Anything in italics is action text, which means that something's either happening of someone or a setting is being described.

 

Person: Text is the format I use to show that a character is saying something

 

Chapter 6: The Chase

 

Oscar is desperately trying to pull himself onto a roof.  He hangs by his arms, struggling to get up.

 

Oscar: As soon as I get up here...

 

Oscar struggles and nearly falls.

 

Oscar: I'm going to find out where you went...and chase you down!

 

He tries to pull himself onto the roof and get a foothold on the roof.  He slips and almost falls, barely holding on to the edge of the roof.

 

Oscar: Oh, god damnit!

 

Iricryo looks down on his front the top of the roof amusingly.  He tips his hat up slightly to get a good view of the situation.

 

Iricryo: Well, well, look who we have here.  My dear friend the welcher.  What's wrong?  Can't get up?

 

Oscar: Shut up and give me a hand, damnit!

 

Iricryo helps Oscar up onto the roof, examining Oscar's bare hands as he does so.

 

Iricryo: No gloves?  Get scammed again?

 

Oscar: Got mugged, actually.  Trying to go after the one who mugged me, but got a little stuck.  Hey...what are you doing on this roof?

 

Iricryo: Certainly not stalking potential noobies with rare equipment, if that's what you're thinking.

 

Oscar: (Sweat Drop) I wasn't thinking that, but you just made that obvious ...

 

Iricryo: Come to think of it, I did see someone hopping roof to roof just a moment ago near here.  Maybe it's the guy who mugged you.

 

Oscar: Really!  Which way did he go!

 

Iricryo: Why should I tell you, welcher?  You don't deserve those gloves in the first place, they should be mine!

 

Oscar: Well think about it, if it's a thief we're after and we take her down together you can help yourself to whatever rare items she has on her.  I just want my gloves back.

 

Iricryo: Huh, an interesting proposition.  And a thief shouldn't be a big problem two-on-one.  Ok, follow me, I'll show you the direction I saw the thief run off to.

 

They begin hopping from roof to roof, Iricryo leading, making the leaps easily.  Oscar follows, having a bit of difficulty with the hops, almost slipping a few times.  They eventually come to the edge of the last roof in the row.

 

Iricryo: Hm, no more roofs to go from here.  Whoever it was either got off or went into a different direction.

 

Oscar: I'm pretty sure she went that way.

 

He points to the left of Iricryo.

 

Iricryo: What makes you say that?

 

Oscar: I can see her.

 

Iricryo turns and sees Melanie relaxing on a rooftop nearby, lying back, taking in sun, and examining the gloves.

 

Melanie: Best haul I've looted for a while.  Now the real question is do I pawn them off or use them?  They're worth quite a lot, but they're also very powerful.

 

Iricryo and Oscar land on the roof next to her.

 

Melanie: Huh?  Oh hey!  I was actually followed!  I didn't take you for the type, or I would have gone further.  Who's your new friend?

 

Iricryo: Iricryo, Rare Hunter.  May I say it's an honor to meet you, Melanie the Eagle.  When this kid said he was mugged, I had no idea it was to you.

 

Melanie: A rare hunter?  The rare item hoarding freaks that live just to twink themselves in the rarest equipment they can get their grubby little hands on?  You guys are the funniest to steal things from.

 

Iricryo: Well try to take my rare items from me, if you can!

 

Melanie: Nah, I've got my haul for today, I'll let you off.  See ya!

 

She gets up suddenly and hops off the edge of the roof and darts into the crowds below.

 

Oscar: Hey, get back here and give me my gloves, damnit!

 

Oscar jumps down after her.

 

Iricryo: This should prove interesting.

 

He jumps off after them.

 

Melanie darts through the crowds.

 

Melanie (in thought): My speed is unmatched, and he'll never be able to dart this crowd like I can.  I'll be out of sight in no time.

 

Oscar pushes his way rudely through the crowd after her, screaming.

 

Oscar: HEY!  GIVE ME BACK MY GLOVES!  THEY ARE MINE DAMNIT YOU THIEF!

 

The crowd around them begins turning to see what's going on.

 

Melanie: (Beady eyes and sweat drops) What's that idiot doing!  He's drawing unnecessary attention to me!  I got to lose him, fast.

She darts down a narrow side street, and then a back alley.  She looks behind her.

 

Melanie: Looks like I lost him.

 

Oscar (Off Scene): CLAW MOON!

 

Oscar comes bursting straight through the building behind her.

 

Melanie: What the hell!?

 

Oscar: GIVE ME BACK MY GLOVES!

 

Melanie: Persistent little brat!

 

She darts off down the alley and Oscar pursues her.

 

Iricryo walks carefully through the hole in the building Oscar burst through.  Several people are looking through the hole curiously.

 

Iricryo: This kid is going to be in a lot of trouble with the Militia if he keeps destroying property like this.

 

Melanie darts from the back alley, and in a single leap jumps onto the roof of a nearby building.  She runs across roofs, smiling arrogantly.

 

Melanie: It will take him forever to get back on these roofs, and by the time he does, I'll be long gone.

 

Oscar is running along the sides if the buildings, looking up at Melanie and trying to keep up.

 

Oscar: (panting) Give...me...my...gloves...

 

Oscar bolts towards one of the buildings with his hand outstretched.

 

Oscar: CLAW MOON!

 

He hits the building square on, causing it to shake and parts of the roof to crumble.  On the roof, Melanie tries to keep her balance but trips and falls to the ground below on a pile of rubble.

 

Oscar: You going to give me my gloves back yet?

 

Melanie: You know, I try not to kill the people I steal from because it's bad style, but it looks like you're not leaving me with many options.

 

She makes a reach for a dagger holstered at her side, but hears the sounds of Militia running towards them.

 

Militia: Look, they destroyed another building over here!

 

Melanie: Damn it!  This kid is attracting so much Militia attention!  I got run!

 

She jumps up and back-flips onto the rubble of the roof above, then back-flips again onto the roof on the next closest building.

 

Oscar: Stop running!

 

Several Militia run in Oscar's way.

 

Militia: Stop right there!

 

Oscar: Hey, get out of my way!  The thief's getting away!

 

Militia: Thief?

 

Iricryo walks calmly up to the scene.

 

Iricryo: That's right, boys, we're in hot pursuit of the infamous Melanie, the Eagle.  She's the one responsible for all this mess, too.

 

Oscar: Well actually, I-

 

Iricryo whispers close to Oscar.

 

Iricryo: Shut up, you idiot!  You want to get executed by the Militia for destroying people's homes!

 

Militia: She's gone too far this time!  We need to hunt her down!

 

Iricryo: If you want to help us catch her, surround this area with Militia so she can't flee, and Oscar and I can close in on her.

 

Militia: Sounds like a plan!  Alright, men, move out!

 

The Militia scatter in different directions and Iricryo grabs Oscar and hops onto the roof.

 

Oscar: Woah, nice jump!

 

Iricryo: Boots of the Toad, rare item.

 

Melanie is examining the situation below her from the rooftop.

Melanie: Damn, what are those Militia doing?  My exit is blocked!

 

Iricryo and Oscar land on the roof behind her.

 

Iricryo: End of the line, Melanie.

 

Melanie: Heh, and here I thought this was going to be one of my easier hauls.  Well, either way, a newbie and rare hunter shouldn't be very hard to deal with.  Just so you know, I gave you plenty of chances to live.

 

She draws her dagger from her holster and holds it in front of her.  It shines brightly and the glow forms a flaming eagle in the air.

 

Melanie: Shine brightly, my Blade of the Eagle!