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  "You can call me Zula,” she winked saucily.

  "Zula? What a fascinating name."

  Zula grinned and nodded. "Thank you Dr. Anderson."

  Maxwell lead Zula in through the back door to his kitchen and asked her to sit

  down.

  "Would you like some coffee?"

  "Coffee?" Zula was confused. She'd never heard of such a thing before. "What is

  it?" A bubble of laughter threatened to escape Maxwell's lips until he saw that Zula was

  serious. "You've never tasted coffee? It's the elixir of the gods!"

  "Highly doubtful." Zula shook her glorious mane of hair. But if it is a requirement

  for us to speak then I'll try this so called elixir."

  Maxwell stood for a moment and stared in awe at his guest. "No, it's not a

  requirement by any means. Are you afraid of too much caffeine? "

  "Not that I am aware of,” Zula said.

  Maxwell turned away and set about grinding fresh beans for the coffee. When he

  turned back, he watched in amazement as Zula crouched low to the floor and touched

  foreheads with Mabel. The two seemed to stare into each others eyes and then nuzzled

  necks. Aware of being watched, Zula got up from the floor, sat back in her chair and

  smiled.

  "I'm glad to know you are as kind a man as you are a proficient animal doctor."

  "We've just met. How do you know that?"

  "Mabel told me." Zula said very matter of factually.

  "Mabel told you I'm a nice guy?"

  Zula nodded."You don't believe me?"

  Maxwell considered his words carefully. He had yet to find out just what Zula

  wanted and he was serious doubts about her sanity. "Animals of all kinds, especially

  felines are highly intelligent. I have witnessed various forms of communication

  between them." "Very true. Some can be very empathic."

  "They can be very sensitive to human emotions,” he agreed.

  Maxwell added boiling water to his french coffee press and inhaled the aroma.

  After pouring some cream into a decanter he set it all on the table along with two

  mugs. Zula smiled and inhaled. "Is this the coffee? It's a drink? The smell is quite

  intoxicating isn't it?"

  "I think so. Would you like cream or sugar in it?"

  Zula looked up at Maxwell and her eyes widened. "Cream? Oh I love the taste

  cream. I'll definitely try some of that!" She watched with intensity as Maxwell first

  filled the mug half with hot coffee and then added enough cream to lighten the brew.

  "Take a sip and let me know what you think."

  Zula looked at the mug then clasped it in both hands, relishing the warmth on her

  skin. She slowly raised the mug to her mouth. Instead of taking a drink, Zula's lips

  parted and she lapped at the coffee with her tongue.

  Maxwell was dumbfounded. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing.

  The coffee tasted rich and creamy on Zula's tongue. She closed her eyes and

  allowed the new tastes to rush over her taste buds. She shivered with pleasure and

  lapped up a few more mouthfuls of the warm, earthy liquid. "How wonderful!" she

  moaned.

  When the last bit of coffee trickled down the back of her throat, Zula opened her

  eyes and found Maxwell staring at her. "Is there something wrong?" she asked. "I, uh...well, I can't say I have ever witnessed anyone drink coffee quite that way

  before." Although in truth it reminded him of how Mabel lapped up water. He was

  oddly intrigue by the beautiful woman sitting at his table but was embarrassed he had

  gotten caught staring.

  Zula placed the mug down and frowned. "I'm not just anyone Dr. Anderson. Now

  that I have completed your coffee ritual can we discuss why I am here?"

  The sharpness of her voice brought Maxwell back to full attention. "Yes, of course.

  I hope I haven't offended you."

  "I'm not offended at all but I'm afraid of wasting any more time. The welfare of my

  people is at stake."

  "Your people? I'm afraid I'm very confused. I don't heal human patients." "Please sit down Dr. Anderson and let me explain."

  Three

  It had been two hours since Zula had explained what was happening to her

  "people". Maxwell found himself sitting in his backyard, whiskey in hand and staring

  at the tall grass. "Impossible," he muttered. "There is no way in hell." The story Zula

  had told him about a dying race of intelligent, human shifting cats confirmed his

  suspicions that she was crazy. He took a long swallow of whiskey and continued to

  stare straight ahead. Something was nagging at him. Is there even a remote possibility

  any of this is true? The thought disturbed him yet it explained a lot about the cat he

  saw in the backyard; the voice he knew he heard and it explained Zula's odd

  behaviour. "Finish your drink sport and forget all about this craziness." Even

  chastising himself aloud didn't stop his brain from churning on all that Zula told him.

  Maxwell gulped the last mouthful of the amber liquid and shuddered as the

  whiskey burned his belly.

  "Trust your gut Dr. Anderson and you will know what I am saying is the goddesses

  truth. Please help us or all of my kind will die. We need you." Zula had pleaded with

  him and Maxwell had insisted she leave. Now, every time he blinked or closed his

  eyes he saw those eyes of hazel and gold imploring him to believe her.

  "It has to be a joke!" Maxwell said as he slowly got to his feet and made his way

  back into the house. Mabel was sitting by the door. He reached down to pat her head

  and for the first time, she ducked her head to avoid him. "What is wrong with you?

