"Stop! Stop that boy!"

Heads turned as a young boy in a long, shapeless brown cloak raced by followed by palace guards.

0000

Jasmine smiled and ran faster, making sure to keep a grip on the food she'd grabbed. The guards always assumed she was a boy, why she had no clue. You'd think they would have eyes. She skidded around a corner and ran straight into Razoul (I think that's his name), the head guard

"Got you, street rat!" Razoul snarled.

"That's what you think." Jasmine told him, keeping her voice low.

Razoul reached out and grabbed her wrist. "You won't escape this time, boy." Suddenly, he released her with a yell. He spun around, looking for his attacker.

Jasmine stifled a giggle as she bent down and scooped up Rajah, her cat and accomplice. "See you, Razoul!" she called as she darted around him, then ducked into a small alcove to hide.

She heard the footsteps of the guards run past, then fade away. She waited a few minutes to make sure they were gone, then left her hiding spot. "Come on, Rajah, let's go home."