Wait, Jie, look. There's something there."
"What is it?"
The flashlight beam swept across the ground and cought a glimmer of silver fur.
An Ruan froze.
A tiny kitten lay curled beneath a piece of cardboard, soaked and trembling. It's fur gleamed white with a hint of silver, so fine it shimmered even in the dim light. Two faintly glowing blue eyes blinked back at her, looking startled, with a tinge of wildness, impossibly clear.
Her heart squeezed. She had a soft spot for anything furry even though she was fatally allergic to fur..
"It's a kitten," she whispered, lowering her umbrella. "A white kitten, maybe a rare breed...what is it doing here?"
"Don't touch it!" Momo hissed, panic in her voice. "Jie, you're allergic..remember last time? You touched a cat and your face swelled up like a balloon and you were sneezing like crazy!"
An Ruan Ignored her and moved closer. "He's hurt."
Rain ran down the umbrella's edge, dripping onto the tiny creature. The little kitten flinched but didn't move away. It's fur was tangled, one paw twisted at an awkward angle. There was a faint scent of blood.
An Ruan knelt down slowly, her heals sinking into the wet ground.
"Hey..it's okay," she said gently, her voice soft enough to not scare it. "I won't hurt you."
The small creature's ears flickered. It's breathing was rapid but shallow, looking like it was on its last breath. Its tail tweached once, weakly.
Momo wrung her hands. "We should call animal shelter if you are so worried about it, or drop it there on our way no? Or a vet. Or something. But please don't touch it..your nose will.."
An Ruan shrugged off her long beige coat and laid it gently over the trembling kitten.
"I can't just leave it her."
The soft weight of the coat enveloped him. Rin's half-lidded eyes blinked in confusion.
He felt warm..
Why would a human touch me? I am not one of their pets.
He tried to move, but his body wouldn't obey. The scent of citrus and faint perfume filed his nose, gentle and soothing.
An Ruan lifted the little body carefully. The coat muffled a tiny sou d of protest,but the kitten didn't resist. It was light, too light and ice cold to the touch.
Her assistant looked horrified. "You're seriously taking it with us? Miss An, what uf the paparazzi see, they will start speculating that your allergy was your way to gain followers."
An Ruan glanced at the bundle in her arms. The small creature's fur glistened faintly under the streetlight. Those blue eyes flickered once before closing.
"It's not illegal to save something dying," she said softly.
Momo sighed, muttering about ambulances for allergies, but followed.
As they walked back to the car, Rin's consciousness wavered.
So warm...
He heard faint voices, doors closing, the low hum of an engine, and the rhythm of rain against glass. The scent of her skin lingered close, mixed with faint traces of medicine.
Her voice sounds like the wind in the mountain passes. Familiar. Why?
The car rocked slightly as it turned onto the main road. Streetlights painted gold across the windshield. Through half-open eyes, Rin caught his own reflection in the glass; a tiny, trembling kitten wrapped in the female's stranger's coat.
So this is my form now. Pathetic.
He had not looked like that for atleast 600 years.
He huffed weakly, a soft rumble that came out as a pitiful meal.
An Ruan smiled despite herself. "You're quite the little fighter, aren't you?"
Her words blurred in and out of of his drifting consciousness. Every sound grew faint. The lights outside turned into streaks of color.
Who is she...? Why does her voice reach me even here, where no energy lives?
His eyes fluttered shut again.
When he woke next, the air was warm and dry.
A soft blanket pressed against his side. Something hummed nearby, a faint electric rhythm. The scent of freshness and a sweetness filled the air.
He blinked.
He was lying on a couch. A woman was sitting across from him, sneezing into a tissue with tears streaming down her eyes.
"Haaachoo! Momo, I swear, I'm allergic to my own decisions."
Her assistant was pacing nearby. "Told you, Jie! Told you!"
Rin blinked slowly, tilting his head. The motion made his little bell collar; added at some point, jingle faintly.
He had never worn anything on his neck before. The sound startled him. His tail puffed slightly in instinct.
The women froze.
"Oh my," Momo whispered. "It's awake."
An Ruan leaned forward cautiously. "Hey there...you okay, little one?"
Rin's sharp blue eyes met hers.
His ears flattened as she reached toward him, and a soft growl rolled out of his tiny chest before he could stop it.
The woman jumped back.
"Did he just, growl at you?"
An Ruan blinked, half-surprised, half-amused. "You have attitude, don't you? I like that."
Rin's tail flicked once in defiance. Of course I do, woman. I'm not a pet.
He turned his head away, pretending to ignore her, but his body betrayed him. The warmth, the soft fabric it was all too comfortable.