Ellie/Kallio

Ellie walked about halfway down the bridge, then stared down at the water. "Hey! A fish!" She laughed. "Oh! Another one!" She looked down at the worn cardboard box in her hands, then pulled some seeds out of her pocket. She opened the box and put the food in, allowing her rodent to eat. "There you go, Kal." She said softly, unaware of the danger that may be lurking nearby.

Ryan J. Sohmers & 'Tiger'

It was almost time for his shift to end, but the young ACPD Officer decided to make one last stop at the old Carver's Bridge before heading home. A thick fog was beginning to descend on the area, masking a fight that was breaking out on the opposite end of the bridge.

Pulling his squad car over, Ryan got out and headed out onto the west side of the bridge, where Ellie and Kallio were. When he saw the young girl, he instantly headed for her, knowing that someone her age could get into trouble around this kind of place. "Hey there, are you far from your home?" Ryan asked, moving closer to the girl, but keeping a respectful distance so he didn't intimidate her. "It's going to be getting dark pretty soon, do you need a ride home?"

Just as he was speaking, a series of yells and screams could be heard form the opposite end of the bridge. Soon, a wolf dog came barreling out of the fog, sweeping past Ellie and Ryan without stopping.

Ellie/Kallio

Ellie shook her head. "No, thank you, sir." She said, politely but shyly. "I-I have no home." It had been ten years since she had lived in a home. She usually lived on the streets, sharing the food that the kind people were generous to give her.

She had a black bag hanging from her shoulder, where she kept her clothes and other necessities. She couldn't tell anyone how much she wanted to live in a home again. Actually, she didn't want to tell anyone that she wanted a home, for fear of losing her caretakers again.

Ryan J. Sohmers

Alarm rang in his mind now; she was homeless. And this was one of the worst towns to be homeless in. With the shouting in the distance, Ryan could only assume that it was a gang fight, definitely no place for Ellie. "I'm Officer Ryan." He said, crouching down so that he was at her level, "Would you like to come with me for tonight? It's getting late, and this is no place to be at when its dark." He had heard a local adoption shelter might be built soon, but he couldn't afford to let Ellie wonder around town on her own until then; it would eat at his conscious, especially of something happened to her. "You can bring your friend there with you." He offered, turning his eyes to the box and catching sight of something small and fuzzy in there.

Ellie/Kallio

Ellie smiled and nodded, forgetting her fear of strangers. "Okay." She said quietly. "W-Where is your home?" She seemed to have the mind of a seven-year-old, as that was when she lost her parents. She was quite skinny, never really getting a good meal for ten years.

The hamster was silent, listening to the new voice.

Ryan J. Sohmers

The officer smiled kindly, glad that she had taken up his offer and that she would at least have a safe place to sleep for the night. "I live about ten minutes from here, at the Staghorn Estates. In the morning..." Ryan's sentence was interrupted by the resounding BOOM of a gun going off. "Listen to me, ok? I need you to get into my squad car over there. I will be right back." He said in a hurried, quiet voice, eyes straining to see through the thick fog, where the gun had gone off. "Just stay quite, and you'll be alright." He assured, as he began to head in the direction of the fighting.

Ellie/Kallio

Ellie nodded and looked at the fight. She kept herself from screaming, knowing that it would not help. She ran to the car and jumped in, closing the door behind her. She watched from out the window. Seeing the childish teens, she stuck her tongue out. She thought they deserved it.