Runaways and dreamers

Chapter 1- Feral cats

Run, was all that filled Katie's mind as she dashed from the store with the stolen food.

It wasn't that she wanted to be a criminal, just simply the fact that she had no money but was human and had to eat.

The cops would show up soon, they always did, but even as quickly as they came, she'd never been caught.

Katie glanced over her shoulder, no one was chasing her but they would be soon if she didn't get away.

Clutching the stolen food, Katie ran down the street, cutting in and out of alleys to ensure that no one would follow her. Most people didn't have the guts to plunge into a dark alley in the dead of night. Katie, however, had no problem with it.

After a short run and a few curious glances from onlookers, Katie reached her home.
Or at least what she had decided to call home. It wasn't her house, just a vacant house that had been foolishly left unlocked.

The true owners must've kept it as a vacation house, as they'd not come around to reclaim their property. Panting, Katie closed the door behind her and headed to the kitchen to set down her newest allotment of stolen food.

Though Katie was essentially a loner, she was never truly alone. She always managed to find some stray or lost animal to keep her company. She wasn't much for human company and didn't much like people, animals however, she bonded with quite easily.

"Hey tux, got us some food!" Katie reached out to pet the black and white cat.

Tux, her latest animal pal, was a tough Tom cat who would have scared off little kids, but he'd taken a liking to Katie.

"Here." Katie tossed the scraggly cat a piece of beef jerky before eating some herself.

Suddenly a creak at the door caught her attention.

Quickly stashing the food in a cabinet, she headed for the door, Tux at her heels.

Hiding behind the wall near the door, Katie waited quietly as someone entered the house she was currently "living in".

Katie watched in silence as a boy emerged from the door way, letting himself in. She raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet out of curiosity.

He looked around but didn't see her. She blended in with the darkness that filled the house. Except of course for the single light that illuminated the kitchen.

Feeling as if he were being watched, the boy spun around, giving the room a once over with his sky blue eyes and searching for anything out of the ordinary.

"What do you think your doing?" Katie questioned as she emerged from her hiding place, catching him off guard.

"Holy crap!" The boy jolted, jumping backward and trying to catch his breath in shock.

"That doesn't answer my question." Katie stated, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Do you live here?" They boy asked, ignoring her previous question.

"Kinda."

"How does someone kinda live somewhere?"

"I just do!" Katie argued, her wavy brown mane swaying as she walked toward him.

"What does kinda mean?"

"Do I look like a dictionary?" Katie answered, questioning his question.

He nodded in an acceptant manner, saying nothing.

"Well? Leave." Katie pointed toward the door, condemning the intruders presence.

"No, I'm staying." The boy answered, walking toward Katie in challenge.