A sigh escaped her lips as she was bustled along by the everyday crowds on the streets. The tightly packed people seemed never to care about anyone or anything so long as they got where they needed to go. Hell, her feet barely brushed the sidewalk from her position in the swarming horde of business suits, thespian wannabes, old shop owners and the like!
Her bag thumped against her hip as she was jostled again by a surge in the masses. Then, out of nowhere, another irritated young kingpin of some backwoods enterprise shoved his way forward, knocking her out of the flow and onto her feet in a nearby alleyway.
Grunting when her knees fell to the unpaved, gravely earth in the alley, her palms stinging on impact, she scowled when her eyes caught sight of her bag (and belongings) all scattered about in the dank backstreet. A bit of sewage leaking from a high-up gutter on one of the nearby buildings dripped into a puddle, her phone, important papers and other supplies all readily soaked in the disgusting stuff.
With a frown, she scooted over and once again strapped her bag over her shoulder, making to collect her things.
She had just picked up her sodden files and office doodads when something emerged from the shadows in the alley.
A little cat, no bigger than the length her arm, stepped out into the orange sunlight bathing the streets. He bowed his head and sniffed at her phone, that of which was almost half-submerged in a murky puddle. Then he dabbed a paw at the electronic, pushing it out of the puddle and right before her eyes.
A little tentatively, she grabbed her phone, dried it hastily on the inside of her jacket and quickly placed it in her bag, staring with a touch of confusion at the cat.
There was no doubt about it. He was a cute one. He looked like a puffball, his creamy white fur ragged and fluffy on his body. His tail looked like a cloud had permanently attached itself to his body, while his collar was a ring of blackish-purple fluff. The cat even had a pair of oddly sparkling blue eyes, but there was one feature of this feline that threw her off. There were little black markings around his eyes and nose that made it appear as though he were wearing glasses.
...And then the warm side of her heart got the best of her.
She clasped her hands to her chest, sighing dreamily, "Aren't you the cutest!"
Her confusion was multiplied when the cat sat down on it's haunches, eyes going wide in just about as much dumbstruck emotion as she had.
Then an incredibly stupid idea popped it's way into her head.
She pursed her lips. No... I can't do that... she thought. The devil on her shoulder soon replied, But he's so cute! I can't just leave him here!
Then, as if someone were there to see her and bust her on her actions, she glanced from side to side. Looks like the coast is clear! With a bright and excited smile, she reached forward and picked up the cat, holding him to her face. He was a bit heavier than she expected, but not something she couldn't handle. He thrashed for a moment before going still and looking her dead in the eyes.
She checked her cardinal directions once more before nudging open her messenger bag and thrusting the cat inside. The feline was just big enough that his head was able to peek out of the side.
He yowled in discomfort, flashed a look to both sides, then up to her.
She stood up, walking out to the edge of the alley. Even as the crowds kept on bustling, she could see her university in it's full glory just a few blocks down, the rising sun casting the great building in shadow.
Looking down, she whispered, "Sorry about this!" before putting the flap of her bag over the side and latching it shut. Still, the cat inside of her bag was somehow able to peep out, his blue eyes shining in the shadow of her satchel. He strangely didn't seem to mind being put into her purse-slash-bookbag.
Taking her chance, she darted out into an open space in the flow of people, shifting every few moments to take another direction in order to make her way up to her first day in HU, or more familiarly known as Hetalia University.
Breaking the rules on the first day! What a great first impression Aliyah!
/\/\/\/
With a groan, she shifted onto her side and slapped her hand down rather violently on the top of her alarm clock that had been screaming at her for the past five minutes straight. With welcomed and peaceful silence greeting her ears now, she sat up in bed and stretched to her heart's content, picking the sleepy crust from her eyes and brushing the frazzled brown locks from her face.
Then her gaze found the actual time on the clock and panic soon set in.
7:30!?
