Nature calls

2 - Kira

I'm in my living room with Kate, and I just heard a growl... From a panther. The same panther that was here yesterday. Looking at her, I fidget with my hands and say, "Okay, uhm, don't freak out." She quirks a brow. "What do you mean?"

I take a deep breath. "So, uhm, last night a panther came here." She stands up with her brows raised all the way up to her hairline. "What? Are you serious?" I slowly nod "Yes." She shakes her head. "That's not possible. There are no panthers here."

"I know, but here it is." Looking out the window, I see it sitting outside. Why the hell did it have to come today. I motion for her to come over to the window. "Come look." She slowly walks over to me and looks outside. Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline again before she says, "God Kira. What are we going to do?"

I give her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. It's not dangerous. At least it wasn't yesterday." She shakes her head. "This is too weird."

"You're telling me? I'm as shocked as you are," I say. The panther just sits outside like it's waiting for me, making me sigh. Might as well get it over with. I take her hand and lead her to the front door. "Come on."

"No, I can't..." I give her a little smirk. "Do you want the flowers or not?"

"You're the worst," she says, making me chuckle a little. I slowly open the door to peek outside.

"Hey there, buddy. I have a visitor today so maybe you could do me a favor and leave?" It doesn't move but tilts it head to the side instead, making me sigh again. "For crying out loud. Alright, we have to get to work so you behave!" Is... Is it smiling?

Christ Kira. Get a grip! Of course it's not smiling!

Looking at Kate, I see that she still looks scared, so I give her a small reassuring smile to make her relax before I say, "sorry. It won't leave."

"But..." I take her hand again and give her a small smile before I say, "trust me." She takes a deep breath, looks into my eyes, and slowly nods. "... Okay." We walk out slowly while Kate is squeezing my hand so hard I almost lose the feeling in my fingers.

"Okay. This is Kate. She's a good friend," The panther tilts its head again and looks at her. "Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God," Kate whispers behind me. I guide her hand out to touch it and when we do, Kate carefully scratches its head, making it purr.

"This... It can't be possible. How..."

I shrug and say, "I really don't know, but it somehow makes me feel safe." She slowly steps out from behind me and starts to scratch its ear. Looking at it, I tilt my head to the side. "If you're going to be around from now on you should have a name."

"A name? Seriously," Kate asks. Smiling, I shrug. "Why not. How about..." I look into its eyes and a name flies out of my mouth. "Shawn." Kate looks at me with a quirked brow and asks, "why not King or something like that?"

It rubs it head against my stomach and I scratch its chin. "Nah, I think he likes the name Shawn." She shakes her head and smiles before she says, "this is incredible. You're incredible, Kira."

I blush and get a little embarrassed. "Uhm, thanks." Then I say in a serious tone, "but don't tell anyone about this." She gets a serious look on her face herself. "I would never do that, Kira. Never. Besides, no one would believe me anyway." Satisfied with her answer, I nod. "Okay then. Now, let's get to work."

We go a little further into the forest to one of my favorite spots where the ground is soft and mossy. I sit down on the ground and Kate starts to say the different flowers we need. Putting my hands on the moss, flowers start to grow all around me.

At one point, I spot Shawn lying in a tree nearby. Then I hear Freya, making me sigh. Apparently, nature has decided to show Kate all the weird things that's going on around here.