the visitor [Open]

[Blue Gyhardt]

Blue the cat stalked across the fence-top, tail high, a feat of gracefulness she’d never have achieved in human form. She was a lithe little thing as a feline, with a gray coat, and darker gray stripes; pale green eyes and a stout little face. Without a collar, she might have seemed a stray to the average passerby, but her well-groomed coat and her indifference towards people suggested otherwise. Many would simply assume she was a wandering house cat.

Mostly, she slept. Sleeping was an artform as a feline, much more relaxing. The sun on her fur felt divine; even a concrete surface was like a warm and comfortable bed. It was so easy to forget all of her human responsibilities. She would remain like this for hours, where no one would think of looking, occasionally receiving a coo or an outstretched hand from a stranger who happened to see her. She would rarely indulge them.

One weekday (when she had nothing else to do - she always waited for these days, for she would stay in cat-form out of sheer laziness), Blue caught the scent of raw meat. It was a tantalizing odor to her cat-nose. As a human, the thought would be repulsive - but to her primal instincts now, the thought of sinking her teeth into soft meat was a tempting one. The trail led her to an open window, into some apartment renter’s kitchen, where a slab of fish was waiting to be cooked.

Blue leapt down. She crossed over the sink and onto the counter. How quiet she was, she thought secretly. How soft my paws are.

Then, knowing full well the stomach ache she would receive once she shifted back, she began to gnaw at the fish.

[Lynette Chevalier]

”I swear things are fine here Olivier! Everyone at the school seems so nice! I haven’t met a mean soul since I’ve come.” Lynette reassured her town, leaning against the doorframe with the phone up to her ear. ”I promise I’m happy! Can’t you tell? You always were good at that.” A wistful smile appeared on Lynette’s face as she paused for a moment. ”I miss you, by the way. As soon as I have time I want to come home for a visit. Maybe I can have father fly me over!”

Lynette giggled at the idea of her own father flying her back home to visit. While it painted a pretty picture, she knew it would be far too expensive. She also knew the chances of her father actually being in the States while she had time off was slim too. Still, she could dream.

”Alright I have to go. I was making fish for dinner. I’ll talk to you soon!”

After she’d hung up and put her phone away, Lynette headed into the kitchen. Only to find someone else had started her dinner without her!

”Oh!” She exclaimed, briefly startled before glancing at the open window. ”Well,” She said after a pause, looking back at the cat with a small giggle, ”I guess I was asking for that one.”

As her heart calmed down, Lynette dropped the hand that had instinctively gone to her mouth in surprise. She’d opened the window to let in some fresh air for the large number of plants inside her apartment. While she wasn’t expected a feline visitor to take advantage of that, she was mainly fascinated and even a little thrilled to have such a sudden guest. While one part of her mind was listing off the number of unsanitary problems with the current situation, Lynette was more consumed by observing her visitor. She’d never had a cat before, and seeing one appear in her home so spontaneously was a strange treat.

”You’re so pretty!” She breathed, observing the animal’s coat but keeping her distance. ”Such lovely fur! Although I don’t see a collar.” Lynette frowned a little. ”You don’t look like a stray though. Maybe you’re one of the neighbors’?”