He was timid and moved with caution. His footsteps so light against the forest floor that even with his heightened hearing, he could hardly hear them. Breath ragged, hands and forehead slick with a slight sheen of sweat, the boy of unknown origins hid behind the trees as voices were heard through the forest.

The boy closed his eyes and let out a quiet, shaky breath, tail curling slightly as his anxiety rose. The voices got closer and closer to where he was hiding. His body shuddered with fear, exhaustion and from the icy cold wind brushing against exposed skin, silently wishing he had better clothes than the small, thin singlet and baggy shorts he wore.

Looking around, he spotted a tree he could scale up to get out of sight. A better place to hide from the searching eyes looking for him.

His eyes nervously darted to where he could hear the voices and heavy footsteps gradually getting closer, to close. He darted towards the tree, quickly clawing his way up as fast as his body could take him. Taking a deep shuddering breath, the boy tried to settle his racing heart. His tail lazily wagged back and forth against the tree as his head fell back against the rough bark, forcing his body to relax slightly to calm his still rising anxiety. Thoughts of his sister who would always pacify him as a child when he was scared or anxious filled his mind in a flood of bittersweet memories.

After long days of running, hiding and fighting to survive, exhaustion finally hit his body as hard as jackhammers weighing down his eyelids till he couldn't hold them open any longer. Darkness stretched across his vision as he stopped fighting off sleep and finally let blissful unconsciousness consume him.

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If there are any mistakes or any sentences that don't make sense please comment and I will fix or explain what ever I need to!! Hope you guys enjoy!!

~Mousey