The bandits charged.
Zetch dodged the first blow with a fluid step, grabbed his assailant's arm, and flipped him over like a pancake.
"I've seen frogs fight with more coordination," he mocked.
Caden parried a dagger with his leather-covered forearm, grabbed the man's arm, and slammed him into a wall.
"Are you sure they fear you, Krull? It's more like they're avoiding you out of shame."
A man lunged at Zetch with a stick. He snapped him clean in two blows.
"Two for the price of one," he said. "I hope your customer service is competent."
"They... they've been trained," Krull yelled. "Fall back!"
"Already?" Caden asked, feigning disappointment. We were starting to have fun.
The last bandit tried to flee, but tripped over a crate. Zetch rolled his eyes.
"Even your exits are messed up..."
Krull, red with anger and shame, ran off, swearing revenge.
"Yeah, yeah, we're waiting for you, Grumpy Krull," Caden snapped.
They picked up the old lady's bag, barely damaged, and headed back, still laughing.
As for the girls, the old woman was trembling.
"They... they shouldn't have followed that boy! The Black Fang will kill them!"
"They're fine," Bella reassured. "It's Caden and Zetch, they're not that easy to catch."
"You don't know them! That gang is cruel, violent! Thieves, killers... savages!"
But at that moment, two familiar figures quietly returned, bags in hand.
"Guess who survived?" Caden said with a grin.
Zetch winked at the old woman.
"And without a scratch, too."
The old woman stared at them, mouth agape.
"H-how did you... The Black Fang never loses!"
"Oh, they were very kind," Caden said with a smirk. "Their leader practically begged us to take the bag."
Bella and Aletha giggled.
"I think he even offered us tea," Zetch added.
The old woman froze. Then she shook her head in astonishment.
"Th...this is impossible."
"We have this gift," Caden replied. "The gift of the improbable."