Hunter was strolling along the streets of Nice, between the sea and vendors' stalls. His long blond-gold hair floating in the wind, his blue eyes shining in the sun and his bright smile revealing pearly white and gleaming teeth.

Hunter was tall, very tall, you seldom found someone taller than him. His big brown eagle wings flapped from time to time. The difference between eagles - as well as birds - and other animals, was that their body was not covered in feathers. Their wings was the only means of differentiating a race from another. Hence, this large species contained mammals and their fur, reptiles (although rare) and their scales and lastly birds with their naked bodies and wings.

Hunter heard a laugh, or rather a snicker, he turned back and saw a group of girls looking at him with admiration in their eyes. He slid his hand through his golden locks. He had not had a haircut in a long while. But he liked his hair that way. Cutting it was not an option. It fell below his shoulders, nearly reaching his waist.

"It's ridiculous! You look like a girl," his friend often said.

"No you don't! Don't pay him any mind! You are the best looking guy," his mom would reply.

Hunter started living alone a short time ago. He visited his parents every Sunday because they often worried about him. It reassured them seeing him and feeding him. His guardians paid for his studies, his food, his rent but knowing he was so far away when they were the ones watching over him since birth, troubled them.

Hunter stopped in front of a vegetable stand.

"Hey Hunter! How's it going? Still have long hair I see." The vendor teased him.

"Oh please! Your hair might not be long but your beard is!" Hunter answered back.

Indeed, the merchant had a long frizzy black beard covering his mouth and chin.

"So what would you like today?" The merchant continued, "Take anything you like."

Hunter picked up carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, no endives, he hated endive, and many other vegetables he needed. After paying for his groceries, he continued walking and halted in front of the fish stall. The vendor was the Young Lady of the Port. No one knew her name, but everyone liked her.

She was a cat. She had black fur, green eyes, always smiled, a long headscarf completely covering her hair and she always wore long clothes that concealed every part of her body. She was a mass of cloth from which emerged a little black head, just enough to charm passers-by. Fish always sold well! But she only kept a small portion of the earnings. Rumors had it that she was very poor.

Hunter bought fish and stared at the young woman whose eyes lifted just at that moment, both their gazes met.

I believe if Hunter was ever to meet those eyes again, he would surely recognize them. He was flustered by her innocent stare. The young lady smiled.

"Would you like anything else?" She enquired.

"Oh, uhm, no thanks," the young man blurted out disoriented.

He quickly left the stall and sat on the nearest bench. All afternoon, he looked at people buying fish and the Young Lady of the Port unwaveringly smiling at each customer.

Once night fell, the vendor started packing her things – she had very little actually – and left. Hunter rose and caught up with her. The streets, usually filled with people, were now dark and empty.

"Hey," Hunter started off.

The young woman, startled, promptly turned back.

"Oh, hey!" She answered with an unsettled voice.

"Did I frighten you?" Hunter asked.

"Uhm, I didn't see you."

"What's your name?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Cuz no one knows your name. Everyone calls you the Young Lady from the Port."

"Oh really? Why?"

"Cuz you're young, you're a lady and we only see you around the port."

"How would you know if I'm young?"

"I can tell from your pretty face."

Hunter took a step closer towards her but she moved back. She answered his question.

"Feline."

"What ?"

"My name is Feline."

"Nice to meet you Feline, I'm Hunter."

"Okay... Hunter."

"Do you have any relatives?"

"None around these parts."

"Do you have any friends?"

"Yeah, of course... you!"

"You have a great sense of humor!"

"No! You're the first person in this city that has ever asked me any questions, you know my name, isn't that proof?"

"A lot of people know my name and not all are my friends!"

"Maybe so, but it's not the same for me."

"Why is that?"

"I'll explain when I'll trust you."

"Don't you know trust me?"

"Not yet."

And with those words Feline left and disappeared behind the corner of an alley. Hunter fixed her movements till she was out of sight, then told himself that he was crazy, he did not know her and yet he knew her, his mind was turned upside down. He returned home, his heart feeling happy.

He laid on his bed, and fell asleep thinking of this mysterious young woman that would soon reveal to him all her secrets. She would only tell him, it would be their secret, he would have to avoid others questions, and after that, one day, she would kiss him, it would be great, it would be like an adventure, Hunter dreamed of adventure.

He was totally oblivious that all his dreams would come to life, he could not even begin to imagine how far it would lead him.