Xochitl ran down the main thoroughfare of Tuliyollal, dodging and slipping past various townspeople, doing her best not to knock anyone down in her haste. Her ears flattened against her frosty white mane as she looked over at Izco who ran just ahead of her. "Cut him off before he gets to Bayside Bevy or we're never catching him!"

The lithe hhetsarro gave her a short nod, his tail flicking back and forth as his own ears flattened to his head and he put on an extra burst of speed. The smaller cat-man could really move when he wanted to. He peeled off to the right, taking the higher road down the merchant lane as Xochitl herself stuck with the main avenue that ran past Aunt Tii's Tacos and the docks along the shoreline. Ahead of her, she could make out the back of their elusive quarry.

The young shetona man was probably somewhere in his early twenties, if that. He was dressed in non-descript brown woolen shirt and breeches, leather boots that looked as if they'd seen better days. The only thing that stood out about him was the bright scarlet scarf that seemed to be at least three fulms too long for him as it flew behind him like a pennant. His black ears flopped against equally black hair, strands of white streaking through it. He was tanned, like someone who spent most of his time outdoors. And by every vidraal, he certainly was quick on his feet!

She watched as he glanced back, his light brown eyes widening a tad as he saw the tigress closing the distance with her much longer strides. He put on an extra burst of speed. Xochitl let out a soft curse. Shouldering her way past a trundling Hanuhanu, she called back her apologies as she sprinted after the shetona as he widened the gap.  I'll never catch him at this rate!

Out of nowhere, from the upper level, Izco leapt out from between a pair of the mercantile tents. He slammed square into the young shetona, sending him sprawling sideways with the hhetarro clinging to him like a monkey. Izco put both of his hands on the young man's shoulders, planting his feet on either side of the shetona's waist as he crouched over the man's back. "Just hold still, alborotador." Troublemaker.

Xochitl caught up to them in short order, nodding at Izco who got up off the shetona and dusted himself off.  Even before Izco rose, Xochitl had a hand on the young culprit's shoulder, holding him down with one hand where it had taken all of Izco's bodyweight. Once Izco was clear, Xochitl used that grip on the delinquent to haul him up onto his feet. "Search him and procure the mainour." 

Izco didn't waste any time. He pat down the shetona from the top of his head all the way down to his feet. As he went, Izco pulled various fruits and vegetables out of the man's pockets and even a couple of Ja Tiika Bananas out of each of his boots!  

Now that she held him in her hand, Xochitl could feel how rail thin the shetona was. He shrank away from her as if he were expecting a blow to be incoming at any moment. He whale-eyed her in abject fear, eyes pinching at the corner in anticipated pain. Abused. Or mistreated.  Probably both.

Letting out a sigh, Xochitl let go of the young shetona. "Give them back to him." Izco stared at her in stupefaction a moment, but he knew better than to argue with the xbr'aal.  He lumped the pile of fruits and vegetables into the shetona's arms before stepping back and crossing his own. He wondered what Xochitl was doing here. The man was clearly a thief!

Taking a handful of pels from her pocket, she held them out to Izco. "Take this back to the vendor to reimburse him for his losses."  

The hhetsarro stepped forward to take the coins, but didn't immediately leave. "What are you doing, Xochitl?"

The tigress leveled her silver, star-flecked gaze on her comrade. "I'm letting him go. He's clearly starving and just wanted some food. I'm not going to punish and jail someone for trying to survive." With that, she released the young shetona's shoulder, giving it a small pat. "Go on, head home."

The shetona didn't need to be told twice. He immediately bolted down the boulevard.

Xochitl's gaze flicked to Izco.  "Follow him and report back."

Quirking a grin, the hhetsarro nodded and took off after the little thief.