002 ★ soup of the night !

( Name ), bundled in a too-big, cable-knit sweater, nudges the door open with her hip. Her arms are wrapped tightly around a slightly damp cardboard box. Inside, five cats peek out — curious, wide-eyed, and slightly ruffled from the storm. One lets out a meow that's both tired and indignant.

" Okay, okay, everyone in. We made it. "

She kicks the door shut with her boot and slides the box onto the fluffy rug in the center of the living room. The soft thud echoes gently in the warm stillness.

One by one, the cats begin to explore. A small, teal-colored cat ( Name didn't know if it was its natural colour or fur dye ) hops onto the armchair near the window and curls into a ball.

Seeing the cats slowly get used to their new environments, ( Name ) heads to the kitchen and begins to cook tonight's meal. Quickly searching on her phone, she found a chicken soup recipe that was safe for cats as well.

Her sleeves are pushed up, her hair tied in a lazy bun. She began cutting the vegetables and chicken, heating the broth, and cooking the chicken.

She hums absent-mindedly, a wooden spoon in one hand, a tea towel draped over her shoulder.

On the stovetop, the large pot simmers gently. Steam curls upward, carrying the soothing aroma of chicken, ginger, and vegetables. The broth is clear and golden, dotted with shreds of pulled chicken, delicate slivers of carrot, and a sprig or two of parsley.

The smell made all the demon kitties invite them into the kitchen, feeling their stomachs churn in hunger. " Almost ready. Just letting it cook a bit more. " She leans over and lifts the lid slightly.

A soft hiss of steam escapes. She stirs slowly, carefully, then ladles a bit into a small bowl and tastes. " Mmm. That's the one. "

Around her, five cats watch with quiet focus. The black kitten with the amber eyes perches on a stool. The long-haired cat rests on the windowsill, tail flicking. Two other pinkish tabby cats sit side-by-side near her feet like attentive little soldiers. The teal one lounges on the counter, dangerously close to a bunch of parsley.

" Hey, hey — paws off the herbs."

The teal cat purrs ' innocently ' and yawns.

( Name ) turns to a second, smaller pot on the back burner. She spoons some of the clear broth into it, adds plain shredded chicken, and checks her list again: no onions, no garlic, no salt — just clean, cat-safe ingredients. She gives it a final stir, smiling to herself.

She pulls out six small ceramic dishes, mismatched and chipped in charming ways. One by one, she ladles soup — the richer version for herself, the simpler one for the cats. The bowls line up like a little buffet.

( Name ) Kneels and places the cat dishes on the floor, spaced out in a semicircle. Instantly, the cats move like dancers in perfect choreography, tails high, noses down.

She carries her bowl to the couch and wraps herself in a blanket. She smiles, watching the quiet feast unfold.

Abby had his whole face in the bowl, lapping up the flavourful broth as the others enjoyed the meal as well.

It was awkward at first, since they had to eat their meals like well... like cats. But hunger won over their thoughts as they hesitantly ate the soup and soon gave in to the savory chicken broth as it warmed up their fuzzy bodies.

" It's so good! " Romance exclaims, muzzle in the bowl as he focuses on chewing a large piece of chicken.

"Delicious," Abby exclaimed, as Mystery focused on enjoying his meal, more interested in eating rather than talking. Baby enjoyed it as well, but he wished that it was a bit spicier. Ever since he discovered hot sauce, he'd been pairing it with everything he ate... well before he died to the hunters.

Jinu looked down at his bowl, seeing the floating chicken and vegetables in the broth, the soup reminded him of his mother cooking. Before he became a demon, Jinu once collected enough money for a decent-sized chicken. Luckily, they had enough vegetables that their mother had worked for before she became sick. She cooked up a simple soup for him and his sister; it was the first proper meal they had in a long time.

It wasn't anything like a feast, but it was enough to fill their stomach with food and happiness. The black cat frowned at one of the happy memories of them before, when he made a deal with Gwi-ma.

( Name ) noticed one of the cats not eating, putting her bowl on the table, she knelt to the black feline, petting its head. " Do you not like it? " she asked. She didn't mind making something else for the cat, seeing how starving and cold they were outside.

Jinu looked up at her, seeing the concern in her eyes, he shook his head as he began eating the soup. He didn't mean to make ( Name ) worry about him, as Jinu was busy eating, he didn't notice his tail wagging, and he wasn't the only one.

₍^. .^₎⟆... 

After finishing off the soup, ( Name ) quickly made a small mug of her hot tea. The mug was one of those horrible, sculpted ones that she made with her blood, sweat, and tears. Zoey took her, Mira, and Rumi to a ceramics class for fun, seeing how they had never done it before. 

Placing the ceramic mug on the table, the gray tabby with the fur covering the face, noses the steaming drink on the coffee table, then sneezes ( luckily away from the mug ) and retreats to the throw blanket draped over the couch.

