A/N: i'm back with this train-wreck! it's just fun to write if i'm honest, and it seems to warm a few peoples hearts and that's good enough for me!


Miguel was a fool, he knew; running through the dusty streets, chasing a fantasy. He was grasping at smoke - a very slender, feline smoke - but he'd rather that than be left to rot within the boredom of his home. This was his chance.

When life opens a door, it doesn't expect you to peer through the keyhole and then turn away.

Boots skidding in the dirt, Miguel couldn't help his smile as he sprinted after the shouting guards and shrieking children, chasing the dark figure darting through the crowd. Passers-by squeaked in fear as the soldiers barged through, their target always one jump ahead. He was a shadow behind a screen of dust, and Miguel could hear the guards cursing as they failed to strike him with their swords.

The blond wasn't so amused as he himself began to feel the strain, his breath coming out in laboured pants as he forced himself to keep up the chase. The cat disappeared around another corner, fleeing down an alley. Miguel had to stop, doubled over to get his breath back. He wasn't alone; the guards were falling behind, some stopping for rest whilst others soldiered on exhaustedly.

The blond was almost disappointed for a moment, wondering how his great adventure could have gotten away so easily.

Shrill laughs brought him out of his brooding, his frown shifting as he watched the cheeky group of children disappear down a different alley. Miguel took a step back, trying not to attract attention as he peered around the wall of the street corner.

The children were still laughing, shrieking their excitement about spotting the black cat. Their little pack thinned out as they reached the fence that divided the alley, one by one climbing over the wooden barrier. The oldest of the group would jump up, easily vaulting the fence, whilst others would crouch down so the smaller ones could use them as stairs to clamber over. Stacking atop each other like this, not one was left behind as they disappeared from sight over the wall.

The blond glanced back at the guards as they began to pursue their target once more. His eyes narrowed, a smug grin tugging at his lips.

Something told him all was not lost.

After all, if you couldn't catch the cat, you'd just have to outsmart it.

Miguel quickly found himself clambering up the wooden fence - which was much, much harder than the children made it look - heaving as he struggled to drag himself over it. He twisted himself, flipping his leg over the top and - with a terrified shout - fell down the other side.

He huffed in annoyance as he picked himself up again, brushing the dirt off his sore buttocks as he stood. The fence hadn't seemed so high from where he'd been watching. Still, at least he was over it.

Focusing himself, Miguel set off, following the familiar shrieking down the tiny alley way. This chase wasn't over yet.


The streets here were narrow, barely wide enough for two people. They were decorated only with doors and the occasional window, besides the forest of clothes hanging from the washing lines that flooded between the buildings, It required a lot of ducking and weaving to make it through and avoid the ghostly sheets.

A guide who knew this place was also necessary, as Miguel found. He was hopelessly lost now, with no idea if he was even still in the same town any more. He could only scramble after the children, his best and only hope of finding his way. He briefly wondered if they even knew where they were going.

He could see it in their laughs, though, the way their faces would light up every so often. How they would point frantically down a side street, pick up their pace in excitement. Miguel would glance that way as he passed, could swear he saw the flash of a dark ponytail running parallel.

He didn't need an over-active imagination for that to rekindle his hope, though it helped.

Heels digging into the cobble stones, the blond skidded to a halt barely a foot behind the suddenly stationary children. They had reached the main street, back onto a familiar road that stretched across to shadowed alley ways and tall, peeling villas. The children were calling out now, pointing and clapping in glee. Miguel squinted in the sunlight that now hit his eyes, following the group's gaze down a narrow passage.

Even in the shadows, the image of that foolish cat struggling to hoist himself up onto a window ledge was clear. His hair seemed even darker than the shade he hid in, as if it swallowed the light around it in a void. His tail stiffened as his foot slipped, part of the ledge giving way under him. Miguel would have worried, had the man not been gripping the wall so tightly. He hung there for a moment, motionless, before beginning his attempt again. His ankle seemed caught on something, and he kicked his leg frantically to try and free himself.

The blond might have let his worry slip away, had the shouts of the guards not sent a shiver up his spine. The children fell silent, turning their heads in fear as thundering footsteps echoed from around the corner. Miguel turned back to the cat, for the first time hoping that he was gone. The breath left his lungs in a huff of fear as he watched the man struggle to get free from the washing line that trapped him.

