Sara stood near the corner of a building. Her back pressed tight against it’s cold abrasive bricks and she leaned around to try to peek around the corner and still look like part of the wall.

It seemed like even the weather was against her these days as she squinted though the thick clumps of falling snow that seemed to melt as soon as it hit the cement that was still warm from the setting sun. Soon it wouldn't just be wet and cold on the ground, but slush that would collect between Sara’s toes. Sara liked snow, but she hated slush. Maybe one day she would perfect a pair of boots for her cat feet that didn't feel like she was walking with a pair of tissue boxes on her feet, but until then, she’d just have to deal with slush. However, as annoying as slush could be, there was something that she found much more annoying. In fact, They were down right despicable. Bullies. At least that is how this hole mess had started out.

Innocent. Right?

Finally, Sara’s eyes narrowed on the group of four individuals walking her way through the clumps of falling wet snow. The corner of Sara’s mouth twitched and she exhaled letting out a little puff of white warm air. One of the young men she’d been following was an obvious mutant. With two ram light horns on his head that wrapped protectively around his ears, and grey smoke and steam that came out of his mouth when he’d spoken.

Sara had first met the four young adults when she’d been dining at the Dragon Inn. The tall one with the horns on his head had used his mutation as a threat at the restaurant, and opted to dine and dash. It would have been fine if things had stopped there, but they’d continued to torment the workers at the restaurant. In fact, they’d been using the intimidating look of the horned mutant all around the block. Johnny couldn't do a delivery for the restaurant without having to watch his back, and when he’d come back a few nights before, with a black eye, and a burn around his ear, Sara had had enough. Name calling and empty threats were one thing, but the minute that one of those four boys had put a hand on Sara’s friend, in her mind, it made it OK for her to put some claws through them.

In seconds they’d would have been turning the corner and be eye to eye with Sara, if it wasn't for the open door of a little convenience store. The four of them took a right, right into the store, and Sara sighed. She chose to step around the corner and walk to the store. There was just something about them and the way that the three of them hustled into the store, that she didn't trust.

Evelyn hated running errands for people, but from time to time she had to swallow her pride and accept the position. It seemed the museum was eternally short staffed, what with all the renovations and restoration they had to do lately, so there were less reasons to keep Evelyn locked in the back, and more to send her out to do more useful things. Today, it was a coffee and drink run, and with the light snow and slush she opted to just get the beverages from a nearby convenience store.

Normally, Evelyn wasn't one of the normal people to shop at a store like this. Back when she had more money she might have just got something from the beverage cart or an actual coffee house. But she wasn't going to waste her cash on anything special when she couldn't guarantee her co-workers would pay her back. Her funds were lower then they had been months prior, especially after buying Christmas presents, Mirror's throwing stars included...

Three coffees, two apple juices and an orange juice later, she was ringing out at the counter about to leave. That was when the echoes caught the new group entering the store. They chimed in quietly as her eyes focused on their movements. [Trouble.]

Coffee might have to wait...

After all the chaos with the zodiacs running around and other disagreeable, Evelyn had thankfully opted to keeping her sai close on hand. She was wearing a heavy winter coat, but she could still feel the metal against her back, the bands holding them in place. It wouldn't be too difficult to retrieve them, but no use drawing unneeded attention quite so early. Another figure in the corner of her eye stopped her, and the echoes identified the familiar looking female on the street.

The cashier was already casually moving back from the counter. Even without echoes, it was becoming clear that there was something amiss...

Sara’s feet were silent as she entered the little convenience store. She was a predator on the hunt who was only mildly distracted by the fact that the mat at the door had been over used so much recently that the cold salty slush outside made it feel like slick, crusty, boogers on her bare feet. But booger feet aside, she was on the hunt and.. And…. Oh look Carmel corn!

Sara had first gone to visit Johny to get something to eat from his family’s restaurant but once she’d decided to make someone pay for his black eye and burns she’d forgotten completely about food till now. Besides. Till something actually went down, here, she’d be caught on camera performing physical assault. When you already look like you’re an animal, it’s best not to act like on in front of cameras at least. Those things have a bad habit of ending on public, like on youtube. Add the factor of her mutation and she could just picture herself ending up on Good Morning America as one of their many cat videos. Aired right after the video of the Chihuahua chasing two,armed, gas station robbers down the street.

