“Lady?  Lady?” From the far side of her mind a young, female voice beckoned Krista.  Shadows moved in the dimness. Muffled sounds swarmed inside her head. Voices? 

“She's coming around. “

     “Well, done, Aven.”

A long moment of silence followed. Krista’s mind struggled for consciousness. A small shadow came closer. Something tiny. Damp. Cool touched her forehead. The blackness turned to gray fog. . . A wet, raspy object ran up her cheek. Then again. The fog thinned. A soft mew teased her senses. Krista fought to open her eyes then abandoned the effort.

From a hundred miles came the same adolescent female voice.  “She’s trying,” A chorus of feline mews accompanied the girl's comment. 

      “Aven, you are to be congratulated.” This voice was deep. Male. “Three turns of dedication. You continue to exhibit all the qualities of a physician. A wise choice for your first span. A skill you can carry with you into every other path you choose.”

     On her left, a gentle female voice joined the conversation. “Since she was a child that’s all Aven has wanted to be. She uses every opportunity to tend and heal. She studies the vids and experiments with the different plants and—”

     “Mom, you’re embarrassing me.” The girl said.

     Who are these people? Krista wondered.  Who is Aven?     

     “Honey. I’m proud of you. It’s a mother’s right to be proud. Isn't it Ravel?”

     Where am I?

     “It is, Nimi.”

      Ravel? Nimi?  Aven. There are three of them. Krista tried to open her eyes. Lift her head. She couldn't. Around her, the conversation continued.   

      “Honey, you knew right away what this woman had eaten. She would have died.”

     “Ravel, please ask my Mother too —” 

     That's the voice of the young female. Krista reasoned. 

     “Your mother is proud.” Ravel's soft basso concurred. “We all are, Aven. Your quick diagnoses and this cat. . .” Cat mewed. “Saved her life.”

      “Cat. My cat is here?”

     "Some of the Youngers have named him Moogy. No one’s seen a real cat before.” Aven looked at her mother hopefully. “Can I keep him?”

     Moogy? Krista lapped her tongue around a very dry mouth.  

"I believe the cat already has a name . . . And most likely belongs to your patient”  

“Yes, of course.” Aven sighed. “Why don’t we have any cats or dogs?” Aven added rapidly. “Or any animals like that? Seras are cute, but they can be mean. Efids are stupid. And I tried to train a gazbag to come home to me,  but I broke out in a rash.  Moogy is so cute and vibrates when you pet him.  Maybe this Lady will —” 

Krista stirred. Coughed. A sharp pain shot across her abdomen. 

Conversation ceased. In one practiced movement, Aven dipped a spoon-shaped seashell into a ceramic bowl, gently lifted the back of Krista’s head, and dipped drops of water onto her lips.  

The voices and the conversation were starting to register, but Krista couldn’t get the fog to lift from her eyes. She kept trying to put names to the voices. The moisture felt good on her lips. She sighed.  

The cat mewed encouragement and nuzzled next to Krista's face. 

Krista’s lips parted and she took her first conscious sip of water in a while. A wet, raspy tongue lapped her cheek. Krista’s eyes opened to copper-red hair and the greenest eyes on one of the most beautiful teenagers she’d ever seen. “You?”  Krista's voice cracked . . .“You’re my physician?” Krista coughed. Her throat pinched. 

     Aven offered another spoonful of water. “Please do not talk. Your. . . The body has gone through an ordeal.”

    Same advice I’d give, Krista thought. Young woman is a natural.

    “It’s best that you rest.” The girl said.  “Consume as much water as you can.”

    “She’s right.” The basso voice came from somewhere to Krista's right.  

     Krista tried to turn her head. She found she was too weak. Cat's face popped into view. He licked the side of his paw, then rubbed it across Krista’s forehead. “Cats. . . do not. . .do that . . .  to. . .people,” Krista sputtered with a sigh, enjoying the furry contact.

     “Really? Moogy’s been doing that to you for three turns.” Aven said. “I thought that was normal.   None of our animals or flyers do anything like that.”

     “Moogy?” Krista asked. Where have I heard that —

     “I’m sorry. Of course, your cat has another name. It’s just that none of us knew what to call him. None of the Youngers knew what he was. The Firsts told us.”

     “The Firsts?”

