Clowder (noun): a cluster of cats

Mewing, whimpering, clambering over one another, the litter of eight kittens struggled to keep themselves under the half-torn roof awning. They were lined up miserably, a frozen wall against their backs and a cutting blizzard before their faces.

Their mother’s unmoving body was growing as cold as the snow.

The sky’s tantrum only became wilder, crazier as the storm raged with the howling winds. Was the sun just hidden behind the icy clouds? Or was the gray heaven completely empty of its light?

A stumbling figure appeared in the distance.

Desperately opening their jaws, the kittens began to meow louder and shriller, hoping the human could hear them before their voices were torn away by wind.

It worked!

The human, clad tightly in its thick snow coat, rushed over like an angel. Large, gloved hands reached down and picked up two of them-

And turned away?

Almost as if regretful, the figure twisted back again. It seemed to shake its head, as if it was sorry that it didn’t have enough hands or enough space.

The great big boots took a step forward.

Instantly, a chorus of protesting meows rose frantically over the raining hoarfrost. The two kittens in the human’s hands thrashed and kicked and scratched and bit, until they were tossed back down, crashing into the rest of the litter.

The human, clutching its bloody hands, left them without another glance.

Yet, the litter stuck closer together.

Cluttered next to one another, furs drenched and eyes silver with teardrops, they continued their frozen wait for the storm to pass.