Three sounds filled Rayleigh's head, drowning out all other noise. The first was her own heartbeat, thundering against her ribs and between her ears. The second, nearly as sporadic and jarring as her heart, was the pounding of her boots against the hard-packed earth. The third, and the loudest, was the sound of her own ragged breathing as she fought to drag in lungfuls of air. "Need... more... cardio..." she wheezed aloud, before finally slowing to a halt. Her small body trembled, and her chest heaved as she doubled over at the waist, her hands on her knees.

The two men who she had been pursuing had been far faster than they had appeared. It had taken only a moment for them to lose her in the twists and turns of the quiet town, though she wondered if they had even noticed her tailing them. Odds were far more likely that they had simply been so hell-bent on catching their own prize that they had unintentionally left the smaller, less athletically inclined woman in the dust. So when she had turned one more corner, only to find it empty, she had finally given up fighting the good fight. At least, until she got her breath back.

Ray straightened, one hand shoving her mane of brunette hair back from her face. Rogue tendrils were still plastered with sweat to her flushed cheeks when she glanced skyward, savoring the feel of the breeze. It was warm, sure, but it still provided some relief from the heat radiating off her. Her emerald eyes closed, and she heaved a sigh that still shook with effort. When they opened once more, it was just in time for her to state, "At least I got my workout for the day in." As if exercise were truly a part of her routine. John prompted the woman to get more physically fit, and she begrudgingly amused him with short runs (mostly to the kitchen), and strength training (mostly in her shop).

Her hands moved to rub at her eyes, prickling and stinging from the salty beads of sweat. How long had she been running? How many times had she ventured down the narrow alleys? Down this particular alley, even, never again catching sight of the small, dark-skinned being? Her lips pursed. "Fine then," Ray muttered. "Just see if I ever try to save you again." It was somewhat calming to hear herself speak the words, as if assuring her that the chase had not been a complete waste. Mostly, she looked a bit like a fool, chattering to herself in a seemingly abandoned part of town.