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A little streak of orange fur scampered and hopped through the coming dusk, crossing metal rooftops warmed by sunlight for the first time in many, many years. Cool enough now, with the setting of the sun, to not scorch quick-moving paws.
A hop and a scramble, a slide and a jump, and the little orange cat paused. So much to see, in a place only just learning to recognize sunlight again. So many changes already, though it had only been a few dawns and dusks since the city had opened to the sky. Pointed ears flicked and swiveled, catching sounds that had changed subtly, since the last time the cat had been here.
It looked different too, in the natural light. It even smelled different, warmed by the sun and brushed by wind and weather.
The cat knew where to go, though.
Another hop, a bit of a climb, and then a last jump to a window ledge. Its paws thumped softly as it dropped down into the room beyond. It paced forward a couple of steps, then sat with its tail curled daintily around its feet, raising one paw to clean.
"Little Outsider!"
An ear flicked, but the cat continued cleaning its paw even as the room's single denizen hurried over, loudly-colored shirt flapping around his limbs. He skidded to a halt and dropped to his knees, color-streaked face a bright glow even in the newly-present sunlight that angled in through the window.
"Little furball, you did it!" Momo's hands hovered above the little orange cat, who finally looked up, ears perked. The Companion's normally impassive face showed a pixelated grin, an expression he had found himself using surprisingly often of late, with the presence of daylight. "You made it to The Outside, didn't you? What's it like? It's not barren, is it?"
The cat stood, stretching out long and content, even its toes flexing to dig claws into the floor. It gave a low, purring mew and came out of the stretch, sauntering forward to lean its weight against Momo's leg and hip, curling around the Companion before settling next to his bent knee. Momo's expression jittered to one of surprise, eyes round, and he brushed fingertips lightly over the little orange cat's head.
The cat stared up at him, green eyes reflecting his rainbow-barred screen. Then it turned toward the window and gave out a long, loud yowl.
Momo stared at it, startled. It hadn't made that noise before, not where he could hear. Confused, he looked up to follow its green gaze.
A small, furry head popped over the window ledge. Pointed ears swiveled alertly above a round black face, bright eyes fixed on Momo. With a little shimmy, the black cat pulled itself up onto the window ledge, and then hopped to the floor.
An orange-and-white patchwork face appeared as soon as the black cat had moved, a small, interrogative trill emitting from the new cat's mouth. A second furry head popped up beside it, all the same colors but in reverse.
"Oh!" Momo said softly, raising a hand to rest fingertips against the bottom of his screen. "There are so many of you, Little Outsider!"
The remaining two cats had a brief, lazy scuffle before tumbling inside, earning a sharp chirp from the black cat.
Momo's grin returned, and he held out a hand, making a noise of delight when the black cat deigned to let him rub its chin.
The little orange cat sprawled against his leg gave a smug meow, purring loudly.