Valérie, for his part, often enjoyed the simpler side of existence. The moments where everything slowed down for a little while. And one was left to a moment of calm and peace, they'd most certainly forget. But a moment they treasured when it happened.

Those seconds where all the stress, and pain seemed to melt. And clarity reached the person. Zen, and aligned with themselves however briefly.

Recently, there hadn't been many of those moments. The blue-eyed cat reflecting on this, while stepping alongside the limping girl. Who he was attempting to guide home.

The orange-eyed girl whimpered absently and let out little sounds of pain. Grasping her side, as she went. This was his human, at least in this instance, Aliza.

She had attempted to get food for everyone, however, an angry man in a loud vehicle that come over yelling at her. Hitting her with a bat, out of unbridled anger. Valérie still felt a bit guilty about it.

He had slashed the mans face, to buy them time to get away. But he didn't like violence. He didn't like hurting things, or people. Even the creatures, as vile as they were, compelled some minor sympathies from him.

Aliza staggered, and slumped against a wall. "Va... Valérie..."

"Aliza-" He stepped over. "Oh dear, please get up. We're almost there." She didn't respond. "Aliza?"

The girl seemed to have passed out. Valérie rapidly feeling distressed. He began to mew, and meow, as loudly as he could. Humans often came when they heard such sounds.

The people passing along the street, paying little attention to the alleyway. The cat huffing in irritation, while starting over that way. Only to hear a little laugh from above him.

"You poor smelly cat." The voice, shrill and condescending began. "Did your pet human, fall down?"

Valérie glanced up at the bird. The source of much of his recent irritation. Giving cause to the pulling desire to give into his predatory instincts, and devour it. The pangs of hunger drawing a growl.

"Japhet. This is no time for your banter." The cat proceeded past the bird, which seemed confused. "Aliza is in a dismal state, and I dread something is very wrong."

Japhet, the bird, flapped, and glided to a street light. The shadow he cast, for a moment, being something much larger, more twisted, regal, and horrifying. Unnoticed, and ignored by Valérie.

Japhet stated. "Do not ignore me, you predatory organism." He puffed himself some. "Do you not know who I am!?"

Valérie rolled his eyes, and began to meow again. Wandering up, and trying to get the attention of various humans walking by. They were ignoring him, so he tried to press on their legs some. Either getting shooed, or kicked at.

"Since when are people so rude to cats?" Valérie asked, with dismay.

"They aught to be. You wretched, ball of malevolent fluff." Japhet scoffed, and proudly added. "Unlike me, you are nothing so regal, so revered or respected."

Valérie squinted. "Then you get their attention."

"Why would I do that?" Japhet laughed.

Valérie's tail flicked side to side. His attention falling on the alleyway, where Aliza was still slouched over. The bird once more going into some bluster, he wasn't paying attention to.

Instead, Valérie ran over to the street light, and began to scale the side of it. It was difficult, but not impossible. Especially with the strange hooks on the side of it, he'd seen some humans use to climb it.

Japhet was in the middle of saying. "As far as I'm concern, that little wr-"

Suddenly stopping, when Valérie loomed above the bird. Japhet moving to flee, only for his wing to be stepped on. Holding the avian in place. Valérie's snaggle teeth sharp, his deep blue eyes seeming almost deeper than before. Filled with threat.

"Because if she dies, you die." Valérie offered.

Japhet spat angrily. "I knew you were no better than the wrest of your mangy kind." He added. "Insignificant filth, the lot o-" Valerie moved nearer. "w-woah, hang on for a moment." The bird huffed. "Fine. I'll do you this momentary favor. But know, from this moment further, I shall make it my mission to make your existence, a nightmare."

Valérie moved his paw, and offered no response. The annoying bird puffing himself up for a moment. Before flying off, and down to the street, to go annoy one of the humans.

The feeling of hunger gripped the cat. He had wanted so badly to eat the bird. But, even with how nasty Japhet was sometimes, he really didn't want to hurt anyone. So he buried that compulsion, and the rumbling of his stomach, as he went back to Aliza, and waited.

True to his word, a woman who smelled of sugar was lured to the alley. Discovering Aliza, and making a point to try and help. Valérie made a note to thank Japhet later, though he doubted the bird would appreciate it, considering how the assistance was garnered.

Regardless, he was just happy that Aliza would be okay.