I checked my equipment. I always take the time to double-check my gear before a mission. Not that I was worried about this job, mind you. It was going to be a piece of cake. Still, why tempt fate, right?

Everything checked out. I was ready. The conditions could not have been more perfect. The moonless sky was black. The only light on the street came from the candle in the lamppost which I’d already taken care of so I’d be operating in the dark.

It was cool with a slight breeze, enough to ripple my fur, but not enough to be a factor. If anything, it merely heightened the delicious shiver down my spine from the excitement building within me as it always does when I’m about to go to work.

The target was an unassuming house on a decidedly average street. Certainly not the type of place I’d hit on my own. But the money was good for this job, so who I was to question my instructions, sparse as they were: Break in, find the scroll and bring it to the Coven.

I’d been contacted by a friend in the same game. He had this easy mark that he couldn’t take because it conflicted with another one that’d been brewing for quite some time. He couldn’t push back the first any longer lest the window of opportunity close on him. Thankfully, he remembered my ability to move out on a moment’s notice. Less than a day later, I was already on the move.

The only window in the house was secured from the inside. It was odd that there was only one window, but not unheard of. Maybe an owl lived here. I hoped not. I was counting on the inhabitants, if they were home, being asleep.

I crept quietly along the side of the house to the back. It came easy to me. I’d always been light on my paws, which made me a natural for this work. I held my satchel close to my chest to keep my tools from rattling. The satchel was padded, but I’d been had once by them before. Again, why tempt fate?

The back porch was old, and the floorboards creaked lightly even under my light touch as I stepped up to the back door. I knelt down and slipped off my satchel. Laying it on the ground, I opened it up to access my tools. Finding my pick, I started unlocking the door.

Or rather, I tried to unlock the door. This was not your everyday lock. With some work, I could pick it, but it would take time. I’ve always been about taking the easy path, so that didn’t work for me.

The house was a two-story: A little too high to jump onto, even for me. I would need my grapple. Off came my pack and out came the hook and line. I scanned the roof for the best place to grapple from. The west corner looked best. I tossed the hook up, with perfect weight, and heard the light thunk as it dug into the roof. I gave the rope a tug to I checked my equipment. I always take the time to double-check my gear before a mission. Not that I was worried about this job, mind you. It was going to be a piece of cake. Still, why tempt fate, right?

Everything checked out. I was ready. The conditions could not have been more perfect. The moonless sky was black. The only light on the street came from the candle in the lamppost which I’d already taken care of so I’d be operating in the dark.

It was cool with a slight breeze, enough to ripple my fur, but not enough to be a factor. If anything, it merely heightened the delicious shiver down my spine from the excitement building within me as it always does when I’m about to go to work.

The target was an unassuming house on a decidedly average street. Certainly not the type of place I’d hit on my own. But the money was good for this job, so who I was to question my instructions, sparse as they were: Break in, find the scroll and bring it to the Coven.

I’d been contacted by a friend in the same game. He had this easy mark that he couldn’t take because it conflicted with another one that’d been brewing for quite some time. He couldn’t push back the first any longer lest the window of opportunity close on him. Thankfully, he remembered my ability to move out on a moment’s notice. Less than a day later, I was already on the move.

The only window in the house was secured from the inside. It was odd that there was only one window, but not unheard of. Maybe an owl lived here. I hoped not. I was counting on the inhabitants, if they were home, being asleep.

I crept quietly along the side of the house to the back. It came easy to me. I’d always been light on my paws, which made me a natural for this work. I held my satchel close to my chest to keep my tools from rattling. The satchel was padded, but I’d been had once by them before. Again, why tempt fate?

The back porch was old, and the floorboards creaked lightly even under my light touch as I stepped up to the back door. I knelt down and slipped off my satchel. Laying it on the ground, I opened it up to access my tools. Finding my pick, I started unlocking the door.

Or rather, I tried to unlock the door. This was not your everyday lock. With some work, I could pick it, but it would take time. I’ve always been about taking the easy path, so that didn’t work for me.

The house was a two-story: A little too high to jump onto, even for me. I would need my grapple. Off came my pack and out came the hook and line. I scanned the roof for the best place to grapple from. The west corner looked best. I tossed the hook up, with perfect weight, and heard the light thunk as it dug into the roof. I gave the rope a tug to make sure the hook was secure and then up I went, tail flicking about behind me.

A short climb like that was nothing for me. I was on the roof in seconds. I padded across the sloped surface to the chimney. Where there’s no smoke, there’s no fire. A quick slide down and I’d be in.

Only there’d be no slide. A metal grate was bolted across the flue. First the unusually heavy lock and now this?! Just who lived here anyway?