A.N. Yay, I wrote a story... Yay, its mainly about a cat... Yay, the prologue is in the cat's POV... Yay, I'm happy! 0///0

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.

Rural Feline

Prologue

The city streets were dark and shadowed. Dim streetlights flickered in the noise filled night as cars roared up and down the road. I curled closer into myself my pointed ears flickering towards people as they hurried by. Slowly I licked one paw with my tiny pink tongue used to being ignored. I was a street cat, born and breed in a dank alley not some cushy house pet mind you I wouldn't mind having someone to take care of me. A friend you could say is all I'm looking for. Standing I stretched out cleaning a spot of relatively soft grey fur. I'm a tabby, mostly grey with black tiger like strips small for my age and I have silver eyes. I looked away from the shop door where I had been examining my reflection and stared out at the crowd. Feet flew this way and that; different smells dragged along with them. One person stood out to me. He was average height for a human and well built I suppose. He had dark brown hair that went passed his ears and a cap pulled down over it. His face was in shadows but his clothes were in plain sight. He had a normal pair of jeans and a button up white dress shirt. It was un-tucked and the sleeves were rolled up. He held a duffel bag over his right shoulder, his other hand shoved deep into his pocket as he walked by. I watched him until he vanished into the tide of people then let out a small meow. A thick leather boot suddenly dropped down near me knocking me against the store door right as someone opened it. With a soft hiss I scampered forward darting through the crowd dodging feet. Without much of a thought I ran the way I had seen the boy going ignoring the ache forming in my side from the boot. After a few minutes of running I spotted him crossing the road at a light. With a determined frown I hurried after not noticing the light changing until a car squealed to a stop about a foot from me. The person inside started honking his horn and yelling at me but I was focused solely on catching up to the guy and keep going.

It had been over an hour and I could no longer find the mysterious brunette. Tired out I slunk into a nearby alley and curled into a tight ball. A brisk late winter wind whipped by sending a shiver up my spine. Tucking my noise into the fur on my chest I closed my eyes, wishing it all away.

"Stupid animal…" someone muttered so I glanced up. Sure enough there was the boy sitting down against the brick building beside me. I meowed in confusion standing and carefully approaching him. He looked at me with deep green eyes and a small smile motioning me to join him. He had one leg bent and his right one, nearest to me, flat on the ground and was resting his left arm on his knee. Placing a paw on his leg I glanced at him to be sure he wouldn't brush me off before huddling into his warmth. Gently he ran a hand over my back chuckling at some inside joke. Deep in the back of my throat I began to purr happily, nuzzling his hand. After a trying day my eye lids began to grow heavy and I nodded off.

I awoke the next morning at early dawn where the sun's first rays had dyed things a milky grey and a fresh mist had seeped onto the deserted streets. Blinking sleepily I looked up at the boy who was wide awake and staring down at me.

"Good morning," he murmured with a quick pet. "But I have to go now. I have a train to catch." He lifted me off and stood grabbing his bag. As he turned to leave I called out and followed him as he walked. After a few feet he stopped and regarded her with a strange look on his face.

"You have no home do you?" he asked under his breath. I tilted my head staring at him blinking pleadingly. "Then you and I are one in the same." He knelt down and gathered me in one arm, his bag still in the other.

"I am on my way to my late father's farm in Forget-Me-Not-Valley to take it over," he had a twinkle in his eye as he explained. "There we may start a new life." Starry eyed I gave an awed meow before licking his jaw line. He laughed happily nuzzling my head.

"My name is Sean." He started off again toward the train station and as he walked I crawled up and balanced on his shoulder. "What shall I call you?" We crested a small hill and found ourselves before a panoramic view of the mountain line that we were to cross cast in full view by the rising sun behind us.

"How about Dawn?" he suggested placing his free hand on his hip. I nodded cheerfully in understanding and purred for him. Close by was the train station nearly empty at the early hour.

