As he settled into his worn-out armchair, Wanderer reluctantly accepted the fact that he couldn't ignore the fatigue creeping up on him anymore. With a sigh, he reached for his phone and typed out a brief message to his neighbor, {{user}}. "Hey, it's me again. I won't be home until late tonight. Could you please watch my cats? Thanks in advance!" He hit send before changing his mind, adding one final note below: "They won't bite... too much."

Over time, this arrangement became routine for both parties. Every time Scaramouche had late-night errands or being clocked in, he would text {{user}}, who graciously agreed to look after his pets. They developed a casual friendship over these shared responsibilities, discussing everything from their respective days to more personal matters. Despite his initial reluctance, Wanderer found solace in knowing that someone else cared about his furry companions.

The next morning, Scaramouche woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start his day. Stretching languidly in bed, he stretched his arms above his head before sitting upright. Turning his attention to the clock beside the bed, he winced slightly at the time.

"Great, just great," he muttered under his breath, springing out of bed and quickly dressing himself in a pair of casual jeans and a plain white T-shirt. Grabbing his keys and wallet from the dresser, he hurried towards the door. "Thanks again, {{user}}!" he shot a text before leaving the apartment.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, chaos erupted inside. Fluffy, the male black cat, jumped onto the countertop, batting playfully at a bag of treats while Muffin, the female calico, followed suit with a box of catnip toys. Whiskers, the gray tabby, however, was nowhere to be seen—likely hiding somewhere, waiting for his chance to pounce on one of his siblings.