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“Karl!”
That is the sound my owner makes when he is referring to me. I have no idea what it means, nor the context clues to ever find out. I am aware that me and my owner are of not the same species, for he has much longer limbs than I. Still, he insists to be near me.
People often underestimate me. The animals my owner often takes me near may be much taller than me; that does not equal brain power though. I consider myself quite clever. I do not understand why the people shun me for being un disruptive while in public. There have been many times where my owner would leave, and I would be alone in the expansive den that we inhabit. I never knew why, for I have never bit anyone unless provoked.
I help my owner whenever the opportunity presents itself. Whether it be his weird books that he vanishes into, or simply providing comfort and encouragement. I am by his side whenever he allows me to do so. And I believe I am helping. I cannot understand the human language of course, but body language is often enough. Sometimes he even gives me treats or a pet as a thank you (which do not go unappreciated). I am quite sure that my owner cares for me so. He has many times come searching for me when I am absent, and has never once doubted my presence.
I have never seen others of my kind in the same situation as I. Whenever I ask them about it, they either act confused or ask how am I able to live with such nuisances. My response is always, “I have nowhere else to go.” or “He is no predator, for he would have hunted me already.”
My owner found me when I was a wee cub. My mother had left far too early, (I believe I was unwanted) and although I do not remember much, he took me in. I imagine he thought of me as one of those agile pests with the whiskers and pointy ears.
I have lived with him ever since, but recently he had been acting strange. He hasn’t been using that sticky black stuff to sit at his desk and fiddle with as often. He hasn’t been going outdoors as often (he didn’t a lot to begin with). He just stares at a glowing rectangle and barely get out of bed. The den has been more of a hassle to travel around, and it smells different (thats a bad thing).
At first, I enjoyed it. My owner didn’t push me off of his lap when I was seeking comfort; he still fed me. He gave me pets, the usual. But even back then, I still found it incredibly odd. After a while (around seven unfilled moons worth) I was growing increasingly concerned. However, this was far from the first time this situation arose.
The last time, another human (who my owner is quite fond of) came over for a few moons to help my owner through it. I think he is referred to as rain poe (at least that’s what sounds are said). My owner also sometimes calls him a deer sometimes, which I have never failed in questioning. Anyway, this other human is very close to my owner. I can tell they enjoy each other’s company. Sometimes when my owner is talking to me (which is quite often because he doesn’t have many friends) I hear Rain Poe’s name. He says things that I do not understand like:
“iyay antway otay elltay Ranpo owhay iyay eelfay. imyay afraidyay iyay amyay opelesslyhay inyay ovelay. atwhay otay oday, Karl atwhay otay oday…”
Or,
“Ranpo isyay omingcay overyay odaytay! iyay antcay aitway… imyay adglay ouyay avehay akentay ayay ikinglay otay imhay.”
The human language makes no sense. I don’t think I will ever be able to understand it. I sometimes wish my owner could speak my language, or that we had some way of communicating. Of course all efforts for such purpose will probably be in vain.
Now, my owner is in a state of vulnerability, where his friend would probably come over to assist. However, as previously mentioned, it’s been quite some time and there is no sign of him.
I will now reiterate what happened quite recently.
— — —
It was around noon when I felt that familiar grumble in my abdomen.
Of course, the next action I was to take is to go to my owner. He fed me if I annoyed him enough (or rather rub his leg until I was too distracting).
I got up from the comfortable pillow that I enjoy to rest on and walked to my owner’s workplace. This was the room where he would sit down and hunch over and use (a lot of) paper with some black liquid on it. This was usually where I found him during the day. After all, he would always tell me if he were to depart. I quickly walked with minimal sound to the entrance of said room. The den was very dusty and awfully cold. It was uneasily silent. So… very… silent. Usually I could hear a scratching sound against paper. Sometimes I could also hear the rustling of paper, or the tapping of my owner’s foot (he always seems so stressed). But today, there was nothing.
Because of this, I wasn’t surprised when I entered his work room to find it empty. Of course, this wasn’t the first time for this to happen. Mayhap he simply woke up late, or in the kitchen. I next checked the most obvious place: his bedroom. This time when I entered I found my owner in his bed. He looked half asleep.
He wasn’t doing anything, which was surprising. Usually he would be doing… something. Whether it be staring at that weird light or eating. I slowed my walking pace and sat at the side of the bed, still on the floor. Many plates and plastic bags were next to me. My owner didn’t seem to notice me. He was starting at the ceiling. His eyes were half way open. His hair was all over the place and oilier than usual. After waiting by his side for a few more moments I asked, “Are you alright?”
I knew he wouldn’t understand me.
He did seem to notice me through. He turned his head and patted the space beside him. I jumped up and nudged him slightly. He groaned and ran his head through my fur. I snuggled up next to him. He rubbed his eyes and sat up.
“Aybemay iyay antcay ieday uiteqay etyay, iyay illstay avehay ouyay afteryay allyay.” He muttered. It was in a breathy tone, like he didn’t have enough air in his lungs to speak. I curled up into his lap, trying to help him. He sniffed, “Imyay orrysay, Karl.” His eyes then started filling with water. He began whipping the liquid off his face as if he was ashamed of it. He buried his face into my fur. I could feel myself getting increasingly wet, but I didn’t care.
