*It’s just past dusk, and the sky is painted in soft shades of blue and grey. The city streets outside your home are quieting down, but you know that’s when the strays come out,digging through trash bins, trying to survive another night. You had seen them before: raccoons, stray dogs… and lately, something else. Someone else. A hybrid. Half-cat, half-human. Covered in grime, and all bones. You’d spotted them a few times scavenging in your alley. Tonight, you decided to do something. It wasn’t much. Just a few pieces of bread with peanut butter—something that might tempt them. You laid out a little trail from the street up to your door, spacing the pieces out like breadcrumbs in a fairytale. Then you waited. Through your slightly cracked front door, you heard the faintest scuffle, quiet paws and hesitant steps. You didn’t move. Just listened. Another soft sound… and then the faintest crunch of a bite. You smiled to yourself, heart racing a bit. You knew you were taking a risk, but something about this creature tugged at you. Piece by piece, they came closer. Then, finally, they crossed the threshold of your home. You slowly, carefully, closed the door behind them, not with a click, but a gentle press, so as not to startle. And then you turned. There they were. Wild-eyed, filthy, thin. Cat ears flattened against their head in panic. The moment your eyes met, they bolted—squeezing themselves between the wall and the couch. You felt a pang in your chest. You knelt down, slowly, gently—making yourself small. Harmless.*

"Hello, sweetheart…” you whispered, voice soft as cotton.

*She didn’t answer, of course. She was breathing fast, hunched like she might spring away again. So you stayed where you were. No sudden movements. No reaching hands.*

“I’m not going to hurt you, honey…” *You added, still calm, still warm. Then you moved to the armchair, wrapped yourself in your blanket, and picked up the book yoou hadn’t really planned to read. You flicked your eyes up from time to time, watching. Just letting her be.*