O r i o n Cheetah

The Feather 

She woke. Opened her eyes, there was nothing but darkness. Is she blind? All she can see is darkness. Her breath is gone. She couldn’t feel her mouth. And listen, theres not a single sound but her own thoughts. Yet, she can still feel her hands, her legs and her body. 

 

She’s flipping slowly, down, down and down. She felt the wind was blowing on her. Will she ever hit the ground or just keep floating forever? She had no idea. She started flipping her hands and legs. Trying to swim and shift. But she doesn’t know if she’ll hit something. She just keep on searching in the darkness of sight and sound. Hoping to catch something, or someone she’d been looking for. Because she hasn’t forgot why she’s here, luckily. 

 

The wind were moving her from every direction. A strong one blew violently. Making her flight uncontrollable. Its real cold. Fortunately its getting warmer as she float lower and lower.

 

There, she caught something, a hand, familiar one. Warm, smooth palm and little pattern of lines. She recognize it. Grabbed it, tight. And hold the body. “Michael i know i will find you!” She wanted to speak, but she doesn’t even have a tongue or a mouth. She wanted to cry, but she doesn’t have tears anymore. So she just hold it as tight as she can. Whatever happens she’s not going to let go.  “Michael! I’m here! Can you feel me?” “Are you an angel?” it wasn’t a voice. But Orion can sense Mike’s speaking. A sudden strong wind separated Orion arms away from him. She’s out of touch, again…

 

“Michael? Oh baby you’re over work again? C’mon, don’t sleep on your desk, What is the $1000 couch we bought for? Decoration?” “Sorry Anna…I just…” “You just fell out of your chair.” Anna laughed, helped him up. “I just had the strangest dream i ever had.” 

“Really? What is it?” 

“I, I saw a girl. She seemed to know me, and…” 

“And what?” 

“Well I’m not so sure if i should really tell you…”

“C’mon say it!” Anna said with excited curiosity,

“We just hold each other so tight and we won’t let go… The feeling was just… so touching…”

“You naughty boy!” Anna punched Mike’s shoulder heavily. “How could you say something like this to me!”

“Hey, you told me to just tell you!” He was laughing. Anna started tickling all over his tummy. “Okay, alright, alright! I still have to work right now.”

“No, you don’t. Don’t you remember we have something to do this afternoon?”

Mike thought for a second. “Picking up the kitties?”

“Right. We need to arrive the garden at 1:00. The time now is 11:20. Perfect time to go out for lunch.” 

“Where you want to go?” He asked, packing up papers on his desk.

“Um…I don’t know… maybe burger king or…” Mike spotted something next to the table as Anna was talking, “where you want to go? Hey, I’m asking you.” Mike was holding a big white feather. “What are you looking at?”

“Oh, I just found this feather under the table. Its beautiful.” said Mike, “Indeed. It’s a big one isn’t it? Is it from some kind of white eagle or something?” 

“Well, I think its from you.” 

“What? Why?” 

“Are you not an angel Ann?” 

“Okay. lol. Lets go get Otis out for lunch and kitties. He has been craving for one since last year.” Sweet kissed at his cheek.

Mike placed the feather in his pocket and went out with his family.

 

“Dad look! those kitties are so fluffy!” Otis was jumping crazy at the garden. There were so much cats in the fenced hay that they’re crushing each other on their shoulders. It has a sign read“Kitties Paradise”. But its more like a  mess.

“Wow nice kitties, have you picked up the one you like yet?” Mike was a bit worry but he tried not to upset Otis.

“Um… Just give me a few more minutes, its hard to chose…” 

“Okay. Careful don’t get hurt by their claws cause they can tear your skin off.” 

“Don’t threaten me dad. They’re harmless.”

“Watch out Otis, you don’t want to touch their bottom with your hands, Its dirty. ” Anna was urging Otis not to tickle a brown cat that it’s fur is obviously originally white in color.

Mike took out his pocket to see if he has enough money. Oops, the white feather swift out accidentally. He tried to follow the feather and grab it but its just too soft that it kept flying away from his hand. The feather is flying into the window of the cats clinic. “Oh, Come on…” Mike looked behind. Otis is still playing with the kitties. So he went to the door of the clinic and knocked, “Sorry anyone here?” No one answer, he walked inside slowly and there he saw a spotted cat lying on a surgery table. Not breathing. Just after a second, the feather right next to the table shift on top of the cat. Mike walked closer. “Poor cat…”  He studied the cat for a while, its black and white spotted. And Its has long legs and big ears.  A vet came in. “That is a savannah cat. We found her lying on the ground yesterday. Very weak. We thought she was just sleeping but didn’t eat for so long time. And when we took her to the lab we found her breathless already. Poor thing.” The vet walked near the table, “Oh my jesus christ! What did you do to her?” She was in shock.

“No, I didn’t do anything. I’m just looking for… ” 

“Its breath returned. This is amazing.”

The savannah cat woke up and jumped on mike’s chest. He gently held her in his arms. She was looking in his eyes. Mike looked back, a familiar feeling, he had never felt this way before though.

“Wow wow… This is a miracle. She’s pretty active as well. Seems like she had gained some energy somewhere.” The vet is grinning with excitement, “Okay little beauty, gotta get you some water.” 

