Jayden had recently turned a new leaf in her life.  No longer was she content to merely survive, it was now time to turn her talents to bigger and better things.  There was no reason she couldn't thrive in life; with her powers and the right dose of proper motivation, she could achieve whatever she most desired.  These were the lessons the crazy Puppeteer had taught her only a short while ago and these were the lessons that were going to define the next chapter of her life.

Ever since being forced out of her childhood home to a life on the streets, theft and illegal trade had become a necessary evil in her life.  Her primary targets had been wealthy club-goers, often too intoxicated to react or do much about animalistic shadow demanding all their worldly possessions.  The target mattered, both in order to avoid conflict and because it was important their missing funds not be the difference between eating and not eating.  She might have been a thief but she had her standards.  Such targets had mostly provided enough funds to keep her fed but even the wealthy rarely kept much cash on their person and she'd never get ahead in life without changing things up.

That's where Puppeteer came in.  They went on an unplanned rampage through the city and came out with far more money than Jayden could have ever gotten following her usual habits.  That day had been both productive and strangely thrilling and it was then and there she'd decided on her future path.  It was time to make something better for herself.

It was with that intent in mind that Jayden found herself outside a pawn shop within that part of town that was just starting to creep into wealthy territory.  She'd chosen the place a week ago and had been watching the routine of the owner from the shadows.  Every night, just after closing, he would walk out with a bag containing the funds of the day and deposit it at the bank across the street.  It was shortly after dusk as she crouched, mostly concealed by the darkness.  Black scales covered her body and black talons tipped each of her fingers.  Right on que, the man existed, bag in hand.  It was game time.

Waiting until the man crossed the street, Jayden ran up to him from behind, wrapping an arm around him, talons digging into the side of his neck with just enough pressure to draw a trickle of blood.  "The bag of money.  Now.  No need to get hurt."  She could feel him trembling as he fumbled to pass over the bag and a moment later it was hers.

That should have been the end of her night, a successful excursion resulting in several thousand dollars in profit.  Unfortunately, life for her was often more complicated than desired and this was to be no exception.  As she turned to make her retreat, she heard an ominous growl.  Jadyen had barely enough time to turn around before getting pounced by a creature she could only describe as a hell hound.  Far larger than any wolf she had ever seen and three headed, she stared up into angry red eyes.

Several blocks down the road, she was on her way home from the mansion for the night after playing catch up. She was ready to climb into bed, ready to get some much needed sleep even though it would be short lived. She was walking her Harley the last several blocks, afraid to ride any longer because she was exhausted. Perhaps it was time to find a house closer to work. It would suck to have to sell her beloved Victorian, but the possibility was real.

She closed the distance between her and whatever scuffle there was, eventually to hear that sickening growl not too far from her. Her first instinct was to park the bike and investigate... Her second was to just hop on the bike and risk crashing in her sleep deprived state. She kind of growled at herself when her brain told her that someone could be in big trouble and it was her duty to help.

Unaware of the fact that the person who was about to get pounced upon probably deserved it, she parked the Harley and crouched as close to cars as she could without actually touching them, hoping to avoid setting off an alarm or two in the process of her trying to be stealthy.

She peered over the hood of the car she was by, checking to make sure she was in the general vicinity by that point. When she saw she was a few cars ahead, she decided to creep on several cars behind and circle around if help was needed. For the moment, however, she stayed back and observed in case she was not needed.

Otherwise, there was not much else she could do. It was not as if she was actually seeking out this kind of trouble. Indeed, it seemed it was happening more and more as of late, some trouble or another. It was quite maddening in the crazy sense to seem to be magnetized to these situations!

Of course, she did not have time to even ponder all of this, for the pouncing happened before she could get to the last car. Xavia decided that she had to move quickly, and launched toward that large creature, not knowing he was wronged by the person, he was pouncing. The first thing she tried to do was send a vine to his wrist and try to get him turned around, the most non violent thing she could think of... Except last time she did that, she ended up neatly bleeding out after it had been ripped from her palm. So instead, she sent her shin flying toward the thing's midsection.