Besides. It would only take a second to grab the popcorn. What could go wrong?

(Meanwhile at the counter.)

The horned mutant with the smoke rising out his mouth from deep down his throat where there was a slight glow, if anyone was close enough to look that deep into his mouth smiled with his black pointed teeth. A greasy, purple, forked tong slid out from between his lips and he looked the cashier up and down, reaching out to give the young woman with the platinum hair if front of him, a squeeze on her shoulder. “S’cuse me, my miss.” The tall, horned mutant slurred. That greasy forked tong slipped out from between his lips as he spoke and the layer of what ever it spread on his lips thickened ever so slightly looking more like a quickly cooling animal fat from the stove than normal saliva. It smelled about the same too. He smiled showing his big flat black teeth that looked like they had been white at one time, but now coated in soot or burnt meat. The way that he moved, he looked like he could have charm, like he had grown up where manners were important, but by everything else, he looked like he had embraced the intimidation that his mutation had brought. Maybe the attitude change was part of his mutation. A sad side effect.

What ever the reason was, something was about to go down. Sara could feel it, and with her popcorn, she edged her way closer to the back of the group. Her head ducked low and keeping to the right on the opposite side of a low aisle. In any other circumstance it might look like she was trying to be sneaky to shop lift with the door at her back, and the four bullies in front of her just on the other side of the Aisle. They’d be only a hop away for Sara and because of that, she felt her heart start to pound hoping that things could actually be taken outside. Carmel popcorn included.

Mean while, the tall mutant continued to slur his words around his purple forked tong. “I think you’re too pretty to be on this side of town.” He mused. Reaching for a moment towards the woman’s hair then deciding better of it with a smile again that creased all the wrong places on his otherwise, porcelain like face. He stepped so that he was beside Evelyn instead, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a manila envelope that read feed me with a dollar sign under it. Someone had taken the time to draw sharp teeth and round eyes around the flap where it opened. “I want this full.” He said to the cashier with the same demeanor that someone would take making a drink order at a bar. He went to turn his attention back to Evelyn, but halted when the cashier ushered one shaky word.

“No.”

As the hand touched her shoulder Evelyn forced herself not to flinch, but the forked tongue hissing by her ear was a little much. His breathe smelled, but she forced herself to keep her expression blank. She had been through training situations, but nothing really added up to dealing with thugs in a convenience store. Especially when the floors were slippery, and she was facing more than one opponent should things go wrong...

The echoes started calculating the situation, looking for openings, for the best course of attack. Meanwhile, one hand was inching back where her sai were tied. Strangely enough, the echoes caught other movement though on the other end of the store. The silhouette seemed feline, but she didn't get a chance to let the echoes look closer. Whoever it was would hopefully stay out of the way.

The mutant reached towards her hair and her brow creased slightly in warning. He turned to the cashier instead.

The envelope on the counter, the denial put in place, and the demeanor of the thug changed. The warning pings of 'trouble' turned into clanging bells as the figures shifted. "I think I must have misheard you," he snarled, the smoke from his jaws billowing a bit more.

The sai were already in Evelyn's hands though and one flashed between him and the cashier. "I think you heard him just fine." She said coldly.

This was almost amusing. You know. Aside from the fact that they mutant was clearly being a threat now, with his three friends and Sara was leaving Evelyn at the front with them, but the girl was standing up to the tall smoke breathing mutant with his horns without crapping herself. Go Evelyn. Now to see if she could keep up the good work.

Sara edged closer to the two males at the back of the mutant pack. If Evelyn could keep them distracted, Sara would have a decent enough position to at least try to floor two of them if crap hit the fan. Speaking of crap…

The main baddy of the bunch pulled his eyes away from the clerk whom had hit a button at the back of the store. A protective screen with bars fell between him and the rest of the inhabitance of the store. Sara was pretty sure that some type of silent alarm had been triggered as well.

