The narrator smells animals and follows the scent, hoping to find a merry-go-round with real animals dripping blood this time. The narrator finds a barred fence but cannot fit through the bars. The narrator finds a spot in the fence they can jump over. As soon as the narrator hits the ground, they can hear the screams of the animals that smell them. They are afraid. The narrator walks around, finding glass between themself and animals in contained habitats. They see otters, large birds, and more.

The narrator passes the many exhibits of the zoo, finally smelling something similar to them. They find a tiger. The tiger looks at the narrator, challenging them to come into the exhibit. The narrator recognizes this look, seeing it in coyotes that try to draw them into a trap, and leaves. Eventually, the narrator picks up the smell of fear and sickness, their favorite scent. They finds a small, grey, fuzzy creature hanging from a tree and jump into its exhibit. The narrator rips the koala from the tree and eats it, every bite horrible.

When the narrator finishes eating the koala, people arrive and shine a light at them. The narrator flees, hearing the people behind lamenting the loss of “Kiki.” The narrator apologizes to Kiki in their head, believing the humans should not have named it. With people running after the narrator, the narrator flees toward the lights of Los Angeles.

In the city, the narrator is surprised not only by the many buildings, but by how much greenery there is. Whereas the park was dry, Los Angeles has lush grass and hedges. The narrator hides in the hedges, watching as cars go by and landscapers work. They recognize two people they know from the park, who comment on a nearby house. They say that it belongs to Slaughter. Both consider him a legend but are uncomfortable with the fact that his wife is so much younger.

The narrator decides that the house that belongs to a man named Slaughter sounds like a place they belong. They sleep in the hedges, and when night falls, wake to a car pulling out of the house’s driveway. After it leaves, the narrator crosses the street to Slaughter’s yard. In the yard, they see a girl sitting with a bowl and crystals around her. She wears a hood and the narrator hears her whispering as they walk by.

There is a hole in the stones of the house, and the narrator manages to squeeze through it. Inside, there are mice to eat, and as the narrator pushes deeper in, they find another space big enough to fit into. Above the space is wood, as the area is under a deck, and there is a pipe dripping water. The narrator realizes that this is their first room: With space and water, nothing could be better.

The narrator sleeps for what feels like days, enjoying the abundance of mice they have to snack on. They hear the voice of a man, likely Slaughter, and listen intently. Slaughter talks of a new baby, and when he knocks on a door, the narrator hears a voice similar to Slaughter’s, but that of a girl. The narrator dubs her Little Slaughter.

A hole in the wall lets the narrator know when it is day or night. During the day, Slaughter is loud and there is a lot of yelling. The narrator can tell that Slaughter is on the phone, as he sounds like many hikers do. Slaughter explains that the house is not in danger from the fire, complaining that unhoused people started it in their encampment in the park. In the room, the narrator continues to eat mice, and even stumbles upon a possum. They hear an argument between Slaughter and Little Slaughter. Slaughter leaves for the hospital, but Little Slaughter stays behind.

After Slaughter leaves, Little Slaughter steps out onto the deck, vaping. The narrator watches her through the hole. When Little Slaughter sees the narrator, she is happily surprised, saying that she summoned the narrator. The narrator is surprised that she is not afraid. She goes back inside and comes out with meat for the narrator. She drops it into the hole. She names the narrator “Heckit” (Hecate), believing the narrator is female. The narrator loves the unhunted food.

The next day, when Slaughter leaves, Little Slaughter comes out with more meat and a water bottle. She pours the water into the hole, and the narrator finally understands why the hikers always carry them. It takes the narrator some time to realize that Little Slaughter is giving it a name. They think of the name that their mother gave them, knowing a human cannot pronounce it. The narrator accepts its new name of Heckit.

Rain finally falls, and the narrator’s room grows damp. The narrator grows annoyed as more and more water comes in. They find a dry space a little higher up in the room, and take a nap. The narrator wakes as the water overcomes them. The room floods and the narrator begins drowning. Their wet fur drags them under, and they cannot swim. As they sink, they think of the body of their mother after their father’s attack, and of the body of the Kill Sharer on the long death.

The narrator feels something hit their back. Little Slaughter lowers a plank down into the room and the narrator climbs up it to safety. Little Slaughter hugs the narrator, comforting them, and leads the narrator to her room. Little Slaughter dries the narrator off, and apologizes that they had to be in the basement. She assures the narrator that Slaughter never comes into her room, and that they are safe there. When the narrator notices another large cat in the room, Little Slaughter goes over to the mirror. The narrator follows, and bumps into the glass.

Little Slaughter brings in a litter box that was for her former cat, telling the narrator that the couch is now their bed. She tells the narrator about longing, and the narrator learns new words. She creates a circle of crystals around the couch, and calls the narrator her “goddess.” She sleeps at night and the narrator sleeps in the day. She shows the narrator a picture on her phone of the narrator in the park, and jokes that the narrator is famous. She also talks about a boy who is interested in her, though she does not like him.

She feeds the narrator an apple, as Slaughter does not shop because of the baby in the hospital, and there is no meat left. Little Slaughter tells the narrator that the baby will come home the next day. She pets the narrator, and the narrator wonders if they are her pet. She assures the narrator that they will be leaving soon. She does not want to live with Slaughter and the new baby, and plans to go to Santa Fe the next month.

One night, as Little Slaughter sleeps, the narrator looks out the window and sees a cat. They feel as though the cat is judgmental, asking with its eyes why the narrator is not hunting Little Slaughter. The narrator begins to feel human, hating themself. They look around Little Slaughter’s room, and wonder how there can be so much space while some people must live in the park, in danger. It is the narrator’s second room, but the narrator believes they do not belong there.