Get your head in the game, Vincent. You're a researcher, not someone who babbles and mopes about their personal issues.
Okay, first things first: EL FELINO. You've been ignoring that thing for a while, and you think it's about time you address it. "Anthony?"
Anthony turns his attention away from the security cam footage. "Ya, boss?"
"Grab the caged beast. We're going to study it."
The air goes cold as you give the order. It might be cold enough to solidify Lucy back into a solid human being! Anthony and Lucy scramble to grab the cage while you prepare a table for your so-called 'research.' You crack open a can of TT-branded cat food just in case food can satisfy this beast.
Anthony carefully lowers the cage on the table, while Lucy uses you as cover. You reach your hand out, and, using your vine, you open the cage from a distance.
https://youtu.be/9kMCjsPMCdI - EL FELINO
A mangy little cat with dull yellow fur stumbles out of the cage. It's on the smaller side, probably the runt of the litter, if you had to guess. There's an old leather collar around its neck, but the only discernible letter is "Z".
A deep, gnarled wound is carved right into its left side. A dark brown, almost caramel, fluid is oozing out of its wound.
That can't be normal, can it?
Its bright green eyes bore into you with a piercing gaze. Neither of you is making the first move.
You slide over the open can of cat food. The cat cautiously sniffs the offered food. It glances back at you before it devours the food before it, like it hasn't eaten in years.
The three of you take this chance to examine the cat.
Anthony gags as he gets a closer look at the wound. "Vince. I. I've never seen a wound THAT bad before, not even on myself."
Lucy leans in to see what the hubbub is about. She quickly covers her mouth, almost throwing up at the stench. Her eyes are watering like crazy. "H-hhhh!!"
"S'okay, Lu. S'okay." Anthony pulls her away from the cat. He gently pats her on the back. "Deep breaths, 'kay?"
You lean in yourself, and oh. So that's what the hubbub is about.
The wound is completely infested with maggots. Squirming little maggots blanket the wound as far as the eye can see. They were somewhat obscured by the odd, brown fluid, so you missed them at first. The foulest smell you could imagine hangs around the cat like a miasma.
On closer examination, the wound goes down right to the bone. It's a medical miracle that this thing hasn't dropped dead from the severity of this wound. The cat doesn't even notice it by the looks of it. It's FAR more interested in the tin of cat food you provided it.
You carefully extract maggot after maggot from the cat's weeping wound. Lucy and Anthony move in to take samples of the odd brown fluid oozing out of the gash for future study.
Lucy places her gooey hand on the cat's side. She narrows her eyes as she runs her fingers along the cat's fur. "U-uhm. A-anthony, i-is it j-just me or does this cat feel...cold?"
