Leaders should not be so separated from their people, she thought.
A gust of wind threatened to throw back Ashelin's hood. She let go of the cloak and gripped the hood forward, the cloak billowing behind her for a moment like a cape, leaving her body exposed.
"Hachi Machi!" a grating voice exclaimed nearby. Ashelin's glower turned to face the one who had the audacity to— Wait. There was no one there? Ashelin looked confusedly side to side.
"Ahem, hey sweet cheeks, I'm down here. But I don't mind the view!"
Ashelin looked down and saw yet another creature completely foreign to her. A…rat? No, it was longer than that, leaner, and screaming orange, a huge shit-eating grin across its face. And, did it just speak to her?
"Yeahhh, hey how ya doin', toots? How about you and I get out of this rain and go hide in a…fox hole, if ya know what I mean," the rodent attempted to elbow at her calf suggestively.
"Eugh!" Ashelin took a step back and reared her foot back to punt this creep to the next sector.
"Waitwaitwaitwait!" The creature put his hands out in front of him, waving them and then shrugging. "I ain't tryna do any harm, I just saw a hot dame and thought I'd make my move! Sorry to bother ya, toots. Hey, you ain't seen a mute guy around, have ya?"
Ashelin stopped her foot at its full backswing and set it on the ground. "A mute guy?"
"Yeahh, about this tall–" he climbed up on a nearby sign and held his hand out, "muscles," he flexed, "long hair, got a face that still has a shred o' hope in it? Pretty rare in this dump," he stuck out his thumb, gesturing generally to the city.
"When did you last see him? What was he wearing?" Ashelin thanked her stars that no one had come down the tiny alleyway, and she prayed that her luck would continue. She had a feeling…
"Ehhh about…two years ago? We're ahh…not from around here, and as soon as we show up, my boy gets hit in the head by one of those Krimzon guards! I snuck away, but those bastards took him away to that big palace. Blue clothes, weird goggles," the orange rat pointed to the Baron's fortress. Ashelin felt a dawning realization. "HEY!" Ashelin grabbed the strange creature by the scruff of his neck, scooping him up and putting him under her cloak, holding him tight so he couldn't get away. "Hey now, this is more like it!"
"Shut your mouth," Ashelin twisted her way through the streets with the rodent, pinning his hands so they were not tempted to…wander. She slipped into a seedy bar that was usually empty and found her way to a dark corner booth. Once she was certain there was little risk of anyone eavesdropping, she released the rodent and introduced herself. "My name's Ashelin, and I have a feeling I know where your friend is."
"What!? Hot and helpful? I did find the perfect woman! Any way you can help me get to him?"
Ashelin's smile cracked into a mischievous curve. Her father would hate losing his science experiment, and she wouldn't have to get her hands too dirty. All she had to do was get this guy into the palace, direct him where to go, and leave the rest to them. Less risk of her father figuring out that she was involved. "What's your name, little guy?"
"Ooh, nicknames already!" There's that comically-large smile again. "The name's Daxter, my buddy's name is Jak."
"Well, Daxter, it's your lucky day. We're going to get your friend out."