Firin watched other kits play tag below her. From her perch in her tree, she could see all of New Dawn Orphanage's backyard. She wished she could join the laughing kits down below, but she probably wouldn't be allowed. Sighing, she lay her head on her golden paws and stared into the distance.

Suddenly, a shout came from below. "Firin is up there! She's watching us!"

Firin jumped up in surprise. Cats seldom look up... They saw me so quickly! She watched sadly as most of the kits pushed to get inside the orphanage, away from her. A few of the larger ones remained behind, staring up at her, cruel glints in their eyes.

Firin gulped. Nervously, she called down: "Uh, hey..."

The largest one stepped forward. His name was Durrog. "Well, well, well. If it ain't little itsy-bitsy Firin." His cronies snickered.

Firin gazed down at him, trying to look indifferent, but failing. "Hi, Durrog."

He laughed coldly. "Whatcha doin' up there, little Firin?" He sneered. "Hiding?" He looked around at his friends. "I think she should come down and say hello, don't ya, fellas?" They nodded vigorously, sliding out their claws.

Firin shrank back. Uh oh. "Hey, uh, isn't there something you need to be doing?"

"Oh, not at all, little Firin. You know that. How stupid can one cat be?"

I'm much smarter than all of them combined! thought Firin indignantly. She looked down at them. "Well, if you want me to say hello, why don't you come up here yourselves?"

Some hissed. Yep, that hit the spot. Firin knew that no one else could climb.

Durrog acted as if she hadn't said anything. "Actually, don't mind if I do. How hard could it be?" He padded up to the tree trunk and looked up at Firin. He leaped up and dug his claws into the bark. Surprisingly, he didn't fall. Carefully, he moved one paw in front of the other, slowly making his way up the tree.

Firin backed away from the trunk. I'm in trouble now... She watched helplessly as Durrog reached her branch.

He climbed onto the branch awkwardly and righted himself. He looked up at Firin, pride and menace shining in his gaze. "I've got you now, little Firin!"

Firin looked down at his friends below, who were cheering on their leader. Durrog or them? Firin knew that falling from this height could injure her greatly, and Durrog could easily push her off. If she jumped, she might land safely, but then she would have to face all of Durrog's friends, of which there were many. Durrog, I guess. She raced him and puffed out her fur, trying to looked tough. "You don't have me quite yet, Durrog!" She charged at him, tiny claws unsheathed.

He growled and took a swipe at her just as she reached him. His claw sliced through her nose, and she yowled in pain. He grinned maliciously.

Durrog laughed down at his friends. "I'm five moons older than her, twice as old, and twice as big, and she thinks she can take me on! What an idiot!" His friends snickered with him.

Firin licked the wound on her nose and tasted blood. She looked fearfully at Durrog, toughness act gone. "Please... Don't kill me..." she whimpered.

Durrog grinned. "Who said I was gonna kill you? I still want to toy with you!"

Firin made a pitiful sound, causing Durrog to laugh harder.

"Why don't we have some fun?" Durrog feinted at Firin, causing her to make a small cry. He jumped at her again, this time slamming his body into hers. She toppled over, sliding off of her branch. She dug her claws into the wood and dangled there, panic in her eyes. Durrog glared gleefully down at her, raising his paw to strike. She slipped a little further down, making marks in the bark. Lights help me!

Durrog struck her paws, and one lost its grip. Firin was now hanging from one paw, praying that by a miracle she would not fall and die.

Durrog raised his paw again, and said, "Goodbye, little Firin." He brought it down, hitting her paw.

She flinched and let go of the branch. She fell, dropping through the air. She saw Durrog smiling evilly, and then thunked into the ground.

Pain flared through her back, and she yowled. Suddenly, all of Durrog's buddies were on her, slashing anywhere exposed. Firin squinched her eyes shut and cried, tears sliding down her cheeks.

They stopped. Slowly, Firin opened her eyes. Durrog was standing over her, his face right up in hers. He stared into her eyes, well, rather at her violet one. "Cats like you shouldn't exist," he growled. "You're a bad omen, and I hope you suffer for that." He backed away from her and headed into the orphanage, beckoning to his buddies with his tail. They followed him inside, leaving her bleeding into the earth.

When she was sure they were gone, Firin carefully picked herself up from the ground. Blood was trickling out of her many wounds, and stained the ground where she had been laying. She walked into the orphanage, tail trailing behind her. Other cats backed away when they saw her, making the ward-evil sign with their tails. She plodded up to where she slept and collapsed into bed. It'll be no use to get a nurse, she thought bitterly. They'll just run away like everyone else. Why does life have to be so terrible?

She closed her eyes and sobbed until she fell asleep.

A/N: Hope that first chapter intrigued you. Don't you feel so bad for poor little Firin? Anyway, I hope your day isn't like hers. Á plus tard, mes amies!