Being passed from hand to hand. Being used as a chew toy. Being accounted as a creature of lesser importance. That was easy enough to tolerate. Easy enough to excuse. They were only human. As flawed as they seemed to think he was for being born without any clearly defined purpose.
It was the fact that he was completely over looked that had finally broken him. He was “The Cull”. When they spoke of him there was never even an accompanying glance. He was neither the subject of their frustration, pity or—as if a Cull were ever to warrant it—affection. He was nothing. Nearly invisible. And how anyone could live a life being hardly noticed was beyond him.
Even now as the humans passed in the street they never spared him a look. Not even to wrinkle their nose in disgust. As if it were easier to pretend he wasn’t there.
His human hadn’t even come searching for him.
The stray had a feeling he wasn’t going to.
One less mouth to feed, right?
The crowds were starting to thin out as the first drops of rain began to fall. High fashion humans disappeared quickly through the doors of shops and Inns to avoid the weather as if they would melt. Well, all but one it seemed. A sidelong glance drifted down the street where a tinkering melody flowed from a lean figure standing at the opposite corner. Unlike the others his clothing was faded with wear and less extravagant yet he stood with purpose. Fingers lovingly leapt across the strings of the long necked instrument in his hands yet the others paid him no attention. Their eyes avoided him, seeking anywhere else on the street to engage their vision.
We aren’t so different. The dark Mokai mused dryly, gathering himself to find shelter from the water that threatened to weigh down an already heavy winter coat But fate, fate has a funny way of changing lives in the blink of an eye. Sometimes in ways one would never expect. His changed with the warmth of a song.
♪ Should I pretend I can’t see you?
Avert my eyes while you hide in plain view? ♫
Avert my eyes while you hide in plain view? ♫
Castiel chuckled quietly at the way the bewildered Cull stared at him from the opposite end of the street, fingers stilling over taut strings. If he didn’t know any better he would have thought the mangy looking Mokai actually understood him. I suppose stranger things have happened.
“So I finally got your attention, it’s about time! I’m Castiel.” Shrugging the strap of the instrument over his shoulder the struggling musician had an inviting smile. His clothes, like the Cull’s fur, were beginning to grow damp from the trickling rain revealing a thin frame that could have used a hearty meal no less then the runaway did. Yet despite their similarities, the dark furred Mokai felt awkward to suddenly be the focus of a human’s attention. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a name?”
Even if I did, there’s no way you’d ever know it. A hesitant look stated clearly from intelligent brown eyes, ears angled backwards with uncertainty at the unfamiliar human’s approach. Humans were creatures to be leery of in his experience, though this one had an easily likeable manner about him. Even a bit charming, perhaps, though it seemed not to extend to others of his kind given how desperately they tried to ignore him.
“I don’t see a collar..” Castiel mused to himself while stretching his neck to glance around the stray this way and that. There didn’t seem to be any identifying marks of ownership at all, collar aside. “But that bite look fresh.”
Crouching to one knee a breath hissed through his teeth grimly at the idea of where the mutt could have been before now. What people did for amusement was upon themselves, but Cas has never much cared for the idea of the pit fights. He stayed clear of the arenas to keep from being associated with that sort of entertainment. Watching those wary eyes stare at him cautious of his intentions and more than a bit defiant the blonde snorted humorously. “You know, you remind me of someone back home.”
Should have figured you’re not from around here. A snort slipped from the Cull, shaking his head to dislodge the droplets of water that clung to his nose and whiskers, bending them with their weight. The rain was heavy enough that only he and the human remained on the otherwise ghostly bare street. Muzzle twitching at the corners as a hand was extended towards his head. He wasn’t sure how to react to such a gesture. No one had ever raised a fist to beat him, but neither had he ever been offered affection either. Quizzically knitted brows formed under the palm ruffling the thick fluff of his forelock. Why?
“I think it’s about time to find some shelter,” Castiel chuckled, though he felt a pang of sadness for the stiff way the Mokai sat beneath his touch, completely unresponsive to being pet. Adjusting the strap across his chest the blonde stood and took a step backwards. Head canting in invitation to the mild-mannered hairball, “Coming with?”
Had he really just asked that? Blinking in disbelief the nameless Cull hesitated a moment where he sat on the sidewalk. Contemplation settling into dark eyes as they drifted toward the side street which had led him to arrive here—where the musician was. The only human who had bothered to notice him today. The first to express an earnest interest. That in itself was something to be distrustful of under ordinary circumstances.
Yet as he watched this curious outsider, rain rolling down his face and dripping from loose tendrils of hair extending a welcoming gesture to him, the lonely Mokai could only feel warmth stirring in his chest.
Hope.
You want me to come… with you…? For the first time in his life the Cull gave his unique tail a flipping wag of optimism. That suave grin widening with delight as Castiel turned his back, now that he seemed certain his new, four-legged companion would follow. Waving a hand to him with a light-hearted laugh. “Heh, that’s more like it.. let’s get the hell out of this rain.”
Word Count: 1.127
