Chapter 46

***Chastity***

“This is our mental health ward. When trauma survivors are brought in for medical treatment, they are brought to this floor so we can also start working with them immediately to move forward from the trauma they suffer. We also keep the ward open to those that are struggling badly, and need a secure place to come until they can return to their life. We don’t keep anyone here by force. Once their medical treatment is complete they are free to leave, or remain until they feel they are ready to go home or move on with their life. We also keep the playground up here so those here or who need to come here for a visit, can spend time with the support animals if they don’t want to take one home. That happens more than we like, but there are times when a trauma survivor’s living situation is not conducive to having a pet.” Dee- Dee explained as I followed her to a large room surrounded by glass.

The room, or rooms were huge, and seemed to take up an entire section of the floor. There were several, and the walls were all glass so you could look into, and between all of the rooms. Each room was filled with pillows, furniture, things to climb on, bowls, boxes, and anything else you could imagine needing for a small animal. There also seemed to be a clear tunnel that traveled between all of the rooms, but it was empty. Dee Dee must of have seen me looking at it because she spoke.

“That is for Bandit. He likes to travel between the rooms, cause a little trouble then go to another room. We also call him our babysitter. When new animals come in he tends to know, and does his part to make them comfortable. I think he likes the ferrets the most though because he can get them involved in his antics the most. Ferret can be troublesome creatures, but they are entertaining, and can be very loving.” Dee-Dee explained.

“I….I’ve never seen a ferret before.” I said, looking into the room that had the word Ferrets printed on it.

They were weird creatures. They arched their backs when they ran. They seemed to be all over the place at once. They were kind of cute, but not something I could see myself owning. Leila agreed with me. I definitely had no interests in rats or mice. I had issues with rats from the times I would spend a day or two in the dungeon after being whipped. When I looked to the room marked Felines, I smiled. There were several adult cats, and about twelve or thirteen kittens doing different things around the room.

“We have a pretty steady flow of kittens here. Whenever a stray pregnant female is found, we bring her here to birth her kittens, and raise them. Once she is done nursing the kittens we spay her. If she bonds with a trauma survivor she either goes home with them, or stays here for them to come here whenever she is needed. If she doesn’t, and wants to be released we let her go, but continue to provide for her. We always make sure that those released have access to what they need. We also bring any stray kittens we find if the mother cannot be located. Most of these kittens have their mothers here with them at this

time.”

“Oh. Ok.”

“If you’re ready to go meet them, go into the room behind us, and shift. Have Leila scratch at the door so I can let her out, when she’s ready.”

“Ok.”

I moved to the white door that was on the other side of the hall for the Playground, entered, and shut to door. I stripped, and let Leila take over. Once shifted I told her to scratch at the door.

“Are you ready for this Leila?” I asked.

“Yes. All those babies. I want to play with them.” She said with a giggle as she scratched at the door

“Just don’t scare them.”

“I know what I’m doing Chastity.”

“Ok. OK. This is weird though. Don’t you think? A cat, and a wolf. It shouldn’t work.”

“Maybe, but if it helps you Chastity then I’m all for it. Besides they’re cute.”

“Yeah they are. Did you see one that you liked?”

“Not yet.”

Just then Dee-Dee opened the door, and Leila came out of the room. Dee-Dee looked over Leila, and

smiled.

“Hello Leila. Are you ready to go meet the babies?” Dee-Dee asked.

Leila cocked her head to the side, and her tongue lolled out to the side.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Be warned I spotted Bandit in there playing with the babies. He won’t hurt them, but they do like to wrestle with him some times. He’s like a daddy to them. When he sees you he’ll probably come over to check you out to make sure you’ll take care of his babies. He may also try to clean you, or play with you. Don’t hurt him please. He’s a good boy. If he climbs on you, and lays on your back, he likes you. OK.” Dee-Dee explained.

Leila gave a soft yip in agreement.

“I don’t know about a raccoon, but doctor seems to trust him with the babies so I guess we can too.”

Leila said to me.

“I guess so. We probably have to if he’s protective of them. Raccoons can be mean if they feel threatened.” I responded.

