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“Sissel,” Yomiel called out. “C’mon buddy, we’re leaving.”
Yomiel double checked his bag with his (very small) amount of belongings before grabbing Sissel’s carrier and opening it up. The black cat usually liked to walk with Yomiel to their next destination– wherever that should be– but it had been getting colder outside lately, and Sissel was more interested in the protection his carrier offered from the chilled air.
The steadily dropping temperature was also the reason the two of them have been hunkering down in cheap motels, instead of weathering it out in whatever abandoned buildings and alleyways that were convenient.
The current motel was one of the better ones they’ve stayed at, with heating that actually worked, carpets that weren’t covered in unknown stains, and only a single rat that Sissel made short work of. The pair had been here for the better part of 2 weeks– much longer than they usually stayed in one place– and Yomiel had finally deemed it was time to move on.
A lively chirrup was Sissel’s answering call, alerting Yomiel to his position somewhere near the tv. Yomiel wandered over to him just in time to hear one last rip, before Sissel met him halfway, another chirp somewhat garbled by the object in his mouth.
“What’cha got there, pal? Another gift?”
Ever since the two had begun traveling together, Sissel had developed a rather peculiar habit. Whenever it was time to leave their current dwelling– if it was a spot Sissel liked and they happened to stay for more than a few days– Sissel was always sure to grab a little memento of the place and give it to Yomiel.
The gifts could range from a variety of objects: leaves Sissel had managed to chase down, plastic wrappers that missed the bin, or even small trinkets lost by the previous owners and found under the bed. Yomiel accepted every new treasure from the little cat, sometimes he would even keep them. Unless they were in the category of just being generally gross, like the dead mice or birds.
Sissel used to bring Yomiel a ton of those. He thought that maybe the cat was trying to feed him.
In the end, it didn’t matter what it was, the gifts were appreciated. They filled his spirit with a long forgotten warmth and kept him going for just a little while longer.
Yomiel crouched down to receive his gift and Sissel dropped a torn piece of carpet into his hand. Behind Sissel, near the cabinet where the tv was sat upon, the carpet must not have been secured properly as a corner could be seen sticking up somewhat, a small strip now missing from it.
Yomiel laughed. He wondered how long Sissel was working at the carpet, ripping it up more and more just to get a piece off. “Yeah, I liked the carpet here, too. A lot cleaner than the last few places, eh?”
Sissel’s response was a happy “Mraw!” as he weaved his way around Yomiel’s legs, purring loudly. Yomiel stroked along his back and gave him a few scratches under the chin before standing and dropping the carpet strip into his bag.
“Thanks, old friend.”
Sissel hopped into his own carrier and Yomiel picked it up, giving the better-than-usual motel room a final glance over.
There was a lot Yomiel didn’t like about the current state of his existence— about the transient life he was living, drifting through the crowds unnoticed and insignificant to everyone. Everyone but a little black cat that showed his love through peculiar little gifts. But that was enough to keep Yomiel moving, happy to see just what Sissel would gift him next.