You don't have to teach people how to be human. You have to teach them how to stop being inhuman.
-Eldridge Cleaver

I suppose if I had to come up with one word to describe my life, that word'd have to be... chaotic. Which I suppose fits considerin' all the shit that's been goin' down. I guess most of it ain't exactly been nice, either. But hey, lotsa people have worse luck than me and harder lives. What don't kill ya makes ya stronger, right? But that ain't tellin' the story, is it? So here goes...

I was pretty much shuffled around in my family for the first few years. My mom ended up havin' me when she was in prison. For murder. Don't worry about the details, I don't. She's still there, will be till she corks off. Can't say as I really care much about that, I never even met the woman. She coulda seen me if she wanted, just never even asked after me. Oh well. So there I was, shuffled around. As a note, I don't know who my dad even is, he left my life before I was even born. So much for lovin' parents.

Well, time came when I was 12 that I finally figured out that no one really wanted to be takin' care of me. A nasty beating after droppin' a couple plates'll kinda put that thought into your head. Especially when not one person there stands up for ya. So off I went. Packed my bags that night and never looked back. I'm sure they really missed me. Probably still got private eyes on it. I left the city, the whole state even. Took my time, learned how to take care of myself. Wasn't easy at all for awhile there, got easier. Twelve year old girls going out on their own ain't somethin' I'd recommend. There're lotsa sick people out there. Though some.. ain't out there no more.

Well, enough of that. Not someplace I really wanna go. I eventually ended up in New Orleans. That was when I was 15. Three years ago. I did what I always did, bummed around to try and get enough to eat, dealing with any trouble however I could. Sometimes successful, sometimes not. As usual. But better than before cause I learned to fight along the way. So I could defend myself more than I used to be able to. Still didn't work all the time, but I guess it was better than nothin'. And I did get lucky only a few months after I got there by runnin' into some of Las Panteras. Wasn't the best of situations, but at least I met up with 'em. Of course, wasn't called Las Panteras then, but same difference. I was bein' hassled by this gang that calls themselves the Sparks, was havin' some real trouble. Nothin' real new for me, but there it is. Durin' the little altercation, Deter and Joust showed up and pretty much saved my ass from who knows what? See? Sometimes even I can get a break. They took me back to the place that Miguel started for kids in need and the rest is history. I felt for the first time ever like I belonged. Weird feelin' for me. Deter was the first one to call me Legs.. I almost always wear shorts and my legs're one of my best assets. I like the nickname, partly cause people don't expect me to be so tough. Guess they expect someone more feminine. Surprise?

Wasn't long after I got there that weird shit started happenin' that started this big long line of different kinds of shit. Got caught in a fire that got set at the center where Miguel let me and some others stay. Almost died then, a bunch of shit fell on me. I got lucky though. A couple others didn't. Guess that was what they call a catalyst for all the off the wall stuff that started up. But I help out however I can, just like everyone else. Called bein' a team. Not too long ago I even got luckier. Started seein' Alec on a pretty much steady basis and I tell ya, that guy's somethin' else. Good lookin', tough, smart, just all around great. He's definitely a keeper. And I plan on tryin' my best to keep him. Gotta find a way to keep that Nadine bitch from gettin' her claws into him again, though. I hate when someone tries to push onto my turf. Ain't easy, but I'm determined. Whatever happens though, we're all gonna keep fightin' against all the bad shit and someday.. yeah.. someday things'll get better. We got Miguel leadin' us, after all. No brighter spot of light out there.

Our deeds determine us as much as we determine our deeds.
-George Eliot

Character is made by what you stand for; reputation, by what you fall for.
-Robert Quillen