[ Prologue ]

  The Tall One entered the jostling back of the van, rattling the cages with every step. A tiny kitten, barely a month old, its eyes still shut tightly, mewled pitifully and scrabbled at the cage door. The Tall One crept over, making little of a sound, the kitten still pressing its tiny orange paws against the bars, and shook the kitten’s cage around roughly. The kitten’s tiny body slammed against the roof of the cage. It dropped to the ground, unmoving. The Tall One poked the body, satisfied, then walked towards the other cages, shaking a few, until a voice called from the front of the van. The Tall One replied, before walking back towards the front of the van, shooting one last glance at the kitten, before vanishing into the darkness. The van was plunged into darkness as the lights flickered out. The kitten groaned in such a small voice, but it was still alive. Another cat, sitting in the cage across from the kitten, tried to get to the tortured, feeble being. The bars of the cage were too close together, A sense of sympathy enveloping the cat. Noises ran through the van, other Waywards, those who had no real home, caught by Tall Ones. Animals of all kinds, cats who ventured too far, dogs who were abandoned. The cat had heard tales about the horrible things the Tall Ones do to Waywards, the pain and agony. A loud noise sounded from the outside, the van seemed to spin sideways, and the world went black.

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