Anxiety flooding her veins, she practically fell out of bed and leaped into the shower, taking the fastest wash in mankind and grabbing a towel to viciously wipe down the scalding water. Patting down her hair with careful yet rushed strokes, she ran back to her room and pulled out her most favorite outfit, lying it out on her blankets in order.
Pulling on the 'unmentionables' first, she then drew on her blue jeans and socks, sliding into her favored boots second. Then, getting comfortable inside of her lucky tank-top, the shirt that looked as though someone had spraypainted Britain's flag onto the fabric, she slipped into her black blazer. Quickly combing out her waist-length dark brunette hair, she smiled proudly at herself in her dresser mirror.
Girl, you look fabulous! She commented inwardly. Then she reached up and toyed for a moment with the little curl that stood up in the part of her hair. When her arms rested at her sides once again, she sighed. Well... first day of university... whoop-d-freakin' do... her scowl soon faded into a gentle grin. Hey, at least the gang is getting back together. It's a miracle that we all got accepted into the same college!
Reaching for her purse, she collected her keys and phone, stepping out into her apartment's hallway and turning to shut the door. Locking the door securely, she was about to make her way down stairs when the oddest of sights met her.
A tiny little feline was sitting on her doormat; a wonder how she had been able to not step on the thing. The kitty was just bigger than the palm of her hand. In fact, she was convinced that she could hold him in her hand with no trouble at all. He appeared to have been sleeping, now stretching out his little legs and giving the quietest of mewls. When he stood up, he glanced around. His fur was a pale, creamy tan, almost yellow with gradient spots of orange on his left eye and tail. And...
...Aw! the lady's heart melted when she saw how cute the face looked too. His eyes, though black, were little round circles, enhancing the cuteness! And, oddly enough, he had a pair of eyebrows that were a bit thicker than she had been used to seeing, but nonetheless, this was the cutest thing she had seen in months.
She bent down and picked him up, unable to resist a smile when his distressed whimpers came. He flailed for a moment before settling on a hiss, his ears flat against his head. After a few quiet heartbeats, he seemed to relax, if only a little. He let his ears fly back up and he stopped hissing. Then he just stared at her, almost unblinking.
Then a strange sensation overcame her, as if by magic. As though she were being controlled by some outside force.
And then a thought burst into her mind.
She shook her head. No! No! Eliza you bad, bad girl! You can't break the freaking rules on the first day!
Then she saw the cat again. And the strange sensation became a little overwhelming. Biting her lip, she rolled her eyes inwardly and smiled down at the little feline.
"Imma call you Iggy!" she proclaimed. In some form of protest, the cat paused, taking in the words, then mewled again, thrice this time. She giggled. "Don't like it do you? Well, too bad. You're coming with me Iggy."
With that, she clutched the small cat to her chest and hightailed it out of the apartment complex, making headway over to her university. The university of Hetalia.
/\/\/\/
One day, he'd been living a normal life. Well, at least, for him he'd been living a normal life. He'd been traveling around central Europe, about to visit his brother in Germany a few weeks before the next world conference. The next day, well, what do you know, he along with two other friends of his had been turned into-
"Cats?!" the Austrian cried. Well, mewed.
"It is a little distressing, but we need to remain calm." the Hungarian, Elizaveta, said. She padded over and sniffed at Roderich's fur. He had a black, almost violet pelt while his face, underbelly and paws were white. She, on the other hand, was tan with brunette spots and stripes on her forehead, spine and tail. She had been able to keep the little flower that always seemed to be perched in the crook of her ear, the bloom still fresh and in it's rightful place.
Then she glanced at him, stepping over to examine his 'new body'.
The Prussian, now new, improved and in feline form, had short, ragged white fur covering his body. It made him seem so much skinnier now, almost gaunt. He shook out his coat, tail twitching as he got used to the body. When he turned to greet Elizaveta, she noticed a scar running vertically over his right eye.
