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Changes We Make

Chapter Four

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

2th September, 2021

All Rights Reserved.

I'm a... Come Nicole's terrified thought. I never – they're meant to be...

Sick to her stomach, Nicole twisted away and shuddered helplessly. Terror clawed through her body, turning her blood to ice-water in her veins as she realised what very real danger now hung like a executioners axe of her furred head – and those of Jennifer. If someone, somehow, found out one of those creatures had lived...

Gagging helplessly, Nicole doubled over and her whole body convulsed as she retched violently. Again and again her stomach squirmed, then she felt it convulse and her mouth filled with saliva and half-digested food. Choking and wheezing, Nicole splayed her paws out on the floor as the contents of what she'd eaten splattered her paws, forearms and the floor.

With a squeal, Jennifer leapt up and stared as Nicole choked and gasped, before she nervously patted Nicole on the back.

“Hey, easy...” Jennifer murmured, before she shuddered and carefully helped Nicole away from the mess. “Here, wash your muzzle out with this -”

Gesturing to the bowl of water, Jennifer turned back to the regurgitated mess and felt her own gorge rise in the back of her throat.

“Wait here, I'll go get something to clean that up...”

Nicole took a few gulps of water then retched again, but did manage to wash out her muzzle.

If I'm found... if that story is real, about those...those creatures... Nicole's mind reeled with the terrors and imagery that flooded her. I need to go into hiding, I can't let them find me...

A thought cut through the selfish mental landscape before her eyes widened in abject fear.

Oh no...if that Doe was... one of them... then her joey...the sanctuary!

Wiping her muzzle with her forearms and paws, Nicole growled and smacked her foot on the floor in fright and frustration. Seeing as this wasn't working, Nicole dropped to all fours and began crawling through the clinic, looking for Jennifer.

Finding her, Nicole grunted, growled and stamped her foot, trying desperately to get Jennifer's attention.

“Hey!” Jennifer squeaked, as Nicole grabbed at her leg with her paws.

Quickly, Nicole half crawled, half hopped back to the recovery room and in her haste, she clawed at the laptop, but was unable to get the text pad back up. Jennifer followed, carrying a mop and a bucket, before she used the track pad to bring back up the document program.

Pushing Jennifer aside, Nicole's claws rattled against the keyboard.

Jjeweoeueyiqwj Come the unintelligible letters.

“Hey, whoa...easy!” Jennifer murmured, placing a hand on Nicole's trembling shoulder.

With an exasperated sigh, Nicole forced herself to calm, then she carefully pecked at the keys.

Sanctuary, joey, it might be like me... Come the words.

Realisation spread slowly across Jennifer's face as her eyes went wide, face white and she slapped her palms to her cheeks.

“Oh no... if that's true... we got to go, get her, do something! We can't just leave her...”

Nicole frowned and thought for a few moments, then nodded.

I've never heard of a joey bonding to another doe... I mean, they have the milk formula she would need...

Looking at the clock, Nicole sighed and shook her head.

It's too early yet, sure, they got an emergency drop off, but still...

Frustrated, Nicole stood up and looked around the room.

We can't stay here, the day staff...how would we explain me being here?

Likewise frustrated, Jennifer pondered. “Are you well enough to travel? You're right, we can't stay here, my farm is in the opposite direction of the sanctuary and...”

Nicole shuddered, then she slowly pecked at the keyboard again.

They'll be open soon enough, take the van again, I'll have to endure it, somehow...

Jennifer shook her head and gently placed her hands on Nicole's cheeks.

“Our immediate problem, is how do we explain your sudden disappearance? You went home and...”

Nicole stared at her, eyes widening in shock. Truly, the kangaroo had no answers for her.

*

Nicole lay on the bed in the van, thankfully, the drivers and passengers windows were left down, allowing a decent airflow through the vehicle. Jennifer had parked thoughtfully, in the shade, as she went into the sanctuary offices, leaving Nicole in the van.

Time seemed to drag on for Nicole, who sighed and sprawled on her back, holding her black paws up and turning them too and fro, examining the short blunt claws and the leathery paw pads. After an indeterminate time, her tail aching from being in this unnatural position, Nicole rolled back onto her side and crossed one long leg over the other.

