Runt was the tiniest kitten of the whole litter, but her fear was the biggest. She was born outside with a feral mama, hiding from danger every day.
Kids in the neighborhood would chase the kittens away, and sometimes they got separated, crying and lost until they found each other again.
When Runt was finally caught and brought in, the shock hit her hard. Flea baths, tick removals, strange smells, new walls, new noises… it all felt like a nightmare.
She would scatter and hide the moment a person entered the room, pressing her little body into corners like she wanted to disappear.
Runt hissed, growled, and scratched, leaving marks on hands and arms. She was not evil. She was a sweet soul with a shattered heart, convinced humans only brought pain.