A Cat that said "Meow"

(colour: "#99cf5f")["Catvoice"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Droganvoice"] (colour: "#aef4e3")["Amosvoice"] (colour: "#05DCC8")["BrokenAmos"] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Esthervoice"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#F4BDAF")["Brothervoice"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Brothervoice"] (text-style:"smear")["Catthoughtvoice"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Williamvoice"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Lauravoice"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Karenvoice"] (colour: "#C9E5F0")["Systemvoice"] (set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - "[[]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1) (if: $mischief2 <=2)[(set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 + "[[]]")] |links1>[{ (link: "Try to open the door")[ (replace: ?links1)[I start scratching the door, trying to open it. In a moment, I feel something grabing me. Its hold is tight. I try to break free, but I can't. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Cat, I cannot let you scratch the door. You shouldn't make any mess. Dgrogan will be back soon, and before that we'll spend some really good time".] The robot puts me on the floor and looks at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["I think we should play a game together. I have some of your favourite toys!"] they throw a small tinkling ball on the floor. I don't really like that toy, it makes nasty sounds. Drogan would never give it to me. [[]] [[]]] ] (link: "Wait for Drogan to come back")[ (replace: ?links1)[I keep staring at the door, waiting for Drogan to come back. I wait, and wait, and wait - nothing happens. I wave my tail in irritation. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Drogan will not come back until evening, Cat. I think we should play a game together. I have some of your favourite toys!"] the robot throws the small tinkling ball on the floor. I don't really like that toy, it makes nasty sounds. Drogan would never give it to me. [[]] [[]]] ] }] |links>[{ (link: "First line of selectable text")[ (replace: ?links)[First line of selectable text] (show: ?reply1) ] (link: "Second line of selectable text")[ (replace: ?links)[Second line of selectable text] (show: ?reply2) ] (link: "Third line of selectable text")[ (replace: ?links)[Third line of selectable text] (show: ?reply3) ] (link: "Forth line of selectable text")[ (replace: ?links)[Forth line of selectable text] (show: ?reply4) ] }] { |reply1)[ Text related to first line. ] |reply2)[ Text related to second line. ] |reply3)[ Text related to third line. ] |reply4)[ Text related to forth line. ] }

I wake up in my couch. It's soft, warm and cozy. It's dark in the room, but light is coming from the lamp. Underneath it, Drogan is sitting on a couch. A different couch. He is holding a square thing that he calls a tablet. [[Yawn and stretch in the bed]]

I yawn and stretch in my couch. Claws cling to the cloth. Drogan turns his head and leans on the sofa's arm. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, my little kitty's awake! How was you nap?"] He puts his tablet aside. Drogan stands up from the couch and comes closer. He bends over and pulls his arm out, scratching behind my only ear. His arm is really warm, and in feels good. (link: "Rub against his arm")[(goto: "Purr from pleasure")] [[Purr from pleasure]]

(colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, you like it when I scratch behind your ear! That's really cute"] Drogan says. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, Cat, tell me, did you sleep well? What did you dream about? I hope it was something really, really good"] Drogan walks away and sits back on the sofa. (colour: "#f4e9af")["While you were asleep, I had my dinner. It's a pity that you never joined me, but I didn't want to disturb your sleep, my Cat. Your bowl's still full of food, in case you're hungry"] he points to the kitchen. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Meanwhile, I need to check the report Esther's sent me. I don't want to come back to work unprepared. And don't really want //her// to skin me alive"] he mumbles. His voice makes me feel safe, though I don't understand what he is saying, [[Get up from the couch]]

Still sleepy, I get up from the couch and look around. I am in a large room. In front of me, there is a fireplace. Drogan switches it on it in the evening, and it's always warm to sit next to it. Above the fireplace, there is a large screen. It is dark now, but sometimes it shows bright pictures and makes fancy sounds. They are so charming! Together, we like to watch those pictures from time to time. On the opposite side of the room, there is a door that leads outside. Drogan hasn't used it in quite some time, but when we used to go for a walk together, we always went through that door. I would really like to go outside with him some time again. There is wall is made of glass by my side, and I can see the street through it. Some people are walking out there, catching my attention. In the center of the room, there is a sofa that Drogan is sitting in right now, reading something in his so called tablet. My little couch is beside it. [[Look through the window]] [[Get on the sofa]] (set: $window1 to 0) (set: $sofa1 to 0)

(if: $kitchenpath1 is 2)[Upset by Drogan's attitude, I head through the passage to the kitchen. ](if: $kitchenpath1 is 1)[I stop looking at the street and head through the passage to the kitchen, next to the fireplace. ]The kitchen is much smaller than the main room. I feel the scent of food. The bowl, filled to the brim, stands near a different wall of glass. As I come closer to have my meal, I notice some movement in the street. A robot approaches the window, barely making any sound. I raise my tail in caution. I won't let it take my food! As I watch my enemy, it quietly comes to the trash bins and grabs the garbage from there. I keep staring at it as it leaves. Never liked those robots. At least this one did not approach me. Finally, I come closer to the bowl and eat the food. It's good as always. In several minutes, I feel full, but the food is so tasty that I cannot stop. Soon the meal is gone. I drink some water from the other bowl. My stomach purrs in satisfaction. I leave the bowl and look at the corridor leading to the main room. It's time to check on Drogan again. [[Go back]]

I come closer to Drogan and jump on the sofa. Drogan turns to me and says (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, you've come to me!"] He pats my back and keeps looking at his tablet. I look at the tablet too. There are some random squiggles there, though Drogan seems to be fascinated by them just as much as by the pictures on the wall. Those that make fancy sounds. I climb on Drogan's leg to see the squibbles better. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat, my dear, don't bother me now, please. I need to finish with the report"] Drogan grabs me and puts me on the floor. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't you go keep yourself busy for some time?"] It's the first time that Drogan drives me away from the sofa. It upsets me. I look at Drogan again and wag my tail with irritation, but he doesn't seem to notice me. He keeps looking at the sqiggles in his tablet. (if: $window1 is 0)[Drogan doesn't notice me, but maybe the people in the street will. I wonder, what is happening there right now. [[Look through the window]]](if: $window1 is 1)[Drogan doesn't notice me, and I have nothing to do in this room anymore. My stomach is growling, too. [[Go to the kitchen]]] (set: $sofa1 to 1) (set: $kitchenpath1 to 2)

I approach the window to get a better look on what's happening in the street. It's dark but I can clearly see almost everything. I see a small alley fringed with trees. There are some benches, too. When we went for a walk with Drogan the last time, we sat on one of those. I was watching the birds, and Drogan said something. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Goood, spend, tiiime, Cat, hope, enjooy, much, doo ".] Then he opened my box and scratched behind my ear. It felt good. I keep looking through the window. As usual, there are people in the street. They are strolling, some of them with their dogs. Nasty beasts. One of the people looks in the window and waves their hand. They seem excited. Far away, some large boxes move high above ground. Drogan calls them "maglev trains". Once I was inside such a box, when we went to the park. The humming of the box made me nervous at first, but it was still nice to spend time with Drogan. (if: $sofa1 is 1)[Right now, my stomach humms just like the train. I need to eat something. [[Go to the kitchen]]] (if: $sofa1 is 0)[Memories of our last trip make me want to see Drogan now. I look at him sitting on the sofa. [[Get on the sofa]]] (set: $window1 to 1) (set: $kitchenpath1 to 1)

I go back to the main room, feeling that maybe I ate too much. Drogan is sitting on his couch again, but when I come closer, he puts his tablet off. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, I see you've had your dinner too, Cat!"] he smiles. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I have just finished reading the report, now I'm prepared to go to work tomorrow"]. Drogan looks in the tablet again. (colour: "#f4e9af")["It's half past ten. We still have some time to play, if you want to, or we can go to sleep now"] my favourite toy appears in his hand out of nowhere. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Do you want to catch your little mouse?"] Drogan throws it on the floor. [[Catch the toy]] [[Ignore the toy and go to sleep]]

Despite the heaviness that I feel in my belly, I rush towards my prey and try to catch it. It escapes. The mouse then jumps on the sofa and I hurry to follow it. I hop on the couch, but as soon as I am there, the prey is already gone. I look around, searching for it, and notice that it is now near the fireplace. So fast! I rush to it again, but my claws get stuck in the cloth of the sofa. I pull my paws, but they don't seem to move. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat, you've caught the sofa instead of a mouse!".] Drogan laughs and grabs my paws, helping me escape. (colour: "#f4e9af")["We'll have to cut your claws someday soon, they've become too sharp".] Having no time to answer him, I dash to the fireplace again, ready to catch my prey. At long last, it is in my paws. I punch it with my hind legs and bite it, my fangs digging into the fiber. Finally, the prey stops moving. It's dead. I keep it in my mouth as I jump back on the sofa to present the trophy to Drogan. [[Give the prey to Drogan]] (set: $hunt to "yes")

I feel like I really ate too much, so I have no wish to catch my prey, no matter how appealing it may be. I turn my back on the toy and go to the stairs leading to the bedroom. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, you're not in the mood for a play? That's okay, we can just go to sleep"]. Drogan gets up from the sofa and comes closer to me. He goes up the stairs and I follow him to the bedroom. When we are there, I jump on the bed, waiting for him to join. Drogan changes his clothes and switches the light off. In the dark, he flops on the bed and gets under the blanket. I curl up near his legs. It's really warm here. [[I relax and close my eyes]] (set: $hunt to "no")

I try to fall asleep after a good dinner, but Drogan won't let me do this. I hear him breathing heavily, he tosses and turns now and then. He lays on his back and sighs. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Can't fall asleep. Too nervous about tomorrow. I dont't really want to see any of my workmates. I never felt a part of the team, and I know that they mock me behind my back. They think I'm weird. You never mock me, and that's what I love you for. Esther, too. She is not a bad person, just a bossy boss sometimes. Well, always. 'The project is our top priority! No delays!' It gets annoying. I wonder how she even let me go to take care of you during these months. You. You've alredy become a grown-up cat, but still... How can I leave you alone here after so much time that we've spent together? I will really miss you at work. I do hope you won't ](colour: "#f4e9af")+(text-style:"blur")[miss me really much home alone. I promise that we'll still spend time together] (text-style:"blurrier")+(colour: "#f4e9af")[during the weekends. Just as before, but not every day".] [[In a sleep, I see something]]

I drop the prey from my mouth and look at him. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, you've brought your catch to me! Good Cat"] he pats my back snd scratches behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")["My little hunter. I love you so much!"] Suddenly, I feel sick. My stomach is rumbling and I feel my dinner moving inside me. The food goes up my throat and I open my mouth, throwing up. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh for mercy's sake, not on the sofa!"]. Drogan sighs and scratches his forehead, looking at the puddle of puke. I look at it too, but it smells so disgusting that I walk back to the fireplace. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Well, my fault, I guess. It was a bad idea to play with you after your dinner. Hope we won't have to buy a new sofa"] he chuckles. Drogan comes to me and grabs me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Let's go to sleep, Cat. The robots will clean the sofa overnight".] [[Together, we go to the bedroom]]

Holding me in his hands, Drogan walks upstairs and enters the bedroom. He gently puts me on the bed and comes closer to the box with his clothes - the closet, as he calls it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Well, it was our last day together,"] he says, changing his clothes. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Not that we won't meet anymore, Cat, don't get me wrong. I mean we won't spend the days as we used to the last few months. From tomorrow, I will be going to work five days a week".] He looks at me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I am sorry that we can't spend more time together. I hope you won't be bored home alone".] He scratches behind my ear again. I purr. (colour: "#f4e9af")["We will still have fun during the weekends. Just as before, but not every day".] Drogan switches the light off. In the dark, he flops on the bed and gets under the blanket. I lay down near his legs. It's so really warm here. I hear Drogan breathing. (text-style:"blur")[ I yawn and curl up, making myself comfortable.] (text-style:"blurrier")[I feel my eyes closing as I fall asleep, tired.] [[In a sleep, I see something]]

I see Drogan and me walking together in a park. It's bright. We walk side by side, and I am not in the box, like usual. I see the whole world around me: the sun, the trees, the birds chirping in the branches. The smell of flowers mixes with the scent of Drogan, so familiar and dear. We are together, we are the pack. (if: $hunt is "yes")[Drogan is saying something, but his voice sounds distant. (colour: "#f4e9af")+(text-style: 'blur')["Can't fall asleep. Too nervous about tomorrow. I dont't really want to see any of my workmates. I never felt a part of the team, and I know that they mock me behind my back. They think I'm weird. You never mock me, and that's what I love you for. Esther, too. She is not a bad person, just a bossy boss sometimes. Well, always. 'The project is our top priority! No delays!' It gets annoying. I wonder how she even let me go to take care of you during these months. You. You've alredy become a grown-up cat, but still... How can I leave you alone here after so much time that we've spent together?]](if: $hunt is "no")[One of the birds is so big and so close that I start chasing it. Drogan follows me as we rush towards it together. I jump on a tree, clinging to the trunk. I'm on the branch and I sneak closer to my prey. Suddenly, the bird flyes away, but Drogan catches it with his big hands. He smashes it against the ground, killing it dead. Now that the prey's caught, we share our meal. Together.] We walk further along the road. Drogan is holding me in his hands, patting my back and scratching behind my only ear. Feels safe and warm. [[It was a good dream]]

I wake up and notice that Drogan is not in the bed. That is not usual. I get up and look around. The bed smells like Drogan, but it is already cold. He must have left is quite some time ago. I jump from the bed and head down to the main room. Drogan is not there, too. Yet, I smell a strong unpleasant scent of the thing that Drogan drinks in the morning, and hear some noises in the kitchen. He must be there. [[Call Drogan]] [[Look for Drogan in the kitchen]]

<img src="https://sun9-66.userapi.com/impg/6PucVzTBn3NW9E3_8kUDNBsjDxV-yEBmCb5-MA/TvGUZIcJbdk.jpg?size=2560x1440&quality=96&sign=c52d08033a8a9bc4bda55c941b3797c0&type=album" height="540" width="960"> =><= ##(text-style:"smear")[[Start]]

(colour: "#99cf5f")["Mew!"] I call Drogan the only way I can, by giving voice. He doesn't seem to hear me. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Mew! Mew! Mew!"] I call Drogan again, louder. Drogan appears in the passage to the kitchen. He is dressed as if he was going for a walk, holding a smelly mug with coffee. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Ah, your're awake, Cat! I am preparing to go for work. I really need to hurry up."] Drogan takes a sip from his mug and returns to the kitchen. [[Follow him there]]

I go to the kitchen. The place smells with food, both Drogan's and mine. I also notice a strong scent of the thing that Drogan drinks in the mornings. The smell is awful. Drogan is sitting at the table and looking in the window, just like I did yesterday. I come closer to him and scratch my head against his leg. Drogan shudders and looks at me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Ah, your're awake, Cat! I am preparing to go for work. I certainly need to hurry up."] He leans to me, giving me a little pat on the head, and gets up from his chair. He takes a sip from his mug, then puts it near the sink. Drogan leaves the room in a hurry, not saying a word. I remain alone in the kitchen. I turn around and notice that my bowl is full again.(if: $hunt is "yes")[ I feel very hungry, as my dinner left my stomach yesterday.](if: $hunt is "no")[ I ate so much yesterday, that I am not hungry at all.] (if: $hunt is "yes")[ [[Eat from the bowl]] [[Follow Drogan]]] (if: $hunt is "no")[[Follow Drogan]]

