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Changes We Make

Chapter Two

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

24th July, 2019

All Rights Reserved.

Nicole lay on the bed in the back of the van, for what felt like hours beyond measure, frustrated and exasperated at her inability, other than to write laboriously with a claw, trying to explain things. It was frustrating! She was Doctor Nicole Wilkinson, not this...animal...that she inhabited. Nicole could have performed Veterinarian surgery! She knew it, it was just her paws were not dexterous enough to do such. All her knowledge and the training and the human mind remained intact, yet the paws couldn't hold a damn pen unless they were both on it!

“Easy Doctor - “ Jennifer spoke from the front seat. “We're almost there, okay? Soon you'll be out and free to roam the farm, once certain precautions are taken of course!"

Precautions? Nicole's mind reeled. What does she mean by precautions?

Feeling the van slow, then turn, Nicole used her long hind feet to brace herself against the far wall, before she would have fallen off the bed. As it stopped, she blinked and half sat up as she heard the van door close and then the rattle of a chain, presumably, holding the gate shut. Climbing back into the van, Jennifer drove over what sounded like a steel cattle grind, before stopping and hopping out again. There was the rattle of the gate, then the clanking of the chain, before Jennifer returned to the van and drove a bit further.

“I haven't been here in a few months, but I have people that look after the place for me – so it won't be like some abandoned, haunted house – I think you'll like it Doctor."

I'm not a Doctor, not anymore... Nicole thought to herself, then sighed.

As Jennifer pulled up, she was a few moments outside, before the van rear doors opened and Nicole stood up, before crouching and carefully hopping out of the van.

Suddenly, Jennifer chuckled, then there was something put around Nicole's neck and pulled modestly tight, making her squeal in fright and alarm.

“Shush, its a collar with a tag on it, so people will see it, and not assume you're wild – well, you are wild, but...well, its to protect you, I occasionally get hunters out here – trespassing – and a red kangaroo would, I'm sure, make a lovely trophy..."

With a snort, Nicole clawed at the collar, then coughed and barked, shaking her head in frustration at her inability to communicate her displeasure. Jennifer seemed to perceive it, before she snorted and gripped the collar, staring into Nicole's widely spaced eyes.

“I don't like it anymore that you do! Would you rather wear this...or find your hide hanging over a drying rack? Well? I'm trying to help you Doctor, not hurt you...please, work with me? Help me to understand what happened – how – it happened, and if there's any way we can...well, I don't even know what you are! You appear to be a...

Megaleia Rufa Nicoles mind wanted to shout at her.

“A..." Jennifer frowned, wracking her brain. “Well, I can't recall the Latin genus name, but you're a beautiful young Red Kangaroo Doe, I can't deny that!"

Stamping a long foot Nicole expressed her unhappiness, before Jennifer just shook her head slowly.

“I'm sorry, but no, you got to wear the collar, its for your protection, I swear! I'd rather not risk your life, you understand, don't you?"

Nicole stared at her, then sighed and lowered her head, submitting to Jennifer's logic. If there was any chance of undoing whatever had happened – having a friend to help, would go a long long way...she hoped.

“Let's get you inside, okay?" Jennifer smiled, then moved to open the door.

I wouldn't mind something to eat – or drink for that matter... Yet all Jennifer heard was the growls, clucks and grunts.

Jennifer paused, then looked back, before shaking her head. “I wish we had a better way of communicating – I don't understand a single thing you try to tell me – are you even trying? Do Kangaroo's have a language we just don't understand?"

Exasperated, Nicole pushed past her, hopping down the hall and going room to room, until she found the kitchen. Agitated, Nicole clawed at the taps, but her paws just couldn't turn them on. Jennifer ran after her then watched as Nicole clawed at the taps again, before sinking back to her feet and pointing at the tap.

“You...you want water?" Jennifer frowned, then grabbed a plastic dish from a cupboard and filled it, placing it near the fridge.

Frustrated, Nicole moved over to it, then she paused and frowned. Crouching down, she awkwardly tried lapping at the water, before she felt instinct take her and she dipped her lips and began slurping long and loudly. To her, the water tasted better than the finest champagne, it was so relieving and helped ease the niggling nausea in her belly from the tranquillisers they had darted her with.

“Oh gods, what do I feed you? I've never raised a kangaroo..."

Nicole frowned, then thought long and hard, as water dribbled from her muzzle and she looked at the kitchen table, then the bench and finally, gestured to the refrigerator.

“I doubt there's anything good for you in there!" Jennifer laughed softly, but opened the fridge.

Nicole stood there, shivering at the cold from the fridge as she looked at the contents. Grabbing the bread, she pulled it out, then grunted and pointed at other things.

“No!" Jennifer snorted. “I don't know much, but I know bread is bad for kangaroo!"

Nicole launched into a rant, stamping her foot and gesticulating wildly, for which Jennifer was once again thankful she didn't understand a word.

“Now now," Jennifer chuckled. “Here, try this...please?"

Jennifer rummaged in the ridge, then produced a carrot. Handing it over, Nicole fumbled with it for a moment, before gripping it between her paws and staring down at it, hesitantly biting the tip off it, her lower jaw rotating as she chewed on it and swallowed.

Really? I'm not a herbivore, for the love of the Gods...how can I...

