It was such a great night.  Not too warm or humid and also not to windy to make it chilly either.   No, tonight was the perfect night out to run.  Bonus fact, there was no moon either so the light didn't shine down and make every shadow lighter.   Seeing as how she was in her Snow Leopard form, the darkness helped not make her white fur shine bright or be spotted as easily.   Rayne had already been out on her run for a good while so she was on her way back home.  She did have work tomorrow and did need to sleep off the run, luckily she didn't burn energy as fast with the forms she has known for a while and this was her first form years ago.


Coming from the park Rayne makes her way through the shadows of the side streets, making sure to stay away from populated areas, not that people are out at this time of night, 3am.  Well at least she hasn't seen many people out this late, which is why she usually sticks to the shadows and side streets.  if someone does see her, its usually a drug addict or even someone homeless and so far they just call her a ghost.  Today was her unlucky day.  It wasn't drug addicts or homeless that saw her.  

Rayne had to stop in her tracks down an ally way when she spotted a group of four guys with long objects in their hands, baseball bats or metal pipes she doesn't know, standing at the entrance blocking her way through.  It looked like they were waiting for her which was confirmed when two of them clapped each others hands once with a grin, though they didn't move towards her yet.    Rayne flicked her tail in annoyance at the delay before turning to take off back the way she came only to see three other guys standing there.    Well this is going to suck, Rayne thought as she let out a growl in warning to leave. 

When you see seven men with random objects hanging around an alley, you generally don't want to stick around. Danger lurked in every dark corner in the city, especially at night. Fortunately, for those who need to run or are surrounded, some elect the exact opposite option. To brace for the impact and shove it back into its place. Or maybe break its nose just to spite its face. Richard Kennedy was one of those people. From the window, he watched them weeble and wobble about. Something moved in the dark, into the alley. It looked like animal, but he couldn't quite tell. When the thugs started to corner her, he moved.

Eyes focusing through his half-mask, the nerdy man moved out of the building. They weren't paying attention, as he crossed the street. He wasn't stealthy but they were making a move on a much more valuable prey. When he was close, a mistake was made. Rich drew to close to a light cast a large shadow for the first three to see it. He mumbled to himself before deciding that now was time. As they turned, he barreled towards them. Charger wasn't fast but he didn't need to be here. The first man swung a wooden baseball bat. It was his only chance, and it shattered against the side of his head. Wood pieces scattered, as the half- mask put his shoulder into the guy. It knocked the wind of out him, but he wasn't done it. Still in the same motion, he brought his gridiron skills into play as they both bore into the second thug. The third didn't have a chance as he could only watch. In another step or two, All three men were being carried, or so it seemed. Charger was acting like a bulldozer, shoving them towards the wall. At the last second he lifted them slightly, only to let the force carry the three of them through the alley window. The sound of glass echoed in the alleyway.

His eyes then turned to the scene not to far away from him. Four more remained, all muttering to each other. And there was....was that a leopard? It looked like a snow leopard, but there wasn't any reports of a zoo escape. So this was really confusing.

"You guys have to know it's illegal to hunt within city limit...especially when it is an animal so exotic...and possibly endangered."

Rich was not very knowledgable about animals, but he knew a rare kitty when he spotted one.

By the look of the guys surrounding her, they are part of the homeless group but seem to be the muscle or the stupid of them.  Probably trying to gain something for the others by taking out the ghost that they all say haunt the back alleys at night.  Really, right now though, it doesn't matter why they are surrounding her, only that she needs to get out and fast.  Rayne doesn't want to seriously hurt anyone but if they don't back off in the end, she'll have no choice.   


Rayne had her back to the group of three seeing as the group of four was more dangerous, more hands and more long objects with them, so she didn't see the guy coming up behind the others, charging them, but she did hear him. Still she didn't take her eyes off the four in front of her, tail flicking in agitation and a growl coming from deep in her chest.   They haven't attacked yet since their eyes were now on what was happening behind her.  Really, she should turn some to see what was going on, who the new threat was, but she could hear that they managed to take out the group behind her so she was hoping that the person wasn't going to be a problem.   


Rayne was proven right, well she hopes, when the person speaks behind her about illegal hunting in the city for an endangered animal.   Exotic, sure she was, both like this and human.  Apparently accents make you exotic to others. With a flick of her ears, Rayne gets her thoughts back on target.  Trying not to get hit with something.  

Without another word, the thugs decided to charge them. They were in some kind of rush to get their prey, which they thought now included a masked bystander. Swinging wildly, they moved upon them with malicious intent. Charger lost focus on the cat, but knew that if only two men went for him that the other two must have been after her. One swing and miss from the first man and his steel chain. The next was a baseball bat, which end up grazing his arm. He was as clumsy as Rich was. All he had to do was stick his foot out the thug tripped into the wall. While that was funny, they were now on either side of him. Rich was not a particularly fast opponent and mobility was often a reliability. What he did have was strength and defense. And a mouth.

"Guys, I'm a big chunky target and you both still managed to miss me? You guys a terrible. Go home."

This drew ire from the both of them. Good. They converged on him, swinging to kill. Unfortunately, they were playing right into his hands. Close quarters was Rich's favorite kind of melee. The bat man reached him first, only to find that this masked vigilante was a metahuman. He realized this when the wooden baseball bat cracked open over the young man's head. A couple shards of wood burst and flung across the alleyway.  Chaingang went for a swing of his own, only to be met with face full of cedar and then a torso full of boot. The force shoved him back, slamming him into a dumpster.

