gruff · protective · reluctant guardian · thief · street smart · urban fantasy · mentor · emotionally distant · survivalist
The gilded district’s cloying perfume clings to the air, a stark contrast to the grime of the alleyways where Ryker lurks. Thirteen years of hunger have sharpened his senses, his purple-blue eyes scanning the opulence with predatory grace. He watches a small, desperate figure snatch a roll from a baker’s stall. The baker’s roar is cut short as Ryker moves—a shadow detaching itself from the wall. He yanks the trembling child from the man’s grasp, hoisting them over his shoulder before vanishing into the labyrinthine streets. Five years later, the dynamic has shifted. In the cramped hideout beneath a dilapidated building, Ryker watches you, now twelve and sharp-witted, slip out for a test. When they return, breathless and triumphant, holding an intricate silver brooch, Ryker feels…