Ms. Jayce alphebetized the last file and closed her cabinet. It had been a long, tiring day, and she was eager to close up for the night. To watch TV with a warm bowl of popcorn in her cozy apartment. She cleared her desk and pulled on her thick cloak. Just as she was switching of the lamp, the telephone rang. Calling hours were over, but she answered it anyway.

"CDA Services, Ms. Jayce speaking" She said tiredly, hoping this wouldn't take long.

"Greetings Kira. I just received word that the feather thief is on the loose again." Ms. Jayce sat back down and turned the lamp back on. Flipping open her laptop, she began typing furiously.

"Start from the beginning." 

Thievery is easy for me. The issue is not getting caught.

I had hidden in my sanctuary for a while after the fateful failed feather thieving job. Now? I'm ready. Stealing a new Phoenix Feather will be easy--at least that's what I've been telling myself. I've already researched ten possible locations to steal it from.

The only issue, as I said earlier, is not getting caught. I already feel like I've been found--I already feel like people know I'm here. But I always feel like that...right? No. It's just my imagination, though I tend to not really have one.

But enough of that. A good thief doesn't question things like that. 

I'll be touring at someone's private feather collection today. If it goes well, it'll probably be where I obtain the feather. Well...steal. But really, these people should watch their items better... 

The weather was chill and blustery the night Kira Jayce was walking to work. None but a few stars pricked the dark fabric of the sky. Ms. Jayce pulled her cloak closer around her shoulders. The nearby streetlight flickered as she unlocked the door of a red brick building. Pulling her fedora over her face, she slipped inside. Her office was pitch black, having no windows. She flipped on the dim lights and powered up her computer. She typed her password and pressed enter. It loaded for a second, then went black. The red outline of a feather blazed on it.

I have a good reason to beleive that I am about to come into possesion of the item you speak of....

The chill surrounds me, offering no relief. The tour was scheduled for two PM today, and I'm already running...exactly on time. Just as I wanted to be.

But the cold was still annoying. 

I keep moving, counting my steps as I go. It's good practice--every step I make should be silent, unhearable, and perfectly stealthy. My opportunity would be too soon. I keep to the shadows of the apartment buildings as I move.

I count each building and complex's number in my head until I reach the proper one. What the? Who did this? The doors are a solid steel instead of the usual modern sliding glass doors--but that's not what shocks me about this building.

It's the broken glass that lies on the pavement, the obvious signs of a break-in, and the large red feather insignia that seems to have been recently spray-painted onto the door. 

I am Tarlik 

Guardian of what you seek

If you want one of my feathers

You must break my tethers

I have five challenges

for you to face

but you must race,

my time is not long 

and soon I shall be gone

Myself and your feather

forever lost in the fog 

I clutch the letter in my hands, silently cursing the world as I do so. Of course there would be another option--and of course, it's a legitimate option. I told that idiot boss of mine that it would be stolen, and that it would be his. It's much more easy to perform a heist than solve a riddle. 

...But still. 'Myself and your feather, forever lost in the fog'. It's a risk, but it's one I'm willing to take. 

Tarlik. I don't think it's a name I can Google, so I'm going to have to go to other contacts for this. And I need to hurry. I already have a suspicion that people know what I'm up to, and going on this little...mission will leave me more vulnerable than ever. 

But my mind is made up. I'm ready to do this.

I fold the letter, place it in my pocket, and change course, walking down the sidewalk towards a place I know will give me answers--or at least a place to start from. They know everything about the mystical, and whoever, or whatever, this Tarlik thing is, they'll probably know what.

7, Wodash Street.

Here is the item that which you seek. Perhaps I will be willing to partcicpate in a deal.

A letter falls out of a small swirling portal onto Ms. Jayce's desk.

My last chance

My last word 

My last order

for you my little bird

Because if you haven't heard

I am fading

fading from this world

There is a young theif

who is subtler than a leaf 

they will be the last to go on my quest

help them in any way you can

don't let me fade Jayce

don't let them fail me in my last quest