"So where do we go from here?" she mewed.
"Are we to assume the others have incurred this... transformation as well?" Roderich questioned.
"I'd like to think so, yes." the Hungarian replied.
"I don't know about you two, but this is awesome! I can't wait to show West-"
He was cut off by the sound of sirens.
The trio had found themselves in a gray part of a new and unfamiliar town, the place seemingly deserted and devoid of life. Now, a sudden noise deafened them as they pressed together in instinctual fear.
Turning the corner, a huge van, bigger now from their point of view, rolled to a stop not feet from where they stood. It was made of white metal, huge letters and ominous designs etched onto the side. Even still, the cats saw a pair of rows of little hatches on the van, more noises coming from inside.
They immediately recognized the danger of their situation.
"An animal catcher." Elizaveta breathed. She and the Austrian staggered a step back as the shadow of the driver came ever closer.
The Prussian, however, held his ground. He raised his hackles, ears flat against his head, mouth parted as he began to hiss. Ivory white fangs shone in the white light of the cloud-covered sun, chipped as to show the scars of war.
"I'll cover you guys! Get going!" he snapped.
"Are you crazy Gilbert?!" the Hungarian cried.
"I'll follow you in a bit, just go!" the albino feline arched his back, fur fluffing up. In the back of his mind, he realized how cool this was and how surprisingly well he was adjusting to the change.
The catcher rounded the head of the vehicle, a tall, bulky man in an unforgiving uniform with an unforgiving scowl. The first time, he reached down to collect the cat in a rather peaceful way. In retort, the albino leaped to his hind paws, raking sharp claws down the man's arm and watching him bleed.
The catcher howled in pain, reaching for something.
Gilbert took a step back, his eyes catching sight of the loop and pole the man had in hand. And in less time than he thought possible, he was done with.
The thing caught him around the neck, forcing him to the ground in a strange, paralyzed state.
He heard the Hungarian yowl, "Gilbert!" before she too was taken down along with the Austrian.
One by one, they were thrown without remorse into separate hatches inside the van before they were able to move again. Their stress was relieved, if only a little, when they felt that they were at least in cages beside one another.
There were no holes or windows. Just solid material between them and freedom.
By the time the engine had started up, the vehicle revving and already on its way, Elizaveta and Roderich had both been hearing the same thing.
The smack of skull against wall as their Prussian friend attempted to escape with futile effort.
"Give it up already!" Elizaveta hissed through the walls. "That's not going to work! We need something else!"
Smack!
"Perhaps we can escape as we're being released?" the Austrian suggested.
Thud!
"GILBERT!"
"I cannot be contained..." his speech was slurred a little. "In any... container!" the albino shook his head, clearing it. His red eyes flashed with determination. "You quitters! Have you even tried doing it!?"
Eliza was about to respond when she stopped herself. Well, we don't really have any other options.
So, she backed up as far as she could in the stifling kennel, her hind legs almost touching the ceiling. With a burst of energy, she leaped forward, bashing head first into the cage's door and tumbling out of the moving van. Catching her breath and regaining her senses on the side of the road, she realized that she was free.
Before she lost sight of the vehicle, she started to run with it, yowling, "Roderich! Gilbert! Keep trying! I made it!"
In less than a heartbeat, the Austrian cat fell from his kennel on the van, splayed out awkwardly on the gravel road beside where the Hungarian once stood.
After a time, she gave up. Her running legs slowed to a walk and then a halt as the van drove mindlessly away and out of sight.
She must have stood there for longer than she thought, for she only noticed Roderich standing beside her when he brushed his tail against her.
"Gil..."
"There is nothing we can do for him now." said her only male companion.
Elizaveta would have glared and retorted, but somehow, it seemed that all of her strength had been taken from her.
They were now cats in a strange part of their beautiful world that they did not recognize. Did the others have the same problem? Where were they? And would they ever see their Prussian compatriot ever again?