Giggling at the cute scene, she knelt facing the startled gray cat. Mystery couldn't help but lean into the lady's hand as she scratched all the right spots behind his ears.

A wood-framed heater under the window hums quietly, glowing with a faint orange pulse. ( Name ) sits cross-legged on the couch, her legs tucked under her, and reaches for one of the cats near her — an orange-pink one with a fluffy tail. It climbs into her lap with no hesitation.

" Stormy nights are better with company, huh? "

Abby purrs in response, as if agreeing. Rain continues its rhythm outside, but it's distant now — more lullaby than menace. Another cat stretches next to her and snuggles on the soft blanket on the couch. Romance was busy licking his paws and fur, as he randomly felt the urge to clean himself after eating. It must've been a cat instinct or something, since they're not demons anymore.

( Name ) didn't know why she was comfortable with the cats here, like she just met them today. But something about their personality and character made them entertaining, or was it that she couldn't stand seeing something so cute and innocent be left behind?

Left behind... that brought up a bitter memory in her thoughts. Sighing, she continued to sip her mug, resting her body after a long day as her hand absently petted the closet cats to her, which were Abby and Mystery.

Later, after sitting on the couch for a while, ( Name ) decided to get up, not before putting Abby away to the side and collecting blankets and a big basket for all the cats to sleep in.

Setting up their beds, she looked satisfied with her work, watching the other cats paw the blankets or just observe the basket bed. Seeing that it was already getting late, the rest of the demon cats watched her gather her clothes and head towards the bathroom.

" Ughh, do we have to sleep here? " Romance eyes crinkled at the sight of their new bed, sure it did look comfortable, but it was not the bed that they had when they had thumbs and well... when they were demons.

The others weren't too thrilled about being left alone in the dark room for some reason, maybe because they were in bodies of cats. " Or... how about we could just join her in bed, " Baby added, pointing his paw at the bedroom, where the rest of the saja cats looked at the teal cat and ( Name's ) room door.

After finishing her night routine, she entered her room where the light was dim inside — just a single amber lamp glowing on the nightstand, casting long, lazy shadows on the pale grey walls.

( Name ) stands in front of a small mirror, untying her hair from the loose bun. She's dressed in cozy pajamas, her phone in one of her hands, and her other hand is holding a glass of water.

Behind her, her queen-sized bed is freshly made. The comforter is neatly smoothed, the pillows fluffed. A small mountain of stuffed animals rests in the corner. She lets out a satisfied sigh.

" Clean sheets, and ten hours of sleep... nothing can stop me now," ( Name ) said to herself, pleased. She sets the glass on her nightstand, then opens the door to the living room just enough to peek through.

" Alright, bedtime, guys! You've got your cozy basket and the fleece blanket out there—go curl up, yeah? "

Five cats stare back at her from the hallway like an immovable wall of fluff. Black fur with ember eyes. The gray cat with the long hair. The teal one. Heart-shaped fur. And the big, fluffy one with the sharp eyebrows.

One by one, they slip past her legs and into the bedroom, tails swishing. She raised her eyebrows at their rebellion and watched helplessly as each one hopped onto her bed.

Jinu jumps onto the mattress like he owns the place. The others follow — Baby curling onto her pillow, Romance and Abby doing synchronized loafs at the foot of the bed, and Mystery nesting under the blanket before she even gets in.

" Oh, come on. Seriously? I washed these sheets for myself. "

The cats blink at her, purring. One stretches. Another yawns like they've had a long, hard day running a company, or more specifically, a boy band.

( Name ) stares at them for a moment, then sighs dramatically as she sets her phone on the nightstand. " I do pay the rent, y'know. "

No response. Baby rolls over and kicks her pillow with his back legs.

Resigned, ( Name ) tiptoes around the fluffy minefield and eases herself into the remaining space on the bed — a narrow slice along the edge. She pulls the blanket gently, trying not to disturb the long-haired kitten beneath. The black cat huffs and kneads the pillow beside her head.

She reached to turn off the lamp, cozy and wrapped in her blankets, " One day I'll get a bigger bed ... Or maybe just... fewer cats," she mumbled, already feeling herself getting sleepy.

A soft, synchronized purring chorus rises around her, as if in protest. ( Name ) chuckles, eyes slowly closing. " Fine. But I draw the line at six. "

But before she could sleep, ( Name ) spotted one of the cats grooming itself, by the shape and colour, it was probably the pinkish-orange cat ( Romance ).

Grooming at this late into the night...nah, it was probably fine.

∧,,,∧
( ̳• · • ̳)
                               / づ♡ author secrets...

🐾 ( name ) 's favourite mug is an ugly ( f/c ) cat one

🐾  romance was a bit of a vain demon, which was amplified now since he's a cat now, and now he's starting to clean his fur ( gonna regret that later on... )

🐾 ( Name ) had a weird dream of seeing the cats dance and sing for some reason... for some reason they looked similar

🐾 plz comment on here for any funny, cute, slice of life ideas or scenarios for the demon kitties in this book