Echo ran up to them and looked at the notice board to see what the fuss was about. She squealed and pointed to the one of Davis and laughed at the one of Caleb. Then she grabbed them both, ripping them off the wall and cuddling them close.
A bell sounded throughout the town. It didn't sound like an alarm but Davis put his fists up.
"Relax, boy," said the vendor who had sold him food. He had been too busy counting his money to notice the cat. "It's just announcing some big shot's coming into town."
"Big shot?"
"Yeah, on of Kain's tough guys. Hopefully, he'll be too busy trying to catch up to the others to steal any more of my food."
"Which one is it?" Davis asked, a slight edge of panic in his voice.
"How am I supposed to know?" asked the man.
A woman, who had just come onto the street, tutted at him.
"You don't pay any attention, Van. Only ones missing the other day was the lion. What was his name again?"
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
"Prendre," said Davis.
Davis shook his head and pulled up his pack. He thanked the vendor and the woman. Miriam still had the tooth from the monster she and Echo had fought off. She took it out and held it like a knife.
Davis looked at it approvingly. He didn't motion at Miriam and Echo to run until they around a corner.
They heard a roar behind them. It wasn't the metal screaming of the wire-wolf but the more organic but no less frightening sound of a lion.
"Hurry!" yelled Davis. "He has the scent."
Miriam was getting sick of this lion. The ran through alleys that Miriam hoped would be too narrow for the big blue monster to squeeze through.
Prendre seemed to know this town. He cut them off at the exit to one of these alleys, landing heavily onto Davis, roaring his victory. Miriam watched as Davis landed on his hurt side.
She stuck the tooth into a blue leg and ripped it back out. Prendre reeled back with a pained roar, knocking her onto the ground. His claws had scratched Miriam. The lion was between Miriam and the others. Caleb jumped out of her pack, flying at the lion's face.
"RUN!" screamed the cat, clawing at Prendre's eyes and nose. The cat was tiny compared to the lion, but he was fast. He jumped off and onto Davis's shoulder. Davis looked at her.
"GO!"
Then he ran the other way. She ran as well, ran away from the furious lion.
She turned to see him smelling and licking his claws.
"What is this?" he called. He ran after her.
He was much faster than she was, but she turned into a narrow alleyway. He jumped above her, was running on top of the buildings above her.