As Alan neared the yard, he spotted the cat, curled in a tight ball near the fence. Its fur was matted and dirty, barely distinguishable from the snowy ground. He moved closer, his heart quickening with a mix of concern and caution.
The cat was unmoving, one could mistake it for dead if it wasn’t for the strange sounds coming from him. But as he extended a hand, the cat’s head snapped up, eyes wild. A deep, menacing hiss rumbled from the cat, its teeth bared in a snarl that froze Alan in place.
The hostility in the animal’s eyes was unmistakable—a fierce, unyielding gaze that sent a shiver down his spine. Alan’s pulse quickened, a sharp reminder of how vulnerable he was in that moment. He couldn’t take the chance of getting hurt.
Alan took a step back, heart hammering, a bite or a swiped paw from a feral cat could turn fatal for him. Alan hesitated, the instinct to help clashing with the clear and present danger. He turned and made his way back inside, breath unsteady.