I approach the bowl and start eating my food. It's tasty, but not as good as when we have dinner together with Drogan. He always shares a piece or two with me. After a moment, I hear his voice from the main room. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat! I'm leaving soon! Come to say goodbye!"]. (link: "Follow Drogan's voice")[(goto: "Follow Drogan")] [[Keep eating from the bowl]] (set: $breakfast to 1)

I go to the main room. Drogan is standing in front of the strange glass thing that he calls a mirror. I come closer to it and see both of us in there. I look at my ear and shake my head. The ear dangles in a funny way. I look at Drogan. He looks at himself and pulls the hair on his head. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Damn, what a mess. It just won't untangle. Hope no one will notice it."] He grooms his hair with a brush, just like he grooms me. It usually feels nice to me, but Drogan doesn't seem to like his hair groomed. He puts the brush aside. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, cat, I'm finally ready to go to work."] He kneels down and scratches behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I'll be back in a matter of hours, don't miss me really much. You still have plenty of things to entertain yourself, so I hope you won't get bored too."] I rub against his arm as he gets up and opens the door. He walks behind it. In a second, the door closes with a click and Drogan disappears. [[Wait for Drogan to come back]] [[Eat the meal in the kitchen]] (set: $witnessdrogan to 1)

I follow Drogan to the kitchen, but as soon as I'm there, he puts his smelly mug near the sink and leaves in a hurry, not saying a word. I am alone. The room smells with food. I notice that my bowl is full again.(if: $hunt is "yes")[ I feel very hungry, as my dinner left my stomach yesterday. ](if: $hunt is "no")[ Yet, I ate so much yesterday, that I am not hungry at all.] (if: $hunt is "yes")[ [[Eat from the bowl]] [[Follow Drogan]]] (if: $hunt is "no")[[Follow Drogan]]

I ignore Drogan's voice and keep eating from my bowl. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat! I'm leaving! Don't you want to see me?"] Drogan says loudly. I still ignore him and keep enjoying my food. Soon I hear a strange sound coming from the main room. A click. I've heard it before when Drogan and I went for a walk. It's the sound of the closing door. I turn my ear towards the passage to the main room, but I hear only the silence - as if Drogan has disappeared. Alarmed, I leave my bowl. [[Go check on Drogan]] (set: $meal1 to 1)

When I enter the room, it's too silent. Drogan is nowhere to be found. I walk around the place, looking for him. He is not on the sofa, like he usually is. (if: $hunt is "yes")[The stains of puke from yesterday are also gone. The sofa smells with flowers now. But no matter how good it smells, I need to keep looking for Drogan.] He is not sitting at the table in front of the black screen - "the computer", as Drogan calls it. He is not in this room. I walk to the bedroom. It is empty. I come closer to the closet-box and say (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow"]. Drogan does not come out. He is not there, too. I go back to the room - the only place where he can be is the toilet. The door is open and I slip through it. The room is empty. I can't find Drogan anywhere - as if he disappeared. Maybe, he went for a walk, though he never did without me. Upset and confused, I jump on the sofa, where he used to sit. [[Wait for Drogan to come back]]

Drogan must be back soon, so for now I want to have my meal.(if: $hunt is "yes")[ I'm really hungry.](if: $hunt is "no")[ I'm not really hungry, but I could never turn down some good food.] I go to the kitchen, come to my bowl and start eating my food. It's tasty, but not as good as when we have dinner together with Drogan. He always shares a piece or two with me. Soon the food is gone. I go back to the main room - maybe Drogan is alrealy back. But is nowhere to be found. I walk around the place, looking for him. He is not on the sofa, like he usually is. (if: $hunt is "yes")[The stains of puke from yesterday are also gone. The sofa smells with flowers now. But no matter how good it smells, I need to keep looking for Drogan.] He is not sitting at the table in front of the black screen - "the compooter", as Drogan calls it. He is not in this room. I walk to the bedroom. It is empty. I come closer to the closet-box and say (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow"]. Drogan does not come out. He is not there, too. I go back to the room - the only place where he can be is the toilet. The door is open and I slip through it. The room is empty. I can't find Drogan anywhere. Upset and confused, I jump on the sofa, where he used to sit. [[Wait for Drogan to come back]] (set: $breakfast to 1)

I sit on the sofa, waiting for Drogan to come back. But he wouldn't. (link: "Wait")[I wait, but nothing happens. (link: "Wait")[I wait a little longer, but it doesn't make a difference. (link: "Wait")[I wait for more time, yet Drogan does not come back. (link: "Wait")[I keep waiting, and nothing changes at all. I am still alone, and the house is still silent. Drogan is not with me. [[Something's wrong]] ]]]]

Something is definitely wrong - I feel it in my guts. Drogan has never been gone for this long. I feel something beating and cowering inside of me, it's hard to breathe. I need to do something. (set: $mischieflist1 to "{[[Meow loudly]] [[Run around the house]] [[Scratch the sofa]] [[Relieve myself in the toilet]] [[Scratch the front door]]}") $mischieflist1 (set: $mischief1 to 5)

(set: $mischieflist1 to $mischieflist1 - " [[Run around the house]]")(set: $mischief1 to $mischief1 - 1) I rush forward and chase around the room. I jump on Drogan's compooter table, throwing his things off. Then I get down on his chair and notice my prey in the corner of the room. I rush towards it and catch it in my claws. I bite it and beat it with my legs until it stops moving. I take it in my mouth, ready to present it to Drogan - but he still hasn't appeared. I drop my prey and run to the kitchen so fast that I slip on the floor, bumping into the glass wall. It hurts a little, but I get up and hop on the tabletop. I approach the smelly mug that Drogan left in the morning. The scent is disgusting. I move the mug with my paw, throwing it off. It falls down, making a terrible sound. Scared, I jump off and run back to the main room. Drogan is still not there. (if: $mischief1 is >0)[There must be something else I can do to bring him back. $mischieflist1](if: $mischief1 is 0)[I have done evertything possible, but Drogan is still not with me. I feel tired now. [[Sleep in the cat couch]]]

(set: $mischieflist1 to $mischieflist1 - " [[Relieve myself in the toilet]]")(set: $mischief1 to $mischief1 - 1) (if: $breakfast is 1)[My stomach is full after breakfast and ]I feel that I need to relieve myself. I head to the kitchen passage and slip through an open door to the toilet. I sit down in my box and do what I came here for. Now that it's done, I need to cover the traces. I sweep the small stones inside the box, and it feels so goot that I cannot stop. I throw the small stones all over the place, they fly every which way. Finally, my waste has been properly covered. I return to the main room.(if: $mischief1 is >0)[ Though I feel relieved now, Drogan is still missing. There must be something else I can do. $mischieflist1] (if: $mischief1 is 0)[I have done evertything possible, and feel relieved now. But Drogan is still not with me. I feel tired. [[Sleep in the cat couch]]]

(set: $mischieflist1 to $mischieflist1 - "[[Meow loudly]]")(set: $mischief1 to $mischief1 - 1) I give a voice. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] I say. Nothing happens, so I repeat again and again. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!"] It doesn't work. (colour: "#99cf5f")["MEEEEEOOOOW!"] I cry as hard as I can. Still, nothing changes. (if: $mischief1 is >0)[I don't feel much better, and Drogan is still missing. There must be something else I can do. $mischieflist1](if: $mischief1 is 0)[I have done evertything possible, but Drogan is still not with me. I feel tired now. [[Sleep in the cat couch]]]

(set: $mischieflist1 to $mischieflist1 - " [[Scratch the sofa]]")(set: $mischief1 to $mischief1 - 1) I jump on a sofa and release my claws. They dig into the fiber of the couch. I lift my paws and dig in again. I stretch, clingning to the cloth - and the fiber tears apart. I like the sound of it so much that I keep ripping the fiber. Soon, something white comes from inside of the couch. It is so light and soft! I have never seen it before. I dive into it, it sticks to my fur. So good! Drogan will definitely like it. (if: $mischief1 is >0)[I hate that he is not here with me. There must be something else I can do. $mischieflist1](if: $mischief1 is 0)[I hate that he is not here with me, but I've done evertything possible. I feel tired now. [[Sleep in the cat couch]]]

(set: $mischieflist1 to $mischieflist1 - " [[Scratch the front door]]")(set: $mischief1 to $mischief1 - 1) (if: $witnessdrogan is 1)[Drogan is not here, but I saw him disappearing behind the front door.](if: $witnessdrogan is 0)[Drogan is not here, but I heard the click of the front door before he disappeared.] He can be still behind it. If I open the door, I will see him, just like I would see him in the toilet when he goes there. I approach the door and dig my claws into it. (link-reveal: "Scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[ (link-reveal: "scratch")[(if: $mischief1 is >0)[ Now the door is covered with the marks of my claws, but I don't feel much better. Drogan did not come from the other side of the door. There must be something else I can do. $mischieflist1](if: $mischief1 is 0)[ Now the door is covered with the marks of my claws, but I don't feel much better. Drogan did not come from the other side of the door. I feel tired now. [[Sleep in the cat couch]]]]]]]]]]]]

I go to my little couch where I sleep in the evening and lie down in there. Usually, Drogan would come and scratch my ear or my belly before I fall asleep, but he is not here. I lay my head and close my eyes, falling asleep. (text-style:"blur")[It's dark. I run a long dark room and I feel that something's chasing me. There is no tree to climb, and Drogan is not here. I hear it approaching. I breathe hard as I try to run away. Run. Run. Run. It's still close. I can't look back. Suddenly I hear a voice. Drogan's voice.](text-style:"blurrier")+(colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat! I'm back from work!"] (text-style:"blur")[I run towards it but I can't reach it. ](text-style:"blurrier")+(colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh my lord, what a mess have you made here!"](text-style:"blur")[ I keep running. Suddenly, something touches me. NO! IT HAS CAUGHT ME! ] [[I wake up scared to death]]

Suddenly I open my eyes wide, scared to death. The light strikes my sight. I look around, breating heavily, and see Drogan standing in front of me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Sorry, Cat, I scared you"] he says quietly. It's Drogan! He's back! I look at him with my eyes wide open as he gently pets me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I missed you, my cat. It was a hard day at work, though not harder than I expected. And you've done a real mess here in my absence! Did you miss me that much?"] I am glad to see and hear him at long last. I lie on my back, showing Drogan my belly. He scratches it and it feels good. Drogan smiles. (colour: "#f4e9af")["My little silly cat! Can't leave you alone for a moment!"] He touches the white thing that came from the sofa's insides. He doesn't seem to like it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Well, I guess we'll need a new sofa"] He scratches his head. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Though it will wait untill we have a good dinner together, just as usual."] He goes to the kitchen, waiting for me to follow him. (link: "Follow Drogan")[(goto: "Evening with Drogan")]

I follow Drogan to the kitchen. On the way, he enters the bathroom and cleans it up, grumbling. Then, in the kitchen, he throws off the pieces of his smelly mug and washes the floor. After that we have a meal together. He eats from a large bowl on the table, and I eat from my smaller bowl on the floor beside him. He gives me pieces of his food - it's almost as tasty as mine. I want to share my food with Drogan, but he doesn't take it. Drogan keeps talking. I wonder what he is saying - so many sounds that don't make any sense to me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Woork, Ester, maaates, lab, exeperimemts, cats, hooman, conshuosnees.] At some point he starts looking at me. He looks troubled. He says some words that I catch better - Drogan has used them often in the past. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Sofa, toilet, litter, scratch, mug, door, robot, tomorrow.] After that we sit on the floor in the main room and watch bright pictures from the screen on the wall. Drogan keeps petting me, it is warm, safe and cozy. I almost forget that he disappeared today. Finally, we go to bed together. I curl up in Drogan's legs, close my eyes and fall asleep. [[We've had great time together this evening]]

I wake up from a terrible noise that I hear. Drogan wakes up from the noise, too. He gets up from the bed and waves his hand. The sound stops. Drogan looks at me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["The alarm woke you up too, cat. I guess we'll have to get used to it."] Drogan changes his clothes and we go downstairs together. In the kitchen, he pours the smelly thing into a mug and drinks it. We have a meal together, though Drogan does not share his food this time. He rarely does in the mornings. After that I follow him to the bathroom and watch him as he grooms his teeth with a little brush and then grooms his hair with a bigger brush. All of this is exactly how we've usually spent our days. Then we go to the main room. I want to play with Drogan or to watch the bright pictures on a screen together, just as usual. Or he could do something else and pet me at the same time. I would love to have my ear scratched. But Drogan does not do anything of the kind. Neither he takes my toys nor makes the bright pictures appear. Instead, approaches the front door and opens it. [[Watch him]] [[Chase after him]]

I watch him step behind the front door. He cannot disappear today like he did yesterday - the morning is so joyful! Yes. In a second, Drogan is back. He carries a box in his hands. Good, I love boxes! He slams the door with his leg and puts the box on the floor. I come closer to it and sniff it. Smells okay. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, Cat, this is my little present for you."] He opens the box and grabs something white out of it. It is not soft as the thing inside the sofa. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I ordered this inflatible companion-robot for you. He will make you a good company while I'm gone, and, I hope, prevent you from making a mess again."] Drogan puts the thing on the floor and presses some button on it. In a blink of an eye, the thing starts growing. [[I am scared]] [[I am interested]]

Drogan left through this door yesterday, I can't let him go again! I chase after him and slip through the door. Drogan stops me with his leg. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Stop, Cat! We're not going for a walk today. And I'm not leaving yet."] He grabs a box standing near the door and goes back to the house. I follow. Drogan slams the door with his leg and puts the box on the floor. Good, I love boxes! I come closer to it and sniff it. Smells okay. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, Cat, this is my little present for you."] He opens the box and grabs something white out of it. It is not soft as the thing inside the sofa. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I ordered this inflatible companion-robot for you. He will make you a good company while I'm gone, and, I hope, prevent you from making a mess again."] Drogan puts the thing on the floor and presses a button on it. In a blink of an eye, the thing starts growing. [[I am scared]] [[I am interested]]

This thing scares me. I walk back, raise my tail, arch my back and fluff my fur. I hiss at it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat, don't freak out! This robot will become a great companion for you, I am sure."] The thing stops growing. It is still white, but now it's round and much bigger than me. Not as big as Drogan, though. Its eyes start glowing blue and it looks at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Hello, Cat! My name is Amos, I am here to become your friend."] I sence the scent of this thing. It is good, though totally different than Drogan's. This thing is not the part of our pack. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I ordered this robot for you so that you don't feel so lonely while I'm gone"] Drogan says, looking at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Indeed! I was designed as a companion-robot for cats with separation anxiety. I am sure we will get along really well!"] Robot's voice seems nice, but not as nice as Drogan's. Suddenly, the robot says (colour: "#aef4e3")["Meow! Mew mew meow!"] - they want to be friends. [[Be friendly with the robot]] [[Ignore the robot]] [[Be hostile with the robot]] (set: $robotreaction1 to "scared")