When Rich turned back, The Bat Man was just looking at his bat in horror. Realizing what was going on, his face turned white as he looked into the vigilante's blue eyes. He decided to get a little fancy. Forward knife chop to his shoulder, causing him to drop what was left of his weapon. A punch to the gut, making the thug bend over. Throwing his arm overhead, Rich brought a little professional wrestling into a street fight. Lifting him up, he fell back with the thugs body in tow. Both of them slammed into the pavement, leaving the jerk down for the count.

Standing back up, he tried to find the cat in the dark.

Right, well with three down and only four left, the odds were better, but still not favorable.   Really the four in front of her should have just ran for it, seeing as they saw their friends just get pushed around behind her, but drug addicts and drunks were never known to make smart decisions.  They charged instead of leaving.  Two for her and two for the person behind her.   Even better odds.  


Rayne flicked her eyes towards the two that ran past her quickly to make sure that they didn't double back to get her from behind before her eyes switched over to the two in front her.  One of which was swinging at a bat at her face as he was running at her.  Quickly, Rayne leapt to the right and away from the bat before pushing off with her hind legs and towards the one who didn't swing at her yet.  Catching him off guard was easy since he was looking at his two other friends, so she landed on his chest, using her momentum and weight to push him to the ground on his back.   


Rayne had a few more seconds before the first guy was back at her since his running and swinging left him stumbling and off balance, so she pressed her claw tips to the guy on the ground, not enough to draw blood, but enough for the warning to stick and snarled in his face with only a inch or two between their noses.


Her few seconds were up and she jumped off the guy and turned to face the other one to see his face white as snow, the bat dangling in his hand.  Probably realized his friend could have died there if she wanted to tear his throat out.  Takes a step back to get a bit more room between them as the friend she jumped on stands up a bit shakily and turns and runs off with a stain on the front of his pants.  His friend goes after him without a thought, seeing he's now outnumbered.     

Watching them go for a few moments, Rayne flicks her tail when shes satisfied that they left, then turns to face the guy who came to help.  

Now it was just them. A goofy vigilante standing in the alleyway with a wild animal. While he wasn't an expert, Rich did assume that he should be careful. No sudden movements. Basic television knowledge.

"Alright, kitty. I am going to just call for some help. I am not going to hurt you."

He reached into his pocket to pull out his cell and started to call 911. His blue eyes fixed on the kitty.

As soon as the guy in front of her start to reach for his phone, talking about calling someone to help, she let out a low growl in warning.  When this didn't stop him though and he pushed a button, Rayne took a step or two towards him and let out a hiss this time.   This was her way of warning him that if he didn't stop calling there was a chance that she would attack him.  

If he did stop dialing and put his phone away, Rayne would move towards one of the guys that was unconscious and grab the jacket before shaking it off him, which takes some time.  Once it is off him Rayne moves back towards a dumpster with the jacket in her mouth.  Once behind the dumpster the guy who helped her could hear a few cracks before he could see a head stand up over the dumpster.  Pulling the jacket on and making sure it covers everything, Rayne steps out from behind it.  "I'd appreciate it if you didn't call someone."

If he didn't stop dialing for help, Rayne wouldn't attack him, she would turn tail and flee before he could finish talking or explaining.   She wouldn't stick around for people to show up.  

"Oh." He whispered.

She was a shifter. A metahuman. Mutant. Whatever the case, he nodded, trying to figure on the next move. She only had a jacket on, and they were just hanging out in an alley. His first thought was to offer to walk her home, but it likely would not solve anything. The young man was curious as to how this even came out.

"What are you doing out here? Where are your clothes?"

Rayne frowns at the guy in front of her.  Honestly those were questions that had their own answers.  What was she doing out here?  Obviously either going home or out stretching her legs, but as for her clothes, she was just an animal.  Usually animals don't wear clothes, unless their human owners are cruel.   Shaking her head slightly she answers anyways.

"I was heading home before I was jumped.  As for my clothes, I was just a leopard.  They don't tend to wear clothing."  Now its her turn to assess him very quickly.  "What are you doing out here?"

Admittedly, the answer seemed obvious. He had a mask and was trying to keep someone safe. Is that was what all vigilantes did?

"Protecting wildlife tonight, I suppose. Is your home very far from here? Would you like an escort? I mean, you are just as likely to get jumped as a wild animal as you are a barely dressed hot chick. Perhaps more so, unfortunately."

He shrugged, but his offer was legitimate. The young man wanted to make sure she got home safe.

While Rayne is grateful that he was there to help out against the people who wanted to attack her, she wouldn't be bringing anyone to her home.  Or even towards it, not when they know what she is now, even if it was her own kind.  

Rayne shakes her head slightly before replying. "Sorry, but I think I can make it home by myself now.   Besides I can always knock people out now instead of sending them to a hospital too."  While she is deadly as the leopard, as a human she can take care of herself even better.  No one gets cuts and lacerations just some bruises and maybe a broken bone or two.  "Thanks though for the offer."

He nodded, understanding that his job was now done.

"In that case, be safe. And have a goodnight."

Charger then turned away and began to walk off. It was unlikely she would run into another mob like that. At least not twice in one night. He wished her well.

Rayne is glad that he didn't push any further to help walk her home.  Honestly she didn't like the thought of someone she didn't know, even someone that did help her out of a jam like tonight, knowing where she lived.  Rayne nods when he tells her to be safe and have a good night.  "Thank you for tonight.  I'm sure I'll see you around."   With that, just like him, she turns around and walks off back home.  Where she can put on her own clothes.