Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

Lost Companion

The little neko was startled out of her sleep, and she opened her eyes. Her ears perked up when she heard someone coming. She gave a yawn and pulled a blanket over herself. It was something she'd always done to hide herself. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. The blanket almost matched the color of the couch, and the room was a bit dark. When he came in and sat down, the girl tentatively looked up, her eyes wide and her white ears perked up. She could smell the food, and her stomach growled again. Why was he feeding her so much? She looked down at the food by the puzzle, but he was right by it. She didn't want to come any closer, and he hadn't given her permission to eat, either. Her emerald eyes flitted up to his face, hoping he knew what she wanted.
 
He smiled sadly "Not this time I'm afraid, you need to use your words, I have an assortment of vegetables, some steak fries, and a steak. If you want something to drink you need to say it, if you want something to eat you need to ask nicely. I don't know what happened to you, all I know is what your injuries, and state of mind can tell me. You have been abused, obviously used as a slave or servent, you're owner or somone close to him was cruel to you." Here he got down on his knees and drew a little closer offering his hand to her to reassure her. Softly he said "I am not going to hurt you, I am not your owner, and I won't be giving you back to him. I am here to help you, it's my job, and my duty as a human being to offer help when there is somone who needs it." Finished speaking he waited for her reaction and hopefully reply.
 
Arianna looked at him and whimpered. It was probably the first sound she'd really made in response to something he'd said. She watched him warily as he pretty much hit the nail on the head. She tensed her body, her tail twitching. When he drew closer, she pulled her legs closer to her body, whimpering. Even as he spoke and tried to offer some reassurance to her, she didn't trust him. The young neko shook her head. She looked at the food, wondering if she could grab it without his stopping her. She glanced at him, pointing at the box. She wanted it. Her stomach growled hungrily. Her high metabolism kept her hungry between mealtimes. She had been trained not to speak, and now she was practically afraid to. She looked at him with wide eyes.
 
He could hear her stomach growling and the situation was beginning to get dangerous. If he didn't push her and she didn't speak, even in a situation of safety she never would, and as a result she would never lose the shackles of her old life. He needed to get her to speak, and since he had already told her the requirements for her food, he couldn't retract the statement. To do that would be a sign of weakness, and as a result she might never leave her comfort zone and free herself. No, he needed to be firm, as a vet one needed to know when to show kindness and when to be firm, this was a time to be firm, for her own good. So he got up walked away from her and started taking back the food "I guess since you won't speak that you're not hungry, and this was a prime cut of steak too, pure meat, no bone, cooked to perfection and seasoned the same. But since you won't tell me what you want I guess I'll just have to find somone who does." He said sounding perfectly sincere in his actions, but moving a little slowly giving her time to react and speak up. To be safe, however he held the food tightly and close to his body, so she couldn't snatch it away.
 
Arianna whined when he began to take the food away. The girl hopped up without her crutches and limped after him, whining and whimpering and trying to get to the food. Was he trying to trick her? She looked up at him with her wide eyes. She looked scared, but so hungry. She grabbed his arm and tugged. She could smell the food inside. "Please," she said quietly. Her voice was hoarse from little use, and she was barely audible. Her little voice still held a sweetness to it, even at the raspy, unused level. Her small hand reached up to grab at the box desperately, her tail flickering as she tried to keep her balance without her crutches.
 
He turned to her and although it was a little word, it held so much and for the first time since finding her in his garden, he was truly hopefull. "All right, don't worry, you can have as much as you want." He said softly, then he moved the food to his opposite hand and with the other, gently held her arm to provide balance. Carefully guiding her to the table in the kitchen he placed her at a chair, grabed some plates, and set all of the food out in front of her. Providing silver ware, and a couple of glasses filled with milk in front of her, he sat at the opposite end, pulled out a book and let her eat in peace. Looking up quickly he said "Don't worry about the dishes, I'll take care of them, when you're done I'll guide you back to the couch and you can go back to sleep if you want. I'll need to go back to work and will see you this evening." Pausing, he thought a moment and said "you don't have to use the utensils if you don't want to, or don't feel comfortable using them, it's all up to you." Then he returned to his book and waited for her to finish eating.
 
Arianna's body tensed when he grabbed her arm, but she let him guide her to the table. She slowly and painfully sat down, looking up at him and watching his movements as he set the food out for her. She began to eat, quickly eating the steak and veggies. She licked her lips when she was done, drinking down the glasses of milk. She looked up at him, and even though he'd said not to, she began to move to take the dishes to the sink and wash them. She was so used to her everyday chores, the ones that she would be punished for not doing, and she was afraid to quit doing them. She put the plates in the sink and began washing, putting her weight on her good leg.
 
