When Syd came around the corner Kat knew from instinct he had a job for her. This time was different. He had a troubled look on his face rather than his cocky smirks. She could tell that bad business was headed her way no matter what she did, it was all a matter of time.

When the two locked eye contact Kat stood. Syd had been sticking to the wall in order for him to walk. He was limping as if he had been hurt dramatically. Kat, without hesitation leapt from her seat to his aid.

Syd was hurt; bad, but what caused it was truly a mystery. Kat helped him to his feet but it wasn't helping as he could barely even stand.

"What happened to you?" Kat said concerned for her friend. Syd mustered the strength he had to speak.

"..It was the Nevi.. Managed to escape.. but I.." before he could say another word he collapsed from exhaustion. Kat sat him against a wall and waited for help. The feeling of his cold and clammy skin offset her. She thought to herself and wondered why the Nevi have reappeared so quickly. Nonetheless she needed to get Syd to someplace safe.

After Kat had taken Syd to a hospital in the Vendecentre she needed to get home before she too collapses. Her knees shook as she barely had energy to stand. Dealing with Alias and Syd took so much out of her if she didn't get home she would pass out in public, and most likely in an undignified position for all to see. The thought of that kept her awake as it would be embarrassing and awkward to recover from.

Kat enjoyed the silence of her "home." She felt at ease when the pipe was warm and lit up during the night. The feeling of a warm bed to a cold breeze was a feeling like no other. The combination of the two let her and Dusty get some well deserved rest after the day they just had. Although the feeling of balance between temperatures was nice, Kat couldn't seem to get Alias's comment and Syd's injuries out of her head. Something about it made her wonder. She didn't think long before passing out from exhaustion. Dusty stared at the now snoring girl. Even he, a guardian of unthinkable power, needed sleep as well. He curled himself up next to Kat's blonde head and layed there.

Once the duo had woke up, they felt completely refreshed. Kat sat up, yawned, stretched her arms, and sighed. She looked down at the still asleep and still exhausted starry cat. She rubbed her eyes before getting up to look at herself in the mirror. The dark circles under her eyes, her messy hair, and sore body let her know that yesterday was quite the exercise. Of course she wasn't going up into Aludnoir like this. A montage of cleaning herself up ensued as she was ready to head out into the streets of the town.

Even with her morning going particularly well, the thought of Alias was lingering in the back of her mind. It upset her in a way, but she didn't know who to talk to considering the only person she could trust and talk to on the matter was nearly killed in a Nevi outbreak. The thought didn't last long. Before she knew it, her thinking was interrupted by a loud growl, although it wasn't from Dusty. The sound continued until Kat realised that breakfast was the next thing in her daily routine. She held her stomach with a grimaced look on her face.

"Dusty!" she shouted hoping it was enough to wake the heavy sleeper. "Dusty you lazy cat get up!" Her shouting had no effect as the cat wouldn't budge. Kat got slightly frustrated but not enough to be angry. She stomped her foot and called again. "Fine! I guess I'll get some food myself!" Without hesitation the cat's ears shot up. Just by mentioning food was enough to take Dusty out of his hibernation. Kat smirked. "Let's keep this cheap okay- I'm not exactly rolling in money," she said with her hand on her hip.

Soon after the two were in the centre of Auldnoir again. The same irregular statue stood spewing out water. The people were already alive and loud, and the sweet smell of freshly baked goods flooding the centre were enough to make one's mouth water. Kat didn't know what to choose from. There were so many options that it was impossible to choose just one. If she was going to make it work without making too big of a dent in her funds, she would have to.

Before she moved to go to the skewer stand, a sudden feeling of being watched trickled down her spine. Dusty could feel it too. Kat knew this time Dusty wasn't getting worked up over nothing. Perhaps it was the other shifter. Kat looked up and all around but saw only the orange sky and the black shingled roofs. If she was going to confront the black and red girl, she would have to do it on a full stomach. "Let's just get something to eat before anything happens, Dusty," she said while beginning to walk to the stand.

Upon arriving at the stand and getting a skewer for her and her faithful companion, the feeling only became stronger. She was ready for the events about to unfold but when they would do so is what she didn't like. The feeling of that suspense in her mind she dreaded as she wasn't the most patient person. Nonetheless she was prepared.

"Hey you!" A voice shouted behind her and Kat immediately took action. Her battle stance fell flat when she realised it was only a little girl standing before her. To think this was the moment she was waiting for. A confrontation with a little girl was certainly not what she expected.

"Aren't you the one that stopped that bad guy in the factory district?" she said with such enthusiasm. The little girl's eyes lit up as she stood before her idol. Kat stared at the girl. She was relieved at the fact she wasn't up against the other shifter.

"..Um yea, that's me," she replied. She scratched her head as Dusty moved closer to one of Kat's legs. Dusty knew there was something still going on. It may not have been the Gravity Queen's youngest fan, but there was still that lingering feeling that something was off.

The little girl's smile and wide eyes quickly went away as she paced backwards. Confused by the sight, Kat focused on her. Dusty meowed to get Kat's attention. Something about that girl was off. She looked down to her feet to see the cat looking behind her.

"So now you think you're better than me because you have people in this city behind you? Is that it?" a deep female voice announced. Kat turned and was greeted to a clenched fist close to her face. The light blue eyes, and the black and red hair was enough to make her flinch. The moment was loud, and then suddenly quiet at an instant.

Kat regained her composure and lowered her arms to help guard her face from the pulp it could have become. She locked eye contact with the girl in black standing before her, putting a hand up to her starry bird.

"..w-what?" Kat said confused. The girl slowly started pacing around her as if Kat was a cornered animal in confrontation with her doom. Dusty groaned as the bird stared him.

"What makes you so special, huh? Why are you here?" she demanded.

"What are you talking about?" Kat snapped back.

"YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT-" before the girl could finish her outburst a familiar face arrived to settle the commotion.

"What are you doing here old man- can't you see I'm busy?" They both turned to see Gayde standing there with a disappointed look on his face.

"Now, now Raven, you know that Kat here is no threat to you nor I," he said hoping to calm the irritated shifter. Raven unclenched her fist and scoffed at Gayde. Kat was still processing what Raven was trying to get at by what she had said. Their rivalry hadn't made sense to her since she woke up in Hekseville, even after the good deeds Kat had done.

"Raven, we have much bigger problems than your silly competition with Kat," Gayde said. Raven shot both Kat and Gayde a death glance before turning to slightly calm herself.

"If it makes you feel any better I-" Kat was interrupted by an actual hit this time. One straight from the black heels Raven wore.

"I don't need your pittance," Raven said with malice. Kat picked herself up slowly, catching her breath that was knocked out of her a moment ago. At this point there was no calming her down.

"He we go again.." Gayde sighed as he caressed his beard.

So at this point I plan to continue this because it has gotten some good appraisal. The next chapters I'll try to update on a week-to-week basis. I also want to thank you if you've gotten this far. Also, leave any suggestions that you might want in the next chapter or leave any feedback you want to help better the story. Thanks for reading.