Clawess's POV.

The brown haired human male pet me gently. I was a bit jumpy at first but as I saw he posed no threat, I began to relax.
A blonde haired human female watched us curiously. "So she just jumped into your arms?" she asked. Most stray or owned cats quickly picked up on human language, and since I've been a stray for my whole life, I understood them clearly.
"Yeah, there were a bunch of cats chasing her, I don't know, maybe she went into their territory? I can't think of any reason why so many cats would go after one young female.." The Brownfur said. The blonde female was clearly his mate, and was much taller. I decided to call her Blondefur and her mate Brownfur.

"What are you going to do with her? You know Abby is finishing college in a couple of days, and she's coming straight home. And if we keep the cat here too long, her fur will be everywhere and Abby will start having allergic reactions." Blondefur said.
Brownfur nodded thoughtfully.
"True. I guess we'll just see what she wants. If she doesn't wanna go back on the streets because of those cats, we'll find someone to take her in." Brownfur replied.
I smiled at the two humans. It wasn't that common for a human to be so thoughtful about a cat.

"Until then, let's get you cleaned up." said Brownfur. He picked me and I grumbled in discomfort. He carried me past Blondefur, a baby that slept in a cot in the corner and up the stairs. The walls beside the stairs were lined with photos in frames of humans and an occasional animal.
Finally, Brownfur stopped and put me inside a large wide bowl. It was more oval than round and the material of it was slippery. I tried to put my claws into it for grip, but my claws couldn't peirce it. Brownfur grabbed a large hose and began spraying water on the opposite side of the bowl I was on. Seeing the water cover the bottom of the bowl made my mind flash with memory. This was a bath! I'd heard of these, and they're dreadful from what I've heard!

The water dripped towards me and I shook my paws to get rid of it, but as more and more came, I knew I couldn't stop it from coming, so I relaxed. I had never been one to hate water. I mean, don't get me wrong I strongly dislike it, but I don't hate it like other cats.

After the bath, I looked at my reflection in the water that drained from the bath.
My pelt was cleaner than it had ever been, and my colours really stood out now. My fur was soft and you could see its health.
I smiled happily, I looked better than ever.

😻😾😻😾

Drake's POV.

The night breeze blew gently against my fur. I crept closer to the edge of the humans shed. The only way inside was from a window on the second story, cracked open very slightly. I wasn't certain I'd fit, but it was my best chance. I jumped off the edge of the shed and grabbed onto the roof that stuck out at the top of the first floor. I climbed carefully, with my body close to the tiles beneath my paws. I got to the top of the roof and jumped onto the balcony. On the balcony was the window. I jumped onto the window sill and slid through the cracked open window. I slid through, groaning as I got stuck for a second.
I jumped through and landed on a soft carpet. There was a bed and stuffed animals on it. Dresses and colouring pens were scattered around the floor messily.

I sighed frustratedly as I dodged the toys. I reached the exit to the room and quickly ran out and downstairs. Once I reached the bottom I saw the kittens. Five slept peacefully on the torn leather cushion that lay on the floor where I'd seen them earlier. The sixth kitten, the trouble maker, was in the cage. He rammed his head into the back of the cage, hissing at it. I rolled my eyes at the fiesty kitten. The humans were nowhere in sight. Thank the stars. I padded up to the cage. "Hey Kit, stop hitting your head before you lose it." I said blandly.
The kitten turned around and frowned at me, with a mixture of curiosity and determination. "I can't just lose my head! It's attached tightly to my neck!" he said.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah yeah, whatever, you wanna get out or not?" I said impatiently.
"How can you get me out?" he challenged.
I raised a brow at the challenge and took out a claw, putting it into the keyhole of the cage. "You can pick locks!?" the kitten exclaimed in excitement.
"Yeah, how else do you think I get cats like you free?" I said, letting the sentence hang as I unlocked and opened the cage door.

The kitten walked out and jumped around in excitement. I walked over to the five kittens. "Hey!" I said loudly enough for them all to awake. They looked up at me drowsily. "What?" one asked.
"You gonna escape with us?" I asked.
"No way! The streets are ugly! I wanna stay here!" another said, and the other's nodded agreement. "Ugh, come on! It wasn't really a question! It isn't up to you whether you feel like disgracing the name of cats!"
I hissed quietly. The kittens rolled their eyes and growled at me. "Leave us alone before I call my humans!" the biggest one threatened.
"psh, you wo-"
"HELP!!!" the kitten yelled.
"Aye aye aye! Ssh!" I hissed angrily. I heard the footsteps of the humans coming towards us. "You little rats!" I hissed bitterly.
The kittens smirked at me as I scrambled towards the trouble making kitten that slashed the cage playfully.
"Come on kitten!" I hissed and grabbed him in my jaws, running up the stairs with him.
"I have a name you know!" the kitten complained.
I ignored the kitten and jumped out the window and onto the roof as I heard the humans stomp into the room. I jumped onto the shed then the ground, then ran onto the streets. I puffed tiredly as I lay the kitten down. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" the kitten growled. I sighed. "What were you saying? You have a name?" I asked as I yawned and lay down. "Yes, my name is Arc." The kitten said, satisfyed that I was listening to him.
We sat quietly for a minute before Arc sighed. "What's your name?" he asked.
I groaned. "I'm Drake. And rule number one when you're around Drake, is no useless chattering."

April Bluebird/BlueWhiskers1.
Collared Victims.
Chapter 2; Arc.
23.1.2020.
1159 words.