"'Ello. Wot's this?" Scootcher felt large, warm human hands lift her from the cold, wet pavement. Something soft and warm was wrapped around her. She drowsed as she was bounced along. When the bouncing finally stopped, Scootcher fell into a deep, dreamless, healing sleep.

When she finally woke up, she was lying on a soft cushion in front of a roaring fire. She lifted her head and mewed softly.

"Oh, so we're awake now, are we?" Scootcher looked up to see a human male with snow white hair and a matching beard watching her. The large, broad hands that gently stroked her were calloused and work-worn. His face, though weather-beaten and liberally creased, was kind and compassionate. Scootcher instinctively trusted this man, with his kind, open face. "I 'ope you slept well."

Scootcher tried to tell him that she had slept well, but all he heard was "meow".

"I'll take that as a yes," the man replied. "My name's Ben Lennox. I think I'll name you..."

When his voice trailed off, Scootcher tried to tell him her name, but, still, all he heard was "meow".

"'Ow 'bout Patchabie?" Ben asked, for her coat was white with silver and yellow-orange patches.

Scootcher mewed, resigned to this demeaning name.

"Good," Ben placed a saucer of cream in front of Scootcher or, for now, Patchabie. Although Patchabie would have preferred fresh fish, she lapped up the cream, sad when she reached the bottom of the saucer.

In this way, Patchabie spent the next several months regaining her strength. Since Ben lived on a farm, she learned to hunt mice and rats and to like cream. In the evenings, she usually curled up on her soft cushion, in front of the fire, enjoying Ben's quiet companionship

"Scootcher! Where did you disappear to?" Scootcher turned to find a silver-blue tom with silver eyes approaching her.

"I ran away from my owners because they weren't taking proper care of me and my parents didn't seem to care," Scootcher informed him, it was Smokestep, as the others drew near to hear her story. "I wandered the streets for several weeks. Finally, when I thought I was going to die from cold and hunger, a kind human rescued me. He name me 'Patchabie' and I've been with him ever since."

"We're glad you've made it okay," Smokestep told her as everyone dispersed. Everyone except Smokestep's parents, Jestorina and Jerad, and Smokestep's twin sister, Silvercoat. "Would you like to stay with my family until after the Jellicle Ball?"

"Yes, thank you," she replied.

"Come," Jerad told them in his deep, rumbling voice. "Let's go."

Scootcher enjoyed her stay with Smokestep's family. She and Silvercoat became the best of friends. Jestorina and Jerad were the parents she'd always dreamed of and wanted. Smokestep treated her the same way he treated her the same way he treated his sister, but it seemed to be a bit forced. Scootcher soon found out why.

The Jellicle Ball soon arrived. Scootcher participated eagerly and enthusiastically. During the Jellicle Ball, one queen kitten may choose her mate. This year, it was Scootcher's turn. Several males vied for the privelage, but, surprising to Scootcher, her instincts led her to Smokestep. If his expression was anything to go by, he was surprised, too, but he eagerly mated with her.

Jestorina and Jerad sent the pair off after the Jellicle Ball, glad that their son had found his mate. Scootcher was glad to return to Ben's farm. Ben was glad to have his 'Patchabie' back and another cat, whom he christened 'Silver', due to his silver-blue coat.

Patchabie taught Silver how to live on the farm and they patrolled the fields regularly. Both settled into the farm life, leaving for the Ball at the same time each year and returning a week or two later.