# Rei

Author: Devfina
Tags: Canine, Chidrean, Dog, Husky, abandonment, alone, orphan

The droplets kept
coming, drip...drip...drip....its annoying but I don't feel the need to
move anywhere. Yesterday was tiring, running from the cops probably
wasn't such a bright idea when you sprained your ankle the previous day.
Sigh ....I should look around for some sort of duck tape or gum to seal
that annoying leak in the pipe. Sitting up, I look around the dimly lit
room. The only illumination coming from the small window at the top of
the wall opposite me. It looks to be around 8 in the morning, judging by
the light streaming in and the constant clattering of shoes and paws
walking passed, disrupting the path of the light. I looked around my
surrounding, four grey walls, streaked with mold where the pipe leaked. A
rotting wooden shelve I shoved to block the doorway in case of
intruders. Not that it mattered, anyone can easily break down that
shelve and charge in if they wanted to. Of course no one would do such a
thing. No one lived in this building for the past 10 years. Let alone
come hunting for a runaway. I stood up and fold the thick fabric I found
in a dumpster two nights ago. It was not a mattress but it was
something. Looks like another day of prowling the streets for ignorant
and oblivious tourists who are stupid enough to leave their wallets or
communicators in shallow, easy to reach pockets. I tried to make a
decent living, offered to show them around. But no one would pay a child
any head and usually just ask me to help them take a photo.
Looking into the piece
of metal I use as a mirror, I smoothed my head fur and adjust my
clothes. My hoodie was a little crumpled but otherwise it was fairly
decent. I had it since I turned 11 last year. It was a gift from the
orphanage that I spent some time in. It wasn't an expensive hoodie, it
wasn't even brand new. Someone donated it and they though I would grow
into it someday. Back there, they expect every children to grow into
their clothes. We had to take good care of our clothes and learnt to
patch them when there were holes. The people that ran that place always
said that clothes were only as good as they are necessary. There was no
reason to keep buying new ones when we can wear them for a long time if
we learnt to take good care of them. I rolled the sleeves up to my
forearm and adjust the hood. I hated that place. I hated every single
orphanage that I was put into. Some kids grow into the orphanages and
some get adopted really quick. Well, its been 11 years and I have yet to
be adopted. I gave up hope a long time ago and I believe the people
that worked there too. No one wants "a rebellious, good for nothing
mutt" they always say. I guess they were right.
I chuckled at that
thought. Since no one would adopt me and they were bound to kick me out
after I turn a certain age, I might as well leave first. At least, I get
to leave on my own terms. I took a whiff of my pits, probably should
head over to the local pool to take a bath. I love community pools, they
are meant for the people to enjoy but they are also where all the
district homeless go for a free bath. Honestly, those with a house would
rather head over to their neighborhood pools instead. They pay a fee
but its cleaner and rid of free loafers of society.
My tummy made that noise
that I really dislike. I wish I could program my brain to know that
food is not going to happen anytime soon because I do not have the
money. I lost whatever I made yesterday while running from the cops.
Carelessness only meant you do not get breakfast in my line of work. I
picked up the cup I left on the ground to collect the water from other
areas of the dripping pipe and took a sip. One thing great about this
city was that water was always clean and drinkable. That will have to do
till I can get my day's work done. Its the weekend, hopefully I can get
some cash before noon and maybe a slice of bread. If I am lucky, the
baker might not be looking and I could get a free lunch! Gotta save for
the ship that would take me away from this city. As much as I think this
is a real nice place to stay, word on the street is that if you can
make it to this island half way around the world, you can get shelter
and meals in exchange for work done. Although there was no specificity
about what work was to be done, the fact that there was no age limit
meant that I can maybe, just maybe, see my 13th birthday.
I walked the streets as
casually as I can. trying to pick out the easiest target I can find. I
needed someone who cant give chase if they caught me. Sprained ankle and
running had shown to be a bad combination. Every developed cities have
their fair share of overweight people and I am sure any moment now, I
will be able to find one that will provide me with lunch money.
