Pounce pauses on the brick wall. A thin, shaky meow drifts through the fog from somewhere below. She slides down and lands with a soft pat.
Pounce creeps toward a leafy bush near the bin. Four tiny kittens huddle together, fur damp and ears flicking. One lets out a squeaky 'mew' that makes Pounce's tail curl.
Pounce noses the nearest kitten. It purrs like a rusty engine and kneads her paw with little pink teeth.
She turns and walks fast — not away, but toward the back door she knows by heart.
She scratches at the door and meows loudly. The latch clicks. Her human bends down.
Pounce tugs their sleeve, then darts back to the bush. The kittens follow, trampling each other in a wobbly line.
The human scoops them up one by one. Inside, a warm lamp clicks on and a bowl of milk appears.
Pounce curls against the four lumps, and their purring blends into one rumbling song.