Lucky wagged her tail and pressed against Natalie's legs, trying hard to win her attention. The rooster strutted nearby, his eyes darting toward her with quick, sharp glances. When the house finally quieted down, Natalie exhaled slowly and decided it was time to bathe Lucky. The dog's face said it all. But I just had a bath! Why do I have to go through it again? Natalie pushed her into the tub and teased, "You almost choked yourself eating that rat downstairs. If I don't wash you, you might be the next one to die." She scrubbed her carefully, brushing her teeth with a dog toothbrush and working through every corner of her mouth. By the time she was done, Lucky smelled fresh and clean. She warned her, "No more chewing on random stuff. Do you hear me?" She knew deep down that a dog killing a mouse was not a big deal. Their immune systems were tougher than people's. They should be able to deal with the germs. But the rats had mutated, and she couldn't predict how his body would react to strange bacteria. Better to play it safe. When she carried Lucky out, dried and fluffy, she spotted the rooster clutching a cockroach in his beak and eating with full focus. Natalie froze. Where in the world did that filthy thing come from? Honestly, I can't figure it out!Before she could move, the insect met a violent end. The rooster snapped its head clean off, chewed it down, and then swallowed the rest. Natalie grinned, oddly pleased. "Good job. You deserve a reward." She poured a small handful of grains into a dish. "Here you go, little guy." She didn't give him too much. She wanted him hungry enough to keep hunting pests. As she watched him peck happily, it felt strange to keep calling him "the rooster." They lived under the same roof now, and while he wasn't exactly a pet, he deserved a name. Natalie looked from Lucky to the bird. "Your name is Cash."It sounded old-fashioned, but she liked simple names with meaning. Lucky was healthy, strong, and spoiled, and she believed the name had brought her fortune. And "Cash" meant great fortune too. She liked the idea of names tied to luck. Since taking Lucky in, her supplies had only grown. She even had gold and diamonds stored away. She truly had been lucky. With Cash as her pet now, maybe her fortune would expand even more. She lifted the rooster into her arms and said, "From now on, your name is Cash. When I call you, you better come. Understood?" Lucky saw her fussing over the rooster and shoved herself against Natalie's feet, whining in protest. Natalie laughed, put Cash down, and scooped Lucky into her arms."Relax. I'm in charge, you're number two, and he's number three. Your place here will never change." Lucky perked up and stretched his neck to lick her face. "Ugh, stop! You just ate a rat and now you want to kiss me?" She turned her head away, but her freshly washed fur smelled sweet. Then she noticed Cash, dusty and gray from head to toe. That wouldn't do. If he stayed like that, he'd dirty the whole house. She set Lucky down and grabbed her wash tub. As she started filling it with water from her storage space, Lucky stared in shock. She barked sharply, her voice rising with protest.Natalie didn't understand Lucky's words, but the dog's tone was clear. She was accusing her owner. She barked again and reared up on her hind legs, pressing her paws against Natalie's chest. Natalie laughed softly. Lucky hated baths, but she sure wouldn't let Natalie use her tub for the rooster. So Natalie pulled out another basin just for Cash. The rooster wasn't pleased. The moment she placed him in, he struggled to escape. When she blocked him, he lunged forward with his beak. She dodged just in time. Annoyed, she smacked him hard. He staggered, stunned, yet his sharp glare stayed locked on her. Natalie met his eyes without flinching.He needed to know who ran this house. If he tried this again, she'd keep hitting until he learned. And if he never learned, fried chicken was always an option. They held each other's gaze until Cash finally broke away. Natalie smirked. He had surrendered. After that, he stayed still. He let her pour water over him quietly as she scrubbed. She reached for Lucky's shampoo, then hesitated and grabbed a feather cleaner she had stored. "Wait. Maybe this is better." She had never thought she'd be bathing a chicken, and she wasn't sure which to use. She set both bottles down. The bird would be the one to choose. Cash stretched out his neck and pecked at the shampoo."Alright then," Natalie said. "Shampoo it is."