Dozing, she suddenly snapped to full awareness, hearing Jennifer's voice and one of the male keepers. Her ears flicked and twitched and she become aware of just how acute her hearing had become.

At the click of the door handle, Nicole froze, then tilted her head and drew a deep breath, scenting Jennifer's sweet perfume and her underlying scent – along with it was another one, one Nicole couldn't place...

Something was placed on the passenger seat, then the door was closed as Jennifer walked back around and climbed in.

“Well - “ Jennifer muttered, as she rested her head on the steering wheel for a moment, then turned to look back at Nicole, who half sat up and gazed at her.

Unable to communicate, Nicole did her best, looking at Jennifer, then at the back of the passenger seat then back to Jennifer again, flicking an ear.

“Yes, I got her - “ Jennifer nodded. “Poor thing, she looks awfully malnourished, but they did tell me she's been feeding well and has taken to the replacement formula. Nicole, I'm - “

Jennifer sighed softly. “I've never raised a kangaroo – I don't really know the first thing, second thing or anything, about them, apart from what little experience we've had...”

Nicole growled in frustration, wishing she could say something. With a quiet grunt, Nicole carefully slipped off the bed and crawled forwards as far as she could, stretching her head and neck out towards the gap between the front seats.

Jennifer gently picked up the precious bundle, which hung in a makeshift cotton pouch, then eased the soft blanket back. Nicole couldn't quite see the joey, so Jennifer tilted the pouch slightly.

Nicole's eyes widened, as she seen the delicate little black foot pads and toenails, the fine fur of the joeys feet, then she blinked as the joey placed her tiny paws up either side of her muzzle and yawned, taking a brief glance at Nicole before her eyes closed again and she went straight back to sleep.

She's so sweet and innocent... Nicole thought to herself.

“Hey!” Jennifer's snapping fingers caught Nicole's attention.

Giving her a glare, Nicole growled and clucked at her, then shook her head and twisted about, returning to the bed, where she lay back down and pressed her long feet against the opposite wall.

“You know,” Jennifer huffed, then started the van. “I'm glad I don't understand you...”

*

Her body aching, Nicole was thankful when at last, Jennifer pulled to a final stop back at the farm and opened the rear doors. Carefully, Nicole crawled out and down the ramp then stretched languidly and shuddered from ears to tail.

“Go for a short walk, it might help ease your muscles.” Jennifer told her. “I'll get the little one out of the van.”

Nicole thought for a moment, then experimentally hopped a few paces, wincing at the tightness in her tendons and muscles from being stuck in the van for so long. As she hopped around the front yard, then back to the van, she winced as Jennifer's cell phone suddenly sent sickening waves of sound through Nicole's ears.

“Shit...sorry!” Jennifer yelped, as she snatched it from her belt and turned the volume way down. “Hello?”

Nicole rested for a few moments, her paws splayed out on the ground, and she watched as Jennifer become quite agitated and stressed as she spoke to someone on the phone.

I can not only see her getting upset...I can smell it in her scent? How...

“Uh...no, I don't know where Doctor Nicole is... no, I haven't seen her since the surgery the other night. How do I know? I believe she went home...”

With a flick of her ear, Nicole slowly stood up and frowned.

Oh no... how will we explain my disappearance? That broken screen in my bedroom and...

Nicole's mind reeled in shock and fear.

Those claw scratches... how will that be explained?

With a sigh, Jennifer hung up and slipped her phone back into her pocket.

“Sorry Doctor – they were asking about you, have I...you probably heard it all, didn't you?”

Shaking her head, Nicole indicated no, then moved towards the door where she waited patiently for Jennifer to open it. Jennifer unlocked the door and pushed it open, letting Nicole in, before she returned to the van and retrieved the now awake joey who made strange chattering noses as it kicked and wriggled in the makeshift pouch.

“Easy little one,” Jennifer smiled, as she looked down at the squirming joey. “You're probably hungry, aren't you?”

Carefully, Jennifer reached down and lightly touched the joey's left paw. It gripped the finger and made that strange sound again.

“Alright, I'll get you settled, then go back to the van to get the rest of the things we'll need for you.”

Jennifer walked inside, quietly pushing the door shut behind her, as she heard the frustrated grunts and growls coming from the kitchen.

“What did I get myself into...” Jennifer sighed softly, cradling the restless joey in its pouch against her chest.

To Be Continued...