#((Unfortunately that word seems to only have properly emerged in the 20th century so Blaze would not know it))

[cynics-and-cynology]

Suddenly, there is a cat. In its mouth it holds a small piece of paper, which it offers to the recipient.

The content of the paper is as follows:

Friend?

The cat will now follow him around.

Despite his inclinations towards free thought and independence, Blaze is not much of a cat person. Quite the opposite, really. This is one of the instances when he almost regrets that there's nobody else in the vicinity whom this cat could latch onto instead.

"What business do you have tracking me, huh? How did you take care of yourself before now? Did your mother not teach you how to catch field mice for yourself? If you want to be kissed and pampered and whatnot, go find yourself a sentimental lady of higher society who'll give you fresh beef every day, a satin pillow to sleep on and probably festoon you with lace and ribbons or (God forbid) put a little dress on you."

He crouches to read the note properly.

"Friend?"

He snickers, but not unkindly so.

"A blue coat and a white nose,* of course you need a friend. Well, a friend I could be." (A peer. An equal.) "I have to warn you though, my friend, that there is a capricious little lady in my household, and if she doesn't like you, there's not much to be done against it, you understand. But if all goes well, I will not be a bad host."