I sat shivering in an alley. It was my first winter all alone. I wondered how my sibblings fared in their new homes. If they were being taken care of, if they were loved. Why didn't anyone want me? As the first flakes of snow fell, so too did my tears. Was I not good enough? Was it because I looked so much like my father? Was I not cute like Peeko? Or smart like Haruko? Or fun like Kiyoko? I pulled the tattered jacket around me tighter and huged my knees. My tail curled about my leg. "Fine...I don't need anybody. I can take care of myself."

I didn't last long on the streets. Animal Control picked me up one snowy night. I was half frozen, so I couldn't run away. They tranqed me, and threw me in the cage in the van. When I woke up I was in a white room. The only door was made up of bars. The bright lights hurt my eyes, so I had to squint to look around. "Hey Ed. The little panther mix is finally up." A woman and a man were sitting at a desk staring at me. My ears went back as I scooted to the far corner of my cell. "He's kinda cute isn't he?" The male, Ed, laughed. "Karen you have strange tastes in animals." Karen smiled. "A panther mixed with a cat. Sounds cute to me. I keep picturing a mini panther. Just small enough to lay in my lap." Ed groaned and rolled his eyes. "They don't work that way. Besides he could be dangerous. He is feral you know." I hissed. "Don't talk about me like I'm stupid!" They both blinked in surprise and stared at me. "Did he just yell at us?" Ed nodded. "Told you he was wild. He doesn't know how a hybrid should act." His eyes narrowed as he came towards my cell. "Learn your place cat. There are rules in this world." Tears filled my eyes. "Your rules...not mine. Not my choice. I am more than a stupid beast." He shook his head. "You aren't going to last long cat." He walked away and left me to my corner.

As the days went by lots of humans came to the shelter. Lots of them looked at me. Kids poked at me. I hissed and spit and retreated to my corner. I wasn't stupid. If I kept it up they would kill me. But death seemed better to me than slavery. I was 10 years old by then. It was around that time that rumors of a hybrid radical group started floating around. I'd hear whispers of it from others in the shelter. How they hated humans. How they wanted to be the rulers. How they felt they were superior to humans. I was indifferent. I hated humans, but I didn't want to kill them.

Finally the day of my destruction arrived. They came to my cell with one of those stick collars I saw used in old books. The kind they used to use on dogs. I crouched and got ready to attack. If they were gonna do me in I was gonna make it hell. Ed smiled. "I told ya if you didn't learn to behave things would go badly. Now we gotta put you down. Can't have you hissing and growling at the customers." He came closer and I attacked. He smacked me in the head with the stick. "Bad kitty! Haha go ahead! Make my day!" I growled and bit his hand. "Gah! Little bastard!" I clawed his face, and then his backup arrived.

I was tied down to a table. All my struggling was useless. It was so unfair. My short life...full of suffering and loss. Just to end up locked in a cell and put down like some stupid lower creature. Ed walked up with a syringe in his hands. "Don't worry...it won't hurt. Least as far as I know it doesn't." He chuckled. I watched the needle as he lowered it. Soon...soon it will be over. Finally I couldn't take it and I closed my eyes. My family flashed before my eyes. I wish I could have seen them....

An explosion rocked the walls, and an alarm sounded. Ed looked up startled. A young man burst through the door. His thick brown hair surrounded his face and went down his back in a pony tail. His brown eyes angry. He roared and attacked Ed. His fangs disapearing into Ed's neck. I shivered in fear. Ed fell to the floor. His neck ripped wide open and his blood puddling on the floor. The guy turned to look at me. His mouth bloody. "Looks like you're one lucky kitty." He chuckled. "Just like me I guess." He undid my straps. "Names Leo. I'm the 3rd squad leader for the Alphas patrol group." I shook my head. "You're an Alpha?" He smiled. "Our reputation proceeds us. That's good. Strike a little fear into the human scum. Come on kid. If you come with us you can fight too. Don't you want to make things better? We don't deserve to be treated like this." I looked down at Ed's body, and thought of how he treated me. How my mother's Mistress had treated us. "Yeah...yeah...I want to make them pay." Something about me made Leo pause. I don't know if it was the look I must have had or how I gave my response, but then he smiled. "I think I'm gonna like you....?" I smiled back. "Meeko. Name's Meeko." I had been saved, and I had finally found a place where I belong. Or so I had thought.