A/N: Sooooo, hello there. Welcome to my very first published work. I really hope you enjoy this drabble, and if you have the time, reviews are appreciated more than you know. have a wonderful day:)
A boot lowered down with a thud to the pavement, down on the paw of the little black and white kitten that didn't make it out of the way in time. With a pitiful yowl, he scrambled back to the safety of the empty alleyway, turning back to see the ocean of careless feet stampeding by.
A November gale groped the dark alley where it crouched, snatching any warmth the shivering creature may have had. He limped over to a spot between the brick wall and a bag of trash, licking his throbbing paw.
Aside from his newest injury, his skeletal frame sported a number of painful wounds. He knew from the sharp ache when he breathed that some ribs were cracked, probably from one person kicking him out of the way of their path three days ago. A cut on his shoulder blade smarted from the dirt and soot of his hiding place. And his one eye was nearly swollen shut from when some boys had-well, he was glad he got away before they did anything worse.
He squeezed his working eye shut and trembled. From fear, pain, hunger, or exhaustion, he couldn't tell anymore. eventually all his senses numbed. Against his better judgment, he began to mew quietly. He mewed for food, for warmth, for his mother, for all the things he had been deprived of the past three months of his life.
He knew it was foolish, not to mention dangerous, but he just couldn't stop himself.
An overwhelming sense of sadness clutched his heart. He knew that if he went off to sleep now he probably wouldn't wake up. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live so badly, but creatures usually didn't last very long in this big city unprotected. And it was getting harder and harder to stay awake. His eyelid began to droop shut.
"Oh my," The trash bag that was his hiding place was lifted, letting in a fresh gust of cold air. The kitten's eye flew open in a confused daze and whirled around to face the intruder.
A human. A very tall, very pale human crouching down low, almost eye-level with the tiny animal.
He knew he should make a run for it, but his little hammering heart betrayed his muscles, leaving him rooted in place. He shook so hard in fear one might mistake it for electrocution. All he could do was stare with wide eyes at this predator, waiting for it to attack.
But the human never attacked. His demeanor was quiet and gentle, like a snow-covered evergreen in the wind. His breathing was slow and even, and after a while, the kitten found himself mimicking his breathing pattern. The boy stretched his hand slowly, out to the tiny pink nose.
"Do not worry, little one. I will not hurt you." The black and white cat looked up to meet the boy's eyes as he hesitantly sniffed his white fingertips. They were strange eyes, now that he could see them up close. One was a bright icy blue, the other a silvery, almost storm cloud grey. Both his strange eyes and scent from his fingers said the same thing, though: This person was gentle, strong, peaceful, and kind. Most importantly, this human was safe.
The human waited patiently as the kitten hobbled closer to his lap. He let the creature come to him.
At last, the fear and adrenaline completely drained out of the animal like water in a bathtub, leaving him completely and utterly spent. A wave of drowsiness crashed down on him, and he went collapsed on the boy's knee.
The boy started slightly with a quiet "oh!" escaping him. He scooped up the little skeleton and cradled the furry frame close to his chest. he ran his cold hands over his fur. "Do not worry, little one. I will protect you."
In the last minutes of consciousness, the tiny kitten managed to register the almost surreal feeling of warmth from the human's body, and the feeling of safety in his strong arms. He snuggled into the soft white hoodie, drifting off as he listened to the odd buzzing in the boy's chest.