Preferably a tourist because they usually carry large amount of local
currency in their wallets. They usually aren't hard to spot. You can
literally smell a tourist. Its as if when you go to another country as a
tourist, you gain this magical tourist scent that shop vendors, street
lurkers and the likes can pick up and prey on. They also usually stick
out like a sore thumb. The clothes they wore to the bags they carried
usually would stand out from the local population. 
I wondered around for
about an hour before I spotted the round bellied Human man that radiated
that tourist aura. He wore a simple tee shirt that barely stretched
over his belly and a pair of cargo berms that I wished I had a pair of.
They had a lot of pockets that I could put my tools in. I watched him
from a far and waited for my opportunity. I spot it the moment he
entered a crowded alley lined with carts and vendors hollering their
wares. Moving as fast as my wounded leg would allow me, I moved towards
the alley and weaved among the people, closing the distance between my
target and I In a matter of minutes. Sometimes, I am glad that I wasn't
big in size. Thank you malnutrition and older kids who always stole my
food. 
I calmed down and
casually walked up next to the man and bumped into him. I slipped my paw
into his pocket and slipped out his wallet. At that moment he turned
and look over me. Ah, being short had its perks. I took the opportunity
to slip away among the crowd and made my way to the fountain I knew was
around the block. Looks like lunch and dinner was taken care of, the
wallet felt substantial in my hoodie pocket as I skid left and right to
avoid the traffic. Motorist are idiots, trying to drive their
motorcycles among this crowd. 
I sniffed the air and
picked up the scent of freshly baked bread. Looking around, I spot a
bakery not far away. I made my way there and pushed open the doors to
enter. The scent was so overwhelmingly delicious. My tummy grumbled at
that scent. The bakery was oddly packed. Its either they have really
nice bread of the store floor wasn't really big. Maybe a combination of
both. I shuffled around the shelves and pocket a few small buns before
heading to the door. As I was pushing the door to leave, I heard from
behind me, "Hey kid! I saw you took those buns without paying!" Shit! I
pushed the door and hobbled out onto the busy streets and made a mad
dash away from the bakery. I didn't care who was it that called me out. I
just knew that I had to run. I turned a corner and waited behind a
dumpster. After a while, sure that no one was going to find me, I pull
my hood over my head and walked out from my hiding spot. I made my way
to the the abandoned building I now made into my home. 
After pushing the shelve
back into place, in front of the stairway, I took out the buns and
started to munch on them. They were beat up but edible. In fact, they
were rather tasty. But dam, I wouldn't be able to return there. I was on
my third bun when I heard someone knocked on the shelve and the next
thing I knew, the shelve was blown apart and the whole room was filled
with smoke. Men in combat gear rushed in and formed a semi circle around
the entrance. I covered my eyes and clam my muzzle shut. Dam it all
this for some buns? Are you kidding me? 
"HANDS UP WHERE WE CAN
SEE THEM!" one of them shouted. I did as I was told. "I didn't mean to
steal the buns!" I managed to reply as men surround me pointing their
weapons. Some was searching the room, looking for something it seems.
"Where are the others?" The one who shouted at me to put my hands up
asked me. "I am not saying another word without a lawyer. I know my
rights." With that, I clam my muzzle shut and kept quiet. Those
searching the room were tapping on the walls as if they may find some
hidden door. What do they expect of me, hide buns everywhere? Sigh. 
I sat and wait in one of
their interrogations room with nothing but a glass of soft drink. Soft
drinks were an upgrade to what I have had the past few weeks so I ain't
complaining. There was no two way mirror in this room because why would
they need one? Unlike most of the interrogation room that I saw on TV,
this was entirely made of glass. The room itself was fitted in the
middle of a larger room where many officers seems to sit around and
working. A show of wealth and power maybe? Arrogance, that's the fall of
any sentient, disregarding their species. Canine, feline or humans,
they are all the same, coveting wealth and showing them off in an act of
arrogance. I cannot understand these people. All I want is to get by, a
roof over my head and food in my stomach. I mean where else can you
possibly bring your money too after you die right? But then many would
say I am young and do not understand how the world works. Ya, they are
probably right. I do not understand it at all. Maybe the room was
designed to intimidate the people they are going to interrogate. I don't
know. I do not feel intimidated at all. 
