The Light-Thief

The small figure crept down the corridor, crouched low to the floor. Bare feet padded softly against cold stone, making almost no sound at all. She darted between pools of shadow, avoiding the circles of light cast by torches whenever possible.

At this late hour, there were only the guards on patrol. Even the night servants were in their rooms, getting what rest they could.

The small female hid behind columns or tapestries whenever the distinct footsteps of a guard began to near. Her highly sensitive ears twitched slightly, picking up the soft rustle of cloth, the clink of chain shirts, and the steady scuffing of heavy boots against the stone floor, the sign of a tired guard.

Perfect.

The room she needed was down another corridor, which meant the guard would have to be passed in order to get there. Holding to the shadows, dark clothes and darker fur hiding her from sight, she waited. When the guard, yawning, wandered past, she made a run for it, darting behind the guard and turning down the next hall.

The castle was not a sizable one, being the winter palace. It was the summer right now, and so staffed mostly by guards and servants and nobles who were out of favor with the crown. She had to be extra careful; after all, what better way to earn one's way back into court than to capture a thief?

Especially a thief as... unique... as herself.

She slipped into a dark alcove, straining her ears to listen for the next guard. When one could not be discerned, the small being crept forward, her bushy tail brushing the stones. She was close now, she knew.

The little thief reached the room she sought with no incidents. As soon as she opened the door, light from within blinded her, both expected and yet still surprising. In that moment, she could hear a startled cry, and then all hell broke loose. Soon she saw nothing but darkness.

In retrospect, it had been far too easy to reach that room.