Is this my home now?

"That noise! It sounds like something's in that bush"

Michael is a cat hybrid, a stray left to fend for himself in the streets of Austin. He doesn't remember when he was cast out and he certainly doesn't remember the last time he spoke but that doesn't matter to him, all that matters is not getting caught. Getting caught means its the end.

Michael woke up to the bright sunlight in his eyes and the numb sting in his arm from where he had unsuccessfully fallen to sleep on the roof of some garage sheltered by a rather large house - three or four bedrooms maybe? He has been staying on this roof for quite some time now due to the protection and easy access to water - it may be from a garden hose but at least it's cleaner than the occasional puddle dotted around. Food is an issue for Michael as no one would just hand a hybrid a burger and some fries, let alone an unowned hybrid that, quite frankly, looks like shit.

Michael is startled slightly as the front door to the house opens and a man with pictures on his arms steps out with a tall lanky boy trailing behind him. He hurriedly moves to the edge to avoid being seen by them as they head towards a car parked in front of the garage, unfortunately He misjudges the distance and ends up toppling over the edge and into a bush at the side.

Michael curls up into a ball inside the bush hoping that the people will just dismiss the noise as an animal rummaging around, the nearing voices however means he isn't as lucky as he had hoped.

"What the bloody hell was that?!?"

"What was what?"

"That noise! It sounds like something's in that bush"

"Just leave it Gav, it's probably just a cat rummaging around, it'll be fine!"

"It sounded heavier than a cat though and we can't just leave it there"

Michael's ears flattened to his head and his tail wrapped itself around his leg, he shuffled slightly backwards looking for a quick escape route incase they find him and try to drag him out.

"Lemme just look and see if it's okay"

"Fine, but it's your fault if Burnie complains"

Gavin edged closer to the bushes and started to rake around. Michael started to panic and as soon as a hand appeared a few feet in front of him he started to hiss. Gavin heard this and parted the bushes looking for the source, he did not expect to find a hybrid curled in on itself looking like he'd never heard of a shower - or food for that matter. He had auburn curly hair matted with mud, his face didn't look that much better and his clothes were due to be thrown out months ago, they were ripped and stained beyond measure. Most notably though, were the ears pinned back and a tail glued to the mans leg. Gavin's heart strings pulled at the sight of the man, he wanted nothing more than to embrace him and feed him all the meals he's guaranteed to have missed as he reached a hand out to him however, the other man shrank back and let out a hiss. Gavin immediately retreated, worried that he'd just frighten the man even more, slowly he turned his head towards Geoff whilst still keeping an eye on the man.

"Geoff, can you pass me my bag?"

"Lazy shit"

Gavin kept eye contact with Michael fearing that if he looked away, the man would bolt. He smiled gently hoping to reassure the other he was in no danger. Geoff roughly shoved Gavin's bag into his side but stopped when he saw the hybrid cowering away.