"Don't move. Please, don't
move." The words became my mantra as I ran along the middle shoulder of
the freeway. I ignored the vehicles rushing by inches from my left arm, and
tried to keep myself near the barrier without colliding into it.
My focus remained locked on the kitten fifty
yards ahead of me.
No one had noticed the small kitten
desperately trying to jump over the barrier, but it was possible I was just the
only one who had stopped. Not everyone loved animals as much as I did. Even
amongst those who did, how many of them would willingly run on the road while
traffic sped by?
The kitten thankfully stayed right where
I'd first seen it. I worried about it actually clearing the barrier. Would it
be blind to anything but the grassy verge across four lanes of busy traffic?
Far too much traffic for it to make it safely across. It had used all its luck
not being hit already.
I closed the distance and scooped the
little one up. Relief flooded my system, almost as strong as the adrenaline
that had gotten me here. It was alive!
The kitten didn't realize it was safe at
first, just hung limp in my hand. Did it think it had died and this was kitty
Valhalla?
"You're okay now, little guy."
While I wasn't going to check under the tail in the middle of the freeway, I
immediately thought of it as a boy because he looked like my Midnight.
It had taken only that brief glance to be
reminded of my deceased tuxedo cat. My constant companion for thirteen years, it
had broken my heart to bury him. Saving this little copy of him was the best
way to honor our love.
He finally realized he'd been picked up,
that a person was holding him. Traffic still blasted past us, but he was safely
tucked under my chin. He meowed loudly, and I tightened my grip around him.
"You're okay now." Fifty yards back to my SUV, and I could only walk
swiftly so as not to jostle him.
"Relax, Baby. It's gonna be okay. I
have you now." I talked to him in a soothing voice. Even if he couldn't understand
me, he could hear the soothing sounds and feel the protective calm I was trying
to project.
He snuggled against my chin, not trying
to go anywhere. His entire body fit inside my hand, and I cupped his head with
the other, stroking him with my thumb.
We got back to my SUV faster than I expected.
Safe inside, I took a moment to settle him and myself. He meowed, looked around
briefly, then threw himself back under my chin.
"All right, you're gonna have to
hold on tight." I shifted and adjusted him until I had one hand free.
Checking the mirrors, I prepared to get back into traffic and to the nearest
exit. The kitten dug claws into my chest at the sound of acceleration, but
remained quiet, nestled tight under my chin. I continuously stroked him with my
thumb, keeping myself calm as surely as I kept him calm.
"We made it," I told him,
navigating the exit, merging onto surface streets. "I'll get you home
safely. Get you warm, and fed, and make sure you're okay." I talked to him
the entire two miles home, and we were safely in my driveway soon enough.
"Are you ready to go inside and relax?" He meowed.
I set him up in the spare room, in a
dresser drawer half full of sweaters. "There you go. Dark, quiet, cozy. No
more bright sun or scary cars." I smiled, stroked him once more, and
closed the drawer most of the way.
Adrenaline finally left my system, and
the shakes started. I needed a drink, a moment to relax and gather my thoughts.
What was I going to do? Post a found
notice, help him get back to his family. If he didn't belong to anyone, was I
supposed to take him to a shelter? He was a kitten, would likely be adopted
immediately. Unless he was too injured for them to waste resources on, then
they'd put him down. What a shame to think that I'd saved his life just for someone
else to take it.
But I was getting ahead of myself. He
needed water and food and rest before I worried about homing him.
I busied myself making a dish of tuna
and getting a bowl of water. Hopefully the little guy had relaxed, maybe even
fallen asleep. I'd put the bowls somewhere he could find them, then leave him
alone for a while.
Stepping into the spare room, I nearly
dropped the dishes in surprise. I couldn't really be seeing this.
The kitten hovered above the dresser, iridescent
bat wings extended, fluttering occasionally. He had the same markings as
Midnight, but his fur was pristine white and inky black. Aquamarine eyes
blinked slowly, and his entire body shimmered with barely visible colors.
~Much gratitude for saving me.~
I dropped the dishes then. Their clatter
barely registered past the echoey chime of his voice inside my head. A beautiful
sound, like crystal bells, it continued to ring behind my eyes and warm my
heart.
"What?" I finally asked. It
was a stupid question, but it was the only thing that came out.
He blinked again, bobbing up and down,
and I had the distinct impression he was laughing. ~You have my eternal
gratitude for saving my life.~
The soothing sounds of his voice inside
my head drew me forward, pushed aside my shock, awakened my curiosity. "Why
didn't you just fly away? Why were you out there? Are you hurt?"
Another bob, and a flap of his colorful
wings. ~I remember not how I got there, but I was too frightened to escape
on my own. Even a faerie can become disoriented.~
"You're a faerie." My voice
trailed off, the words caught somewhere between a question and musing. "I'm
even more grateful I stopped. Not that I wouldn't have, but...well. I mean,
you're a faerie."
He stretched and flexed like any kitten,
but more adorable and lovely for the wings and sparkles. My hands twitched with
the urge to cuddle him, but I resisted. It would surely be too disrespectful to
treat him like the mundane kitty he resembled.
~I have not much power, but I may grant
you a small boon before I return home.~
"A small boon? Like, a wish?"
I frowned, tipping my head to stare at the faerie.
~Nothing so grand. Very small. Then I have
to attempt to find my home.~
"You don't know where you live?"
He bobbed low, closing his eyes. ~I know
where it is, but I was so frightened that I lost track of how to return.~
This poor little faerie just wanted to
go home, yet he still wanted to repay me. Did I deserve a reward for doing the
right thing? I couldn't believe his priorities while he was lost and alone.
I thought briefly of Midnight, imagining
him panicked and hurt in the middle of the freeway, no one stopping for him,
and him just wanting to get back to me. What would I give for him to be
returned safely?
After a moment, I shook my head. "I
don't want anything for myself. I just want you to go home and be happy."
He bobbed, tipping his head to one side,
blue eyes sparkling like crystals. Several seconds passed while we said
nothing. ~So be it.~ Then he fluttered forward and nestled against me.
I wrapped my hands around him, afraid to
speak, but understanding in my heart what was happening. Tendrils of sparkling
warmth filled my veins, and I heard crystalline purrs in my head. The faerie
extended his love to me, all his gratitude, and all his trust.
"Love you too," I whispered,
kissing his tiny head. This was better than any wish I could have come up with.
