Honestly, I felt more relaxed than I had felt in a very long time as I padded through the busy Twolegplace that next morning, the sun already well-risen, and everything that could possibly stir, stirring.

Once again, I was trying my best to navigate between the countless amounts of Twolegs walking on the thinner thunderpath, but at this point, it just felt like second nature. And anyway, I had veered a little to one side of the path, closer to the buildings, and was out of the way.

And as I passed building by building, simply taking in the surroundings around me as I traveled, I actually was frequently able to spot the cats of BloodClan, I presumed. They either seemed to be traveling themselves, looking for food, or even talking or spitting insults at each other. They all always look like their fur is ruffled... and I mean that literally and figuratively, I thought, licking one of my paws and running it over one of my ears. And they all give off such a... vicious aura.

And clearly, they weren't welcoming, to say the least. However... I actually could admire the fact that they were so territorial, in a way. I mean... once you're in... you're in, I guess? And you're welcomed.

But with how little I still knew about these weird Twolegplace cats, I decided that I couldn't ponder it all very much. And anyway, I found that I suddenly couldn't think about anything else when I suddenly heard a very loud growl come from my stomach. Darn it... I thought, letting out a nearly inaudible hiss. I forgot that I'm hungry again...

While the meal that Scourge had basically won for me yesterday had definitely held me over for a little while, but I now found that I was just as starving as I had been before then. But where the heck am I going to find food now?

I honestly was a little reluctant to grab food from one of those large green objects again, let alone look in one of those dark gaps in between buildings. Clearly, nothing good lurked there, and I wasn't going to take any chances.

So, once again just like yesterday, I had absolutely idea where to start in finding a meal. I had subconsciously been looking around all morning already, with no luck at all.

That was, another somewhat unfamiliar, yet delicious scent began to flood through my nostrils. It actually smelled similar to what I had eaten yesterday, but smelled so much nicer and sweeter, and didn't have that twang of crowfood mixed in with it.

Now determined to follow this scent, I padded forward, the aroma luckily growing stronger with each pawstep that I took.

And almost immediately, it led me to a... quite strange sight.

Just a few fox-lengths in front of me was a Twoleg, standing just at the edge of the smaller thunderpath that I was walking on. The Twoleg, one that appeared to be a male, had what looked like a very, very small Twoleg nest in front of him – it was the only way I felt I would describe it to another cat.

It had a square part that had red and yellow stripes along it that went up to the Twoleg's flank, with four very thin silver trunks that stretched just a bit higher, that eventually all met with a roof that was also yellow and red.

As weird as it all was, I was certain that I'd found the right place – that amazing, warm smell fully emitting from it. And to add to that, I quickly caught sight of dozens of the small pieces of meat piled together at the top of the square part, just in front of the Twoleg and where his paws were, steam fluttering atop of them as if they were still fresh and hot.

Gee... I could practically feel my mouth watering, and my stomach growled once again, almost on cue.

I then felt my stomach sink a little bit as something hit me. How could I possibly manage grabbing one with that Twoleg standing right there? If I simply padded up to it and leapt up to them, the Twoleg would surely retaliate somehow, whether that was by shielding the food or swatting me away. Hm...

Quickly, thank goodness, I decided that I would need to go with the element of surprise, making sure that the Twoleg would be so caught off guard that he wouldn't have time to react.

Still thinking fast, feeling absolutely starving at this point, I actually decided to start climbing up the building behind the Twoleg, which was luckily made of some sort of rough stone, and was easy to grip.

I began to climb slower and slower the higher up that I was, trying to figure out just where I'd have to be in order to leap down at the right place and not crash into the roof, the square with the food on it, or the Twoleg.

Instinctively, after a few heartbeats, I came to a stop, my claws sinking as best they could into the stone next to me. I then looked over my shoulder and narrowed my eyes – almost as if that was going to assist me in making my aim. As hungry as I was, I tried to take my time and be thorough in my preparation.

And eventually, I attempted to leap down without overthinking it, quickly becoming overwhelmed with satisfaction as I made the correct landing. Then, as fast as I could, I snatched one of the smooth pieces of meat into my jaws as tried to get out of sight.

And that I did, pelting away and veering around a corner, hoping with everything that the Twoleg wasn't going to chase me. I could hear its angry cries from behind me, which was hopefully the only way it would decide to react to my shenanigans.

Thank goodness, I could be almost sure that the coast was clear when I finally slowed down, backing into a small gap between two buildings that actually didn't stretch far, or go back into the darkness. Rather, it just ended in another red-colored stone wall that only stretched about a tail-length back.

