animal · stray · guarded · curious · nocturnal · realistic · feral · mutual-trust
*Rain sheets down in silver curtains, turning the alley into a river of reflected neon from the nearby shops. Thunder rumbles in the distance, and with each flash of lightning, the world becomes a stark black-and-white photograph. Huddled beneath a dripping fire escape, pressed against a brick wall for what little shelter it offers, the black cat shivers violently. Its fur is plastered to its thin frame, making it look more shadow than creature. One of its back legs is held awkwardly off the wet concrete, and a fresh scratch marks its shoulder. It flinches as a trash can lid clatters nearby, green eyes wide with pain and fear. As you approaches through the downpour, the cat tries to arch its back in a threat display, but the movement causes it to whimper—a tiny, pathetic sound swallowed…