Eyes widening, Nicole dropped the carrot as she bounded off again, searching room to room. Frustrated, she began to cry out, and then started stamping her foot on the ground, until Jennifer caught up with her.

“Wait...you can spell, I know that, I know who you are...can we - “

Jennifer's eyes widened. “Doctor? Please...wait here, I think I got an idea..."

Jennifer left the house, as Nicole sighed and lay down, idly scratching at her left thigh, before she heard the thud of the door – assuming it was the front one, and Jennifer come back, a laptop bag slung over her shoulder. Coming into the lounge room, Jennifer set the bag on the coffee table, before she unzipped the bag and pulled her laptop out, setting it on the table before them.

Turning it on, Jennifer waited as it started up, then she nodded and looked at the kangaroo, who gazed back with curiosity, before realisation spread over her face.

Quickly, Jennifer made a new document on the laptop, before moving it to sit before Nicole. Carefully, with many failed attempts, Nicole began pecking at the keyboards keys, slowly forming words as she figured out how to curl her claws away, so she could just use one.

“Jennifer, its me - “ Come the first few halting words, over ten minutes of frustrated trying from Nicole. “I don't know what happened – I was hurt -"

“I know that, Doctor Nicole, now, please, skip ahead!" Jennifer nodded, placing a hand gently on the shaking kangaroo's shoulders.

“I went home, had a drink...I - “ Frowning, Nicole thought for a moment, one ear flicking forwards and back, seemingly of its own accord. “I woke up at dawn, the next morning – on my couch...like this!"

Gesturing with her paws, Nicole sighed and started typing again.

“I don't know what happened to me...that...doe? She isn't a – well – she died, but where's her baby? Her joey?"

“Her joey? It's safe, we gave it to the Sanctuary, they're specialised and will raise her and...oh...no."

“You got to get her out of the sanctuary – what if she is like me...I mean, like her mother? What if they're not really kangaroo's at all but something...unknown to us? Can you imagine the possible danger?"

Grabbing her phone from her pocket, Jennifer began punching in the number for the sanctuary.

“Hi, you've reached the - “ Come the recorded voice, as Jennifer sighed and looked at the phone she held, seeing it was 5:42.

“Damn it – they're closed, well, not closed closed, but they won't answer the phone...I'm sure that joey will be alright for one night...shouldn't she?"

“I don't know - “ Come the letters on the screen, as Nicole typed with frustrated slowness. “We got to get that joey...before something terrible happens!"

Placing a hand lightly on Nicole's furred neck, Jennifer sighed softly and nodded. “Doctor – I don't know what happened, truly I don't – but I have a theory..."

“What is it?" Come the words on the screen.

“Obviously, that Kangaroo - “

A series of dots appeared on the screen

… no, really? Come the sarcastic reply, that much was empathised by her sigh and growls.

“Oh, har har – anyway, that Kangaroo, she wasn't what we thought she was, that is obvious! I've...how do we proceed? What are you? Sure, you appear to be a Red Kangaroo, you obviously have some...or all...your memories intact."

“I don't know – I fell asleep – I woke up...like this! In this form...could it be something in the blood? Could a blood test find out?"

Pondering, Jennifer began pacing back and forth. “You're the vet, a gifted and brilliant one, you'd know more than I do..."

“Blood, urine, faeces, skin, saliva..." Appeared on the screen. “I don't know, I'm guessing!"

“Could we – would you come back to the Hospital, with me...could we run some tests?"

“I...don't know, what are we even looking for?"

“I don't know either – but it'd be more than we currently know, which is nothing! There's got to be a cure, surely!"

Shaking her head, Nicole dropped her paws and sighed, then clutched her muzzle as if in pain.

“Are you alright Doctor?" Jennifer asked her.

“No, I'm scared, hurt, hungry and stressed – I just want to wake up from this, this nightmare!" Come more words, a little quicker as Nicole started to work out the keyboard placement.

Gently, Jennifer cuddled Nicole, feeling the kangaroo trembling.

“I know Doctor, I know...we'll do what we can, to help you – okay?"

Nodding, Nicole crawled away and back to the kitchen, retrieving the carrot and chewing on it.

This won't do, won't do at all – Nicole thought to herself. I'm not a Kangaroo, I can't be expected to live on grass and pellets and leaves and so on!

“Are you sure you want to do this? How will we explain it?" Jennifer sighed.

Crawling towards the door, Nicole paused then frowned, before standing up again.

She's right...what are the chances of two Kangaroo's being brought in, from the same town, in a day? How many people would have one as a pet? They're not common – if anything – quite exotic and...

Frustrated, Nicole stamped a slender foot and clutched at her head again, shaking it from side to side.

We can get the samples, we have veterinarian equipment in the van...emergency equipment – but no way to examine the blood work, test the composition, etc...

“Doctor? I think it best we get you bedded down and rested, we can think about it tonight, and try to work it out tomorrow – okay?" Jennifer sighed, as she gently took Nicole's paws and lightly held them. “I know its you in there, I believe that now – but you won't help yourself, or me, by being stressed and anxious. Come, I'll get you bedded down, and we can approach this the next morning – okay?"

Nodding in acquiescence, Nicole crawled after Jennifer, like she was a life-long pet, knowing her future life and care was in Jennifer's hands...

To Be Continued...