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Sanctuary Shadows

Chapter Three

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

26th February, 2024

All Rights Reserved

As the van pulled up, a young woman and man stepped out. The woman was dressed in a light, flowery summer dress, her eyes red from weeping, and the driver came around the side, placing an arm around her shoulder.

Outside, one of the staff noticed them, feeling a twinge of remorse and compassion as the distressed couple moved towards the sanctuary's main doors. As they passed, the staff member involuntarily twitched, the broom they were holding falling with a slap on the ground. With a startled gasp, the tearful woman looked at the staff member, who shuddered and grabbed up the broom and made themselves scarce.

*

Together, they entered the reception area, the woman slumping into a seat and resting her tearful face in her hands as she sobbed heartbrokenly.

“Excuse me,” Asked the man, his own emotions evident in his face and vocal tone. “Can you help us? Please?”

With a concerned frown, the young woman behind the counter blinked, then looked up, offering a warm, comforting smile. “Certainly sir, I can help – do you need directions? Or - “

“I just want my baby girl back,” Sobbed the woman. “I miss her, she ran away in a storm and we've looked everywhere...”

Kindly, the young lady behind the counter handed up a box of tissues, the man taking a few and sitting beside his wife, who wept inconsolably.

“You're our last hope, our little girl, a companion we raised from a little pinky...” He began, then took a tissue and dabbed at his own eyes. “She's our baby girl, a red kangaroo – sweet as any get out and...”

“Oh please, please tell me if you've seen her. I'm...so...” Sobbed the woman, dissolving into hysterical tears again.

Her own eyes welling, the receptionist sniffed and walked back to the counter, where she picked up a radio and made a quiet call.

“Dr. Kale will be right out, hopefully, we've found your lost companion and will be able to reunite you. I can't begin to imagine how it must...oh, here he is!”

Dr. Kale, dressed in the white lab coat, appeared and walked over, holding out a warm, comforting hand before he momentarily shivered and his warm, professional mask settled over his face.

“Have you...seen our little...” Come the broken sobbing from the lady.

“Honey, please – let me talk to him. Dr. Kale, is it? I'm Donald Steele, this is my lovely wife, Victoria.” Replied the man, taking Dr. Kale's hand a giving a firm handshake.

Dr. Kale's expression faltered a moment, as he grew more concerned and pensive. “A... pleasure. How can I help?”

With a sigh, the man sat down, comforting his wife. “As I told your receptionist, we lost our baby girl, Rennae. A beautiful, young red kangaroo doe. There was a bad storm a few weeks ago – we weren't home and we think she got scared and just... fled. We've looked for her ever since, checked every veterinarian in five counties... There's no sign of her. We raised her from a tiny baby, she's our... she's like a daughter to us, she's so kind and gentle and...”

Dr. Kale frowned, pacing the room and coming to rest six paces away. His frown deepened, as he seemed almost distracted – then nervously glanced at the woman's right hand, then quickly away.

“Silver, isn't it?” Dr. Kale asked inquisitively. “Isn't it customary for wedding rings to be gold?”

“Victoria has an allergy to gold – it's quite rare,” Donald replied. “Please, have you seen or heard anything about Rennae? We're desperate, we miss her so much – we heard rumours about some terrible accident out on the highway – that a kangaroo had been injured and we'd... we wondered if she was brought here.”

How did they know it was a doe? Dr. Kale's mind churned. That information was never revealed in the media report on the fatality.

“I'm sorry Mr, Mrs Steele, no, we've not taken in any patients matching that description, I'm sorry, I hope you find your companion soon, I can't imagine the heartache. Leave your name, email and contact details with my receptionist here, Stacy. If we do have...” Dr. Kale trailed off, his confusion growing. “Sorry, Stacy here, will happily take your information. Now, if you'll excuse me, we have a young buck who needs his injections. Stacy? Can you handle things here please?”

“Certainly, Dr. Kale,” Stacy smiled, as she handed over a clipboard and pen to Donald. “Sir? If you'd write down your details...”

*

Dr. Kale left, walking into the first office, where he leaned back against the wall and exhaled, his body involuntarily quivering.

“Stress, that's all it is – I'm overworked and skipping meals -” He muttered to himself.

When he got to the desk, he pulled it open and retrieved a can, giving it a vigorous shaking before he pulled both sleeves back and vigorously sprayed his hands, moving up to his forearms, before he set the can back in the desk again and hip-bumped it closed. Waving his hands until they dried, he sighed quietly and sat down at his desk, breathing in short, quick breaths.

*

Back in their van, the couple pulled out of the driveway, their sad, tearful expressions wiped away in seconds. Glancing at her husband, the woman frowned in suspicion.

“I don't believe he openly lied to us...” Victoria growled.

“If that's your only takeaway...” Donald glanced at her with a contemptuous look.

Bitter and resentful, Victoria glared out the window. “Fine, what'd I miss?”

Taking the encrypted cellular phone out of its cradle, Donald hit speed dial and tucked it up against his ear. After a few moments, the call went through.

“Unable to confirm Romeo Kilo's presence. Suspected tango. Unable to confirm, repeat, unable to confirm. Tango exhibited stress indicators in the presence of Sierra. Out.” Donald clicked off the phone and slotted it back into the holder on the dash.

Slowly, Victoria's eyes widened as she stared across at Donald.

Romeo Kilo, _Her mind began piecing together the code phrases that'd been drilled into them. _Tango? No... that's not possible...

“This is why you've failed... Victoria - “ Donald's low, menacing growl reached her ears. “My report will reflect this. Your performance was exemplary, that might be your saving grace – my advice? Take the easy way out when we get back...”

