#violentcurse

dani leads ishtar around the back of the building, footsteps careful. “i am taking you somewhere very special and very secret. you cannot tell anyone about this, okay?” despite the lack of a vehicle, dani brings her to the mostly empty carpark, slowly approaching the small white lump sitting in the middle of one of the parking spots.

when they get close enough, said lump stretches onto its legs, and eyes dani and ishtar suspiciously for a moment before letting them come close. dani drops down to one knee, scratches the calico behind its ears, and then gestures for ishtar to come closer. “she won't scratch! don't worry! and look,” the cat rolls onto its back, exposing a rounded belly, “she's pregnant!”

dani swallows a little nervously, then turns to face ishtar with serious eyes. “i will take care of the both of you, don't worry. you, and the baby, and this cat and her baby too! i will be by your side the whole time!”