He sighed and moved to the sink and proceeded to dry the dishes that she washed. He would need to be more observent and quick in order to beat her to the sink in order to take care of the dishes he thought. Though it might be an ingrained response, but he didn't like how she was straining her leg. Once finished he proferred his arm so that she could lean against him and led her back to the couch. When there he looked at her kindly and said "I want you to rest, relax, curl up, but don't strain your leg too much, it needs time to heal, doctors orders. Now I will be back this evening and I will make us something to eat, don't bother with doing any work, just relax, and try to enjoy yourself." Then when she had settled herself safely onto the couch he left to go back to the vet office, hoping that she would listen to him.
 
The little neko smiled a little to herself when he didn't try to pull her away from her duties. She finished cleaning the dishes before tentatively staggering back to the living room. She settled down on the couch, pulling the blanket that she'd earlier used to hide over her body. She looked up at him, listening to him. She slowly nodded, her fingers going to the little bell around her collar as she watched him leave.

The girl fell asleep again on the couch, curling up there in the warmth the blanket provided for her. She needed her sleep. She had a lot to catch up on. She would still be peacefully sleeping when he returned. She was exhausted from her escape from her previous master and the little sleep he'd allowed her, so she was constantly tired.
 
That evening when he returned to the house he brought some ingrediants for a crown roast, vegetables, a salad, some bread, and some potatoes. Stopping by the kitchen he set the oven to pre heat, pulled out some bowls, plates, glasses, and utensils. Quickly going to his room to change and returning to season the roast, and vegetables. Using a smaller oven he put the bread in an oven safe bread holder and set the oven to warm for hot bread. Several hours later he had a cooked roast, baked potatoes, some grilled and lightly seasoned vegetables, hot bread, a salad, and had poured them bothe glasses of milk. Going to the neko he proferred his arm for her to grab onto and lead her to the table where the food was ready. "I thought that you might like some thing a little better prepared, this won't be what we eat every night, but I thought you might enjoy it. You can have as much as you want, and whatever you want, if you need something just ask, and you can eat whenever you're ready." Setting her down he made sure all of the food was in easy reach of her, then grabbing a little bit of everything he sat down and began to eat.
 
Arianna woke up when he came home. Her ears perked up, and she looked up over the edge of the couch and watched as he prepared dinner. Her emerald eyes were wide and curious, her chin resting on the back of the couch as she watched him. When he came over to get her, she tentatively took his arm and hobbled after him. She was clearly still nervous around him, but she at least wasn't hissing when he came within ten feet of her. It would take a while for her to actually trust him.

She sat down at the table, looking up at him. She nodded and began to eat, quickly clearing a plate full of roast, vegetables, and bread. She downed the milk, licking her lip and looking over at him. She was scared to say anything. She watched him tentatively for a moment before she grabbed her plate and began to get up to go wash it, limping on her bad leg. She winced in pain as she walked, her ears flattening back against her head. She put her plate in the sink and began washing it, a pained, perplexed look on her cute face.
 
"So what's with the look" He asked as he came over to help. "Why do you seem so confused by my actions? So far all I've done is try to help you, and still you seem distant, fearfull, defensive, what have I done to earn such a response?" He couldn't help it, he had no real problem with how she was acting, but with the why. She needed to talk and he could either slowly take the band aid off, or you could rip it right off. Either way was painfull, but the second one was quicker, if she didn't face her fears and at least talk about herself then she would probably keep running. After all, sometimes a true friend isn't one who lets things slide, but is one who forces you to do what needs to be done.
 
Arianna frowned when he came over. It took her a few moments to get enough courage to talk. "Hurts," she said quietly, referring to her leg. "Human." She'd never been treated nicely by humans. Her tail flicked quietly, cleaning of the dishes before the girl turned and limped back to the living room, wanting some space between him and her. She climbed onto the couch and laid down, staring at the puzzle. She bit her lip quietly, wishing he'd just leave it be. She was scared of him, even as he helped her. He'd given nothing but kindness, and she was still afraid of him. He was a vet, so why didn't he understand that? It took longer than a day for wounds to heal and trust to grow.
 
A deep sadness began to enter his heart, she was making strides, but by her injuries she was brutalized. Her own actions, and the disregard for the pain she felt just to do dishes showed that whomever had owned her before was a cruel person. He began to wonder if she might wholly recover, some animals he knew no matter how much kindness they were shown after being brutalized for a long time could never fully recover. The only thing he could do was let her decide whether she will heal or not. Knowing she needed to be alone he locked up the house, started turning out the ligts, went to the kitchen and grabed a glass of water. He went to the neko and kneeled in front of her and said "I'm going to bed, I sudjest you do the same, you can sleep where ever you want. If you need me for anything just come into my room and ask, don't be afraid to wake me up." He left the water on the table next to the puzzel for her to drink should she need one, and headed to bed, fearing he might have pushed her too far.
 
