The Fox and the Wolf Cub (Fox)

A short, slender boy strode down the sidewalk. Normally, you'd expect someone as young as him to be safely at home and most likely in bed at this time, but as would be evident by the bright blue, extremely spiky hair, and wolf like upper mask, this was no normal kid.Indeed, it was Lightning Wolf, on a night patrol,to make sure things were going ok in this area.Then...he receives a small sign that his goal wasn't being met. It was a noise, just a small one, but suspicious enough to warrant a quick check. Nodding, Lightning Wolf headed towards it.

Fox had decided to hit a small jewelry store before heading home tonight. He still had a bit of a sour taste in his mouth after a certain idiot had nearly ruined his museum heist the other night, so a bit of light jewelry theft seemed just the ticket to make himself feel better about his own thieving skills. He was wearing his hooded robe, gloves, boots, and mask as usual when he did his solo work and keeping to the shadows. Tonight it seemed he needed a bit more old school work than actual magic to get the job done, the security relying more on locks and such than any fancy laser systems.

So Fox had his set of burglar's tools out, working on picking a pretty normal padlock that was keeping a pretty durable looking chain in place over the back door. He'd already picked the actual lock in the door, but this added lock had to be taken care of as well. As he undid the mechanism inside the lock he caught the lock as it fell, as well as the chains. Unfortunately he hadn't bothered to muffle the noise of the chains and they made a slight clatter as he set them down on the floor of the alley. He paused to see if there was anyone around, but then seeing no one he opened the door and slid inside. Fox made sure to close the door behind him, knowing an ajar door almost always attracted attention, hopefully no one would notice a bit of chains lying on the alley floor and realize that he'd slipped inside.

Lightning Wolf glanced at the jewelry store.Hmm...no lights,so it didn't seem any owners or staff were around...Let's go around to the back. The boy crept carefully around the side, glancing around as he got to where the back door was,walking further in. Huh? Nobody? Toji grinned sheepishly behind his mask,rubbing the back of his head. Whoops...Ah well, better safe then sorry. Turning around, he blinked as the tip of his boot caught something with a clink. Glancing down, Lightning Wolf tilted his head as he spotted...a chain and padlock? The young hero glanced up at the door.

Now, granted, Toji preferred a 'direct' approach, and was a bit( ok, alot) naive.And yes, sometimes this might make it seem like he was...blunt when it came to matters of the mind. But, the boy does have a good head on his shoulders, and most certainly one good enough to do 1+1=2. So, being careful, he slowly opens the door, peeking inside.

Fox had been stealthily creeping though the back store room of the store, ignoring the jewelry that was in need of repairs and the other items that had yet to be put on display. He knew that the good stuff was always in the display counters in the showroom. He'd already passed through the back room and into the showroom itself when he heard the back door open again.

Fox quickly made his way to the nearest shadow and shrouded himself in it's embrace, cloaking him from sight and muffling his sound and scent so he could wait and see who or what was coming in. He waited in his hiding spot, controlling his breathing as he concentrated on keeping his spell in place to cloak himself.

"What the heck? Is there another thief hitting this place tonight as well!?!" He quietly wondered to himself.

Toji blinked as he spotted...no one? Well,at least there wasn't some heavy swinging a bat or some other large,blunt object at his head. That'd gotten to be annoying rather quickly.Still,better check it out further. That loose chain was pretty fishy indeed. Shrugging, the boy walked further inside, glancing around and examining the store. His stride was careful,and steady. No sense being flatfooted...Though he did wish he had the more wolfish capabilities of his kin, like smell, sight, and hearing. That'd make things much easier when it came to the whole 'track down any potential Sneaky Sneakersons.' Ah well...he'll have to make due, is all.

Fox kept perfectly still from reflex even though his spell kept him from being detected.  He watched intently as the stranger came into the showroom of the store.  The fellow had an odd scent to him, a non-human scent.  It was hard to place but it reminded Fox of wolves for some reason, natural enemies of his normal non-magical kin.  That made the purple Kitsune all the more wary, especially after spotting the strange mask on the boy's face.  He could tell that the stranger was a male at least, but he wasn't sure what kind of powers this person had... and nearly everyone in this city that broke into places seemed to have some sort of special powers.

"Now what is this jerk looking for?  Isn't he just gonna smash and grab like that other idiot did at the museum?  What is this guy doing?  What is he looking for?  He's not looking for me is he???"  Fox wondered to himself, feeling rather nervous now.  Still he kept his spell firmly in place since it was working just fine so far.  If this person was stalking Fox then he'd have to try much harder than a quick visual sweep of the place.

