Doll-like was the only way to describe the tiny, limp figure, doll-like, fragile and broken. The unlucky rodent hung sorrily from the alley cats jaws, spindly limbs wobbling like they were on strings, neck crooked at all the wrong angles. It's matted, grey fur stuck out at odds and ends from between the felines lips, clashing with the cats ginger-biscuit fur like one last desperate act of defiance before it took the long winding path to a bath of gastric juices.<br/><br/>The cat was as happy as they came. It had the cream, now it was high time it trotted off with it's prey acting the same way all proud animals do, chest puffed out like a balloon and tail held high just in case anyone didn't notice the minute ball of dust coloured fluff dangling from between its teeth. Oh yes. Meow.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Nature at it's most violent was a spectacle and a half</span>, she found herself thinking as the bandy critter strut beyond the line of the alleyway.<br/><br/>Kuka flicked and scraped the line of her teeth with a soil speckled thumbnail as she watched the enactment of life and death for the countless time that month. It was a thoughtful little set of movements, maybe even nervous, but she rarely picked up on it, preferring to spare all of her mindfulness to her subjects.<br/>The dark haired girls eyes narrowed slowly. This year... this was hunting year. She'd watch them, all the furs, the feathers, the scales and take note. She'd tally their kills, keep up with their speed and make a mental note of every little habit and peculiar technique that struck her as significant.<br/><br/>It was a hobby. Kind of like train spotting was.<br/><br/>She turned on the ball of her feet and hoisted herself down from her perch on the shed roof, lean muscles working overtime under wan skin, running purely on caffeine and aching for sleep. Every waking inch of her was starting to protest against her, even her own brain was inching towards collapsing and a long bout of inactivity every time she turned her attention elsewhere!<br/><br/>She frowned and fought the sleep bound desire, ploughing onwards.<br/><br/>Taking to the streets had always been mild fun with Kuka about. Without a moments hesitation she'd hop onto the tops of bins, scale walls and benches. She looked a sight; this strange, placid, slender creature in oversized shirts and knee high boots, gliding over the asphalt like streets belonged to her alone, but the real cherry on the top, the absolute icing on the cake had to have been Pez.<br/><br/>Pez was a parrot. Not just any parrot, he was a mottled African Grey capable of a full diction- surpassing one thousand words, supposed intelligence matching that of a six year old childs, apparently able to figure out cognitive puzzles... why Pez didn't do any of these things was a complete mystery to everyone but Kuka and Kuka? She just fed him scraps and nuzzled him. It wasn't her duty to teach him anything.<br/><br/>Pez sat on her shoulder for most of the journey, sheltering under the flick of her bob, beady eyes welded shut in sleep. Having lived for almost half the time she had, the young bird was used to her travelling motions. He knew exactly when to lean in sharply or when to cling on, it had become as natural a process as breathing, something slightly worrying given learning wasn't in his nature...<br/><br/>Kuka hopped a short, stone wall into St Martins church yard and squared the parking lot in seconds. Her gaze flew across her surroundings, glistening eyes searching.<br/><br/>The cats had told her all about their new competition.<br/><br/>HUGE, colossal felines! Claws that looked like death, they'd said, eyes like burning, teeth like railings!<br/><br/>She hopped the curb crossing into another road, Perchwell avenue if her memory served her well, not that she trusted her sleep addled mind of late anyway! It had a habit of lying at every inopportune moment!<br/><br/>As Black as tar those new cats were and all of the moggies were terrified! They wanted rid of them but, like all proud animals, they'd never dare ask.... which was all fine and dandy by Kuka. As far as she was concerned she wanted to see these so called "Truck sized" kitties for herself! Cat's always over-exaggerated. Every time they told stories they made it seem like they'd swam oceans and climbed mountains. It was half of what made them great!<br/><br/>The sky had darkened as she made it to the outskirts of town, her boots worn well and truly through. It looked like rain and no sooner had the thought crossed the ghost town of her mind when, as good as it's word, it started tippling. She rolled her head back on her shoulders, squinting against the raindrops.<br/><br/>Something warm and deeply unhappy squirmed in the crook of her neck.<br/><br/>"Alright," Kuka said softly, voice curling out like smoke. Her slender digits found the nape of the distressed birds neck and buried themselves in the tuft of silver feathers, "We have a choice,"<br/><br/>The bird didn't reply, only made small irritable noises like a faulty car spluttering to a start on  steep hill on an icy day and buried himself deeper into her hair.<br/><br/>"We head three hours home. I get my bed, you get yours OR," she continued lazily, "See the garage?"<br/><br/>The bird did not see the garage.<br/><br/>"We sneak in. Sleep there," her eyebrows flared a little, accompanying the daring smile, "What do you think?"<br/><br/>She scratched lightly under the bulk of Pez's feathers an affectionate display, but an ignored one none the less. It seemed Pez wanted sleep. Just sleep no extras thank you very much.<br/><br/>"Hmm, I thought so too," her grin widened, crooked on one side like all the best miscreant grins should be, "Garage it is,"