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She thought it was yawning, but it closed its mouth and went cross-eyed while staring at its own snout. It was like it expected something else to happen.

It tried again, appearing to yawn, and then looked at its own snout in confusion.

It tried against the table, and when nothing happened again, it glared at her. And she knew it was a glare. A hateful, menacing little glare.

“I do not know why you are looking at me like that when I have done nothing to hurt you.”

She placed her chin in her hand as she waited for the creature to finish having its tantrum.

“Are you not in pain, little creature?” she asked before carefully patting the top of its head with a forefinger.

It froze, its eyes wide as it turned to her. It looked horrified that she’d touched it.

Sighing, she brought the tea closer and dipped a finger inside to check that it wasn’t too hot. Deciding it wasn’t, she grabbed a spoonful and lifted it while trying to get it to open its mouth.

It gave a hissing squeal, and she giggled.

“That is a rather cute sound you have there.”

She giggled harder when the contents of her tea spilt over its head because it knocked it away with its snout. She knew the tea wouldn’t hurt its eyes, but it gave it a sweet bath. Once again, she tried to get it to drink, but it grabbed the spoon with its teeth and pulled it from her grasp, throwing it to the ground.

The wooden cutlery clanked against the timber floor.

With an exasperated sigh, she picked up the spoon, placed it on the kitchen counter, and grabbed a clean one.

“You are rather odd, are you not?” It stopped to stare at her. “I am not surprised that you are afraid of me, and you probably do not understand me, but I am sincerely trying to help you.”

When it was distracted again by trying to escape, she forcefully grabbed it around its fat head. Its eyes widened while she expertly squished the sides of its jaws to pry its mouth open.

She dumped a spoonful of tea in its mouth, pushed its head back, and forced it to drink. It squirmed, and she found it an honest struggle to fight it.

You sure are strong for something so tiny!

Before it could get out of her grasp, she did it again.

Amalia released it and waited, still amazed at its strength. Eventually it ceased struggling, and its eyes drooped.

“See? Is that not better?” It turned to her with another foul glare. “Do not give me that look.”

Then, to its apparent shock, she poked it in the head.

“What are you, anyway?” It frowned, staring up at her so defencelessly with narrowed eyes. “I do not think I have ever seen anything like you before.”

She placed her chin back into one of her hands while she patted the top of its head with her other.

“I am sorry Bala attacked you. He is such a feral little cat, but I cannot help loving the stray. Then again, you might have drowned in the storm if he did not find you.”

They stared at each other for long moments before she grabbed another spoonful of tea. It seemed calmer now that it wasn’t in as much pain, and it allowed her to drain the contents into its mouth.

“If I unwrap you, are you going to bite me again?”

That glare came back.

Only realising now that blood was still coming from the wound on her hand, she wiped it with the rag again.

“You have quite the nasty bite.” Then she sighed, shaking her long hair around her shoulders. “It would be easier if I could talk to animals. I could explain to you that you are injured, and I am only trying to help.”

She’d never taken care of something with so many sharp teeth before.