A couple of the officers
in suits stood outside my cell and was looking over some sheets of
papers and occasionally pointing at me. I smiled and waved back to which
they frowned and continued with their study of those sheets of papers.
How rude. Not long after, a middle age lady, a little on the plump side,
walked into the larger room with another male. The lady was Human while
the man was a Tiger. Of course a Tiger, they seem to love being in the
profession of enforcing the law, along with the Lions. I rolled my eyes
thinking how stereotypical these people are and took a sip from my
glass. 
The two entered the
glass cell and the lady took a seat to my left while the Tiger took a
seat opposite me. The lady proceed to introduce herself to me. I nodded
and just kept quiet while she address the man. She was state appointed
and would be representing me. They went on to talk about the legal
matters pertaining to the matter at hand and the man left after a moment
and the lady started asking me questions. I told her everything I knew.
Apparently, the man I picked pocketed from was an undercover cop. They
were trying to crack down on a syndicate movement that use children to
steal money from tourists. I told the lady everything I knew and that I
have never heard of something like that. She seem to believe me which
was good because I did not want to end up in some home for something I
never do or am a part of. When the man return, they had a heated
discussion about my involvement in such a syndicate. They were almost
shouting at one another when a knock came and a Retriever entered with a
stack of papers which she handed to the Tiger. After a moment of
looking at the papers, the Tiger nodded towards the door and the lady
went out with them. From my seat, I could see that they carried their
discussion outside the cell and soon the Tiger and the Retriever walked
away. 
"You are free to go but
because you did picked someone's pocket and steal from a bakery, you
will have to go through counseling and stay in a home for juvenile
delinquent until your counselor deems you fit to leave where you will
then be send to an orphanage." She told me as an officer took my prints.
I nodded obediently because I know that any argument or hint of
rebellion and they will put me in cuffs. Worst, they might tag me. They
tag their most dangerous criminals. Its a topic that's always up for
debate in the public sphere but I think its good. Because I don't want
to be sleeping under some bridge and have some crazy lunatic kill me in
the middle of the night. But I don't want to be tag either. Not so much
because I don't have freedom as many would argue but more of because
easier to get jobs when one is not tagged. Sometimes, I work for the
gangs, minor hacking and such and they usually don't hire those who are
tagged because it can put their whole operation at risk. They pay good
money and I want their money. 
The lady took my hand
and led me to the elevator that would take us down to the first floor.
She was going to drive me to the home herself. I played the pitiful and
remorseful card and kept alerted for moments that I could escape. Being
in a home is nice and all because of the food and shelter. But there are
bigger and more terrifying kids in these homes. I am not made to handle
such people. She led me to her car which was parked about a block away
and I knew this would be my chance to escape. She opened the door and I
got in, as she was about to close the door, I pushed on the door hard.
She stumbled backwards, lost her balance and fell to the ground. I got
out of the car and made a run for it, turning back only once to shout an
apology before running for my life down the streets. As it was in the
evening where most people finished work, there were many bodies moving
around on the streets and in no time at all, I was lost among the crowd.

I can no longer return
to the building I woke up in this morning. I decided to make my way down
to the docks where there were many warehouses. I knew a few that were
abandoned and scheduled for demolition next week. But tonight, tonight
one of this warehouses will serve as my bed. Tomorrow I will go and look
for another hole to live in. I took out the money that I had slipped
out the wallet on the way to the police station before returning them
the wallet and counted them out. It wasn't a lot but there were enough
for food for a couple of days. If I am lucky, dinner will be free
tomorrow.   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank
you for reading this short snippet into Rei's life. Next chapter would
be a snippet into Lev's life. As mentioned in the description, all these
snippets happened before the events of Home. These snippets are a way
to help readers understand a little more about the character. Future
snippets would revolve around characters that are either slowly
introduced into Home or characters that are tied to this Universe but
are to be introduce in other future books. 
If you enjoy this chapter, please consider giving this a vote. 
Constructive criticism and comments are welcome! :D

Source: https://sofurry.com/view/907644