How could she have been so stupid as to pick a target with mutant connections?  Once she was no longer fighting for her very life, that was the first question Jayden was going to ask of herself.  She didn't really give a damn about the immoralities of stealing, but stealing from her own people?  That was a shameful act for one who was trying to improve their lot in the world.  Of course, all these thoughts would come afterwards.

Whether the owner was some sort of shapeshifter or he had a mutant bodyguard, she had no answer idea.  What she did know for certain is that caustic saliva was dripping onto her chest and face from a canine muzzle filled with razor sharp teeth.  With each drip she heard a faint sizzle where it dropped onto her scales.  It wasn't the first time her powers had saved her ass, but it was the first time she stood tow to tow with a fellow mutant who might just be intent upon killing her.

The hellhound snapped at her head and it was all she could do to twist her body out of the way.  Her enemy snapped at air, but only just barely.  

"F*ck!  F*ck!"

Damn her bad luck anyway, how was she supposed to know her target was just some weak human like he was supposed to be?  From her position on her back underneath her assailant, she tried slashing at it with her taloned fingertips.  Talons met flesh and she felt them tear, for all the reaction of her enemy.  Damn the universe for being against her, anyway!

"Get off!" She yelled bravely, sending another kick to hopefully connect hard to the pit of the thing's leg. She swallowed the trepidation of using her abilities, sending a vine around the thing to try and haul it off without actuslly trying to hurt the thing. If she was able to do it, the vine would wrap more around the shoulders.

She would give a tug as hard as she could, this petite thing who was running on fumes. Ugh, what was this dog like mutant and why was it attacking someone like that? If she had gotten the vine about it, she would feel the acid spit drip on that if she was able to get him back.

That would cause her to release the thing and fall back. What the actual eff? She stared in horror at the raging beast. Hopefully she was able to buy the victim some time to get away from the thing. Please, please,please, do not turn on me, she begged inwardly. She wasn't that experienced with actually fighting but she would damn well try!

Another snap at her face, only this time Jayden's head transformed itself into that of a black wolf, mimicking that of her assailant.  With a growl of her own and a snap in return, the hell hound clearly wasn't expecting her reaction and let out a sharp 'yip'.  There, that would teach him!  Unfortunately the feeling of success was short lived as she still lacked the strength to force the creature off of her.

Then, suddenly, she felt the attention of her attacker shift.  A vine sprung out of from behind the creature, wrapping itself around it and one of its heads turned, piercing red eyes staring at its new assailant.  It let out a mighty, angry bark and jerked itself backwards, attempting to either free itself from the entanglement or throw its new attacker from her feet.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Jayden shoved with all her strength and, assisted by the creature's own momentum as it tried to free itself from the vines, managed to budge it enough to scramble out from under it.  Scrambling desperately to her feet, it was clear the beast was far from defeated and more angry than ever.  

Not again!!! She cried out as the vine snapped from her palm and the warm gush of crimson spilled. Her hand, burning all the way up to her shoulder, curled into a fist. She smashed her palm toward the nose of the head that turned toward her. If successful, it would be much like a person getting their nose broken. Ugh, why did she have to get herself into binds like this?!

She took a leap back, cursing under her breath and crouching. "I do not wish to fight you... Just let her go, I will back down easy... K?" Even then, she was already backing up, taking a deep breath, concentrating, and grimacing as her skin hardened into a bark armor of sorts, thorns soon to protrude from the mess forming on her skin.

She stared the beast down, then, locking eyes with the thing if it continued to look, showing no fear, only regret. She had good intentions! She did not freakin know that the thing was trying to get stuff back or whatever. She was trying to rescue someone and could not leave well enough alone, could she?

All right, so she had managed to get to her feet.  That was good.  There was still a very angry, slavering hell hound after her.  That was bad.  An unexpected ally had appeared in the fight to save her life.  That was good.  The hell hound was now equally angry at the newcomer.  That was bad.  Well, at the very least two targets was better than one, so that was something.

The newcomer took a punch which landed solidly onto the center head.  The creature let out a pained yip and, if the snout was actually broken, it was clearly in pain.  Now that was the kind of action that took serious balls!  "Good hit!" Jayden yelled her approval.  When all was said and done she'd have to thank the woman, but for now it was time to try and escape their doom.

