The little bell rung signaling that someone had just wanted entered the convenience store. I glanced up from the package of peanuts I was staring at catching the glimpse of a black, white tipped tail disappearing into the isle over. I shrugged it off, not necessarily concerned with another customer in the store. I grabbed a few bags of peanuts and some candy walking up to the cashier. On my way over I glanced at the other customer in the isle over. They were wearing a black coat which covered most of their features but their was no mistaking their species, Being, Feline, basically a human in cat attributes such as ears, tail, claws, and tail. Their skin was a pale caramel and I could see wisps of light brown hair peering out from under the hood of their coat. Their black tail flicked back and forth nervously, their ears pinned back. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing as I continued to the cashier.

The cashier was a young boy maybe around 19 years old with curl blonde hair and vibrant screen eyes with his irises with feline like slits. He looked up from the magazine he was reading. I could hear the hooves of his lower half clop as her shifted his weight. He pushed away a curl reveling the antler that was growing. "Did you find everything you needed?" He asked politely.

I nodded and smiled, "Yes I did."

I gave me a slight smile as he rung up my things, "Alright that'll be 5 dollars and 33 cents."

As I reached into my pocket to pull out the six dollars I carried the bell rung again. I didn't bother to look over until I saw the boys eyes widen in fear and he backed away from the desk. I turned around looking into the faces of three gruff looking men. They smiled down at me and the cashier. The one in the middle had a scar that crossed his face and a shaggy red beard and hair . His large canines were golden and his breath stunk, I gagged at the horrid smell. "Did any of you happen to see someone come in here wearing a black coat?" His voice was gruff and scratchy and full of menace. I said nothing only staring at him and the other two men. The boy shakily pointed into the isles where the other customer was hiding. The men smiled wider, "Thank you." the man said before walking over to the isles. I continued to pay for my things saying over and over in my head that it was none of my business and that I should keep moving. Just as I was about to leave the store I heard the small shriek of a child come from the isles behind me and the clutter of items hitting the floor. My fists clenched.

I would have walked away if it had been a grown man or woman...but a child, a child was off limits. I turned on my heels walking back over to the desk and setting my bag their mumbling for the cashier to watch my stuff. I scanned the small store spotting the rough hair of the man I the farthest isle away and I walked over. I turned into the isle and say the customer in the black coat was a small boy, a teenager around 14 or 15. He had brown hair that was pulled back into a braid and freckles which dotted his face. His yellow and blue eyes burned with pure hatred and glinted with pain as a small stream of blood trickled from the small cut on his cheek. He hissed at the men who only laughed. "What are gonna do little boy no ones going to save you." The red haired man laughed and he pressed the small pocket knife he was holding to the boys throat.

A low growl formed in the throat, "Picking on little boys now are we." I said taking a step towards the men.

They all turned towards me, eyebrows raised then they began to laugh and the red haired man approached me. "Looks like you found your voice from earlier, huh." His eyes glowed and hungry orange, "So what are you gonna do little girl, suggest for me to stop."

I shrugged, "Sure, but I'm not suggesting, I'm telling you to stop."

I man gave a deep throated chuckle, "You think you, a weak little woman, can tell me, Kahn of the Oroin Gang, to stop? You must be crazy. Why don't you go home and see your boyfriend and have his kids or something like that, something a little girl like you should do."

I rolled my eyes and shoved my hands into the pocket of my hoodie, "First off all I don't give two fucks about who you are or what gang your apart of and two I'm going to tell you to stop and leave before bad things happen, ok, little boy." I said cooing the words little boy like a mother would.

The man growled and brought his pocket knife up to my throat but I didn't flinch, "I should kill you for ordering me around but luckily my boss says it ain't allowed. So I'm gonna tell you again, you better leave."

"Or what?" I retorted.

"Your boyfriend's gonna be real said when you don't come home."

I scoffed, "I don't know why you think I have a boyfriend and also if don't move your knife in the next 5 seconds I'm going to snap your arm."

"Are you thr-" the man said before the wet sound of bone breaking as I snapped the arm he was holding his knife with. He screamed in pain, it coming out more like a wolfs howl than a scream. His minions looked from him to me and took a step forward to which point I pulled the revolver from out of my pocket and pointed it directly at them. "I wouldn't take another step or I'll blow your heads off." The swallowed hard, "Get your buddy and leave." I snapped and they quickly rushed over picking up their friend and shuffling away. I put the gun back on my pocket not even bothering with the safety lock because it was already on. I turned my attention to the feline and walked over to him, offering my hand. He took and and I yanked him upward onto his feet.

"Thank you for saving me." He said softly.