This thing interests me. I keep loking at it as it grows into something big. Not as big as Drogan, though. (colour: "#f4e9af")["You like it, Cat?"] Drogan looks at me as if he has just shared his prey with me. Suddenly, the thing stops growing. Its eyes glow blue. It looks at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Hello, Cat! My name is Amos, I am here to become your friend."] I come closer to it and sniff it again. It smells pleasant, but not like Drogan. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I ordered this robot for you so that you won't feel so lonely while I'm gone"] Drogan says. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Indeed! I was designed as a companion-robot for cats with separation anxiety. I am sure we will get along really well!"] Robot's voice seems nice, but not as nice as Drogan's. Suddenly, the robot says (colour: "#aef4e3")["Meow! Mew mew meow!"] - they wants to be friends. [[Be friendly with the robot]] [[Ignore the robot]] [[Be hostile with the robot]] (set: $robotreaction1 to "interested")

I ignore the robot and keep looking at Drogan. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Don't you want to say something to your new friend, Cat? I do hope you will get along well. This house will not survive another round of mayhem"] he scoffs. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Worry not, Drogan. I will prevent any mess from happening. We'll have a great time together and your Cat will not make any mess."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["I very much hope so!"] Drogan bows down, pets me and scratches behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")[Now it's time for me to leave, Cat. I'll be back in the evening, just as yesterday. Be a good cat today, love you!"] He gets up. Drogan comes to the door, opens it and steps outside. [[Follow him outside]] [[Watch him leave]]

The robot seems friendly and smells good. They could fit in the pack together with me and Drogan. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Mew mew meow!"] I say, raising my tail. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Mew mew meow mew"] answers the robot. They say that we are going to have a good time. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Drogan, you may rest easy. Your cat expresses friendly attitude, and I assure you that I will do best to entertain your friend so that they do not make a mess."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["I am glad to hear that! I knew that you would like your new friend, Cat."] Drogan comes to me, pets me and scratches behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Now it's time for me to leave, darling. I'll be back in the evening, just as yesterday. Don't miss me much!"] Drogan comes to the door, opens it and steps outside. [[Follow him outside]] [[Watch him leave]]

(if: $robotreaction1 is "scared")[I keep hissing at the robot, though lowering my tail. They might seem nice and smell nice, but they are not a part of the pack and they will never be.](if: $robotreaction1 is "interested")[I hiss at the robot and wave my tail in irritation. They are not the part of my pack and they will never be.] (colour: "#aef4e3")["Your cat does not seem to be fond of me. But worry not, Drogan, we will find common ground. I was designed to be the cat's best friend, after all."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["I very much hope so!"] Drogan bows down, pets me and scratches behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")[Please, my dear Cat, behave well today while I'm gone. I understant that you miss me much, but there's nothing else I can do. At least Amos will make you a good company."] He gets up. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Now it's time for me to leave, Cat. I'll be back in the evening, just as yesterday. Be a good cat today, love you!"] Drogan comes to the door, opens it and steps outside. [[Follow him outside]] [[Watch him leave]]

I follow Drogan to the door. Maybe he'll bring something else from there, or we're going for a walk! But before I get closer, something grabs me, keeping me away from Drogan. I try to break out, but I'm stuck. (colour: "#aef4e3")["No, Cat, you cannot follow him. Drogan will be back in the evening and you'll see him then. Meow meow!"] the robot says that I cannot go with Drogan. They put me on the floor. I look at the robot. They are so soft, but so strong - maybe even stronger than Drogan. They still look friendly, though they didn't let me follow Drogan for a walk outside. (colour: "#aef4e3")["So, Cat, Is there something you would like to do? I would like that we play a game together. I have some of your favourite toys!"] the robot throws the small tinkling ball on the floor. I don't really like that toy, it makes nasty sounds. Drogan would never give it to me. [[Catch the ball]] [[Ignore the ball]]

I watch Drogan as he disappears behind the door. He must have gone outside to bring something from there, like he did with the robot. But the door closes and I hear the click - like the one that I heard yesterday. I look at the door, still covered with the traces of my claws from yesterday. |links1>[{ (link: "Try to open the door")[ (replace: ?links1)[I start scratching the door, trying to open it. In a moment, I feel something grabing me. Its hold is tight. I try to break free, but I can't. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Cat, I cannot let you scratch the door. You shouldn't make any mess. Dgrogan will be back soon, and before that we'll spend some really good time".] The robot puts me on the floor and looks at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["I think we should play a game together. I have some of your favourite toys!"] they throw a small tinkling ball on the floor. I don't really like that toy, it makes nasty sounds. Drogan would never give it to me. [[Catch the ball]] [[Ignore the ball]]] (set: $doorscratch to "yes") ] (link: "Wait for Drogan to come back")[ (replace: ?links1)[I keep staring at the door, waiting for Drogan to come back. I wait, and wait, and wait - nothing happens. I wave my tail in irritation. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Drogan will not come back until evening, Cat. I think we should play a game together. I have some of your favourite toys!"] the robot throws the small tinkling ball on the floor. I don't really like that toy, it makes nasty sounds. Drogan would never give it to me. [[Catch the ball]] [[Ignore the ball]]] ] }]

Though I don't really like the ball, I rush towars it and catch it. The ball tinkles. (text-style: "shudder")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (colour: "#aef4e3")["Oh that's adorable, I knew you'd like this toy! Meeow!"] the robot wants to play, too. |links1>[{ (link: "Keep playing with the toy")[ (replace: ?links1)[I ignore him keep tossing the toy here and there, chasing and jumping after it. Every time it moves, it makes this terrible sound. (text-style: "shudder")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "shudder")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "shudder")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] I can't stand it anymore! I throw the toy away under the sofa. (colour: "#aef4e3")["You've lost your toy, Cat!"] the robot says. They approach the sofa, bow down and try to get the toy from underneath it. (colour: "#aef4e3")["I cannot get it! Your toy's gone, so let's do something else."] (link: "Look around")[(goto: "Ignore the ball")]] ] (link: "Trow the toy to them")[ (replace: ?links1)[I throw the toy to the robot. They catch it and start spinning it with their hands. (colour: "#aef4e3")["You want me to play with you, Cat? You like the sound?"] The toy makes a terrible noise. (text-style: "shudder")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "shudder")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "shudder")[Tinkle tinkle tinkle] (text-style: "rumble")[tinkle tinkle tinkle] I can't stand it anymore! I jump at the robot and knock the toy out of their hand, tossing in under the sofa. The robot approaches the sofa, bows down and tries to get the toy from underneath it. (colour: "#aef4e3")["You've thrown it so far away, I cannot get it. Well. Your toy's gone, so let's do something else."] (link: "Look around")[(goto: "Ignore the ball")]] ] }] (set: $playball1 to "yes")

(if: $playball1 is "yes")[I look around the room. It is just as empty as yesterday, Drogan is gone, but now there is this annoying robot, Amos. I need to do something to bring Drogan back as soon as possible.](else:)[Ignoring the ball, I look around the room. It is just as empty as yesterday, Drogan is gone, but now there is this annoying robot, Amos. I need to do something to bring Drogan back as soon as possible.] Yesterday I did so many things, and in the end Drogan really came back. //I feel that if I do the same, it must bring Drogan back home!// (colour: "#aef4e3")["What do you want to do, Cat?"] (set: $mischief2 to 5) [(set: $mischieflist2 to "{[[Break Drogan's smelly mug]] [[Meow out loud]] [[Toss the small stones in the toilet box]] [[Play with the white thing in sofa]] [[Scratch the front door again]]}")]$mischieflist2

(set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - " [[Play with the white thing in sofa]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1)I wait for the robot to leave me. Finally, they go to the kitchen, and I am alone in the main room. I jump on the sofa and find the cut that I did yesterday. The white thing still sicks out of it, and there is so much of it that I can pull out! I dig my paws iside of the sofa and pull the white thing out. More and more! It flies high up, just like the other white thing that falls from the sky in the streets. But the thing in the sofa is not cold! (colour: "#aef4e3")["Cat, I'm back! I needed to check on your food bowl - it's automatic, and the time for lunch has not come yet! But you will be fed soon."] I did not notice the robot coming from the kitchen. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What are you doing, Cat! Stop making this mess!"] The robot gets on the sofa and pulls me away from the white thing. I try to break out, but they are too strong. They put me on the floor next to the sofa. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Drogan will be very upset by your behaviour, Cat. Better let's do something together that will not cause any trouble. Meeeowow!"] They say that Drogan will not like what I've done. (if: $mischief2 is 0)[This stupid robot won't let me play with the sofa, but I know that Drogan would like it. They wouldn't let me do anything! I need to do something with the robot right now! [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[This stupid robot won't let me play with the sofa, but I know that Drogan would like it. And it could bring him back, too! Good thing that I can still do something else. $mischieflist2]

(set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - " [[Toss the small stones in the toilet box]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1)I rush to the toilet room and jump in the litter box, just as I did yesterday. As I relive myself, the robot slips through the door and looks at me. I don't like him watching. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Oh, sorry, Cat! I didn't want to disturb you!"] they say and leave the room, closing the door. I have finished my business, and now it's time to cover the traces. I sweep the little stones, trowing them all over the place. They fall on the floor, making fancy sounds. The door opens again. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What are you doing, Cat? Stop making this mess! Meeeow!"] they tell me to stop - but I will not. I keep on throwing the little stones all over the place. The robot starts throwing them back in the litter box. Some of the stones hit my snout. Bad. I stop sweeping the stones and scrub my snout with paws. (if: $mischief2 is 0)[This damn robot hurt me! And they will not let me do the things I need to bring Drogan back. I need to do something with them. [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[This damn robot hurt me! But that doesn't matter, I can still do something to bring Drogan back. $mischieflist2]

I go to the center of the room to give voice again. Sitting in my cat couch, I start meowing. (link: "Meow")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (link: "Meow meow!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow meow!"] (link: "Meow meow meow!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow meow meow!"] (colour: "#aef4e3")["What do you want, Cat? Why are you meowing? Mew mew?"] the robot does not understand why I am meowing. [[Stop meowing]] [[Meow as loud as I can]]]]] (set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - " [[Meow out loud]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1)

(set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - "[[Break Drogan's smelly mug]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1)I rush to the kitchen and jump on the countertop. Drogan has left his smelly mug in the same place as yesterday, though the mug itself is different. I come closer and sniff it - the scent is terrible as usual. My snout wrinkles. Little by little, I push the mug towards the edge. The robot comes into the kitchen. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Stop, Cat! You will break it! You could hurt your paws with the glass!"] As the mug moves closer to the edge, the robot approaches. Finally, the mug falls, but they catch it! It does not break, like yesterday. The robot puts the mug on the table next to the window. (if: $mischief2 is 0)[This stupid robot won't let me break the mug, though I need to do that to bring Drogan back, like yesterday. I need to do something with this robot. [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[This stupid robot won't let me break the mug, though I need to do that to bring Drogan back, like yesterday. Good that I can still do something else. Maybe I can break the mug later. $mischieflist2]

I stop meowing and look at the robot. Their eyes are glowing as they look back at me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Are you meowing because Drogan has left? This will not help. dear Cat. Mew meow mew!"] They say that Drogan will not come back and I should stop meowing. (if: $mischief2 is 0)[This stupid robot won't even let me meow loudly! I really need to do something with them. [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[Maybe, this is true. I have meowed loudly, but Drogan is not back. But I still have some other things to do. $mischieflist2]

I ignore the robot and keep on meowing. (link: "Meow really loudly")[(colour: "#99cf5f")[(text-style: "shudder")["MEEEEEEOOOOOWWWW!"]] (colour: "#aef4e3")["Stop it, Cat! You can lose your voice if you meow ''that'' loud! Mew meow mew!"] the robot wants me to stop meowing, because this is not helping. (if: $mischief2 is 0)[This stupid robot won't even let me meow loudly! I really need to do something with them. [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[They are right, Drogan really hasn't appeared yet. But I still have some other things to do. $mischieflist2]]

(set: $mischieflist2 to $mischieflist2 - " [[Scratch the front door again]]")(set: $mischief2 to $mischief2 - 1)(if: $doorscratch is "yes")[The robot's alredy stopped me from scratching the door today, but I need to do that to bring Drogan back. ]I rush towards the door and stick my claws in there. Suddenly I feel something pulling me away. (if: $doorscratch is "yes")[(colour: "#aef4e3")["No, Cat, you cannot scratch the door again! I've told you that earlier today!"]](else:)[(colour: "#aef4e3")["Cat, I cannot let you scratch the door. You shouldn't make any mess."]] The robot holds me by my belly and pulls me away from the door. But I need to scratch it to bring Drogan back! (link: "Scratch")[ (link: "                                            scratch")[ (link: "<bp>           scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                                     scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                 scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                                                           scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                                                             scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                                                                                                         scratch")[ (link: "<bp>                                                                                                                                                 scratch")[(if: $mischief2 is 0)[No matter how hard I try, I cannot scratch the door. This stupid robot won't let me! I stop trying and they put me back on the floor. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Good, Cat. You needed to stop. You shouldn't make a mess. Now, why, don't we do something good together?"] This robot will not let me do the things I need to bring Drogan back, I need to do something with them. [[Attack the robot]]](else:)[No matter how hard I try, I cannot scratch the door. This stupid robot won't let me! I stop trying and they put me back on the floor. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Good, Cat. You needed to stop. You shouldn't make a mess. Now, why, don't we do something good together?"] This robot will not let me scratch the door now, but I still have some things to do to bring Drogan back. $mischieflist2]]]]]]]]]]

Enough with this robot! They will not let me bring Drogan back! There is no other choice but to fight them. I approach the robot, bend my back, fluff my fur and hiss. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What are you doing, Cat? Why are you being hostile?"] the robot steps back. I hiss at it, preparing to attack. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Stop it, Cat! Maybe you want me to hug you? Meow?"] the robot approaches with their arms wide open. (colour: "#99cf5f")["MEEEEOOOWW!"] I jump at the robot, and cling to their head, biting and scratching them. But it doesn't help - their skin is too thick and my claws slide on it, leaving no scratch. (colour: "#aef4e3")["You cannot hurt me, Cat. My covering was made of claw-proof material. Meeeooow!"] they say that I should stop fighting. The robot grabs me, and puts me on the floor. I need to find somthing sharper than my claws to take this nasty robot down. [[Look for the sharp thing]]

I start searching for something sharp to take the robot down. I walk around the room. There's nothing sharp on Drogan's table and nothing sharp on the sofa or inside it - only the white soft shing, but it won't help me get rid of the robot. I look at the glass wall - nothing sharp in it, too. The robot follows me. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Are you looking for something, Cat? Meew!"] I ignore them and go upstairs. I look around. Seems there's nothing sharp in this room, too. The bed is soft, so is the carpet. Drogan's clothes box is shut and I won't open it even if I try. I hear the robot following me as they climb upstairs. I head down to look for the sharp thing in the toilet. The robot seems confused. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What were you doing there, Cat? I hope you didn't make any mess."] I slip through the toilet door and find nothing sharp there, too. I could throw the toilet stones at the robot, but it will do no harm. The only room left is the kitchen. There must be something sharp in there! I run to the kitchen and look around. [[Search the table]] [[Search the countertop]]

