Chapter 18: Ravioli: The Meal of Champions

Her entire body was shaking. She didn't expect the nights to be this cold this time of the year. Next thing tomorrow was to get some warmer clothes, but first she had to find a suitable sleeping spot which wasn't that easy to find. The last few places she tried to put up her camp she was shushed away. Called a filthy hobo, that in this city was no place for the homeless. She was called so many things but it still heard. Nobody knew her but thought they had the right to judge her. No one cared that she was still a girl. They didn't wonder what she was doing here out all alone.

Maybe this was for the better. She didn't need anyone asking questions. So far she did well to hide her trail. She hoped the skunk ape secretion she stole from Dyson drawer was enough to hide her scent. At least for humanity she smelled like shit. She was glad that she had read about the secretion a few weeks ago. It came in handy but unfortunately she craved for more. She needed to know more.

Completely exhausted she sank down a building somewhere in a back alley. Days of hiking were taking its toll. Her feet hurt and her whole body felt sore from walking and the sleeping on the way to hard concrete. Hair greasy and body filthy she felt disgusted by herself. She hadn't seen a shower for 9 days. Today she had tried to get into a public bath, but even though she paid they didn't let her in. The public baths weren't a place for a street rat, for scum like her. She definitely needed to get somewhere else. Somewhere nicer. Maybe she could cross the border. As far as she could see it would only be a three day foot marsh. Manageable. She had no real plan. The only thing she was sure about was that she had to get away. Away from the people she cared for. It wasn't fair that others had to suffer because of her.

Being a runaway was already wearing on her and she had been gone only for a few days. How she was going to survive this was still a mystery but she had to make it somehow. A little distance from home were all those horrible things had happened. Away from the fae and their stupid "destinies" She was done with them. She hated leaving Ivy behind but she knew that the girl was safer without her, safer with Rena and Dyson.

She missed Bo and wondered what the brunette beauty was doing now. What she felt. She probably hated her, thought that she had played, used her. Bo. Kind, beautiful Bo. It was like her heart was screaming for her. Stupid teenage love hormones. She had to get rid of them but day after day it hurt more and more to be apart, almost physically. She had to get a grip. This love thing was getting ridiculous. She didn't know Bo very long. There couldn't be any strong feelings yet. Hormones. Just hormones.

Lauren sighed and grabbed her backpack. This place was just as good as any other sleeping space. Rummaging through her bag she pulled out a can of tuna she had managed to snatch from a market. "Come on Dile, feeding time" The little furry bundle beside her moved meowing happily. She had picked that little cat up on her second day on the run. Lauren had found him between garbage, obviously left by its mother it was meowing miserably. Not being able to leave the fur ball behind, the blonde had fed the kitten. Since then it followed her everywhere. She had named him Sindile remembering that she had read somewhere that it meant survivor.

Lauren watched the kitten in silence eating all the fish. Over the last few days she could swear that he had gotten stronger a little. When he was done he jumped on her lap and curled into a ball. The blonde just smiled. It felt good to have companion. The purring of the small cat was comforting and Lauren already felt like she was about to fall asleep when a deep male voice alarmed.

"Good evening" The man slurred. He was visibly drunk and smelled like booze from afar. Lauren tried her best to ignore him. " I said GOOD EVENING" his tone got louder.

Lauren raised to her feet, standing as tall as possible. "What do you want" Confidence vibrated in her voice even though she felt terrified inside.

"Kids these days. No respect anymore" he spat.

"What, do, you, want from me? Do I have to spell it out for you or are you going to answer me" She had already enough. That creep was freaking her out and she just wanted to get rid of him.

"You actually think I want something from a filthy street scum like you?"

"I guess you do or you wouldn't have talked to me. To be honest I'd appreciate if you'd just go, kay?"

"And what if I don't want to go? If I'd want to... appreciate what I see?"

"Fuck of you perv. Don't you dare touching me!" Lauren yelled.

"Touch you?" he laughed. "Oh you wish... I won't touch you. I won't sink that low to touch filth like you."

