(Childhood)

A/N- Dedicated to @dxxdylove for being the first to add this story to a list! Thanks for the support!

By the way, you're around ten in this chapter.

- Your POV -

The rain pelts down on top of you, and, at this point in your journey, you are thoroughly soaked. The cold water mixed with the chilly wind makes for unpleasant weather to be travelling in, but you couldn't care less. I can't believe I made it.

You deftly duck into a dark alley, and wait a few seconds before doubling back and then silently trekking to a street you haven't been on yet. If anyone was following you, then they certainly aren't now. You've been wandering without any purpose except to evade and confuse anyone that may be pursuing you for hours now.

Suddenly, a loud shout scares you out of your senses. You bite your fist in order to avoid screaming and run as fast as you can. An intense pain grows in you as your body contorts and rearranges itself into another form. Now, as a small, wet and dirty dog, you continue running, swifter on these paws then you were on human feet.

All is quiet. Your heavy panting fills your ears, as you run into another dark alley. The pain from your shifting has disappeared now, but you still remember it. Whimpering, you press against the ground in the alley beside a church-like building.

The unforgiving rain presses down harder upon your small dog form. In your head you're crying: from joy or fear, you don't know. But, to the cold, rainy night you're just a lost puppy curled on the ground in the rain. Hunger gnaws at you. I should've eaten before I ran away, you grumble in your head.

A sound catches your attention. Shuffling footfalls and a sad, pained whimper. You know these sounds, noises of abandonment and abuse. Cautiously, you position yourself so that your back is to the wall. The whimpering stops for a second, and the footsteps slow.

"H-hello?" A young voice calls into the dark.

The whimpering stops for a second, and the footsteps slow.

"H-hello?" A young voice calls into the dark."Are you lost?" His voice is gentle and soft but has a slight tremble of unspilt emotions.

Glancing up at him again, you make a choice. A choice to trust this strange, sad boy.

You slowly crawl forward until your muzzle bumps his knee. The heavy metallic scent of blood fills your nose, and you notice that his hands are bleeding from small cuts all over his palms. You look at him sadly, and gently lick his thumb to show that you're friendly and won't hurt him.

He smiles faintly, and gently pets you, trying his best to not hurt himself more. He lets out a sharp hiss of pain, which scares you.

Shrinking back, you bare your teeth and look at him in fear.

"No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. . ." He apologizes quickly and then breaks into tears.

You are instantly at his side, leaning against him and nuzzling his arms.

No, I'm sorry.

His dark brown eyes land on you as he cries and he wraps his arms around you. You wag your tail and smile a puppyish smile. You feel terrible about getting him even wetter and muddier, but you feel happy that you can comfort him.

After a little while of sitting out in the rain, he finally says, "I-I have to go now. . . I'm sorry I can't help you. . ."

It's okay, I'll be fine.

"I hope I'll see you again," he pets you one last time before walking away.

I hope so too.

~

After he left, dawn came swiftly, scaring away the cold and the rain. Unfortunately, you still haven't shifted back into human form. So, stuck as a puppy, you wander around New York City, looking for food. You still haven't found any and it's been a few hours. Looking both ways before crossing the street, you find yourself before a bunch of apartment buildings. You sit down for a second to rest your weary paws.

"Aww, hi honey! Are you lost?" A kind woman's voice says.

You turn to face a nice-looking lady with a kind face and beautiful hair.

"Oh, you think it's beautiful? I was a little iffy on the style."

Wait, can you hear me?!

"Of course I can, silly! I can read minds. Oh, how rude of me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Queenie Goldstein. Wanna come inside? It's better in there and nobody'll stare."

Upon reading my mind, she quietly leads me into the building.

"Can you change back now honey? And I'll get you some food. Wow, it's been that long since you've eaten? Don't worry, I'll make something great for ya." She says kindly, with a brilliant smile on her face as she takes her wand and magically starts preparing a meal.

You breathe in deeply, focusing on being human. You imagine your toes, your knees, your stomach, your chest, your hands, your arms, and then your head. You struggle to concentrate while the pain ravages you. With a final cry, you open your eyes and find yourself human again.

Luckily, whenever you shift back into human form, your clothes magically return.

"Oh, honey. That really hurt, didn't it?" Queenie asks you, concern etched on her face.

You nod slowly, trying to refrain from crying.

"Hey, hey, it's okay now. I won't hurt you, and you're safe here."

Glancing at her nervously, you bite your lip.

"Gosh, you're just a kid! You shouldn't have to go through all that. . ." She whispers more to herself than to you.

Ashamedly you duck your head, "P-please don't."

Now it's her turn to bite her lip, "Oh, I'm sorry honey. I can't control it, and, well, it's easiest when you're hurting. . . Here, have some food! I made your favorite."

Throwing caution to the wind, you take the plate of delicious-smelling food and start to consume it. It's gone in no time and you find yourself sitting at the table across from Queenie with a full stomach.

"Thanks, miss," you say after finishing all your food.

"Call me Queenie, honey."

"T-thanks, Q-queenie."

"No problem, it's the least I could do," she says, dismissing her kind actions.

You raise your head and look at her, but before you can say anything, she answers your question, "Y/n, of course, I'm not gonna send you back there! Honey, you can stay here for a while until we figure out what to do with you."

Her kind smile and friendly personality have won you over, and now you smile tentatively back at her. You're such an angel.

She laughs, "Oh, I'm not an angel! But I do want to help you if you'll let me."

"Why are you being so nice?" You ask suddenly, catching her off guard.

She pauses and looks at you, her usual smile gone from her face. She takes your hand gently and says, "Because if I were in your situation, I'd want someone to help me too. And, you've never had anyone be kind to you and I want you to know that not everyone's like those awful people at the circus."

You flinch at the mention of the circus, the place where everyone tormented, abused, and mocked you for years. Your own parents sold you to the circus when you were a baby. Apparently, they didn't care what happened to you.

"Hey, honey, it's okay. Tina and I will help you."

You look at her, puzzled.

"Tina's my sister, she'll be home soon. She'll like you, don't worry. Now, you should have a bath, because - no offense mind you - you really need one. And I bet a nice hot bath will help cheer you up. C'mon," She motions for you to follow her and you do. 

A/N- So, what do you think so far?