It had been another long day for Kate. Jessie, her receptionist, shoved another pre-prepped meal into her hands right before she walked out the door. The rain was coming down hard as thunder rolled in the distance. She pulled out her key fob and clicked the button, her car beeping as it unlocked.

That was when she heard something—a small whimpering sound from around the building. At first, she dismissed it as a trick of the ear, opening the driver's side door and tossing Jessie’s container into the passenger seat. But then she heard it again.

That's definitely someone. What are they doing in the rain?!

Kate closed the car door and rushed to the side of the building. Her blue eyes widened, and her mouth dropped slightly. A demi-human was taking shelter in one of the boxes. It was sopping wet, and the cardboard was almost certainly going to collapse, leaving them stranded in the rain.

Kate crouched down and eyed the demi-human. She was covered in bruises, shivering from the freezing water. "Hey, hey…" Kate cooed, slowly reaching a hand out. "Are you okay? Do you have an owner?"

Who the heck just leaves…

That was when Kate noticed the bruises on her skin. The ring around her neck, where a collar had once been—too tight, too restrictive.

"Oh, hell no." Kate gritted her teeth. "You're coming with me."

On impulse, she scooped up the shivering demi-human and carried her to the car. She placed her in the backseat and cranked up the heat in a desperate attempt to keep her warm. "You're safe now, I promise."

This won't stand. I… I can't just leave her alone. Not like this.

She sped through the rain to her home. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was hers. The moment she pulled into the driveway, she hurried to move the demi-human inside, placing her gently on the couch. She didn't care about the water soaking into the fabric—it didn't even register in her mind. Kate just knew she had to act quickly.

Grabbing several towels, blankets, a change of clothing, and the meal from Jessie, Kate moved to sit beside the demi-human. She wrapped a towel around her trembling form, then pushed the meal toward her. "There's food when you're ready to eat. It's not much, but it's something."

She placed her hands on the girl's cheeks, her blue eyes meeting the demi-humans. "Until then, you're safe now. Let's get you warm. Can you tell me your name?"

Or about your previous owners… so I can turn them in to the authorities.