Evelyn had drawn some type of weapon, but from Sara’s position, she couldn’t quite see what it was. Though had she, she probably would have laughed. The horned, tall, mutant paused with the sai held between himself and the cashier. “My dear miss. I hope that’s not all of the tricks that you have up your lovely sleeves.” He suddenly sucked in a breath and spat literally one hell of a lugi out onto the sai. His sticky saliva landed on the metal of Evelyn’s weapon and spread quickly with gravity to Evelyn’s hand. Instantly the sai was on fire and the taller mutants eyes glowed in the light’s reflection and his delight with the play.

Behind him, Sara heard one of the other thugs try to push the other aside. The sent of gun powder and gun grease stuck in Sara’s nose, making her eyes dilated when she peeked over the side of the aisle and she spied the gun leveling at one of the people at the front of the store. Sara ducked back down low along the divider of the aisles and displays and shoved her should against it hard enough to knock it over onto the three mutants behind the leader. She’d knocked all three of them over, and started a sort of domino effect with the rest of the displays in the store. The one mutant was surprised but still the gun fired and in the background, Sara winced when she heard the cashier behind the counter cry out in shock and pain. Weren’t those dividers supposed to be bullet proof? Stupid cheep wads who owned the shop.

Instantly the shop was a mess. Merchandise strewn across the floor. Sara was perched on top of the shelving unit that she’d pushed over, trying to use her weight with the shelf to pin down the three purps. Two fingers touched her furry forehead and she gave Evelyn an army style salute. Meanwhile the shelving unit that she was perched on (Popcorn still in her right paw like hand) bounced and the three men that it trapped struggled to find out what had happened and to untangle themselves from each other.

The echoes caught the movement getting close, but it was hard to see the figure with the extra thugs in the way. Her focus was divided on the closest mutant, and as the security features kicked in for the clerk, at least one problem was partially taken care of. The gaze from the horned mutant looked almost amused, then the spit hit the sai.

The danger room didn't exactly plan for when your weapon caught on fire...

There were two initial reactions that came to mind as the flames shot towards her hand, and the echoes quickly considered them as her thoughts raced at the speed only capable thanks to her mutation. The first option was to drop the sai and hope the fire went out, but that would loose a weapon and put her at a disadvantage. The second option was to use something to put the sai out, and the echoes scrambled to think of that option. Eyes turned gray, fire raced towards hand, a gunshot rang out and there was a crashing of shelves...

... all as Evelyn slammed the sai into the mutants shoulder, flames licking up and around her hand as she did so. "You'll find I'm just full of tricks!" She remarked, letting go of the burning weapon and slamming the second sai butt first at his face. The mutant snarled and shoved her backwards towards the hot dog machine, even as she saw WereCat perching on the shelving, saluting her.It almost made her smile, especially when the echoes noted the popcorn in her hand. It just figured Sara would eat popcorn while thugs were robbing the store.

Evelyn didn't really have a chance to return Sara's acknowledgement as the mutant knocked her back towards the hot dog machine, burning sai still in his shoulder. Her now burned but free hand wiped backwards and grabbed the tongs from the display, then snatched the sai in his shoulder and wrenched it free. Flames started to travel back down her hand as she caught a punched aimed for her head, his fist slamming against the metal and clattering somewhat unnaturally.

The sai and hot dog tongs hit the ground and were kicked away across the floor. So far, nothing seemed to put out the fire, which was unfortunate. Fighting with only one sai was somewhat like having a hand tied behind your back. Evelyn tried to think of a way to improvise and arm herself with something new.

Sara grinned. Her ears flattened at the loud noises and cussing that was going on between the men that were still working on untangling themselves under her perch, and that cashier behind the counter whom had now ducked for cover. As far as Sara could tell, he’d disappeared somewhere between the cash register, and the window that ran along the wall to the outside snow flurries.

Evelyn jammed the sai into the taller mutant’s shoulder, His lips pulled back in a his as he stumbled back with it still there, his fingers feeling for the wound. “Sonofa-“ His blood dripped out just as greasy as his saliva and Sara tilted her head at the smell of it. The liquid especially ran thick down his long brown leather coat, and black shirt. Tail twitching nervously and a mouth full of Carmel corn that she still planned on paying for. The shelving unit that she was perched on bounced once as her only warning, and before she could say anything about the odd smell of the blood, she found it lifting fast and one of the thugs below have it a heavy heave up wards, throwing it, Sara, and what ever other merchandise there was into a cooler full of assorted alcoholic drinks. Glass shattered under her weight and inertia and head cracked backwards harshly shattering bottles of dark beer.

