Mostly introspection post! Only the last paragraph is relevant.
370 words
Levent Kartal learned much and more in this sleeping city, and from all of the unexpected sources. As he reclined in the shade of a tree, once no more than a sapling on a median, he breathed deeply and thought. He smelled of mildew and hot asphalt, dust from old tables and traces of evaporated oil from old cars, and of his own rich scent mixed with that of cats.
The white tom noticed as much as he curled up against his ribs, hesitating and drinking in the smell as he woke before relaxing. It had been obvious how little he thought of other felines; the uncomfortable apathy had been amusing when they met with the kittens and with the intelligent Element, however briefly they’d crossed paths. While the luperci was eager to seek out the black cat again, Wilson probably wouldn’t dream of it.
Lev wondered if he was to blame for that. In London, there had been plenty of cat families, but Wilson had bonded to him rather than remain with his kin. He became too wolfish to stay with cats, and too cattish to stay with wolves. He understood the luperci life, watched it daily through sand-colored eyes, but he was shunned from anything more.
Idly, the man ran his cream fingers over the cat’s scruff. A purr rumbled through his sleep, at least until the gentle caresses became little rousing scratches behind his ears. The skyscrapers were outlined with brilliant red from the hidden sun, and the eastern sky had gone dark. As comfortable as he was, he knew that they had to find somewhere better to sleep; he hadn’t yet risked meeting the creatures who prowled Halifax at night.
Wilson woke and began to pad after him on soft sleepy feet, but eventually the Turkish wolf smirked and scooped him up in his arms. He moved slowly through the streets and appraised the buildings as he passed them, trying to find one sturdy and secure but not impossible to get into. Pale blue eyes regarded about a dozen doors before the scent of a wolf wafted to his nose; he squinted in the darkness and let out a low woof to question the other’s presence.
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