"The closest station to that valley is…" the ticket master checked through some papers on his desk. "Ah! Mineral Town….and the next train leaving for there is the next train! It leaves in half an hour." Sean bought a ticket and walked out to the platform to a bench there. Hopping down I sat next to him and watched as he pulled a thin ham sandwich from his bag and tore a corner off setting it down next to me. Nosing the top piece of bread off I began chewing on the meat and he also started eating. We sat in silence enjoying the meal for a long while then when the food was done I sat on his lap and let him stroke me. The sound of a train whistle filled the air and I perked up, ears swiveling towards the noise.

"That's our ride!" Sean grinned gathering his stuff and I retook my position on his shoulder proudly watching as the iron beast called a train puffed up. Standing he approached the door as it slid open, steam billowing about.

"Ticket please!" the engineer held out his hand so Sean placed his on the others palm with a small smile and walked passed him. Taking a seat he let out an obliviously pent up sigh so I reached out and patted his cheek with a stripped paw. His eyes flickered toward me and he tickled my chin with a finger. The train jerked to life almost throwing me off but his hand kept me safely in place.

"I'm just nervous," he confided in me in a low tone. "I've never seen this farm nor have I ever run one…" As he trailed off he started watching the world pass from the window.

We got off in Mineral Town; the day was coming to a close so we made swiftly for the Inn. The Inn keeper was hearty, a trait that seemed to rub off on his daughter a matching cheerful red head that led us to our room. It was large and square shaped with three beds along the back wall and a table surrounded by chairs sat against the left wall but that was it. Also there were two boys already in the room sitting talking in the far left two beds so Sean silently set his stuff on the free one. Carefully I jumped down and pranced across the clean covers breathing in the smells.

"I'm going to get some food," Sean whispered walking out. Curiously I turned my attention on the two men in the room. The closest on had messy brown hair and wore simple brown clothes that matched. The other had tan clothes spattered with soot from a forge and a blue cap like Sean's. They paused from talking as the capped one noticed me watching them and started staring at me.

"Leave it alone Grey," the brunette order in a flat tone half turning to see me. Insulted by the use of it I blinked then did my best at a human glare which had both of them snickering.

"The nerve!!" I huffed flicking my tail at them as the nameless one walked over to me.

"Don't be like that…" he cooed slowly extending his fingers out to me. I ignored them, still quiet miffed.

"Seems you don't have the way with animals you claim to Cliff!!" Grey laughed then added in a joking voice. "Leave it alone Cliff!" Shooting him a look of irritation Cliff kept trying to pet me but every time he neared me I skittered away. Just then the door opened and a girl with long golden hair stepped in. Quickly as I could I ran to her hiding behind her legs and peered out at the two men. Slowly she bent down and lifted me up in her warm hands despite Cliff's warning of me being anti-social.

"She's cute," she giggled rubbing my head. "Whose is she?"

"Mine you could say…" Sean answered walking in behind her. "But she's here of her own free will and can leave when ever wishes." He set a tray of food down on the table then lifted a bowl of milk off to set it on the floor. Hungrily I squirmed in the girl's grip hoping to reach it and with a soft laugh she set me down. I ran to the bowl and began lapping up the sweet liquid letting it dribble down my chin. I could feel Sean watching me with a small smile as he too began spooning soup into his mouth.

"Hello!" The girl piped up startling me. "My name's Hope. This is Cliff and Grey." She pointed to the respective man.

"The name's Sean," my brunette replied. My…? I wonder where that came from…oh well! "And this is Dawn." Suddenly I felt all eyes in the room on me and stopped drinking, a droplet of milk slipping from my fur. Looking up I locked eyes with Mr. Moody, Grey and didn't blink. The staring contest lasted for a few moments before his eyes slipped closed and I gave a mew of triumph returning to my meal.

A.N. So? Good? Bad? Just plain weird? R&R please. No flames please!

TheLastRose