“Yeah. I don’t want to experience that.”

Just then Dee-Dee opened the door, and let us in. Leila sniffed the air a bit before moving to the center of the room. It didn’t smell like one would expect when having a lot of cats in one area. I wondered how they did it. Leila looked back as she heard the door close. Dee-Dee had come into the room with us.

“We train the cats to use the toilets over in the corner. Not many people know you can teach a cat to use the toilet. All of the cats in here have been taught how to, that’s why it doesn’t smell like cat pee. Lay down in the middle of the floor so the mamma cats can come check you out, and make sure you’re safe Leila.” Dee-Dee explained as she sat down in the middle of the room.

Leila followed her, and laid down, placing her head on her paws, and moved her eyes to look around. The first one to come to her was actually a huge raccoon. I could feel Leila tense up as it came closer She still as was surprised when the raccoon touched noises with her She did the best she could to remain the raccoon came closer, and began to sniff her. When he climbed on her back, and curled up, she calmed

“Well you have Bandit’s vote Leila.” Dee-Dee said, and Leila turned her eyes to look at her.

Dee-Dee was petting a cat who was all white except of from brown on it’s ear, and tail. Eventually the cat came up to Leila, sniffed her, then rubbed against her. Leila calmed more at the cat’s purr. Eventually all of the adult cats came to check out Leila, and approve of her.

“Ok Leila, you may get up, move around the room, and check out the kittens.” Dee-Dee said.

Leila was about to stand up when she remembered she had a large raccoon asleep on her back. She turned her head, and looked at it. It didn’t move.

“Don’t worry, he’ll get down when you stand up. He just seems to like you, and isn’t ready to give up his spot, but he will.” Dee-Dee said with a laugh.

Slowly Leila started to stand up. She didn’t want to upset the creature on her back. Eventually he chattered, and got down. As she moved around the room, looking over the kittens, the raccoon followed her, and sniffed every kitten she did. She was startled when he suddenly ran past her quickly. She glanced to where he went, then went back to sniffing a larger black kitten. The two were looking at each other curiously when the raccoon came back carrying a tiny kitten in his mouth. It had blue eyes. Was white with black, and orange spots. The raccoon pushed away the black kitten, and dropped the spotted kitten right in front of Leila, looking proud of itself

“Ah. Yes. I forgot about that. Some times Bandit will watch a wolf with the babies for a bit then offer a baby he thinks the wolf will like best. It seems he thinks this little one is the one Leila will favor. If he offers you one of his babies, listen to him, and check the baby out He gets offended if you don’t ” Dee- Dee explained from her spot on the floor.

Leila looked back at the raccoon who seemed to stare at her expectantly. Finally she laid on her belly, and started to gently sniff the kitten. The kitten looked fearful at first. When Leila put her head on her paws, and whimpered at the kitten quietly it moved toward her slowly. It was very small, but very cute. It started with sniffing Leila’s paws, and batting at her claws. Leila huffed a wolf chuckle. When it started to sniff her nose, she stuck out her tongue, and licked it’s chin. The force of the lick caused it to fall onto it’s back, and expose it’s belly Leila sniffed it’s tiny belly as it batted at her nose

“This is the one Chastity. I want her.” Leila stated happily.

“How can you tell.” I asked.

lonely, and in need of love. She is sweet, and smells a little like

smell

“Of course I can.”

“Oh.”

“She is for us.”

“Ok”

at Leila’s paws again, Leila looked back at Dee-Dee

watching us.

she the one?”

gave a soft yip as to

couldn’t bring himself to just throw her into the woods by herself. He knew she would be as he found her mamma’s body It looked as though hawk or something got to her. Poor thing here was all alone. She is a little timid, but very sweet. You’ll

him, and he seemed upset. I didn’t understand the problem, but it seerned Leila did. She yipped softly then lolled her tongue to the side. That calmed the

keeping her from hiding so when you come back you don’t have to go searching for her.”

know that?”

can

did he seem

he thought I was rejecting her. He is really protective of her. I think because she

“Oh.”

