“Granny…when can I look? ”

“I’m almost done, Ivy, I’m almost done.”

Ivy felt the tightness of the bandages wrapping round and round her left shin. It pressed down on her fur, revealing just how small her leg really was under all the fuzz. Each pass over the fresh wound made her wince. She kept her eyelids squeezed shut, trembling in pain and exhaustion. She really did not want to look.

“There sweetie, all better,” Granny said, gently pulling Ivy’s paws away from her face.

Taking a deep breath, she finally opened her eyes and looked down. The stark white smoothness of the bandage stood out against her dense grey hair. There was not even a slight hint of blood under the cotton. She sighed in relief.

Leaning on Granny’s arm, Ivy shakily stood up and hobbled to her room. Maybe some well-deserved rest could help.