#shadowviper

Dusk had fallen over the sands of Thanalan, the streets of Ul'dah and the Goblet quiet. Darkness ebbed into every corner, blinding anyone who wishes to go out past nightfall.... save for one. Dressed in black, a single small gold fist embroidered on his shoulder, a Xaela silently combed his way threw the streets of homes. His left eye glowed faintly in the dark, its magiteck parts allowing him to see. A smirk danced on his lips as he looked over his shoulder. He had visited two people while they slept, and now there was just one left. Things would have been better if they had listened... but no, they had threatened and even harmed his charge for no other reason then being a stray. The Xaela needed that miqo'te. Any ears he could have listening to the Grand Companies was useful. Red was his tool to use, not theirs to torment... and yet...

Just imagining those innocent eyes had the smirk die on his lips. There were too many reminders in the miqo'te that reminded him of his sibling when she was much, much younger... and bandaging up Red's now stubby tail was more reminiscent of his other sister who brew trouble until the day she died. 21...should not be thinking of such things yet here he was. He could not return to his younger sister... he had his own place to return now... in a life that didn't include her.... and he was going to prove it... with how he was going to deal with the three Inmortal Flame fools.

21 knew the third guard had the early morning shift in the globlet and he was bound to find him. Easy really... the lumbering highlander. The sun had not even broken the horizon when the ninja came upon the sword wielder. Steeling his features, he addressed the guard.

"I did tell you to leave the cat alone didn't I? You must have had a death wish cutting off his tail." Silver eyes glared as he waited for the response.

The highlander turned on his feet, sneering at the Xaela. It had taken a moment for him to recognize who it was, not used to seeing the Xaela in anything other than the Flame uniform. "And I told ya I was just taking out the trash. What ya going t'do about it?"

As if on queue, the bombs 21 had placed under the beds of the other two guards who had tormented the miqo'te had gone off. Smoke began to rise in the distance from the fires they started... and no one would have survived the explosions.

Smirking, 21 tilted his head at the highlander as he drew his daggers. "I'm sure even you know what is going to happen next. Your buddies are dead and you will quickly join them. I'm not someone you should ignore advice from. After all, I have dangerous allies."

An arrow shot from the darkness to impale the ground at the highlanders feet. 21 waited until the fear kicked in before he made his advance. In a blink of an eye he was in the air, spiraling towards the highlander with deadly intent. Oh, the highlander did try to draw his sword, to try and parry the attacker, but 21 was faster. Landing behind the highlander in a crouch, blood dripped from the ninja's daggers. A groan behind him and a gurgled "Damn you" was all 21 heard as he Straitened and disappeared in the shadows. He would quickly change and blend in to the crowds at the bomb locations as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, the highlander dropped to the ground, his sword falling out of his hand only halfway out of its sheath. Numerous fatal cuts been inflicted in the blink of an eye, the killing blow a slash to his throut.