Threat or not

The eyes moved closer, revealing themselves to be those of a large, fluffy dog. The dog approached slowly, its tail wagging gently as if trying to appear non-threatening

The eyes moved closer, revealing themselves to be those of a large, fluffy dog. The dog approached slowly, its tail wagging gently as if trying to appear non-threatening

Leo hissed reflexively, his fur standing on end as he prepared to defend himself. The dog stopped a few feet away, its head tilted curiously as it observed the bedraggled Siamese cat

The dog's expression was gentle and friendly, but Leo remained wary. He'd seen enough movies to know that dogs could be unpredictable, especially around prey

The dog took another step forward, its nose twitching as it caught the scent of the sparrow. Leo backed away, his tail lashing in warning

The dog whined softly, its eyes pleading. It seemed to understand that Leo had just hunted and was trying to respect his claim to the kill. The dog lay down on the grass, keeping a safe distance but still watching Leo with interest

Leo studied the dog cautiously, noting the scars on its flanks and the patches of missing fur. It was clear this dog had seen its share of hardships. Despite his initial hostility, Leo found himself feeling a strange kinship with the creature

The dog's tail thumped against the ground as it watched Leo, its eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and empathy. It seemed to be waiting for something, perhaps an invitation to approach

Leo's instincts told him to stay guarded, but something about the dog's demeanor made him hesitate. He took a tentative step forward, his ears still flattened against his head

The dog perked up slightly at Leo's movement, but remained lying down. Its tail continued to wag, and it let out a soft, encouraging bark

Leo took another step, and another, until he was within arm's reach of the dog. He could feel its warm breath on his fur as it sniffed him gently

The dog's nose brushed against Leo's side, and he flinched slightly, but didn't pull away. The dog's touch was surprisingly gentle, and Leo found himself relaxing just a fraction

The dog's tail wagged faster as it sensed Leo's tension easing. It made a soft, rumbling sound in its throat - not quite a growl, but not quite a purr either. It was as if the dog was trying to communicate that it meant no harm

Leo's curiosity got the better of him. He sniffed the dog cautiously, catching the scent of old wounds and dried blood. The dog smelled like it had been through a lot, just like him

The dog remained still, allowing Leo to investigate. Its eyes closed briefly in contentment as Leo's whiskers brushed against its fur

Leo's initial fear began to melt away as he realized the dog was indeed friendly. He sat down beside it, still keeping a small distance but no longer on edge

The dog shifted slightly, turning its body so it was facing Leo more directly. It let out a soft huff, as if to say "See? I'm not so scary."

Leo couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at the dog's attempt to appear non-threatening. He let out a small, hesitant meow, testing the waters

The dog's ears perked up at the sound of Leo's meow. It responded with a soft bark, wagging its tail even harder. The dog seemed pleased that Leo was starting to open up

Leo watched as the dog's tail swept back and forth across the grass. He found himself oddly fascinated by the rhythmic movement, almost hypnotic in its simplicity

([AN] I forgot you guys don't speak animal, so let me translate it for you)

The dog suddenly tilted its head and spoke in a deep, gravelly voice

"You're new around here, aren't you? I've never seen you before."

Leo's eyes widened in surprise at the sound of the dog's voice.

"Yeah, I'm new. Just got kicked out yesterday."

The dog nodded understandingly, its expression turning sympathetic

"Ah, I see. The human world can be cruel sometimes. But you'll get used to it out here. There's plenty of food and shelter if you know where to look."

Leo shifted uncomfortably, still processing the fact that he was having a conversation with a DOG

"What's your name, by the way? I'm Leo."

The dog chuckled, a deep rumbling sound in its throat

"Velva. Nice to meet you, Leo. I've been on the streets for a while now, so I know a thing or two about surviving."

Leo felt a mix of relief and curiosity. Velva seemed like a reliable source of information, someone who could help him navigate this new world

"Velva, can I ask you something?"

Velva nodded, her tail swishing lazily

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

Leo hesitated for a moment, then decided to be direct

"How do you find food around here? I've been struggling a bit with that."

Velva's expression became thoughtful as she considered the question

"Well, there are a few spots where I know there's always something to eat. The alley behind the grocery store is good for scavenging, and there's a park a few blocks away that has some fruit trees. But it takes time to learn the best places, and you have to be careful not to get caught by humans or other animals."

Leo nodded, taking mental notes of Velva's advice. He knew he would need to be careful, but the thought of finding regular food was a relief

"Thank you, Velva. I appreciate the help."

Velva's eyes softened as she looked at Leo

"No problem. We all have to look out for each other out here. And who knows, maybe we'll become good friends."

Leo felt a flicker of hope at Velva's words. For the first time since he'd been kicked out, he wasn't completely alone in this strange new world

"I'd like that."

Velva stood up, stretching her legs with a yawn

"Well, it's getting late. We should probably find a safe place to sleep for the night. You can follow me if you want."

Leo rose to his paws, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. He was about to experience his first night on the streets, and he hoped it would be better than the previous one

"Lead the way, Velva."