We follow up our longest piece in AIL (to say nothing of being the longest solo) with one of the shortest on the board - also a solo. But it's a fun read from SnowCatCuties. There's also something here you don't see in a lot of SnowCat pieces- cursing. You'll see why, but I thought I'd give you an extra warning.

 
Warning: harsh language & F-Bomb

After SnowCat left the roof, being careful not to be seen, she headed to where she saw the gap. Getting closer, a sign caught her eye from a nearby window that read “Sale, all sweets half price.” After she read the sign, she looked at the gap in the barrier and back at the shop. For a moment she stopped and thought to herself about what to do. She moved closer to shop just to look in while keeping an eye on the barrier. There was so much choice in sweets on offer that Snow just had to go in. Before she entered, Snow noticed a horrid smell. It smelled like the sewers. Snow looked around and saw a disturbance at the counter of the shop.

“Yes, put all your shit in the bag and be quick!” said a voice. There stood a Muri-dan looking rather agitated. A scar stretched across his eye and his tail looked bent in a couple of places, his tail-blades damaged. Snow realised she was a witness for a crime and decided to take action. Quickly, she hid and got out a non-lethal weapon. It was a rope with stones attached to it. As the Muri-dan exited the shop and started to run, Snow threw it and due to her skills, it wrapped around his legs and ankles, causing him to trip and fall.

Snow swiftly jumped up, bow and arrow in hand, and ran over to the Muri-dan as he tried to untangle the rope.

“Don't you dare!” shouted Snow now aiming at him. “You’re coming with me now.”

“What the the fuck?” he responded putting his hand up. “Do you know who the hell you’re dealing with, bitch?”

“A thieving rat, that’s who I’m dealing with. The better question is, 'Do you?'”

Rapidly, Snow swapped out the bow for a knife and placed it to his neck, she rolled him over and tied up his hands behind his back. Now that he was detained, she made him stand up and attached a rope to his binds. Next she gathered up the items that had been stolen.

“Right, you coming with me. We are going back to that shop and I'm getting sweet,” Snow declared.

“What? I'm not fucking going back there!” squealed the rat as he started to struggle.

Snow pulled at the rope causing him to stagger back into her so she could immediately place the knife to his throat again as she whispers in a soft yet creepy tone, “If you want to live you, you will do as I say and please watch the language.” This sent chills down the bandits back.

“O-o-oK,” he stuttered and begun to head back to the shop. When they get back to the shop, Snow edged him in scared as she started to look around the store. The storekeeper, amazed by the return of the robber, froze. Heading towards the counter, Snow collected a variety of sweets and placed them on the counter.

“Can I have these please?” she asked then quickly added. “Oh and I believe these are yours.” She placed the stolen items on the counter.

“Y-yes, how did you.. I mean thanks but but..” stammered the Shop assistant, still shocked by the robbery and his returned, not able to keeps their eyes off the criminal as he cowered next to Snow.

“Oh don't worry about him,” Snow said. “I’ll see that he pays for his crimes. How much do I owe you?”

“Don’t worry about it. You have returned my things to me and I’m grateful. Thanks again!”

“Thanks and it’s nothing. I’ll deal with him.” Snow left pushing the crook ahead of her. Once outside. Snow tied a short rope to each of his ankles preventing him from taking large steps. It meant he had to move slow but Snow was not fussed.

The cursing totally fits the Muri-dan though. Although it doesn't quite catch their flavor, it's definitely a good effort and gives the thug the right mindset. Like her first solo in the next mission (which won't be posted until some time after this one), it's more of a short, fun side story.

We'll see more of that storekeeper too in the still unposted next mission! Oh, the voter called this "a strictly better version of" her first solo, although it didn't win her any additional awards. Next up is a piece with Blackeagle, Wildfall, Becky Joy and some fun NPC's!