Warm sands, coconut trees, and a calm sea breeze... For Rhea, these signs remind her that she is close to home. Not counting brief excursions to Xenara and Khasmia, she has lived only in Northern Kijani. As much as she didn't mind the more significant heat of the desert or savannah, she felt most comfortable residing close to the coastline, specifically in her birthplace, Sheca. For nearly three months, the feline woman was away plying her trade in a smaller settlement. Like her grandmother and late mother, she belonged to an isolated guild of thieves operating out of the coastal city. The central tenet of their humble creed was simple, 'repossess' valuables from the wealthy and use those pilfered gains to benefit the downtrodden denizens of their home.
At present, Rhea finds herself heading to the Merry Magpie, an inn on Sheca's outskirts. She needs to speak to someone particular there—the owner, who has a history with their local guild.
She wanders into the tavern, forced to familiarize herself with the musty aura of the old establishment. Sure, it is unassuming with purpose, though that doesn't mean it can’t do without some touching up. Not a single soul is present apart from the barkeep—perfect, she thinks.
"Been a while since we last spoke, Mustafa. Thinking it's safe to chat?"
The old, graying lion was not a simple business owner but an ally of Zahra. Not just that, but one of her grandmother's oldest comrades and a trusted confidant. If she remembered correctly, the gentleman was among the first to be recruited by Zahra.
Mustafa smiles when he sees the young feline thief. He closes his ledger, grinning as he uses some fingers to comb through his mane.
"Rhea! You were away for some time, at least a few months. Very well. What trouble have you gotten yourself into, then? Do you have any good scores?"
"Practically lived in Khardan for a short while." She replies. "You'll like this, though. Listen carefully, and dare to believe it if you can." The younger cat leans against the barroom counter as she regales him with the information. "Picture this: a Javanghari merchant strolls into town. Massive caravan. His friends are peddling these sorts of goods, right? Spices, swords, pottery, whatever you want."
The old lion nods as she lists the goods for sale from the traveling merchants. "But this first one, he had something that caught your eye?"
"Oh yes. The first one was a jeweler, a real pompous fuck. He already has several guards with him, but I start talking, tell him that Kijani represents unique dangers–"
Mustafa interrupts, all too familiar with the premise of her grift. "So, you tell him that only a local can protect him from Kijanan crime?"
Rhea laughs as she continues the story. "Correct, that fat fool bought every single word. I played the part of his protector for some time, pretending to point out potential threats and all that. Gave me plenty of time to eye up the prize, too. Opals, amber, jade, topaz, citrine, pearls, and yes... Diamonds." The cat hefts a sizeable pouch onto the counter, the aforementioned gemstones flowing out toward Mustafa as proof of her tale. Her face forms a large grin, her whole being swelling with pride. She couldn't wait to show the haul to her grandmother.
The large lion sorts through the impressive variety of precious Javanghari gems, verifying their authenticity. "Very good, very good. Zahra will most definitely approve. Good job, girl."
He places a hand firmly on her shoulder, patting it a few times to help emphasize his satisfaction. "You know, it's good that you've come back. Your grandmother was looking for another warm body for her planned heist."
Rhea's ears perked up almost instantly upon hearing the new information. A heist? She knew their guild had avoided these high-risk endeavors since their last big score in Zomola, the capital city of Northern Kijani. "Strange. The last heist was only seven months ago. Shouldn't we still be lying low?"
Mustafa is quick to respond. "Once in a lifetime opportunity. Osman has found a way in at the estate of a Khasmian noble. From the sound of it, this prick is loaded. Very high risk, very high reward. Zahra seems to believe that this could change things permanently." Ugh... Khasmians. Centuries of bad blood between the Atheran colonists of Khasmia and the natives of the Kijanan coast could've played a part in her grandmother's interest in this job. She thought that whoever this guy was, he probably deserved to be knocked down a peg or two. "Okay, okay. Tell me more: who is this guy, and why are we robbing him?" "Raza Lambert. New blood, paranoid, eccentric, shifty, typical Khasmian traits. Zahra will be sure to tell you more once you get back to the hideout, but what I can say... He's an artifact collector, rich like you wouldn't believe."
Rhea sat in silent contemplation for at least five minutes before responding. "It would be strange if I said no, right? I'll ask Bibi if you’re trying to fool me. Besides, if I stay any longer, I'll be at risk of exposure to your cooking." The old lion laughs at her jest, collecting the gems for her. "Here, girl. Take these to Zahra, then speak with her. If anyone can make this happen, you are one to be counted on. You've got your grandmother's touch."
The young cat retrieves the pouch, smiling at his compliment. "Thanks, Mustafa." She begins to leave when the older cat provides his idea of a witty remark: "Give 'Bibi' a kiss for me, won't you?" Another laugh follows the statement. She shakes her head, making her way outside of the dingy inn.
MackJarston23. They wrote the opening and the closing, while coming up with the plot and characters and most of the major editing. Character art by 