Now hurt, the hellhound began to charge the other woman.  Had Jayden been a different sort, she might have fled and left the woman to her doom.  As it was, the other woman had saved her ass and she wasn't about to let her get eaten in return.  Running towards the beast, she took a leap as a pair of black raven wings sprouted from her back.  While they'd never allow her true flight (she'd tried and failed that many a time) they did allow her to gain some extra height as she jumped.  With a leap and a powerful flap of her wings, she landed on the creature's back, talons digging into fur and flesh.  Now to hold on for dear life!

She had to think fast. Poppies. Poppies would put the beast to sleep and buy them time to get away, yes. The sudden burst of red, clusters of poppies grew from her skin, and she sent another punch toward the thing, hopefully to crush the flowers and get the opium into it's mouth. A cascade of red petals showered the trio as she repeated the process, using the last of her energy to replace the ruined poppies and hopefully get the thing with enough for it to pass out.

If/when it was over, if the beast passed out (the other mutant still on it's back) it would happen just as she couldn't handle it anymore. She stumbled back, assuming the thing fell almost on top of her, flowers dropping off of her, as was bark. The plant mutant tore off a chunk of her shirt and used it to put pressure on her palm where it was oozing blood.

She looked to the other, said, "Run before it wakes..." And then slumped against the side of the nearest building. Obviously, if she wasn't successful in getting the beast to conk out, she'd be on the ground by that point, fighting just with her fists and fighting to stay alert, herself.

Riding on top of a hell beast was Not Fun with a capital N and a capital F for emphasis!  The creature violently shook its heads back and forth and threw itself to the side.  Talons dug into into its back while Jayden desperately held on.  Blood seeped out of its hide where her talons punctured.  "Calm the f*ck down!"

And then suddenly, it did.  The beast took another snap and lunge at the other woman but, instead of biting into tender flesh it instead got a mouthful of poppies.  Opium seeping into its system it stumbled and staggered to the side.  Regaining its feet momentarilly, it stumbled again, this time into the flower woman.  While not unconscious, it was clearly disoriented and close to incapacited.

"Run before it wakes..."

"Agreed!  Let's get the hell out of here!"  As she yelled the words, Jayden leaped off the creature, wings spreading for balance.  Kicking the beast for good measure, she ran towards the other woman hoping she'd take the que and start running herself.  Seeing its target escaping, he hell hound let out a great roar and staggered back to its feet.  If and how long it would remain uprgith was anyone's guess but she wasn't about to stick around long enough to find out.

She stumbled off toward her bike, hopping on and revving the engine as soon as she got it started. She pulled her helmet on, knowing it was probably going to be a rough ride. She gestured to the other to hop onto the Harley so they could make a quick get away. Assuming the woman got on, she put her helmet on offered a second that had been tucked away in the saddle bag, and took off when they were both safe to do so.

When they were well away from the beast and she knew she had better hop off the bike, she pulled up to a random curb and dismounted, stumbling and ending up on the pavement on her ass. She wrenched the helmet from her head and checked her bloodied hand. "Sh*t," she muttered as she observed a trickle. Damn it all.

She pressed the fabric down again and put pressure on it. Why? Why was this a thing? This was the second time a vine had been ripped right from her palm to cause a pretty bad, though not fatal, wound. Blood loss was definitely not helping her situation at all. Xavia tried to keep it together, knowing home was not too far away and she could patch herself up, but it was a matter of being able to keep from passing out.

The other woman had a bike, this was good. She gestured for Jayden to hop on, which she gladly did.  Maybe she didn't have a helmet, but thick scales would help if worst came to worse.  They raced away to the sound of angry barks and growls which gradually faded into the background and her heart beat frantically in her chest ans they made their mad dash to safety.

Finally, some distance away, the bike stopped and Jayden dismounted.  She managed to keep her feet, to say they were shaky was an understatement.  Next time she'd be more careful.  The one thing she didn't need was a repeat performance of angry mutants trying to kill her.  "Sh*t is right." 