*

Days passed, and Misty and Rachel's bond slowly grew. Misty repeatedly attempted to be assimilated into the mob, but again and again, they scattered and fled from her, Rachel growing increasingly ponderous. One evening, as Misty dozed on the warm bed against the wall, Rachel slid open her desk drawer and removed something she held in her hand. As she started to turn, she found Misty awake and sitting up, gazing at her.

“I keep forgetting how light you sleep,” Rachel smiled, then held her hand out, uncurling her fingers. “I have a gift for you if you'll accept it.”

Misty blinked, looking from Rachel to the thing on her palm, and back up at Rachel, before she grunted and clucked as if asking questions Rachel couldn't answer.

“Little one, up! Come, please?” Rachel asked, making a beckoning gesture.

Confused, Misty rose, then shook herself and nervously crawled closer to Rachel.

“It's a collar,” Rachel spoke softly. “A... gift for you, if you'll let me put it on you.”

Rachel gently unfastened it, then reached towards Misty's throat. With a frightened growl, Misty twitched and started to shy away, fearful and not understanding.

“Shh, it's alright, it won't hurt you, I promise.” Rachel soothed her, carefully slipping it around Misty's neck and lightly affixing it.

Misty tensed for a moment, but at Rachel's gentle caresses, she soon relaxed, allowing the collar to stay. It was a small, but poignant moment in their relationship, as Misty lightly touched it, frowning in confusion and looking up at Rachel, before placing her paws tenderly on Rachel's thighs.

“Do you like it? I think it matches your fur beautifully!” Rachel smiled, tenderly stroking Misty's forearms.

*

In the coming days, Misty wore the collar with a newfound sense of acceptance. It became more than just an accessory; it symbolised the trust building between herself and Rachel. As Rachel spent time with Misty, she noticed subtle changes in the kangaroo's behaviour – moments of less wariness and more curiosity.

During this time, Misty's interactions with Rachel grew more and more nuanced. She sought her out, keeping a wary distance from other staff, but happily followed Rachel wherever she went. She sought out comfort and guidance, and their communication, whilst limited, developed into a genuine mutual understanding between them. Misty's eyes, once filled with suspicion and distrust, now held growing confidence as she nuzzled gently at Rachel's side.

Rachel's continuing notes on Misty's file reflected the progress, as she typed away on her laptop.

The collar is a positive catalyst for the first stage. Attempts to integrate into existing mob unsuccessful. The young kangaroo's curiosity and bonding with me continue. Strongly suspicious she was indeed, someone's companion. Relationship deepening and trust building. Is no longer as skittish and afraid, increasingly willing to let me touch and pet her. Further study will be made. The subject exhibits unusual curiosity. Heightened belief that she will be a perfect subject for public awareness, in time.

Misty's nuzzling grew more impatient, before she pointedly looked at the door, her ears pricking forwards, right before Dr. Kale walked in, then froze, staring at Misty.

“Uh... sorry, I thought she was in the sanctuary grounds?” He asked, not taking his eyes off him.

Curious, Misty slightly narrowed her gaze, then crouched and crawled a half step towards him, her nostrils twitching.

“Nurse Well's,” Dr. Kalis spoke quietly. “Mind calling off your pet please?”

“Honey, no, down – please?” Rachel asked. “Dr. Kael's a friend, remember? Be nice!”

Dr Kale frowned, watching as Misty crawled closer, and then her nostrils flared as she caught a scent that made her quiver from ears to toes. Alarmed, Misty backed away, her eyes fixed on Dr. Kale.

“Nurse Wells, what's gotten into her?” Dr. Kale inquired, his confusion evident as Misty continued to retreat from him, a low, alarming growl coming from her throat.

Rachel, seeing Misty's distress, stepped between them, before she turned and crouched down, placing her hands on Misty's shoulders, trying to calm her. “It's okay sweety. Dr. Kale is a friend... remember?”

Misty refused comforting, her ears slashed backwards and instincts on high alert, as she stared at Dr. Kale from over Rachel's shoulder, her muzzle wreathed with a look of fear and suspicion. The air in the room became tense, and the realisation hung heavy – Misty knew the truth...

In that charged moment, Misty's instincts screamed at her, a primal terror gripping her senses. She had stumbled upon a truth hidden beneath Dr. Kale's humanity, and it sent shivers down her spine.

Rachel, confused by Misty's unease, continued to soothe her. “It's okay, sweety. Dr. Kale is here to help, remember? He helped fix you up when you first arrived. There's nothing to be afraid of.”

Misty, now acutely aware of the unfamiliar scent that clung to Dr. Kale, couldn't be reassured. She issued a low, threatening growl her large eyes fixated on the Doctor, her muscles tense and quivering beneath her fur.

“Nurse Well's, is she alright? I've never seen her react like this – mind you, I've never been this close to her...either -” Dr. Kale asked, as he took a half step forward, then crouched down on his knees, trying to make his presence seem less threatening.

Rachel hesitated, glancing between the quivering doe and the Doctor. “I... I'm not sure. She's been skittish since she first arrived. Maybe the trauma she went through or... oh my god... you didn't...”

Dr. Kael looked up, his eyes widening as he went as white as his laboratory coat. “My pheromone suppressant... I must have forgotten, what with all the...”

The air in the room remained charged with tension, as Misty, torn between fear and something elusive, her fractured memories couldn't recall, continued to observe the Doctor. The unspoken truth lingered, and the sanctuary harboured secrets that were about to start unfolding.

Realisation spread across both their faces, as they turned and looked at Misty, who shuddered and visibly fought her fear, moving to peer from behind Rachel at the Doctor.

“She knows... what you really are - “ Rachel breathed out her face pale and eyes wide.

TO BE CONTINUED