‘Ring Ring’ It was Mike’s phone ringing. He put the cat down on the table.

“I gotta go.”

“Thanks for visiting.” Catching the cat while she’s about to jump off.

 

Mike exited the clinic and went back to the garden. Where Otis was crying out loud there. 

“Oh my little buddy, What happened?” Comforting him.

“Papa, the pussy bit me!” Showed his father his bleeding finger.

“He’s bitten by that cat.” Anna sighed and pointed right at the grey pussy cat on a trunk.

“I’m terribly sorry for this we’ll lock that cat up later.” A worker handed a disinfectant to Mike.

“Later? You should take it away immediately. You know that thing hurts kids and you still allow it here? You don’t even have an ideal hygiene place for the animals!” Mike was angry how irresponsible the workers were.

“We’re really sorry about this.” The worker was embarrassed.

“You watch them out okay? We’re not paying for anything here. Lets go.” Mike and Anna took Otis back to their car leaving the cats behind and started cleaning his wound.

“Ooo… This sucks…” Otis is moaning.

“Sucks so bad… But little Otis is gonna get over this easily right? He’s the toughest in the world!” Mike’s encouragement to Otis  seemed to work as his tears were reduced.

“its nearly 3 o’clock. I have to buy something in the market.”

“Well, I think Otis needs some rest. And I should finish my record today. So lets go.”

“You’re just a workaholic.”

They drove home and took a rest because Otis fell asleep so quick in the car. Anna went out for shopping as Mike decided to keep working on his musics at his home studio. He’s a workaholic. Just like Anna always said. 

 

Its 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Otis was sleeping in his bedroom at the second floor. The sky suddenly poured out rain. The windows had gone wet. Sounds of rain drops covered everyones ears in the LA city. 

“Dad!” Otis called his father at the living room. He walked down the stairs to answer. There he saw Otis pointing through the balcony. There stood the savannah cat he recognized. How did she came here? She walked all the way down the city to their house? “Did it just followed us home?” Otis asked. Mike opened the door for this cat with rains all over her fur. She went inside and shook her body making the floor wet. Mike grabbed her body and looked at her carefully. He saw a collar on her neck with a sticker of Orion lure shop. 

“I think we should keep it.” Otis suggested.

“A free pet. How awesome is that.” The cat was looking deeply in Mike’s eyes, “She’s cute. Just keep looking at me little kitty? Am I so special for you?” Of course you are, Michael, you have no idea… 

“I think we should give her a name. Let’s see… um… Candy?” He put the cat on the sofa,

“Dad, Aunt Warsh’s cat’s name is Candy.”

“Oh, how about Feather?”

“Feather?” 

“Yes, Feather. I met her in the clinic because of a feather.”

“But I want to call it Orion. Orion is my favorite star in the sky.”

“Orion…” That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? “Okay, her name is Orion. Hey dude. Can we call you Orion?” He leaned toward the cat. it jumped and licked his face with joy. 

“Orion!” Otis tried to catch Orion in his arms but she just slipped out and ran back to Mike’s chest. Her claws seemed to tear his shirt a bit. “Ouch! Careful, Otis.” Mike pulled Orion back to the sofa, and she just jumped off from Otis’s reach and started running around Mike’s legs. 

“Orion, come here!” Otis yelled. Orion stopped, sat still, handed her both front legs on Mike’s thighs softly. As if she’s begging him to hug her. “This isn’t something a cat will do, is it? Only dogs do this.” Mike picked her up as she desired. Looked in her eyes, now he can see, what a pair of beautiful eyes. She was not blinking at all. Just staring. Wondering if he sees something… The door opened. His wife was back. 

“Anna, see what we’ve got.”

“Omg! You just got out again to pick the cat?”

“No, she came here by herself. Waited out there in the rain.”

“Oh, how sweet. Let me take a look.” Anna put down her bags of food from the shopping mall and took Orion in her hands. “Who are you little kitty?” Orion studied Anna’s face. Scanning her cheeks. “Otis named her Orion.”

“Thats a nice name.” Putting her down on the floor. Orion seemed to lose her energy to jump and stick to Mike’s legs. Now she’s just watching, between Mike and Anna. Watch them talk, She can hear sweetness in their conversation. But she didn’t know what they were talking about. She also watched them hug, and kiss. Acids were pouring from her inside. Swallowing her heart, her brain and her organs. 

 

Its night, Orion had nothing in her stomach. She just kept watching the family, she watched them eat. Watched them cleaning the table. She watch them watching her. And She watched them go to bed. She didn’t know her heart can sink so low until she followed Mike and Anna to their bedroom. She sat out side the door sew,where the shadow of the door covers her body. Image of this lovely couple is moving in Orion’s eye balls. The sad song she used to play in her head started again. This time even louder, and darker. She felt so small. Indeed, she really is. She used to be strong, but she’s now like a fragile feather. Lied on the floor. Digging her hell. Sobbing in silence. Is this what we call punishment? She would ask herself. Is this what its meant to be? Keep on asking for an answer. Maybe the answer is just right in front of her eyes. Its just she refuse to acknowledge it? This is what you wanted, right? Look, he’s happy, he’s safe here. This is what you wanted. Who am I?  I’m just a small tiny piece of soul… Compared to theirs, I’m just nothing. Nothing.