     “The original colonists.” Aven gave Krista an odd look. “But no one wanted to call him 'Cat.'  That would be stupid. So, we voted. Everyone liked Moogy. So. . . what is Moogy’s real name?”

     The cat mewed loudly and pawed Krista’s shoulder. Krista got the message. Never liked Cat either, she thought.  Krista tried to rise on an elbow. A wave of nausea rolled over her. She caved backward and closed her eyes. “No, he’s been waiting for a name. Moogy is wonderful.” Moogy mewed agreement. “Where am. . . How long have I. . .  Long have I—” Krista lost the battle 

      “Shh,” Aven said. “Rest. Please go back to sleep.” Aven adjusted the pillows, pulled up a blanket, and lifted Moogy from Krista’s side. She turned to the others. “She’ll sleep for another turn. I minced up some alth leaves and added them to the water.” Aven cradled Moogy in her arms.  “And she has . . .Moogy to watch over her.” Moogy mewed as Aven placed him back in the crook of Krista’s arm.  

 

      As one, Nimi, Ravel, and Aven exited the side of the reed complex and into the morning bustle of the Joeng village. Aven tugged the side of Ravel’s tunic. “You didn’t answer my question about cats and dogs.”

      Ravel looked at Nimi and laughed. “Doctor Aven is persistent.” 

      “That she is,” Nimi smiled proudly. “That she is.” 

     They walked along a well-worn path through the community gardens, past the common lodge, winding their way through a complex of reed dwellings; each arched door decorated with welcoming seashells and a variety of bright orange and yellow flowers. Two women and a young boy waved as they passed the looms and finished tunics, shoes, sunshades, and other products of the weavers’ area. 

      Aven called a halt at the nursery. “Be back shortly,” she said and hurried through the curtained doorway.  Returning minutes later with a worried face.

      “Is Xeko and her baby all right?” Nimi asked. 

      “The baby is so cute.  And she’s getting big.”  

      “What seems to be the problem?”

      “Her baby has a slight scalp infection, but Xeko keeps talking about the Red Witch. She’s dreamed they’re going to Nap her baby.”

      “We’re a long way from Lakal, Sagra, and the council,” Ravel offered. “I’ll put together a group of mothers to reassure her.”

      “Can I be part of it?” Aven asked.

      “I was hoping you would coordinate it,” Ravel said.

     “I will.”

 

  #  

      

 

     As the trio crossed the lower bridge onto Nunu Island several people shouted, “Good fishing! Soft storms,” the Fisher’s common Joeng greeting. Barbed hooks, sinkers, lures, and buoys of every shape and size dangled from lines tied to old gaffs and harpoons. The newer gaffs and harpoons lay in neat rows next to nets and coiled vine ropes by the boats and stilt houses near the shore. 

     Aven slapped a long string of fishing hooks and lures causing a loud, dissonant chime to vibrate across the small island. Startled men, women, and youngsters looked up from various tasks. “Accident,” Aven shouted and covered her mouth. “Couldn’t resist,” she whispered to Ravel and her mother. 

     “Not very professional, Doctor Aven.”

     “HEY AVEN, when do we get to see the cat?” A woman in a gray apron yelled. 

     “NIGHT FIRES. TONIGHT.” Aven looked at Ravel for confirmation. He nodded. “TONIGHT.”

     They crossed the opposing bridge and walked upstream through the harvest area to a small waterfall. On both sides, portable water wheels turned effortlessly.  

     “Cats and dogs?” Aven repeated. 

      Ravel bent a knee and turned to Aven with a broad grin. “Okay Doctor, I have work to do on these wheels. But I'll try to answer your question.” Ravel laughed, postured, and boomed, “Even though I am overwhelmed with decisions and responsibilities, I will explain the absences of cats, dogs, tran-flyers, and the bullet-poached-skip-hopper from Virgo III.  All of which are domesticated species and favorite pets from other worlds.  Now, let me be brief.  This is a —”

     “I may be persistent,” Aven interrupted and smiled at her mother. “But the leader of the Joeng takes forever to answer a simple question. Doesn’t he?”

      Ravel dropped his arm on the water wheel axle and began. “Simply, planetary colonists are never allowed to bring anything that might harm their new world. Though, frankly, with all the precautions we took before arriving on Iuama . . . we haven’t been very good stewards of this world. Though. . . some of us are trying.” Ravel sighed.  "Now both of you go. Go. Do something.”