'Move!' Swiftly the figure rolled to the side just in time to avoid the lunge from the unknown attacker. Scrabbling to his feet, he saw another lizard having just snapped at the very spot he just was. It had a deep blue head, unlike the first lizard, that seemed slightly luminescent. Sweat started to drip down his forehead at the close call and he quickly tried to put distance between him and the lizard.

After jumping to his feet he quickly turned to face the new hunter. It had recovered from its previous lunge and was slowly creeping forward, closing the distance between it and its prey. In response, the figure also started to carefully back away - making sure not to trip as that would be the quickest way to being lizard food.

Thinking carefully, the figure knew he would never outrun the lizard as they were deceptively fast; their slippery bodies being able to easily slid over the ground propelled by stubby but powerful legs. However, the lizards weren't very agile. He knew of a small old shed that was once used by the council to keep tools for maintaining the park, but now just a relic of the past. It wasn't very tall but still should be difficult for the lizards to scale.

So, he turned and bolted. A warning hissss sounded from behind, making his legs move faster. The shed was only twenty meters away. He was very glad his bench was near it else this plan would have been impossible. He picked up speed and quickly reached the shed. The lizard, now having picked up speed, was rapidly closing in.

Nimbly, the figure scaled the small shed. Surprisingly considering his unimpressive appearance, he was very agile and strong to be able to climb onto the shed in a matter of seconds. Just as he was about to pull his leg up onto the roof, a snap sounded out. Pain shot up from his leg, he felt razor like teeth digging deep into his flesh. Panic set in as a silent cry left his mouth. He pulled as hard as he could but he couldn't free his leg from the hunters jaws.

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The lizard tugged at the caught prey, causing the figure to grab out onto the roof in fear of being pulled off. Tears fell from his eyes from the pain, but he didn't let his grip slip. If he fell, he was dead. So he held on with all his might. The tug-of-war for his leg cause blood to fall onto the overgrown grass. If this continued for too long, the figure knew he would lose strength to blood loss. It was a losing battle.

No matter how desperately his mind searched for a way to break out of this situation, he could think of nothing. No matter how much he kicked at the head of the lizard, it was unaffected; no matter how hard he tried to hold onto the roof of the old shed, his grip was slowly slipping.

Then, something caught his eye. Through the darkness a shadow was slinking about. It was seemingly intrigued by the hunt happening before it as curiosity could be seen in its big, green eyes. Its fur was as black as night and allowed it to blend into the darkness, its long tail swaying behind it like grass caught in the wind. It was a beautiful creature. Hidden as it was by the veil of night, only a vague outline and its bright green eyes would be seen by anything looking at it.

But the figure had good eyesight. Unnaturally so. He could see all the details of this hunter. The small cuts and grazes covering its thin, withering body; the matted patches of fur littering its coat; the painful looking bend right at the tip of its tail. It was frail; it was a stray. Just like me. An amusing idea appeared in the figures head, despite the dire circumstances, as he realised that he and the cat were two peas from the same pod. They were both strays, both lost and alone in the world, and both trying their best to survive. It made him realise how he got his name, 'The Stray', as he was dubbed by the locals.

The stray felt familiarity appear as he gazed at the cat, and the cat also gazed back. They peered into each other. One stray to the next. A connection formed. The most basic connection of them all; understanding of another who is the same as you.

Thus, The Stray met his companion.