[ P ] What Goes Around Comes Around

Kestrel hadn't intended to steal anything today - he didn't need to, so there was little point - but he had been presented with an opportunity that was just too good to pass up. Earlier in the day, he had come across a lone pup as he was passing through Yorkshire. The pup appeared to be returning from Glass Beach, carrying in its mouth a large shell with a beautiful pearlescent sheen. He wouldn't usually have stolen something like this, but it looked valuable and he wondered if he would be able to trade it for some food later. After stealing from the pup, he had made a hasty retreat for Redwood.

It was now getting quite late, and night had already fallen. The cover of darkness gave Kestrel a sense of comfort, along with the fact that he felt like he had journeyed far enough to avoid any trouble. He was highly doubtful that anyone would come looking for him out here over something as trivial as a pup's lost shell. He glanced around for a moment to make sure he was definitely still alone, deciding that he could probably afford to get some rest. Curling up, he placed the shell by his paws to keep it safe. Little did he know, a streak of moonlight shone through the canopy, showing off the shell's beautiful pearlescent interior.


@Colburn

Unbeknownst to the thief there was a lurking shadow who coveted the shimmering treasure. Dark eyes watched the pretty lights reflecting from the pearlescent shell with hungry intent. It didn’t matter to him that someone had already claimed it. For a thief everything was fair game. Patiently he waited until the other’s gaze was focused elsewhere to creep that little bit closer. Excitement caused his heart to pound like a drum as he prepared to pounce. Black beady eyes locked on the shell, paws pressing into the earth as he attempted to dart forwards and pluck the treasure from its unsuspecting owner.

Once the prize was secured in his jaws he made a run for it, fully expecting the former owner to give chase to reclaim the precious item. The other boy had longer legs than Colburn which gave him a leg up on the thieving changeling. If he wanted it back he would have to catch him. The thought of a game of chase was more exciting than frightening. He made sure to let the shell catch the light as he ran to purposefully signal his whereabouts to the other thief, basically taunting him to come chase him.

Art by Ashon

Kestrel had just closed his eyes, when suddenly, the shell he had been carrying was swept up by a dark figure and carried off further into the woods. He pulled his head back with a quiet gasp of surprise, quickly rising to his paws to give chase. Regrettably, it had caught him entirely off-guard, but he wasn't about to let this mysterious thief get away.

The light thudding of his hurried pawsteps and the rustling of the undergrowth cut through the silence of the night, filling him with adrenaline. Kestrel's focus was locked solely on the glimmering shell, causing him to rely on his peripheral vision to look out for obstacles as he ran through the woods as fast as he could. It was hard to see in the dark, and the fact he could only see out of one eye didn't make it any easier, but at least he could follow the same path as his fellow thief to limit the risk of hitting anything. He was determined to end the chase quickly, and he could see the gap between them beginning to close. As soon as the other wolf was within range, Kestrel leapt into the air with a powerful thrust of his legs, teeth bared and forelegs outstretched as he aimed to tackle his opponent.

"That's mine!"


@Colburn

Initiating the game of catch me if you can was a success. Colburn raced through the redwood with the contested prize in his jaws. Looking over his shoulder he saw that he was quickly losing his headstart on the other boy. He was gaining on him with the determination of a bull with red in his eyes. With little choice, but to push himself a little harder Colburn found he was wearing out faster rather than making progress in his escape.

A sudden weight upon his back caused his legs to buckle and sprawl out beneath him. He let out a grunt of air as he hit the ground, jaw clenching around the precious treasure. He would not give it up that easily. A possessive growl was his answer to the other boy's claim of his shell. He tucked it under his belly and laid on top of it like a dragon guarding a mound of treasure. Nuh uh. It's mine, he argued. So nyeh, he taunted the boy, sticking out his coal black tongue at him.

Art by Ashon

The tackle was a success; the opposing thief had now been knocked to the ground, just as planned. However, in the heat of the moment, Kestrel hadn't thought out his landing very well. The force in which he had leapt caused him to topple right over his forelegs, landing on his back, face-to-face with the mysterious dark wolf. Disgruntled, he quickly scrambled to his paws, baring his teeth slightly as the other wolf refused to give up the shell. How ironic. First, a pup had taken it from the beach, then he had taken it from the pup, and now it had been taken from him. At this point, he wasn't sure it was worth the effort, but the wolf's taunting had taken it to a more personal level. At the very least, he wanted to make it difficult for the thief.

"I see you have chosen to do this the hard way," he began, his voice calm and steady. "In that case, I shall be your shadow for the night, following you around until you either return the treasure to me or get caught for theft." If the wolf tried to run, he would simply begin the chase once more. If this dragged out until the coming of dawn, then so be it. Kestrel sat a short distance away, watching and waiting for the next move. He wasn't sure he actually had the patience for this, nor was he confident in his ability to keep dodging the undergrowth if he had to run once more, but it was actually pretty fun to have some company, even if they didn't exactly get along.