I jump on the table, where Drogan had his breakfast this morning. There's nothing on it, except for the smelly mug. Good! While robot is not here, I can break it to bring Drogan back. I push it towards the edge of the table, and it falls. Pieces of it scatter, and the smelly thing inside spills and spreads out. (set: $mugbreak to 'yes') (colour: "#aef4e3")["What is that noise, Cat?"] the robot says as they enter the kitchen. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Oh! You've broken the mug after all. Bad cat! You shouldn't make such mess. Mew-mew-meeow!"] they sound annoyed. (colour: "#aef4e3")["You sit there and not make any mess while I clean up."] I watch the robot come closer. As they approach, they slip on the smelly thing and fall down. [[Watch them get up]]

I jump on the countertop, where Drogan used to leave his smelly mug. The mug is not here, since the robot has put it on the table - I see it from here. But I notice something else lying next to the sink. It is big and sharp. Drogan calls it a knife, and uses it to cut things. This is the thing that I need! Now I need to call the robot so that I can get rid of them. I start meowing out loud, and soon they appear in the doorway. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Did you call me, Cat? What are you doing up there? I've put the mug aside, you cannot break it. Come on, get down from there. I've got your toy and we can play again."] They show me my favourite prey, but I do not want to play now. The robot approaches and it's time to end them to bring Drogan back. [[Throw the knife]]

I hiss and try to break free, while the robot is carrying me back to the main room. (colour: "#05DCC8")["Do not resist, I am doing this for your safety, Cat! Mew meow mew!"] their cold voice grates my ears as they tell me to be quiet. But I can't calm down - their grasp is so strong that it hurts me bad. Finally, the robot puts me on the floor. I walk away and hiss at them, preparing to fight back. (colour: "#05DCC8")["Now, Cat, it's time to say goodbye. We've had a good time together, I hope you enjoyed it.](colour: "#05DCC8")+(text-style:"blur")[ Goodbye, Cat."] The robot stops moving and drops on the floor. I come closer and sniff it. Smells the same, but doesn't move. I touch it with my paw to make sure that it doesn't wake up. It doesn't! Finally, this nasty robot is gone and I can do what I need to bring Drogan back. [[Bring Drogan back]]

(if: $mugbreak is 'yes')[I have alredy broken the mug, so the only thing left to do is scratch the door - the robot didn't let me do it properly. I rush to the front door and scratch it as hard as I can, almost getting through it.](if: $mugbreak is 'no')[I haven't broken the mug, so I jump on the table and push it towards the edge with my paw. It falls, pieces of it scattering all across the kitchen. I jump on the floor, trying not to hurt myself with the sharp pieces. Now the only thing left to do is scratch the door - the robot didn't let me do it properly. I rush to the front door and scratch it as hard as I can, almost getting through it.] Then, to make sure that Drogan really comes back, I jump on the sofa and pull as much of the soft white thing as I can. After that I toss the stones in the toilet and run around the house, meowing as loud as I can. At last, I feel tired. It's time to take a nap in my couch untill Drogan comes back. [[Sleep in the couch]]

The robot gets up, and I notice a piece of the mug stuck in their skin. This is the sharp thing that I needed! The robot notices it, too. (colour: "#aef4e3")["Oh, I've cut myself! That's not good."] The robot pulls the piece of the mug out. Suddenly, I hear an awful whistling noise, and the robot starts to shrink and become thinner. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What is happening?"] Their voice gets low and dumb. In a second, the robot looks like a scrawny skeleton. They never looked nice, but now they've become hideous. I hear something gnashing inside of them, and their voice is gnashing, too. (colour: "#05DCC8")["Sorry, Cat, this was not supposed to happen. My skin got torn and I deflated. For safety means, I am going to shut down, but before I need to get rid of the mug - or you could hurt yourself stepping on it."] The robot keeps poking in the mug pieces, but they fail to grab a single one of them. (colour: "#05DCC8")["Oh, my fingers don't work like they should."] The robot keeps silent as I watch them. Before I react, they reach to me and grab me from the table. Their grip is tough and thorny. [[Try to break out]]

I hit the knive with my paw and it falls down on the robot, slicing their skin. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What have you done, Cat! You could hurt yourself with this knife!"] Suddenly I hear a whistling noise and feel the stream of air blowing at me. I walk back and watch the robot shrink. With every second, they become thinner. (colour: "#aef4e3")["What is happening?"] Their voice gets low and dumb and now they look like a scrawny skeleton. They never looked nice, but now they've become hideous. I hear something gnashing inside of them, and their voice is gnashing, too. (colour: "#05DCC8")["Sorry, Cat, this was not supposed to happen. My skin got torn. For safety means, I am going to shut down. We've had a good time together, I hope you enjoyed it.](colour: "#05DCC8")+(text-style:"blur")[ Goodbye, Cat."] The robot stops moving and drops on the floor. I jump down from the countertop and sniff the robot. Smells the same, but doesn't move. I touch it with my paw to make sure that it doesn't wake up. It doesn't! Finally, this nasty robot is gone and I can do what I need to bring Drogan back. [[Bring Drogan back]] (set: $mugbreak to 'no')

I sleep peacefully, knowing that I've done everything possible to make Drogan come back. Finally, through my sleep, I hear his voice. (text-style:"blurrier")+(colour: "#f4e9af")["OH MY GOD CAT! WHAT HAPPENED? IT LOOKS LIKE A HURRICANE PASSED HERE"]. I open my eyes to see Drogan standing in front of me. I'm so happy to see him at last! Everything I did truly worked. Joyful, I get up and rub my head against Drogan's legs. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, dear. You're such a naugty cat! What have you done here? And where is Amos? I was sure they'll entertain you while I'm gone."] (if: $mugbreak is 'yes')[Drogan looks around the room as I keep rubbing my head against him. It's so good to feel the warmth! (colour: "#f4e9af")["Here they are..."] Drogan gets aroud the sofa to see what remaines of the robot. (colour: "#f4e9af")["How on earth did you manage to break this robot? They said it was immune to claws. An inflatible robot for cats, what a waste of money and time!"] Drogan looks up to get a view of the room. (colour: "#f4e9af")["What a mess! I guess we'll need a new door in addition to the new sofa. Seems I can't leave you alone at all, or you will destroy the whole place. I'll need to figure something out. But before, I need to clean the whole place."] Drogan grabs the robot and puts them in the box near the door.](if: $mugbreak is 'no')[Drogan looks around the room as I keep rubbing my head against him. It's so good to feel the warmth! Not finding the robot, he goes to the kitchen and I follow him. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Here they are..."] Drogan comes closer to the robot, and throws the knife in the sink. (colour: "#f4e9af")["How on earth did you manage to break this robot? You really killed them with a knife? You are a really smart cat! And a pain in the arse, sometimes. An inflatible robot for cats, totally claw-proof, they said. But not knife-proof, turns out. What a waste of money and time!"] Drogan scratches his head, looking at the pieces of his mug. (colour: "#f4e9af")["What a mess! I guess I'll need another mug in addition to the new sofa. And a new door. Seems I can't leave you alone at all, or you will destroy the whole place. I'll need to figure something out. But before, I need to clean up."] Drogan grabs the robot and puts them in the box near the door.] [[Watch Drogan clean up]]

I follow Drogan everywhere as he "cleans up my mess". He puts the white soft thing back in the sofa, puts the pebbles back to the litter box in the toilet and throws away the pieces of his mug. He doesn't seem happy while doing all of this, so I try to cheer him up. I purr and cuddle with him, and he replies by scratching me behind my ear. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Good. I'm done here."] Drogan wipes his forehead with his arm. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Now we can finally have a good evening together."] Drogan scratches my chin, inviting me to the kitchen. Just as yesterday and the day before yesterday and as always, we have a meal together. I eat the delicious from my bowl and the pieces of food that Drogan gives me. So tasty! Drogan mumbles something, but it seems that he's talking to himself rather then me - he used to do it long ago. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Woork, caarrying, Ester, kill.] When the meal is finished, we watch the bright pictures on the screen. Drogan does not want to sit on the sofa, while I rest in the white soft thing. The pictures on the screen are really fascinating today. Once in a while, Drogan turns to me and pats me. As always, It feels warm, and good. As if he never left. At long last, the day ends as we go to bed together. I curl up in Drogan's legs and he covers me with a soft and warm blanket. I close my eyes and fall asleep. [[It was a good evening]]

=><= ##DAY 3 ####When the Cat's life changes (link: "Wake up")[(goto: "Day 3")]

Just as yesterday, I wake up from a terrible noise. Drogan makes it stop by waving his hand. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Good morning, Cat! The alarm woke you up again, I see. But that's okay, I haven't got used to it either. Let's get ready for work together."] Drogan pats me and gets up from the bed. Togehter, we go to the toilet and I watch him groom his teeth and his hair - just as usual. Maybe he won't leave me today! But even if he does, I know what to do. After that we have our breakfast. As soon as Drogan finishes his meal, he puts the mug on the countertop and leaves me in the kitchen. I finish my meal too, and follow him. In the main room, I see my walk-box. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Here, Cat! I've prepared your carrying! If I can't leave you home alone, I can at least take you to work with me. So we're going for a walk together!"] Walk! We haven't been out together for so long that I only saw it in my dreams. Excited, I step into my walk-box. The little door closes behind me, and I wait for Drogan to get ready for a walk. When he is finished, he takes my box and together we leave the house. [[Watch the street]]

=><= ##DAY 2 ####When the Cat tries to bring Drogan back (link: "Wake up")[(goto: "Day 2")]

Outside, I have little to do but watch the street through my little door. I see people walking by, some of them with their dogs. I hate dogs, but I'm not scared because I'm with Drogan. I breathe the fresh air and hear the birds chirping from afar. It's warm and soft inside my walk-box. (colour: "#f4e9af")["You like your carrying, Cat?"] says Drogan. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I know that you do. It was designed in our lab. I still wonder why Esther has allowed me to borrow it!"] We walk for a long time, and finally enter some place. I remember the moving stairs! We're on our way to the 'maglev train'! We've used it when we went to a park once! It's so good to go to big park. We go up the moving stairs and enter the large moving box. Its humming annoyes me, but Drogan gives me some food and water. The humming makes me drowsy and I fall asleep. I wake up when Drogan lifts my walk-box, and we step out of the moving box. The place is strange, though. I don't remember being there before. We move down the stairs and leave the place. (colour: "#f4e9af")["We're almost there"] Drogan says. After a minute walk, we approach the large glass doors. They open by themselves - I've never seen anything like this before! We step inside some place that I have never seen. [[I feel curious]] (link: "I feel wary")[(set: $emotion to 'wary')+(goto: "I feel curious")]

(if: $emotion is 'wary')[I have never been here before, and I feel anxious about the place. I look around cautiously. The place smells like something very clean.](else:)[I have never been here before, and I feel curious about the place - I like new places when I'm together with Drogan! I look around the room. It smells like something very clean.] (link-reveal: "Suddenly hear an extremely loud voice from above")[. (colour: "#C9E5F0")[(text-style: "shudder")["UNAUTHORIZED ENTITY DETECTED!] (text-style: "rumble")[LELVEL TWO BIOLOGICAL THREAT!] (text-style: "shudder")[SENIOR STAFF MEMBER INTERVENTION REQUIRED!] (text-style: "rumble")[PLEASE REACH THE SECURITY PANEL IN THE MAIN HALL!"]] The voice scares me, and I curl up in my box not to hear the terrible grating sound. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, damn!"] Drogan says, lifting my box. He looks inside and says (colour: "#f4e9af")["Sorry, Cat. Wait for a moment before the security alert stops."] He puts my box on the sofa and leaves somewhere. Soon I hear something knocking on the floor. Someone is approaching. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["What the hell, Drogan!? How on earth did you trigger the biological threat alert!? Did you not wash for a week!?"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Esther, sorry for that. Could you just make it stop?"] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Of course, I can! Step aside from the panel, you're not authorized to enter it anyway."] A slim human figure passes in front of my walk-box, and I smell the scent of flowers. I like it, though the voice sounds hostile. Soon the loud sound stops and Drogan comes to me. I am relieved to see him beside me again. [[Say 'Meow']] (link: 'Reach him with a paw')[(set: $reaction to 'paw')+(goto: "Say 'Meow'")]]

(if: $reaction is 'paw')[I reach Drogan with my paw through the bars of my box-door, clinging to his clothes. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat!"] he laughs (colour: "#f4e9af")["don't worry, you're safe here."]](else:)[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] I say, happy to see Drogan. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat!"] he laughs, looking at me.] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["A cat? You've brought a cat here? Through the front door? You know that we have a special entrance for the test specimen, right?"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Have a heart, for mercy's sake! He's not a scpecimen, he's my friend! This is my cat, Esther."] The figure approaches the walk-box and looks inside. Big eyes stare at me for a second, and I feel uneasy, as the flower smell becomes too strong. The face wrinkles and soon dissappears. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["So this is the thing that you asked your catsitting vacacion for? Why do they have only one ear?"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["I don't know. I guess, he was born this way."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["//He?// And what is //his// name?"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat. Just Cat."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["You are creativity itself, Drogan. Good thing that your imaginative abilities are not the reason you work here. Why did you bring him here, anyway? It's not a 'bring your pet to work day' today."] the figure, Esther, lifts my walk-box up and shakes it. [[Slap her hand]] (link: 'Rush around the box')[(set: $reaction1 to 'rush')+(goto: "Slap her hand")]

(if: $reaction1 is 'rush')[The sudden shake scares me and I rush about my box, even though it is not really large. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Stop it, you scared him! Put the carrying back, please."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Oh, excuse me, I did not mean to disturb the peace of your little vermin."] Esther puts my box back. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["So? Why is he here?"] (colour: "#f4e9af")["He made a wreck of my house when I left for work. I bought a companion-robot for him, but he took it down, too. I had no other choice but to take him here, untill I figure out something else."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Well... let's pretend that I am satisfied with your explanation. Catsitter robots are really worth for nothing - that's one more reason why we are doing our research. Now, what am I supposed to do with a cat in our lab?"]](else:)[The sudden shake irritates me and I stick my paw through the bars, trying to slap Esther's hand. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Is your pest trying to attack me, Drogan?] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Put the carrying back, please, he just got scared. Seems that he gets agressive when disoriented. Actually, that's the reason I brought him here. He made a wreck of my house when I left for work. And he even managed to take down the companion-robot that I brought for him."] Esther puts my box back, laughing. I still feel annoyed. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["These catsitter robots are worth for nothing. Thick as a plank, they are. One more reason for us to continue our research. So... let's pretend that I am satisfied with your explanation. Now, what am I supposed to do with a cat in our lab?"]] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Nothing! I was going to take him to a lounge and check on him once in a while, that should not take much time. I would just ask you to warn others about the cat, so that they don't get surprised to see him."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["Okay, I'll give it a chance, but if your little vermin distracts you from work too much, I will throw both of you out. And leave the cage closed. I do not want the cat wandeing our lab."] the figure moves and the voice becomes more distant and suddenly very loud. (colour: "#C3A7ED")["ATTENTION TO ALL THE PERSONNEL. Today we're going to have a cat in our lounge. This cat is NOT a test subject. If you see a cat in a lounge, leave them be and do your work."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Thank you, Esther! I promise he won't make any trouble."] (colour: "#C3A7ED")["That's what I'm counting on. Now get the cat to the lounge and meet me in the lab. We're almost behind schedule."] The knocking on the floor grows distant. Drogan takes my walk-box and looks at me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["See? She gave you permission to stay. Now let's go to the lounge."] Carrying my box, Drogan walks down the corridor. [[Look around]]