  Don't tell me you believe this nonsense?" In response Mabel meowed long and loud and then she turned tail and bounded up

  the stairs to the second floor. "Well fine then!" Maxwell shouted after her. He stood

  for a moment and looked at the empty coffee mug and creamer still sitting on his

  kitchen table. He remembered Zula's odd reaction to the coffee and her pink tongue

  lapping at it in the mug.

  "Oh for heaven sakes!" He fumed as he grabbed a set of keys off the counter and

  headed back out the door. Within minutes he was in front of the converted barn turned

  office and had unlocked the front door and turned on the lights. Maxwell hurried to

  his desk and booted up his computer.

  Maxwell typed in "cat people" and was bombarded with links to fiction books and

  subsequent movies about such creatures. His next search was a bit more fruitful. After

  typing in Zula's name and the word "cat", Maxwell was astonished with what he

  found. If any of the information he was reading was factual then the possibilities of

  Zula's story was mind boggling. Zula herself seemed to be a descendant of an ancient

  breed of Abyssinian cats worshiped in Egypt as gods.

  "Incredible!" Maxwell sat and stared at the copious amounts of information

  available and most of it backed up what Zula had tried to tell him earlier. "Why hasn't

  the medical or scientific community investigated these creatures?"

  "We are not important and most sitings are dismissed as myth. Humans are blind to

  the miracles they see everyday. They arrogantly assume that they are the only

  thinking, feeling animals on this planet." Maxwell turned to see Zula standing in the doorway. Much to his surprise, two

  very large and distinctive looking felines sat behind her. One was gaunt looking and

  seemed very
ill while the other had a luxurious white coat and seemed to hold itself

  with an almost regal like air.

  "Zula! I'm very glad you came back. Who did you bring with you?" Maxwell stood

  up and was anxious to see the other cats. His palms were sweaty and his heart was

  racing with the excitement.

  Zula lifted an eyebrow and glanced over the doctors shoulder at the computer

  screen. "So, you are now a believer?"

  "How could I not? I'm sorry Zula. I doubted your word. Can you forgive me?"he

  asked sheepishly.

  "It's understandable. I'm just glad you decided to keep an open mind and do your

  own research. We truly do need your help Maxwell." Zula moved aside and bowed

  deeply. The large persian feline got to her feet and stared at Maxwell with an intensity

  that made him very uncomfortable. "May I introduce you to our Matriarch?"

  Maxwell took a deep breath and stood very still as the senior animal circled him,

  sizing him up.

  You spoke true Zula. This human is sensitive to our kind and intelligent enough to

  help us. I will accept his help for Cleo.

  "How can I hear her?" Maxwell asked. He was fascinated that he could hear an

  older female voice in his head but did not see the feline move her lips. "When the Miu are in their original form, we have the ability to hear each anothers

  thoughts. It's not often we share this with humans so you should feel blessed that the

  Matriarch chooses too communicate in this manner."

  Maxwell nodded dumbly.

  "Will you examine Cleo?" Zula asked. "She is the Matriarch's daughter.

  Handmaiden to the goddess Gaea herself."

  "I'm honoured. Of course I'll help as best as I can."

  As well you should Dr. Anderson. My child is not the only one of our kind affected

  by this illness. If you can heal Cleo then maybe you can save the others.

  Maxwell looked across the floor to the thin Abyssinian looking cat. She was laying

  on her side with her long, thin tail curled around her. Her breathing was shallow and

  raspy sounding.

  "I'll need a hand lifting her to the examination table. Zula cradle her head and

  support her shoulders. I'll manage her lower half. Try to be as gentle as possible."

  No! The thin cat opened her deep, dark eyes and shook violently as Maxwell and

  Zula hefted her long, frail body on to the steel exam table. He's a human!

  Maxwell guessed she weighed less than ninety pounds. He knew a cat her length

  and size should likely weigh at least twenty pounds more.

  The Matriarch reared up on her hind legs and leaned up against the table. She

  nuzzled her daughters neck and licked her face. Hush now Cleopatra. This human is

  an animal doctor and has promised to help you. He will help us all. The Goddess loves you. I love you.

  Zula was startled to see tears forming in the older cats eyes. She felt the sting of

  tears threatening in her own.

  Cleo calmed down and relaxed against the coolness of the table. Alright mother. I'll

  let the human help.

  Maxwell stood back and observed the dynamic between these creatures. Other than

  the fact they were mother and child, it was fascinating for the veterinarian to see these

  amazing creatures communicate.

  "Thank you," Zula said quietly. "Thank you for giving us hope."

  "I haven't done anything yet. But I promise to try and help." It took all of

  Maxwell's will not to reach out and stroke Zula's cheek in comfort. He had to keep

  reminding himself that under the delicate human facade was a living, breathing cat

  creature.

  Zula felt the surge of emotion and her stomach tightened. She'd never been in such

  close quarters with a human, let alone a human male for an extended period. She

  knew she couldn't keep her human form much longer. She wasn't sure how Maxwell

  would react if she had to shift in front of him.

  "What do you think is wrong?"

