"Mama? Where are you Mama? Don't go. I'm sorry." Runt called as loud as she could, hoping her mother would come back. Runt's light grey fur was soaked with rainwater and she couldn't stop shivering, the box she was hiding in doing nothing to keep her dry. "Mama? Come back, Mama." Runt started when her box was suddenly moved away, dumping her onto the ground. A Big Thing crouched over her, much bigger than Mama was. Runt hissed, her fur bristling weakly, before her legs gave out under her. The Big Thing made a strange noise and moved forward, scooping the frightened kitten up off the ground. Runt hissed at the Big Thing, weakly demanding to be released, but the Big Thing just made more strange noises. After what felt like forever, Runt's little bit of strength ran out and everything went dark.
The first thing Runt noticed when she came to was that she was warm. Something soft was wrapped around her that kept the cold from getting in. The second was that the place she was in was very noisy and also smelled really good. Runt slowly opened her eyes, blinking up at the Big Thing that was still holding her. The Big Thing was making noises at lots of other Big Things, not as many as Runt's brothers and sisters, but still many more than just little Runt. One of the Big Things with a patch of gold on top of it suddenly pointed at her, drawing the other Big Things' attention back to her. Runt tucked her ears down and whimpered, wondering what the strange Big Things were going to do to her. The gold-topped Big Thing disappeared for a few moments before returning and giving something to the first Big Thing. The first Big Thing held the strange thing by Runt's face. Runt sniffed it, curious despite herself. Food! The Big Things were giving her food! Runt quickly grabbed the white thing the food was in with her claws so the Big Things couldn't take it away. First Big Thing made more noises, Runt thought they sounded like happy noises, and held her up so she could reach the food easier. Maybe the Big Things weren't going to hurt Runt. They gave her nice warm food and made her warm and there weren't even any Brothers or Sisters there to take her food away. Runt purred softly as she drank her food, listening to the Big Things make noises between themselves. She decided she might like the Big Things.
"How are you feeling?" Runt looked up at the Big Brown Thing that called itself Doctor. Doctor wasn't as big as the other Big Things, and Doctor was properly fuzzy while the other Big Things only had fur on the very tops of their heads. Doctor wasn't like any cat Runt had ever met, but then Runt had never really met any other cats besides Mama and Brothers and Sisters.
"Runt is all full." Runt said, purring softly in the warm place First Big Thing had given her. The Big Things were all so very nice to her.
"I'm glad to hear that. Are you warm enough?" Doctor asked, putting a hard paw against Runt's side.
"Runt feels nice." Runt said, her purring growing even louder. "Does Runt get to stay with nice Big Things in warm place with food?" Doctor chuckled, looking over at the bigger Big Things.
"Yes, you can stay here as long as you like. Luffy refused to hear a word against you staying." Doctor said, pointing to First Big Thing. So, First Big Thing was called Luffy. Runt didn't know what a Luffy was, but she was glad one had found her. Luffys were nice. "Oh, I was supposed to ask, do you have a name?"
"No, Runt is Runt. Runts don't have names, except for Runt. Runt doesn't like being called Runt, though." Runt said, tucking her head between her forepaws tiredly. "Will nice Luffy let Runt have name?"
"I'm sure he will. I'll talk to him, but you should rest now." Doctor said, stroking Runt's head-fur lightly until Runt feel asleep. Runt didn't have to be scared to sleep now, because she was safe in the warm place with food and nice Luffys.
Mouse purred softly, lining up her jump. Filthy rats thought they could get away with eating Luffy's food. Not while Mouse was around. Luffy was nice, after all. He'd saved Mouse from the cold alley, given her food, and even given her a name, all when she was just a little runt. Mouse was still little, but she was big enough now to help her humans protect their ship. Kneading her claws, she waited for the perfect moment and then pounced. Maybe she could give this mouse to the nice red-furred human, Nami. She liked getting presents.
TBC