Kael slowed down the moment he was out of immediate danger, not because the streets suddenly felt safe, nothing in this damned city was safe, but because his body was sending him very clear, very rude messages. His legs weren't failing yet, but they were right at that point where every step felt like it had to be negotiated.
He angled toward the nearest standing building that still had enough shadow and rubble to hide a man. The mini-map was his first check, as always: a few green dots loitering too close for comfort, drifting in lazy little arcs like sharks that didn't need to swim fast because the ocean was small. He didn't care if they were "friendly." Friendly was a costume people wore until it got inconvenient.
Right now, Kael didn't have the spare strength to deal with anyone wearing any kind of costume.