  Maxwell grabbed his stethoscope and listened intently to Cleo's chest. He was

  concerned with the shallowness of her breath. "Can't be sure just yet. May I ask your

  Matriarch a few questions?" Both Zula and the Matriarch nodded in unison. The older cat's mane gleamed silver

  white in the artificial light.

  Maxwell swallowed hard to quell his nerves and sat on a stool next to where the

  matriarch sat back on her haunches. "Mam, uh Matriarch..." His voice was brittle with

  uncertainty.

  You may call me Tryphaena.

  Startled that the elder feline had revealed her true name to the human, Zula almost

  fell off her chair. Very few of her own kind knew the Matriarch's name let alone a

  human. It was proof the Matriarch instinctively trusted the doctor. Zula smiled.

  Maxwell nodded and smiled. "It's an honour...Tryphaena. Thank you."

  The matriarch nodded her head. What is it you need to know about my daughter?

  "When did she become ill?"

  It was quite some time ago. She often became feverish and tired but not

  consistently until just recently.

  Maxwell nodded and waited for her too continue.

  Then I began to notice she was losing weight, very slowly at first but the last few

  weeks her body has become very thin. She has little interest in food.

  As he heard the matriarch's words an idea of what may be happening began to firm

  in his mind. "Have you noticed anything else? An extended cough? Perhaps a cold or

  upper respiratory infection."

  Tryphaenea nodded. A cough that does not seem to go away. Have you some idea as to what is vexing my daughter?

  "I think I may." Maxwell placed the stethoscope in the centre of Cleo's chest and

  listened for a second time. Then he looked back at Tryphaenea and Zula. "May I take

  a blood sample? I need to see how her body chemistry differs from the domestic cat

  and there is a specific virus profile I'd like to test for."

  Certainly. Do whatever needs to be done with the goddesses blessing.

  Zula walked over to the pair and placed a shaky hand on Maxwell's shoulder. He

  could feel her trembling.

  "Are you alright?"

  " I'll be fine Dr. Anderson,” Zula shook off his hand. “What is it you are looking

  for specifically?"

  Maxwell could see beads of perspiration coating Zula's forehead. "Sit down Zula.

  What's wrong?"

  She has been in human form for too long. Her body needs rest in its natural form.

  The matriarch shook her fluffy, long tail in frustration.

  "Why didn't you say so? I can't imagine the toll it must take on you physically.

  Please don't feel like you can't be yourself in front of me. I am a doctor." Inwardly, it

  intrigued Maxwell to see how this beautiful woman would look in her true feline

  form.

  Zula stood up quickly and paced the floor. She was clearly agitated. "We are at our

  most vulnerable while shifting. Our state of mind as well as our bodies are in a violent state of transformation. Too shift in front of anyone other than our kin is dangerous."

  "I would never hurt you or anyone of your kind Zula. You must sense that."

  Zula reluctantly agreed. She could feel her body crying out for normality. It was

  taking all of her energy to stop her cells from their overwhelming need to shed their

  human costume.

  Zula! Go now and let this human not be distracted from his task. Go home and

  rest. I am well pleased with what you have done. Le
t this doctor help Cleopatra.

  "I have to go now Maxwell. Thank you for believing in us and for your help. I need

  to leave now." Zula looked toward the matriarch and nodded in respect. Without

  further word she walked to the door, opened it and disappeared into the early

  afternoon shadows.

  Stunned, Maxwell's mouth hung open as he watched Zula leave the office. He

  turned to Typhaenea and raised his hands in question.

  You did nothing wrong Dr. Anderson. The fact that my handmaid even considered

  shifting in front of you proves her trust. Keep that in mind. Now, please do your testing. I have let Cleo know your intentions. She will comply. Four

  Zula calmly closed the front door and then just stood there with her eyes closed,

  trying too calm the turmoil within. Her breathing was ragged and she began shaking.

  Suddenly, her amber eyes flew open and she broke out into a run. She sought the

  solace and cover of the deep Northern forest and quickly found herself under a thick

  umbrella of spruce trees.

  Zula crouched low to the forest floor. Her body shook with every breath and her

  head felt like it was going to split in two. "I...hate...this...part," she moaned. Zula's

  body collapsed in a shuddering heap on a soft bed of moss. The long, flowing locks of

  red hair disappeared from her head and silky ginger orange fur rapidly replaced it. Her

  body seemed to pulsate as muscles shortened and bones seemingly readjusted

  themselves. A low, eerie growl emanated from her thinning lips. One human shaped,

  shell like ear began to shape itself into a fur covered triangle of flesh.

  The total transformation took only moments but to Zula, the energy she expended

  made her feel as weak as a newborn kitten. A violent spasm not unlike an electrical

  jolt shook Zula to her core and then silent and motionless she lay panting under the

  rising moon. Her energy was spent but the change was complete.

  As the energy gradually seeped back into her limbs Zula felt strong enough to sit

  up. She raised her amber eyes up to the sky and blinked as if trying to focus on the

  swirling eddy of emerging stars.

  Back too normal, she thought sadly. Zula slowly raise herself up onto four legs and curved her spine in a well needed stretch. "Rawarrrrrrrrr!" she meowed aloud. Zula

  turned her head in the direction of Maxwell's property. She wondered how things were