"I know a little basic first aid," Jayden offered, seeing the other woman bleeding.  "If you'll let me, I can at least patch you up well enough to get to a hospital or something."  Maybe difficult with their lack of resources, but at the very least she could bind the wound.  Scales melted back into flesh.  "Thanks for the assist.  The name's Darkshift."  

"No... No hospital, no clinic... Not t'is lab experiment." She muttered that all out as she held up her palm, revealing a wound that looked pretty bad but was clearly no mortal wound. "Second time t'is happen, not sure why vine is snapping from my skin so easy." There were other wounds, various littke ones where the flowers tore away.

The redhead gave a tired sigh, just wanting to lie back and sleep. Every part of her was wary, just so very tired. She rubbed the not so bloody hand across her forehead and she continued, "I need to sleep." It was bad enough she was already tired, but then she had to rescue someone... Again.

She regarded to mohawked lady with an eye forced open, though clearly struggling to remain so, spoke the tear of fatigue rolling down her cheek. "Was on my way home from mansion when I spot you. Are you ok?"

Jayden could appreciate not wanting to go to a lab or hospital; she was a little reticent about going to such places herself.  It was one of the reasons she had learned first aid, so she could take care of herself and those around her on her own.  In her experience, many with history on the streets or history on the wrong side of law preferred to avoid hospitals, although she didn't seem like the type to have that sort of background.

"Will you at least let me bandage your wound," Jayden asked, taking a look at the other woman's hand.  She'd never seen wounds quite like those before but, although they looked messy and bloody, she was pretty sure that they weren't too serious as long as the bleeding was able to be slowed down.  

"Ya, I'm ok."  Jayden sighed, suddenly feeling very tired herself.  If she was serious about pursing a life of crime, she would need to do some serious revisiting on what that would mean and how to do it safely.  Today hadn't been a complete disaster and she was coming away with a tidy profit, but that was only because an innocent had become involved on her behalf.  For that, she felt some guilt and for the fact that she had unknowingly targeted a mutant.  Next time's she'd do better.

"Sleep would be amazing.  Are you ok to drive yourself home?  Do you need a taxi?  Thanks again for the save.  He came out of nowhere, I have no idea what set him off.  It was terrible.  Terrifying."  So maybe only half of what she said was true, at least she was a good lying.  And she was grateful.

Indeed, the only place she trusted to do the right thing was in the Mansion, and even then, she hated that too. Being in any lab setting brought back bad memories; memories best left in the past. Unfortunately, PTSD was a thing. It was a real b*tch. Even at that very moment, she shuddered.

"Yeah, go ahead." Not that it would stop the bleeding, but they had to try. She patiently held her palm up to be administered to and she took a weary breath. She watched the woman carefully in the meantime, pondering on the last words she uttered. She wasn't sure, but something felt slightly off about the situation. Was the thing really unprovoked? Xavia decided not to question. She wasn't particularly interested in the truth right at the moment.

"I do not know if good idea for me to ride bike home. Was tired before, but now worse from losing blood." She flexed her fingers once the bandage was settled on her hand. Already, the starchy white was scarlet. She sighed again and shook her head. Well crap.

Cutting a long strip of fabric from her shift with a talon, talon faded into flesh once she had what she needed.  It wouldn't do to accidentlaly cut the poor girl and make things worse while trying to repair her.  Her shirt would be ruined, of course, but she'd gotten enough of a score today that replaing it wouldn't be a problem.  She gestured for the other woman to give her her injured hand and began wrapping it.

"You'll need to clean this when you get back home so it doesn't get infected.  Do you have proper bandages at home?  Something clearn and sterile so you can wrap it more permently?  You should really use those once its cleaned.  Check your wounds tomorrow and clean them again. The most important part of healing is to keep everything as clean as possible."

She didn't know how much expereince the other woman had in first aid or dressing her own wounds, but it helped to keep focused to talk as she worked.  Once the worst of the blood was cleared away, she tied it securely with a moderate amount of pressure.  It was still seeping blood, but at least it was an improvement.

"Here, put some pressure on that.  If we're lucky it'll stop on its own given a bit of time.  "If you like, I can drive you home on your bike and you can hang on as my passanger.  I have experience.  Otherwise, I can call you a taxi."  A bike was among the first things she planned to get for herself once she was back on her feet.