Chapter 1- thunderstorms, woods, and strange kittens

Shivering violently I pulled my raincoat tighter around me. It was a cold, blustery November day and of course, the one day I had to walk back to the house, it decided to rain. Strange, this morning it was sunny. Oh well, welcome to Washington everyone.

Oops, sorry. I suppose I should introduce myself, huh? Well, my name is Winter, yes I know it's a strange name, deal with it. I am seventeen, have long dark brown hair and brown eyes. Pretty ordinary I guess.

Anyways, there isn't a lot to know about me, I'm fairly intelligent, have zero friends, and a little sister who I totally dote on. Yep, pretty normal I'd say.

Well anyways, I was walking home which of course was through the deep, dark woods. Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the point. Ok, I'm getting off topic here.

Ok, so I was walking home through the woods when there was this bright flash of lightning. I don't really like lightning so I may or may not have shrieked like a little girl and hidden behind a tree. I know, sometimes my intelligence astounds even me. So I was hiding behind a tree when all of a sudden the storm was over. I blinked up at the sky that was visible through the trees. Huh, well that cleared out quick. I shrugged and continued on my way home. Hopefully when I got there Saralee, my little sister in case you didn't know or I just forgot since that happens often, would be home and HE wouldn't. I really don't think I could handle seeing HIM tonight.

I was about five minutes from home when I heard it. The sound that would change my life.

I stopped when I heard a faint mewing sound. Curious I followed my ears back into the forest a little ways. I stopped, surprised when I saw a large cardboard box duck taped shut with little holes poked into it. There was a note taped to the top. Curiously, I walked over to it, when I stood right the box the mewing sounds stopped. I reached out and opened the note.

To however finds this letter.

By now I am sure you have figured out that there are kittens in here. If not, well now you know. Please take them home and care for them. They need it more than you may ever realize.

P.S. Have fun naming them

P.P.S Yes, this how they are supposed to look.

I frowned at the cryptic message before turning to face the box once again.

"I should just walk away. There's no way I can afford kittens, even if I can keep them at the hideout." I tried convincing myself.

I flinched a little when I heard a few pitiful meows. They sounded pathetic and frightened, a feeling I knew all too well.

I sighed heavily as I got onto my knees in order to get at the tape better. Who was I kidding? There's no way I'd ever abandon a helpless creature. I began peeling away the duct tape. Once that was off I pulled off the lid and peered into the box.

"Holy shit." I breathed in shock.