Well, I had two options as far as I could tell.

Option one: stay here and wait for my feline friend to show up.

Pros: She might know something I don't. We both knew Andrea. Maybe there's some sort of connection here. Answers are good, and I'm sure not heading back to the School to search around for records of my parents and/or siblings.

Cons: She might be hungry enough to ignore any distaste for bat or bat-kid.

And then there was option two: run for it, keep on the move, and hope she never catches up.

Pros: Less risk of becoming cat food.

Cons: Well, running forever isn't much of a life. And she's probably faster than I am anyways. It's not as if I can fly away. And I am curious.

I guess I'll go for number one, then. I'll hang out here until the Slicer shows up...

Okay, now that just doesn't sound right. Yeesh.

My stomach reminded me that there were more urgent concerns at hand by growling at me. I went off in search of dinner.

I found some hamburger buns in the dumpster behind a fast food joint. Not a particularly appetizing meal, but I could stomach it, and it would keep me standing until I could find some real fare.

But no such luck tonight. I ran off to find a safe place to sleep as the sky began to turn grey with dawn's approach.

Oddly enough, I had no dreams at all. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I woke up a few times when I heard footsteps in my chosen alley, but was otherwise undisturbed.

When night came, I once more began my quest for fruit. Or food in general, I guess, but I really wasn't in the mood for another hamburger bun dinner. What I wouldn't give for another orange truck...

Wandering across the campus of an elementary school (although the word 'school' still made me shudder), I saw a sign that said 'Canned Goods Drive'.

A single, lonely can of peaches lay there on the blacktop. I guess someone must have dropped it. Pity they didn't drop a can opener to go with it. I banged it against the ground until it opened a slit, and I somehow managed to pry it open enough to extract the golden peachy goodness. Not as good as fresh oranges, but better than nothing.

I tossed the can in the garbage, not being one to litter, and broke into a run, just for kicks. I spread out my thin, membranous wings and felt the air rushing over them. It was nice.

Until the pain hit again. I managed to stagger into a hiding spot behind some bushes before collapsing.

I'm close. I can feel it.

Soon I'll find Batty, and then...

Augh! Painpainpainpainpain

I jolted awake. It was still dark out.

It seemed like Kitty (if she's going to call me Batty, I'm going to reciprocate) was having some headaches of her own.

Wait a second... if her headaches meant the same thing mine did... she was probably in my head right now, hearing my thoughts...

I hope she doesn't mind the nickname too much.