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Hopper's Story

Chapter Nine

6th June, 2019

All Rights Reserved.

Katy kept Hopper in a drug induced slumber for four days, letting the injuries heal and keeping a close eye on him, her concern for the young Whiptail growing more and more. Katy sat near him whenever she got the chance, sometimes holding the young Whiptail's paw, sometimes just watching him, as she sipped her coffee and frowned.

Whilst he was sedated, Katy had ordered blood tests and physical examinations – knowing Hopper would never willingly have consented to this. Part of her hated herself for going behind his back like this, but she had questions the wallaby refused to answer, and Katy needed to know.

*

“Where - “ Hopper gurgled, before he began choking and retching, then Katy immediately rolled him over onto his side and held a large stainless bowl to his muzzle as Hopper's stomach roiled and churned, before the dry retching turned into full scale vomiting – an unfortunate side effect of the tranquilliser that had been used on him. When he had finished, Katy gently wiped his muzzle, then gave him a drink of water, Hopper e eagerly washing his mouth out then taking another drink, his throat feeling dry and unpleasant.

“Shh,” Katy whispered, as she gently placed a wet cloth on Hopper's head. “You're safe now Hopper, its alright, I'm here with you, you're safe, warm and all that matters, is you're okay, I promise, nobody will hurt you...”

Hopper flinched at her touch, before he blinked and lifted his left forearm, looking at the thick plaster cast that covered his arm from wrist to elbow. He experimentally flexed is paw, but a sharp, stabbing pain lanced through his arm like a knife and he cried out, unable to stop himself.

“Hopper, please – your arm was broken in two places, we had – to do this, to protect it and to help it heal You've got multiple injuries, to be honest, you lost a lot of blood and the Veterinary staff worked for hours to save your life, now, please, just rest Hopper, you need to rest and recover – I'll be here for you my dear, sweet mistreated Hopper, just – rest now, please?”

Hopper's eyes were wide with fear – an almost primal, instinctual fear – as he took in the recovery room, the gurney on which he lay and the strong antiseptic smell of the disinfectant and other smells, but Katy's gentle touches and her words slowly soothed him and he lapsed into a restless sleep.

A faint knock on the door come, and Katy momentarily startled, before she rose from the chair and received the lab results she had requested the other day. It was a plain, manilla folder, with Hoppers name on it and other relevant information, but Katy was too concerned for her friends welfare and health, to be distracted by the file. Returning to Hopper's side, she gave a thorough examination of the bandages, noting some would need replacing soon – tacky with drying blood on some, others were discoloured and each light touch made the unconscious wallaby involuntarily flinch.

“You poor creature, who could do such a terrible thing to one so innocent and young?” Katy whispered to herself, her hatred fighting her grief over what had happened to him. “Rest now Hopper, you need to recover your strength -”

Katy slipped a tranquilliser needle into Hopper's neck, feeling him quiver, before his breathing become deep and regular, and she picked up his uninjured paw, then holding her fingers on the vein in his wrist, she counted his pulse. Satisfied, Katy leaned down and gave Hopper a light kiss on the forehead, before she left the room, dimming the lights and letting him sleep.

*

Hopper required physiotherapy for his injuries, but he gained strength, vigour and weight under the care of Katy and the talented and gifted veterinarian staff at the sanctuary. When he finally fully recovered, Katy held his paw as they tenderly cut away the plaster from his arm, then got him to do experimental flexing and twisting, to ensure it was healed.

“It still hurts - “ Hopper sniffled, trying to be brave for his friend Katy, who smiled at him, then placed an arm around his shoulders and hugged him gently.

“I know,” Katy sighed. “Your muscles in that arm have atrophied from lack of use, and the bones are freshly regrown, so please, be careful, but if you are mindful, you'll fully heal in a few more weeks and be back to your usual self. Come on, here, that's it, take my hands - “

Katy encouraged him as Hopper slid off the gurney, then as his slender feet touched the floor, they slid from under him, and Katy quickly gripped him under the arms and steadied him, as Hopper clutched at his head with his paws, feeling nauseous and dizzy.

