Unlikely Companion

[Amistad Deserenia]

Unconditional love. That's what she wanted, what she needed. Most people say the one place you can always find that kind of love in is a pet, a little furry companion.

And that's why she found herself walking down the crowded street called Diagon Alley, staring through the shining windows of equally crowded stores. Kittens, puppies, owls, and frogs. None called to her, they were all cute- well most of them- but they just didn't seem to suit her. All of them were too pampered and trained, too perfect.

A low whine suddenly reached her ears, dancing over on a gentle breeze. Pivoting on the heel of her foot she glanced around, trying to find the source of the sound. A small bundle in a shadowed area was rolling and kicking, dirty scraps she'd first thought to be trash.

Walking over slowly she knelt by the frantic thing, shoving back a handful of ebony locks. Tugging at the pieces of cloth trapping whatever it was, she managed to open a small hole. And a furry little head popped out of the hole, fur as dark as her hair.

"Oh!" she gasped, a delighted smile curling her lips. Tugging more at the cloth she freed the small animal, staring at the scrawny legs of the kitten. She looked as if she'd been starved and abandoned, the poor thing.

Looking weak and exhausted, the kitten plopped down on the ground and mewled pitifully. Feeling pity and sympathy well up inside her, she dug in the pockets of her thick cloak. After several futile searches she finally found the biscuit she'd saved from breakfast.

"Here you go, darling" she cooed gently, holding out the piece of food as an offering of friendship.

Thank you. A soft, purring voice whispered in the recesses of her mind. Shock wound through her quickly, soon replaced by understanding. Grinning brightly she said "You're a magical kitten, how wonderful. Don't you worry, I'm going to take care of you."

Cradling the little animal in her arms, she sighed happily. The perfect companion; an abandoned kitten with no shine or polish, no party tricks. She sat there with the kitten- Isis- in her arms, oblivious to any stares she might be getting for sitting on the littered ground.

[Barnett Lee]

Taking a sharp turn out of an alleyway, Barnett's face was pale and drawn - unusual to his often taunting, confident face. His hands were shoved deep in his pant pockets and his chin was tilted upward. He was trying to guess the time based on the position of the sun. It rarely worked accurately, but it made him feel all the more intelligent.

Unfortunately, having to stumble around a crouching girl and her kitten was exactly the clumsiness to offset his feeling of control. He glowered down at them, leaning against the wall of a shop.

"That thing could have rabies, you know. Or some other unsightly disease that will make it sick all over you." He said, snobby distaste in his tone. He held himself arrogantly, examining his fingernails curled over his palm. His eyes flickered back and forth, to the kitten, to his hand, to the girl, to his hand. "Street animals are rarely any good. Already it's got you performing tricks. You're getting your clothes filthy."

But even as he said unkind things, his eyebrows twitched up in interest. The kitten did have an unusual charm to it. In a scrawny, unbathed sort of way. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Perhaps it was the way the tiny thing stared. Cat's always had such devious expressions. It was unnerving, but not unpleasantly so.

[Amistad Deserenia]

"She does not have rabies, or any other disease. She's just under fed and orphaned." she answered back, leveling the boy with a cold glare "I don't careif I'm getting my clothes filthy, some street animals are much better than those arrogantly cute ones at the store."

Normally she would have felt fear in another's presence, but at the moment all she felt was distaste. She hated arrogance and acts of superiority, it was something her father loved to be. Superior, snobby, vain.

Frowning faintly, she shoved uneven hair away from her face and studied him closely. He looked rather pale and drawn, something she didn't think was usual for him. Straightening slowly, she trained her black and blue gaze back on him before saying "You look sick, maybe you're the one who has 'some other unsightly disease'."

She wasn't usually mean, but his snobby attitude had rubbed her the wrong way. And though she'd just found the kitten, she felt a strong bond and need to defend her against ridicule. But she didn't like being mean, even if the person deserved it. So with a sigh, she asked "Why do you look ill?"

[Barnett Lee]

"I don't look ill." Barnett responded immediately, crossing his arms. Surprised by her astute observation, he felt too choked to supply a cocky enough answer. Instead, he took a deep breath. The girl had bitten back to his taunts with unusual, and unnecessary, vigor. At least, in his opinion. Women, he thought slyly, bringing the icy smirk back to his lips.

"How should you know whether or not the thing has rabies? You've only just picked it up." He told her matter-of-factly.

He drew his robes closer around him now, on the defense but still curious. Curious to a fault, something he had heard all through his life. Damn those psychoanalysts! He shook the unusual thought from his head, refocusing on his curiosity. He sighed. "What do you think you'll name him?" He asked more casually, the earlier taunt vacant from his voice. He was too tired to play games.

[Amistad Deserenia]

"Yes, you do. But if you want to deny it, go right ahead.." she answered briskly. Men and their egos, something she'd never get. Was it so difficult and belittling for him to admit he was ill? Probably she thought, watching the smirk form on his lips again.

She ignored his question, shrugging it off. The kitten would have said something if she were sick, or at least Amy thought she'd have said something. But the cat didn't so much as have a flea or bald spot, nor was she foaming at the mouth.

"Her name is Isis, after the Egyptian Goddess of fertility.." she answered, a smile spreading over her lips and warming her eyes. Moving her gaze from the boy to the kitten, she added "I think it suits her."

[Barnett Lee]

Barnett shook his head. "She looks quite the opposite." He told Amistad frankly. "But, the origin of the name is well thought out I'll admit. Felines were considered quite royalty, weren't they?" He smiled grudgingly. "Assuming that you thought of that and it wasn't just a coincidence, I applaud someone being half intelligent around here."

Another diagnosis, Barnett commonly ran hot and cold on people. Judgmental and snobby, first impressions with him have never been pleasant. Although, he had also always been the sort of person to change his mind at the drop of a hat. So it panned out evenly.

He shook his head experimentally, trying to get the thoughts out from between his ears.