@Colburn

Ebony eyes narrowed at the unwanted tag-along. It was normally him doing the shadowing, not the other way around. Colburn was confident he could lose him. Many had tried to steal from the changeling thief before and he'd outwitted them. He was quite possessive of the objects he snatched and wouldn't give it back without resistance. The shell was nothing more than a pretty bauble. Nothing that could dull the edge of hunger clawing at his stomach, but it didn't matter any less to him than a juicy haunch of meat. Ain't givin' it back. You got nuthin I want, he pointed out, unwilling to relinquish his treasure for nothing.

Gonna howl for the Imps? Colburn snorted, not the least bit threatened by Imperial Soldiers. He didn't like them. They were annoying, but they'd never catch him. He was good at avoiding them (lucky enough not to run into a competent one) so he wasn't worried about going to prison. He would curse them for even trying and then they would regret crossing paths with a changeling. Where'd ya find it anyway? he asked, intrigued enough by the treasure to consider collecting more of them if its original owner was willing to share trade secrets.

Art by Ashon

Kestrel raised an eyebrow as the other wolf refused to return the treasure once more. It was true he didn't have anything to give in return, but he hardly felt as though he should have to trade for it considering that it had been his just moments ago. He was tempted to give the stranger another reason to hand it over, but decided it would be best to avoid unnecessary bloodshed for the time being. He wasn't usually so easily irritated, but there was something about the way the dark wolf spoke... whether or not that was the intention, it felt like he was being taunted the whole time, especially when he was asked if he was going to howl for someone to come to his aid.

"Unlike you, I don't intend to disturb anyone in the middle of the night." Of course, Kestrel didn't want to run into anyone from the Imperial Army either, but he figured it would be best to leave that part out. Besides, he preferred to keep a low profile, and howling wasn't something he liked to do very often.

Next, his fellow thief asked where he had found the treasure. 'The nerve of this wolf..,' he thought to himself, surprised that anyone would be willing to ask such a question so blatantly despite the current circumstances. Yet, Kestrel couldn't help but wonder if this could work in his favour.

"Glass beach." It was merely a presumption based on what he had seen earlier that day, but he wasn't about to admit that he stole it. "It's just a shame that I could only carry one and don't have time to go back and get another. Otherwise, I would let you keep that old shell and go back to find an even bigger and shinier one." His words were carefully crafted to imply that the mysterious thief was missing out on some greater treasure by hanging on to the one he had, but it was hard to predict whether or not it would be enough to trick the trickster.


@Colburn

Colburn could tell that his attitude was wearing on the other boy. It pleased him to see how little it took to annoy someone. It was just how he was blunt, uncouth, and far too impish for his own good. Many encounters like this one had become violent and as small as he was Colburn wasn't suited to scrapping. Night's the best time for disturbin' he laughed, jaws parting in a wide wolfish grin. It was the best time for everything. He didn't think his new playmate would agree however. Is it your bedtime or somethin'? he teased the other, dark eyes full of mischief.

It would seem to be the case because he insisted he had no time to go out and fetch another shell. Too bad for him. Go get 'nother. Might trade, he suggested, lying through his teeth. He would simply steal the second shell and keep both treasures for himself. A smart thief didn't barter after all they took what they wanted. Make sure it's bigger n' shinier, he added, wanting his second prize to be even more impressive than the first. He doubted the boy would fetch him one, but it was worth a try.

Art by Ashon

He had really had enough. Kestrel just stood there, holding back a snarl as the other wolf continued to tease him. He refused to even humour the wolf, letting a silent glare say all that needed to be said. It was only when the other thief suggested a trade that he couldn't take it anymore; he had to say something.

"If I found a bigger and shinier one, why would I trade it for that one? I would be better off keeping it for myself..." He wasn't sure whether this was some kind of broken logic, or yet more teasing. 'Does he take me for some kind of fool?' His thoughts wandered briefly, unsure how to take the suggestion. Though, perhaps he was a fool for fighting over a shell for so long despite the fact he didn't even need it. Whatever the case, his current methods weren't getting him anywhere.

As much as he wanted to cut his losses and just walk away, he couldn't help but imagine the mysterious thief giving a smug grin at the easy victory. He didn't want it to end like that. In fact, he despised the thought. He knew he would regret acting so childishly later, but that didn't stop him from swiftly lunging forwards, trying to snatch the shell for himself.


@Colburn

He blew out his lips in a disappointed and exaggerated sigh. The small thief had hoped that his totally-not-cunning ploy would earn him two shells, but the other thief was smarter than the muddy stray. Still, one shell was better than none so he was still winning. The thought formed a self-satisfied smirk upon his dark lips, like the cat that got the cream. The pretty shell would likely be forgotten about in a day or two and lay discarded upon his collection of treasures tucked away in his hideout. For all that he stubbornly clung to it he mostly wanted it because the other boy did.

A woof of surprise escaped his mouth and his teeth clicked together when the shell was forcefully snatched from his grasp. With a growl he lunged after it, teeth gripping the fragile almost porcelain like edge between his fangs. Black fur bristling and growling as the game of tug of war began. An odd cracking sound like ice fracturing began to resound the more he pulled, but that didn't stop him from bravely battling for the contested treasure. Mine, he growled, words muffled and distorted by a full mouth.

Art by Ashon