Rise of the Night/Run of Night

Shadow closed the door and Lyla could feel his grin as she kissed him. She edged him towards the shower, peeling both their clothes off in the process. They needed the shower, Lyla knew she was just as unkempt as he was at this point.

The warm water was amazing on her injured arm and shoulder, though it stung on the bruise that was forming on her face. They play fought over who would get to be under the water, laughing and squirming around. It ended with the two of them sideways under the water, hanging onto each other and squinting against the mist of water in their faces.

They got the business of getting clean done quickly, more interested in other ways to spend their time. Lyla found herself becoming very acquainted with all of Shadow. She stood in his arms, resting her head on his chest with her eyes closed. She found herself humming softly as she listened to his heartbeat.

"What song is that?" He asked, swaying gently to the tune.

"'Run the Night.' It's an old Lupus song," she explained softly. "Usually it's played with drums."

"It's pretty," he said, kissing her forehead and slowly moving to her neck.

"You should hear it properly. It's played before a night hunt."

"I'd like that," he said against her skin, reaching over to turn off the water.

The tune was still going in her head as he led her back to the bed. And after they were done fooling around, she could still feel the way the song made her blood run hot and strong as they lay together.

Lyla woke before Shadow and checked the time. Six in the morning. She stretched and got dressed in a black short sleeved hoodie, the fabric loose, thin, and perfect for running. The fabric dried quickly and didn't hold sweat like cotton. Her brown pants were a similar material and cut off just before her knees.

She wrote a note to Shadowstep, placing it on top of her pillow.

Out getting my morning run in. Stay in the catacombs, don't go running around being stupid. :P Be back soon. -Lyla

She slipped out of his quarters and walked calmly through the catacombs. This time of morning it was always peaceful and quiet. Most of the gang still sleeping soundly. She passed Kit on her way out, waving and smiling back at him.

The morning was chilly, snow beginning to fall lightly. Her breath hung in the air as she stretched. The muscles ached in her arm, causing her to grimace. She'd have to take it easy today. Catching a glimpse of herself in a nearby window, she could see the ugly purple bruise where Congo had struck her. She'd have to stick to the back streets too, where a lone woman with a bruised face wouldn't be questioned.

She started by jogging down the street for several blocks, putting some distance between herself and the catacombs. As she rounded her usual corner to pass a run down park, she heard another set of footsteps. Thinking it might be one of her runners, she glanced behind her.

She didn't recognize the man. He was far enough back that she couldn't make out his features. Hoping it was just another citizen of Manehattan out for a jog as well, she ducked down an alley and hopped the fence at the end, continuing on.

The sound of boots scrapping on the wooden fence echoed after her and she mentally cursed. She rounded another corner and picked up the pace, pushing herself hard enough to get distance but not hard enough to wind herself. There was an open courtyard up ahead.

When she passed through the entrance, another man stepped out from beside her, making a grab at her. She ducked below his reach, swinging her leg out to take his feet out from under him. By the time he hit the ground with a thud and a grunted obscenity, she was halfway across the courtyard.

She could hear footsteps barreling down on her. Good, he was going to waste all his energy trying to catch up to her. She'd run him ragged and then lose him once he couldn't keep up. She took a sudden sharp turn and looped back around.

To her surprise, the first man wasn't slowed at all. He kept right on her as she sped past the second man. He was trying to get back to his feet, so she swung her foot at his head and laid him flat back on the ground again.

She had to push hard to make up for the lost time. Her pursuer wasn't huffing and puffing like she'd hoped. He was keeping pace with her.

Shit shit shit, she thought. Go, Ly, go! Run!

Running faster, the song she'd hummed for Shadow started pounding unbidden in her head. She used it, feeling her body respond. It was primal, older than any Lupus knew. Her body sang to it and she soon had the upper hand. She grinned.

If she could get to the roof of a building she could lose him, she was sure of it. He may be able to keep up on the ground but there was no way he was a match for her knowledge of the city and her skills with Parkour.

She spotted her starting point and ran for it. Jumping on top of a large dumpster, she bounded off a fire escape and reached for the edge of the roof.

But when she gripped it one handed, her shoulder wrenched in protest, pulling a shout of pain from her as her arm gave out and she lost her grip. She went tumbling back down though the open air.

She dimly felt it when she hit the side of the dumpster before her head cracked on the cement and stars shot through her vision.

The world dimmed, then faded back, then dimmed again. She heard footsteps and panting. Someone nudged her in the side with their shoe and a weak groan came out of her.

Someone said something and was close to her.

Get up, her head screamed. Run! Get up!

She wasn't sure if the pounding she was hearing was her head or the final chords of the song.

The world dimmed again as the figure near her tied her wrists together and hefted her off the ground.