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But what should Fluff do? She didn’t want to leave the kitten behind, either. Helplessly, she watched as the little white cat gave another feeble mew and slumped back down again. No, she certainly wasn’t coming on an expedition through the snow. Fluff would just have to go and find Ella, and bring her back to help. The wailing wind had died down now, leaving an eerie silence, and Fluff thought the snow must have stopped. She would be able to see where she was heading. She felt better now she had made a decision, and she nosed her way out of the cupboard, and across the room. She wanted to find some of the rags of blanket she had curled up in yesterday. The kitten wasn’t so frozen now, but without Fluff to keep her warm, she would quickly get cold again. Dragging the blanket back with her teeth, she wrapped it round the kitten.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_30]

A tiny purr rumbled through the scrap of white fur, making Fluff feel even more determined. She had to find help. Giving the kitten one last worried glance, she pushed the cupboard door to with her nose to keep the cold out, and set off.

Fluff peered cautiously out of the hole in the cottage door, and shivered. The snow was even deeper now, but at least it seemed to have frozen hard. She stepped out, and looked helplessly around. Which way should she go? She had no idea. Even if she’d been able to remember which way she’d come, it all looked different now. Even the smells were covered in snow. She took a few uncertain steps, hoping to recognize something soon. Then, to her horror, Fluff noticed snowflakes spiralling down. More snow! She looked up, hoping it would be just a light shower, but the sky was full of them, falling thickly down towards her. She needed to get back under cover fast – she knew from yesterday that there was no point trying to go anywhere in this. But perhaps she had time to find some food, before the storm got too heavy? Fluff looked around hopefully, but only saw trees. No good.

Hurrying back into the cottage, she noticed something she’d not seen in the dark the evening before. A battered old bag, lying by the door. Eagerly, Fluff clawed at it, retrieving a foil-wrapped packet. Ham sandwiches! They didn’t smell very fresh, but she was in no position to be fussy, and neither was the kitten.

[Êàðòèíêà: img_31]

The kitten didnot want to be woken again. Fluff had to cuff her nose to make her sit up and take notice of the food. She sniffed at it reluctantly, too tired to bother, but Fluff knew the kitten had to eat. She bit off a tiny piece of ham, and then nudged it against the kitten’s mouth until she opened it to protest. As the taste of the food hit her tongue, she brightened a little, swallowing it down, and looked hopefully at Fluff for more. Fluff bit off some more pieces, gulping a few down herself. The kitten managed several mouthfuls, then curled up to sleep again.

Fluff watched her, feeling relieved. Surely the food would help her? She devoured the rest of the sandwich, then tucked herself back round the kitten. There didn’t seem to be much else to do but sleep, so she slept.

It was much, much colder when she woke again. She was shivering, even wrapped up in their blanket nest. The kitten wasn’t. She was completely still, and for an awful moment Fluff thought she wasn’t even breathing.

There was a tiny snuffle of breath, but it was so shallow– as though the kitten could hardly be bothered. When Fluff tried to rouse her, she wouldn’t wake. She was too cold.

Fluff stood up. The cold seemed to be inside her now, a freezing fear that she wouldn’t be able to save this little one. The kitten had no one to help her but Fluff. Even if it was still snowing, she had go,now, and find Ella, and bring her back.

Chapter Six

[Êàðòèíêà: img_2]

Fluff staggered through the snow, her paws aching with the cold. Every so often she had to stop and rest, taking in deep shaking breaths of the burning cold air, and each time it was harder to set off again. But she couldn’t give up. She was desperate to find Ella now. If Fluff could just keep going, surely she would find her soon, and she’d be home and in the warm, and Ella would be able to help the snow-white kitten. She ploughed on, trying not to think of the cold, just imagining the big bowl of tuna fish that Ella would give her…

[Êàðòèíêà: img_6]

“Ella, sweetheart, we have to go back home now. It’s turned really cold – it’s not good for us to be out in this for so long.” Ella’s mum was looking really anxious.

“But Mum, Fluff ’s out in it!” Ella cried. “And she’s tiny and she isn’t wearing a great big coat and boots and a hat and—”

“Yes, yes, I know.” Mum sighed. “Just a little longer then. We’ve been up and down the street twice now though, I don’t know where else to look.”

“What about that little wood that backs on to the gardens further down?” Ella’s dad suggested.

“Well, yes, I suppose she could have got in there,” Mum agreed doubtfully. “It’s worth a try.”