Chapter 2

In the morning, I woke up between two tall gray blocks. It was a different space between two different blocks, though. In a daze, I glanced up to find Jen standing in front of me holding... something. I couldn't tell what it was. "Eat up!" She smiled. "W- what is it?" I asked, confused and tired. "Scraps from the trash cans, silly. Now eat." She dropped it in front of me, padding off. I looked at the strange piece of meat and sniffed it. Unusual... I ate it without a complaint.

Honestly, it tasted like nothing. When I looked up, sighing, I saw the orange kitten nipping at a young gray and white she-cat's belly, along with a few other kittens. When did she get here? Maybe Jen brought one of her friends here to feed the orange and black kitten. I got up from my crouching position and sat on the pavement. I missed Momma... everything was so confusing. I still didn't know what those big gray blocks were. Still, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the adorable kittens feeding.

There was a mackerel tabby kit, a kinkled white tabby kit, and a grey-shaded kit. Then, of course, there was the calico orange and black kitten that came out of the portal. I was glad the kitten had someone to care for her. I sighed again and thought of my mom, wishing she were here with me.

About a year later

Almost a year passed in that alleyway. Many cats came and left, mostly for shelter, or food, or just to visit. Sally was basically my sister. We weren't related, but we were still close. Furthermore, she was younger than I was. None of the cats that stayed in the alleyway really mattered. But I need to include this cat. This time, a blue-grayish female cat padded into the alleyway along with a pregnant she-cat. Oreo's head perked up, moving his gaze from where he was observing the pathway to the two cats. Oreo stood up and took a few steps toward them, meowing in a friendly manner.

The blue-gray cat kindly purred in greeting. "Sorry to bother you, but have any of you seen a cat named Zach? He's a brown and black tabby?" "Erm... I haven't, at least." I turned around. "Sally, what about you?" I asked my sister. The orange calico she-cat thought for a minute. She responded, "No... I don't think we have. Is he a really really dark skinny tabby with green eyes?" The she-cat shook her head. "Alright then, give me a second." Sally trotted a few steps toward the garbage can, yelling, "Jen! Have you seen a tabby cat named Zach?"

Jen was digging in the garbage, making a loud clatter. "No!" She yelled as she fell in with a yelp, making more noise. Oreo snickered. Jen was always loud. Sally trotted next to me. "I'm sorry, but we haven't." The blue she-cat sighed. "Well, that's okay..." She and the pregnant she-cat started walking away. Oreo felt a little bad.

Maybe this 'Zach' cat meant a lot to her.

I would be roaming through town, asking around if Sally had gone missing. "We'll definitely keep an eye out for him, though!" I blurted out just as they both turned a corner and disappeared behind a building. Oreo felt a pang of guilt. He wished he could do more to help find this missing cat. But what else could I do? I wasn't even allowed to go out of the alleyway without Jen's permission. I wished I could do something more to help, but I knew I couldn't. Maybe Zach wasn't even in town. I hated not being able to do anything. But I hid away my anger.

I turned around, making my way toward Jen to help her out of the garbage bin.