He found the little one around the corner of a house, just darting between piles of rubbish, searching for food. Thats when he spotted ita tiny grey kitten, scrambling across the pavement and crying desperately. A big, dirty, skinny ginger dogwell, maybe ginger, maybe grey. The dust clung to him so thickly it was hard to tell. He hesitated, and the kitten…
The kitten spotted him, squeaked, and crawled toward him. The dog growled, but the little thing didnt flinch.
*”Blimey,”* the dog thought. *”Just what I need. Hey, hey! Your mumll be back any minute. Dont come near me.”*
He tried nudging the persistent kitten away with his paw, but it ignored him completely. Instead, it pressed against his big, grubby leg, clinging with tiny claws, and fell silent.
*”Fine,”* the dog sighed. *”Ill wait till his mum shows up, then Im off.”*
The kitten curled up and dozed off, perfectly content. The big, grimy dogwhatever colour he waslay down too and waited.
He waited a long time. Too long, really. Because the mumthe catnever came.
A day passed, then evening, then night, and still no sign of her. The dog understood. There was no point waiting anymore. Something terrible mustve happened to her.
The kitten woke up, nuzzling the dogs belly. He was hungry.
*”Great,”* the dog thought. *”Now what? Cant just leave him here to starve.”*
Alright.
Hed take the kitten to the bin near the restaurant. They threw out all sorts of good stuff there, and there was a hole in the side of the big dumpsterperfect for scavenging.
*”Ill feed him, then leave him there. Cant be carting him around forever, can I?”*
Grabbing the kitten by the scruff, he stood and trotted off. It wasnt far. He left the kitten in the bushes so it wouldnt wander while he rummaged through the rubbish.
The dog fidgeted, ears pricked at the kittens fretful mewling. The little grey thing was calling for its mum.
*”Ugh,”* the dog muttered under his breath. *”What mum? Shes gone.”*
He found a few half-eaten yoghurt pots and carried them back. Instead of eating, he licked the sweet, sticky stuff onto the kittens face. The little one lapped it up, purring.
*”There. Sorted.”*
The dog felt oddly pleased.
The kitten clambered onto his warm side, dug its claws into his dirty fur, and fell asleep.
*”Alright,”* the dog decided. *”Ill stick around till morning. Feed him once more, then… then Ill go.”*
But the kitten woke in the night, crying. The dog licked him calm.
By dawn, they both dozed off. When the dog opened his eyes, he met the kittens tiny grey stare. The little thing booped his wet nose and mewed.
*”Mum.”*
And suddenly, the dog knewhe wasnt going anywhere.
Thats how it went.
He chewed food soft for his kitten. The kitten ate, then snuggled close, hugging his doggy mum, playing with his tail, sleeping on him. And somehow, the dog felt… warm. Safe. Like hed found home.
They ate together, slept together. The rest of the time, the dog taught the kitten to run and jump.
*”Might as well show him how to survive,”* he figured.
By summer, the kitten had grown. The dog… well, hed gotten thinner.
Then autumn came. Endless rain. Finding dry, warm spots got harder. Sometimes, the dog curled around his kitten, shielding him from the cold, shivering himself but licking the little one clean. Keeping him fed mattered most.
The dog caught a coldsniffling, sneezing. The kitten watched, worried.
*”Mum? Whats wrong? Are you sick?”*
*”Nah, nothing serious, love,”* the dog rasped. *”Dont fuss. Cuddle upIll keep you warm.”*
Tears blurred his eyes. The rain poured. The rubbish pile was emptythey had to move.
As usual, he carried the kitten by the scruff.
Water gushed down the pavement. The autumn sky wept. Rain battered the dogs back, but he only thought one thing:
*”Cant let my little ones paws get wet. Cant let him catch cold.”*
He hurried across the roadtoo fast to spot the car rounding the corner.
Thank God it was slow. The wipers couldnt keep up with the downpour. The bumper clipped him, just enough to knock him onto the pavement.
The driver stopped, stepped out, and approached. The dog lay on his side, left hind leg tucked under.
*”Let me see,”* the man said softly.
The dog growled, clutching something close.
*”Easy,”* the man soothed. *”Im a doctor. Let me help.”*
Rain hammered harder. The doctor shivered, water soaking his back. The dog only squeezed tighter, eyes shut.
*”Whatve you got there?”* The man peeredthen gasped.
Two kitten eyes blinked up at him from under the dogs paws.
*”Oh. I see.”*
He shrugged off his coat, laid it on the wet pavement, and carefully lifted them both. In the car, the kitten wriggled, mewing.
*”Mum! Mum! Im here! Dont be scared!”*
*”Shh,”* the doctor murmured. *”Your friends in good hands.”*
The kitten stared, wide-eyed, as the vet in the white coat worked. Exhausted, he finally slept in the doctors arms.
Hours later, the vet said the dog could go homewith meds and check-ups.
*”Tell you what,”* the vet added. *”Ill drop by after work. Well have a pint.”*
Days passed. The big ginger dog recovered, eating treats from the doctors hand. The skinny grey kitten watched, anxious.
*”Worried for his pal,”* the doctor said.
The vetwho had dogs and cats of his ownknelt beside them.
*”Youve got it wrong. Hes not worried for his friend. Hes worried for his mum.”*
*”What?”*
The vet scratched the kittens ears. *”Dont fret. Shell be fine.”*
The kitten purred, nuzzling his hand.
*”Dyou mind if I take them?”* the vet asked later, over drinks. *”Once hes healed.”*
*”Perfect,”* the doctor agreed.
*”To a speedy recovery, then. Andwhatll you name them?”*
The doctor smiled.
*”The dog? Mum. The kitten? Sonny. Hows that?”*
The vet raised his glass. *”To Mum and Sonny.”*
They talked late into the night. Meanwhile, Sonny climbed onto Mum, hugged her bandaged leg, and dozed off.
The dog gazed at him, wonderinghow had he ever lived without this kitten? How?
