A Taste For Chicken

Trick Fraud - Part 2

The cold night cast long shadows across the abandoned warehouse district. It was quiet aside from the occasional cricket, the sounds of the city muffled from this distance. Halcyon and Hawks silently approached the building where Trick Fraud had been spotted with their bodies low and steps light. The air was tense, their breath visible in the chilly air.

"Stick to the plan," Hawks whispered, his eyes and feathers scanning the surroundings, "We corner him, and this time, no slip-ups."

Halcyon nodded, her eyes narrowing as she transformed into her Tiger form to be ready for speed. They crept inside through the already open metal shutter, the dim light barely illuminating the interior. Boxes and crates were stacked high, providing ample cover. Hawks' feathers silently floated through, guiding them towards a source of movement.

"There he is," Tiger hissed, pointing to a figure rummaging through a crate of advanced tech equipment.

They both moved swiftly, but as they closed in, Trick Fraud turned and smiled. "Too slow, heroes!" he taunted, tossing a smoke bomb to the ground.

The room filled with thick white smoke. Tiger coughed, his vision obscured. He lunged forward, only to trip over a large discarded piece of tech. Hawks tried to use his wings to clear the smoke, but it was too late. Trick Fraud was gone, leaving behind only  echoing smug laughter.

Once they sprinted outside, Hawks glared at Tiger who gave him an equally cold look. "Nice job tripping, Kitty Cat," Hawks said sarcastically.

"At least I didn't just stand there flapping my wings," Tiger shot back, mockingly flailing his arms.

Under a bright full moon a few days later, the city rooftops had become a playground for Trick Fraud. He was incredible, somehow making the perfect turns and leaps to keep just out of reach. Hawks and Halcyon pursued him relentlessly, their shadows dancing over the buildings.

"We've got him this time," Hawks muttered, flapping his wings for extra speed.

Halcyon, in her Tiger form again, leapt from rooftop to rooftop at high speed. They were gaining on him, but as they reached the edge of a particularly tall building, Trick Fraud leaped off, deploying a grappling hook to swing to the next rooftop.

"Dammit!" Tiger growled, skidding to a halt and transforming into Dragon and taking off.

Hawks followed, wings straining as he tried to catch up. They reached the next building, only to find Trick Fraud's mocking message spray-painted on the wall: "Nice try, slowpokes!"

They stared at the message, panting. "You need to move faster," Hawks said, his frustration boiling over.

"Maybe I could if you gave better directions," Dragon snapped, "And why couldn't you, Mr. Moves Too Fast? Gonna let a regular dude out speed you?"

The museum was eerily quiet a day later as Halcyon and Hawks entered. The silent alarm had been triggered, and they just knew Trick Fraud was inside. They split up, moving through the exhibits with caution.

Halcyon spotted Trick Fraud near a display of ancient artifacts. "Got you now," she whispered, moving closer.

But as she reached out to grab him, he spun around, a device in his hand. "Surprise!" he shouted, pressing a button.

The display cases shattered, and an ear-piercing alarm filled the air. Trick Fraud dashed away, and Halcyon was left to catch falling artifacts before they were destroyed.

Hawks arrived just in time to see Trick Fraud escaping, his feathers spreading to help catch the exhibits. "Can't you do anything right?" he yelled at Halcyon over the alarm.