“NO, NO, NO”, Raoul cries out in frustration jumping off Perrath’s back and rushing towards the ringleader but to no avail.

“Dammit this can’t be”, he yells his voice tinged with desperation and anger, he tries checking the ringleader’s condition but the crossbow bolt seems to be thoroughly lodged into his chest.

Whoever did it was a skilled marksman that was for sure. The dhampir looks wildly in the trees around them trying to look for any signs of movement or anyone hiding in the trees. The trees sway back and forth and he sees nothing among them. He turns back and focuses on the crime scene. Raoul carefully looks over the body trying to look for any signs of suspicious or important information. Nothing appears to be of particular note playing cards, a conductor’s baton, a fake pigeon, and some solars (which he quickly stashes into his jacket pocket). That is until he reaches under his hat noticing a small piece of paper, his eyes only manage to catch the first word on it, “Longhorn”, before the piece of paper as well as the magic bag erupt in flames burning both pieces of evidence to a crisp.

“Dammit, someone doesn’t want this found”, the man says standing up and turning to face Perrath, “You’re right on that idea my friend, someone out there had their hand in this. Someone doesn’t want this crime ring to be followed back to them. Tracking this whole mess seems to be an even bigger headache in its own right. And although not having this all figured does irk me a great deal it’s important to dwell on what matters most. That is we have escaped and come out the other side alive and well. Thank you Perrath for your help, I can’t say that I would’ve survived without your aid. If we come across each other again, which I’m sure we will then we won't be strangers alright? I do have to go now, turning in this contract to my employer and getting my payment first”.

The dhampir waves the fellow goodbye with a wide grin then turns his back to start walking not before stopping and reaching into his pocket holding something in his hands. He tosses it towards the Dragon, a doubled-sided coin on one side containing a pair of fangs and a skull on the other, a sign of the man’s friendship.

The ringleader's death was expected but not in this way. To be robbed of the blow frustrates Perrath, but there's nothing to be done now. He crosses his arms and focuses on the situation at hand, which happens to be watching Raoul rifle through the man's pockets. What little he does find erupts into flames, further cementing the idea that he was just a pawn for someone else. Annoying, but understandable.

He stifles a scoff when Raoul mentions that he likely wouldn't have survived without Perrath's help. The dragon clearly basks in the small platitudes, but he can't help but think this may have gone quite differently had the man with little combat ability not thrown himself into the same situation.

Regardless, an ally made isn't a problem in the long run, and Perrath looks like a hero in this scenario. It's a win in his book, regardless of the initial rage he felt upon being swindled. Some revenge would be nice, but it doesn't serve him for now.

"You as well, Raoul. If you find the bastards behind this, my blade is yours," he says. Perrath nearly misses catching the coin, fumbling with it in his claws before gripping it. He looks at it in his hand, turning it over curiously. It's not a solar, it's something else entirely. When Perrath looks up to question the odd man, he sees him waving goodbye and leaving. Strange. Perhaps he will ask about this should their paths meet again.