Little snack in Marseilles

 Running through the cobble streets he let his top hat fall off his head. There was no time to turn around and get it. He was being chased by something. Each step on the hard surface with his buckled shoes made too much noise for his liking. With his footsteps echoing in the streets and alleys, he could only hope to get somewhere safe. Whatever was chasing him could hear his footfalls. Even though this was not Paris, the city still felt large at night. Marseilles was one of many cities within France. In these days the Revolution was in full swing. Heads were coming off on the guillotine faster than bread can be delivered or bought. Whoever was near their leaders especially that Robespierre either wanted to kill all of France or simply wasn't paying attention to the toll. That was what he thought in his mind as the beheadings started rising against the traitors as Robespierre and his supporters called them. 

Assuming it had to be one of the Jacobins pursuing him he stopped to turn around. Looking for a weapon he turned his head left and right. All he found was a broken cart handle that seemed suitable. Already discharged his pistol in another alley against a thief he somehow lost that hand his bag of pellets along with the powder. Ready to face whoever was following him he felt convinced he was just seeing things. Feeling confident he jutted his chest out, raised his chin believing it was just a Jacobin dressed up as a creature to scare their intended targets. Thumping sounds from the way he ran could be heard. It indicated someone was following him. To him the pursuer was bare foot and stomping or they wore fur shoes to muffle their footsteps. Clever, but not clever enough. He thought to himself as he gripped his wooden weapon. With each thump growing louder the pursuer drew closer. It did not sound like a huge beast at all. He must have been up too many hours late already. The fires inside the lantern streetlamps could still cause hallucinations. Expecting there to be some pursuer or prankster dressed up as some cat beast the Marsailles target was surely taken by surprise. 

Coming after him was a large cat like beast double the size of a full-grown horse. Its dark wild fur made it blend in the darkness of the streets. A pair of large head sized green eyes blinked at him. This cat like creature approached him in a more curious, but hungry fashion. Its purrs sounded more like growls. Fear took over his entire body. His limbs quaked with fear letting the wooden cart handle drop to the ground. Clattering on the cobble street the wooden weapon's fall made too much noise. Behind him he heard a loud meow. There were more of these large creatures prowling the streets of Marseilles. All he could think of was a good reason not to wander the streets so late. Attempting to regain his composure he only allowed himself to be an idle prey. The cat beast reached out with a swing of its paw. Knocked down the Marseilles French man felt one claw or two slice into his clothes and flesh. He was done for. On the cobbled street with two claw marks on his body he became the cat beast's meal.