Stella blended through the market, seeking something valuable to sate Don Warren. The memory of the Don’s knife to Del’s throat still burned vividly in her mind– she had barely a few hours left to pay for his life. Maybe this would finally be the lesson Stella needed to stop gambling for information with the lowlifes of Western Entomara.
She pretended to browse a grocer’s stand, attempting to take a moment to take in the far too busy market square. She usually planned heists thoroughly, part of what she thought made her a good thief. A caw no one else paid mind to drew her attention– the crow was back. She still couldn’t tell why it was drawn to her and whether it was innocent or sinister.
A sudden shine of jewelled rings of an antique dealer set up near the fountains. Finally, having a potential mark, her mind started to weave plans of cause and effect. Stella moved quickly, but not before dropping a carrot from the grocer to hang out of the pocket of a patron. A small distraction like a trader losing their temper at someone unsuspecting was likely not a large enough one to gamble on.
Rising voices behind her turned heads while Stella spied a large cage two stalls down from the antique dealer. It was draped in cloth, probably to keep the beast inside cool and calm. Palming her thieves’ appliances, she casually approached and hoped the beast handler’s attention would hold elsewhere for a moment. It did not.
No sooner had the handler started to turn toward Stella than his attention was pulled in the opposite direction, where another trader began to explode angrily. Stella spied the crow above, something shiny in its beak, as an accusation quickly broke into brawling below. It was exactly what she needed, and with a quick, practiced hand trick, the cage swung open while sunlight spilled in to wake whatever was inside.
She had heard tales of tigers before, and this resembled one. It had the all too ominous fungus that characterized the infected growing all over its head and spine. The filthy animal needed no invitation, letting out a blood-curdling cry before springing straight into the crowd.
While the antique dealer ran for his life, Stella made it appear she was aboard the panic with the rest of the folks. In reality, she quickly snatched as many jewelled rings as possible, smiling up at the crow before ducking away into a nearby alley. Perhaps she’d saved a friend and made a new one today.
