"What do you mean 'ees not agreed upon amount? We had deal!" the stout human was loudly declaring, expressively waving one hand while flourishing a bag of clinking coin in the other. Before him stood another human, wiry, with a long nose and greedy eyes that followed the pouch with hungry longing. "The price has changed, dwarf, we no long—" he did not finish the slandering statement, for the merchant before him puffed up in outrage. "I am no dwarf! You give offense, this is outrageous!" the shorter man bellowed. Now with both hands slammed to his hips, face getting redder by the moment, the flamboyant man was steaming. Calmly before him, the covetous man watched with narrowing eyes; this setup was perfect.
 
Unbeknownst to the colorful human, a third presence was lurking ever closer behind. Dagger out, steps silent, eyes brimming with gold lust, the gnome seemed to melt in and out. They would rob and kill this annoying merchant before the deal was through, happily dumping his corpse into the river and effectively erasing him from existence. All he had to do was get a little closer, the gnome thought, angling himself between two barrels. Yes, now if only Jeremy would intimidate that short-shit into backing up a step, he'd be a goner! Biding his time, muscles poised to spring the trap, the gnome paused.
 
For his part, Jeremy spotted his companion Blerp in position and sensed the timing was right. Normally one to slouch and posture in a more groveling nature, the lanky man stood to his full 6'3 height and puffed his chest out with menace. "Now you see here dwarf" he sneered, stepping closer to crowd the other man "you will pay the higher amount, or you will not leave here alive!" For his part though, the squat human did not move. He didn't even budge an inch, staring up at the taller man with defiance. "I will not" he said, suddenly calm. An icy wind chilled Jeremy then, as he looked down into the other man's placid eyes; something was terribly wrong with their setup.
 
Too late did the two men signal to one another to call the heist off, for they were not so unobserved as they had planned. While the gnome was good at staying in the shadows, a far superior predator that simply was shadow kept hunting him. As the gnome moved place to place, a darkness behind him seemed to melt in and out of existence; separating almost entirely from reality and then reappearing closer. When he stopped 10 feet from the merchant, there was the barest seconds of which he was alone. As the signal was given to proceed with their plan and Veektor was put in danger, a low, feral growl sounded.
 
Blerp was about to turn around when he heard the sound, his whole body going stiff with dread as a warm breath passed across his bare neck. His brain registered a savage quality to the noise that caused him to break out in a cold sweat, goose-bumps erupting over his whole body. That primordial part of his mind immediately began shrieking in terror, thoughts of survival and flight driving him to action. With a yelp the gnome jerked forward, his eyes wide and wild, as he attempted to flee. His motion was anticipated however, and in a flash of steel claws his right lung collapsed as his own body weight carried them to their mark.
 
Gurgling on his own blood and bowling forward into the merchant, Blep looked up at Jeremy for help. Shock registered across Jeremy's face, but his eyes were not on his fallen companion. Instead he was looking past the merchant at what was crouching there upon the barrels; something straight from his worst nightmares. He was met by fierce yellow eyes with an absence of human emotion, set upon wrinkled snout slashed in snarl. Large fangs and jagged teeth, well suited to rend flesh from bone, were on prominent display as the massive obsidian feline stared back. Steel claws, dripping with his companion's blood, gripped into the wood upon which it sat, haunches crouched and obviously poised to spring upon the slightest provocation. Its tail twitched once as both ears pushed forward and twisted slightly towards the merchant; awaiting instruction.
 
"Now that you have met my kitty-cat Seven, per-haps you will be most amenable to our agreement, yes?" the man spoke, and yet Jeremy could not bring himself to look away from the menacing predator. Adam's apple bobbing in fright, all he could do was nod, and without his consent, even his feet were forcing him to back away. "Y-y-yes, of course Mr. Rekinkbal…. we will do as you ask." Without further hesitation the man turned and fled, leaving the gnome to whatever fate befell him. Behind there was also a struggle of will, as the feline had to deny the age-old instinct to chase and kill a running prey item. Civilized thoughts prevailed in time — barely.
 
Veektor watched the thug run for his life, an amused smile playing at his lips. Slowly he turned around, side-stepping so that the gnome was no longer lying upon his shoe. "Did you keel him?" he queried the cat, which finally tore eyes from the running man. "No Veektor, he lives. Without medical help, however…" sibilant though the voice was, a slight cultural accent still carried within it. At that the beast shrugged, rippling muscle across its sleek pelt; a creature made to hunt. "I could have disemboweled him, but thought perhaps you would have a use for yet another informant." Pink tongue flashed as the blood was meticulously cleaned from the animal's claws.
 
"I am surprised you did not keel him Seven, you are ever one to play with your food" Veektor taunted, secretly enjoying the annoyed twitch of whiskers in response. He loved poking fun of her, his feline assassin. She was good at what she did, and Veektor counted himself blessed that watchful yellow eyes never left him; his back well protected by a creature most had never seen before, and would fear upon sight. She twisted one ear down and flat across her skull to show the slightest displeasure, and yet with arrogant tone told him "You know where to find me" before literally melting from sight; one more creature born into the night.