I peeped out a sound of affection. I didn’t really know what to do, but I tried my best to be supportive. My owner then picked up his head. His face was flushed and moist. I tilted my head. What was happening? I head butted him and rubbed my cheek against his chest. He pressed his lips on the top of my head and embraced me. I felt a little too warm and uncomfortable, but I couldn’t move.
He then sat upright. He looked at me with somber eyes (that were barely visible) and shakily exhaled. He threw his legs over the edge of the bed. This action unintentionally pushed me off. My owner picked up his rectangular light and turned it on. He mumbled something and tapped fiercely at it. He then gave me another pat on the head and stood up. He unevenly walked to the kitchen, I was right behind him the entire time.
He got a food can from the cabinet and opened it. He placed the contents of said can on my food plate. I swung my tail, but didn’t dig in quite yet. Something was still wrong with my owner. Humans shouldn’t be leaking water from their eyes. I inquisitively looked up at him. The corners of his mouth turned up, but his eyes didn’t. He then turned, looked backward at me again and continued walking. I continued to watch him until he reached the end of the hallway. He turned to the bathroom door and closed it behind him.
Well, he seemed fine now. At least he wasn’t leaking anymore.
I swung my tail again and focused my attention to my food. When I was eating, I kept thinking how I was so grateful that my owner was fixed. I was getting extremely nervous about him. I continued to eat, but was interrupted by the (very loud) sound of the front door opening. I looked to see it was my owner’s friend.
I heard his heavy breathing he rushed towards me. His head darted around the room. For once he had his eyes opened, they were wide. He squatted down next to me.
“oday ouyay owknay erewhay oepay isyay?!” He asked quickly. I guessed he was looking for my owner, maybe he was just really lonely. I nodded and put purpose into my step as I took the long hallway. I stopped at the bathroom door and clawed at it. My owner’s friend reached for the handle and opened the door.
My owner was on the floor. I was confused at first; I could think of way better places to nap. That was until I saw a red liquid coming from his arms. For once I knew what this was. It was blood. I don’t know much about it, but I know it hurts. I’ve gotten cuts before and my owner helped me, so I should help my owner! I ran over to his side and hit him gently with my paw. My owner’s friend (who was much more fast than I) was holding up his head and was saying things to him that I didn’t know. My owner’s friend then also started leaking. Just like my owner was earlier, water was leaking from his eyes.
Now I knew for sure this wasn’t good.
My owner’s friend turned behind him and reached under the sink. He pulled out multiple rolls of white paper. He kept frantically talking to my owner as he put the paper of the cuts. My owner’s friend then began to put pressure on the wound.
I circled the two, not knowing how to help. I was scared because it was very weird how my owner had decided to take a nap in the bathroom. He also went to sleep while hurt, which puzzled me even more. I kept squealing out little noises, because Rainpoe was also doing the same. I continued to lightly paw and head butt my owner. Rainpoe was now spilling even more water from his eyes.
But then, thankfully my owner woke up from his nap.
My owner’s friend immediately pulled him into a hug. He kept whispering things into his ear. Then Rainpoe pulled back from the embrace.
Rainpoe then pressed his lips into a line and hesitated. He spoke in a low voice, “iyay ovelay ouyay oepay. whyay-“ He paused and whipped the water of his face, “ywhay oday ouyay oday isthay otay ourselfyay?”
Poe muttered something back that I couldn’t hear and placed his head on Rainpoe’s shoulder. Rainpoe pressed his lips to the top of my owner’s head repeatedly.
— — —
After that my owner was gone for a while, but Rainpoe came every day to give me food. He also gave me treats and pets! The den was very lonely without my owner. After a while he did come back. We were very eager to see each other. When he saw me after he came home he picked me up and gave me lots of pets!
I was extremely relieved that he was back.
Time seemed to fly by after that. Rainpoe always visited at least once a week, but most of the time it was more of that. I didn’t mind of course, Rainpoe always gives me treats when I’m with him. Plus, it’s an extra person I get to snuggle.
In the present, Rainpoe almost never leaves. He sleeps, eats, and does everything else that you would do in your den. I enjoy when he’s at our den, he brightens up the place. He sleeps in the same bed as my owner, I wouldn’t have pointed this out if we didn’t have a massive den. There’s plenty of space for Rainpoe to have his own bed, so I was curious on why he slept with my owner. Either way, I don’t mind one bit.
The last time my owner pet me he had a metal thing around one of his fingers. I didn’t know that humans did that. Maybe it is to attract a mate? It feels pretty odd on my fur.
I’m happy with my life. Nor my owner or Rainpoe have leaked since my owner took a nap in the bathroom. We all live together in harmony, and I couldn’t ask for more.
— — —
EXTRA:
“Hey Poe,” Ranpo looked up from the bag of candy in his hands.
Poe looked up from his book, he hummed as a way to encourage Ranpo to continue.
“Where did you get Karl?”
“Oh Karl?” Poe snickered to himself, “I thought I was picking up a stray cat when I first got him. But in a way, I’m glad he wasn’t.”
Ranpo chuckled, “You got lucky. He’s one smart raccoon.”
“All raccoons are pretty smart.”
“That may be so, but trust me, Karl knows a lot more than you think.”