Ok. So there were two mutations that they had to deal with at least and Sara reminded herself of the black swollen eye that Johnny was now sporting and it’s surrounding burns. She shifted her legs out from under the shelf, groaning as her body instantly went to work to mend who knows what damage had been dealt to her. Fragments of glass fell when she moved her head away from the cooler’s rack, and instinctively she’d given her head a shake. Feeling numb and stiff.

With the shelf and displays moved aside, Sara could see the damage that’s she’d managed to deal. One of the thugs was out cold face down on the floor. The easy intake of breath told her that he was ok. Just possibly with a concussion. Another cradled his shoulder and arm, crouched on the floor. The gun beside him on the floor. The third had a deep gouge that ran along his temple. Blood dripping down his chin, but he was on his feet now, and obviously the goon who’d thrown the shelving unit with Sara’s self included… And her Carmel popcorn. Wait… where the heck had that ended up?

“Evelyn!” Sara coughed realizing just now how hard the wind had been knocked out of her. She fell forward with her legs scrambling to get under her weight as goon number four navigated the mess between them. Struggling with his footing. The taller mutant blew sparks on his shoulder and just like that, he lit himself on fire, letting it spread over his body. Sara would even guess that his sweat was a type of fuel as well. “He’s full of accelerant.”

[Movement. Shelving unit. Estimated trajectory...] Werecat went flying and there was a crash from the other side of the convenience store. [Beer cooler. Evelyn wasn't incredibly concerned at this point. WereCat was tough, she would bounce back, but she was a little bummed things had gotten so violent... maybe handing over the money would have been cheaper in the long run.

Side stepping as a punch went over her head, Evelyn countered with a hit to his leg this time. She drifted towards the baking aisle, with the limited collection of salt and flour. Any, if not most of that, seemed like it could come in handy with fires popping up. She had to wonder why the sprinklers weren't kicking on yet though.

One goon struggled back to his feet, and the mutant Evelyn was facing suddenly took an even more heated turn. Fire spread across his body, his glare becoming somewhat more amused. The yell from Sara almost made her roll her eyes. "Thanks, I can kinda see that right now though!" She answered, scrambling back into the aisle, hooking a bag of flour with her sai and throwing it into the fire mutants face. It let out a WMPH! on contact, his face going out, but the flour didn't quite reach his still burning arm. This he swung out in reflex, and clipped Evelyn solidly across the forearm and she moved to defend her face.

Burn clothing added to the smells in the air and she yelped, patting out the embers before a larger fire could start on her jacket.

Sara’s pushed herself onto her feet, but falling into a crouch, shaking the loose glass and alcohol away from herself much the way a dog would when it came out of a lake. Her lips pulled back with a single thought on her mind that kept her from just walking away from the intended action when she was still outside. They were going to pay. For what they had put Johnny through, and whatever it was that they had put the rest of New York’s population through.

“I’m fine by the way. Thanks for asking.” Sara’s voice raised at Evelyn’s direction. Her shoulders tightened when the opponent that she was facing, the one whom had flipped the display shelves with her on them, charged her over the mess and she found herself side stepping so that she could perch on the clear spot of the floor. Dodging the mutant completely before he collided with the broken fridge and the metal frame of the doors. His face making a decent dent in the metal. Lucky him. Sara had cleared the glass. his feet having skittered across broken glass, bags of chips, and slippery tile when he’d tried to stop and turn after Sara.

The fight would have become more than that, until the demon looking mutant yelled at his other comrade. “MAC!” his voice loud but also sounding like a harsh hiss. “Get the cash!” Mean while the demon like mutant enjoyed his little dance with the little platinum haired girl. Instantly, Mac, as it seemed his name was, spun on his heals away from the dent in the metal of the beer freezer’s door. He charged the counter where the lonely cashier hid. Crouching and, from what Sara could tell by the smell in the air, bleeding. Mac’s hands reached out for the bars that had dropped down to separate the shop from the work area for the casher. His fingers splayed then paused through the bars like little fish hooks. First close together in front of his face, then the metal creaked and he had started prying the bars open wide enough that a person could pull him, or herself through.

