Moon Under Concrete

ty, a behemoth of steel and glass, scraped the sky with its teeth, swallowing the starlight he craved. Every honking horn, every siren'

he pines. Here, the wind carried the metallic tang of exhaust and the acrid bite of cigarette smo

an outsider, a pup with too much curiosity and not enough obedience. Yet, here, amongst the humans

ring his brokenness. The air, thick with the scent of cooking spices and car exhaust, was a da

his control. He found himself drawn to a dimly lit alleyway, the scent of discarded meat-heavy in the air. A

andwich instead. It tasted bland, yet held the unexpected warmth of human kindness. He learne

the concrete jungle. He watched children play, their unbridled laughter a balm to his lonelines

drawn by the panicked scent of her fear, adrenaline erasing the ache in his muscles from hours of scavenging. He found he

ng the attackers back with snarls that echoed off the brick walls. The girl, frozen in terror, could only

an form returning in a wash of dizziness. The girl, still wide-eyed with shock, approached him cautiousl

, her voice barely a whis

ng into the shadows, keeping his secret buried deep. Now, exposed

r lips. Her eyes, wide with wonder, held no fear, only fascinat

m, gently touching his arm. "Thank you," s

xpected judgment, fear, rejection, but all he saw

tle girl?" Kai returned to

told me i am an exce

secret for me." He k

t is

this is

ce came after him "My secret's safe