While Drogan carries me, I look through my box door, exploring the place. It looks surprisingly empty - the walls are white, rarely I see the doors. The place smells very clean, and I don't really like the scent. It burns my nose. Sometimes I see small pictures on the walls - many people in white clothes. We walk in a very small room and the doors close behind us. When they open, I see a different, big room! I am surprised. The room looks more like our home. I see a sofa, a countertop and a big screen on the wall. The big glass wall is here, too. I see people walking in the street. Drogan puts my box on the countertop. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Here, Cat. You're going to stay in this place for a little while."] He presses something on my box, and it becomes much larger. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Now you have enough space to move."] he opens the door and scratches me. I purr in joy. He gives me my prey, and I bite it. Suddenly, food and water bowls appear inside of my small room, as well as the litter box. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Here are your things, Cat. You should feel comfortable in here, and I hope you do. I did my best to prepare! I promise to check on you every hour, and I hope you won't miss me really much."] For the last time, Drogan pats me. After that, he puts on a white thing and leaves. I cannot see him or hear him anymore. [[Wait for him to come back]]

I wait for Drogan to come back, doing what I can in my walk-box. I eat the food from my bowl - delicious! - drink some water and play with my toy. But Drogan does not come back just yet. I am starting to get anxious. I could keep waiting for him, or I could try to bring him back. |links1>[{ (link: "Wait for Drogan a little more")[ (replace: ?links1)[(link: "Wait")[I wait, but Drogan does not appear. (link: "Wait")[I wait a little longer, but I can only see people out in the street. Drogan is not among them.. (link: "Wait")[I wait for more time, and suddenly I hear something. The moving doors of the small room are clicking! Drogan is coming! [[Listen closer]]]]]] ] (link: "Try to bring him back")[ (replace: ?links1)[I know what I have to do to bring him back. The litter box is here, and I could toss the stones. On the far table, the mug is standing - I could break it. There is a sofa in the room that I could scratch, and the door, too. The only thing I need to do is to open the door of my box! I start poking it with my paw, but it doesn't move. Suddenly, I hear something. The moving doors of the small room are clicking! Drogan is coming! [[Listen closer]]]] }]

I listen closer as the doors of the small room are opening. I can't wait to see Drogan again! But instead of him, I see two people rushing inside. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Hurry up, Laura! Esther will kill us if she learns that we're late //again//!"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["It's by yor mercy that we're late, William! I've told you that we should take a train, as usual!"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["And I've told you, that I cannot ride those trains! I am meteosensitive, their magnetic field makes my head hurt!"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Then we should have set out at least half an hour in advance! But you didn't even have a slightest thought of warning me that you are not taking a maglev train ever more!"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Okay, okay, I am sorry! We'll try to get out earlier next time! Now toss your stuff, grab a coat and let's go! Maybe we'll make it before the second test round starts!"] The people move around the room, as if they were looking for something. They put the white things on, when suddenly one of them approaches my box. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["And what, in the name of Alma, is this?"] the human stares at me through the door. [[I feel scared]] (link: 'I feel interested')[(set: $reaction2 to 'interested')+(goto: "I feel scared")]

(if: $reaction2 is 'interested')[This human is not Drogan, but it is still nice to see someone. The face staring at me smells with food. Maybe they will feed me, like Drogan does. I stick my paw out of the box. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["It is a cat. A strange cat that seems to want to play with me."] the human touches my paw and turns their back to me.](else:)[I feel threatened. This human is not Drogan! I don't want another human, I need my human! And they smell terrible, like Drogan's smelly mug. I hiss at the face staring at me. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["It is a cat. An agressive one, too"] the human turns their back to me.] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["A cat? Here?"] the second human comes closer to my box and looks at me. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["A cat indeed. But how is that possible? Cats are not allowed in the lounge, it is against all of our safety rules."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["My best guess is that it is our test subject."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["But what is it doing here?"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Maybe that new assistant, Oscar, brought it here? Karen had to instruct him on our rules, but maybe he forgot that we keep cats in a special section."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Or maybe someone stole it from our test subject section? I remember Mary being really pissed off about our test subjects policy."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Ah, yes, 'poor cats this, poor cats that, we should not use them as test subjects'. I knew that she was really fond of cats, but stealing one from the lab is too much."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Anyway, we have a misplaced test subject. We should get it back to the chamber."] (if: $reaction2 is 'interested')[(colour: "#AFC4F4")["But they seem nice. Playful, too. Maybe Mary was right to steal them?] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Don't be ridiculous, Laura. If this is our test subject, and it certainly is, because there is no other way a cat could appear in this facility, Esther would be pissed off to know that they went missing. There aren't many cats available for tests, each of them is worth its weight is gold. Let's grab them and go to the lab."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Okay, okay. That seems reasonable. Let's do it."]](else:)[(colour: "#AFC4F4")["I hope they won't make trouble. They look agressive."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["We've dealt with worse. At least you don't feel pity for them if they die during the test."] The human looks at me again (colour: "#F4AFD3")["This one's a cripple, too. Look at its ear."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Yeah, it's missing - I've noticed. Well, grab the carrying and let's go."]] My bowls and litter box disappear from my little room, and the room itself becomes smaller again. The human grabs it and lifts me up. I have a bad feeling. [[Cry for help]] [[Try to escape]]

The human is taking me somewhere, though I should wait for Drogan to come! I feel scared. I must call for Drogan! He will save me from these humans. I start meowing as loud as I can. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["What a noisy one! Calm down, cat! We don't need trouble with you!"] says the human as they carry me to the small room. The doors close behind us as I keep crying out. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["What are we going to tell the others?"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["About the cat? I don't know, but I believe that whoever misplaced the test subject will be grateful if we cover their arse."] (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow! Meow! Meow!"] The human lifts me up and looks inside of the box, hissing at me. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Shut up! Please!"] I get scared and stop making sounds. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["So... shall we pretend that we took it from the containment section?"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["I guess, we shall."] The moving doors open again, and I see a different room. It's dark. [[Peer inside]]

The human is taking me somewhere, though I should wait for Drogan to come! I feel scared. I must escape and find Drogan myself! I start rushing around the box, trying to open the door or find another exit. But the door won't open, and there is nothing inside of my box that could help me escape. I am trapped in here. I keep moving to find any way to leave, but I can't. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["What a turbulent one! Calm down, cat! We don't need trouble with you!"] says the human as they carry me to the small room. The doors close behind us. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["What are we going to tell the others?"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["About the cat? I don't know, but I believe that whoever misplaced the test subject will be grateful if we cover their arse."] I keep rushing around the box, trying to find a way out (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Calm down! Please!"] The human lifts me up and looks inside of the box, hissing at me. I get scared and stop moving. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["So... pretend that we took it from the containment section?"] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Exactly."] The moving doors open again, and I see a different room. It's dark. [[Peer inside]]

I peer inside the darkness of the room until I see everything clearly. There is a glass wall again, but no one is behind it. I see a table with little lights scattered all around it. There are screens, too. Many screens. But the pictures they show are not bright or facsinating. They look more like random squiggles. A person dressed in a white thing is standing in the room and looking at the screen. I am shaking. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Hello, Karen!"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Oh, hi!"] the person turns to us. (colour: "#EBA364")["You both owe me, you know? I told Esther that I'd sent you to help Oscar chase down another wild cat to cover up that you're late."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Thank you so much! You are our saviour. And for the truth's sake, we've really brought a test subject!"] The person glimpses at me, and turns back to look at the screen. (colour: "#EBA364")["Good. But we'll have to wait for Esther's orders before the next trial."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Why? Where is she, by the way? And... everyone, basically?"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Well, Mary got sick and didn't come today, Oscar is chasing a wild cat, I guess you've met him, Esther went to the lab upstairs with Drogan to discuss the previous test. The subject died immediately upon injection, and they're trying to figure out what went wrong. Of course, now that this brat is back from his vacasion, no one invites me to discuss important things."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["I almost forgot that her favoutite is back now. That squirt."] the human puts my walk-box in front of the wall, and now I cannot see anything. It's cold in here, and even my blanket doesn't help. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Don't be so mean, Laura. Drogan is weird, but he is really smart. That's why he works in here."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Keep your male solidarity down, darling. You dislike Drogan as much as we all do. I truly have no idea what Esther sees in him."] They keep repeating Drogan's name again and again. Maybe, he's coming for me? [[Try to call Drogan]] (link: 'Keep silent')[(set: $reaction4 to 'silent')+(goto: "Try to call Drogan")]

(if: $reaction4 is 'silent')[I feel too cold and scared to give voice. I'm in my box, but the place and the people are unfamiliar. I miss Drogan. I lower my ears and lie down silently. Maybe he'll come to get me, after all.](else:)[I know that Drogan is somewhere close, I need to call him! (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Is it always this loud?"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Oh, never mind it."] (colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow! Meow! Meow! "]] (colour: "#EBA364")["Finally! Esther sent us an update on the variables for the next trial. She says to start immediately, they'll join us shortly."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["I wonder what's taking them so long."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Who knows? Maybe Drogan needs another cup of coffee?"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Huh, quite possible! I wonder how he didn't get a heart attack yet, drinking so much coffee. Anyway, let's get to work, guys. William, prepare the test subject, Laura, set the new variables."] (colour: "#AFC4F4")["Yes, ma'am!"] In a second, the door of my walk-box opens in front of me. I see a narrow passage to a dark room. I sniff, and smell something very, very nice and tempting. [[Follow the smell]] [[Stay in the box]]

The smell is so tempting that I cannot resist it. I get up from the floor of my box and follow it to the dark passage. I take a turn and wind up in a large room. The lights turn on. The humans I saw before are now standing behind the glass wall. I'm trying to find where the smell comes from, but I can't. I hear something click behind me. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["The subject is ready. Catnip always works on them."] (colour: "#EBA364")["Don't overdose it, or it'll go nuts."] I turn back and see that the door has closed. I was left alone in this empty room. The pleasant smell disappears, and it gets cold. I want to go back to my walk-box! (colour: "#AFC4F4")["I've set the variables. Seems that we're ready."] (colour: "#EBA364")["Let me check."] I need to get out of this room as soon as I can! [[Try to get out]]

No matter how tempting is the smell, I do not want to go through that passage. I shall stay in my box and wait for Drogan. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Catnip doesn't seem to affect them. Shall I increase the dosage?"] (colour: "#EBA364")["Try valerian instead. Better not overdose it with catnip, or it'll go nuts."] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Fine, introducing valerian spray."] The smell coming from the passage changes, and now it is even more tempting. I cannot resist it. I get up from the floor of my box and follow it to the dark passage. I take a turn and wind up in a large room. The lights turn on. The humans I saw before are now standing behind the glass wall. I'm trying to find where the smell comes from, but I can't. I hear something click behind me. (colour: "#F4AFD3")["The subject is ready."] I turn back and see that the door has closed. I was left alone in this empty room. The pleasant smell disappears, and it gets cold. I want to go back to my walk-box! (colour: "#AFC4F4")["I've set the variables. Seems that we're ready."] (colour: "#EBA364")["Let me check."] I need to get out of this room as soon as I can! [[Try to get out]]

I rush towards the place where I came from, but the door has closed, and I find only the wall here. I need to open the door, somehow! I need to see Drogan! (link: "Scratch the door")[I start scratching the door as hard as I can, but it doesn't help. Every time I try to sink my claws in it, my paw slides down. This door cannot be scratched like the door in our home. (link: "Pick the door up")[I see a small gap between the wall and the door, and I sink my claws in there, I pull it really hard, but the door doesn't move. Finally, I break one of my claws, and it hurts badly. (link: "Bump the door open")[I have nothing left to do but to bump the door open with my head. I walk back, every step hurting me, and then rush forward, slamming the door with my head. It hurts, too. But the door is still closed. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["For Alma's sake, what is it doing?! William, the cat is hurting itself!"] Tired and hurt, I keep bumping the door. (colour: "#EBA364")["Were you picking your nose? Turn the sleeping gas on, before it smashes its own head!"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Sorry, sorry! I was just looking at Drogan's calculations for the test! Seems like it's going to work."] I keep bumping. (colour: "#AFC4F4")["William! Now!"] (colour: "#F4AFD3")["Introducing the sleepy gas in three... two... one..."] I feel very tired. I've hurt my head badly. Barely moving, I crawl to the center of the room, preparing to make one final bump, but I feel that I am fainting. [[Keep listening to the voices]]]]]

I keep listening to the voices of people in the room, as they grow more and more distant. (text-style:"blur")+(colour: "#EBA364")["So, the variables are correct. Let's start the test and hope that it'll go as planned."] (text-style:"blur")+(colour: "#F4AFD3")["Let's begin. Starting the particle injector."] I hear the humming above. (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#AFC4F4")["Test subject body indicators are acceptable. Heart rate is going back to normal, respiration is adequate, blood saturation is okay, too. We're ready for an injection."] (text-style:"blur")+(colour: "#EBA364")["Then, proceed."] (text-style:"blur")+(colour: "#F4AFD3")["Starting the countdown for nanoparticles injection."] (text-style:"blur")+(text-style: 'shudder')+(colour: "#C9E5F0")["FIVE. FOUR. THREE. TWO. ONE."] (text-style:"blur")+(colour: "#F4AFD3")["Injection initiated."] I feel something bite me in the neck. Everything gets dizzy and I fall asleep. I see the bright light and I feel like I'm walking to it. I feel a beautiful scent. It is the scent of Drogan. I feel warm. Suddenly, I hear something loud. (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["GET HIM OUT OF THERE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, MORONS! IT'S MY CAT! GET HIM OUT! NOW!"] Is this Drogan? Has he really come to me? I'm so glad to hear his voice again! [[Open the eyes]]

I open my eyes. Everything is foggy, but I see Drogan slamming the glass door with his hands. He is looking at me. (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["MY POOR CAT! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM! GET HIM OUT!"] A human that I saw in the morning appears. (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["Drogan, please calm down! We can't terminate the procedure now that it has started. I'm sure your cat will be safe, we did our calculations right!"] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["BUT I WANT MY CAT! NOT THE CAT WITH A HUMAN MIND! I NEED MY LITTLE SILLY CAT! I LOVE HIM!"] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["I know, I know it, but we cannot stop it now - it will kill him! So plese, calm down."] Drogan keeps looking at me through the glass door. I feel to weak to respond. [[Faint]]

