MIU (A Novella)
by
Heather McAlendin
Author of “Fae” ; “Foot Prints in The Snow” ; “The Snow Maiden,” and “Valentine's Day.”
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to anyone, place or thing is purely coincidental and a
work of the author's imagination.
Any artwork either written or visual belongs to the author and may not be reproduced without
express written permission.
Ms. McAlendin's work can be found via her website http://mcalendin.com or contact her
directly at
[email protected]
All rights reserved mcalendin.com 2013
cover art by Heather McAlendin 2013
Acknowledgments
There are so many people that affect my life and my writing. They know who they
are and I can't list them all lest I leave out anyone. I do however want to make special
mention of my husband Scott.
Your faith in me and what I do drives me too improve and learn more about this
craft called writing. Your unwavering love and support fuel the fire of my
imagination. Thank you.
Heather
One
It was the sound of rustling grass that first caught Dr. Anderson's attention. He had
been sitting in his back yard enjoying the sunset when his eyes and ears suddenly
perked up. Although a myriad of wild creatures inhabited his property, Dr. Maxwell
Anderson had the distinct feeling that someone or something had been watching him.
Ten years ago, Maxwell purchased ten acres of wilderness property just outside of
town because it afforded him the space required for his veterinary practice and the
taste of wilderness his private life craved. As a result, he had come cross many types
and sizes of wild and domestic animals. An old barn was converted into a kennel and
medical office. The house, an older three bedroom log home was lovingly restored to
it's original majesty with cathedral ceilings and reclaimed wood beams. It became
Maxwell's sanctuary and home. Today was the very first time he felt any sort of
discomfort.
He placed the coffee cup he had been holding next to the chaise lounge. Maxwell
stretched his long legs, stood up and stared into the distance. His dark, brown eyes
narrowed and he adjusted his glasses across the bridge of his narrow nose. "Hello?"
he called out.
The shadows were growing in the gathering dusk. Maxwell stood very still and
hoped whatever moved out amoungst the tall grass and trees would do so again.
Another slight movement and a low mewing sound caused his ears to prick up
again. "Here kitty!" he said as he felt himself relax. A lost cat or kitten was certainly a creature he knew how to deal with.
Maxwell slowly walked toward the mewing sound. If the feline was injured he
didn’t want to frighten or spook it into hiding. He stopped when the grass separated to
reveal an extraordinarily long, ginger coloured tail.
What kind of cat are you? Maxwell wondered. He was taken aback by the size and
colour of the fur. This did not belong to any average kitten or domestic cat that
Maxwell was aware of. It certainly was not native to Northern Ontario.
He took several small steps back and held his breath. The last thing he wanted was
to confront an unknown wild beast, hurt or not.
The "cat" stopped and dropped its tail. Maxwell blinked then stared intensely at the
spot where he knew the animal to be. After an another tentative step back the creature
raised its sleek, furry head, meowed loudly and winked a large, almond shaped, honey
coloured eye.
"What the hell?" Maxwell said aloud. He stumbled and then tripped over a large
stone. Maxwell had no time to stop himself from landing face first in the grass and
dirt. A low, decidedly female sounding laugh filled his head. When Maxwell was
finally able to get back up and on his feet, the large cat was gone and he was alone.
The sun had set and a cool breeze caused the hair on the back of his arms to stand
up. Maxwell shivered and took one last, desperate look in the back yard, hoping the
feline would reveal itself again. Disappointed, he headed back into the house and wondered if he had actually witnessed the creature at all.
Two
Zula leaped forward, leaving the dry grass behind her and relishing the cool forest
loam beneath her paws. A cool, late summer breeze ruffled her fur as she ran. A
sprinkling of early evening stars lit her path as she travelled deeper into the Northern
forest.
Suddenly, she stopped and dropped low on to the forest floor. A fierce growl
escaped her throat.
"Halt! Reveal yourself!"
A familiar Miu male voice grumbled deep in Zula's mind. She sighed heavily and
slowly came up to a sitting position. "If you are in my head then you damn well know
who I am Scotty!"
"You've been close too a human again." Scotty wrinkled his black nose and
twitched his long whiskers. His squat muscular body was covered in short, silver fur.
His back bristled and he swiped one wide paw across his face in distaste. The male cat
scratched absentmindedly at one ear. It was torn and scarred from a skirmish over a
female the spring before.
Zula preened for a few seconds before turning her yellow eyes to the sentry. "And
you know why."
"I don't see why the matriarch sent you out again. We have been self sufficient for
centuries."
A low growl rumbled in Zula's throat and Scotty moved back. He had insulted the high matriarch and Zula being her handmaid had the right to defend her.
"Your job is to keep watch and not to question what you don't understand!" The
ginger feline scowled and stretched. She suddenly relaxed and cocked her head to one
side. "How's Cleo?"
