Although the city was dangerous by night, it had one major advantage to sleeping out in the wild: there was shelter, and there were corners where nothing could sneak up on you. Xirofel had managed to find one of these corners, an alcove built into the side of a building. Here he'd settled on the ground -- which was a touch cold, maybe, but it wasn't winter so he wasn't freezing. The trader sat unable to sleep, gazing out into the empty streets. Occasionally a nobleman or two strolled by, and the occasional coach rumbled past once in a while, but for the most part the streets were quiet. The gentry of the neighbourhood were busy either sleeping or attending their parties, judging by the even mixture of dark and candlelit windows. Sometimes a door would open and the sound of a rather inebriated laugh would echo in the night air. Xiro didn't much like it, as seeing all of these rich people reminded him of things he'd really rather forget, but this was a reasonably safe part of town and as long as he stayed out of sight, nobody was likely to pick him up and throw him in jail.
It had been a long night already, primarily because it was hard to sleep sitting on stone. Of course, Xiro didn't sleep much anyway. He drew a thin chain from the pack he carried, twining it around his fingers and holding the small pendant in front of his eyes. Emerald, and valuable, it glittered before him, a physical promise of wealth. Too bad I got in so late, the trader thought to himself ruefully. He wasn't what one might call rich, but he might have had coin enough to stay in an inn tonight if he'd arrived in Arca early enough to make some sales. Ah, well.
The chain dropped abruptly back into his bag as the Yoreiqi noticed a shadow drawing nearer to his shelter. Whomever it was, the person was approaching from the rear end of the building, where he couldn't see them. Stealthily, the trader fingered the blade at his side. Judging by the posture of the shadow, the stranger was sneaking, and that was never a good sign. Xirofel had spent enough time fighting to know that, and he rose silently to his feet, pressing himself to the wall behind him. The shadow came closer, and when Xiro judged that they were just a step or two away, he stepped suddenly out of the shadows, hand on his knife but not drawing it just in case the person was harmless.
First thing he noticed was the dress the stranger was clad in. A girl, then, although that didn't entirely allay his suspicions. Briefly the Yoreiqi recalled a time when he didn't have to be wary of strangers, when everyone had been a friend without question. He missed those days. He missed having nothing to worry about.
But those days were long past, and he eyed the person cautiously -- not aggressive, but extra-wary once he caught a glimpse of the feline in the shadows. Magnificent. I hope it doesn't try to eat me, he thought to himself, and then spoke. "It's a bit late, isn't it? Whatever are you out wandering around for?"
