He knew he was on its trail well before a terrified cry came from the alley; the sound merely helped to hasten his footsteps as the sprinted over slick pavement. The few people on the street stared at the middle-eastern man as he flew past, seemingly oblivious to anything but his odd appearance. Why was obvious- his skin was a warm caramel, yet his hair was fiery, copper-red that spiraled with waves an curls about his face and shoulders, like a blazing halo in the cold light of the evening. Not daring to slow down, he tugged the thin, pale scarf around his neck up to cover his mouth and nose as he swiftly darted around the corner. He skidded to a stop, long white coat flinging a spray of water as his ember-like eyes narrowed. 

"Khalass!" The single word rang over the brick and concrete, the man's deep, commanding voice making the very air seem to hum. The beasts snarled and turned, the leader of the pack having its claw-like hand still poised for the strike. The man stepped forward then, right hand beginning to glow with a red-orange energy. "E'wedwa ela, wahsh!" The Arabic words rolled off his tongue as the light engulfed his hand, then shifted, stretching and pulling itself into the shape of a blade, long and curved. The creature gave another eerie cry, conflicted as its crimson eyes shifted from his prey and the approaching threat. It made the wrong decision. 

As its sharp claws came down on the woman's arms, the stranger lunged forward, translucent spectral weapon slicing through the first of the entities with ease. Dark blood spattered as the creature fell to the ground in two pieces, which immediately began to hiss and decay. In the flurry of liquid movement, the unsettling man then dispatched the rest of them, blade sizzling with every strike that landed. Once the battle was over and carnage decorated the desolate alley, the man gave a flick of his wrist and the scimitar dissipated, flickering out of existence once more.

Slowly, he scanned the scene, golden-red eyes distant and sharp as they roved over the dissolving carcasses. Once he was sure they were dead, he turned to look at the young woman. His six-foot, broad-shouldered form towered over her as he gazed down, half-covered expression seeming disinterested. After a few heartbeats of silence, he offered his hand. "There will be more. Can you stand?"