Arin stayed hidden in the alley for a long time. The shadow had not moved. Its glowing eyes kept him on edge. The city felt larger now, filled with dangers he could not yet name. Every sound was sharper. Every step, louder. Every movement, meaningful.
He needed food. He needed safety. He needed a plan.
The morning light came weak and gray. Arin padded carefully toward a small bakery. The smell of warm bread made his stomach ache. He peeked inside. A human was busy cleaning flour from the counter. Other humans moved past him outside. No one noticed a tiny flufflet moving along the wall.
Arin grabbed a small scrap of bread that had fallen near the door. He bit it carefully. The taste was dry, but it filled the empty hole in his stomach. Survival came first. He could worry about power later.
Suddenly, a human voice called, "Hey! Small one! Stop there!"
Arin froze. A boy, smaller than most adults but bigger than him, was crouched on the street. His hair was messy, and his eyes were bright. In his hands, he held a scrap of fish.
Arin did not move. He had learned humans could be dangerous. Most would take him for a pet, a toy, or food. He had no owner yet. He could not trust anyone.
The boy stepped closer. "I'm not going to hurt you. Here. Take it." He tossed the fish near Arin.
Arin hesitated. Hunger made his legs twitch. He lunged, grabbed the fish, and ran under a cart. He chewed quickly, ears alert. The boy followed a little, crouched low, but did not reach for him.
"You're smart," the boy said quietly. "Not many pets move like that."
Arin's mind worked fast. Could he trust this human? Maybe. Humans could be useful. He studied the boy from under the cart. His movements were careful. His hands gentle. Not all humans were cruel.
The boy sat down at a safe distance. "I'm Lysa," he said softly. "I see you. You don't have to hide from me."
Arin tilted his head. Lysa? The name sounded simple. Easy to remember. Maybe that was important.
"Do you want to come with me?" she asked. "I can keep you safe for a little while. I don't have much, but I can share."
Arin's instincts said no. Do not trust. Humans took pets and sold them. Humans took pets and experimented on them. Humans took pets and never returned them.
But hunger was stronger than fear. He crept out slowly and let her hand hover near him. She did not touch. Just waited.
Arin sniffed the air. No traps. No hunters yet. He took the small step forward.
"Good," Lysa said softly. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small cloth. She wrapped him carefully. It smelled clean and safe. Not like a cage. Not like the labs. Just clean.
Arin did not fight. He let her carry him. Not far, just a few streets to a small room behind a tiny herbal shop. Inside, it was warm. The smell of herbs filled the air. Sunlight came through a small window. He could see safe corners to hide and soft places to rest.
"You'll be safe here," Lysa said. "No one will hurt you. At least, not while I'm around."
Arin's small heart beat fast. Safe? That word felt strange. Maybe it was real. Maybe it was the first time in this life he had felt it.
He curled up in a small box Lysa gave him. It was soft, lined with cloth. He could feel the warmth and quiet. He could think. He could plan.
"Tomorrow," Lysa whispered, "we'll go find food for real. Not scraps. Real food. And maybe someone who can help you grow strong."
Grow strong. Arin thought about that. He had a skill inside him. Predator's Mind. But right now, it was locked. Evolution required danger. He would have to survive more. Learn more. Train. Grow.
That night, Arin listened to the city from the window. The wind carried sounds of carts, laughter, dogs, and something else—something low and mechanical. He had learned to notice small details. That sound was not normal. Not like the scavengers. Not like hunters. It had purpose.
He pressed his tiny paws to the window. Patterns. That sound repeated. Click. Pause. Click. Pause. Step. Step. Click.
A hunter? A trap? Or something bigger? Arin's mind raced. He had to be ready.
Lysa came in quietly. She sat beside him. "I know you're listening," she said. "You don't have to hide from me anymore. Not here."
Arin blinked slowly. He liked that. But he could not forget the city. The shadow he had seen. The glowing eyes. The whispers.
He needed strength. He needed knowledge. He needed allies. Lysa could be the first. Maybe she would not betray him. Maybe.
The night deepened. Outside, the city moved. The wind carried a scent of smoke and metal. Arin's fur stood on end. Something was coming. Something big.
The soft voice from the shadows whispered again: "Little hunter… your first test begins soon."
Arin's small body tensed. He crouched low. Eyes sharp. Mind sharper.
He had survived death. He had survived the city streets. He had outsmarted the scavengers.
But this was different. This time, it would not be a small fight. This time, it was the city itself testing him.
A shadow moved at the edge of the street. Two eyes glowed like steel. A heavy, quiet step.
Arin held his breath. Lysa did not notice yet. He could not warn her.
Something enormous stepped closer.
And then, in the dark, a voice said, low and clear:
"Show me… what you are capable of, little hunter."
Arin's tiny body crouched. His tail flicked. His mind raced.
He had survived death once. He would survive this too.