â€œmewâ€¦â€ the sound beckoned for Shade to open those tired weary lids. â€œbless you..â€ he whispered weakly. Again â€œmew..â€ his eyes cracked a fraction as his head lifted some from the wall as he now heard a new sound to go with the faint pleed for help.<span style="font-weight: bold">splish, pit,splish,pat</span>His eyes fluttered more as he struggled to open those eyes of his. â€œWh..atâ€¦â€ he groaned softly looking around hearing the two sounds getting slightly slowly louder. His eyes found the target and he gasped seeing the tiny creature<a class="postlink" href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JNziO83l3bk/SLMWj04FqAI/AAAAAAAAASM/As2-iHp81nQ/s320/Img2263c.JPG">[ img ]</a><br/><br/>The kitten struggled through a puddle just up a head of Shadeâ€™s feet, it was wet and clearly shivering. â€œpoor little dot..â€ he forced his form to roll into a position where he was on his hands an knees crawling to the tiny animal, â€œShâ€¦ its ok.. frail oneâ€¦ where is your mother?â€ he asked picking the kitten up holding it securely in the palms of his hands as he scanned the area, â€œYour to young to have gotten to far from herâ€¦â€ slowly he stood and took a staggering step to the alley on the other side of the building he had been resting against. A sharp pain shot through him as he winced looking to the small thing, â€œDonâ€™t worry I wont let you go..â€ he cooed faintly to the tiny critter freezing in place as he saw the explanation to what happenedâ€¦â€I now seeâ€¦.the cause of your mewing little oneâ€¦ I am sorry..â€ he walked and knelt before the dead form looking around he found a box and broken broom stick. He sat on his rear and tore from the cloth he was using to cover his form and spit into it lightly, â€œhere little one.. lets get you clean then we will bury your mother so that her soul may rest at easeâ€¦<br/><br/>After cleaning the frail helpless kitten Shade got the motherâ€™s recently cold body into the box and picked it up, as her daughter mewed more trying to get back to the source of her life. â€œLittle one you will not be alone I promiseâ€¦ I will tend to youâ€ Shade staggered to behind the building where he remembered a spot of dirt to be. Again he sank to his knees wincing in pain as he sat the box down beside him and traced itâ€™s shape on the ground, then carefully he removed the box so that he could dig the grave. All the while he workd he held the white kitten barely old enough to have eyes open to his chest where his heart beat ever slower with each passing minute. His hands were black once his work was done and the box was hidden in the Earth safe and sound. Shade bowed his head and whispered a blessing for the mother to be at ease and rest in peace now that her life had ended. â€œMewâ€¦â€ he looked to the kitten as it kneaded his chest, â€œHaha, I am not a female little one and can not privde a just meal for you. What I can do however is find a meal..â€ he stood up grabbing his side sinking down to a knee again as the kitten â€œmewedâ€ kneading him more. A trail of blood had followed his steps and now proved to be causing him great struggle in standing.<br/><br/>With in a moment of too Shade managed to stand and began a long walk to find his new found friend some milk. He searched all over the town as people watched and kept away from the staggering beast they did not understand. Yet, in the distance about a mile Shade finally found help. â€œSon, you alright?â€ a kind man asked as he was walking back to his farm just yards down the hill Shade had managed to climb â€œYou look to be in some trouble with that hole on your sideâ€¦â€ Shade looked to the man with foggy eyes, a sign that he was in dire need of help, â€œSir, I need to find this little one some milk before I tend to my own injuries.. would you know where that can be acquired?â€ The farmer looked amazed to the gentle soul before him and nodded, â€œYeah. Willow my wife and I have a goat that might can provide you some aid, and we have bandaids for you as well.â€ Shade smiled and nuzzled the pink nose of his charge â€œThank you Sir, you are to kind. â€œ The farmer laughed and rubbed his bald head â€œNo Sir needed lad, just call me Buckâ€ Shade nodded and smiled â€œThank you Buck..â€ he began to follow behind the man, the man who stopped and hooked Shadeâ€™s free arm over his own shoulder and helped the ancient being to his tiny farm.<br/><br/>As Buck had said the kitten soon received a tiny bottle of milk fresh from the goat which had been given the name of Amimy. â€œSo that pet of yours have a name?â€ Willow asked as she wrapped material soaked in a healing herb around Shadeâ€™s wound up in the spare bedroom of the farmhouse. â€œYes, I have decided her name to be Hichi. (Hi-Chi)â€ Shade smiled with pride holding the bottle for his little girl â€œThank you again Mrs. Willow for all your help and that of Buckâ€™s as well..â€ Willow laughed some as she tied the last knot. â€œDonâ€™t worry about it Deary, and Hichi.. that is an odd but cute name.â€ Shade nodded, â€œSheâ€™s an odd little thing like myselfâ€¦â€ the two laughed before Willow picked up the candle providing light to the room. â€œWell you should rest yourselfâ€¦ Shade. The sun has gone down and Buck and I are retiring for the evening.â€ Shade looked to her still holding the bottle for Hichi, â€œYes Maâ€™am, thank you again for everything and the super was great!â€ Willow smiled â€œIts good to see someone destroy my pot roast like Buck use to do â€¦ and Iâ€™m glad we were able to find you some pants that fit you.â€ She laughed as Shade pulled the blanket around his form sitting the bottle to the side. â€œGood night Dear.â€ Willow shuit the door and the room gave into the night. Hichi crawled her way to a resting place just under Shadeâ€™s chin as the two drifted into a well deserved sleep