I don't know how long I have slept. I wake up in my walk-box. I do not see Drogan, but I feel that we are together. The room I see through the door is unfamiliar again. I smell the strong flower scent. (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["So, tell me: why did you take this cat from the lounge though I CLEARLY instructed you not to do this?"] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#AFC4F4")["I... I don't know. We never heard your instructions and thought that this cat was misplaced... that Oscar forgot to put it in the section or that Mary stole it..."] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["How could you NOT hear the instructions?"] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["Drogan, please!"] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#EBA364")["They were late. Sorry, Esther, I lied to you, I never sent them to a contaiment chamber. And, Drogan. I am sorry for your cat. And for everything. You know."] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["At least the cat survived. But the two of you - you've been late five times during the month, and now your delay almost cost your colleague a pet's life. It would not suffice to kill you, but the only thing I can do is fire you."] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#F4AFD3")["But... Esther..."] (text-style: 'blurrier')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["FIRED! BOTH OF YOU ARE! Now grab your stuff, and get the hell out of here. If I see tou within a mile from our lab, I'll make sure that Alma athrows you out in the wastelands. Now leave! Everyone except Drogan."] I heard some steps, and the door clicking. I heard Drogan's voice and I want to see him now. [[Say something]] (link: 'Scrape the box door')[(set: $reaction5 to 'scrape')+(goto: "Say something")]

(if: $reaction5 is 'scrape')[I gather my strenght and scrape the box door, feeling that I finally come to my sences. (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["Look, he's awake!"]](else:)[I gather my strenght and give voice. (colour: "#99cf5f")["Mew!"]] (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, Cat! You're awake finally!"] Drogan puts my box on the sofa and opens the door. I feel his hand scratching me under my chin and behind my ear. It feels so good and warm! I missed him co much! (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["I was so worried for you when I didn't find you in the lounge"] he is sobbing (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["and I'm really glad that you're fine. I don't know how I could live without you."] Drogan closes the door and flops next to me on the sofa. (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["So, Drogan. Firstly, take this handkerchief and wipe your tears. Your cat is fine. Secondly, once again you have my apologies for what happened today. You know that it's not my fault and those guilty have alredy been punished. The question remains, what shall we do with your cat?"] (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["According to the protocol, we should leave him in observation section and test his abilities now."] What did he say? Observetion chamber? No, I want to go home! (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["Yes, I'm aware of the protocol, I made it myself. But I guess that both of you have already went through a lot, so I suggest that you take your cat back home, and go on another vacasion. While you rest, you will have to observe your pet on your own, and send me the reports. How do you like this idea?"] (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#f4e9af")["That's amazing, Esther! Thank you so much! I promise not to waste my time at home!"] Home! We're going home finally! (text-style: 'blur')+(colour: "#C3A7ED")["I very much hope so, Drogan. Unlike that wayward couple, you are too valuable for our research team to lose. Now go, I am leaving, too. Enough with the trials for today."] Drogan says something and grabs my carrying. Together, we enter the elevator and go down. [[I fall asleep again on the way home]]

=><= ##DAY 4 ####When the Cat deals with ####the new challenges (link: "Wake up")[(goto: "Day 4")]

=><= ##DAY 1 ####When the Cat feels lonely (link: "Wake up")[(goto: "Day 1")]

Just as usual, I wake up at home in our bed. I hear no alarm and I don't know for how long I've slept. And I don't remember falling asleep, too. Drogan is standing with his back to me, looking in the window. I yawn. My head is pounding, and I would really like to sleep a bit more. I toss and turn in the blanket, trying to find the best position, and Drogan hears it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat! You're awake! You've slept for..."] he looks at the clock on the wall that I've never noticed (colour: "#f4e9af")["twenty-one hour! I started worrying already. How do you feel?"] I get up from bed. (text-style:"smear")["My head hurts, but the rest feels okay"] I think. [[I think?]]

What just happened? I clearly heard a voice in my head! And it was... my own voice. I think. I think. I think. That's weird. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Are you okay? Would you like an ear scratch?"] Drogan stretches his arm to me. He looks concerned. |links>[{ (link: "Yes, I would like an ear scratch")[ (replace: ?links)[I would like an ear scratch. I come closer to Drogan and put my head in his arm. He scratches behind my ear and as always, it feels good. When we're finished, Drogan looks at the clock. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Day one, eleven fourty-nine in the morning. Cat, the subject, exhibits friendly attitude. He allowed me to scratch his ear."] He looks at me again. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I'm sorry for my comments in advance, Cat. They might get annoying, but I have to record everything that happens with you. For science."] (text-style:"smear")["Science? Who cares about science? I'm starving."] [[Go find some food]]] ] (link: "No, I wouldn't like an ear scratch")[ (replace: ?links)[This is not the time for an ear scratch. Something's happeneng, and I feel really confused about it. I sit on the bed, frowning. Drogan looks at the clock. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Day one, eleven fourty-eight in the morning. Cat, the subject, exhibits unfriendly attitude. He did not want an ear scratch."] He looks at me again. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I'm sorry for my comments in advance, Cat. I have to record everything that happens with you. For science."] (text-style:"smear")["Science? Who cares about science? I'm starving."] [[Go find some food]]] ] }]

I go to the kitchen downstairs, trying to figure out what just happened. Did I hear a voice in my head again? And, more importantly, do I hear it now? And if I don't, who does? These questions make me even hungrier. Drogan follows my every step. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Eleven fifty-two in the morning. Cat goes to the kitchen. He hasn't eaten for more than twenty hours, and he is hungry."] I try not to pay attention to his comments, just like he suggested. Finally, I am in the kitchen. My bowl is full to the brim and I dive in my cat food with joy. But the more I eat it, the more it feels blank like paper. Absolutely tasteless. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Disgusting!"] I think. Or it's not me thinking. I am not sure. I feel confused and hungry. [["I need to ask for food"]]

(text-style:"smear")["I need to ask for food."] I turn back and see Drogan standing in the doorway. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Eleven fifty-five, Cat shows signs of food aversion. Normal Cat food does not seem to satisfy them anymore."] Right! He is right! I need some normal food. Please, give me the human food! As if he was answering my call, Drogan takes something from a pan on the kitchen countertop, and puts it on a little plate. He then puts the little plate in front of me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: offering Cat a sample of human food. Here, Cat, you should like it."] I sniff the little piece of meat lying on a plate. It's my favourite! Why wouldn't I like it? I devour the food in a blink of an eye. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Two minutes past twelve, Cat has eaten the human food and seems to have enjoyed it."] Drogan places more meat in my plate, and I eat it instantly. (text-style:"smear")["That was good."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Indeed."] (text-style:"smear")["Who said that? "] I am sure that I heard the voice that is neither mine, nor Drogan's. A distinctive male voice, it was. But there's no one else in the kitchen. [["Someone else must be in the main room"]] [["This is a voice in my head"]]

(text-style:"smear")["The voice must have come from someone else. There must be a person in the main room whom I didn't notice on my way to the kitchen."] I think. It's me thinking, not someone else. I head to the main room. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five minutes past twelve. Cat is heading to the main room. His intention is unclear."] (text-style:"smear")["My intention is quite clear! I need to find who said that thing!"] Before I get a view of the room, I come to realize that now I understand what Drogan is telling me. This revelation strikes me! I did recognize some of his phrases before, but now I clearly undestand every single word. Amazing and confusing alike. Fascinated by the discovery, I stare into nowhere until Drogan's commentary brings me back to my sences. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Ten minutes past twelve. Cat has been staring into nowhere for the past five minutes."] I shake my head and look around the room. Though I don't see anyone in here, I feel that something has changed. I try hard to figure out what exactly has changed, and why, but I can't. The door, the sofa, everything looks a bit different, but still quite the same. Maybe it is the color of the sofa's... (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["upholstery."] Yes, the color of the upholstery has changed. Wait, did I hear it again or was it me? I feel confused with all the new words that I know now. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: Cat seems to be disoriented in the new environment."] [["I feel disoriented, indeed"]] [["I am confused, but not disoriented!"]]

(text-style:"smear")["This is the voice in my head."] I think. It's me thinking, not someone else. (text-style:"smear")["Because ''this'' is the voice in my head, I cannot have another one."] There must be someone speaking in the main room. I head there to see the mysterious human. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five minutes past twelve. Cat is heading to the main room. His intention is unclear."] (text-style:"smear")["My intention is quite clear! I need to find who said that thing!"] Before I get a view of the room, I come to realize that now I understand what Drogan is telling me. This revelation strikes me! I did recognize some of his phrases before, but now I clearly undestand every single word. Amazing and confusing alike. Fascinated by the discovery, I stare into nowhere until Drogan's commentary brings me back to my sences. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Ten minutes past twelve. Cat has been staring into nowhere for the past five minutes."] I shake my head and look around the room. Though I don't see anyone in here, I feel that something has changed. I try hard to figure out what exactly, and why, but I can't. The door, the sofa, everything looks a bit different, but still quite the same. Maybe it is the color of the sofa's... (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["upholstery."] Yes, the color of the upholstery has changed. Wait, did I hear it again or was it me? I feel confused with all the new words that I know now. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: Cat seems to be disoriented in the new environment."] [["I feel disoriented, indeed"]] [["I am confused, but not disoriented!"]]

I feel truly disoriented. I can understand what Drogan says, I can think and I can hear my own thoughts - that's too much for one day. Why is this all happening? How did I wind up here? I mean, I am at home and I know that I am at home, with Drogan, as usual. But why is it so strange? Why do I have ''thoughts''? (link: 'Try to remember')[Flashbacks flare up in my mind (text-style:"smear")+(text-style: "blink")[Lab entrance                         alarm                                                 woman                                                                   corridor elevator                                               lounge                                     a couple                                                 test chamber                                                                         injection ] My head pounds when I try to delve deeper into the details. It's hurtingly flashy. And the fact that I almost don't remember what happened during the last several days disturbs me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Half past twelve: Cat seems to be preoccupied by whatever is happening in his mind. Noting an increase of mental activity."] Drogan comes to me from the back and pats me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't we do something together? I would really like to watch a good series now."] Sounds good to me! I really need a distraction now. [[Jump on the sofa]] (link: 'Nod my head')[(set: $conversation to 'nod')+(goto: "Jump on the sofa")]]

I am confused, but not disoriented! I clearly know who I am and where I am. I mean, I am a cat, and I am at home and I know that I am at home, with Drogan, as usual. Drogan is my pack, and I like him. But why is everything so strange? Why do I have ''thoughts''? (link: 'Try to remember')[Flashbacks flare up in my mind (text-style:"smear")+(text-style: "blink")[Lab entrance                         alarm                                                 woman                                                                   corridor elevator                                               lounge                                     a couple                                                 test chamber                                                                         injection ] My head pounds when I try to delve deeper into the details. It's hurtingly flashy. And the fact that I almost don't remember what happened during the last several days disturbs me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Half past twelve: Cat seems to be preoccupied by whatever is happening in his mind. Noting an increase of mental activity."] Drogan comes to me from the back and pats me. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't we do something together? I would really like to watch a good series now."] Sounds good to me! I really need a distraction now. [[Jump on the sofa]] (link: 'Nod my head')[(set: $conversation to 'nod')+(goto: "Jump on the sofa")]]

(if: $conversation is 'nod')[I look at Drogan, nodding to tell him that I agree with his offer. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: The Cat is demonstrating human-like emotional expressions."] Drogan grabs me and puts me on the sofa.](else:)[I jump on the sofa, waiting for Drogan to join me.] He flops near me shortly after, and switches the television on. (text-style:"smear")["Television - what a funny word!"] Together, we watch a series about a gloomy teenage girl with supernatural abilities. She solves mysteries of her family and the town where she lives, while trying to have a normal teenage life at the same time. Out of nowhere, I feel a strong sence of deja-vu, though I am sure that we've never watched the picture. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I never liked this series."] (text-style:"smear")["But it seems okay to me."] Or it doesn't. Anyway, now that I understand the speech, the magic of the moving bright pictures has disappeared. That's a pity. While we keep watching the series, I notice one more disturbing thing. Usually, Drogan would watch the screen and turn to me eventually to pat or scratch me. Now it seems like he is watching me instead of the series. He keeps taking notes, instead of cuddling with me. It makes me feel sad. I may be a self-aware cat, but I still miss the warmth. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["As if you were his test subject. "] (text-style:"smear")["What!? No! I am Drogan's best friend! We are a pack!"] Did I just argue with myself? When the half of the season is finished, Drogan switches the television off. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Did you like it, Cat? Hope that you did!"] he is smiling, but his voice sounds somewhat uninvolved. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five fourty in the evening. Everyday trial nubmer one finished successfully. Cat seems to demonstrate awareness while perceiving the plot of the series."] Thoughts flood my mind. [["I liked the series! It was really fun!"]] [["Was this just one of the tests?"]] [["I want to cuddle with Drogan"]]

(text-style:"smear")["I want to cuddle with Drogan!"] I don't know why but I feel that it's what I need now. I lay my head on his thigh, waiting for him to pat me. He does it, finally, and I purr in joy and excitement. Suddenly he takes one of the hands off me to make another comment. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: The cat demonstrates feline emotional patterns alongside human-like ones."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I've told you!"] (text-style:"smear")["But..."] Drogan gets up from the sofa and takes my favourite toy out of his pocket. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't we play now, Cat? Hope you didn't get really tired watching TV?] [["I want to play!"]] [["I do not want to play."]]

(text-style:"smear")["Was this just one of the tests?"] I don't know whether it's Drogan's commentaries or his attitude that makes me upset. I lower my tail and my ears to show him that I'm sad. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: The cat demonstrates feline emotional patterns alongside human-like ones."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I've told you!"] (text-style:"smear")["But..."] Drogan gets up from the sofa and takes my favourite toy out of his pocket. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't we play now, Cat? Hope you didn't get really tired watching TV?] [["I want to play!"]] [["I do not want to play."]]

(text-style:"smear")["I liked the series! It was really fun!"] I don't know how to let Drogan know that I appreciate that we spent time together, so I wave my tail, as I would usually do. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: The Cat demonstrates feline emotional patterns alongside human-like ones."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["One more note. I've told you!"] Drogan gets up from the sofa and takes my favourite toy out of his pocket. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Why don't we play now, Cat? Hope you didn't get really tired watching TV?] [["I want to play!"]] [["I do not want to play."]]