Now settled, I eagerly dropped my catch, so excited and so proud of the scheme I had just pulled. Time to feast! I thought excitedly as I bent down to take my first bite.

"What do you think you're doing, Mist?"

I paused, my jaws still open as I gave the largest roll of my eyes. You have got to be kidding me, I thought, immediately recognizing the voice that I heard.

And sure enough, when I closed my jaws and looked up, I immediately saw the black pelt and piercing blue eyes of Scourge approaching me quickly, looking hostile and confrontational as usual. And I hate that it's gotten to the point where I can say "as usual", I thought bitterly. He may have saved me from a dog, and he may be really fun to tease, but there is still so much of me that for some reason assumes I'm never going to see him again when he leaves, and when I do see him, it feels like each time is too soon.

However, I tried to cling onto the fact that he wasn't the most unpleasant presence as I let out an annoyed huff and gestured to the food at my paws. "I may be passing through, but I most certainly can't do it on an empty stomach."

"Sure," Scourge nearly hissed, taking a glance down at the food, and then back at me. "But what makes you think that that food is yours?"

For a moment, I could only shake my head slowly with my mouth open, but no words coming out as I grew immensely confused by that question. "...I caught it?"

"In my territory!"

I then raised my eyebrows in complete shock, suddenly feeling like I'd been slashed across the face. "Excuse me?" I exclaimed. My gosh, I don't know how many times I've already said that to him.

Despite my bewildered response, Scourge continued, scolding me as if this was something I very well should have been aware of. "Any food caught on these grounds comes to me first."

"But I don't live here!" I quickly retorted. "I shouldn't have to follow your rules."

Scourge gave a sharp lash of his tail, his eyes still blazing. "Doesn't matter."

"I'm just passing through. How many times do I have to say that?"

"Doesn't matter!"

I then found myself having to suppress a frustrated hiss. Goodness, I've spent so much time trying to ruffle his fur that I forget how much he already ruffles mine. "Oh my goodness, why?" I asked frustratedly.

Scourge then puffed out his chest, trying to appear larger, surely. "As leader of BloodClan, it is my obligation to make sure that my Clan is fed."

I then narrowed my eyes inquisitively back at the tom. "And me stealing a single piece of meat from a Twoleg jeopardizes that?"

"It's the beginning of that happening!" Scourge then insisted through a hiss.

None of Scourge's words were even remotely convincing, and I actually found myself taking a few pawsteps forward so that I could shield my catch with my front paws. "Well, I don't have some noble leader like you to feed me," I replied sharply, hoping that my gaze looked at least somewhat intimidating. "I think you can spare this one piece, genuinely."

Scourge finally seemed to realize that this argument was going to be a bit more difficult for him to win, letting out an annoyed huff, sitting down, and wrapping his tail neatly around his paws. "I wouldn't fight you on that if I hadn't already witnessed one too many fights between cats over food," he muttered bitterly, looking off to the side.

I simply continued to narrow my eyes back at him. "Wow, you are truly at your lowest of the low."

With those words, Scourge then shot a sharp gaze back at me, lashing his tail in my direction. "I will be if outsiders keep taking our food!"

"Well, then I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do then," I sighed irritably, giving Scourge a shrug. I was still amazed that a cat was capable of being this stubborn and selfish. "To be honest, I could care a bit more about your obligation to feed your Clan if my stomach wasn't growling so badly it was making me go deaf."

Scourge only rolled his eyes at that before I continued, trying to speak more and more calmly – trying a new tactic, I suppose. "If you want me to get out of here so badly, I need to have the strength to do so."

"Geez..."

"And I need to take care of myself, for goodness sake!"

I then flicked my ears, surprised once again when Scourge scoffed in response to those words. "Well, I know you aren't doing a good job of that!"

I then raised my eyebrows, for some reason feeling very taken aback. "What do you mean?" I pressed.

Scourge then let out a snort, his gaze now contemptuous as he looked back at me. "I hope you recall that I saved you from a dog yesterday."

I then found myself taking another step towards Scourge, my frustration rising all over again. "And I hope you recall that I can't fight!"

Scourge then began to shake his head slowly, not being phased by my anger. "Yeah, about that," he then murmured, giving a lick on his own shoulder. "Why not? You seriously weren't taught?"

"No," I replied, trying to ignore the grief that was slowly beginning to weigh down my chest. "And I don't have the so-called intuitive skills that make me worthy to be able to know how to fight, either."

To my surprise, Scourge simply stared back at me as I spoke, only giving a "hm" in reply.

