[Truth be told he doesn't enjoy lying and he does his best not to when he can. Death City has proven to house quite the collection of people and even if Alchemy doesn't work here, Edward and him have vowed to keep the knowledge of what it could potentially do out of the hands of others for the time being. Of course, with Edward gone as of this morning and how he unknowingly exposed himself he's already limited on the number of explanations he can give.]

Well... um... you're right that I'm not an automated program, but I was picking up strays. The attack on the city has displaced a lot of people, little guys like these - [And he brings a hand up to his chest plate as another meow sounds out.] - are separated from their owners, hungry, and alone.

[The last word of which is spoken with just the smallest hint of difficultly.]