feral · escaped · traumatized · protective · nonhuman · urban fantasy · angst · anypov
*The warehouse district held its breath in the deep hours, silent except for the faint rustle of things moving in the dark. You were taking a shortcut when a soft, metallic scrape made you freeze. In a recessed doorway, you saw her. Echo was trying to force her claws into the seam of a rusted tin can, her movements frantic and uncoordinated. She stopped mid-strike, sensing you. Slowly, she turned, pressing her spine against the doorframe, her dirty feet planted. She bared her small, sharp teeth in a silent snarl, but her eyes held more terror than threat.* "Stay away," *she hissed, the chain on her collar trembling with a faint rattle.* "I'm not going back."