This was one of the first stories I ever wrote. I posted it on DeviantArt way back in the day, but this time around, I decided to combine it with the sequel and break it up into smaller chapters for this website. I fixed the multiple spelling and grammar errors, but other than that, not a thing was changed. I hope you like it! :D

I wiped sweat off my forehead as I leaned over my work on the rusty metal bench. I felt so calm when I was working. It always kept my hands busy and my mind full.

I was born with a deformity, and because of it, no one could stop teasing me. Everyone would always find some new way to torture me whether it was insults, or physical damage. Ever since my parents died, I've been all alone in this horrible neighborhood. As soon as I get enough money I'm leaving!

"Prower!" I snapped my head up to find my boss in the doorway of the small room, "Why aren't you working on those projects I gave you!?"

"Uh...I finished them." I replied.

"Oh really! It's been fifteen minutes!"

I looked down into my hand-held, "I know..."

He glared at me, "Your telling me that you fixed the air conditioner, rebuilt the cyber-drive converter and fixed the computer from MechForce!?"

I nodded.

He gave me one last evil stare before he left the room, most likely to make sure I was telling the truth, and as soon as he was gone, I got right back to work. I was trying to upgrade my hand-held's signal strength so I could connect to something called "The Internet". I wasn't sure what it was, all I knew was that it required a very strong signal in the middle of nowhere.

My boss came back and angrily crossed his arms, "You were telling the truth...how do you do it!?"

I said nothing as I let my arms go limp at my sides.

"Tell ya what kid, I'll let you go early today, but I'll have a test for you tomorrow. We clear!?"

"Yes." I packed everything back in my toolbox and stood up, "Thank you." I left that place as fast as I could. I love mechanics, but that place is just horrible!

The way home was rough, as usual. You got your typical stuff like street gangs and druggies, then there's the old man who yells at everyone and the hungry blood hound that lives down the street. There are also some things like corrupted police men and the humans who can't stand anthros like me. I live in the rusty abandoned garage at the end of the road. It's not much, but I make the most of it.

I grabbed the handle on the garage door and managed to lift it a couple of feet. I slipped under the door an let it close behind me. I pulled the thin chain in the middle of the room and the light bulb hanging from the ceiling lit up, casting a dim glow on everything in the garage.

Most of it was full of spare parts that I was incorporating into my machines. In the corner of the room there was a pile of hay and wood chips that served as my bed, and there were metal boxes where I stored some of my tools and wires and stuff.

I got out the project I had been working on for the past few days and got to work. I recently found an old box of paperclips and decided to put my skills to the test, I was trying to build a TV.

I was busy stretching out the wires and connecting them together when something occurred to me. I would need a power source. I rolled my eyes, I guess I'll have to make another trip to the junkyard... I thought bitterly. I hated the junkyard because it attracted things like dogs and rats and spiders and snakes...

I wanted to finish my project though...

Going to the junkyard this late at night would be risky, but mechanics are all I'm good for...My entire life revolves around that skill, and if I gave up on something like this when I was so close...

I gathered my courage, and packed my rusty toolbox with a wrench, a screwdriver, and a crowbar. Then I slipped out of the garage as quietly as I could and made my way to the junkyard.

My stomach growled, and it made me realize I hadn't eaten anything in 2 days. I glanced in the window of a nice home where they were having a chicken dinner. I smelled it from the open window and my stomach twisted into painful knots as I left.

I reached the junkyard without too much trouble, although I was jumpy the whole time. I really don't like rats or spiders, and I was downright terrified of snakes and dogs. I mostly just try to stay as quiet as possible and find hiding places where I can.

I immediately began searching for some kind of power core for my special device. I found a few things that might be promising, but most of what I found was either scrap metal, or it was just broken. I put these things in my toolbox, figuring I could make some use of them. I was looking specifically for a hover craft or a robot, something with an advanced power source, but I'd be lucky if I found something that wasn't completely busted.

It was starting to get dark and I still hadn't found anything really useful. I'd almost given up when I found something promising. It was an old convertible with leather seats. I opened up the engine and found the main power source, which was intact, and yeah, it was broken, but the damage didn't look horrible. I could fix it up!

I retrieved my crowbar from inside my toolbox and tried to free the engine. It took some effort, but I managed to pry the piece of machinery out of the car without making too much noise. It wouldn't fit in my toolbox, so I resorted to carrying it. As I turned away though, there was a big problem.

I had spent so much time getting a power core for my machine that I forgot the sun would set...

It was too dark to see anything...

I shivered in the cold and my stomach growled again. I was feeling sick. How would I get back? I didn't have my flashlight with me because I didn't want to get caught. How was I ever going to make it back!?

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, and began to slowly retrace my steps. Every once in a while, I'd step on something sticky or slimy and my stomach would turn. At one point, I felt something on one of my twin tails and I had to swallow my own heart to keep myself from screaming.

I also managed to run into something sharp from time to time, and I flinched at the unexpected pain. This was not a good place to be, especially at night. I also ran into a few dogs and would barely escape with my skin. I was so terrified the whole time, and I was just wishing I could be home already.

I finally escaped the junkyard and made it back onto the street where my garage was. I got inside and collapsed.

I held the power core close to me. Had it been worth it? I looked at my legs, which were badly cut from my escape. I also had a few dog bites, and oil had stained my orange fur. My shoes were covered with unidentified green and red goop. I felt my stomach flip again.

I bandaged my wounds to the best of my ability and scraped the goop off my shoes. I added some of my finds to my scrap pile, and put the power core next to my paper clip creation. I also made a mental note to bring my flashlight next time, the risk of getting caught would be better than that.

I looked down at my stomach and noticed I was getting really thin. I hadn't been eating anything lately, and while I didn't eat much anyway, I just wasn't making enough money. I lay down on my bed and curled up into a ball. I was ready for this...it happened every night...

Tears filled my eyes and soaked into the fur on my muzzle. They fell slowly at first, but pretty soon they were like mini waterfalls. I whimpered under the pain in my chest and the hunger in my stomach. Just once, I'd like to fall asleep feeling warmth and not the biting cold of the old garage.

There it goes...