I watched the man and the specter at the corner with great curiosity. Tail flicking, I looked up and chirruped at my master in his white robe. The crows flew away, with the woman’s soul safely in tow. He looked down and smiled at me benevolently. The love in his eyes brought me joy. I flicked my tail and called to him again, turning back to see the man turn from the street corner. The master’s hand stroked my back, and I lifted my haunches for a scratch. The man was closer now.
“Go now,” said the master. “Go where I cannot.” I appeared as a dancing white flame before the man. I chirruped happily, bouncing on light paws. The man tilted his head at this, vision still clouded from tears. I bounded away down the sidewalk, and the man followed. He didn’t glance back this time. Didn’t run back to collect his love’s soul from the fairies that had come to escort her home. This time, he allowed me to lead him to a large, parked vehicle. A dark form lay slumped in rainwater. I had come to collect this poor creature’s soul, like my master’s children did for the people. Its specter curled protectively around a small bundle. The man couldn’t see into the darkness. I nuzzled the specter, giving it peace. It looked down longingly at the tiny shivering form, then returned my nuzzle and walked away to find my master. I pushed my snout then, into the belly of the small creature. I licked its face, waking it from a starved slumber. It cried, piteous. Weak and broken, it cried out. The man pulled a thing from his pocket and fiddled with it. A bright light poured through the darkness like water from a pitcher. He looked on in horror at the tiny form before him, reaching a hand out. The great meaty thing frightened the poor small one, but she had no strength left to fight or run. I chirruped and licked the small black shape again, calming her as the man scooped her into steady arms. He put out the light and put the thing back into his pocket. I emerged from the vehicle, bounced happily, and returned to my master’s side. The master smiled down again, the older cat in his arms. He knelt to tickle the top of my head. I purred softly, my back wiggling in delight. He spoke softly. “You have done well today, Pangur Ban. I’m sure they will be happy together. They will bring comfort to one another in their shared loss.” We followed them to a building, where they disappeared inside for a few minutes. They emerged, the man cradling the black kitten, a bag held in his other hand. I was very curious about the bag. What could he have gotten her? I looked up at my master, tentative. “If you wish to follow,” he said, “I will not deny you. Just know that I do have other appointments today. We can only stay so long.” We followed the man. He walked to a multi-level building and went up. I followed up as my master stayed behind. I became a ribbon of white on the wind, until I found the window that revealed the man and the kitten. I entered and watched from a bookcase as the man set out two small bowls, one with food, one with water. I chirruped again, and the man looked up, a soft smile on his sad face. He looked back down at the dark, unmoving lump on the floor, and stroked it with delicate fingers. He sat on the floor and lifted some of the food from the bowl with his fingers, putting it to the kitten’s lips. The kitten licked the food. Weakly at first, but as the food entered, she rose to her feet. She ate greedily, making happy slurping noises. “Thank you,” said the man. “I don’t know why you chose me. But thank you.”
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AuthorLawrence Henry is an aspiring author with more caffeine than time. BTW, here's some of my thoughts on a few varied subjects. Archives
July 2023
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