Author's Note~

I'm sorry everyone for suddenly disappearing. I was taking a very long hiatus, and unfortunately, a writer's block seemed to strike me. x.o

I promise I'll be writing much more often! I must not disappoint! *holds up gleaming sword*

Anyway, this is a little story with lots of love and comfort in it. It's about a stray kitten that roams the snowy streets of New York City. What happens when a sweet girl takes it home, but has to keep it a secret? How far will she go to actually keep the secret?

Just read on. Relax, read, and review!

So cold. So cold. And so hungry. I really didn't how it was possible for me to survive in this city full of humans and weird vehicles with glaring lights and more people. There were absolutely no animals here.

I don't really have a name - at least, I don't remember the name Mother gave me before she left me and my five other siblings. Of course, she didn't leave us without teaching us the basics on how to survive in a city. It really is a cruel, sad world, where I occasionally see animals; a stray dog or two.

I walk on my cold paws and enter the alley in which we all live in. I propped my front paws on the rim of the box and peered in, giving the others a soft mew - an indication that we should go get food from the garbage. It's the same routine every morning, midday, and evening.

The garbage cans in which we approach is nearly frozen - the lid is sealed shut with a thick strip of ice. We cannot tip it over, simply becase we're not strong enough.

There are six of us, including me. The strongest and oldest is Frost. We all line up behind him and try to tip the garbage can by pushing Frost, who is butting his head against the garbage can. Doesn't work.

Then there's Moon, the smartest out of us. She advises us to push the garbage can over to the curb and tilt it out so it spills onto the road, but then the cars will run over everything and it will all be smashed to pieces.

Rock, Tuna, and Grace are the three tricksters - and have mischevious minds. They suggested to go steal in the nearest bakery, they had their fresh batch of bread ready. Though me, the most reasonable and the youngest one, say that we shouldn't risk it.

I missed the days when we were all in that cardboard box with Mother, nursing from her. Everything we needed was from her: warmth, food, and protection. Before she left, she taught us how to fight, how to scavenge, how to huddle for warmth, and how to mark your territory. Though I thought dogs only did that.

My name is Star, and welcome to my world.

The day Mother left was was so distant and unclear, it was like it never happened. But it did. She simply got up from her nest and left, leaving six hungry kittens behind. It's really not suprising - though I think she wants her kittens to learn how to survive themselves. The thought always comforted me - that she was watching us somewhere, keeping us safe in a distance. We've been on our own for five months, so we really don't miss her.

We were all huddled in the cardboard box, which was tucked protectively in a dark alley, shielding us from sigh of the humans that hurried back and forth from the streets, from the cars that whizzed by, from the snow that was descending from the sky. We constantly feared that we would be discovered one day, though there was one time when a little girl was riding by on her tricycle and heard all the mewing. That was a close call.

The snow continued to fall for many days and nights, and the moons were changing their phases. That is how we keep track of time, although it is hard to even see the moon with all of the tall buildings. Being a young cat with all of those buildings that seem to tilt over you can make you feel intimidated. It shows how powerful humans are.

Tuna is limping over to me (she has a deformed front paw) and nudges a cold slice of ham on the snow, over to me. I feel touched, so I split it in half with my tiny claw and we both eat the ham, together.

All of us are white or light brown cats, well, except for me. I'm all black - black as midnight, so dark that my fur glistens blue in the moon.

So when one day, I wake up, expected to feel five warm bodies against me, against eachother for warmth. But instead, I feel an empty void spot.

I'm all alone.

So what do you think? Poor Star.

Don't worry, good things will happen to this little kitty.

Read and review!

- Lucy