It had happened so fast - a whirlwind of confusion and rather painful kicks. It's what went along with being a pick-pocket - occasionally, you weren't so good at it, and occasionally, the person you were stealing from turned around, back-handed you so hard you came down with a case of whiplash, causing you to hit the ground almost simultaneous with them kicking the living hell out of you. Actually, it didn't seem to happen ALL that often to Maiara - but it sure as hell did happen occasionally, but she usually managed to get away.
However, not such was the case today. Most unfortunately for Maiara who was nursing a busted lip, a slowly closing eye, bruised ribs and various cuts along her arms, legs and torso. Limping along, looking a little pitiful, agitated, her stomach twisted. She moaned softly under her breath.
"Not you too," she mumbled, rubbing her stomach, the other hand lifted to rub at her temples. Her head was beginning to throb. He had gotten a glancing kick off her head. It was strong enough to see a mini-explosion behind her eyes and give her a painfully throbbing headache.
Mai hunkered down at the side of the street, holding her head in her hands for a minute. Her head was bleeding - it was beginning to mat her wavy, light brown hair. She could feel it touching her face and trickling down into her air and down her cheek. She attempted to wipe it away, but head wounds always bled a lot. Hers was no exception.
"Ahh... It hurts," she complained to herself, resting her forehead on her knees, pressing her palms to her ears. Everything was so damn loud. She could hear it all. People talking, the passing of carts and wagons. For God's sake, she could feel the damned vibration of the carts.
Still, sitting around wasn't going to get her food. Or the money she needed to buy it. Even if she was sore and aching, she needed someone to target - and damn, it was always hard trying to pick a target. And she hurt all over - she could taste blood in her mouth, she had blood down her face, on her pants now for thoughtlessly leaning her forehead on her knees, and she was all scuffed and scratched.
She hadn't eaten in three days. At least.. not what most consider food. She had sunk to the point, not for the first time, of eating trash and bugs and grass.. and when she caught one, a rat. Not exactly filling, but sometimes she wasn't a very good thief. Actually, lately, that's been a reoccurring theme as of late. For some reason, it all started two weeks ago - she had stolen some money, but she had misjudged the person she was stealing from, realized they were barely scraping by as it was and handed it back. Then every time she stole from someone she couldn't help but think of what she stealing and just maybe they depended on that money to the point where it was very critical. It made her sloppy. Careless. And she was almost always caught and when she wasn't, it was by sheer luck. It was about time that luck was running out.
Mai stood, teetering and swaying like a drunk, her head spinning. She used the building as a crutch, leaning against it until her senses came back. She wiped the blood off her face, using her shirt. What the hell, right? She licked the fresh blood off her hand - she figured she'd need that later if she kept getting the shit kicked out of her.
She started walking, slowly and with a hint of bewilderment in her step, but changing gears she forced herself to walk casually, ignoring the fact she looked her part - a dirty little thief that [rightfully in the minds of most] had gotten the hell beaten out of her. It'd make stealing a lot more complicated when her appearance nearly beckoned people's attentions.
And then she spotted him. Now or never, right? Her stomach knotted at the thought. He looked the part of a wanderer. He didn't look that old - she felt sick at the thought that if he wanted to he could beat her senseless. Despite his height and her slightly dazed state she could clearly make out lean muscle. Her stomach twisted harder, feeling like it was turning in on itself, beginning to eat her from the inside out. She needed food desperately - she didn't want to have to kill a rat for food. It was disgusting and it made her cry. She couldn't stop thinking about the people she stole from or the animal she killed. In the end, it left her pathetic and starving. She really wondered if it had only been three days.
Walk, walk, walk... Move. Try, at least she told herself repeatedly, silently. Still, Mai hurried, moving quicker, trying to block out the pain in her legs and in her body, trying to stop the ungainly limp. How pathetic! She hated it, she hated looking like this. She hated feeling dirty, and she hated eating what some people wouldn't even consider. Where the hell had her pride gone? And then her stomach knotted, reminding her it had went with the food.
Maiara stumbled, tripping into her subject. That was not the desired effect at all - quite the opposite. Surely, the poor guy would notice her now. And that's not what she had wanted. Still, she grabbed him then pushed herself away and fell onto her ass. More pathetic than she could stand! Almost literally.
"Sonuva-! Jesus!" She cursed herself and then glanced up and looked away. When had the blood dripped into her eye again? God. "Sorry," she grumbled, recognizing it was her fault.
Stand, dolt, stand! She mentally screamed, slowly standing up with a groan. So. That hadn't worked as well as she had wanted it too. On to plan... c, was it?