♠ ♥ ♣ ♦
The Tantabus rolled through the shadows, degrading back into a smoky black breeze that swept behind the two hunters. Lucius casually reached into his pocket, pulling a deck of razor tipped cards from his jacket. Glancing up, he saw Scarlet-Cloak-Girl flying from the rooftop. She landed beside him, brandishing a sword and engaging the snow-haired hunter with not a moment of hesitation.
Lucius felt the Tantabus growl, a low snarling sound that seemed to echo like whisper through the night. The prey was surrounded. Looking up, the shadows had gathered back into The Tantabus, leaning over it’s new catch. The prey in question, immediately shifted their backs towards each other, prepared to counter anything that came at them.
The Tantabus reared, only to stop short. His form grew unstable, and he dropped back into the darkness of the streets, twisting and turning into emptiness like a serpent. Lucius’ eyes flew open, as he registered a sharp, twisting pain resonating from his shoulder. He smiled, and fell into a pool of blood.
”How untimely a demise this is.”
On the other end of the alleyway, a young girl stood, clutching a pistol.
Talia rounded the corner, finding herself standing before a large creature, at least several feet tall. It was as black as night, it’s only distinguishing feature the beady amber eyes, and it’s shape. It’s arms were long, and tipped with claws, while it’s legs were double-jointed. It’s head fell forwards in a slouch, leaving them staring down a presumably sharp-toothed maw. It seemed to be made of the shadows themselves, as she could see no distinguishable body within the smoke-like abomination.
Her pistol was in her hand. Pointed at the creature. A loose volley of lead exploded from the end of her gun, ripping tiny holes in the creature’s form. The holes acted like a column of air punched through fog, and grew with the ripples in the breeze, freezing the creature as it shook then dissipated.
She saw a boy, back behind her comrades, fall limply to the ground. Seizing the chance, she rushed forwards. Tasha and Ryuhwan looked dazed, but still they held their ground. Each held a gleaming silver pistol, pointed at the remaining uniques. With one down, the fight had reached a standstill. No one dared attack.