In the Shadows We Fight (for justice and ourselves)

Do we know who that is?

An avian hybrid wearing dark clothes and a mask around her lower face jumps from rooftop to rooftop, her wings doing little more than steadying her in the air. She was trailing behind a quick moving car that easily passed across the asphalt streets. The avian was as close as she dared to be to the car, knowing all too well that the driver was a critically acclaimed hero that would be able to sense her presence if she strayed too close. The avian liked living even if she took on the riskier jobs. She only took on such risky jobs because she wanted to live so desperately that she was willing to put her life in danger like this.

The avian hesitated when she came upon the large walls that separated the Essempei from the outside world. It was terrifying to think of all the monsters that spawned beyond those gates. Even though she was a hybrid, she was mixed with a neutral Mob- a chicken, to be exact. She had met other people who were mixed with hostile Mobs, but they had human reasoning to keep their instincts under control. The creatures beyond the walls were entirely composed of their bloodthirsty tendencies. They were forced to obey the whims of their age-old instincts that were wired directly into their brains. They had no consciousness or autonomy, and the avian wasn't entirely sure she could defeat a creature of that caliber. She was built for tailing targets. She was not a fighter.

The avian sucked in a reassuring breath as she launched herself over the wall. It was easy enough to get over the wall. All the guards were more focused on monsters that spawned near the border. They could care less about inhabitants trying to exit Essempei. The idea that someone would sneak out of the city had probably never crossed the guard's minds. Even the avian thought it was a silly thought. While the Essempei didn't have the best conditions, at least it provided safety against criminals and Mobs that miraculously spawned within the walls.

The avian's wings slid out to catch the air current. She couldn't actually fly, but she could glide to the ground with ease. She landed in a roll, tucking her wings back into place. Once she was all prepared, she started chasing after the car. It was moving a little slower now that the chance of an arrow hitting the tires or a Creeper exploding right in front of the human was a possibility. The avian climbed one of the trees that surrounded the road. She was able to leap from branch to branch faster than her running speed was. This allowed her to keep up with the car for the most part.

The avian stopped when the treeline began to thin out. She lowered her body on the tree branch, watching as the car sped forward farther than the trees would give her coverage for. Luckily, the car turned into a decline. The car disappeared from her sight, but she was able to see the tips of a few trees from where she was standing. The avian jumped from the tree branch she was on, gliding to the ground with outstretched wings. This allowed her to cover a significant distance. The avian was able to stop before she flew right over the hillside. She peered down to see that the car had stopped right beside an oceanside cabin.

The avian rolled her body over the hilltop, sliding down with speed and silence. She stopped when she reached a couple of trees that started to form the forest that bordered one side of the oceanfront property. The avian held her breath as she waited behind one of the trees. The world was filled with complete silence for a moment, and she was sure that the hero she was tailing had heard some indication that something had moved in the forest. She hoped that he would assume that it was a wild animal skittering away from the car. Finally, the car engine quit and a metal door slammed shut. The avian slowly turned around, using her claws to climb the tree. She didn't stop climbing until she reached one of the highest branches that overlooked the car.

The avian peered down at the hero. It was a man with dirty blonde hair wearing a green hoodie and black jeans. There was a mask hanging off the side of his face, and his emerald eyes were taking in the sights of the ocean and the shoreside cabin. There was a tension in his muscles that seemed out of place in a location as relaxing as this.