Winged Ones

Chapter 1

"Ella Francias Moore, what IS that thing?" My mum shrieked at me, glaring at the tiny black kitten in my arms.

"It's a kitten mother."

"I know it's a kitten darling, but why did you bring it home? And in the dining room too.. You know your father hates cats!"

Oh yeah, my lovely father. Cause I really care what the man who haunts my nightmares thinks of my kitten. The poor little thing never did anything to him! Though if I have the choice he won't find out about the kitten, I'm not sure what he would do to the adorable guy seeing as I'm the one who found him. I'll have to risk it, if I didn't bring him home with me he would already be dead. His parents were nowhere to be found when I found him in the streets, and he was desperately in need of food, fresh water and a cuddle. I couldn't just leave him to die!

"I won't keep him mother, he just needs a bit of rest and some food and he'll be fine to live on his own in a few days. Please may I take care of him? I promise he'll behave!" I put on my best puppy eyes and stared hopefully at her.

"Fine. But if it isn't gone in four days or misbehaves in any way, it's getting kicked out."

Phew, she agreed. Now i've just got to convince her not to tell dad. Hope she falls for it.

"Dad wouldn't be angry at us if he didn't know there was a kitten here... You know how he gets."

"Uh huh, you just don't want to get yourself in trouble. Don't worry, I won't tell him unless he finds out on his own. So make sure you keep the kitten hidden if you don't want him to know."

"Thanks mum! I will. He can stay in my room, I'll make a place for him to sleep under my bed, and sneak him food and water. I'll pay for it of course."

"Oh no, it's fine really. It's just a kitten, it won't eat much anyway and I know you've been saving up for something." Hm, mum is watching me closer than I thought.. Noted.

"Thanks! You're the best!" I gave her a quick hug, being mindful not to squash the kitten.

"Make sure you come out for dinner at seven exactly, okay? And just curious... What are you saving for?"

Shit. Well I can't tell her what I'm really saving for, I'm pretty sure she won't let me buy a bow. It's a men's weapon, and if I'm caught with it I could be killed or at the least jailed. I've already secured a smal hunting knife but i won't survive long out there with just that. I'm willing to risk it though, I need to get away from this god-awful place. The only person who's sometimes nice to me is my mother, the rest are far from it. Aha! Her birthday's coming up, I'll say it's a surprise so she thinks it's a present. I'm a genius!

"It's a surprise mum, I won't spoil it."

"Okay darling. Remember my favourite colour is green!" She winked at me, knowing full well I already knew.

"Of course I will. See you at dinner!" I decided that the kitten will probably need some food and water, so I went to the kitchen. I used my one free hand to rummage around in the cupboards, grabbing two small bowls and a tin of tuna. Cats always like fish, right? Well I hope so, because that's all I've got. I put the tin inside the bowls, picked up my tiny collection and made my way to my bedroom.

I looked around my room when we arrived, searching for a good place for the bowls. My room has wooden floors is very small, just enough room for a single bed, wardrobe and a desk. The desk and wardrobe run along one wall and my bed along the other with a narrow walkway in between, just wide enough to open my wardrobe doors. There was a medium latch window above my desk which I loved and couldn't help glancing out. I remembered that there's a decent sized and mostly hidden gap between the wardrobe and the wall, and upon closer inspection decided that was to be the place.

I set down the bowls on my desk and gently lay the kitten down on my bed. He purred quietly and started to knead my bed with his tiny paws, which I took to mean he was content. I picked up one of the bowls and took it back to the kitchen where I filled it with water. I carried it back to my room and set it down in the gap, moving with care. As I peeled the lid off the tuna and dumped it in the bowl I noticed the little kitten's eyes snapped open and looked my way.

"Interested? That's good. Here you go, what do you think?" I put the bowl down next to the other and the kitten leapt down from my bed and nosed at it cautiously. He apparently decided it was safe and edible, as a second later he was attacking it with gusto.

"Glad you like it little one. Hey, you need a proper name. What should I call you?" The kitten continued to eat his tuna, now purring audibly.

"What about.. Nero?" He stopped purring but kept eating the tuna.

"Mittens?" I jested. This time he actually stopped eating and glared at me, letting out a tiny hiss that was actually rather cute. He started eating again as soon as I got the message.

"Guess not. You are a smart one aren't you? Hmm.. How about Dusk?" He had finished while I was talking, and now he stood and wound himself around my legs, purring loudly. I think he approves.

"Dusk it is then."

Author's note

Hi everyone! This is my first fic ever, so please keep that in mind when reading and commenting. Constructive criticism is much appreciated and please feel free to point out any spelling or grammatical errors(and maybe even plot holes >_<)

Also, I created my own cover using photoshop. It's mine. I will eventually make a nicer one when I learn how to use photoshop properly, but at the moment this is the best I can do.

Just a warning, I expect I will take a ridiculously long time to update, but I will not abandon it or disappear! Promise. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and please take the time to vote and/or comment  :)

Thanks for reading! Stay sharp and live true, 

~Ellania