All cashiers know how to call for help Sara reminded herself. They just had to last that long, or kick some mutant gang scum tail in that amount of time, Sara thought to herself as she collided with Mac’s back side. Her hand thumping his head against the bars that he was trying to open, but it didn't seem to phase him and he swung a blunt elbow back at her wildly, grunting.

>>“I’m fine by the way. Thanks for asking.”

The voice carried through the convenience store, and Evelyn rolled her eyes, pieces of a burnt jacket falling away. "I'm sorry, ARE YOU OK?!" She yelled back, slamming the sai into the side of the horned mutant's head. The TWANG of metal on horn echoed through the room as the man staggered sideways, shaking his head to clear the ringing from his ears.

The fire mutant yelled, 'Mac' yelled for the counter, and a swing of the man's fist missed Evelyn's head. The echoes caught more movement that barely allowed her to back up as a bullet clanged off the shelf beside her. [Gunman, floor, front of store.] The sai she was holding was instantly flying from the hair, colliding solidly with the man's good arm. Gun and second sai went sliding across the floor, both stopping feet away from WereCat while the man screamed in pain. The echoes suspected he was sporting a broken wrist to match his busted shoulder.

Evelyn's attention was diverted a little too long, however, and when she turned back to the horned mutant her face was met by a backhanded blow that send her crashing into the shelf. Blood instantly started flowing from the cut that ran from her cheek to his forehead, forcing the silver haired mutant to shut her eyes, swiping a hand across her face in irritation. The cut wasn't deep, but face wounds bled heavily and made situations like these more tricky.

"You know, there are reasons you shouldn't hit girls.... the main reason..." Her fist went flying, slamming into his nose and knocking him backwards into the cooler with a crash, sending more glass to the ground. "Most of us hit back."[/b] A kick slammed into his stomach and he staggered sideways, throwing another punch at her. Evelyn listened carefully to the crackle of flamed, ducking to avoid it by inches, and swiping a hand across her face trying to clear the blood. Danger room sessions helped fighting blind like this, but it didn't mean she preferred it. Especially when the sprinklers kicked on, and the water created a white noise at the same time it helped was her face. Too many variables, too many fighters... the echoes weren't keeping up so well right now.

Mac’s elbow found it’s mark against Sara’s ribs and she found herself crying out. Her lips pulled back tight against her teeth and her jaws clenched. It hurt but it wasn’t going to be enough to shake her off of him either. He’d have to do better.

The sprinklers came on, and Sara just grumbled. It wasn’t that she hated water, it was the first feeling of annoyance that it brought as it hit her fur. The goon who she’d attacked yelled in response to her claws diggin into the back of his shoulders as he shook and tried to send her flying. His hands no longer at the bars that had come down between the shop and the register and for an instant, she caught a glimpse of the cashier behind the counter on the phone with the police. At least Sara assumed it was them. It only made her want to get the robbers down quicker so she could make her leave before cops arrived.

Sara was vagly aware of the gunshots that sounded behind her, but the following sound of metal clattering and sliding across the floor distracted her and made her look down, quickly spying the sai and the gun as they both clattered across the floor. There was only enough time for the two weapons to register in Sara’s mind before Mac spun around and slammed her backwards into the wall next to the counter. They both ended up falling to the floor. Air rushed out of Sara’s chest and she grimaced feeling nauseated and a sharp pain on her right side. Mac had cracked a couple of her ribs it seemed and breathing wasn’t the most pleasant thing to do in the world right now.

Speaking of Mac… Sara’s eyes shot open when she heard his wheezing breath and the shuffle of his shoes. He’d seen the sai near them as well, and he was going for it. Sara scrambled for the gun. She was faster and to her feet faster, the gun in her right hand. She stood straight, with her left for arm cradling around her right rib cage. “Freeze!” She screamed at Mac.

