Miu Read online

  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...?"