MINA CHANCED A GLANCE over her shoulder as she approached an intersection of laneway and alley. And almost fell flat on her face, or flat on the cat nestled in her jacket, as she stumbled over buckled asphalt. Catching herself against the wall, she paused for a second to catch her breath and get her bearings. Her jangled nerves played havoc with her sense of direction. She looked back the way she'd come then down the path ahead, trying to decide where to run next.
A rapid purr vibrated against her chest, accompanied by an even faster heartbeat. She'd snugged the cat, skin and bones under its striped fur, into her jacket as she'd fled the gargoyle. The cat kneaded her shirt, digging in with all its claws but not piercing the skin underneath, as it tried to wriggle its head up a bit to peek