Lightning Wolf furrowed his brows behind the mask. Hmm...Seemed like it wasn't going to be as easy as a quick look...Darn. Scratching his head, the boy gave a slight shrug. Just had to look a little deeper and search better.Nodding, he quickened his stride slightly,beginning to search the shadows a little more intently,sparks crackling down his arms.

"Darn it, seems this guy really is looking for me. Just my luck." Fox silently lamented to himself. It would be easy to sneak back outside and just avoid the whole hassle, but Fox had a bit more pride than that. He wasn't going to be leaving this place empty handed! Fox channeled more power into his Shadow Magic and caused the shadows in the room to grow and expand, in a few moments the entire showroom was clad in unnatural darkness.

With plenty of darkness to work with Fox strode across the room, his spell holding true and keeping him invisible and silent. He decided to toy with his pursuer a bit to confuse him. Fox created nine balls of fox-fire near the entrance to the back room storage, the balls of fire hovering there yet doing nothing to dispel the shadows in the showroom. Fox himself went toward the furthest display case and pulled out his glass cutter, his spell keeping him silent as he started to slice through the display case.

Lightning Wolf dropped into a wary crouch as the shadows begin to move, sparks being traded for full on electric arcs as he lets a growl slip out.Was this shadow magic?! Or maybe it was a metahuman ability...Either way he had to be ready for a sudden attack! As the shadows envelope the room, he spins around, waiting for someone or something to jump out and strike out at him. Then Lightning Wolf spots the flames. "Ah-ha!!"

He lets a grin pass onto his lips. Trying to get the jump on him with fireballs, huh? Not happening! The young hero blurs over, coming to a skidding stop as he nearly slams into the closed door. Huh? Was...that just a distraction, or was his target just messing with him?

"And he took the bait. Good thing too. That electricity on him looks nasty! Fox thought to himself as he removed the bit of glass and reached into the display case. He quietly and quickly pocketed the necklaces within the case. Even as he did that he made sure not to make it too obvious that the blue flames were just a distraction.

The fox-fire orbs flew toward the masked fellow, but stopped before reaching him. Instead they formed a circle around him and begun to spin around, creating a ring of blue light around him as the orbs orbited him faster and faster. Fox let the orbs continue to circle his would be pursuer as he moved himself toward the next display case and started to slice it open with his trusty glass cutter.

Toji stepped back, scratching his chin as he gave himself a quick minute to think. Hmm...what to do...Blinking as the orbs fly towards him, Lightning Wolf crouched down. Head darting around as the flames spin around him, his eyes narrow.What to do...Hmm....Briefly considering trying to disperse them with his nunchaku, the halfling dismissed that with a headshake. No, considering there were valuables, and it was dark enough to take him of practically all his sight? Way too risky....First let's see how well the flames will track him. He gives a quick, cautious dart towards one side of the ring.

Fox continued to happily loot the store's display cases all while keeping an eye on the wolfy scented fellow in the mask. Whenever the male moved to try and get away from the orbs of fire they simply followed him, continuing their orbit around him. When he got too close to an obstruction the orb would close in on him, letting him feel the very real heat coming from the flames but otherwise keeping at a distance that wouldn't harm him.

"That's right, just play with the fox-fire for a bit longer." Fox thought to himself as he finished clearing out the second display case.

Lightning Wolf jerked back at the first time he felt the heat close in on him,but nodded at the results regardless. Good! Looks like they won't obstruct him too much.Though...the boy'd be restricted to a 'slow' walk. Yay. Still,better then being burned again and again, like Lightning Wolf thought would happen. Now...he just had to find his way to whoever was responsible. He begins a slow walk again, trying to navigate his way around.

Fox moved on to the next display case, slicing through the glass once more and helping himself to the contents within it. This one had some particularly nice silver jewelry in it, and Fox was more than happy to add it to his loot for the evening. The wolf scented youth in the mask was proving much easier to deal with than Fox had initially estimated, which he was rather thankful for. A quick glance showed that the stranger was trying to slowly move toward the center of the room. Fox decided that would be a bit of a problem as the next set of display cases were there.

Fox used the circling orbs of bluish flame to sort of herd the other male toward the area that Fox had already cleaned out. The orbs would simply move a little closer until the heat would hopefully nudge the fellow along the path Fox intended for him. A few more minutes of this and Fox would have cleaned out the best stuff from the store, and no one needed to get hurt. A perfect robbery in his opinion.

Toji frowned as he was blocked off yet again. He could've sworn that spot was unobstructed...Was whoever this was trying to trick him even more?As he's guided, the boy lets out a growl,starting to get annoyed, and decides to address the person directly. "Give...th...this a sleep! Stop it already!!!"