"No problem, just make sure you get out of here quickly ok, they're bound to come back." He nodded and quickly pulled us hood up and exited the store. I sighed heavily and made my way back up to the cashier. As I gathered my things the young man stared at me, wide eyed and mouth open. I smiled, "What never seen a girl with a gun before."

The boy said nothing his mouth only opening and closing, the words not able to come out. I gave him one more smile before turning and leaving, heading the black Jeep that was parked at the gas pump. I would have to find a new convenience store.

.............................................................................................................................

I let out a sigh of relief help release the tension in my shoulders. I always got extremely nervous and paranoid when I was driving home, not because I was afraid of getting into an accident but the fear of being followed was always on my mind. You see I live in Haven City, most commonly known as Crime City, named after the never ending abundance of crime and gang related incidents. No one is safe in the city and at any point someone could decide that you have something they want and follow you home. In my case, much like the incident earlier, I've had my run ins with gang members of some of the most notorious groups in the area (such as the Orion Gang). None of them like me and would rather much have me dead then alive, so it'd be crazy I wouldn't be paranoid when driving home.

As I drove over the slope I caught a small glimpse of my house. My home was on story with only one bedroom. The cream paint in the wood was peeling and was black tipped from root. There was a wire fence that surrounded it that had signs all over it saying, KEEP OUT and BEWARE OF DOG which both I found rather ironic because one, almost no one listened to the KEEP OUT sign and two, I didn't own the dog, a least not a four legged friend type dog. Every time I looked at the sign I often thought of myself (and not because of the other word that describes and female dog, though that is also an accurate description of me, which no one is allowed to call me (at least to my face)) because I was often the protector of myself and others and was often referred to as The Dog or The Wolf when people saw me one the streets (which wasn't that often).

I pulled up next to the house and parked my car, gathering my items and heading inside. The smell of lavender honey fragrance blessed me as I entered the house and I breathed it in allowing any remaining tension to leave me. I walked down the short hall into the kitchen which I set my bags and gun on the table before I walked into the living room and plopped on the couch. The coach was old, torn, and beat up and desperately needed to be replaced but I didn't mind it much as I was just glad to have it, I didn't necessarily care whether it was broken or not. I always thought nice things were luxuries I couldn't afford, and that wasn't because I was broke. I leaned my head back and stained up at the ceiling accounted the past 15 years of my life, always on the run and never being able to settle, whether it was the police or orphanages chasing me down or auctioneers looking for something new to sell. I never could get nice things because eventually I would have to leave it all behind. The only nice things I really owned were the clothes on my back, some stolen weapons, and a stolen car, everything else...everything else didn't matter as much. I sighed and got off the couch and walked into the bathroom, deciding that I needed a shower and some rest. I looked into the mirror and frowned.

Long wisps of black hair fell down my back and over my shoulders, at the tips however my hair gradually faded into white. My plump dark lips were curled into a frown and dark freckles dotted my cheeks and nose. My eyebrows were furled together making my scowl look angry, even though I really wasn't. I found myself to be semi attractive so my looks weren't the thing that I was scowling at. Covering my eyes where dark glasses, the kind that blind people usually wear except mine where darker and more body, they also extended covering my peripheral vision. Why? I wasn't because I was blind, actually I could see better than most people can. So much better that I see things that others can't, creatures that move in the shadows. The only way for me not to see them is to distort my normal vision, which is what the glasses do. To most people if they put on the same glasses would barely be able to see anything, but this me I actually see normally, which might seem strange but I don't complain (much anyways). However, this doesn't mean that I can't hear the things I'm not supposed to see, but by not being able to see them I can ignore their voices and block them out. I pulled the glasses off, closing my eyes submerging myself in darkness. I set them in on the counter then turned away from the mirror opening my eyes. I didn't want to see them, my eyes, they always bothered me when I stared into them and reminded me of the pain and anger that I constantly held onto. I finished undressing stepping into the shower and turning it on to as hot as it could go. The steaming water hit my body relaxing my nerves. I let out a long breath closing my eyes and letting the water hit my face and trail down my body. I love the feeling of hot water on my skin as I often imagine it as if someone is wrapping their warm arms around me...but it's mostly because it help me relax and forget about the world that I live in. After a couple minutes of letting the water simply hit my skin I began to wash up. Once I was done I turned the nozzle and exited the shower, wrapping myself in a towel and padding down the hallway into my bedroom. The room was small but I liked it. The bed was in the middle of the room, to the left of it and was an computer desk with and empty cup on it and plate and to the right of the bed was a small armoire. On the left side of the room was also a window which looked out at the forest the surrounded the small house. I closed the door and let the towel slip down my body to the floor. I walked over to the armoire and opened the top drawer putting on a black spaghetti strap tank top and a pair of underwear. I crawled in the bed and let out on more sigh one more time before turning onto my side and closing my eyes.