“Its alright, I got you, that's it Hopper, easy now - “ Katy whispered, as she slid her hands down his arms, then held his paws gently, but firmly, reassuring him she wouldn't drop him, or hurt him, as he took a few stumbling steps, then faltered again, this time Katy swept him up in her arms and cradled him like a baby. Hopper nuzzled her neck tenderly, before he sniffled and trembled, a few errant tears starting to well in his dark chocolate eyes.

“Hey now, come on – don't cry little one,” Katy spoke calmly, as she carried him out of the ward and back to her office, where she lay him down on the couch and covered him with a warm blanket.

“I'm just so scared – my aunt - “ Hopper sniffled, wiping his nose with his forearms.

“She won't hurt you, or anyone else Hopper,” Katy sighed, as she pulled over a chair and sat beside him. “There's no easy way to say this honey, so I'll just say it – your aunt suffered a psychotic break. What that means, is she is in a hospital, receiving care for it, but the doctor's do not hold out hope, her medical file listed some – strange aberrations – in her mental condition, but it was supposedly being treated with medication, she was taking her medications, wasn't she?”

“I – I don't know, I was never allowed in her room - “ Hopper sniffled, trying to be brave, but the tears began to flow, then he burst into hysterical sobbing before Katy cradled him close, tenderly stroking his back and rocking him.

Katy looked at Hopper, her love for him growing, but also, her concern at his own fragile, emotional and mental landscape. Katy quietly noted to herself, to see if there was any way a psychiatrist could meet with Hopper, speak with him and see if there was anything to be concerned about, but first things first. Katy had not eaten all day, and she was ravenous, but her concern for her patient outweighed her desire for food. She did not know why, but something about Hopper niggled at her mind, always just out of reach and elusive – like trying to catch mist.

As Hopper cried, Katy soothed him and rocked him, pulling him into her lap where he clung to her tightly, sobbing like a freshly orphaned joey, guttural cries coming from his throat that Katy was a few moments remembering.

They were the exactly same pitch and length as a joey separated from its mother and stressed and scared. Those barking, rapid fire coughing sounds, she had heard around the sanctuary, and this confused Katy to no end. As, Hopper was sentient, why would he, under stress, revert to an almost feral, instinctual vocalisation? Did the Anthropomorphic people retain some sort of genetic memory from their ancestors? Was it even conscious thought that made him cry like this? Katy did not have the answers, but she made a note to herself, to explore the possibilities, first, she wanted and needed to calm him down.

Further tranquillisers were out of the question, she had skirted the limits of anthropomorphic biology as it was, the risks outweighed the advantages. Instead, cradling Hopper with one arm, Katy picked up the phone handset and pressed a button, which after a few moments, was picked up by a fellow colleague.

“Judy? It's Katy here, can you please bring me about a litre of marsupial milk, a large bore teat and bottle?”

“Katy? Sure – give me like, five minutes, I'll get right on it - “ Come the voice of the lady at the other end of the phone.

“Thanks, you're a darling, you know that? Oh, how's that Whiptail doe doing? Is she still recovering and doing well?” Katy inquired, as she pulled the blanket up over Hopper's back and continued cradling him, feeling his sobbing slowly easing.

“She's doing really well, put on lots of weight, is becoming more skittish and afraid of us every day – which is great news, we want her to remember her wild nature, not become attached to her handlers and such, oh, and great news – she's pregnant, did you know that?”

Katy's eyes widened, then she sat dumbfounded for a few moments, staring blankly.

“How - “ Katy stammered.

“I suspect the usual way, doe meets buck...” Judy chuckled, then her voice changed, as she sensed the growing confusion in Katy's voice. “Is something wrong?”

“No...please, bring that milk as soon as you can, and that's – great news – about the Doe, in a few more days, a week maybe, she'll be fit for release, that's wonderful, thank you Judy, you're a real champion...”

Katy hung up as Judy chuckled, cutting her friend off, before her eyes frowned and she looked down at the dozing Hopper.

“How can that doe be with joey...” Katy whispered to herself, as she carefully rose and lay Hopper back on the couch, covering him with the blanket again. “Sure, she's been with other wallabies and such, but - “

To Be Continued...