A loud noise startles them

The two fraidy cats hear a loud crashing sound and both scream in terror.

"R-run!" Hilda squeals as she darts down an alley, her whole body jiggling as she moves.

Salza freezes for a moment then quickly follows her would-be protector, practically pissing herself in fright at the thought of what could be out there.

As the dust settles in front of the tavern, a small stray cat crawls out from behind the garbage can it has just tipped over, and starts pawing through the refuse in search of a treat.

Neither Salza nor Hilda is watching where they're going. If they had, maybe one of them would have realized they were running in the wrong direction, getting further and further from the guard station, and instead heading straight towards the turf of the meanest gang of thieves in town...