[Checkpoint 2] City Gates and Walls

A messenger would hand the arriving Daimyo a note stating that Daimyo Zuikaku was currently busy, else he would greet her himself. An invitation to dinner is cordially extended to the visiting daimyo and her retinue, and that until such time they have free reign inside the city.

Zakiyah laughed quietly at a joke told between Jamil and their other compatriot, her gaze on the knife she was wielding in her hand as it sliced into the ripe Quy plum she had purchased at the market. Her thick braids were almost like snakes as they hung over her shoulders, her majic eyes shaded by the length of her dark lashes as she waited.

Although she did not join in the cajoling between Jamil and the other Sakandi native, she did occasionally say something in a quiet and smoky voice in a tone that implied she had a good humor but rarely spoke out of turn.

Akahoshi did not keep them waiting for very long, riding up on a magnificent white steed, followed by a half-dozen Wave Warriors, all mounted on horses that seemed to be made for endurance, rather than size as was typical of warhorses.

"Emissary Jamil, I hope you were not waiting for too long. I am Akahoshi, one of the Daimyo's personal Guard. I shall escort you to wherever you desire to go in Tawakoshi, and ensure that you are not given too much trouble at any borders."

Zakiyah looked over at the men, and there was something teasing in her gaze, a gaze full of secrets and peril. She easily mounted her horse, a fur luxuriously draped over her shoulders, her thick hair bound in braids that were tipped with gold beads and clicked quietly as she moved. Her dark eyes looked over them all, but she said nothing, letting Jamil be the voice on behalf of herself and Abdul, who also mounted upon his horse with ease.

Unfortunately for Jay, this section of the wall was barren of guards at this time for a reason. This was where Shirai kept his watch, and the dour warrior did not appreciate being interrupted. He was near hidden in the shadows of the wall, preferring to keep an eye out by moonlight, and the approach of the cat-person was only noticed at the last second, his sword barely making out of its sheath as the cat-person finished scaling the wall.

"Demon..."

As Jay finally climbed to the top, his keen ears caught the sound of someone nearby as they uttered a single word, Demon. This startled Jay a bit, and as he heard the distinct sound of steel being drawn he jumped into action, getting his footing on the wall, he would grab a small spherical object from one of his pockets and throw it down on the ground. It made a loud pop sound as it burst open on the ground, and a thick cloud of black smoke quickly engulfed that section of the wall surrounding Jay, obscuring all visibility, and therefore Jay.

Whatever Jay did within the smoke cloud could not be seen to outside observers, and if they were to venture within they wouldn't be able to see very far at all as the smoke was thick. 

The Cat's heartbeat was pounding in her chest as the black-clad woman -- an infamous thief -- felt every running step bringing her over the line to murderer. She felt so angry, she felt so hurt and so much regret -- so much regret.

She should have killed Jay when she had him. She should have told him to plunge that dagger into his chest. If she had known... if she had only known...

She was gaining on him, nimbly slipping through the city after his heels, but had had so much of a lead, given she'd stopped to hold her father one last time. It killed her inside that her family would now think that she was the one who did it. Yuudai's blood was still staining her gloves and her knees -- she could still feel its warmth.

But the Cat's senses picked up on someone else -- on someone else pursuing Jay. It clutched at her heart, because if they caught her, she knew she wouldn't just be wanted for crimes of theft and breaking and entering -- but use of magic, and murder.

The alarm was already beginning to sound along the walls, gongs and bells chiming at the checkpoints. The distant creak of the gates opening was audible over the still night, Wave Warriors pouring out into the night to try and hunt down the murderer. Glowing torches flickered everywhere along the wall, slowly streaming into the woods.

Jay ran straight for the woods, using the cover of the trees along with that dark night to obscure his movements, as well as make it harder for his pursuers to navigate the harsh terrain. Jay himself did not have much trouble as he had pretty good night vision which allowed him to see obstacles in his way in the night even without torches. He moved quickly to put as much distance between himself and the wave warriors as possible.