Mac obeyed. The sai in his hand looking more like he was going to try to use it as a cleaver than with finesse but with Sara leveling the gun with the the brow between his eyes, there was little chance that he’d clear half of the space between them before she dropped him. “Everyone freeze!” Sara yelled again. Her head turned enough that she could try to check on Evelyn and her opponent, but not enough that she was taking her eyes off of Mac. Or the other two who were on the ground. “Just for the record, Evelyn, I hate weapons.”

Evelyn flinched in empathy as she watched WereCat get hit, the pained noise triggering the echoes attention and dragging them away from the fight she was involved with. The water on her face mingled with blood and further hindered her sight, but she managed to dart out of the way from the now extinguished mutant. He seemed less than pleased with the turn of events. His displeasure only grew when WereCat ordered everyone to freeze, holding the gun in her hands.

Evelyn stepped away from her opponent, taking the opportunity to swipe her face clean again. "Can't say I have much aversion to being armed, considering the alternatives... Perhaps someday I can have a more defensive mutation." Evelyn answered. slowly assessing the situation. The robbers were wet, angry, but standing down, and behind the counter the echoes caught movement from the cashier. At least he was alive, for now. She was still waiting for the sounds of sirens as she carefully moved to pick up her sai.

Looking around, the store was thrashed to an impressive measure. Calculating the damages, Evelyn wondered if trying to stop them had really been the better alternative. Now they were stuck at the scene of the crime, holding off dangerous criminals while waiting for police that could very well arrest them for damages in their vigilante actions. That would probably not go over well with the x-men.

She shifted the sai in her hands and frowned at the thugs. They presented a new batch of problems. "Recommended course of action?" She asked her companion.

Sara smirked at Evelyn’s comment about being rather fond of her weapons. “I could teach you to not need them… What is your mutation anyways?” Sara grinned. The gun was held steady and level with the area between Mac’s eyes.

Mac was still holding Evelyn’s other sai and Sara didn’t want anything like that in his hands when the police showed up. She motioned for him to slide it to her on the ground, and when he threw it at her face she snatched it out of the air with her other hand. The gun never wavering. A smirk formed across her face as she wagged her finger at him, clicking with her tongue.

"Recommended course of action?"

Evelyn’s voice pulled at Sara’s attention, though she never took her eyes off of her own opponent. “Personally, I’d rather not deal with the police.” Admitted Sara. She was now the only one standing there with a weapon, and until the shops video feed was reviewed, or until the cashier popped back up over the counter when the authorities got there, she’d be seen as target number one. “Hey cashier.” Sara shifted her attention to behind the counter. “What do you want. Say it so the operator knows.”

Evelyn almost laughed at the idea of not needing weapons. While there were self defense techniques that might work against humans and burglars, she wasn't sure she wanted to try kicking someone between the knees who could charbroil her any second. Weapons just seemed more practical right now. The question about her powers made her smile waver slightly though. "My mutation is just being...smart." That was a conversation for another time. Trying to talk about the voices in her head while dealing with robbers was really not the 'smartest' thing to do.

Thankfully, Sara seemed as hesitant as she was about dealing with the police. She listened to the cashier behind the counter, who was muttering something she couldn't quite make out. Echoes didn't enhance her hearing unfortunately. She took a step closer and her frown deepened. "I'm not sure this is going to go over well if we stay. Can we like, tie them up really quick or something? Or stuff them in the walk in freezer?" The metal seemed like it might hold until the police at least got there. It was an option, if nothing else.

Sara still held Mac at bay. The sai that he’d thrown at her face was tucked, smoothly, into her belt. She probably could have given it back to Evelyn, but at the moment, she wasn’t thinking that way. She just didn’t want the weapon in the hands of any of the goons.

The tang of the different smells of the room sank into Sara’s nose making it wrinkle. Her eyes dilating a little and she checked Evelyn. Then swinging her full attention back on Mac when his weight shifted, Telling him with the slightest shake of her head that she didn’t like the move. “Do you ever not spontaneously start bleeding when we meet?” Ok. It was Sara’s way of asking if Evelyn was ok but obviously her communications skills needed some work.

“These gentlemen ruffed up a friend of mine earlier this evening, so what ever we end up doing, they will not be on the street tonight.” Mac was getting visibly antsy and Sara didn’t like it, as her eyes narrowed on his yet again. “A freezer might not be a bad idea with spark back there.”