"You don't make any sense old man and now piss of okay?" Lauren was growing nervous. Dile was hissing at the intruder arching his back.

"Such a dirty mouth for a young girl... A young goddess... What would your mama say about this?" He smirked.

Goddess? What was he talking about? "You are crazy old man"

"Crazy? Well.. maybe a bit... But who wouldn't after suffering centuries in a dark dark dungeon" centuries? Was he fae? Was he sent? What did he want? His body was coming dangerously closer. His eyes were starting to glow in a faint green.

"There are so many people looking for you. Wanting you... An me... good ol' Pete's the one finding the jackpot. Hah!" Lauren felt her body stiffening, muscles not any longer under her control. Shit... Shit Shit Shit... At least the others were safe, or were they?

"Get away from her you shit or I'm gonna cut your fucking balls off!"Pete stopped in his movements. That voice. It sounded like a girl. Lauren peeked behind the guys back and saw a slender black haired girl pressing a knife to Pete's neither regions.

"Faster you fuck" the girl yelled.

"You have no idea what you are dealing with girl. Move and I'll leave you be"

"Don't think so big guy. So you either piss off or you won't be needing any tissue papers when you're jerking of"

Lauren didn't feel the power holding her any longer. She used his lack of concentration and rammed her knee between his legs, causing the knife to "accidentally" peek him in the balls.

"Follow me Blondie" The girl screamed and ran. Lauren just quickly picked up her backpack and ran, Dile on her heels while Pete was clutching his balls, blood streaming through his fingers. "You'll pay for that!"

"Come on cat lady, faster" Lauren was already running as fast as she could but she wasn't a trained runner, never did a lot of sports. Why can't my fae genes kick in in moments like this? "Hope on Dile" she ordered the small kitten which surprisingly obliged.

The girl ran in the open garage of an old warehouse. "In here Blondie" When Lauren was inside the garage door was closed. Heavily breathing the blonde slumped down to the floor. "Holy shit"

"Booooyaaah girl, didn't think you had it in you" the girl smiled at her.

"I thought that was it... god... thanks for saving me.. dunno how I can thank you but... thanks"

"No prob. Street rats stick together, right?" the girl smiled.

Lauren smiled softly. "Yeah"

"Erm.. well don't wanna sound greedy but heroes are hungry too.. You got some food?"

"I do.. Some cans of ravioli, a few tuna cans for Dile, beans and such things..."

"You've got some ravioli? Damn, gimme, gimme... Haven't had some for months and I'm starving.. This city is far from friendly, difficult to get anything and the cameras make it difficult to... get some money"

"The people actually are pretty snobbish..." Dile meowt in agreement.

"So.. Ravioli? I'm hungry, remember?"

"What? Oh yes.. right.. sorry" She got up with her backpack in hand. She pulled out a blanket covered the floor with it and sat down. The big backpack was full of stuff. To find the can Lauren emptied some of it on her blanket, Dile curiously sniffing on some of them.

The girl was impatient, her stomach grumbling. She wanted food. Needed it. She watched Lauren taking out one thing after another but still no food when one Item made her speechless. "Is.. Is that a frigging gun?" She pointed at the towel that got a little untangled.

"No?" Lauren tried.

"You have a gun? How?"

"I... well.. I kinda stole it... from.. from a cop..." Lauren admitted blushing.

"Please, please tell me you're not some kind of serial killer"

"Relax it's nothing like that... So.. hungry?" Lauren tried to change the topic by holding up the can of pasta.

"Starving. Gimme gimme, come on. Pay your hero..." The girl held out her hands. When the open can was handed to her she practically inhaled the food. She looked so thin and fragile. Lauren wondered how long that girl must have been on the streets. She didn't look older than twelve... The world was cruel.

"I still can't believe that you actually helped me. That guy was so... big.. he could have crushed you"

"I give you an advice: Never be afraid of anyone on the streets or you already lost. Be strong or they'll eat you alive. Know the weakness of others, be smart about it, never risked to much when it's not worth.. kay?"

Lauren nodded... "Got that... Oh and before I forget... I'm Lauren and you are?"

"You can call me Kenzi."