Arianna stayed quiet, listening to him move about. She was lying stretched out on the couch so he couldn't come sit by her. She listened as he locked up the house and began turning out the lights. Her eyes adjusted well, and she blinked quietly, looking around. When he came over with the water, the little neko tensed, looking at him. She watched him, slowly nodding. She watched as he set the water on the table and left.

Arianna really didn't feel like getting up at the moment, and she was pretty comfy. The small neko grabbed the blanket on the back of the couch, pulling it down over her. She shut her eyes and nuzzled into the fabric, sighing quietly. She wished she could trust him, but she was still so scared. She'd never trusted any humans except one servant who'd showed her some kindness and stood up for her. She wasn't sure if the man who'd rescued her was like that. She fell asleep thinking about him. She'd wake up the next morning whenever he finally came downstairs.
 
It was time for him to give her the space she needed, she needed to decide whether to trust him or not. So he entered into a routine he would get up early make breakfast, clean the dishes and go to work. He would be back around noon bringing food, and try to coax a few words from the neko, usually by trying to just get her to provide a greeting, or tell him what she wanted. Then he would go back to work and be back in the evening, they would have dinner, and he would provide some foot therapy, he never got mad, or terse with her, and showed her only respect. The only change to the routine was the occasional visitor who brought a pet animal for some problem. Most were easy and simple problems that were solved by changes in diet, and excercise. He usually was short with the owners, but with the animals he was gentle and kind. A few times he went out back to a shed where he kept the injured wild animals. A few were already on the mend, and he had released while the neko was there. Then the day came where he had to remove the boot on her foot. "All right, let's take another look at that leg of yours." The he tried to coax her down to his operating table where he could examine it.
 
The neko would sometimes be up when he got up, and sometimes she was still asleep, either on the couch or in her room. While she had been a light sleeper when she first arrived, she seemed to begin to relax as she stayed longer. She slept more easily, and sometimes wouldn't even wake up when he was in the same room. When he'd come home for lunch, she'd have a new puzzle lying on the floor, sometimes completed, sometimes with only a third of the pieces left to place. She'd sometimes say a few words, but never complete sentences. She began to seem to trust him more, letting him give her foot therapy. If a visitor rang the doorbell and knocked on the door, she'd either run upstairs and hide, or go into the kitchen and growl at them warningly.

When he began trying to get her to come to his operating room, she looked at him nervously. She always seemed to consider things he requested for quite a while. She usually didn't follow him anywhere, but she tentatively followed him down to the operating room. She sat down on the operating table. She could at least put pressure on her foot without too much pain or difficulty. "Okay?" she asked quietly, wanting to know how her leg was.
 
Glad she had followed him willingly he then proceeded to examine her leg. Removing the support for it he then expertly began examining it with his hands, probing it, massaging it, till finally he was finished. Pleased with how it was healing, he looked back to the neko and said "The fracture you sustained seems to be healed, I've noticed you don't limp as much so you can bear some weight on it. You're muscles however still need time to heal, and so my sudestion is that although you can walk around some, don't exert yourself. That means no running, and to only walk when absolutely necissary. Once you're all healed maybe we can decide what you want to do from there. You probably don't want to stay with me, but I have heard of some nekos who work like regular people in some cities. Maybe you would like to do something along those lines, but I think that to do so you will need a sponsor before a judge will grant you your freedom. I don't have any problem doing that, but what ever you do is completely up to you."
 
She watched him nervously as he examined her leg. It looked quite a bit better than when he'd found her. Her tail twitched quietly as she sat, and if he'd touch a sensitive spot, she'd shift and lightly move her leg, wanting to pull away. She seemed to understand that he was trying to help her. Her wound was closed, but still working on healing. Her muscles still hurt, but they were better than before.

When he began to explain how her leg was doing, she looked up at him and nodded. She looked quite innocent, sitting there on the table with her wide emerald eyes. She was wearing another pair of sweats and a shirt that he'd modified for her. She shifted quietly as he talked about what she'd do after she was healed. She wasn't really sure. Her master was probably still looking for her, and now that she'd had a taste of kindness, she didn't want to go back. She looked up at him and slowly got down on her feet. She didn't think even a judge would help. Rulings could be iffy sometimes.
 
