Days of Dawn

Chapter 1: The Chase

Orion Genis seemed like an ordinary elf. As he scrambled through busy market streets, the afternoon sun shone across his naturally yellow skin. His lean figure bolted around crowds and swerved past carts as if he were a madman on the run. Just ahead was a tiny fox of luminous pink that darted around passersby. It was sporadic, but Orion's vividly violet eyes chased its movements.

The fox zipped around a corner onto a main avenue, and Orion skidded to a stop before sprinting after it. The auburn ponytail down to his shoulders whipped around when he dodged past a weapons merchant.

He was just closing in when the pink fox pounced high to bounce off an elf's head, dart across an awning, then scurry off over a rooftop. Orion leapt from his run to kick off a storefront and catch that roof's edge, swinging up until he rolled onto the roof.

For just a few seconds he lay desperately panting on his back. Fresh mud littered his shirt, face, and trimmed beard. The gasps hurt his throat, but he didn't let himself rest for too long. In an instant he rolled to a kneel and scanned the new terrain.

That little fox was two rooftops away, its fur almost aglow in the golden sky. It sat away from him while watching the foot traffic below.

Orion took one last breath before starting across his roof. Each step built speed to where he could easily launch over the street. It would've been a graceful bound had he noticed the rise at that edge of the roof. His boot caught just when he leapt, flinging him to flail until his hands snagged the other roof and he slapped hard against the wall.

A sore groan left him, then he pulled himself up. The fox still hadn't noticed him and he thanked the gods for that. His next obstacle was a far wider street with less room to build a run. Leaping so elegantly again would ensure he'd be heard, so he looked around the dim light for what else he could do.

As luck would have it, a clothesline draped between those buildings just to his left. The line was a relatively thin rope that probably wouldn't hold him for long. A wide smile spread across Orion's face. One more glance to check the fox, then he rushed for that rope. He leapt as far as he could without much rise, then dipped his boots against the rope just enough to keep his momentum going.

The fox's ears twitched, then it looked back just when Orion crossed the rope and dashed straight for it. It jolted in surprise, then fell over the roof!

Orion didn't hesitate before diving off the building and snatching it into his arms. He quickly rolled just before his back hit the road with a thud. Passersby stopped around the fallen elf curled into a ball, but most went back about their business when he started moving. Orion sat up with a hoarse breath and inspected his catch. The pink fox was quite fine and clinging for dear life to his arms.

"Easy, little guy," relaxed Orion, "I got you."

From the shifting traffic came a young voice calling, "Rando?"

"He's here!" stood Orion.

A few moments later, a tiny boy in a raggedy coat sprang from the crowds straight for them. Teeth were missing from his wide open smile. "You found him!"

"It wasn't easy," Orion peeled the fox off his arm and handed it over. "He's a quick little guy."

The fox was all too happy to return to the boy giggling back, "I can't believe you got him! How can I repay you?"

"No need," Orion popped his back straight, "I was planning on an evening run anyway."

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