Meatball [RDR2 Story]

_-Chapter 1-_

Snow, coldness and loneliness everywhere.
There was no one around, not a single soul. Snowstorm was horrifically unbearable. The trees sag under the heavy snow, gathered during these hard conditions. Dark navy-blue sky broadens under Grizzly Mountains, light and far away stars shined weakly, covered by the blizzard completely. The night seemed to never end here, darkness was everywhere, only cold stiff wind was brave enough to make any sound. And then, there it was – above every expectation, a squeaky and small sound raised above the chimeric environment. Such a weak and small sound, yet strong enough to vanquish the wind and snowstorm.

As no one has expected, it was cat's meows. The small, poor kitty was meowing, shivering and probably freezing. His orange fur was strong and fluffy, but still too thin to overcome the snowsquall's coolness. He stayed curled under the old wooden chair in the corner of wooden hut. The whole shack was covered in dust and cobwebs, seems like this place was abandoned for many years now. This hideout wasn't either warm or comfortable, but at least the orange cat was dying and freezing slowly, instead of shivering outside in thick and deep snow. He had a snot running from his nose and cold paw pads. As the kitty was curled under the chair, slowly waiting for the worst, suddenly the door opened widely, letting inside even more coldness and stiff wind than before. The silhouette stayed still, having a shiny and warm lantern in their hand. They were wearing thick clothes to survive this mountain blizzard in middle of May. They looked around for a moment. The cat, of course scared, curled even more under the chair, not sure if the monster walking on two legs is an enemy or maybe a friend. Or are they lost as much as is the cat?

After around two seconds the silhouette turned around, about to leave the place, when suddenly they heard a sneeze through the strong snowstorm happening outside. They turned around and narrowed their eyes, uprising their hand with lantern to the level of their face. Theirs blue eyes reflected the warm fire from the lantern and their thick bread had few spikes of ice frozen on it. The ginger cat meowed at the newcomer, trying to say to go away or at least to not disturb him. He had no faith in surviving, feeling how he is shivering and starving.

"What in the... A cat?" The male, rough voice said surprised, looking at the curled ball under the chair. He walked up to the animal closer and crouched, puffing a little as his clothes were stiff and frozen making it harder to move. Scared cat hissed at him and widened his brown eyes. Although, his fur stayed smooth, it seemed like the cat wasn't happy with stranger but at the same time he didn't mind it at all. The man looked a little worried about the cat, seeing in what state it is. Besides that, he still seemed in slight hurry. The man reached his hand towards the animal and in respond, it growled and moved the tip of its tail. Even during that stressful and hard moment, he managed to move slightly and sniff the man's hand.

"Yes, good kitty... No need to be afraid..." He said in comforting and reassuring tone, trying to pet the poor thing, putting the lantern down on the ground next to his boots. At first, the cat seemed not very up for any pats, but after a short period he let be stroked a little bit. As he felt the thick gloves of the human, he let his head rest on man's hand, feeling his comfort. It would be the perfect end of the kitty's life, getting the last pet on the head, getting some love he never experienced. Although, it wasn't happening.

The man suddenly got the ginger cat out of the wooden chair, unzipping slightly his warm winter jacket and getting the cat inside, securing it so it won't suddenly fall or feel much uncomfortable. The ginger cat himself was pretty confused right now, but there wasn't much he could do, as he was sick and loss of energy. The cowboy with rough voice zipped his jacket, making sure to not clang any cat's fur in the zipper. It could feel man's warm body and his heartbeat. Cat's head was the only thing that sticked out from the jacket. The man then took the lantern to his hand and stood up, with another hand holding cat tightly so it could feel something underneath it and feel less stressed and scared.

"You'll be alright," outlaw spoke to the cat once more, and in respond the cat meowed, sneezing. The warmth of the jacket and man made his snots run as water and he tried to lick it off somehow. Soon enough, the man walked out of the hut and climbed on his horse carefully, holding the cat steadily.

.

"... I'm just hoping the law got as lost as we did." A rough and old voice echoed through the snowstorm, filling the cold night with some hope. It was impossible to see anything in these conditions without a proper lighting. The horse neighed, carrying the outlaw and rescued cat. The ginger beauty was still pressed against man's warm body, covered with even warmer jacket.

