The Fallen Silk

flicker

As Effie opened the door, the soft mewling of a kitten hit her ears. She searched behind her to see if a cat had found its way into the house when she had been lugging the suitcases in, but didn't find the source. She stepped onto the porch and looked under the small wicker table by the door; she wandered to the left and peered over the railing, but found nothing – as she neared the right side, however, the mewling became more frantic. She heard the rustle of leaves from beneath a bush just below the edge of the porch – concerned, Effie dashed off and around to the side, where she could see the flicking tail of the sounds producer. With care, she moved the leaves aside and pulled out the mass of grey and white fur. She turned it around and found it staring at her – it had ceased its mewling and had begun to purr.

'You poor thing. Here, let's get you inside for some food.' Effie tried to adjust the kitten, but it bit into her thumb and jumped to the ground. 'No, silly kitty, let me take care of you!'

The kitten turned back and mewled, then seemed to nod its head in the direction of the forest path behind the house. As she took a step forward, the kitten bounded toward the trees, only to stop again and turn to face her. Something in the way the kitten was bounding off then turning to look back caused Effie to think that it wanted to be followed.

'All right, little one, I'm coming!' She called to the feline – with what seemed like another nod, the kitten ran into the trees before she could reach it. She continued to chase the furry creature, around bends in the path and over fallen logs. It wasn't until the kitten reached a small clearing that it stopped and flopped over onto its side, closing its eyes to the dim sunlight streaming through the branches. Effie came upon it, slowing down to walk as she caught her breath. 'Well, little kitty, what did you want to show me?'

The kitten perked its ears and rolled onto its back, exposing the soft white fur of its belly. Effie could hear the purrs in the silence of the forest – she knelt down and rubbed the kitten until it grabbed at her hand and nibbled on her fingers. It didn't protest when she slipped her other hand under it and lifted it from the ground, nor did it fight as she cuddled it against her chest.

The clearing was strangled by tall grass and climbing vines, reaching along the trunks and branches; the grass was bent, here and there, as if animals had made the area their home. Though she could see – and feel – the creeping forest fog, Effie felt little pricks of warmth from the rays of sunlight dotting the ground. She walked in a spiral around the clearing, each trip around bringing her closer to the centre. As she put one foot in front of the other near the centre, the toe of her boot hit something hard. Effie looked down and saw a small chest partially hidden in the grass – it was, perhaps, half a foot in length, with a lock on it. The kitten mewled as Effie bent to pick it up, but continued to purr as she adjusted the chest and the kitten for easier travel.

'All right, kitty, let's get home and eat some dinner.' She smiled down at the feline and left the meadow and the sunlight and bent blades of grass behind. As she walked, Effie hummed to the kitten – her attempt at keeping the animal calm – and made note of all the flourishing plants and flowers. Where it seemed that the trees and bushes nearer the road were shedding their leaves, the farther from the house a person was meant the greener their surroundings. Effie made a note to write her observations in her journal before bed. It was an easy way to centre her thoughts and keep her mind focused and on track.

She could see the soft lights of her cabin not too far in the distance, and felt relieved to be nearing the comfort and warmth of her new home. Though she was concerned about interacting with the townspeople, Effie was positive she would enjoy her stay surrounded by silence and nature.

With care, Effie opened the front door and closed it behind her. She placed the chest on her desk, and walked to the couch to create a nest for the kitten. A pillow and her scarf protected the sleeping feline from cold, discomfort, and falling off the couch as she inched away to the kitchen to stoke the embers and put the water back on for tea and instant soup. She searched the refrigerator and found a package of deli meat; in the cupboard she found two cans of tuna. Feeling certain that the kitten was old enough to eat solid foods, Effie opened the can and emptied it, juice and all, onto a small saucer. Turning, she almost dropped the dish on the floor out of shock – the kitten had, with all of its cat-like stealth, sneaked into the kitchen while she had been fixing it dinner.

'Did you smell the tuna, or did you hear me opening the can?' She laughed as she placed the saucer on the floor near the archway separating the kitchen from the living room. The kitten mewled in response as it dug into the tuna. 'Well, I think you have the right idea, kitty. Time for some grub.'

When the water was boiling, Effie poured according to the markings on her cup of soup and refilled her tea cup after changing the bag. With fork, soup, and tea in hand, she moved to the living room and sat on the couch. The soup was unappetizing and over salted, but it was something in her stomach until she was able to take stock of her cupboards and determine what all she would need from the store in town. As she listened to the purrs and soft mewls of the kitten, Effie opened her journal and took up a pen.

Everyone should spend some time with a cat...