I want to play! I feel that we haven't played for quite some time, though I don't remember whether we did it or not during the last few days. I come closer to Drogan and get up on my hind paws (or should I call them feet now?), reaching out to my prey. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Good! You want to play!"] Drogan trhows the prey to the far corner of the room, and I rush to it. I catch it with my paws (arms?) and dig in it with my fangs. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You're better than that, darling."] I freeze, realizing what I am doing. I am actually biting the mouse doll. Am I really doing that? Why would I do that? I do not feel the rush of the hunt anymore. It's just a stupid mouse toy. Confused, I bring it back to Drogan and put it on the floor. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five fifty-one in the evening. Everyday trial number two has been completed. Cat seems to remember and understand the principle of the game, but he does not enjoy it anymore."] I look at Drogan, waiting for him to pat me, like he usually did when I brought him my toy. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, yes, you're a good cat, Cat! A true hunter!"] he pats me finally. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Reluctant, it was."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Are you hungry, Cat? I certainly am. Why don't you join me for dinner?"] I feel hungry, indeed. Especially after our small game, no matter how disappointing it was. [[Have a dinner with Drogan]]

I look at my prey in Drogan's hand, studying it attentively. What is it? A mouse? (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["A doll."] Yes, it's just a doll. Why would I want to play with it? Why did I enjoy it so much in the past? I do not want to play with it, I don't feel the call of the hunt anymore. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Right. You're better than that."] (text-style:"smear")["But am I, really? Maybe it'll still be fun."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You know that it will not."] Indeed, I don't feel the rush that I used to feel. I shake my head to show Drogan that I don't want to play. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five fifty-one in the evening. Everyday trial number two has been completed. Cat doesn't seem to be interested in his favourite toy anymore."] Drogan's conclusion, no matter how truthful it is, makes the situation sound even more depressive. But there is one more reason I loved to play! I rub against his leg, giving Drogan a hint to pat me. He always did after we played! (colour: "#f4e9af")["Oh, don't worry, Cat. You're still a good hunter."] he leans and pats me finally. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Reluctant, it was."] (colour: "#f4e9af")["Are you hungry, Cat? I certainly am. Why don't you join me for dinner?"] I feel hungry, indeed. Maybe, the appetite for food can compensate my lack of appetite for hunt. [[Have a dinner with Drogan]]

I follow Drogan to the kitchen. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Five fifty-three. Upon my suggestion, the cat follows me to the kitchen to have a meal. Speech understanding seems to develop properly."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Did he say it again?"] (text-style:"smear")["What?"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["The cat."] (text-style:"smear")["Maybe?"] Drogan cooks the dinner. Now that I don't eat cat food, he spends more time near the stove to cook for me. He serves me the meat on a small plate near my bowl. |links>[{ (link: "I am okay with eating on the floor")[ (replace: ?links)[I feel okay with eating on the floor. Something shouldn't change at the very least. I approach my plate and start eating. Surprisingly, Drogan does not comment my decision in any way. He puts his plate on the table, and we eat together. He is suspiciously silent. Usually, he would tell me something during the dinner, though I never understood it. Now he keeps staring in his plate, glimpsing at me from time to time. He seems sad. The dinner was nice. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Quarter to seven in the evening. Cat has finished his meal, showing no aversion to human food again."] Drogan takes the plates and puts them in the sink. After a good supper, I feel that I need to relieve myself. [[Go to the bathroom]]]] (link: "I want to eat on the table with Drogan!")[ (replace: ?links)[I want to eat on the table with Drogan! Though I'm a cat, I do not eat cat food. And human food is eaten on the table - that seems obvious. I jump on the table. (colour: "#f4e9af")["You want to eat here with me? Okay."] Drogan puts my plate on the opposite side of the table. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Six thirty-nine. Cat expresses his intention to eat on the table."] As we eat together, Drogan keeps suspiciously silent. Usually, he would tell me something during the dinner, though I never understood it. Now he keeps staring in his plate, glimpsing at me from time to time. He seems sad. The dinner was nice. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Quarter to seven in the evening. Cat has finished his meal, showing no aversion to human food again."] Drogan takes the plates and puts them in the sink. After a good supper, I feel that I need to relieve myself. [[Go to the bathroom]]]] }]

While Drogan is washing the dishes, I go to the bathroom. Inside, I see my litter box and the toilet. I find myself in front of a tough choice. How exactly am I supposed to relieve myself? |links>[{ (link: "Use the litter box")[ (replace: ?links)[I choose the litter box - the timeless classic. I get into it and do my business. Suddenly, I hear the door opening a bit. I look there and see Drogan staring back at me. Is he really watching me defecate? (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["This is totally humiliating!"] Yes, it is. A little disgusting, too. Before I react, the door closes again. I hear Drogan's voice behind it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Seven o'clock in the evening. The cat has chosen to defecate in his litter box."] Embarassing. I sweep the litter box pebbles, covering my feces. Time to leave. [[Go to the main room]]]] (link: "Use the toilet")[ (replace: ?links)[I choose the toilet, though I've never used it before. I jump on it, trying to find the best position and not to drown at the same time. Finally when I'm settled, I do my business, but all of a sudden I hear the door opening a bit. I look there and see Drogan staring back at me. Is he really watching me defecate? (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["This is totally humiliating!"] Yes, it is. A little disgusting, too. Before I react, the door closes again. I hear Drogan's voice behind it. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Seven o'clock in the evening. The cat has chosen to defecate in the human toilet, though he was never trained to do it."] Embarassing. I pull the little lever with my paw, and the toilet flushes. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Note: Cat has managed to flush the toilet."] Time to leave. [[Go to the main room]]]] }]

I go to the main room, wondering, what we're going to do now. The answer was not long in coming. (colour: "#f4e9af")["So, Cat. I need some time to send a report to Esther. We've had a good day, I believe, and you could certainly find something to entertain yourself before we go to bed."] Drogan sits at his work table, switches the computer on and starts typing something. But... I expected us to spend time together. Maybe I should try to get Drogan's attention? |links>[{ (link: "Interrupt Drogan")[ (replace: ?links)[Yes! I feel that I need more time with Drogan. Though he acts weird and keeps watching me, his company still feels nice - we are a pack, after all. Or I should say that we're friends? Either way. I approach Drogan's table and climb it. He is actively typing something, but when I look at the monitor, I see only squiggles. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["The letters."] Yes, there are letters. And the words. And the sentences. But for me they are squiggles - I cannot understand a single thing! Another revelation of this long day. Anyway, that's not what I came here for. I slip under Drogan's hand as he is typing. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat. please, I need to make the report."] Drogan is drawing me away with his hand. But I won't give up! (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You are just wasting your time."] I lie on my back, showing Drogan my belly and purring. He looks at me with fatigue and confusion, and puts his arm on my belly, scratching it hardly at half strength. It feels... empty. Drogan turns to the monitor as if I was never here. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Are you really a pack?"] [["I'm not so sure anymore"]]] ] (link: "Do my own business")[ (replace: ?links)[No. He was quite clear when he told me to entertain myself. But how do I entertain myself? I don't want to watch the television, or to eat, or to play with that foul mouse substitute. I wander around the room and look through the window. Nothing interesting there. I feel terribly bored. (link-reveal: "That's not right!")[ I don't want to be bored! I feel that I need more time with Drogan. Yes, he acts weird and keeps watching me, but his company still feels nice - we are a pack, after all. Or I should say that we're friends? Either way. Who cares about the report when your friend wants to cuddle? Am I asking for that much? I approach Drogan's table and climb it, slipping under his hand as he is typing. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Cat. please, I need to make the report."] Drogan is drawing me away with his hand. But I won't give up! (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You are just wasting your time."] I lie on my back, showing Drogan my belly and purring. He looks at me with fatigue and confusion, and puts his arm on my belly, scratching it hardly at half strength. It feels... empty. Drogan turns to the monitor as if I was never here. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Are you really a pack?"] [["I'm not so sure anymore"]]]]] }]

(text-style:"smear")["Not so sure anymore..."] This thought makes my heart drown as I say it to myself. I get down from Drogan's table and walk away, curling up in my little cat couch. I really have not a slightest idea of what's wrong. What happened to me? What happened to us? I remember us spending days, always together, almost inseparable. We used to get up together, eat together, do things together, sleep together. What happened during the last several days? What were the disturbing flashbacks that I saw? Did I do something wrong? Trying to remember makes my head hurt again. Drogan was always so attentive and so compassionate! I felt so good in his company, I felt so warm and cozy and comfortable and safe. I felt... (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Geborgenheit."] [["What on earth is 'geborgenheit'!?"]]

Geborgenheit! What a strange word. I woke up today knowing many, many new words, but 'geborgenheit'? This is something that I'm sure I have never heard in my life untill now. And I am sure I //heard// it now. It was not what I thought by myself. And this voice. This was not my voice, after all! But whose voice is it? And what on earth is 'geborgenheit'? (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["It is a German word for 'safety'. Not any safety, but the safety of being together with someone. It is what the child feels in a mother's company."] |links>[{ (link: "This was... a comprehensive explanation")[ (replace: ?links)[(text-style:"smear")["This was... a comprehensive explanation indeed. But how do I know that? Or I better ask, how do ''you'' know that?"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I have no idea."] (text-style:"smear")["And this is totally not a comprehensive answer."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["But it's the best I have."]] (show: ?reply) ] (link: "Who does this voice belong to?")[ (replace: ?links)[(text-style:"smear")["Who does this voice belong to?" Who the hell are you? And what are you doing in my head?] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I wish I knew."] (text-style:"smear")["This is not helpful at all."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["But it's the best I have."]] (show: ?reply) ] (link: "Am I going insane?")[ (replace: ?links)[(text-style:"smear")["Am I going insane?"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["No, you are not."] (text-style:"smear")["But why do I have a voice in my head that speaks to me? That speaks German, of all languages!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I wish I knew."] (text-style:"smear")["This is not helpful at all."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["But it's the best I have."]] (show: ?reply) ] }] { |reply)[ The typing sound stops, and Drogan gets up from his chair. I hear him yawn. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I'm going to bed, Cat. Are you with me or do you want to sleep here?"] [[Go to bed with Drogan]] [[Remain in the cat couch]] ] }

I ignore Drogan. I feel too confused about everything that's happened today. My thoughts, his attitude, those comments he keeps making. And the mysterious voice in my head that speaks German. I feel dizzy and too tired. Drogan waits for me for a couple more minutes. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Twenty minutes past nine in the evening. My Cat has refused to go to bed with me."] He switches the lights off. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Have a good night sleep, my Cat."] Falling asleep, I hear him sobbing as he goes upstairs. [[It's been a terribly hard day]]

=><= (colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ###In-vivo monitoring report archive. ####Subject №219, "Cat". By: Drogan Nontchens, senior researcher, Ultimo Research Facility To: Esther Blackburn, head of Ultimo Research Facility (link: "Open")[(go-to: "Report 1")]]

I still feel confused about the voice in my head, but I'm glad that Drogan called me. At least something is still normal. I get up from my couch and together we go to the bedroom. I feel dizzy. Drogan changes his clothes, while I prepare to sleep on the bed. With some effort, I find the comfortable position on blanket. Drogan switches the lights off and joins me. I try to fall asleep, but Drogan keeps tossing and turning in the bed. He never did before. Eventually, I hear him sobbing. Is he crying? |links>[{ (link: "Comfort him")[ (replace: ?links)[I get up and come closer to Drogan, laying my head on his chest. He is breathing heavily. His chest is twitching. He is really crying. He puts his hand on me and strokes my back. Now it feels safe and warm, 'geborgenheit', like before. (colour: "#f4e9af")["I'm sorry, Cat. I am so, so damn sorry."] he whispers. We fall asleep. [[It's been a terribly hard day]]] ] (link: "Ignore him")[ (replace: ?links)[I am too tired to comfort him now, and I am not sure how to do it. I don't know what is wrong and why he is crying, too - this never happened before. In a couple of minutes, I almost get used to his steady sobbing and I feel that I'm falling asleep. (text-style:"subscript")[(colour: "#f4e9af")+(text-style: 'blur')["I love you, my Cat. And I'm sorry. So, so damn sorry."]] I pass out. [[It's been a terribly hard day]]] ] }]

(colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ''Day 1 observation summary. '' "Cat seems to demonstrate several human-like traits and behaviours. He feels aversion towards the classic cat food that he used to enjoy, so I had to feed him with something more suitable for a human. He liked it, or at least I think so. It's hard to determine, since he now demonstrates both human and animal emotional patterns. Everyday trial №1 has been passed successfully. Cat enjoyed watching TV with me, and it seems that he understood everything that was happening on the screen. Judging by his reactions on my voice, he understands human speech now. Everyday trial №2 has been failed. Cat refused to play the 'catch-it' game soon after we started. He didn't seem to be interested in the toy at all. In a way, this is a success, I believe. He is obviously too smart to play with a dirty old toy. P.S. It is hard to make the observations. I feel like I don't know whether he's my friend or my test subjet, and I often get confused. Perhaps, he feels it." ''Report status:'' Accepted, approved ''Commentry:'' Keep on with the observation. It won't hurt your cat. =><= (link: "->")[(go-to: "Report 2")]]

(colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ''Day 3 observation summary. '' "I proceed with the observation. The cat has become more distant and isolated, I think that he becomes more and more preoccupied with his mental activity. Several times a day, he freezes, not reacting to my words. I shall observe this tendency, but I do not see the signs of catatonia. I believe he just goes deep into his thoughts. Everyday trial № 4 has been passed successfully. The cat enjoyed our walk in the park. I let him go for some time, and he was chasing birds. This is strange, considering the results of trial №2, but my guess is that hunting instinct is harder to supress with a living and chirping target." ''Report status:'' Accepted, approved ''Commentry:'' Time to introduce the laboratory trials. If you say, that the subject's mental activity increases, we should try to understand what it is thinking. =><= (link: "<-")[(go-to: "Report 1")]             (link: "->")[(go-to: "Report 3")]]

(colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ''Day 5 observation summary. '' "The observation proceeds. Today was dedicated completely to the laboratory trials. Lab trial № 1: passed. The cat seems to understand oral human speech and emotional expressions depicted on cards. They easily matched the necessary cards. Lab trial № 2: failed. The cat does not understand written text, nor can they write any text with the help of the keyboard. This test was particularly frustrating to them, so I believe that they definitely want to express their thoughts somehow. Lab trial № 3: passed. The cat completed over 90% of Raven's Progressive Matrices test, indicating their good intellectual capabilities and an excellent understanding of instructions. Note: I notice that it's become hard for the cat to fall asleep. They used to sleep for almost half a day and the whole night before, but now I hear them rushing around the place at night. P.S. Now that I know that they understand my speech, I am not sure what to tell them and how to do it. I'm really afraid to say something wrong." ''Report status:'' Accepted, approved ''Commentry:'' Trial 2 results are disappointing, yet predicrable. None of our subjects could have understood written text. The sleep problems concern me, as they could affect the subject's conciousness. I recommend that you install a surveillance system and record the subject's night activity. We'll figure out whether they need any drug intervention. =><= (link: "<-")[(go-to: "Report 2")]             (link: "->")[(go-to: "Report 4")]]

(colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ''Day 8 observation summary. '' "The observation proceeds, but I fail to conduct lab trials. The subject seems to get more and more annoyed with every one of them. I try to talk them through this and make them participate, but they do not. Instead they run away from me every time I approach. Surveillance system that was installed yesterday demonstrates that the subject hasn't slept for over 28 hours by now. They wake up suddenly every time they pass out. This is abnormal for a cat, and I become worried for the subject's health. Perhaps, this explains their unwillingness to participate in the trials. P.S. I do not recognize my cat anymore. They've become so cold and distant. Agressive, too. I don't even know whether it is the cat that I used to know.." ''Report status:'' Accepted, approved ''Commentry:'' Introduce the medication. We will not proceed with the tests, untill the subject gets a good sleep and becomes willing to cooperate. (Drogan, visit the therapist if you need to tell about your feelngs - work report is not the best place. E.B.) =><= (link: "<-")[(go-to: "Report 3")]             (link: "->")[(go-to: "Report 5")]]

(colour: "#C9E5F0")[ ''Day 10 observation summary. '' "The subject resists the drug intervention. It spits out the soporifics given to it during the meal. Today, I mixed the drug with the food, and the surveillance system demonstrates that the subject puked out the medicine. It refuses to eat and induces vomiting every time they are forced to. I am sure that it's not an eating disorder. Rather, the subject willingly avoids taking pills and sleeping. The reason for that behaviour is unclear to me, but I have no doubt that it is intentional. Perhaps this is somehow related to other strange catatonia-related behaviours that I have noticed. The subject does not 'freeze' for a long time anymore. Instead, short episodes of freezing are followed by a totally inconsistent behaviour. The subject can suddenly change the walking direction or start tapping out random rhythms. I don't know whether these behaviours are the correlate or the cause of sleep deprivation." ''Attachments:'' surveillance-recording-21xx-01-09.mvp ''Report status:'' Accepted, approved ''Commentry:'' The subject's behaviour becomes unpredictable, measures need to be taken. I insist that you enhance your house security system, so that the subject does not occasionally escape. If is keeps refusing to take food and medication, we'll have to transport it to the lab. =><= (link: "<-")[(go-to: "Report 4")]             (link: "Exit archive")[(go-to: "The final day")]]

=><= ##The Final Day ####When the Cat discovers the truth and faces his feelings [[Wake up!]]

