***Alastair***
A girl was talking to another girl nearby. "Cy... Please come home with me! You don't have to stay out in the rain!"
"I'm fine." The girl turned something on. "I'm happy doing what I want. You don't need to worry about me."
"You were camping in a park. How is that fine?"
"I'm happy. Isn't that all that matters?"
The girl sighed. "You don't have to make your life harder just to be happy."
"I'm not."
"Cy, what are you looking at?"
Alastair had been sleeping in the hole at the bottom of a cherry blossom tree with his golden retriever, Honey, laying under his head until the two girls started arguing.
"What are you doing under there?" Cy asked.
The first thing he noticed was the pink of her top. "I was sleeping with my dog until I heard you approaching."
She knelt down. "How come you slept here instead of in a house?"
"It's quiet here." He turned away from her and put his good hand on Honey's paw. "I wouldn't want to live in an apartment anyway. Not with all that chaos out there."
"So, you don't have a home?"
Why was this girl asking so many questions? Alastair was just a strange boy sleeping with his dog. Few people passed through here, and even fewer asked those things right off the bat.
He struggled not to come off as sarcastic or rude. "Does that concern you? After all, I don't know you."
Cy's friend squatted beside her and sighed. "She worries about others." Her eyes drifted toward his sling. "Is it hard not to have a house with that bum arm?"
Does this girl really care? Alastair wasn't just some kid?
"Excuse me?" a woman said. "May I order something?"
Cy's friend motioned for her to go take care of the lady.
Alastair's voice shook. "Leave. Leave me."
"Alright." She took a breath. "Cy should be here if you need anything."
How could Alastair get Honey into his coat without waking her?
"Let me give you a hand with your puppy."
Alastair then ran off.
***
Alastair just kept walking and walking until his legs couldn't support him anymore.
Honey yawned.
'Star? Why aren't we in that tree anymore?'
"I wanted to go for a walk." I rubbed the top of her head. "I didn't wanna wake you, so I just put you in my jacket."
Her ears went back. "You should've woken me. You didn't make your owie mad, did you?"
"No." He smiled. "It's fine."
She licked her human's face. 'Don't make it mad just for me. You'll just make yourself feel yucky.'
"I won't."
Alastair sighed. It was quiet over here. It was a nice place to take a break.
He just took in his peaceful surroundings as he scratched Honey's chin.
Until a policeman passed by anyway.
'Star?' Honey whined. 'Why do you feel yucky? Does your owie hurt?'
Was he looking for Alastair? The redhead ruffled his hair with his good hand. Who was he kidding? Why wouldn't the policeman look for the bad boy who hurt nice people?
Alastair looked at the sling on his arm. I can't protect myself like this!
His eyes widened. He made his own glasses. Why couldn't he make his own sling?
Honey barked as Alastair took off his sling. 'What are you doing? You're going to make your owie mad!"
A fabric similar to a seat belt came out of his palm. Alastair draped it on his shoulder and formed a another, larger piece of metal fabric. Linking the two together, he made a metallic sling.
'Why did you do that?'
Alastair smiled as he stroked the top of her head. Now not only could he support his wrist, but he had a chance to protect himself even though he could only use one arm.
Alastair's stomach growled.
Why was he so hungry? He was just fine a few minutes ago.
Alastair was probably going to have to dig through trash this time. He couldn't just expect another stranger to feed him.
Too bad popcorn wasn't good unless it was fresh.
Alastair wandered around for a bit. He didn't feel comfortable with people watching him raid a trash can. Puppies raided trash cans not kitties.
There was a trash can in a quiet corner. Alastair tiptoed around a nearby tree as best as he could to get to the trash can.
While Alastair was rummaging through the trash, the girl with wavy hair scrunched her face. "Cy, it's that kid from the tree. What's he doing?"
Cy gasped. "He's raiding my trash!"
"Are you sure?" she asked.
Alastair yelped before running off.
Alastair ran until he got into a more crowded area of the park. That was when he stopped to catch his breath.
He couldn't hear those girls' voices anymore. Did that mean he was safe now?
The two girls then used a pincer attack to corner Alastair.
That was when the red-haired boy fell back. Cy eased him onto the ground.
Alastair hit the side of his head with his uninjured arm. They caught me! They caught me!
Maggie grabbed Alastair's wrist. "Don't do that!"
"We're not mad at you. We're not going to hurt you." Cy spoke in a gentle voice, just above a whisper. "Would you like me to call your mom?"
Alastair made a high-pitched noise. "I'm not a kid! I don't have a mommy anymore either!"
Maggie flinched. Her gaze drifted toward the sling on the boy's arm. "Is your arm hurting? Would you feel better if we gave you some ice?"
Honey whimpered before licking her human's face. 'What's wrong?'
"There you are!" Ame gasped. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Maggie loosened her grip on Alastair's arm. "Who are you?"
"I'm his mom." Ame smiled. "Thank you for stepping in to take care of him just now."
Cy raised her eyebrows. "What happened to him?"
"He's autistic. He eloped with his puppy."
"What does that mean?"
The girls were distracted. If Alastair was going to get away from them, he had to do it now. Ame wasn't here because she actually cared. He thought she just wanted to cover her butt.