"There," some other male voice said, a lot closer now. The kitty narrowed his eyes, feeling how the freezing wind tried to poke his eyes out. He surely didn't liked it, so he adjusted his ears and made them flat on his head. "Arthur! Any luck?" The voice yelled towards them, desperate and full of hope. The cat lifted his head to look up at the cowboy. Arthur looked down at the ginger cat and then up again at the imminent horses and carriages with plenty of people in it.

"We found a place where we can get some shelter," Arthur finally answered and walked closer to others. The cat sank into the jacket, not liking the fact that his poor small ears are freezing, and snots are running down like a waterfall, and then freezing, and running like a waterfall again. Soon, Arthur continued, still holding the cat tightly. "Let Davey rest while he... You know... An old mining town, abandoned, it ain't far."

.

Two men carried someone else in a, perhaps cot, while the wind pierced through everyone's skin. Slowly more and more people walked inside the small hut the cat was in before. Arthur and he watched how everyone were walking inside from further away, wanting to make sure that everyone made it safe and sound. The ginger cat looked up at outlaw with a small questioning purr, and he looked down at the small animal.

"Pretty chaotic, huh?" The outlaw asked silently the cat, his voice silenced by the blizzard. Soon enough, a man with dark mustache and eyes indicated Arthur to go inside. As he was told so he did, still carrying the poor kitten inside his jacket keeping it warm.

"Miss Gaskill, get that fire lit quick," some old lady commanded the other, way younger woman. So called Miss Gaskill nodded and did what she was told to. The old lady commanded other people to do some things that might help them, until one of the women raised her head to others. "...Davey's dead."

The gang seemed to mourn man's death, putting two coins on his two eyes. Although, the cat didn't know any of them, so he didn't care. Arthur walked up to two men – one with fancy black mustache and other one with white like snow hair.

"What are we gonna do? We need supplies," the silver-haired man said in a small sigh, truly tired.

"Well, first of all you're gonna stay here and you gonna get yourself warm," the younger man spoken with his deep voice, stopping for a moment and continuing, "now I sent John and Micah scouting out ahead." After his words he paused again and looked up at Arthur, pointing at him. "Arthur and I, we're gonna ride out see if we can find..." He started and stopped once more, now noticing a ginger cat's head sticking out of Arthur's winter jacket. "... one of 'em... Arthur, what is that?"

Arthur looked confused for a moment, but when he noticed where Dutch is glancing at, he answered quickly. "Just some cat I found in one of these huts. Poor thing's freezing." He shook his head. Dutch narrowed his eyes for a moment and Hosea glanced at the cat, truly surprised how cat could appear in mountains among the wilderness. "We will go seek for Micah and John just for a short bit... I don't see what other choice we have." The man with dark mustache added and pointed at the cat once more. "But that ain't comin' with us."

Then, Dutch turned to others and started his speech, trying to give some faith and hope to others, meanwhile Arthur and Hosea stood here, listening. Hosea was holding high the lantern Arthur gave him when they arrived at this place. The outlaw glanced down at the cat once more, and the ginger beauty squinted his eyes slightly, feeling the warmth that he didn't feel in a long time. Although, young gunslinger had puzzled look on his face. Hosea, noticing it leaned closer to Arthur and whispered to him, to not interrupt Dutch and his speech.

"Give me the cat, I'll take care of it while you'll be gone." Hosea whispered and Arthur nodded, meanwhile Dutch ended his speech and turned around.

"Come on, Arthur," Dutch commanded and left the hut and gang behind. Arthur quickly glanced at Dutch and then took the cat out of his jacket and gave it to Hosea. The old man took the cat to his one hand, holding it on his palm by his belly, cat's paws floating above the ground. Arthur patted Hosea's back and left the hut, following Dutch right behind. The silver-haired man looked at the cat and put the lantern on nearest table, correcting the grip.

"Well, look at you, all skinny and... Miserable." His voice showed some interest and pity. The orange cat moved his tail slightly, curling it a bit down to his butt and belly.

