Hey guys! Yeah it's been a while. I've been kinda neglecting writing a little, but I haven't forgotten about it! I currently have another story that I'm working on, so I haven't been updating this one. But here's the second chapter!

Willow wolfed down what everybody would call a pitiful breakfast. A stale bread crust and a wrinkly, old apple she found next to a trash can. She sighed. It wasn't much, but it was something. It was what you got when you lived on the streets, hiding in the shadows, trying to survive.

Willow wiped her mouth and went to search for something to drink. Some fairly clean water would be nice. She clutched the golden locket with her name engraved in it. That locket was the only thing she had from her real parents, who died when she was just a baby. She grew up in the foster system, where life was more horrible than you could ever imagine. Switching from house to house with abusive foster parents, never settling down anywhere. However, in Willow's experience, being in the foster system wasn't nearly as bad as living with her adoptive parents.

When she was 11, a couple adopted her. They seemed nice enough at first, but Willow later realized that the only reason they wanted her, was to have somebody to work for them, and someone to physically and mentally abuse. She remembered whenever she did even the slightest thing wrong, they would take out a long knife and cut her, until she got on her knees and begged for mercy.

It was until she was 14, when Willow realized that she couldn't be kept in that horrible place anymore. So, she ran away as far as she could. Now 16 years old, the female gorilla has lived on the streets of Zoopolis for 2 years, scavenging for food and clothes, and staying hidden. Willow doesn't know if they're even looking for her, but she can't take any risk. She cannot be found.

Willow was deep in her thoughts, until she came across a fountain in front of a large, very fancy house. She ran to it and bent down to drink. Hurrying so that she won't get caught.

She finished her drink and straightened up, looking at her reflection. She winced at the large, hideous scar that ran across her face. She looked at herself more closely. The rest of her body was also covered in large scars. They were partly covered by her fur, but were still noticeable. Those scars were the knife wounds that her adoptive parents gave her. They marked the story of her life: 16 years full of physical and mental abuse from everyone she ever knew. She was ashamed to even look at herself! She was so ugly! Willow quickly turned away, with tears in her eyes. She clutched her locket again, thinking of her birth parents. They were probably to only ones that loved her. She knew they were the only ones who loved her.

Deep in her thoughts, Willow, somehow, remembered the lullaby her mother used to sing to her every night. She sat down at the edge of the fountain, and started to sing it.

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,

Smiles await you when you rise.

Sleep,

Pretty baby,

Do not cry,

And I will sing a lullaby.

Before she could get to the second verse, Willow felt something very hard hit her side.

"SCRAM!" she turned to see an angry male gazelle dressed in an expensive looking suit, "GET OUTTA HERE, STREET RAT! BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!"

Willow, frightened, turned and ran away as fast as she could.

0000000000000000000

Willow returned home, or, really, the park bench she would sleep on that night. She looked at the spot on her side where the gazelle threw something at her. It would leave a big bruise, but it didn't seem serious. She ripped off a little part of her shirt, soaked it in a puddle, and put it on her side to cool it down.

After about an hour, it was mostly dark. So, Willow decided to go to sleep, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day. She lied down in the park bench, closed her eyes, and hummed her mother's lullaby to herself as she drifted off to sleep.