Once finished examining her, checking some of the more easily visible bruises he deemed her fit to go back upstairs. He dawdled however in the operating room thinking about what to do next. He was growing feelings for his patient and he didn't even know her name. He had heard about such circumstances, back in world war 2 nurses and soldier often got married. It had to do with some mental condition and survival instinct that latched on to those whome saved your life. However, he believed himself fo be a professional, he couldn't gain feelings for his patient, and besides, it wasn't like she seemed to like him either. She trusted him enough to care for her, and anything he did might send her running again, and if he cherished anything it would be that trust. She was brutalized, and wouldn't trust easily, and besides, who ever heard of somone possibly falling in love after only a few days. No it wasn't possible, and so he remained down there sorting out his own feelings and thoughts till he felt he was presentable and returned upstairs. He said his good night to the neko, and proceeded to go to bed, hopefully in the morning things would get easier.
 
The girl headed upstairs when he told her she could. She felt weird to be walking on her foot. Her foot was a bit sore and weak from using the brace. She limped a little more than she had been earlier that day, but the brace had been helping her not use her torn muscles as much. She went upstairs and crawled up onto the couch, waiting for him to come up. She felt like she was starting to get attached to him. She was still scared, of course. She'd sometimes find herself waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares, all alone. She remembered everything still. Her mind and heart weren't anywhere close to being healed, but they were better off than when she had started.

When he came upstairs, she looked up and got up, following him upstairs. She went into her own bedroom, curling up and falling asleep.

She woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. She found that her fists were clenched and her tail was twitching. Suddenly not wanting to be alone, she looked toward the door. She didn't want to wake him up. Maybe she could go without waking him up. She quietly got up, creeping to the door and down the hall. She quietly eased into his room and gingerly climbed up on his bed next to him. She hoped he didn't mind. She wasn't sure if this was acceptable, but sometimes, if she'd been really good, she'd slept in her Master's bed. She curled up against his body heat and shut her eyes, starting to fall asleep again.
 
He of course wasn't that oblivious and awoke to her climbing into his bed. He knew about the nighmares and would sometimes wake up hearing her cry out a bit, he never let on that he knew and it always made him sad. There were some things that one could heal, but dreams were a place unreachable to others, and had to be dealt with in ones own time. He felt unsure in this moment though on what he should do, for it was the first time she had come to his room and he felt like he should comfort her somehow. Though if she wasn't ready, or had only come into the room and hoped not to disturb him, if he tried to hold her tight to keep the nightmares at bay she might run. He decided that for now he wouldn't do anything untill she was more healed, instead tomorrow was a day off for him, and he was thinking on how to make it enjoyable for the bothe of them.

The next morning he got up softly as usual and made breakfast, this time however he placed it on a food tray and brought it up to the neko. When she roused he placed it on the night stand by her so she could take what she needed. "I've already cleaned the breakfast dishes so you don't have to, so enjoy the meal, take as long as you want. When you're done why don't you tell me what you like to do and I'll see if your leg is up to it."
 
The neko didn't notice that he was awake. She took comfort in his presence, and she curled up tightly, falling asleep again.

When she woke up, she saw the food on the nightstand. She blinked tiredly, looking over at him. She'd overslept? She slowly nodded, shifting and starting to eat. She wasn't wolfing down food anymore. She had gained a few pounds in the time with him. When she was done, she licked her lips and quietly set the tray back on the nightstand. She looked over at him, shifting quietly as she thought. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do. She thought of the yard, but she knew she probably couldn't do that yet. Would he ever allow her to go outside?

She shrugged quietly. "Don't know," she murmured. She shifted quietly, looking up at him with her big emerald eyes.
 
His heart ached and so he cautiously said "we can go for a walk outside, that shouldn't be too strenous, just as long as you stay with me don't run, and tell me when you get tired, and want to come back. If that's what you would like to do I will go and make us a picknick as well." He paused for a moment and on a sudden impulse embraced her in a firm reassuring hug "don't worry, I'll take care of you." Then he pulled back in shock at what he had just done and got up stammering "oh god... I'm....I mean.... I'm so sorry I shouldn't have done that." Then he started to go down stairs in embarasment. "If you still want to go, I'll see you down stairs, but I'd understand it if you don't want to go." He said sadly.
 
The little neko looked up at him, hope glimmering in her eyes for a moment. She slowly nodded. That was something she'd want. She looked down at her lap, then was taken completely by surprise when his arms wrapped around her. Her body stiffened, and she clenched her fists, waiting for him to let her go. When he pulled back, she looked up at him, her face showing her slight discomfort at the line he'd crossed.

When she felt like she'd recovered, the girl slowly got up, going downstairs. She was walking a little funny, her leg still hurting as her muscles worked at repairing themselves. She looked over at him, studying him tentatively. "Outside?" she said quietly. She hadn't gotten to be outside without being running from someone in a very long time. Even his little slip-up didn't overcome her desire to be out in sunlight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom