The patience of all parties concerned was wearing thing. Words weren't enough to begin with and Skul might be on borrowed time as it were. To his recollection, he had not heard nor seen any type of law enforcement in Wistvale. It wouldn't surprise him if there weren't any at all.
"You ask too many questions mate. Nunya business. Now if you'll kindly step aside...."
The closer guard winked to his partner and put a hand on Skul's shoulder, stepping forward. The man with the box looked this way and that, pacing around the ring formed by the onlookers. Spotting his knife, he snatched it up; prepared to fight.
It seemed bloodshed was imminent unless something happened to prevent it. No, that doesn't mean that's a big clue and you should choose to do that lol. Your move Skul, seconds matter.
Skul's head shot up. The arm of the shoulder the man had grabbed went up and pulled his arm, making him fall towards Skul. At the same time, Skul turned to the side and brought up his other arm, smashing his elbow into the man's face. Ducking back to reverse his momentum, his hand shot forward and grabbed the man's neck as he reeled, trying to slam him into the ground.
Of all the graveyards in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
Skul's trained fighting abilities were more than enough for his off guard opponent. The man came crashing to the ground, his sword clattering across the dirt smothered stones. It seemed our adventurer had chosen sides and was now in the midst of a fight.
"OI YOU DIRTY BLIGHTER!"
The second man would have done better had he not yelled as he lunged at Skul, the sword driving toward his gut. Skul's apparent teammate had his knife at the ready but stil was intent on protecting his prize.
Skul ducked sideways, the sword missing his bones and slicing the stomach of his suit open. While he did so he brought up his arm to clothesline the man as he ran past.
Of all the graveyards in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
Sides were chosen (which is really what this whole thing was about anyways) and Skul quickly nailed one guard with a clothesline, dropping him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The man with the sword slashed again, this time for Skul's face. Spittle exploded from his mouth, he was quite obviously infuriated at the happenings now unfolding.
Meanwhile, the crowd had chosen their stance too.
Shouts of "THIEVES!" and "CRIMINALS" and they like were ringing out.
That is when Skul was hit in the shoulder with a cabbage. Produce was raining about him and the box wielding thief.
He backed up, ducking the sword, slapping the thief upside the head.
Go! I'll stall them and catch up. You owe me for this. Remembering the merchant's fire, he knew what to do as a distraction. He took off his hat, holding it in one hand and pointing it towards the fire. IT leapt from the firepit to his hand, turning purple in the process, and spreading up his body. He chuckled for effect as his skull caught fire, blazing to life, sending flames flaring above the crowd's head. The smoke got thick in only a moment, and Skul ducked away, putting on his hat and extinguishing the flames, following the thief as his suit burnt and smouldered.
Of all the graveyards in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
The thief was quick and bolted this way and that, leaving the dwindling screams of 'DEMON' and the like far behind them in the crowd. The thief was courteous enough to stall for Skul when needed and finally, they reached the towns edge. This alleyway to nowhere backed on a wooded area and the thief huddled in the alleyway, looking about for any unwanted pursuers or otherwise.
A quick dash into the woods and they would be safe. The thief turned to Skul, panting but not done as yet.
"I have to get them into the woods. It's the only way. Thanks for your help though."
Hold on, you're not going to leave me here. What's going on? He snapped a little, but he thought understandably. Now he wouldn't be able to show his skull in town again unless something amazing happened.
Of all the graveyards in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
The thief wiped sweat from his brow and slowly opened the lid. He fell back on his ass, mouth agape and eyes wide open it what had to be fear.
From the box crawled something. Two somethings.
They scurried from the box and across the forest floor. Tint, green and dangerous. One slipped into the leaves, then was spotted scattering up a tree. The second, it crawled a few feet and then stopped. It's tongue tasted the air with a flick or three and it craned it's neck, looking back toward the pair.
The thief was trembling, shaking as a frozen man would.
The lizard followed off after it's partner and the thief remained entirely quiet, still until they could no longer be seen.
Warily he got to his feet, still looking about cautiously. He stepped closer to Skul and shrugged.
"They're not lizards, they're Basilisks. Soon enough they'll grow larger than you or I and no one will think to capture them then. We've returned them to the wild where they belong. You just don't want to meet them under any other circumstances - they'd eat you in a hurry.
Even so young, their breath can turn you into stone. Dangerous things."