Rica gravely hoped he'd forgive her for threatening his life. She hoped he would see what she was trying to do and that he would go along with it.
She was wrong, and she saw it a moment too late. A blinding light shone, and the woman was simply pushed away from Tatsu.
The Yoreiqi stumbled back, blinking to clear up her vision. Once she managed, all she was able to see was a tall creature of scales where Tatsu once stood. Out of a corner of her eye, she spotted the tail moving, and the woman yelped and ducked, throwing her wing over herself in a pathetic attempt to protect herself, even though the tail sped past her completely safely.
A moment later and Rica fled from the dragon, form paling in terror. Adrenalin helped her run like there was no tomorrow, yet once the shouts of guards and the roar of the dragon reached her ears, the Yoreiqi lost touch with reality. Screams of terror, snarls, flashes of fangs and claws coursed through her senses - a mix of memories assaulting her mind.
The youth blinked, suddenly finding herself on her hands and knees, with a prayer from her tribe leaping from her lips and tears pouring from her eyes. It took her only a moment to remember where she was, and the instant she did she turned in her kneeling form with a gasp.
"No! Please, don't hurt them!" The Yoreiqi pleaded, pitifully outstretching her hand towards Tatsu, even though she knew well she couldn't do anything to stop him.
---
The two thieves rounded about a corner, and finally stopped to rest. Both wheezing for breath, they took a moment to listen to their surroundings.
"Hah!" The chest-wielding one panted out. "No guards. They must've been held up by that bodyguard and the yoreiqi. Do you think they got arrested?" He chuckled, looking to his companion, who wasn't really amused.
"Probably." The man said, feeling awkward without his favorite knife. "We should get out of the city."
"What's the rush?" The other asked with a daring smile. "The bodyguard is gone, leaving the antiques stall utterly unprotected!" He all but exclaimed, greed glinting in his eyes. And before his fellow thief could respond, the man bolted with a "Come on!", heading for the parked wagon on the riverside.