Steph's Fiction

The following is based on a character I'd created in EverQuest. It was written near the end of 2003, I think.

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Kakari's dagger ripped through the air and hit its mark with a muffled thud.

From the shadows, Kakari triumphantly bared her sharp fangs in her characteristic half-smile. The officer hadn't even noticed that his change purse had been snatched away by her dagger.

She waited patiently as the officer continued down the street towards his office building on the outskirts of Shar Vahl. Soundlessly, she kept her distance behind him until she reached the torch stand that had caught her dagger and the purse.

With her eyes still on the officer's back, Kakari knelt down to collect her dagger and new change purse. When she judged that the officer was out of hearing range, she used one paw to silence the jingle of the coins, and the other paw to yank her dagger free.

"That was a skillful shot, Kakari!"

The officer's voice set Kakari's fur on end. Startled, she hissed and bared her teeth at the officer, who had turned around and was strolling towards her. Damn.

"Next time," said the officer, "don't use a torch stand as your destination point."

Guardedly, Kakari kept one eye on the officer and spared a second look at her mark. Indeed, her powerful dagger throw had nearly knocked the lamppost down.

"You are an ass, Mignah," Kakari acknowledged him. She crossed her arms and glared, still unsure of what he was getting at.

"I'll have my change purse pack, now, dear girl." Officer Mignah gave a gentle, yet smug, smile.

Kakari sighed, collected her dagger, and tossed the purse -- aiming for Mignah's head -- and straightened. Mignah chuckled and caught his change purse. With a fluid motion, he securely fastened it to his belt.

"You heard the dagger strike the post, I presume?" Kakari rested one paw on her hip.

"Nay, the sudden movement of the torch caused a disturbance of the shadows. Although silent, you need to work on your skills of remaining unseen. You silly kitten." Mignah chuckled as he turned her back on her, continuing his way down the street.

Kakari swished her tail and narrowed her eyes. Once again, he had managed to pick out her flaws. She hated that. One day, I'll get him.

It was a running bet among the young rogues as to who might be the first to win Mignah's change purse. He had countless lessons to teach the young ones as they failed time and time again to trick him.

Kakari respected and despised Mignah at the same time. At their first meeting, he startled her with Shar Vahl's painful registration procedure. She had been instructed to find Mignah and ask him for an acrylia slate. He caught her off-guard when he clutched her wrist and forced her paw into the hot acrylia mold. Kakari snatched back her paw, stifling a yelp of pain, and watched as Mignah dunked the slate into a bucket of water for cooling. Permanent identification, indeed!

Kakari begrudgingly thanked him and left, nursing her stinging paw. In her good arm, she carried the still-steaming slate of identification.

On her way to drop off the slate at the Registrar's office, Kakari's stomach growled. Copperless, she caught the attention of a guard and sweetly begged him for money to buy a sandwich.

To her utter shock, the guard snarled and slashed at her with his blade. "You rogues bring out the worst in me!" he growled.

Kakari dived into a dark alley, ignoring the shock from the fresh cut in her shoulder. Thank the shadows, he had not chased her down. She leaned bleeding against a wall and waited for her strength to return. Joining the Taruun would be difficult, she surmised: How could she expect to serve her beloved city of Shar Vahl while avoiding the hostility of its own city guard? Such is the path of the Rogue, Mignah would tell her.

After several moments, Kakari realized that she'd dropped her identification. She risked a peek out of her hiding place, only to see her slate resting in the dust at the hostile guard's feet.

There was no way she was going anywhere near him again.

What could she do? She needed the identification so that the Registrar could process her citizenship to her beloved city of Shar Vahl. Kakari bit her lip. Perhaps Mignah would help.

She crept her way down the city blocks towards Mignah's office. This would not be the first time that a battered young rogue would re-appear sheepishly before him.

"I, um, am looking for an acrylia slate," she stated, hoping he would not accuse her of irresponsibility to Shar Vahl.

"Again?" his gaze processed her battered form with amusement, but did not ask for elaboration. "Let's see your paw." He clutched her wrist and pressed it into another searing slate.

A cry escaped from Kakari's lips before she could silence herself. She had to be strong. For Shar Vahl. For King Raja Kerrath.

"There you are, Kakari." Mignah handed her the steaming slate.

He did not even have the decency to wipe the grin from his face.

Kakari managed a courteous nod and trudged her way down the stairs.

She needed a drink.

(Kakari, second season.)