Stray [Making a better, updated version]

Chapter 4

Food. More specifically, meat. Dan sniffed the air once more and tasted just to be sure (I rhymed). It was meat, coming from a small cart with a man across the street. Dan was so distracted from hunger, she didn't notice a human walking up behind her. Dan was taken aback and she darted for the nearest ally. She hid under a dumpster and watched the human walk past. She let out a puff of air and looked both ways before dashing to the edge of the street. At this point, the humans were coming out a lot more; but now they didn't care about Dan. Dan was knocked and bumped around like a ball in a pinball machine.

Suddenly, the sidewalk was nearly filled with people and Dan was getting scared. Then, she was pushed and shoved into the street. Dan fell onto the asphalt, her shoulder taking most of the blow. Dan opened her eyes to see a car rushing toward her. Dan sprang away, realizing she had done something to her shoulder. It was limp. Distracted, another car was bolting toward Dan. Dan stared on in horror, as the carb didn't stop. Suddenly, a cat smacked into Dan. The cat was quick, and grabbed Dan's scruff and sprang away again. She darted across the street and onto the curb. Dan, in confusion, mewed anxiously. The cat kept going, darting for an ally. Some humans stepped in her path, but she got there. She ran behind a metal bin and dropped Dan.

She let out a huff of air and shook her pelt before pinning Dan down. She took deep breaths and soon got her heartbeat steady. Dan, on the other hand, was frightened behind compare. "You idiot!" The she cat hissed. The she cat was orangish brown with lighter colored ear tufts, tail, and front paws. She wasn't a tabby cat. As Dan caught her own breath, she noticed the cat had a mission eye. But, other than that, her eyes was blue. Dan shivered and flinched at the fact she was pinned down. The cat hissed again and loosened her grip. "Why do cats like you just run blatantly into crowds like a confused cow." She sighed, irritated. Dan was confused, and showed it with her expression.

"Why'd you save me then?" Dan asked and the cat opened her mouth, looking proud to say what she would have, but closed it. She let go of Dan, Dan scrambling up and facing the cat. "Little kits like you never learn." She said with a look of grief. "I don't want to see another die the same way." Dan winced at the cats apparent sadness and looked down respectively. "Thank you." Dan dipped her head and then fell. Her arm was limp, remember. The cat gave a small chuckle, "silly kit, your arm's dislocated. Dan's attention snapped to the she cat and got up again. "D-dislocated?" Dan said through shivering fur. The cat nodded. "It'll hurt trying to get it back in... But I'll manage." The cat have Dan a look and rolled her eyes.
"Well, stand up straight!" She hissed and Dan scrambled upright. "Okay, brace yourself." The cat said. "Brace for wha-" San couldn't finish her sentence as the cat ran and smacked her shoulder against Dan's. The pain surged through Dan like a wave on a sandy beach. "OW!" Dan snapped and smacked against the ground. The cat helped Dan up, Dan a little reluctant for her help, and she checked Dan's shoulder. "One more time-" the she cat was cut off by Dan hissing. "No!" The cat chuckled, "I'm joking, your fine." Let her back fall and the cat got up and stretched, a creek coming from her legs.

"My n-names Dan." Dan stuttered, then cleared her throat. "Oh, Dan, my name's Jane." Jane gave Dan a toothy smile, and Dan shuddered. "You must be hungry, come'on! There's a hot dog stand down there and the human takes a break in a couple minutes." Dan nodded, having many questions like: what's a hot dog? A break? Hot dog stand, like the dogs stand? But, if it meant food, then Dan would follow Jane anywhere.
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Dan stayed crouched it the shadows, Jane next to her. The human gave a human the 'hot dog' thing and then walked away into a building. "Now!" Jane said and sprang out. She hid behind the stand and Dan followed swiftly. She jumped up on the stand and Dan jumped onto the cart with her. She sniffed they air, a wonderful smell filled her nose and Dan looked down to see these 'hot dogs.' They weren't dogs, but they were hot. Dan and Jane grabbed a few and smiled in triumph. Suddenly, the guy came back, a broom in his hand, and made Dan bolt off; Jane too. The two ran off, Jane still smiling and glancing back and Dan. They darted into an alley, well Jane did, Dan just followed.

Jane nodded in front of her to a stood up grate on the wall. Dan was confused, but followed. After all, she did save her life, she wouldn't just leave her to die again...

She dropped the food and so did Dan, but Jane just started laughing. "That, was, Hilarious!" Jane said and slowly started to go back to normal. "What? Why?" Dan asked and Jane smiled. "I don't know why, just amusing to me."

Jane picked up the food and Dan did too, then Jane pushed the grate to reveal a small crack big enough for a full grown cat to fit. Dan gasped and 'ooed' at the mysteriousness at it. Jane giggled and let Dan past. Dan bounced in and Jane to one last glance then went in too. Dan saw a beautiful, once in the city, dirt ground. Little streams of light drafted in from cracks in the roof. small tufts of grass poked out, and the air was different. It was humid and somewhat clearer than the city. It was pretty, and pretty cool too. "Wow," Dan gasped and glanced at Jane trotting up behind her to Dan's side. "How did you... this is so, wow...." Dan could say.

"You like it?" Jane said with a smirk. "Yeah, there's only a few other places in the city like this." Dan felt like her mouth dropped to the floor. "R-really?" Dan said and smiled. "Can't wait to see them." There was a pause and Dan glanced at Jane, she had a worried look. "Sorry to ruin your dream, little kit," Jane said, "out there is terrible. "Why" Dan asked. "Because, out there is hell. Cats spitting, tails flying, missing claws and fur, dangerous dogs, and a group of cats that only rule is everyone for themselves." Jane said as if she knew this from experience. Jane stopped and looked at Dan's worried face. She sighed, "And, your scrap of fur that couldn't defend against a rat." She spat the words, probably trying to get something out of Dan to make her laugh; But Dan just at it all and nodded.

"You're right..." Dan said and felt her legs tremble as a large vehicle went by (truck). Jane stared at Dan with a surprised look. "Well," Jane said and stood up, getting in an offensive stance... how did she know each stance but not where she came from? Anyway... Jane unsheathed her claws and swung her tail. "let's train." Jane sprang, Dan watched, ad time seemed to stop...

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Sorry this took forever to come out, I was busy with The Darkness rises. Hope you guys will understand, keeping up with multiple books is difficult. -Kittenmonster 4/29/2016 (feathermoon's birthday =D)