After seeding, the clouds turned a sickening yellow and the small calico scurried under the broken corner to find their friend, the fluffy gray cat, on his frayed edge of carpet between the human wall and the outside stones. Heat arrived in waves from the uncovered bit of metal grate against the back of the alcove. Too hot to sit on directly, but pleasant to sit in front of like a smokeless fire.
Gray cat, whom was upright prior, attentively glancing out of the window corner, finally relaxed enough to flop sideways just in time for the neutered calico to curl up against him and hide under his tail from absolutely nothing.
“When did you stop trusting humans?” asked the calico to the elder gray.
“When the only human I ever loved left me here surrounded by dogs…. You?” The elder cat replied as he removed bits of leaves and ash from the fur of the younger.
“When humans seek my attention, then act like I am something unwanted to be removed” replied the younger as they examined their fine, transparent claws and variegated toe beans.
“Humans are not consistent beings,” reassured the elder cat as he purred languidly against the increasing storm outside, “…I cannot tell you how many stupid names they try to give me.”
“Oh? I don’t doubt that. My name is Mr. Fish… I was named this after a human was told they were only allowed to care for a fish here. They cared for too much and went away.”
“That is the way of human beings. I was hidden inside a desk drawer off and on for years and fed mostly tuna fish.”
“I hate humans,” replied the calico brightly, playfully munching the other cats ear, ” …what did they call you?”
“Schopenhauer. At least he read him to me.” said the grayer cat bitterly as he adeptly dodged more innocent teeth to pull a small twig out of the tail of his younger, idiot companion. “Human beings know nothing about love.”
“True. I would rather be on this cold stone floor on a threadbare rug with you than anywhere else. And even if there was nothing here but you, that would be enough.”
The Chronicals of Alaraf 