Welcome to Gaia! ::

There were shouts up ahead-- a loud ruckus further down the street and off in one of the adjacent alleys. Then a good four bodies stumbled out of the mouth of one alley, illuminated briefly by a streetlight flickering above. One second they were cascaded in light, the next pitched in blackness.

A few more cries were carried from the small group as another form followed from them out into the street.

A high pitched cackle went up as the fifth person stopped on the sidewalk beneath the flickering streetlight. It was a male, judging by the height and build. Stocky shoulders, strong legs and arms. A broad grin stretched eerily across his face, and his violet eyes blazed in the darkness. When light would touch his hair, the messy mop was a bright teal color, obviously artificially colored.

His eyes seemed to be focused on the lone dancer making his way up the sidewalk.

The man from the alley approached the boy, stopping when he was practically right in front of him. A combination of strange vibes radiated from him. There were mixtures of scents, easily noticeable but not easily distinguished without a heightened sense of smell.
He narrowed his eyes, violet irises flashing with interest briefly.
Then he spoke, his voice deep though tinged by an almost hysterical pitch.
"What's a kid doing out this late, I wonder, hmmm?"

There was a pause as the man's mouth spread into a wide grin. Then he snickered.
"Of course not. Silly me." He tossed his head, teal hair gleaming for a brief moment. There seemed to be a dark stain covering a small chunk of his bangs.
"Some advice. Don't go this way. Find a different route. I can even help you!"
He gestured off elsewhere, the start of a high pitched cackle almost creeping into his laugh.

The man's smile never faltered, but his eyes narrowed considerably.
"No. You need to go a different way. Don't worry, I won't let anything hurt you." He continued, reaching a hand out to gesture down another street. "It's not a question anymore. I'm telling you. Pick a different route."
He smiled, tilting his head. That smear of dark color was more noticeable now, and seemed to be..moving down the strands of hair it touched. A soft pat broke the silence of the street as some of it dripped from his hair.

"A runner! Oh, hohoho. Goodie!"
Jeremiah would be able to hear that strange cackling pierce through the air and footfalls quickly following him.
"You really can't get away from me, kid..." The man was saying as he ran, voice only chopped by giggles. "So running is a really bad idea if you plan to live for much longer~!"

From behind, there was a strange noise, cracking like bones shifting. Then the sound of four padded paws slapping the pavement behind the dancer. There was that cackling sound, more feral than before.
"I would highly suggest that you stop running!"
The voice was the man's, but sounded distorted. It was strange.

The four padded feet came to a stop right in front of the terrified boy. There was a quiet growl, the sound of panting. Hot breath hit his face. Then a wet nose.
"Because I find chasing the weak thrilling. You ran, thus I had to follow." There was that strange voice again...

And if Jeremiah would open his eyes, he would see a spotted hyena staring him in the face. Its fur ridge was died teal, splotched with red..probably blood.