Scotty shook his silver head. "Not any better, she's weaker and not able to hold
down much food. Cleopatra is wasting away and no one knows why. Everyone is
talking. The only reason she is still alive is because she is the matriarch's daughter."
Zula bit back a sharp retort. "She and a dozen others are ill. That's the reason I'm
being sent out into the human world. I think I may have found someone to help."
"Did you have to shift?"
Zula shook her spice coloured mane. "No, it's not the right time yet. I need to get
more information first before I reveal myself. Once I talk to the matriarch she will
make that decision. She knows what is best."
Scotty disagreed. "Any time we have had to deal with humans it has ruined us."
The ginger female hissed and showed her front fangs. "We have always survived.
The strongest of our kind always do. If we don’t find a cure for this ailment even the
strongest of us will have no options. We have to get this human to help us. He's a
veterinarian; an animal doctor. He'll know what to do."
Scotty hunched his back and raised his tail in frustration. "What if he talks about
us; about you? There are millions of humans and only a few hundred of our species
left." "Your concerns are duly noted but I think the longer you prattle on the greater the
likelihood of someone slipping into o
ur territory."
Scotty's ears twitched and his face dropped. Zula sat up straight and bowed her
head. A familiar presence was looming up on them.
"Blessings to you Matriarch."
"Blessings Zula." The Matriarch was a large, impressively groomed white Persian
Miu with emerald eyes. A gold pendant embossed with Egyptian script hung around
her neck. She walked by Zula and the sentry, stopping briefly to touch noses with
each. Her fluffy tail wrapped around her body as she sat and stared out at the early
evening stars.
"I will leave you," Scotty bowed low and headed back to his hiding place amoung
the trees.
"You seemed tired. How is Cleo?" Zula asked gently.
The older feline turned to face her trusted hand maid and friend and mewed
pitifully. "My daughter will be dead soon. It is getting increasingly difficult to sit by
and watch our species die. We are proud, with a royal history. I don't understand how
the ancient gods are deaf to our plea for help. We are the last of the ancient children of
Gaia."
Zula's heart broke as she felt the Matriarch's pain. "There are very few of us left
that still hold true to the old ways."
The matriarch nodded in agreement. "It's my belief that this is why we are in such a sad state. Some of us have tried mating with the modern domestic cats and it's my
fear more diseases such as the one infecting Cleo will be the end of us all."
Zula twitched her tail and sighed. "Like all other creatures we must procreate. That
drive is strong and there are too few of us that come from the old bloodline. What can
we do?"
" I don't have an answer to that. How can I continue to lead if there are so many
questions like this and too few answers?" The elder feline licked at her paw and
smoothed her whiskers.
"No one questions your leadership.” Zula answered. “The world has changed and
we must change with it."
The old Persian's shoulders slumped and her chest heaved in a sigh. "How does
one change in a world where there is no respect?"
Zula shrugged. "We need to use the tools the modern world provides. Right now
we need their medicine."
The Matriarch flicked her tail and blinked her wide, dark eyes. "Against my better
judgment you went out of the safety of the forest to seek out the humans medicine."
"Yes and I think I've found someone who can help us. He is a veterinarian."
"How do you know this human can be trusted? Did you search his mind? Is he one
who can understand us?
Zula waved a paw in the air. "I touched his mind only for a second but this man is
very sensitive to the needs of the goddesses children. He heals animals for a living." A long, sad mewling sound escaped the Matriarch's lips. "We no longer have a
choice. If I don't allow further contact then Cleopatra and a dozen others will die."
She raised her head to meet Zula's eyes. "Are you willing to risk contact? You'd have
to take on human form for an extended period. You do realize how dangerous that can
be?"
"Yes,” Zula nodded. “I understand the danger. If I shift for too long my genes could
be damaged beyond repair or the change could be permanent. I have to take the
chance. I promise I'll take care."
"You've never had any kittens have you Zula?"
Zula hesitated. "No, not yet. Why is that important?"
"This could affect your ability to have a litter. Is it still worth the risk?"
Zula blinked away the tears forming in her large yellow eyes. "Yes. This could
mean a cure for all of us. I'm tired of watching my kind die."
The Matriarch sat tall and purred. "I've chosen well in you Zula. Thank you."
"You are most welcome. I'll go back tomorrow and make contact. The rest is in this
human's hands."
"The continuance of our species is in his hands."
Zula watched with a heavy heart as her Matriarch walked away from her and back into the dark of the forest.
Three
Maxwell opened his eyes, stretched and yawned. The night had seemed unbearably
long. Sleep had not come easily. Every time Maxwell closed his eyes he could still see
the outline of the ginger coloured cat that had visited him the day before. That and the
female voice that taunted him and piqued his curiosity.
