In the cold, dark alley, a small creature hunched, alone, freezing, soaked to the bone for the the night's cold, cold drizzle, and utterly miserable. it shrank farther back into the corner which it had already backed into as it heard a crash and a shadow passed over.
A thing in tattered rags came into the terrified creature's view. A face, as ugly as sin and as horrifying as a rabid beast on the blackest night with only a full moon casting an unearthly pale glow around it, nearly frightened the wits out of the animal. A hand reached out to grab it. The creature, too terrified and weak to defend itself, was sure this was the end.
"Why hello!" said a kindly voice. Then it let out a raspy sigh. "Another unfortunate."
It was a man, in about as bad shape as the little furry thing in his hand, if not worse.
"Let's get you safe and dry" he said soothingly. The animal in his hand was now recognizable as a kitten, gray with black stripes on its back and spots on its belly. It mewed pitifully.
The man, whose name was Katathersis (meaning "selfless"), took the small kitten to his shack, which he had constructed himself of old discarded sheets of tin roofing and held together by leather strips at close intervals. It was not exactly weather-tight, but he pulled from a heavy chest a section of old canvas sail, salvaged from a wrecked ship. This he draped around the hut. now no rain could get in, save through a large hole in the top. this he covered with another sheet of tin supported by a makeshift stand on three legs. This made a suitable chimney. he took out form the chest also six grain sacks and laid them on the ground so that it was now dry underfoot. , leaving another circle, which he lined with rocks. he dried the ground as best as he could and set up a small fire with dry grass, leaves, and twigs (which he also had in his chest). He draped another sack over the kitten and settled down to enjoy the warmth and refule the fire when necessary.