so you can

let us into the changing room. Leila quickly shifted back, I dressed, and went back into the hall. Dee-Dee was standing there talking to a nurse when I entered the

meet your baby?” Dee-Dee asked with a

the little calico. She’ll be taking her

thing needs love ” The

smiled, and I followed her back

sat down beside Bandit, and he looked at me. Keeping a paw on the kitten, he sniffed at me for a moment. He then reached down, picked up the kitten, and dropped it into my lap. He sat back, and watched me with her I let her sniff my fingers then gently ran my fingers along her cheek, and

spayed yet as she is too young. You will need to bring her back in a month so she can be spayed, and have her shots. We don’t believe she will get very big as malnutrition may have effected her growth in the long term. As for her care, she will need to be on kitten food until she is six months old. We don’t recommend wet food, or any table scrapes of any kind. If Leila decides to bring her something she killed, that is fine, but nothing that we as humans eat. Especially not milk. Cats bellies cannot handle milk. As far as toys, no strings, yarn, jewelry, or ribbons. You’ll want to get her a scratching post or, as they are called, a cat tree. Cats like to climb, and will scratch

I questioned as I had never

off to remove the claw, and nail bed

“Oh that’s terrible ”

trimmed so they are less painful if they catch your skin. It also keeps

“That happens?”

and the continue to grow like nails, they can

“Aww. That’s so sad.”

nails for them as they are not able to. Do not attempt to force affection on her though, follow her cues. Some cats like to be picked up, carried, and held, some do not. She will let you

two will trust each other more if you do as she will be doing the same with you.

“Leash train them?”

you can keep her with you so she doesn’t wander off and get lost or hurt. Because she is so young she should learn quickly, and do well to walk on a leash. Teach Leila how to carry

There is a lot

but I’m sure that this will be

“Ok. Thank you.”

have two more things to ask of you. More of a

“Um. Ok.”

as you can. He loves his babies, and misses them when they leave. He also remembers all of them. He gets quite excited when they come to see him. Also, bring her with you for our sessions.

I can

“Very good.”

Can I take her

come back to

“Chip?”

under the skin via needle that if she is lost, if found by someone they can scan her, and get her

“Oh. Ok.”

we call it a day. I will get you a list of what you need for her

“Alright. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome”

so I could care for her properly. Leila was also purring in my head. at the sweet baby in my lap. I ran

little bit. Will you take care of her until I come back later?”

my lap, and picked up my kitten. I watched as he walked a bit away from me, set her down, and started to clean her again. I guess he could understand me. I shook my head, and followed Dee-Dee out of the Playground, and down the hall, where she handed me folder with Calico. Kitten written on the tab. I took it with

list of the things my kitten would need, I headed to the department store. As soon as I found the cat section, I was in shock. There was so much stuff. I made sure to grab the recommended cat food first. I next grabbed a food bowl. It was pure white porcelain with flowers around the outside. I also got a water bowl that had what looked like a water jug on top so she had constant water. I grabbed a small bag

picked a purple harness, and leash set. The package said small so it should work. Finally off to the toys, cat trees, and scratching posts. That selection was even bigger than the leash and harness section. I settled on a bag of plastic jingly balls, a pack of

had different pieces of carpets, wood exposed, and even fuzzy, rough string wrapped around posts. The list said that the different materials were good for cats to scratch at depending on what they needed for their claws. I ended up picking a cat tree that was about 4′ feet tall with two platforms, one straight, and one curved in a half circle. It was covered in white carpet with one post being

After I was happy with what. I had done, I went back to get my kitten. When I arrived she

let him know about the large purchase I made today so he wasn’t surprised to see it. I hoped he wouldn’t tell me to return everything,

answered after the

“Hi.” I said brightly.

are you? How is it going

adjustment, but I like it so

wonderful. I’m so glad.

to the textbook,

“Ah.”

will get harder from now on. He also said it’s the only class that will last the whole year instead of half of it

“There is?”

entire body, and their systems, not only for

does make sense. How was your

bad. We just covered stretching,

great place to

where I met my new friends, or well

a little bit

my class this year He’s a member of Dark Moon. His major is Emergency medicine. He wants to work with the

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