I wince, grab myself and quake at the pulsing and seething pain. I weakly shout, "Bella?" I sniffle and shout in pain. Did she leave? Oh, right. She went to get food. Oh no, she'll die in that cold. She doesn't even have a thick coat yet like Calico! I reach out to pet her in a sudden daze. I close my hands and hug myself. Damn, I wish she was here.

Ah, this is the life, being cozy in this coat of hers. She asks, "What is your name, little cat?" "I don't like names." She teases, "Oh, come now! Having a name is the best!" I tilt my head, "Not a chance." "Whenever someone says Marigold! Marigold! I get all giddy inside." "Not me." Her baby kicks me, again, she jumps in reaction, "Not yet- oh! There's that old soul!" A hefty country accent echoes through the blizzard, "Marigold, what brings you here?" "Hello Gus!" Deep whiffs, oh no! That better not be a mangy dog! "Is that a cat I smell?" Another kick from Marigold's stomach forces me out her pelt with a loud meow.

Looking up, big droopy ears, fatty brown fur and the worst of all! A big long snout! "Hello Cat." I arch my back and my hairs stick up. I hiss, yet he just glares on those appalling stubby legs, shriveled snout. Marigold puts a foot down, "Enough! Both of you!" "Why'd you bring a cat here, Marigold!?" I growl, "I'm hunting Stonekin, that's why!" He closes his eyes and smiles, "There's no damn way a cat like you even touched him!" Marigold jumps, "Gus, there's a heavy blood trail! It's gotta be him! That means food for you." He jumps away through the snow, "No chance in hell I'm helping." I look down, this is pointless. It's not like I owe that human anything!

Gus stops and takes deep sniffs in the air, then he turns around and sniffs closer towards me. My hairs stick up and he snarls, "You have a human friend?" I look away and lick my paw, "Nope." He pokes into my fur and I jump away as he takes a deep whiff. "Is he alive?!" "Not for long." He sniffs again, "That IS Stonekin's blood. That human couldn't have taken him on, unless-" He exhales, "I'll help, but for the human's sake, not you, trash bin." I growl, Trash Bin!? He bites lightly into my scruff and I go limp. He then marches and hops through the snow, "Get back home, Marigold!" "Stay safe, you two!"