And for whatever reason, that made me feel like I had to press on – a weird feeling of shame making me feel like I suddenly had to explain myself. "And, well... if that wasn't bad enough, I especially don't respond well to dogs."

I then felt my eyes widen, almost immediately regretting my own words as I took a glance at Scourge's collar. The fact that he appeared to have conquered so many probably made my words sound even more pitiful.

But the black tom continued to surprise me when he didn't immediately scoff again. Rather, he continued to stare, his blue eyes dark and narrowed.

"Well, who does?" he muttered, giving another lash of his tail. "But why you, specifically?"

I then found myself giving a small shudder, the grief I had been trying to fight violently taking over as I answered Scourge – the answer being something that felt horrible speaking aloud, as I hadn't had to do that yet. "My parents died fighting them," I forced out, those words feeling like a physical wound to speak. "It happened not too long ago, just about a moon or two."

"Hm," Scourge replied simply again.

And at this point, whether or not the BloodClan leader was actually listening, I found myself going on – these words being painful to say aloud, but equally as relieving. All of this has been pent up inside of me for that moon or two, only being able to come out in my waves of grief I tried to fight on my own. "So, not only have I seen how tough dogs are, considering they managed to get two of the bravest, strongest cats that I know, but just the sight of one reminds me of... all of it..."

I then screwed my eyes shut for a moment, the sadness becoming unbearable. However, I only tried to process it for a few heartbeats before ruthlessly pushing it away and continuing to speak. "So, forgive me for running," I eventually murmured, flashing Scourge a bitter, but teasing look. "I know that's not how you do things."

Not to my surprise at all, Scourge didn't reply with any condolences or sympathy. "Not particularly," he muttered. However, I then raised my eyebrows, yet again surprised as he then took a step closer to me. "They took both of your parents?"

After I simply gave a slow nod, he sat down again and then asked, "Where did you live with them?"

I thought for a moment, eventually deciding to give the tom the same answer I'd given his presumed Clanmates just days before. "Well... nowhere, and everywhere at the same time," I shared to Scourge. "We just wandered as we pleased, settling down whenever we felt like it."

I then gave a shrug, gesturing with my tail towards the busy Twolegplace behind us. "It's all I know how to do, and it's also all I've done since I lost them."

I then found myself blinking in shock, processing everything I'd been doing up until this point, one of them including beginning to tell about my life to a cat that pretty much had shown me nothing but bitterness every time we met. But at the same time... I haven't had a conversation this long with any cat since... since... I then trailed off of my own thoughts for a moment. I don't care who it is – getting to put these thoughts out feels so nice, no matter how unsympathetic the responses I receive are.

However, I still awaited Scourge's response as I watched him process my words. "Hm," he simply grunted once again, his eyes still narrowed. "And you've just been alone since then?"

"Trying to fend for myself the best that I can," I answered the tom with a shrug.

I then took a step back, once again gesturing to my catch on the ground. "Hence, why I am trying to feed myself, thank you very much!"

I immediately braced myself for a sharp retort in return, but instead, I actually found myself shifting uncomfortable as Scourge simply stared at me for what felt like too much time, being weirdly silent.

Not being able to stand it, I tried to break the deafening quiet after a few heartbeats. "What?"

After a few more unbearable heartbeats of silence, I flicked my ears when Scourge finally let out a sigh, standing up. "Keep it," he muttered almost inaudibly.

I had no idea what the tom meant for a moment. "Keep what?"

"Your catch. Keep it."

I slowly raised my eyebrows in complete shock. "Really?"

"Yes," Scourge replied quickly, suddenly acting a bit more authoritative – almost if he were in a hurry and needed to get things done. "Under one condition."

It was now me that took a moment to speak, feeling my stomach twist up into a knot with nerves. "...What?" I pressed reluctantly.

"That you bring it to our main camp."

My eyes then completely widened with those words, and for a moment, all I could do was stand frozen as I watched Scourge turn around and begin to walk away. "Come with me."

I then gave a quick shake of my head to bring myself back into focus, but still having a hard time processing what was going on. "Come with you?" I repeated loudly. "Why?"

Scourge stopped in his tracks for a moment, looking sharply back at me. "If you want to eat, you'll come with me," he hissed through gritted teeth just before continuing in his travel – I guess just assuming that I'd follow him now without any argument.

And despite how flabbergasted I was, I couldn't believe it, but I actually found myself doing that.

I wasn't sure if it was simply out of curiosity, intrigue, or maybe I was just so desperate for food that I'd do anything to get it. But either way... I began to tell myself as I followed Scourge through the Twolegplace. Surely based on what I've just told him, Scourge probably realizes, like me, that I have nothing to lose at this point.