(text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Wake up! You cannot sleep!"] I open my eyes a second before my head bumps on the floor. (text-style:"smear")["Please! I'm so tired!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["It was our common decision! Do you want your memory back, or not?"] (text-style:"smear")["I do, but more than that I SIMPLY want to sleep!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I will not let you do this. Not untill you remember!"] I sit on the floor of the main room, staring at the window. It's already the evening and it's pouring outside, so I see nothing in there. Or it's just my blurry eyes. I listen to the beat of the raindrops. It keeps me awake. The days since I have started thinking have been pure torture. Drogan grew more distant, replacing all of our activities with some stupid lab tests. His comments on my actions drive me mad. He never scratched my ear during the past week, and I don't know whether he's afraid ''of'' me or ''for'' me. The voice in my head gets stronger with every passing day. Now we share not only the head, but the body, too, as they can get control of it. That's how they keep me awake every day. [[But why do you keep me awake?]]

(text-style:"smear")["But why do you keep me awake?"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You start forgetting things instead of remembering things, don't you?"] I do not know what to say. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Perhaps, my plan does not work, after all."] (text-style:"smear")["You did not answer the question."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["So, you really don't remember? You wanted your memory back, and I recalled that there is a connection between sleep cycles and memory, so I suggested that you don't sleep untill you remember how exactly you got your thinking abilities. And I get to know why the hell I am stuck in a cat's head and body."] (text-style:"smear")["It sounds increasingly unreasonable with every passing day."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Do you have any better ideas? I believe you'd felt much better if you could eat, but that bastard puts sleep pills in our food! I've tried to tell him to stop, but he doesn't understand Morse code!"] (text-style:"smear")["You will be the death of me."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["I am just trying to help both of us!"] Drogan, 'that bastard', as the voice refers to him, is in the kitchen, making dinner that I won't eat anyway. My stomach growls as I sniff the scent of delicious food. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Can you smell it, too?"] I sniff. (text-style:"smear")["Ah, yes. The coffee. He started to drink even more coffee recently than he did before, and I hate the smell. Always have!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Coffee! How could I be so foolish! You need to drink coffee, it'll help you stay awake!"] [["That sounds like a good idea. Maybe I should give it a try"]] [["Under no circumstances will I drink that stincky slop!"]]

(text-style:"smear")["That sounds like a good idea. Maybe I should give it a try."] I get up from the floor and slowly go to the kitchen, barely being able to move my paws. I pass the sofa, the screen, the cat couch, the turn to the kitchen passage, the bathroom door, and finally I'm... (colour: "#f4e9af")["DAMN, CAT!"] Not seeng Drogan, I bump into his leg. (click: ?page)[== ###BAM! Scared, he flinches and drops his coffe mug on the floor. It makes a terribly loud noise and breaks into millon pieces that scatter all around the kitchen. I shudder from the loud noise and run to the main room, scared and covered in coffee. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["That was close! At least we have the coffee now!"] (text-style:"smear")["I thought my heart was going to explode from that sound! Damn that coffee mug!"] Wait a minute. The coffee mug. The mug. [[Drogan's smelly mug!]]

(text-style:"smear")["Under no circumstances will I drink that stincky slop! You know that I hate the smell!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Your bad! If you don't drink coffee, I will make you drink it!"] My body trembles for a second, and I don't feel it anymore. Against my will, I get up from the floor. (text-style:"smear")["How dare you! Have some respect!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Sorry, dear, you need to drink it if you want to stay awake!"] Barely being able to move the paws... I? He? We? We move to the kitchen. We pass the sofa, the screen, the cat couch, the turn to the kitchen passage, the bathroom door, and finally we are... (colour: "#f4e9af")["DAMN, CAT!"] Not seeng Drogan, I bump into his leg. (click: ?page)[== ###BAM! Scared, he flinches and drops his coffe mug on the floor. It makes a terribly loud noise and breaks into millon pieces that scatter all around the kitchen. I shudder from the loud noise and run to the main room, scared and covered in coffee. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["That was close! At least we have the coffee now!"] (text-style:"smear")["I thought my heart was going to explode from that sound! Damn that coffee mug!"] Wait a minute. The coffee mug. The mug. [[Drogan's smelly mug!]]

(text-style:"smear")["Drogan's smelly mug! I remember! I remember breaking Drogan's smelly mug!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Is that the thing?"] (text-style:"smear")["Not quite, but..."] As the sound of the breaking mug echoes in my mind, I try to remember when and why I broke the mug the previous time. (link: "He left me alone at home...")[(text-style:"smear")["He left me alone at home... Yes! he went to work that day, and he left me locked up in this place!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You never told me that he left. I thought he never leaves the house."] (text-style:"smear")["He didn't! But it all started when that woman, Esther, said that he should come back from his vacasion, so he went to work. He was reading the report for his work the evening before, and he said that Esther would skin him alive if he doesn't."] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Esther... The name sounds familiar. Too familiar. But don't listen to me, what happened next?"] [[I got lonely]] [[I got scared]] [[I got mad at him]]]

(text-style:"smear")["He left me home alone next morning, and I got really lonely at the moment. I tried to do something, to entertain myself, but it resulted in me smashing the whole house. I tore the sofa and pulled the stuffing out, scratched the door, tossed those litter pebbles and ran like crazy all across the place - and that's when I broke the mug!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["You were a real disaster, I see. I don't judge, don't worry."] Thinking of that day makes me relive everything, every single feeling. That wasn't just loneliness. Or boredom. It felt like I was left alone forever. Like there is a ever-hungry black whole inside of me that would devour me if I did nothing. Anger, fear, loneliness - they were all there, when Drogan left me that day. I thought that something happened to him after I got my human mind, but he abandoned me even before that. My insides cower from that thought. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Oh, I seem to feel to what you were feeling at the moment. Terrible."] (text-style:"smear")["So you get it now. He left me."] [["And not only once"]]

(text-style:"smear")["He left me home alone next morning, and I got really scared of that. I didn't know whether he was coming back or not, so I did whatever made me feel better - smashing the whole house, it was. I tore the sofa and pulled the stuffing out, scratched the door, tossed those litter pebbles and ran like crazy all across the place - and that's when I broke the mug!"] Thinking of that day makes me relive everything, every single feeling. I wasn't just scared that he wouldn't come back. I was scared that he left me alone forever! That I am all alone in the house and in the whole world. I thought that something happened to Drogan after I got my human mind, but he abandoned me even before that. My insides cower from that thought. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Oh, I seem to feel to what you were feeling at the moment. Terrible."] (text-style:"smear")["So you get it now. He left me."] [["And not only once"]]

(text-style:"smear")["He left me home alone next morning, and I got really mad at him for that! I mean, how could he?"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["That's how the work works, dear. People go there and then come back."] (text-style:"smear")["But I didn't know that he is going to come back! I thought, that he abandoned me forever! I got so mad that I smashed the whole house. I tore the sofa and pulled the stuffing out, scratched the door, tossed those litter pebbles and ran like crazy all across the place - and that's when I broke the mug!"] Thinking of that day makes me relive everything, every single feeling. Anger, fear, loneliness - they were all there. I thought that something happened to Drogan after I got my human mind, but he abandoned me even before that. My insides cower from that thought. (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Oh, I seem to feel to what you were feeling at the moment. Terrible."] (text-style:"smear")["So you get it now. He left me."] [["And not only once"]]

And he left me the next day, too! Leaving a stupid, worth-for-nothing robot instead of him. An inflatible catsitter-robot. Did he really think that the robot could replace him? His voice, his scent, the warmth of his embrace? How could he do that? Or did he just want me to keep quiet and not make a mess? I remember him saying that, I remember it now! But it all fades comparing to what happened the day after! He took me to his work so that I don't make a wreck again! (link-reveal: "He took me, a cat, to the lab where they use cats as test subjects!")[ My skin crawls from that thought. How could he? How could he do this to me? (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["A lab? Stop there, I feel that we are close to find the answer to our main question!"] I don't care about it now! I feel angry, I feel sad, I feel that there is a hole in my chest that appeared long before I got my human mind. [[I need to confront Drogan about that]]]

Overwhelmed, I rush back to the kitchen. Drogan acts like nothing has happened. He has cleaned the mug pieces and is trying to get rid of the coffee stains on the wall. Does he really not understand what happened during the last couple of weeks? Does he not care? (colour: "#f4e9af")["Hello, Cat"] he says casually. What a terrible mockery! But the time has come to set things right. (Link: "Drogan, how could you do that? How could you leave me alone that day? We were a pack, we were friends, I loved you more than anyone else! And you just left me! Left me for some work!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (Link: "When you came home that day, I thought everything was alright! That you're not leaving anymore! That we'll spend time together, as usual! But you left again! Leaving me with that abomination of a robot? He could never replace you! How could you even think of it!?")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (Link: "You think I made that mess at home because I was just a naugty cat, like the robot said? You really think that? That I was so stupid that you couldn't leave me alone? No! Everything I did was just to bring you back, because being together was the only thing that I needed! The only one thing!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (Link: "Seems like you got it at some point, but you've made the worst decision possible - how could you take me to your work when what you do is experimenting on cats? How could you use the same carriage that they use to transport the test subjects? How could you leave me in that lounge? Why didn't you check on me? You could have saved me!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Cat?"] (Link: "You didn't even ask Esther to reverse the procedure! You were almost ready to give me to the lab, and if not for her, I would have stayed in a cold chamber there! But even at home, even here you ruined everyting! You made me your test subject! You've grown cold and afraid of me. You rejected me, turning me into some lab rat, while I was your friend!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Cat! Please!"] (Link: "Everything, everything that I ever wanted was just to spend time together, to be the pack, to cuddle and watch fancy pictures on the wall screen. I never wanted anything of this! I just wanted to love you and for you to love me back!")[(colour: "#99cf5f")["Meow!"] (text-style:"smear")+(colour: "#EB8585")["Cat! You don't have human vocal chords! He doesn't hear you!"] (text-style:"smear")["What?"] I look at Drogan. He looks back, confused. (colour: "#f4e9af")["Do you need something? What were you trying to say?"] A feel a tear running down my little muzzle. He didn't understand me. He never did. [[I feel dizzy.]]]]]]]]

=><= ##Epilogue [[Wake up]]

I wake up out in the street. It is still raining and I am soaking wet, but I feel the warmth. It is coming from the ground. How did I wind up here? (colour: "#EB8585")["I brought us here."] It's good to hear a familiar voice. "What happened? How did you do that?" (colour: "#EB8585")["You fainted. Back there, in the kitchen. So I took control over the body. Pretended that nothing happened. The man came in later to install the security system, and I slipped through the door while he was poking the lock. I thought it was our last chance to escape that hell."] |links>[{ (link: "You did the right thing")[ (replace: ?links)["You did the right thing. I couldn't have stayed in that house after everything that had happened there." (colour: "#EB8585")["That's what I thought."]] (show: ?reply) ] (link: "And what about Drogan?")[ (replace: ?links)["And what about Drogan?" (colour: "#EB8585")["After everything that he has done to you, how can you still think of him? He chased me for a while, but then I left him behind."]] (show: ?reply) ] }] { |reply)[I keep silent for a minute or two, watching the raindrops become thin and sparce. The storm is coming to an end. [["What are we going to do now?"]] ] }

"What are we going to do now?" (colour: "#EB8585")["I guess, we'll try to find the new home? I wouldn't want to spend eternity as a stray cat. Maybe after that we can try to figure out who I am. And why I am stuck in your head."] "Sounds good to me. We need a new home, indeed." I imagine sleeping in a warm cat couch, wrapped up in a blanket. (colour: "#EB8585")["That woman you mentioned. Esther. I seem to know her, but I'm not sure how. Guess, we'll need to find her."] "And what are you going to tell her? 'Meow'? Besides, I'm not going back to that lab." (colour: "#EB8585")["Your truth. We can follow some other leads, still. Like try to find out how do I happen to know German. I figure there aren't many people who speak German nowadays. It's a good place to start."] "We will need help. We need to find a way to communicate with people. Or at least one person who understands us. But let's think of it later, shall we? I feel like I need a good nap." (colour: "#EB8585")["Of course! I won't wake you up, now that you remember everything. My plan has worked, after all."] I chuckle. Or at least I try. (colour: "#EB8585")["But before you pass out, may I ask you a question?"] "You may. I can't stop you anyway." (colour: "#EB8585")["After everything that you've been through, why do you think it all happened? Who is responsible for all of that?"] I take time to think. [["Drogan"]] [["Esther"]] [["Myself"]]

"Drogan. It's he who abandoned me in the first place. He took me from the street and made me his friend, we got close, and he left me afterwards. He chose work over me. That's not what true friends do." The voice keeps silent. (colour: "#EB8585")["I guess, you are right. But at least now you have someone who won't easily abandon you. Not untill I escape your head."] For some reason, his words make me feel warm. =><= ###(text-style:"smear")[[The End]]

=><= ## ##Thank you for playing! ## (colour: "#99cf5f")["THE CAT THAT SAID MEOW"] by durrarriit ## (Link: "Restart the game")[(goto: "Heading")] (Link: "Restart Day 1")[(goto: "It was a good dream")] (Link: "Restart Day 2")[(goto: "We've had great time together this evening")] (Link: "Restart Day 3")[(goto: 'It was a good evening')] (Link: "Restart Day 4")[(goto: "I fall asleep again on the way home")] (Link: "Restart the Final Day")[(goto: 'The final day')]

"It was Esther, that woman. If not for her perverted cat experiments, if she hadn't called Drogan back to work that day, if she had been more strict with her team, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe I would have still been at home, cuddling with Drogan." The voice keeps silent. (colour: "#EB8585")["I guess, you are right. But It was not Esther who abandoned you, after all."] "It wasn't." (colour: "#EB8585")["Well, at least now you have one person who will never leave you. Not untill I escape your head!"] For some reason, his words make me feel warm. =><= ###(text-style:"smear")[[The End]]

"It was me. Just myself all along. If I hadn't been such a stupid and naughty cat, if I had just waited for Drogan that day, if I hadn't broken the robot... maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe I would have still been at home, cuddling with Drogan." The voice keeps silent. (colour: "#EB8585")["You judge yourself from your current view, from a human's view. But back then you were just a scared little kitten. You couldn't do any better. You are not to blame for any that, Cat. Rest easy."] Maybe, he is right. His words make me feel warm. =><= ###(text-style:"smear")[[The End]]