Bean watched as the small black kit ran into the barn and hid behind a hay bale. Walking over to the kit, she mewed "Hello?". The kit jumped and whirled around, ears flatted. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Bean, what's yours?" she said, taking a better look at the kit. They had a scrawny frame and midnight-black fur. One paw was a gray the color of smoke, and the kit's dull gray-blue eyes shimmered with fear. "Don't worry! I won't hurt you," Bean meowed. "O-ok...my name is Echo."