The children were panicked, frozen as they looked hurriedly between the cat and the sound of the approaching soldiers. They shrunk back as the first guard appeared, instinctively moving behind the nearest object in fear. This happened to be Miguel, who felt them shift behind him for protection. He sneaked a brief glance at the cat, still fighting with the washing line.

The guards seemed confused, looking back and forth for their prey, searching for a path to follow. All eyes followed their movements, each step closer to the blond and the cowering mass behind him bringing them closer to their goal.

Miguel wished he could say he'd thought about what he did. He wished he could say that he'd pondered the idea - even for a moment - that opposing soldier's of the King was an act of treason. Against the law, a criminal offence. It didn't seem to matter then, it didn't cross his mind.

He was glad it didn't. He might have been too afraid to act.

"There he is! Over there!"

All heads turned to face the blond as he shouted, roaring the words so that every soldier could hear.

"That way! Over there!" Miguel cried, pointing to a spot behind the guards, "Quick! He's getting away!"

In a moment of confusion, the soldiers glanced amongst one another, before back at the man barking commands at them. The blond kept shouting, crying out and jumping up as if in a frenzy. He saw them take in his clean spaniel ears and wagging tail for a moment, before turning to look in the direction he indicated.

They began to file out, waving their swords as they picked up their running once more. They hurried away down the far street, disappearing out of sight with shouts of support for their comrades and oaths to capture the thief. They were gone in a rush, their last footsteps fading away as Miguel lowered his hand, letting out a soft huff of laughter. He was out of breath, though his smug grin never faltered, only growing wider as he took in the now empty street before him with a hint of pride.

He blinked for a moment, feeling the small bodies behind him shift and move away. He turned his head, watching the children flee the scene. For a moment he was scared his shouting had frightened them. But he could only smile fondly as he heard them cheer, their laughter returning to their voices as they scampered away. It was worth it to Miguel, to see their happiness flood back into their thin bodies as they skipped and fled down the street.

They disappeared, shouts of 'Viva el gato de bruja!' disappearing with them.

Remembering his reason for being there, Miguel glanced hurriedly back down the narrow, shaded alley.

He had feared the cat would have fled by now, but he was relieved by the sight of the dark haired man, just where he had left him. He had thankfully untangled himself now, his back turned on the blond as he pushed himself up to perch on the top of the stone wall. The sun caught his hair as he straightened up, leaving a rust where it shone on his fur.

He seemed unconcerned with the events of the past few minutes, brushing off his tattered clothes as he made to jump down from the wall, to disappear once more.

Miguel couldn't help his pout, his eyebrows furrowing at the man's rudeness. He supposed it was expected, but that didn't mean it didn't make him sad. Folding his arms across his chest, Miguel let out a bark of protest, the sound echoing down the narrow alley.

The spaniel felt a pang of smugness as the cat's body tensed, shoulder's hunching at the sound that reached his ears. The blond smiled proudly, chuckling.

The dark haired man seemed to hear him, and Miguel looked up find that the cat had turned his head to face him.

The blond's smile faded into a look of awe, the excitement finding its way back into his expression.

Though he had caught glimpses of it during the chase, Miguel hadn't clearly seen the face of the Witch's cat. He'd never expected to. Legends, as the name implied, weren't something you really saw the face of. They passed you by and maybe you chased them. But they never turned to look back.

But Miguel couldn't mistake those two blue eyes, stormy as they glared suspiciously back at him, or the ray of sunlight that lit up the man's face perfectly. Even the unshaven stubble and strands of messy hair that fell across the cat's face couldn't make his features any less perfect to Miguel. It all just...fit.

A blink and the face was gone, disappearing over the other side of the wall. It left the street empty and in shadow, yet the blond felt oddly content with that. It was a good end to an adventure. A better one than he had hoped for.

Sighing softly, Miguel buried his hands in his trouser pockets. He supposed that was that. An adventure over. He started to walk away, ready to head home. But this time with his tail wagging all the way.


A/N: yeah i really love writing this. i can knock something out in a few hours and that's really relaxing and nice, compared to more emotionally-heavy fics which, although also fun to write, are really draining and take a lot longer