"Meow," It meowed, almost silently, looking a bit around. Hosea inspected the cat, holding it in two hands, a bit further away from himself until Miss Grimshaw suddenly walked up to him. Her sudden appearance caught him off guard. In respond, he hugged the cat to his body, not firmly but still tight enough.

"Mr. Matthews, go help Mr. Williamson and Lenny."

"B-But Arthur..." Hosea tried to explain something, but Miss Susan shushed him immediately.

"No no no, no buts! Go on, help them. I will take this poor thing with me." She commanded and took the cat from old man's hands. Hosea tried to oppose her, but he gave up quickly. As long as he knows her, she won't change her mind. She's a strong woman who will always stand her own ground. The old outlaw only shook his hand and left the hut, calling out for Lenny who already was standing on guard in that coldness. Miss Grimshaw looked at the cat and smirked.

"Let's go darlin', old aunt Susan will keep you safe and sound!" She hummed and looked back at few gang members in the hut, trying to warm themselves. "Miss Gaskill, Miss Roberts... Karen and Tilly, follow me," she commanded and then looked at few male gang members inside. "Everyone else, listen to Mr. Pearson." She held her head high and proud and nodded towards Pearson. He in respond nodded to and clapped his hands, looking at the people inside the hut. Miss Grimshaw opened the doors and left with other women the cozy place, hearing from behind how Pearson started to order things to men.

Miss Grimshaw looked around and then back at Tilly who just closed the door. She held the cat close to her chest. The ginger cat felt how the coldness attack him once more, snow sticking to his thick fur. His ears were sideways, and his tip of tail moved slightly. He was a little nervous and unsure about this all situation and he surely didn't like that he is freezing right now once more. He preferred to stay near Arthur's chest, at least it was warm.

"Miss Jackson, walk next to me. You'll light the way." Susan said louder so the darker woman could hear her via snowstorm. Miss Tilly walked up quickly to older woman with the lantern in her hand, shivering a little. Then, all of the ladies started to follow the woman with the cat, until they reached another hut. She opened the door with free hand and nodded to women to go inside. As she commanded, they did, and at the end Miss Grimshaw herself walked inside, closing the door.

All of the girls tried to warm their hands up with their warm breaths. The leader of women part of the gang put the cat down and clapped her hands, feeling coldness as well. The ginger cat from the other hand, as soon as he got to touch the ground, he hid under some old wooden table, curling up and curling his tail near his paws. He wasn't scared, he was just cold and a little stressed about this all. From underneath the table, the cat could hear old woman's voice, telling something to girls and once again speak in turn their names. He just sat there meanwhile every woman was doing something around. The ginger beauty shivered from the coldness, trying to heat himself up.

After a while, he seemed relaxed. His whole stress and unsure went away, and he got use to walking sounds and girl's high and loud voices. Then, suddenly one of the women crouched in front of the cat and reached her hand, so the small animal could sniff it. The cat was unsure for a moment, but he sniffed the hand, relaxing again. There was no danger near, he was safe. Thereafter, she took off her scarf and folded it into a messy ball, placing it on the floor near him. He was pretty surprised by that, and he carefully sniffed the scarf.

"Tilly, what are you doing? It's freezing here!" Karen said, walking up to darker woman. Miss Jackson looked up at Karen and smiled softly, and then looked at small cat again. "You know, I thought it must be cold... I will warm up anyway," Tilly answered and reached her hand towards the ginger cat, scratching his side of the head a little.

Karen seemed pretty touched by her small gesture of kindness and smiled sweetly, "You got a really kind heart Miss Jackson, but we need you to help us now. C'mon, leave the cat alone, it will surely be fine."

Tilly nodded and stood up, glancing at the old table once more and going to Jack and Abigail, helping them with some things. The orange cat was left alone, with Tilly's scarf next to him. He licked off the snots from his nose and then leaned his head on her scarf, feeling it's warmth and sweet scent. Shortly after that, he closed his eyes and decided to take a nap, still begin alerted if anything would happen. The ginger cat was still confused of everything that happened tonight, but he was also glad that someone rescued him. He was still starving and a little cold, but the feeling of the warm and nice scarf overwhelmed these two things.