I ran. That's all I could do. Run. They were catching up quickly, unsurprising, seeing the state I was in. One ear totally shredded, a cut above my eye dripping blood. I shook my head every few seconds, indirectly giving them a fresh trail. My right back leg was completely ruined with muscle torn away from the bone. Finally after what seemed like miles I finally saw somewhere that I may be able to loose the pack of Pollicles, a junkyard of moderate size.

Half an hour earlier.

I knew that last place wouldn't be safe, but that's what I lived on wasn't it? Danger. The possibility that I could die any day, and the hope that it wouldn't be this one. The Docks that I was living in this last week were grimy, but not the worse I had seen since I had been … unemployed, but I knew that now was the time to move on. This new area which I was walking the streets of seemed to be a good one for me, no sign of any Pekes or Pollicles, or, as a matter of fact, any stray cats.

I glanced around the corner of the alley which I was currently situated in to see just what my nose had been leading me towards, a house which obviously had never seen a hungry cat pass its doorstep. Sitting on the windowsill was a raw leg of lamb, left unprotected.

'If they're stupid enough to do this then they deserve it stolen.' I muttered, taking a moment to wince at how scratchy my voice sounded before jumping up to the closed window, surveying my reflection for a second. I did not look bad, per se, but definitely different to how I used to look. My short ebony coat no longer glistened as it did when I was well fed, but was a matte black, sticking out at odd angles to my skin where patches had only recently grown back. Though my body had definitely taken a beating my face still looked almost the same, sharp angles and a regal gaze, though the once kind glow in my eyes had hardened through the hardships I had experienced.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts and moving to the bottom of the window, which had been left open a crack, and pushed I open wide enough for my purpose, preparing to grab the leg and retreat just as a strongly accented cockney voice spoke behind me.

'Oi! What're you doin' with my lunch?!' I turned to look at the cat who had called out to me, the leg still in my mouth, and was suitably unimpressed with what I saw. Two average sized tabbies looking up at me, the female being the one who had spoken, and both bristling. I dropped the leg and snagged it in my paw.

'Pretty obvious is it not? I am stealing it.' My voice still held the upper class lilt of previous lives.

'You ain't stealin' from us!' The male joined in, crouching as if to jump and grab it.

'Oh. I apologise.' My face twisted into a malevolent expression, 'I did not realise that I would offend two house cats.' He glared up, indignant, as I continued. 'Well, so long. Farewell.' I leapt down, sprinting off, not watching where I was going. They may have been tame cats but they both looked strong and I knew I was in no condition to fight them.

I arrived in an alley and settled down to eat, only to be interrupted once again by a bark. I hissed, moving to stand and suss out my attacker, only to be pushed back down by a pair of paws and a yapping to ring in my ears. The Peke on top of me moved its head closer and I felt its breath on my neck as it went to bite the jugular, only stopping an inch away as I went limp. It loosened its hold, giving me the opportunity the push up with my shoulders and throw the moderately sized dog off before spinning on my hind legs to catch it across the muzzle as it latched its teeth on my leg, tearing through the skin. At the shock of the blow it pulled back, ripping more flesh but letting go before lifting itself up to hit down my head, all of its weight going into the blow.

'Is that… all you… got?' I panted, feeling the old cut above my eye reopen. A second later the Peke was joined by at least a dozen more creeping out of the shadows. 'Why can I not keep my mouth shut?!' I muttered before turning and sprinting away.

I ran for my life through the junkyard, making my way half way through it, until I reached the top of a junk pile, before I realised that the Pekes were no longer following but whimpering, standing by the gate but refusing to move any further. I had no clue why they weren't following me but I didn't really care as long as they had stopped. I allowed my legs to collapse under me and whimpered pathetically, seeing a flash of black with leopard spots before I blacked out.

A/N: The name of each chapter will be a song and where its from/ who it's by. The message of the song may be completely different from what is going on but if it is connected then there will be a ) at the end of the title and I suggest you listen to the song while reading the chapter. xoxo