"Did you run away from home, kid?"
The sheriff sat across the desk, arms folded, studying Kaiser with tired eyes.
"No, sir," Kaiser replied evenly.
The sheriff sighed. "If this is about violence or some other stupidity, we can get CPS involved—"
"I'm an orphan."
"…"
"I see," the sheriff said at last.
The room went awkwardly quiet.
Kaiser glanced toward the window. Outside, two trekkers in their early twenties stood near a patrol car, talking quietly. They were the ones who'd driven him halfway to Salt Lake before insisting on dropping him off here when he mentioned he'd left home.
Apparently, that had been the wrong thing to say.
"Alright," the sheriff muttered, standing. "I'll handle this."
He stepped outside to speak with them. Kaiser didn't bother listening. He reached into his pocket, checking his wallet and fake IDs out of habit.
Once the sheriff's footsteps faded, Kaiser moved.
He locked the office door silently, then crossed the room and slid open the window. His sword lay where the deputy had left it, mistaken for a rolled sleeping bag.
Kaiser took it, slung it over his shoulder, and climbed out.
Rain greeted him. Rare for the city, cold and steady.
He dropped three stories, slowing himself just before impact, landing silently behind a row of patrol cars.
Shouts erupted from upstairs.
Kaiser glanced back once.
"You meant well," he murmured, almost apologetic.
Then he turned and disappeared into the rain.
--------
"On the bright side," Kaiser muttered as he slipped through the back alleys, keeping to the shadows, "I can't get wet."
He glanced down at his empty hands.
"On the flip side, the police have my stuff."
He was still thinking about that when a car rolled into the alley ahead. Kaiser stepped aside as two men got out. A second vehicle followed. A van.
Another man exited.
Then the rest climbed out behind him.
Cynocephali.
Kaiser exhaled slowly.
"Seems like someone let the do—"
He stopped himself.
"…class. Kaiser. Class."
He watched instead.
He climbed up the side of the building, silent and steady with the wind assisting him. From above, he counted them. Four Cynocephali. Three others. Judging by their age and posture, mortals.
Kaiser considered leaving. Let the deal finish, disappear into the rain.
Dogs, however, had a way of ruining plans.
"Well," one of the Cynocephali growled, sniffing the air, "I'm hungry."
Kaiser looked down just in time to see one of the mortals step forward, jabbing a finger into the creature's wet fur.
"Listen here, shithead," the man snapped. "You get paid for doing your job, not for—"
"GAH!"
The Cynocephalus tore his arm off in one clean bite. Blood splashed against the pavement as the creature licked its muzzle.
"Not as good as a half-blood," it said thoughtfully, "but you'll do."
The other two mortals froze. That was enough. The remaining dogs descended on them, the alley filling with screams that ended far too quickly.
"Oi! Lober, what the fuck is wrong with you, idiot?" one of the Cynocephali snarled. "How are we getting paid now?"
Lober glanced up from his meal. "We get paid?"
"…Yeah," the other muttered. "The fucking husky influence is showing."
"Hey! Don't talk about my Ma like that!" Lober snapped. "I'll bite your head off, you fucking Nazi shepherd!"
"Fuck you! I am not a Nazi!"
Kaiser sighed.
"Seig!" he called out.
"Hail!"
The shepherd snapped to attention instinctively, saluting the figure now standing atop the van.
Kaiser looked down at him.
"I see my German comrade," he said mildly.
The Cynocephalus opened his mouth to shout. Kaiser was already moving.
The blade went through the monster's skull in one smooth motion. The body dissolved into dust, washed away by the rain before it hit the ground.
"A half-blood!"
The remaining three lunged. Kaiser stepped through them, wind guiding each movement. Claws missed. Steel didn't.
One stab. Another. A third.
The fight was over in less than a minute.
Kaiser looked down at the spot where the first had fallen.
"I look forward to seeing you again, comrade," he muttered smirking.
His gaze shifted to the vehicles.
A Nissan Sunny.
Kaiser grimaced.
"Yeah," he said, eyeing the van instead. "I'm taking that."