He kicked the down comforter away from his long, lean legs and sat up. The day
looked too be a bright and sunny one. It was Sunday in rural Northern Ontario and the
one day of the week that Dr. Anderson kept for himself, unless a neighour's pet or
local farm had an emergency. Maxwell decided today would be the day he planted his
garden. "Coffee and breakfast first right Mabel?" He spoke aloud to the old Russian
Blue cat that had jumped from the floor and began rubbing her head against his bare
knee. With a quick scratch behind her ear, Maxwell got to his feet and smiled as
Mabel meowed loudly then headed off to find her food bowl.
After pulling on a long, blue threadbare robe Maxwell walked over to the en-suite
and turned on the light. He grimaced at his reflection. His wild, shoulder length salt
pepper hair and pillow wrinkled face gave him the look of a mad scientist.
At almost fifty years of age Maxwell had given up on companionship and had
grown comfortable in his role of bachelor. "Who'd want your old, wrinkly butt now
anyway?" He chuckled as a splash of cold water across his face shocked him alert.
Truth be told, Maxwell was far from unattractive. He kept in shape with early
morning runs and yard work. With his dark eyes and warm, friendly smile "Doc" Anderson was a well respected and well liked Veterinarian. Many a single woman
and divorcee would have happily volunteered to put the sparkle in his eye. Maxwell
was oblivious.
After running a brush through his hair and tying it back in a small ponytail at the
nape of his neck, Maxwell quickly brushed his teeth and walked downstairs to the
kitchen.
Mabel meowed loudly and circled her empty water dish.
"Okay old girl let me fill that for you. You'd think after all these years you would
have learned how to turn the tap on." Although the joke was lost on the cat, she purred
happily as Maxwell placed the full water dish on the floor. "Easiest woman on the
planet to please."
After making sure all of Mabel's needs were met, Maxwell filled his coffee grinder
with rich earthy beans and started making his morning coffee. While water seeped
through the freshly ground beans, Maxwell stared out the kitchen window. He smiled
as both squirrels and chipmunks ran back and forth stealing birdseed from all four
bird houses he had built last winter. "Nature is amazing," he whispered while pouring
steaming coffee into a large mug. Maxwell drank his coffee black. He felt adding
anything to the dark brew was sacrilege. He loved his morning coffee. The beans were
imported from Hawaii. It was an expense that Maxwell justified because he indulged
in very few vices.
After a sip of the rich smelling brew, Maxwell brought his attention back to the spot where he knew he saw that large ginger cat.
Where did you come from? Are you a feral cat or an as yet undiscovered breed?
Will you be back? Maxwell wondered. While there was a thrill to possibly discovering
a new creature there was no proof it even existed at all.
"Okay maybe I am nuts."
Maxwell finished his coffee and then peeled a banana. He slowly made his way
back up stairs and dressed in an old pair of jeans and well worn sweatshirt. After
pulling on an old pair of sneakers he went back down to the kitchen and placed the
banana peel in the green bin. Not wanting to waste any of the morning sun he walked
to the back door and let himself out into the fresh air.
Time seemed to speed by as Maxwell dug into the earth and planted his many
seeds and seedlings. He was hopeful that in a few months time a lush, multi coloured
garden would replace the mounds and rows of damp earth. Maxwell placed the hoe he
had been holding next to a small shed and stood with his hands on his hips surveying
his work."Not bad at all," he mused.
"It looks like you will have quite the garden." A familiar sounding female voice
commented from behind.
"Jesus!" Maxwell jumped. He whirled around to face the "voice" and was struck
dumb by who he saw standing there.
Smiling at him was one of the most beautiful women Maxwell had ever laid eyes
on. She was dressed in black slim fitting jeans, black heeled boots and a grey fitted
jacket that emphasized her full, round curves. She had a long mane of strawberry blonde hair that lay straight to her waist. The thing that entranced Maxwell the most
was her eyes. The woman had large hazel eyes flecked with gold and framed in long
lashes. Those eyes gave his visitor a distinctively cat like appearance.
"I'm very sorry if I startled you Dr. Anderson."
Maxwell blinked and shook his head. "No, it's okay. Do I know you?"
"Highly doubtful but I have heard nothing but good things about you."
The woman reached her hand forward and Maxwell shook it firmly. He marvelled
at how smooth and soft her skin was. "Do you need a vet?" he asked.
"Yes, I think we do."
"We?" Maxwell looked around. "Did you bring someone with you? Is your pet ill?"
The visitor laughed warmly. Maxwell went quiet and raised an eyebrow. Where
have I heard that voice before?
"Is there somewhere we can have a chat? My situation is a rather unique one."
"Of course. Please come inside Miss...?"
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