Chapter 1: The Unlikely Discovery

Mike trudged down the sidewalk, his eyes fixed on the cracked pavement as he made his way back to his dorm room. It had been a long day of classes, and all he wanted to do was collapse onto his bed and forget about the stack of textbooks waiting for him. As he turned a corner, he noticed a small box sitting on the curb, partially hidden by a nearby trash can. Mike's curiosity got the better of him, and he walked over to investigate. The box was old and worn, with faded tape holding it together. Mike lifted the lid, and a faint meowing sound caught his attention. He peered inside, expecting to find a lost kitten or maybe a stray cat that had wandered into the box seeking shelter. But what he saw made him freeze. Inside the box, a small, humanoid figure lay swaddled in a dirty blanket. The figure had the upper body of a human, but its lower body was that of a cat - fluffy fur, whiskers, and a tiny pink nose. Mike's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the creature, unsure of what to make of it. The creature, Tina, slowly opened her eyes, blinking sleepily at Mike. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with a small, furry hand. As she looked around, her expression changed from confusion to a fierce scowl. "Tina is not happy," she growled, her voice high-pitched and childish. "Tina wants to know who put Tina in this box." Mike took a step back, unsure of how to react. "Uh, I don't know, little... um, girl? You were just abandoned here, I guess." Tina's scowl deepened, and she puffed out her chest. "Tina is not little! Tina is big and strong! Tina will show you who's boss!" As she stood up, her legs wobbled, and she stumbled forward, almost falling over. Mike rushed to catch her, but Tina pushed him away, her eyes flashing with anger. "Tina doesn't need help! Tina can take care of herself!" Despite her tough words, Tina's voice trembled, and her eyes welled up with tears. Mike's heart melted, and he gently coaxed her into sitting down. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Mike, and I'll help you figure out what to do next." Tina sniffled, her expression still fierce, but her eyes began to droop. "Tina is hungry," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Mike smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll get you some food. But first, let's get you back to my place and get you cleaned up, okay?" Tina nodded, her eyes closing as she leaned against Mike. As he picked her up and cradled her in his arms, she murmured, "Tina is going to make sure Mike regrets messing with Tina..." But her voice was barely audible, and Mike just smiled, unsure of what the future held for this strange, abandoned creature.