A Royal Heist

Wolf’s pack had been very busy lately, embracing thievery with a staggering confidence. This very confidence gave them the push they needed to plan out their biggest heist yet.

“We’re going straight for the royal treasury this time.” Wolf announced to Nina and Honey, as they stalked through the Atlantean undergrowth. Nina huffed out a half-chuckle.

“So that’s what you wanted us both for then. Figures.” She questioned.

“Aaaand not Nerret…?” Honey added. Wolf glanced back at them both and cocked a brow, rolling his eyes and looking back ahead with a scoff.

“He’s too soft. What we’re trying to pull off here… this is big. If we end up in a sticky situation, I need to have a team that aren’t going to be scared to do what needs to be done. He’s good for the grunt work, but, well… no matter how much I try to cultivate it in him, he doesn’t have what it takes to kill someone.” He said simply.

“You really think it could go that badly?” Nina asked with a hint of hesitation. Wolf snorted in response.

“No, I have faith in you two. That’s why I picked you. But you should always plan for a worst case scenario… which is also why I picked you two.” He replied. Nina and Honey both nodded, and otherwise held their tongues. The chatter of guards in the distance had become audible, and it was time to enter stealth mode. “Honey, you play distraction. Lead the guards away or just otherwise hold their attention. I’ll sneak by and enter the treasury. Nina, you’ll be on standby. Give Honey backup if he needs it, and give me the signal if it starts to get dicey and I need to get out.” Wolf whispered commandingly. Honey nodded and peeled away from them, sneaking through the dense foliage and disappearing from sight. Nina and Wolf crept closer, close enough to be able to see the treasury and it’s guards. The Atlanteans had made use of one of the many ruined structures in their bio-dome, though this one was more intact than most. More well-defended too, both in terms of structure and the guards posted outside. The ongoing conflict was still evident though, as the guard situation was stretched far more thin than when Wolf had first sighted the treasury, not long after the discovery of the bio-dome. A couple of Euplocephalus were posted at the door, while a few Iguanodon milled about aimlessly chatting and rolling die. Complacent and distractable. Easy targets.

Nina and Wolf took their positions, lying in wait at the edges of the jungle. The ambience of the jungle seemed to fade away as they focused, only listening to the idle chatter of the court. Nothing interesting seemed to be being said, just vapid gossip. A perfect time to create pandemonium.

In the blink of an eye, Honey launched out from the bushes and nipped at the ankle of one of the Iguanodon, before vanishing back into the thicket. The Iguanodon bellowed in pain and surprise, blood beginning to drip down their foot. While they regained their composure and the other Iguanodon fussed over their wound, the Eupolocephalus began to creep forward. They raised their tails threateningly, challenging any who would try them on. This was nothing to Honey though, who darted back out to nip at the throat of another Iguanodon before vanishing again, sending the once regal and composed court into a panic.

“Halt! Halt! Cease at once!” They crowed, stomping their feet and mock-swiping with their intimidating thumb claws. Honey was not easily intimidated however, and appeared briefly once more to rake his claws along yet another Iguanodon.

The court were not built for battle the way the guards were, and it showed. They bolted away into the jungle with loud roars and panicked yells, their footsteps slowly fading thunder. The Euplocephalus were not so easily swayed from their posts, slamming their tails into the ground in an intimidating display of power.

“Show yourself, coward! Face our might!” Yelled one, a green individual donned in finely-crafted leather and wood armour. The other, a brown Euplocephalus in more tactical-looking armour, simply grunted and raised her tail high once more. Honey revealed himself, standing tauntingly close to the ankylosaurs. There was a tense silence, before he let out a short bark. Nina looked to Wolf and nodded, taking her cue and dashing away silently in the direction the Iguanodon had fled.

“You have chosen poorly, guards. Your precious royal court barely held up against me and me alone. How do you think they fare now that the rest of my pack is chasing them down?” Honey hissed, standing tall. The brown Euplocephalus growled, swaying her tail from side to side.

“You bluff, coward. You will not deceive us. You’re just here for the riches, not their hides.” She grunted. Honey chuckled, narrowing his eyes at the two guards.

“You’re willing to bet their lives on it? Bold. You know, I’ve been curious ever since we discovered you lot… I’m excited to finally find out what Iguanodon tastes like.” He purred. The green Euplocephalus roared in response this time.

“Lies! You stand here alone. You have no pack. You shall kill none of our own tonight.” She snarled. Honey tutted, shaking his head in disappointment. He raised his head to the faux-sky of the bio-dome and let out an echoing trill. After a moment of silence, another trill was heard in the distance; a response from Nina. Doubt and panic began to show on the Euplocephalus’ eyes, and their steely resolve finally broke has Honey darted away with a laugh, following the trail the Iguanodon had left behind. The guards bellowed and followed suit, calling out for their court in dismay.

And then, silence. Not a body in sight, the treasury left completely unguarded. Wolf couldn’t help but chuckle to himself quietly for a moment, pleased with how well Honey and Nina had pulled off their trick. He wasn’t about to let it all be for nothing though, and swiftly snuck into the entrance of the treasury. Whatever bounty there was inside, he was ready to claim it and make it all his.