Old Beliefs About Cats
Coco, where are you?
I brought your food, Coco.
Um, Clarissa...
Hmm?
Coco's been sick for a while now, hasn't she...?
Yeah. She hasn't eaten anything.
So today, I brought something really tasty!
But where is she? Coco?
Hngh... You don't think...
I heard it from my mom.
When cats sense the end is near...
Meow.
...Meow.
Meow...!
*Hiss...!*
Are you hissing at me? After all the food I've given you!
You think you can just take and act like nothing happened?
*Hiss!!*
*Sigh* I didn't want to resort to this.
Watch closely.
You're about to witness the cat impression that even got praise from the Canopus Rangers...!
Just as Clarissa was about to pull something off, our eyes met.
...Captain?
What are you doing here?
Gathering herbs? Oh, okay.
...Did you see?
See what?
So you did see, huh?
...Yeah.
Since when?
Since you were meowing...
...Ahaha!
It's been fun, Captain. But I'm sorry.
I can't let any witnesses walk away, you know.
It took a while to stop Clarissa from loading her rifle.
*Purr* *Purr*
You were hissing at me a second ago, and now you're gobbling it down? You little rascal.
Huh? Is the cat mine?
Ahaha! No, I only met it recently.
It just sits here all day. Think it might have an eye infection.
I've been feeding it while it recovers.
...A name? Haven't given it one yet.
If I name it, I'll start getting attached. And that'd be a problem.
Me? A cat person?
Not really. Just so-so.
I do like their nickname "natural-born hunter." But not their habits.
They slip off to die alone when it's their time, don't they?
That's really a thing with cats?
Maybe? It's just something I heard.
Either way, I'm not really a cat person.
...Still, it's kinda rude.
I fed it more than once, and it's still hissing at me.
Meow.
Mm?
What the—? What's going on?
Why is it acting all sweet with you, Captain?
Wait.
I handed Clarissa a fruit I'd gathered while picking herbs.
The cat walked up and rubbed against Clarissa affectionately.
Meeow!
Uh, Captain? What did you just give me?
A silvervine fruit.
I picked it while gathering herbs earlier.
Meow.
...Wow.
So you can be cute, huh? Never seen this side of you.
You sneaky little thing!
*Purr* *Purr*
Ahaha! Look at that face.
It looks so relaxed.
Right? Are you looking at this, Captain?
...Hmm?
Why are you smiling like that?
What? You're saying I'm making a new face?
...Ahaha!
Hup!
Clarissa lifted the cat and plopped it on top of my head.
Careful not to drop it. It might claw your face off.
Well, I'm off.
Wait, where are you going?!
I've got a packed schedule, believe it or not.
Sorry, Captain! Duty calls. See you tomorrow!
At least let the cat down first!
*Hiss...!*
Without the silver vine, calming the cat down was a nightmare.
Clarissa's been looking after it, but I guess I've got a bond with it too.
Next time, I should head to the library and look up how to care for cats.