Amalia and Auri

Amalia bent down, picked up the cat into her arms, and sat on the bed, gently stroking its soft fur.

She had named the cat Auri, and as the second guest to settle in the castle in years, Amalia treated it with great care.

She provided it with ample food and even fashioned a cozy nest from her old clothes and broken boxes for it to rest in.

Auri, having spent much of its life as a stray, had initially struggled to adapt to domestic life.

But recently, it had grown more comfortable, recognizing the wooden box Amalia had made as its home.

In a way, Amalia and Auri were kindred spirits, both outcasts, one born unblessed and the other unwanted.

After spending some time cuddling Auri, Amalia stood and began tidying her drawing supplies.

To most, the paints might seem insignificant, but to her, they were precious treasures, to be used sparingly and stored carefully.